Tagged by Boo

Life is crazy right now, and I haven't had a chance to catch my breath much this week. Blogging is such a stress-reliever for me, but thinking of a topic takes time and energy--commodities that have been in short supply for a few days. Thanks to my buddy Rose, though, here's a "tag, you're it" post that will help get the creative juices (be them what they may be) flowing again!


The directions:
Share what you were up to 10 years ago, things on your to-do list today, what you would do if you suddenly became a billionaire, 3 bad habits, 5 most recent jobs you've had, 5 random things we might not know about you, 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list, and then finally tag 5 people.

10 Years Ago - 1998
I was in college, trying to decide what I was going to do with my life (still deciding...). I had no plans to marry in the forseeable future, was contemplating teaching English in China for a stint, and had a recent tattoo (oh, how things change). Just planning to move out of town and away from my life, I think, at that time. I worked at a local heating and air conditioning company full-time, and was taking 21 hours of college that semester, as I remember. I was also attending a Thursday night Bible study at Jeff & Renee's that was really working on my heart.

Things on my To-Do List Today:
Teach
Write thank-you notes
Play basketball in teacher-student game/heckle 5th graders/talk lots of smack/attempt a 3-pointer/pose for photos
Work on Ben's potty-training and Kaela's reading
Enjoy the sunshine with my children
Go over MORICs (math open response questions) to use after testing is over
Call my mom
Clean kitchen


If I Suddenly Became a Billionaire:
Wow, I hope to never see any real chunk of money, to be honest. I'd give most of it away. Church, community ministry, American Cancer Society, Kosair charities, and AIDS relief in Africa. Then I'd pay off any debts we had, pay off my brother's student loans and my parents' farm, adopt a few children, buy a few acres, and rear our little ones. I think I would be most excited about having more time at my leisure...there are so many things I would like to do, but there aren't enough hours in the day. At some point, (when the children are older) I would go back to teaching. Maybe even start a school. I don't know. I haven't really ever thought about being rich.

Three Bad Habits
1. I analyze too much
2. I don't call people often enough--I hate talking on the phone
3. I plan things spur-of-the moment, even though Christie gave me a calendar with The Office on it which has helped me to organize my spontaneous commitments with a smile

Five Most Recent Jobs That I've Had
1. Teacher of learning disabled children--past 5 years
2. Teacher of children with emotional/behavioral concerns--2 years
3. Social worker in community ministries--2 years
4. Heating and air conditioning office--3 years
5. Lerner New York sales associate

Five Random Things You Might Not Know About Me
1. I got tattooed in college, like a bonehead. Everyone else was doing it, and I took a dare with my sister. We went one Tuesday morning instead of attending our library class. My mom cried. I regretted it before it was even finished. Contrary to popular (or not) belief, rock salt does not remove tattoos. Unfortunately.
2. I remember every person's birthday that I've ever known, pretty much, and often their phone #s, too, but I'm not a stalker. :) Just weird with number order.
3. I used to want to be a physical therapist or fighter pilot. Never, never, never a teacher. I come from a long line of teachers/principals.
4. I apparently grind my teeth, because the dentist is forever asking me if I have headaches.
5. I am very passionate, and way too sensitive. I'm always writing a letter to the editor, or taking some stand on some injustice in the world. I wish I cared less sometimes.

Five Places I Want to See, or Want to See Again
1. The bottom of the laundry basket
2. The Grand Canyon
3. I could spend a lot of time at Broadway shows, and want to see one of them again
4. The creek on the farm where I grew up
5. I guess I should say somewhere fabulously romantic, like Europe, but really I'd probably prefer somewhere like Red River Gorge, or somewhere else where there are mountains and trees

Now you're tagged: Kim/Ken, Angie M, Kacie, and anyone else who reads this and wants to participate. :) Happy reflecting...