TMI Questions - What's In A Name?

I always love answering these questions.  It boggles my mind at how Sean comes up with them each week!

Without further ado......

1. Do you have a favorite flower?

There aren't many things in this world that are naturally blue which I why I love bluebonnets.  I think flowers in general are pretty amazing, but something about bluebonnets is just fascinating.

2. Do you like your name (first)?

I'm okay with it. Would it have been my choice, probably not. But it's my identifier and it's who I am.

I find it interesting that other than my dad, I don't know of many other Roberts.  Every once in a while I have a "Bobby" for a student, but never any names "Robert".

3. Does your name have a meaning?

Robert comes from Old German meaning "Bright with Glory".

My current H. D. crush - Giants
2nd Baseman, Brandon Hicks

4. Do you have a nickname?

Not really, but I did find it interesting that during my class reunion, my friends started calling me "H.D." - for Horn Dog. Being that I was closeted in college, I seemed to be making up for lost time by ogling all the hot college boys (and more than a few college dads).

5. Would you ever consider changing your name?

If I went into witness protection, sure. Until then, I'll stick with who I am. It was interesting that when I got married, very few people asked if either Matt or I would change our last name. We had been together for 14 years when we tied the knot, so our last names were pretty well set.

Thomas Roberts -
Great Name and
Good Looking!

6. What name have you heard that you hate?

Nevaeh.  It's the word 'heaven' spelled backwards.  And it's incredibly lame.

7. What name have you heard that you love?

I've always loved the name Thomas. There's just something about it that rings true in my ears.

8. How did you pick the name(s) of your pets?

Well, we don't have any pets, so no worries there.

9. Do you name inanimate objects?  Name some of them.

We don't have pets, but we have stuffed animals. If they already have a name tag on them, we just go with that, but otherwise we pick a name - Harold the Hedgehog, Tina the Hedgehog (because from the back she has Tina Turner hair), Trooper the dog, Root Beer the bear.  Just to name a few.  :-)

10. Did you name your penis? Has anyone else?

Um, no.

Bonus - In an episode of the Golden Girls, Dorothy had a night of sex that was sooooo good they named it.  Tell me about a night you had like that.

Last summer during our visit to San Diego we had an evening that was simply known as "The Mountaintop".

April Photos of the Month

April Photos of the Month

I decided to get a jump start on Jim's Photo-A-Day Challenge.  It wasn't easy.  Some of the themes were easy, others, not so much.

I am learning how to have fun with Instagram and another app called Diptic to compose my photos. I'm excited to see what I come up with for May.

Speaking of which, here's the list I will be using for the month.....

April 30th Photo of the Day

"Something Silly"

For some reason I have this rainbow-colored polka-dotted spiral hanging in my room.  This perspective is taken from underneath it.  

Tomorrow - "Begins with a J"

April 29th Photo of the Day

"Contrast"

I struggled with this theme. I kinda knew what I was looking for, but could never find anything that felt quite right.

Oh well, they can't all be gems.

Tomorrow - "Something Silly"

April 28th Photo of the Day

"Chaotic"

I live a cluttered life. Our home, my classroom, even my brain, is an unorganized mess. The photo above is a picture of one of my classroom storage cabinets - chaotic to say the least. 

I want to have more organization in my life, but my mind just doesn't work that way. I often get overwhelmed by any organizational task. 

I lose the forest for the trees.

Tomorrow - "Contrast"

Sunday Selfie - On a Rainy Sunday Afternoon

I spent this afternoon at my favorite coffeehouse to grade papers and relax. I got quite a bit done and am feeling a bit more on top of things heading into the week. We have 27 school days remaining and I've got A LOT to get done. The end of the school year is always a busy time and if I can stay ahead of the avalanche, I'll be alright. 

Yesterday Matt and I were able to get out and work in the yard. We mowed it for the first time and Matt did work on the landscaping. It felt good to be outside with the sun on my face. 

Today the heavens opened up and our yard work was officially over for the weekend.

Tonight, we're getting laundry done and I'll be watching "Mad Men". Oh yeah!

Tomorrow the adventure continues.

Love you awesome nerds!

Robert

April 27th Photo of the Day

"Under My Feet"

The original plan was to take a photo out on the lawn of my feet on the greened up lawn. We've had a good bit of rain and it has done wonders for the grass. 

But today the rain continued and I wasn't able to get outside. 

Fortunately I had this photo from my Spring Break trip from last year. It was taken on Fort Lauderdale Beach in front of my family's condo. It had been a long time since I had been barefoot on this particular stretch of oceanfront.  

There's a saying in Florida that once you get the sand between your toes, you'll never get it all out and you will return. I had forgotten how much I loved being down there when I was a kid. Now as an adult, I can get down there and really take in all that the area has to offer.

And for a bonus pic, here's a little something that I noticed on the beach. I gotta get back there soon!

Tomorrow - "Chaotic"

April 26th Photo of the Day

"Enjoy the Little Things"

A good book and dish of espresso gelato. 

Tomorrow - "Under My Feet"

April 25th Photo of the Day

"Remember"

In 2004 Matt and I made our first trip to Las Vegas.

My favorite memory from that trip was of our last night in the city. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel and Casino. It was a beautiful evening and we watched the Fountains of Bellagio show from the observation deck. 

It was one of the most romantic moments I can remember. In July we will be in Las Vegas again for Matt's birthday. I'm hoping we'll be able to go to the top of the Tower again. 

Tomorrow - "Enjoy the Little Things"

Lies, Damned Lies and......

An "A"!

This semester I have been taking Statistics through our local community college.

I've been taking the class in part to add a couple of endorsements to my teaching license. I had failed Stats during my undergrad days and this was my chance for redemption.

On Thursday night before class, my professor asked to speak with me privately.

Minds out of the gutter guys.

I honestly wasn't sure what he needed to speak with me about, and knowing me, I was expecting the worst.

Boy was I wrong.

He told me that it was his policy to give the student with the highest grade in the class the honor of NOT taking the Final - I was that student.

I was floored. I had worked my ass off in the class and had done well, but had no idea that I had the highest grade (his grading system is a bit of a mystery). He told me that he was very impressed with my work. He said I could have easily just done what was necessary to pass, but instead gave every assignment or exam my full effort.

I do have to attend class on Tuesday and complete the last homework assignment, but after that, I'm done.

He gave me the choice on whether or not to tell the class that I would not be taking the final. I didn't want to be "that guy" (pride goeth before a fall), so I asked him to just keep it between us. If I happen to see anyone from the class after Tuesday, I'll just tell them that I had something come up and I made other arrangements with the professor.

I'm kinda on a high right now.

And it feels good.

Love you awesome nerds!
Robert

April 24th Photo of the Day

"A Pop of Colour"

The wife of a coworker is expecting their first child in May. We held a baby shower after school with a "Where the Wild Things Are" theme (I do love our literacy teacher, so creative). 

On the board there were bright green "flowers" made from tissue / crepe paper. All day long I had been struggling with what I would photograph for today's theme of "Pop of Colour" (yes, the site I got the April themes from is an Australian site). 

All through the shower I kept looking at the flowers. They were just so bright and distinctive. I knew that was what I wanted to photograph.

Tomorrow's theme - "Remember"

April 23rd Photo of the Day

Entrance

I blended two photos taken during my college homecoming weekend. The motto is engraved on either side of the entrance to the main building at Huntingdon. I have thought of this phrase often over the years and try to apply it in my life.  

TMI Questions - Snack Time!

Special thanks as always to Sean at "Just A Jeep Guy" for posing this week's questions. 

SNACK TIME

1. Do you prefer salty or sweet?

I primarily go for sweet snacks, but love just about any snack that can combine both salty and sweet. Chocolate cover Ruffles potato chips -Mmmmmmmmmmmm.


2. What was your favorite snack as a kid?

In middle school I would walk to my Mom's office to hang out and I would but the Hostess Chocolate covered mini donuts and a chocolate milk to snack on. And I wonder why I'm overweight.... Hmmmmmmm.

3. What is your favorite snack now?

My go to snack is a Mocha Frappe from McDonalds. After a stressful day, it calms me down. 

4. Healthy snacks are....?

Probably what I should be eating. ;-)

5. Milk and what kind of cookies? Do you dunk?

Chocolate Chip cookies from Lucia's To Go in the Uptown are of Minneapolis. OMG those cookies are amazing - big and full of chocolate chips. They also make an amazing Chocolate Sea Salt cookie. It's an incredibly rich cookie. But the chocolate chip would be the first one I would reach for.

6. How do you eat Oreos?

I like to dunk them in a glass of milk and then "slurp" them down.  I just don't understand the twist and pull apart thing.

7. What is your favorite movie snack?

Raisinettes. I can plow through a box of them during a movie and think nothing of it. But they are made of fruit, so I consider that to be somewhat "healthy".

8. Cake or pie?

Cake. I like pie, but given my choice, cake would win every time - especially if it's wedding cake. Seriously, I feel like that's the only reason I go to weddings is because of the cake.

9. Ready Whip or Cool Whip"

Ready Whip, but nothing beats real whipped cream.  

10. Potato Chips or Pretzels or Cheetos?

Cheetos. Love em. Plus I love sucking the "cheedle" off of my fingers when I finish a bag. 

11. Favorite kind of ice-cream - flavor and brand?

Blue Bunny Cinnamon ice cream. There is a local restaurant that specializes in ice cream desserts using Blue Bunny. It's the only place in central Iowa where I can get it.  Sooooo gooood.

12. Most unusual food you eat as a snack?

Okay, hopefully I'm not the only person out there that does this. Every once in a while I'll go to a local place - BeBop's and get an order of fries and a chocolate shake. I dip the fries into the shake and then eat. You get the hot, salty fries covered in a cool, frost, chocolatey goodness.  

April 22nd Photo of the Day - The Remix

Four Things

Yesterday was a bit crazy as I was going from sun-up to sun-down.  After school I went for a very needed haircut and then Matt and I met up with an old friend of mine from Florida.  My friend, John, was my boss when I worked at Musicland in Tallahassee.  We've stayed in touch over the years and now his daughter is making plans to attend Iowa State in the fall.  John and his daughter came up to look at the school and so we got to spend the evening with them.

Needless-to-say I didn't really get a chance to put words to my Photo for yesterday. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but my readers don't know that those words are! 

So here are my "Four Things" for April 22nd.

"Skunk River Cycles" - I really enjoy riding my bike and I need to do more of it. Skunk River is where I have my bike worked on and I happened to be by the store yesterday when I was going for my haircut. I also kinda dig the way a well build man looks in cycling gear. Something about a man in a cycling jersey and compression shorts.  sigh....

"The Bird" - After 19 years together, Matt and I have forgotten more "in-jokes" than most couple have altogether.  One of our "jokes" involves the book Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman.  We love the illustration of the bird with his wings on his "hips". As a Christmas present, I had that drawing framed. We have it hanging in our bedroom, so it is an image I see every day as I get up in the morning. It never fails to make me smile.

"The Clock" - Alan Parsons said it best - "Time, keeps flowing like a river.  On and on to the sea." This is a photo of the clock in our bathroom. I have a love/hate relationship with time. I treasure my free time, but I'm horrible at managing my time. I procrastinate and then when time sneaks up on me, I lament the fact that I wasn't better at planning ahead. Maybe some decade I'll figure out how to be better at being mindful of time.

"Woof" - I know I've seen other photos of this gentleman, but I couldn't tell you his name.  Help would be beneficial.  We have this photo hanging in the kitchen.  It's just simply nice to look at.  :-)

April 22nd Photo of the Day

Four Things

April 21st Picture of the Day

"Close"

I chose this photo to represent the word "close", as in "I am so close to being finished with grading papers."

It was a long day at school. I've been grouchy and out of sorts. Towards the end of the day I texted Matt and told him that I was going to go to Cafe Diem after my Stats class to grade and just be by myself for a bit.

I've been sitting here for the better part of 3 hours and I do feel better. When I snapped the photo I was a couple of papers from being finished and now those are done and recorded. My students are now in that part of the year where they are assuming that since was are 6 weeks from the end that they don't have to turn stuff in.

They are discovering that they are sorely mistaken. I'm holding their feet to the fire and making life most uncomfortable for them until they get caught up.  

No excuses.  No letting up.

It's about time for me to head home, iron a shirt for tomorrow and then maybe head to be a little early. 

This funk I'm in has to end sometime, right?

Love you awesome nerds.

Robert

Sunday Selfie - Back To Good

It's been a while since I've done a Sunday Selfie.

Heck, it's been a while since I've blogged on a regular basis. I've been really busy with school and other life events.  

I've been stressed out quite a bit recently with work and I'm just honestly tired.  We have 32 school days left. Gonna try to make them as good as possible while still staying sane.

Love you awesome nerds.
Robert

April 20th Picture of the Day

Egg

The theme for today's picture is "Egg" in honor of Easter.  

And Easter means one thing to me..... BRUNCH! 

Matt and I took my Mom out for brunch this morning.  We headed downtown to a very nice restaurant, Olde Main Pub, to get our brunch on.

I rarely have an omelet made at a brunch bar, but they looked really today and honestly, the picture doesn't do it justice. I had mine made with bacon, mushrooms and cheese. Along with the omelet, you can see my waffle with chocolate chips, strawberries and whipped cream.

Everything this morning was SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!  

Now that we are in food comas, Matt and I will just be hanging out on the couch watching baseball all afternoon.

Happy Easter.

Robert

Captain America - The Winter Solder

Tonight I had the opportunity to see "Captain America - The Winter Solder". I'm not a comic book geek, but I do love a good superhero movie and for the last few years, Marvel has been knocking them out of the park.

From the reviews that I had read, most critics have agreed that this movie is one of, if not, the best of the movies in the "Avengers" series.



I usually hate going to see movies on opening weekend, so I waited a few weeks before making the trip the theater. My friend Pete accompanied me as he's seen the movie FOUR times. He said it was definitely that good.

The directors wanted to give the move a "Three Days of the Condor" feel and boy did they succeed. The move is a great political thriller wrapped in the guise of a comic book movie. What Marvel has done so very well with the series is that each movie can stand on its own while moving the overall plot along.

You could go into this movie not knowing anything about the previous Marvel movies and still immensely enjoy it. The acting is very good, the plot is tight and the special effects are top notch.  I HIGHLY recommend this movie.

Plus, two words ---- CHRIS EVANS!

Need I say more?!

April 19th Photo of the Day

Money

In preparation for Jim's "Pic A Day in May" challenge, I decided to get a head start and get into the habit of posting.  

For "Money" I chose to take a photo of our change jar.  We've had it forever and we just throw our extra change in it.  We had been using it to purchase our women's basketball tickets each season, but since we've been doing a bit better, we haven't tapped into it.  I've also taken to throwing in a $20 every once in a while. Whenever we finally decide to take it to the bank and cash it in, we should be looking at a nice payout.  

Like going to the casino, just without all the smoke and old people.  

Love you awesome nerds.

Robert

Do Guys Make Passes At Guys Who Wear Glasses?

Over Spring Break I lost my glasses. 

Somewhere in Utah is a 7-year old pair of glasses that were very loved.

I felt lost without them. 

I still miss them.  

They were a part of me. Beaten up, legs chewed on mercilessly, dinged in more than a few places.  But they were mine and I never felt right when I wasn't wearing them.

Granted, they were only reading glasses for a slight astigmatism, but I quickly got into the habit of wearing them everywhere.  In Utah, I set them down somewhere, never to be found again.

Sigh.

Realizing that it had been 7 years since my last eye exam, I made an appointment to get checked out. Fortunately, my prescription hadn't changed all that much and I picked out a pair of Ralph Lauren frames that I really liked.

When the new glasses came in, I tried them on - fit great, but something just seemed.... off.

I put the glasses on at home and everything was blurry, except for things right up close.  Aha, they're reading glasses.  With my old glasses, I could wear them EVERYWHERE and not have to worry.  But these - not happening.

Since I teach, I'm constantly reading and looking up, so these glasses just wouldn't cut it.  I made the decision to go..... bifocal.  Gulp.

I got the new ones redone and have had them since Tuesday.  It's definitely an adjustment period. Things have looked just a little off, but I'm definitely more comfortable with them now.

And they don't look unfortunate on my face. 

But I still miss my old glasses.  May they rest in peace. 

Love you awesome nerds!

Robert

TMI Questions: Tax Time 2014

Special thanks to Sean for posting his weekly TMI questions. They never fail to make me think. :-)




TAX TIME 2014

1. Have you finished your taxes or are you just getting started?

Taxes are done and filed. This was the first year that Matt and I filed a Federal joint tax return and I gotta admit, it was kinda cool.

2. Do you do your taxes yourself or do you use a service?

A friend of ours prepares tax returns for a living, so we entrust our lives to her. LOL. She does great work with our returns and does everything she can to get us the best return possible.

3. How are you at keeping records and receipts?

I am TERRIBLE at keeping records and receipts.  The office looks like a mini-Hoarders episode waiting to air.  

4. How 'creative' do you get?

Not very.  We use the deductions that we are entitled to take, but we don't get crazy with the Cheeze-Whiz.

5. What do you think about the amount of taxes you pay?

Contrary to the Tea-baggers, I'm okay with paying taxes.  I make good money and feel I should pay my fair share to help fun the government.  

6. What do you plan to do with your refund?

Even with the "marriage penalty", we made out pretty well. Our plan is to use our refund on new siding for the house. Not the sexiest thing in the world, but the house really needs it. 

BONUS

Have you ever paid an IRS agent personally?

No, I have not. ;-)

TMI QUESTIONS: "In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love..."

I've been a bad boy and haven't been blogging much as of late.  Thankfully Sean's TMI Questions get me going. :-)

In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love

1. Who was the first person to say, "I love you!" to you?

Other than family, the first person to truly tell me that they loved me is my husband Matt. It sounds strange, but Matt is my first love and only love. 

2. Who was the first person you said, "I love you!" to?

See the first answer. :-)

3. Love at first sight or a love that grows?

I fall in lust every day with guys that I see, either at the gym, on tv, etc.  But a love that grows is precious. 

4. Who was the love that got away?

I don't necessarily have a love that got away, but I do have a friendship that I let get away.

5. One true love or more than one?  

True love to me is a deep, emotional connection to another person.  Those connections are very few and far between, but yes, I think you can have more than one true love.  

6. Have you ever regretted saying, "I love you."?

Nope.

7. Are love songs silly?

Some are. I'm not gonna knock songwriters because they have more talent than I ever will in the field of music. But, there are some awful love songs out there.  

8. What's your favorite love song?

The Beach Boys - "God Only Knows". 

9. Are you a romantic?

Very much so.  

BONUS

Have you ever said, "I love you." in the heat of sex? Does that count?

Yes I have.  Yes it does.  See Question #1.