Memes

Another meme from Facebook. Gotta love those teenaged Facebook friends who keep me well-stocked with memes (even if they’re often overcrowded with boyfriend/girlfriend/who-likes-who questions–which I’ve taken to cutting out.

WHAT WAS YOUR…

1. Last beverage?
Water from the tap

2. Last phone call?
Anna asking me if there’s anything else we need at the grocery store

3. Last text message?
With Grace, regarding a new purchase of hers

4. Last song listened to?
Emmanuel by Michael W. Smith

5. Last time you cried?
Yesterday, while speaking with my sister on the phone.

HAVE YOU EVER…

6. lost someone special?
Yes

7. been depressed?
Yes

8. been drunk and threw up?
No

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

9. Black (I did say I’ve been depressed, right? Apparently people who like black are more likely to be depressed. But what can I say, black makes me look beautiful… Have I said yet that I’m a little vain?)

10. Blue

11. Teal

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU…

12. Made a new friend?
Yes, several. I’ve been blessed with many new friends through book club, work, and church.

13. Laughed until you cried?
Absolutely

14. Met someone who changed you?
Doesn’t every person we meet make an indelible impression on us, either for good or for ill, but always, within the will of God for our ultimate good and His glory?

15. Found out someone was talking about you?
Yep, but it was nice things! Now that’s a pleasant surprise!

GENERAL:

16. How many people on your Facebook friends list do you know in real life?
All but two bloggy buddies I’ve befriend–Becky of Boys Rule My Life and Kristi of For Such a Time as This

17. Do you have any pets?
No

18. Do you want to change your name?
I wouldn’t mind changing my last name someday.

19. What did you do for your last birthday?
I don’t remember. (That’s what happens when you get old!)

20. What time did you wake up today?
11:30 (haven’t slept in that late for at least 5 years)

21. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Last night, or tonight? Last night, bathing after a great time hanging out with Teresa and Ruth. Tonight, putting up Christmas decorations after a long day of making muffins and putting the house in order.

22. What is one thing you CANNOT wait for?
Mmm. Well, there are things I feel I cannot wait for–but the truth is, I will wait until God chooses that whatever it is occurs (if ever).

23. When was the last time you saw your mother?
Friday

24. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life?
My feet hurting (I started the day in heels, despite knowing that I had a house to clean and ~15 dozen muffins to make. Sometimes I’m a little low on sense.)

25. What are you listening to right now?
I Saw Three Ships come sailing in…

26. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom?
Several persons named Tom, actually–some of them even at the same time.

27. What’s getting on your nerves right now?
My ears

28. What web page do you visit most often?
Not sure. These days, probably UNL’s “blackboard”–I’ve been busy inputting grades and communicating with students who are preparing for finals.

29. What’s your Zodiac sign?
Pisces. And I’d claim a fish even if my birthday didn’t fall within that “sign.” My real sign is ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthus): Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior.

30. Are you a he or a she?
Now that one’s pretty obvious. I have two x chromosomes.

31. What elementary school did you attend?
Twin Maples Christian School (Homeschool)

32. What middle school did you attend?
Umm… Twin Maples or… umm… Agape Christian Academy (a homeschoolish school I attended for two and a half? years–even if I didn’t learn anything there.)

33. What high school did you attend?
Twin Maples Christian School. And Lincoln East High for a couple and a half classes.

34. What’s your hair color?
Brown-ish

35. Is your hair long or short?
Way long. As long as it can get. (Which is a different length for every person, by the way. No matter how long I let my hair grow out, it never gets longer than the small of my back–which is what it has been for the last five, six, maybe seven? years.)

36. What do you like about life?
God’s grace.

37. What do you like about yourself?
That God has chosen to work through a cracked vessel like myself.

38. How many piercings do you have?
Two, maybe. I haven’t stuck anything in ’em for years (8?)–so they might not really be there anymore.

39. How many tattoos do you have?
None. Have I ever told you how I’m not really a fan of unnecessary pain?

40. Are you a righty or a lefty?
I’m a righty.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST…

41. Surgery?
An exploratory laporascopy(?) as a preschooler. Otherwise? A nose job.

42. Piercing?
My ears

43. Best friend?
Anna

44. Sport?
I’ve never participated in organized sports.

45. Vacation?
Black Hills, maybe? Unless you count Grandma and Grandpa’s.

RIGHT NOW YOU’RE…

46. Eating…
Nothing

47. Drinking…
Nothing

48. About to…
Post this (and then get ready for bed)

49. Listening to…
Didn’t I already answer this one? Except the music has shut off now.

50. Waiting for…
Christmas!

YOUR FUTURE :

51. Want kids?
Now that’s a REAL secret. Give a good guess.

52. Get Married?
Erm, ditto the above.

53. Career?
Already got one, thank you very much.

WHICH IS BETTER?

54. Lips or eyes?

55. Hugs or kisses?
From you at least :-)

56. Shorter or taller?
Referring to what? Taller if you’re talking counters or bookshelves. Shorter if you’re talking horrible books that you nevertheless feel obligated to finish, telephone conversations, or waits for a public restroom stall to open up.

57. Older or Younger?
Again, what are you talking about? Older is generally better when it comes to (many) books, furniture, and cookware. Younger is usually better for pipes, insulation, and energy efficient appliances.

58. Romantic or spontaneous?
Are those supposed to be opposites?

59. Nice stomach or nice arms?
If by nice stomach, you mean less abdominal fat, stomach is the correct answer. Abdominal fat is positively correlated with risk for heart disease. Even if you’ve got noodle arms, you’re healthier if you don’t have that belly fat.

60. Sensitive or loud?
Another “these are supposed to be opposites?” question.

61. Trouble maker or hesitant?
Hah. I just got it. These are all asking about what you find more attractive in a person of the opposite sex. Which means I should have been deleting this whole section. Blech!

HAVE YOU EVER…

62. Kissed a stranger?
No

63. Drank hard liquor?
Nope. Only when mixed into girly drinks–and even then, only rarely.

64. Lost glasses/contacts?
Yes, but never permanently (Thank You, Lord!)

DO YOU BELIEVE IN…

65. Yourself?
I believe that I exist. But do I believe in myself? I believe that in myself dwells no good thing. Only by God’s grace, freely bestowed, do I have anything.

66. Miracles?
Yes.

67. Heaven?
I believe in God the Father, Maker of Heaven… Yep, that’d be part of my standard confession of faith.

68. Santa Claus?
No. Never have.

69. Kissing on the first date?
I believe that people do it. I don’t believe people should do it.

70. Angels?
Yep. Those aren’t part of the creeds or anything–but they are part of the Bible–which I affirm wholeheartedly.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY
As if I hadn’t been all along?

71. Did you sing today?
I’d be hard pressed to come up with a day that I haven’t.

72. If you could go back in time, how far would you go, and why?
Scary thought. I believe God has placed me on this earth at this time for a purpose–and that His purposes are best. It’d be fun to visit other times, I suppose, but I really am content with just living an old-fashioned life in the modern age.

73. If you could pick a day from last year and relive it, what would it be?
Ooo…that’s a toughy. There’ve been many a difficult day and many a wonderful day. I’m glad I’ve lived them all, I’m not sure I’d like to relive any of them.

74. Posting this as 100 truths?

Nope, ‘cuz I cut out all the stupid crush questions–leaving me with 74 questions. (And that’s with the eight that I didn’t realize were crush questions and a few more that I felt were innocuous enough to leave in.)

It’s not me, by the way.

But one of my friends (Amber) has been going crazy with Facebook memes of late–keeping me well supplied for my Saturday meme posts–assuming I’ll ever get back to regularly posting!

This meme was completed in the wee hours of this morning and set to post later. So some of the information is already outdated. My apologies, but I really do have to [groan] work today and can’t be online filling out such things (Probably shouldn’t be doing it now, for that matter.)

What does your third text in your inbox say?

Ruth is *Insert Phone Number Here*

Are you online?

Dur.

What are you wearing right now?

Red sweater accidentally put on backwards after trying on clothing at the used store (Oops), Gray pin-striped slacks. Black crew style socks. Red and Gray and Black striped ankle socks over top black crew style socks.

What are you most looking forward to today?

My papa visiting me (giving me a reason to ONLY work the four to five hours I absolutely NEED to work tomorrow–I mean–today.)

Do you THINK you like anyone?

I was reminded even today (that is, yesterday) of how much I like my coworkers.

Have you ever been awake for 48 hours?

Is the sky blue? I’m one thesis away from a master’s degree. Of course I’ve been awake for 48 hours before.

What are you listening to?

The hum of my computer, the air from my heat pump, my fingers clacking on the keyboard.

Baseball or football?

Baseball

Favorite kind of blanket?

Odd question. Warm kinds. Preferably made by Grandma Cook. Although I am partial to my own quilts.

How do you feel about chocolate-covered strawberries?

Excited when I see them, delighted when I eat them, and disappointed when they’re gone.

Europe or the Caribbean?

Europe, hands down

Who is the sexiest person alive?

Me in my sexy jeans. (JK!)

Do you like the color gray?

I like to WEAR the color grey (note British spelling–I learned to spell grey from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and have the hardest time spelling it with an a)

Is there anyone you really can’t stop thinking about?

There’s someone I’d like to not stop thinking about–but unfortunately my mind is wandering and all too often becomes focused on anything but Christ.

Look outside, how’s the weather?

It’s cold. I can see the moon dancing as it reflects off the surface of the wind-rippled lake. The bare-branched trees are waving for attention. And I am glad to be inside next to my space heater.

Are you jealous of anyone right now?

Let me think–is there anyone who currently belongs to me and is being misappropriated to another?

Nope, I don’t think so.

I’m a stickler for using the words jealous and envious/covetous properly. The former and the latter are NOT synonymous.

Did you ever think someone didn’t like you, but came to find out they really did?

I tend to think that people like me. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m wrong. With luck, I never find out if I’m wrong and thus never discover reason to think ill of said person.

Last time you ate grilled cheese?

Good question. It’s been much too long. It was maybe a month and a half ago? Debbie and Grace and Daniel and Timothy and I made Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup for lunch after church.

Name something great that happened today?

I breathed.

Do you regret something today?

That I spent so much time on the computer and so little time unpacking. (How am I ever going to get settled into this house at this rate?)

When you think of the rainbow, what pops in your head?

Homosexual activism.

How are you feeling?

Through sensory neurons which detect pressure, pain, and a variety of other sensory inputs.

Do you watch the Oscars?

I did the year Return of the King won all those awards. We had a residence hall party for the Oscars that year. Otherwise, I never have.

Favorite movie?

A&E Pride and Prejudice

Would you date someone 10 years older than you?

Possibly

What are you thinking about?

What am I thinking about? Mostly about the ridiculousness of these “would you date…” questions. How would I know whether I’d date someone 10 years older than me? That’s an awfully small (and relatively unimportant) piece of information to make such a decision based upon.

Have you lost contact with someone you wish you didn’t?

Yes, many people. One of my great regrets in life is that I have not actively worked to sustain relationships after situations change so that we are no longer “forced” into relationship. It’s something I’m working on.

Do you think you’re old?

The day I turned 13, I told myself I was an old woman. That way I’d never fear growing old, ’cause I already was.

So far, so good.

I might be old, but I’m not afraid of growing old :-)

Are you afraid of the dark?

No. I’m afraid of what might be lurking in the dark. (Which means that I try to avoid being outside in lesser lit areas late at night–and if I have to be in said areas at those times, I choose to be aware of my surroundings and have my keys stuck through my knuckles for ready self-defense.)

Do you have unlimited texting?

Yes

Do you wear glasses?

Yes

What are you looking forward to in the next month?

Being done teaching (and therefore done commuting)

I’m currently out of town (and out of state) for the American Dietetics Association’s annual professional meeting: the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE-pronounced Fence-EEEE). So, for your reading enjoyment, I’ve completed a little quiz to discover how native I really am to the great state in which I’ve always resided!

If you’re from Nebraska (or even if you’re not), take it and share your score. If you don’t want to learn how Nebraskan YOU are, read through it anyway and learn just a little bit about NEBRASKA–THE GOOD LIFE.

[X] You were born in Nebraska

[X] You’re proud that you’re not from one of those square states

[ ] You know all the words to There is No Place Like Nebraska

Hmm…Do I know all the words? Let’s think: “There is no place like Nebraska, good old Nebraska U where the girls are the fairest, the guys are the squarest at good old Nebraska U”–Nope, I missed the fifth line–and don’t even know the second verse except the “Where we all stick together in all kinds of weather at good old Nebraska U.”

[X] You remember your first trip to Memorial Stadium

[ ] You’ve met Tom Osborne and it was a moving experience

Total: 3

[X] You know THE game refers to that week’s college football game

[X] You claim to be a Husker fan since birth (Can anyone born in Nebraska not be?)

[X] You can pronounce Norfolk (Nor-fork), Beatrice (BE-at-triss), and Kearney (Car-knee)

[X] You know the story of why Norfolk is misspelled.
Course I do–It’s named after the North Fork of the river but the clerk thought they were trying to copycat Norfolk, VA (yeah right). Anyway, the clerk changed it to Norfolk and there we have it. I understand there was once a petition given to change the official spelling to Norfork (like it should have been in the first place)–but the application was denied for whatever reason.

[ ] You voted/rooted for Tom Osborne for Governor
Nah–my love of football doesn’t go that far. I voted for Nabity in the primary and Heineman in the November race. Nabity was really my man-it was a bummer he ended up (unexpectedly) running against the former football coach and an incumbent Republican governor.

Total: 4

[X] You take pride in knowing that on Saturdays, Memorial Stadium is the third largest city in the state.
(I might be cheating by marking this. I don’t take pride THAT if Memorial Stadium were a city, it would be Nebraska’s third most populous on game days–but I do take some pride in knowing that particular factoid. Then again, what Nebraskan DOESN’T know that? Oh, yeah. I guess that’s the point of this little ma-jigger!)

[X] You know that the statue on the dome of the state capital is actually sowing seed – not bowling.

[X] You can drive through towns like Wahoo with a straight face.

[X] You know what “knee high by the Fourth of July” refers to.

[] You list your religious preference as “Cornhusker.”
Actually, I grieve over the idolatrous place Husker football in many Nebraskan’s hearts. I think of that factoid about Memorial Stadium being the third largest city and sorrow that we have built such a priesthood, such a temple to serve a dead god.

Total: 4

[ ] You consider using your life savings to go to the Colorado-Nebraska football game.
Actually, I’ve never BEEN to a football game. I sold ice cream at one once—and got to see a touchdown during my brief time walking the stands–but I’ve never paid real money to see the Huskers, and would certainly never consider using my life savings to do so.

[X] There’s a tornado warning and you go outside to watch for it.
Doesn’t everyone?

[ ] You think Abraham Lincoln was named after the capital of Nebraska.

[ ] “Little Smokies” are something you serve on special occasions.

[ ] You think the “Red Sea” refers to the football stadium on Saturdays.
Actually, that’s completely inaccurate. The football stadium is not “The Red Sea”, it’s the “Sea of Red.” Get it right, people.

Total: 1

[ ] Using the elevator involves a corn truck.
I’m a city girl. But that doesn’t mean I’m not FAMILIAR with the use of elevators and grain trucks.

[X] You know cow pies aren’t made of beef.
It takes a true ignoramus to not know this one.

[X] You actually buy manure.

[X] You can tell the smell of a skunk and the smell of a feed lot apart.
You mean some people can’t? Those are two pretty distinct odors.

[ ] You consider any building a mall, if it’s bigger than the local Wal-Mart.

Total:3

[X] Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.
Well, if there are lots of vehicles going the opposite direction, that makes for quite a jam.

[ ] You know several classes were cancelled because of the cold
I cry foul on this one. It is only in recent years that Nebraskans have become such wusses about cold. I refuse to consider this as an appropriate question to determine one’s Nebraskan-ness.

[ ] Your school classes were canceled because of the heat.
Lincoln Public Schools routinely has shortened schedule for the first week of school because of heat. I ditto the above.

[X] You switch from “heat” to “A/C” in the same day.
Not in my house–that’d be ridiculously wasteful. Turn on a fan or grab a blanket. But in the car? All the time.

Total: 2

[X] You end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition… Example: “Where’s my coat at?” (Only occasionally)

[X] You can actually locate Nebraska on the United States map.
It’s, like, the easiest to find. It’s uniquely shaped, it’s right in the middle, and it’s relatively large (land mass wise). How can anyone not locate Nebraska?

[ ] Detassling was your first job.

[ ] You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

[ ] You can’t understand why Johnny Carson ever left.

Total: 2

[ ] You laugh at people who drive under 50 on gravel roads
Dangerous idea. Obviously it’s a kid who wrote this one. Happens I know the stats about kids driving too fast on Nebraska gravel roads. Only time you wanna go 50 is if the road’s straight, wide, and flat. Otherwise, you’re asking for disaster.

[X] You learned the finger wave at an early age

[ ] You think vegetarians shouldn’t be allowed in Nebraska

[ ] You eat at Runza at least once a week

[ ] Your mail comes addressed with your name and your town and you still don’t get it.
I don’t understand this one. I always get my mail. And my grandparents used to get theirs too–even when the letter was addressed to “Grandma and Grandpa Cook, RR 2.” This question makes no sense.

Total: 1

[ ] It’s called pop.
I’m in the process of switching to soda. Sorry, folks.

[X] You bring your groceries home in sacks
Actually, I don’t. I use homemade grocery totes. But most people bring their groceries home in sacks. What does the rest of the world use?

[X] You don’t have an accent and are proud of that
Darn tootin’. TV and radio personalities everywhere want to learn Nebraska’s accentless English. We ARE standard American English.

[X] Out West refers to western Nebraska
As in Scott’s Bluff, Chadron, etc. Panhandle land. Mountain time. Of course.

[X] You can draw the state outline without looking at a map

Total: 4

[X] You’re proud of things invented in Nebraska
Dorothy Lynch and Wimmers Weiners. Kool-Aid, not so much.

[X] You think nothing of Hooker County
Actually, I do think of them a little. But I don’t think much of them. They are, after all, the only county in Nebraska to vote for Bill Clinton in 1996.

[ ] You wear Husker apparel to church
Nah. I’m too formal for that. But many people do.

[ ] You refuse to get married in the Fall in fear of missing a football game
I wouldn’t go that far–but you definitely do need to consider football traffic (and the attention of your guests) if you decide to get married on a game day.

[ ] You believe Nebraska really is the good life and could never leave
The first part is true. Nebraska really is the good life. But does that mean I could never leave? Probably not. Should God lead me elsewhere, I would rather go with Him and lose Nebraska than disobey Him and keep this state.

Total: 2

Grand Total: 26

Now I’m supposed to multiply the grand total by 2 to get my percent Nebraskan-ness. So I guess I’m 54% Nebraskan. Now, just for the record, as a Nebraskan, I cry foul on 5 of those questions, saying I have no idea why they might be said to typify Nebraska. If they were switched out for some more truly Nebraskan questions, I might have scored higher. I am after all, pretty darn Nebraskan :-)

Stolen from Teresa Dawn per her gracious offer.

Have you ever…

{X} Started your own blog

{X} Slept under the stars
If you count the time I fell asleep on the yard swing reading a book–and was accidentally locked out of the house.

{ } Played in a band

{ } Visited Hawaii

{X} Watched a meteor shower
Best ever, Mexico 2008. Lying on the big trampoline with Caroline and the other Bekah. I didn’t see as many as Bekah, but I still almost reached 100.

{X} Given more than you can afford to charity
I liked Teresa Dawn’s answer “Well, more than I thought I could afford and certainly more than I would have spent on myself, but I didn’t starve to death afterwards.” I’ve given what I thought was sacrificially only to find that God supplied for my own needs in abundance.

{X} Been to Disney
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Summer 2006. It was with an enormous group, but my little group was comprised of myself and eight guys. Enormous fun.

{X} Climbed a mountain
So there was this one particular mountain in Yellowstone. I’d scouted all the hiking and tried to find something that would be appropriate for the whole family (and that wouldn’t tax me medically too much). I thought I’d found the perfect one. We climbed it safely, got down, and discovered that it was flagged as “not recommended for those with respiratory or heart problems.” Oops. Well, I’m glad we climbed it anyway–I ended up just fine.

{ } Held a praying mantis

{X} Sang a solo
Only at church, though

{ } Bungee jumped

{ } Visited Paris
Coveting those who have–Lord, forgive me.

{X} Watched a thunder and lightning storm

{X} Taught yourself an art from scratch
If sewing, quilting, cross-stitching, embroidery, crochet, paper-making…. count as “an art”

{ } Adopted a child
No, but I pray that I might someday

{X} Had food poisoning

{ } Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

{X} Grown your own vegetables

{ } Seen the Mona Lisa in France
More covetousness. Bleh!

{ } Slept on an overnight train

{X} Had a pillow fight

{ } Hitch hiked

{ } Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

{X} Built a snow fort
Hollowed out piles from the snow plows. Oh yes!

{X} Held a lamb
Not sure if it was actually a lamb–But I have held a sheep, at any rate. I enjoyed my animal science class thoroughly!

{X} Gone skinny dipping

{ } Run a marathon

{ } Ridden in a gondola in Venice

{ } Seen a total eclipse
Path of totality for a solar eclipse will cross through the Midwest in 2017. I’m planning on being there!

{X} Watched a sunrise or sunset
Best ever? Sunrise over the Atlantic with my STP team.

{ } Hit a home run

{ } Been on a cruise

{X} Seen Niagara Falls in person

{X} Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
If you count my visit to Sweden. It’s not like I went to see the church they were baptized in or anything.

{ } Seen an Amish community

{ } Taught yourself a new language

{ } Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Does money provide satisfaction? I think not. But God has, at times, given me grace to be truly satisfied in a variety of financial situations. Covetousness and discontent are, however, probably some of my most common besetting sins.

{ } Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

{X} Gone rock climbing

{ } Seen Michelangelo’s David in person

{X} Sung karaoke

{X} Seen Old Faithful erupt

{ } Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

{ } Visited Africa

{X} Walked on a beach by moonlight

{ } Been transported in an ambulance

{ } Had your portrait painted

{ } Gone deep sea fishing

{ } Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

{ } Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

{ } Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

{ } Kissed in the rain

{X} Played in the mud

{X} Gone to a drive-in theater

{ } Been in a movie

{ } Visited the Great Wall of China

{ } Started a business

{ } Taken a martial arts class

{ } Visited Russia

{X} Served at a soup kitchen

{ } Sold Girl Scout Cookies

{ } Gone whale watching

{X} Got flowers for no reason

{X} Donated blood, platelets or plasma

{ } Been sky diving

{ } Visited a Concentration Camp

{X} Bounced a check

{ } Flown in a helicopter

{X} Saved a favorite childhood toy

{ } Visited the Lincoln Memorial

{X} Eaten caviar

{X} Pieced a quilt
Several

{ } Stood in Times Square

{ } Toured the Everglades

{ } Been fired from a job

{ } Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

{X} Broken a bone
Three actually. My collar bone when I was a toddler and both bones in my forearm when I was a pre-teen.

{ } Been a passenger on a motorcycle

{ } Seen the Grand Canyon in person

{ } Published a book

{ } Visited the Vatican

{ } Bought a brand new car
Don’t really intend to. Consider them a grand waste of money.

{ } Walked in Jerusalem

{X} Had your picture in the newspaper
Senior year of high school when I was one of two homeschooled National Merit finalists in the greater Lincoln area. The picture was ginormous.

{ } Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

{ } Visited the White House

{ } Killed and prepared an animal for eating

{X} Had chickenpox
Three times.

{ } Saved someone’s life
Depends on what you mean. I’ve sent people to the hospital with acute appendicitis that, if untreated, might have resulted in death–but anyone could have done that. I’ve adjusted tube feed or parenteral nutrition recommendations to prevent what could have been disastrous results. But, no, I’ve never dramatically pulled someone from the brinks of death.

{ } Sat on a jury

{ } Met someone famous

{X} Joined a book club

{ } Got a tattoo

{ } Had a baby

{ } Seen the Alamo in person

{ } Swam in the Great Salt Lake

{ } Been involved in a law suit

{X} Owned a cell phone

{X} Been stung by a bee

{ } Tell us where you were born
Wha… That’s not a “Have you ever” question! But I was born on West Wilkins Street in Lincoln, Nebraska–in the home my parents rented from the housing authority.

I’ve done 37 of the above 100. What about you?

The instructions on this little meme stolen from my little sis are as follows: “40 Secrets about yourself. Be honest no matter what. Answer these 40 questions. Have fun. DON’T SEND THIS BACK TO ME!!”

Not sure what that last bit was about. But just in case, I won’t be sending this back to Grace :-)

1. Have you ever been asked out?
Yes

2. Where was your profile picture taken?
The photo of me in the sidebar was taken at my internship graduation on the UNL campus.

3. What’s your middle name?
Marie (or Jane or Jo–as in Becky J. Mentner)

5. Does your crush like you back?
N/A

6. What is your current mood?
Thankful

7. What color socks are you wearing?
Not wearing socks

8. What color shirt are you wearing?
Blue (but only ’cause I haven’t dressed for the day–I’ll soon be trying to find my red in order to participate in the Husker “Red Out Around the World”)

9. Missing something?
My voice. It’s a good thing next week is the University’s fall break–because I currently couldn’t lecture.

10. If you could go back in time and change something, what would you do?
Oh man–I’d stop the Holocaust, or rewrite the Constitution to emancipate the slaves from the foundation of our country, or prevent the Twin Towers from falling or… There’s so much in history that I’d LIKE to see changed–but I have to believe that God had a purpose even in these horrific events in the past, and that any attempt of mine to change history would only result in bungling it. However, the pages that are still to be written are currently up for grabs–and I’m willing to let God make me an instrument for affecting how the story turns out from here.

11. If you must be an animal for one day what would you be?
A duck

12. Ever had a near death experience?
Almost falling asleep while driving.

13. Something you do a lot?
Read (Go figure)

14. The song stuck in your head?
None

15. Who did you copy and paste this from?
Gracebug

16. Name someone with the same birthday as you:
Albert Einstein (March 14 is the day for geniuses)

17. When was the last time you cried?
Wednesday night, probably

18. Have you ever sung in front of a large audience?
Depends on how you define large audience. And how you define “sung in front of”. I’ve sung on my church’s worship team in the past–but my church is relatively small (80-120 people over the time I’ve been there).

19. If you could have one super power what would it be?
That’s no secret. To be able to multitask while still gaining maximum in-the-moment-ness with each activity. I have too many goals and not enough time in which to do them. That’s why I plan on living at least to age 120.

20. What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
I don’t really think about it–I guess it depends on the person. Some people have certain attributes or features that demand first notice. (Unusual hair, large nose, pretty eyelashes, whatever)

21. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
If I’m going to go to a coffee shop, Lincoln has plenty of non-chain local shops with lovely ambience that I’d much rather spend time at. Even then, I generally either buy a steamer or an Italian soda. Unless it’s early enough in the day that I can afford the caffeine.

22. What’s your biggest secret?
I once weighed 165 pounds, and thought I was gorgeous at that weight.

23. Favorite color?[s]
Don’t really have one

24. Do you still watch kiddie shows on tv?
That implies that I ever did.

25. What’s on your walls in your room?
Renoir and Monet prints from calendars. Miscellaneous quotes. Framed verses in calligraphy (done by my childhood pastor’s wife). Sticky notes with various passwords on them (I know, I shouldn’t do that.) A cartoon drawn by my roommate’s little brother.

26. What are you?
Physically, I am a collection of organic and inorganic compounds, mostly carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. These make up the many components of thousands of cells, each of which possess my own unique DNA but which express that DNA in hundreds of different ways. But the physical is the least of what I am, for God, in His great love, breathed into this bag of cells, tissues, and organs the breath of life–something of His very self. And though my image-bearing capacity was marred by the fall, God graciously redeemed this thing called myself and is in the process of remaking me to reflect His Self.

27. Do you speak any other languages?
Like Grace said, not really.

28. What’s your favorite smell?
Food.

29. Describe your life in one word.
Blessed

30. Have you ever been kissed in the rain?
No

31. What are you thinking about right now?
Not much

33. What should you be doing?
Not much !!!!

34. Who was the last person that made you upset/angry?
Someone at work. I got over it.

35. How often do you talk to God?
Mmm–sometimes we talk, sometimes we just spend time together. But pretty much constantly.

36. Do you like working in the yard?
Until I start sneezing and my nose starts running and my eyes get itchy. If it weren’t for allergies, I’d adore yard work.

37. If you could have any last name in the world, what would you want?
I don’t know. Perhaps some day I will meet a man whose name I would delight to take as my own and who would invite me to do so. Should that time come, I’ll let you know.

38. Do you act differently around the person you like?
Not sure how to respond to this one.

39. What is your natural hair color?
What you see is what you get. Somewhere between blonde and brown (although I’ve always claimed brown). Depending on the lighting and what else I’m wearing, it may appear to have reddish glints.

40. Who was the last person to make you cry?
God, through His amazing gift of sisters in Christ

Anybody got any other SECRETS to share? I’m ALL about secrets here :-)

I haven’t encountered any new memes in my blog reading this week (admittedly, I haven’t read a lot, being busy with other things)–so I actually had to GOOGLE a meme to play today.

Introducing the “Four Things” meme (from Zeldman, whoever that is, via Quixtar, whatever that is.)

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. Housekeeper at a hotel (The Sawgrass Marriott in Jacksonville, Florida)
2. Health Aide for a residence hall
3. Teacher of University lab classes
4. Dietitian at a long term care facility

(Not very exciting. Sorry, folks!)

Four movies I can watch over and over:

1. Pride and Prejudice (A&E version)
2. My Fair Lady
3. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
4. You’ve Got Mail

Four places I’ve lived:

1. Lincoln, NE (all my life)
2. Jacksonville, FL (for a summer)
3. Juamave, Taumalipas, Mexico (for a month)
4. Columbus, NE (at least, I will be living there soon)

Four TV shows I love:

I don’t love TV shows. I don’t love TV. I think it’s of the devil. :-)

Four places I’ve vacationed:

1. Branson, MO
2. Yellowstone National Park
3. Chicago, IL
4. Wamma-Wampas (Grandma and Grandpa’s)

Four of my favorite dishes:

1. The crystal bowl I got from my grandma
2. The wooden platter a sibling bought for me at a past missions conference
3. My Grandma’s china (all of it)
4. The little glass jars that hold my homemade yogurt

(Bet that wasn’t what you expected to see under my “favorite dishes”, huh?)

Four sites I visit (almost) daily:

1. Reading to Know
2. Life on Sylvan Drive
3. Lisa Notes
4. Challies.com

(This one is actually pretty hard because I have hundreds of blogs in my reader–and I generally read everything I can as quickly as I can.)

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. In bed, sleeping
2. At my church’s missions conference (I should be grading papers–but am taking a brief break from grading to post something today.)
3. Reading a book
4. Pretty much anything except grading papers :-) (Or preparing lectures, for that matter)

Four bloggers I am tagging:

I don’t really do the tagging thing–but if you want to play, you’re welcome to. Furthermore, if you’re a reader and would like to tag ME in a meme–feel free to do so. I try to answer a meme every Saturday–and I’d much rather not have to search for one! Alternately, if you have some questions for me that you’re just DYING to have answered, you can just write your own little meme and e-mail it to me for me to fill out :-)

…and all the rest of the people who didn’t tag me in the Facebook meme :-)

How old will you be in 10 months?
26

Is the last person you kissed attractive?
Good question. Not sure. I’m guessing the last person I kissed was an infant or toddler–probably a cute one.

What do you look forward to most in the next 3 months?
Currently? Not sure. Lots of things happening, not sure how any of them will turn out. But Christmas is in 3 months!

Who was the last person you called?
According to my phone, Anna. But I didn’t really call her; Grace did. Anna’s phone and mine can talk for free. Grace’s and Anna’s? Not so much.

Who was the last person to call you?
Casandra

What’s your ringtone?
Ring 2

Do you have any pets?
No pets.

What were you doing at 2am last night?
Sleeping in my (own) bed

Are your parents married/..divorced/..separate?
Married 27 years and still going strong. They’re up for the transition to empty-nesters, though, so we can always pray–that’s tough for many marriages.

When is the last time you saw your sister/s?
I saw all three of my sisters last night at my brother’s birthday celebration.

What happened at 10:00 am today?
Nothing has happened at 10am today as it is not yet 10am. What happen? Don’t know.

How many states have you lived in?
One, unless you count my brief stays in Florida and Taumalipas, Mexico.

How many cities/towns have you lived in?
Ditto the above.

What’s the initial of the last person you kissed?
As I said, I’m not sure exactly who I last kissed, except that it was likely a baby.

Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Shoes if I’ve got anywhere to go or anything to do. Socks if I’m done for the day and lounging around the house (or going to bed when it’s cold). Bare feet if it’s springtime and I’m planting a garden :-)

Are you a social person?
I think so. Although I do need alone time as well.

What was the last thing you ate?
Homemade cherry pie (for dinner last night)

What is your favorite ice cream?
Used to be butter brickle–and I still love it. But there’s this new Raspberry Cow Tracks stuff–raspberry ice cream with dark chocolate chunks. Um…amazing.

What is your favorite dessert?
Homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

What kind of jelly do you like on your PB & J sandwiches?
I prefer honey, actually. But if I’ve got to do jelly, I prefer homemade strawberry jam (just like my sis!)

Do you like coffee?
I’m a recreational user. I only drink when I’m with people. But I enjoy it when I do!

What do you drink in the morning?
A tall glass of water to rehydrate from a long night of not sleeping.

Have you ever kissed anyone whose named started with D L M R S U Z?

Don’t do a lot of kissing except of babies. But I’m sure I’ve kissed a few babies with one or the other of those initials.

Known someone who’s name starts with U?
Laughing out loud over my sister’s answer: “Yeah, my brother’s name is Ugly.” As for myself, I’m not sure.

Do you like Chinese food?
Yep.

How big is your bed?
Twin

Is your room clean?
Sort of. I just came back from a trip, so I have bags sitting on the floor, but otherwise, most surfaces are clean–except the futon, which is piled with clothes I want to alter sometime when I get some time.

Laptop or Desktop computer?
Desktop. They live, like, a bazillion years longer than laptops do.

Favorite comedians?
Dunno. I don’t listen to/watch a lot of comedians.

Do you smoke?
Nope.

Does anyone like you?
I hope so. (It’d be a sad thing to be unliked.)

Whats the sexiest thing about Condoleeza Rice?
She could have been a concert pianist–but instead she became a female provost and a Secretary of State.

Sleep with or without clothes on?
My lips are sealed.

Who sleeps with you every night?
I don’t sleep with anyone every night. Or any night.

Do long distance relationships work?
For short periods of time. With a lot of work.

How many times have you been pulled over by the police?
I can’t even count. No tickets, but I have had lights out, registration expired, etc. (Lights out was most common–I think I was pulled over for a missing light in at least every one of my parents vehicles when I was just starting to drive.)

Pancakes or French Toast?
Depends on my mood.

How do you like your eggs?
Depends on my mood. At a restaurant? Over hard.

Last person on your missed call list?
Anna? I don’t have a missed call list, that I know of–but I did miss a call from Anna yesterday.

McDonalds or Burger King?
McDonalds. BK used to be good–but now they’re cardboard like everywhere else. And McDonalds has those to-die-for Wild Berry Smoothies.

Number of pillows?
Two

Last thing you bought?
Gas.

What are you hearing right now?
I’m not.

Pick a lyric?
Say what?

Can you play pool?
I can attempt to.

Do you know how to swim?
Yes, but not spectacularly.

Do you like maps?
Absolutely!

Tell me a random fact:
7×6=42 (You didn’t say it had to be about me)

Ever do a keg stand?
What’s that? (Okay, so I’m naive–whatever it is, I haven’t done it.)

What is your favorite season?
Spring.

What is the first music video you ever saw?
No idea.

Favorite quote:
“If I find in myself a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was born for another world.” ~C.S. Lewis (quoted loosely–I’m sure I messed some words up in there.)

What is your favorite hangout?
Where the cool kids are = )

Best friend’s name?
Anna

How long have you known them?
25 1/2 years

Last time you laughed at something stupid?
Last night. Did you know that the “J” in “Timothy J Mentner” stands for “genius”?

What time did you wake up this morning?
First, at 6am (‘Cause that’s my normal waking time.) But I chose to go back to sleep and slept until nine. A gorgeous twelve hours of sleep!

Wake up next to anyone?
Nipes.

Best thing about winter?
Christmas!

Name a couple of favorite colors:
Pink and yellow and white :-) (Or at least that’s what I said when I was a little girl.)

I, unlike Amber and John and Grace, shall graciously invite any of my readers to play along, should they will

:-)