if you're a bug lover, don't read this

Don't have much time? Skip to the end of this post. That's the summary!

I enjoy being outside. I also enjoy camping. Summer camp was the highlight of my summers when I was growing up. I didn't mind being dirty, surrounded by nature and all that comes with it...bugs, spiders, smelly tents. I loved sleeping in tents! Several sleepovers at Laura's included sleeping in the backyard in a tent. It was just so much fun. It still is, right Matt? ;) Here's a picture of our teeny tiny tent...it cracks me up. It's amazing Matt can actually sit up in it. The bulging sides are definitely from our air mattress. We sure know how to rough it!



Tangent: When I worked at the summer camp in Pennsylvania, we even took the campers out to sleep under the stars once a week. To be honest, I was a little nervous about that one because there was a known mama bear and cubs that lived right in that wooded area...and we had a huge group of kids, LOTS of marshmallows, hershey bars, and graham crackers. We had not cleaned up well at all...so I was envisioning waking up to bears licking my face or well, I'm sure you can imagine. Thankfully, I woke up safe (the campers too) but had a camper's marshmallow sticky stick stuck to my sleeping bag next to my pillow...eww. Thanks camper! We also had an incident of a camper flinging me in the head with a flamed stick on accident. A camper and I also almost got attacked by a dog on one of our runs. I thought one of the directors was joking when he asked if I wanted to run with a blow horn! I guess not! Oh how we were protected that particular summer!

So anyways, I enjoy the outdoors, especially for camping. Alas, there comes a time in every young woman's life (at least THIS young woman's life), when she takes down the tent and comes inside to sleep in a cozy bed at home... to get away from the dirt and bugs. However, the bugs are not staying out in the lush green grass with blooming flowers, flowing wind that blows through their tentacles or hairs, and of course where the "good eats" are for them. No, they have decided to trek through my walls, the door, wherever to join me in our cozy, but truthfully basement, apartment. I'm thinking of setting up our tent in our apartment these days, so I can zip myself off from them! Maybe I'll just get some of that misquito netting for around the main parts of the rooms I spend the most time in. The spiders have been pretty outrageous lately and the millipedes are back...dun dun dun. I recommend for everyone to take stock in Raid because I keep it in business. Yes, Raid is for the millipedes and flip flops for the rest.

Tangent 2, sort of: I remember Matt telling me he wondered how I would handle taking care of the millipedes myself while he's gone. (Of course that was his job, I mean area of expertise, before he left.) I honestly didn't take him seriously when he said he didn't think I would be able to squish them. Come on, a little bug? Don't you remember I'm tough, Matt? The first one I saw after he left was probably a day after. I picked it up in a napkin and squeezed. Oh, then I squeezed harder. Oh, then I squeezed with all my might! Nothing! They curl up in a ball and turn into rocks or something. So, I set the napkin on the floor folded over so I didn't get millipeded juice on my shoes and stepped on it, checked it, still in-tact. Ok, then I stomped on it with heeled shoes as hard as I thought I could, and I checked it. I broke off a tenticle. Are you for real? So, I started jumping on it and yelling... finally taking care of the task. I felt ridiculous but at the same time, I did it! I told the story, a little bit exaggerated to my dad (and to Matt later). I got to the end of my long story and my dad said, "Why didn't you just flush it?" ...a slightly perturbed chuckle came out of my mouth...oh, yeah, flush it. Well, I don't want crazy huge ones growing in my toilet so I use Raid and then discard.

The point or "summary": I'm not a bug hater. I actually don't even really mind bugs, spiders, whatever, BUT, not in our home!!



Matt and I camping at Letchworth State Park last summer.

*I love you! Let's go camping...outside of our apartment!

as requested

As I gear up to share some interesting, or not so interesting, tidbits about myself, I will share some words, or phrases or sayings that "irk" me. Hmm, this may be a short one that needs to be added to later.

Well, I already shared, "Home again, home again, jiggity jig." I wonder where that started. I have a feeling it is a pretty old saying. I guess some people have never heard it though...so, I decided to see what happens when I "yahoo" it. First, LOTS of blogs come up (or specific posts), entitled (entitled, not entailed...:) just that. Umm, a homosexual game site came up. That's something that bugs me. When just looking up where a phrase originates, all sorts of terribly inappropriate websites come up. I actually have to tell my doctor about one. She recommended a product for me and said I could just do a search for it, and that it would be there. Not good things came up, so I need to let her know. So those things irk me, but more than irk me. I find it especially annoying since I'm not looking for that stuff, I'm looking for often quite the opposite, but in the process those come up. Anyway, I wasn't able to find an origin. Somebody must've just said it one day and all is history.

There's another one my mom used to say, let's see. I'll remember it sometime.

"There's a millipede or there are a lot of millipedes!" Ok, not what you're looking for, but honestly, I can't stand finding millipedes in our apartment. Also in our house, "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!"...for real!

One I teased Matt about for awhile was when he said, "We'll keep you in prayers." First of all, I thought it was really cute, but I said, umm, you mean, "We'll keep you in our prayers, or we'll keep you in prayer." Sometimes, the English concentration part of me comes out, but yes, on my blog, sometimes I slip up. I don't edit much here.

I really don't like to call a class "friends." I don't mind saying something like, "One of your friends" referring to a classmate of another student. However, calling the entire class "friends" just sounds cheesy to me. I prefer boys and girls or class, or in my case since I sub, I can say Mrs. so and so's class.

Sidenote: I really like the Amelia Bedelia books, ever since I was little. I think they are just so funny. Apparently the most common sources of idioms are from Shakespeare and the Bible...neat tidbit.

This weekend I was asked for a picture of Matt for his brother's wedding, so a life-size cardboard cut out could be made of him since he can't be there. I don't remember the exact words, but that irked me and hurt me.

Something I learned, when people say, "mind your p's and q's" it came from old English pubs. Apparently, ale was ordered in pints and quarts, so when customers got "unruly," the bartender would say that (mind your pints and quarts...p's and q's). (http://www.panix.com/~acohen/expr.html) So I don't think that's one I would use with my kids, not that I like it anyway. "Mom what are p's and q's?"

"Don't ya know?" is sort of a joke in our family. We say it like an older woman from times past I guess. It's not my favorite, one of those nails on the chalkboard type things for me, but I do laugh almost every time.

Another one is related to the word "at." It doesn't need to be placed at the end of something already stating a ...location I guess. I don't know the lingo. (I don't like the word lingo either...haha). "Where are you at?" At is not necessary. "Where are you?" does the job. Now, I say it sometimes too because I'm around it quite a bit...oh well.

Hmm, April fools!! That's also not a favorite, but I felt the need to say it today.

How about I end with a silly one? When I was little, during Christmas time we would sing, The Drummer Boy or The Little Drummer Boy. I guess I never really saw the words of the song, or I was so little I couldn't read...but this went on for years. I always thought one part of a verse of the song was in another language. "The ox and ram kept time..." I never heard it annunciated in those words, and it was always really choppy...I thought it was something in like Chinese. So, no, this doesn't really irk me. It's pure childhood confusion or misunderstanding. I remember that one year that I learned the truth. I saw it on an overhead while we were singing at church. I just could not stop laughing!! I think about that every Christmas and every time that song is sung or played!

*Love you!! 29 weeks left!!

Yes, one of these

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:00...then 9:00 (lazy!)

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the theater? National Treasure 2 (phew, I didn't think there was one since Mr. Bean's Holiday...haha, I shared anyway)

4. What is your Favorite TV show? Jen listed 3, so I can too: LOST, American Gladiators, Dr. Phil (at least these are the ones that are recently being aired)

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? toast, cereal, or bagel

6. Favorite cuisine? Italian (I like some Mexican too....but I got sick on it after our 1st anniversary dinner)

7. What's your middle name? Helen

8. Food do you dislike? FISH!

9. What is your Favorite CD at the moment? I don't know. I'm listening to a lot of Jeremy Camp. I think Matt has every cd he ever thought about recording. It used to always be playing here and in the car. I like Jeremy Camp, but it drove me nuts....so it's my attachment to Matt right now.

10. What kind of car do you drive? Silver 1998 Subaru Outback....can we say, I want kids?

11. Favorite Sandwich? Peanut Butter

12. What characteristics do you despise? Inconsideracy...is that a word? Being inconsiderate.

13. Favorite item of clothing? My "honeymooon" pants...no they aren't what you're thinking. They are blue sweatpants from Target we bought on our honeymoon.

14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would
you go? Right now, the Philippines....to be with Matt. When he comes home, probably home and maybe just a short getaway (we've done a lot of traveling for awhile...but we'll see).

15. Favorite brand of clothing? Umm, does Salvation Army count? Ok, then anything cheap or on sale.

16. Where would you retire to? I don't know.

17. What was your most recent memorable birthday? My most recent birthday was this last November...it was sort of boring without Matt. I did get red roses though! I guess that's memorable, but I don't think that's what the question is looking for.

18. Favorite sport to watch? Any kind of sport with a running event (the other day I watched some of the ironman), but I'd have to say gymnastics may even top the list...ever since I was a little tyke.

19. Furthest place you are sending this? Possibly, the Philippines

20. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Matt, he's a busy guy.

21. Person you expect to send it back first? Katrina (yeah, this was an email first)

22. Favorite saying? I'm trying to think of what I say a lot. Guess what? What in the world? For real? (Hannah, my niece even says it now...so funny!) Oh, I looked down below to question 24, and I think Matt's favorite, maybe least favorite though, saying is, "Matthew, I can't sleep!" His response, "5:00 comes early!"

23. When is your birthday? 11/18/1983

24. Are you a morning person or a night person? Lately, neither..haha. When Matt is here, I'm definitely a night person. I get really hyper at night (bed time) and he totally crashes. I'm practically jumping on the bed, and then I tell him I can't sleep. It's a big joke, because honestly, I don't even try, but I'll repeat it over and over again. It makes him laugh...a lot. And, it keeps him awake a little while longer. Then he gets serious, a little frustrated with me, and tells me, "5:00 comes early!" He rolls over and I'm stuck awake alone! Then there are noises that keep me awake....it's an interesting time living in a basement apartment with the other tenants bedroom above yours. I leave it with that.

25. What is your shoe size? anything from a 7-8.5...really depends on the shoe. Ridiculous.

26. Pets? Well, we don't have any "pets" in our apartment. We have unwanted creepy crawlers, mainly spiders, which I can deal ok with, but the millipedes have to go!! (Yeah, I'm ready to move!) Matt has a pet, Yoda, he's a chinchilla. He stays at his mom and dad's house because as I remind him, "We're not allowed to have pets in our apartment" (we really aren't, but I don't care for him...haha). I told Matt we can let him live with us when we have a house. He's had him since 8th grade...is it Matt? And they live for like 20 years I think. He'll have to correct me. So basically, we still have a lot of years left with him. I'm convinced my husband just likes weird things...animals, cars, whatever...for other people's reactions. I can't leave out Caleb though, my favorite dog. He's getting old. He's at my parents' too. I want him to come and visit, but our rules swing both ways apparently, no Yoda, no Caleb.

27. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Nope.

28. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher, a writer, a bus driver (ha!...all because of that cool crank door opener. My parents won't let me live it down. That would've been such a disaster!) Most of all, a mommy of a ton of kids.

29. How are you today? Good, but in need of a shower!

30. What is your favorite type of candy? I agree with Jen with the sour gummi stuff. My favorite candy bar, which is not a bar, are Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Well, the Reeses Sticks are also amazing...those are 2 bars! I splurged on a Reeses Whipped or Whips whatever they are yesterday....don't buy it! What a waste! I was completely disappointed with Reeses. Yet, I still ate like all of it, trying to convince myself it would get better with each bite. I finally threw one pathetic little stump of a chunk out my car window. (Yes, if I buy candy, I have to open it before I get home). I know, more than the question asked and more than you wanted to know.

31. Favorite flower? Daisies

32. What are you listening to right now? The sound of my air purifier running

33. What was the last thing you ate? wheat thins

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? blue..Matt and I would have to be the same crayon...or we'd have to joust it out.

35. How is the weather right now? a little chilly in our bedroom. I haven't been outside yet. It's probably bitter cold, and then I love the experience of ice skating to my car...ok, I really don't love it, I'm scared I'm going to break a bone!

36. Last person you spoke to on the phone? John Gray..haha, no it's not that funny, but it really is. We don't generally talk on the phone to catch up on each others' lives. He was calling my parents', I was there, they weren't, took a message...you get the idea. Anyway, he's a great kid...not trying to make fun. Ok, just since I wrote this, Suzan called and my Mom.

37. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes. Why do they even post this question? We're supposed to send it back. Good thing I like her!

38. Favorite restaurant? Taco Bell and Jack in the Box. Ok, I know these aren't restaurants, but we don't go to many "restaurants". Taco Bell is obvious (isn't it?), and Jack in the Box has the most amazing cookies and cream milkshake. I couldn't tell you how many times we went to both of those places in San Diego. Literally, it must have been like 10 times each in 3 weeks...maybe more? haha

39. Hair color? Brownish Blackish

40. Siblings? 3 brothers...there just was no possibility for a sister, i really asked and asked. When I was in 6th grade, my dad asked me what we should do for my mom's birthday or Mother's Day (they are right near each other), I said we should adopt another kid...obviously, meaning a girl! I was completely serious.

42. Favorite day of the year? This year, it will be October 19!!!

43. What was your Favorite toy as a child? Dolls, hands down! I was a little Momma. I also played with Polly Pockets and Littlest Petshop...still have them! Oh, I liked my dollhouse too. I also had these little horses (not My Little Pony...but I had those too) that I played with a lot. Hannah and Abby play with those now.

44. Summer or winter? Summer, but I do like snow, in moderation. I'm just ready to not be freezing.

45. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

46. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes.

47. When was the last time you cried? Ha! Yesterday.

48. What is under your bed? (Did you ever think there was a baker under your bed? No. Did you ever check to see if there was a baker under your bed? No. Well, how did you know you didn't have a baker under your bed unless you checked? Ok, I really like Rocketman!) A plastic bin of Matt's old pictures, a display box of Matt's (I think it was from his Grandpa) and a couple shoe boxes of stuff we just don't know what to do with!

49. Who is the friend you have had the longest? I met Jane when I was 3. My cousins I knew from birth, and they're friends! Laura has been my best friend since 4th grade.

50. What did you do last night? Went to Sandy's, talked, laughed, and cried (refer to question 47).

51. Favorite smell? Chocolate chip cookies in the oven. I also like a lot of like "candle" smells...too many to list. I'll spare you all on one question anyway.

52. What are you afraid of? Millipedes! They are so hard to kill.

53. Plain, buttered, or salted Popcorn? I guess buttered, but I'd rather have something else.

54. How many keys on your key ring? 2, car and apartment

55. How many years at your current job? Well, I've subbed 2 half days...haha.

56. Favorite day of the week? Friday

57. How many towns have you lived in? 4, and 6 different houses/apartments

58. Do you make friends easily? It all depends. Oh, that reminds me. When I was little I wasn't always what you would call a precious little girl. I had a mind of my own. My mom tried to give me the stranger danger talk. When she finished, I said, "Well, I might just like it better with them." Not what you want to hear as a mom ....for multiple reasons!

59. What are you wearing right now? Pajamas...including those blue sweatpants.

60. What color is your bathroom? I guess it's sort of off white. We have blue towels, a turtle soap dish, and ducks, frogs, and turtles shower curtain rings. We're such kids.