AuburnChick's Adventures

Yes, I’m feeling a bit of the blues on this Hodgepodge day.  In yesterday’s post, I shared that my best friend’s husband had lost his battle with cancer.  I spoke with her son after work yesterday, and he said that she was holding up well thanks to the support of their family and friends.  I also learned that my mentor’s mother-in-law had passed away Monday evening.  Cinda, my mentor, has become a good friend, so my heart is hurting for her.  There just seems to be a lot of sadness surrounding those I care about lately, but I’m thankful for God’s provision and grace.

Now, let’s get on with the questions.  Thanks, Joyce!!

1.  Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

I know a lot of people who function best under pressure; however, I do my best thinking when I’m relaxed.  I need to chew on ideas a while.  Most of my best thinking actually happens in the shower.  It’s where I get my best lesson plan ideas, and I often have to rush out and write them down before I forget!!

2.  Are you a risk taker? What’s one big risk you’ve taken?

I wouldn’t say that I’m a risk taker, per se.  I put a lot of thought into what I’m doing.  With that said, I set high goals for myself and work hard to achieve them.  This has often required that I step outside my comfort zone so, in a sense, I am risking myself…what I know for what is unknown.

3.  Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightening (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?

Well, since Joyce didn’t list fear of tornadoes, I’ll go with my second biggest fear…fear of spiders.  I will not mess with them.  I will run when I see them.  Unless I’m faced with a pregnant mama with a sac of baby spiders on her belly.  Yes, I had to take care of this and watched the baby spiders scurry all over the floor when the sac broke and they got out.  I didn’t sleep well for weeks, afraid that the bleach I had sprayed had not killed them all.

4.  Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new?

The Mr. and I have always wanted to move back to Auburn, Alabama.  We are planning on doing so in five or six years…as soon as he retires.  In fact, he’s already looking at houses online!  Auburn is one of the most beautiful towns…so serene with its country locale and proximity to our Auburn Tigers.  I cannot wait!!!  I think I’m an Alabama girl at heart.

5.  What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?

I find two things annoying.  The first is when I have no vegan-friendly meals to choose from.  I cannot eat at Red Lobster without ordering vegetable side dishes, so we don’t even bother going anymore.  The second thing I find annoying is having my booth bumped by people sitting behind me.  Ugh.

6.  Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue…your favorite color this time of year?

I love sky blue.  The sky is just beautiful here in Florida this time of the year.  Nearly every Saturday, the Mr. and I drive to the mall at the beach, and we have to go over “The Bridge.”  The view of the water and condos is gorgeous!!!

7.  If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?

I’d be game to go anywhere.  I can be a rather solitary person but still don’t feel as though I have real quality time to myself.  Now that my children are adults, and one of them is out of the house, I find myself learning more about ME all the time.  I wouldn’t mind exploring a place like Paris or even somewhere on this side of the pond, such as Washington, D.C. or some other history-filled location.

8.  My Random Thought

Last night, I lived out my life through Twitter…posting updates about the finale of one of my favorite shows, Dancing With the Stars.

I know for a fact that April and Rebecca were watching, for we tweeted each other a few times as we watched.

I held my breath while the results were read.

The couple I had rooted for all season WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take a look at the smiles!!

Usually, the biggest transformation can be seen in the star; however, it’s safe to say that Maks underwent his own makeover this season.

I think that Meryl’s gentle nature, along with her strong work ethic and natural grace, allowed him to let down his guard.

He became vulnerable.

He allowed the public to see his tenderness.

For that, he endeared himself to us.

I pray that this new-found peace he has found finds a place deep inside his soul.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Dancing With the Stars, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Wednesday Hodgepodge |