Me Quirky? Says Who?

Andrea tagged me. Apparently she thinks I'm quirky enough to make an entire list!

Well, I'll have you know it has taken me more than a day to come up with an actual list of these alleged quirks. I mean, one person's quirk is another person's unique personality trait, don't ya think? And, it didn't help reading the whole quirk vs. peeve debate on Andrea's blog. Now, I'm utterly confused.

So, some of these may be peeves, traits or quirks. I'm not sure. As I said, it's confusing!

The RULES
1. Link the person who tagged you...Andrea
2. Post these rules.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them

1. I HATE GUM! I hate gum on my shoe. I hate gum on the ground. I really hate gum smacking in someone else's mouth. I know people like to have fresh breath but, hello, ever heard of a mint? I have come to tolerate gum chewing as long as it isn't noisy and as long as the gum stays inside the chewer's mouth. But to hear someone smacking and popping gum makes me crazy. And, have you ever watched someone smack gum? Resembles a cow chewing curd, don't ya think? Sorry - I know I have a problem. And I wish I liked gum (not really) since everyone else seems to enjoy it. But it is, after all, my quirk!
2. I sing in the shower. Doesn't everyone? And, I don't just softly sing a sweet melody. I sing to the TOP of my lungs. After all, the acoustics are awesome in a bathroom. Did you know that? What type of music do I sing, you ask? Well, that depends on my mood. Sometimes I'm a little bit country and sometimes I'm a little bit rock and roll, lol!
3. I am a PROCRASTINATOR!! This is a really bad quirk and it causes me great stress at times. I would much rather do fun things with the kids than do work of any kind. Most people don't know this about me since I usually accomplish deadlines and meet goals. However, I sometimes end up staying up way too late at night to get it all done (good thing I'm a night owl - see quirk #5). I thought I'd grow out of that by now! Oh, well...
4. I hate to fold clothes and put them away. I think this is a fairly common quirk. Now, I don't mind washing and drying the clothes. It's the final steps I hate. Especially sorting socks, ughhh!! Why is it I go in with several pair and come out with nothing that matches? Hate it, hate it, hate it!
5. Don't know if this is a quirk but I'm a night owl. Well, I'm actually a reformed night owl because I have to get up early in the morning. For some reason, my brain seems to be most alert in the evening hours. I could stay up all night with no problem - okay waking up in the morning is a problem!
6. I'm crazy about animals - especially dogs and cats. Okay, really dogs first with cats as a close second (they'd be tied if it weren't for the whole litter box thing - yuck!) "Lots of people like animals," you're thinking, "so how is it a quirk?" It is a quirk because I like dogs and cats more than some people! Seriously, other than your close friends and family who else gives you unconditional love for a bowl of water and a little food?

Okay, now it's your turn. Come on, I showed you mine...

I tag Kendal, Justin, Ariel, Cecily, Lynne, Ann B. and Jolie! (Oops, that's seven. Apparently totally disregarding rules is another quirk of mine=)

Gabby

The last thing we need is another animal...

We already have one of these...

And, one of these...

We especially don't need a 12 week old beagle pup, she's not even house broken...

She looks like trouble, don't you think?

I haven't slept in two nights. Waking up every two hours, letting her out to do her business. I'm tired. I don't have time for this...

I'm not really sure what Sophie thinks of her...

And, I'm sure Marc thinks we don't need her...

Although, she is kind of cute...

With those floppy ears and sad eyes not to mention puppy breath
-sigh-
And, she does need a home...

Meet Gabby, our newest addition, and (apparently) just what we needed!

You Know You're From The Alabama Gulf Coast When...

1. 50 mile an hour winds are considered "a little breezy"
2. Stores don't have shopping carts, they have "buggies"
3. All festivals are named after a fruit or fish (watermelon, shrimp, mullet...)
4. You know all four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer (aka hurricane season), Still Summer, and Christmas.
5. You know whether another Alabamian is from southern, middle, or northern Alabama as soon as they open their mouth.
6. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chili weather
7. You don't "take", you "carry" or "tote"... as in "You want me to carry you down to the 7-11?"
8. You've said "fixin' to," "might could," or "usetacould" during the last week.
9. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.
10. You aren't surprised to find rental movies, groceries, ammunition and bait all in the same store.
11. Asian food is always "CHINESE" regardless of the fact that it may actually be Korean or Japanese or Thai.
12. You know if a single snowflake falls, the town is paralyzed for three days, and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a week. All grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, and toilet paper.
13. You say "sir" and "ma'am" if there's even a chance someone is thirty seconds older than you.
14. You know at least one Bubba, and maybe a few guys named Bo.
15. You don't assume the car with the blinker light on is actually going to turn anytime in the near future.
16. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
17. In the spring,people put signs in front of their yard saying - "Free Pine Straw- You Rake You Take "
18. Backwards and forwards means "I know everything about you."
19. Jeet is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
20. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.
21. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm".
22. A soft drink isn't soda, cola, or pop, it's Coke!
23. You can properly pronounce Eufaula, Opelika, Bayou La Batre, and Oneonta
24. You know what a fishing rodeo is
25. You don't start your car, you "crank it up"

After posting this, I thought of a few more....

1. Mardi Gras is a holiday and you get out of school/off work for it
2. You think it is normal to run the A/C on Christmas Day
3. A date night could include a trip to Walmart
4. You have red dirt and sand somewhere in your yard
5. You've seen at least one alligator, dolphin, and/or water moccasin up close
6. You know what a Po-boy is
7. You like your oysters - fried, stewed or nude=)

Memories Tag

As usual, I'm copying one of Andrea's great ideas! It's called a memory tag and the directions are listed below. Now, many of the folks who visit my blog do not comment I know this because a) they email me and say so, b) they call me and say so, and c) I'm optimistic, surely someone is reading all of this... Please be a good sport, leave a comment and play along! Thanks!!

Here is a totally different game of tag.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew us a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Happy 4th of July! (a little late)

We celebrated the 4th of July at home this year. Scoop (aka my brother Greg), Kathy, Gram and Gracie came over for a cookout followed by front yard fireworks. It was very simple but lots of fun! We live in a neighborhood with tons of kids so there were plenty of other pyromaniacs out and about. It’s amazing how a $10 bag of fireworks can lead to hours (and even days) of entertainment. Here are a few pictures of our fun. Oh, and sorry I didn’t get any shots of the rockets or “flying balls of fire.” I was too busy ducking and running for my life!

It all started with a couple of girls lookin' for some fun
(Let me just stop here and brag on my Kendal. She is so good with little kids. Despite the fact she's practiaclly a teenager, she never minds playing with children half her age. She's patient, thoughtful and kind. She is going to be a great momma some day!!)

Blowing on the sparkler to get it going (A little blurry but too cute not to post!)

Yes! We have sparks!

Two sweet girls having a great time, enjoying their sparklers until...

What do you mean sparklers are for girls?

Stand back little ladies, let me show you what REAL fireworks look like!
(Let me stop here and say that Justin is pretty flexible for a 6'1" boy. Can you put your elbows on your knees while sticking Roman Candles in the ground?)

(What is it with boys and blowing stuff up? )

No thanks dad, girls can do anything boys can do!

Stand back boys, let me show you how it's done!

Not bad (for a girl)

P.S. Are you wondering why some of the photos are darker than others? Well, all of them were too dark because I forgot to put the camera on the night setting. So, I lightened them on the computer. I'm not sure why some turned out lighter than others... I REALLY need a photography class!!!!

I'm Back!!!

Hi, I'm back! Did you miss me? I sure did miss you! In fact, my computer has been repaired since Friday but I've been so busy catching up with all of your blogs, I was too tired to post anything new.


I NEVER want to be without a computer again! I didn't realize how much I depended on this darned machine! I mean, I felt totally lost! Many thoughts of panic went through my mind:

"How will I pay bills?"

"What if a storm is coming? - can't check the up-to-date radar!"

"I'm certain some urgent email is waiting in my inbox!!"

"What's going on with the (your name here) family?"

Thank goodness I wasn't asked to give a talk or a lesson at church! I would have spent hours searching through books and magazines - I depend desperately on lds.org!

As we used to say in the 80's, perhaps I should "get a life." But, this is part of my life - a very important, inspiring, life changing part - and I love it!

Okay, so now that I'm back, I should blog about something...but where do I begin?! It looks like I've been so traumatized by my lack of easily accessible technology that I may have developed writer's block or memory loss. I honestly can't remember a thing I did over the last week! I know there was something...ummm... I'll have to get back to you.

I guess I didn't realize - until I was without you for a week - how much I love your blogs. Whether you're just sharing stories about your life, telling funny happenings, or showing pictures of your kids you enhance my daily life. So, THANKS and cross your fingers that I never have to be without you again!

Technical Difficulties

Hi Everyone! We are experiencing computer problems so I'm not sure when my blog will be up and running again. I am borrowing a computer to let ya'll know I am still alive. Hopefully, I'll be back in a day or two. Happy Blogging=)