1. What was your favorite part about growing up in your hometown?
I grew up in South Florida and I guess, looking back, I really enjoyed being near the beach. I am a Florida girl at heart and I loved the tropical climate. I don’t like a lot of the aesthetic of the neighborhood but I still did like being close to the water.
2. Do you prefer ‘material’ gifts or ‘experience’ gifts? If you answered experience, tell us about one you’ve received and truly enjoyed.
I definitely prefer experiences over things. I don’t really need any material things. I am bothered by the fact that we live in such a consumer driven society.
One of the best experience gifts was in 2016 for Christmas when my husband got us tickets to a WWE show in Jacksonville. I had recently gotten back into watching wrestling so I was super excited to go and my favorite wrestler won a belt too!
3. Is brown a color featured prominently in your home decor? Your wardrobe? What’s a favorite brown thing you own? Of the brown foods listed here which one is your favorite and/or most often consumed… brown sugar, brown rice, pretzels, coffee, dates, cloves, German chocolate cake, whole wheat bread?
No, not really. We have some shades of brown in the house but it’s not a color I usually like, though I do think it could be considered a “warm” color. I can’t really think of anything brown I own I like, to be honest. Does my wooden table count? I guess out of those, I definitely have coffee most often, but probably pretzels next. And I love the cake the most!
4. Which ‘Charlie Brown’ character do you relate to most? If you’re not sure, you can take a fun quick quiz by clicking here-Which Charlie Brown Character Are You? or the one found here-Charlie Brown Quiz. I got the same answer on both.
I always liked Linus the best but the first quiz said Woodstock: “You’re super kind-hearted and loyal, and you love helping anyone! You’re the best right hand man to have around!” and the second, Marcie: “You’re unassuming, sweet, and intelligent. A bookworm, you’re super insightful, and you’re usually the voice of reason within your friend group. Sure, you love your solitude, but you’re not afraid to step up to the plate when it comes to helping your friends and family.” I think that one is more accurate.
5. What’s a favorite item you’ve purchased this year?
Hmm, I honestly can’t think of anything specifically. I guess maybe the pants I got for biking. My butt never really hurts out there. I mean, my undercarriage area is always a little sore but I don’t think there’s any true avoiding that for rides of these lengths. I also love the little zipper pocket in the back for my key. Biking jerseys have loads of back packets but the zipper makes me feel better about not losing the car key!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
The front moved in yesterday so when I got home, it was very overcast and ugly. I sat for a little bit and did some praying about the spring term, as previously noted, then gathered myself. Isaac and I finished watching the first Pirates (I really love that series; I don’t care what anyone says) and then made dinner. Elliot requested, essentially, Hamburger Helper. I made it myself though, not from a box. He and I watched Ratatouille then. We watched it a few months ago but I guess he’d been at work.
The rain had started by then and it was just ugly out. Isaac and I put on Emmet Otter’s Jug band Christmas but he fell asleep in the last 10 minutes, which is truly the best part. If you’ve never watched it, it has such a good message.
I went up to bed and the rain and wind was something else! I ended up having to dump some water from the pool, which kind of sucked being out there in said driving rain, but it had to be done. I managed to sleep ok though, even though it was crazy stormy.
This morning, I am working on grading and applying for jobs; I even applied to a couple back at FSU. I am hoping maybe my previous experience there – 13 years! – will someday pay off. It’s not like I wouldn’t go back; I just would never work in English again. I applied for one in the Honors department, which I am somewhat familiar with given my past employment. At this point, I’m just looking for something consistent.
Dakota’s friend with whom she rides the bus isn’t going this morning so I plan to hang out with her at the bus stop until it arrives then get a run in. We are all running the Turkey Trot 5k in a couple weeks and uh, I am so not ready. I can bike 55+ miles but I can barely run 3. Good Lord.
Around one I am walking with a friend at a park. I have to drive up there and meet her but I haven’t seen her since I left the House so it’s high time! She still works in Senate and with it being an election year, she’s slammed now. I am grateful she is able to make a little time today.
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I’ve never seen the jug band Christmas movie so will look for that. We’ve had a couple days of rain here, which we needed, but at least it hasn’t been crazy rain. I couldn’t run a 5 K right now if my life depended on it lol. I’m not a runner. I could walk it really really fast…does that count? : ) Have a great day!
I definitely purchase too much stuff. Not proud of it but I guess I am making up for some lost time (was poor for many years and didn´t buy much at all…). That´s cool about going to see a WWE match. I think I mentioned this to you before buy my oldest daughter was dead set on becoming a wrestler for WWE for many years. She is a performer at heart and loved the performance and physicality combo of WWE wrestling. She was in the throes of her dream in 2016 so that it what reminded me of it when you mentioned seeing a match in 2016 :). I´ll bet south Florida was neat- so tropical and close to the beach- lots to like! Have a great day!
I get that; whenever I feel like I have extra money I will spend but it’s always small things. I just spent too much time without to go back to anything more. And yes, you did mention that. I always thought it would be cool to write for WWE. I could craft a storyline just like that!
I think I would love living near the beach. I’ve never been into wrestling. We watched a short video on gratitude with our group of young adults last night. We were talking about a little Sudanese boy who had so much joy and was so grateful. We talked about how we have so many things and distractions that we aren’t always grateful for what we do have. It was interesting thinking about that conversation alongside the experience vs. material gift.
The beach is about 14 miles from my hometown and 34 miles from my current location. The traffic is the downfall. That is nice that you lived so close to the beach in Florida. I have never heard of that Christmas movie. I usually like to see the classic. I like the Peanuts Christmas and sad that they took it off public television. I sure hope the right position will come up for you! Enjoy the rest of the week. We have a big rainstorm coming in.