Nickname Extravaganza

I have been thinking lately about all of the different nicknames that I've had throughout my life. I feel pretty competent that I could not be outdone in the large number of nicknames that I have. Care to compete?

Megan - mostly people I have just met or people who I don't know extremely well.
Meg - super close friends, family, Aaron
Megalina - What my Grandma, Amoo, calls me
Monkey Maida, Sweeta Potata, the list goes on - names from my mom.
NutMeg - high school name
Megera- college name
Meggiemads - a friend from Irvine
Megatron - name growing up. Actually, I think that's what my brother's friends called me.
Smeg - Aisha and Beth
Megs - name growing up
Meggie - Mom, Dad, Brooke
Meggie Loo - that would be Brookie Cookie :)
Meggie-Poo - brother Jake
Megster - Jake again
Slayer - (maiden name Layer) high school boyfriend. So endearing.
Meegan, MegHan - telemarketers who are about to be hung up on.
I won't tell you Aaron's other nicknames for me :) JUST KIDDING!

I think that's about it!

My Love/Hate Relationship

Have you ever bought something for hundreds of dollars that you absolutely hate? Well, I have. Our very own Nordictrack treadmill. We've been thinking of getting a treadmill for a while now because running outside here is the pits. In the summer it's too hot and muggy and it's just way too cold in the winter. So my mom called me the other day telling me that there was a sale at Sears for treadmills. On top of that, she said they would give us our Christmas early this year and pay for it. How could we resist? So, thanks, Mom for the treadmill. I hate running on it but how else am I going to keep up with my after-the-kids-go-to-bed-sweets-binging? It calls to me every other day but I pretend not to hear it until it's really yelling. We put it up in the loft so I can run and keep an eye on the kids while they watch a movie. It's also nice to have the freedom to shed clothes at will. And the treadmill is complete with a built in fan, and a grade function so that you can run up a really steep hill if you want. But I don't. I'm good for two flat miles in twenty minutes and no more. And that's about all the boys are good for too. Aaron usually runs twice what I do, in half the time and tells me that I need to step it up and run more and faster. Why? I'm perfectly content running 10 minute miles. Besides, I hate the treadmill and I don't want to spend any more time on it that I have to. 2 miles, 20 minutes. That's it.
Of course the boys have to "run" on it too after I'm done. But mostly they like to repeatedly lay on it and get shoved off the end. It's a series of giggles, more giggles and then someone usually ends up injured.

Tagged by Nicole

10 years ago I: was a sophomore in high school! I had just learned how to drive a car and drive my parents crazy by seriously dating my first real boyfriend and being your typical flaky teenager.

5 years ago I: had just gotten married a few months before and was blissfully kidless. But not without responsibility, Aaron and I left the house at 7 am, went to classes and work until 6 every night. But it was a lot of fun being newly weds!

1 year ago I: lived in Verano and hung out at the playground all day with the Gardener and her kids, going to the beach, Disneyland, playgroup and the awesome library. I miss those times!

Yesterday I: went to swim lessons where I watched my oldest swim by himself! I went shopping at 6 stores because I had coupons at each and I played online boggle last night. I love boggle.

5 snacks I enjoy: wheat thins with cream cheese, cookie dough, tomatoes with salt and pepper, graham crackers and milk, salad with homemade ranch dressing.

5 things I would do with a million dollars: pay off student loans, start our retirement because we're still students and have none, build a wicked cool playground and pool in the backyard, donate to charity, add to the boys' college funds.

5 places I would run away to: Italy to eat, my craft room to finish J & A's stockings, a spa for a full body massage, a cabin in Sunriver with Aaron, visit family.

5 TV shows I like: LOST, 24, Gilmore Girls, Lingo (is that even on anymore?), cosby show.

5 Things I hate doing: cleaning bathrooms, weeding, grocery shopping, disciplining, having to
come up with ideas for dinner.

Biggest joys of the moment: get to watch conference today, have two cute little boys who do new and funny things everyday, my mom comes this week, Aaron is home today, almost done with J & A's stockings.

People to tag: everyone but only if you want to!

Splurge vs. Skimp

My friend Nicki asked what kinds of things I splurge on and what kind of things I skimp on. So here goes.

10 SPLURGES
1. Tillamok cheese. It's simply the best. I was devastated to come out to Indianapolis and find that the local stores carry only Kraft or store brand cheese. But, with further research I've since learned that Costco once more saves the day and carries Tillamok. Too bad it's a half and hour away.
2. Produce. If it's on sale, great. If it's not, I buy it anyway. I am known as the fruit and vegetable Nazi in our house. If my kids will eat it, and produce being the best thing you can put into your body, I'll buy it no matter what the cost.
3. Car Insurance. I pay a little extra for a dependable auto insurance who have been highly recommended. The cheap-o auto insurance companies scare me a bit.
4. Jeans. I'm not talking Lucky or Diesel, but I have to admit that if I find a pair of jeans that fit me like a dream, I'll pay $50 (I guess that's not as bad as some).
5. Shoes. The boys wear Stride Rite (unless we're at church) and I always buy Adidas for running shoes. My Mom taught me never to mess with your feet because they are the only ones you get. So take care of them!
6. Sensodyne toothpaste. Unfortunately I have pretty sensitive teeth so I have to pay a couple extra bones to help me out in the sensitivity department so that I can comfortable eat ice cream.
7. Education. Duh. I didn't care what the cost of Destroy's preschool was going to be, I just found the one I thought would work the best for him and shelled out the dough.
8. Pizza. Papa John's is the best. Sorry, Nicki, I'd have to disagree with you and say that pizza does not all taste the same. I'll spend a couple of extra bucks on tastier pizza.
9. Face wash. I only buy the Clinique foaming face wash. I love the stuff, what can I say?
10. Electronic things. If we're going to buy something expensive, we might as well spend a bit extra so that we can insure that it lasts, right? Computers, DVD players, etc.6.
11. Huggies wipes. Why do my kids have nasty, giant smears of poo when I change them? I use about 12 wipes every time Search goes #2. Why can't it be a nice little clump? Oh, because I'm the fruit Nazi. That's why. No other wipes can compete with Huggies as far as cleaning those little bums.

10 SKIMPS
1. Almost all food items. I buy either what's on sale or the store brand for just about everything. I don't buy store brand ice cream (Dreyers, Breyers and B&J's only but only when on sale).
2. Clothes except for jeans. I spent $40 bucks for the boys clothes recently at this huge baby re-sale and got most of their winter clothes. I buy shirts from no-name stores and Target because they are cute, cheap and usually end up with stains or holes in them anyways.
3. I have to agree with Nicki on the sunglasses thing. I lose them or the kids break them way too often to justify buying expensive ones. So, until I get a brain and my kids grow up, the Target dollar spot is where it's at.
4. Kids toys, in the rare event that I buy them. The only time a buy a semi-expensive toy is for Christmas or birthday. For some odd reason, my children rarely play with toys. They like to search and destroy, watch movies, draw and play outside. So the only place I buy them toys, if at all, is once again the Target dollar spot or Joann dollar spot. They have all kinds of great art stuff at the Joann dollar spot.
5. Shampoo, lotion, soap, paper towels, etc. I usually wait until the Costco coupons come around.
6. Medicine. Never buy brand name if there's generic. Having a medically inclined husband, it's nice to know that, yes Nicki, they really are the same thing.
7. Southwest Airlines. Living a long ways from family now it's expensive to fly home. So, we go with unassigned seating, cheesy, singing flight attendants and long lines. It's worth the price cut though.
8. Tithing. Just kidding!
9. Wendy's dollar menu.
10. Everything else not mentioned in the splurge group.

What do you skimp on and what do you splurge on?

Blogging Reloaded

Just as Neo finally sees the world as the matrix that it is, I see the world in blogging. Instead of seeing vertical lines of random letters, I see great photo ops and try to remember funny stories. A flower is not just a flower anymore and pictures of the kids have a purpose now. And why else would I take pictures of my dishes?
Well, I don't know the answer to that one either. I just thought it looked cool. It seems that I take my camera with me everywhere now hoping for a blogging moment to pop out at me. It's a little pathetic really. My dear husband doesn't say anything out loud but we've been married long enough for me to know his thoughts. I'm a little coo-coo. So, for now, until I find a new hobby, you'll have to deal with my strange, long-winded posts.

Tagged again!

OK, so a while ago Jordan tagged me. Today I got tagged again which is perfectly OK with me because a) I love doing these little questionnaires (so I'll try to be more creative this time, and b) I didn't do it right the first time so now I can make up for it.

4 jobs I've had:
1. worked for my dad (dentist) from the time I was like 12, sometimes cleaning the office windows, sometimes assisting on emergencies. Or just being there when it was only he and the patient so that no one could accuse him of anything, uh, immoral.
2. little sister to two older brothers. I'll show you the scars.
3. house cleaner, economist, policewoman, cook, gardener, chauffeur, sliver plucker etc., AKA mom.
4. Worked at the State Hospital with the at-risk youth. Boys. The day I started one of the therapists, a 250 pound Samoan male, got his jaw broken by one of the boys. I was just a tad nervous for a couple of weeks but after a while I got used to it.

4 movies I could watch over and over:
I really don't think I could watch any movie over and over.

4 places I've lived
1. Oregon
2. Orange County
3. Indiana
4. Insanity (OK, well close enough)

4 favorite TV/reality shows
1. The Cosby Show
2. Gilmore Girls
3. 24
4. Lost

4 favorite foods:
1. cream cheese
2. butter
3. sugar
4. anything with those in it.

4 websites I visit daily
1. blogspot
2. email
3. CNN
4. online banking (OK, not everyday)

4 hobbies I enjoy:
1. reading
2. playing sports but not watching them on TV
3. sewing stuff
4. organizing

4 friends I tag:
1. Brooke Hinckley
2. Alli
3. Mica
4. Aisha

*Nancy, I'm pulling the p. card out for you this time*

The need for creativity

I have this "creative need" to be fulfilled. It can be satisfied through various mediums such as beading this necklace, writing, sewing, gardening, organizing, or any manner of being crafty, creative or by improving something. After a while it builds up and I have to purge my creativity on something. Last night I spent two hours arranging, rearranging and throwing away decorations for my house. Today I spent a couple of hours rearranging a closet. Luckily I can sleep tonight because my need for creativity has been filled!

Four jobs I've had:

1. Chiropractic assistant

2. lifeguard

3. Quizno's sandwich artist (no joke, that's what they called us)

4. mom

4 Favorite movies:

1. The Sound of Music

2. My Fair Lady or Little Women
3. Anything with Owen Wilson

4. Either Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or Star Wars

4 places I've lived:

1. Oregon

2. Utah

3. Orange County

4. Indianapolis

4 favorite TV shows:

1. Scrubs (if it's decent)

2. American Idol

3. uhhh...

4. uhhh...

4 places I've been on vacation:

1. The DMZ between South and North Korea (a little scary!)

2. Caribbean

3. Baja, Mexico

4. Blackcombe Mountain in Canada

4 things I want at this moment:

1. My extremely overgrown yard to be weeded

2. A personal chef so I'll never have to cook again

3. For my husband to be done with all schooling/training, etc so that we can be real people

4. for a giant dehumidifier in Indiana

4 favorite foods:

1. anything with potato

2. citrus fruits, I'm not a melon lover.

3. ice cream

4. chocolate chip cookies and milk

4 websites I visit daily:

1. blogspot

2. email

3. craigslist (because we have to somehow fill an empty house)

3. yellowpages.com because we don't have a phone book yet

4 things to do:

1. weed my extremely overgrown yard

2. find a company to come and bugbomb

3. finish my book

4. find a reliable carpet cleaning company. Oh, but the previous residents "cleaned the carpets".

4 places I want to visit:

1. a livable house

2. new Zealand, backpacking

3. Italy to eat

4. my bed

Good riddance, dish rack!

I celebrated moving by throwing away my oppressive dish rack. Now that we have a dishwasher, I won't have to use it anymore! I thought about starting a bonfire with it but I'm pretty sure Verano would have kept my cleaning deposit or something if I did. Although I am very excited to have a dishwasher, washing the dishes after dinner while Aaron was giving the kids a tub was kind of a brainless, therapeutic end to the day. Maybe I'll miss it more that I thought.

No, I don't think I will.

the TV Nazi

As many of you know, I am the TV Nazi. We do not have, nor will we ever have, TV in our house. At times I do wish we had it, for certain shows, but I will never pay for cable and all the trash that comes along with it to get those shows. Thank goodness for Lost and 24 on DVD! Getting rid of the TV has been one of the best things for our marriage. I used to cringe when I could hear the TV turned on. Anyways, the other day Aaron and I were pondering on what we would do with our 4th bedroom in our new house. We don't have nearly enough furniture to fill the house so we both agreed that we would make the room a craft/workout room and we would get a treadmill. Then Aaron commented that he couldn't run on a treadmill without watching a TV and so he suggested that we buy a little TV for that bedroom. At first I laughed and then I thought about it and decided to grant him his wish. The only rule would be that he would have to be running on the treadmill to be able to watch the TV. And even better, the TV would only be powered by running on the treadmill. We'll see if he really wants a TV now. I could end up with a really skinny husband. Do any of you out there have engineering/mechanic/electronic degrees that could make this happen for me?