Another Meme

Friends - I am making this an optional meme, since we have all been hit lately. . .


INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so:

1) Mom of 2 and Wife of 1
2) BlondeMomBlog
3) It's A Schmitty Life
4) Life is short, buy the shoes
5) Ponderosa Pinings


Next select five people to tag:

1) Kellogg Bloggin'
2) Silver Valley Stories
3) Gathering Around the Table
4) Myrtle Beach Ramblings
5) Scrapping Servant

Answer the following questions:


What were you doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago, I was working at Baskin-Robbins and realizing that I needed to go back to school and finish my degree. With much persuasion from my husband, I went back to school in the fall of '97.


What were you doing 1 year ago?

One year ago, I was recovering from job trauma. I had worked 12 hour shifts at the INL (plus 1 hour travel each way) for 8 months. I was "low man," treated badly, and nearly had a nervous breakdown.

Five snacks you enjoy:

M&Ms (plain)
Bridge Mix
Lays Potato Chips with homemade Avocado Dip
Cookies (any kind, but lately love Macadamia & white chocolate chip cookies)
Mixed Nuts


Five songs that you know all the lyrics to:

Only five? . . . song lyrics pop into my head for all occasions. . .I'll do the Beatles . . .

Yesterday
Hold Me Tight
Twist n Shout
Till There Was You - (found out this was originally from The Music Man)
Fool on the Hill

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

Give more to God's work.
Upgrade our home & sell it.
Buy land - build a home on part of the land with a father-in-laws' quarters for my Dad.
Hire a gardener to weed & plant big stuff, like trees - and a housekeeper to clean.
Try something entrepreneurial - like a whatnot shop with tons of ambience and tables to serve tea and goodies.


Five bad habits:

Staying up too late.
Procrastination.

Trying to do everything at the last minute.
Eating too much junk.
Making excuses not to exercise more.


Five things you like doing:

Reading
Playing computer games
Painting (watercolor)
Organizing (buttons, beads, etc)
Selling Mary Kay Products


Five things you would never wear again:

Bikini
Mini-skirt
Hot Pants
Anything double knit polyester - particularly pants.
Flip-flops


Five favorite toys:

Computer
Sewing Machine
Scanner
Tea set
Watercolor Paints

The Test Run

We took the boat out today. I was able to make the maiden voyage, but I only lasted about 5 min, before I had the Hunk turn the boat around and take me back to the dock.

We put the boat in at the southern Gem Lake boat launch - a place we just checked out a few days ago. It's a good sized reservoir - long enough for waterskiiing and wide enough at the south end for tubing. The water was a bit choppy from the wind, but not too choppy. As I slid into the passenger's seat in the front, my water vest rode up, so the shoulders were about mid-ear. I was wearing a wide-brimmed gardening hat to keep the sun from my face, and now the brim touched the shoulders of my water vest. Regardless, I was excited to try out my daring, and ride in the boat.

Our daughter V, and her friend from ISU, Zayne, climbed into the rear facing seats, the Hunk stepped in, and we pushed off. (Actually, the Hunk and I had to paddle away from the dock with the oars, as we were drifting towards some rocks). Then he fired up the 429 Chevy engine, and we slowly chugged away from the dock.

We were out a little ways, and I said, "Don't go fast!" But he gunned it a little and we started to fly.

He hollered, "I think this thing could really move!"

I'm squawking and sputtering, "Slow Down, I think I'm gonna lose my lunch!" Actually, I wasn't exactly nauseous, but I was getting claustrophobic. With my hat and vest wrapped around my head, I felt like I couldn't breathe, so I started to pray, "Lord, help me not to get scared. Help me calm down and breathe." But before God could help me calm down I said the the Hunk, "I think you'd better take me back to the dock."

I squealed a bit when he turned the boat, because the water was splashing up over the starboard bow into my face, what little of it was uncovered. I tried to remain calm, as we straightened out and headed back to safety.

It was good to be on flat ground again. I whipped off my hat and traded vests with Zayne, so she would have a vest closer to her size, and let them go. I knew as soon as I was out of the boat, they would be free to try it out for speed. And they did. The engine roared and they were off.

I lied down on the dock with my hat over my face to enjoy the warmth of the day, and the cool breeze over the water. I wish I had brought a book to read, but figured I could tan my legs a little now, and bring a book next time.

The Family

I am married to The Hunk. He is an incredible guy: ambitious, athletic, intelligent, and much more. We have been married for nearly 27 years, and reared 3 children to adulthood together. We are all Christians, and have been greatly blessed in our lives by the Lord.

The Hunk is a self-proclaimed "garbologist" (read: "radioactive garbageman"). Wasn't always so. He used to be a mining engineer, before the collapse of silver prices in the early '80s. As many people in our generation, he had to re-invent himself. He comes from a large family in Kellogg, Idaho - and interestingly, that is where we met and married. I will have much more to say about his family later.

Our young ladies - I will call M, V and S. (If you say MVS fast enough - it sounds like "envious"). The "gauls" [English accent needed] are all very unique and beautiful. M works at the nuclear site in a job designed to use her organizational and computer skills. V attends Idaho State University studying Mass Communications and Music. S is at the University of Idaho studying Microbiology. All three are single, and The Hunk expects them to stay that way for another 10 years or so. : )

After completing my Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Communication at ISU in 2001, I am finally working part-time at a dream job - in a fabric store. Yes, the education was not a prerequisite for the job, but I love working there.

Besides The Hunk, the girls, and I, we have a cantankerous cat named: Colonel, and a Sweet Chocolate Lab named: Mz Oz (Pronounced Mizz Oz.) We call her Ozzy. Colonel, who is nearly 14, is the Alpha Cat - or so he thinks. (Only the dog gives him space.) Ozzy is about 4 ??? and is clearly the sweetest dog. I also call her: Sweetness, Cocoa Pup, Puppet, Ozzy wazzy, Puppy Girl, and probably other endearing titiles. I call Colonel: Brat Cat and sing "Evil Kitty" (tune of "Evil Woman") when he is tearing through the house rumpling up the rugs and stalking family members.

The Hunk just brought me breakfast. . .scrambled eggs, toast, juice. What can I say?

The Hunk is looking for a used speed boat to buy. Now that we are slowing down . . .he wants to rev things up! Boats have never been my passion, but I'm sure we will have fun. I know the girls will enjoy waterskiing and watching their mother as white as a styrofoam cup.