Wednesday Hodgepodge

I missed last week's hodgepodge and I refuse to miss another week, so here it goes!!

1) What reveals more about a woman - her refrigerator or her purse?

- Definitely her purse. Everyone's fridge contains nearly the same things, milk, eggs, leftovers, sodas. The only differences are in the labels. But each woman has a different purse that says a lot about her. The contents of my purse would tell you that I like to be prepared, I have asthma, and I carry around nausea medicine for when I get stressed. All of which are good things to know about me. (side note: I took me three tries to spell "refrigerator" correctly. Why does it not contain a "d" if "fridge" does?)

2) When was the last time you visited the zoo? Where? What's your favorite zoo animal?

- Last June, I took Proverbs 31's prince and princess to the Brevard Zoo while she and her husband were out of town. We had a lot of fun! The prince had a million questions for the zoo keepers.

My favorite zoo animal is the elephants. I could spend all day at an elephant exhibit if anyone would let me.

3) What social issue really fires you up?

- Child abuse/neglect.

4) Are you a coupon clipper? Are you extreme?

- I can't remember the last time I used a coupon for something. When I cut out/print coupons, I always end up forgetting to use them.

5) What is one of your favorite souvenirs brought back from your travels?

- My great uncle owns an antique shop in upstate New York. We went to visit him a couple years ago and he took us to his shop and let us look around. He noticed me admiring a hand-beaded pillow from the late 1800s or early 1900s (I can't remember which). When I wasn't paying attention, he took it off the shelf and gave it to my mom to take home. That pillow is definitely cherished and I'm thankful for it. I'm sure my uncle could have gotten a good chunk of change for it but he decided to just give it away to make me smile.

6) Lemon meringue or key lime?

- I'm not a huge fan of either, but if I had to choose I'd say key lime. I can eat it in small amounts, but too much makes my stomach hurt.

7) What is the most beautiful word you know in any language?

love

8) Insert your own random thoughts here.

The end of the school year is approaching quickly. I didn't realize just how much I would miss my kids until now. One of the little boys in my class is leaving early to go on vacation so he had to say goodbye after class today. He gave me and Nichole huge hugs and told us to miss us. He was definitely a handful, but I'll miss him a lot. I don't want to have to say goodbye to the rest of my class next week!!!

The not-so-sweet smells of summer

Summer is supposed to be enjoyed, correct? It seems as if I'm spending most of my summer days wishing it was already fall semester. I'm homesick for UCF (which is a sentiment I welcome with open arms after my experiences freshman year).

Reasons I dislike summer:

1. I actually enjoy learning. I enjoy cracking open a book and trying to wrap my brain around a new concept. Sure, I'll complain while I'm doing it, but I prefer that to sitting around doing nothing.

2. Just because I was born and raised in Florida does NOT mean I enjoy the summer heat. Sitting outside is nearly unbearable. Sure, I could put on a pair of shorts and deal with it, but shorts nowadays aren't particularly appropriate or flattering.

3. Lovebugs. One of the only reasons I ever hate on the University of Florida. Why would you release a bug that was intended to eat mosquitoes when it doesn't? All they do is eat my car paint.

Things I miss about UCF:

1. Getting to see my best friends every day. A lot of my friends are now back home working.

2. Actually having something to do/learn each day.

3. The peace I feel when I look out the windows of the Teaching Academy.

4. Dare I say it? Astronomy class with Elise.

5. Asian Chao and Chick-fil-a. yum!

May the Fourth Be With You (Hodgepodge)

1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Did you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?

- I'm pretty sure I have but I cannot remember when it was. I did sleep at my friend Melissa's a couple weekends ago and I woke up to her boyfriend making us pancakes, which is as close to breakfast in bed as I usually get. (I don't like eating in the morning). If I were getting served breakfast in bed this weekend, I'd love homemade waffles and fresh fruit.

2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?

- I'm not a mom, but I know time goes by quicker than any of us want it to. So I'd tell them to savor every moment they're given with their children and be grateful for what they have. Being a babysitter, I also know it's important to get a night out once in a while, for sanity's sake of course, not for mine.

3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain.

- When I got my final grades yesterday. Screams of joy and relief, I mean. I knew I would pass everything, I just wasn't sure if passing astronomy meant a B- or an A (everything was riding on this last test).

4. Can you hula hoop?

- Absolutely not. I can't jump rope either. I think it's the whole coordination/balance thing. Yesterday, my friend Matt was trying to teach me about his Power Balance bracelet. He wanted me to stand on one foot and try not to fall when he pushed on my arms.... yeah right. I fell before he even touched me. So no, I can't balance a hula hoop on my hips.

5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?

- Tailgating. Definitely tailgating. I'm the kind of person who will drive no more than 5 mph over the speed limit when I'm on my way to school. If the road is empty, I go in the fast lane, if it's not I drive on the right. I get extremely frustrated when people come into the right lane and tailgate me when the left lane is completely empty. 99% of the time I'll slow down just to make them angry.

6. What do you do when people don't admit they're wrong?

- I try not to give people a hard time about that. Unless they're wrong about a homework problem or something. I'm an extremely stubborn person who doesn't like to admit she's wrong, so I understand where they're coming from most of the time.

7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'fun'?

- Honestly? The Spongebob song. "F is for friends who do things together. U is for you and me. N is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea." I have no excuse for that one because none of the kids I watch are allowed to watch it.... I suppose I can blame my brothers.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

- I realized how much of a mom/preschool teacher I am yesterday. I was at my friend's dinner party and someone spilled spaghetti sauce on their (white) shirt when they were cooking. I immediately went over to my bag and whipped out my Tide-to-go. My friend then peered into the pocket it came out of and laughed at me because the contents of that pocket included various pens and pencils, scrap paper, handinaps from Sonny's, and maybe a crayon. Normal single, childless 20-year-olds do not carry that sort of thing around every day.