Many Things, Crammed Into One Post

So, as the title states, lots to cover.  Everyone got their favorite beverage or snack, comfy seat, blanket and are ready to go?  Okay, here we go.

Today I have been wracking my brain trying to write my 19 BILLIONTH cover letter.  It's not going well.  I need to finish it tonight and send it off to my friend of a friend at a company downtown that would honestly be the bomb-diggity to work for, but I need to give myself a break.  I need something that is not a cover letter, and is not an online dating profile or witty text message to a certain someone.  (Actually, the witty text messages I don't mind so much.)  At one point today, I came scarily close to combining a cover letter and dating profile.  That's when I knew I am to the point of overload.

So, in order to distract myself for a short amount of time, I have decided it's time to blog.  Mentally vomit (sorry if you got an unpleasant mental image there).  Get things off my chest/off my mind.  Insert the next cliché here.  (BTW, totally just found out recently how to do that little ´ over the e.  Feeling pretty badass, it's the little things people.)

Unemployment has had it's perks.  Time to rest, time to spend with friends, time to put other parts of life in order, or back out into the world, depending on which part you're talking about.  However, it's been almost 3 solid months now...Sister...I don't have a CLUE as to how you did this for a year.  Kudos.  I find myself missing the outside world.  I miss being a productive person in society.  I guess it's good that I miss that instead of getting incredibly used to living off of unemployment.  (Which honestly...no thank you, I'm going freaking stir crazy.)

The next thing I have on my agenda (besides the last part of this blog post, which was a great way to distract myself for just a short while) is to make my adorable cousin Anke's hat she has asked me for.  I have to get goin' on it.  I have the yarn, I have the hook, and finally have a pattern (I am insanely meticulous on picking these out...). I also have 3 other projects I need to get working on too.  Two wish fulfillments, and I go back and forth about figuring out making something absolutely fab for myself.  :)  Who knows what it will be at this point.  What I love is that it's (almost) fall so knit/crochet wear is a bit more "accepted".  Because who wants to be working on an insanely hot blanket or warm hat in 80 degree weather?  (By the way, for those that don't know, Colorado has been going a bit CRAZY with the weather fluctuations.  I'm so ready for fall, it's sick.)

Also, when your dear, dear friend is sitting across from you at breakfast one morning, and says (as you have your sunglasses on your head, pushing back part of your hair) "HOLY COW, you weren't kidding!  You DO have a lot of gray hairs!!" it's time to break out a new box of color...it's kind of sickening how many more seem to be showing up these days.  Not just sickening...flat out SCARY AS HELL.  I know that Grandee (dad's mom) was completely white haired by 19, but for the love of PETE...as long as boxes of hair color are stronger than genetics, my grays will be hiding under brown hair color!!!!  Now, time to google for a coupon.

Up next: my time waster/cover letter distraction for the evening. 

I love a good "tell me about you" survey, though many are geared towards high school students and the drama that surrounds their lives.  I was going back through some old notes of mine on facebook, and found this one.  I decided to brush it off, spruce it up, and post it here.  Feel free to comment, steal and/or whatever you like.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?

Credit cards

2. Do you miss being a child?

Back when wonder was the best thing ever and your biggest choice was Princess or Rainbow Brite underoos? Heck yah.

3. Chore you hate the most?

Dishes

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?

Sadly, with the ex, there weren't many romantic dinners...so uhhh, no idea.

5. If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?

Living with Roomzilla

6. Name of your first grade teacher?

Miss Crowell

7. What do you really want to be doing right now?

Snuggling with someone at a movie, or at home with a movie.

8. What did you want to be when you grew up?

Veterinarian

9. What college(s) did you attend?

CCU

10.Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?

Because I love this t-shirt!

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?

Could be better...

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

It didn't therefore it was great.

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?

I love this movie...

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?

Christopher Meloni

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?

Yes...

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?

Heck yah.

17. Get up early or sleep in?

Sleep In.

18. What is your favorite cartoon character?

Smurfs or Animaniacs

19. Favorite thing to do at night?

Hang out with friends, knit or crochet, watch movies.

20. When did you first start feeling old?

Seeing friends' kids and how old they are already...

21. Favorite lunch meat?

Ham

22. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?

No Wally World...I'm a Target girl!

23. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?

No.  Not at all.

24. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?

I honestly don't know...(I'm scanning my DVD's as I type)

25. What's your favorite drink?

Vodka Cran or a really good Margarita, although I had a Strongbow Cider last week that was really good!

26. Who from high school would you like to run in to?

Facebook has actually helped me "run into" a bunch of folks...so I think I'm good for now.

27. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?

94.1 - so that my iPod can play.

28. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?

Neither

29. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?

Probably Brian...in general, I'm not sure really how else to explain it...

30. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?

N/A

31. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?

No

32. Last book you finished reading?

The Help

33. Do you have a teddy bear?

No.

34. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?

No idea.

35. Do you go to church?

I try to go every week, but some weeks is tougher than others.

36. How old are you?

33

37. How many kids do you have?

0

38. How many times have you been married?

0

39. Why have you chosen this lifestyle you live?

Life is short...live it to the fullest.

40. What pleases you more than anything else?

Making others happy.

Hey look! A Craft Post!!!

So I have been remiss in posting/crafting lately, however, good friends, Mike and Amy, found out they are having a girl, and I immediately had to craft SOMETHING.  I chatted with Amy, got the nursery colors (by her own description "wackadoodle" until you see the whole design) and we discussed what she would like.  She decided between a blanket and a snuggle bunny, and to surprise her.

Mike, Amy and I have known each other for about 10 years (holy cow!).  Mike was my manager at ESPN Zone, and he helped me get a second job with Amy (the store manager) at The Right Start.  Mike and Amy moved back to the East coast not long after I was hired on at Amy's store, and we have kept in touch since (yay facebook!).  Recently, the three of us have been chatting back and forth with regards to our mutual love for all things Mad Men.  So, when they found out Amy is having a girl, we were talking one night and throwing all kinds of names back and forth, especially from the show.  Since they had just found out she is a SHE, there's no names in stone yet, so my nickname for her has become Ms. Blankenship.  So, Ms. Blankenship, needed a blanket!  (I know, I made something, and it's not a hat...I was shocked too!)

As I worked on this, I posted sneak peek pictures on facebook, but it was tough, because I didn't want to give away all the colors/final design, so thankfully, the iPhone has a great selection of apps to totally distort photos.  :)

I wanted to do this in acrylic so that it's easy care for mom and dad.  Once I finished, I washed it in SOAK (in the Unleash sent, very light and crisp, my fav) in the washing machine on the delicates cycle and then threw it in the dryer.  I did this instead of traditional blocking because it is a machine washable piece, and I wanted to soften the yarn and take out that "store" smell.  Now, it actually feels like a great baby blankie.  So, without further ado...Ms. Blankeship's Blankie!

I can't wait to hear how mom and dad feel about Ms. B's new blankie!  ;)  Happy new baby Mike and Amy!!

I'll Follow You

I love this man's music...and on his new album, this is my current obsession...because come on if the lines "You're a beautiful woman/And I'm just a man" and "So in the hours of the darkest kind/When it's hard to find who we are/One can stare into the other's eyes/Be each other's light in the dark." don't touch you...you're freaking made of stone.

I'll Follow You - by Jon McLaughlin

People tell me there will come a time

When your heart and mine will grow cold

No more staring at the evening sky

Low replaces high when you're old

As long as you're around I'll follow you

You won't ever be alone

As long as you're around I'll follow you

I will be wherever you go

They say the future is our enemy

Time eventually will set the sun

But I believe in you and you believe in me

How can we ever go wrong?

As long as you're around I'll follow you

You won't ever be alone

As long as you're around I'll follow you

I will be wherever you go

So be patient baby

Hold me close

I hope you understand

You're a beautiful woman

And I'm just a man

So in the hours of the darkest kind

When it's hard to find who we are

One can stare into the other's eyes

Be each other's light in the dark.

As long as you're around I'll follow you

You won't ever be alone

As long as you're around I'll follow you

I will be wherever you go

20 Questions (times 5)

My friend Stacey, who is also my neighbor and 4am Royal Wedding Watcher Partner, loves these questionnaires, as I have for quite a while...(enter the many MySpace ones I filled out...back in the day, as well as I've done my fair share on facebook as well.)

Anyways, as I can't turn down a good set of questions, here we go:

1. How old will you be in five years?
Ugh...38 years old. Holy crap.

2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?
Me, Myself and I.

3. How tall are you?
6' 1"

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?
My crazy upcoming week, Idina Menzel with the CSO at Red Rocks, Harry Potter final movie premier (yes, I am going to a midnight showing with 7 friends and a grip of other HP nuts, and yes, I am SO stinking excited about it.)

5. What’s the last movie you saw?
I'm currently watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix on tv, however, before that, I think it was Food, Inc.

6. Who was the last person you called?
My folks

7. Who was the last person to call you?
My SIL, Maggy

8. What was the last text message you received?
From Marly in response to one I sent her.

9. Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail?
Dad

10. Do you prefer to call or text?
Depends on what's going on, 8 times out of 10, a text.  Unless I'm driving, it would take too long to type out or needing to confirm something right away, then a call.

11. What were you doing at 12am last night?
Settling in for bed.  Just got home from John and Kendra's wedding.

12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced?
Married, for 37 years this September

13. When is the last time you saw your mom?
Last night at the wedding

14. What color are your eyes?

Green

15. What time did you wake up today?
Uh...I'm not sure...I think until about 8:30...which is really sleeping late in my world.

16. What are you wearing right now?
T-shirt, yoga pants.  I have a current obsession with Old Navy's yoga pants.  I blame my BFF Cheryl and SIL Maggy for this.

17. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Uhhh...this is tough.  Must consult iTunes...brb...apparently my most listened to is Ave Maria, as performed by Chris Botti.  Um, duh, I should have known that.  Other than that, the Straight No Chaser Christmas Album is up there, as is Kristen Chenoweth's Christmas album...

18. Where is your favorite place to be?
Depends...I'm becoming more of a homebody lately, however I am def a sucker for an afternoon at Chautauqua Park in Boulder.

19. Where is your least favorite place to be?
Work.  I know it's sad because it's where we spend so many hours of our lives there, but it's just hard lately because of the nature of patients we work with and it's been stressful lately.  I enjoy being with friends and laughing instead of being reminded how nasty cancer is.  (I had a particularly rough week last week, so it's a bit bitter right now.)

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?
Europe and Austrailia

21. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years?
I would hope to be married...and an Aunt.  (NO pressure siblings...I know it's a ways off and I'm totally cool with that!!)

22. Do you tan or burn?
Burn.  I typically look like a boiled lobster.

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
Uh...can't say as I can remember anything like that...

24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?
A quip between Marly and I on Thursday night.

25. How many TVs do you have in your house?
2, no need for anymore than that.

26. How big is your bed?
A queen, juuuuuuust right.

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer?
Laptop

28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on?
PJ's are my favorite clothes ever.

29. What color are your sheets?
Currently they are a white with polka dot/bubble-esque pattern.

30. How many pillows do you sleep with?
Usually two, but there are some nights it's more.

31. What is your favorite season?
Fall

32. What do you like about fall?
The colors, the crispness in the air.

33. What do you like about winter?
Multiple parties to see friends.

34. What do you like about the summer?
When the weather is warm but not scorching hot.

35. What do you like about spring?
Rain, cool-ish weather.

36. How many states/provinces have you lived in?
Two, Washington and Colorado

37. What cities/towns have you lived in?
Edmonds, Broomfield (x2), Lakewood (x2), Arvada (x3), Westminster

38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Socks or barefoot

39. Are you a social person?
VERY.

40. What was the last thing you ate?
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich.

41. What is your favorite restaurant?
Wazee Supper Club and On The Border

42. What is your favorite ice cream?
It used to be B&J's Triple Caramel Chunk, but honestly, as long as it has caramel involved...I'm thrilled.

43. What is your favorite dessert?
Hmmm...for my birthday it's DQ ice cream cake...otherwise, ice cream in general...

44. What is your favorite kind of soup?
Panera's Chicken Noodle

45. What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
Raspberry

46. Do you like Chinese food?
Yes.  YES YES YES.  Chicken Lo Mein and Sesame Chicken are huge weaknesses of mine.

47. Do you like coffee?
Nope.

48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average?
Not nearly enough.  probably only about 2 right now, but there is a reason I constantly try to carry a water bottle with me.

49. What do you drink in the morning?
Bing.  It's my caffeine weakness.

50. What non-banking related card in your wallet is the most valuable to you?
Hmmm...Driver's License

51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
Left (while you're in the bed, right when you're looking AT the bed.)

52. Do you know how to play poker?
Barely.

53. Do you like to cuddle?
Yes, yes I do.

54. Have you ever been to Canada?
When I was really little.

55. Do you have an addictive personality?
In some instances.

56. Do you eat out or at home more often?
It's been out more than in, but I'm trying to get better about that.  Plus, I want to expand my cooking repertoire.

57. What do you miss about high school, if anything?
Nothing.  Other than my clothing size.

58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
Yes, a couple folks!

59. Do you want kids?
I go back and forth...for now, I live vicariously through friends and their munchkins.

60. Do you speak any other languages?
Pig Latin

61. Have you ever gotten stitches?
Yes, surgical procedures tend to require them.

62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
Sadly, yes.

63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
For swimming? Pool. For visiting? Ocean.  (Leaving Stacey's answer...it applies here too.)

64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
Aisle.  Always the aisle.

65. Do you know how to drive stick?
Only in an absolute emergency.

66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?
Others.  :)

67. Do you wear any jewelry 24/7?
Yes, one silver ring I got in San Francisco on a girls' trip about 5 years ago.  (Holy crap...5 years ago???)

68. What is your favorite TV show?
Currently?  How I Met Your Mother.

69. Can you roll your tongue?
Yup.

70. Who is the funniest person you know?
Huh...good question...I know many funny people.  Including myself.

71. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
Nope

72. What is the main ring tone on your phone?
One of the defaults on the phone, I need to actually look into one that I like more.

73. Do you still have clothes from when you were little?
I'm not sure.  There are about 8 boxes in my closet from mom and dad's house marked "baby stuff" so it's likely.

74. What red object is closest to you right now?
The buttons on the Comcast remote.

75. Do you turn off the water while you brush your teeth?
Yes

76. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Open

77. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?
Um, what's option #3?

78. Do you flirt a lot?
No.  One area of my life that is rather...(insert proper disparaging adjective here)

79. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
Either ranch or bbq or sweet and sour sauce...

80. What is your favorite food?
Typically...mexican

81. Can you change the oil on a car?
Hm, no...although, I've watched Sparky do it enough, I should.

82. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Yes.

83. Have you ever run out of gas?
Twice.  Only ONCE was it my fault.  The other was a faulty gas gaug

84. What is your usual bedtime?
Lately, too late.  Need to start getting my booty in bed by 10ish.

85. What was the last book you read?
The Help.  OMG, if you haven't read it yet, you should.

86. Do you read the newspaper?
Nope.

87. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
No, but if I were to get one, it would be People.  Love it, truly, I do.

89. Do you watch soap operas?
Not now.  In college, there was a rather serious Days of Our Lives addiction going though.

90. Do you dance in the car?
Yes, often.

91. What radio station did you last listen to?
98.5.  I'm a country girl, but I have my occasion where I switch to 105.9 for the

92. Who is in the picture frame closest to you?
My "European Grandpa", Willi.  He's pretending to be the Berlin Wall.  I love that picture.

93. What was the last note you scribbled on a piece of paper?
Grocery list

94. What is your favorite candle scent?
A clean fresh scent...lately it's kind of a white tea or laundry-esque scent...

95. What is your favorite board game?
Taboo

Where’s 96?

97. When was the last time you attended church?
Sadly, June.  Travel, plans and sheer exhaustion have interfered lately.

98. Who was your favorite teacher in high school?
Huh...I have no idea...likely Mrs. Schlicker.

99. What is the longest you have ever camped out in a tent?
4 days.  Loved almost every minute of it too.

100. Who was the last person to do something extra special for you?
Family for birthday and Cam for my bike.  :)  Although I am VERY excited for Tuesday night's joint birthday party with one of my all time favorite people.  :)

30 Day Music Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - A Song That Reminds You of Someone

One of the closest people in my life and I LOVE this song...and we crack up laughing EVERY time it comes on...Cheryl Brown, this is for you!!!

30 Day Music Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 -

A song that makes you sad:

Uhhh....if it makes me sad, I probably turn it pretty quick...however...this song, while it makes me sad, also paints an amazing picture in my head at the same time.

30 Day Music Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 - A song that makes you happy...

This song just has that beat that makes you smile and shake your booty.  And if you are C or I, you dance in your chair at the office...

30 Day Music Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 - A song you hate...

I think most of the world (over the age of 13) would agree with me on this one...her voice drives me BONKERS.



HOWEVER!!!

I DO like this version...

30 Day Music Challenge - Day 1

Day 1 - Your Favorite Song

Well geez...you would think that this would be super easy to rattle off right?  Yeah, no.  I have at least two or three come to mind.  I checked my iTunes, and according to that, my most played should be my favorite song, right?  Um, nope.  Just a bit Glee obsessed I think.  Plus, when I transferred all my songs to the computer they are on now, I lost all my play counts...so no bueno.

After some thought, I realized there shouldn't have been a need for thought...here it is:

I'm Movin' On - Rascal Flatts

A New Challenge!!

So, you know when you sit down to write a blog, you have serious writer's block and can't think of a single thing to write?  Yeah...totally have been there the last few weeks.  My 30 day photo challenge finished up and then the Royal Wedding, and then...(insert the sound of crickets here)...nothing.

Oh sure, I was able to post a couple times, one being silly YouTube videos, the others being small things.  But I've decided it's time to start a new thread.  You guessed it.  Another challenge.

No, no it's not another photo one, this one is a bit easier because all the pieces are already out there, I just need to cull iTunes to find them all.  That's right it's the

30 DAY MUSIC CHALLENGE!!!

No, I will not be boring you with only country music, I have quite the eclectic taste in music really.  But, fair warning, I am a country fan, so there will likely be a sizeable smattering of that genre in this challenge...oh, and Broadway...and...oh you get it.

I am half asleep as I am currently typing this, so I will start the challenge tomorrow.  According to the list, I am to find my favorite song.  Well crap, this might be harder than I thought...

PS: Yes, Maggy, this is my carrot.  :)