10 questions
If you have friends who like to forward emails as I do, you’ve probably received several versions of their answers to the usually 100 personal questions, requesting your answers as well. I thought it would be fun to do the same but with a twist: you can actually win a prize! The person with the most intriguing answers wins a complimentary family portrait at Guana River North Beach access for up to 6 people included in the portrait. You have to act fast: the deadline for your answers (submitted as comments to this post) is Monday, January 7th. Cut and paste the text below into the comment spot, delete my answers, and enter your own. Tell all, ya’ll!
1. Fave bands and/or music: Keane, Radiohead, Coldplay
2. Fave show and/or movie: Scrubs and Beetlejuice
3. Fave things: folk art, such as Sticks, Story People, Beadworx, Shannon Mitchell designs (shannonmitchelldesigns@yahoo.com), TIVO, unique picture frames, mary jane crocs, and organics
4. What do you wish you had more time for? reading, working out, SLEEPING!
5. Most unreal moment: Before the epidural had hit and before the doctor had even been notified to come to the hospital, when the very nervous nurse checked and said, “I see the head. He’s coming out right now.”
6.Who do you most admire right now? My sister-in-law and brother-in-law–they have been through more than anyone else I know and are also some of the most fun and outwardly focused people I know. They survived the unimaginable pain of losing a child Henry James and a few years later, they lost their home, vehicles, and belongings due to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. I admire them for not only what they have survived but the fact that after all that, they live in the moment and value fun and people more than anything else.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: honeymoon in Paris & Geneva with lots of coffee, wine, and cheese, cafes, & walking with no destination
8. Your dream life: lots of travel, lots of art, lots of happy time with my boys (all three of them), and always, always, lots of weddings
9. Your own question:
10. Your own question:
1. Fave bands and/or music: Daughtry and the song “At last” from your wedding CD
2. Fave show and/or movie: ER, House, Gray’s Anatomy, and The Practice
3. Fave things: My Robe, My couch throws, my “Squealer” pig stuffed animal
4. What do you wish you had more time for? Spending time with my mom and dad from Tennessee and my brother and his family from North Carolina
5. Most unreal moment: I was recently fired just before Christmas for using the internet at work to email my family.
6. Who do you most admire right now? Me, for picking myself up after 2 divorces, and losing my job. Every day I am grateful for what I have, rather than what I have lost. I am most grateful for my family and the fact that I have not crumbled despite what life has dished out to me.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: My life is wonderful. I only wish to continue to have my little boy at my side.
8. Your dream life: I am starting private practice tomorrow. I am hopeful that my life will continue to get better everyday. I hope that as a psychologist, I can use the negative experiences I have experienced, to help others through difficult and gloomy days.
9. Favorite accomplishment-see attached photo of my son.
10. Why am I ansering this quiz? I believe that everything happens for a reason, and for some reason today I was supposed to reflect upon my life before starting anew tomorrow.
Hey Nikki! Love reading the blog and checking out latest pics. This is fun, had to join in!
(However, I fear my answers will indicate my age…ahem….but at least I’m not searching for early bird specials just yet.)
1. fave bands–the cure, depech mode, elvis costello, ub40, sarah m., journey (i know, i know), green day, and do like coldplay and snow patrol.
2. Raising Arizona, Old School, Life is Beautiful
3. chocolate, wine, amusement parks and beach with boys, having nice friends, college football (go Penn State!)and finding an awesome sale.
4. sleeping, working out, getting my house organized, and reading
5. On train in France in middle of night and realize that there is something under my husband’s seat (the lights are out). We’re both laying out on the seats and attempting to sleep. I ask him to reach down and touch whatever it is. As he does, we hear a voice in the dark say, “It is me.” Yes, there was a stowaway on our train—I think I lost 10 years off of my life when I heard that voice. He told us his name, said he was sorry that he scared me (in broken English), we kept the lights off and then I motioned to my husband for us to depart that particular train car. I didn’t want to turn him in, but didn’t want to stay in car anymore. We believe that he was on the train (maybe got on in Germany where we did) We think he was Bosnian and just trying to get out of Germany. My husband and I now laugh about it, but we realize that if our young boys want us to look under the bed to see if anyone is there, then we are compelled to look!
6. Uncommon heroes–the guy who jumped on subway track to save a stranger, or years ago the guy who let other people get in the life raft first when a plane crashed into 14th street bridge DC/freezing river–(in the 80’s) when the helicopter came back to get him, he was gone, and people who help children.
7. finding out I was pregnant (seeing the test results), seeing my parents’ faces when proud of me, hearing my children say “I love you”
8. No financial worries, better health care for everyone, travel and having a house big enough that I could have a fully stocked craft/art studio, and have horses.
9. First concert ever went to—
gulp….Rick Springfield (ah yes, I came of age in the 80’s)
10. Worst fashion choice…probably my permed and sprayed 80’s hair…yeah, pretty bad. Don’t worry, it’s gone now…replaced with a sensible “mommy” ponytail.
1. Fave bands and/or music: Eagles/Smooth Jazz
Tough to be older than dirt!!
2. Fave show and/or movie: Grey’s Anatomy/Desperate Houswives/Brothers and Sisters/To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Fave things: Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee/White Russians
4. What do you wish you had more time for? sitting in front of a fire with a good book and a White Russian
5. Most unreal moment: March 1st, 1996…A phone call at 1:15 in the morning from my mother.
6.Who do you most admire right now? My Mom
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: Watching my grandsons being born.
8. Your dream life: Retired, on a sandy beach with sunshine and a good book/traveling more.
9. Who would you most like to spend time with (past or present)? My Dad
10. Who or what makes you really laugh? My dearest friends, Dottie and Jackie. We’ve been friends since third grade (1953) and they just kill me!!!
1. Fave bands and/or music: U2, Kieth Urban, Michael Bubble
2. Fave show and/or movie: American Idol, Boston Legal, Brother and Sisters,Oprah,Medium (only when I’m not home along)
3. Fave things: My Husband, Family, Best Friends, Art Collection, Nashville, Uggs (winter) Flip Flops(summer)
4. What do you wish you had more time for? Now that I have moved to Atlanta, I wish I had more time for family and friends. I think you take people for granted when you think you can see them anytime.
5. Most unreal moment: We sold our house this past April to a dad who bought it for his mentally ill daughter. We had remodeled this home and really love it. This past November the ill daughter put the house back on the market for 77,000 dollars less the the sell price. I happen to be back in town during the quick sell. I went back to the smell and unreal mess. She had more pets than I could count, birds not in cages. It’s hard to believe you could mess something up so much in such a short amount of time. The upside is we sold our house in a week and half for almost the full asking price. I think thats really unreal in this housing market.
6.Who do you most admire right now? The person I always admire the most is my mom. She is the most thoughtful, kind and selfless person I know. Brian and I have been trying to have a baby and if I could be half the mom my mom is, I will feel very successful.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: My wedding day, it was perfect.
8. Your dream life: I feel I have a dream life. A baby would make it perfect.
9. Who would you like to meet alive or dead? My great grandparents
1. Fave bands and/or music: Iron and Wine, the Beatles, XTC
2. Fave show and/or movie: The Office, Dr. No
3. Fave things: anything outside, evening sky, driving on a road trip, daylight savings time
4. What do you wish you had more time for? learning something new, playing music
5. Most unreal moment: taking my first trip outside the US. I visited Israel and got to see some amazing sites and meet friendly people.
6.Who do you most admire right now? My 2 brothers. They both finished college and decided to take the road less travelled. Kyle lived in the Czech Republic and Germany just because he wanted to. Now he’s in LA working for Court TV. Chris lives in Athens, GA and plays rock-n-roll. Both have received criticism for not settling on a “steady job”, but they are happy pursuing their dreams.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: My wife and I taking our first trip without any plans.
8. Your dream life: travel with my family for fun and education, play music more than I currently do, living in a place where things can be simple like walking to work and the market, having an occupation where I can really help others and contribute to my community.
9. Name a person, living or deceased, who you would meet for dinner: Walt Disney. What a creative person!
10. If you could live anywhere in the world for 1 year where would you go?: Switzerland or Australia
1. Fave bands and/or music: U2, REM, anything 80’s
2. Fave show and/or movie: Nip/Tuck, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Napoleon Dynomite
3. Fave things: Baby noises, my new purse, the smell of Hawaiian lei flowers and anticipation of our move, my friends that cooked dinners for us after we had the baby. shopping for impulse things that I don’t need.
4. What do you wish you had more time for? Ditto- reading, working out, SLEEPING! add bubble baths, crafts and computer projects.
5. Most unreal moment: When the doctor said my water had ruptured on Monday and I needed to get to the hospital
now and have the baby. This was Tuesday afternoon and a week early.
6.Who do you most admire right now? My dear husband for putting up with me and my post pregnancy moodiness and for dealing with the lack of sleep he is getting with a newborn baby in the house. He has been a trooper and I admire him for that and the fact that his is quitting smoking on top of it all. God Bless him. He is doing the best for our family. I love you, Kevin.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: Our wedding and when the doctor handed me our baby for the first time.
8. Your dream life: Living somewhere warm and near the water, lots of travel, lots of happy time with my family and friends, Good food and beautiful surroundings. Good Health and lots of money! Wow, tall order.
9. First Concert : I think it was Ah-A and I was so in love with the lead singer! I think they are considered a one hit wonder now. Maybe this is why I am attracted to my rocker husband too.
10. Person I would want to spend time with : I really miss my parents and that was so apparent when they came to visit last Sept. It was different hanging out with them and my husband. We were adults and friends and they just happen to be my parents. I miss them so much and wish I could play with them more. We had fun.
Thanks Nikki
1.� Fave bands and/or music:� Micheal Buble, Hewy Lewis and the News (80’s rock!),
�2.� Fave show and/or movie:� Project Runway, Grey’s Anatomy, and American Idol
3.� Fave things:� Nora Roberts books, sushi, a crackling fire roasting marshmallows with those I love around it, my wedding rings,
4. What do you wish you had more time for?� walks on the beach to clear my mind, family
5. Most unreal moment: Losing my temper at my wedding when my sister-in-law said some very harsh words. I said things that I have never said to anyone. I had to ask someone what I actually said because I couldn’t remember what exactly had happened. I hear that it was a quite a site the way I swung my train around and got up in her face. That is not my usual self and it was a little scary for me!
6.Who do you most admire right now?� My husband because no matter how much is going on around him he still has the strength to hold on. He is constantly loaded down with more and more burdens. He doesn’t realize how strong he truly is.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again:� The walk on the beach with my husband. The moon was so big. We sat down and just listened to the waves while holding each other. Then, as we kissed a bug flew in my mouth. A great ending to a romantic night!
8. Your dream life: My husband and I both teaching children. Living on a large piece of land with my husband and bonus daughter with an additional child hopefully. A place where we have horses. A place where we can enjoy each other and God’s awesome creation all around us.
9.If you could change one thing about yourself: I would change the way I communicate. I always let people say whatever they want and never say anything back. I need to stand up for myself and also let people know what I am thinking.
10.The biggest life lesson you have learned: I learned to not put love on hold. When you have found the love of your life, don’t make it wait. I made it wait, but thank the Lord that I still have my one true love!!
Nikki this was a great idea!! These questions really make you think about your life. It was a nice refresher!
1. Fave bands and/or music: John Mayer, John Legend, Corrine Bailey Rae
2. Fave show and/or movie: Heroes and Love Actually… and Reno 911
3. Fave things: The smell of my fiance’s cologne, the feeling of the sun on my face and sand under my toes, my maltese Dusty, coffee, sleeping in
4. What do you wish you had more time for? working out, sleeping, relaxing, planning my wedding!
5. Most unreal moment: Standing on the field at Alltel Stadium holding an American flag stretched out across the field and watching the fighter jets fly over my head in honor of our soldiers. It was so amazing it brought me to tears!
6.Who do you most admire right now? My grandfather who has been through so much in his 86 years on earth. He was a pilot in the 2nd World War and was shot down by enemy fire. He has had to deal with Post-war Syndrome ever since. He is the rock of our family and one of my favorite people. He also tells it like it is… that must be who I get it from!
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: The night that Josh proposed to me in front of our family and friends outside on the deck at River City Brewing Company. Good thing we got it on tape.
8. Your dream life: Having a job that I love with people I love to work with… in other words, a stay-at-home mom who owns her own company (I just don’t know what I want that to be yet)! And, of course, being married to the man of my dreams and traveling a lot.
9. First CD: Journey! I used to get made fun of in middle school for liking them but they’re back in. I am so ahead of the times!
10. What can make you happy no matter what type of day you’ve had: I love giving. I feel that we all have a responsibility to give back to one another whether it be with our time or resources. Whenever I have the chance to share something with someone, I instantly feel joy. I enjoy giving money, smiles, clothes, time, a listening ear, and anything else I can do to help. It’s the golden rule.
I forgot to add thanks for the great idea Nikki!
1. Fave bands and/or music: There are soooo many! Superchunk is my all-time favorite band from high-school and college. I’m also a closet Carpenters fan ! But there are so many….Coldplay, Keane, Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd, Beatles, and sooo many more.
2. Fave show and/or movie: All-time favorite is the Brady Bunch but current TV is How I Met Your Mother, Project Runway, The Office, 30 Rock ; Movie – West Side Story
3. Fave things: chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk; my ipod shuffle in my car … it is so nice to be able to listen to all my music along with The Wiggles for my sons; my husband’s sense of humor; my 1 year-old son’s butterball thighs (good for kisses); my 3 year-old son’s laughter
4. What do you wish you had more time for? anything really. There never seems to be enough time in the day to do everything I want to do
5. Most unreal moment: Going to the OB for my 37 week check up having had no contractions when she stated “you’re 5 cms. You’re having a baby today!”
6.Who do you most admire right now? My mom who showed unconditional love in her marriage time and time again. She acted selflessly for many years trying to save her marriage. She was embarrassed when her marriage ended and thought she looked foolish for staying so many years with my father while he messed around. Instead, I think she showed strength and amazing love for valuing her marriage so much that she didn’t want to just give up on it. She went through years of hardships and hurt because she loved my dad and my sister and me so much that she wanted to keep her family together. I just wish she could see what we see in her.
7. Moment you wish you could relive again and again: there was a date my husband took me on when living in Atlanta. We went for pizza and talked and talked and talked and talked and talked. It was a moment in time that we smiled a lot, talked a lot, took a long time to eat, had no plans, just simply did what we wanted to do. That was the first time my husband told he loved my smile.
8. Your dream life: raising my children on a farm/ranch in a place like Montana with my husband. Getting back to a simpler way of life. Growing our own produce, etc. Working on the land, enjoying nature, enjoying sunsets. Leaving the hustle and bustle behind. Sort of hippie sounding but just living simply!
9. First concert – Duran Duran for Seven and the Ragged Tiger. My dad took my sister and 2 friends for her 16th birthday and me, being the younger sister, got to tag along. I thought I was the coolest 12 year old on the earth!
10. Favorite book – To Kill a Mockingbird
Nikki, you are so creative. I love looking at your photo albums. You truly have an amazing gift with photography. Thanks for doing this. It is so much fun!