30 things {13, 14, & 15}

13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

1. Peanut Butter, I can't not  (double negative, my ears hurt) eat it if I know its near me....yum.  Particularly the honey roast kind...mmmm.
2. The internet, it sucks me in and eats up my spare moments, I mean look it's happening right now!  I try and avoid sitting at the computer unless I have to be at it to do something (ie. editing/email/ordering) otherwise I will sit down and waste and hour and not even realize it.
3. People asking for favors.  Whether or not I have the time/means I have a ridiculously hard time telling people no.  I usually cause myself more stress over it in the long run.
4. An inability to just let things go and chill out.  I'm gonna go with I'm high strung and quite a bit Type A in a lot of aspects.
5.a good book.  They are more addicting than crack to me, I can't stand to not finish it as fast as possible.


14. Describe 5 strengths you have.

1. Organization.  I gots it, it makes life easier.
2. Dependability. If I say I'll be there, I'll be there.  Usually 5-10 minutes early..having a kid never changed this for me.
3. a crazy ability to function on little to no sleep, for extended periods of time.  I might not be the nicest happiest person but I do it. (is that a strength cause I feel like it is)
4. The ablility to remain calm in stressful situations.  I don't know where this comes from since I am pretty uptight about day to day things being perfect.  But give me an injured kid/animal, a car accident or other type situation where normal people freak out and I'm usually cool as a cucumber.
5. good listener.  I frequently am the person who people vent to, why?  maybe because I'm a good listener?  Maybe because I only butt in to give advice when I think it's needed not just because I think I know it all.  Or maybe it's just that I'm a pretty open book so people feel they can be that way with me.


15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

a Goddamn tiger.....

and because they are pretty amazing.

30 things {11 & 12}

Two posts in 1 day...due to the fact that I forgot to hit publish when I finished the last one (last week..ooops)


11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
1.  Things touching my face..hands, hair, whatever I HATE IT!
2. driving in the passing lane, driving like a douche, not using your turn signal, stopping on the highway because a cop ALREADY has someone pulled over....oh the joy of driving!
3. hearing someone blow their nose..gag.
4. people who talk on their cell phones at an obnoxious volume in a confined space.
5. When people use popular catch phrases like when "my bad" was everyone's favorite thing to say, or the current "cray", you people are from the country or the suburb's...quit.  You are not, nor will you ever really be, a big enough "gangsta" to pull it off without sounding like a moron.  (I am sure that I fall into this own category from time to time and annoy myself)
6. People who are oblivious that they are not the only human being on the planet and refuse to acknowledge that they have parked their rude ass directly in the way of everyone else.  (ie. grocery store dicks who stand in front of something you need and ignore your "excuse me"'s)
7. on that note, rude ass people who were never taught to say excuse me.  I don't care if you bumped in to me on purpose or on accident, a "sorry" or "excuse me" will guarantee that I don't continue to talk loudly and rudely about you afterwards.
8. when people try to talk to me when I'm reading.  Obviously I'm busy.
9. People who think they know everything.  Seriously it's ok to be wrong once in a while and not have the answers for everything, and I don't want to hear your long winded lectures about how you are right and everyone else is wrong.  Also if you haven't experienced it you really have no right to pass judgement on anyone who has in any situation in life.  And don't you dare tell me what you "think" I feel about something.
10. People who can't make plans. (and stick to them)

I could easily do another 10 of those.  I am easily annoyed.

12. Describe a typical day in your current life.


Alarm goes off at 4:30...snooze
Alarm goes off again...wake up..or snooze one last time.
Get out of bed by 4:45 at the latest
run to kitchen start coffee pot
Get myself ready for work, bathroom, teeth, scrubs on, hair in a pony tail 90% of the time. ~10 mins
Pack my lunch, make my coffee, grab Addison's lunch (usually made the night before) grab Addisons diaper bag, and my bag for work load up the car and put the dogs in the kennel outside for the day.
Wake up Addison, do a quick diaper change/refill drink cup/grab a banana.
5:15 Drive to sitters get there at 5:30
Put Addison back to sleep at sitters house.
Drive to carpool lot by 5:50
Get in a van with other people, hope they don't talk all the way to work, try to read/facebook/check email. get to work too early 6:30
Walk to my office, show up about 20 minute early every single day. blah.
Start working, depending on the day I might get to sit down at the computer for a little bit but usually we have a surgery to do.  Go get animal/premed/anesthesia/monitor anesthesia during length of surgery.
help with recovery...sometimes repeat multiple times in a day.
Eat lunch in there whenever surgery allows.
Clean. Stock. Prepare OR's/surgical packs.
Leave office at 5 walk to van.
wait.
wait some more.  Someday's leave shortly after 5, other days not until 5:30.
Arrive back to carpool lot around 6:15
Drive to sitters, pick up Addison.  Hope the sitter doesn't want to chat too much.
Drive home usually arrive about 6:45
make dinner while trying to entertain (hopefully well napped) toddler.
Eat Dinner.
Playtime for a bit if no bath
 Every other night or as needed if she's filthy from playing, bath time for Addison.
If not well napped toddler, try to maintain sanity through an hour and a half or so of hysterical screaming and crying over tiredness and an inability to do anything while tired.
Get Addison in bed around 9:00.  Hope she actually goes right to sleep.  (usually she's very good about this or she'll just play in her crib)
Breathe.
Get my self showered.
Some nights I get on the computer and zone out for an hour or so.
Watch (fall asleep for) a TV show.
Try to be sleeping by 11.  Hope for no toddler middle of the night wake-ups requiring mom's attention.
Repeat.

Don't ever question it when I end up in the loony bin.

My days off are much less stressful. (sometimes)

30 things {9 &10}

9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

1. My Mom - she busted her ass to support/raise my brother and I pretty much on her own through our teenage years.  She instilled my hard worker attitude and my I don't need anyone else in life to get things done tude'.
2.My Dad - showed me that just being nice/friendly toward people goes a long way.  Be willing to go out of your way to help other people sometimes.
3. My Grandma & Grandpa McMurtrie - another of the people who taught me about hard work.  They talk about how they had nothing to start out with and how they started the farm and how far they've come.  If grandparent success won't teach you that hard work pays off, nothing will.
4.My Grandma & Grandpa Wright - always ones to let you know how important family was.  They were the glue that kept our family close!  Unfortunately when they passed it took our family a few years to get back into the swing of family gatherings!
5. Addison - having a kid, being a parent just make you want to be a better person.  Everything you do in life affects them in some way or another, I don't want to be the cause of my child's future issues!!  She influences me to be a better human.

I know that there are others but for now those 5 will have to do, my brain hurts from thinking about the next 5 for my list ...demanding so many gees...



10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
I'm not sure.  I've been embarrassed, I've done stupid things.   But I have the ability to laugh it off and apparently forget things because for the life of me I can't come up with anything that scarred me for life!  I just let the embarrassing moments pass and forget about it.

Friends are Fabulous...

A few of my favorite people were in town from Pennyslvania/New Jersey this weekend.  My friends Seth & Joanna were in town for the Outlaw Race at Milan Dragway in Milan, MI.  Which meant that I got to spend a little time with them when they were not otherwise occupied with capturing all kinds of drag racing shots. Friday evening they came up to my house and we headed out to the Calhoun County Fair (since Addison didn't get to ride any rides at the Jackson County Fair due to rain, we had to try again)  We spent a few hours walking around and letting Addison ride everything that she was tall enough to get on.  After the fair we made the short trek from the fair grounds over to Darkhorse Brewing Co. for dinner.  Sadly they had a cut down menu so we didn't get to order the fantastic sandwiches we got last time....and the service was sub-par this time...grr.  But we stopped and had ice cream afterwards despite toddler meltdowns at the restaurant  (hey the kid was tired/hungry and they made her wait forever to bring food.)  and the ice cream was delicious!

Sweet new Patrick tat.

Saturday I spent the day with Addison we ran a few errands and while she napped I worked on getting a few of my refinishing projects off to a good start.  (I haven't gotten started yet on the new sideboard but I can't wait to!!)

Sunday Seth & Joanna were free again and our other friends Brendan & Kelly were in town visiting family  and had a free day so we all went to the Tigers game in Detroit!  It was Addison's first game and though it started right at nap time she did pretty great, after the excitement of riding the carousel of tigers she eventually fell asleep while I held her in line for the bathroom.  We know the kid was exhausted if she fell asleep like that!!  The Tigers didn't end up winning but I had a great time and was happy to be able to see my friends that I don't see nearly enough!!

30 things {7 & 8}

7. What is your dream job, and why?

Dream job:  pretty much what I do now, because I love vet tech-ing and I can't beat my pay/benefits anywhere.  Just move it closer to my house (like walking distance) and give me the ability to call in at any given time and say "ya know, I just don't feel like working today, sorry".  Cause sometimes I just don't wanna do it.

8. What are 5 passions you have?

Family
Photography
Veterinary Medicine
Gardening (though it's taken to some serious slacking this year!)
crafting, I alway have a new project of some sort in mind!

30 things in 30 days {5} & {6}

5. What are 5 things that make you most happy right now?

1. Addison's "big hugs" and "tisses".  Even on the really bad, want to claw my own eyeballs out days of toddler-hood they really make it all better and all worth it!
2. 3 day weekends.  Ahhh, they are wonderful.  Ask me on a Wednesday and I'll tell you 4 tens is stressful, ask me on a Friday and I tell you its TOTALLY worth it!
3. A *mostly* clean house.
4. Edy's lemonade fruit bars (Popsicles)  So deliciously lemon.
5. My latest craigslist score I can't wait to get to work on!



6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
my dad's sudden passing.

30 things in 30 days {3} & {4}

3. Describe your relationship with your parents.

good.

My mom was always my best friend growing up.  I never went through the "hate my mom" thing that so many girls do, we never had many fights or arguments.  We have always been very close.  You also must understand  that I have a pretty laid back easy going mom too.  I mean she never let me get away with murder or anything but she surely let me have some freedom to make my own choices and mistakes.  Until I met my husband/moved out of state/she started dating her now husband we spent a ton of time together.  Now we don't spend as much time together, sometimes I wish we did more things other times both of our lives are so busy that it just doesn't happen.  But we're still close and she's still my best friend.  If I turn out to be like my mom when it comes to raising my child (at least with how I came though teenage years, my younger, much more trouble brother, not so much) I'll be happy.

With my dad, who we all know passed away last year, it was good in the beginning, a little rough for a few years in the middle and good again in the end.  And I'm so thankful that we got to be close again and spent more time together.  For quite a few years there we weren't and I probably only spent time with him a few times a year even though we didn't live more than 15 miles apart.  I was angry at him, angry over my parents divorce, angry over his actions, I felt like he replaced us with a new family, perhaps all that mother daughter anger I was supposed to have got aimed his direction, and I was angry that he didn't seem to make an effort to improve our relationship (though I probably wouldn't have noticed even if he had been trying all along).  Anyway, since we moved back to Michigan we had started getting closer, then we moved into the house across from my brother and we started seeing him all the time.  The anger was long gone, I was over it and I'd say we were pretty close again in the end.  He even watched Addison for us every day when she was just a little peanut when I had to go back to work.  I'm really glad that we had a good relationship again in the end.  Growing up I was daddy's little girl before their divorce.  Divorce is ugly, and it does effect everyone, even when you're 13 and you KNOW what is going on, you're still too young to get it.  I don't think I accepted any of it until well into my 20's.


4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year old self if you could.

1. It's totally okay to have people who don't like you, don't be afraid to piss a few people off in life.  I still have issues with this and standing up for myself sometimes.  But really you should have known to never give a shit what people think about you.

2. Save. Save. Save.  All the jobs you work/will work and you love being young and having no real bills and money to blow, you should be saving it...just sayin'

3. Always be yourself, don't pretend to be anything that you are not, and don't be afraid to let your true personality shine.

4. Stop being so quick to judge, it just makes you a bitch.

5. Work hard to keep up your relationships with your good friends, when they slack you try harder and hope that they do the same for you!

6. You think that you take lots of pictures, but you should take more.  Eventually pictures and memories will be all you have.

7. Don't stop running...it's a lot harder to get yourself back into running than to never quit!

8. be selfish, do all the things you want to do when you are young, and have the time/money/means!  You will always wish you had done the things you had the chance to do but put off for one reason or another!

9. Be more independent.

10. never settle for less than you deserve.  ever.

30 things in (less than) 30 days {2}

2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears. 

First and foremost, BATS!  I don't know when they became a fear, I honestly don't remember being "scared" of them when I was younger and I actually remember at time our two when I touched one voluntarily.  Fast forward to the past 4 years...We moved into our current home.  It's an OLD farmhouse.  We get bats in the house sometimes.  First time it happened I FREAKED out.  Instinct?  Insanity? Too much talk of rabies?  I don't know but I do know that when I see a bat fluttering though my house my body goes into serious flight mode.  Everyone for themselves, I get the fuck out in a hurry!

Genetics: I always knew that my dad's side of the family had some horrible genes for heart disease, my grandfather and 2 of my 3 uncles had had severe heart attacks.  Both my uncles died from theirs and my grandfather went on to have more + multiple heart surgeries.  Then my dad was diagnosed with a 95% blockage in his carotid.  Even after surgery to unblock it (and without an official autopsy, just based on what the paramedics felt it was) my dad still died because of heart disease.  Seriously scary statistics.  Terrifying actually.  As far as I know it mostly effects the men but one of my aunts was having some heart things done last summer (I unfortunately don't know specifics).  But it scares me, it makes me want to be healthier, exercise more, take better care of myself.  It's pretty scary to think that at 30 I've lived more than half of my dad's entire life.

the obvious one: The fear of something happening to my child.  I think all parents feel that one.  I'm the easy going parent, I'll let Addison hurt herself, I don't hover over her trying to protect her every move or anything. But I worry, I worry about her riding in cars with other people. I'm a car seat Nazi, I obsess about it being done right cause you just never know.  I read a story about a toddler drowning in a pool and it scares me cause that could be my kid...ugh.  That one I don't think you can control.  I think it's just part of being mom!

30 things in 30 days {1}

Because I've been a horribly slacking blogger lately and I keep seeing these pop up from Heather in my blogger feed I figured I'd join in on the party.  It might take me more than 30 days but I'm here to play catch up!

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears. 
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have? 
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for 







So 20 random things about myself:

1. I have the short term memory of an 80 year old with Alzheimer's.  Seriously I can't remember shit lately.  I know it's due to stress but gees.

2. I work a full time job that is an hour from my house, and run a photography business on the side. I love my job, but if I was rich I'd quit tomorrow ;).  My workdays are long and my nights are short but I get 3 days weekends so it almost makes up for the stressful days.

3. I have far more hobbies than time.  I currently have 3 projects waiting to be painted and am picking up another tomorrow.  My garden is kind of thriving through the forest of weeds that crept up on me after we FINALLY got rain.  But I don't have time to do anything about it.

4. my husband took a new job that he started 2 weeks ago that leaves me has a single mom when hes out on a job.  He's been home for about 24 hours in the last 10 days.  It's made my nights after work a lot more stressful, and if my toddler goes another day without a nap at the sitters we both might not make it through the night.  :)  geesh.  It takes some getting used to being the ONLY one around to do anything and having to take a todder with you everywhere.  Want a shower? not till the todder is in bed and sleeping.  Want to run out and get tomatoes from your garden, have to take Addison. Want to run up to the store?  Have to fight to strap unwilling child into a car seat and make a 5 min trip take 30.  It's been fun.  On days that I don't have to work or she is in a good well napped state it's a lot more manageable and I don't end up wanting to scream.  But oh those days when shes naughty.

5. I feel like I neglect my friends, I try not to I really do.  But seriously I have TOO much going on to drop everything and hang out.  When we try to set a constant date to do stuff people back out which is frustrating because I have things set up so that I can go to dinner then it falls through.  ugh.  I love you all I really do I promise when I am not so busy I would LOVE to get out!  Or just let me know more than a day ahead of time that you want to do something, its really not that hard to make plans.

6. Speaking of plans, I am obsessed with planners.  I keep everything on my phone calendar but I also have to write everything down.  I just got a Life Planner from Erin Condren...I am IN LOVE with it.

7. I always sleep with a comforter or some kind of blanket with some weight to it (fleece, Etc.) Even when its 100 degrees in the summer, I cannot, cannot, cannot stand sheets! They get all tangled up and drive me NUTS!  But I have to have something covering me.  So crank that AC and on go the blankets!

8. I have a hard time sitting around and doing nothing.  I get cabin fever like nobody's business if I stay cooped up in the house all day.  I need to learn to chill out, it gets harder the older I get!

9. coffee lover.  Well more-so a creamer lover.  But yum.

10. I love animals, but it's all I can do lately to stand my own pets.  I'm sure it falls into the I don't have enough time to breath right now category as far as my annoyance but OMG.  Once I have time for doggy baths and they are allowed to cuddle with me I'm sure I'll get over it.  For now they both stink and need some reminders of their doggy manners.

11. I have a potty mouth.  I try not to but as soon as I get frustrated/mad it's over.

12. Even though life is crazy, I love what I am doing.  I love my new job, I love taking pictures/editing, and I love the hell out of my little girl.  While she can be a naughty temper tantrum throwing 2 year old when she's tired, she is the sweetest, cutest, silliest little thing the rest of the time.  She loves to give you "Big Hugs!" and "tisses" that make you forget what a brat she can be :)

13. I'm so happy to finally be doing what I went to school to do again! 4 years ago I took a job at U of M in animal husbandry, while it was working with animals it was not the vet tech job that I went to school for and had a passion for.  I'm so happy to have landed this position.  I get to do anesthesia for surgeries which was my favorite part of vet teching..yay!

14. I am addicted to the stupidest TV shows.  I don't watch a lot of it but when I do its DVR'd Teen Mom/Greys Anatomy/16 & Pregnant.

15. I have an itch for a new tattoo, have for a LONG time now but can't commit to design or location....I need to stop caring what other people think and do what I want!

16. I hate being late, I'm almost always early for everything.  I can't help it I get all crazy when I have to rush around!

17. I always get my clothes ready the night before for the next day...I don't know if its a lingering habit from childhood or what but if I'm working my outfit (which is a pair of scrubs/socks/underwear/bra) is laid out before I go to bed.  Must be a big time saver or something! :)

18. I set 2 alarms, one to wake me up, the other just in case the first one fails me.  (they have both failed me at least two times)  (I hate being late!)

19.  I suck at numbers.  Math, not my thing.  I get all kinds of dyslexic and move them around!
this is me:

20. my hair is almost always in a pony tail, it's a horrible habit.  I intend to leave it down, but get sick of it touching my face and before I know it there's a ponytail holder holding it back...and if I don't have time to blowdry/straighten...forget it, pony tail.  I hate volume its way to puffy with out a straight iron or some serious chill time after the blow dryer!