MeMeTiMe

A couple bloggie friends did this meme and I haven't done one in a while, and I'm strung out from work, sooo......

1. never in my life have i been: to Florida

2. the one person who can drive me nuts is: sleeping in my bed ;-)

3. high school was: mostly forgettable

4. when i'm nervous: yell at people

5. the last song i listened to was: some 80's song on Pandora

6. if i were to get married right now, my maid of honor would be: someone who wouldn't be shocked at bigamy (since I am ALREADY married)

7. my hair is: rather dry in back and in need of a dye job

8. when i was 5: I could read very well.

9. last christmas: we weren't sure we could buy any gifts, but the Lord provided as He always does

10. i should be: doing my yearbook page.

11. when i look down i see: my jeans and bare feet

12. the happiest recent event was: spending the weekend with family

13. if i was a character on friends, i would be: NOT Phoebe, lol I'd probably be Ross. I didn't watch the show well enough to know if I could be Rachel or Monica. Though I'd love to have either of their hair or their figures. LOL

14. by this time next year i will be: SKINNIER

15. my current gripe is: My kids aren't on-board with my homeschooling plan and yes, Michele, not enough hours in the day to deal with it properly.

16. i have a hard time understanding: how kids can LOOK like they're listening, but they really aren't. Even if they've heard the same instructions 100 times before.

17. there's this girl i know that: taught me that I could be a runner girl just like her

18. if i won an award, the first person i would tell would be: my kids

19. take my advice: get fit NOW, don't wait.

20. the thing i want to buy: iPad (or is it just hype?)

21. if you visited the place i was born: you could see Lake Michigan

22. i plan to visit: my book club friend Kathleen on Saturday next

23. if you spent the night at my house: I'd put you in the fold-out couch and we'd watch movies into the wee hours - with chocolate, of course.

24. the world could do without: selfishness and greed - or are those the same thing?

25. most recent thing i bought myself: 2 pair of jeans and several shirts at the thrift store

26. most recent thing someone bought me: dinner and a movie (Thanks, Janet!)

27. my favorite blond is: Captain Wentworth

28. my favorite brunette is: Ranger

29. my favorite red head is: James Alexander Malcolm McKenzie Fraser

30. my middle name is: Marie

31. in the morning i: get up and grab a cup of coffee and work for an hour before I even get dressed or brush my teeth

32. once at a bar: I almost.... well, I.... No. Don't think I'm going there. ;-)

33. last night i was: worked really late and then read a couple chapters of Emma

New Year Meme

New Year Meme

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Ran a 5K
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did make some and kept some. I already made some for 2010 (see the end of the post).
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Several friends had babies in 2009.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
No jaunts to other countries in 2009.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Enough money
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Sept 20 - my first 5K
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 35 pounds
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not following through with my freelance writing business
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My huge thesaurus
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own
14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying bills
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The release of An Echo in the Bone, the newest installment in the Outlander saga by Diana Gabaldon
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Bust a Move (Young MC)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
about the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Querying agents and writing
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Swearing
20. How did you spend Christmas?
A nice relaxing day at home with the kids - gifts, ham dinner, birthday party for Jesus, watching movies and letting the kids sleep under the tree.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Robin Hood (BBC)
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No
24. What was the best book you read?
Wow, only one? I can't pick just one, but here are a few: A Thousand Splendid Suns, Jane Eyre, Everybody's Normal Until You Get to Know Them, The Count of Monte Cristo, unChristian. Plus the 3 books by Diana Gabaldon I read in 2009.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
High School Musical ;-)
26. What did you want and get?
Spanish classes to teach
27. What did you want and not get?
a publishing contract
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
17 Again!
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Taught Spanish, took David to soccer practice and chatted with Darlene
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having enough money to pay all the bills and buy the things we need
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Mostly casual
32. What kept you sane?
Exercise
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Hugh Jackman and then Zac Efron
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
the CPSIA legislation: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
35. Who did you miss?
people who dropped out of co-op and people from work
36. Who was the best new person you met?
maybe Jen V, though I think that we met in 2008, but only really got to know each other in 09
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Being a friend isn't easy but it is worth it.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
We've got to hold on to what we've got 'Cause it doesn't make a difference if we make it or not. We've got each other and that's a lot for love - we'll give it a shot. We're half way there - Livin' on a prayer. Take my hand and we'll make it I swear - livin' on a prayer.

Resolutions for 2010
1 - Train for and run a 10K.
2 - Lose at least 12 more pounds.
3 - Call a friend every day.
4 - Work on completing my 101 in 1001 Days goals.

Harvest of Friends

20 Questions That Will Give a Little Insight Into Who You Are
(Pick whichever ones you want to use, use all of them - or make up your own)

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?
Popcorn or candy and a big glass of water. Oh, if it is morning, COFFEE.

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?
Internet access

3. Beach, Mountains or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
BEACH or by a lake. Done the farm thing already. lol

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?
Cooking.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
My mom??

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying at home with the fam?

Not "parties" but I like getting together with my friends. But staying home has its attractions as well.

7. What's your all time favorite movie?
The Lord of the Rings

8. Do you sleep in your make up or remove it like a good girl every night?

Remove it. But I don't wear it every day and when I don't wear it, I don't wash my face at night.

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?

I've always wanted to learn to crochet and I finally have the chance. I am taking a MOM class at my homeschool co-op while my kids are in their classes. So far I can make a really long chain. lol

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?

Finding information on the internet. I can find almost anything I need!

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?

His rebellious attitude. (Not really a plus, in the long run, I can assure you! LOL)

12. What is something you love to smell?

Lilacs; I can't WAIT for May every year!

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
I am bad about interrupting people when they are talking. Sorry, everyone!

14. When you have extra money (HA!) what's the first thing you think to do with it?
Go to the movies or buy books!

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
Loud laugher and I like to laugh at silly videos.

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
Thrift stores, rummage sales, yard sales, secondhand stores

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?
Well, I will say scrapbooking. If I had more time AND MONEY.

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?

See #16. LOL


19. Who is your favorite character of all time (from a movie or book)? (Can't be real)

Mr. Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey

20. Would you want to be famous?

No. But I wouldn't mind having done something noteworthy! :-)

Friday Fill-in #128

And...here we go!

1. I grew up thinking that every Christian ought to have the same opinions. (Yeah, I know. What was I thinking?)

2. Google Reader was the last website I was at before coming here. (or facebook, I clicked them both within moments of each other.)

3. Why don't you write a blog post right now? (What? You don't have a blog? Well, write me a comment then.)

4. The computer helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the comments (if you leave any) If you don't, why not?

6. I am working with someone who is very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Suzy's party being DONE, tomorrow my plans include Field Maintenance Day (soccer) and BOOK CLUB and Sunday, I want to get David ready for camp!

Friday Fill-in #127

And...here we go!

1. I won't really relax until my son gets back home. (And this is just a little taste of the rest of the summer. Here and then gone again.)

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been Chicken and veggies.

3. All I seem to hear around here is bark! bark! bark!

4. A nice long walk sounds great! Should have done it sooner. Now the sun's going down.

5. My scale had some good news for me this morning.

6. When all is said and done, my daughters apparently just don't understand the concept of keeping their room straightened up.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking the kids to a carnival down the street, tomorrow my plans include finding something fun to do and Sunday, I want to welcome my son home!

Friday Fill-in #126

And...here we go!

1. It's cold and rainy somewhere, but not here!

2. I think we should grow lots of tomatoes.

3. My favorite health and beauty product is Avon Moisture Therapy (intensive) hand cream.

4. I am looking forward to a nice long ride this afternoon with my son on the way to the Dino Dig.

5. Well, first of all, I am tired of never finding anything where I left it!

6. Me, my belly button and a spoon; those were the cast of characters in a recent dream and it was very freaky.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to maybe scrapbooking with a friend, tomorrow my plans include going to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sunday, I want to see it again!

Friday Fill-in #125

And...here we go!

1. Moving to a new house is one of my goals.

2. Cheap or free: that's my motto!

3. My best quality is not my patience.

4. I am usually quite good with organizing the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I have not weighed as little as I weigh right now. Actually, make that more than 12 years.

6. Exercise and sleep are what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to absolutely nothing (but I wish I had something to DO), tomorrow my plans include coaching my last soccer game and hopefully hitting some garage sales and Sunday, I want to prepare a pie for my husband's birthday on Monday!

Friday Fill-in #124

This week, I chose quotes having to do with spring...as always when I do this, feel free to fill-in whatever you'd like; it's more fun that way! Of course, if you know the quote, feel free to fill that in, too! The quotes will be on my blog, should anyone want to see what they are.

And...here we go!

1. If we had no winter, I wouldn't complain! I wouldn't even miss it!

2. Life is a perpetual astonishment.

3. If I had my life to live over, there are definitely a few things I would change.

4. We all live inside of four and twenty hours.

5. If you've never been thrilled, then are you really living?

6. To be interested in the changing seasons is to live in Michigan.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dropping Emily off at a birthday party, tomorrow my plans include coaching and watching soccer and Sunday, I want to relax!

Friday Fill-in #123

And...here we go!

1. Apples are to oranges as the Audi R8 is to the Lamborghini Gallardo.

2. The kids are in BED and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear my husband shaving.

4. My porch has a pole for a flag.

5. Do what you want to do, but I'm not responsible for the results.

6. At the yard sale sat a little freckle-faced boy, and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with painted rocks.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to setting up for a curriculum sale and probably taking my son to a movie afterward, tomorrow my plans include coaching soccer and tearing down a curriculum sale and Sunday, I want to turn in my Sunday School curriculum because my teaching assignment is FINISHED!

Friday Fill-in #122

And...here we go!

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is take a bath every day.

2. I will never ever eat clams.

3. When I think of carnivals I think of cotton candy and overpriced food.

4. Daffodils and lilacs are my favorite spring flowers.

5. Things on my desk include coffee mug, Ted Dekker book from paperbackswap, $2 for David's mission trip, my Jacob Black 'beanie baby', the High School Musical soundtrack CD's, pencil and pen and tons more.

6. Looking in the mirror makes me wanna exercise.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to SLEEP, tomorrow my plans include watching a soccer game and coaching a soccer game and Sunday, I want to read!

Friday Fill-in #121

And...here we go!

1. Apparently there's some sort of conspiracy.

2. What a beautiful sunny day!

3. 2009 is going well so far.

4. I said I would and that was it.

5. For too long I've been trying to spread myself too thin, like butter scraped over too much bread.

6. I am not obsessed with that kid from High School Musical; I am not! (OK, maybe I am.)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a friend over to watch Robin Hood on BBC, tomorrow my plans include coaching soccer, watching soccer, and going to Book Club and Sunday, I want to relax!

Friday Fill-in #120

And...here we go!

1. Join me in saying goodnight to the children.

2. Put a little SINGING in your day!

3. Happiness is the last day of co-op!

4. I thought I knew how to do it, but I ended up angry and confused.

5. I'm waiting for a revelation.

6. Facebook is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the co-op program and watching a movie, tomorrow my plans include coaching one soccer game and watching another and Sunday, I want to watch my kids participate in the Rain Gutter Regatta and then regroup for the week ahead!

Friday Fill-in #119

And...here we go!

1. Anonymous...I agree with you. I didn't do the last two Friday Fill-ins, because they were not amusing to me. However, I wouldn't have stated my opinions quite so rudely as you appeared to think appropriate. (If you don't "get it", go read the Friday Fill-in blog.)

2. Test scoring is a bear. (I'm scoring online tests for extra income.)

3. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, cakes that don't rise. (Huh? This one was odd.)

4. Bird songs, blue skies, white puffy clouds, and flowers: what I look forward to most about Spring.

5. Who needs therapy when the Bible has all the answers we need.

6. Chocolate bunnies and jelly beans MUST go into the Easter Basket!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Bedtime Stories, tomorrow my plans include dyeing eggs with the kids, scoring more tests, and cleaning house and Sunday, I want to go to an Easter breakfast at church, attend a Resurrection service, maybe walk with the family and, of course, score more tests!

Happy Easter to ALL!

Friday Fill-in #116

And...here we go!

1. Why do we have to sleep? I could get so much more done if I didn't.

2. Counting calories and exercising regularly are now habits.

3. I have a few books around here somewhere. (LOL)

4. I had never heard the phrase "might could" (in real life) and it turned up in a movie I was watching (Fireproof). (It's a Southern thing, I'm told.)

5. I got caught up in the details again the way I always do.

6. How was I to know that things would turn out like that?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Australia on DVD, tomorrow my plans include going to a homeschool convention and then going to BOOK CLUB and Sunday, I want to relax and read!

Friday Fill-in #115

And...here we go!

1. When I look to the left, I see the insulated curtain that keeps me from freezing to death. It's tan with fish all over it.

2. The dining room is the room that has the best view in my home. (This is a hard one. We don't really HAVE any great views. lol)

3. Let it work itself out.

4. Good writing done dirt cheap!

5. Caring for the poor is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share.

6. If you have any influence with a publisher or literary agent, feel free to promote me shamelessly.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to something I haven't figured out yet, tomorrow my plans include cleaning house and more unknown fun and Sunday, I want to talk to Jennifer!!

Friday Fill-in #114

And...here we go!

1. Driving a friend's daughter home was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place that needs to be cleaned is always found.

3. Common sense is often set aside in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or Diet Coke.

5. Please stay in touch if we must take separate paths.

6. Our world reminds me that there is a Creator.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a gaggle of girls spending the night, tomorrow my plans include sending the crowd home and visiting friends and Sunday, I want to RELAX and read (Hopefully North and South will have arrived!)!

Friday Fill-in #113

And...here we go!

1. I'm a writer, I'm a reader, but I'm not much of a cook.

2. Why do I have high speed internet and not cable television?

3. How does this publishing thing work, anyway?

4. Every morning, I put yogurt on my Kashi.

5. I consider myself lucky blessed because I've been able to educate my children at home for all these years. (I don't believe in luck.)

6. One day we’ll see WOLVERINE: Origins. (May 1, to be exact)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching North and South with friends, tomorrow my plans include picking up Angel Food, cleaning house, and going to BOOK CLUB and Sunday, I want to relax with my family!

Friday Fill-in #111

And...here we go!

1. It seems like spring should be here by now.

2. Put the seat down when you're done, please? (And make sure you didn't drip!)

3. If I thought you would go, I'd invite you!

4. Your blog is what I think of most when I think of you.

5. To me, Valentine's Day means heart shaped cookies, making homemade cards with doilies, and conversation hearts.

6. Singing praises to God gives me strength.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing SOMETHING with a friend, tomorrow my plans include doing SOMETHING for Valentine's Day and Sunday, I want to read my book!

Friday Fill-in #110

from Friday Fill-Ins by Janet

Questions courtesy of YellowRose this week; thanks, friend! And...here we go!

1. Please don't tell the kids I ate one of the fudgesicles.

2. Can you smile in the morning? It takes me a while.

3. The color pink makes me want to put on makeup and do my hair!

4. I have a craving for chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!

5. If my life had a pause button, I'd pause it with my family nearby, being sweet to each other.

6. Eyes are the thing I look at first.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending the night with a friend and have girl talk, tomorrow my plans include relaxing and planning a Sunday School lesson and Sunday, I want to spend time with my family!

Friday Fill-in #109

And...here we go!

1. I'd really like happy children right now.

2. D***it is the word you'd most often hear me say if I stubbed my toe.

3. Possession is a good movie with Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, and Jennifer Ehle. Watch it. Enjoy.

4. I need another glimpse of Captain Jack Sparrow.

5. Marshmallows and fire go together like popcorn and butter. (Not that I'm eating any butter nowadays.)

6. Lessons drag on and on.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to grocery shopping & movies, tomorrow my plans include housecleaning, writing, and Book Club and Sunday, I want to veg out!