Tagged Again- it's like recess!

I have been tagged again by Amy. This one's pretty fun.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Hmmm... may 1997.. Managing UT's EMBA program, traveling on an international trip an EMBA class.

What were you doing 1 year ago? Paperchasing for our current adoption. We spent a relaxing weekend in Brunswick, GA with friends.

Five snacks you enjoy:
1. M&Ms
2. Snyder's of Hanover Pumpernickel & Jalapeno Cheddar pretzel sandwiches
3. Snyder's of Hanover Honey BBQ pretzel pieces
4. Reese's Cups
5. Dark chocolate

Five songs that you know all the lyrics:
I'm sure I know more than five, so here are the first five I thought of.
1. Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield
2. My Heart is Lost to You by Brooks and Dunn
3. Honey, I'm Home by Shania Twain
4. Like the Way I Do by Melissa Etheridge
5. Star Spangled Banner (third verse)

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Quit work and be a mommy.
2. Donate money to find cures for diabetes, breast cancer and arthritis
3. Buy a bigger house
4. Travel the country visiting family and friends.
5. Write a book (jointly with HunnyB).

Five bad habits:
1. Snacking after work
2. Cracking my knuckles
3. Not cooking and eating out (I share this one with Amy)
4. Hitting the snooze button
5. Forgetting my sunscreen

Five things you like doing:
1. Reading
2. Hanging out with HunnyB
3. Vacationing near any body of water (pool/beach/lake)
4. Eating out (especially on a patio or outdoors)
5. Grilling in the backyard

Five things you would never wear again:
1. Denim jumpsuit from when I was in Junior High (I thought I was so cool!)
2. Tube top
3. 5 inch heels
4. Ruffled top with a mini skirt and ballet flats (what were we thinking?!?!)
5. Leg warmers

Five favorite toys:
1. Computer
2. Electronic sudoku game
3. Puzzles
4. Dolls
5. Handheld solitaire game

Feel free to tag yourself!

A Day of Remembrance

Memorial Day, 2007. A day to remember those who have died in service to our great country. We were blessed to attend the local Memorial Day ceremony. This year in addition to memorializing those who have died, they added a tribute to those who have been injured in conflicts. Recent attention given to Walter Reed and the VA system highlights the plight of these who are often invisible and ignored. The speaker noted that the Global War on Terror has the lowest ratio of deaths to injuries of any American conflict. That leaves a huge number of injured warriors. I feel compelled to ask if we, as individuals and as a country, are doing all we can for these heroes. I have to think harder on this one. What can I do to help?

*ology

Well, we're back from a very relaxing week in Key West. More on that later. For today, I've been tagged by my friend Kathy.

FOODOLOGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Kraft Free Catalina
What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Texas
On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant? 20% for enthusiastic service or any place I'm a regular. I almost always leave at least 15% unless the service was non-existent.
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Pizza
What is your favorite type of gum? Dentyne Ice

TECHNOLOGY
What is your wallpaper on your computer? a picture of the B&B where we stayed in Key West:


How many televisions are in your house? Three
How do you listen to music? stereo at home, iPod while walking, CDs or radio in the car, radio on my desk at work or I just listen to the soundtrack in my head!



BIOLOGY
What’s your best feature? My smile
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? my wisdom teeth, several moles, a (non-cancerous) tumor from my breast, most of the cartilege from my knee
Which of your five senses do you think is keenest? Taste - I can taste minute quantities of things I don't like, even when baked into foods.
When was the last time you had a cavity? I probably have one now, I'm overdue for the dentist
What is the heaviest item you lifted last? My suitcase on vacation
Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Nope, unless you count general anesthesia

BULL****OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Yes, so I could savor every moment
Is love for real? Absolutely!
If you could change your first name, what would you change it to? Hmm... I used to want to be Carrie or Jennifer, but I've gotten used to K and it would be weird to be called something else.
What color do you think looks best on you? I love wearing deep burgundy, but I probably look best in black I'm a winter, so bright and deep colors look best.
Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake? I've accidentally swallowed a bug while riding in the car with the windows open.
Have you ever saved someone’s life? No
Has someone ever saved yours? Not that I know of

DAREOLOGY
Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000? Sure! Are you offering?
Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100? It depends, are you gonna tell my parents? Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000? No way!
Would you never blog again for $50,000? Sure - I'm not addicted!
Would you pose nude in a magazine for $250,000? Nope
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1,000? I'd try - can it be this sauce?

Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000? Absolutely

DUMBOLOGY
What is in your left pocket? My skirt has no pockets
Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie? I hardly every see movies
Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house? Carpet everywhere but the kitchen and bathrooms
Do you sit or stand in the shower? Stand - except after my knew surgery
Could you live with roommates? Sure - having a hubby is a lot like having a roommate - with benefits!
How many pairs of flip-flops do you own? Oh my, at least half a dozen!
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? Dispute with an unfriendly neighbor - 'nuff said!
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mommy
Last friend you talked to? HunnyB
Last person you called? HunnyB

RANDOMOLOGY
First place you went this morning? bathroom
What can you not wait to do? be a mommy
What’s the last movie you saw? Little Miss Sunshine

Nine Months and Still (Paper) Pregnant

I remember I was so excited when we went to our adoption orientation and they said, "Congratulations, you're paper pregnant!" They warned us that the process sometimes feels like pregnancy with the associated mood-swings and crazy cravings. I can now tell you it's true, except that after nine months of paper pregnancy, we're not even close to giving birth!

Today marks the nine month anniversary of our log-in date. A warning to friends, family and co-workers: the mood swings and cravings will most likely continue for the forseeable future!

Help all the mommies and daddies not to be sad...

What a blessing our First Fridays group is. Though we have to travel over an hour to the meetings, it is well worth it. First Fridays is a meeting the First Friday of each month (duh!) for families who are adopting or who have adopted from China. It's a wonderful time of fellowship and support.

This month, a professor from Kennesaw State University joined us. He played songs on his Erhu or Chinese violin. You would recognized the sound if you heard it. It only has two strings, but still has so much range. Though I haven't picked up my violin in years, he let me play the Erhu and I was able to play a scale after only a few attempts. The first sounds reminded me of my early violin lessons. Mom, the screeching must have gotten to you so badly as it was bugging me in just those few moments. Sorry 'bout that!

The main presentation was by a father who has adopted two little girls from China. He reminded us to pray for our children even though we don't yet know who they are. His oldest daughter said a prayer for the waiting families there. "Help the angels to play with the babies and help all the mommies and daddies not to be sad." I was crying, but I wasn't sad.

Stork Alert

This just in: Child matches are arriving for those with log-in dates through November 1, 2005. That leaves 282 log-in days ahead of us. We're anxously waiting with J & A to see their little one's face. Congratulations to all who will get that precious phone call this week.