Photo Tagged

Christie at A Sassy Momma's Chatter tagged me for a fun and easy photo challenge.

Here are the rules:
1. Go to the 4th picture folder on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in that folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag four more people.

I have many American and veteran photos saved because I am a veteran and I truly believe we should support our troops no matter our religious or political beliefs. Those troops . . . those soldiers are people and we need to support those people and their families.

The four people I am tagging are:

1. Teresa at 8 Things About Me
2. A Nut in a Nutshell
3. The Scrap Princess
4. Carola Nativity Gallery

Blog Tag

4 jobs I've had in my life:
1. Cryptanalyst and Personnel Administrative Specialist for the Army
2. Owner and Director of a daycare center
3. Teacher and Counselor
4. Mom

4 movies I could watch over and over:
1. Pretty Woman
2. Independance Day
3. Any and all of the Harry Potter movies
4. American President

4 places I've lived:
1. Erie, PA
2. Louisville, KY
3. Ft. Dix, NJ
4. Butler, PA

4 TV shows I love to watch:
1. CSI: Miami
2. Desperate Housewives
3. (reruns of) Murder, She Wrote
4. Grey's Anatomy
There are many more but only four for today.

4 websites I visit daily:
1. 12 Months of Christmas
2. Blogger.com
3. Christmas to the Max
4. My Yahoo

4 of my favorite foods:
1. French bread pizza
2. Chocolate
3. My mother's pot roast, shoepeg corn, mashed potatoes & gravy... yummo!
4. My friend Jonel's potato salad

4 places I'd rather be right now:
1. In bed (sleeping)
2. New York City
3. Cuddling with my children
4. Getting a massage

Now your it! Please share your answers or a link to your blog.

Reprint from 3/18/07.

Me Me Me Meme

My friend, Phyllis, did not tag me but she did ask me to do this fun meme.

I am not tagging anyone, but if you decide to play please leave me a comment letting me know you are participating, so I can come and visit you to learn more about you.

Two Names You Go By:
1. Mommy.
2. Darling; my friend, Art, has a hard time pronouncing my first name (and its not a difficult name) so he calls me darling with a fun twang to it.

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. Shirt.
2. Shorts.

Two Of Your Favorite Things:
1. My children.
2. The computer.

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. Central air conditioning.
2. A life partner/someone to love me and accept me.

Two Favorite Pets You Have Or Had:
1. Princess and Willie, American Cocker Spaniels.
2. Champ, Chihuahua.

Two Things You Did Last Night:
1. Watched TV.
2. Ate a snack.

Two Things You Ate Last Night:
1. Turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn for dinner.
2. Honey mustard Pringles potato chips for snack.

Two People You Last Talked To:
1. Teresa.
2. Emergency room staff.

Two Things You Are Doing Tomorrow:
1. Blogging.
2. Reading.

Two of Farthest Trips Taken In The Last 5 Years:
1. n/a
2. n/a

Two Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas.
2. Easter.

Two Favorite Beverages:
1. Mountain Dew.
2. Aquafina Flavor Splash water.

Morning Mug Meme

Phyllis tagged me for this meme several weeks ago, but life has been chaotic and then I just plain forgot. Shame on me. But, hooray, I finally got around to hooking up the camera (had to rent new computer and drivers had to be updated and yada yada yada) and published my version of Lois' Mug Meme today.

According to Phyllis's post, there is a new meme in Blogland. Of course, she just HAD to do... and, of course, she HAD to tag me. :)

Rules:

Most folks drink some sort of a morning beverage, be it coffee or tea, and most likely from a mug.

1. Please share a photo of your favorite mug(s).

2. Tell a story about how it became your favorite. Include what you drink with this mug.

3. Be sure to link to Lois and the person who tagged you for this meme.

4. Leave a comment for Lois so she can follow her meme.

My additional rule:

Leave a comment here so I know you are participating and you will get a return visit from me.

My favorite mug is a mug my friend, Teresa, bought for me as a Christmas gift several years ago. It is a bigger mug which I love and it has a logo on it that represents all the different countries of all the members that belong to my group, 12 Months of Christmas. Several years ago the group had a logo contest and this is the logo that won. For other products with this same logo, go to CafePress.



However, I rarely drink tea and I don't drink coffee so my favorite mug is a can... a can of Mt. Dew.


If you are reading this, consider yourself MUGGED. (Sorry, I just couldn't resist the chance at a great pun!)

Tagged #3

7 Fun Facts About Me

I've been tagged by a new friend, Lisa, at The Scrap Princess.

Here are the rules...
1. List these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My 7 facts; some funny, some sweet, all about me...
1. I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. At one time, we actually lived in a house boat on the water. Not a good thing!
2. I've been scrapbooking for over 25 years. Archivally, for ten years.
3. I hate being 40 years old.
4. I have a fun, strange, sweet, dry, silly sense of humor.
5. I was a sweet, innocent girl (no laughing) until my senior of high school. Then, the bad attitude of hormones kicked in... (lots of stories here).
5. My children are the most important thing to me in the world.
6. My friends are my chosen family.
7. I love my Mt. Dew. I drink approximately 5 cans a day. Yes, my doctors know. I was told that I could reduce the amount but I could never stop drinking it all together because it would have adverse affects on my body.

Those 7 people anxiously waiting to be tagged...
1. Phyllis at Scrappy and Happy in Ohio.
2. Tracey at Grace Comes By Hearing.
3. Sheila at To Love, Honor, and Vacuum.
4. Norma Ann at The Mommy Project.
5. Carolyn at Scrapping Servant.
6. Rachel at Max's Mom.
7. Kristen at CIDP and Me.

Don't forget to link back here. I'd love to read your list.

Tagged Again

I got tagged by an email friend, Ruth.


1. Any nickname?
Yes, my nickname is Storm. I have grown so accustomed to my nickname that I officially made it part of my name. It's my middle name.

2. Mother's name?
Betty. Yes, that is her official name, not Elizabeth.

3. Body Piercings?
Ears are pierced 3 times each.

4. How much do you love your job?
I love being a mom. I also love being self-employed so that I can make my own schedule.

5. Favorite vacation spot?
I have only vacationed at Seven Springs, PA, in the summer with extended family, so I don't have a favorite vacation spot.

6. Ever eaten cookies for dinner?
Not cookies but have eaten chips for dinner.

7. Ever been on TV?
Yes, for a local charity.

8. Ever steal any traffic sign?
No.

9. Ever been in a car accident?
Yes.

10. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle?
4-door. 2-door car is too difficult for mothers, especially with young children.

11. Favorite salad dressing?
Ranch. Yummo!

12. Favorite pie?
Pumpkin and apple.

13. Favorite number?
Three.

14. Favorite movie?
Pretty Woman, anything with John Travolta, anything with Nicolas Cage, American President, and a few others.

15. Favorite holiday?
Christmas.

16. Favorite dessert?
Strawberry shortcake, chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and too many other delictables to list.

17. Favorite food?
Sandy's fried chicken, Jonel's potato salad, egg salad, italian.

18. Favorite day of the week?
Any day I'm free to do whatever I want to. Monday when the kids go back to school after the weekend.

19. Favorite brand of body wash?
Bath & Body Works and Oil of Olay brands.

20. Favorite toothpaste?
Close up.

21. Favorite smell?
Cookies baking; powder-fresh, clean baby smell, lilacs.

22. What do you do to relax?
Blog surfing, bubble baths, read, watch TV.

23. What is your number one pet peeve?
Pick number one to hear English, liars, child abuse.

24. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Older.

25. Do you wear make-up every day?
Yes, mascara and lipstick.

Tagged

A dear online friend, Phyllis, tagged me for this meme.

Here are the rules of the game (post these first).

(1) Each player answers questions about themselves.

(2) At the end of the post, tag 5 people by posting their names.

(3) Go their site/blog and leave a comment telling them that they have been Tagged. Invite them to your site/blog so they can read the Tagged post.

(4) Let the person who tagged you know when you have completed your Tagged post.

Questions:

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
About ten years ago I was my son was a newborn so I was experiencing motherhood for the first time. I was dealing with severe post-partum depression and struggling to find my place in this world with a new, special needs son that the father doesn't want.

2. What are 5 things on your "To Do" list?
Laundry.
Scrubbing kitchen floor.
Finding a man who will cherish me and my children.
Finding new clients for my businesses so I can pay the bills.
Pulling myself out of this "funk" and move forward in my life.

3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Chocolate, Lay's Classic Potato Chips with french onion dip, chocolate, oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate.

4. Name some things you would do if you were a millionaire.
I would pay off all of my debt, pay off this house, install a fence, garden, & security system, remodel the kitchen. I would also get two brand new vehicles; one car and one SUV. I would also donate money to a charity and a ministry. The rest of the money would be put in a trust fund for my children and invested.

5. Name some places where you have lived.
I have lived all over the United States courtesy of the United States Army. I was in the United States Reserves for 9 years.

6. Name some bad habits you have.
I'm a casual smoker. I am addicted to caffeine... I HAVE to have my Mt Dew! At times, I am a big procrastinator.

7. Name some jobs you have had.
Mother, foster mother, educational advocate and consultant, elementary grade teacher, high school teacher, community college teacher, scrapbook teacher and consultant, organizational guru, business owner, hostess, waitress, counselor to pregnant teens, career counselor, counselor to drug addicts, therapist. I'm sure I forgot a few.

8. Name those whom you are tagging.
Kristin at CIDP and Me, Kristen at We are THAT Family, Jen at Absolutely Bananas, Stacey at Real World Mom, and Tracey at Grace Comes by Hearing.

Ten Reasons Why I Blog

I've been tagged by Kristin at CIDP and Me --http://www.cidpandme.blogspot.com/ -- to do a meme on Ten Reasons Why I Blog.

Ten Reasons Why I Blog

1. To share my love of my children.
2. To connect with friends, old and new.
3. To connect with others with chronic illness. I have fibromyalgia and polyneuropathy.
4. To share experiences in the world of single parenting. Its a difficult world to navigate and sharing information can be such a blessing to others.
5. To overcome my fear of appearing weak in the eyes of others. Blogging and sharing my journey is therapeutic in its own way.
6. To share my love of scrapbooking and photography.
7. To share my love of reading.
8. To have a creative outlet to share my writing.
9. To have accountability in all areas of my life.
10. The biggest reason of all...to give HOPE to those dealing with adversity, whether it be an illness, financial struggles, personal struggles, etc. We all have struggles, but there's HOPE.

A Lot Of Little Known Facts About Me

I was tagged by my friend, Art, via email. I have done a similar questionnaire on numerous occasions and don't want to keep repeating myself so I figured it was time to add it to the blog.

1. Were you named after anyone? My dad.
2. When was the last time you cried? Yesterday when my children would listen to me. Obviously, stress had taken over.
3. Do you like your handwriting? Yes, I do.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Hard salami.
5. Do you have kids? Yes. Two biological children and one foster child. And one fur-baby.
6. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Yes, I do.
7. Do you still have your tonsils? No. I don't have my adenoids either.
8. Would you bungee jump? No.
9. What is your favorite cereal? Frosted Flakes, Reese's Puffs.
10. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes.
11. Do you think you are strong? Emotionally, yes. Physically, no.
12. What is your favorite ice cream? Chocolate with peanut butter, banana, and chocolate.
13. What is the first thing you notice about people? The eyes and the eye contact... if they can look me in the eye... it's all about eye contact.
14. Red or pink? Red.
15. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? Being overweight. But for the most part I am okay with that.
16. Who do you miss the most? My dad.
17. What color pants and shirt are you wearing? Blue jeans and pink shirt.
18. What was the last thing you ate? Egg and bacon sandwich.
19. What are you listening to right now? The tapping of the keyboard, the heater running, and commercial on TV.
20. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue.
21. Favorite smells? Polo cologne, lilacs, fresh bathed baby powdery smell.
22. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Community Action Partnerships of Mercer County.
23. Favorite sports to watch? Nascar.
24. Hair color? Out of the box, salt and pepper. In the box, dark brown/brunette with auburn highlights.
25. Eye color? Blue.
26. Do you wear contact? Sometimes.
27. Favorite food? Anything someone else cooks for me.
28. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings. I prefer action movies.
29. Last movie you watched? The Bee Movie.
30. Summer or winter? Summer.
31. Hugs or kisses? Hugs.
32. Favorite desserts? Chocolate, strawberry shortcake, chocolate ice cream....
33. What book are you reading now? Capital Crimes by John and Faye Kellerman.
34. What is on your mouse pad? It's good to be queen quote and picture of a queen.
35. What did you watch on TV last night? CSI.
36. Favorite sound? My children saying "I love you, Mommy."
37. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Neither. If I have to pick... Rolling Stones.
38. Do you have a special talent? Scrapbook artist, organization fanatic.
39. Where you born? Altoona, PA.
40. What plans do you have for this evening? Homework time with my kids, then dinner with my kids, then playing with my kids, then bed time.

If you're reading this, please add these questions to your blog with your own answers and link back to this post.

Getting To Know Me Better

Thanks, Jessica, for tagging me. Welcome to the 2008 edition of "Getting To Know You Better."

1. What time did you get up this morning?
I woke up around 7 AM. I got out of bed at 8 AM.

2. Diamonds or Pearls?
I don't have any pearls but I do have some diamonds. Thanks, Mom. I like diamonds because "they are a girl's best friend" and because they are Cameron's birthstone.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The Bee Movie. Cute, funny. The kids enjoyed it.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Grey's Anatomy, CSI: Miami, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Dancing with the Stars, Criminal Minds, NCIS. Too many, I know.

5. What did you have for breakfast?
Scrambled eggs and toasted doughnuts.

6. What is your middle name?
Storm.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
Italian, American mexican, chicken.

8. What foods do you dislike?
Seafood (except fish)... it totally freaks me out! Spinach, radishes, turnips, squash, brussel sprouts, asparagus, ham. Too numerous to list.

9. Your favorite Potato chip?
Herr's kettle chips, Lay's Classic potato chips, Snyder's Hawaiian Sweet Onion Kettle Chips.

10. What CD is in your car stereo at the moment?
My car is so old there is not CD player in it.

11. What kind of car do you drive?
Old, beat up, rusted, "gets me from point A to point B," white Ford Tempo.

12. What characteristics do you despise?
Liars, bullies, snobs, and just plain mean people.

13. Favorite item of clothing?
Anything that fits.

14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Since I cannot afford a vacation down the road let alone to another country, I cannot fathom where I would go.

15. What color is your bathroom?
White with blue and burgundy accents.

16. Favorite brand of clothing?
Anything that fits.

17. Where would you want to retire to?
The Carolinas... beach on one side, mountains on the other. Best of both worlds.

18. Favorite time of day?
About 8:30 PM... all the kids are in bed. Peace, quiet... stop and breath... relax... ME time!

19. Where were you born?
In a hospital. Lol. Altoona, PA.

20. Favorite Sports to watch?
I don't watch sports anymore.

21. What laundry detergent do you use?
Tide and Borax.

22. Are you a morning person or night owl?
Night owl. Though, lately I have my doubts about that. Lol.

23. What size shoe do you wear?
10... look out big foot, here i come. Dress shoes are smaller, depending on the style.

24. Favorite animal?
Penguins, platypus.

25. What did you want to be when you were little?
A teacher and a housewife with 6 kids.

26. Favorite candy bar?
Reese's mini peanut butter cups (not the big, regular size ones), Dove chocolate, 3 Musketeers Mint, dark chocolate.

27. What are your favorite childhood memories?
I have much of my childhood blocked out of my memory for good reasons. Camping with the whole family -- both sets of grandparents, friends, lots of cousins at Kinzoo Dam.

28. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Nanny, babysitting, administration, preschool teacher, elementary school teacher, TSS, BSC, counselor, therapist, adult teacher, sales, and advocate.

29. Nicknames?
Storm.

30. Any Piercings?
3 in each year.

31. Eye color?
Blue. They change color from hazel to more intense blue to a little green depending on my mood and what colors I am wearing.

32. Ever been to Africa?
No.

33. Ever loved someone so much it made you cry?
Yes, definitely.

34. Ever been in a car accident?
Yes.

35. Favorite restaurant?
King's, Olive Garden (though, I haven't been to one in 15 years).

36. Favorite ice cream?
Chocolate, chocolate with peanut butter.

37. Favorite flower?
Lilacs, daises.

38. Disney or Warner Brothers?
Both.

39. Favorite fast food restaurant?
Wendy's, KFC, Taco Bell.

40. What color is your bedroom carpet?
Dirty tan.

41. How many times did you take your drivers test?
Once.

42. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
Credit card? What is that? Lol. Wal-Mart so I can buy the necessities I need for my family.

43. What do you do most often when you are bored?
Who has time to be bored?!?!?!

44. Bedtime?
Sometime after 8:30 PM. SOme nights it's early and sometimes its late. Usually around 12 AM.

45. What are you listening to right now?
Still the One in my playlist.

46. What is your favorite color?
Blue.

47. How many tattoos do you have?
Now I have 0.

48. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
The chicken since God created the animals.

49. What materialistic thing would you ask for if you had one wish to make?
A new house that is totally furnished and with a pre-lanscaped yard.

50. If you had to pick your wedding party, who would be in it?
I don't believe I will be getting married again.

51. What is your favorite song?
I have many. Check out the playlist at the bottom of the page.

52. What would you name a son if you had one?
I cannot have any more children. My son's name is Cameron.

53. What would you name a daughter if you had one?
I cannot have any more children. My daughter's name is Cassandra.

54. What are you doing tomorrow?
Spending time with my children, doing Easter crafts, doing chores around the house, blogging,...

55. What are 5 things that made you smile today?
(1.) Jessica's sharing stories about Ivory and Ivory's pet fish, Melma. (2.) The kids decorating Easter eggs. (3.) That I woke up this morning. (4.) Champ standing on his hind legs trying to look out the kitchen window (he could barely reach the window sill). (5.) The lame blonde joke a friend told me.

My New Name

I was tagged by Kim so here are my answers.

1. Rock Star Name
(first pet & current car)
Snowy Tempo

2.Gangster Name
(favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin

3. "Fly Girl" Name
(first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
D LIT

4. Detective Name
(favorite color, favorite animal)
Blue Penguin

5. Soap Opera Name
(middle name, city where you were born)
Storm Altoona

6. Star Wars Name
(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
Lit Da

7. Superhero Name
(2nd favorite color, favorite drink and put the word "The")
Red The Mt Dew

8. Nascar Name
(the first names of your grandfathers)
Red William

9. Stripper Name
(the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy)
Pearls Chocolate

10.Witness Protection Name
(mother's & father's middle names )
Louise Leroy

I gotta say "thank goodness I didn't choose the gangsta life... I don't think I'd get much street cred as "Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin." Do you? LOL!

This was fun to do and very funny results! Now I tag you. I can't wait to see your answers. Share your answers via the comments section or share a link to your blog.

Tagged

I got tagged by my friend Kim in Alaska at Scrapbook.com. You can see her blog at http://www.scrapbook.com/blogs/80091/view/73307.html. Now I have to say seven things about myself and then tag seven other people (who will then say seven facts about themselves and then tag seven other people).

1. I am a single mother to two wonderful children.
2. I don't often work for pay, but am very active in my daily life.
3. My favorite seasons are Spring and Autumn.
4. I am finally dating a very nice, considerate man. The first "true" man in ten years.
5. My favorite color is blue. My second choice is red.
6. I am 10 weeks shy of my 40th birthday!
7. I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise.

Go on and write something about yourself and tag 7 other people. Send a link back to here so your readers know where you got tagged from.

You're It!