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.

The Royal Wedding Hubbub

I woke up this morning to my facebook newsfeed freaking out over the Royal Wedding. I had originally planned on taping the ceremony and reception and watching the interesting parts at a more reasonable time. It turns out, the only interesting parts involved Prince Harry being a complete dork, grinning as his grandmother walked past him, dancing down the aisle, and making goofy faces at his brother. I have to admit, I've always had a little crush on Harry and his actions today made that crush a little bigger (okay, a lot bigger).

Almost every little girl has dreamed of being a princess. I've dreamed of marrying Harry or William or some other French or British royal. But after watching William take his first look at his new bride, I realized I had a new dream. I don't want to be a princess. I don't want millions of people watching my wedding. I don't want my wedding to cost millions of pounds. I simply want to find a man who will look at me like this.

Wednesday HodgePodge

1. What is something that bothers you if it is not done perfectly?

- My hair, which is extremely frustrating because it is never perfect. I could spends hours in front of the mirror straightening it and never be satisfied. When I walk in front of a mirror, I have to stop and adjust the flyaways. In high school, I carried around a hairbrush in my backpack for this reason. I've now learned to just avoid the mirror and stop brushing my hair so much.

2. What is one of your best childhood memories?

- Oh, so many to choose from. While racking my brain for my favorite, I randomly remembered my preschool graduation. It was held outside at Coquina's Children Center. My whole family (immediate and chosen) was there to cheer me on as I got my diploma. I was so proud of myself. I've stayed friends with some of the kids I went to preschool with, which is what makes this memory so great.

3. Do you plan to watch the Royal Wedding and when was the last time you wore a hat?

- I have a bad case of wedding fever but I am not one to pull an all-nighter so I'll probably DVR the wedding and watch it at a more Godly hour. I actually wore a hat last weekend. My friend Melissa has this big floppy garden hat she wore to our field day and I couldn't resist trying it on.

4. Where do you fall in the birth order in your family? Do you think this has influenced your personality?

- I'm the middle child. I think my parents did a good job of giving my brothers and I equal attention, so I don't really have a case of middle child syndrome. I mean, I do like being the center of attention sometimes, but who doesn't? I like to make my own way in life and do my own thing, regardless of what my older brother has done. If anything, being the middle child has made me more social rather than less.

5. Where do you think you spend most of your money?

- During the school year, I definitely spend most of my money on food. Last semester, I was good about waiting to eat until I got home, unless a friend called and wanted to grab lunch. This semester, I went to the union and paid for lunch everyday. I blame that on my cousin always being hungry.

6. When you need to confront someone would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, by email or by letter? Why?

- I hate confrontation. I try to avoid it like the plague. Given the choice, I would much rather confront someone via texting or a phone call. I know it's terrible and I'm really trying to get better at face-to-face confrontation.

7. Dodge ball, freeze tag, kickball or jump rope? You have to pick one.

- Freeze tag. Always freeze tag. My friends and I still play when we get together at a park.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

- It's officially summertime, but I don't think that fact has sunk in yet. It's extremely hard to believe I've already completed another year of college. Pretty soon, I'll be graduating and trying to find a teaching job. I'm really hoping the school system is at least a little bit better by the time I graduate. If it's not, maybe I really will try grad school. One can never be too educated.

Easter Hodgepodge

1. What are your plans for Easter Day/weekend?

- This year, Easter falls smack-dab in the middle of exam week, so I'll be spending most of the weekend studying. Saturday evening, my family and I are planning on going to the Easter vigil at church. Sunday, my grandparents, uncles, and aunt are coming over for dinner. I'll probably end up eating and then retreating back to my room to cram as much astronomy in my head as I can.

2. Besides Jesus, what one person from The Bible would you most like to meet and why?

- That's a hard question... I'd have to say Joseph. I have always wondered what it was like raising Jesus. There's a lot of talk about Mary in the Bible and the Catholic church, but it seems Joseph always gets forgotten. I'd love to meet him and ask him what his life was like.

3. What is one modern day convenience you didn't have as a child that was easy to live without?

- I grew up without a cell phone. I remember having to call my friends on the house phone. I had to make sure no one was on the phone first and I always worried that my parents would pick up the other line and eavesdrop on me. (not that I was ever talking about anything bad). Now everyone has a cell phone and people rarely spend time on an actual phone call. It's all texting, all the time.

4. Are you more right brained or left brained? If you don't know what that means there is an interesting little quiz here.

- Based on the quiz, I'm whole-brained, but I lean towards left. I've never considered myself to be a very creative person, so I think the quiz is pretty accurate.

5. What is something you intended to do today but didn't? Why?

- I actually made a "to do" list last night and I accomplished everything on it. The only thing I didn't do was study with my friend Matt, but that was because he had a test to take. I studied on my own though, so I think it still counts as getting accomplished. I'm actually quite proud of the fact that I finished my astronomy chapters. I've been known to complain non-stop about the class so it took a lot (deactivating facebook and leaving my computer at home) to finally finish my readings.

6. Cadbury Creme Eggs or Reeses peanut butter?

- REESES! Reeses are my weakness. I've been trying to give up chocolate since January (in support of my head-teacher Nichole), but I sneak a Reeses cup every once in a while.

7. Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?

- hmm... I wasn't in to too many cartoons as a child. I was more of a Gullah Gullah Island girl. But I did love the Animaniacs. They were entertaining AND educational. Nowadays, I can't get enough of the Backyardigans and Wonderpets. I wish my cousins weren't growing up so fast.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

- This time next week, I'll officially be on summer vacation. I feel like it's coming at a terrible time though. While I'm looking forward to being done with classes, I'm not looking forward to all my new friends going home. I'm hoping some of them choose to stay in Orlando over break.

Wednesday HodgePodge

1. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time or have a significant conversation with two people?

- I'd much rather have a significant conversation with fewer people. Last weekend, I was at a party and I often found myself in a corner talking to two or three people rather than shouting to be heard in a group of fifteen.

2. What objects do you remember from your parent's living room?

- Well, I still live at home, but whenever I think of our living room, I can't help but picture the Precious Moments all over. We have shelves and shelves of figurines on each wall. I'm pretty sure my mom owns almost every figurine.

3. Do you hog the bed? Steal the covers? Snore?

- I definitely hog the bed and steal the covers. I'm used to sleeping alone, so I always feel sorry for my friends when we have a slumber party. I like sprawling out and wrapping myself in a cocoon. Maybe this is why my friends usually make me sleep on the floor.

4. Speaking of Easter dinner....what is your favorite way to cook/eat lamb? Or does just the thought of that make you squeamish? If you're not cooking lamb what will be your entree du jour on Easter Sunday?

- I absolutely love lamb! But my mom hates it (she's not a real Greek), so my dad can't cook it for Easter dinner. Instead, we have ham. I'm not a big fan of ham so my dad makes me my own little turkey. I suppose I'm a tad bit spoiled.

5. Let's throw some politics into this week's mix-oooohhh...Do you know the whereabouts of your birth certificate and when was the last time you had to produce it to prove you're you?

- I believe mine is either in the roll-top desk in the study or in our safety deposit box. I think I had to show it when I renewed my passport.

6. As a child, how did people describe you?

- Loud. Extremely chatty. Social butterfly. Violent.

All of the above work. My teachers had trouble keeping me quiet during class. I also tended to push kids around, but that's what happens when you grow up with two brothers. I remember my 1st grade teacher used to laugh when I'd knock the boys out of their chairs. She told them I was small and it was my only defense. She gave me the only excuse I've ever needed.

7. What do you complain about the most?

- School and not having enough time in the day. The education department in this country is going downhill fast and people are abandoning ship left and right. I often find myself wishing I was interested in something other than teaching, but alas, I am not. So instead of changing my major, I complain about the classes I'm in while secretly enjoying every minute of it.

8. Insert your own random thought here

- Read this please.