1. What does the word values mean to you personally? Where did your values come from? What are some of the values that have guided you throughout your life? 

To me, it’s the set of guidelines I live by – the golden rule, don’t be a dick, etc. (Pardon my language but we have a joke about saying this to the kids; all we ask is that you’re not a dick to people.) My values come from my parents who taught me so many various things: work hard, treat others with respect even when they don’t treat you that way, keep your head down, do the right things. All of the aforementioned have helped me to be the successful person I consider myself today. Have I always been perfect? No, but the values help me stay on the right path to fix issues.

2. Your favorite vanilla flavored something? 

Though I don’t have them often anymore, I love a vanilla latte. But if we’re being honest, I enjoy when a beer (stout or porter) is infused with vanilla.

3. What’s something you’ve seen/done recently that you found to be very difficult, very  confusing, very helpful, very interesting, or very special. Elaborate. 

Hmm, I guess it has been difficult handling all the stuff in my life. I am usually really organized but lately, I have felt befuddled by my calendar and how to handle it all without completely collapsing.

4. Something you own and love that is violet in color? 

That is definitely not a color I have a lot of, if anything at all. Guess I will go with my daughter’s play kitchen. It’s a light violet color and, because her room is already packed, sitting in this corner of the hallway upstairs; I pass by it daily.

5. Do you have vacation plans on the calendar this summer? Tell us more. 

Yes, we are driving to Ohio. My husband is from there so he’s going to visit his old haunts and we’re taking the kids to Cedar Point. I couldn’t care less about roller coasters but they love them. Otherwise, no plans. Just swimming and working.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

OK, while I was at a brewery Thursday in St. Augustine, I got an email to interview for a tutoring position at the community college’s learning center. Lots of other English adjuncts do it to supplement. I went yesterday and the interview was with this woman, Sam, I knew from a previous life, basically. When I worked at FSU, I was friends with a girl named Britni and Sam is her wife. I was at their wedding reception even. Anyway, I wasn’t sure she remembered me but she totally did; brought up when we met up at a wrestling event years ago and can’t believe my kids are as old as they are now. Anyway, the interview went really well yesterday and she said I’d probably hear from them by week’s end. Well, I got the job this morning! Admittedly, I killed it in there.

So that helps immensely with money in the summer. Plus, I get to go back to campus. It’ll be good for me to get out again, though life will be insanely busy, as if it isn’t already! Seriously, my calendar is packed and sometimes all I want to do is sit in my chair and zone out. And even then, I get panicking that there’s something productive I ought to be doing. I’m not good at relaxing.

I have another interview today for Bellevue college and maybe I can reorganize myself into