My friend Karen put these on HER blog for me to answer. I thought you might all enjoy both the questions (very thoughtful and insightful) and the answers.


Jenn:
1. You talk quite a bit on your blog about what other people do that drives you crazy -- understandable, of course, since people are generally unwise. BUT, here's the question -- what about YOU drives you crazy?
Quite a bit actually, but I'll focus on two that bug me often. The first is my inability to let things go. I'd like to be able to let go of things eventually. Especially when I feel I've been wronged. It just sits there and bugs me like a grain of sand in an oyster. I just wish it would lead to pearl...instead of just keeping me awake re-playing it in my mind, or adding tension to my shoulders.

The other thing that bugs me about me is the hysterical way I jump to conclusions or get into arguements. This happens more often than not when I'm tired. I'm easily prone to hysterics in a sleepy state. It happens some too when plans are changed or when too much is going on around me at the same time. I read somewhere people can become noise overloaded and, although it doesn't happen often, it does throw me into hysterics. I often lash out at those I know, whereas if it happens and I'm around people I don't know well I usually just hold it all in and feel as though I'm screaming inside.

2. If you could go back in your life and change one thing that you did, what would it be? Keep in mind, this has to be something completely within your control.

This one is funny because I was just thinking about this last night before I fell asleep. I didn't really come up with any answers though. The ones I did come up with were all the same thing, though different events. I don't know if this is what you were thinking of when you wrote this question, but I'd take more risks. Like saying "yes" to parasailing the first day we were in Marco Island, instead of waiting for a better day and then not getting one. Or throwing caution to the wind and enjoying Mardi Gras, instead of being the "responsible one" (granted, I didn't feel well). Not as many beads as...well...everyone else at Mardi Gras that year! All mine came from the floats. Even emotional ones, like actually taking my prom date up on his offer to dance to my prom song, even though I was so nervous and intimidated to be there with him I didn't want him to stop eating his dinner just to dance with me. Risks...definately.

3. I know that you're a sports fan. What is the best single game you've ever witnessed (preferably but not necessarily live) and why?

Wow! Given that I have such a short term memory, it might be hard to think of the best ever. For me, personally, I think it would have to be UNC Greensboro Girls' Basketball Team win at the Southern Conference Tournament. It's funny the things I remember about that game. It was in the Greensboro Coliseum. I wore a black dress, heels and a black blazer. It was my professional look! :) I remember being very aware of the dress and making sure not to flash the crowd. I had let our student-trainer go before the game with her girlfriends to Spring Break. The coach was furious. This was a big game. I was leaving the next day - win or lose for Florida with our Equiptment room guy to watch our baseball team play at Florida State. If basketball won, we'd have to cut our trip a day or two shorter than planned. The assistant coach had wanted me to give massages to every girl on the team the day of the game, which I refused and had the backing of my boss in doing so. The game was close and I was on the edge of my seat (until I started pacing). There was no miracle win at the buzzer shot or season high performance. Surprisingly not too much about the game itself sticks in my mind. When the buzzer finally sounded, I was so happy. It had been a long season and I was exhausted. For 3 months I had worked without one day off or any free time to make sure every single girl was available to play in this game. When the buzzer sounded and we had won, I knew all the effort had been worth it. Just the sheer feeling of accomplishment as I climbed the ladder to cut down my section of the net is indescribable. Next stop, NCAA tournament! :)


4. You have a sister and two parents in your immediate family. If you had to choose one characteristic from each of them to make "yours" what would it be?

I thought this one would be easy, but I had to skip it and come back. From Jill, I'd like to take self-assurance. She always looks like she's perfectly at ease in every situation. She carries herself so tall and strong. People look at her as much for her looks as the way she carries herself. From Mom, I'd like her mothering. Sounds cliche, but she has given and given...I'm sure at times more than she had to make sure Jill and I felt loved and fit in. She always seemed to have time for us after a long day at work. She was interested in what we were doing or had done that day, even though I'm sure she just wanted to scream because of her day. She tolerated us when we yelled at her, bought us certain things we "just couldn't live without" when I'm sure it meant sacrificing other things, she supported us and encourage us in everything we did and wanted to do and never seemed to let on if she thought we'd fail or what we wanted to do was stupid. Sometimes, I wonder if I could put myself aside for another like that. From Dad, his outgoing, friendly nature. There's not many people that dad meets who don't like him. He seems always at ease in talking to people and can find something to talk about with just about anyone. It never seems difficult for him to make friends and meet people. I think alot of my personality characteristics come from my father. This is one I feel I used to have and have lost a bit since moving home. It's part being a bit...I don't think ashamed is the right word...embarassed of where I am in my life right now, as well as part the wondering if anyone would like the me I was with Neil and in college (which was a very fun, laid-back in addition to the serious, me...kind of all sides of the what I feel is the true me) if Neil couldn't. Anyway, so since this used to be one I felt I had, I don't know if it counts. My Dad is also a pretty big-hearted person. He may not be outwardly emotional or caring, but he holds alot of love for those he knows and would do just about anything for them.


5. You know that I'm a freak for music and you've made mention on your blog about connecting lyrics to moments in time. What song is the most meaningful to you (the most connected to a moment in your life) and why?

It's a three way tie. I know that's almost a cop out, but being so connected to music, it's hard to pick one song that sticks out as "most meaningful". They all have their place and purpose. Anyway, here's my three...which I think you guys have all already heard, but I'll share them again.

LADY by LITTLE RIVER BAND - I had such a crush on one of the guys that lived across the street. I couldn't have been more than 5 or 6. They were both in high school. Our parents were in a bowling league together and their boys, John and David, used to watch us. Othertimes, I just used to be over there. They didn't mind me just hanging around (which in hindsight is funny given the ages). I liked John, but the song is tied to David. He had a Kiss poster in his room (keep in mind, this is circa 1980 or earlier) used to play it. I just remember feeling so loved and included, safe and comfortable. The opening notes of the song make me just go "awww" and feel all warm and fuzzy, and all the feelings above. Pavlov was right. Conditioning is easy! :)

COMFORTABLY NUMB by PINK FLOYD - The day I got my braces just after my Freshman Year in high school. My neighbor/best friend Danielle and I had often hung out with her older cousin, Erik and his friends. (See if you can guess a common theme? ;) ) I really liked Jim. So cute and boyish; a little younger than Erik - he was going to be a Senior; and not as womanizing as the other guys in their group. He had the most beautiful blue eyes. I was so upset about the braces. How ugly they were! How ugly I was in them! I had to have them for who know how long. And they hurt! Tonight, of all nights. It was Erik's friend Eric's going away party (he had joined the Marines) and Erik's mom's house. No one would ever like me now! (See irrational and hysterics above! :) ) I wore my best sweatshirt and did my hair, but still felt light years away from all the other girls who came and went from Erik's that night. About halfway through the night, Jimmy kissed me. We were sitting at Erik's mom's table, talking to her and some of their friends. There was Jimmy sitting behind me, with his arm around me and my head resting on it. Comfortably Numb was playing in the background. He had kissed me! In braces! Ugly as I was...with as pretty as all the other girls had been. It changed the way I looked at alot of things in high school over the next few years. Often I'd remember that sometimes I see me worse than others do.

I'M MOVIN' ON by RASCAL FLATTS - This one is a fairly recent addition. Adam, my old neighbor, and I had just packed my entire house in Greenbsoro into a UHaul and my dad's SUV. I had just hugged Mike good-bye (and part of me felt like I was holding on to him for dear life). Somehow, I just couldn't believe that this was my life. I had no future (planned) and the immediate past was just too painful to stay and keep facing. What was my life going to become? What was I going to become? How had I ended up here? As I got in the SUV and we headed onto the highway which would lead us to 95, this song came on the radio. I started crying and cried all the way to Washington D.C. I was hoping to be as hopeful, trying to be as hopeful as they were in the song. While it holds hope for the future, it also always makes me cry.