those 10 little things.....

wierd things for nay

I recently got tagged for the 10 weird things blog, by my friend Nadine saying,

"I tag Gretchen because I haven't heard from her in a while on such a personal level and I want to know weird things about her"

Now, what I find amusing about this quote is I would have expected Nadine had heard quite enough from me on a personal level!  You see, she is one of the women I admire most in the world and therefore one of the first people I am going to go to for "real advice." I trust her judgment, insight, wisdom and sincerity of heart more than some people I have known my whole life, despite that I have never actually met Nadine. 

Nadine is an army wife to K. and mom to three adorable boys.  She also served in the army, too.  All of which keeps her plenty busy, I'm sure.  But she doesn't stop there.  Nadine is always volunteering for something and always reaching out to other military families.  It would take me the rest of the week to go in to actual details but trust me when I say this women rocks. I don't know anyone else in the world like her, but I do know that the world could do with a few more women like her!  She was there for me during some of the hardest times of my life and I truly adore her for that.  Right now her husband is deployed so if you would, keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.  And Nadine, hopefully this will bring a bit of humor ( and love) your way to help pass one of those deployment summer afternoons! 

1. I like original and puffy cheetos. Which sounds perfectly normal, right? But here's the twist.  I ONLY like them if they are stale!!! If they aren't properly "aged" then no thanks.

2.  I have a very irrational fear of frogs.  I am talking high pitched squealing and panic attacks. Completely illogical, I know.  But do you know what a group of frogs is called?!?!  An army… see they are evil and trying to take over the world. At least I'll be prepared in my frog repelent fort! (kidding about the fort...sorta)

3.  I have storage bins full of stationary and wrapping paper that I never use because it's too pretty or cute to part with.  Incidentally, I have also accidentally stolen cards and wrapping paper twice now.  But that's a story for later… I mean never.

4.  I heart cake batter( but only the butter yellow kind) and eat it  the way other people eat raw cookie dough. However, I can't stand raw cookie dough. It's not that I don't like the way cookie dough tastes, it's just the principle of not actually baking cookies with it.

5.  I can NOT stand repetitive sounds. Ticking clocks, dripping faucets, snoring, smacking, gum popping, RATTLING WHEAT THIN bags (joey) all drive me to the brink of insanity.  ( or possibly over the brink in some instances... see wheat thins)

6. I dance in my car. While I am driving.  A lot.

7. Whenever I have a really bad migraine and have to get a shot of Demerol and Phenagren, I always dream that I have to teach this enormous purple cartoon elephant (complete with cane and top hat) how to tap dance.  Now, he is a perfectly sweet cartoon elephant, but this dream has been reoccurring for 15 years…. He really should be able to tap dance by now.

And while we are on the subject of medication

8.  Sudafed makes me completely high and causes erratic behavior.  Just ask breann about the hot tamale incident or josh about the time he founded me wandering around walmart in my slippers and bathrobe. 

9.  I can smell aspartame (fake sugar) from 10 feet away.  The slightest bit of it gives me a migraine… and migraines lead to tap dancing elephants…enough said.

10.  I am quite possibly the lightest sleeper in the world.  Seriously sometimes the sound of my comforter shifting or my hair moving across the pillow wakes me up.  I am forever in gratitude for the person who invented ear plugs.  That's really the only way I can get decent sleep anymore.