My 25 Things (from Facebook)

I am the proud mom of an 8-month old Miniature Schnauzer named Lucy. She is one of the biggest highlights of my life, and I don't know how I ever lived without a dog!

I really miss being at school, although the absence of stress in my life is fabulous!

My deepest dream is to raise a full-scale vegetable garden to feed me (and Chris, of course), for an entire year. I love the idea of living off of the land and separating myself from commercial foods. They taste better, I feel healthier when I eat them, and there's something exciting about the process.

In the mean time, Chris and I take part in a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture), which means that we pay a farm community upfront and receive a box from them weekly with whatever has just been harvested. It costs us only $18.00 per week, but the equivalent at the grocery store would cost about $35-$50.

I am jealous of people who are good at speaking other languages.

I do yoga.

I love to learn, and my latest passion is learning about what the government has to done/said about the food we eat and all of the processes that go into it, from growing more corn than our nation could possibly eat, to spreading fertilizers that were originally created to use in gas chambers during World War II.

I have more hobbies than I know what do with.

I often create excuses because I am afraid of trying and being met with failure. I use these excuses to keep from developing areas of my life that truly have potential.

I miss having friends around who enjoy deep conversations about the world, and especially about music.

I am a sucker for reality TV, and since I don't have cable, there's not much else to watch.

I want to read every new book I see - I love memoirs, books about food, and unusual novels. I always have a recommendation!

I am extremely frugal, and I often feel guilty for spending money on even little things.

I prefer chocolate over just about anything else, and if it's mint, I'm in heaven!

I <3 recycling.

xxzx (<- that was from Lucy)

I want to live in another country for a couple of years.

I am very happy in my job, but I have enlisted a mentor to help me learn about my potential and how to identify the right time to change jobs/move up. I have no regrets about not working in the public school system.

I volunteer with the middle school youth group at my church, even though I am not very dedicated to other things the church has going on. I things those guys are fabulous - it is often the highlight of my day!

I'm a tea snob.

My limit is one cup of regular coffee. After two, I become CRAZY and really unproductive cause I'm too busy shaking!!

My favorite summer of all time was in Chicago. I would love to live there for a little while.

I think my parents are awesome, and I wish I got to see more of them.

I love having really close friends, but I'm not very good at opening up and developing that kind of friendship - it's slightly ironic.

The older I get, the more I envy teenagers, who are not jaded by the practicalities of life. They see possibilities in everything, and they're not ashamed to admit or pursue with everything they can muster.

Catching up

Man, it's been a while since I've blogged. I meant to update on the surprise I put together for Helen, the woman who comes in to work for help sometimes. I ran over to where I've seen her ringing the Salvation Army bell several times, but to no avail! ::sigh:: Finally, after a few more attempts to meet up, we found each other at work, and gave her the gift. I haven't seen her since, and I don't know how well it was appreciated, but I think that being thought of in this way truly surprised her, and maybe even embarrassed her. I hope she didn't view it as charity, but until I see her again, I'll never know.

In other news, I am having a huge love affair with books. When I go to a bookstore, I literally want to take home one of almost every book they have. There are not enough hours in the day to spending reading and getting lost in ideas. I wish I could live in a bookstore. Or a library. Mmm.