1- Would you rather have a fun fling or a lasting relationship?
How about a fun, lasting relationship... :)  Cuz I think I found one!

2- What was your longest relationship?
About 3.5 years

3-What is your favorite personality trait?
Who could ever really pick one...?  Sincere, Honest, Attentive, Humorous, Intelligent, Loyal, Reliable, Kind, Determined, Trustworthy, Optimistic

4- What is the most romantic thing a significant other could do?
Jamie said it best this week... romance is all about the little things.  Not flowers or candy or cards or diamonds.... romance is opening the door so you can go first, holding your hand in the dark, pushing an unruly strand of hair out of the way, a kiss on your forehead out of the blue, making breakfast just the way you like it, etc......

5- When you are dating someone, what is the most important thing to you?
That I can truely be myself with that person.

6- Do you like pet names (ex: baby, sweetheart...)?
When appropriate, not EVERY time my attention is requested

7- What is your ideal night out with a significant other?
I'm easy to please... :)  Last week it was a few hours at the lake with my family followed by ice cream on a city bench and watching the trains go by.... this weekend it will be the lugnuts game & fireworks, maybe a couple overpriced beers :)

9- Would you be able to tell someone you love them, even if you didn't feel it?
No, what's the point in lying?

10- Do you like relationships that involve serious commitments?
As long as I have no doubts about that serious committment.

11- If you ever got engaged, how would you want it to happen?
I have been engaged.............

12- If you were engaged, would you want a wedding as soon as possible?
I didn't the first time!  Maybe the second time around will be different.

13- Do you like to talk about the future when in a serious relationship?
Yes, but you can only go so far.... I don't fantasize about marital bliss or a house full of kids or a white-picket fence with a dog... I think it's more relevant to talk about goals, dreams, what's important...

14- Do you prefer a sensitive open relationship or a strong silent type?
Um... I don't understand the question.  NEXT!

15- When in a relationship do you have to have contact with your partner on a daily basis?
Not physical contact... but yes, as things are right now, we talk on the phone every night... and it never seems long enough :)

16- Do you like public displays of affection?
If they are simple and well-timed, yes... but PLEASE don't try to hump me in the grocery store in the express lane or slobber all over my face on the playground at 2pm when families are out enjoying the sunshine

17- Is there anything you won't tolerate while in a relationship?
Abuse - Verbal &/or Physical, Lies, Disrespect (esp. to my family), Ignorance, and of course whoring around!! Oh and don't always be a debbie downer, it doesn't make life fun or YOU fun to be around.

18- What is one thing that you value most in a relationship?
Haven't I already answered this in some way, shape, or form?!  I value.... mutual respect and chemistry.

19- Would you ever be able to handle a long-distance situation?
I'm handling it now :) But any farther away... and I wouldn't be able to play.

20- Do you believe in moving in together before engagement or marriage?
I've also lived this one out... and YES I'd still be a big advocate of living with someone before committing to them forever, because you really do get to know a person when sharing the same space, everyone has quirks, can you handle them?  Better find out before you take that vow!

21- Did you have any unread text messages this morning when you woke up?
Just one - a stupid Meijer Gas Alert... of COURSE it's going up, it's a big holiday travel weekend.  Oil prices, shmoil prices.

22- Whats your relationship with the person you last texted?
Well... I'm one of her bridesmaids!  :) 

23- What are your plans for today?
I'm slowly wasting my day away on this SURVEY... cuz I'm long-winded today... so after this, just work!

24- Where was your default taken?
At the Leisure Lake :)

25- Do you have a flip or slide phone?
Nope... a flat smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard!

26- Have you ever played hard to get?
Just to pass the time :)

27- Who is the last person you shared a bed with?
Ty... or more recently, Vada!! :)

28- Do you love anyone?
I love lots of people.

29- Have you ever had your heart broken?
Yes and no.

30- Have you ever broken someones heart?
Possibly...  "All Hail the Heartbreaker"

31- Do you have an iPod?
Yes... thank you Sarah/Andy!

32- Do you wish someone would call you right now?
No, I'm too busy with this survey... leave me alone! ;-)

33- How do you feel about the last person that called you?
It was Ty... and he's the reason I'm so thoughtful today :)  Enough said.

34- Do you have any weird inside jokes?
LOL.... I'm weird. Of course I do.
"BYE MONKEY!!"

35- Do you find piercings attractive?
Depends on where and how many, but... yes.

36- What song are you currently listening to?
Nothing... just those damn birds outside.

37- What's the worst abuse you have done to your phone?
I'm good to my phones, they fall sometimes, but I dust them off.

38- Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette?
Yup!

39- Do you personally know anybody who has more than five tattoos?
Yes... :) haha

40- Name something you dislike about the day you're having?
I heart this day so far... I got to sleep in.... :)

41- Is there anybody you're really disappointed in right now?
Nah... :)  I'm loving life and everyone in mine.

42- What was the last graduation you attended?
Hmmmm..... it's been a while..... my brothers?

43- Do you owe anyone money?
Nope, but someone owes ME money! *cough, cough* ;-)

44- Do you ever wonder what your ex or most recent “thing” is up to?
lol... not sure what "thing" implies.... but my ex is in California, we aren't strangers, no need to be! :)

I'm moving on.

I finished my last official "photog" shift at the station on Wednesday night.

I met with Phil yesterday and signed my new 2 year contract. 

I start an intensive week (yes all 7 days) of training on Monday.

I'm no longer a photog for the station... but a PRODUCER!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's bittersweet really...  I'm going to miss the incredible experience of being a photog.  The places we go, the things we see, the people we meet.... getting out of the newsroom :-)  But I didn't feel challenged enough as a photog.  I love I felt like an assett to the team, but I just couldn't see myself doing it forever.  So... I've decided to try something new, something full of challenge, something with more responsibility.  I've even impressed myself through this process.  I didn't get the job handed to me just because I work there.  And that's exactly what I DIDN'T want to happen. I had to prove myself and my capabilities concerning the new role.  I even had to interview and was up against 2 or 3 others they brought in based on resumes submitted.  I felt REALLY good after my interview thinking "wow... I definitely presented myself well, if I don't get it after that, i can't stay I didn't try my best". 

But sure enough... they offered me the position and the best thing about that moment was Phil saying "I want you to know we were impressed by your interview and we feel this is the best decision for the station and for you.  We are not settling because your an easy hire, we really believe you are the best candidate."  That right there was worth everything.

So here goes nothing....  Hopefully I will float instead of sink!  My goals?  To revamp the weekend show, working that shift as a photog was always full of dread because weekends are TORTURE.  The news (unless something breaks) is full of light and fluffy content, no hard news.  I want to really develop the crew and raise expectations.  I'm hoping I can make a noticable difference with my presence.  I want to be the best I can be, so I'm going to work at it. 

My new shift...? Wednesday - Friday at the assignment desk in the newsroom and producing the 6pm and 11pm shows on Saturday and Sunday.  And nooooo I'm not giving up on Hom-Tv just yet... I'll do that on Mondays still.  So my DAY off will be Tuesday :-)  And what a much needed day off it will be!  The tradeoff for working weekends again is at least having my nights back during the week.  It will definitely take some getting used to, but I'm looking forward to it!  And who knows... if there's any more movement with producers maybe I'll have proven myself worthy of a better shift at some point! :-)

Soo... thanks to everyone who has supported me through all of this... I'll be needing more of it I'm sure!  Wish me luck!

"You better be careful... with eyes like that, you could stop a guy in his tracks."

This is the first corny, honest-effort pick up line someone has attempted to use on me.  I had to laugh nervously and could only respond with "Well then... I better keep them closed!" *Smile*  All the while thinking... did that just happen?  He then proceeded to insist he needed my "digits" haha.  Sorry, but....

1. I'm engaged.
2. He was hanging out at the VFW in Portland.
3. I was clearly working.

Thankfully we were on our way out, so I proceeded to act really distracted with the process of getting out the door and back to the news car.  Though it was way out of line, I remain a bit flattered....that's a nice compliment to hear.  Even if he was reading it from his "Top 101 Cheesy Pick Up Lines" pocket guide! *wink*

Just another scene in the movie that is my life!

I had to get the ice scraper out of my trunk after work tonight... I was NOT happy with the frost covering my windows.  I tried to not give in by cranking the defroster and turning my wipers on high, but I got impatient. 

So there you have it folks... scraper use #1.

I may cry.

Just stumbled across a Christmas countdown online....

46 days to go...

I can't believe it's that time of year again! Not that I'm complaining... its my FAVORITE time of year, but wow... this year has gone by really fast.  Seems just like yesterday...

Trying another new color scheme/layout for my LJ.  I can't guarantee it will make me update more, but it's a nice change of scenery!

Speaking of scenery, I love fall... The trees are so bold and dramatic.  It makes a drive anywhere seem like a mini vacation.

I attempted to bake pumpkin seeds for the first time last night... left over from the 2 that Rakell and I carved last weekend.  I'd say I did pretty well... I did a batch with just salt and a batch with garlic powder.  YUMM... I think I like the garlic powder ones the best.

I'm gonna have a full house tomorrow... Mom and Dad are coming up to bring me some furniture that was kindly donated to my apartment from my Grandma Great.  She has no use for it anymore so we'll do our best to give it TLC at our apt.  I believe Trav and Cindy will be heading this way too before going back to school.  How fun!  I heart family time.

Family time... JR and I had a lot of it last weekend too... our trip to Iowa was really nice.  Got to see his bro play his last high school football game, took his little brother Logan to chuck e cheese's for a belated birthday with Dad and Gered too.  Went shopping and to the theatre for SawII.   A huge thanks to Sarah for letting us borrow her portable dvd player... it made a WORLD of difference on the 8.5 hr drive.  I will be scoping out holiday sales to see if Santa can pick one up for us.

I have started organizing scrapbook stuff for the book I aspire to make for Rakell highlighting our first year in the BBBS program.  Time is tickin... I need to have it done by the end of the year.  It will make a good Christmas present.  I saved a lot of stuff and kept up with writing little things in my planner, but I have SOOO much to do.  I set up a little work table in my apartment to motivate me so here goes nothin!  I hope it's a masterpiece... :-)  Thank god my Grandma L gave me a ton of scrapbooking stuff for Christmas last year to get me started... it's going to make a HUGE difference.

I'm talking contract with HomTv tomorrow.... it's that time again.  There's no way I can back out now, things are going really well with Meridian Magazine.  I wonder if yet another raise is in the works....??  Pretty soon I'll just take over the station and be a salary employee haha.  Keep your fingers crossed!

ONE more thing... I'm going to get the ball rolling to get into producing at work.  If I give it my all in the next 2 months it's very possible my days of being a "photojournalist" could be in the past.  We'll see how it goes and see if I even have a knack for it in the real world.  I have a lot of support at work... with everyone.  News directors, other producers, reporters, etc.  It's motivating to know they are all rooting for me to make a change if it's something I truly want. 

Until next time... :-)

I can always count on work to put me in endless situations that make me realize how greatful I am for the life that I have.  For the solid, nurishing past behind me, for the incredible people and situations that fill my every day, and for the promising future ahead.

Okay, that's it for lump forming emotions....

SOOOOO looking forward to the next couple weekends!! 

THIS weekend marks both MSU's Homecoming & Hom-Tv's 25th Anniversary celebrations.  I have Friday night and Saturday OFF so I can enjoy the festivities and be a part of two things that mean the world to me.  Can't wait for Ryan to roll into town either... haven't seen him in like 230498 years and I've convinced him to spend money on football tickets with me!!  And Elizabeth will of course be heading this way to be my faithful sidekick!!  This will honestly be my first time tailgating... so I hope the weather cooporates...chilly is fine, rain is not!  I still have one ticket remaining... I was hoping I could convince JR, Bry, or Muff to come with, but things aren't lookin promising with the boyz... so we'll see!!

NEXT weekend JR and I will be taking a little mini vacation.  We weren't able to do much of anything this past summer as far as vacations go, so this will be nice.  I can't go into too much detail because we're still trying to get things figured out, but I have Friday, Saturday, AND Monday off (at Hom-Tv) so that in and of itself is a good thing.  A MUCH needed few days off... hey... I work hard folks, don't hate!

One more thing -

I know I'm fairly humble... but I have to admit.  With all of my new responsibilites at Hom-Tv I'm getting constant reinforcement that my thoughts, actions, ideas, words, all matter and hold weight just because they came from me.  Not that I've ever doubted that... but to be so valued at a constant level is nice. I love that I can make a difference or enlighten another person based on the things I've learned along the way.  It's a great feeling to know I've come so far and I'm using all my experience to help others do the same.  I also got a call from the State News yesterday about an article they are doing on Hom-Tv's Anniversary, so I'm hoping I make the cut and get to clip an article for the scrapbook!  And with my ventures with Big Brother's Big Sister's... not only do I have a lasting bond that strengthens each week with Rakell... but all the time I've volunteered at the office has led them to personally ask me about helping head a committee for their next big fundraiser as well as an employment opportunity with the organization.  I really feel like I'm onto something...somewhere.  It's only a matter of time before I hit gold (more than I have already). 

NEWS FLASH:

For those of you I haven't talked to - I'm leaving at 7am to head to Lafayette, Louisiana until Wednesday to cover hurricane stuff for the CBS station there!  Wish me luck... & I demand all of you to miss me lots!! :-)  I'll post upon my safe return to Lansing...

I can still fit in a couple hrs of Zzz's before heading south, so off I go to attempt sleep!

Love to all... :-)

So I got this random magazine for "Carnival Cruises" magazine in the mail today.  I was about to nonchalantely toss it into my wedding magazine pile for honeymoon ideas but first flipped through real quick and noticed a PHOTO CONTEST on the last page.  Having just gone on a Carnival cruise with Sarah, I got all excited and decided I need to enter this bad boy and WIN!!! 

Here's the deal... you can enter a pic from any Carnival cruise vacation you've experienced - from a scenic shot taken on shore to a winning pose struck with friends on deck.  Entries will be judged equally on subject matter, composition, & lighting.  I have a month to enter.. so I thought I'd take a poll.  I have two pics that I think could be winners... you tell me your fav and why and that will help me with my decision, cuz I heart them both! 

 On shore in Cozumel, Mexico.

OR

 Our ship docked at Key West.