Blog Challenge ~ May 6 & 7

{Whoops. I knew I'd fall behind eventually, but I gave myself at least a week before I started slacking on the Blog Every Day in May Challenge. Ah well. Like she said, the blog police didn't come knocking and hopefully you forgive me so all is well.}

"What Do You Do?" ~ May 6

Of course she was clever and specifically said we couldn't answer with our profession, which I really appreciate. Something I've picked up on during my time abroad is how Americans ask each other "what they do" within moments of meeting one another. Even when we're talking about other people just in casual conversation, even when we have no idea what the (bleep) they actually do... "Oh, my friend Hayley, she works doing something with pharmacies... pharmaceuticals ... Yeah, I'm not really sure, I know she goes to conferences and lives basically in DC... anyway..." I know for a fact I've said that exact sentence on more than one occasion. Hayley is one of my best friends; I talk to her every single day and yet the previous statement is as far as I can get when I'm telling you about her job. Wanna know why? It's not important.

It's not that her job isn't important to me, or the fact that she provides for herself and all the empowerment mumbo jumbo (true mumbo jumbo, but you get my point) that goes with it. It's just that even though we talk every single day, and work may be mentioned every now and again, it is not our focus of conversation. We talk about relationships, politics, views, passions, ideas, plans, dreams, fears, hair styles... you know, the deep issues of the world. I tend to judge my friendships with people based on our conversation styles. If we can go months without talking and when we're finally able to catch up, spend hours laughing and crying like no time has ever passed ~ that's a friendship. If we can jump from one topic to the next with ease, and always have more to say ~ that's a friendship. If I can tell you exactly what you do for a living, it's either because I work with you, I've had that job, or because we have absolutely nothing else to say other than what we do.

But, our jobs aren't what we do. They're not who we are. Even our hobbies or passions aren't what we do... so, when faced with the question "what do you do?" and I'm not able to answer "I'm an administrative assistant at a middle/high school and I'm going for my Masters of Education degree in School Counseling," then I'm in a real pickle. What do I do? You know what... I laugh. I laugh all the time, good or bad, socially acceptable or not, always loudly and never apologizing for it. I laugh when I'm nervous. I laugh when I'm shaking away tears. Laughing is something that I feel as though I have become known for well enough that I can say... laughing is what I do.

May 6, 2009 ~ Celebrating Tyler's 24th birthday at Olive Garden
HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY, HONEY BOO!

Biggest Fears ~ May 7

• supernatural BS
• going to jail for something I didn't do
• setting unrealistic expectations on my kids & having them not turn out how I wanted
• not being the mom my kids wanted
• Sandy dying... I can't even think about it!
• gypsies... (bleep) that noise
• losing all optimism

Favorite Blogger(s) ~ May 5

{The blog prompt for today was to discuss your favorite blogger... shocker, I couldn't pick.}

So let me be straight up honest: I'm a blog-poser. A blog-oser, if you will. I love to write and it's been great to connect with people from around the world because of this blog, but really, I started this thing 2+ years ago as a message to my friends and family (an apology or explanation almost) as to why I was quitting my job and eloping with my military boyfriend... and, ya know, fleeing the country. I expected to check back in with the blog from time to time to update about our travels and whatnot but was soon faced with the blog mob that I had no idea existed. Some people take this (bleep) seriously! I mean there are ads and buttons and HTML codes and conferences and... you wouldn't believe the capacity of this blog-world. World! Really! There's a whole blogging community out there just waiting to suck you in. So, yeah, I'm a blogoser because I could care less about ads or layouts or conferences (okay, conferences would actually be super cool) AND because I really don't read anyone else's blog unless they're my friend and I just so happen to catch their link on my newsfeed. With that being said, I decided to share with you ALL of my friends who have blogs (that I know of... if there are more, you let me know and I'll happily add you to the list!) in hopes that out of all these peeps, you're bound to find one you enjoy:

First, my best friend Amy. She writes every now and again but when she does, it's heartfelt and eye-opening. She lost her mother (and best friend) over a year ago now and around the same time, met the love of her life. She's now engaged and living with him and writes open and honestly about grieving the loss of her mom, celebrating a new love, and even some Student Affairs goodies every once in awhile.

My dearest friend Meghan is a globe trotter and by self admission "always wants to be somewhere else." Meg's zest for life is what I love most about her and her writing style is hilarious,  just like her. She blogged when she lived in Alaska and when she lived in Germany, but now that she lives in Boston supervising international Chinese high school students studying at a college, we don't hear a peep! What gives!?

My senior year suite-mate Cathy had an awesome blog going - super honest, opinionated, and beautiful - but now she's, ya know, living life and doesn't have time to inform us minions in on her daily thoughts. Cath is one of the best writers I know though and think with enough encouragement, she'd be back at it in no time.

My old RA Jon Jon was the first person who ever encouraged me to blog. This kid was always so far beyond all of us technologically, it's unreal. It's not like he had a camera on his glasses or anything (although, I hear Google invented those recently and guess what, he works at Google now), but he was just truly the definition of entrepreneur. So much so that by our second semester together, he had re-worked the RA-program point system and requested a meeting with my supervisor for the a-okay. His blog on self discovery and leadership is phenomenal for absolutely anyone.

Ryan is another past RA of mine that I cannot speak highly enough of. I am rarely at a loss for words to explain how special someone is to me, but Ryan for sure takes the cake on this one. Ry somehow balances being both behind the scenes and center stage; is by far the most passionate person about e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g equally, and is currently going to Harvard to be a pastor and putting himself through school by being a bartender. It doesn't get any more incredible than Ryan so definitely be sure to check out his blog.

I met my girlfriend Amanda about a year or so ago here in Italia and only wish I had met her so much sooner. Amanda is always my voice of reason; my serenity in a huge way. She's a cat person, I'm a dog person. She's an INSJ, I'm an ENFP. But somehow, a day doesn't go by that we don't talk so I think Paula Abdul had something going when she said opposites attract. Amanda blogs from time to time as well and it's usually about her extraordinary adventures in Italia (hence the blog's name, holla)!

Jess and I met through the blog world and she is also stationed here in Italia. Her blog is full of travel tips and as of most recently, pregnancy stories and baby pictures of her Italian beauty Julia!

I met fellow abroad milspouse Casey through Jess, and they had met through blogging as well. Casey lives in Germany and takes some b-e-a-utiful pictures from her around the world travels. She also has perfect hair, so prepare to have travel and beauty envy all at once.

I've known my soul sister's cousin Miranda for y-e-a-r-s and adore her writing style. She's recently given birth to an angel named Marlowe and posts many adorable pictures of her. Miranda discusses parenting from an angle that doesn't make me roll my eyes, so you know this girl is talented!

& just for fun

...a Tumblr for my Residence Life peeps

...I don't know these two, but I love them. Sisters who own a thrift store and post gorgeous, vintage-y pictures of who I long to be. Really cute DIY tutorials and recipes, too.

...a Tumblr for my (mainly girl)friends with a sense of humor but can handle bad words <-- there's your warning

...love me some love languages

I suppose this is a perfect time for a not-so-shameless plug for another blog I write for occasionally: My Military Life. There are some fab women who write for this blog and because of MML, I've been connected to some of the big name milspouses around the globe. I really look forward to meeting some of them in person one day, and who knows, maybe even help plan a conference or two.

Favorite Quote(s) ~ May 4

{Today's blog prompt was your favorite quote, and obvi I couldn't pick just one.}

The first quote that came to mind was...

I first read it when my blog-friend Casey had pinned it and absolutely fell in love. What a great motto for anyone, especially military spouses. We are literally picked up and moved around the world like a game of Sims, and expected to adjust perfectly without a hair out of place, have tons of friends by the end of the first week, a job, a house, and everything else lined up just beautifully. Here's a secret: that's not real life. It's exhausting trying to be superwoman, but a quote like this easily puts our life into perspective... I'm growing, trying, adapting, learning... I'm blooming. All day, errday, wherever the day may be.

Then, of course, I couldn't possibly have a "favorite quotes" post without mentioning a few of my other favorites: