doctoral candidate in rhetoric and scientific and technical communication
my story
memories
0
What childhood memory still makes you laugh, even today?
One of the memories that my brothers love to tease me about is the first time I made pancakes on my own.
Our parents were out and I was babysitting (if you could call it that) my two brothers. I don’t remember where they had gone but I remember that it was my responsibility to make dinner for the three of us (this is before our little sister was born).
We decided we wanted pancakes. I had made them with Mom before and new the basics of making them.
I didn’t realize, however, that there is a time limit on how long they should stay in the pan.
I tossed and tossed, never burning them. But what came out of the pans was, basically, frisbees. In fact, my brothers flew them around the house until they cracked and fell apart and our dog ate up the hard pieces.
Even now, 30 years later, it’s still a joke between us. I’ll probably never live that down.
moving
0
Did your family move around a lot, or stay in the same place when you were growing up?
We moved a lot as we were growing up. I don’t even know all of the places we lived when I was young.
My dad was in the Navy and we were stationed up and down the southern coast when I was very young.
I was born in Idaho and we immediately moved east. In 1968, my brother was born in Florida. I know we lived in other places along the southern coast but I don’t know all of them.
We moved to San Diego in the early 1970s, where my other brother was born.
From there, we moved to Missoula, Montana, in the mid-1970s where my sister was born.
In 1980, we moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1984, we moved to Flagstaff, Arizona.
All of this impacted me. I have trouble staying in one place for too long. I get antsy and need to move.
I’ve tried supplementing it with travel and that seems to help. I’ve lived in the same home for 3 years and, for me, that is a long time.
favorite books
0
If you could have only read four books during your grade school years, which four would you have chosen?
I was a voracious reader. I still am, I suppose.
It would be impossible for me to choose just four books from my grade school years. My tastes and my reading levels changed so much that I went from very basic kindergarten primers to very advanced, higher level high school reading by the time I was in the 8th grade.
If I think back, though, on the books that brought me the most joy, it was typically Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys. I loved the adventures they went on and the mysteries they had to solve.
I also have a fondness for “Charlotte’s Web”. I saw that a new movie was coming out this winter and I’m looking forward to seeing it because of the fondness I have for it.
lists
05 inanimate things I love:
vanilla chai tea
my 400+ count bed sheets
my books
my computer
my musiclast 10 CDs I bought:
Sheryl Crow
Dixie Chicks
Cyndi Lauper
Pearl JAm
Sarah McLaughlin
John Mayer
Ella Fitzgerald
No Doubt
Billie Holiday
Van Morrison5 books everyone MUST read:
Warrior Marks – Alice Walker
The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kidd
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston5 Books I want to read:
The Corrections – Jonathan Franzen
The Five People You Meet in Heaven -
by Mitch Albom
The English Roses – Madonna
Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
The Amateur Marriage – Anne TylerInanimate thing I MOST wish for at this moment:
Clear vision (not physical, more of an understanding)5 favorite American presidents:
Jimmy Carter
Abraham Lincoln
FDR
Thomas Jerfferson
Theodore Roosevelt5 things I wish I’d done more of:
listened
watched
learned
appreciated
relaxed5 things I wish I’d done less of:
drugs
searched far and wide for something right in front of me
cried
followed silly paths
ignored my instincts5 things I aim to do before I die:
get my PhD
love and love some more
Have something published and on a shelf somewhere besides my own
be a recognized artist/writer
decorate my house in a style that is interesting5 traits I admire – in order:
the ability to love unconditionally
intelligence
the ability to encourage people wholeheartedly
an adventurous nature
motivation5 things I cook best:
salmon
chocolate chip cookies
strawberry shortcake
potato salad
macaroni & cheese (homemade)5 things I don’t do very well at all:
correspondence
dance
understand people
play office politics
physical labor
moved in
0Ok…I have an excuse this time. Really. I’ve been moving into my new home. I bought a home and I’m so dang excited. It, of course, did not come without some drama but I’m in now and I’m loving it. I’m a homeowner (can you see me singing and dancing this? That’s how it’s going. Heh.).
Life is going well right now. It’s hectic but going well.
School starts next week so my postings will be sparse again but I’ll try to keep up. Work is a little crazy right now, too, but January is always a bit crazy here.
I’m having a housewarming party to invite people over. Hey, we single women have to find SOME reason to throw parties and receive gifts!!! 
I’m trying out for the Vagina Monologues tonight. A local domestic violence awareness group is performing the monologues to raise awareness and cash for V-Day. I don’t know if I’ll get the part but it’s a worthy cause to me.
I hope all is well on your side of the world. Have a lovely day today!