This is an addendum to an earlier post. After I posted, I thought of more :-)
22) I read magazines from the back to the front.
23) I am a sensitive person. And people are surprised by that. And that always surprises me.
24) I cannot dive. I never learned. It seems counterintuitive to jump into the water head first.
25) I only had 3 wisdom teeth, not 4. Now I have none :-)
26) This one could be considered a survival tip: I get very HANGRY (hungry + angry = Hangry) if I am not fed. If I look like I am about to rip your head off, feed me a cookie. In fact, if we spend a lot of time together, you should always have a cookie!
27) I am sarcastic.
28) I want to win the lottery. But I never buy a ticket.
29) I am teaching myself to play the mandolin, but it is a slow process. I am not sure the right side of my brain works :-) (If you aren't sure what I am talking about or you just wanna find out which side of your brain you use - try this site. I had 18 left brained answers and 0 right brained answers. Hmmmm)
30) I cannot sleep if the closet door is open. I don't know... it's a thing.
31) When I have had an alcoholic beverage, two things happen: 1) the honesty quotient goes way up and 2) the Southern accent gets stronger.
32) I am clumsy and usually have at least one bruise on me at all times.
33) My idea of a perfect vacation involves warm temperatures and sun (but me in the shade!), water nearby (pool or ocean or river - doesn't matter) and lots of stuff to read. It should also include sleeping in, coffee and dessert.
34) I don't notice other people. I am in my own head a lot and don't notice who is walking by or driving past. I don't notice when I am being "checked out". I don't even notice sometimes when people have started talking to me.
35) I am a complete introvert (Wanna find out what you are). I get exhausted talking to people and recharge by being alone.
36) . I love dark chocolate.
2/27/11
Awful Night
It was an awful night... well, maybe just the last half hour.
It started out great.
I went to a Kelly's house to celebrate her turning 29 (for the first time). It was a great bunch of ladies gabbing over desserts. Sidenote: All ladies know it is important to feed the sweet tooth and the soul at the same time...that way the calories don't count! We stayed for hours enjoying sweets which I was washing down with copious amounts of water (this factoid will become significant in a moment).
It wasn't until I had dropped my friend Kim back off at her frat house (that makes me laugh!), made it all the way to my apartment and began searching for my house keys that I realized... I took a coat to Kelly's house. That I don't have with me now. And, my house keys were in the pocket. Doh! At this point I also really needed to pee. I began desperately dialing while driving to the Safeway (grocery store)... the nearest place with a bathroom (that did not require my missing keys) and which was still open after midnight.
I called Kelly (the hostess) first. Cell phone off. I called Trina. She answered and was still at Kelly's, but my keys were not! The ladies who were there after me thought my coat belonged to someone else and Katherine had offered to return it so they sent it with her. I didn't have Katherine's number so Trina and Kelly found it. I hopped out of my car at a stop sign and rummaged in the back seat for the only spare pen I keep in the car. I called Katherine. Voicemail. Doh (again)! I leave a message. I am already at the Safeway so I figure I will solve at least one issue and find myself a bathroom. The store is open (until 1am). It is now about 12:30. However, the bathroom is locked after midnight.(Doh!) Then, things look up. Katherine calls me back. She confirms that she has my keys and gives me a house number and a street name so I can come pick them up.
Here's where the confusion begins. You need to know two things: 1) I thought Katherine lived in Philomath, And, 2) I use GPS to get everywhere (except from my house to work in the morning) because I find Oregon a very confusing place to drive. So, I put her address into GPS as a Philomath address. GPS says "Not found". Katherine calls me and gives me directions. Turn right on 35th St and turn past the school. Sounds good. So I begin to head for 35th Street. I just don't know yet I am in the wrong town.
While I am on the phone (illegal in Oregon, by the way), I look up and I am at 19th Street. I missed 35th. (Doh!) So, I make the next turn and circle the block so I can head back the way I came. When I get back to the correct street where I need to turn left, there is a sign "No left turn". So, I turn right and make it to the next light. I make a U-turn and begin looking for 35th Street again.
And this is when the blue lights appeared. Although there was NOT a sign saying you could NOT make a U-Turn, I am informed by handsome cop who has pulled me over that if I "do not have 500 feet of visual clearance, U-turns are not permitted". Who knows that?! Seriously?
He then proceeds to ask all the questions you would of someone driving like an idiot after midnight. What have I been doing this evening? Have I had anything to drink? I proceeded to give him the whole, unadulterated truth (even the part about having to pee so badly that my eyeballs are now floating). But, I do not cry. I refuse to cry to get out of a ticket. If he thinks I deserve a ticket, he should give me one. I am not sure he was buying my crazy story until he saw the GPS on the dash which says "not found" on a big black screen. Then his eyes darted to my list of phone numbers and street numbers hurriedly scribbled on the back of a paper bag. Finally, he listens to Katherine's voicemail. His response went something like "Knollbrook is not in Philomath, it's in Corvallis. That is why GPS wouldn't find it." Doh!
Handsome cop tells me to calm down, drive like I have some sense, and enjoy my night. He also informs me that I was guilty of committing "multiple infractions" but is nice enough to not even issue a warning. In that moment, I didn't so much care because I knew how to find Katherine and get the keys to my house, and more importantly, my bathroom. It is 1:25am now... and all is well.
Someday I will look back at this and laugh. Today is not that day.
It started out great.
I went to a Kelly's house to celebrate her turning 29 (for the first time). It was a great bunch of ladies gabbing over desserts. Sidenote: All ladies know it is important to feed the sweet tooth and the soul at the same time...that way the calories don't count! We stayed for hours enjoying sweets which I was washing down with copious amounts of water (this factoid will become significant in a moment).
It wasn't until I had dropped my friend Kim back off at her frat house (that makes me laugh!), made it all the way to my apartment and began searching for my house keys that I realized... I took a coat to Kelly's house. That I don't have with me now. And, my house keys were in the pocket. Doh! At this point I also really needed to pee. I began desperately dialing while driving to the Safeway (grocery store)... the nearest place with a bathroom (that did not require my missing keys) and which was still open after midnight.
I called Kelly (the hostess) first. Cell phone off. I called Trina. She answered and was still at Kelly's, but my keys were not! The ladies who were there after me thought my coat belonged to someone else and Katherine had offered to return it so they sent it with her. I didn't have Katherine's number so Trina and Kelly found it. I hopped out of my car at a stop sign and rummaged in the back seat for the only spare pen I keep in the car. I called Katherine. Voicemail. Doh (again)! I leave a message. I am already at the Safeway so I figure I will solve at least one issue and find myself a bathroom. The store is open (until 1am). It is now about 12:30. However, the bathroom is locked after midnight.(Doh!) Then, things look up. Katherine calls me back. She confirms that she has my keys and gives me a house number and a street name so I can come pick them up.
Here's where the confusion begins. You need to know two things: 1) I thought Katherine lived in Philomath, And, 2) I use GPS to get everywhere (except from my house to work in the morning) because I find Oregon a very confusing place to drive. So, I put her address into GPS as a Philomath address. GPS says "Not found". Katherine calls me and gives me directions. Turn right on 35th St and turn past the school. Sounds good. So I begin to head for 35th Street. I just don't know yet I am in the wrong town.
While I am on the phone (illegal in Oregon, by the way), I look up and I am at 19th Street. I missed 35th. (Doh!) So, I make the next turn and circle the block so I can head back the way I came. When I get back to the correct street where I need to turn left, there is a sign "No left turn". So, I turn right and make it to the next light. I make a U-turn and begin looking for 35th Street again.
And this is when the blue lights appeared. Although there was NOT a sign saying you could NOT make a U-Turn, I am informed by handsome cop who has pulled me over that if I "do not have 500 feet of visual clearance, U-turns are not permitted". Who knows that?! Seriously?
He then proceeds to ask all the questions you would of someone driving like an idiot after midnight. What have I been doing this evening? Have I had anything to drink? I proceeded to give him the whole, unadulterated truth (even the part about having to pee so badly that my eyeballs are now floating). But, I do not cry. I refuse to cry to get out of a ticket. If he thinks I deserve a ticket, he should give me one. I am not sure he was buying my crazy story until he saw the GPS on the dash which says "not found" on a big black screen. Then his eyes darted to my list of phone numbers and street numbers hurriedly scribbled on the back of a paper bag. Finally, he listens to Katherine's voicemail. His response went something like "Knollbrook is not in Philomath, it's in Corvallis. That is why GPS wouldn't find it." Doh!
Handsome cop tells me to calm down, drive like I have some sense, and enjoy my night. He also informs me that I was guilty of committing "multiple infractions" but is nice enough to not even issue a warning. In that moment, I didn't so much care because I knew how to find Katherine and get the keys to my house, and more importantly, my bathroom. It is 1:25am now... and all is well.
Someday I will look back at this and laugh. Today is not that day.
2/25/11
What a difference a week will make
There is snow on the ground (mostly on North slopes) here. This time next week I will be leaving a conference in Orlando, Florida to see the family in NC. I haven't seen them since New Year's Day and a visit is LONG overdue.
And this little one I have never seen at all since she just arrived last Thursday.
2/24/11
Snow in the Valley...again
The Willamette Valley got snow again this morning. Just a couple of inches but it has made everything pretty.
The view from my patio looking southeast:
The trees right outside my living room window:
Looking South:
If only I didn't have to go out in it! Today I just have to trek a few miles to the office and then across campus to cover class for a colleague (I hope the students show up!). I am also hoping this weather is gone before the weekend ... I have some running around to do to be ready for 10 days on the road. The good news is that it will be 50 degrees on Tuesday as my plane leaves Portland. Here's hoping for delay-free travel.
2/23/11
Happy National FFA Week
So, in honor of this week being National FFA Week, I was attempting to create a "Top 10 List" of my favorite FFA memories. And, wow was it harder than I thought! So, forget specific memories because there are just too many. I will go for big stuff instead.
10 Convention - National FFA Convention was an experience every time I went. But especially the first time. Seeing an entire session of Blue and Gold jackets and feeling the electric atmosphere is something I will never forget.
9 South Rowan FFA Chapter Meetings- And, man, did we put on some good ones. There were fashion shows and Ag Olympics and skits and food. Good times! And, I have photos!
8 Winning - I was a smart, non-athletic kid growing up so the only winning experiences I had involved spelling bees and class ribbons. FFA was the first time I was able to truly "win" in a competitive setting.
7 Traveling - First time to DC. First time on a plane. First time out of the country. First time crossing the Mississippi River. The list goes on and on.
6 Friends - I found a place I belonged through FFA and found friends I still treasure.
5 Family - Some of those friends developed into my "family" - especially when I went off to college.
4 Exposure to Agriculture - Growing up in a housing development in a "bedroom community" of Charlotte, my ag class was my only connection to agriculture. Before getting involved, I had never planted anything or seen livestock (other than at the fair). I had never been on a commercial farm. Afterwards, I worked in commercial greenhouse operations and even had a summer job on a drive-thru ranch in Mooresville. I am thankful every day for American Agriculture.
3 White Lake, NC - Whether as a rec camper using the bathhouse (seriously just got chills thinking about that place. ewww), as a leadership camper, or as a camp staffer (2 summers, baby!). Or just as an advisor sitting in a bouncy chair by the water.. .this place is filled with priceless memories.
2 Getting Elected to State FFA Office - tears. joy. and then the realization that the work wasn't over, it was just beginning. What a year!
1 Finding A Career- I only took an ag class and became an FFA member in 1994 because Mr. Traywick kicked me out of band on the first day of high school. Seriously! I think it had something to do with sharing a last name with an older sister who could strike fear into even the oddest band director. They put me in 4th period "Intro to Ag" and the rest is history. I found leadership experience which lead to scholarships for college which lead to teaching high school ag and being an FFA advisor myself. And, now it has lead to a PhD and the chance to teach the next generation of teachers who can give opportunities to the next "band reject" who walks through their door.
10 Convention - National FFA Convention was an experience every time I went. But especially the first time. Seeing an entire session of Blue and Gold jackets and feeling the electric atmosphere is something I will never forget.
9 South Rowan FFA Chapter Meetings- And, man, did we put on some good ones. There were fashion shows and Ag Olympics and skits and food. Good times! And, I have photos!
8 Winning - I was a smart, non-athletic kid growing up so the only winning experiences I had involved spelling bees and class ribbons. FFA was the first time I was able to truly "win" in a competitive setting.
7 Traveling - First time to DC. First time on a plane. First time out of the country. First time crossing the Mississippi River. The list goes on and on.
6 Friends - I found a place I belonged through FFA and found friends I still treasure.
5 Family - Some of those friends developed into my "family" - especially when I went off to college.
4 Exposure to Agriculture - Growing up in a housing development in a "bedroom community" of Charlotte, my ag class was my only connection to agriculture. Before getting involved, I had never planted anything or seen livestock (other than at the fair). I had never been on a commercial farm. Afterwards, I worked in commercial greenhouse operations and even had a summer job on a drive-thru ranch in Mooresville. I am thankful every day for American Agriculture.
3 White Lake, NC - Whether as a rec camper using the bathhouse (seriously just got chills thinking about that place. ewww), as a leadership camper, or as a camp staffer (2 summers, baby!). Or just as an advisor sitting in a bouncy chair by the water.. .this place is filled with priceless memories.
2 Getting Elected to State FFA Office - tears. joy. and then the realization that the work wasn't over, it was just beginning. What a year!
1 Finding A Career- I only took an ag class and became an FFA member in 1994 because Mr. Traywick kicked me out of band on the first day of high school. Seriously! I think it had something to do with sharing a last name with an older sister who could strike fear into even the oddest band director. They put me in 4th period "Intro to Ag" and the rest is history. I found leadership experience which lead to scholarships for college which lead to teaching high school ag and being an FFA advisor myself. And, now it has lead to a PhD and the chance to teach the next generation of teachers who can give opportunities to the next "band reject" who walks through their door.
Happy National FFA Week!
Wordless Wednesdays
The Lambert girls on 2/19, from left to right: Kinsley (3 days), Katie (~14 months), and Emily (~34 months).
2/22/11
What's My Elevation?
It is looking like snow in the Valley. This is the upcoming forecast:
The interesting part for me is that I have never needed to know my elevation before. See I am from the Piedmont of North Carolina. If we got snow, we all got snow. Then I moved to Missouri where I went to class in shorts and 70 degree weather and, by the time I got out of class, it was 30 degrees and snowing! (And, that seriously happened!) When it snowed, we all got snow.
I have never lived anywhere that the snow forecast included elevations. Looking at the forecast, you would think I was headed for some weather. But, tonight it is going to snow at your house... IF you house is 1000ft above sea level. Tomorrow it is going to snow IF you are 500ft or more above sea level. My house is around 270ft in elevation (Thank you GPS!) so I don't have to worry about the snow, until tomorrow night when all of the Valley should be white. It snowed last week, but only at the higher elevations. This is the way I like it. It made for some scenic views of snow-capped Cascades...while not having to drive in the stuff myself.
**Editor's Note: This post went up last night and this morning there IS snow on the ground at my house. Doh!. I guess Oregon weathermen are as accurate as NC and MO weathermen.
Here's counting down to next week's Orlando trip followed by some time with the family in North Carolina.
About Me
Random thoughts that you may already know... or not. Well, now you do.
1) I do an online jigsaw puzzle pretty much everyday.
2)
3) I bite my nails and cuticles. It's an awful habit. I try quitting. Hasn't happened yet.
4) The longest I have lived in the same place (since I left for college) is 2.5 years. That is particularly odd considering my parents have not moved since 1977. So, the urge to roam is definitely not genetic.
5) I keep books I have read even though I rarely re-read any of them. I just can't part with books.
6) I completed my undergrad degree on a Coca-Cola scholarship so I am now Coke loyal. I go to a restaurant and order Coke and they say "Pepsi okay?" and the answer is "Nope... Bring me Water."
7) I still remember the phone number my parents had before their current number... we changed it in 3rd grade.I also still remember my 6th grade locker combination.
8) I hate talking on the phone - mostly because I am bad at it and I don't like to do things I am bad at doing.
9) I have always thought I would die young. In fact, I never thought I would see 30.
10) I was saved and baptized at 7 years old - yet I still feel like a novice in my faith. I learn something from every Bible study.
11) I still have a hard time figuring out why bad things happen to good people.
12) I have a thing for waterfalls.
13) I am not jealous of my friends who have kids. I am jealous of my friends' kids.. who get to hang out with my old friends.
14) A PhD is not a measure of intelligence... it is a measure of persistence.
15) I am a "change junkie". If things don't stay challenging, I hunt something new (see #4).
16) I am a mediocre athlete and have always been jealous that my sister got all of that talent.
17) I fight procrastination. It's an ongoing battle.
18) I LOVE to sleep in. I have decided I would rather develop incontinence than insomnia as I get older.
19) I am a homebody. I will almost always choose to stay in rather than go out.
20) I have been to 33 US states, plus Canada, Mexico, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
21) Favorite food is anything that comes with cheese OR peanut butter... except vegetables! Ewww.
2/20/11
A Hat Trick
I saw the Portland Winterhawks beat the Chilliwack Bruins on February 19th at Memorial Coliseum with my Grad and Career friends. For those of you not in the know, I am talking minor league hockey.
I like hockey. If you have only ever watched it on TV, you are probably not a fan. I think it is more fun in person than on TV and, once most people have seen it in person, they are fans. In fact, on the night I went I got to see Niederreiter pull off the hat trick. (If you look closely you can see the ref cleaning hats off the ice in this pic!)
It was complete with all the fun gimmicky/promotional things they do to get people to come to minor league events.
For one, it was "Pink the Rink" night, for breast cancer awareness. There were a number of components to this with the most obvious being that the ice was pink and there were pink ribbons on the shoulders of the team's jerseys. You couldn't really tell the ice was pink until the Zamboni came out.
There was a 7and 8 year old match during the first interval. It was entertaining. They play hockey like I played soccer at that age... all bunched up. The match was refereed by the Winterhawk mascot (Tom-A-Hawk -hehehe).
Then there were the Rosebuds; shiny girls with pompoms. I am not sure if they were technically considered a dance team or cheerleaders, but I found it completely random. Who wants to put on special non-slip shoes to dance on ice while scantily clad? It just seems cold.
I think the most shocking part for me (while researching the team) was that the oldest player on the roster was born in 1990. Dag. I am going to take a nap now.
It was complete with all the fun gimmicky/promotional things they do to get people to come to minor league events.
For one, it was "Pink the Rink" night, for breast cancer awareness. There were a number of components to this with the most obvious being that the ice was pink and there were pink ribbons on the shoulders of the team's jerseys. You couldn't really tell the ice was pink until the Zamboni came out.
There was a 7and 8 year old match during the first interval. It was entertaining. They play hockey like I played soccer at that age... all bunched up. The match was refereed by the Winterhawk mascot (Tom-A-Hawk -hehehe).
Then there were the Rosebuds; shiny girls with pompoms. I am not sure if they were technically considered a dance team or cheerleaders, but I found it completely random. Who wants to put on special non-slip shoes to dance on ice while scantily clad? It just seems cold.
I think the most shocking part for me (while researching the team) was that the oldest player on the roster was born in 1990. Dag. I am going to take a nap now.
A Little Slice of American Pie
I was driving through Corvallis yesterday when Don McLean's American Pie came on the radio. I love this song. I know this song is older than I am (released in 1971), yet it is one of those songs that speaks to my childhood. My dad liked this song. And, we are talking about the days before everyone had their favorites downloaded to mp3 players, loaded into playlists, and at the ready when the mood struck. We would just be surprised that it shuffled on the car radio. And, then you had to wait and see if it was the full 7 minute version or the more "radio friendly" 3 verse version. Pure bliss when you would hear those elusive verses.
And, of course, it always conjures up the trip to the White Lake FFA Center where we played it (on a cassette tape) over and over and over and over. Those were good times!
Think you know all the words to the full length version: Play the game here and test your lyrical knowledge.
Or just enjoy the tune (the long version!):
And, of course, it always conjures up the trip to the White Lake FFA Center where we played it (on a cassette tape) over and over and over and over. Those were good times!
Think you know all the words to the full length version: Play the game here and test your lyrical knowledge.
Or just enjoy the tune (the long version!):
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