10 random things about me

1. I don't like the word fatkini. It's a bikini regardless of who is wearing it. We don't say a pair of fants or flouses or fanties just because a fat person is wearing them. Kudos to the women who are comfortable being naked or wearing a BIKINI that are not what society deems normal. Good for fat acceptance, but calling it a fatkini is like making a joke of it or something. I can't put my finger on what it is exactly.
2. I have a hard time keeping white shirts food stain free. I buy a new white shirt. I wear that white shirt once. I get a food stain on said white shirt. And of course it's always on the boob part of the shirt. This is why I don't pay more than $10 for my basic white v-necks. It's even better when I can pay $5 for a shirt. I have a hard time letting go of the stained shirt, especially when it's new. Maybe I should start dying them or adding fabric patches or something. Why waste a perfectly good shirt?
3. I like to play skee ball and pinball.
4. I don't like dealing with making doctors appointments and getting the paper work together for health insurance/assistance and what not. I don't mind going to the appointments, it's all the stuff you have to do in order to make the appointments and what not. If I could find someone who'd do all the grunt work for me I'd go to the doctor. 
5. None of my immediate family lives in the United States. I've not lived near any of my family in over 10 years. I'm okay with that. We barely talk (we're not on bad terms, we just don't connect in that manner). As a matter of fact, the way I keep in touch with my dad is via facebook. I might send him a message every couple of months.
6. I don't like the use of the word bitch when referring to women. Not even when people use it as a term of endearment. Nope. Don't ever call me a bitch or one of your bitches. I am NOT a female dog. I find the term disrespectful and it has a very negative feeling associated with it. There's a enough negativity in the world.
7. I've yet to be catfished. Every person that I've met online and then met in person has looked just like their pictures. I've met some pretty awesome people online/in person.
8. My teeth don't line up they way they're supposed to, so my teeth are as straight as they could be. My right bottom jaw is shifted back. My teeth on my right sight sit directly on top of each other instead in between in each other like they should. This means I have a big over bite and the top of my bottom teeth actually touch the roof of my mouth. They'd have to break my jaw on the right side to fix the "problem". I'm find with how my teeth look. They look straight enough to me.
9. I'm both an early bird and a night owl. I will stay up until 1AM - 2AM in the morning and have no problem waking up at 7AM. Especially if I'm getting up to go to the gym. I usually wake up before my alarm goes off.
10. It bugs me when people use words incorrectly, but I don't want to correct them because I don't want to be that asshole. (But I will be the asshole that marks all the YouTube videos you just posted on facebook because I think there's no reason to post more than 3 videos in a row.)

reading - Not in Kansas Anymore by Christine Wicker This post brought to you in part by:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 things about me

What things can I share about me that I might not have shared already? If something here is a repeat...oh well. My bad. (This post is really just an excuse to post a current picture of myself with this awesome mustache on a stick and red eyebrows. I love red eyebrows.)

1. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 28. I still don't own a car. I'm perfectly content to take public transportation. It's an adventure. Not always an awesome adventure, but an adventure none the less.
2. I have lived on my own far away from my family for the past 12 years. I'm okay with that. I don't need to talk to my family on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.That's really just how we are. We pretty much just existed in the same house together.
3. I'm easily distracted. Squirrel! (Name that movie reference. Ha!)
4. I'm kind of obsessed with Hello Kitty, glasses, mustaches and checking my email. I will check my email 5 times in 3 minutes knowing there isn't anything new to check. It's really just a habit I think.
5. I can't read one book at a time. I'm usually reading at least three books at once.
6. Depending on the light my eyes are light brown or darker brown. (see picture above, it's a light brown day)
7. As a typical Asian all my shoes are at the front door, but I can't stand to walk around barefoot on the carpet so I wear flip flops around my apartment. Or socks, but usually flip flops.
8. There are sticky notes all along the bottom of my computer monitor because I need reminders to do things or want to remember things. I also have random pieces of paper on my desk or in notebooks with all kinds of notes. I can't bring myself to make notes digitally. They don't work for me.
9. I don't like when people say they're bored. There is way too much awesomeness and amazing in the world for anyone ever to say they're bored. 
10. Sometimes I pluck the hairs from my legs with tweezers. I swear I have patches on my legs where the hair doesn't grow back. That or it just takes a really long time.

You don't have to tell me anything about you. It'd be cool if you did though. Also, we're coming up on the end of the month which means I'll be recapping my January goals and posting my goals for February in a few days. Come back and share your goals with me for February.

And if you missed yesterday's post, the winner of my 500th post giveaway was Chelsea M. Thanks to everyone who participated. I'd like to do a few more giveaways this year, but probably not until after my No Buy period is over. 

Lastly, I'd like to start ad swapping again. I'm not sure why I stopped actively pursuing ad swaps, but I did. Check out my sponsors page up top and come swap ads with me.
  reading - Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach This post brought to you in part by:

Public Service Announcement

I wrote this a while back and for a while it was a page on my blog, I thought it was better as a blog post so I moved it. Enjoy.


Notice to ALL Future Boyfriends...a little information guide to help make our time together more pleasant.

1.  I WILL want sex more than you.  More often than not you'll turn me down more than I will you.  I'll probably be more ready and willing than you can handle.  This will irritate me at times.

2.  I have the tendency to be an insensitive jackass.  I'm working on it.  Words will come out of my mouth that are not intended for anyone's ears.  I might actually mean them, but they still aren't always meant to be heard.

3.  I need space when I sleep.  That doesn't mean I don't like to cuddle, I don't mind it for a little while...but when it's time for sleep and all that body heat is making me hot and sweaty I need some space and the cool side of the pillow.

4.  I have A LOT of male friends.  They are JUST friends.  If you can't handle that...bye.

5.  I am not that open with my feelings until I feel I can trust you enough with them.  I don't like being vulnerable.  In time I'll open up.

6.  My friends are an important part of my life.  They were here before you...there will be times when I put them ahead of you.  

7.  I'm quiet and I like quiet.  Excessive noise pisses me off...especially music that's not my own.

8.  I'm always on time...if not early.  I drives me crazy when people are late, especially when they have no good excuse.  It's a sure fire way to piss me off.

9.  I like to learn about the things that make you tick and that you enjoy and are passionate about.  Teach me.

10.  I like the idea of lingerie, but think tanks and boy shorts are sexier.

11.  I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen, but the dishes afterwards are my enemy as is the trash.  Mucho brownie points if you wash the dishes and take out the trash for me without me ever mentioning it.

12.  I REALLY appreciate the little things...back rubs...cuddling...holding hands.  

13.  Hitting and teasing are my way of showing affection.  Hugs and kisses are too.

14.  I will buy you things.  Little things that make me think about you and that I think you'll appreciate.

15.  I'm eclectic and creative and will sometimes appear as if I'm not all there.

16.  I'm a bit of a organized neat freak...even when I'm messy I try to be neat and organized.

17.  Sometimes I like to listen mainstream music even though I know it's bad.  I can't help myself sometimes.  

18.  Everybody poops, everybody farts, everybody etc.  It doesn't bother me, it's human...but if it's gonna stink warn me and if it stinks light a match.

19.  I don't like people.  I have the tendency to be quiet and shy at gatherings.  I'll warm up eventually...just don't ditch me for hours at a time.

20.  I can be quite perverted at times.  I'm still a lady though and expect to be treated as one.

21.  I'm quite adventurous in bed and in life.  Let's have lots of fun.

22.  I am intelligent.  Just a little slow at times.  I take pleasure in learning.

23.  I do not have a good relationship with my mother and brother.  I don't like to talk about them.  The incidents that occurred between them and me may affect our relationship.  I'm working on getting past it.  Please be patient.

24.  I act tough, but I'm really a thoughtful and caring person at heart.  I love and crave affection.  I'm touched by the little things, like forehead kisses.

25.  I'm easily entertained.  Give me a piece of paper...maybe a pen too and I'll be good for a while.

A, B, C...easy as 1, 2, 3...

A little randomness and getting to know you post because I don't know what to write about at the moment. enjoy.

• Available - Yes indeedy. Wanna go on a date? 
• Best Friend - These days I don't really feel like I have a best friend, but if I had to say, it'd still be Mr. McD.
• Cake or pie - Mini cakes aka cupcakes!!!
• Drink of choice - 1) water, 2) tea, 3) sparkling water w/ juice
• Essential item you use everyday - toothbrush, you gotta have fresh breath and clean teefs, even if you're staying home.
• Favorite color - Green, though you'd think it was red by the red eyebrows and the red flowers on my tattoos and the red shoes and red this and red that...but it's not...it's green. 
• Gummy bears or worms - BEARS!!! And they have to be HARIBO fresh from Germany.
• Hometown - came into the world in Hawaii, lived a good life in Germany amongst other places across the US and have spent a good amount of time in the Midwest.
• Indulgences - baked goods and clothing
• January or February - February, I get to hock my crafty goods and it's one month closer to Spring.
• Kids and Names - this womb has yet to bear crotch fruit, but if I ever have a girl I'd like to name her Isabella Haiku aka Izzy aka Bella aka Ella
• Life is incomplete without - music, good food and friends. I'm not sure what'd I'd do if I didn't at least have them.
• Marriage date - none yet, you tell that future husband to hurry up and get here. I'm patient, but come on already. pleaseandthankyou
• Number of siblings - an older brother and a younger sister who never made it.
• Oranges or apples - clementines, everyday in order to prevent scurvy
• Phobias or fears - tight spaces
• Quote - The quote I left in my senior yearbook was from Toy Story. "To infinity and beyond!"
• Reason to smile - sometimes it's him, the sun and a cool breeze, waking up in the morning, so many things.
• Season - Spring, not too hot and not too cold. Fall too for the same reasons and because my birthday is in the fall.
• Tag 3 or 4 people - I only have two readers, so it'd have to be them. But anyone else wanders across this post that'd be pretty awesome if they wanted to go ahead and do this and link back to me.
• Unknown fact about me - I had four of my adult teeth pulled when I was 12 right after they put braces on my teeth. Not sure why they didn't do it BEFORE they put the braces on.
• Vegetable you don't like - lima beans, YUCK!
• Worst habit - making faces
• X rays - most recently my back, also my teef, arm and leg
• Your favorite food - sammiches
• Zodiac Sign - Scorpio, watch out now.

I'm not tagging anyone, but feel free to go ahead and copy, paste and edit this on your blog so that we can learn a few things about you. Link back to me so I can check it out too. :)

random picture of my spinach grilled cheese because I want another

A B C - Jackson 5

11 Things

Read this post on Little Chief Honeybee's blog and even thought I wasn't tagged I thought I'd do it anyway. Hey, I'm trying to blog more, so why not? Also, I only have like one blog follower, enjoy. :)

There are five rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.

Let's go!

 

 

11 Random Things 

1. I was born in Hawaii and have lived there and in Nebraska, Alaska, California, New York, Germany,  Indiana, Florida and Georgia...so far. I've lived the longest in Indiana, but still do not call it home. I consider Hawaii and Germany home, but haven't been back to either in over 10 years. But that's gonna change and soon.
2. I have to drink milk out of a glass. I think it tastes weird if I drink it out of a plastic cup. I also feel like it's harder to clean out of a plastic cup, not that it's particularly hard to clean, but that's just how I feel.
3. I often do other tasks while brushing my teeth. Clean the mirrors, put on lotion, put on my clothes, put on my shoes, check my email. I don't know why I can't just stand in the bathroom and brush my teeth, but I can't. 
4. I wonder what it would be like to have a penis for a day. I think that I'd spend a good amount of time playing with it and seeing what it's capable of. 
5. I have never bought or owned a car. I want to, but then I don't. They seem like a hassle, though I know life would be little bit easier. I wouldn't have to depend on other people or other modes of transportation. 
6. If I break a nail, I  have to cut all my other nails. I don't like having one short and the rest long. I like things even. And not just my nails, other things too, when I make cards, items on my desk, boxes at work. I'm okay with my hair being layered though.
7. I judge books by their covers. Literally. I will randomly pick up books to read by what's on the cover. I end up not finishing books because they end up not being very interesting, to me at least. For this I'm thankful for libraries because at least I'm not paying for the books. Also I've renewed the same book at least 50+ times. I've had it in my possession for at least 3 years now and know exactly where it is. I've only read it once. I always intend to reread it, but never get around to it.
8. I think I may be one of the few women I know that doesn't carry a purse. All I carry is my business card case with ID, debit card and business cards, keys and phone. I almost always have pockets. Actually I always have pockets as long as I have a bra on and I never leave the house without a bra on. 
9. I've always wondered what it's like to kiss someone with thin/no lips. I can't wrap my brain around it. I think I may have kissed someone as a teenager, but don't recall it. I'd willingly kiss the right person with thin/no lips just to see what it's like. 
10. Right now, I have to pee, but don't want to get up because I want to finish this before I move on to anything else. Having to pee is making me work any faster either. I've checked Twitter and facebook a couple of times. I'm kinda stubborn like that. 
11. For the most part I write in all caps, in print. I will occasionally write in cursive if I have to write a lot of stuff, just because it goes faster.

 Here are the 11 Questions from Little Chief Honeybee's post:

 

1. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not? 

Yes and know. I check on it once in awhile, but I don't live by it. I think a lot of the traits out there for my sign are accurate, but I think that could be said for any sign. 

2. If you could teleport to any time and place, where would you go and why?

I'd go into the future. I'd like to see how successful and happy I am and see if there are any changes I can make now to make that any better.

3. What are the three closest items to you right now?

My phone, some LEGO keychains and a little book I just made to put all the fortunes I've collected from eating Chinese food.

4. If you had a spirit animal, what would it be?

Hmmm...I don't know. People think I'm like a panda. Cute and cuddly, but if you get to close I might bite.

5. What is your earliest childhood memory?

Being in preschool playing and this kid turning to me and whacking me over the head with a wooden block. My head started to bleed.

6. Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?

Living some where that's not Indianapolis. Happy and successful. Possibly married or in a committed relationship and with child.

7. Have you kept in touch with your childhood best friend(s)?

I have. We might not be as close as we were back then, but we still keep in touch. I'm pretty good at keeping in touch with people.

8. If you had to describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?

Quiet, curvy, loyal, creative, sentimental.

9. Describe your idea of a perfect day: Where would you go, what would you do, who would you do it with?

I'd like to start the day with breakfast in bed with him. It'd be warm and sunny out. We'd be headed to a BBQ at a friends place where we'd all spend the day listening to music, hanging out, eating good food and having fun. The day may end by hanging out at a favorite bar where other friends would be listening to music and enjoying the company.

10. What kind of "weird" foods do you like? (They could just be weird to your friends/family, kind of like my pickle sickles!)

I like to eat green beans cold straight from the can with a little bit of salt and pepper. 

11. Do you collect anything? If so, what?

I just started to collect cardigans and dresses. I normally wear pants and shorts with t shirts. But this year my motto is more dresses, down with pants.

And here are my 11 question if you'd like to participate:

1. If someone were to make a movie about your life, which cartoon character would play you? Why?
2. Describe your dream home. Where is it located?
3. If money weren't an object and you were going to treat yourself to a vacation where would you go and who would you bring with you?
4. Do you have a not so hidden talent? If so, what is it?
5. What is your favorite beverage, alcoholic or non?
6. When you've got the blues, what's the one thing you do that cures your blues?
7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
8. If you could, would you rather go back in time or forward? Why?
9. If you could be the opposite sex for one day, what would you do all day?
10. Someone you don't know is picking you up at the airport, how would your friends describe you so the person knew who to look for?
11. What one thing do you wish was NEVER invented?

I'm not tagging anyone, but it'd be pretty awesome if someone did this and then linked back to me so I can read it. pleaseandthankyou.

 

Reflecting on 2007

In no particular order...

Finally after too many years of fear and lost independence I mosied on down to the BMV, took the driver's permit test and passed. I've spent a few hours behind the wheel already and am becoming more comfortable with driving. I just need a lot of practice and a patient teacher. I hope by next October I'll have turned in my permit for a driver's license.

After twenty-three years the Lambino clan decided it was time we all got together again for a spankin' good time. A lot of new additions to the family and a few subtractions. Three cousins and our grandfather missing this time around. It was quite interesting to be around so many of my family members and to learn how much we are alike. There's no denying we're family. From the one hand back pat hug to our indecisiveness. Fun stuff. Of course no one wanted to cook authentic Filipino food, it was either Italian or Mexican or foraging for your own dinner. Hopefully it doesn't take another twenty-three years to get the family back together again. But then again really we're just not that close.

I acted out at the beginning of the fall (I think because of the depression) and fell into bed with a couple of gentlemen that I shouldn't have. It was reckless. Fun at the time, but quite reckless.

I came to the conclusion that I'm severely depressed. My own diagnosis, but an accurate one I believe. It's not just being down or sad, it's deeper than that. A lot of crying, a lot of laying in bed, a lot of feeling useless, a lot of not so very good thoughts. I tried to tell people the best way I could, but I think for the most part it fell on deaf ears. There was one person who listened though. I also took a step forward and mentioned it to a doctor who pointed me in the direction of a place that could help. Of course making the call and following through is going to be the tough part.

Going back to school was not in the cards this year. I really wanted to continue my studies in Graphic Design, but I had to put that on hold. I didn't have the finances. That and I'm not sure how the whole academic probation and reapplying is supposed to work. School and work and everything else that's been going. It's tough to balance.

The job hunt was fruitless. I submitted dozens of applications and had all of three interviews. I'm either under-qualified or over-qualified. Just give me a job. PLEASE!!! I do enjoy the job I have now, but it's not going to get me where I need to be and it's not helping with my financial status. School wants there money and without another job, they're not going to be getting it any time soon.

A dateless year and a half and when I finally decide that I'm going to give someone a chance and agree to go on a date I end up with some psycho. He stands me up, I give him another chance and he's late and makes me pay for dinner. Not only that but when I tell him I'm not interested he flips out and threatens me. Quite hilarious, but still. Geez, this dating thing. Maybe it's why I don't.

I finally met up with TheStudent this year and it was the best thirty-six hours of 2007. It was like we'd known each other forever. Very comfortable, a relaxing mini vacation where I was able to just be. If I could've stayed longer I would've. I wanted to spend a lot more of the year with him, but it just wasn't in the cards. Hopefully I get to see him again soon.

I finally met up with TheWriter as well as NotInterested. It seems this year was the year to meet up with those I met online after a year or more knowing each other.

Met a handful of new friends or maybe more so acquaintances. A few friendships sort of...I don't know...changed definitely. Not sure what happened or what was lost. Other friendships grew.

One person I met this year in particular I'm still crushing on big time and glad that I took that step and contacted him. He's been influential in my life thus far and I believe will have quite the impact on what's to come. There's something about him. I don't know what it is. He makes me want to try harder and do better and make changes. I'm thankful for his friendship. He always says or does something that makes me smile/laugh. I wish we could take our friendship further. It could be a beautiful thing.

Oh and how could I forget the boy I met shortly before heading out to Cali for my family reunion. He was a cutie and I had the hardest time trying to talk to him...then a friend of a friend stepped in and we talked and had lunch and I found at at the ripe age of 25 he was divorced with two children. Talk about baggage, but I was still willing to take the chance and see what was up with him anyway. Even with the crazy mothers of his children, yes mothers plural...each child had a different mother. It seemed those women were a bit...territorial. He sort of disappeared less than a month after our meeting. Oh well.

I met another young gentleman as well around that time who had a child and seemed like a nice guy and one day he disappeared as well. Actually this year I met several men with children who ready and willing for me to meet their children and/or family so very soon after meeting them. Too much for me and I'm kind of glad they disappeared out of my life.

Money seems to have been the worst of my problems. I don't know how it happened. My well just ran dry and with no job prospects and no more stocks and no more anything I fell on hard times about half way through the year. It's been hard and I know a large contribution to my depression. I know things will eventually get better. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

IBYTTSIAY - Working 9 to 5

What was the first job you ever had? How much did you make? How often did you work? What did you like/dislike about your job?

The first job I ever had, if you don't include babysitting, was as a summer hire library assistant. I think summer hire was created so that the high school students had something to do during the summer. Living in Germany there weren't a lot of job options for the American kids, so we worked summer hire with the military.

I worked Monday thru Friday, 40 hours a week for a measily $3.50/hr. But hey, it was better than nothing and I had something to do during the week instead of sitting around bored out of my mind.

For me, the worst part of this job was shelving non-fiction books. I loathed the task and avoided it when I could. Who is this evil Dewey decimal guy? Luckily it was only three of our numbers after the decimal at our library. In college I visited the library only to see something like twenty numbers after the decimal and felt bad for the poor student who had to shelve those books. On the other hand, the best books to shelve were the fiction kiddie books. They had colored tape on the spins to correspond with certain letters of the alphabet and we pretty much just dropped them into the designated bins for the kiddies to sift through, easy peasy.

Monday's were the best day to work. Yeah, I know the beginning of the week, yuck. But on Monday the library was closed. We pretty much had free reign and didn't have to worry about being quiet. We could spread out our work and relax.

I was lucky enough that the library asked me to come back and work during the school year. I took the opportunity and used the measily $3.50/hr to supplement my allowance/lunch money. It was nice because I didn't have to come in 40 hours a week, basically just when I could make it in for a couple of hours.

For the most part it was a pretty decent job. The adult staff was pretty nice. And odd bunch, but still pretty nice. Heck, they even bought us ice cream once in a while...who wouldn't enjoy a bowl of ice cream while settling down with a good book?

And You Thought You Knew Me

Because I'm sure you wanted to get to know me more. Randomness about me:

When I was a wee tyke I thought my dad was black. I wonder if there is any correlation to that and my attraction to black men.

Even though I don't think I could ever do it, I wonder what it's like to shoot someone or something (living something). I say I don't think because I could one day be put in a situation where it's me or them.

There are large chunks of my adult life that I can't remember. It's kind of scary.

Some days I wonder what it would've been like to have grown up in one place as opposed to the many places.

I can't stand to be called Missy. It goes back to when I was in grade school. There was a girl in my class named Missy and she had ringworm. That's what I associate that name with. *shudder*

I didn't have my first boyfriend until I was 19. He was 17 and still in high school.

I suffer from Asian Blush. Sometimes all it takes is half a drink and I'm good for a couple of hours.

I don't like escalators, but think the moving walk ways in airports are pretty darn nifty.

I've been told I have a bit of a southern accent, yet I've never really lived in the south...unless you count Hawaii our southern most state (okay so I did live in GA and FL for a few months...but not long enough to pick up an accent).

I have a cousin I call Tit Tit (short for Christy I think, I can't remember her actual name). We saw nothing wrong with that as kids, even my parents called her that.

I ALWAYS where my glasses in the shower. I've mistaken the conditioner for body wash without them. I will also wear my glasses while sitting in the pool. I can't help it.

I'm not a fan of cooked fruit. Especially in pies. The texture of the fruit is changed and it's just not right.

I like to eat canned green beans cold right out of the can with a little bit of salt and pepper. You can almost always find an unopened can of green beans in my fridge waiting to be eaten as a quick snack.

It's easier for me to meet people online than it is in person.

I used to wear a size 1...when I was middle school.

My bed has to be positioned so that I can see the the door. I also won't position the bed underneath a window. When I was little I though The Count from Sesame Street was going to climb in my window and get me.

Sometimes I still think there are monsters under the bed and will jump in bed and have to make sure none of my limbs are sticking out.

When I was little I wanted to be a carpenter when I grew up because I heard that was where the money was at. I still want to build houses and furniture and will hopefully be able to do that one day.

I don't like people, yet I work retail.

I'm very jumpy and don't like people randomly touching me. I know it has to do with an incident that happened when I was a kid.

I think a handful of things about me can be connected to the incident from my childhood.

I act like a jerkface, but I'm nicer than you'd expect.

I have a hard time being affectionate towards my female friends as opposed to my male friends (hugging, linking arms, etc.) and am sometimes a little envious of girls who can be affectionate with each other.

I was 20 the first time I held a baby. He was 10 days old. I still find it awkward to hold babies and can't imagine what it'd be like to be a mother. But I'm looking forward to finding out...even though I front about it.

I liked Hello Kitty more before she sold out.

I had uni-boob up until 10th grade because I refused to wear anything other than a sports bra.

I know getting my driver's license would open up a lot of doors for me and give me a lot more freedom and independance, yet here I am at 27 empty handed. I"m definitely okay with not having a car payment, insurance payment and not having to worry about gas prices though.

I was a substitute teacher for the kids I was taking classes with the year before. And by accepting the job as substitute teacher I was made to take the oath soldiers take when joining the military.

IBYTTSIAY - Location, Location, Location

Where are you from? How long have you lived there? Did you grow up there? What do you love most about it? Hate most about it? Would you want your children to grow up there?

This is one of those questions I never know how to answer. It's such an open ended question that I could answer in several ways. So I always have to ask in return, what do you mean?

Why do I answer a question with another question? Because you see I am one of those fortunate/unfortunate (depends on how you look at it) kids who lived that most adventurous military lifestyle. So to answer this question requires more information from the inquirer. Complicated I am. I know.

So where am I from? Well let's see:

With regards to ethinicity: the Philippines..for the most part.

With regards to birth place: Hawaii.

With regards to childhood: Hawaii, Nebraska, Alaska, California, New York (upstate) and Germany.

With regards to where I've lived the longest: Indiana is about to take over my lengthly stay in Germany.

A lot of times though when I'm really not in the mood to go in to this long explanation I'll say Germany or Hawaii...it really just depends on my mood. I don't think I'll ever claim Indiana as my home state. It just wouldn't be right.

There are days that I'm a little jealous of those who've lived in one place just about there whole lives. Those who have an actual place to call home. They've gone to school with all the same kids their intire lives. I always wonder what that would've been like. But you know what, I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had for anything. I've gotten the opportunities to get to know an assortment of people and have friends sprinkled all over the world. Makes for good road trips.

I loved living in both Hawaii and Germany. Hawaii because...heck it's Hawaii. And Germany because...well I think that's something you really just have to experience yourself. A lot of us who lived there tend to call it home and yearn to relive those days and stay forever. Germany was laidback and open to me. It was such a different culture. The food, the people, the scenery. Beautiful. Amazing. Luckily my family is still there, which means I've got a place to stay. I just wish the opportunity was there too. I'd go back in a heartbeat. And I'd take all my new friends with me so they could share in the experience.

Although I get antsy living in one place too long due to all the traveling I've done as a kid, it's not something I wish for my kids in the event that I pop any out...or adopt. Whatever. I'd like for them to live in the same house from birth to the day I kick'em out. I want them to do it different. And hopefully I can see what could've been like had I not been a military family.

IBYTTSIAY - Automobile

Week One: If you drive, what kind of car do you have? What are its stats (make, model, year mileage, etc.)? When did you get it? Was it new or used? What's inside?
What radio stations do you listen to? What music do you rock out to? Is it messy? How does it reflect your personality/life?

Surprisingly enough I am not a liscensed driver. Which means I don't have a car. I don't have a permit either. I know. And quit looking at me like I'm crazy. And why would I start IBYTTSIAY with a topic like this...because...that's just me.

I have driven before though. And it's not that I don't want to get my liscense. It's just that right now my desire just isn't that strong. I have so many other things on my mind.

I didn't attempt to obtain my DL when I was a teen because when I was in high school and signed up for Driver's Ed the school put it on my schedule for first semester instead of second and I wasn't yet old enough to be in the class. I don't remember why they didn't try to fit it into my schedule second semester. My senior year I believe they changed the driving laws so that you had to be 18 to obtain a license. That wasn't going to work for me either.

It really wasn't a big deal though. Everywhere I needed to go, the bus went. And the bus was reliable enough and came frequently enough that it seemed pointless to spend time learning how to drive. After awhile though my dad did become annoyed with the fact that sometimes he still had to pick me up. (I should also mention that in our house driving was a privilege. Good grades = learning to drive. My brother had horrible grades and therefore never learned until he was out on his own. I on the other hand had good grades...but learning to drive really wasn't an incentive.)

When I got to college...again...the bus pretty much went everywhere I needed to go. I did get experience driving for the first time during my freshman year. I was staying at my ex's during spring break and his sister took me to a parking lot to drive around. I was nervous to say the list. Before this the most I'd ever done was start the car. I did okay. I drove again in the summer while staying living with friends. This time driving on actual roads with other cars on the road...scary. After that I didn't drive again for a couple of years because no one I knew well enough had a car on campus.

My best friend (BF) finally got a car and late one night after a night at the bars we drove all the way across town to Denny's to eat. But then decided not too. BF said hey...you're driving home. And I did. Luckily it was pretty much a straight shot home and I was fortunate enough to get mostly green lights. After that I thought I'd have more desire to learn...but I didn't.

Then one faithful morning after coming back from spring break my BF had to return the car we had rented and also needed to get his car out of the lot we left it in. No one else was around to help so I was recruited to drive his car to the rental lot...by myself. I was very reluctant to do this. Of course if I hadn't been alone in the car it wouldn't have been a big deal and I probably wouldn't have been so nervous...but I was. I was doing okay for a while and then I needed to signal, get over and turn. I don't know what happened but I freaked out and hit the curb and just stopped in the middle of the road. BF had to drive to the gas station quick like, run out and get his car. I didn't wreck it, all was okay...but I haven't driven since. It still scares me a little bit.

At some point I attempted to get my permit but failed the written test horribly. And with what happened the last time I drove I refuse to get behind the wheel without a permit. Silly thing is that I have the driver's manual on my night stand and I glance over at it every night...but never open it.

My goal is to get my liscense before I turn 30, so I've got a couple more years. But right now it doesn't seem like a big deal with the cost of gas and due to the fact that I'm broke so how would I pay a car note, insurance and gas? But then again I'd probably be able to apply for jobs that were in other areas because I'd have "reliable" transportation. Seems like a bit of a catch-22.

One of the big things for me with not knowing how to drive is stolen independence. I depend on the bus or catching a ride with friends. It's okay, but it is getting old. I've always been pretty independent and I want to be able to experience it to it's fullest.

With that said...in the event that I get my liscense the car at the top of my list is a Mustang...in Pewter Grey. I would never be home. I'd be making up for lost time traveling where ever the road would take me. Previously on my list was a Mini Cooper and a VW Bug...very fitting to my personality I'm told. I don't see it.