New Career Paths

Yesterday I couldn't seem to remember what day it was. For this reason my daughter had her piano lesson two hours later than usual and I forgot about book club. I hadn't had time to read the book, Stargirl, but I still wanted to go.

A friend on her blog said they discussed how to stay true to yourself, and that one way to always stay true to yourself would be to pick 5 careers you would have done if you had not picked what you are currently doing, gotten married, had kids, etc. Your choices don't need to be realistic or practical. Then take these career choices a step further and incorporate them into your life somehow.

She mentioned that these alternate careers are part of your personality and should be embraced no matter where you are in your life. She listed her five and why and then tagged everyone.

I probably would have done it even if she hadn't turned it into a tag, so here goes.

1. Stage Actress. I loved doing plays and musicals in junior high and high school. I don't know that I was any good (I only had the lead in one play) but it was a lot of fun. When my goal was Hollywood I used to say that I would be happy bringing Steven Spielberg his coffee.

2. Teacher. I have always loved to read and learn and I always wanted to make a difference in our school systems. I always wanted to help kids who don't like English and history to love them. I had some terrible teachers that really made me hate being there and because of them, I wanted to make a change. Have you seen the movie Stand and Deliver? I wanted to be that teacher, just with English and History instead of math. I don't like math.

3. Published Author. While I have been published, so far it's only been in newspapers and collections. My manuscripts have not been published (for obvious reasons--they aren't finished). I would be the next J.K. or Brandon Sanderson (I know, I aim high).

4. Social Worker or counselor. I studied social work and psychology for three years before deciding it wouldn't work out for me. I did a ton of volunteer work in Rexburg at the Family Crisis Center and at the Child Rehabilitation Center. I tried to continue it when I lived in Logan, though opportunities for such activity was less.

5. Politician. This is a rather new development. It's not something I really thought about as a kid, but is something I think a lot about now. I am increasingly unhappy with the way the country is going and I want to help. (The link is not because I want to be like her or think a lot of her, but that if I was to go into politics, our situations would be similar in that I started small and knowing nothing.)

So there you go. My five. It was harder than I thought it would be, but now I'm tagging you! So ha! You get to see just how hard (or easy) it is. Leave me a message and let me know if you're going to play along so I can check yours out.

Already Been Chewed Tag

A
- Available: Just assume not.
- Age: It goes up every year; this year it lands on an even number.
- Annoyance: Stupid people
- Animal: I'd rather not.
- Actor: Nicholas Cage (I know that's a weird choice, but I can't help it after National Treasure.)
- Actress: Bernadette Peters

B
- Best Friend: Nathan
- Blind or deaf: Uh, I'd rather not, but thanks.
- Been in Love: Yes
- Been on stage: Yes
- Believe in Ghosts/spirits: Yes

C
- Candy: Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate with the berries and nuts. . .mmmmm
- Color: Green
- Cried in school: yep
- Chocolate/Vanilla: Chocolate
- Chinese/Mexican: Mexican
- Cake or pie: depends
- Country to visit: Italy

D
- Day or Night: depends, do I have my kids with me? Is it cold outside?
- Dance in the rain: Of course

E
- Eyes: 2, blue
- Everyone has: to comment :)

F
- First crush: Matt in 5th grade.
- First thoughts waking up: "Too early. Go away."
- Food: Burgers

G
- Greatest Fear: Others dying
- Giver or taker: both
- Gum: any that isn't fruit flavored
- Get along with your parents: Yes

H
- Hair Color: brown
- Height: 5'4''
- Happy: yeah
- Holiday: 4th of July
- How do you want to die: I'm going to twinkle

I
- Ice Cream: chocolate
- Instrument: clarinet

J
- Jewelry: usually a watch, but it broke, wedding ring, anniversary ring
- Job: maid, servant

K
- Kids: 3
- Kickboxing or karate: not recently, no.
- Keep a journal: I keep a blog and I'm trying to keep a "spiritual moments" journal.

L
- Love: my Family & friends
- Laughed so hard you cried: occasionally
- Love at first sight: not sure.

M
- Milk flavor: chocolate
- Movie: Pride and Prejudice. I could watch all 5 hours of it every day if I had nothing else to do.
- Marriage: Wonderful
- Motion sickness: No, I fall asleep in the car.
- McD's or BK: Burger King

N
- Number of Siblings: 1 brother, 1 sister
- Number of Piercings: 2 in each ear, but only wear 1 set if any

O
- Overused Phrases: I don't know. . . .
- One wish: tapioca pudding. j/k I don't even like tapioca.

P
- Place you'd like to live: In a house
- Pepsi/Coke: Dr. Pepper

Q
- Questionnaires: annoying

R
- Reason to cry: don't need one
- Reality T.V.: don't care for them, except What Not to Wear, but is that considered reality?
- Radio Station: not many good ones here.
- Roll your tongue in a circle: Yup.

S
- Shoe size: 8.5
- Salad Dressing: Ranch 0r Italian
- Slept outside: yes
- Seen a dead body: yes
- Sing well: Sometimes
- Stuffed Animals: nope
- Single/Group dates: either
- Strawberries/Blueberries: Strawberries

T
- Time for bed: too late
- Thunderstorms: during the day it's fine, rather have quiet at night
- TV: I have one.
- Touch your tongue to your nose: No

U
- Unpredictable: Probably

V
- Vegetable you hate: Brussels sprouts

- Vacation spot: British Columbia

W
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: I have no idea anymore
- Who makes you laugh the most: Nathan
- Worst feeling: My kids being sad
- Worst weather: snow and wind

X
-X-Rays: was supposed to get one once. got a CT scan instead. (thanks for checking the wrong box, mom!)

Y
-Year it is now: 2009
-Yellow: Happy

Z
- Zoo animal: elephant
- Zodiac sign: cancer

If you want to play along let me know and I'll check yours out.

Quirks Tag

Amber tagged me with a Quirks Tag. I've never seen this one before and I'm all about quirks so I thought it would be way fun. I'm supposed to link to her (she's already on my sidebar under Zambersonville) and then tag 6 other bloggers.

Quirk #1: I don't like to breathe in used air. Yes, I know, all air is technically "used" air, but if it is freshly used, like I'm right next to Nathan and he breathes out, I have to hold my breath or breathe out while he's breathing out. I can't breathe in the air he's getting rid of.

Quirk #2: No pen ink allowed on my skin. At all. Ever. I will cry. Even if I'm in the produce section of Wal-Mart, I will cry. Even if a pen touches me and no ink actually gets on my skin it will bug me for at least half an hour and I will work to get off the nonexistent ink. Yes, I am OCD.

Quirk #3: I can't read just one book at a time. I have to be reading at least three or I feel like I'm slacking.

Quirk #4: I can't seem to stop volunteering for things and wanting to help out with various activities and yet, I don't have time to clean my kitchen, make dinner, put boxes in our storage unit, or do anything else I really need to do.

Quirk #5: I won't make rice unless I absolutely have to. I make Nathan do it.

Quirk: #6: When I'm nervous I pull on my right earlobe. I think this is why my right earlobe is detached while my left one is attached. Very weird.

People I'm tagging: Jess, Sara Alger, Janeen, Danyelle (Queen of the Clan), Ali (Girl in a Whirl), and Nicole Giles. Do it if you want, it's fun!