Take Me There

I was tagged in a round-a-bout way by the lovely Katie for this one. Never one to pass these things up, I of course gave it a go.

I am

not quite sure what I want out of life

lonely

trying to find something I can't even put my finger on

basically in limbo

I want

to see the world

fall in love

I have

an amazing family

a posse of wonderful animals

a decent life

I wish

i had the answers

that barack obama becomes our next president

that i could experience a perfect day soon

i had more money

I hate

closed minds

war

genocide

suffering

I fear

losing everyone i love

heights

having my palms touched

never getting what i want

I hear

the drone of the television

the hum of a computer

the breathing of a dog

I search

for knowledge

for peace

I wonder

if i'll have children

how my life is going to turn out

I regret

not getting on the boat

not saying how i really felt when the subject was broached

not going out that first night

I love

my family

my friends

this election cycle

saving money

helping people

I ache

from the pain in my back

I always

put three cubes of ice in my cup

end up pulling my hair back

I usually

eat all of the wrong things

drive way too fast

spend too much money

and sleep way too late

I am not

always happy

terribly quiet like people think

sure of myself

I dance

in my dreams, never in public

I sing

broadway songs at home in very dramatic fashion

in the car, alone

sometimes in the shower

I never

want to regret life choices

plan to vote republican

put the cap on the toothpaste

I rarely

make my bed

do the dishes

take any medicine

wear socks

put on makeup

I cry

way too much for my own good

I am not always

strong

the best person to ask

I lose

iPod accessories...often

my patience

stuff in the bottom of my purse

I'm confused

about everything

I miss

several friends i've lost contact with

my grandmother

being close with my aunt b

I need

to get my shit together

to stop worrying

I should

throw caution to the wind more often

stop caring what people think

be nicer and more appreciative

talk to my dad more

I'm officially tagging a list of people, because the internet is way too quiet and I need stuff to read. In alphabetical order: Candace, Cassie, Charles, Devin, Erin, Laura, Meghan, Tammy. Come on peeps, my little marshmallowly fluffs...you guys are so smooshable, get to writin'.

Inspired

Inspired by this, I'm going to answer these. And frankly, you should too.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Finding someone to raise children and grow old with.

What is your current state of mind?
As always, super worried about silly stuff. but other than that (which is normal) I'm pretty calm and enjoying summer.

What is your greatest fear?
Losing my family and being alone for the rest of my life.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Procrastination, I put EVERYTHING off until tomorrow.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Ignorance and stupidity (i.e. refusal to be more enlightened about the world and issues involving us all).

What is your greatest extravagance?
I'm pretty darn frugal, but I really love gadgets and technology. I'll always spend money on computers and cameras.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
steadfastness, I think it's important to have the ability to waver on something if you were truly wrong to begin with. You should always admit mistakes.

What is it that you most dislike?
I hate when people are apathetic towards anything. But I'm a pretty passionate person, so I guess I'm always seeking that in others.

On what occasion do you lie?
To protect people, or smooth out situations.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
I'm not crazy about my thighs.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Sincerity and sense of humor.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Strength, general kick ass-ness. We need more Hillary Clintons and Angelina Jolies in this world.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Lately it's been "for sure".

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
I do believe I've yet to find that.

When and where were you happiest?
Sheer bliss in the moments after my Dad's first heart attack when he was wheeled out of the cath lab, I remember sitting in the waiting room smiling from ear to ear and just feeling this incredible just like...light within my whole body. It was quite amazing.

Which talent would you most like to have?
I really wish I were crafty. I just don't have the eye for it.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I don't think I've had a greatest achievement yet. I was a good kid, I made through school, am working on my "higher education", but nothing remarkable yet. It's coming though.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'm still working on being less uptight, so I guess I would have more fun...that's what I'd change.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be?
I always say a dog, but one of those dogs that has it made.

What is your most treasured possession?
Photographs, you just can't replace them.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Poverty and hunger I would imagine, the victim of Ethnic Cleansing, Hiv/AIDS mother in a 3rd world country, old person with no family and no support system.

What is your most marked characteristic?
I'm sure people say I'm quiet. But, I'm not really sure how others perceive me.

What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty and ease of friendship, if we have to work hard to be friends it's just not worth it.

Who are your favorite writers?
Mark Twain, Jane Austen, Rebecca Wells, F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.K. Rowling, Richard Yates, Walt Whitman, Margaret Mitchell, Wendell Berry, Maya Angelou.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Rhett Butler, although he is a bit of an anti-hero.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Good lord that's a hard question. How about Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Had that been my time period I feel I would have been just as adament about women's rights as they were. Thank god they existed. And look how far we've come.

Who are your heroes in real life?
un peace workers, volunteers, first responders, my mother, jacqueline kennedy onassis, princess diana, angelina jolie, bono, hillary clinton.

What are your favorite names?
Harper, Ellis, Sloane, Julian, Sullivan, Jude

What is your greatest regret?
Not getting on a boat with my grandpa the last time we were at the lake before he died, not telling someone how I truly felt.

How would you like to die?
Surrounded by my loved ones, happy with how it all turned out.

10 Guilty Pleasures

1. Reality Television: I think many of us have this guilty pleasure lurking in our closet. I mean, of course, they wouldn't stay on the air if none of us were watching. My personal favorites include all of those TLC shows (Little People, Jon and Kate), Gene Simmon's Family Jewels, Tori and Dean: Inn Love, the Bravo shows like Real Housewives and Project Runway and a few weeks ago I finally caught onto the hype that is The Hills. Father forgive me, for I have sinned.

2. Not dieting: You know what? I talk a good game. I'm going to get fit and trim and work it out. But you want to know the truth? I love food. A lot. I enjoy baking things that are chock full of butter. I really like red meat. And there is nothing like a good bag of potato chips. I like to eat, I find joy in eating. And despite all of my best efforts, I don't think I'll stop anytime soon.

3. Couponing: I'm throwing this one in. Because while couponing is not a guilty pleasure for say...Moms, it is one for a 22 year old single woman. I don't even have a need to coupon. Except it fills a certain time slot on a lazy Sunday. It's a good outlet to get my shopping out, and I figure I will someday use my money saving skills to good use, like saving for amazing vacations. Still, I only tell the internet about this one. ;)

4. Running the A/C: Here's a secret for you, I hate driving with my windows down. It seriously fucks up my hair, I spend most of the ride spitting my bangs out of my mouth and attempting to see through the fury. I also hate letting other drivers at stoplights hear my embarrassing taste in music. So, I don't do it. I know that we are all supposed to love driving with the windows down. But, I don't. I happen to really enjoy running the A/C.

5. Dancing with the Stars: I love this damn show. I love it so much, I once contemplated paying to see their live tour. I get fully invested in one couple, every season. I'm also eerily good at predicting the winner by week one or two of the competition. I've managed to get it right every season, and this year I predict Kristi takes it home tomorrow.

6. Celebrity Gossip: When I was in high school I used to spend $1.99 every single week on In Touch Magazine. I bought it because it was cheaper than People or Us Weekly. By the time I graduated I had a stack of those magazines like you wouldn't believe in my closet (nope, I didn't throw them out either). Sometime during my freshman year of college my In Touch obsession was replaced by Perez Hilton and Pink is the New Blog. I'm not proud of knowing every single latest celebrity hookup, but the popularity of those blogs tell me I'm not the only one.

7. Auntie Anne's Pretzels: Have I ever mentioned I can not go to the mall and leave without purchasing an Auntie Anne's Pretzel? I can't even remember the last time I did. In fact, just this past Saturday I indulged. And it was amazing. I think it's their buttery-ness that attracts me.

8. Reading Online Message Boards: When I was in middle school I belonged to a University of Kentucky basketball forum called "Wildcat Faithful". I posted a bunch. Made friends with people. Even got together with the whole group at a UK exhibition game. I don't participate in online forums anymore, but boy if I don't love reading them. Some particular favorites include the forums at Television Without Pity, where the snark flows in the reality tv forums, and a few Grey's Anatomy ones to keep up with the spoilers and speculation. I also take advantage of the coupon ones like "Hot Coupon World" to help with my drugstore trips.

9. Harlequin Romance Novels: No kidding. I love those little books. Not all of the time, or even half of the time. But when I need a quick pick me up I'll grab one of those little jewels (the "Super Romances" being my favorites) and read through it. 1/2 Price Books usually has them packaged up, four of them for $1 and every time I'm in there I usually grab another stack to keep on hand.

10. Blogging: Can I say this here? I guess so. There really is no reason I can think of to blog. I could use the excuse that I'm exercising my writing muscles, but I could do that alone and to myself in a journal. I suppose I enjoy the community. Even if people don't always comment. I really enjoy reading what other's blog about and feeling apart of it all. Most of us will never be Dooce, but we all share this common thread. People don't drop in on their neighbors anymore, we don't stand together on front porches sharing stories. But we get together on the internet. We share things with strangers that we sometimes don't even tell our families. And in the process we make new friends and a new support group. And really, it may be a guilty pleasure that I don't have to partake of, but goodness if I don't love it.

*cue the violins*

Tagging: All of you. I hope you do it.

Inside the *Me* Studio

I saw this done last week, wanted to do it then, but forgot. I'm an Inside the Actor's Studio geek. Love, love, love it. And if you've ever watched you'll know these are the questions James Lipton ends the session with before turning it over to the students.

What is your favorite word? Arachnophobia. No joke, this was the first big word I learned to spell and in the third grade I'd spell it for you whether you asked me to or not. It's got sentimental value.

What is your least favorite word? Republican! No, I kid. I actually don't mind Republicans, they give me a reason to believe so fervently. Real least favorite word: Genocide. I hate that a word like that even has to exist.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Ambition. I love to meet people who are just going for it. Taking that proverbial leap. That's totally hot.

What turns you off? Inability to back up your belief system. I don't care if we don't agree on something, but I want the other person to know the issue and believe as passionately as I do on the opposite end. Otherwise it's just pointless.

What is your favorite curse word? Dammit. I know, not glamorous. But it really applies in so many situations.

What sound or noise do you love? The fan running at night and the sound of waves hitting a shoreline.

What sound or noise do you hate? Knives scraping across a plate. Ehh, I'm tensing up at the thought right now.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I don't really have a profession yet. But something off of my gameplan would be a real estate agent or getting into politics in some fashion. Both would be interesting in my opinion.

What profession would you not like to do? Something medical. I admire those who go into it, but I can't imagine putting up with the effed up healthcare system in our country day in and day out. My Mom does it everyday and hearing her horror stories of how system runs frightens me enough.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? You did good, they will be okay and let me take you to see your Grandma.

Your turn. I'm tagging you all. Let me know if you do it!

Shuffle

I got tagged by Katie for this lovely meme. I haven't done one of these in a while so I figured I give it a go. That and mah shows are all done for the evening. ;)

Here’s how it works:

1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that’s playing
5. new question — press the next button
6. don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool

opening credits: Realize--Colbie Caillat

waking up: I Get Money--50 Cent

first day at school: Indescribably Blue--Elvis Presley

falling in love: Push It--Salt n Pepa

breaking up: Smile--Lily Allen

prom: Under Pressure--Queen and David Bowie

life’s okay: Simply Complicated--Jimmy Buffett

mental breakdown: GNO--Miley Cyrus

driving: Long Time Gone--Dixie Chicks

flashback: Touch The Sky--Kanye West

getting back together: Motown Philly--Boys II Men

wedding: Tequila Loves Me--Kenny Chesney

birth of child: Nobody Knows--Pink

final battle: Invisible--Taylor Swift

death scene: Wall to Wall--Chris Brown

end credits: Satisfaction--Rolling Stones

I tag... Devin, Laura, Cassie, Candace, Erin, Charles, Tammy...whoever wants to do it!

Tag You're It

10 years ago: I was 12, so let's see. Awkward and highly emotional. Not much has changed honestly.

On my to-do list: take my bio exam, eat pasta tomorrow, stop being sick at some point.

What would I do if I became a billionaire: hire a money person to handle investments and such, quit school, pay off all of my loans, pay off my parent's debt and buy them a new house in florida…on the beach, buy myself one next door, see the world, get a new car, start my own charitable foundation

Places I've lived: various places in Louisville, Shepherdsville (I was 2 and consider this my dark period), Mt. Washington, Taylorsville and Lexington

Bad habits: eating too much, losing my temper easily, getting my feelings hurt over stupid things, being self conscious, am just not nice sometimes

Snacks I enjoy: chips, lemons and limes, ice cream, dry roasted sunflower seeds, olives, pickles, peanut butter

People don't know about me: I'm a pretty open book. So I can't think of what to say here. And if you don't know it about me, I'm probably not sharing for a reason.

Tween Celebrity Crushes: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, The Backstreet Boys, Shawn from Boy Meets World

TV show I wish I could live in: Gilmore Girls' "Stars Hollow" is the most awesome quirky little small town that I wish existed.

Wanting to splurge on right now: a trip somewhere warm to avoid February, iPod Touch, Olympus d-SLR camera, Flip Video Camera, really expensive makeup

Tagging all of you, seriously, if you read it...do it.