Not Me! Monday

Welcome to another edition of Not Me! Monday! If you're new to the scene, Not Me! Monday is a blog carnival created by MckMama, where we bloggers can talk about all the things we haven't been up to lately. For example...

On Friday, Justin and I cleaned the house and did some laundry in preparation for my little brother's weekend visit. When I threw the final load of laundry in the dryer, I did not forget to turn the dryer on, and leave a pile of wet clothes to sit there all weekend. Not me! I did not realize what I had done when going to pull out a work outfit on Sunday night. (Good thing I didn't wait until Monday morning. Yikes!)

While my brother was in town, I did not sleep in super late on the only full day we had to spend together. I also did not eat like a pig all weekend. Creamy pasta, bacon, cinnamon rolls and chocolate cake were certainly not on the menu these past couple days!

Seriously though, we had a really great time with Clark, his friend Jennifer, and her dog Max. We laughed a lot, ate a lot (obviously), played a little Apples to Apples, watched a movie (Up in the Air), and laughed some more. Few things are more awesome than time well spent with the people you love.

20 Questions

I came across this "20 Questions" survey and thought I'd give it a whack. Feel free to copy and paste it into your blog, so your readers can get to know you better too!

1. What was the first thing you did this morning? Turned off the alarm and groaned.

2. What is your favorite cereal? Lately, Sugar Smacks.

3. Would you rather marry a millionaire who is unfaithful or a middle class worker who only has eyes for you? The latter, definitely.

4. Would you rather have a job that requires strength of the body or the mind? Strength of the mind.

5. How old were you when you had your first kiss? I think I was about 13.

6. If you were the opposite sex for a day, what would be the first thing you'd do? Scratch myself and try to figure out what is so appealing about it. :)

7. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened in your life? The deer-related car accident I was in with my mom and siblings.

8. Would you ever consider plastic surgery? Probably not.

9. What skill do you feel is stronger: your math skills or your English skills? I have an English degree... so, English.

10. Who did you vote for in the last presidential election? McCain.

11. Do you consider yourself more of a liberal or a conservative? I'm pretty conservative.

12. If you could spend a day in another person's body, living their life, who would it be and why? I'd love to be my husband for a day, to see things from his perspective.

13. If you had to choose, would you rather be blind or deaf? Deaf.

14. Who is the one person who can always make you laugh? Justin.

15. If you and a member of the opposite sex were the last people on Earth, but they looked like Cruella Deville and Mister Ed had a baby, would you procreate? LOL! I guess I'd have to, now wouldn't I?

16. What are you passionate about? The people I love.

17. Are you pro-life or pro-choice? Pro-life. Very pro-life.

18. Imagine you're an inmate waiting on death row. What would you request for your last meal? Carrabba's Chicken Bryan with garlic mashed potatoes and a Caesar salad. And a big glass of wine.

19. What is the one trait that is mandatory in a potential partner? I've already found my soulmate :) but, I always said I wouldn't be with anyone who didn't share my faith. And my sweetie definitely loves Jesus!

20. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? I see myself still happily married with 3 kids, possibly teaching English somewhere, and living in a slightly bigger house in the country.

Thankful Thursdsay

Can you believe it's Thursday once again? I am growing fonder and fonder of Thursdays, mostly because they directly precede the best workday of the week: FRIDAY.

And, of course, it's time to talk about the things we're thankful for. It's Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful that the weekend is almost here. And this weekend is a special one, because I'm going to see my amazing little brother! I'm really looking forward to his visit, and to meeting his friend, Jennifer, and her dog, Max.

I am thankful for my job, and for the cool, diverse group of people I get to work with every day.

I am thankful for my sweet, loving husband, and the fact that he thinks so highly of me. Yesterday, I made him my "signature" club sandwich, complete with his favorite homemade honey mustard, and he went on and on about how it was the best sandwich he's ever had. I am thankful for that. For the way he makes me feel like a million bucks.

I am thankful for the rain, even though it isn't my favorite.

I am thankful for the comfy couch and blanket that I get to back to when this work day is over. Especially on a rainy day like this.

*******

Thankful Thursday is a blog carnival I created to remind myself that there is always something to be thankful for. Even on my worst day, when I take a step back and look at the big picture, I can see that things aren't really so bad. What are you thankful for? I'd love it if you'd write a Thankful Thursday post of our own, and link to my blog somewhere in your post. Oh, and don't forget to enter your blog URL in the nifty MckLinky below!

Free write

Things to be excited about right now:

The Big Love season finale. It was crazy!

Justin and I got to Skype with my sister

and her boyfriend yesterday.

It was so nice to "see" them.

They are adorable.

I get to see my little brother

THIS weekend!

All the way from Michigan!

He's bringing along his friend, Jennifer,

and her dog, Max.

Party time!

It's the day after his birthday.

There may or may not be cake involved. :)

***

I had Benefits Orientation today.

It was boring, but made me feel special.

Finally, I have health insurance.

And a retirement plan.

I've hit the big time, boys and girls.

Or, at least it feels that way.

***

I still haven't had coffee (except on Sundays)

since I gave it up for Lent.

And I'm surviving.

A friend told me

you're not actually supposed to tell people

what you're giving up for Lent.

But, I'm not Catholic, or Episcopalian,

or anything, so I figure

I can make up my own Lenten rules.

I hope that's not too sacreligious.

Jesus still loves me, right? :)

***

I really need to replace the broken needle

on my sewing machine

so I can get back to doing creative things.

It's been too long,

and the creativity bug

is biting me again.

Maybe I'll make some fun pillows.

Or a handbag.

Or something.

But I definitely need to do something.

Do you ever feel that way?

More to come!

Not Me! Monday

Is it really Monday again?
Already?
Man, time flies.
What did you do this weekend?
I think I'd rather tell you...
what I didn't do.

This weekend, I did not decide,
on a beautiful, sunny Saturday,
to go on a bike ride with my hubby.
I did not get overconfident
and go on a lap around the block
on my own,
as hubby got ready to go.
I certainly did not huff and puff
my way through the short ride,
and even have to walk my bike
up a hill that I just knew would be
a piece of cake.
Nope, not me!

***
Then, last night,
I was not super excited
to watch the Academy Awards.
The stars, the dresses, the speeches,
the glitz and glamor...
it does not all make my heart
go pitter-patter.
And of course,
I would never
fall asleep on hubby
before it was over,
and have to peel myself
off the couch
and go to bed without him.
Not me!
So what have YOU not been up to?
Head on over to MckMama's blog and share!

Thankful Thursday

There's a lot to be thankful for
on this Thankful Thursday.

I'm thankful that my phone survived
its little dip in the tub.
Oh man, am I thankful.
It's working perfectly!
You'd never know it got wet in the first place.
Whew! Big sigh of relief there.
I'm thankful that the weekend is coming,
and that I can finally get some rest
after a long work week.
I'm thankful that my little brother
just might be coming to visit us for a few days
over his spring break, which begins next weekend!
I'm thankful for my sweet husband,
who has been a big help to me lately.
I'm thankful that I have proven to myself
that I really can live without coffee.
That may sound silly, but it's actually pretty freeing
to know that there isn't a single thing you have to have.
Well, materialistically speaking, anyway.
I am thankful for so many things
on this Thankful Thursday.
What are you thankful for?
Please, do tell! And if you do, don't forget to enter
your blog URL in the MckLinky below.
Have a great Thursday, my loves!

A Tragedy

I love my iPhone.

It's sleek.

It's cute.

It does everything.

I never leave home without it.

Except for today.

Want to know why?

Because it's sitting in a bowl.

On my kitchen counter.

In a bowl of rice.

Because last night, I did the unthinkable.

I let it slip out of my hands,

and into the bathtub.

oh. my. word.

It was only in the water for a second.

Apparently I have cat-like reflexes,

because I moved fast.

Seriously.

I immediately ran to the kitchen,

not even thinking,

because I had heard many stories

about the rice method proving successful.

The rules:

Don't push any buttons on the wet phone.

Remove it from its case immediately.

Shake it to remove any excess water,

and dry it on a towel (or, ahem, your t-shirt).

Place the wet phone in a bag (or bowl) of dry rice.

Cover.

Leave it for a day.

Or several days.

Depending on how long it spent taking a swim.

I followed the rules, and hope that this pays off.

These things are supposed to be resilient, right?

I feel like my right arm is missing today.