Four Things

I've been tagged by Heather --- these are fun!! :)


4 jobs I've had:
1. The Berean Bookstore
2. Walt Disney World - Conservation Research Internship
3. Tate & Lyle
4. Butler Animal Health (right now!)


4 movies I've watched over and over:
1. The Cutting Edge
2. Shag
3. The Parent Trap - original version w/Hayley Mills
4. Meet the Parents/Meet the Fockers



4 places I have lived:
1. Central Illinois
2. Orlando, FL....which interestingly enough could be considered "central" FL
3. South-Central PA
4. South-Central Michigan


4 shows I watch: ....only 4??
1. The Office
2. Lost
3. American Idol
4. Grey's Anatomy



4 places I've been:
1. St. Lucia
2. Playa Del Carmen
3. Mexico City - for work, not a destination.
4. New York City


4 favorite things to eat:
1. Pizza
2. French Fries
3. Sugar cookies with icing
4. Banana Salad... Mmmm... thanks Aunt Vera!!!


4 places I'd rather be:
1. Somewhere warm and toasty, snowless
2. Hanging with friends & family
3. Sweatin' to the Oldies - hahahaha
4. On the Rock Boat - it's a cool cruise w/Rock Bands like the BoDeans, Pat McGee Band, Josh Kelley, etc...


4 things I look forward to this year:
1. Summer in Michigan - we have MORE lakes than Minnesota does.
2. Meeting up with friends/family in D-town, or elsewhere
3. Heather's adoption referral - she's having a baby this year!! :)
4. ...... taking guitar lessons??

And they were out of Milk Duds.....

We have had a wonderful "Holiday" from work!! I feel like I can finally use that term... usually Europeans have long holidays - and we managed to have quite a nice break ourselves. It turned out that we only had to take 3 days off of work, but gained well over a week of time off - if you include the weekends!

Our journey started out with leaving Snickers in Decatur. My mom & R and my dad tooks turns watching him while we were in Austin, TX visiting Dave's family. Thankfully we were able to see Joe, Maritza & Jimmy (my nephew) before they headed back to CA. The picture above is how Snickers looks when we leave... quite pathetic, as if to say, "where are you guys going without me, NOW!" Anyway - we had a wonderful time in TX where it was very seasonable. It was fun to see how much our niece, Ava, has changed - she is talking now, and has quite a bit to say. We also finally got to meet Dakota, he is the newest Harder that was born in August. We arrrived back to Decatur without any flight complications - we spent a few days visiting some more with friends and family - then we headed back to Michigan to relax before returning to work tomorrow (Jan 2).

Our New Years Eve started out a little rocky, well actually - just for me!! We decided to go see a movie...and they were tragically OUT of Milk Duds. I truly feel that I am missing the movie-going experience if I do not have my Milk Duds. But, luckily - we went to see National Treasure and it was SO good that I forgot all about my Milk Duds. I am wondering though, why they think it is okay to run out of Milk Duds.... I'm sure they never run out of popcorn or drinks!! Additionally, at $2.00/box... WHYon earth would you run out? Regardless, this is a lesson to myself to start saving my money by purchasing my milk duds elsewhere before we arrive at the theatre.

ANYWAY - we had a WONDERFUL New Years Eve. One of our neighbors invited us over, and they were having some other neighbors and friends over. We weren't sure at first, since we didn't know them very well - but, we decided it might be fun - and it certainly was!! The time flew by so fast we were counting down before we knew it!! Lots of yummy food, games, and laughs. (They even had Karaoke!!) ha.

It was the most beautiful New Years Eve that I can remember. It was snowing from about 8:30pm until morning...we watched as the beautiful snow accumulated outside. One-by-one neighbors and friends began to leave, and so we headed out as well sometime between 1-2am. One of our neighbors that left about 10minutes before us was out shoveling his driveway as we walked out. He has helped us numerous times with our driveway, so Dave and Snickers put on their gear and headed out to shovel at 2am!!! ha. Brings new meaning to "No Time Like the Present!"

Snickers loved all of the snow...he absolutely adores it. So, here are a few pictures of how Snickers looks in and after the snow. Somehow he accumulates snowballs in is fur, that just won't come off until they melt. Meanwhile, he won't sit down and he walks around like a person that wet themselves - because he is just so uncomfortable. It's quite humorous, actually.

Everyday America

We went to see a concert the other night here in Battle Creek - Sugarland was the main event, with Little Big Town and Jake Owens opening. If you haven't heard of them, they are all country bands. :) Sugarland put on an amazing show - a lot of energy, wonderful set, wonderful songs.

One of Sugarland's songs that I have heard sooooo many times on the radio, got me thinking for the first time "Everyday America." Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) said "How many of you think I have a pretty cool life?" .....here's the lyrics to the chorus:

Oh, whoa, everybody's dreaming big
Oh, whoa, but everybody's just getting by
That's how it goes in everyday America
A little town and a great big life

It's a song about people..... people that didn't have everything or just didn't have everything go their way - nevertheless, they kept dreaming.... it's a song about everyday America.

I found it suiting in light of the recent events (Omaha Shootings at Von Maur) and the not-so-recent events - seems like every 10 months or less someone does something that we never could have fathomed here in America.

Here is a list of people that have problems (of some sort) in America: celebrities, president's, athletes, nobel peace prize winners, husbands, wives, moms, dads, kids, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, etc.... you get the picture .... EVERBODY'S JUST GETTING BY at some point in their journey.

Stop the shooting madness, being famous in Hell won't get you too far.

Tagged to be Random

My friend Heather has tagged me to post 8 RANDOM things about myself. We'll see what I can come up with:

1. I hate money - holding it that is.... bills or coins it doesn't matter. It is icky. Probably because I'm a slight germ-phobe. Plus it makes your hand smell - especially the coins.

2. When I brush my teeth if I don't brush my tongue and gag a little bit from the toothpaste, I don't feel like I've really done a thorough job of brushing.

3. I really want to find time to take guitar lessons - my dad got be a guitar a few years ago, and I still can't play a single song, but I pretend to sometimes. :)

4. If I could have one arcade game in my house, it would be "Dance Revolution" and I would play it everyday.

5. I passed the written & physical exam to be a Firefighter.

6. I once served as a juror on a murder trial.

7. If I could pick any career in the world, I would be a real-life Charlie's Angel.

8. I really love to sing karaoke.....even though it is often off-key. After all, if it sounded perfect than I wouldn't be singing karaoke.