Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires

Looking Back at 2011 {Survey Style}

Jan 092012

Where did you begin 2011?
Next door, with our neighbors

What was your status by Valentine’s Day? Not sure what that means but on VDay 2011 my honey and I and some friends went to Famous Daves for dinner

Were you in school anytime this year?
yes, teaching all year long

Did you have to go to the hospital?
nope, nor did I visit anyone

Did you have any encounters with the police?
yes, in early Dec. after I was rear-ended and became a victim of hit and run

What did you purchase that was over $1000?
No big purchases last year.

Did you know anybody who got married?
??? Don’t think so

Did you know anybody who passed away?
I didn’t lose any people but I lost my two kitties, Pharaoh (3-08-11) and Dusty (4-6-11)

Did you know anyone who had a baby?
My friends Mandy and Becky (I took her maternity photos) and Michelle’s sister Erin. My friend Kelly from college also had a baby. I hope I didn’t miss anyone! lol

Did you move anywhere?
Nope, still stuck in my crappy POS townhouse

Do you still have the same job as you did in 2010?
Yes, but they extended our school day by an hour each day. My contract went from 40-45 hours. Coaching Lego was an additional 5 hours. I also continued to write restaurant reviews for Twin Cities Restaurant Blog.

Where do you live now?
Hugo aka Help Us Get Out

Describe your birthday
Fancy dinner at Heartland Restaurant with E, D & D. Drank a lot of wine and had a great night

What’s one thing you thought you’d never do but did in 2011?
I never thought I would have to bury my two fur babies within weeks of each other. Still heartbroken

What has been your favorite moment?
The trip to Chicago and seeing Sade in concert

Any new additions to your family?
Jeff and Amanda got engaged, so I have a new future SIL. Hoping we can add our own addition asap

What was your best month?
August

Were you in a relationship this year?
Same relationship into the past three decades!

What music will you remember 2011 by?
Sade,

Favorite Night out?
Seeing Sade in concert,

Do you think 2012 will be better or worse?
Better, it has to be!

Done something you’ve regretted?
I regret every bad decision I make

Cut class?
No

Were involved in something you’ll never forget?
Coaching my Lego Team for the first time

Visited a different country?
Wish I could say yes

Cooked a gross meal?
You don’t really want to know! Too many times

Lost something important to you?
My cats and the Australian Opal in my favorite ring

Got a gift you adore?
the Statue of Pharaoh from Denise

Tripped over a coffee table?
probably

Dyed your hair?
yes. Red, in fact! First time being a red-head

Came close to losing your life?
Only in my nightmares

Read a great book?
Several! Great year of books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, Hunger Games series, The Book Thief, The Help, On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Shadow of the Wind, Kite Runner

Saw one of your favorite bands/artists live?
Sade, Eric Gales. So happy to have FINALLY seen them both for the very first time!! Also Skywind’s Reunion Show and Sevendust. Morcheeba

[[2011: Friends and Enemies]]

Did you meet any new friends this year?
No

Did you dislike anyone?
Yes, Steve S at Import Auto Sales. I will forever have a black heart against that man and his business practices and will never forgive him for the court date on the day of Dusty’s death. Long story and maybe someday I shall tell it here.

Did you grow apart from anyone?
yes

[[2011: Your BIRTHDAY!]]
Did you have a cake?
No

Did you have a party?
No, just dinner

Did you get any presents?
A couple

{2011}

Did you go on any vacations?
Trip to Chicago, geez, that reminds me to finish the video I started 5 months ago.

Would you change anything about yourself now?
Yes, I would be a much better cook! lol

[[2011: Wrap UP:]]
Was 2011 a good year?
Not a great year

Do you think 2012 will top 2011?
I sure hope so!

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

ABC Meme

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 1 Response »

Jul 222011

This Meme was all over blogland today, might as well join ‘em

Age: XXXIV
Bed Size: King
Chore You Hate: Cleaning bathroom
Dogs: No, but love King Charles Spaniels
Essential start of your day: Shower
Favorite color: Purple and teal
Gold or silver: White gold
Height: 5’6 1/2″
Instruments I play (or have played): Flute
Job title: Gifted Services Specialist
Kids: If possible
Live: Help Us Get Out ~ Minnesota
Mom’s name: Fran
Nickname: Kritti, Teach,
Overnight hospital stays: Yes
Pet peeve: They are all driving-related
Quote from a movie: ?
Right or left handed: Right
Siblings:Two younger brothers, Brian and Jeff
Time you wake up: 5-6am
Underwear: Bikini brief
Vegetables you dislike: I love all veggies
What makes you run late: Misjudging traffic
X-rays you’ve had done: pretty much my entire body has been x-rayed. I am not kidding either
Yummy food you make: Calzones
Zoo animal: Orangutan, tigers, polar bears,

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

Meme Galore

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Jun 102011

TRUE OR FALSE
Q: Kissed someone on your friends list?
True.

Q: Been arrested?
False.

Q: Held a snake?
True

Q: Been suspended from school?
False

Q: Sang karaoke?
True. But only with others

Q: Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t do?
True.

Q: Laughed until you started crying?
True.

Q: Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
True ( I do live in Minnesnowta!)

Q: Kissed in the rain?
True

Q: Sang in the shower?
False

Q: Sat on a roof top?
True.

Q: Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?
> True.

Q: Broken a bone?
True

Q: Shaved your head?
False.

Q: Played a prank on someone?
True.

Q: Shot a gun?
> True.

Q: Donated Blood?
True

LAST PERSON…
1. You hung out with?
Kim

2. You texted?
Noemy

3. You were in a car with?
My guy

4. Went to the movies with?
I can’t even remember the last movie I saw in a theater!

5. Person you went to shop with?
I hate shopping

6. You talked on the phone?
Kim

7. Made you laugh?
Kindergarten kids

8. You hugged?
Kim

IN THE LAST 48 HOURS HAVE YOU…
1. Sang?
No

2. Listened to music?
Yes, Massive Attack, Armor for Sleep, Gojira

3. Danced Crazy?
No

4. Cried?
Yes

FIRSTS …
1.Who was your first prom (or homecoming) date?
Craig

2. Who was your first roommate?
Bradie- college dorms

3. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk the first time?
Sun Country? Or maybe Boone’s Farm

4. What was your first job?
Unofficially- babysitter. Officially- Burger King

5. What was your first car?
’86 Dodge Daytona (The Silver Bullet)

6. When did you go to your first funeral and viewing?
My Great Grandma when I was 4

7. Who was your first grade teacher?
Mrs Fullerton

8. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
Not sure where I went but I was only 3 months old

9. When you snuck out of your house for the first time?
No comment

10. Who was your first best friend?
Erin Robinson

11. Who was your first Best Friend in high school?
Mary, Katy

12. Where was your first sleepover?
Probably with Bradie or Leslie

13. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
Denise

14. Who’s wedding were you in the first time you were a Bridesmaid or groomsman?
My Aunt Patti was first Flower Girl. Aunt Carol first Bridesmaid

15. What is the first thing you did when you got up this morning?
Cried in pain from my massive sunburned shoulders

16. First time you tied your shoe laces?
Preschool or Kindergarten

17. Are you Facebook friends with your first crush?
No

18. Who was the first person you met from the blogosphere?
Susan Weinroth 2005

19. What was the first music album that you bought?
Michael Jackson’s Thriller

20. Who was your first celebrity crush?
Ricky Martin when he was in Menudo. Followed by Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

100 Questions Part 1

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 1 Response »

Apr 042011

1. Who are you?

Kristi…… partner, sister, daughter, auntie, friend, teacher, blogger, restaurant reviewer, reader, traveler, photographer

2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?

I’m a very hard worker and I am very caring

3. When you aren’t answering memes like this one what are you doing?
Working, Blogging or reading

4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn’t like at the time).
I graduated HS nearly 16 years ago (holy $^% I am old) and I loved school.
Favorite classes: speech, algebra, biology, spanish, foods
Least Favorite classes: geometry, physical science, world religions

5. What is your biggest goal for this year?
Finding work with a good income for the summer

6. Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Debt free and In a different house

7. What stage of life are you in right now?
The stage where I am happily settled and nearly ready for having kids

8. Are you more child-like or childish?
More like a mother than a child (I have always been mature)

9. What is the last thing you said out loud?
Have a great day!

10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now?
??? Can’t think of anything right now but it would likely be something depressing

11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes?
NO.

12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same?
It has its ups and downs

13. Does time really heal all wounds?
No, I don’t believe it does… but it somehow numbs the pain.

14. How do you handle a rainy day?
Reading, watching movies

15. Which is worse…losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights?
Losing luggage, I don’t bother with holiday lights

16. How is (or was) your relationship with your parents?

We don’t talk very often but we do spend time together at least once a month. I love and enjoy my family very much

17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?

No, I am a master at tuning out extraneous details

18. What is the truest thing that you know?

Everyone struggles with something

19. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Medical Doctor

20. Have you ever been given a second chance?
I guess so

21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
I believe in both give and take but I am more of a giver

22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind?
Yes

23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?
Getting hit by a drunk driver when I was 17. I suffered numerous, life-long injuries

24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you?

This is a deep question. Fortunately I can’t think of anything I wasn’t able to work through. Maybe the death of Pharaoh? I haven’t had to deal with death of anyone super close to me until then. I am still grieving for him and it isn’t any better that my Dusty is dying of old age right now

25. Who have you hugged today?

My Dusty. He is living on borrowed time and I hug him every chance I get. I also had a few students give me hugs this morning

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

Fill in the Blank Friday

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Dec 102010

I saw this “Fill in the Blank Friday” on Krysten‘s blog and thought I would do it too. Lauren hosts this little Meme.

1. I wish I could afford to travel over the Holiday Break this year. Really want to go to Florida to see Noemy!

2. Yesterday I worked 10+ hours, listened to a friend going through some troubled times, then went for a delicious, late dinner at Orchid Restaurant.

3. Today I will be meeting some of my college friends for Happy Hour at Flame in Rosedale. I haven’t been there before and plan to do a review. I will be doing some Christmas shopping later in the evening

4. Tomorrow I will probably be snowed-in, according to the reports of the snow storm we are supposed to be getting. Perfect time to catch up on my many restaurant reviews and business.

5. Maybe I will finally get some much-needed new shoes and boots for winter tonight when I am shopping

6. Someday I’m going to Marry my love and have a baby. Get a Doctorate and Write a book. Travel the World

7. I love to eat and try new restaurants. Seeing my family and friends. Taking pictures, Reading.

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

I was Tagged {Two weeks ago!}

Random Thoughts & Updates, Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Sep 232010

1. What kind of hair(color/cut) have you always wanted but never had the nerve to do it?
Nothing short, that’s for sure! I have had many colors over the years but my hair has always been past my shoulders. I would love a Hollywood makeover ;)
2. If you haven’t been/or could do it over, where would/did you go on your honeymoon?
Somewhere tropical and romantic

3. What is your dream car?

Little Red Corvette. Duh!

4. If you would move anywhere in the world where would you go?
Spain

5. What famous lady would you love to be or be bff with?
I would like to look like Brooke Burke and be friends with someone who would make me laugh all the time

6. What colors did you do or do you want to do for your wedding?
I bet you thought I would say purple, right? Maybe but teal is more like it. Actually, since I want to get married somewhere tropical, I think I would like stylish floral sundresses (teal, purple, fuschia pattern). Nothing gaudy.

7. What trashy reality show are you embarrassingly addicted to?I

I can honestly say I have never been addicted to any Reality Show. I have from time to time watched Kendra or The Girls Next Door or the Kardashian shows, but thats pretty much it. Oh, and Anna Nicole back in the day.

8. Do you you remember your first kiss? How old were you and how awkward was it?

Isn’t it silly that we remember things like this??! His initials were EM, it was the summer before 7th grade and it was behind the ice house at a park in Greenhaven. We met at roller skating through the Park & Rec a week earlier and he totally thought I was his age which was a year older than I actually was.

9. What is your guilty pleasure?
Margaritas. Food in general (but only because I have plumped up this past year)

10. What is your favorite chick flick?
Geez, I am horrible with remembering movies!

11. What is your favorite beverage?
Water and Margaritas.

12. What is your theme song?
For years it was the Tootsie Roll! LOL. ( I hope everyone who knows me that reads this gets a good laugh, I was famous for this dance back in college!) I would have to go through my ITunes to give a more updated answer to this question.

13. Who is your style icon?
I have never had a style icon. I march to the beat of my own taste in that regard! I hate shopping and I am not really into fashion so I only buy what I like, don’t really pay much attention to what is hot.

14. When was the last time you cried and why?
I don’t cry very often even though I am very sensitive and emotional. My feelings get hurt very easily.

15. What playlist/cd is on your CD player/iPod right now?
I never make playlists, all my music is old school

16. What is your favorite dessert?
Ice cream! I love them all but could give everything up except for ice cream!

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

In the past month…..

Random Thoughts & Updates, Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

May 272010

1) Current candle scents:
None, I NEVER burn candles or scents of any kind. They are a sinus buster

2) What I am reading this month:
I’m in the middle of three books, none of which really Grab me. Holy Guacamole (culinary mystery with recipes) by Nancy Fairbanks, Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster and Quicksand by Iris Johansen. I desperately need a good book that will captivate me.

3) Top three songs I was drawn to:
Any song on Massive Attack‘s new album Helioland

4) Movies I saw:

I am notorious for falling asleep during every movie I watch but I did just watch Sherlock Holmes. Not sure that I watched any other movies in May??!!

5) Favorite TV moments of the month:
The only TV I have watched this month is NBA playoffs.

6) Something yummy I made:
Chicken Satay. Recipe and pics to come soon

7) Restaurants where I ate:
Union Oyster House (Boston), Eagles Deli (Boston), Hard Rock Cafe (Niagara Falls), Mitsuwa (Chicago), House of Wong (St Paul), and Boca Chica’s Taco House (St Paul), The Nook (St Paul), Red’s Savoy Inn (St Paul)

8) Something I am thankful for:
Having a newer, reliable car. Being able to take off on a whim for a roadtrip to Boston

9) A goal I had for this month:
Buy a newer car and start winding down the school year. Check and CHECK!!

10) This month I looked forward to:
New Car and trip to Boston

11) Something I want to remember about this month:
Obviously my trip to Boston and also seeing Niagara Falls for the very first time.

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

40 Questions

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 4 Responses »

Feb 242010

A big time-waster for the blog today…….. (Thanks Krystyn!)

1. What would you like to appear in your hands right now?
A winning lottery ticket!

2. What was the last thing you ate?
Breakfast burrito from Taco Johns

3. What is your favorite episode of a tv show?
Honestly? I don’t watch enough TV to have a favorite

4. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yes, plenty of times

5. Which is better, your cursive or your printing? Absolutely NEITHER. Both are bad!

6. What photos are living on your camera right now, waiting to be downloaded? And why are they still there?
Nada. I almost always download photos the same day I take them, then I erase them from memory card.

7. How many pregnant women do you know?
Laura, Laura, Erin (sorry but I can’t think of anyone else at the moment, all my friends have had their kids)

8. Three things you did this past weekend:
Outback Steakhouse, District Spelling Bee, Como Park Zoo, Jake’s Bday Party, Brunch at Kim’s, Avatar 3D at Imax

9. If you could only visit three websites for the next month, which would you choose?
Gmail. Google Reader. My Blogging platforms

10. What did your family do for vacations when you were a child?
We went to AZ at least every-other-year over spring break (sometimes FL or CA). We also camped in Northern MN (God’s Country) a LOT in the summer

11. Law & Order or Boston Legal?
L & O because I have never seen Boston Legal

12. Do you mind if guests show up uninvited?
Depends on the situation and place. Do not like uninvited or unannounced visits to my house

13. When will you next travel by plane?
No plans at this time.

14. What did the last text message you received say? The best significant one was from Kim “Can’t wait until your party on Sunday”

15. When was the last time you got dressed up?
Noemy & Traves’ wedding

16. The perfect sign of affection is:
a hug.

17. Do you use your real name online or do you go by a screen name?
My full name or just sweetsauer

18. What do you miss when you’re away from home? I am rarely away

19. What are you completely & totally over hearing about, reading about, discussing ad nauseum?
Tiger Woods.

20. Do you reply to comments on your blog?
Yes, I try but it sometimes depends on how much time I have

21. What are three things that you are looking forward to?

Finishing Photo Hunt #6, warmer weather and having Chinese for dinner tonight :)

22. What is your favorite kind of tree? Palm trees. Locally I like Sugar Maples (especially in Fall)

23. What is the newest thing you own? My Nikon D5000

24. If I do anything well, it’s:
Survive on little sleep

25. What is your favorite dessert?
Umm, ALL OF THEM?? Dumb question! J/k Here is my Top 12 desserts list

26. Do you use a planner?
I have Google Calendar but don’t use it very well

27. What is your all-time favorite tv comedy?
Friends

28. What is your current obsession?
Eating and Photography.

29. Three signs Spring is here:
More daylight, tulips, Easter
30. Do you balance your checkbook or wing it?
Check bank balance online every 1-2 days

31. What kind of grapes do you prefer?
Small, hard red grapes

32. What is your favorite store-bought cookie?
Nothing beats homemade

33. What was your fifth grade teacher’s name?
Kent Peterson

34. High school was:
Fun but sooooooooo long ago. I hardly remember!!
35. Describe your dream kitchen.
Anything designed by my BFF Mary Ellen. She did an amazing job with My brother Jeff’s new kitchen. I was going to link to the post I wrote a couple of years ago that had photos, but realized that the photos are NOT THERE like I thought they were. BOO! This means that not all of my photos made it back onto this blog like I thought. Oh well. Hopefully MOST of them did, but i just don’t have time to go through 1500 posts to check.

36. What would you really like to purchase? A newer vehicle and my 50mm 1.4G Nikon lens

37. How many of your friendships have lasted more than a decade?
Many, many of them actually

38. Are there times when you still feel like a kid?
Not really.

39. What teacher from high school comes to mind first?
Sadly, I can’t really remember many except my Spanish teachers, Profe Wellstone or Profe Dahle

40. What magazines do you read?
Absolutely NONE. I am not a magazine person. I used to read Scarp mags but haven’t scrapped in 1 1/2 years now

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

High School Questionnaire

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Nov 212009

1. Did you date someone from your school? A few, but also a
few who had already graduated and then one who went to another HS

2. What kind of car did you drive? My parents' 1989 Ford
Taurus Wagon (until a drunk driver hit me and the car was totaled)

3. What was the most embarrassing moment of HS? I have many
moments from Jr High but can't really recall anything embarrassing happening to
me in HS

4. Were you a party animal? I went to a lot of parties,
wouldn't say I was a party animal – not until I was legal, anyway ;)

5. Were you considered a flirt? More than likely!

6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No Music in HS for
me!

7. Were you a nerd? As far as taking advanced classes and
being smart yes. I doubt anyone
would've considered me a nerd though, I was pretty cool ;

8. Were you on any varsity teams? JV soccer

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? No, absolutely not!

10. Can you still sing the fight song? Yes

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Drawing a huge blank. Isn't that sad? Probably my speech
teacher but I can't remember his name or even what he looked like :(

12. Where did you sit during lunch? Depends on the year, but
I remember South Campus, Jr year the best sitting with Jeanine & Kelly

13. School mascot? Bears

14. Did you go to homecoming, and with who? Craig-Freshmen
Year Dayan- Senior Year. I had
boyfriends in soph & Jr year but didn't go to the Homecoming dance. I should find my old dance pictures,
then scan & post!!

15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? No way,
not HS. College yes

16. What do you remember most about graduation? I was never
more nervous in my life. I also
had stayed up all night long the previous night and had zero sleep.

17. Where did you go senior skip day? Valley Fair

18. Were you in any clubs? I started a SADD chapter at my
school just after I was hit by the drunk driver. I was President.

19. Have you gained some weight since then? Sadly, I am
about 35-40 lbs heavier now

20. Who was your prom date? I was dumped by my BF two days
before Jr Prom and instead ended up going with a friend's older brother,
Ken. Senior year I went with my
boyfriend Otho

21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Nope,
didn't go to 10 year because I was at Matt & Colleen's wedding. My 15 year is next summer, probably go
to that.

22. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Continue to stay focused on school and
look into careers other than special education

Quick Little Questionnaire

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires No Responses »

Nov 052009

1. What time did you wake up this morning? 5:17
2. Are you hungry? Almost always
3. What level can you play on Guitar Hero? Never played before
4. When was the last time you ate ice cream? Had a pumpkin malt on Halloween
5. What color is your winter jacket? Black
6. Who is your favorite neighbor? Darrell & Denise (Jere & Shannon too!)
7. Do you wish at 11:11? Yes
8. Last phone call? Denise
9. What were you doing six hours ago?
10. What are some details about your first kiss? Behind the warming house at the skating rink
11. Have you had any soda today? Nope
12. What is your favorite scary movie? Jeeper’s Creepers
13. Do you own a Wii? No and I have never played it
14. Did you wear shorts today? Heck no
15. Anything fun happening this weekend? Sushi dinner to celebrate two special birthdays!
16. What is your favorite type of Pop Tart? Strawberry & cream cheese Toaster Strudel
17. Do you subscribe to any magazines? NO, I do not read mags
18. What was the last television show you watched? Ghost Hunters?
19. Do you know any other languages? Spanish (but I am not fluent)
20. Are you wearing anything green? Nope
21. Are your parents married or divorced? Married 36 years :)
22. Would you ever have plastic surgery? Yes
23. Have you ever done anything illegal? I plead the 5th
24. Can you roll your tongue? Yes
25. What is your hair color? Golden, reddish brown
26. Gold or silver? Both
27. Hamburger or hot dog? Both or it depends
28. City, beach or country? All 3 are great!
29. When’s the last time you cried? Weeks or months ago?
30. Do you post poems in your blog? No
31 Ever been involved with the police? No
32. Ocean or pool? Overall, ocean. To swim in: Pool
33. Do you drive a stick? Two of my former cars were manual
34. Cake or ice cream? Ice cream!!!
35. Have you ever given money to a bum? No, but I have donated food
36. Last thing you spent lots of money on? Bills
37. Where do you live? Hugo, MN
38. Last wedding attended? Friends of my in-laws
39. Favorite drink? Water and margaritas
40. How long was your longest drive in a car? Minnesota to Arizona

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

My Favorites Survey

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 2 Responses »

Apr 092009

1. Favorite Alcoholic Drink: Margarita (although I drink very seldomly)

2. Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drink: Water & Lemonade

3. Favorite Places to Visit: Arizona & Mexico (that's where I have been the most!) but I have many, many places on my list to visit.

4. Favorite Breakfast Food: I LOVE breakfast. Breakfast burritos, omelets, French Toast, Buttermilk Pancakes

5. Favorite Vehicle: Corvette

6. Favorite Fast Food Spot: Culver's

7. Favorite Shoes: I am not a shoe person but I'll say flip flops or black boots

8. Favorite Sport: Basketball, Boxing

9. Favorite Thing to do in my Free Time: Read, Hang Out, Compute, Take pictures

10. Favorite Snack/Junk Food: Chips & Salsa

11. Favorite Musicians: Prince

12. Favorite Bands: Sevendust

13. Favorite Store: Target

14. Favorite Weather: sunny and 70

15. Favorite Authors: Jodi Picoult, Dan Brown, Nora Roberts, JK Rowling

16. Favorite TV Shows: Grey's Anatomy, Monster Quest, Man vs. Food, No Reservations, Bizarre Foods

17. Favorite Cartoon: Its been YEARS so I have to say Scooby Doo, Flintstones, Jetson's, Snorks (yes, OLD school!)

18. Favorite Candy: I don't eat candy (except for chocolate) so Snickers, Dove or Godiva are my faves

19. Favorite Artist: De Grazia (from AZ)

20. Favorite Animals: Tiger (Liger is pretty sweet too! I love all big cats and also the Great Apes are my faves too)

21. Favorite Sweet Treat: Ice Cream

22. Favorite Animated Disney Movie: Lion King

23. Favorite Colors: Teal & purple

Sleep Survey

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires No Responses »

Mar 252009

1. How long do you sleep each night?
I usually go to bed around midnight (many nights later) and get up around 6am (many nights earlier). So 5-6 hours.

2. Do you fall asleep easily?
Yes, I am usually exhausted long before I head to bed. I fall asleep especially easy when watching a movie ;)

3. Do you fall asleep at times not in your bed?
Yes, but only on my sofa downstairs. Once I lay there to watch a movie, I am out about 10-30 minutes later then wake myself up to climb 3 flights of stairs to my bed!

4. Do you listen to music or use “white noise” to sleep?
I absolutely cannot sleep well with TV or music. At All. I do like a fan going but it is not necessary.

5. Do you sleep through the night or get up a couple of times?
I get up around 3-4am for a potty break

6. Do you have trouble sleeping away from your own bed?
Somewhat, I can sleep good as long as I am comfortable!

7. Do you need an alarm clock to get you up?
I have since daylight savings time started this year, but before that I would wake myself up within 2 minutes of the alarm. On weekends I will glance at clock at that same time and them remember I don’t work that day and can go back to sleep for a few hours!

8. Do you ever take medication to help you sleep?
I have a prescription muscle relaxer (for my jaw) that I am supposed to take before bed every night. Makes me nice and relaxed and I sleep wonderfully on it (but I drag a little in the morning)

9. Do you/have you slept with pets?
Its pretty much guaranteed that all four cats will sleep with me at some point in the night (not necessarily all at the same time though). Its annoying, but I cannot just lock them out or they will scratch and bang on the door all night!! Dang cats. PS When I have children they will NOT ever sleep in bed with me

Thanks for reading, have a great day ;)

25 Random Things

Random Thoughts & Updates, Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 6 Responses »

Jan 232009

Both Lindsay and Anne (and several people on Facebook) posted 25 Random things about themselves this week and since their posts were quite enjoyable, I thought it would be fun to post 25 random things about myself that I have probably not already divulged in my last 1,030 blog posts.

1. I was born on February 11th, 1977, one month premature. My dad didn't believe that my mom was in labor, so they barely made it to the hospital before I was born.

2. I went to Montessorri for pre-school and learned to read at the age of 4. I could also do fractions and count in bases other than 10.

3. When I was 3 or 4 years old, I fell off the bed while jumping and put my tooth right through my lip. I have an ugly scar to prove it.

4. Speaking of lips, I have had no feeling in my lower lip or in my chin since I was 15 years old due to a severed nerve from my mandibular osteotomy. That's a fancy name for jaw surgery. The surgery took 8 hours and I have 6 titanium screws in my lower jaw. Food on my face or chewing through my lip are common occurences.

5. I used to be a scrapbooker and LOVED it but have lost all desire to do it anymore. I have only scrapped twice in the past year and don't know if/when I'll ever want to do it again.

6. My favorite past-time is reading. I have read thousands of books in my lifetime and hope to read thousands more. I'd read over watching TV 95% of the time.

7. I believe in angels. My guardian angel saved my life back in 1994 when I was in a bad car accident, hit by a drunk driver. I am VERY anti drinking and driving.

8. The two longest friendships I have had have been since I was three years old (almost 29 years!), with Bradie and Leslie. They are both very dear to me and I still talk to each on a regular basis :)

9. I never got to meet my paternal grandparents, they both died before I was born.

10. I have ear and hearing problems. I am slightly hard of hearing and also have auditory discrimination problem and an auditory processing delay. I can hear vowels but can't always make out the word, so it sometimes takes me awhile to decipher what a person is saying. If words are mumbled, I will not be able to understand them. If there is noise in the foreground, I cannot hear anything in the background. It is extremely frustrating. I also have a lot of pain in my left ear that has been nagging at me for 2 1/2 years and has been associated with my severe jaw problems (TMJ).

11. I have magically lost a bunch of weight in the past year. (All I really did was quit drinking soda and switched my BCP). I weigh significantly less than I did at my biggest weight, which was in 2006 after my knee surgery. I do not feel any smaller but all my clothes are way too big on me. It would be great if I magically lose another 40 lbs!

12. My lifelong career aspiration was to be a Dr. one day. Like an M.D. That changed when I was 17 and discovered that my true calling was to become a teacher. I am happy with my decision (for the most part) but would surely love to trade my salary for that of an M.D. any day!!

13. I have been to Mexico 20 times. Some of the places I have visited (some multiple times!) include: Nogales, Puerto Penasco, Puerta Vallarta, Acapulco, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Mexico City, Taxco, Guadalajara, Tijuana.

14. I watched the movie House Bunny a few nights ago and thought it was pretty funny. I can't remember the name of the actress (she is also in the Scary Movie series), but she is hilarious!!!

15. I don't watch much TV at all but if I do, I love watching Travel Channel, Discovery and History. You will probably never catch me watching Prime Time Reality TV, it just isn't my thing.

16. I have 900+ albums on my iTunes but I have never had an iPod. What's wrong with that picture??!

17. This is weird, but I have HUGE sinuses. Three times the size of normal. One ENT Dr. even told me I have the biggest sinuses he has ever seen. I am not prone to infections but have chronic stuffiness (for which I need to take meds). I suffered from major headaches for years and always thought it was my sinuses, turns out it was my jaw.

18. Growing up, I hated seafood or rather I thought I hated it because the smell was so strong. My parents are Catholic and eat seafood every Friday during Lent. It wasn't until I was 20 years old and came home from college for Easter that I finally tried seafood. On Good Friday of that year I had crab legs and sword fish and have loved seafood ever since! I was really mad at myself for not trying it sooner.

19. Speaking of food, I am obsessed. I love to eat. I had major stomach issues and never ate anything fatty or spicy until I quit smoking cigarettes in the year 2000. Once I quit, all of my stomach problems went away and I started to eat all the delicious things I could never eat before. Hence all the weight gain (a lot of which I have since lost…see #11 above).

20. I have one of the worst singing voices you'll ever hear! Seriously. I think its because singing high notes is foreign to me….I can only sing low (and even that sounds terrible). I try not to sing out loud unless I am by myself and even then I can barely tolerate to hear myself! LOL

21. I do not consume any products with aspartame because it gives me the worst headaches. I have also been 99% caffeine free for the past 10 years. The 1% is an occasional piece of chocolate or cup of cocoa.

22. I am allergic to bee stings. I have been stung three times in my life, each time with much worse symptoms. Its been 16 years since I was last stung and I am supposd to carry an epi-pen during bee season, but it has been about 5 years since I last had it refilled.

23. I lived and did my student teaching on the Tohono O'Odham Indian Nation in southern AZ ten years ago. The school I taught at was in a village less than 15 miles from the Mexican border. This experience was similar to living in a foreign country.

24. Speaking of foreign countries, I got a passport two years ago and have not yet had a chance to use it. I have never been overseas but would love to visit many places. Top of my list includes Spain, Costa Rica, Japan, Brazil, Italy, but I would travel almost anywhere as long as it is safe. I love to learn about people and places around the world.

25. I don't ever take naps. The only times in my life that I have taken naps is when I was in college (too many late nights of partying) or when I was really sick. I like to sleep but often see it as a waste of time. I usually function on 5-6 hours of sleep per night.

Addicted.

Food and Drink, Raves, Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 9 Responses »

Jan 162009

I was tagged by Ms. Samara to make a list of five things I am totally addicted to. To some this is very easy, but when I think about my addictions, all I can think about is FOOD. So let's look at some of the foods that I have a hard time saying No to ;)

1. Sweets. I do not eat candy, but I have a hard time passing up desserts! My favorites are carrot cake, cheesecake, German chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, and ice cream!!!

2. Buffalo Chicken. I love wings (and sandwiches) with a lot of buffalo sauce and bleu cheese on the side!

3. Pizza. I love it! My favorite local places are Davannis, Cossettas and Wildwood Pizza.

4. Mexican Food. There are very few Mexican foods that I will pass up (menudo is one I can do without). I prefer Authentic Mex to Tex-Mex, but love them both. Margaritas fall into this addiction as well :)

5. Sushi. I will eat many different varieties but my favorites are spicy tuna roll and hamachi sashimi.

I am not going to tag anyone in particular, but please feel free to blog about your addictions….food or otherwise!

Have you?

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Dec 222008

Bold the ones you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (I will someday)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (SCARY thought)
11. Bungee jumped (NEVER will)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (this might be the year!)
19. Seen pyramids of an Ancient Civilization
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Visited the Caribbean
27. Run a Marathon (No way)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Spanish is a work in progress)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Been to a World Series game
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (does a caricature count?)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten sushi
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Right Now….

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 2 Responses »

Nov 252008

i am: looking forward to having a 4-day weekend

i know: there are things I need to work on

i want: to go on a warm vacation

i have: a lot to be thankful for

i miss: my friends I don't spend enough time with

i feel: pretty good

i hear: heater fan humming

i smell: hand sanitizer

i crave: pizza

i cry: about sentimental things

i search: Google on a daily basis

i wonder: what happened to the co-worker who suddenly took a leave for the rest of the year

i regret: not listening when I should really listen

i love: to eat

i worry: I won't get to visit all the places on my list

i remember: the good times with good people

i dance: when the spirit moves me

i don't: ever take naps

i argue: very seldom

i write: restaurant reviews

i win: because I am in it to win it

i lose: my patience on the road

i wish: the economy would turn around

i listen: to a variety of musical genres

i can usually be found: with my Macbook Pro

i am scared: of things I can't control

i need: a Christmas Fairy to do all of my shopping for me

i forget: more than I used to

ABC’s

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Sep 052008

A= Attached or Single: Attached
B= Best Friend: Mary, Kim, Sonja, Lanee (Bradie & Kara too!)
C= Cake or Pie: That's a toss up, I don't resist either very well!
D= Day of Choice: Friday and Saturday
E= Essential Item: Make-up
F= Flavor of Icecream: Peppermint Bon Bon
G= Gummy Bears or Worms: Neither, I do not eat candy
H= Hometown: Vadnais Heights, MN
I= Indulgence: Food (I typically overindulge)
J= January or July: July
K= Kids: Hopefully within the next couple of years?!
L= Last movie I saw at a theater: Indiana Jones
M= Musician: Prince
N= Number of Siblings: 2- Brian & Jeff
O= Oranges or Apples: Honeycrisp Apples
P= Phobias or Fears: Claustrophobia
Q= Quote: "The only problem with resisting temptation is you never know if you'll get another chance"
R= Reason to Smile: BFF dinner tonight, D & D's wedding tomorrow!
S= Season: Spring & Fall
T= Travel Dreams: Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, Japan
U= Unknown fact: I have never had a cavity in my life
V= vegetarian or oppressor of Animals: Meatatarian
W= Worst habit: Not thinking three steps ahead
X= Xray or Ultrasound: Have had several of both
Y= Your favorite food: Mexican and Thai
Z= Zodiac sign: Aquarius baby!!!

Birthday Data….

Random Thoughts & Updates, Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires, Websites & Services to check out 1 Response »

May 282008

Visited this site to get some interesting data about the day I was born ( 2/11/77). Thought it was interesting enough to post!

Your date of conception was on or about 21 May 1976 which was a Friday. (I was born a month early, so I was actually conceived at the end of June)
You were born on a Friday
under the astrological sign Aquarius.

Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 1/31/1976 and ending 2/17/1977.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Dragon. ( I didn't know this! I always thought I was a snake!)
Your Native American Zodiac sign is Otter; your plant is Fern.
You were born in the Egyptian month of Parmuthy, the fourth month of the season of Poret (Emergence – Fertile soil).
Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 23 Shevat 5737.
The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.18.3.11.1 which is
12 baktun 18 katun 3 tun 11 uinal 1 kin
The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Friday, 21 Safar 1397 (1397-2-21).
The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 10 April 1977.
As of 5/28/2008 9:40:08 AM EDT
You are 31 years old.
You are 375 months old.
You are 1,633 weeks old.
You are 11,429 days old.
You are 274,305 hours old.
You are 16,458,340 minutes old.
You are 987,500,408 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:
Kelly Rowland (1981) Matt Lawrence (1980) Brandy (1979)
Mike Shinoda (1977) Jennifer Aniston (1969) Sheryl Crow (1963)
Segio Mendes (1941) Bobby 'Boris' Pickett (1940) Burt Reynolds (1936)
Tina Louise (1934) Leslie Nielsen (1926) Eva Gabor (1921)
Sidney Sheldon (1917) Thomas Alva Edison (1847)

Top songs of 1977:
You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone Best of My Love by Emotions
I Just Want to Be Your Everything by Andy Gibb How Deep Is Your Love by Bee Gees
Evergreen (from 'A Star Is Born') by Barbra Streisand Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder
Torn Between Two Lovers by Mary MacGregor Rich Girl by Daryl Hall & John Oates
Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band by Meco Got to Give It Up by Marvin Gaye
Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 4.47318982387476 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)
Your lucky day is Saturday.
Your lucky number is 4 & 8.
Your ruling planet(s) is Saturn & Uranus.
Your lucky dates are 1st, 10th, 19th, 28th.
Your opposition sign is Leo.
Your opposition number(s) is 1.
Today is not one of your lucky days!
There are 259 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 32 candles.
Those 32 candles produce 32 BTUs,
or 8,064 calories of heat (that's only 8.0640 food Calories!) .
You can boil 3.66 US ounces of water with that many candles.
In 1977 there were approximately 3.1 million births in the US.
In 1977 the US population was approximately 203,302,031 people, 57.4 persons per square mile.
In 1977 in the US there were approximately 2,152,662 marriages (10.1%) and 1,036,000 divorces (4.9%)
In 1977 in the US there were approximately 1,921,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000)
In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds.
In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.
Your birthstone is Amethyst-
Amethyst is used to increase spiritually
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)
Bloodstone, Onyx, Moonstone
Your birth tree is
Cedar, the Confidence
Of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, wants to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy, optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.
There are 211 days till Christmas 2008!
The moon's phase on the day you were
born was in its last quarter.

Everybody’s doing it…..

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 2 Responses »

Apr 152008

I had to finish the sentence…..

maybe i should start studying for my upcoming exams
i love the smell of fresh laundry and food cooking
people would say that i’m easy going, hardworking, caring, funny
i don’t understand why teachers aren’t paid better
when i wake up in the morning I try to recall what is on my agenda for the day
i lost 7 lbs. hooray
life is full of ups and downs
my past is full of mostly good memories
i get annoyed when people act ignorant
parties are the best when all your best friends can be together
i wish I had the power to teleport like Harry Potter
dogs are stinky but seem cool…I’ve never had one
cats like mine are the best in the world!
tomorrow I will be testing students, then grad school all night
i have low tolerance for racism
i’m totally terrified of leeches
i wonder why some people do the things they do
never in my life have i been to Canada
high school has good memories for me
when i’m nervous I get thirsty and sick to my stomach
one time at a family gathering we had to hide under the pool table because a tornado was coming right at us
take my advice: don’t ever drink and drive
making my bed almost never happens unless I do it myself
i’m almost always in a good mood
i’m addicted to food.
i want someone to fund my world travels

One of these again :)

Surveys, Quizzes and Questionnaires 3 Responses »

Feb 202008

Saw that my little sis Michelle wants all her blogger buddies and friends to do this survey. Why not?! We may as well give the little mama some reading material while she waits out this last month on bedrest ’til Baby Bennett is born :)

1. What is your occupation? Gifted Services Specialist (aka teacher of high-ability kids)

2. What color are your socks right now? black

3. What are you listening to right now? hum of the heater in my classroom

4. last thing that you ate? Tres leches cake…OMG, it is amazing!!

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, very successfully. Vroom vroom ;)

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? stupidest question ever!!

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Laura blonde…she just had a baby last night!! Congrats Laura and Jeff!

8. How old are you today? 29 (okay, I’m busted. 31)

10. What is your favorite sport to watch? basketball, boxing

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, all the time. Going to keep dying it until I die. Already got a few grays. Boo Hoo.

12. Pets? quatro gatos y muchos pescados

13. Favorite food? Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Italian…I love food

14. What was the last movie you watched? The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves

15. Favorite day of the year? Several I love

16. What do you do to vent anger? Depends on who/what it is. I don’t like confrontation. I usually just call Mary, Lanee or Bradie to bitch about whatever is tickin me off!

17. What was your favorite toy as a child? Cabbage Patch Kids and My Little Ponies

18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? I agree with Michelle…I love
spring because it signals the end of winter, but fall is so beautiful
and the weather is perfect. I guess it’s a tie!

19. hug or kisses? Hugs

20. Cherries or Blueberry? Fresh cherries

21. Do you want your friends to email you? I am obsessed with e-mail even though I am bad about responding

24. Current living situation? Same as the past 6 1/2 years!

25. When was the last time you cried? Not sure, Its been a long time

26. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending
this to? Bradie. We’ve been friends since we were 2 or 3!

28. Favorite smells? Food, flowers

29. What inspires you? So much inspiration everywhere!

30. What are you afraid of? Too many fears

31. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? bacon, guacamole and peperjack

32. Favorite dog breed? All beef :) Oh, did you mean like a fuzzy dog? Probably King Charles Spaniel

33. How many years at your current job? I’ve been employed with my district for 9 years, 5 different schools

34. Favorite days of the week? Weekends

35. How many countries have you lived in? Uno

36. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? Um, heck NO!!!

37. Who’s your favorite sports team? It was Twolves until KG was traded

38. Do you have a house phone that is NOT cordless? I don’t have a house phone, so no.
39. Do you like finding out more about people in your life? Too much. I always ask way too many questions. How else do you find out about people??!!

40. What is your goal for 2008? Besides winning the lottery, I would like to remain in the same schools w/o my position getting cut, and finish my additional teaching licenses