I copied and pasted this from my brother's blog. I think its really cool. Heartwarming actually (particularly #7). I intend to make my "7 Things" list. I am pretty open though and can't imagine there are 7 things people dont know about me...? My brother's blog is www.tommygestlund.blogspot.com (I dont know how to add people's blogs to my blog and I dont do technical reading)
Monday, December 08, 2008
7 Things
My friend the mechanic asked me to do this, so I thought I would give it a try. The idea, apparently, is to make a list of 7 random things that people may, or may not, know about me.I don't know if there are that many things that the 1 or 2 readers of this blog don't already know about me, but, like I said, I'm going to give it a try.
1.) I am completely color-blind. This effects a lot of things you wouldn't think about. The obvious ones, like putting together outfits, and pointing someone out in a crowd ("That guy in the blue shirt" is always met with a blank stare). However, nighttime driving is always and adventure. If I'm driving with Bibi, it's not unusual to hear me interrupt her mid-sentence with, "Red or yellow?" This is always in reference to the flashing stoplight that we are approaching. Another one, one that I don't even think Bibi knows about is our toothbrushes. Mine is a blue one, and Bibi's is pink. I can't tell which one is which without comparing them, which has led to more than a couple close calls.
2.) My appreciation of Frank Sinatra began Thanksgiving my Junior or Senior year in high school. I was watching a PBS special with my Uncle Steve at my Aunt Anne's annual Chilli dinner. It was about Sinatra's Duets CD, which was the first one I ever bought. I know have something like 20 CDs, and three albums. He still swings.
3.) I am anal-retentive beyond any comprehension by the casual observer. My CD's are still (mostly) alphabetized by genre (although since I don't really listen to CD's anymore I don't know how accurate they REALLY are), my records are alphabetized, my DVD's are alphabetized with a separate section for the tv shows, and my clothes are organized in such a way that I put all clothes that have been recently washed behind the clothes that havnen't been worn, so that I don't wear things more frequently. (It doesn't always work out that way, as I have one or two shirts that I almost never wear, and one or two that I love and therefore wear more often.) However, as I was telling Bibi a few days ago, my system on the iPod has gotten much more relaxed. For about two years now it has been my mission to "shuffle" manually all of the songs that I have rated 4 or 5 stars. (That's roughly 4, 596 songs.) Up until last May, I was on track to doing that. (Which meant a ridiculous amount of work and discipline in listening to the iPod; I couldn't necessarily listen to what song came up, if I had listened to a song on the same album, or by the same artist within the previous 9 songs. I know. Anal, no?) Anyway, last May Bibi's computer, the one with iTunes on it, broke down. Things kept on track for a while, but then the lack of "updates" made it so that the iPod kept stalling out on me. I have now been listening to any old artist of song that I want to for about two weeks and it's surprisingly freeing. (Mainly Bob Dylan and the Who, although Townes Van Zant and Jeffrey Foucault were in the mix for a couple of days last week.)So, I'm getting better.
4. Bibi and I LOVE 7th Heaven. It's on from 5-7 Monday through Friday, and we make it a special point to watch at least one of those episodes. We really get into it. Cheesy as all heck, but darn it, that's good television. (I even tried whisper-talking like they do on the show, but I'm just too loud.)
5.) I am cutting down on coffee. At one time, a couple of years ago, I was up to two pots a day. About a month ago, I realized that the 12 cups a day might NOT be the most healthy choice I could make. So, I have cut down one cup every week, and I am now to around three cups a day. And, I am drinking lots of water while at work, which is awesome. (Coffee intake CAN be related to cold sores, and the one I have right now didn't even fully develop, which is awesome.)
6.) When Tim Russert died last May I took it really hard. Bibi and I watch Meet the Press and This Weekend with George Stephanopolous every weekend, and so Tim Russert dying really was like losing a friend. It was horribly cheesy, but I told Bibi sometime that weekend (he died on a Friday) that we had invited him into our home every week for almost two years, and it was going to be a strange and difficult process. What can I say, we like our political discussions.
7.) My marble project. Three weeks ago I began Grace's marble jar. I counted out the number of Saturdays between then and when Gracie turns 18, (864 of 'em) and placed that many glass stones in a big jar. Each Saturday before I go to bed, I take on out, recognizing that I will never get that Saturday back. It's been a really special reminder that the time I have with my little girl is finite, and that I need to make the best of what I have with her. Yesterday, I told Bibi that I wanted to change the project a little. I am going to be keeping all of those stones, and I'm going to give them to Grace on her 18th birthday, as a present; a reminder of all of those days that we had together for when she goes to college. All right, that's all. I guess I'm supposed to tag some people, but I honestly don't know who all reads this, or if they have a blog or not. So...uh, if you are reading this, and if you have a blog, leave me a comment saying so, and then go do this too. (It was surprisingly hard and fun.)All right, Happy Monday everyone!Tommy
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Love is...(out of the mouth's of babes)
'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love..' Rebecca- age 8
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6
'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired..'
Terri - age 4
'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7
'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that.. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8
'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6
'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8
'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night..'
Clare - age 6
'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the biggest piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris - age 7
'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4
'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4
'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)
Karen - age 7
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6
'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8
And the final one:
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'
'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4
'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5
'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6
'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired..'
Terri - age 4
'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7
'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that.. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8
'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7
'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6
'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8
'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night..'
Clare - age 6
'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the biggest piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris - age 7
'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4
'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4
'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)
Karen - age 7
'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6
'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8
And the final one:
The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'
Monday, December 1, 2008
Random acts of kindness/Christmas season/PTO day
One morning last week, another paralegal and I were the only ones there at 6:30am. She and I began talking about something, after the conversation I complimented her nailpolish. She said it was called "Private Wine Cellar". I loved it and gushed about it. Much different and less goth than my typical Stella-shiny-black nailpolish. The next morning, at 6:30, I got to my desk, was flipping on my lamp, my computer, my radio, and there in front of me, with a red bow, was a bottle of "Private Wine Cellar". This little act of kindness made me smile for the rest of the day. I painted my nails immediately:)
The past week has been a whirlwind. Some of my best friends; The Littles aka My Family Circus, came in town last Sunday and stayed at my house for the week. Instead of paying for a hotel. Lauren just moved out, so her room was vacant, and it seemed to work out perfectly. I did like the company. Mike and Keisha, and their petting zoo of children; Olivia age 11, Madison age 3 (4 in January) and Aidan age 18 months. What a week! I was sad to see them go. Although, I'm quite sure the dogs were not. 3 adults, 3 children and 3 dogs in my tiny 900- square foot house! Last Sunday night we went to Briarcliff Village for a holiday celebration. It was so neat; there were choirs and bands and Santa and Mrs. Claus for pictures with the kids. We hung out for awhile, and ate dinner at The Cafe at Briarcliff.
We did our own thing for the most part, yet it was always nice to know I was either coming home to someone, or someone (The Family Circus) was coming home to me.
I took a PTO day today, because I had to use it or lose it. Gosh. Poor me. A day off. Actually, I'm quite bored. I've cleaned, put up my Christmas tree and decroations, baked, played with the dogs, emailed people, and now, am blogging. I definitely couldn't do this everyday! I am looking forward to going back to work!
I LOVE this season. Love it. Saturday morning when we (The Family Circus, The Estlund Petting Zoo, and me) woke up, it was snowing! I loved it. And again, yesterday morning it was snowing. It's so beautiful! I took a picture of the dogs outside and sent it to people just because its too funny seeing them during the first snowfall.
I'm going to a girlfriends house for dinner tonight, and taking the chocolate chip cookies I baked earlier today.
I'm on the 4th book of the Twilight series. I'm reading really slowly because I dont want the series to end. Everything that I'd hoped would happen, has happened, but it's almost like I wasn't quite ready yet for everything to happen...?!?! I've read over 2000 pages of Twilight and I still needed more time! Do I have commitment issues?
One of my good friends just moved out of her marriage/house/situation and under my recommendation, looked at my old apartment complex. She called me Friday night, she had moved in that day! So Saturday afternoon I went over to see her and her daughter, and ended up visiting for several hours. She (my friend) is one of the, if not THE, biggest animal rescuer in the KC Metro area. Its always nice to see a happy ending for someone who gives so much of herself to animals. Or, anything for that matter. I am so excited for her. It must be bittersweet, leaving the only life you have known for 20 years however she is starting out, brand new, whatever she wants to make of her life.
This week is going to be crazy. I joined/am in the process of pledging a service/social sorority. I've been to 3 events so far. I love the girls. (I guess at this age, we're women huh?) They're all so wonderful. I believe there are 13 or 14 in the group. It's a very very tightly-knit group and I'm just so happy they want me to be a part of it. This Thursday we're having our first "pledge training" and its at my house. The Crazy Dog House. Then, next Wednesday we have a dinner for the sisters, and the following Saturday we have a dance with Marines for Toys for Tots - to raise money and toys. What a great organization! They've adopted charities from Toys for Tots, to Coats for Kids, and we are adopting a classroom of underpriviledged kids for Christmas. The month of March, 2009, they've adopted SNKC:)
Still haven't decided if I am going to get a roommate or a second job, but something has to happen sooner than later. I'm taking my cable box and wireless modem to Time Warner this afternoon. I am cutting things out that I dont need! I'm thinking about Starbucks or Barnes & Noble. Starbucks, at least, I couldn't spend any money while working there. Barnes & Noble...not so much.
My Aunt is coming in town this weekend; a bunch of us girls are going to Zona Rosa for lunch and to walk around on Saturday afternoon. I'm looking forward to it. I love stuff like that, especially around the holidays.
Now that you can eat off my floors, see your reflection in my walls, and count the vacuum lines in my carpet, I think I may scrub my baseboards....
Happy December!!!
The past week has been a whirlwind. Some of my best friends; The Littles aka My Family Circus, came in town last Sunday and stayed at my house for the week. Instead of paying for a hotel. Lauren just moved out, so her room was vacant, and it seemed to work out perfectly. I did like the company. Mike and Keisha, and their petting zoo of children; Olivia age 11, Madison age 3 (4 in January) and Aidan age 18 months. What a week! I was sad to see them go. Although, I'm quite sure the dogs were not. 3 adults, 3 children and 3 dogs in my tiny 900- square foot house! Last Sunday night we went to Briarcliff Village for a holiday celebration. It was so neat; there were choirs and bands and Santa and Mrs. Claus for pictures with the kids. We hung out for awhile, and ate dinner at The Cafe at Briarcliff.
We did our own thing for the most part, yet it was always nice to know I was either coming home to someone, or someone (The Family Circus) was coming home to me.
I took a PTO day today, because I had to use it or lose it. Gosh. Poor me. A day off. Actually, I'm quite bored. I've cleaned, put up my Christmas tree and decroations, baked, played with the dogs, emailed people, and now, am blogging. I definitely couldn't do this everyday! I am looking forward to going back to work!
I LOVE this season. Love it. Saturday morning when we (The Family Circus, The Estlund Petting Zoo, and me) woke up, it was snowing! I loved it. And again, yesterday morning it was snowing. It's so beautiful! I took a picture of the dogs outside and sent it to people just because its too funny seeing them during the first snowfall.
I'm going to a girlfriends house for dinner tonight, and taking the chocolate chip cookies I baked earlier today.
I'm on the 4th book of the Twilight series. I'm reading really slowly because I dont want the series to end. Everything that I'd hoped would happen, has happened, but it's almost like I wasn't quite ready yet for everything to happen...?!?! I've read over 2000 pages of Twilight and I still needed more time! Do I have commitment issues?
One of my good friends just moved out of her marriage/house/situation and under my recommendation, looked at my old apartment complex. She called me Friday night, she had moved in that day! So Saturday afternoon I went over to see her and her daughter, and ended up visiting for several hours. She (my friend) is one of the, if not THE, biggest animal rescuer in the KC Metro area. Its always nice to see a happy ending for someone who gives so much of herself to animals. Or, anything for that matter. I am so excited for her. It must be bittersweet, leaving the only life you have known for 20 years however she is starting out, brand new, whatever she wants to make of her life.
This week is going to be crazy. I joined/am in the process of pledging a service/social sorority. I've been to 3 events so far. I love the girls. (I guess at this age, we're women huh?) They're all so wonderful. I believe there are 13 or 14 in the group. It's a very very tightly-knit group and I'm just so happy they want me to be a part of it. This Thursday we're having our first "pledge training" and its at my house. The Crazy Dog House. Then, next Wednesday we have a dinner for the sisters, and the following Saturday we have a dance with Marines for Toys for Tots - to raise money and toys. What a great organization! They've adopted charities from Toys for Tots, to Coats for Kids, and we are adopting a classroom of underpriviledged kids for Christmas. The month of March, 2009, they've adopted SNKC:)
Still haven't decided if I am going to get a roommate or a second job, but something has to happen sooner than later. I'm taking my cable box and wireless modem to Time Warner this afternoon. I am cutting things out that I dont need! I'm thinking about Starbucks or Barnes & Noble. Starbucks, at least, I couldn't spend any money while working there. Barnes & Noble...not so much.
My Aunt is coming in town this weekend; a bunch of us girls are going to Zona Rosa for lunch and to walk around on Saturday afternoon. I'm looking forward to it. I love stuff like that, especially around the holidays.
Now that you can eat off my floors, see your reflection in my walls, and count the vacuum lines in my carpet, I think I may scrub my baseboards....
Happy December!!!
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