Random Friday Night Survey and a lil' update.

First off, Happy Good Friday and Easter Weekend to you and yours.  For me, this means a FOUR day weekend (as down under, things are closed on Good Friday, and the Monday following, which is known as Easter Monday) with pay on the working days I'm off.  Oh yeah.  Two thumbs wayyyy up!  Also, this means that I get to enjoy Hot Cross Buns.   I will admit my first attempt of these (home made by the future mum in law) I wasn't that fussed about.  They were edible by all means.  But if I never had again, I would be fine.  I guess, though, they have grown on me, and I'm wondering what the protocol for baking these in non Easter season's is?  Must....google......

Life has been busy here.  Well, 1/2 of this week involved being out of my head on night time flu tablets and antibiotics as I got an ear infection and some kinda flu virus that attacked my SOUL (ok, perhaps I'm a big baby, and it was just an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection....).   However, on the mend.

Luckily this did not interfere with our weekend plans last weekend.  My first Aussie football game (AWESOME!) Birthday party for the twins, hair, chiropractor, and lastly the Blues and Roots Festival, which featured a 2 HOUR set by John Fogerty (CCR, folks!)  Awesome awesome time.  (hindsight..perhaps all that is too much for someone in their late 20's.... err.. I mean, early 30's....)

So, since I'm bored with blogging about life (work is good, love is good, I still live in paradise, blah blah blah) I am posting some random survey.  Because, I don't want allll you readers (ok, all 2 of you...lol) to become bored and leave my blog and leave me alone with my thoughts.......... and because I'm bored and Wayne is watching some race movie (as, well, he does..lol).

So, I will warn you reading farther will result in 1.  Waste of time.  2.  Accomplish nothing.  3.  Do you really need more reasons to stop reading than that?

Ah.. you are really that stubborn.  Ok, fine.  However, I give no refunds of lost time.  You have been warned......

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Ice cream covered in crushed Tim Tams.  Our little creation tonight that was YUM!!!!!

Can you play Guitar Hero?
It's been years but I use to be able to.  HOWEVER, I don't have the biggest hands, so some of the buttons/keys that my pinky had to stretch to resulted in FAIL.  Hmm.. .may have to look into one of these for some butt kicking at home..hehe.

How late did you stay up last night and why?
Not late at all... 11p.m.  (which isn't late for a night before a day off!)  The night before I slept like crap so I was super tired, and Wayne was home from his week away for the first night.... the combination for an aussome night of sleep for me!

If you could move somewhere else, would you?
Nope.  I honestly love it here.  The weather is awesome, the beaches are the most gorgeous beaches in the world.  Now, do I wish I could move my friends and family here..... that's more the question!

Have you ever been kissed under fireworks?
Pretty sure on Australia Day an aussie snuck in a kiss.  Then Wayne came back so we had to stop  (haha, jk.................... Wayne totally didn't catch us.......... lol.)  But yeah, pretty sure Wayne kissed me on Australia Day under the fireworks this year.

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
Maybe... just really depends on how close you were and how close of a friendship you have now.  Was it someone you just dated, or someone you were madly in love with and had a bad split?  Do you stay on a "friendly" basis as in "he/she is on my facebook, and may say hi if we see each other out and about" or is it "we are best friends, super close"???   I've known a lot of people who could do it, but it also seems like telling your kids "the dog died, but you can still keep it!"   I say exes are exes for a reason.  

Recently I found out my ex (who I thought was gay??) now has a girlfriend.  I sat and thought.... "awwww.........  poor girl"   If I could give her any advice, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!! 

When was the last time you cried really hard?
Two weeks ago.  My friend Denise's funeral.  I was able to listen to the funeral (thanks to Skype and my BFF from Nursing school's cell phone).  It's really hard to be that far away during something like this.  Oh, did I mention the funeral was at 4AM our time?  And that my wonderful boyfriend got up out of bed to sit with me so I wouldn't be alone?   <3  But yeah, that was a 7-10 days following. 

What items could you not go without during the day?
Oxygen??? lol.   Um, my iphone (yeah, yeah, I know I know...)  Deodorant (I only use once a daily, but really couldn't do without!)  And probably my bank card, since I never carry cash (then I could also purchase all the things that I'm forgetting about in this question)

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
Ah.. geeze.  I spend so much time in them (well, use to before the nice desk job) I don't really know for sure the last time I went to visit someone!!!!  They all run together.  Probably like people who fly a lot, you lose track of airport visits.....

How do you feel about your life right now?
Loaded question!  I'm happy with my love life, location (umm...who wouldn't love living in Paradise??? lol), and job.  That's a pretty good start.  There are some things I wonder about.... and there are also some things I'm not happy with....a few personal things, but all of which I'm trying to work on... all I can do is strive to be a better me...... and that's all I'm going on this blog about that at the moment.

If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
Lots of messages from my mom "Are you there?"   lol.  nothing much that emails from friends and such.  No black mail, sorry!!

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
As long as the flu tablets down under don't contain anything other than flu medication, absolutely.  I'm very proud to be drug free!

Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
LOLOLOL.  Wow, I almost fell outta my chair.  I'm sure people have said I'd be perfect for a mental institute... does THAT count?

What song is stuck in your head?
Right now, none... let's keep it that way, k?

Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m.: who do you want it to be?
Considering we live in a community where you have to be buzzed in at the front gate AND the downstairs entry, it better be someone with a really big surprise, like Ed McMahon with a big fat check.   (last time someone was at the door at 2 am, it was a drunk neighbor trying to get into the wrong house.. I'd totally go ninja on his ass this time.  Promise!)

Do you think too much or too little?
I think I think the right amount.  My boyfriend thinks I over think.. EVERYTHING.

Where are your feet right now?
Umm...attached to my legs??  lol.  Propped up on the recliner.

Do you believe in fairy tales?
Nah.  I kinda think that fairy tales are the problem with women's expectations the way that porn is the problem with men's expectation of women.  We expect a prince, they expect a whore.  lol...sorry, but it's true!

Do you like pickles?
Ehh..sometimes.  I really do like those sweet dill pickles, but in general I don't eat pickles.

Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?
No, eew.  Who would do that?

What's the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated?
13 1/2 years difference.  smh... I was born in 80, he graduated high school in 85.  WTF was I thinking?  smh.

Have you ever been on a blind date?
Yes, and they NEVER went well or resulted in anything other than a hilarious story to tell my friends...lol.  I have heard stories from when people met their "soul mate" on a blind date.. but I've heard several blind date stories that ended in restraining orders....

Do you have any friends that you've known for 10 years or more?
Yup!  I certainly do.  Some for well more than 20.  I'll stop there, or else we are discussing my age again.  And, well, that's just rude.. ;)

Does the number of people a person's slept with affect your view of them?
I really don't need to know this kind of information, and it's none of my business unless I'm dating them, so no. I don't want to know.

Are you a good tipper?
No longer a tipper as it's not done here (thank god, shit is expensive enough!).  But, I use to be a good tipper... in exchange for GOOD service.  I tip as a reflection on service...

What's the most you have spent for a haircut?
$125 (included a color though, but I haven't had JUST a cut without a color since I was like 16.... so no clue how much just a cut is)

Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?
In 7th grade I had a crush on my science teacher.  I thought he looked like John Michael Montgomery at the time (the young, thin John Michael).  I saw him a few years ago, and well, lets just say he did not look like my pre adolence memory. 

Have you ever peed in public?
No.  Having an "innie" and not an "outtie" makes this pretty hard for women, and despite my shitty bladder, I've NEVER not been able to get to a toilet, or hold it until I could (knock on wood!)

What song do you want played at your funeral?
Green Day "time of your life"

Would you tell your parents if you were gay?
Well, that's a hard one.  Luckily nothing I've ever had to worry about or ever have to worry about.  I would like to think I would be able to tell them, but that's one of those things I wouldn't know unless I was in those shoes.

What would your last meal be before getting executed?
Mutton, lamb shanks, steak, Nando's Chicken and Chips (fries... they are the BEST!!).. I'm going out stuffed!!

Do you walk around the house naked?
I've never been one to walk around the house nude.  Even when I lived alone.   I will sometimes, when I need something from another room or something, but in general, no.

What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?
Shoes off, purse down, then kiss the boy if he's home.

Who is the person you can count on the most?
There are lots of people I can count on.  Folks, the boy, some of my best friends, so to choose just one isn't possible.  Guess it depends on the topic/subject.

What did you dream last night?
Just the standard, woke up not sure where I was (our bedroom is dark as night, so sometimes I wake up confused... )   But no dreams that I can recall.

Have you ever been in love?
Um... are you new to my blog?  lol.  I have been in love, and I am currently in love.  Anyone on earth without the joy of feeling love in their life is living a life without meaning.  I'm not just talking s.o. love...the love of a best friend, family, or a loving dog. 

Do you sing in the shower?
Oh yeah.  The shower and in the car alone I turn into a singing Diva!  lol

What is your favorite Holiday?
Any paid holiday is good one for me.  lol.  My favorite is Thanksgiving.  Although, this past year with all the kiddo's, I highly enjoyed Christmas, and I'm sure once we have kids of our own Christmas will become a new favorite.

Would you ever get plastic surgery?
Who said I haven't already???  lol

Have you ever caught a fish?
Oh yeah.  Biggest was a 8.5lb catfish, and a meter long shark... "Jaws" who lives at my parents house... hanging on their wall. 

What is your favorite lunch meat?
Chicken!

Do you still have your tonsils?
Nope.

What is your favorite cereal?
Hmm...fruit loops and/or Cinnamon Toast crunch!!!

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
VERY rarely.

What is your favorite ice cream?
Chocolate.. even though when we go out for Ice Cream, I will still sample other flavors and comment "that's so good"..and then order...... you guessed it, chocolate.  I think it drives Wayne nuts...but add that to the list.  It's quite long.

What is the first thing you notice about people?
eyes and personality (nice?  mean?  asshole?..... part of working with the public)

What book are you reading now?
Book...what's a book?   lol

What is the farthest you've been from home?
My first trip to Perth... 11K miles from home.  Now I AM home.  :)

How did you meet your spouse?
Don't have one of those.  I met my boyfriend (and hopefully future spouse) in Orlando in 2005 at a Seven Mary Three concert.  We became great friends, and then in July 2010, more mutual feelings developed, August 4 2010  we became "official" but still with a lot to figure out..... and July 2011 I moved to Perth to continue our relationship and have never looked back.  That's the cliffnotes version.  For the full version, well, read the blog....lol

Where was the last place you drove (other than home/school/work)?
On Monday I stopped at the grocery store (on my way home) for orange juice and a few other groceries.

Ripped from the headlines....

"An American woman is suing McDonald's, claiming the burger chain's low wages and poor worker support and management of its franchisees combined to force her into at job at a brothel.

And in another twist, the woman is also suing her former husband, the franchise owner of the store where she worked.

In a claim filed in the Los Angeles federal court, Shelley Lynn says Keith Handley employed her but that she was wrongfully sacked.

Ms Lynn claims in the action that Handley forced her into prostitution at a brothel on the California-Nevada border.

She says that she would not have been fired and then forced into prostiution if McDonald's had a better grievance system, vetted its franchisees more carefully and treated its workers better.

She claims McDonald's poor overall management allowed Mr Handley to operate a prostitution service from his franchise.

The Courthouse News Service reported that Ms Lynn also said her situation was exacerbated by McDonalds' low wages, anti-union stance, poor health insurance and lack of an affirmative action program to encourage women employees to buy franchises.

Ms Lynn married Mr Handley after she started working as a prostitute but they later divorced.

The Daily News reports that the claim also alleges sex trafficking, negligent supervision and racketeering, among other violations of federal law, and seeks lost wages, compensatory damages, punitive damages and more."

I don't even know where to start on this one!  I think the article says enough.  Wow.. just... wow.  There's your SMH of the day, people!!!

It's over.. now what?

So, my favorite reality/cooking show, My Kitchen Rules (MKR) had the season finale last night.  This show was on FIVE nights a week!!  Now, it's over.  And tonight another one of my favorite reality shows, "Please marry my boy" has finale as well!  Boohiss.  I guess I really do need to get a life.  LOL.  We don't have cable, but there are lots of free digital channels.  I think I spend too much time watching t.v.  Of course, as I type this, I'm watching "the great barrier reef".  This series is amazing, as a side note.   Anyways, perhaps it's time to get a hobby.  Or cable with a dvr?? HAHA. 

As I've mentioned in the past, I have been considering joining a gym.  However, now that we are entering Autumn and the temperature is milder, I am going to take advantage of our gym here in the complex.  The reason I HADN'T been using it, was because it's got an entire wall of windows that face west and NO air conditioning.  Why is this a problem?  First off, it's hot as balls here in Australia when it gets hot.  Secondly, facing west means after mid day until the sun sets, the gym turns into a damn sauna.  The thought of working out in 110 degrees in a room with a wall of windows and no air conditioning?  Nooooo thank you.  Anyways, my goal is to start working out in the mornings.  This way I can just relax and take it easy in the evenings.  Tomorrow is day one.  I think I can, I think I can......  I have a wedding to attend in August, and I wanna get back into shape and look awesome on my first trip home.  Plus, I just wanna get into better shape and better health in general.  Gonna start really working hard on my diet, alcohol consumption, and exercise.  And be serious about it!!  I've stopped drinking regular coke and only drink Coke Zero, Water (not as much as I should.....), or 100% juice.  I think this is like the fourth week of NO regular coke.  And the other day when I had a regular Coke, it just tasted far too sweet.  I also seem to be craving sweets less as well. 

At work, been keeping busy.  Still working on getting some stuff organised and taking on new tasks and projects.  I still love my job and am very blessed.  I am going to be working more hours, but in the long run (as in in the next month perhaps) I will go to working 4 full days, and one morning with the afternoon off (prob Fridays!) and no more weekends!!  My sponsorship stuff is coming along, and yesterday I pushed for a raise.  I thought I was gonna be pushing it, but came out with like a 14% raise.  Not too shabby, eh?  Also got time off with pay approved to attend a four day course in May.  I was shocked by this because in America, time off for things that AREN'T required courses just doesn't happen.  I'm really so very blessed to have found this job!  I love the people I work with (well, most of em...hehe) and although I still have times where I either A.) want to taser someone, or B.) want to just bang my head in the wall and shout "beetlejuice!! beetlejuice!! beetlejuice!!"... I am very happy with my job.  But hey, working with the public and as many people a day as I encounter, who wouldn't wish for a taser?!!??!!?!?!?!?

Well, I will wrap this up, do some dishes and such.. I am planning on going to bed early tonight in prep for my morning workout.  I just hope my anemia resolves quickly and doesn't interfere with my energy level during operation-get-my-fat-ass-in-shape.  Until next time.....

WOW.....

Today was one of those days that amazed me.  However, NOT in the GOOD "amazed".  The... "I can't believe that you actually make it out of your door alive" or "I can't believe someone didn't kill you because of stupidity YEARS ago"

It started on the commute to work today.  Not once did I get up to the speed limit. Not because of traffic, but because all the other commuters must've thought it was a "Sunday" and they were just out for a friendly drive.  Times like this, are when I so wish it was legal to Kyle Bush someone outta the way.  Seriously.  Now, if it's a lot of traffic and we are going slow, sure.  I understand that.  But this was not the case.  At.  All.  I ran a good 20K under the speedlimit the ENTIREEEEE time.  Bleh.

Secondly, apparently today was "stay on your cell phone all day" day.  Now, I am one who loves my iphone.  Basically, everyone of my friends know this about me.  It's not a secret.  But NEVER in a million years would I ask my nurse or doctor to WAIT while I finished a personal call.  And side note, since all these people were laughing and basically shooting the shit, I'm certain it wasn't one of those urgent phone calls that you really did legitimately NEED to finish.  Hey, I'm willing to make some exceptions here.  But discussing your weekend plans as I'm holding a syringe to give you a flu shot, is just plain rude.  And when I approach to give it (because hey lady.. see those people outside my office? Yeah, you are holding them up... and it's almost time for some coffee.....) you put up your hand like a stop sign and then COVER your arm so I CAN'T give the shot.. well, let's just say luckily for you "ma'm" I haven't been authorized to bring a taser to work... yet... may have to push for that soon.  Yeah, that's numero uno for Monday!

I'll stop there on the idiots that have caused me to have very little patience today.  Otherwise, this could turn into a flippin' novel.

We are 3 weeks into Autumn, and you can tell it.  The temperatures are cooler, and the sun is setting earlier and earlier each day.  I love the cool crispness of the morning and in the evenings.  It's quite refreshing.   Add the gorgeous breeze that we have here in Perth, along with the gorgeous blue skies, and I tell ya, it's just paradise.  The downfall is that with the sun setting earlier and earlier, soon it will be dark before I even get home from work.  Boohiss.  As if I don't already have a lack of energy these days (thanks to some anemia issues), being dark when I get home will add to my unproductively for sure!

The weekend ahead is sure to be a busy one!  Before I know it, the weekend will have passed and I will be back at work.  Why can't work weeks go quickly like weekends, and weekends DRAGGGGGG like work weeks?   Now that would be simply awesome.

Tonight in America UK plays... March madness is in full swing.  Sweet 16 in Catlanta, Georgia.  Miss that time of year, it's "MADNESS" allright!

Ok, off to tackle the weekend!!

Maximum emotional capacity.

I have it!

This has been such an emotional week for me.   Let me hit on the points.....

My dear friend and mentor has died. 

Because of the distance, there is no way for me to attend this funeral, although I wish I could.

My dad is currently mowing the "back 40" for the last time as I type this.

My parents close on their house... aka, my "home" on Monday.

Yeah, the second part is me being selfish... yeah, I know.  I get that.  But does that make it easier?  And yes, I live in Australia.  I can't expect everyone else to stay the same while I drastically change.  I totally get that.  It's just this part of me that always invisioned taking my kids to their house... to grandma and grandpa's house.  "your play room is where I use to sleep".  I always thought would be the case.  And I'm so happy they are doing what makes them happy.  Cause hell, I'm doing what makes me happy so why should anyone else do anything any different????

Today is Denise's visitation.  I so wish I could attend.  I miss her so much already.  I've become "Friends" with her daughter on facebook, and she and I have passed numerous messages.  She is my age.  Wow.  All these years I've been so close to Denise, I never thought of her as being someone who could be my "mom".  Crazy.  Despite age, Denise had such a young spirit.  Younger than me most days.  I miss her so much already and it's only been 2 days.

My vow is to make sure to be the nurse Denise would be proud of.  And now, I know that she can see my blog directly (that is...if heaven has wifi...lol)

Denise...
I hope I make you proud
I hope that I am HALF the nurse you trained me to be, and the nurse that you would be proud to say "she was my duckling".
Please, always guide my terrified hands and fearful brain, as I know YOU would know what I should do.

Until next time...

Very heavy heart

Today I received news that my dear friend, and mentor Denise lost her battle to cancer.  This is not my first death to experience since moving (this time or my stay for 2 months last year).  However this is by FAR the closest and hardest.  I've choked back tears all day, and even as I write this. 

I remember the first time I met Denise.  It was a bitter cold Saturday January morning at Frankfort Regional Hospital.  She was my new clinical instructor.  When we found out she not only was a RN, but a Nurse Practictioner, well, the fear became a little more intense.  In general, nursing instructors are cold.  Harsh.  Heartless.  "surely this semester will be misery" was on our minds.  Then we met Denise.  Instantly we all fell in love with this woman.  Warm and honest.  Caring and funny.   She wanted to know about each of us, not just professionally.  But personally.   She called us her "ducklings".   We were scheduled to be at different locations (including the mental hospitals!!) every Saturday from 7am to 7pm.  With the wrong instructor, this could have been pure misery.  Instead I found myself not only enjoying Saturday clinicals, but looking forward to them.  In addition to knowledge, Denise would tell us about her experiences.  Her life lessons as a nurse.  The things she learned when X, Y, or Z happened.  She would remind us, especially on cases that were "yucky" that regardless.. "that is somebody's mama/daddy/granny/grandpa".  And she would remind us of that whenever we needed to be "smacked back to reality" as she called it a time or two.  And I am grateful for every "smack" of reality I ever had the honor of receiving.

The following August was the begining of a new semester.. and a new classroom instructor.  Not only was Denise our clinical instructor, but now she was teaching lecture!!   Now, not only did I look forward to Saturdays, but the two long nights a week were also enjoyable.  Not only were they enjoyable, but the way she taught was amazing.  I can't put it into words.  She had so much life experience in the field, that she made it all... well.. make sense.  If that makes sense? 

You could tell Denise had such a big heart.   Her family were her LIFE.  I've still to this day never met her Daughter, Grandson, or Husband.  However, I could tell you so many stories about them (some they may not be happy she told!! lol... jk!!).  Her eyes had this... sparkle... whenever she would talk about them.  "Come to my office after lecture and see my new pictures of Bryce (grandson)!!"  She was one of the proudest grandma's I've ever met. 

Throughout everything, she saw the good in all of us.  She saw the potential we all had. It was her MISSION to MAKE her students not only successful, but good QUALITY nurses. 

I'm happy to say, I think she succeeded.

Even after graduation, I kept in touch with Denise.  She was my ear for so many things.  In my divorce, her advice to me was the same thing that she said on the FIRST clinical on that cold January morning....  "just remember, you NEVER need a man. Remember that".  She went onto tell me what good qualities I possessed.  She never failed to be an ear, and I hope that I never failed to be an ear for her. 

It was around March last year (maybe Feb) that I got the news she had Cancer.  We conversed during this time by several emails, as I was in Australia.  We joked how stubborn us nurses are, and that if you can survive nursing school that anything else is a walk in the park.  She also spoke highly of her family.   Here is some of her own words...

When I emailed her after the news..
"WOW---if prayers from all over the world can't help, I don't think anything can. You know me, I LOVE a challange............miss you girl...."    (She certainly did a challenge!)

"I am doing well---taking one day and a time and thanking God for everyday.  Dale even took a flu shot for the first time in his life. He is taking GREAT care of me. I don't know how I got so lucky to find a man like him."

"The Little man is three going on thirty----He is just way too funny at some of the things that he says......but what is says is so innocent but factual.........My hair is about 1/4 Inch long and salt and pepper....but he doesn care----he just knows he loves to come and stay at his Mimi's house----and Popa Dale is there too......"

In closing, I'm leaving with an entry from my old blog, dated March 9, 2009.  Three years and 20 days before her death.

"The things I've learned"

Well folks.. I officially have one more night of nursing school left. Wow. I can't believe that this has gone by so quickly, yet so slowly, at the same time. I have a few random thoughts to blog on, so follow me as this, as most of my posts...may be totally random and turn some sharp corners at times..... Shocker, I know.

..........

If anything, nursing school has attempted to kill me. I have found that the right instructor can really really REALLY make a difference in the lives of her students and will forever be grateful for being able to consider her my instructor, mentor, and friend.  Because of her presence in my life, I write the rest of this blog. This blog is for Denise..although she will never know I wrote it (I don't "advertise" the blog, so to speak!)  So, I guess the following are the lessons I've learned from Ms. Denise!

I have learned that I have the patience I never knew, but yet lack sooo much patience. I have found strength in myself to accomplish something that I never really believed I could do, despite my desire to do it (age, money, time, etc).  Nobody needs a man....including me.  (having one is a bonus, if it's a good one, that is)

I have learned to bite my tongue.   Til it hurts sometimes.

I have seen life begin. I have seen life end. I have learned not to cry when something bad happens, but have yet to learn how to not let those feelings regarding what I wanted to cry about out when I'm in the confines of my own home. This makes me feel sometimes heartless, but yet sometimes a softie.

I have begun to fear growing old and dying more than I ever have my entire life. I fear dying alone. All alone in a hospital room. No visitors. No family. No flowers. Just nurses who hopefully care enough to turn me every 2 hours, keep my pain low, and maybe take away a good memory of me.

I fear that I will never be comfortable as a nurse and will always question if I'm doing the right thing. Maybe I shouldn't fear that. Maybe I should hope I am never too comfortable that I make a bad decision because I didn't question myself. Man. Talk about a ying-yang.

I am not sure I will ever stop trying to achieve the "next level". Right now the thought of taking one more class makes me consider suicide or homicide. (Not REALLY.. but seemed like a good place to put that one). But at the same time, stopping the learning process sounds really scary. Damn that ying-yang again.

I don't think I will ever stop thinking about things at night. I think this is why I will be on Ambien forever. If I don't sleep at night, I ponder things.. how is little jane doe doing?? I wonder if Mr. John Doe made it or passed away. Did I finish everything? Basically, did I do everything I need to do for everyone that I needed or could have done?"

Although these are ramblings of a 3 yr younger me, I see so much of Denise's influence behind the meanings of this post.

Rest in peace friend.  Will miss you forever.

Fri night random survey.

And how else do you honor a 202'nd post??  Ha.

Saw this on one of the blogs I follow and though, eh..why not.  I need to break up the boring day to day I love my life-I love my job-I live in paradise blogs.  ;)

So..here ya go... a random survey... "21 questions"........

Cause I know you are sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for my next exciting post? Right?  See.. I knew.... haha.

1. What is your number one desired travel destination? Easy.  Paris, France.  Eiffel Tower.  Been obsessed since my dad brought me a mini statue of it at the age of 6.

2. What would you do if you were granted a day without any responsibilities?

Sleep late, really late.  Grab lunch at a favorite spot... go to the beach and stay until the sun sets.

3. Aside from something responsible (paying off debt, down payment on a house, saving) what is something you'd buy if someone gave you $100,000?

A new car.  A dream wedding and honeymoon.  An Ipad (yes, I AM one of "them"), and would pay for my closest and best friends to come for a visit.  The rest.. being irresponsible... a trip for me and my honey to Vegas.

4. What is a favorite memory from college?

College the first degree - living with my best friend at the time, Kristy.  Really good times.  The second degree - me, my BFF Jodi, my "brother" Zach would go for dinner at the BBQ place across the road from the campus.  It was really the closest thing we all had to a "family" dinner for the 2 years.  I cherished it, and still cherish those people. 

5. What is a song that has a strong tie to a great memory?

"Just a kiss"  Reminds me of the beginning of my relationship with the Aussie.

6. How old were you when you had your first kiss?

umm..15 I think?

7. What is your all time favorite tv show?

Pfft.  Easy.  Friends!  (sex and the city is nearly a tie though!)

8. Who is your celebrity crush?

Wait..only one!??!?!!?!?!?  Ugh..  Today I will go with... umm.. Bradley Cooper (pre-stach!) 

9. What is one of your favorite Sunday activities?

SLEEPING!

10. What is something or someone you think is extremely overrated?

The cardashians (sp?)  Why do people with NO talent even make it into the news news and media?? REALLY?

11. Have you ever skinny dipped?

Nope. 

12. What app do you love above all others?

Facebook App.  Although it's crap, living so far from everyone it's how I keep in touch with people. 

13. Describe your dream profession.

Photographer or full time mom.

14. Appetizers or dessert?

ehh.. if I had to choose, I'd typically go with Appetizer.  Not BIG on sweets.

15. If you could be BFF with any fictional character, who would you choose?

16.  I say BLUE. What immediately comes to mind?

UK...ky blue... March Madness.   One of the things I'm missing really bad this year!

17. Favorite song to blast and sing in your car with the windows down?

Hmm.. I have lots... "I love rock and roll" comes to mind though.

18.   Fashion fad that makes you hang your head in shame?

I'll go out on a ledge here, may get some hate mail, but I'm going with tattoo's. Do you people NOT know what this crap looks like when your skin is super droopy????

19. What are your thoughts on 80s Hair Bands-specifically Monster Ballads?

Eh.. I was too young to know much difference.  Looking back looks like a bad idea? What were they thinking?? lol

20. Imagine you are an aerobics instructor-what song must be on your playlist?

Fu@k you by celo.  Come on.. that's great work out rhythm!

21. What's for dinner tonight? 

Had stead and potatoes!