25 things...

1. I used to think that I would never leave Stuart, IA and now I live in Denver and know that I will never live in Stuart or Iowa ever again. Though I miss the people so. I often wish they would all move closer. Why can't Denver be 4 hours from Stuart instead of 10hours.

2. I almost never remember my dreams and when I do I can only retell bits and pieces that make almost no sense to anyone, but me. Jesse has vivid dreams almost nightly and can retell them with such detail it amazes me. He's got an amazing memory or he's the best storyteller/liar I have ever met... Either way I am jealous.

3. I've made it my mission to help Jesse better connect with his family. I know he's jealous of me and how close I am to my family. I try to keep in contact with his mom through emails, his sister through her blog page, his grandma through letters, and his other sisters and sister-in-law through myspace. It's also a big part of the reason I started this blog page.

4. I love pictures. I love taking pictures, looking at pictures, and framing and hanging pictures on my wall. I have roughly 20 photos around my living room and would have more, but Jesse thinks were getting a big excessive.

5. I love antiques. I love historical artifacts you might say. I love to go to antique malls and look around at all the history and maybe even take some home with me. One of my prized possessions is a framed 1926 cover of Pictorial Review a womens' sewing magazine of the day. It's a beautiful piece of art.

6. I want to learn how to sew and even more I want to learn how to quilt. Someday when I have the time and the money I will do both. I got a used sewing machine as a present from my old landlords and for my birthday my friend, who works at a fabric shop, got me supplies to get started. Now I need to transform our spare room into a sewing room.

7. I want to go back to school and I don't all at the same time. I'm torn, because I know on one hand that it can only open more doors for me career wise, but on the other hand I dread sitting in a class room again and I don't know how I'm going to make it work financially. I got accepted and now I'm figuring out the rest. I'm very nervous.

8. My car is falling apart and I can not afford another especially right now. I'm doing my best to save up for a new one and hopefully before next winter I will have saved 2 to 3 thousand and my friend's dad who works at the auto auction will hook me up. I can not wait!

9. I come from a long line of artistic people and most people think I'm an artisit, but it's just not true. I can barely draw to save my life. Jesse is definitely the artist out of the 2 of us. I'm more of the creative type. I'm good at crafts and inspiring creative thoughts in others. I think of myself more as a muse.

10. I love kids, but at this point in my life am not ready for my own. I get enough kid time at the museum, the parenting classes, babysitting, my new volunteer job, and spending time with all of Jesse's neices and nephews (he's got 5 and 2 on the way). Someone else described it as the grandparent job. Play with them, teach them, have fun with them and then send them home with their folks. Give me 5 years and then we'll see where I am.

11. I have no problem cleaning up after others, but when it comes to cleaning up after me I often get lazy. Jesse is my motivator and if it weren't for him who knows how many dishes would be piled in the sink or how much laundry would be in the laundry basket before I got around to taking care of it.

12. I have a big problem saying No. When I was younger we went on a family vacation to Arnold's Park with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I have a very weak stomach and don't really enjoy myself at theme parks for those of you who don't know. Me being the oldest of the cousins was asked to ride with the younger ones. Ok and then again with the next one. Ok and so on until I started feeling queasy. I told my mom I thought I needed to set down for a bit. She didn't seem to concerned, because when I looked up she was walking away with the rest of the group leaving me all alone. I jumped up and ran to catch up with them only to be suckered into riding the spinning apples with a group of the little ones. Yeah needless to say a really bad idea. As soon as the ride was over I ran for the exit only to make it to the bushes where I proceeded to vomit. Should have said No, but I just couldn't. I've always got to be the nice guy. I'm working on this, but it still continues to be a problem for me.

13. I'm terrible with money. Seriously I give it away faster than I make it. I barely make any money, but I know people who make less than me and they make it work and it looks effortless. I should stop giving it all away, but I have a soft spot for others.

14. I work at a non-profit and until I got the job I had no idea what that term meant. Now I can't imagine myself working in the for profit world.

15. I love to volunteer. Helping others better their lives makes me feel good and no matter what I hope to always have a volunteer job until the day I die. It makes me happy.

16. I tend to be a gossip. I try to not be, because I hate drama and petty childish games... but sometimes the small town comes out in me and I gossip away. Maybe someday I'll be strong enough not to.

17. I am more sensitive than most people think. I put off a hard exterior and always as my dad says play tougher than the nails, but I do have a sensative side. I love helping others especially my friends, family, and co-workers, but the only thing I ask in return is a thank you or some sort of acknowledgement. The one thing that hurts my feelings the most is having my act of kindness ignored. Repay me with polite manners, just like we tell the kids at the museum.

18. I hate rude people. I have the hardest time putting myself first and people who are rude and selfish drive me nuts. I would do anything for anyone especially those I care most about before I would do for myself and it blows my mind that people out there think they are more important than all other people. Get off your high horse and help a brother out.

19. I don't believe that you have to go to church to be a good person. I believe in right and wrong and the golden rule. If you follow those three things you will go far.

20. Jesse and I are addicted to Netflix. We get really obessed and since joinging a few months ago have uped the number of dvd's we get. We also do live streaming on his x-box.

21. I have what some might call an odd obsession with learning about pregnancy and child birth. I watch lots of shows and documentaries and read lots of books. I've even thought about trying to become a labor and delivery nurse, a doula, or a midwife. I would love to experience the miracle of birth on a daily basis and to help couples ease through the transistion.

22. I love cooking especially baking. I got 2 cook books for Christmas and 2 cooking aprons for my birthday. I like to try out new recipes, but more than that I like to make up my own recipes. To me recipes are more of a guidline. I like to get creative, but nothing to weird. I follow the cooking school of grandma... it's all in my head, I make it from memory and I pinch the salt instead of use proper measurements. It seems to be doing well for me thus far.

23. I truly enjoy doing laundry on my day off, but only when I have nothing else to do and the washer and dryer are in my apartment and free.

24. I have an obsession with the tv show Jon & Kate plus 8. I watch it all the time and I force Jesse to watch it too. Its a cute show that's often funny and watching the chaos of their life makes me feel better about the chaos of mine. Hey at least I don't have 8 kids under 8.

25. My favorite genre of movies is Documentary. I've been dowloading tons all day from netflix, so we can stream them on his x-box.