5 Favorite Things

1. Not being sick. I have a cold right now and I REALLY hate having to blow my nose every two seconds...gross!

2. Reading. I love to pick up books on any subject under the sun, curl up, and either learn something new or else allow myself to be swept off on an adventure.

3. Music. I've been playing the piano since I was 8, and music has always been an intrinsic part of my life. Even as a little kid, I remember my mother playing "The Blue Danube Waltz" on the piano and I would spin around in circles until I got dizzy. She would also play ragtime and I would bounce around the living room. Music is how I relax, or even get myself ready for my day. I associate memories and people with songs. Music is pretty much everything to me.

4. Laughter. A lot of times, things may look very bleak but if you can just laugh about it, somehow it seems less bad. Laughter can truly be good medicine and it's also a way for people to come together. I've found that sharing something funny with people and laughing with them about it encourages them to share something of themselves as well. It's a great equalizer.

5. Friends. There are times in my life when I NEVER would have made it through without friends around me, constantly supporting me, trying to help me when they could, and just generally making sure things were okay. I wouldn't trade any of my friends for the world.

A Meme Before Work

Got this from Leigh.

1. Gone on a blind date? Nope. I might, if ever given the opportunity.


2. Skipped school? Not unless going to orthodontist appointments counts!
   


3. Watched someone die? Not directly in front of my eyes, but I was kept notified by phone and was "almost" there when my sister passed.
   


4. Been to Canada? Yep! Spent about 3 weeks in Peterbourough.
   


5. Been to Mexico? When I was very small and my mother was still married to "The Slime", aka my biological father.
   


6. Been to Florida? Oh yes. Junior year in high school, my high school and another high school took a combined band down to play during the "Disney Music Days" at Disney World. VERY good times.
   


7. Have you ever been on a plane? Too many times to count.
   


8. Been lost? Yep, but I never hesitate to stop and ask people if I have no clue where in the freak I'm going.
   


9. Been on the opposite side of the country? Yep. Been to NY.
   


10. Gone to Washington, DC? Yes. I stayed with a college friend who lives in a burb of D.C. over spring break 3 years back. Her father lived in D.C. for awhile, so one day she, me, my roommate, her brother Conrad, her parents and her grandparents all piled into 2 cars and, armed with 2 2-way radios, Cedric proceeded to point out places of interest to us.
    


11. Swam in the ocean? When I was young.
    


12. Had your booze taken away by the cops? Don't drink booze...so no. Now, if you asked some of my friends on the other hand...
    


13. Lettered in a high school sport? No, but I did letter in band!
    


14. Cried yourself to sleep? Yep. Especially these last few months.
    


15. Played cops and robbers? Heck yes. Good times in AZ with Brian.


16. Played dolls? Some, but even from an early age, I preferred to read.
    


17. Recently colored with crayons? Not recently.
    


18. Sang Karaoke? Of course. LOVE to sing.


19. Paid for a meal with coins only? Yep. Do this at work all the time.
    


20. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yeah. I told myself I wouldn't get attached to people again...but I did.


21. Cheated on an exam? Nope. I was always a straight arrow.
    


22. Made prank phone calls? Yep. Me and my friend Rachel did, and I even pulled out my Scottish accent for the occasion.
    


23. Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Yeah. My uncle Lance made me laugh while I was drinking some water. Not pretty.
    


24. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes.


25. Danced in the rain? Yep. Me and Byron (my partner on my university ballroom dance team) once did a waltz in the rain. It was cool.
    


26. Written a letter to Santa Claus? Never.


27. Been kissed under the mistletoe? *snort* I've never been kissed period, lol!


28. Watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Ummm...does my cat count?
    


29. How about Sunsets? Yeah. Saw some nice ones in Florida with the band.
    


30. Been arrested? Never.
    


31. Gone ice-skating? When I was REALLY small...but I remember enjoying it.
    


32. Been skinny dipping outdoors? HELL no. The Western World at large does NOT need to see me "au natural".
    


33. Had a nickname? Yeah. Most of them have not been very nice, but in 1st grade, I was called "Monkey" because I frequented the monkey bars, then I was "Fresca" for a few years. Once I got to high school, I was "Frodo" all 4 years. Once college came, it was shortened to "Fro" and that's what I go by to this day, although Byron has (and always will, I think,) called me "Ska."


34. Been to Africa? Nope. I have a friend, Simon who has and he would send me letter and tell me what he saw.
    


35. Eaten cookies for dinner? Last night, as a matter of fact!
    


36. Been on TV? Once, and in a crowd.


37. Stolen any traffic signs? Nope. I'm so boring.


38. Been in a car accident? Yes. 2 years ago, I was driving my mother's car when I over corrected twice, the car did a 180 into the opposite lane before rolling two and a half times and going right into a ditch. Amazingly enough, the only injuries I had were some small glass cuts on my hands. Not even a mark from the seatbelt. A lot of people told me I was "lucky", but I firmly believe that I was blessed.
    


39. What is your mother's name? Cheryl
    


40. Favorite drink? Water.
    


41. Favorite alcohol? Don't drink.


42. Birthplace? Emmett, Idaho.
    


43. Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere with lots of ethnic food for me to eat and music to go listen to.
    


44. Favorite salad dressing? Any kind of Ranch.
    


45. Favorite pie? Blueberry.
    


46. Favorite number? 22
    


47. Favorite Movie? Probably "The Shadowlands". It stars Anthony Hopkins and Deborah Winger. It's based on the life of C.S. Lewis and it is AMAZING.
    


48. Favorite holiday? Don't particularly like holidays.
    


49. Favorite food? Hands down, Indian curry. I could eat that FOREVER.
    


50. Favorite day of the week? My day off, lol.
    


51. Favorite body wash? Anything, as long as I don't stink.
    


52. Favorite toothpaste? Whatever's on sale.
    


53. Favorite smell? Basmati rice cooking on the stove with beef curry simmering in the pot beside it.
    


54. Do you have any tattoos? No way, yo! I hate needles.
    


55. Body piercings? One in each ear.
    


56. Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door vehicle.
    


57. What do you do to relax? Talk to friends, surf the web, post on my blog, sing, play guitar, write, read.
    


58. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully with my debts paid off, and a bachelor's and master's of education under my belt and rooms full of middle schoolers that I will convince to like Social Studies...
    

10 Things I Will Never Do

Here are 10 things I will never do.

1. Dance with my brother Steve at my wedding.
2. Make fun of anyone with any sort of challenge.
3. Let my illness get the better of me again.
4. Stop dancing or singing. I did for awhile and...just never again.
5. Stop writing. I've been writing since I was young and it's too much a part of me.
6. Stop playing my instruments. They keep me sane.
7. Let anyone tell me what kinds of music to listen to. Life's too short-listen to it all!
8. Forget about my sister, Col.
9. Not remember Nicole when I play "Crazy Train" on my guitar.
10. Throw the kindness of others away.