Blogtober: I Wanna Be A Billionaire ...

I am so excited to be participating in Blogtober!! I've been in a bit of a blogging funk since before our wedding and this is the perfect thing to help me out of it!

The first topic is "what would you do if you won the lottery"?  Let me preface this by saying that my job is BORING (and pointless), as such, I have way to much time to think about things (when I'm not reading or watching movies), so I have thought about this lottery thing a lot.

Also, I am going to assume that I've won A LOT of money and will never have to work again.

That being said, If I won the lottery I would ...

... Make sure my family and Josh's family (by family I mean parents and siblings) have a nice place to live.  They'd still have to work because I don't think I'd pay their monthly bills but I would make sure they have a home that is suited to them, a decent car, and I'd pay off as much of their debts as I could. 

... Pay off all of mine and Josh's debts and get us some new vehicles.

... Buy the house I grew up in off of my Dad and fix it up.  It's a small house (the exact layout of the one Josh and I live in now) and it's all we'd need for a few year as a home base while we travel.

... Tavel like crazy.  I would take my parents and my sister to Europe (separately of course, no one wants a murder) and I'd take my brother to Legoland and on an overnight train ride (he is obsessed with trains).  Josh and I would then travel all over.

 Dad and siblings in Colorado 2005

... Invest money into this blog.  I'd buy a nice layout and invest some time and money into making this a great travel and lifestyle blog.  Having something to write about would make blogging so much easier. 

... Go on at least one volunteer trip abroad and one in the U.S. each year.  There is one in Costa Rica that I am dying to do at a sea turtle rescue!

... Buy myself and Josh a nice piece of land in the South once we decide to slow down with traveling.  Somewhere in GA or SC would be ideal.  We would build this house ...

My Charities of Choice Would Be...

The Beagle Freedom Project

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

The Wounded Warrior Project

Operation Homefront

The ARC

FarmAid

Wildlife Conservation Society

Animal Welfare Institute 

National Parks Trust 

Earthworks

I would donate a chunk to each of these each year and smaller amounts to smaller non-profits such as the wolf sanctuary not far from us.

My Childhood Crushes

Today I'm participating in Blog Everyday in September hosted by The Observant Turtle.

We all have those super embarrassing celebrity crushes from elementary and middle school - I have no shame in admitting a few of mine.

It seems like all the other girls liked Nick, but I always thought Brian was the cutest Backstreet Boy.  I never really liked blondes much (except Jesse McCartney).  The BSB were my first concert (no shame).

I mean, honestly, who didn't have a thing for JTT?  I would honestly be surprised if JTT isn't on every girls list (at least girls born in the 80's).

Once again, who didn't have a thing for him.  (Sidenote: I watched saved by the bell every morning through  high school).  Actually, he is in one of my favorite Netflix Christmas Movies - 12 Dates of Christmas.

I'm sure I had others but these are the three that I really remember.  My crushes usually lasted about a week and then I moved on to the next.

A Ghostly Encounter

I’ve never been one to believe in anything paranormal, so to speak.  But a week at my Mom’s house may have convinced me.  Now I still don’t believe in crazy scary movie type stuff but I do believe in spirits.

My sister thinks everything is haunted, so when her and my Mom and brother moved into a new house I was obviously rolling my eyes when she said the new house is haunted.  She called him Sarge because my Oma’s boyfriend whose house it is fought in Vietnam so she thinks it’s either a friend or someone he killed.  They were in the new house for almost two years when they asked me to stay with Charlie for a week while they went on vacation.

The first weird thing was: I was playing with Charlie one night and he just stopped in his tracks and started growling at something in the dining room.  He kept inching closer, then crouching away the way dogs do when they’re in trouble and he did this several times.  He also scooted his way into the kitchen and was sitting there growling, too.  This went on for nearly a half hour.  It was really creepy.

for reference, the living room is in front and the dining room is where the red wall is and then where Charlie is, is where the kitchen starts.

The second was:  I was getting ready for bed and Charlie wanted to go out.  I opened the bedroom door and saw a ball of light go from the living room to the dining room.  I didn’t think much of it at the time.  I figured it was just a car passing by the window.  But it was a condensed ball of light.  I told my Mom about it and she said she’s seen the same thing, but the light usually goes into the fire place.

 

Charlie also won’t go into the basement at night.  They say animals have a sixth sense and I officially believe it.

To top off all the creepiness, there was one night when the electricity went out.  I had to go in the creepy basement at night into a dark corner where the fuse box was.  It turned out that there was a fire which somehow affected the transformer box for that area.   But it was super creepy and I was soooo not wanting to go down there.

Maybe I should have shared this story around Halloween ...

Top 5: TV Shows

I used to not watch much TV, especially when I lived with my parents.  But now I am a boring old person who can't afford to go out, so I watch a lot more shows.  These are my top 5:

NCIS

This is one of my all-time favorite shows and definitely my favorite crime show.  I honestly don’t know what I’d do with my life if this show got cancelled!  Gibbs and Abby are definitely my favorites and I totally want to be Abby!  Ducky is another favorite.  I cry every time something happens to Ducky and I have no clue why.

BONES

Bones is a close second to NCIS.  I love the science in this show and I love that Kathy Reichs makes sure it’s accurate.  Also, the characters grow and change so much during the course of the show, especially Bones.  I love watching that and watching relationships grow.  Plus, Booth is hot!  I mean, let’s be serious!

GILMORE GIRLS

This is the first show I bought seasons of and watched from start to finish.  Although the characters annoyed me to no end at some points, this show will always have a place in my heart.  And I’m still mad that Logan and Rory didn’t end up together.

 

FLASHPOINT

Canada for the win!  I love our neighbors to the north for bringing us this fabulous show!  It came on during the writer’s strike a few years ago.  It’s essentially about a hostage rescue team.  There is a lot of psychology involved and I love it!  I love everything about this show and even though I’m sad it ended, I think they ended it fabulously.

Pretty Little Liars

This is my guilty pleasure, for sure.  I’m a season behind and I want to stop watching it but I just can’t!  I know some information from the books but there's also a lot I don't know.  I need to know everything!

If they keep it up, Chicago PD may bump PLL out of my top 5!  I am loving that show so far!  Also, I have a total girl crush on Sophia Bush.  Can I please be her?  I also love that they do a lot of crossing over with Chicago Fire.  I also just started watching Numbers on Netflix, great show!

If You Want to Annoy Me

If for some reason, you decide one day that you want to annoy me, be one of the following people.  (PS I'm just in the mood to bitch, so this is what we get).

People Who Go Into Checkout Lines While On Their Phones

OH...MY...GAWD!!  Like, for real, this is one that actually makes me want to deck people ... in the face. In my opinion, it's one of the rudest things you can do.  No conversation is that damn important that you can't tell the person on the other line to hold on for a minute when you complete your transaction.  If it is that important maybe you shouldn't be having the conversation in a store?  If you must have the conversation in the store, don't get in line until you are prepared to hang up or ask the person to hold on a minute.  That or just use the self checkout lines.

I actually go into it with a customer at Wawa over this.  He was holding up my line because I was asking a legitimate question regarding his debit card and couldn't finish the transaction without the information.  He was too busy on his phone to pay attention to me so I put his stuff behind the counter, suspended his transaction and moved on to the next (annoyed) customer.  He was not happy at all.  I told him why I did what I did and we definitely argued a bit.  If any other manager had been there that night, I probably would have lost my job.  The one that was there could barely deal with him because she was laughing so  hard.  Anyway, the point of this story is don't be on your phone when you're checking out from a store (or when you're in a restaurant where you will be served, for that matter) ITS RUDE!

People Who Tailgate

 I am not a slow driver, but I also don't drive like I'm at Daytona.  The "main road" that leads to my street has a speed limit of 50mph; I usually go about 60 (unless it's rainy or something).  The road is pretty hilly and curvy so I wouldn't feel safe going much faster than 60.  This is my biggest pet peeve - when I am going OVER the speed limit and people tailgate me!  I am not one to slam on my brakes and try to cause an accident; I value my car, and my life.  What I'll do is gradually slow down until either they get off my ass or I reach the slowest speed I can legally go.  There is no safe or legal place to pass, so unless they're really stupid, they're stuck.  

Moral of the story? Tailgating is stupid, annoying, and unsafe ... don't do it :)

People Who Try to Talk to Me When I'm Reading

...and these things are not important.  I talked about this here.  Josh is also bad for this one.  He gets the stink eye a lot. 

Germophobes

Not like people who just wash their hands a lot (that's just sanitation) but people like the lady at Wawa who wanted us to change our gloves every 10 seconds.  HELL NO.  This lady, let me tell you.  She asked me to put gloves on while making coffee ... coffee!  Our hands never touch the coffee .. like at all.  I flat out said no and she didn't get a coffee.  Then she asked the guy making her sub to change his gloves, I kid you not, three times!  The third time he got pissed and walked away.   Nobody else would touch it so the manager had to come out and make it (and changed her gloves twice).  That's just a little stupid.  Also, studies have shown that Germophobes are more prone to serious illnesses because their immune systems haven't been stressed and are therefore, weak.

People Leaving Shoes on in the House

This is a weird one and I don't know why it bugs me so much but it does.  Maybe because growing up, at my house and my friends houses, we were required to take our shoes off by the door.  Josh has a hard time with this one but I am adamant about it because he tracks so much shit into the house.  

Now, I have told you how to thoroughly piss me off ... but please don't.

#MCM

Today is Monday, which on Instagram means it's #MCM or Man Crush Monday.  So, today I'm treating my readers to some photos of ...

David Boreanaz/Booth
I love David Boreanaz as Booth!  The sexy FBI agent thing works for him.  And the character is the perfect blend of cheesy and badass.

David Paetkau/Sam Braddock
I mean, just look at him!  and watch Flashpoint!  His character, Sam is so hot.   If you haven't figured it out, guys with guns really do it for me, haha!

David Beckham
.... The.Tattoos.

Chace Crawford
I know he was in gossip girl but I first thought he was really pretty in "what to expect when you're expecting".

Chad Michael Murray
  I've just always thought he was really cute, and probably always will.  I've heard he's an ass, but he's a cute one.

... you're welcome.  Happy Monday :)

Dinner with Fictional Characters

When I read, I am one of those nerds who really gets into the books.  If the book is really good, I feel like I actually know the characters and I actually miss them when I am done reading the book.  I would love to actually get to meet some of my favorite fictional characters.  If I could have lunch with any 5, they would be:

Hermione Granger:
If I could only meet one fictional character, she would be it.  Hermione is such a great female character and a great role model for young girls.  She is very intelligent so the conversation would definitely be interesting.  Also, how cool would it be to meet a real witch, I mean, come on.  Maybe shes found my lost Hogwarts letter??

Beatrice Prior
Beatrice is definitely a badass and I would totally have dinner with her just to ask her to teach me how to be badass.   I think it would definitely be an interesting dinner.  I totally want to learn how to be dauntless :)

3.  Enzo
I love dogs. I don't know what else to say about this.  I know the character is a dog but he is one of the characters I have loved the most in all of my years of reading.   It would be great if Enzo could talk to me, but if not, I would be cool with just playing catch and going for a walk.

4.  Robert Langdon
I love Dan Browns books and I love how smart Langdon is.  I would take advantage of that and ask all kinds of questions about symbology.  I think the field is definitely so interesting.  I really have no interest in art or art history but the symbolic aspect of art would be neat to learn and maybe after learning, I would learn to look at art differently.  I am currently joining Langdon on his latest adventure in Florence via the book, Inferno.

5. Bella Swan
Really, I just want to hit her.  So if I invited her to dinner, maybe I would be able to do that.  She is one of the weakest female characters ever and I just don't like her.