Tagged!

Bare with me folks...this is my first time being tagged...and truth be told, I broke out into a mild sweat when I found out as I'm finding it difficult to think of things to say about myself. Some people just seem so much more interesting than me...well, here we go anyway....

Here are the rules...

1) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
2) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
3) Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1) I've decided to put the seemingly "morbid" one first just to get it out of the way. I have always had a weird sense that I would die young. I don't know where this comes from (perhaps my being supremely clumsy as a young child), and I don't have any real purpose for thinking so, but when I turned 21, I was a little bit surprised that I was still alive. I've never had a specific feeling about how I would die; feelings more so of dying from a freak accident like getting hit by a bus or having a plane's engine fall from the sky and crush me rather than from an illness or act of violence, but there it is. I know I'm weird.

I can say that this lurking feeling has perhaps given me a deeper understanding of the importance of telling and showing my family and friends how supremely important they are to me and loving them completely with no inhibitions. After all, we never really know how long we have on this earth, do we? Might as well use the time we have been granted to make sure the ones we love know it without a shadow of a doubt.

2) Probably one of the quirkiest things about me is the way I eat my food. It may be the only OCD thing about me (you should see my messy and disorganized house), but I eat the various items making up my meal one at a time. Generally, the order is as follows...

a) Salad (fruit, green, or otherwise)
b) Entree
c) Side dish (veggies, starches, etc.)
d) Dessert

I finish them completely before I move on to the next. It doesn't always happen in that order, but sometimes (if I've given myself too much of one helping) I don't get through all of the parts of the meal. It's a truly depressing thing to be excited about the potatoes au gratin, but being already too full to eat any of them. The only meal where I can mix n' match my meal components are at Thanksgiving. mmm, pumpkin pie....

image courtesy of Kevin Sanchez / Getty Images file

Sometimes people don't notice this about me until it's been pointed out to them...but they always think it's weird.

3) I've been working out pretty consistently now 4 days a week for 4 months with a personal trainer. I think I may have been watching too much of The Biggest Loser, because I expected the results to be staggering at this point. Granted, I'm not working out 8 hours a day or having my diet regulated as rigorously as the contestants on that show, and I also realize that I don't have as much weight to lose as them either, but all the same, I'm slightly more than surprised that I've only lost a total of 6 pounds and an 1 1/2 inches off of all of my measurements.

I hate being "that" person who is so surprised that it takes an ass-ton of work to lose fat, because I pride myself on generally understanding how the whole process works. I mean, I've pretty radically changed my diet and am keeping track of everything with a food journal, I'm taking vitamins and supplements and hittin the gym pretty hard. I understand, too, that I'm building muscle that will help to burn the fat and that this is the reason that I've not lost "weight"... Blah, blah, blah...

I'm just ready to be in shape and look like this in a bikini, already...

darn you, Jessica Biel!

4) Most likely inspired by the many incredibly talented photographers that I feel fortunate to know, I have taken up a very amateur interest in photography. I certainly don't think that I would have an interest in pursuing it as a career (mostly because I just don't think I'd be that good), but I would like to have a basic knowledge of digital photography and editing so that I can begin to capture my life in photos. Especially when Erich and I start our family, I'd like to feel comfortable with photography so that I can inundate all of you with fabulous pictures of our offspring! For now, I stick to what I know, and what my I feel my little point-and-shoot can capture...

beautiful flowers in blossom at SPU

my good friends Marcus & Tiffany's beautiful new son, Blake

Paris, in Las Vegas, on our honeymoon

Erich likes to sleep with his feet outside of the covers, and I think his feet are adorable!

our little friend Dylan on a particularly crisp and colorful fall day last year

the centerpiece at my dear friend Tiffany's baby shower

5) My parents have announced that they're going to be moving to Africa. Kenya to be exact. For those of you who may not know, my parents have been missionaries for over 30 years who currently work with an organization called International Christian Ministries. For quite some time now they've been managing the administrative side of ICM here in the states (Bakersfield to be precise), but at this point in their lives, they would really like to be in the field so that my dad can fulfill his dream of teaching African students. They're planning on being ready to move by April of next year and are hoping to make a 2 year commitment.

I know, right?

If I'm being really honest, I selfishly don't want them to go. First off, for my entire life my parents have been missionaries, but we've never not lived on the same continent. I'm more than a little concerned about them being so far away, especially considering that Erich and I are hoping to start trying for a baby sometime next spring. Earlier this year there was some very serious political infighting in Kenya that resulted in many people being left without homes, and for a great many of them, without their lives. Things have since settled down, but I am just worried about them living in that region.

But on the other side, I am completely thrilled for them that they're taking advantage of such an amazing and unusual opportunity. I am excited at the thought of Erich and I visiting them in their home in Africa someday, getting to witness firsthand the group of people who have touched their hearts so dearly in the last couple of years.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that when they move back to the States, they'll more than likely move up to the Pacific Northwest which means no more Bakersfield. I'm caught between being ecstatic that they'll be closer to us & our kids and being sad that I won't have them as an excuse to visit good friends. Oh, how life changes...

the folks when they were super young

6) I would like to state for the record that my uber-good friend Melinda and I discovered Ricky Martin before he became huge with the latin invasion back in the '90s. See, I grew up in a house without cable, but one channel we did get was the local spanish channel. During the summer of 1998, Melinda was living with me and my folks and we would watch copious amounts of this channel in particular where we would wait with baited breath for his music video to play. What can I say? We thought he was hot.

7) I am still head-over-heels, super crazy in love with Erich. Can't-see-straight, stay-awake-to-watch-him-sleep, miss-him-terribly-when-we're-apart, every-other-thought-is-of-him, crazy in love. True, we're technically still newlyweds since we got married December 1st, 2007, but we'd been dating for 3 years before that. We're best friends (awe) and do pretty much everything together. Even still, when I'm on my way home from work during the week or he's coming home from work on Saturdays I still get little butterflies in my stomach in anticipation of seeing him. I hope it never goes away...

the hubby & I out recently...notice the new haircut!

So that's it folks. Hope you learned something new (and weren't too bored!).

I now tag...

1) Tiffy-because she's new to blogging and needs to introduce herself!

2) Danielle-because she & I have a lot in common and I want to know more about her!

3) Carlie-because she's crazy and I know whatever she reveals about herself will be entertaining

4) Brenda-because I used to basically live at her house when I was younger and haven't gotten to catch up with her in awhile

5) Karen-because she has a beautiful daughter and a charming life in Chicago that I want to hear all about!

6) Jenn-because she was one of those gals in high school that I wanted to be just like...so cool and sweet...in fact, I STILL want to be like her!

7) Scott-because, well, I miss the guy and would like to know what's up!

Okay folks, get to it!!!