Life Lately

 

Happy Tuesday!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  We were mostly low key, but did venture out to the Dallas Zoo for a couple of hours on Sunday.  Here's a peek at what life lately has looked like (COVID edition).

I feel like we are at this point in 2020 right now, especially because Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons.

cat | dog

These two have been Henry's favorite companions lately.  They alternate between his room and the living room.  They're soft and squishy and my kid has always been a sucker for a stuffed animal.

Show Us Your Life: Typical Day

Kelly's theme this week is your typical day. I don't know that I actually have a typical day. Some days are more like others, and then some aren't. Monday through Friday my alarm goes off at 6am. I may hit snooze once or twice, but once I get up my morning routine is the same: pack lunch, shower, eat breakfast, dress, brush teeth, do make up, and head out the door by 7:40am. The drive to work is about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic. Some days I wish it was a little longer because I love listening to my ipod in the car and singing along. Loudly, I might add. Work starts at 8am. What I do at work on any given day varies, sometimes I have meetings, sometimes I see advisees, sometimes I am entering data into the system. Currently I am working on academic calendar audits and prepping for Fall registration. I bring my lunch, so it's usually a quick lunch at my desk. The afternoons are a similar version of the morning. On Monday and Wednesday I leave at 3 to go to class. The other days I leave work anywhere between 5 and 6. I'm usually home a half hour after that. If it's not too late I try to get a work out in. Then it's time for dinner, shower, pajamas, and time spent on the couch or at the computer. Sometimes I do homework, although most homework gets done over the weekend. Depending on what night it is, I'll watch some tv before heading to bed sometime around ten. It's usually about this time that D calls and we talk for an hour or so. I like to be asleep by 11. The alarm goes off again at 6am the next day (unless the next day is Saturday, then it goes off at 7am). That my friends is a day in the life.

16 Random Facts About Me

Andrea over at Sgt. and Mrs. Hub tagged any of her readers who were interested in participating...so here goes:

1. I love Lip Gloss. I have about 20 different kinds - pots, tubes, Dior, philosophy, flavored, unflavored. I can't help it, I love it.

2. I am addicted to gossip websites. Not the crazy ones, but the more tasteful of the gossip sites: LaineyGossip.com and crazydaysandnights.net are my two favorites.

3. I sing in the car - loudly.

4. I'm a wee bit of a hypchondriac.

5. I'm also a tiny bit obsessive/compulsive. I have the same routine every morning, I feel off if I do it out of order. I like everything to be put away in its place.

6. I hate house cleaning. I would love to be able to afford someone to come in twice a month to clean my apartment.

7. I work a second job at J.Jill to save money. It used to be Target, but the hours and the stress were too much.

8. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't read or pay attention when you send them specific instructions on something. Grrr.

9. My current favorite tv shows are The Biggest Loser and NCIS. Unfortunately they both happen to be on at the same time!

10. I really like blogging.

11. I would love to afford to be able to adopt a child someday.

12. I love cooking - especially Italian food. I also love baking.

13. Which means I like kitchen gadgets. I just bought a candy thermometer - I am going to attempt to make my own marshmallows in the near future.

14. I love perfume - currently in my repertoire are Amazing Grace, Burberry, Armani Code, Chanel #5, and Carolina Herrera. My everyday scent is the Amazing Grace, my all time favorite perfume.

15. I really like to travel, but I hate to fly. I would drive everywhere if I could, or take the train.

16. I'm still really shy, especially in social situations, and I hate using the phone. Calling people I don't know still makes me uncomfortable.

So - spill it, what are 16 random fact about you? Consider yourself tagged if you want to be...

Se7en

A distraction from data entry this morning - I checked out Nancy's blog (she is a great writer - very funny) and she had posted another meme and tagged all who read it. So here goes - Seven Random Things About Me:

1. I am a creature of habit (probably a little OCD). During the work week my morning routing is exactly the same every day. The alarm goes off at 6 and I hit snooze twice. I get out of bed and then make the bed. I head downstairs to feed Jack and make coffee. I take my vitamin then. It's back upstairs for my shower followed by getting dressed and doing my make up. I head downstairs to make my lunch to bring to work. Then breakfast and coffee along with a bit of the Today Show or Saved by the Bell while I check e-mail. Then I put the dishes in the sink head back upstairs to brush my teeth and then its off to work. It's kind of like Groundhog Day, it happens the same way every day.

2. I am addicted to Harry Potter. My brother started reading the books when I was in grad school. I never thought to look at them. I went to New Orleans to visit the Semmes (who I used to baby sit for when I was in college) and I read a few chapters of Chamber of Secrets to Joe and Robert while I was there. After 2 chapters I was hooked. When I went home for Christmas that year I read all of books 1-3 and after I was done I eagerly awaited book 4 to come out that summer. I've seen all 5 movies on opening weekend and read books 4-7 on release weekend. I have even been known on occasion to peruse fanfiction, some of it is quite good.

3. I sing in the car...loudly...the entire trip. When I used to make the trek from Rhode Island to Ohio, I would sing the entire 12 hours. I would get to my destination a little hoarse, but I always had fun.

4. Aerosmith is my all-time favorite rock band and I would go see them in concert any day.

5. My junk food weakness is chocolate. Anything chocolate - bars, kisses, cookies, ice cream. I can only keep a little in the house at the time otherwise I'd be doomed.

6. The pedigree dog adoption commercials make me cry, especially since my darling Jack was a rescue himself. I also will tear up watching Animal Precinct on Animal Planet. How anyone can neglect or abuse a defenseless animal is beyond me. I want to take them all home with me.

7. I know a lot about nothing and even auditioned once for Jeopardy (they never called - I've tested again in hopes of getting asked to audition again). I just have a good recall of random useless information, particularly in the area of entertainment. The other people in my office have taken to looking at me when a question comes up about a movie or an actor. What can I say, I like trivia.

Hmmm, who to tag...I think I'll pull a Nancy and say, consider yourself tagged if you want to play along...

Three to Tango

Another meme courtesy of Nancy...

Three Things...

Three things that scare me

1. Fire Alarms
2. Tornadoes
3. Snakes

Three things I love

1. My family
2. My friends
3. My cat

Three things I hate

1. Indifference
2. Tardiness
3. Ironing

Three things I don't understand

1. Technology (but I love what it can do)
2. Traffic
3. A lack of Universal Healthcare in a country like ours

Three things on my desk

1. My desktop computer
2. A picture of Nina
3. A box of kleenex

Three things I'm doing right now

1. Laundry
2. Watching College GameDay on ESPN
3. Trying to figure out the best time to sweep the floors

Three things I want to do before I die

1. Adopt a child
2. Buy a house
3. Travel to Russia

Three things I can do well

1. Take care of people
2. My job
3. Pick out Christmas presents

Three things I can't do

1. Math
2. Iron clothes - I don't know how my mom does it, my ironing never looks as good
3. Say no to my sister

Three things I should listen to

1. My intuition
2. God
3. My mom

Three things I shouldn't listen to

1. My mom
2. Talk radio
3. LSU fans - Go Bucks!!!

Three things I watched as a kid

1. The Muppet Show
2. Quincy, M.D. (after school with Grandma Mancone)
3. Little House on the Prairie

Five Easy Pieces

Courtesy of Nancy, here are Five Things I Am Not:

1. Outgoing. I've tried very hard to work at this over the years, but there are still moments when I hate to pick up the phone to make a phone call to someone I don't know and on rare occasions, someone I do know. Even after all these years, I prefer to order my pizza on-line as opposed to picking up the telephone to call.

2. Average. I'm speaking in the physical here. I'm 5'8" and wear heels most days, so I teeter somewhere close to 6'. I also wear a size 11 shoe, so some days I feel Amazonian, especially when I am next to my 5'3" sister.

3. Spontaneous. I like to know where I am going and what I am doing. The occasional surprise is okay - especially when it comes from the right person. I generally am not all that spontaneous on my own though. I like routine and order and most of my days follow a similar pattern...even on the weekends.

4. Alone. Not to be confused with lonely. I do live by myself in a city where I know some people and have some family somewhat close by, so some days I do feel lonely. But I am not, nor will I ever be alone. My family is only a phone call away - and there are so many to choose from when I need to talk. The aunts especially are an entity unto themselves and I love them for it.

5. Socially Graceful. I was a dancer for years, so I can carry myself. I'm not one to trip over my feet or walk into walls, but I can never seem to juggle all the things I am supposed to when I am out. If I am at a party - wine glass, napkin, plate, etc. When I am leaving Starbucks - wallet, receipt, drink. I feel shorthanded and awkward and I hate that feeling.

All of Me

Teresa posted this on her blog and since she mentioned me in hers, I felt the need to post as well...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:26 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds, though I don't really have any
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Harry Potter 5: Order of the Phoenix IMAX
4. What is your favorite TV show? CSI, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Does coffee count?
6. What kind of soap do you use? Dove, anything by philosophy
7. What is your middle name? Ann
8. What food do you dislike? onions
9. What is your favorite food? pizza
10. What kind of car do you drive? Hyundai Elantra
11. Favorite sandwich? Turkey club
12. What characteristic do you despise? perpetual tardiness
13. Favorite item of clothing? my black wrap dress
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? St. Petersburg, Russia or London, England
15. What color is your bathroom? Currently its beige, in my new apartment it will be blue
16. Favorite brand of clothing? J.Jill
17. Where would you retire to? The Outer Banks
18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? 30 (because I turned 30 not because anything terribly exciting happened)
19. When is your birthday? June 2
20. What is your favorite scent? Lilac
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning
22. What is your shoe size? 11, ugh
23. Pets? My cat, Jack
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I'm moving to North Carolina in 2 weeks!!!
25. What did you want to be when you were little? A Cheerleader
26. How are you today? Ecstatic - the Red Sox won the World Series
27. What is your favorite candy? Anything chocolate
28. What is your favorite flower? Tulips
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? November 13 - my first day at Duke
30. What church do you attend? At present, none :( At home, Presentation
31. What are you listening to right now? Harry Potter Soundtracks
32. What was the last thing you ate? Sour Cream and Onion Baked Lays (last night)
33. Do you wish on stars? Yes
34. If you were a Crayola crayon, what color would you be? Sage Green
35. How is the weather right now? Cool, for Louisiana
36. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My mom
37. What is your favorite soft drink? Diet Coke, but I rarely drink soda
38. Favorite restaurant? any type of Mexican
39. Hair Color? Dark brown
40. Siblings? A younger sister and a younger brother
41. Favorite day of the year? Christmas
42. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie
43. Summer or winter? Winter
44. Hugs or kisses? Both from people I am close to; not so much from anyone else
45. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
46. When was the last time you cried? Last week, the day of Grandma's funeral
47. What is under your bed? Nothing - its all in boxes
48. What friend have you had the longest? Teresa and Michaela
49. What did you do last night? Watched the World Series
50. Favorite room in your house? My bedroom
51. What are you afraid of? Fire Alarms
52. Popcorn salted? buttered? Both, but only at the movie theatre
53. Favorite sport to watch? Football, tennis, baseball
54. Favorite sport or activity to participate in? I just watch...I don't think running on the treadmill counts as a sport