20 Favorite Things

These are in no particular order - some I will explain, others I will blog about later.  Very difficult to narrow it down.

Spending time with Scott - Blogging about how we met later in the challenge.


Spending time with family and friends. - In August, my cousin Jeff came to visit on his way back to his army base.  This was the first time I had seen Jeff since he got back from Iraq in July.  He came just for the day, but we had a great time - one that will be repeated before he goes to South Korea in the spring.  Last month I also got to visit my family in Minnesota.  Mom picked me up in the Twin Cities, we visited my sister-by-marriage and her two new kittens then headed back to the farm where I spent time with my youngest sister-by-marriage before she left for college, and my second dad.  On the trek home I stopped in and spent time with my grandmother - then drove the 17 hours back to Toledo in my "new" purple PT Cruiser - Horatio. It is very rare that I get to see relatives from two different sides of the family in less than a week.  I also got to spend some much needed time with bitch barn buddies and UCM pals.  Chrissy visited last week and we went to the zoo and played Rockband, and then I went to Chicago for research and got to spend time with Jackie who kindly put me up on her super comfy couch.  Then the next day I spent time with Heather and her Sam and Chrissy again.  Mmm tapas.  Spending time with family and friends makes life bearable during the rough times.

Cats - most importantly, Ares. Blogging about their awesomeness later.

Clue - I first saw this movie in the theatre when I was five-years-old with my parents and two neighbor kids.  I own it on DVD, of course, and can quote the entire movie.  It is one of those movies I can put in if I need background noise or if I just need a pick-me-up.

Coffee - Blogging about this at a later date too.

Office Supplies - I can't help it, I love highlighters, post-its, notepads, pens, pencils - you get the picture.  I think that is why I've stayed in school so long - I like school supplies - I especially like to color coordinate, but I like it even more when I find something  I like on sale.

Musical Theatre - I love directing them.  I love acting in them.  I love watching them.  There are three musicals that I hold dear to my heart, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.  The first two because of the casts and the characters I got to play - Reno Sweeney and The Baker's Wife.  The second time I did Into the Woods, I had a completely different perspective on the show and can appreciate it on another level.  I directed YAGMCB last fall, and had such an incredible experience - it was just the push I needed to remind myself why I want to be a professor.

Knitting - Blogging about this later too.

Facebook - Because this is where I can keep up with friends and family.

Losing Weight - Blogging about this later too.

Bright Colors - they just make me happy - I love to wear them, knit with them - you get the idea.

Traveling - I'll blog about a favorite trip later, but I really like going to places that I have never been to and exploring.  I started traveling at an early age because my dad was in the army, so I spent a large part of my childhood trekking through parts of Europe.  I love sharing the excitement of visiting a famous historical sites and I love it even more when I get to share those experiences with friends and family.

Reading - I'm a bookworm - take a look at my goodreads page, and this is only a small percentage of my library.

Singing - see musical theatre entry - it makes me happy

IPod - all my music in one small package

Water - favorite drink next to coffee (couldn't make coffee without it) - not bottled - filtered in a reusable bottle thank you very much. It is also fun to swim in, too.

Snuggy & Blanky - two important friends from childhood.

Cupcakes - blogging about this later too.

Ergonomic keyboards - makes the life of a grad student a little less painful

Digital cameras - no more waiting for photos to come back.  I love that I can take a picture and the people who I want to share it with can see it within minutes. That is pretty freakin' cool if you think about it.