Monday Meme

It's late, so I'm taking the easy way out.  This meme was boosted, with love, from Mrs. Chili.

What is your favorite possession?   Honestly, I feel like I could do without most of my possessions.  If there’s something I’m absolutely grabbing in case of a fire, it’s my favorite childhood home video and a picture of my dad and me (both circa 1981-ish).

Do you like to read? If so, which books do you love best?   Yes, indeed.  I started reading when I was pretty young, so I guess I’ve always loved it…I have fond memories of library trips with my mom.  I almost entirely stick to fiction, specifically crime dramas/psychological mysteries.  I also enjoyed the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games trilogy.  Oh, and everyone should go read The Book Thief.  Seriously.  Right now.

Do you have any pets?   I have a 4 ½ year old cat, Max.  He was the only way I could get Jersey to marry me.  Ok, not really.  

What was your favorite food as a child? Is it the same now?   Well, my favorite childhood meal was a casserole thingy that we call “bacon mac” and it’s the simplest thing (basically elbow macaroni, tomato soup, milk, cheese, and bacon crumbles stirred up and baked in the oven).  I don’t know that I have a current favorite food, but I still LOVE bacon mac.  If we’re talking standalone foods, then my favorites include avocado, ranch dressing, and ice cream.

What is your favorite thing about blogging?   It’s a good way for me to release some things that bounce around in my head.  Even when I took a two-year break from blogging, I’d often think of things I needed to say.  So, it’s a safe place for me.  It also allows for some self-discovery.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?   Orange County, CA or Fairfield County, CT.

What is your favorite number?  11

Which of these things would you find hardest to give up for a year? Chocolate, reading, coffee or smoking?   Well, I don’t smoke, so that’s easy.  I love coffee, but I think it’s the routine of it as much as anything.  I’d miss it, but could deal.  I think I could give up chocolate, too.  There are other sweet things that could probably curb that craving.  I can’t imagine not reading.  That just seems crazy to me.

If you could make your life into a movie, what would you name it…and who would you want to play you?   Funny, I actually started to write a script for a movie based upon my life (though it was a very specific segment of my life).  I gave it up when I realized that it wasn’t serving its purpose…I needed catharsis, so I ended up creating the soundtrack of the movie instead and still have that CD.  I know I had a title for it, but I don’t remember it now.  Oh, and I would have cast Julia Stiles in the main role.

If you had £20,000 for a shopping spree, what would you buy?  I’m too lazy to go look up the currency conversion, but that seems like a nice amount.  If I’m shopping (versus being responsible and paying off debt), then I’ll go with new carpeting, a new bedroom set, assorted electronics, and clothes.

If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?   Wow, that’s actually really tough.  Barack Obama, Neil Patrick Harris, and Stana Katic come to mind, but I think there are a lot of famous people with whom I could have a great conversation. 

My Return

For a variety of reasons, I've been planning a return to blogging.  It's something I've been working toward for several weeks (months?), but it seems perfect that I'm finally doing something about it exactly two years after my last post.  Here I am.

I've got a lot of stuff bouncing around in my head, as usual, but I'm going to start with something light.  Memes are an easy way to give you all a peak into my life, so here it is (for more peaks, click on the "memes" tag at the end of this post and read some of my other ones).  This was stolen, with love, from Mrs. Chili.  I will follow this up with something a little more meaningful; in the meantime, enjoy.

1. What was the last clothing item that you bought?  A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a pair of jeans from Kohl's.  Recent weight gain has made my other jeans a bit too tight, so I was looking for a pair that would fit correctly and make me feel good.  Alas, I succeeded.  Funny how the right pair of jeans can give you a sudden confidence boost, huh?

2. If you could stay one age forever, what age would you choose? Oddly enough, I've really never had a problem getting older.  True, I'm still only 33, but I'm not apprehensive about aging.  I suppose, for the sake of the question, I'll stay 33...my life now is pretty awesome.

3. When you say “lol”, are you really laughing? I don't recall ever using "lol.'  It's just not my thing.  If something truly amuses me, I may type "hahahaha," in which case, yes, I'm usually laughing out loud.

4. What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the past year?  Interesting?  That's hard to say.  I mean, I feel like I lead a relatively boring life (and prefer it that way).  Perhaps giving myself daily fertility shots for one of our attempts to conceive this summer?  It's not something I had ever imagined doing.

5. If you started a business, what would it be?  Well, I am an independent contractor, so I already am my own business.  If I were to start an actual company with employees and such?  Probably something along the lines of professional organization.  Going into businesses and/or homes to evaluate need and set up systems.

6. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog? My immediate family (mom, sister, Jersey) knows, but it's not something I've shared with my in-laws, cousins, etc.  A couple of friends know about it, but I do not have any intention of "going public" with it.  Some anonymity is crucial to my ability to speak freely.  Censoring myself would take away a huge reason for my blogging.

7. How long does it take you to write an average blog post? I haven't done it enough lately to remember.  Most of my topics are things already on my mind, so it's just a matter of letting them out.

8. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow?  I really don't follow anybody these days.  It's something I should get back into; I've just completely let it slide.

9. What is your bedtime? Is sex always involved? I try to get upstairs by 9:00ish and to sleep around 10:00ish.  That hour in between is for changing, brushing my teeth, washing my face, watching TV, and reading a magazine or book.  No, sex is not always involved.

10. Introvert or extrovert? Definitely an introvert.  Always have been.

11. What is your biggest fear? At one point, I might have said regret.  I think I may have that under control enough that it's no longer a fear.  I'll have to think about this one.

12. What is the best job you ever had?  In a lot of ways, my very first job (as a restaurant hostess) may have been my best.  I was 17 and had no idea that the job really kicked ass at the time.  Oh well.

13. Dog person/cat person/both/neither?  Really, neither.  I have a cat, but pets have never been my thing.  Even as a child, I never asked my parents for one.  I don't dislike animals, but I'd be fine if none of them lived with me.

14. If you had $1,000 to spend any way you wanted, what would you do with it?   These days, it would probably go to fertility treatments.  If I had to spend it on something frivolous, then I'd either go for an assortment of movies, clothes, shoes, etc., or a vacation with Jersey.

15. How do you “dress” your toast?  I don't really eat toast very often.  When I do, it's usually got a bit of butter on it.  Nothing terribly fancy.

16. How do you feel about snow? Love the peacefulness of it; the quiet.  Don't care to spend a ton of time IN it, but appreciate a lot about it.

17. What was the worst job you ever had? Now may be a bad time to ask that.  Nah, none of my jobs have been so terrible that I couldn't stand them.  They've all had pros and cons.  The one where I was called into meeting for supposedly saying my own name incorrectly was a little ridiculous.

18. What song can you not stop listening to?  I go through phases and most songs get old to me after a while.  That being said, I'm still not tired of Baba O'Riley by The Who and Somebody to Love by Queen.  Classic rock tends to last with me longer than any current pop stuff.

19. Love your name or hate it?  Neither.  It just is.  I suppose having something that isn't mispronounced as often would be nice, but it's not that big of a deal to me.

20. How did you choose your blog/twitter handle?  Morgan is a nod to Captain Morgan, my liquor of choice.  I could have come up with a million different things (and I do have different names in different areas of the internet), but this was easy enough for blogging.

Monday Meme

I stole this, as is true of most of my memes, from Mrs. Chili.

1. How old will you be in five years? I will be 36 and that's so strange to me.

2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today? Jersey is too obvious, so I'll go with my new "boss" at work. I'm sure a post regarding my latest occupational adventure will be coming soon.

3. How tall are you? I say 5'5", though I am technically 5'4 3/4".

4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks? Um, my wedding and honeymoon.

5. What’s the last movie you saw? 2012...I love me some John Cusack, but the movie was a general disappointment.

6. Who was the last person you called? My mom

7. Who was the last person to call you? Jersey

8. What was the last text message you received? Jersey asked me what time I would be home from work.

9. Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail? I don't remember, but it was probably one of my idiot co-workers/clients. And I say idiot because all the smart ones know to reach me via email.

10. Do you prefer to call or text? Text, text, text. I've never liked to talk on the phone, even when I was a teenager. I actually panic when I have to make phone calls, and I usually ignore the phone if it rings (unless it's someone I know very well).

11. What were you doing at 12am last night? I was sound asleep. Long gone are my night owl years. I doubt I'll see another 12am until I am up with a newborn.

12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced? They divorced after 20+ years of marriage. My dad has since passed away and my mom is single.

13. When is the last time you saw your mom? This afternoon. She and I work together, which is awesome.

14. What color are your eyes? Blue-green. I'd say they are slightly more blue, but they become very green if I wear green.

15. What time did you wake up today? A little before 7:00am, and that's with no alarm. For those who don't know me well, that's an amazing feat. I am not a morning person, but I've worked hard to train my body.

16. What are you wearing right now? Jeans, my Angels jersey, and my Angels hat. It's baseball season's opening day!

17. What is your favorite christmas song? O Holy Night

18. Where is your favorite place to be? I love being at home. Oh, but I also love hotel rooms.

19. Where is your least favorite place to be? Hard to say...stuck at a red light? Or in a long line? I'm impatient.

20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere? So many places. Seattle, San Francisco, Southern California, anywhere tropical, New York City, New England. I'm not terribly picky.

21. Where do you think you’ll be in 10 years? NOT in Las Vegas. Probably living in either Seattle or New England, raising 2 kids with my beautiful wife.

22. Do you tan or burn? Mostly burn. I've learned to stay out of the sun, or at least cover myself in sunscreen.

23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? I don't remember being afraid of much.

24. What was the last thing that really made you laugh? Jersey makes me laugh all the time. Sometimes we wonder if we're too silly because our laugh to cry ratio is about 100:1.

25. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3...the pretty plasma HD in the living room and older ones in the bedroom and office.

26. How big is your bed? It's a queen, but we plan to upgrade to a king when we move in a few years.

27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer? Both. The desktop is in our home office and the laptop travels with me to work and back.

29. What color are your sheets? Where is #28? Anyway, currently, we are using our navy blue jersey sheets. As the weather warms up we will be switching to our lavender and white plaid sheets.

30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2...one under my head and one to hug.

31. What is your favorite season? Probably autumn.

32. What do you like about Autumn? It's just a cozy time of year. I also love pumpkin spice lattes, football season, and the baseball playoffs. I'd love the leaves, if I lived somewhere that had any pretty ones.

33. What do you like about winter? More coziness. Lots of family time. Scarves. The quiet of snow (if we ever get any). I guess everything just seems slow and peaceful.

Monday Meme

Here is a meme that I stole from my sister...

The Rules:

- Answer the questions below.
- Type your answers into Photobucket.
- Pick a picture from the results and post it as the answer.


1. What is your name?
Ok, so Morgan isn't my real name, but this picture was the inspiration for the alias.

2. How old will you be on your next birthday?


3. What is your occupation?

I know "Real Estate" is more of a field than an occupation, but you get the point.

4. What is your relationship status?


5. What do you want to be when you grow up?


6. What do you love most in life?

7. What do you like to do in your spare time?


8. Who is your celebrity crush?

Sorry, but I couldn't decide between serious Michael Vartan or smiling Michael Vartan, so I used both. Mmmmmm...

9. What is your favorite animal?
Giraffes are just funny. Really.

10. What is your favorite color?


11. What is your favorite book?


I really don't have a favorite book. I don't re-read books (I think I'm in the minority on that), and nothing is ranked significantly higher than everything else in my memory. I do, however, love Jonathan Kellerman's work. One of his non-fiction books is very similar to the senior honors thesis that I wrote in college and I'd love to audit a (few) graduate course(s) of his. A real life psychology career combined with writing murder mysteries...it's like my dream come true!

12. What is your favorite type of shoe?


I think it has to do with the vacation connotation.

13. What is your favorite Disney character?
14. Where is your favorite place to be?


15. What is your biggest annoyance?

16. What is your biggest fear?


17. What is your bad habit?


I could eat ice cream every day and it's something about which I've had to be very conscious during my attempt to be healthier. I don't even have a favorite flavor, though I have regular choices at most ice cream places. I. Love. Ice. Cream.

18. What is your mood right now?

Monday Meme

I've stolen this meme, with very little delay, from Mrs. Chili. Enjoy!

1. How did you come up with your blog title OR what does it mean?

I have "stumble survive smile" tattooed on my lower back; I consider it a nicer way to say "shit happens, get over it." I never thought I would get a tattoo, but triumph at the end of an emotional journey convinced me otherwise. The tattoo is a permanent reminder of my strength and my personal motto.

2. What are your general goals for blogging?

I had planned to wait and blog when I could chronicle something really big...perhaps a pregnancy. Then I realized I have a lot of junk (good, bad, and ugly) bouncing around in my head and it wouldn't hurt to have a place to dump it. A blog could be a healthy outlet for me. I had begun to comment on a couple of blogs, plus I have been a member of message board for a few years, so I wasn't a stranger to internet interaction. I suppose this blog was just a tiny bit more selfish.

3. Do people "in your real life" know that you blog and do they comment on your blog OR is it largely anonymous?

My mom, my sister, and Jersey know that I blog. Jersey's mom and sister know that I blog. An ex-boyfriend knows that I blog. I really have no intention of letting friends or coworkers know, largely because I want to be able to vent when necessary and I don't want to get myself into trouble. Of those that read, my sister and Jersey are really the only two who bother to comment.

4. How often do you post (x per week)?

I only post once or twice a week. Honestly, my biggest hesitation in starting this blog was the pressure to post all the time, but I've managed to avoid any guilt about that. I would like to regularly post two or three times a week, but I won't freak if I come up short.

5. How often do you read other blogs (x per week)?

I only read a few blogs, so I have no problem reading them daily. I also check in with the message board on which I am a member. I'd say that the community feeling on the message board is like a mini-blogosphere; I've even met a couple of them in "real life" and I keep up with the things going on in the lives of the people on the boards as much as I keep up with other bloggers.

6. How do you select blogs to read (do you prefer blogs that focus on certain topics or do you choose by tone or...)?

I don't read many, so this is simple. I started with my sister's blog and then moved to the blogs of a couple of her readers. I remember that I originally contacted Mrs. Chili with a yoga question. Admittedly, I get nervous about commenting elsewhere, simply because I feel like I'm still a blog newbie and don't want to start showing up where I'm not wanted. It's probably not a logical concern, but it's a concern.

7. Do you have any plans to copy your blog entries in any other format, or do you think that one day, you'll just delete it all?

Um, neither. I'll keep writing here until I have nothing to say, then it can just float in cyberspace for all of eternity or die in the great internet explosion of 2023.

8. What are the things you like best about blogging?

I've never been the journal type, but I love being able to get my thoughts out of my head. I'm not sure it's slowed down any of the verbal ranting and raving that I do on a daily basis, but it does help me focus my point(s).

9. What are the things you don't like about blogging?

Trying to capture a lot of my (very passionate) thoughts and opinions in a relatively brief blog post is difficult. I always have a lot to say about the things that get me riled up! Also, I think it's difficult to make my tone and/or intent clear sometimes. Sarcasm and humor don't always translate well; this goes for comments on other blogs, too. It's just hard to act the way I would act in person, because I know that the written word can be deceiving.

10. How do you handle comments?

I definitely read them all and appreciate the time people take to write them. It's awesome to know that I have an audience, even if it's a small one. When I feel the need to write a response to a comment, I do. I have a response in my head for almost everything that people say on my blog, so maybe I'll try to add more comments about comments. Look out, Mrs. Chili, here comes a dialogue!

11. Do you have any burning thoughts to share on blog etiquette?

Be respectful. I've never cared if people agree with me, but I can't stand people who don't respectfully disagree. It's just not cool.

12. Any desired blog features?

I really don't know how to do anything on this blog, so most features would be lost on me at this point. I really should learn more about videos and such. I'm not technologically inept, just lazy.

13. Have you suffered blog addiction?

Yes and no. I'd say that it's become a part of my life, but it's not something for which I would apologize. I believe I will continue to grow as I write and I hope to form long-lasting friendships, as well.

Monday Meme

I got this one from my sister...

Ten Things I Wish I Could Say to Ten Different People:

1. You are biased in the opposite way of what most people would guess.
2. What held you back?
3. I'm human.
4. Please look in the mirror when you say the things you direct at everyone else.
5. Happiness snowballs as much as unhappiness does.
6. I wish you were here to walk me down the aisle.
7. A lot of what happened was my own fault.
8. I regret being mad at you when you died.
9. Why are you afraid to be happy?
10. I am the least of your problems.

Nine things about myself:

1. I cried when I got my first "B" on a report card.
2. I cried when I got an "A" on report card, because I didn't deserve it.
3. If I could live anywhere, it would be in Newport Beach or Corona Del Mar, CA.
4. My dream is to be an author of psychological thrillers, but I admit that I am not putting any effort into that dream at this time.
5. I started wearing glasses when I was 18 months old, wore an eye patch when I was a toddler, and had two eye operations before I was ten; I currently wear no glasses or contacts, but that will probably change within the next few years.
6. My favorite sport is hockey, but that's followed very closely by football and baseball.
7. I kissed a girl when I was 16, but I dated only men until my current relationship began in February of 2008.
8. I've been to 43 of the 50 states (still missing Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Maine).
9. I like Easter candy better than Halloween candy, but I hate Peeps with a passion.

Eight ways to win my heart:

1. Appreciate sarcasm.
2. Make me laugh.
3. Respect my religious and political views, even if you disagree with them.
4. Allow me to have bad moods every now and then.
5. Don't make a big deal out of it when I cry.
6. Love my family.
7. Love your family.
8. Want to have children.

Seven things that cross my mind a lot:

1. My future
2. My past
3. Work
4. Educational opportunities
5. Wedding plans
6. Food
7. My family and friends

Six things I do before I fall asleep:

1. Take off my clothes
2. Brush my teeth
3. Turn on the TV
4. Read or do a crossword
5. Kiss Jersey
6. Curl into the fetal position

Five people who mean a lot to me:

1. Mom
2. My little sister
3. Jersey
4. My high school best friend (and bridesmaid)
5. Jersey's sister (because she's the most important person in Jersey's life)

Four things you're wearing right now:

1. A sundress
2. A white lace thong
3. Strappy sandals
4. My engagement ring

Three songs you listen to often:

1. Baba O'Riley - The Who
2. So What - Pink
3. Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi w/ Jennifer Nettles

Two things you want to do before you die:

1. Be a mother
2. Celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary.

One confession:

I regret derailing my life when I became an anorexic cutter in college.

Monday Meme

I'm about to go make dinner, so I am giving you a quickie meme for now. I have a handful of memes I'd like to do, though, so hopefully I can start remembering to post them on Mondays. Enjoy!

One Word

Where is your cell phone?
Desk

Your hair
Ponytail

Your father
Birds (my first thought was "underground", so I tried to be nicer and less funny)

Your favorite thing
Food

Your dream last night
Forgotten

Your favorite drink
Captain

The room you are in
Office

Your dream/goal
Kellerman

Your fear
Regret

Where do you want to be in 6 years
Seattle (currently leading the "where to move" contest)

Muffins
Mimi's

Where you grew up
California

The last thing you did
Work

What are you wearing
Pink

Your TV
On

Your pet(s)
Maniacal

Your computer
Vista

Your life
Wonderful

Missing someone
Dumpy

Your car
Paid

Favorite store
Target

Your summer
Fucking HOT (sorry, had to break the one word rule to make it clear how much I hate the summers here)

Your favorite color
Blue

When is the last time you laughed
Earlier

Last time you cried
Forgotten

Favorite food
Cheese

Place I would rather be right now
Hotel

Meme Monday

Mrs Chili tagged me (well, she tagged everyone) for a quick and easy picture meme. The instructions were to publish the sixth picture from the sixth folder on my computer. However, like Mrs. Chili, I cheated slightly in the name of privacy. In my case, the sixth picture was of two of Jersey's friends and I haven't asked them for permission...plus, they aren't really friends of mine and I don't have much to say about them. To put it as simply as possible, these two girls are the very antithesis of Jersey and me in behavior and personality. Instead, I chose the sixth picture from the bottom of the sixth folder:

This picture was taken by Jersey when we were in Santa Cruz, CA on Labor Day. We were visiting my sister for the weekend, and she took us down to the Boardwalk for a day of gluttonous fun.

I grew up near the beach in Southern California, but did not appreciate it near as much as I do now that I live four hours away from it. After spending my first 18 years in California, I moved to Connecticut for college, then settled down in Vegas after I graduated. My decision at the time was based largely on affordability...I was able to purchase a condo when I was only 23, and in CA I would've been sharing an apartment with roommates for the same amount of money. I've been in Vegas for over seven years now, but I still think of CA as home. I miss it terribly and love to visit whenever I can. And now that Jersey and I are planning our future, we've talked about moving to the coast...

The thing is, I am too logical and the affordability thing still gets to me. In a few years, we will be able to buy a gorgeous home here and the mortgage will be about half of what we would have to pay in CA. We want (not need, want) a home with approximately 3000 sq. ft., built within the last few years, with an office, guest room, three other bedrooms (master + two rooms for the future kids), a game room/loft, and a pool. In Vegas, that is very reasonable for our price range and we shouldn't have much trouble finding something perfect. In CA, there's just no way. We could find something okay, but not what we really want. Hell, for the difference in the mortgage payment alone, we'd be able to afford regular weekend trips to CA, and I just think that may be the way to go.

There are LOTS of other pros and cons on both sides of this debate (families,friends, jobs, Prop 8, proximity to things we like to do, etc.) and it's not something we have to solve right this second, so it's just floating around in our heads for now. Til then, I will enjoy the picture.

Meme Monday

This meme is courtesy of my sister, Lara. If you'd like to play, just put your music player on random and answer the following questions. This could be very interesting. Odd, too.

1. What is missing from my life? "Pour Some Sugar on Me" - Def Leppard. Yeah, I'd love to be hot, sticky sweet. From my head to my feet.

2. Will I find love? "Teach Your Children" - Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. Well, if I have children to teach, that would presuppose that I've found love, at least for long enough to make the babies!

3. Will I become rich? "Open Arms" - Journey. Arms are open and ready to receive a BIG check. Or a winning lottery ticket.

4. Does someone have a crush on me? "My Immortal" - Evanescence. Now, if I could just figure out who that is....

5. What should I do with my life? "Move This" - Technotronic. No problem. I'll shake that body.

6. Am I good looking? "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" - Georgia Satellites. 'Nuff said.

7. When am I most happy? "Mary Jane" - Alanis Morissette. Hey, just because I went to Haight-Ashbury a few weeks ago doesn't mean you should jump to conclusions!

8. What is my biggest regret? "You Don't Know Me" - Ray Charles. That can be easily fixed, though. Just come visit me in Vegas...or let me hang out with you in your hometown.

9. How does the world see me? "You May Be Right" - Billy Joel. I may also be crazy.

10. What do my friends really think of me? "Spirit in the Sky" - Norman Greenbaum. That's not near as bad as what I thought they might think of me.

11. Will I have a happy life? "The Wrong Way" - Sublime. Wrong by whose definition?

12. How can I make myself happy? "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse. Don't think that will help with much. They'd find me to be verrrrrrry boring.

13. How will I die? "Glory Days" - Bruce Springsteen. If I'm gonna go, I guess I might as well go big.

14. Do I act my age? "Underneath Your Clothes" - Shakira. Um, how does a 29-year-old usually act underneath someone else's clothes?

15. What type of tattoo should I get? "Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson. What, like a gangsta tat? I'll pass.

16. What is my spirit animal? "Songbird" - Eva Cassidy. That's pretty. Probably too cutesy for me, but I'll take it. The bird's got a much better singing voice.

17. Do I like pain? "Broken Wing" - Martina McBride. Don't want a broken anything, thankyouverymuch.

18. Is there anyone else like me out there? "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Eva Cassidy. Indeed, the scarecrow and I can hang out with our empty heads!

19. Where should I move to? "Beverly Hills" - Weezer. I guess with those open arms full of money, I can do this.

20. Will I ever be president? "The Joker" - Steve Miller Band. Yes, a joker will be president. I, however, will not.

21. What is fun for me? "Take It Easy" - Eagles. Taking it hard sucks.

22. Will I ever learn to fly? "I am a Rock" - Simon & Garfunkel. I'll take that as a big "no".

23. What is my super power? "None of Your Business" - Salt n Pepa.

24. What is some good advice for me? "Sweet Southern Comfort" - Buddy Jewell. Nah, got horribly sick after drinking that one night. I'll stick to Captain Morgan.

If any of you would like to steal this, consider yourself tagged!

First Post, First Meme

For my very first post, I suppose I could say something profound, but it seems more logical to make this an introduction of sorts. That, and I'm all out of profound for today. So, hello, my name is Morgan, and this is my blog. I had planned to start this at a later date, perhaps to chronicle an engagement or pregnancy, but I got eager to share things now. This is me and my life, simple though it may be.

With that, I've stolen a meme from my sister, Lara.

1. The phone rings; whom do you want it to be? I hate the phone. Really, I do. I have an illogical fear of it and used to pay my sister to call the pizza guy. If I have to answer, I really hope it's my mom, Lara, or Jersey.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Always. People who feel entitled to leave it in the parking space make me angry. Actually, entitled people in general make me angry. This is just a great example of it.

3. If you had to kiss the last person you kissed, would you? Yes, and I plan to when she gets home from work.

4. Do you take compliments well? I'm learning to. I still get admonished for not doing it as often as I should.

5. Do you play Sudoku? Nope, never have. I've heard it's addicting. I do, however, have a big puzzle book by the publishers of Games Magazine that I keep next to my bed. Love that stuff!

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? I'd like to think so. I mean, I love modern comforts, but I think I'd be tough if I had to be.

7. Do you like nipple rings? Um, no. Definitely not for myself. If someone else wants to pierce their nipples, it's nothing I'll hold against them, but OW!!! I've always found eyebrow rings oddly sexy though, and I have my belly pierced.

8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Nothing more than a few days, but yes. A couple of Girl Scout weekends. I'd probably count church retreats and our 8th grade trip to Catalina Island, as well. I think anytime you are in a sleeping bag, within a cabin or tent, and hiking through the dirt to get to a group mess hall would count.

9. If a sexy person were pursuing you, but you knew he/she were married what would you do? Now, well, I'm not single, and I would never cheat on Jersey. I've never cheated when I've been in a relationship, even the really bad ones. I will admit to having been the other woman in the past. It's not a good thing, but I have my faults.

10. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? Sure. I think it's beneficial to hear differing viewpoints. It challenges your own. There are various issues that arise when it comes to raising children, but those can be handled with communication and maturity. Bottom line, I'll respect you. Please respect me.

11. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? Tough one. I'm somewhere in the middle, though closer to being the pursuer. Ideally, as close to mutual as possible would be nice. I don't think I'm very approachable anyway.

12. Use three words to describe yourself at the moment: Relaxed. Focused. Content.

13. Do any songs make you cry? I don't cry at much of anything. I don't like to cry. There was a time last year where "Bring on the Rain" by JoDee Messina could choke me up because I wanted and needed it to be true. I cried when I heard "I'm Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts in concert. Other songs that have been quite profound live, though I didn't actually cry, include "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas and "Alone" by Heart.

14. Are you continuing your education? Formally, no. It was a dream of mine to get my PhD and that got derailed. With the right financial situation, I'd love to go back. As for other types of education, I'm practicing yoga now (which teaches me much more than just some nifty poses), I'd love to bring back my Spanish, and dance and guitar lessons would be fun.

15. Do you know how to shoot a gun? I'm not licensed or anything, but I've shot them more than once and live out some of my FBI dreams by rolling around in the dirt, crawling behind boulders, and sneaking next to cars with a gun in my hand. All while being very safe, by the way. Seriously.

16. If your house were on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? Childhood home videos and a pic of my father and me. And I'd put on my slippers or flip flops because I can't stand being barefoot.

17. Who was the last person you shared a bed with? Well, I currently share one with Jersey. Before that was my ex-boyfriend, (I'll call him Goodfella). In fact, the last time he was in my bed was when he showed up at 2am and needed a place to crash. All three of us shared the queen bed. Tight fit. Thank god all three of us get along.

18. Whom do you text the most? Jersey, by far. But texting my mom is the most fun. She really doesn't know much about texting, so I love getting her confused when I text her and waiting for the text that it will take her 10 minutes to send back.

19. Favorite children’s books? I have a place in my heart for the Dorrie books. I just remember reading them with my mom all the time when I was little. I've asked that she please get copies of them for my children, once I have them. I also loved Curious George.

20. What color are your eyes? Usually blue or blue-green. When I wear blue, they are very blue and when I wear green, they are very green.

21. How tall are you? I always say 5'5". It's more like 5' 4 3/4", but that's just silly.

22. If you could do it over again, start from scratch, would you? Probably not. There are mistakes I've made and regrets I have, but my road brought me here and I'm happy now. Forgiving myself is a work in progress.

23. Any secret admirers? If I knew that, they wouldn't be secret, would they?

24. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? Foggy memories on this one. I believe I did with my mom once. And I know I did with an ex (I'll call him the Abuser). Just found those the other day, in fact. My sister and I should, but I don't think we have.

25. Where is the farthest place you have traveled? Well, I've been to 43 of the 50 states, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. Distance-wise, I suppose Hawaii, Montreal, and Jamaica would win.

26. Do you like mustard? Sure. Mostly on hot dogs, though I used to put it on grilled cheese sandwiches when I was little.

27. Do you prefer to sleep or eat? Wow. Tough call. Probably sleep, though there are definitely foods that could convince me otherwise. I really love sleeping and eating.

28. Do you look like your mom or dad? My mom, I guess. I don't see it as much as other people do. And when I was younger, I didn't look like either of them at all. I think at this point, my mom and I talk alike and have the same mannerisms, so that is probably what people see.

29. How long does it take you in the shower? Regularly? 5-10 minutes. If I have to shave my legs? 15-20.

30. Can you do splits? Nope. I am one of the least flexible people I have ever met.

31. What movies do you want to see right now? I love movies and my list of things to see is loooooong.

32. What did you do for New Year’s Eve? Worked until 11:53 pm. Was driving home with Jersey at midnight when the Las Vegas fireworks went off. Fortunately, I don't care about seeing them, so I drove while she looked out the window at them. This year, I'm sure we'll be keeping it simple. A toast and a kiss probably.

33. Was your mom a cheerleader? She was a songleader. Her uniform is still around somewhere.

34. Whats the last letter of your middle name? Y. Why?

35. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? Ideally, 9-11. Realistically, about 8.

36. Do you like Care Bears? Well, they don't factor much into my life now, but I was a fan once upon a time.

37. What do you buy at the movies? I try not to eat at the theater. If I do, it's usually nachos and a cherry coke. Or those gummy peach rings. Or licorice, Junior Mints, Reese's Pieces, etc. See why I try not to eat at the theater?!?

38. Do you know how to play poker? Yes, and rather well if I do say so myself. In my many hours of playing in the Vegas casinos, I have won more than I've lost. Playing with friends and family, I've won MUCH more than I've lost. I was called a hustler in high school, but that's really not accurate. While I did beat everyone, I never once acted like I didn't know what I was doing or con anything out of anyone. It just helps that I'm a blonde female. People don't naturally give me credit.

39. Do you wear your seatbelt? Yes, always. Don't feel like traveling through any windshields, thanks.

40. What do you wear to sleep? Underwear, boxers, or pajama pants. No top.

41. Anything big ever happen in your town? Well, it's Vegas, so I'd go with yes. I just try to stay out of it.

42. Is your hair straight or curly? More curly than straight, though the lack of humidity here makes it a wavy blah mess. It's enough that I have to flat iron it. In humid places, I can get something resembling ringlets. Since chopping off almost 12 inches, I really have let it go too wild.

43. Is your tongue pierced? Nope. Thought about it once upon a time. As I said earlier, my belly is pierced. And I once had nine piercings in my ears, though I'm down to the normal two.

44. Do you like liver and onions? Never had liver, so I've never had liver and onions. Regarding onions on their own...I like them cooked and soft, not raw and crunchy.

45. Have you ever been in love? Yes. And I'm very happy that she loves me back.

46. Do you like funny or serious people better? Probably funny. I'm an odd mix of both.

47. Ever been to L.A.? LOTS of times. Grew up just south of there. Most recently I was there mid-July for a weekend.

48. Do you steal or pay for your music downloads? I plead the Fifth.

49. Do you hate chocolate? No, I like it. Not as much as you'd think, but I definitely wouldn't like to go without it.

50. What do you and your parents fight about the most? I've been lucky to never fight with my parents. My dad and I went through a rough period where he was reevaluating his life and I seemingly dropped off his priority list, but we still didn't fight. My mom only ever got mad at me if I mouthed off, but a quick look from her could silence me. I always respected them, and they returned the favor. I want to raise my kids the same way.

51. Are you a gullible person? Aside from looking it up in the dictionary when someone told me it wasn't in there? No. Totally kidding, by the way. I'm way too skeptical to be gullible.

52. If you could have any job, what would it be? Author of psychological thrillers.

53. Are you easy to get along with? Well, I think the biggest hurdle is that I'm generally antisocial (in a non-psychotic sort of way), so I don't have many friends. As I move through my life, very few people have gotten close enough that I carry them with me. That being said, I have no problem making friends and people like me. It's just not likely we'll be in touch 10 years from now. I am still friends with my best friend from high school, and I would drop everything right now if she needed me. While I joke that I'm a bitch, I'm really not.

54. What is your favorite time of day? On weekends it's the morning, when I wake up but don't have to physically get up. I like taking my time rolling out of bed. During the week, it's that relaxing time before bed when I don't have to answer to anyone.

55. Are you a generally happy person? It's something on which I am consciously working. I don't want to waste my energy on negativity, but I do allow myself time to vent each day. I have started a body & soul makeover of sorts, because I want to be healthy inside and out.

Thanks for reading this far and thanks in advance for your patience as I fumble my way though this blog-world!