Eight random things

Lisa tagged me for the Eight Random Things meme. I’ve done this one before, so I’ll be careful not to repeat myself.

1. I am easily enthused by projects. I work quickly and diligently but have an extremely short attention span and lose interest fast. I’ll start 2 or 3 projects, be very excited about them, and then drop them before they are finished. Quilting, soapmaking, and painting are my best examples of this. I have several unfinished projects that I started excitedly a few years ago.

2. I am independent and comfortable in my skin. I don’t mind being alone and often crave it. I spent most of my childhood alone. When my mom passed away, I was suddenly surrounded by people who wanted to steer me, check my homework, dictate my comings and goings. I remember that being a really hard adjustment for me because I was always quite strong a unit, a loner, self-motivated, and super independent.

3. I am very serious about my work. I take great pride in it. I don’t like to be lazy or half-assed. I feel the need to be doing something worthwhile. But perhaps a shortcoming of mine is wanting to make money and contribute financially to our income as a family. It’s hard for me to be comfortable not making money now that I’m a stay-at-home mommy. I’m always dreaming up ideas, like most recently a sandwich business. There are a million holes being punched in our precious Earth right now by oil drilling rigs that are run by hungry men. I could sell 25 sandwiches a day EASY. Five dollars for each sandwich=$125 per day for a few hours work. That’s $2500 per month. Not half shabby for a stay-at-home mom. See!? You see how restless I am?

4. I live in a fantasy world. I have already planned a beautiful way to spend the lottery money we’re probably never going to win. I dream really memorable dreams at night. I regularly plan humble vacations long before we have the money or time to go. I have already told Austin what kind of car I want him to buy me when he gets drafted for the NFL. But trust. He will be drafted and I will drive a black Firebird with a gold firebird painted on the hood. Yep.

5. I write too much. Sometimes when I’m indifferent with someone, I write them. I almost ALWAYS regret what I say.

6. I try to nurture my husband. I think that it’s easy to overlook our spouses when we are so overwelmed with children and the needs of our family. But men need to be nurtured too. They like warm meals, hugs, encouragment, and praise. They like bubble baths. Sometimes they need us to bring them a tylenol and a glass of water without them even mentioning that they have a headache. They need us to be observant and gentle and kind.

7. I count things. Obsessively. I can’t do math in my head for anything. But I count street lights while I’m driving, I count buttons on shirts during meetings, I count the number of steps I take on the treadmill in a minute, I count the number of doors I pass while walking down hallways.

8. One of my very favorite movies is Life is Beautiful. You should go rent it!

~~~~BONUS THING~~~~

9. I once worked at a daycare center in the 1 year old room. I shared the room with an assistant and together we had 12 feisty and fun one-year-olds. I LOVED working there, despite that it didn’t pay well. I think I had more fun and interesting jobs before I went to college. Anyhow, I made a whopping $8 per hour. The owner started having a lot of financial problems and she became mean and hateful. A few days before I quit, she fired a couple of people and hired new people for less pay. The day before I quit, she came to me and told me that she was tired of me not cleaning the room properly before I left for the day. I was floored by her accusation because clean was an understatement on that room. It was STERILE! But I shook it off. On her way out of the room, she pointed to a toy garage and said, “You need to make sure that car doesn’t roll out of the garage and onto the ground.” I rememer thinking that was the weirdest thing she had ever said to me. But I shrugged it all off and went home after the day was done. The room was immaculate and the cars were all nicely stacked in the garage. The next morning I went to work. I had enough time to hang my purse and put my lunch in the fridge when she called me to her office. She told me that the toy car was found on the floor the next morning and that I was being “insubordinate” and that she was going to punish me by cutting my pay to $7 an hour. I got up from the table, told her that I was impressed she even knew the meaning of “Insubordinate”, that I knew she set me up, and that she just wanted a reason to cut my pay so she could continue to afford her manicures. I went back to my toddler room, kissed “my” 12 babies goodbye, and walked out the door. She went out of business a year later. What goes ’round comes ’round, y’all.

That was fun! I’m supposed to tag some folks here but, I just can’t do it. But do consider yourself tagged if you want to be!

Posted by: stepherz | 08-15-2007 | 09:08 PM
Posted in: MeMeMeeee | Comments (8)

Moaning MeMe

Darlene from Pluck the Petal tagged me for this “Moaning MeMe”. Since I’m rather good at that whole moany, whiney thing lately… Here we go:

I’m supposed to begin by tagging 5 people for this meme, but I just can’t do it. If you want to do this meme, please consider yourself tagged. I personally like being tagged for a meme, but I know some don’t.

4 things that should go into room 101 and be removed from the face of Earth:

1. Five o’clock traffic in a small town. I don’t know if it’s better or worse in a super big city but seriously, some folks can’t drive at 5 o’clock.

2. Snow before December or after February. I know you guys think I’m crazy living in CO and saying that. But can’t we just get 10 HUGE blizzards in 2 months, get it over with, call her done, and move on to what some climates call “Spring?” That sounds so much better than the piddley snows over a span of 6 months.

3. That roll of chubbers that has made its home like a lifesaver around my hips. What the heck is this? Where did it come from? Why won’t it fargin’ leave?

4. Eyelashes in my eyeball. Also the gesture of offering to blow it out for me. Not only does quick, dry air not fix the problem, but it’s just a weird concept. No thanks. Please don’t blow in my eyeball. (yes, I have an eyelash in my eye right now)

3 Things people do that make you want to shake them:

1. Men staring at other women when they are standing/walking with their wife. Stupid fools. They don’t even try to be discreet and respectful! 

2. People who lay on their horn in a neighborhood during baby naptime.

3. When people spit, snot, and slobber in public pools. Yucky.

2 Things you find yourself moaning about:

1. Wanting a pedicure.

2. Wishing I could have a date night out with Jeremy. We haven’t been out alone together, even just for dinner, since Bella was 10 months old! I also got pregnant with Noah around that time. That’s what happens, Folks, when you never get a night out with your hubby. You get knocked up when you finally do.

1 Thing the above answers tell you about yourself:

Ummm. That I’m totally random and a little unstable? Don’t know.

Rules:

~Link to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it’s all about!

~Be as honest as possible. This is about letting people get to know you.

~Try not to insult anyone unless they really deserve is or are very, very ugly!

~Post these rules at the end of every meme.

Posted by: stepherz | 07-24-2007 | 04:07 AM
Posted in: MeMeMeeee | Comments (7)

Getting to know us… Part One

 

Jeremy 

He grew up with hippy parents. He once homesteaded on the dry plains of Colorado with his family– riding sheep, chasing horny toads, and never watching television. No running water, no indoor potty, no Atari games. He spent part of his childhood on a lesbian commune, in sweat lodges, and watching adults channel spirits and ghosts while smoking peyote and pot and tripping on acid. He ate boiled vegetables, saw a Happy Meal once in a blue moon, and was cured of all his ailments with a dose of love and a spoon of garlic.

He listens to rock music (Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down), hates rap and R&B.

He loves chocolate and Little Debbie Snacks. He can eat until he’s blue in the face and never gains weight.

When I met him, he had braids in his hair with beads on the end. When he moved his head, the beads clanked together. I loved the sound of him coming into the room.

He works unbelievably hard. He is the most amazing and talented man I’ve ever met. Give him a piece of wood and a few nails and he’ll build something wonderful.

He’s brilliant with numbers. He is like a human calculator.

He wiggles relentlessly in bed from 4 am until it’s time to wake. I love him, but his wiggling makes me crazy. I’m researching the Bragada and Temperpedic mattresses!

He remembers details. He’d be a criminal’s worst nightmare if he were to ever have to do a line-up. Nothing gets past this guy.

He’s brilliantly funny and the life of the party– if you can get him out of the house to go to the party!

He’s a homebody. He goes to work because he has to, but rushes home afterwards to us. He’s never been one of those guys who wanted Guy’s Night Out or hobbies that were outside of his family life.

He’s only had one best friend other than me in the 10 years we’ve been together. That best friend is married to my best friend, which was wonderful when we lived in NC. Now we have 2000 miles between us and them.

He’s the most affectionate person I’ve ever known.

He’s had 1 surgery in his life– for a hernia. The doctor who did the surgery butchered him and was also nice enough to give him a second belly button. Yep, if you look at Jeremy’s tummy, it looks like he has 2 belly buttons!

He is building a church right now. He feels more of a connection to this establishment than any other he’s built. I think that says something about him because he has built some amazing structures– 2 million dollar custom homes, huge commercial projects, etc. He loves that his living comes from being a Carpenter and always uses Jesus and Noah as examples of the great men who have shared his love of working with wood.  

He is strong. He can fix broken cars. He can yank even the meanest splinter. He can cook like it’s no one’s business!

He also happens to be the sexiest man on Earth.

Steph

I grew up with my toes in the sand. My mom was single and raised me alone. She was also a registered nurse, so worked some funky hours. But she loved the beach and any free moment she had away from the hospital, we were on the sand and soaking up the sun. Where Jeremy ate boiled veggies for dinner, I ate double cheesburgers from McDonalds. Where Jeremy was chasing sheep, I was chasing seagulls.

I love all foods. Never met one I didn’t atleast appreciate. I’m partial to the southern stuff though– fried chicken and porkchops, baked mac-n-cheese, deviled eggs, fried okra.

I’ve had surgery 4 times. Once to remove a sick appendix, once to open my twisted fallopian tubes, one d&c for a pregnancy that ended but my body held onto, one plastic surgery.

I’m so sensitive to the news that I can’t watch it. I’d rather gag on celebrity gossip for hours than to watch the news for 5 minutes. It makes me cry. Outloud. Like a baby.

I love rediculous humor. Some of my favorite comedies are: Super Troopers, Borat, Team America, South Park. (Jeremy also loves these)

I don’t read books enough but when I do it HAS to be African American Literature.

I loathe (ok, maybe I just dislike) Oprah Winfrey. Any woman who can put her own fugly mug on the cover of a magazine every month of the year is too full of herself for me. YUCK! And I used to love (ok, maybe I just really liked) that woman.

I didn’t date for long before I met My Love. But when I did, I dated any race, any age, and both genders. I never thought love should be limited by rules or expectations. Love is for the good people, however they come packaged.

I enjoy watching people. I love observing interactions. I remember faces no matter what, but I’m terrible with names.

I LURV to watch Man vs. Wild. What a hunky, manly man Bear Grylls is! Grrrr.

I can’t sleep without my fan on high. I also have a hard time sleeping past 4 a.m. (when Jeremy starts wiggling).  :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The kids will follow. I’m saving them for Part Two, since saving the best for last is just my style… Feel free to join me in introducing the people you love (and you, of course)!

Posted by: stepherz | 07-09-2007 | 08:07 PM
Posted in: Just Me | MeMeMeeee | Momma | Wife | Comments (10)

Interview Meme

Darlene had an awesome post awhile back where she was interviewed by one of her readers and then offered to send her readers some interview questions that they could answer on their blog. If you would like me to send interview questions to you, just let me know in the comments and you can join the fun!

1. If someone were making a movie about the story of your life, who would play you, what would the movie be called, and what kind of genre would it be?

Ummm, I’d love to say that Angelina Jolie would play me because we look so much alike, but contrare. This one is hard for me because I’m not really impressed with any actresses right now. But, maybe I could pick an “entertainer?” In that case, I’d pick Chelsea Handler because she is my soulmate girlfriend, we just haven’t found each other yet ( :-) ). It would have to be comedy and the title of the movie would be. Ummm. “The Drama Momma.” That’s stupid and I’m not very creative. But I am a Drama Queen.

2. When I say “peace” what is the first thing that comes to mind?

A beautiful day where where all 5 of us are together. It seems like there couldn’t be too much of that. I feel so thankful that our home life is one in which we all want to be together and could be every single day. We decided to start playing the Colorado lottery because, if we won, we wouldn’t live BIG. We’d live a similar life but no one would have to work. We’d play together every day.

I am most peaceful when we are all together. If one is missing, something feels off. I tend to worry more (for instance– since Austin has been gone), sleep restlessly, etc. My heart is peaceful when we are all where we belong. Together.

3. If I were to come spend the day with you, what would we do?

We would have to pack in as much fun and conversation and picture taking as possible. If you came in the summer, I would take you straight to the river where we could inner-tube. It is the most gut-busting, fun laughter I can get anywhere. My stomach muscles hurt the day after I go on the river. We’d have an amazing lunch somewhere outside where we could dry our water-pruned bodies and warm our river-chilled bones in the Colorado sun. I’d probably want to introduce you to our amazing, beautiful forests, mountain views, and native ruins. And, if I could talk you into staying the night too, we’d have to go camping at the lake. Roasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories, staring at the milkyway, and dancing silly giggles around the fire! You HAVE to come to Colorado!

4. If you could have a superpower, what would you choose and why?

I would choose Colorado Lottery psychic power. I would be able to see what numbers will win tomorrow! That way I could afford to fly ALL my blog buddies to Colorado for a real BlogHer! But I’d have to buy my little farm first so I could show you Bella’s cow when you come!

5. If you could go back in time and give some advice to the younger you, what age would you go back to and what would you tell yourself?

This is a good one. I’d go back to the 12 year old me. I’d tell myself that everything was going to be OK. I’d show myself pictures and share stories of the all the love I’d be finding on the other side of that era.

Thank you, Darlene, for interviewing me and giving me such fun and thought provoking interview questions! And if any of you want me to interview you, let me know. This is so much more fun than any meme! 

Posted by: stepherz | 06-22-2007 | 11:06 PM
Posted in: Friend | MeMeMeeee | Momma | Wife | Comments (8)