Tuesday, September 23, 2008

2008 Edition of Me

Stolen from Jessica. :)
1. What time did you get up this morning? Around 7am
2. Diamonds or pearls? I like both, but with any jewelry the simpler the better!
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Either Sex and the City or Get Smart.
4. What is your favorite TV show? Of all time? Probably the Simpsons. Right now? Project Runway.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee, more coffee, and either cereal or a granola bar (Kashi or Odwalla).
6. What is your middle name? Rebecca :)
7. What food do you dislike? Mayo...bleh!
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I can't remember the last CD I listened to, I really only listen to my Zune or the radio!
9. What kind of car do you drive? Mustang.
10. Favorite sandwich? Toasted turkey and cheese.
11. What characteristic do you despise? Laziness.
12. Favorite item of clothing? Blue jeans.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? France.
14. Are you an organized person? In my own way. :)
15. What was one of your most memorable birthdays? My 18th stands out.
16. What are you going to do when you finish this? Go to bed!
17. Furthest place you are sending this? What?
18. Person you expect to send it back first. Tag, you're it! :)
19. When is your birthday? March 27
20. Morning person or a night person? Night WITHOUT a doubt! (It's 1am as I'm typing this!)
21. What is your shoe size? 6
22. Pets? Three sweet kitties.
23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Not unless you count that I'm having surgery to remove my wisdom teeth in a couple weeks. Yuck.
24. What did you want to be when you were little? Artist
25. How are you today? A little down...
26. What is your favorite flower? Hydrangea or roses.
27. What are you listening to right now? The tv (Family Guy specifically)
28. What was the last thing you ate? Leftover spinach and tomato pizza. Yum!
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? 10/4 - We're going to a wedding in Ft. Worth and we are making a weekend out of it and staying in a hotel.
30. Do you wish on stars? Nope
31. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue
32. How is the weather right now? Dark...
33. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Michael
34. Favorite soft drink? I don't drink soft drinks...does iced tea count?
35. Favorite restaurant? Depends on my mood...
36. Hair color? Blonde
37. What was your favorite toy as a child? DOLLS! I loved My Little Pony.
38. Summer or Winter? Summer
39. Chocolate or Vanilla? Swirl!
40. Coffee or tea? Coffee
41. Do you want your friends to email you back? Why not?
42. When was the last time you cried? A couple days ago.
43. What is under your bed? The shotgun.
44. What did you do last night? Made dinner, read, watched TV.
45. What are you afraid of? Losing someone I love.
46. Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood...
47. How many keys on your key ring? Four: car, apartment, mail box, parents' house. Now my work keychain is a while other story, I feel like an old-timey prison warden with that thing.
48. How many years at your current job? 2.5
49. Favorite day of the week? Wednesday
50. Do you make friends easily? Not really.
51. How many people will you send this to? However many people read my blog! So...two.
52. How many will respond? Who knows.
53. Who do you miss? My wookie!
54. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? I do!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Happy birthday, Treyson!

Phil and Erika's son turned two this weekend. Here are some pics from the party at his grandad's house. Michael had to work so I was the designated picture-taker.

The birthday boy with his dad.



With Uncle Elliot.



Treyson loves the turtle.







Prost!






Some pictures from Addison Oktoberfest. We had a blast with Charles and Judson!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

The Vegetarian's Hundred

A few friends have The Omnivore's Hundred listed on their blogs. I tried to do one of my own, but because I don't eat beef or pork it was a little difficult. So even though I'm not a full-on vegetarian, I completed the Vegetarian's Hundred.
If it's in bold, I've eaten it.

1. Real macaroni and cheese, made from scratch and baked
2. Tabouleh
3. Freshly baked bread, straight from the oven (preferably with homemade strawberry jam)
4. Fresh figs
5. Fresh pomegranate
6. Indian dal of any sort
7. Imam bayildi
8. Pressed spiced Chinese tofu
9. Freshly made hummus
10. Tahini
11. Kimchi
12. Miso
13. Falafel
14. Potato and pea filled samosas
15. Homemade yogurt
16. Muhammara
17. Brie en croute
18. Spanikopita
19. Fresh, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes
20. Insalata caprese
21. Stir-fried greens (gai lan, bok choi, pea shoots, kale, chard or collards)
22. Freshly made salsa
23. Freshly made guacamole
24. Creme brulee
25. Fava beans
26. Chinese cold sesame peanut noodles
27. Fattoush
28. New potatoes
29. Coleslaw
30. Ratatouille
31. Baba ganoush
32. Winter squash
33. Roasted beets
34. Baked sweet potatoes
35. Plantains
36. Chocolate truffles
37. Garlic mashed potatoes
38. Fresh water chestnuts
39. Steel cut oats
40. Quinoa
41. Grilled portabello mushrooms
42. Chipotle en adobo
43. Stone ground whole grain cornmeal
44. Freshly made corn or wheat tortillas
45. Frittata
46. Basil pesto
47. Roasted garlic
48. Raita of any type
49. Mango lassi
50. Jasmine rice (white or brown)
51. Thai vegetarian coconut milk curry
52. Pumpkin in any form other than pie
53. Fresh apple pear or plum gallette
54. Quince in any form
55. Escarole, endive or arugula
56. Sprouts other than mung bean
57. Naturally brewed soy sauce
58. Dried shiitake mushrooms
59. Unusually colored vegetables (purple cauliflower, blue potatoes, chocolate bell peppers…)
60. Fresh peach ice cream
61. Chevre
62. Medjool dates
63. Kheer
64. Flourless chocolate cake
65. Grilled corn on the cob
66. Black bean (or any other bean) vegetarian chili
67. Tempeh
68. Seitan or wheat gluten
69. Gorgonzola or any other blue veined cheese
70. Sweet potato fries
71. Homemade au gratin potatoes
72. Cream of asparagus soup
73. Artichoke-Parmesan dip
74. Mushroom risotto
75. Fermented black beans
76. Garlic scapes
77. Fresh new baby peas
78. Kalamata olives
79. Preserved lemons
80. Fried green tomatoes
81. Chinese scallion pancakes
82. Cheese souffle
83. Fried apples
84. Homemade frijoles refritos
85. Pasta fagiole
86. Macadamia nuts in any form
87. Paw paw in any form
88. Grilled cheese sandwich of any kind
89. Paneer cheese
90. Ma Po Tofu (vegetarian style–no pork!)
91. Fresh pasta in any form
92. Grilled leeks, scallions or ramps
93. Green papaya salad
94. Baked grain and vegetable stuffed tomatoes
95. Pickled ginger
96. Methi greens
97. Aloo paratha
98. Kedgeree (the original Indian version without the smoked fish, not the British version with fish)
99. Okra
100. Roasted brussels sprouts

Have and Have Not

Taken from Heather!

Bold = I’ve done it

Regular = I haven’t done it

Strikethrough = I won’t do it

Italics = I would love to do it

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103 Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Prepared a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz and polka.
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter (???)

Tag, you’re it!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Tag, you're it!

Stolen from Meg!

What bill do you hate paying the most?
My car payment...too freaking much money!


Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
A what? I'm trying to remember the last time we ate dinner together period. :)

If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
I wouldn't have dropped out of rush in college, I think I could have made some good friends that way.

Name of your first grade teacher?

Mrs. Seymour

What do you really want to be doing right now?
Watching the Project Runway episodes Michael just downloaded for me. Nothing's stopping me, I guess!


What did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist. I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a waitress, wtf?


How many colleges did you attend?
1. UT Austin (fresh and soph years)
2. UT Dallas (got my degree)
3. Brookhaven (just a mini-mester)


Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Because it goes with my new workout pants!

What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I wish I didn't have to commute so far to work! And I wish Dallas had a better public transportation system.

First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Didn't set my alarm, but I was glad to see that I was awake in enough time to drink some coffee before boot camp.

Last thought before going to sleep last night?
My head hurts.

Do you miss being a child?
Not really.

What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning the bathroom.

Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in!!!


What is your favorite cartoon character?
Hello Kitty

Favorite thing to do at night with a girl/guy?
Cook dinner, hang out and drink beers.

Have you found real love yet?
absolutely

When did you first start feeling old?
When I didn't get carded buying beer.

Favorite lunch meat?
Turkey

What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Rarely go to Wal-Mart, but when I do I usually buy facewash since that seems to be the only place I can find the kind I like.


beach or lake?
Either one!

Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Of course not

Do you own property?
No. :(


Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
Grandma's Boy. Seriously, that movie is a riot.

What's your drink?
Beer! Budweiser especially.

Cowboys or Indians?
COWBOYS

Cops or Robbers?
cops

Who from high school would you like to run in to?
Haha, very few people.

Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Don't watch either.

Grey's or 'The Office?
Don't watch either.

Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
I don't think I've made too many mistakes.

Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work
Yes, she's fine. Even though we are very rarely at our desks at the same time.

Indoors or Outdoors?
I love being outside.

Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
No (knock on wood).

Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
no

Last book you read?
Last book I finished was Deception Point by Dan Brown. Currently reading Best American Mystery Stories.

Do you have a teddy bear?
No.

Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
In a desert with no running water.

Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
San Francisco.

Do you go to church?
Not often.

At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career

How old are you?
25

Did you buy your tickets?

To the gun show?!
Well, I stuck with boot camp all summer and today I could really tell the difference. I was paired up with two new bootcampers during one exercise and they both commented that they thought I was very strong!
My original goal was to just do boot camp through the summer and I was able to do that and only missed a few classes. I am definitely going to continue through the fall and possibly train with some others to do the Turkey Trot. (That's a big maybe, as we all know running is not my forte!)
Sorry for the lack of blog updates, my work schedule has been wacky with the back-to-school craziness but it is now somewhat back to normal. Michael started classes last week and is already in the swing of work and school. Not much else exciting is happening around here.
Well, I'm off to find a needle and thread...because I'm ripped!