Four Books

I have never been much of a reader. I'm not really sure why. Growing up my family always had books in the house and my parents would read to me all the time. And my older sister Kellie is addicted to reading. I honestly believe if she could put books into a syringe and inject it in her veins, she would! However, from time to time, I come across a book that I love and can't put down.

ONE

Someone Like Me. I stumbled across this book by pure accident. I was trying to find children's books that had characters with special needs. However, along my search, I found this wonderful memoir of a many with Cerebral Palsy and no limits. This books depicts how he lived with CP and overcame the odds to achieve his dream of being in the United States Navy.

TWO

Eat, Pray, Love. When I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I love the story and the author's real life sense of adventure and finding herself. After reading this book, I was truly inspired and began to not only think of how I would "eat, pray, and love" my way through life, but I also began to search for my "word".

THREE

The Color Purple. This is one of those books that I could read over and over and over again. I first read it in the 9th grade and I fell in love with it. I just love the story and the many meanings that lie with in this great piece of literature.

FOUR

The Last Lecture. I was first introduced to Randy Pausch and his book The Last Lecture a few years ago while watching Oprah. I was so moved by his story of living and dying with pancreatic cancer. I was amazed at the bravery and courage that it must have taken to write a novel that depicts how someone would tell their own life story for the last time.

Five Foods

I love food and I love to eat! It's amazing, because as a child, I was the pickiest eater ever. I survived my childhood by living on PB&J and cereal. And now as an adult, there isn't anything I won't try! Here are my top 5 most favorite foods!

ONE

Hands down, the best thing that I ever put in my mouth, was my MaMaw's fried chicken. She could fry a chicken like it was nobody's business. I have many fond memories of her in the kitchen with that big black, iron skillet frying up a chicken like only she knew how. And she would make a white gravy and homemade biscuits to go along with it. I remember she gave me some good advice once when she was teaching me how to make gravy. She said, "Don't forget. People Bitch when their gravy is runny". I still haven't forgot MaMaw! Her kitchen was filled with much more than food. It was full of laughter, stories, good times, and memories!

TWO

Sushi. It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I dared to even try sushi! Maybe it's because sushi has such a bad rap with people. However, I have learned in recent years that it's something I love. It goes to show that it is true, you don't know until you try it!

THREE

Ice cream! I mean, we all scream for it don't we?! Personally, I think there is no better treat in the world than ice cream. One of my favorite ice cream treats is a peanut butter milkshake made with chocolate ice cream! To this day, the best peanut butter milk shake that I have ever had was at United Dairy Farmers...a delicious ice cream place that I have only seen and experience in the Cincinnati area!

FOUR

Breakfast....but I don't really ever eat it in the A.M. I love breakfast food, but not when I wake up! I love a great brunch or breakfast for dinner!
FIVE

My momma's chicken and dumplings. It is my most favorite thing that she knows how to cook. My mom is a great cook, and I'm not just saying that. It is a very rare occasion that she makes something that is not very well received. Many times I hear people that chicken and dumplings are too hard to make, but not for my momma! They are slap ya momma good!

Six Places

Today the challenge is 6 places. I love to travel and see new places. There are many places that I have been and many places that I still want to go. I love traveling and experiencing different ways of life. Here are my top 6 places to visit. Each of them have significance to me, some I have already seen, some I am still dreaming!

ONE

New York City. In 2009, my sister Kellie and I had the opportunity to travel to NYC. It was something that I had always dreamed of and it took my breath away to finally have that dream come true (although I am still dreaming of going there with my Mom some day). I will never forget the feeling that I got when I got off that train in Grand Central Station, rode the escalator up, and landed on the streets of NYC. While we were there we ate in Little Italy, took a tour of Brooklyn, had an interesting experience at The Empire State Building (it is NOTHING like Sleepless in Seattle), saw Lady Liberty up close, and took a tour of Ellis Island. Now, I'm not one for the mellow dramatics, but I literally got chills walking through those halls knowing that my Great-Great Grandpa Murphy walked the same halls years ago when he came over from Ireland.

TWO

The Pacific Northwest. The past March, I had the unexpected opportunity to travel to Olympia, WA/Seattle, WA/Victoria, B.C. The scenery there was like traveling through a post card. Pine trees, snow capped mountains, sea planes going in and out of the water, and the Original Starbucks!

THREE

Chi Town! I love Chicago. I have had the chance to visit there twice and I loved it both times. It has such an old historical feel mixed with a modern and contemporary vibe! Although I am a life long St. Louis Cardinals fan, I had a blast going Wrigley Field and drinking an Old Style beer (which may be the cheapest and worst tasting beer I have ever put in my mouth). I also got to go to the top of the Sears Tower, see Navy peer, and eat some Chicago Style Pizza!

FOUR

Washington, D.C.. I believe that no matter what your traveling preferences are, every American should visit our capitol at least once in their life time. My sister Kellie and I went around 2006 for a day trip. While we were there I took my first subway ride, had a Capitol tour, saw Joe Lieberman on the floor, saw Dorothy's red slippers (bucket list check!), and learned that the Washington Monument is not as close to the Capitol as it looks and you should not attempt to walk the two miles to get there!

FIVE

Paducah, KY, AKA, my hometown. At first thought, you may think that there really isn't much in Paducah, but here are some fun facts for you. It is home to the National Quilting Museum and the Annual Quilt Show which attracts quilters from all over the world. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's first baby Rumer was born there. It's annual telethon is the biggest small town telethon in the nation and attracts an array of celebrities annually. In addition, it is also the birth place of Vice-President Alben W. Barkley.

SIX

Australia. This is the one place in the world that I have never been and dream of going to. I have always been fascinated with the country, it's people, it's culture, it's animals. I honestly can say, had I been in the Oprah audience when she gave away the Australian adventure, I would have been one of those fools crying because I was so over joyed!

Seven Wants

Today was easy. There are many things in this world that I want. The challenging part of it all was narrowing it down to simply 7.

ONE

To travel the country of Australia. I have always been fascinated with this country. I dream of going there and experiencing all that there is to experience in the Land Down Under.

TWO

To see my Kentucky Wildcats cut down the nets after winning the Final Four. Last year, I got to see them play in the Final Four, only to witness a heartbreaking loss to UCONN. However, my sister Kellie and I already have our tickets to the 2012 Final Four in NOLA this year. I'm ready to cross this off of my bucket list.

THREE

To have something I've written published. It is one thing to have your mother tell you that you are a good writer, but it is completely different when someone you don't know loves what you have written so much, that they think you should share it with others.

FOUR

A Lexus. As a teacher, you sort of come to accept it that you get summers off, but will never make enough to drive a luxury car.

FIVE

To visit NYC with my mom. It is something that I have always talked about and a dream that I know will come true one day.

SIX
To be on a game show. When I was in college, I auditioned for "Wheel of Fortune"...only to be cut in the final round. I plan to rectify this one day.

SEVEN

Be great at something. I have always wanted to be a "go to" person on a topic or subject for other people.

Eight Fears

Today's challenge is 8 fears. I think that fears are something that are difficult for us as human beings to face and admit to. When we admit to having a fear....it becomes real to both ourselves and to those around us.

ONE

Mice. And for those of you who want to say, "They are more afraid of you than you are of them"...you're wrong. Finding on in a washing machine after you have done a load of laundry really helps you to form an opinion on them.

TWO

Flying. Which is an interesting paradox considering I am a frequent traveler. However, to overcome this fear, I pop a Benadryl and sleep the entire flight.

THREE

The dark. No, I don't sleep with a night light or anything like that, but I'm also uneasy when I hear something and I can't see where it is coming from.

FOUR
Failure. The thought of not achieving all the goals I have set for myself or not being accomplished in my career terrify me.

FIVE

Death. It's not that I'm afraid of what comes after death, I'm afraid of leaving this world before I have done everything that I have wanted to do.

SIX

Over sleeping. As much as I hate getting up early, I hate being late even more. If for some reason I do oversleep, I go into a total panic. I'd rather show up to work with no make up than show up late.

SEVEN

Not getting A's and B's. I know it sounds like I'm an overachiever (which I am), but when I am taking a class, I don't settle for anything less than the best.

EIGHT

Not knowing who I am in old age. I've witnessed what it's like with my own eyes, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Nine Loves

There are many things in this world that I love and adore...it's very hard to narrow them down to just nine. But after thinking about the nine things I love the most, here they are:

ONE

Kentucky basketball. It is a sports tradition like no other. Unless you are a part of the Big Blue Nation, you will never fullly understand it.

TWO

Writing. It is a passion that I have had since I was a kid. I credit my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Bach for being the first person to give to me a love of writing.

THREE

Traveling. I love to travel and I start to get the itch to go somewhere if too much times lapses between my trips. I have to take at least one big trip a year, and I make sure that I have several road trips in between.

FOUR

Coffee. Although I do enjoy indulging in specialty drinks such as a pumpkin spice latte, I love a hot cup of black coffee. I'm a firm believer that if you put sugar and milk in it, it's not coffee anymore.

FIVE

Donnie Wahlberg. I loved him in the late 80s when he had a rat tail and I still love him today.

SIX

My job as an early childhood special education teacher. I get to finger paint and change lives all at the same time. I couldn't ask for better.

SEVEN
Laughter. I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine. Even on the worst days of my life, I have managed to find something to laugh about.

EIGHT

My grandparents. My MaMaw and PaPaw both had a tremendous influence on who I have become today.

NINE

My family. They have seen what my hair looks like in the morning and they still love me anyway!

Music Mondays! Fireworks!