25 things about me

Several friends have done this about themselves and tagged me. So here they are, in no particular order.

1. I love natural light and prefer to have it come into my home through the windows than to turn a light bulb on when it's not dark outside.
2. I'm a sweater person. I have lots of them to wear when the weather isn't warm.
3. I pretty much always wear socks, not bare feet, when I'm at home {well, I guess I don't wear socks much in the summer}. When I get in bed, though, I have to take them off.
4. I like quiet. I don't like talking to be too loud or to have too many sounds going on at the same time. Although I love music I don't listen to CDs very often unless I'm in the car.
5. I don't need ice in my drinks, but I do like my water to come from the cold fridge. If someone offers me ice, two cubes are plenty.
6. I don't get up nearly as early as I used to but I'm usually up by 8:00. Honestly, the time I go to bed depends on whether or not my husband has school in the morning.
7. I have read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover I think 6 or 7 times. The most recent time I completed it was this week.
8. I have not read the whole Old Testament, so my next goal is to read the Holy Bible from cover to cover.
9. I have never liked or owned Cabbage Patch Kids; I think they're kind of ugly.
10. Remember Micro Machines? I liked playing with those. I am in the middle of two brothers so that could be why.
11. I would like to take ballroom dance classes -- mostly swing -- with my husband. I think I'm actually an okay dancer if someone shows me the steps. I took social dance in high school and in college. {Other than that I've had no dance classes except for a semester of modern dance in high school, and I've danced in musicals.}
12. Near my hip I have a large mole.
13. I don't really like soda, with or without caffeine, and have never been a Coke or Mountain Dew addict. A few, like Fresca, taste good to me but I hardly ever drink them.
14. I eat cheesecake only rarely because it's so rich, and even then I only like it with a fruit topping.
15. Back in 2002 I was going to go to Brazil with two college friends, until one figured she didn't have enough money and the other got engaged.
16. I lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil when I was about 3 and 4 years old because of my dad's job. I wish I could remember what it was like.
17. When I opened our new pack of toothbrushes the other day, I decided which was mine and which was D's based on which color matched our universities. I wrote on mine "iManda" {for BYU-Idaho, but I went to the U also}.
18. I don't usually stick with one task until it's all the way done. One example is that when I'm on the internet I typically have about five tabs open. I'll even hit the login button and, while I wait for those few seconds, open one or two tabs for other sites I need to log into. I think I want to change this, if my 'demanding little sweetheart' will let me. {When I take breaks from emptying the dishwasher or putting laundry away, she is the reason.}
19. I have no desire to ever have fake nails. The ongoing cost of them and the smell in those places make me want to gag. I also wouldn't want long nails making things {like playing the piano or guitar} difficult. My own fingernails are fine.
20. However, I do understand wanting to be pampered. The only real {non-massage-therapy-school} massage I have had was when I was 39 weeks pregnant. I'm looking forward to my next relaxing massage.
21. I am a loser. A person who loses things, like an earring, and sometimes never finds it again. Two of the cell phones that I've misplaced never showed up. This has also happened with at least one set of keys. Unfortunately my husband is a loser, too, but mostly with his keys, and he is able to locate them.
22. I don't like getting tired because there are so many things I want to do other than sleep. Except of course, I'm sleepy. I know our friend Josh C. feels the same way.
23. The highest-paying job I ever had {not counting a really successful SimplyFun party} was just a temp job typing for $14.06 per hour. It's sad that with my bachelor's degree I didn't find anything that would pay me more than that.
24. I'd like to learn more about different types of flowers and gardening.
25. Okay, last one . . . I miss my husband right now. Only about 67 out of 68 weeks left. He's absolutely perfect for me and my best friend.

Tagged by Sarah H: LOVE Tag

*How long have you been married? Almost 5 years
*How long did you date your husband? We dated for about a year and half before his mission, wrote during his mission, and got married a year and a half after he returned home.
*How old is he? 27 (3 months and 2 days older than me)
*Who eats sweets? I do more than he does.
*Who said I love you first? I'm pretty sure it was him -- we were 17 -- and I would have said it right back.
*Who is taller? He is. Obviously. People have told him he's lucky that he found someone shorter than him.
*Who can sing best? Me. But he is better than he thinks he is, and my tone isn't as good as I'd like it to be.
*Who is smarter? I think we are equally smart; we have knowledge in different areas. I'm the one who got great SAT scores back in elementary school and was a good high school student, and he's the one who understands science and history and economics better.
*Who does laundry? Me. Sometimes I ask D to move the wet load into the dryer.
*Who pays bills? Me. During our first year of marriage we paid bills together, but I had to when he was deployed and have kept it up.
*Who mows the lawn? The landscaping crew mows the grass -- they're the guys that we don't have to help pay because we're renting our condo :).
*Who cooks dinner? Sometimes me, sometimes him, sometimes both of us.
*Who drives? Usually him.
*Who is first to admit they are wrong? Hmm, I don't know.
*Who kissed who first? He kissed me (after researching "how to kiss" online because he had never kissed before!).
*Who asked who out first? He did, and it was the first time anyone asked me out. (My first date was a girl's-choice dance.)
*Who wears the pants? D, I guess. I wonder what his answer would be.

More Tags: Random & Lists of 8

I was tagged by my friend Sheree R.

1. The sound of my husband rubbing his eyeball(s) is fingernails-on-the-chalkboard annoying to me! It sounds so gross I have to cover my ears immediately. I actually don't know if other people's eyes make the same sound; mine do not.

2. I have an oval-shaped scar under my left eye from when I had chickenpox at age 4.

3. When I was a teenager I accidentally chipped one of my top front teeth.

4. I enjoy amusement parks but haven't been to Disneyland since I was 11.

5. Sometimes I miss being in musicals. I was usually in the chorus (not a speaking part), which is really fun because they get to sing in nearly every scene. I have played three different roles in The Sound of Music: Gretl, a nun, and Louisa.

6. I've never been to Antelope Island.

7. I recently threw away this little bowl I made when I was in third grade.




How would I really tag 7 "random" people? If you like doing this sort of thing, you can do it, and/or the one below (my sister Elisa tagged me).

8 T.V. shows I love to watch
(I had to think about this one for a while! We mostly watch movies.)
The Office
Lost
The Biggest Loser
American Idol
20/20
Studio 5
Ellen
The Brady Bunch

8 Favorite Restaurants
Wasatch Broiler and Grill
Thai Garden
little taco cart on State
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Macaroni Grill
Chili's
Texas Roadhouse
Sweet Tomatoes

8 Things that happened yesterday
We all slept in
Walked with a friend at a high school track
Wore a new shirt
Bought some groceries
Took out trash
Folded and put away laundry
Had dinner and watched the presidential debate at Mom Marilyn's
Watched some of Hello Dolly - first time watching it

8 Things I am looking forward to
Sleeping tonight
Finishing a sewing project
A vacation
Going to Bodyworlds
Moving into our first house
My husband being done with school
Selling our older car
Not having acne anymore

8 things I love about Fall
It means the hot summer is over
My birthday is near the start of fall
The red/orange/yellow/brown of the leaves
The leaves crunch when I step on them
Wearing layers
Thanksgiving
Cool mornings and perfect afternoons
Pumpkin pie

8 Things on my wish list
(hmm, this seems a lot like the things I'm looking forward to . . .)
Know my neighbors better
All kids will like to read
No more headaches
My Beehive and less-active Miamaid will come on Sundays
Putting up our Lack wall shelf will be easy
A grand (or baby grand) piano
A new bed
People will understand each other and not be mean

High School Tag

I remembered that Camille tagged everyone (so that includes me) for this a long time ago. Sorry, although Camille's was fun with photos, I am too lazy to get out the external hard drive, where we have pre-2005 photos stored. I guess later if I'm not feeling lazy I could do a separate post showing some pictures of my high school dances.

1. Did you date someone from your school?
Yes. I dated Derick, for a couple of months; then D (now my husband) on and off during my junior and senior years.

2. What kind of car did you drive?
The black 1991 Nissan Stanza I bought my senior year. We gave it to my sister before we got married and I can't believe it still works.

3.Were you a party animal?
No.

4.Were you considered a flirt?
No.

5.Were you in band, orchestra or choir?
Choir for all 3 years, plus bell choir senior year.

6.Were you a nerd?
I don't know, but probably! I did dress up as a nerd for the Halloween dance my senior year.

7.Were you on any varsity teams?
No.

8.Did you get suspended/expelled?
No.

9.Can you still sing the fight song?
No. I don't recall any part of it at all. (But I like the cheer that says 'hey you, in the orange . . . ' and I still know it.)

10.Who were your favorite teachers?
My 3 favorites were my English/Lit Mag teacher, my choir teacher, and my Science teacher. The seminary teachers were great, too; I loved Bro. Grossen and Sis. Terry.

11.Where did you sit during lunch?
With my friends, at a table or on the floor kind of near the swimming pool. I guess since D and the guys and I sometimes went to Taco Bell, we would have sat in a car.

12.What was your school's full name?
I am not answering this one because my blog is not private. You probably already know, anyway.

13.What was your school's mascot?
Same as #12.

14. Did you go to homecoming and who with?
I went during my junior year. My date was Eric P., whom I hardly knew, so it was awkward.

15. If you could go back and do it again, would you?
No, not if I were the same as I was when I was 15. But maybe I would if I could go back knowing what I know now (teenagers make dumb decisions because their brains aren't fully developed yet).

16. What do you remember most about graduation?
I remember having to walk in and sit next to a boy I didn't know at all. I remember annoying people (graduates) throwing pennies, and a student ending his speech with "choose the right." Also, I was surprised that so many of my classmates weren't actually graduating.

17. Where did you go Senior Skip Day?
I'm not sure about that day specifically, but I remember around that time (maybe the last day of school, after signing yearbooks) we ate at The Panda Mongolian Barbecue.

18. Were you in any clubs?
I was in Key Club for a while, and FHA. If these count as clubs, I was in the school musical sophomore and senior years, and Lit Mag junior and senior years.

19.Have you gained some weight since then?
Yes, I gained 10 or 12 pounds during my freshman year of college, and lost it. I gained weight with my pregnancy, obviously. Now I am maybe 2 pounds heavier than I was when I finished high school. I've been blessed with good metabolism, but if I didn't work out I would definitely be flabbier.

20.Who was your prom date?
My job -- because I didn't get asked. Why didn't D ask me? I don't remember, but maybe I was hoping I could go with someone in my grade.

21.Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion?
Yeah, I think so. I'm much more interested in reunions than my husband is. We didn't go to his 5-year, which was the year before mine. I did go to mine, while he was, as I like to say, "in the other hemisphere."

I tag all who would like to participate!

Your Memories

You have probably seen this on other blogs. It is a really fun idea.

Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. (You can click on "comments" and then "anonymous" if you don't have a gmail account.) It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember!

Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :) Ready, Set, GO!

Tag: "Things as they really are"

My friend tagged me with this before I went to girls' camp. I took the pictures on June 24, had a busy week after getting back from camp, and I was sick most of the day Saturday (basically a "24-hour flu"). By the way, D was really sweet to me and let me rest and read in our room -- actually he said I was in quarantine -- while he took care of Shboogoo. Those are my reasons for not doing this sooner; plus the fact that I couldn't find where on the computer I had saved the pictures.

These are the "rules" for the tag:
Take pictures of the following things just as they are, with no stopping to clean, straighten, or to wipe a child's nose: the kitchen sink, the fridge, the toilet, the closet, the laundry room, your favorite shoes, your favorite room, and your kids. Hopefully seeing these will help you feel better about not being a perfect housekeeper. (You're not perfect at it, are you?) The name I gave to this tag comes from Jacob 4:13.

I had already taken out the fridge drawers to clean them:

Our closet, with half of the door off because it isn't working right:
Laundry (and storage) room -- pretty packed, huh?:

My favorite shoes and my kid (who usually wears pants):

My favorite room, the living room, where I spend a lot of time:

I am now tagging (those of you who don't have kids can skip that part):
Sarah, Anne, Katie, Emily, Tai, Sheree, and Jackie

Seven Facts Tag

Sharee tagged me again and these are the rules:
-Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
-Share seven facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird, whatever you are brave enough to share.
-Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
-Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. Indian Elephant Tea - I am in love with this CD by The Bid Kidz Band featuring Skip Ewing. I checked it out from the library, then bought it. For my daughter. It's a children's album, but I think I like it more than she does.
2. I have only kissed one boy (this was back when I was 16) besides D.
3. As a kid I made "god's eyes" out of yarn and popsicle sticks and sold them -- you know, like a lemonade stand in the neighborhood or during parades. I was disappointed that only a few sold. (Wikipedia says they are a "ritual tool, magical object . . ." I guess I never knew that, I just liked the way they looked.)
4. When I was 10 I dislocated my left elbow at gymnastics when I fell off the lower bar (trying to reach the higher one). I'd only been taking gymnastics for probably two or three months but I decided to quit after that.
5. I've had some of my shirts for about ten years and I still wear them. It's hard for me to get rid of things.
6. I have a goal to always be able to touch my toes, even when I'm eighty.
7. Under my eye there is a scar from when I had the chickenpox at age 4.

I tag:

Karen, Katie, Sarah, Laura, Jackie, Camille, and Precious

Memoir Tag

For this tag you think of a 6-word memoir about yourself.
I thought for a while, and here is mine:

"She was true to her beliefs."

That's what I want. I want/try to have integrity and good character.
Okay, tag, you're it! -- anybody who wants to do this one.

Book Tag

Jackie book tagged me. I'd never seen this before. What you do is grab the nearest book, open to page 123, go to the 5th sentence and post the next three sentences.
My nearest book was D's textbook called Motor Learning and Control: Concepts and Applications (8th Edition), by Richard A. Magill.

To identify the specific visual information a person uses to make the required response, researchers use the event occlusion procedure. Parts of each frame of film or video are masked so that the observer cannot see selected parts of the action. Figure 6.9 presents an example of this procedure, taken from the second part of the Abernethy and Russell (1987) study.

As I was getting ready to do this I didn't notice her blog said the NEAREST book, so I thought it could be ANY book. These sentences -- from Why Would Anyone Join the Mormon Church? by Brad Brase -- are way more interesting to me than those from the textbook:

Latter-Day Saints recognize the family unit as the most important organization in heaven and earth. We regard marriage and other family relationships with a special reverence, due to our belief in their potentially eternal nature. When conducted by the proper priesthood authority and in the manner prescribed by the Lord, the marriage covenant endures beyond the grave to bind man and wife together for time and all eternity.

I am tagging Camille,
Sarah,
anyone who wants to do it.

Tagged

Sarah and Camille both tagged me. For now I will do Camille's, because it's shorter! Here are six things about me that you might not know.

1. I (honestly) like to do the dishes. It's probably my favorite chore, which is good because it needs to be done pretty much every day. I think it became my favorite during the 2001-2002 year at college when I had a part-time job as a dishwasher.

2. I love to run. Love it. I jogged outside today for a little bit. Running is one of those things that can be hard to start doing, and the first 2 or 3 minutes of the run are the hardest. In junior high and high school I really didn't like having to run in gym and once had redo it to make the time limit. But after high school, beginning with my friend Laura F's motivation, I have exercised more. For me, running gets more fun the more I do it. The furthest I have gone is 4 miles. I want to train for a half-marathon in the near future.

3. I don't mind going the dentist. I have been going to the same one my whole life. The clean-teeth feeling is wonderful. Fortunately my teeth have good enamel and I have not had a cavity since I was 8. (Maybe this one's kind of boring, but I have to come up with 6 things.)

4. I always thought 21 or 22 would be a good age for me to get married. And I guess I was right. I ended up marrying at 22 and a half. I love being married to D.

5. I like the fact that I have not always lived in this state. Actually, I was born in Costa Rica and then lived in Brazil before ever coming here. Sadly, I don't remember much of those places and I am not bilingual.

6. D and I quote Home Alone all year round. Sometimes it's just sparked by something said in a similar tone of voice. "The cars are still here; they didn't go to the airport." "You're not at all worried about Kevin?" My other favorite Christmas movies are Mr. Kreuger's Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas ("That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown"), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Okay, I am tagging Sarah, Jackie and "Precious".