January Q&A - Part 4 Requested by Facebook Friends

Day 16:  How did you meet your spouse/significant other?

In July 2000, I joined some friends and their children for the BDSRA (Batten's Disease Support and Research Association) Annual Family Conference in Orlando, FL.  Long story short, Kevin drove up from Miami to meet his friends and to spend a couple of days visiting.  As soon as he walked in the door he and his former classmate began picking on me.  It continued over the next several days.  At the end of the visit, we exchanged phone numbers and emails.  I expected to have an email from him when I returned from vacation but nope.  My email box was empty.  Of course, I instigated the friendship but never in a million years would I have predicted that we would date nor get married!  Did I mention I am so glad he made the trip to Orlando?

Day 17: Which of the four seasons do you love the most? Or hate?

If I had to choose a season from where I currently it would be the "dry season."  We really only have two seasons "wet" and "dry."  The dry season (December 1 - May 31) is typically dry.  In December - February the weather is cooler and we sometimes even have some "cold" nights.  If we are lucky temperatures will dip into the low 50s at night!  

Summer is the worst time in Florida.  For one, it falls in the wet season, and thus the heat and humidity are overwhelming.  Walking out your front door can feel like hitting a brick wall.  Come visit in the "winter".  You will enjoy it much more.  I promise.

Now if I were to choose a season from the Midwest it would have to be fall.  I love seeing the changing of the leaves.  The vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges are just beautiful.  I love being able to visit my family during that time.  At least until the leaves turn brown.   

The season I hate from back home is...winter.  I hated shoveling snow, thawing out the car so I could drive 15 minutes (or less) to work, or hitting that patch of black ice (YIKES!)  I do not miss any of that!

Day 18: What is your favorite board/card/table game?

Before I moved to Florida, Grandma taught me how to play a version of Canasta called Hand and Foot.  After much research, I discovered Grandma's "rules" were not the actual rules but they made playing easier for her.  Interested in learning to play yourself?  Check out this link!

Day 19:  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you "grew up?"

I always wanted to be a teacher.  I love working with children (and adults) but watching children learn and finally understand what they are being taught to me is breathtaking.  I worked in a daycare while in college and right before I getting married.  I originally was the head teacher for the infant department (babies 3 weeks to 18 months).  I LOVED IT!  I gave up my position due to college class requirements and I missed "my babies" so much.   

Once the school year was over, I returned only to be the lead teacher for the two and three year old classroom.  It really wasn't where I wanted to work but something changed my mind.  One little boy who was mute.  With others at the daycare (and at home) he would cry and scream, but with me, he calmed.  His grandmother, who had custody, was in awe.  She was frustrated and you could tell taking care of a small child was not something she planned.  She said she would mention my name and he would run to get his shoes.  My heart swelled.  I went to the library and researched sign language.  Together with the grandmother, we taught him some signs that would help not only at home but also at daycare.  By the end of summer, I was getting married and moving to Florida.  There are certain people that come into your life that you wonder what happened to them...this young boy is one of them.

Rumor is that I have patience and I'm calm.  I'm not sure where they get that idea, because I honestly don't think I am and my family (husband and daughter) don't agree. 

Day 20:  What is your most disliked chore and why?

Dishes.  I hate doing dishes.  The big thing is that by the time we get done cooking no one wants to do them.  I don't want to wash them.  Unfortunately, leaving them to my family means they sit for a couple of days before being washed...

January Q&A - Part 3 Requested by Facebook Friends

Day 11: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Missouri.  I love being surrounded by my family (most of the time) and miss them dearly.  I hate missing out on birthday parties and holidays.  However, I don't miss the snow and ice or extreme flooding they have right now!  

Day 12: What was your favorite subject in school AND why?

My all time favorite subject was science.  I had two of the best science teachers, Mr. Ken Ralls, and Mrs. Gena McCluskey.  Science came easy to me but I had to work for it.  

Not to toot my own horn, but I frequently won my school science fair. :D

Day 13: If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to (and why)?

For me this would have to be a time frame.  After all of my seizures, I had a tremendous amount of memory loss - amnesia.  I forgot friends, their faces, their voices, how we met, what we did together and so much more.  I would like to travel back to 1998-2005.  I know it is a broad range of time but I missed out on a lot.  I have a hard time talking to some people because I don't remember.  I would not want to change anything but just retrieve those memories.  

Day 14: What is your favorite music group?

I really don't have a single "favorite" music group.  Currently my Pandora account is on Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, so anything that falls into that category I enjoy listening to.  I also frequently listen to Great Big Sea (which disband in 2014) and their lead singer, Alan Doyle (Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies).  

A couple of my favorites from Great Big Sea are "Heart of Hearts" and "Nothing But a Song".  "Dear Home Town" is another of my favorites but I couldn't find a good YouTube video.

Alan Doyle only has two albums out but there are several favorites there and some I discovered via YouTube.  Need a peppy song?  Try "I've Seen a Little".  I also like "So Let's Go", "The Night Loves Us," and this little romantic ditty "Don't Like to Dance."  It gets stuck in my head every time ♫ I'll just take my chances, I don't mind dancing with you...♫

Day 15: What's your favorite zoo animal?

Gorilla.  When I was little I wanted to study the lowland mountain gorillas.  I have always found them fascinating and gravitate to them when I visit the zoo.  Their facial expressions are so thought provoking.  

January Q&A - Part 2 Requested by Facebook Friends

I am finding out so much more about my friends with these questions.  Some I have pinpointed others I never would have guessed!  

Question 5: Do you like or dislike surprises? Why or why not?

This is a trick question.  Some surprises are good, some are bad.  When I wrote this I was thinking of good surprises.  You know the ones that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?  Yep.  Those right there.  I don't like being told what gift I am going to be getting.  Surprise me!  Let me be excited when I open it up to see you got me...crafting vinyl or Twizzlers (just because) or a Great Big Sea album I don't have.  I also like to be surprised whenever.  One of those just because surprises because you love me. 

Question 6: What is your biggest fear?

I have multiple fears and they seem to rotate depending on my surroundings and what is going on in my life.  Currently my biggest fear is having another seizure.  We are currently dealing with the possibility of changing my medication which most likely will result in me having a seizure OR being put on "house arrest" for a couple of months to be monitored.  I haven't had a seizure in over five (5) years so yeah, I'm a little scared. 

Question 7: What did you want to be when you "grew up"?

I wanted to grow up to be a teacher.  I was one of the weird kids who loved to spend time at school. I remember spending time with my fourth grade teacher, Joyce Wilson, who is a long time family friend (plus my mom babysat her kiddos).  I also spent a lot of time in the Art Room with Mrs. Ruth Smoot.  It was just the place to "hang out" before and after school.  I remember one summer, my best friend, Boone and I, helped move the art room from one end of the school building to the other.  "Be careful with Oscar and don't bleed on the floor." We had a lot of fun together.  

Later my interests went into being a firefighter.  I loved the flashing of lights, the adrenaline rush, the smell of smoke (I know, strange), and the feeling of family that the fire service provides.  After joining the department in what was essentially a "fire explorer" program, I started a fire prevention program.  It was geared towards kids and senior citizens.  I loved it!  To me it was the best of both worlds.

Now I have the best of both worlds - I homeschool my daughter and am the Assistant CERT Operations Chief for the City of Fort Lauderdale!  

Question 8: What's the oddest thing you've seen a driver do behind the wheel?

Monthly I drive my daughter to various homeschool functions and it is not uncommon that we see some strange things.  Last week was no exception.  While driving to West Palm for our monthly STEM Challenge, I look over and as I am going 70 mph a gentleman is shaving!  As in with shaving gel and razor.  The whole nine yards!  All I could think about was him hitting a bump in the road or avoiding an accident and cutting himself.  Only in Florida right?  

Question 9:  Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?

This is a tough one.  Quite a few of my friends said soda or coffee which in my book equates to caffeine (I may be wrong.)  I have a strong addiction to that myself.  I love me some Mountain Dew.  I also love Twizzlers, Hersey's Chocolate Bars, Rice Krispie Treats and Butterfingers - all recent purchases in our home.  Now that I have thought a little longer on this I think the answer would be...my new phone.  

I haven't been asking my friends why for reasons on everything but I think it helps clarify or explain more about the answer.  The reason I chose this is I can call my husband, parents, friends, and co-workers.  I can receive text messages from all the above plus my daughter's little friends.  I can edit documents and send emails.  Then when all my work is done, I can play games, watch a TV show or movie, listen to music or read my book.  Ah, the world of technology!  

Question 10: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? (Healthy or unhealthy, no judging!)

Since the question said "meal"  I have decided on a hand-tossed pizza (preferably ham, bacon, and pepperoni), Caesar salad with shredded cheese and bacon, slice of Angel Food cake with a glass of water.  

In our household we always get two pizzas (sometimes 3 depending on the special).  One is a hand-tossed ham and pepperoni and the other is a pan pizza with sausage and mushrooms.  I love Caesar salad and could eat it just by itself.  AND Angel Food cake is the best (in my opinion).    

January Q&A - Requested by Facebook Friends

For the month of December, a friend of mine began asking questions daily to try to get to know her Facebook friends better. For the month of January, I decided to do the same.  I will be asking questions daily to get to know each of my friends better. Please feel free to comment on the post and although I cannot guarantee I will remember every response I will respond to each comment individually. There is a reason that you are in my life and I want you to know I appreciate you!

During one of my posts, someone asked me to answer the questions.  Since this was meant to learn about my friends, I figured I would guide them over to my blog and answer them here.

WELCOME!

Question #1: Do you have any goals (not resolutions) that you have set for yourself for 2016?  

Merriam Webster defines a goal as "the object of a person's ambitions or efforts; an aim or desired result.  Synonyms include objective, aim, end, target, design, intention, plan, etc.

• Declutter my home:  If you read the previous post, it talked about this new calendar I found.  I have already completed 5 days which is a huge start in my book.  The 5 days didn't require a lot of effort but again it's a start. 
• Paint the daughter's bedroom:  This project is two-fold.  We must declutter and minimize what is in her room in order to paint it.  She is now a teenager so it is time to get rid of the little kid toys (some she still plays with!) 
• Paint the kitchen:  When we got our new cabinets two years ago we started painting before the cabinets were installed.  We didn't finish.  A friend of mine loves to paint and said when we are ready and the paint is bought, just call and she'll be over.
• (Optional) Redecorate the bathroom:  This would require a new sink (the old one leaks), new shower curtain, new towels (replacing old ones) and paint.  Our bathroom is small so it won't require a lot but it is something that I have wanted done for a while. 

As each goal is accomplished I promise to post pictures as proof!

Question 2:  Do you collect anything?  If so, what and why?

I am not an avid collector of anything really.  I do however collect Willow Tree figurines and I really like Peanuts characters.  I have a three (3) Christmas decorations that are Charlie Brown related.  A complete nativity set that my husband bought me last year, another nativity (maybe two) that are also Peanuts characters but plastic, and then of course the medium sized Charlie Brown with his famous Christmas tree.  

As a former volunteer firefighter, I also have a stash of firefighting memorabilia that I would love to display but do not have the room.  

Question 3:  What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment is not allowing my seizures to control me.  Believe me when I say it has been a difficult road.  Seven of the 13 years my husband and I have been married I wasn't able to drive.  I wasn't allowed to go up and down the stairs without an adult which makes it difficult when the laundry room is downstairs.  Climbing on chairs to dust cabinets or ceiling fans or just get something up high was a big no-no.  Cooking?  Yeah, unless it was in the microwave, it didn't happen.  I felt like I was on house arrest.  I couldn't do anything by myself.  I was frustrated and grew extremely depressed.  

For the last 5 years, I have been "normal."  I have been able to drive.  I have been able to cook.  I have been able to do laundry.  I feel normal.  Yes, I take medication daily to maintain control of my seizures.  We have our own rules in place on my driving and doing things around the house to limit the possibility of danger to myself and others.  

I may have seizures but seizures do not have me!

Question 4:  What is your favorite book(s) you have read so far?  (Note: This does not have to be "age appropriate because I love children's books!)

Children's Books:  

• No Matter What by Debi Gliori
• No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids by Jean E. Pendziwol
• But No Elephants by Jerry Smath
• The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak
• The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning 
• Miss Brooks Loves Books! by Barbara Bottner

YA:

• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Adult:

• The Sunday List of Dreams by Kris Radish
• Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish
• Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA by Kris Radish

As I was making this list I wasn't surprised at the number of children's books.  I love little kids and often find myself gravitating to the children's department in any library or bookstore.  

Decluttering My Life

I won't deny it, my home is cluttered.  Each year my goal is to "declutter my home" or "get organized."  Each year I manage to fail.  I get one room clean and then for some reason that motivation vaporizes (or turns into dust) or if I move on to another room, then the room I just decluttered becomes cluttered again.

I need a schedule.  I need someone to say "today you will..." and I do it.  In the past I have found a number of decluttering calendars but have really never stuck with one.  While searching Pintrest for something crafty to make, I diverted to clutter cleaning.  I found the blog My Simpler Life by Beth Dargis and now I think I'm in love.  She has the one calendar I think I can finish.  In fact I know I can finish.

Each day you have one little task.  I'll be honest, when I first looked at it I wasn't sure how one simple little task was going to declutter my home but then printed it out.  I looked ahead...and I really think it might work.  I don't think I will get burnt out and the tasks are simple enough that my husband or daughter can do them if I can't.

Day 1:  Decide on your daily declutter time - Late afternoon or early evening (before supper time)
Day 2:  Write down what you want your home to look like - I want my home to have a welcome feeling.  Sure the people inside are inviting but the fact that there are boxes and books and school supplies piled here and there doesn't lend itself to a place for friends to come over.  I would like to not be ashamed of the way my home looks.
Day 3:  Spend time thinking about the year ahead - There are a lot of things that will be happening in 2016.  I've started a new job.  I'll be doing some traveling.  I'll still be homeschooling and there is so much more.
Day 4:  Get rid of extra bottles in the bathroom - Check!  Hubby helped.
Day 5:  Throw out makeup that is old or you don't use any more - Since I don't wear makeup there is little to get rid of.  I think there is some foundation or powder in the medicine cabinet.

I'm off to pitch some makeup...if your interested in joining me on this little decluttering spree feel free.  We can be accountability partners!