#10: Ten Pet Peeves

1. Chewing.  Particularly crunching and/or chewing of mushy food.  Especially if it's quiet and if I'm already annoyed at something else.

2. Cracking necks.  Feel free to crack your knuckles, knees, toes, whatever.  But neck cracking makes me want to crack you.

3.People who don't listen.  If I have to repeat something I said 2 minutes before because you were off in la-la land, I probably won't say it very nicely.

4.  Slow drivers.  Ok Oregon, we all know you aren't in a hurry.  But when you go 5-10 under the speed limit at all times, you are making this woman angry.  No wonder there's so much friggin traffic- no one goes the speed limit.

5.Straight lines not being straight.  I had stripped bedding in college and it would drive me crazy when someone would sit on the bed and ruin the lines.  Come on people!

6. When you show someone pictures on your camera and they take the camera to look and then continue to look at the photos by themselves.  I'm sharing, not giving, sir.

7. Lights left on in empty rooms.  I don't know why, but this bothers me.

8. When someone tries to quote a movie and it is not even close to being right.  A little off, is fine, but when you butcher it and still try to be funny, it's not gonna work for me.

9. This isn't as much of a pet peeve, as something I'm genuinely confused by.  When women wear ridiculously high heels at inappropriate times.  Example:  at an amusement park or a child's soccer game.  I will admit it's funny watching them try and walk on grass in stillettos.

10. Having dirt on my feet.  Gives me the willies feeling dirt between my toes.

#9: Ten people that have influenced me

1.  Mrs. Torrison.  She was my awesome 2nd grade teacher and she looks exactly like Mrs. Frizzle on the Magic School Bus series.  I don't remember why, but she made me want to raise my hand for every question-which was a BIG deal for me- and she would always give me the neon yellow bandaids, even when I didn't really need one.

2.  Lindsey Barker- Sunderhaus (AKA my cuz, AKA my partner in crime).  Linds is the closest I have to a sister and growing up she was always right there to help me out and to look up to.  She helped me learn how to shave my legs, ride the ATV's, cuss, play Mall Madness or give me advice on, well... everything!

3. My brother, Kyle.  Now Kyle was not an overwhelmingly good presence in my life.  He was the opposite for most of it, but without him and all his ways, I would not be the person I am and I have no idea where I would be right now.

4. Ryan- my old professor/ boss/ internship supervisor.  Ryan was one of the most selfless people I have ever met- he always took the time to ask how I was or see if I needed anything.  He went through something incredibly tragic in the time I got the privilege to know him, and despite it all, he was still the best teacher I ever had, the best boss and one of the friendliest people I knew. He also gave me a glowing recommendation and helped me get my job!

5.  Morgan S.  My old roommate.  Morgan has had arguably the most influence on my life- particularly in college.  She and I were best friends at the beginning and by the end, we weren't speaking.  She struggled with bipolar disorder and suicide- all of which I had to witness.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about that day and I will never think of suicide or mental disorders the same ever again.

6. John Butler.  Ok, this sounds cheesy, because he's a musician that I've never met.  But honestly, at a point in my life when I wasn't happy and I felt truly alone, I would play his song "Better Than" over and over and somehow it would make me feel better.  Like somehow, somewhere, someone knew what I was feeling.

7. Jeff.  My ex-boyfriend.  He cheated.  And he didn't influence me because we broke up, he influenced the way I felt about myself.  For the first time in my life I didn't like myself.  I took down every mirror in my apartment, I was ashamed of how I looked, how I talked, everything about me.  I am embarrassed now how much control I let him have over me.  But, like every heart break story, it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.  Jeff wasn't a good person and it took him cheating for me to really understand that and to let go.

8. Mark. I wasn't sure why I felt the need to move to Oregon.  I never knew why I suddenly had the courage to move across the country by myself.  I had the feeling that something was waiting for me here.  Now I know.  Mark.  He is why I came here, why I risked everything I had, and why I am still here today.  Yes, it's mushy, but he's my other half and my one and only.

9.  Alexander Supertramp.  Ok, his real name was Chris McCandless.  He was the man from the book and movie Into the Wild.  The man who left his home, burned his money and lived his life on the road and eventually made it to Alaska where he, yes, died (not why he influenced me).  Into the Wild is the only book I have ever read more than once ( more like 10+ times).  I can't explain why he influenced me, but everyone who knows me and who has read that book can figure out why.

10. Amanda Jamison.   My best friend.  BFFFE.  Seriously, she is my sister from another mister.  We have had so many great memories and even with the enormous distances that have separated us, we can still pick up right where we left off.  She's had more than her fair share of sadness in the last year but she has dealt with it so gracefully and with such courage and optimism.  She truly is my hero and I am so glad I left my Velveeta Shells and cheese at her house all those years ago!

 

#8: Five Passions

I don't think I have things that I feel consistently passionate about.  I don't like politics or have a calling to save whales or pretest against anything.  Maybe I haven't found what I am truly, undoubtedly passionate about.  But here's what I care about today:

1. Adventures.  I find very large amounts of joy in life's everyday adventures.  I hate asking directions because I have discovered so many amazing things from wandering or being lost.  I think life is more interesting when you seek to find something amazing, even if it's just around the corner.

2. Swimming.  I might not do it as often, but I still feel like I have fins when I jump in the water.

3. Toe nail polish.  My toe nails are currently naked and I really REALLY don't like it.

4. Painting.  I forgot how therapeutic it can be and how awful I am at it.  But even so, it's fun to create something and then hang it up on the wall.  


5. Baking.  I really love baking.  But I never seem to have time any more.  Oh, and the fact that it's really hard to bake something that's not incredibly unhealthy.  But I've been wanting to get back into baking lately- maybe some muffins?  mmm.

#7: My dream job

This is a really hard one. I don’t know if I could really create an ideal job for myself, especially given that I probably have no idea what a lot of really cool jobs entail. But, in the interest of putting something interesting up today, I will try.

I feel very lucky to be in the career I’m in right now. I knew that health was something I was meant to pursue during my very first lecture on Fitness and Health at CSU. It took me 2 years and 3 majors to figure it out, but once I got there I knew it was where I belonged. I also have a special place in my heart for kids. Yes, sometimes I do not want anything to do with kids, but deep down I know there’s a soft spot for those little buggers. Specifically, kids who are overweight. Nothing makes me more upset than seeing a pudgy little kid sitting down eating ice cream while his friends are playing tag. It makes me cringe to think about how unhealthy and fat our whole country is, but seeing little kids who don’t know any better getting diagnosed with diabetes at 12 or who can’t fit on rides at the amusement park makes me downright angry. The statistics on obesity are scary and the fact is that for the first time in history, children right now are expected to have a shorter life span than their parents. So, putting those 2 together, I would love to run a program to help educate and motivate kids to live healthy lives. Of course this would include educating and motivating their parents too. I have a great deal of respect for Michelle Obama and her Lets Move! campaign to fight childhood obesity. Something needs to change and I would love to somehow find a way to help.

That or be a professional pool floatie tester.

#6: What is the hardest thing I've ever had to experience?

I would just like to start by saying this took me a while to think of and for that, I'm very thankful because nothing truly terrible has ever really happened to me.  I haven't lost any close friends or family, no illnesses or truly painful events that stick out in my mind.

But, that's not to say I haven't had my fair share of challenges.  The most challenging of those would be moving to Oregon.  I have always thought of myself as an introverted, shy person, so making the decision to even look for internships outside Colorado was a big step.  But once I found one, I knew I had to go.  I always heard Portland was a great place and thought that maybe something amazing was bringing me out here.  Packing up all the stuff in my little car, saying goodbye to all my friends and family and watching my old life fade away in the rear view mirror was the scariest thing I've ever experienced.  I had only been to Portland for a few days for my interview, I only knew one person and I had no paying job.  It wasn't until my Dad drove away that it truly hit me that I was on my own.  It was a  fun, exciting experience and my internship was a million times more than I could have hoped for.  But, it was very very difficult to start a new life from scratch. I missed my family and my friends and I wasn't quite sure why I felt like I needed to move to Oregon.  But slowly I found my way, worked my way into a great job, found my wonderful boyfriend, adopted my furry love ball, and I can honestly say moving here was the best decision and so worth the risk.

#5: Five things that make me most happy right now

1. It's Saturday!  My favorite day!  I got to sleep in, play soccer, cook dinner and know I can do it all again tomorrow!
2.Sunshine.  Finally, the sun is out and it is glorious!  I've missed smelling like sunscreen!
3.Mark Dean.  Seriously, he is my everything.  I couldn't imagine life without him.
4. My friends!  Kat, Terra and Amanda all came out to visit me last weekend and I'm still a little depressed they are gone.  So happy to have them in my life.
5. My job.  I can't even begin to explain how getting this job changed my life.  I am so grateful I got it!

#4: 10 things you'd tell your 16 year old self.

1. Wear shorter shorts. Those legs were amazing
2. Finding a boyfriend isn't the solution to all of your problems
3. Stop being an under acheiver.  You will start takting AP classes in a year or so and then regret not taking them sooner.
4. Swim!  This is the sport you were meant to do.  Embrace it and stop trying to pretend you're ever going to be amazing at soccer.
5. Stand up for yourself.  Good Lord, letting your "friends" treat you like shit isn't a great life decision.
6. Tell your brother how much he's screwing up your life and then get over it, and live your life, be happy and don't worry about him.
7. Braces aren't the end of the world, though crying hysterically at the orthodontist is not a great idea either
8. Though it might seem like it now, hanging out in the Alberston's parking lots isn't really that cool.
9. Enjoy eating cookie dough straight from the tube, because that won't fly as an adult.

10. Be happy with who you are, accept the things you can't change and have fun.

#3: Parents

#3: Describe your relationship with you parents.

I love my parents to death- they are amazing parents.  I was just talking to my mom about how lucky my brother and I were for getting to go on so many adventures and trips growing up. Go-karts, dirt bikes, camping trips, hiking, boating, swimming, soccer.  I got to do so much as a kid.  There was a lot of love in our house, but it was never spoken.  Feelings were never discussed and emotions were never really expressed. When I left for college, I quickly realized how unhealthy it was and I had a really hard time navigating my way around my own life because I couldn’t deal with my stresses and joys and sadness and anger.

But I made it out alive. And also a little braver, a little more confident and with the ability to express myself.  Now, my parents are my support and my cheerleaders.  They might live far away, but they are still around me every day.  I am still my Dad’s little girl and I know it’s not easy for him to let me go.  I will grow up, get married and maybe have a few little tikes of my own, but I’ll always be his little girl.

#2: 3 Fears

#2:  List 3 legitimate fears and explain how they became fears:


1. Being chased.  I hate thinking I am being followed and/ or chased.  This is especially true going up stairs in sketchy stairwells.  There has been countless incidents where I was walking up stairs when someone starts to walk up behind me and I literally SPRINT up the stairs because it scares the crap out of me.  How this came about?  My brother was mean, very mean.  He would chase me and when he caught me, he would hurt me.  This is why I'm afraid of being chased.


2. The dentist.  I thought I was just nervous about having a bad check up, but when I went to the dentist last year for the first time in 4 years I learned it was, in fact, real terror.  I used to have perfect check ups and I never had a cavity until last year. But a lot of bad things can happen in 4 years and I had to go back 3 times to fill all my cavities and was also blessed with a root canal.  I am anxious just thinking about it.  And I want to go floss.


3. Dying before I'm ready.  I don't think I fear dying itself, but I fear that I'll die before I get to cross off everything on my bucket list, or meet my children, or see all the places I want to go.  I want to travel and eat weird foods and meet crazy people.  I don't want to go out young, I want to die an old, old lady, covered in scars and wrinkles.  But, I can't bet on that, so I just have to live my life to the fullest every day!

#1: 20 Random Facts

Well, true to form, I forgot I was going to start blogging tonight, so now I'm dead tired and ready for bed, but will sacrifice for the greater good of mankind.  And by mankind I mean the internet.


Ok, here goes.  20 random facts:


1. I HATE the feeling of being chased, especially going up stairs. This is, probably, from years of playing tag or cops and robbers with my brother, with the game always ending with me crying.
2.  I hate the color pink.  Except pink Starbursts.
3.  I have varicose veins in my left eye ball.  (I just found that out yesterday!)
4.  My name is Kelly and I have bunions.
5.  I can change my own oil
6.  I've been skydiving and it was incredible
7.  I only like the fluffy insides of donuts, not the glazed outsides.
8.  Before I pierced my bellybutton, I could turn it all the way inside out.  
9.  Oh, well, I pierced my bellybutton when I was 16.
10. I have a tattoo
11.  I honestly believe I get along better with guys than with girls
12.  My dream is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
13.  I have never had a manicure
14.  I really miss owning a real mailbox
15.  My favorite song on the planet is Ocean by John Butler Trio
16.  I can stand on an exercise ball without holding on to anything.  ( I've lost count of how many face plants I've done in the process of learning this)
17.  I've broken 4 bones
18.  My favorite food is raspberries. (are raspberries?)
19.  I miss the stars in Colorado more than anything.

20.  When I was little, I would sneak chocolate chips one at a time from the pantry and keep them in my ballerina jewelry box.

30 days of posts start... NOW

I found this blog and it had a great idea: Answer 1 question every day for a month.  Here's the list:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

3. Describe your relationship with your parents

4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

7. What is your dream job, and why?

8. What are 5 passions you have?

9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

10. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.

11. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

12. Describe a typical day in your current life.

13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

14. Describe 5 strengths you have.

15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

16. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?

19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?

22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.

24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.

25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

27. Describe your most embarrasing moment.

28. What is your love language?

29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?

30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

I have wanted a reason to jump back on the blog bandwagon, but haven't been particularly inspired lately.  So this is perfect!  It's probably best to start on the first day of the month, but what the heck!  It's my half-birthday!  That's good enough for me.


Stay tuned...