My firsts...as if you asked! LOL!

Found this on someone's blog but they didn't tag anyone so I took it...thought it would be fun. I didn't read all of the things FIRST that are supposed to be firsts so this could be interesting. We'll see if I hit "Publish" at the end...haha.

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?

Scott Risbon, my best friend's brother - I know, I know, that crosses the line in that "don't date the brother" rule but we weren't dating, just good friends without dates to our Junior Prom.

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?

Um, no. That's a weird thought.

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?

Some kind of whiskey, I think. I was pretty naive and went to an upperclassman's party. When I walked in, one of his friends handed me a cup. I was 16 and still thinking they served punch at parties so I said, "thanks" and took a huge gulp. Never had punch light my lungs on fire! I played it cool and handed the cup back. Blech.

4. What was your FIRST job?

Technically, babysitting. First job I had outside of other people's homes was at our local mall in the food court. The place was called Coney Island - we served hot dogs and cheeseburgers. I even had to scrub the white slime off of the hot dogs before putting them on the grill. NO LIE! Maybe that's why I refuse to feed my kids the foul tubular meat. Double Blech!

5. What was your FIRST car?

Sniffle, sniffle. Her name was "Betty" (as in Boop)...she was a beauty. My beloved Rangoon Red '65 Mustang. My sweet daddy pimped my ride and turned a banged up white 'Stang into a very sweet ride! Happy 16th to me!! But, sadly, she got old and unreliable so for safety's sake we sold her down the river. So sad. It was kind of funny though, at one point there was a crossed wire or something and when I made left hand turns the headlights turned off or she stalled. So, for months, I drove way out of my way to get to my destinations by only turning right. I tried to deal with it as long as I could before telling my dad. But after almost getting T-boned a couple times, I had to give in and tell him...I still have pictures of her. I think I loved her more than my first boyfriend!

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?

That would be "Goose," one of the 3 Michel(l)e's in my BFF Bunch! Love ya, friend!

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?

I didn't think of a person this morning. I thought about Morgan, our 3 1/2 year old Black Lab who was struck by a car last night and spent the night sedated @ the vet. Still waiting to hear a prognosis. Please pray if that is your THANG!

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?

Mrs. Komez...she was very pregnant and she felt it necessary to discuss her discomforts with the class, usually at story time. The last thing a 6 year old wants to think about is that her fat teacher has tremendous gas due to her innards being shoved up to her neck.

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?

I was 3 months old and I flew from PA to LA where I lived for the next 2 years. My first words were said sweetly with a lo-o-o-ong southern drawl.

Mama = "Mow-mah"

Michelle = "Mee-shayl"

To this day, if I meet a southerner, I have a hard time staving off the twang.

10. Who was your FIRST best friend and are you still friends with them?

Melissa, Melissa, Melissa. We met when we were four, went K-12 together, then different universities, were in each other's weddings, lived in different states and now live a mile from one another. We talk sometimes daily and see each other a couple times a month. To this day (33 years later) she is one of my dearest friends. She even held an intervention for me once. Drove 3 hours to Penn State to discuss my choice of boyfriend. (Not my hubby. His roommate)

11. What was your FIRST sport played?

Does kickball count? The swings at recess? Not much of an athlete. Really don't enjoy dodging, chasing, kicking, hitting or tackling things. Would much rather sit on the sidelines and yell. Cheerleading was my gig in high school.

12. Where was your FIRST sleep over?

Probably the Drumeler's house. At about 3am I got up to secretly call my mom to come get me. But I didn't tell Mrs. Drumeler, or my friend for that matter, so they were all a little freaked out when someone was ringing the doorbell in the wee hours of the morning. I did this a couple more times before we took a sleep-over hiatus.

13. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?

Not sure because I had 5 kids to wake up to this morning. But I opened my lips before having coffee so whoever it was was not in focus so I really am not sure.

14. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?

My Aunt Cathy's in 1973. I was 3. I wore a long gauzy baby blue dress with a very floppy, wide brim hat...with flowers of course. Very 70's.

15. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?

Prayed for my pooch!

16. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?

Oh dear, I went to see The Jackson 5 with my dad. He rocks. He pretended to be security and snuck us down from the nosebleed seats to the floor - close to the front. No. I am not spoiled (chuckle - see #5)

17. FIRST tattoo or piercing?

Ears pierced when I was 5. If I could make up my mind, I would have a tattoo. I will only get ONE and for years I have had numerous ideas that I think I totally love...until I come up with the next one! The latest I have had in mind for a while. Will break down soon and get it! On my forehead! LOL! Just kidding!

18. FIRST foreign country you went to?

England and then France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria - all in the same trip. I was 14 and went with Melissa and the German Travel Club. What happens in Europe, stays in Europe! Right Meliss?!

19. What was your FIRST run in with the law?

Following my boyfriend home from the SATs, he went a different way that I didn't know and "Betty" T-boned a BMW! My FORD lost an "R" and become a FOD. Sheesh. It was the first time I had to actually talk to a cop. He had no sympathy for me - he was more interested in the fact that I lived in the town where the woman shot the monkey. (long story - has nothing to do with the accident)

20. When was your FIRST detention?

I only had one - for being late to school more than the acceptable 3x. I only lived 7 minutes from school but "Betty" wasn't always cooperative, nor was my snooze button.

21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?

Pennsylvania. Just a small town girl from Pennsyl-tucky.

22. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart?

Greg Cooper. I got my first "Dear John" letter soon after he left for college.

23. Who was your FIRST roommate?

Jen Chiari. She was a nursing student at Hahnemann University. We lived in Center City Philadelphia (my first time away from home and I didn't know her from Adam). She was very nice. She had a very memorable, snorty laugh.

24. Where did you go on your FIRST limo ride?

To my Nanny's funeral. It was white. I felt very important. I was 11.

Wanna try? Consider yourself tagged!!

Link back to me and leave a comment here when you post so I can be nosey - that's all I ask!

7 Random Things MEME...with all NEW things...

Jane over at Life & Times tagged me for a fun MEME! You all know how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing MEMEs - so here goes - thanks Jane! I have done this one a couple times before (here, here and here) which will make THIS time a little more challenging...I am really not that interesting...although QUITE random! 7 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME... 1. I have all of my children's teeth that have fallen out in little baggies with their names on them in my jewelry box. (that's about 40 teeth, so far) Even my 3 year old has lost 4 (although, I only have 2 b/c his birth mother insisted on having the first two - whatever). I have gotten many comments each time I post a smiling picture of him asking WHY he is missing so many teeth. So, I guess this is the perfect time to answer. His bottom two were fractured under the gum - how? Know one knows. So, they just wiggled their way loose. The top two has a cute little space between them which was actually where his frenulum (the taut piece of skin that attaches your top lip to your gum) went through and was attached BEHIND them. When he started talking, this skin would wiggle and push his teeth apart and made his gums recede...soon there was nothing to hold in those teeth. There is no harm done to his permanent teeth from either issue so he will just look like a mini hockey player for a couple more years...oh, and no corn on the cob! 2. I am a vegetarian wannabe! I have been vegetarian a couple times and I admit it is TRULY a BAMBI reason. I hate hate hate that living things have to die for people to eat. I am just too lazy to stick to it. I would have to make so many different versions of the same meal at dinner b/c my husband and children would never make it without meat in their diets. They may just turn on me and turn ME into dinner. The first time I was a "veg" it was because my high school boyfriend and I were on a road trip and we passed a truckful of pigs. I was all giggly and said, "Awwww, look. How fun! They are going on a field trip! I wonder what kind of field trip they are going on!" Just then he decided to pass the truck and to my horror, the words HATFIELD HAMS flashed before my eyes from the driver's door. My boyfriend laughed and said, "The kind you don't come back from!" I was meat free for 2 1/2 years!! 3. I once had a panic attack while driving and blacked out in a tunnel! One of my best girl friends from Penn State was killed in a car accident on the way to a wedding. November 8th, 1996. The next year was when Princess Di died in the tunnel. Two years later I was on a Girls' Weekend with my high school BFFs and I got a late start heading home. It was dark, I was 2 hours from home and I passed through the town my PSU friend lived in and had to go through a tunnel. I was thinking about Michelle (yes, another Michelle BFF) and Princess Di and I was IN a tunnel. I freaked. My husband had to get two kids out of bed, pick up his dad and drive everyone 2 hours away to get me. His dad drove my van home. Gotta love the creative mind on overdrive! Sheesh! 4. I have never seen Grease or The Breakfast Club. And, yes, I was a child of the 70's and 80's. I know. I know. Ridiculous! DON'T SEND ME THE MOVIES...people have. I still don't have the drive to see them. I have seen bits and pieces of each and knew the Grease Soundtrack by heart...but further than that? Nah. Thanks. 5. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE OTTERS! Obsessed actually. I don't collect them although a sweet sweet friend, Kendra from Barely Controlled Chaos, who can see an otter whenever she wants because she lives in Oregon sent me a gorgeous coffee cup/mug with an otter on it. I think of her each morning when I see it on my windowsill! This is my favorite otter video! You can spend HOURS on YouTube watching otters....I heard....I haven't done it...well I kinda have. 6. I once painted a nude self-portrait for a Master's class just to get an "A." It worked and I was even 8 1/2 months pregnant. (No, I won't be posting pictures) The portrait is in my studio in our basement. Once my kids were headed to the basement with friends to play and I heard my oldest say, "When we get to the bottom, turn your head so I can make sure my mom put her naked pictures away!" Nice. Breathe deep and let it go. 7. I did a surprise lip sync for my hubby at our wedding reception. My bridesmaids and I had stayed up the night before and choreographed this huge dance and we had the DJ in on it, too. At the end of the song our best man ran over to the DJ's booth (unannounced to us) and then they came back with an off-the-cuff response! It was priceless! I think we were the first REAL contestants (1993 and way ahead of our time) from that new Reality Show Rock the Reception! I was going to use my digital camera to digitally record my reception and post it on YouTube so I could show you but... I.CAN'T.FIND.MY.WEDDING.VIDEO! I.AM.FREAKING.OUT! Hope you enjoyed (hope I find my tape or I may have to be committed!!!!) this MEME...if you are reading it and wondering if I will TAG YOU....consider yourself tagged!!! Link back to me and then comment so I can come read your RANDOMNESS! *rips house apart looking for wedding video*

TAG...you're it!

So, I am doing a new twist on an old MEME! If you are reading this...consider yourself TAGGED! Do the MEME, link back to me and leave a comment so I can go peek at your answers! I LOVE THESE THINGS!!! 8 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME! So, are ya ready? Here goes! 1. Four of my toes are completely numb. Two on each foot! 2. I can make my tongue into a three-leaf clover shape. 3. I can tie a knot in a cherry stem INSIDE my mouth. This was my claim to fame while I was at Penn State! 4. I pierced my own belly button in 1991. 5. I have seen FOOTLOOSE over 30x. 6. I learned how to do photorealistic portraits this summer. See... (can't find the scanned image....check back) 7. I recently quit my Hip Hop dance class. 8. I was a teen model. GO forth and be RANDOM!!!

Just one more MEME...please?

After you read just one MORE MEME - funny how these things suck you in! Right? Or is it just me? - Anyway, after the fun - scroll down for something VERY serious! Something I need your support for!

OK - onto the FUN! Tracy from Rambling Thoughts of the Neverending Mind tagged me for this MEME! She ROCKS!

1. What is your occupation?

I run a pretty decent sized corporation. I am in charge of running the whole gig. I have an assistant who really picks up the slack when I am out on the road or buried under other obligations. I am a Mom. A mom with a great husband!

2. What color are your socks?

Oh, shoot! I had really fun striped chenille socks on....but I changed into simple gray ones because I put on clogs and I had a paisley hair wrap on and the chenille on my feet and the wrap on my head didn't jive. Had I known I would have to tell you all what socks I had on...I wouldn't have switched!

3. What are you listening to right now?

Oprah's BIG GIVE! How did I not know about this show? This is a show MADE FOR ME! What a dream come true to have the time and the soul purpose to bless other people the way they deserve to be blessed. Now, a new show "The Newlyweds" is on - this looks like I will pee my pants before it is over! Yeah! This should be fun!!

4. What was the last thing you ate?

A sweet potato with lots of butter and salt and pepper. It was so good, I had a whole plate of it! That's it - just orangey taters for dinner!! :) The kids all ate broccoli and chicken and garlic bread and apples and PB but I just gorged on spuds!

5. Can you drive a stick shift?

Um. Nope. I have three kids. I am usually changing the DVD, adjusting the volume, pouring juice from a fast food cup into the sippy cup between my legs, refereeing the "he's on my side" argument in the back-back while driving and you want me to push in the clutch and shift, too? Really?

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Macaroni and Cheese - just because that is a hysterical name for a crayon - but based on color alone it would have to be PURPLE....it is my all time favorite color and why I love Bear In the Big Blue House so much - there are PURPLE OTTERS on that show!!

7. Last person you were on the phone with?

My best friend calling to tell me he loves me. :) My sweet hubby!

8. Do you like the person that sent this to you?

She is an absolute STITCH! I love reading her blog! She calls it ramblings - I call it therapy!

9. Favorite Drink?

Venti, non-fat, iced Carmel Macchaito during the day...on a date or out with friends I fill my MAMA CAP with big ole' MOJITOS!! Right SWATCOP??!

10. What is your favorite sport to watch?

"For the glory of old State, For her founders strong and great, For the future that we wait, Raise the song, raise the song. Sing our love and loyalty, Sing our hopes that, bright and free, Rest, O Mother dear, with thee, All with thee, all with thee. When we stood at childhood's gate, Shapeless in the hands of fate, Thou didst mold us, dear old State, Dear old State, dear old State. May no act of ours bring shame To one heart that loves thy name, May our lives but swell thy fame,Dear old State, dear old State."

PENN STATE FOOTBALL, BABY!!!

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?

Every 6 weeks I make the trek to The Bell Tower Spa to be pampered and that includes coloring my hair. My mom is a hair stylist so my whole life I had her at my fingertips to cut, color, perm or whatever mood struck me! I am an artist, remember! The mood changes with the phases of the moon!

12.Pets?

We are proud parents and siblings to a 14 year old tabby cat named Monte' and a 3 year old black lab named Morgan. They love each other....I don't always love them. Monte' has a poop issue and when he gets ticked off at me for something he poops on my daughter's bed! He stays outside unless it is horribly cold. Morgan just drives me up the freakin' wall sometimes. You know how labs are almost human - well she is like another toddler to add to my day-to-day chaos.

13. Favorite Food?

Gourmet salads...like the signature salad at Cosi or the Nutty Goat salad at Peace-A-Pizza!!! YUM! I am a huge ice cream fan, too. But I would give up ice cream for the rest of my life if someone would come make these salads for me everyday. Kind of a safe wager, because I know none of you will be headed my way to be my personal salad chef! Pass the ice cream!

14. Last movie you watched?

The Game Plan with The Rock and Madyson Pettis. How cute! We had family movie night last night! It was a really good movie! The kids loved it - I cried - we giggled! Totally off the subject - my sister's college roommate's father was The Rock's high school math teacher! So, I am 4 degrees of separation from The Rock!

15. Favorite day of the year?

Christmas!

16. What do you do to vent anger?

I wish I could tell you that I exercise or take a time out but that would be a lie and I couldn't lie to you all! I EAT! I'd like to tell you that I reach for those yummy salads, but unfortunately that is not the case ... when the baby throws a tantrum and I put his down for an early nap - it is chocolate ooey-gooey ice cream ... after a hard day and everyone is in bed and I have the munchies - it's nachos pile high with cheese and sour cream ... if I am on a diet and I just had an unsuccessful weigh in - it's General Tsao's Chicken!!

17. What was your favorite toy as a child?

Totally easy. Lite Brite! Lots of purple pegs and a bright light! WOOHOO!

18. What is your favorite? Fall or Spring?

Fall means the kids leave me and head back to school - I hate that! Spring means that it is "teaser" weather...not quite warm enough for the beach or the pool but too warm for big comfy hoodies. SUMMER gets my vote!!

20. What kind of pie?

Not a fan of pie...too much fruit, not enough goop! I would like a chocolate peanut butter pie! That would be yummy! But with an oreo crust - no flaky crust for me (don't enjoy it!)

21. Living arrangements?

Hubby and three kidlets in a 7 year old colonial in a big development that sits on a former dairy farm! Our house back up to two tournament-sized community soccer fields...so when soccer is off, we have a HUGE back yard! :O) Gorgeous countryside sunsets with the bonus of playdates you can walk to! Gotta love it!

22. When was the last time you cried?

January 19th when Julian left his Mama and went to be with Jesus. Miss you, Juju!

23. What is on the floor of your closet?

Lots of clothes that I flung off when I was headed to bed and was too tired to put away or throw in the hamper, clothes headed for Good Will, boxes of mementos, summer shoes and heels I don't wear often ever!

24. Who is the friend you've had the longest that you are tagging?

Patti who has a dormant blog but is one of my oldest friends. We have been through Footloose marathons and cheerleading tryouts together and remain sweet friends. She's a great quesadilla cook, too! Now you have to update your blog, girlfriend!! :)

25. The friend that you have known the shortest amount of time that you are tagging?

Theresa who is a devoted commenter and has a wonderful spankin' new blog! She is a wealth of knowledge...add her to your faves!

26. Favorite smell?

Brand new baby heads! Oh my! Absolute HEAVEN!

27. What inspires you?

EVERYTHING! Drives my husband bananas! I am always coming up with ideas for new businesses, blogs, crafts and inventions. He says quite often, "Can you just pick ONE thing. Just ONE thing to be hog wild over?!" Poor guy...I can't. I really, truly can't.

29. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?

Swiss cheese and mushrooms, please! With a Nutty Goat on the side!

30. Favorite cat breed?

My tabby cat is my favorite but I think Scottish Folds are a close 2nd. They are the ones with folded ears...

31. Number of keys on your key ring?

Ummm...too lazy to get up to look but I think 5. How many do I actually use? 2

32. How many years at your current job?

10 lovely hugged-filled, giggle flowing, giant smile years! I couldn't be happier!

33. Favorite day of the week?

Friday - nothing pressing to get ready for ... just a fun evening with the fam. We usually do pizza and a movie on Fridays. Thank God for Blockbuster Online!

34. How many provinces have you lived in?

None. eh?

35. How many countries have you been to?

England, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria...and my stompin' grounds of America the Beautiful!

Thanks Tracy! If you are enjoying this with me, consider yourself tagged. If you were reading this dreading to see if your name was one of my "tagged" friends, I am sticking my tongue out at you! :)

Scroll down for my latest SOAPBOX!!

My firsts...

Found this on someone's blog but they didn't tag anyone so I took it...thought it would be fun. I didn't read all of the things that are supposed to be firsts so this could be interesting. We'll see if I hit "Publish" at the end...haha 1. Who was your FIRST prom date? Scott Risbon, my best friend's brother - I know, I know, that crosses the line in that "don't date the brother" rule but we weren't dating, just good friends without dates to our Junior Prom. 2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? Um, no. That's a weird thought. 3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? Some kind of whiskey, I think. I was pretty naive and went to an upperclassman's party. When I walked in, one of his friends handed me a cup. I was 16 and still thinking they served punch at parties so I said, "thanks" and took a huge gulp. Never had punch light my lungs on fire! I played it cool and handed the cup back. Blech. 4. What was your FIRST job? Technically, babysitting. First job I had outside of other people's homes was at our local mall in the food court. The place was called Coney Island - we served hot dogs and cheeseburgers. I even had to scrub the green slime off of the hot dogs before putting them on the grill. NO LIE! Maybe that's why I refuse to feed my kids the foul tubular meat. Double Blech! 5. What was your FIRST car? Sniffle, sniffle. Her name was "Betty" (as in Boop)...she was a beauty. My beloved Rangoon Red '65 Mustang. My sweet daddy pimped my ride and turned a banged up white 'stang into a very sweet ride! Happy 16th to me!! But, sadly, she got old and unreliable so for safety's sake we sold her down the river. So sad. It was kind of funny though, at one point there was a crossed wire or something and when I made left hand turns the headlights turned off. So, for months, I drove way out of my way to get to my destinations by only turning right. I tried to deal with it as long as I could before telling my dad. But after almost getting T-boned a couple times, I had to give in and tell him...I still have pictures of her. I think I loved her more than my first boyfriend! 6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? Don't text a whole lot. That would mean that I would have two hands free at any given time during the day. Hello? I have a 2 year old. 7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? The baby. He woke me up VERY early. 4-ish. ugh! 8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Mrs. Komez...she was very pregnant and she felt it necessary to discuss her discomforts with the class, usually at story time. The last thing a 6 year old wants to think about is that her fat teacher has tremendous gas due to her innards being shoved up to her neck. She would actually tell us things like this...ewwww. 9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? I was 3 months old and I flew from PA to LA where I lived for the next 2 years. My first words were said sweetly with a lo-o-o-ong southern drawl. To this day, if I meet a southerner, I have a hard time staving off the twang. 10. Who was your FIRST best friend and are you still friends with them? Melissa, Melissa, Melissa. We met when we were four, went K-12 together, different universities, lived in different states and now live a mile from one another. We talk sometimes daily and see each other a couple times a month. To this day (33 years later) she is one of my dearest friends. She even held an intervention for me once. Drove 3 hours to Penn State to discuss my choice of boyfriend. (Not my hubby. His roommate) 11. What was your FIRST sport played? Does kickball count? At recess? Not much of an athlete. Really don't enjoy dodging, chasing, kicking, hitting or tackling things. Would much rather sit on the sidelines and watch. Cheerleading was my gig in high school. 12. Where was your FIRST sleep over? Probably the Drumeler's house. At about 3am I got up to secretly call my mom to come get me. But I didn't tell Mrs. Drumeler, or my friend for that matter, so they were all a little freaked out when someone was ringing the doorbell in the wee hours of the morning. I did this a couple more times before we took a sleep-over hiatus. 13. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? One of the kids, I am sure. But I opened my lips before having coffee so whoever it was was not in focus so I really am not sure. 14. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? My Aunt Cathy's in 1973. I was 3. I wore a long gauzy baby blue dress with a very floppy, wide brim hat...with flowers of course. Very 70's. 15. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Kissed the baby (well, maybe I didn't - I was a bit grumpy that he woke me so early). Made him some warm milk. Made coffee. Kissed the other two when they came downstairs. 16. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? Oh dear, I went to see The Jackson 5 with my dad. He rocks. He pretended to be security and snuck us down from the nosebleed seats to the floor - close to the front. No. I am not spoiled (chuckle - see #5) 17. FIRST tattoo or piercing? Ears when I was 5. If I could make up my mind, I would have a tattoo. I will only get ONE and for years I have had numerous ideas that I totally love...until I see something else I like better. I may never get one. I have even designed a few. 18. FIRST foreign country you went to? England, then France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria - all in the same trip. I was 14. 19. What was your FIRST run in with the law? Following my boyfriend home from the SATs, he went a different way that I didn't know and "Betty" T-boned a BMW! My FORD lost an "R" and become a FOD. Sheesh. It was the first time I had to actually talk to a cop. He had no sympathy for me - he was more interested in the fact that I lived in the town where the woman shot the monkey. (long story - has nothing to do with the accident) 20. When was your FIRST detention? I only had one - for being late to school more than the acceptable 3x. I only lived 7 minutes from school but "Betty" wasn't always cooperative, nor was my snooze button. 21. What was the FIRST state you lived in? Pennsylvania. Just a small town girl from Pennsyl-tucky. 22. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart? Greg Cooper. I got my first "Dear John" letter soon after he left for college. 23. Who was your FIRST roommate? Jen Chiari. She was a nursing student at Hahnemann University. We lived in Center City Philadelphia (my first time away from home and I didn't know her from Adam). She was very nice. She had a very memorable, snorty laugh. 24. Where did you go on your FIRST limo ride? To my Nanny's funeral. It was white. I felt very important. I was 11. Wanna play? Tag yourself, link to me and get your groove on! :) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* OK, so this was fun. Nothing like walking down memory lane. Of course, now I am thinking about ex-boyfriends. Isn't that a strange thing when you are married? Bizarre, if you ask me! Alright, well those 5 articles I needed to write - I am down to 3. Karla asked if there were other places you can read my work. Well, yes there are. I write for regional parenting magazines across the country and for some websites, too. I just applied today for a new parenting website - they wanted a funny writer who would be REAL for their readers. Eh hem. Sounds like someone you know, right? Just for fun, here are a few links to some of my other work: Baltimore's Child ParentGuide Charlotte Parent Indy's Child New Jersey Family My column: The Gift of Gab Family Traditions The Glory Days Taking Care of You

Tagged yet again...

You all know I love getting tagged! Cyn just tagged me with a MEME I have never seen or done...so, yeah! Here are the rules: 1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages.) 2. Open the book to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the next three sentences. 5. Link back to the person who tagged you. 6. Tag five people. Here I go... Frog and Toad...nope, not enough pages, or sentences for that matter. SkippyJonJones...see above. This might be harder than I thought. Oh, look, there, across the room, a grown-up book. Let me finish running this obstacle course (a.k.a. my living room) and grab it... "I don't pretend to know everything (or much of anything) to do with the book of Revelation, but I do know that all of us were created for so much more than this fallen earth has to offer. There is so much going on around us that we will undoubtedly never be aware, no matter how close we draw to the Savior's side. The whole creation is groaning (Romans 8:22) since the fall." excerpt from Chapter 6: Depseration Part #1 of fellow-blogger Amber Metz's mesmerizing book Breathtaking. For those of you following Confessions of a CF Husband, you would enjoy this book. Amber is a double lung transplant survivor. Tagging: Fried Okra Life With my Special Ks Pragmatic Compendium Mom2-2Good Boys I Love My Life

Tag me, baby! One more time...

OK...I am starting to feel like a whole group of you all are in a huddle taking turns tagging me and laughing at me each time I sit and rack my brain for these totally RANDOM things... I like to think you are laughing WITH me and not AT me! Cyn and Lizzy BOTH tagged me in the same day for 7 RANDOM THINGS... Alrighty, here goes...please keep in mind, I have done 4 MEMEs in the last two weeks, so I am grasping, I tell you....grasping.... 1. My two oldest children are EXACTLY 15 mos and 1 week apart...to the day. My third came along 7 YEARS later! 2. I LOVE ROSS THE INTERN!!!! He and I will someday co-host SOMETHING because he will find my ridiculously hysterical! Together we will go, hand-in-hand, giggling into the sunset! 3. I am, right now, eating a HUGE plate of cheesy-sour-creamy nachos and drinking a big, cold Yuengling Lager while watching The Hills repeats. Yummsy! Everyone else in my house is sleeeeeeeping - even the doggy! Can you say, "ME TIME"? 4. My favorite indulgence of late is a Starbuck's Venti, Non-Fat, Iced, Carmel Macchiato. Soon, their MAPLE Macchiato will be out for the holidays and I am waiting with baited breath...literally! 5. My iPod only has 70-some songs on it...I am REALLY picky about music. I bought myself the "shuffle" specifically b/c I KNEW I would never fill the Nano. To make it to my iPod, it has to either remind me of something specific (The Cure reminds me of college, No Doubt reminds me of my pre-children, married life, etc.) or make me feel sexy...see #6. 6. J.T.'s "Bringin' Sexy Back" is all I have to say. Mmmm Mmmm. 7. I live in the middle of Pennsylvania Amish Country. It is not out of the ordinary for me to be driving behind a horse & buggy waving to wee Amish ones in the back. Too sweet! An amazing reminder of how sweet simplicity is. Woah, I am done...that just whipped by! You know the drill, I have done this enough...tag yourself and have a blast - but link back to me, please! :)

More about me...like you asked...

10 things I did this week: 1. Bought 80 Dr. Seuss books at Barnes & Noble 2. Shopped at Target 3. Built a snowman 4. Went sledding 5. Ate Cold Stone Creamery ice cream 6. Went to my kids' school 7. Gave a baby gift 8. Went to the doctors 9. Deposited $$ ito my savings 10. Had a Grande Skinny Carmel Macchiato - YUM! 9 things STILL on my agenda this week: 1. Pack for holiday travel 2. Buy stamps 3. Laundry 4. Vacuum 5. Line up babysitters for 11/28 and 12/8 6. Get a sub for Children's Church 7. Write column 8. Finish writing assignment 9. Eat A LOT of Sweet potatoes!!!! 8 shows I watched this week: 1. Charlie Borwn's Thanksgiving 2. The Hills 3. House 4. Dr. Phil 5. Stewart Little 2 6. High 5 7. Blue's Clue 8. Jay Leno 7 things I cooked this week: 1. Oatmeal 2. Eggs 3. Tacos 4. Veggie Lasagna 5. Chicken/Pasta/Veggie Bake 6. Minestrone 7. Quesadillas 6 things I read this week: 1. My article in INSIGHT magazine 2. Hallmark Magazine 3. Manic Mommy's Blog 4. Because I Said So Blog 5. Fully Alive...Ready to Smile Blog 6. Rambling Thoughts of the Neverending Mind Blog 5 Reasons to be happy today: 1. I got a babysitter so I could run errands alone 2. I had ice cream! Very yummy ice cream! 3. I got more done today than all of last week 4. My formerly non-verbal baby said his 40th word today! 5. My kids are precious! 4 things I need to buy: 1. Diapers 2. Wipes 3. Milk 4. Snacks 3 people I saw this weekend: 1. Michele 2. Anne-Marie 3. Goose 2 things I am thankful for right now: 1. My family 2. My friends 1 Final Thought: This Thanksgiving - adopt a turkey instead of eating one! Go to Farm Sanctuary and check it out! TAG - you're it! Gimme a plug in return! :)

Tagged again...WOW! I feel so loved...

Alrighty, you people know me so well. Tracy at Rambling Thoughts...tagged me! Check out her blog! She is hysterical!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing these MEME thingies...except I don't get the word. MEME. What's that all about? Anyone know? 8 Embarrassing Things About ME: 1. 6th grade gym class. High Jump. Tight jeans. RRrrrrip!!!! Need I say more? 2. At the movies with the boy I wanted to be more-than-just-a-friend, he slid his hand onto my knee. I never wanted that hand to leave as this was the first (and only) act that was more-than-just-friends. I kept my knees bent and resting on the back of the seat in front of us for the WHOLE movie. When the movie was over, his hand moved and I stood up...AND WENT STRAIGHT DOWN AGAIN! I was completely numb from the knees down and now had my arm caught in the folding chair I tried to use to stop my fall. I wanted to DIE! 3. While taking the SATs I was nervously flinging my #2 pencil between my thumb and forefinger when the rhythm got away from me and (insert the BIONIC WOMAN jumping sound here) it FLUNG all the way across the room and hit the girl in the corner, right in the chest. 4. My long-time college boyfriend always took me to Philadelphia to see The Nutcracker Ballet. We would get all dressed up, go out for a fancy dinner and then out to the show. We felt so grown up. The last time we went it was horrible weather. Icy rain and very cold. We were running late, got turned around coming out of the parking garage so we were doing more than a brisk walk down a very slippery sidewalk. My feet were freezing and cramped into my way-too-tight shoes when we hit the apron of the sidewalk that gently declines to the street. Well, there was nothing gentle about my decline when I hit that apron. I don't know what was louder, the squeal I let out when I felt myself going down, the screech of my heels on the icy pavement or the beet-red face of my boyfriend who clenched his teeth, yanked my arm and growled, "GET UP!" 5. While waiting to have my seat assigned to take the GREs I sat in a desk along the front of the gymnasium, facing those who had been seated already. There were hundreds of test-takers but it was completely silent...until someone coughed and the the hollow echo would last forever. It was freezing and my hands were raw so I grabbed my purse to find my lotion. CRAP! It was frozen from being in my car all night. I popped the lid and gave it a shot...squeeeeeze. Nothin'. Well, I had time, I would just massage the tube to soften the lotion. I kneaded and squeezed, kneaded and squeezed but after a few minutes I was on auto pilot and evidently applied a little too much pressure to the now-thawed lotion. With the loudest PHHLPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLHHHHHPLLLLHHHPPPPPPPPHH (fake flatulence sound) you have ever heard and hundreds of faces staring at me I now had lotion covering my face and dripping into my lap from my hair. What is it about standardized tests that make me freak out? 6. Stepping into the baby pool with my kids in hand, I hit a very slippery spot on the painted cement bottom and went DOWN like a cinder block onto my back, pulling my children down with me. I could have brushed it off and pretended it didn't happen except the 8" oval brush burn/bruise on the back of my right thigh was a dead give-a-way! 7. Walking through a local mom-and-pop grocery store in my Amish Country hometown, we passed a traditional Amish woman in all black; bonnet, fringed shawl, dress, apron, stockings and shoes. She was an older lady whose posture had seen better days. Almost as if in slow motion, I saw my daughter's eyes lock on the woman. Her eyes took on a frenzied look and her mouth flew open. As all this was happening, I was scurrying to get past the woman before whatever Emily was going to say would make it out of her lips! But, much to my chagrin she squealed, "Look, Mama! It's the wicked witch of the West!" 8. And lastly, my favorite funny from my mom! It didn't embarrass ME, but she will be embarrassed for the rest of her life! My mom is a saint. Think Mother Theresa. Princess Di. A gentle, quiet soul who has nothing bad (or foul) to say...EVER! BUT...the very first time she met my in-laws (who weren't my in-laws, yet) they were talking about restaurants in a casual conversation. My in-laws asked if they had ever been to FUDRUCKERS. My mom said "No." but remembered seeing one in passing and said to my dad, "Hey, honey, where were we when we saw that RUDF*CKERS?" She slapped her hands across her mouth so hard I think she saw stars. I don't think she breathed for 5 whole minutes. The rest of us howled with laughter!! OK....whew! That took awhile. But I am not good with "keeping it simple." I am going to tag ANYONE who wants to do this - consider yourself tagged...just give me a shameless plug when you do it...puh-lease??!