Tagged

I have been tagged by Mother Mother Ocean

I am supposed to provide some interesting little facts about me… here goes nothin’!

4 jobs I’ve had - these are past tense and NOT my current position:
1. Dairy Queen - started out as an 'everything person' and ended as a Shift Leader
2. Waitress in Australia - LOVED IT!
3. Sold 'frogs' that you put in your plant that will 'ribbit' when your plant needs water
4. Showroom supervisor for a book wholesaler

4 movies watched over and over:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. Grease
3. The American President
4. Independence Day

4 places I’ve lived:
1. Rexdale, ON
2. Mississauga, ON
3. Sydney, NSW Australia
4. There isn't a fourth place...

4 shows I watch:
1. The Unit
2. The Amazing Race
3. Criminal Minds
4. Brothers and Sisters

4 people who e-mail me regularly:
1. Doris
2. Kathy
3. Jennifer
4. My mom

4 favorite things to eat:
1. Sunflower Seeds
2. French Fries
3. Pomegranates
4. Harvey's

4 places I’d rather be:
1. Manly Beach, NSW Australia
2. Working on an 'around the world' plane ticket
3. Melbourne Australia - that is where Carol is and she just had a baby...
4. Anywhere that Mark is with me

4 things I look forward to this year:
1. Re-decorating the third bedroom/office
2. Traveling - you can never travel enough
3. Visiting friends
4. Christmas

OK, now I get to tag 4 other people!
1. Doris
2. K1
3. Dolores
4. Rhonda

Johnny's Gargantuan, Rolling Meme of Doom!

Johnny's Gargantuan, Rolling Meme of Doom!
1) Read the meme that was dumped assigned to you. Answer the questions.
2) Add TWO new questions to the list. Answer those questions.
3) Forward Dump this onto the next blogger victim (and list their name and link to their blog).
4) This series will conclude when we get 50 questions - so yes, it's 25 bloggers in the chain.
5) Please make sure that the next victim in the "link" doesn't have a password protected blog.
[Optional 6] Update the links so people can follow along (this is similar to the method I used in the Why China series).
[Optional 7] When you see an update, down the chain, update your own page with the new questions and answers.
[Optional 8] Copy these micromanaging instructions into the top of your meme post.


1. What secret/surprising/personal goal (that is realistically achievable within the next 15 years) would you like to fulfill?

I would love to have 2 daughters. I am HOPING that this is realistically achievable in 15 years...sometimes I wonder...

On a totally different tangent, I would LOVE to be a surgeon. I am not a fan of school so that kinda knocks that one out of the ring for me...

As for something that I would realistically achieve...

2. Can you list an event in which you made a last minute decision or guess that significantly changed the path of your life?

I had a neighbour who was going on vacation. She had asked me to water her gardens and plants while she was away. I was in her backyard and realized that she didn't have a hose. There was a hook up but no hose attached. I had a couple of choices...

I could go home and unhook my hose and bring it over
I could go to the neighbour on the left and ask him - I knew him personally...
I could go to the neighbour on the right and ask him...I had never met him formally.

I chose the neighbour on the right - it was Mark. We were married 15 months later.

3. What is one unrealistic goal (but your total secret dream) that you would love to come true, but are pretty sure it won't ever happen?

Growing up I always wanted to be President of the United States – Being Canadian that is not going to happen.

Following that I would say that I always wanted to be the CEO of a large company. The older that I got, the more I realized that my HOME life was the important part and if I was to attain either one of these, the home life would suffer.

As a third option, I would have to say that being a famous movie star &/or Miss Canada…o.k. don’t laugh!!

4. Who has had the most influence on your life and what did they teach you?

My mother - DEFINITELY - she taught me EVERYTHING. She raised my sister and I mostly by herself and I think that she did a GREAT job! She taught me everything from how to cook, how to treat other people, how to be compassionate, how to drive, how to love myself, how to handle money. She introduced me to traveling, theatre, other cultural events, the importance of family and I could go on and on.

5. You are on a deserted island. You are stranded with someone from any point in time for 2 months (they are coming to rescue you but are busy right now). Other then family/friends/naval engineers, who is it?

I am thinking that I could stare are George Clooney for 2 months...

Then there is Sayed from Lost - he is pretty handy...

Or there is Yau-man from the last Survivor – he would be a good choice.

If we are going for realistic, I guess I would love to be on an island with someone who is funny, like to talk and who is good at trivia. As for the person that fits that category, I am going to go with David Letterman. I think he would be a good island mate.


6. Name and describe 3 things on your mind lately. Is there any particular reason why you're thinking about a particular thing?

1) My job - I love my job, but I have a hunch that the scope of the job is going to change in the next year or two. I am thinking I am going to have to take some courses (see answer to question 1

2) Finances – ‘nuff said

3) Pumpkin - she is always on my mind...I wonder if she will EVER come...


7. If you could go back to one moment in time and change it, what would the moment be and what would you change it from and to?

I think that I would go back to the moment in time when I started smoking. I was very young and very foolish for starting such a thing. I think about the damage that I have done to my body w2hile I was smoking. I wish I hadn’t given in to the peer pressure and even though I did, I wish I hadn’t continued until I was hooked…After about 20 years, I smartened up and quit. They say that the damage that was done can be SOMEWHAT reversed…I sure hope so.

8. What is your biggest pet peeve and is there anything that you can do or do do to stop other people from doing it?

I am going to have to say that I have MANY pet peeves, but currently I would have to say that bad drivers top the list. Everyone goes on about how speeders cause accidents and I am not denying that, but I think just as many accidents are cause by people who drive too slow - ESPECIALLY when they are in the fast lane.

As for doing something about it, I have thought about changing careers to become a driver test examiner...

O.k. here is the link chain as per Johnnys Command: Q 1&2 - So it's Come Down to This, Q 3&4 - Our Journey to China, Q 5&6 - 3 D's Adoption Journey, Q 7&8 - Waiting for Pumpkin, Q 9&10 - Two Kayaks

Nickname Tag!

I have been tagged by Crazy Lady to reveal our nicknames...

Wow - this could prove embarrassing! That said, this is my place to chose my openness and we will see how many names I reveal here!!

I guess over the years, my nicknames have changes and evolved (I suppose the evolving part is a matter of opinion).

I do remember when I was younger I WANTED a nick name sooooo bad. It seemed EVERYONE had one and I did not. I was sad :( However, as time went on and I became cooler and cooler, I did develop some nicknames. They were not particularly 'cool' names, well not as cool as me, but they were nicknames all the same. LOL!

Speaking of nicknames, it is nicknames or nick names? One word or two? But I digress...

Having the name of Michelle - there were many ways to shorten it or change it. I have been (and am still) called: Shell, Shelley, Mitch & Mickey.

Other nicknames (this is the version of nicknames that I chose for the rest of this post) that I have had over the years are: Mitchymoo & BooBoo (from my sister!). There has also been PomPom (this comes from my last name).

The name that Mark calls me I will NOT reveal here! Some of you MAY have heard him call me by the name, but we really try and avoid using those names in public!

As for Mark, many call him by his last name - again, not saying that here. I have been known to call him Cupcake - don't really know where it came from or why, but it used to stick. Now I have another name for him, but again, it is not being said here! Just not ready to open that up to the WHOLE world!

Now I MUST tag 4 people and I chose: Dolores, Rhonda cause I wanna see if she will 'print' Josh's nickname, Doris and K1

Tagged Again!

I have been tagged by Nicole and Sharonfor the below - 4 thing about 4 things...

4 FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I used to live in Australia – for about 3 years.

2. I have had a LOT surgery and ‘work’ done on my mouth and teeth.

3. I have been skydiving – it was INCREDIBLE and I have a video to prove it.

4. The sounds of clipping nails sends me over the edge – I can’t stand it! It sends chills down my spine.


4 HABITS I HAVE:

1. I have to rub my feet together to be able to get to sleep. I rub them until the last second before I fall asleep.

2. I guess I could say that I am becoming quickly addicted to the computer and blogging.

3. I am NEVER late for work - ever! In my entire work career, I cannot remember a day that I 'slept in' or 'slept past my alarm'.

4. I never shut the cupboard doors or close drawers after I open them. Drives Mark NUTS!! Apparently my dad did the same thing!

FOUR NEW THINGS I HAVE LEARNED OR EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS:

1. Marriage – although not new – it is right. I have been married to Mark for 3 ½ years now and couldn’t imagine a better life.

2. House renovations. It seems just about the time you finish one job, it is time to start the next one. I don’t like living through renovations. Something new that I have experienced and I don’t like it!

3. Loss of control – or a realization that you are not in control of your body. When you want your body to make a baby and it can’t - it is an experience that I don’t wish on any woman.

4. To go with number 1, I have gained a GREAT sister in law (Hi Jenn) cause the first SIL I had was the BIGGEST B&*%H EVER!!!! Glad she is gone. Out with the old and in with the new (and improved). My first set of ‘in-laws’ were so bad that when Mark and I started dating, I said in general conversation, that IF I ever got married again, I was marrying an orphan because I was NOT going to put up and deal with another ‘in-law’ family. Mark’s family quickly won me over and I am lucky to have the ALL in my life.



FOUR THINGS I WANT TO TRY OR DO IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS:

1. Be the best mom EVER! I really hope that I get the opportunity to be a mom by then! I’ve had a most excellent role model so I think I should be o.k.

2. FINALLY finish our basement. It has been in LIMBO for so long now it really deserves a completion…

3. Think about moving to our ‘dream home’. Right now it is just a dream, but in 4 years I hope that is it either a reality or a ‘closer’ dream.

4. I want to try and not let my stomach sink when I find out yet another friend is pregnant...

From here I tag someone who has not been tagged to do this one. I have not really been blogging too much so I don't know who has or hasn't.

10 Childhood Memories

I was tagged by Kate on this tag developed by the TRAILBLAZER CrazyLady. I have decided to focus only on the good memories that happen to pop into my head - so here goes:

1. I remember playing in Michele C's basement with Sue P. playing for HOURS with LiteBright, Charlies Angels, Teacher, Tag, Barbie camper/ski chalet, Hide & Seek and the list goes on and on...

2. I remember crawling into mom's bed on Sunday morning and just gabbing and gabbling with her. It was ALWAYS more comfortable then my own bed!

3. I remember going to Dad and Hortense's every weekend and on Saturday morning Tracey, Roger and I each got a dollar to walk to the store and buy 'stuff' - chips, chocolate bars, penny candies and comic books (all for a buck). We would be gone forever...we would play Land of the Giants in the field.

4. I remember BIG Christmas dinners with all my aunts, uncles and cousins...There would have been about 25 people and we had a BLAST!

5. I remember spending lots of time with my Granny. She would teach me how to knit with little kid sized needles and I would make tube dresses with yellow yarn for my Barbies. She taught me and my sister Tracey how to play Euchre when we were about 8 so we could play with her. She used to LOVE country music and she would sing and dance in a way that made us laugh. She loved us to BITS!!

6. I remember I had a job and I wanted to be on the cash and my mom would practice for HOURS with me to place orders so I could find buttons on the register and exchanging money so I could learn to give change.

7. I remember playing outside ALL the time and sitting on the curb eating sunflower seeds and having to come in when the streetlights came on.

8. I remember having 'curb sales' that I would bring out my stuff that I didn't want anymore and put it on the curb and other kids would use their allowance to buy my stuff and then I would go to their curb sales and buy their stuff.

9. I remember going to my aunts cottage with my cousins and swimming and laughing and playing and fishing and...

10. I remember my mom ALWAYS being there whenever I needed her!! She still is!

If you haven't done this - it is a WONDERFUL one to write! Go on - try it!!

Tagged again!

I was tagged by Rhonda a while ago for this meme, but haven't had a chance to get to it - so here it is...

FOODOLOGY

1. What is your salad dressing of choice? It varies – Sweet Onion Vinaigrette and sometimes Catalina.

2. What is your favourite fast food restaurant? It has GOT to be HARVEYS!!! YUM!

3. What is your favourite sit-down restaurant? I just LOVE the Keg! Their steak is to die for. So much so, that I rarely order a steak at any other restaurant.

4. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant? It definitely depends on the service – but generally between 15 & 20%

5. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? I am thinking that would be potato chips. I rarely eat them, but I do love them!

6. What is your favourite type of gum? I try not to chew it too much as I tend to ‘crack’ my gum and not realize I am doing it. Drives my mother insane! If I do chew, it would be Peppermint EXTRA.

TECHNOLOGY

1. What is your wallpaper on your computer? I think it is a Microsoft one called BLISS - A nice green rolling hill, blue sky. Very calming.

2. How many televisions are in your house? 2

3. How do you listen to music? Loud.

BIOLOGY

1. What is your best feature? I will say my teeth – I have had enough work on them, they better be good!

2. Have you ever had anything removed from your body? My tonsils and Lots of teeth.

3. Which one of your five senses do you think is the keenest? I am thinking my sense of smell. Since I quit smoking (many years ago) my ‘smelling’ has increased HUGELY!

4. When was the last time you had a cavity? About 10 years ago.

5. What is the heaviest item you lifted last? The shopping bag that of items that I purchased today.

6. Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Nope – though I have been known to faint a time or two.

BULLSHITOLOGY

1. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? I’d have to get back to you on that one.

2. Is love for real? For sure – but it is only ‘unconditional’ for some.

3. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Angelina Jolie – do you think we would get our baby quicker?

4. What colour do you think looks best on you? I know it is NOT black – looks HORRIBLE on me.

5. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? I guess that depends on your ‘definition’ of food item?

6. Have you ever saved someone's life? Not that I am aware of.

7. Has someone ever saved yours? I don’t think so.

DAREOLOGY

1. Would you walk naked for a half a mile down a public street for $100,000? How fast can one ‘walk’??

2. Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? Sure thing.

3. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000? I am kinda attached to all my digits.

4. Would you never blog again for $50,000? With that kind of money I could develop a new ‘version’ of blogging and call it something else!

5. Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000? How much can they airbrush?

6. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000? Not a chance…I don’t even like medium wings.

7. Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000? If I could still blog – sure!.

DUMBOLOGY

1. What is in your left pocket? Chapstick – don’t leave home without it!

2. Is Napolean Dynamite actually a good movie? I haven't seen it.

3. Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house? Yes.

4. Do you sit or stand in the shower? Does ANYONE sit in the shower??

5. Could you live with a roommate? You mean other then Mark? I don’t think anyone else would put up with me!

6. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own? I don’t have enough fingers…

7. Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Friday

8. What do you want to be when you grow up? I always wanted to be a suergon – I didn’t like school too much so that wasn’t going to work.

9. Last friend you talked to? Does Mark count as a friend?

10. Last person you called? Sister Tracey.

RANDOMOLOGY

1. First place you went this morning? Bathroom.

2. What can you not wait to do? Very short term – get my garden done. Long term – I don’t think I even have to say it.

3. What's the last movie you saw? I think it was Casino Royale – James Bond

I think most people have already done this one – except Debbie – she never gets tagged!!

If you haven’t done it – consider yourself tagged!

8 Things you didn't really want to know about me!

I had been tagged by CrazyLady at Search and Destroy Twins to do this. If I didn't, then I would get raccoons in my greenbin - and NOBODY wants that!

I need to share 8 little know facts about myself and tag 7 people. I am sure that you will all sleep better now that you know these things!

Here goes - in no particular order:

1. When I grew up I wanted to be - Miss America (it didn't really clue in that I lived in a different country), then I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboy's cheerleader - I liked the white boots and uniform - it was cool at the time (I got as far as a cheerleader in high school) and then I wanted to be a surgeon - I was glued to the TV when M*A*S*H came on (then I decided that I didn't like school THAT much)

2. Mark and I "sort of" eloped when we got married - our engagement was 7 weeks

3. I look like an evil professor in my passport photo

4. I met Mark by knocking on his door - Literally!

5. Celery makes my mouth numb

6. My second toes on each foot point outwards - kinda weird looking actually. A foot model I will never be!

7. I have 'moderate' arthritis in my right knee - a result of dancing to Margaritaville in Mexico…there is a story to that but not here and now!

8. I have had TWO sets of braces in my life...Now I WEAR MY RETAINER!!

So now I need to tag 7 people to share things about themselves - again - in no particular order and where I haven't seen them tagged by someone else:

Kathy
Dolores
Rhonda (I see that Rhonda just tagged me on something too!)
New Girl
Doris
Jill
Kate

I'd like to thank the Academy!!

Actually I would like to thank Doris for nominating me for a Thinking Blog Award! How wonderful is that!

Thank you so much Doris for the nomination. I am touched and honoured! For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting Doris in person, take my word for it, she is a FANTASTIC lady. I have had the privilege of meeting her in person and know that she is as great in person as she comes across on her blog. I am lucky to have her in my life!

Part of the duty of a person who is nominated is to nominate 5 other people for an award.

I am going to try and nominate people who have not been nominated. There are some people who have a password protected blog that I would like to include (Anne Marie & Nicole) but I won't as you can't go and check out their sites. My nominations are listed below - in no particular order:

Dolores at Watch our Family Grow Dolores is a GREAT person. Dolores and I met 'online' back at the beginning of October. We knew we were with the same agency. We also knew we were close in our timelines and then we discovered that we were in the same travel group!! We have met MANY times in person, had dinners, been to each others houses. How wonderful to be able to go to China with one of your friends.

Kate at A Special FamilyKate and I have YET to met in person (being that she is in the UK - it will be a while yet until we meet). Her blog is always thought provoking. She is in the paper chasing stage and has done so much research and is so PREPARED to be a mom.

Heather at Digging a Hole to ChinaHeather and I have met - what a hoot she is. She came north of the boarder to a visit one weekend and Rhonda arranged a dinner "meeting" and we were able to have a great night!

Jill at Nothing Like a Dream to Create the Future Jill and I met in November (I think). I believe she was the 'arranger' of the the very first "Waiting Mommies Dinner". I was invited by Kathy and I will always be grateful that I was included in that. Jill is a beautiful person inside and out and has an adorable daughter and is going to China for number 2!

Senja at Search and Destroy Twins Senja is fairly new to the blogging world. She is back from China with twins!! If you have not discovered her blog yet, you are really missing out! She is an AMAZING writer. She is so witty and fun to read. She is also a great person. We have been conversing through e-mail and she is of great support and I wanted her to know it is appreciated!

So there you have it - my 5 nominations!! There are so many blogs that I read and comment on and then many more that I just read. I am too embarrassed to tell you how many blogs are on my bloglines...

Thank you again Doris for the vote!!

Book Tag!!

I have been tagged by Doris for this quick, fun one!!

Here is what you do:

Find a book nearest to you.
Go to page 123.
Type out lines 6 - 8 from that book.
Tag 3 people!!

Currently I am reading one of th 10 books I got for Christmas. This is by Stuart Woods. If you have never read any of his books, they are certainly worth taking a look at.

Page 123 is the beginning of a new chapter...

O.k. - here goes:

...floppy disk from its drive and inserted the next disk - a thin wheel of mylar plastic held rigid by a paper envelope.
It had taken weeks to be allowed to stay in the computer room after house, but finally enough accounting work had piled up...

Now reading that, it doesn't sound like an exciting book but it is. It is one in a series of books with the same character in it. Stuart Woods has quite a few different series' that focus in various characters.

So now for the tagging of other people - this is hard as so many people have already been tagged. I don't THINK the following people have been though... I tag Dolores, Kate andJill

Alphabet Soup

Alphabet Soup

I've been tagged for the very first time by New Girl at Beginners at This... So here goes:

A - available or taken: Taken – by the BEST husband EVER!!

B- best friend: I would have to say that I am very lucky and don’t have just one. From different eras in your life you have different people – Always at the top are Hubby Mark and sister Tracey (not the same Tracey as listed below in the T section).

C- cake or pie: Probably cake – unless the pie if blueberry – YUM!

D-Drink of choice: I am big water drinker – usually a couple of litres a day – sometimes I will shake it up with a Coke if I am feeling wild!

E-essential item you use everyday: I guess I would say my contact lenses – I feel naked without them – speaking of naked – I guess I use clothes every day too!

F-favorite color: Blue.

G-gummy bears or worms: Neither – I am more of a ‘savory’ rather then a sweet.

H-hometown: Greater Toronto area.

I-indulgence: I LOVE getting a massage!! Luckily my plan at work is conducive to this!!

J-January or February: February as it is Mark’s birthday month.

K-kid's names: Yup we got ‘em – we’re just not sharing yet.

L-life incomplete without: Mark!

M-marriage date: January 20, 2004!!

N-number of siblings: There are SO many!!

O-oranges or apples: I would have to go with Red Delicious Apples – but not in the fridge – they hurt my teeth.

P- phobias or fears: I am thinking Earwigs – they are the most disgusting, creepy things.

Q-favorite quote: "Sing like there’s nobody listening" – if any of you have ever heard me sing, you will be cringing right now!!

R-reason to smile: Would it be too much if I said Mark again??

S-season: I like the summer when there is not too much humidity – it does a number on my hair!!

T-tag 4 people: There are so many that have already been tagged – let me check some sites...o.k. here they are: I tag Dolores, Kathy, Jill and Tracey.

U-unknown fact about me: I went backpacking around the world for year when I was in my 20’s.

V-veggie I don't like: I am only supposed to name one…are onions a vegetable?

W-worst habit: Again only one...Dropping my coat and bag at the front door chair when I come home.

X-rays: I bet I can beat anyone on the number I have had on my face/teeth.

Y-your favorite food: I am thinking French Fries…

Z-zodiac: Leo