Ten on Tuesday (23)

Wow, we’re on week 23 of this endeavour. That’s a lot!

This week’s questions are from Erin at Suburban Euphoria… who I am CONVINCED would be one of my best friends if she lived in Houston. We have a ton in common, including the whole “with child” thing. Go check her out and thank her for her questions.

1. When you were a senior in high school, what career did you think you’d choose? Did you? Why or why not?
I thought I’d do something in advertising. It seemed fun and creative. I ended up getting my degree in marketing instead of advertising because marketing was in the business school so I’d be getting a business background. I got a job at a bank in a management program and hated it’s guts. So my FIL got me a job at a construction company where I do nothing marketing related. But I’m a notary and have my own stamp that makes a fun sound when I use it. That’s the same, right?

2. What one thing about the “real world” did you find most surprising once you were on your own?
First of all, let me just say that I HATE the term “real world.” Despise it really. Just because you’re in college doesn’t mean you aren’t in the real world. It’s real. It’s just not Adult Life. Okay, now to answer the question. Money. I didn’t know that money would be an issue. I didn’t realize that we’d have to budget and we wouldn’t be able to have as much “fun money” as I thought. I didn’t even consider the fact that I would have to work after having kids. I didn’t understand that we’d have a mortgage, car note, student loans, bills, etc. and would have to be smart about how to pay them on time while still saving some of our income.

3. Name 3 things you think your closest friends DON’T like about you.
I don’t care for this question. I’ve never asked and don’t plan on it but this is my guess: I’m stubburn, I’m a homebody (aka: boring), and I’m cheap (aka: boring)

4. In order to sleep, do you need background noise or absolute quiet?
I need the hum of a fan. The CONSISTENT hum of a fan… not a click or moan or ting ting ting of the pully thing against the glass. Other than that, I need complete silence. In fact, on Sunday night Rookie got a swat on her snout because she wouldn’t stop licking her paws in the middle of the night. Gross.

5. Why do you choose to reside in your current city? Yes, you have a choice.
Stephen and I debated between Austin and Houston. Both of our families live in Houston so that seemed natural. However, we loved Austin. I think our three main deciding factors were as follows: 1) The job market was better in Houston 2) The cost of living is lower in Houston so we knew we could reach our goal of being homeowners in a decent sized house in a great neighborhood 3) We wanted our kids to grow up close to their grandparents. We’re happy with our decision to live in Houston but we visit Austin often.

6. Are you close to your parents?
Yep- in every sense of the word. Not only do we have a great relationship but they live in the same neighborhood.

7. What is your favorite fiction book? Poem? Blog?
Favorite fiction book- probably Redeeming Love
Favorite Poem- I am too dense for poetry. I like Shel Silverstein!
Favorite Blog- I have a few: Pioneer Woman (the food, ohhh the food!), Big Mama (she’s hilarious), and Lauren From Texas (because she’s my Blog Friend 4Ever and we wouln’t have met without our blogs)

8. Do you enjoy cooking or is it a chore?
Most of the time I enjoy it. I only think it’s a chore when I’m really tired, if we don’t have food in the house, or if Stephen says things like, “There’s no meat in that?? Can we put some sort of meat in it?”

9. Be honest. What one thing would (the majority of) your blog readers be shocked to find out about you?
I have my belly button pierced. I got it done when I was 16 (I think?). I don’t have it in right now for obvious reasons and I’m not sure that I’ll put it back in after the Hurstling comes. I like it, it’s part of me. I feel like my stomach looks weird without it. But Stephen likes it without it and I think he may win this.

10. If you were given your own national holiday, what would you require people to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Day of You? Would there be a parade? Greeting cards?
Everyone would eat breakfast tacos for breakfast, potluck for lunch, and steak for dinner. People would give each other Reese’s and I Love You cards. Everyone would send me a Reese’s too. There would be no work. Every year someone would hire someone to come clean my house and my car and my dog. And it would be in the summer so everyone could go to the beach and have a giant potluck. We’d also have the day afterwards off of work so that everyone can stay up late and not have to worry about setting an alarm the next day.

That’s all folks. Your turn! Click the logo below to view the list of participants.