30 Day Challenge: Day 1

Day 1: Introduction, Recent Photo, and 15 Interesting Facts

INTRODUCTION
I saw Daniel start to do this 30 day challenge, and slowly but surely, most of my friends with blogs joined in. So I finally decided to cave and do it, even though half the time I don't have time to BREATHE, let alone blog. But I'll make it work!

RECENT PHOTO

Emily & I, tailgating at the Idaho State game on my birthday!

15 INTERESTING FACTS
I've done a few of these before, but here goes:

1. The only Beatles song that I like is "Let It Be," and that's only because I heard the Dave Barnes cover of it. People are generally surprised by this, especially because of how wide my musical taste is.
2. I've had 10 surgeries in my life: 4 sets of tubes in my ears, a tympanomastoidectomy [basically my right eardrum burst and was rebuilt], two surgeries to remove a dysplastic nevus [basically a raised mole on my leg that could have become cancerous later in life] that was ovular in shape on the back of my right leg [8 inches long, about 5 inches wide - I still have an 8 inch long scar about 1 cm wide which feels no sensation], adenoids removed, wisdom teeth, and my jaw surgically broken and expanded. Pair that with my super small veins that like to roll, and needless to say, I don't like hospitals.
3. We moved around a lot, so I went to 8 schools in 9 years, including 3 different high schools. But no, I'm not an army brat; my dad's an engineer. Go figure.
4. I can't hear a song without singing. I don't care if I'm in public, in a car with people I don't know, whatever.. I have to sing. Even if I'm sick as a dog, I will try to sing until my throat gives out.
5. I'm dying to go skydiving someday. I have a feeling that I would chicken out once I got up in the air, so someone might have to give me a little nudge, but I want to do it. I also want to bungee-jump, but not as much as I want to sky dive.
6. I'm addicted to games, especially card games. My current obsession is Nerts, but I also love Phase 10. Oh, and Skipbo. And Euchre. And Rook. And Spades. Yeah.
7. I want to teach middle school science. I have such a heart for that age group, and I can't wait to be around them all day every day! The irony here is that I always hated science, although now that I think about it, I did take two extra sciences in high school. Then I got to college and thought I was done. Each semester, I thought, "This is it! The last science class I'll ever have to take!" But then the next semester I would take another science class.. and then another.. and then another. My last science class was my Earth Science For Middle School Teachers class last spring, and I thought I'd die when it first started. The more we learned, however, the more I fell in love with it. And now it's what I want to teach! Earth science or physical science.. I could live without life science though. Blech.
8. I can't stand silence. I have to have some kind of noise going on when I study, which my parents think is absurd. But my calc 2 professor let us listen to music during our tests.. I made high A's on all of them. Coincidence? I think not.
9. I hate Macs. With a passion. But I'm so sick of spyware on my computer that I will be purchasing one as soon as possible.
10. I have tried to give up Cokes, but I can't. That is my one weakness when it comes to food.
11. Sports are my life. Football and baseball = LOVE. I would give up my right arm to meet Peyton Manning. It is my dream to see them play in the Lucas Oil stadium. I would also die if I ever met Matt Diaz. I am his biggest fan. -sigh-
12. I can quote almost every F.R.I.E.N.D.S episode. Phoebe is my favorite, followed closely by Chandler. I could also act out The American President, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Miss Congeniality, and every single Disney movie. And I know all of the words to "Whoomp, There It Is," "Baby Got Back," and "Can't Touch This." And yes, I am proud of this fact.
13. I am newly obsessed with running. I don't go as often as I'd like because I only like to run in the morning, and I work almost every morning.. so yeah. But I love it when I get to go!
14. I hate to shop. I especially hate to shop when I have certain things that I have to buy [ie. red shirt for work, dress for formal, etc] because I can NEVER find what I need, especially not at a good price.
15. I have a terrible time getting to sleep. No matter how early I get up, I'm never tired enough to fall asleep until around midnight. I'll get in bed, lights off, and just lay there. This makes it very difficult to get up at a decent hour in the mornings.

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I caved.. 30 Day Challenge

I'm taking a break from the 30 Day Meme to do this 30 Day Challenge with a lot of my friends [Daniel, April, & Ansley, to name a few]

Here's a list of topics that I will be blogging about. Disclaimer: I probably won't blog EVERY day, but I'll try. perhaps Daniel and April can keep me accountable lol

1. Introduce, Recent Picture, and 15 Interesting Facts
2. Meaning Behind Your Blog Name
3. Your First Love
4. Your Parents
5. Your Siblings
6. A Picture of Something That Makes You Happy
7. Favorite Movies
8. A Place You’ve Traveled To
9. A Picture of Your Friends
10. Something You’re Afraid Of
11. Favorite TV Shows
12. What You Believe
13. Goals
14. A Picture You Love
15. Bible Verse
16. Dream House
17. Something You’re Looking Forward To
18. Something You Regret
19. Something You Miss
20. Nicknames
21. Picture of Yourself
22. Favorite City
23. Favorite Vacation
24. Something You’ve Learned
25. iPod Shuffle
26. A Picture of Your Family
27. Pets
28. Something That Stresses You Out
29. Three Wishes
30. A picture

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GA/FL, round 3

This weekend was one of the best of my life. It was time for the annual trip to Jacksonville [neutral territory, my ass. case in point will later be discussed] for the Georgia/Florida game. I was worried because last year was SO awful, but it was great. Far exceeded my expectations!

On Thursday, I stayed with Katelin at her apartment. We picked up stuffed crust pizza and watched our Thursday night shows. I got to have my Vampire Diaries date with Jordan, which is the best part of my week! I get to see her on my birthday too! SO EXCITED. But that's besides the point. So we watched our shows and then played Sing Star Karaoke [Disney Channel and Pop songs. SO much fun] until it was time for bed.

Friday morning, Katelin and I went for a walk and packed for our trip to J-ville. We went to Taco Stand [I was less than impressed :-/ sad] before heading to Katie's. We hopped in Katie's car, got CFA milkshakes, and hit the road! We made good time down to Albany and went to Outback with Memama, Pepaw, Aunt Kristy, Uncle Charles, Heather, and Hayley [my cousins]. They told them that we were celebrating my birthday [which is sort of true.. it's this Saturday, but since I won't be there, we were celebrating] and they brought a free dessert for us. I love Outback. We got tickets to a haunted house from my aunt and uncle, but we were so tired after a long day of driving, even though it was only 7:30 when we left, so we decided against the haunted house. We went to my grandparents' house and relaxed until bedtime.

Saturday.. the big day. We got up early, picked up my uncle at his house, and headed to Jacksonville. About halfway there, we needed to refill our car, so I told Pepaw and Rob to go ahead and that we'd meet them at the stadium later. We got back on the road and headed to the stadium. Awhile down the road, I noticed a sign for Gainesville, which is where the University of Florida is, that said 45 miles away. Our GPS also said we were 45 minutes from our destination, and I was like, "oh yeah, neutral territory.. we travel 6 hours, and they travel 45 minutes." But I didn't think anything more about it. 20 minutes later, I saw a sign that said "Gainesville: 25 miles" ... and our GPS said 25 miles. Yep, we'd put the wrong stadium name into the GPS. Oops? We ended up getting there about 40 minutes later than we planned, but still in PLENTY of time.

We met our friends at the big screen outside of the stadium and watched most of the Tennessee/South Carolina game before finally heading to our seats. The game was frustrating, but it was great to be there. I feel like only teams who wear blue can win in that stadium. It's always Florida, and I saw the Colts win there in December. But it was a fun time with great friends, so it was worth it. Afterwards we went to Mimi's for dinner [SO many things that I wish I could share, but they were "you have to be there" kind of things..] and then some people left and the rest of us went to Cheesecake Factory for drinks and desserts. Jake and I had a few drinks [he had a particularly rough night, and I just wanted to] but neither of us really felt them at all. Afterwards the girls went to our hotel and CRASHED watching Home Improvement.

On Sunday we met the guys at Cracker Barrel for lunch and had fun. We teased Jake about being a slow driver, so he apparently drove 20 miles over the speed limit the whole way home JUST to prove us wrong. It would've been funny if he'd gotten pulled over, though I would've hated it for him. Katie, Katelin, and I sang, danced, and talked girl talk the entire way home. It was the best trip ever. Except Orlando 2008. But it's a close second! There is a recording of Katie and Katelin singing Ke$ha's Kiss And Tell.. I may upload it later.

Now it's back to real life. Blah. Is it Thanksgiving break yet? It should be. I'm ready for it. I'm also ready for my birthday this weekend. Football game plus hanging with friends afterwards.. sooooooo excited! Never thought I'd be excited to be 23. I'm so old.

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