More Random Things About Me

I loved filling out the "25 random things" survey, so I decided to do a few more!

1. I love working in the Crown Center area. And I don't feel like I live in a big city when I drive from my house to work. There is hardly any traffic coming into downtown from Wyandotte County, my route just has a few stoplights, and then it's straight into the parking garage, which is very handy. Going to the barn is a different matter, though. When I leave work, I drive north, through downtown. I pass one of the busiest bus stops in the city, and there are usually at least 50 people waiting there to get on the bus. I also usually drive by a homeless person, begging for money, and also usually hit tons of traffic headed to KC's Northland. It's then I realize that I live in a metropolitan area with a population of 2 million people.

2. When I told my mom I was adding Ag Communications and Journalism as a major she asked me if that's the kind of degree where you get a job working for the High Plains Journal. Two years later, I completed a three-month internship with the High Plains Journal in Dodge City and loved every minute of it.

3. When I was a sophomore in high school, I attended the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar, a three-day leadership experience that changed my life. A year later, I returned as a junior counselor, and one of my ambassadors was Jenn H., who became my best friend. We've talked approx. once a week ever since, and have even hiked the Grand Canyon together. After the organization restructured, I got re-involved through my college roommate, Kristen D. I've volunteered almost every year since, and currently serve as Communications Director. Each year, during those three to four days, I'm constantly on the move, get very little sleep, and sing silly songs, but those high school sophomores rejuvinate me for the rest of the year and give me reason to keep going.

4. Speaking of Kristen, I went "potluck" on my roommate choice in the dorms for my freshman year of college. I was so nervous when I got the letter in the mail and just knew I'd have some psycho crazy person to live with. Instead, I got Kristen, who I already knew and loved! We went to Discovery Days and Yearbook Camp together in high school! It's a small world.

5. I also knew my rush roommate, Jessica Smith. We both participated in the Saline County/Johnson County 4-H exchange program in the 4th or 5th grade, and then went on the 4-H Washington D.C. trip together in high school. Again, what a small world.

6. I was way too involved in college, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Kappa Alpha Theta, Blue Key, and Horse Judging were some of the best times of my life, and the friends I made are friends forever.

7. Do you know how I know I was too involved in college? I have a giant t-shirt quilt with college t-shirts that my grandma created and still have enough t-shirts to wear a different one each day for 3 or 4 weeks. I must've been too involved in high school, too, because I have a giant t-shirt quilt with high school t-shirts, which was also made by my grandma.

8. I know how to slaughter cattle, sheep, and hogs. I took meat animal processing class in college. You'd be amazed at how often this knowledge is used at my job.

9. Cody and I have an ongoing contest to see who can say "Good morning, I love you" first. The rules are that it has to be sometime after 12:00 midnight, and text messages also count. He wins 90% of the time.

10. I met Cody through a friend, and he moved in as a roommate a month later. He was going to school in KC, and I had just purchased my house. I figured I could rent him one of the upstairs bedrooms and have some help paying my mortgage. Almost two years later, we're still living together, although roommate probably isn't the most appropriate term to use any more...boyfriend works much better. And he hasn't paid any rent, but has probably put at least $50,000 into labor, working on the house. I love him dearly.

11. In 2000, I was the second runner-up for the Tri-Rivers Fair Queen.

12. I lived in St. Joe for nine months. There were probably only three weekends out of those nine months that I actually spent in St. Joe. All of the others were spent traveling to horse shows, Manhattan, the White Buffalo Ranch, and various places inbetween. When I was in St. Joe on the weekends, I watched Lonesome Dove with Micky. She was the best roommate ever.

13. My parents are amazing people.

14. My best Halloween costume was a bunch of grapes.

15. When I was a junior in high school, my family hosted a Japanese exchange student for 9 months. Her name is Yuya, and I plan to visit her before I turn 30.

16. One of the most awful noises I've ever heard is a pig's terror cry. My 4-H pigs escaped from their pen one day and went to visit the buffalo across the pond dam. The buffalo didn't like their visitors and proceeded to gore them. The pigs' cry was awful.

17. I am a huge horse lover, but I'm also a realist. I would like the U.S. horse slaughter business to reopen so unwanted horses have a way in which they can be disposed.

18. I like it when people play with my hair.

19. I spent many weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas at my grandparent's Christmas tree farm when I was growing up. Great memories.

20. I use Aussie Sprunch Spray in my hair every day.

21. I got my first horse on my 7th birthday. Her name was Fanny and she had a pink halter. Since then, I've had Libby, Oscar, Gus, Big Guy, Sonny, Sam, Stuart, Hank, and now Shiloh. I know all of their registered names, too - Sundown's Fanny, Miss Liberty Rooster, Sequoia My Ole Man, Talent Seeker, Mr. Zippo Pine, Green Bay Sky Walker, Millenium Mister, Ironically Hot, Cadillacn Hot, and Scotchs Jet Set.

22. I do not balance my checkbook, but I do look at my bank account balance online every day.

23. All of my grandparents are still living, and I am very lucky. I love them very much.

24. I hardly have any single friends any more, and a lot of my friends are having babies. These facts are quite shocking to me.

25. I love getting mail.