Question #134 - Write about the time you left the nest, and the first time you moved far away from home.

Well, I moved out of my parents' house on January 2, 1999. I moved allllllll the way down the street. A whole 11 houses down, whew! Big move, I know!! LOL! My parents bought the the 2 family home on the corner of the street I grew up on, and I've been living here for 10 years now. Of course, I was scared of moving here. Mostly scared about trying to pay almost all the bills myself! I was working at Headstart at the time, my second year there. So I actually did have enough to cover things, and to afford going out and stuff like that! When I had to quit my job a year later, I thought I'd have to move back in with my parents, but I figured out a couple things, and have been able to live here all this time.

I love being in my own apartment. A friend recently told me that a couple of our friends don't always like the loneliness of having their own place, but I can honestly say that I've never really felt lonely here. I have Mittens, which is nice. But if I want to talk to someone, I pick up the phone and call. I spend so much time online chatting with people, that it keeps me occupied, too. I just have so much freedom of doing my own thing in my own place, not having to worry about another person and their habits and such. This doesn't say much if I ever meet a decent guy one day and things start going well. LOL I don't know what I would be like living with another person again, but if that were ever to happen, I'd have to really adjust to not being alone!! But, I don't have such high hopes, so I'm not too worried!! lol

Question #133 - Write about feeling loved and by whom.

I know that I am loved by my family, even when we don't always say it to each other. I'm trying to get better at that. I'm try to tell them I love them often, but a lot of times I forget. It's sometime I really need to work on!

I love my friends very much, but I don't say it enough to them, either. I'm going to hope that my friends love me, even though they don't say it either! lol

As far as being in love with someone, well that hasn't happened too often. I take that back. I have been in love with 2 men, but one of them, I knew in my heart didn't feel the same way about me. That ended up really hurting me in the end, but I also learned a lot from it at the same time. Last year, I thought I was falling in love again, and it was exciting because he was feeling the same way. Unfortunately, that just didn't end up working out in the end.

I'm not sure I just really answered the question. lol I do know that many people love and care for me in my life, even if it's not said in so many words. And that makes me feel happy, and good about myself. There must be something people see in me that makes them care for me a lot! Even if they aren't saying so. :)

Question #132 - Write about something you are grateful for.

There are so many things I am grateful for in my life. Living with an unpredictable disease can do that to some people. The little things in life seem to matter most every day. I think what I am grateful for most are the people in my life. My family means the world to me, and they always will. But I also have friends who are so very important in my life. I love them just as much. For me, it's hard to distinguish levels of love between family and friends. Everyone in my life is extremely important to me, and I love them all so much, and for all different reasons. I do thank God quite often for allowing me to be so lucky to have such wonderful family, and great friends. I'm not sure I'd be where I am today without them!

Question #131 - Describe your favorite winter activities.

Winter is more difficult for me than the summer. At least with the summer, if I don't go anywhere during the day, I can open up windows and my front door and enjoy the warmth. I'm closed in during the winter, and sometimes shut in for days! Some of my favorite things to do on cold winter days include:

*make hot chocolate
*have a pajama day!
*play on the laptop all afternoon
*make jewelry
*read and/or take a nap (usually it's both! lol)
*clean, if I'm really really bored

I have to plan my days around the weather usually in the winter. Pulmonary rehab has been a nice thing for me to escape to most days, but if it's way too cold out to go there, I try to exercise at home on my treadmill. I also try to get to the stores when the weather isn't bad, and to visit Mandy and the kids, as long as they aren't sick! Winter is pretty yucky, and I usually can't wait until it ends!!!

Question #130 - What's my favorite Christmas present I remember getting?

There have been sooo many Christmas presents over the years. Top gifts I remember have included a black rabbit, a hockey table, a Cabbage Patch doll, and Tickle Me Elmos! I have loved so many of my gifts, even if I can't remember them all!!

I would have to say, though, that my favorite Christmas present is the one that is trying to bite my hand right now!! Mittens was a gift from Erin, one of my best friends, and I surely thought I'd never get a cat from someone! I've loved cats so much since I was little, but just couldn't ever have one because half my family is allergic to them. So to actually get a bundle of fur in the shape of a kitten was so exciting for me! And Mittens has become my son, despite the fact that he isn't human!! lol

Question #129 - What's my favorite Christmas memory?

Yes, it's been awhile since I answered a question! I go through spurts where trying to answer one every day just gets very boring. Too much thinking!! LOL

I think my favorite memory about Christmas would have to be going to see Santa Claus at the now defunct Rainbow Mall, down near the Falls. For the longest time, when we were kids, the Santa Claus was the most awesome Santa ever! He seriously looked like Santa, with a real beard, and a genuine laugh. He spent several minutes with every child who sat on his lap, and after we told him our desires for that year, he would give us an envelope of pixie dust. He told us we had to sprinkle it in the snow on Christmas Eve, so he would see it twinkle, and he'd know he had to stop at that house to bring toys. He just seemed so real to so many kids! I was sad many years ago when I found out he had passed away. I honestly don't think I'll ever see another Santa who could just feel so authentic!

Another favorite memory is when my sisters and I would open our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve. I always looked forward to those gifts. Somehow they meant so much more than gifts from Santa, because they were from my sisters. It was also fun to have something to do while waiting for our parents to get up in the morning, so we could open up the gifts!!

Question #128 - What was my favorite birthday? What was the best birthday gift I ever got?

One of my most memorable birthdays would have to be when I turned 25, I believe. A bunch of us got dressed up and hit the bars down on Third Street. At the one bar we went to, we knew the owner, and he gave me a bottle of champagne to celebrate! I don't remember paying for a drink at all that night, and I know that I got pretty trashed. lol But, it was fun! I danced with my friends and my sister, and by the time I got home, I just crashed in my bed with all my clothes on!

My birthday this past September would have to be one of my favorites recently. We went bowling, and it was a blast! I haven't bowled in ages, and neither had anyone else. It was a great time, and we had a lot of laughs!! I'd definitely love to go again sometime, just for something fun and different to do!

I have gotten so many great gifts over the year for my birthday, that I just can't pick one out that's my favorite. I honestly love that my family and friends spend time celebrating my birthday with me. That is way better than the gifts!!