BEST! NIGHT! EVER!

A few things you need to know about me before you can fathom the depth of my joy in this post:

1. We very rarely have an evening sitter for all 3 of our children. I can count on one hand the times we've been completely alone as a couple in the past year and a half. Simply eating at a restaurant together and not having children fighting, screaming, refusing to eat, needing food cut, etc. is a blessing in itself.

2. I've liked Jamey Johnson since 2008. I've been what you'd call a 'fan' since 2009, and by 2010 you could definitely call me a HUGE fan. Don't believe me? Look.

3. I started listening to Outlaw Country on Sirius XM this summer. A lot. It was there I first heard Whitey Morgan and subsequently bought his album.

4. Both Whitey Morgan and Jamey Johnson "starred" my tweet this summer, which was a pretty big deal.  

5. High Cost of Living is not only my favorite Jamey song, but probably my favorite song EVER of all time and all genres.  
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I'd had tickets for months. This was my redemption. I'd had tickets to see him on the very same day 4 years earlier, and the show was cancelled at the last minute. I tried to manage my excitement and not let myself get too over-enthused, for fear it could happen again.

I tweeted Cash on KTTS several times, trying to find out if they were going to do a meet and greet. I had plans to be the first one at the door, even if it meant leaving home at noon. Much to my dismay, they were not. I called the venue to find out if the standing-area in front of the stage would be open as it had in concerts past. It would not. It didn't matter when I arrived, I had an assigned seat and there was no way I was getting any closer than row 3 (which is a pretty great seat, I'm not saying it isn't!).

As the day approached, I knew it didn't matter. I had a hotel reservation and a night out planned with my husband. Even if the show were cancelled, I'd still have a great night. I knew it. I could feel it.

We had dinner at Big Whiskey's. We were out and about early, so we hit happy hour. Side note? Best BBQ wings I've ever had, and THE best Long Island anywhere. Hands down. I was beaming as we walked down the block to the Gillioz. Already a great night, and the doors were about to open.

We trickled inside with the crowd, and I stopped first at the merchandise table. I started scanning the shirts and noticed they weren't Jamey Johnson shirts. No. They were Whitey Morgan shirts! What?! Nowhere did anyone mention him! My thoughts quickly became words.

"Oh my gosh. What! If Whitey Morgan is here, I'll just..."

I was quickly interrupted by sales dude.

"Yeah, he is. It was a last minute thing, him and Chris Hennesse, but we're so excited!"

It was all I could do to contain my enthusiasm.

So I bought 2 shirts. I went to the bathroom right away to don my Jamey Johnson shirt, and folded up Whitey for another day.

Chris Hennessee was great. Whitey Morgan and the 78s did not disappoint. It was nearly 9 by the time they left the stage, and I made a run for the bathroom before it was time for the concert I'd waited six years for.

Pretty soon the lights went down, and finally Jamey came out on stage. To say I was excited would be like saying the North Pole is chilly. He got his guitar ready, and played two notes before I knew he was playing my song.

The crowd erupted. I sang EVERY. WORD. (much to the dismay of those around me, I'm sure!) He followed it with "Place Out on the Ocean" which is another of my favorites.

I sat down and told Bryan that was it. I was completely satisfied and happy, and we still had the whole concert to see.

He sang all the good ones. He sang some old songs, did some covers, and a little before 11:30 called it a night.

I've never had such a great night.

We walked outside and started talking about what to do from there. Should we go out for a while? Big Whiskey's was just two doors down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some of the guys from the 78s just hanging out in front of the theater. I asked them for a picture and they happily obliged!

The more we talked, the more my wheels started turning.

"What if we just hang around here a while?" I asked Hubby. I mean...maybe he'll come out, too.

He told me he was sure that stoic Jamey Johnson wasn't going to come waltzing out the front door to hang out. I decided he was right. I mean, he DOES have a bit of a reputation for being...well...quiet. And maybe introverted, and not always social.

"Wonder if there's a back-door?" I asked him with a sly smile.

"We can find out. C'mon," and that was the first and hopefully last time in my life a man led me down a dark alley :)

We snuck down the quiet alley and I jumped the gun as I saw a group of people in the distance.

"Oooh!" I started.

"Don't think Jamey Johnson's bunch are in hoodies looking at their phones....it's probably a gang..."

We picked up the pace and made it to the back side of the theater on the next street. There was a small group of people in a sort-of line. Some of them had guitars and albums. And then I saw them: trailers. And vans. And that's when it hit me. They were waiting for him.

We stood for what seemed like years. I kept telling myself he wouldn't be there. He'd probably already escaped in some bus and these were just his 'people' getting the stuff.

One of the 78s came out and said he didn't know what we were all waiting for.

I lost a little more hope.

Then there was a light.  A flashlight.

It was one of the 'people' and he was holding the light so Jamey could see to sign.

Yep he was RIGHT THERE!

I couldn't believe it.

Finally our turn came, and I got to meet the musician I've idolized for years. And guess what? He was NOTHING like his reputation. He wasn't grouchy or anti-social. He was also shorter than I thought he would be, but that's beside the point.

I introduced myself, and told him I'd waited six years to see him in concert, and how much I loved the show. He said to me, in his quiet, baritone voice, "Well I'd say that's long enough!" We took a picture, he met the husband, and thanked us for coming out.

I started walking away and suddenly realized in all the commotion I forgot to have him sign my shirt.

I stepped back up to the "guy" and told him the dilemma. He told me he was sure he'd be happy to sign it for me and told me to stand next to him. I stood and waited through the rest of the line, then the guy explained and he smiled, and happily signed my shirt.

I told the mister that I could just die happy now, and that's just how I felt. I've never had a better night or been happier than I was that night. I'm so thankful for a husband who lets me be a fan-girl and takes me on stalking adventures and always makes the best of the little time we get alone. I'm one very lucky girl.

Wherefore Art Thou, Jamey?

If you don't follow me on Facebook then you are not yet annoyed by my constant posts about Jamey Johnson. Yay for you!

It all started back in 2008 when I was working at Weaubleau. Somewhere during the year Wade decided to move from the opposite side of the room to the seat next to my desk. I really hadn't spoken to Wade before that, and had let him blend in quietly, being overpowered by the louder (more obnoxious) personalities in his class.

One day when they were doing their work, he asked if we could listen to "In Color" on my computer. I was always skeptical about student song choices, but when he told me I'd find it on CMT.com I figured it couldn't be too inappropriate.  We listened to it, and while the lyrics were very powerful, there was just something about the sound that I absolutely loved.

Fast forward more than a year. Bryan decided to buy That Lonesome Song, the album that had "In Color" on it. I immediately fell in love with "High Cost of Living," and I think we about wore that song out that weekend. As I listened more, I became more in love with every song on the album. His lyrics were honest. He wrote from a dark place in his life, and he didn't hide the things he had experienced. Pain, rebellion, love, poor decisions, and revenge.

His lighter songs were fun and up-beat, and I'm not going to lie. I love his accent. He says "Flaw-rid-uh" instead of "Floor-da." He has a slow, southern drawl that makes his voice even more amazing. I fell in love with him as an artist. He was my mowing buddy, my walking buddy, and my cleaning buddy.

A few weeks ago, his second album came out, a double-cd, and I bought it the day it came out. It's a little more redemptive than his first album, but it has some amazing songs on it as well. Songs that can make you feel your soul. I love it. I've been professing my love for him for months now, as you probably read (time and time again). "Oh Jamey, Oh Jamey, wherefore art thou, Jamey?" I've been dreaming about the day he would be close enough for me to at least road trip and see him live. Then, something remarkable happened.

A few days ago I told my friend Lindsay that her country icon, Jason Aldean, would be in Springfield next month. I mentioned that there probably weren't great seats left. Her mom commented on our post, telling me to check out ticket triangle, and that she had bought Lindsay tickets!

I checked out ticket triangle, and through that process found out that Jamey is going to be in KC next week. NEXT WEEK! Is that enough time to order tickets and plan to go? Would Bryan even TAKE me after months of professing my love for this musician?  The answer was yes!  We ordered tickets and will be headed that way next Thursday.

I've been to a LOT of concerts. I've seen Alan Jackson more times than I can count. I've seen Kenny Chesney, Deana Carter, Gary Allan (at the Bud Tent for FREE before he was big), the Beach Boys, and about every Christian band who was popular in the 90s. But NEVER have I been SO very excited to see someone live. I can't wait :)

My Second Friday (with Five Questions, Of Course)

Well it's FRIDAY again!  It felt like Friday all day yesterday.  Bryan, Ryan, Sheila and I went to the Alan Jackson/Jerrod Neimann concert last night and had a blast!  Jerrod Neimann surprised me and was very entertaining.  He also has music that is MUCH better than his over-played, annoying "Lover, Lover" song.  And even though I've seen Alan Jackson at least six times before with my granny, it's been more than ten  years since I saw him, and I really enjoyed seeing him. It's fun to go to a concert where you know every song.  It was also my first time to see "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning" live, and that was powerful.

We made t-shirts for the KTTS Take Me Backstage contest.  We didn't win, but it made for a cute picture of us all.  (If you're my Facebook friend you'll see it later.  My connection is too slow to upload them here)  We sang, we danced, we clapped, we had a great time.  And after that fun night out, I still have a "real" Friday to look forward to!  And I'm alllllll alone today without a car, so there's no telling what all I will get done!  Go ME!

Anyway, let's get to the real meat of this blog.  The FIVE Questions!!  YIPEEE!


1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)?

Wellllll the thing is I can speak with a different accent.  If you knew me in high school, you know my Mid-Missouri-half-hick-half-southern accent was much thicker in my younger days.  I worked very hard to correct it as much as I could when I went to college, and even more so when I changed my major to English.  I still remember Levi making fun of how I used to say my short "i" as in hill and pill (which sounded more like heeul or peeul) and my short "a" as in what (which sounded more like whut).  Yes Levi made fun of MY accent.  It was that distinct.  And if you know me well, and are around me a lot, you may hear it creep out when I'm nervous, excited, etc.  I'd say now that I'm not teaching it is coming back more, because just yesterday I noticed when Chloe said, "tomato" she said "tuh-may-ee-doh."  Maybe she gets it from Bryan...

If I had to choose another accent, though, I'd speak with a British accent.  Not the sloppy drunk hooker one, though, the prim and proper one.  I think it is the only accent that makes people sound smarter.


2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck)
I can't fall asleep just anywhere by choice.  If it's bedtime I can't just curl up on the back deck or out in the barn and drift into my dreams.  I have to be tucked into my covers and snuggled up with my sweetie. (I have, on occasion, fallen asleep watching TV, and once upon a time I lived on my old couch because it was more comfy than any bed I've occupied)  But, if my body gives out and I can't make it one more second, I have been known to konk out on the couch, chair, car, truck, bus, floor, teacher's lounge, and even kitchen table :)


3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet?
I try not to.  There have been times I have had Bryan drive PAST the gas station and onto a gravel road, because I'd rather do my business behind the truck (only in the dark!) than have to go into a public restroom.  I despise having to take my little girl in them as well.  However, if I do have to go in, I hover.  Depending on the cleanliness of the bathroom, I either cover the seat for Chloe or hold her over the toilet, and I make her keep her hands on her head so she doesn't touch anything.  It's also possible that she thinks you get bites on your bum from those bottomless beach bathrooms *sheepish grin.*  What?  It could happen.  Don't worry.  I was scolded for that when Mom took her to the beach and used a bathroom there.  Chloe told her that Mommy says there are nasty bugs on those toilets.  Nana told her Mommy was wrong.  Then Chloe told Mommy she was wrong, but she wasn't sure enough to try it out ;)



4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with?
Hm.  If you know me, you're expecting me to say Dermot or Benny.  But I'm not sure that either of them could entertain me for 24 hours (now, now, don't go there).  So maybe Jack Johnson, or Jamey Johnson (woah big difference there!) to musically entertain me, and mabye make me famous in a song.  Or maybe John Mayer. I know he's a douche, but I'm a cynic, so we might just get along ;)  As far as same-sex celebs, I could handle hanging out with Chelsea Handler for 24 hours.  We could definitely be friends.

5. Where did you & your significant other go on your 1st date?
Ohhh the first date that we planned and went on alone (our first actual dinner date included his dad) was to Applebees and a movie.  :)  We had been talking for a while, and had been around each other some already, but I was so nervous.  We had fun, though. Awwwww.  *Remembering*  Every date since then has been just as fantastic.  I love him oh yes I do :) :) :)

 





1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

It's probably not what you'd consider a typical "fun" purchase. I didn't buy new shoes or a cute purse. Didn't get any new electronic gadgets. I bought my daughter a dish-rag doll at Casey's (gas station/convenience store if you're unfamiliar).

I took her to meet her dad and she saw the hand-sewn doll hanging in the window. She fell in love with it. I had just given her the weekly allowance, which would pay for half. Burned out and tired of always being the one to fork over the cash (we had just spent my entire paycheck on school supplies and clothes the week before), I told her she could either save her allowance until next week and buy the doll herself, or see if her dad would kick in the other FIVE dollars for the doll.

When he arrived she ran out to his Jeep Liberty and begged him to come see it. He told her no, he just didn't have the money to pay for half the doll (then proceeded to drive her three hours away to visit his new girlfriend whom she's never met, but that's a story for another day). She didn't cry. But her face. She was heart-broken.

So what did I do? Instead of putting in five and paying for half the doll I went in after they left and bought her the stinking doll. It's not worth ten dollars. It's a dish rag with a stocking sewn on, but she loved it.

But when she came home and found the little rag doll lying on her pillow, her face was priceless. And because it was such an emotional journey for her, she's super attached to that silly little rag. And those moments are what being a mom is all about :)
2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?

LIKE you don't know! Ok, ok if you're not my Facebook friend you might not.

My favorite musician of all-time is Jamey Johnson. Of all genres, all years, all bands, he is my one and only. I love everything about him. His voice. His songs. His troubled eyes. His demeanor. *swoon* And I have YET to see him live :( One day I will. One day. But until then, I just listen to his music and pretend he is here with me in spirit. We mow together. We go for walks together. We commiserate when I have a bad day. We go backroading (although the Mister often crowds him out). And although he's big and hairy now, beneath that ZZ Top beard is a burly, sexy man with piercing blue eyes that have a real story to tell.
He seriously sings my soul. If you want to listen to a smattering of his music, my short list includes "Place Out on the Ocean," "That's How I Don't Love You," "The Last Cowboy," "Give It Away," (a song he wrote for George Strait) and "In Color." And that's my super short list. I love all his music. All. But my favorite song ever ever ever is "High Cost of Living."

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?
My least favorite is dishes. MAN I hate dishes! HATE HATE HATE! I miss my dishwasher SO much! Sometimes I refuse to cook JUST because I don't wanna do dishes.

But I LOVE to mow. It's that one thing I can do where NO ONE will bother me. The sun shines on my shoulders, I plug in my MP3, pour myself a refreshing beverage, and spend some time with myself (and Jamey!). It's truly the best.

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?
If you would buy me a dishwasher (and figure out a way to install it in our kitchen..therein lies the problem), I would wear the same t-shirts and jeans for two whole years.
If we're just talking about a washer and a fridge, I'd rather have all new clothes.
5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?
EW and double EW. I have a texture issue and I do NOT eat anything creamy. This includes all salad dressing (clear-ish only) and condiments. No yogurt. No sour cream. No French onion dip. No, no, no. Chocolate pudding is the only real exception to that rule, and I could live without it. Bleh!

5QF: mowing and spaghetti...what more could I ask for??

It's Friday, yay! Hubbs and I are holding down the shop by ourselves today, and this weekend is our anniversary weekend :) I'm so pregnant and the weather's so nasty there isn't a lot we can do, but all the Mister's family and Chloe will be gone this weekend so we will be totally on our own for two days. I can't wait!

Until then, I'll pass some time with 5QF.

1. Who mows your grass?

I do! I do! I love to mow. Even 9 months pregnant you can drive by our house and see me bouncing my baby bump around on the lawn mower. It's my me time. I can plug in my ear phones, listen to my "mow" play list (Jamey Johnson, beachy songs, Hank Jr, and I'm Yours are my MUST LISTEN songs) and just ride, not being interrupted or bothered. Hubby is kind enough to take care of the weeds, and since I've been pregnant he's been mowing the ditches and the steep parts. He mowed while I was visiting family a couple of weekends ago and I pouted for two days. He laughed and told me I had to be the only wife who would throw a fit and get mad because her husband mowed the yard :) And yet he still loves me.

2. Do you have a picture wall or picture gallery in your house (show us! <--- my addition to the question)?

I have a few pictures on the two "big" walls in our living room. I really want to make a picture wall in the dining area, but right now it's occupied by turkey fans and a coon. I'm not sure my picture wall will fit into our woodsy themed decor =/

I have a really cute frame set that I want to put up, but again with the not matching. Maybe one day we will re-do our room and I can do one in there :) Until then, it's just the most important pictures above the couch, and a hodge-podge of eclectic shots and mis-matched frames on a built-in bookshelf in the hall.

3. What book has influenced your thinking the most? Or, what blog? (I want to read what gets people thinking!)

I don't think there is any book or blog that I would say influences my thinking. There are books and blogs that make me think. Some of which have been "The Deadline," "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," and "The Atonement Child" as well as Mama M (most specifically her "Talkin' Shop" posts) and Chibi Jeebs because she just gets it, and always has a fresh perspective :)

4. Do you have allergies? If so, how do you handle it this time of year?

I do. And with the mowing, they are even worse (and yet I still LOVE it!). My fall allergies are worse than my summer ones, but they all give me fits. Alamast eye drops and Benadryl are my friends.

5. What's your go to meal to cook in an hurry?

Spaghetti and tacos. Hubby doesn't care for spaghetti, Chlo and I don't really like tacos, so we eat them on the same night. I come home, grab a bag of burger, fry it up and boil my noodles. I take out a little meat for our spaghetti, then make the taco meat for hubbs and we have a meal ready lickety split. I always keep spaghetti and taco fixin's on hand so we can have a dinner in a pinch.

Lived-in, Not Perfect

It's finally Friday!  Wahooo!  Mini-Me is spending the weekend with us, and is excited she gets to go on "date night" with us. I'm excited, too. Fun will be had!  Other than that, just a bunch of boring "grown-up" stuff going on. Stuff I REFUSE to think about over the weekend.  That being said....

It is Friday, so that means FIVE QUESTIONS! Hooray!  Here we go.

1. What do you listen to while driving?

That alllllllll depends on the weather, and my mood. Cool cloudy days usually call for John Mayer. Any time is a good time for Jamey Johnson. Sometimes I listen to country radio. On my way to work I listen to GenX (best radio station ever ever ever), but you just never know about me.


2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall?
I think my least favorite thing about fall is Indian summer. Once I get a whiff of that crisp fall air, and my skin feels the cool breeze blow, I'm all in. When the temp climbs back up to 85 it makes me cringe. High of 70, please.


3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out?
I used to have realy specific dreams about a house. I longed for the day I would have a house just how I wanted it. As I have aged (ugh) I've come to realize that homes are like people. It's what's on the inside that counts (and I ain't talkin' about your furniture, neither!) the most. However, if money were no issue, and I were building my own home, it would be quaint. I don't want more space than I need. It'd have a basement for stormy weather and storing Christmas ornaments. It would have spacious bedrooms, but not too spacious, and comfy furniture. It would have a nice little front porch. Oh and I'd have my own bathroom. With a big ol' tub. It would be cute, not fancy. Lived in, not perfect.


4. Would you ever own a minivan?
If I had two or three kids I sure would. I think they're great for families and children. However, since I don't need one, I'd prefer driving a car. Get what I'm saying? If I had the need for a mini-van, yes I would drive one. But in my current familial situation, no, I would not buy one. Because I only have one child, therefore every now and then I can continue to live in the fantasy world where I am forever 21 with a sporty car (nevermind that carseat back there...or the third and fourth doors...adjust the mirror and they disappear).


5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them?
I do.  I can't stand the smell of new clothes. Jeans, maybe not, but anything else new I always wash first.

Computer Geek in a Cabin

Happy Friday! Wowsa, I'm up and blogging early this morning, huh? Usually I'm just a rollin' outta bed by now :) I guess the excitement of Friday my aching back has got the best of me. It's back to a "regular" Friday, as I have a full weekend of work this week. My wallet is excited, my feet are dreading it. Me, I'm content. Now, let's get this show on the road and answer some questions!  Oh also don't forget to read "Letter to Me" and maybe write one to yourself :)


1. If you could have any talent and turn it into an occupation, what would it be?
I would love to be able to sing, but I don't really have the personality of an entertainer. I'd be all dark and quiet like my love, Jamey Johnson (minus the drug and alcohol and hooker problems!) and probably never be super popular. So, my second choice is (yawn) computer geek. I know, how boring. I just wish I was super computer smart. People could bring their computers to my house, I could work on them on my own time (in my sweats) and steal their passwords and identities make giooood money doing it. (I was just teasin' about that. Don't get your panties in a bundle. Just being ornery. This early morning gig is new to me)



2. Would you rather have a house at the beach or a cabin in the woods?
Ooooooooh can I have BOTH? I can't choose. I want a summer beach house where I can tan and listen to the ocean lap the sand.  I could build castles and collect shells. HEY! Maybe I could learn to make those little shell boxes and sell them to tourists. Yes, what a great idea.

But then when fall comes, I want out of there! I want cool weather, crisp leaves, and a shady little cabin back in the woods. I could watch leaves fall, squirrells scurry, and deer frolic happily through my back yard (until BAM! Bryan would shoot them and they'd no longer frolic...). I could have a toasty fire in the fireplace and wait for winter, when I could watch the snow fall and make hot cocoa and chop my own Christmas tree! Yep. I need both.

If you held a gun to my head and MADE me choose, I'd pick the cabin. Bryan would be happier there, and I couldn't go without my fall and my snow. I'd just have to visit the beach I guess.



3. Is there any meaning or reasoning for the names you chose for your child/children?
I always always always wanted my first born daughter to have the middle name Mae. My grandma Willa (whose actual given name was Willie) died when I was three years old, and I absolutely adored her. I wanted to carry on her name somehow, and since Willa isn't the coolest name around, I stole her middle name and bestowed it upon my unborn child years before she was even a possibility.  Chloe is just a name I chose because I liked it. I originally wanted to name her Michaela, but I had a girl in school named Kayla who wasn't exactly my "favorite" person in the world (she called me a bitch!). Soooo I thought that was too close for comfort, and 3 M names were too many for one little girl. So I went with Chloe, a name I've liked since Chloe came to Days of Our Lives as a teenager :)


4. What is your guilty pleasure? (I know we've done this one before, but I'm guessing people's "guilty pleasures" change frequently. At least, mine do!)
WHICH ONE????

Ok. I made mention of it before, but I will go all out here and tell you. I. Love. Teen Mom. I do. I have seen every episode, and I look forward to Tuesday nights at 9 when it's on (it's over right now). It's SO bad that even Chloe is aware. When we were in the checkout line at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago, she went to the next aisle to look at the crap they lure kids with novelties, and came back toting US Weekly. She handed it to me and said, "Look, Mom, the girl from your show is on this magazine."  It was Amber from Teen Mom. I furrowed my brow as if I didn't know what she was talking about, then hunched over the magazine, reading the article while Mister Mister put the groceries on the belt :)


5. Do you live in a house that is deep cleaned or straightened?
Ummmm. Is cluttered and occasionally clean an option?  :)

I try to keep the house straightened. I constantly remind Mister Mister that we DO have a laundry basket AND a closet. He's lived here much longer than I have, but I guess he was never introduced to those features!  Chloe's room is a lost cause. I just shut the door. I do my best to keep up with the rest of it, deep cleaning one room at a time (by "at a time" I mean every month or so). If you ever come visit, come on a Friday night. I get everything done on Friday to prepare for being at work all weekend. It's usually pretty clean and homey then.

Speaking of which, I need to get busy. I have an extra hour this morning, and I am going to USE it to get my stuff done early. I've got going out to do tonight!  Happy Friday!!!

I Want to be Minnie Mouse!

Well, if you're not my Facebook friend (then you should be, but that's another story), then you don't know that my Jamey Johnson concert was canceled. Boo hisss boo hooooo hoooo! I'm heartbroken. I was SO pumped about that, and now it's been snatched from me! But on a happier note I have some weekend time off coming up for birthday parties and family stuff, so that's something to look forward to I suppose.

Anyway, there is nothing exciting going on, except that I had a RECORD number of blog views yestetrday, oh yes I did! I've also added two new followers (yay newbies!), and feel like I am not just talking to myself every day after all :)

Anyway, it's time for five questions. Are you ready????


1. Did you have a pen pal when you were little (or now)? Where were/are they from?
Well, I paid my social studies teacher in 6th grade to give me an International pen-pal. Her name was Miriam Alacouchie (yep I still remember). She was from Denmark. I wrote her four letters, and she never ONCE wrote me back. That's my luck, though, remember?

I met a girl at Super Summer, though, my very first year (after 7th grade). Her name was Shawna Mason, and we clicked instantly. She lived in Springfield, and we wrote each other letters over most of our high school years. We lost touch eventually, but I enjoyed having someone to write to about all the (boring) things going on in my teenage life. I have looked for her on Facebook, but there are probably five million Shawna Masons =/

Oh don't forget my farm guy pen pal ;)

2. If you could do a different job for one day, what would it be?
It's funny Mama M mentioned this, because I just told Bryan when we went to Worlds of Fun how much fun I think it would be to be a character at an amusement park. I wouldn't want to be Cinderella, though, I'd want to be one whose head is covered, like Minnie Mouse, or Snoopy, or Tweety Bird. Wouldn't it be fun to have children (and adults) beg for your photo all day? To hug little kids and make their whole day/vacation/life by spending time with them? I think it would be super cool.


3. Do you remember your biggest fear from when you were little?
Probably whatever happened on Rescue 911 that week. Even into my young adult years I have been one of those people who suddenly becomes afraid of whatever new is brought to my attention. My main fear as a child was of our house burning down. I remember when I got so scared about it that I quit using my night light (YIPES the dark!) because I was afraid it would start a fire.

I worried about car accidents, abduction, boating accidents, carbon monoxide, and animal attacks, all thanks to Rescue 911. Then when I was older I was sure I had every disease or ailment that crossed the doors of County General ER (remember when George Clooney was the cutest doctor around? Move over McDreamy!). I even remember using the "tricks" the doctors talked about to check myself for a brain tumor more than once ;) See my worrying goes waaaaaay back!


4. What do you think is a waste of time? Why?
Ohhh I don't know. I'm pretty good at wasting time, so I could tell on myself and say Facebook, blogging, Grey's Anatomy re-runs (I've seen them ten times already!), and sleeping late. But all of those things bring me such joy, so are they really a waste of time?

Waiting in lines is the biggest waste of time I can think of. In traffic, at amusement parks, at Walmart, wherever. I hate hate hate waiting.



5. What is the oldest item you have in your closet?
Ooh I'm guilty here. I have a pair of Dr. Martens that are more than ten years old (those things are indestructable!), I also have my college sweatshirt, which is now more than ten years old. Other than that, just a few things from my early twenties.