200 Have and Have-Nots....

My friend Amy had this on her blog, and since I am a master at spending time on things BESIDES studying, here goes.

The ones in BOLD I have done.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. SLEPT UNDER THE STARS
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. CHANGED A BABY'S DIAPER
5. WATCHED A METEOR SHOWER
6. GIVEN MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD TO CHARITY
7. SWAM WITH WILD DOLPHINS
8. CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN
9. HELD A TARANTULA
10. SAID "I LOVE YOU" AND MEANT IT
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. STAYED UP ALL NIGHT LONG AND WATCHED THE SUN RISE
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. GONE TO A HUGE SPORTS GAME
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. GROWN AND EATEN YOUR OWN VEGETABLES
19. LOOKED UP AT THE NIGHT SKY THROUGH A TELESCOPE
20. HAD AN UNCONTROLLABLE GIGGLING FIT AT THE WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT
21. HAD A PILLOW FIGHT
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. TAKEN A SICK DAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT ILL
24. BUILT A SNOW FORT
25. HELD A LAMB
26. GONE SKINNY DIPPING
27. TAKEN AN ICE COLD BATH
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. SEEN A TOTAL ECLIPSE
30. RIDDEN A ROLLER COASTER
31. Hit a home run
32. DANCED LIKE A FOOL AND NOT CARED WHO WAS LOOKING
33. ADOPTED AN ACCENT FOR FUN
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. FELT VERY HAPPY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, EVEN FOR JUST A MOMENT
36. LOVED YOUR JOB 90% OF THE TIME
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. WATCHED WILD WHALES
39. GONE ROCK CLIMBING
40. GONE ON A MIDNIGHT WALK ON THE BEACH
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. EVER BOUGHT A STRANGER A MEAL AT A RESTAURANT (PAY IT BACKWARD AT STARBUCKS)
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight(not since high school)
46. MILKED A COW
47. ALPHABETIZED YOUR PERSONAL FILES
48. EVER WORN A SUPERHERO COSTUME
49. SUNG KARAOKE
50. LOUNGED AROUND IN BED ALL DAY
51. Gone scuba diving
52. KISSED IN THE RAIN
53. PLAYED IN THE MUD
54. GONE TO A DRIVE-IN THEATER
55. DONE SOMETHING YOU SHOULD REGRET, BUT DON'T
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. STARTED A BUSINESS
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. MADE COOKIES FROM SCRATCH
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. GOT FLOWERS FOR NO REASON
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEFEND SOMEONE
67. BOUNCED A CHECK
68. READ - AND UNDERSTOOD - YOUR CREDIT REPORT
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. FOUND OUT SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT THAT YOUR ANCESTORS DID
71. CALLED OR WRITTEN YOUR CONGRESS PERSON
72. PICKED UP AND MOVED TO ANOTHER CITY TO JUST START OVER
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. HELPED AN ANIMAL GIVE BIRTH
75. BEEN FIRED OR LAID OFF FROM A JOB
76. WON MONEY
77. BROKEN A BONE
78. RIDDEN A MOTORCYCLE
79. DRIVEN ANY LAND VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF GREATER THAN 100 MPH
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. EATEN SUSHI
84. HAD YOUR PICTURE IN THE NEWSPAPER
85. READ THE BIBLE COVER TO COVER
86. CHANGED SOMEONES MIND ABOUT SOMETHING YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. GONE BACK TO SCHOOL
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. EATEN FRIED GREEN TOMATOES
92. Read The Iliad
93. TAUGHT YOURSELF AN ART FROM SCRATCH
94. KILLED AND PREPARED AN ANIMAL FOR EATING
95. APOLOGIZED TO SOMEONE YEARS AFTER INFLICTING THE HURT
96. COMMUNICATED WITH SOMEONE WITHOUT SHARING A COMMON SPOKEN LANGUAGE
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. DYED YOUR HAIR
103. BEEN A DJ
104. ROCKED A BABY TO SLEEP
105. EVER DROPPED A CAT FROM A HIGH PLACE TO SEE IF IT REALLY LANDS ON ALL FOURS
106. Raked your carpet
107. BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE
108. BROUGHT OUT THE WORST IN PEOPLE
109. WORN A MOOD RING
110. RIDDEN A HORSE
111. CARVED AN ANIMAL FROM A PIECE OF WOOD OR BAR OF SOAP
112. COOKED A DISH WHERE FOUR PEOPLE ASKED FOR THE RECIPE
113. Buried a child
114. GONE TO A BROADWAY PLAY
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. SHOT A BASKETBALL INTO A BASKET
117. DANCED AT A DISCO
118. PLAYED IN A BAND
119. Shot a bird
120. GONE TO AN ARBORETUM
121. TUTORED SOMEONE
122. RIDDEN A TRAIN
123. BROUGHT AN OLD FAD BACK INTO STYLE
124. EATEN CAVIAR
125. LET A SALESMAN TALK YOU INTO SOMETHING YOU DIDN’T NEED
126. RIDDEN A GIRAFFE OR ELEPHANT
127. Published a book
128. PIECED A QUILT
129. Lived in an historic place
130. ACTED IN A PLAY OR PERFORMED ON A STAGE
131. ASKED FOR A RAISE
132. MADE A HOLE-IN-ONE
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. GONE ROLLER SKATING
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. SPENT THE NIGHT IN A 5-STAR LUXURY SUITE
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. SANG A SOLO
143. Gone spelunking
144. LEARNED HOW TO TAKE A COMPLIMENT
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. HAD YOUR PORTRAIT PAINTED
148. WRITTEN A FAN LETTER
149. SPENT THE NIGHT IN SOMETHING HAUNTED
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. RAN AWAY
152. Learned to juggle
153. BEEN A BOSS
154. Sat on a jury
155. LIED ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT
156. GONE ON A DIET
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. WRITTEN A POEM
159. CARRIED YOUR LUNCH IN A LUNCHBOX
160. GOTTEN FOOD POISONING
161. GONE ON A SERVICE, HUMANITARIAN OR RELIGIOUS MISSION
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. SAT ON A PARK BENCH AND FED THE DUCKS
164. Gone to the opera
165. GOTTEN A LETTER FROM SOMEONE FAMOUS
166. WORN KNICKERS
167. RIDDEN IN A LIMOUSINE
168. Attended the Olympics
169. CAN HULA OR WALTZ
170. READ A HALF DOZEN NANCY DREW OR HARDY BOYS BOOKS
171. BEEN STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR
172. HAD A REVELATORY DREAM
173. THOUGHT YOU MIGHT CRASH IN AN AIRPLANE
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. KNOW HOW TO TAT, SMOCK OR DO NEEDLEPOINT
178. LAUGHED TILL YOUR SIDE HURT
179. STRADDLED THE EQUATOR
180. TAKEN A PHOTOGRAPH OF SOMETHING OTHER THAN PEOPLE THAT IS WORTH FRAMING
181. GONE TO A SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
182. SENT A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. BEEN A CASHIER
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. BUILT A CAMPFIRE
189. KEPT A BLOG
190. HAD HIVES
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. MADE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. SERVED AT A SOUP KITCHEN
195. CONQUERED THE RUBIK’S CUBE
196. KNOW CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. FOUND A LONG LOST FRIEND
199. HELPED SOLVE A CRIME
200. COMMENTED ON A FRIEND'S BLOG TODAY

So I think I was about 128/200. WOW. That puts what I think is my mundane life in another light.

Favorite Childhood Memory

What do:

And:

Have in common? They are a part of one of my favorite childhood memories.

The question was asked the other day, "What is one of your favorite childhood memories?" My first thought was of our trips up the river to Nasika Park. We would always wave a watermelon which we would promptly place in the river to stay cold. The other selections would be either KFC or Kielbasa sausage and french bread. We would swim and eat, eat and swim. Papa (Ben) would wear his cut off shorts and our mom would put on her swimsuit, something we did not see her in very much. I just remember fun, happiness, and the occasional crawdad scaring me enough to get out of the water.

This memory lead me to remember 4th of July's. Every year for quite a few years we spent 4th of July with my 4-H club. The Super Cows Incorporated. We would gather at my Aunts house with inner tubes, air-mattresses or anything else we could think of to float on. Then the procession would head through the fields to the river. I always had a chuckle and wondered what the cows must have thought about us, and how odd we must have looked. The float up river would take a few hours. By the time we got to Grandma Roods place the parents would have the BBQ blaring and as much potato salad we could eat. We would then proudly show our sunburns off at our next club meeting.

A part of the Coos River, Coos Bay Oregon

Most of my memories I thought of in response to the "What one is your favorite" question were memories made on the Coos River. I guess that's why wherever I have lived it has always been, Home.

No Food for Me.

With a start like that you would probable assume that this is about starving myself to achieve the goal of a better figure. And what do you do when you assume? You usually are WRONG. Like now.

I need to rant. Rage. Let the frustrations fly. This is not a blog for the faint in heart.

I HATE NOT HAVING ANY MONEY!


I am sure many of you are already shutting your mind to remember the last time you felt this way,ect. Well stop, open them back up and listen to ME. (I just want to be selfish for a little).

Money. One minute you have it, one minute you don't. This past summer I did not do much towards the end since I had too much fun in the beginning. I understood this and knew the consequences before my fun plans in June/Jul. Now I also knew that in going back to school there would be a cut in my finances. More time in school = more time studying. But HELL (yep I said the H word) was not what I expected. I am even working much more than I thought I would, putting in 20-25 hrs on non test weeks and 12-15 on test weeks. You might be thinking 32- 40 hrs isn't that bad for a paycheck. I at first didn't think so either. Then reality hit. IT SUCKS! Let me spell it out.

35 hrs per pay period x 2 pay periods per month = 70 hrs
70 hrs at my pay after taxes = approx. 700$

200 rent (I know, very cheap. I find myself VERY lucky)
100 phone (have to keep the coping system open)
40 storage (stupid storage)
50 gym (must have stress reliever, my sanctuary!)
160 gas (that's being conservative)
= 550 in basic necessity
- 70+ church (many of you know what I mean. If you don't, I'll explain later)
- 100 Credit card payments (grand total is not much, just still paying for that great summer beginning)
= 720 grand total
Have you noticed that I am above the 700$ mark, and have not even mentioned Food or the 300$ I have to have in by Nov 1st for graduation. Not to mention all the fun things I want to do. Like drink diet coke, study at Starbucks. Drive a distance that is NOT close to home, go to the movies, go out to eat, BUNKO! Get the picture.

Yes you could say it is saddening. I am sad. And yes you could say, "just think how nice it will be when you graduate!" Yes it will be. But man.

I am sure you are all probably ready to have me end my rant. Thanks for listening. (Oh, and by the way, this was not written with the intent to have you drag money out of your account for me. It's just a rant.)

4 Months To A Better Me

No, your math skills are not off. I did jump from 8 to 4 months. Let's just say that I was having a good, no, VERY good summer vacation. Filled with all the fattening foods and soda I could get my hands on. So yes, this does leave me with 4 months less on my year of a better me.

One thing I am not going to do is get all huffy and frustrated. I will just say, "Hmmm, those cookies, ect. tasted good", and get on with myself!

Let's look at the goals from the past:
January- Gave up Soda.
February- Added exercise.
March- Cut out my white bread products. No fast food.
April- Bye, bye, butter. Farewell fried.
May- Maintenance.

January- One thing I have learned. I love my soda. Yes you could say I am a bit addicted (she says as she slurps down her 44oz D. Pepsi). It is my sanity in a time of stress and very early mornings.

February- Exercise is my friend. I am getting in 4 days at the gym. Granted these are only 30 minute sessions, but hey, I'm getting there. Plus I think I could add in my job. 4-8 hrs, 4-5 days a week on my feet have to count for something right?

March- I can do this.

April- I can do this too.

Sept- I am going to focus on a little inward revamping. Daily scripture reading. I am not at the point for study. I just need to get the daily routine down again.