Thoughts for Thursday - College

After graduating high school, I didn't go to college.  I wasn't ready.  I didn't know what I wanted to do.  Instead I worked full-time at a bank.  When I graduated from high school almost (gurp) 18 years ago, not everyone went to college.  It was not an automatic like it seems to be today.  At the age of 21, I decided I was ready and responsible enough to go.  I still didn't know what I wanted to do but I knew most likely it would be something in the financial sector.  

I continued to work full-time and go to school part-time for the majority of the time but there were times when I was working and going to school full-time or just going to school full-time and working part-time.

It took me 6 years to graduate with that schedule. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from a state university and to this day, I feel like I haven't benefited from it in my career thus far.

I knew college was always something that I had to do.  It was a personal goal. I was never forced by my parents to go, instead they supported me in whatever decision I wanted to make.  To this day, I'm the only person on my entire mom's side of the family to have a college degree.  

Has the degree benefited me?  Educationally, yes.  I enjoyed going to college on my terms when I was ready  but I was also ready to be done come the time.  I thought about getting my master's for a minute and decided that was something I didn't want to do.  I do wish I would have not been that eager to finish as I was very close to having a double major and I should have just taken the time to do it or should have just majored in Finance instead.  I choose Business Administration since it's generic and I would be well-rounded in management, accounting, finance, law, marketing, economics, etc. 

Has the degree benefited me? Financially, no, the degree has not benefited me.  I have a student loan that I've been paying almost 9 years and even though the interest rate is fixed at 3.125%, there is no end in the 

near future.  I think I'll be paying it for another 11+ years.  

I don't have 5 figure debt but it feels like it!

The job I currently have strongly prefers a college degree but it isn't required. None of the jobs I've held in the past have required it although it has helped slightly and I have been compensated financially slightly because of it at a past job but with what I will end up paying out in the long run, it will not be worth it for me financially.  

I don't regret my decisions.  Like I said, personally, it's something I needed to do. I'm glad I have it and will have that credential forever but the financial burden is the part that keeps killing me and I can't imagine with the cost of tuition these days how kids are doing it if they are paying for it on their own.   

Today's Thoughts for Thursday:

• Do you have a college degree?
• If not, do you wish you went or finished school?
• What is your degree/certification/trade?
• Is your degree in-line with what you are doing for a career?
• Did you have student loans or were you lucky enough to get assistance from either scholarships, parents, employer, etc. 
• Would you change anything?  

 

Thoughts for Thursday - Toothbrushes

My dad always liked reading when I did Thoughts for Thursday (TFT). It was not my idea and I don't know where it originated from but a topic is chosen by the blogger and they write about it. Here's where you come in...you get to be interactive with the blog and leave a comment about the topic.  Other bloggers do the same thing with their topic of choice and bloggers can link up the other blogger's topics on their post.  Fun?  Bloggers...are you interested in starting this again?

Today's topic is really light-hearted and almost stupid but it's an easy one and one that all can relate to, that is, if you brush your teeth.

I write blogs in my head all the time and while I was brushing my teeth on Monday and thinking about writing a blog post, this happened.  Really?!  The whole brush part broke off into my mouth!

This post didn't start over broken toothbrushes.  It started based on feedback M received from the dentist about his teeth.  Let's rewind.

Both M and I wanted an electric toothbrushes a couple of years ago.  He bought me one for my birthday two years ago.  I hated it.  I could not get used to the vibration, the feel of it and me drooling all over the place.  I returned it.  

I bought M an electric toothbrush last year for Christmas.  He loves it.

M goes to the dentist once a year.  This past week, he went for the first time since getting him the electric toothbrush.  They raved about his teeth and knew he must use an electric toothbrush.  While I get good feedback from my dentist, I've never had rave reviews like he did.  

Do you brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush or do you do it "manually"?  

Have you had great comments from your dentist with either toothbrush?

Do you think it's worth investing in an electric toothbrush and the cost of the replacement heads?

Participate and leave a comment!

I'm starting to consider getting one again and trying it out.  If I just be patient and stick with it, the benefits seem to be worth it. 

I hope I can stick with a topic each week going forward.  They'll be lighthearted and heavy hitters alike.  If I get little participation from readers and other bloggers, I may discontinue at some point but we'll see how it goes.

Other TFT posts:

• Kristi --The Flu  (Her blog is password protected but I know some of you have the password.)

*If there are any other bloggers who plan on doing a TFT post too, please let me know and I'll link you up later today.*

Thoughts for Thursday-Being Thifty

I like to call myself thifty.  M would rather call me a cheap ass, but he means it in the nicest possible way. :) There are many things in my life that I cannot justify buying at full price.  Clothes are one of these items.  I almost always buy things on sale.  Rarely will I buy clothes not on sale.  I can think of 1 time in the last year that I bought a hoodie for full price.  There is no need for me to buy at full price in most cases as I know it will go on sale eventually.  I thrive on getting a shirt for $1.97 or a necklace that is normally $26.95 for $2.99.  

I also use coupons for food at the grocery store if I can or for fast food.  I also like to  go out to eat so when the option is available, I use www.restaurant.com to find deals on restaurants that I like to go to.  At the beginning of every month, the site offers gift certificates to different restaurants for cheap.  $10 gift cert for $3 and a $25 gift cert for $10.  If you feel like waiting until the end of the month when they are up to 70%, 80% or 90% off, you can score $25 gift certs for $3, $2 and even $1.  There are always restrictions on these gift certs so make sure you read them before you purchase.  If you're interested, go to the site until February 28th, enter code "Dine" and your 80% discount will apply.

Another way I save money is to sign up for points-based programs for normal everyday activities I do.  I use www.mypoints.com.  I get emails every day and if I click on the email, I get 5 points.  If I choose to redeem that offer, I get more points.  To some, it would be annoying to get these emails as some would consider it spam, but I don't mind it.  I have been doing it since 2002 and I have redeemed enough points to get hundreds of dollars in gift cards.  

I also am signed up for Wells Rewards, through Wells Fargo.  Anytime I use my debit card, which is basically my only form of payment as I do not carry cash or write checks, I get points for my purchases.  That turns into gift cards or cash I can redeem.

I have also purchased multiple Happenings Books throughout the years and I always save more than I spent to buy the book.  

What things do you do to save money or to get something for your normal activities?  Please feel free to share your savings with me! 

 

Thoughts for Thursday-Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day this coming Saturday, I thought it would make a good TFT topic.  I have always liked Valentine's Day.   When I was a kid,  I loved decorating my shoe box with tissue paper, stickers, glitter and cutting out hearts out of paper doilies and bringing it to school as a sort of mailbox for all the other kids to drop Valentine's cards and candy into it.  

Fast forward as an adult and I still like the "holiday".  I like to go out to dinner or have a nice dinner at home with M and celebrate each other but I never expect gifts, even though I usually get something, and M has been more than generous throughout the years.  We will be going out to dinner this weekend at a place we have made our tradition.  I know M goes along with the whole Valentine's thing for me because I do like it but with our latest tradition, I think he enjoys Valentine's Day more now than ever because we do something he really loves.  I'll blog more on that after the weekend. 

Despite the fact that I like V-Day, I believe it is all hype and I feel it's gotten worse in the recent years.  I feel like society makes the guys feel like losers if they don't buy their significant other jewelry or flowers or candy.  People say that V-Day is silly and that you should appreciate your significant other every day, not just that day.  I agree, but not everyone does  and it's nice to have a reminder.  It is nice to have a day dedicated to relationships, of any kind, whether it's a dating relationship, marriage or just friends.  

How do you feel about Valentine's Day?  Have you always felt that way?  Has anything significant ever happened to you on V-Day?  How do you normally celebrate?  Do you have plans for this Valentine's weekend?

I'll post other TFT blogs as they get posted.  

Thoughts for Thursday-Vices

I tried to think of a vice I have in life and the only one I can come up with is food. I love food...and it shows. I never started smoking. I am a social drinker. I don't drink caffiene. I don't do drugs. My vice is food. I love it, as I think many of us do, but it's always been a part of my life that I haven't been able to control as much as the other things in my life. I've gained and lost weight many times over throughout my life and have never been that successful with getting my weight to where I want it to be.

What's your vice(s)? Do you consider it be a little or big part of how it effects your life? Have you taken any steps to control it?

Other TFT's:

Jenny-Who does your taxes?

Kristi-Celebrating Birthdays

Ang-How do you use Facebook?

Thoughts for Thursday-Death Penalty

I am for the death penalty.  I believe that if someone is going to take someone's life, you do not deserve to live.  I do not believe in it for all cases but if the murder is premeditated, then the death penalty is warranted.  If you can take someone's life so easily, then you should not have the priviledge to live anymore, whether or not that means sitting for a life sentence in jail or on death row for 20 years or even no jail at all. 

I have no empathy for someone who takes human life on purpose.  I totally believe in an eye for an eye.  If you drowned someone in a bathtub, you should also be drowned in a bathtub.  That's a whole other topic.

How do you feel about the death penalty?  For or against it?  Do you think that each state should have the right to adopt the death penalty?  Would you rather see someone stay in jail for a life sentence?  Do you feel there are any other options for someone who is guilty of murder other than jail or the death penalty?  Do you feel that lethal injection is the "best" way to kill someone?  What other methods would you purpose? 

I will link other TFT as they get posted.

Kristi on physical attraction

Ang on Movies at vs at the theatre

Denise on where you get your best ideas

Thoughts for Thursday-The Economy

It’s a depressing subject but how has the nature of the economy affected you? The economy has been bad for quite some time and Obama says it’s going to get worse. Michael and I spend a lot of time and money on entertainment, whether that be going to see a sporting event, movie, concert or going out to dinner. Concerts will definitely be a cut back and going out to dinner also unless for special occasions. I know we will be spending more time at home watching our Netflix movies than going out. I am also trying to hold out from buying a car for as long as I can. I have had my car for 6 years and it’s been paid off for almost a year and I would love to get another year out of it, for the sake of no payments alone. I feel mostly secure at my job, even though the industry is becoming more unstable. (Commercial Real Estate) And when it comes to my 401K, I hate to even look at what I lost through this whole year. In my one 401K account, my “rate of return” was -45% for 2008. Aggressive vesting while still being relatively young hurts! Have you felt the effects? How? What are you doing to cut back, if at all? Do you feel you are safe in your job?

Other TFT posts:

Ang
Kristi
Helmey

Thoughts for Thursday-Vacations

With an upcoming vacation for Michael and I, I thought that will be my topic for today. Michael and I take at least one vacation a year, where we get on an airplane and go somewhere. We started this in January 2005, when we went to Philadelphia to see the Vikings play the Eagles in a playoff game. It was my idea to take the trip to see the Vikings. We have now planned a vacation each year around the Vikings, which has included trips to Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas. We have also been to Florida a couple of times together, which is also the destination of our upcoming trip. We will see the Vikings play Tampa Bay on November 16th and drive across the state to see them play Jacksonville the following week. We also have taken a road trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota and numerous trips up to the North Shore. I have been to 17 states and have been to Canada a few times. I would love to take a vacation to a tropical location, outside of the United States. I've always wanted to go to Mexico and I can't believe that I still haven't been there. I really want to go to Turks and Caicos after seeing pictures from Michael's friends' vacation but I from what I understand the islands suffered major damage from one of the hurricanes this year. I would also like to go to Tahiti, again after seeing pictures from another person's vacation.

Do you go on vacation? How often? Where do you go? By car or plane? Do you travel outside of the United States? Who do you go with? Where is your dream destination?

I will link other TFT's as they get posted.

Kristi- Online shopping

Thoughts for Thursday-Halloween

With Halloween tomorrow, I thought it would be a good topic for Thoughts for Thursday. I, myself, are one of the very few it seems that isn't really into Halloween. I don't even think it was a big deal for me when I was a kid. I'll have my Dad confirm that one but I don't really understand the point of it. I know it's a day for people to become someone they aren't normally but the concept to me is weird. Another reason I have a dislike for Halloween is because I am uncreative. If I was serious about dressing up, I would need to start thinking in July about what I was going to be because it would take me that long to come up with something. I've avoided most Halloween parties throughout the years because I just end up getting stressed out about it. Don't get me wrong, when I have dressed up in the past, I have had fun doing it but I guess it's not worth it to me. My sister on the other hand, is a Halloween fanatic. She LOVES everything that has to do with Halloween or Dracula or vampires or ghosts or whatever it may be. Her dreams came true when her son was born on Friday the 13th on a full moon. A curse to some but a blessing to my sister! I love her enthusiasm for October 31st but she is very different than me. She is creative and loves to decorate her house for Halloween the same way you would for Christmas. She starts decorating on the cusp of October and enjoys her decorations for at least a month. She also does a fabulous job at making Halloween-themed foods. So tomorrow I plan on going over to my sister's, taking a few photos of my nephew, have some of her wonderful party food and going home to watch Pet Sematary (Yep, it's spelled that way) and Children of the Corn with Michael, even with the lights off.

My questions to you as follows;

How do you feel about Halloween? Yay or Nay? Do you still dress up? Do you enjoy the holiday for your kids only? Do you pass out candy to all the trick or treaters? Do you have any Halloween traditions? What do you plan on doing this Halloween?

Another TFT:

Ang-Why do you read or write blogs?

My family last year for Halloween. I am the Geisha girl, which I wore to satisfy my sister and make her happy that I dressed up for her. It was a costume I wore years earlier for a different Halloween party. See no creativity!

My nephews Keith and Hunter

One of Jamie's creative treats

See, I can dress up for the Vikings Halloween game!

Thoughts for Thursday-Nutritional Labels

Every time I buy or at least pick up a product at the grocery store, I examine the nutrition label. I look at the calories, fat, fiber, sugar and servings per container for everything. I don't always buy stuff that is nutritious or healthy for me, but I am at least conscious of what I am putting in my body. I do eat cookies and the bad chips every once in a while. I do pay some attention to Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHO's), which is the same as trans fat, but I do not go out of my way to avoid it as I probably should. It takes 57 days to digest PHO's as it is not natural. Food producers use it because it is cheap. I do stray away from aspartame and Splenda as much as possible though. If I see something has aspartame in it, I do not buy it. There are many studies out there that state that aspartame is very bad for your health. Splenda too, but it hasn't been on the market as long as aspartame so it's hard to determine the health effects at this point.

Do you read the nutrition labels? To what extent? Do you know how to read the label? How conscious are you of the food you put in your mouth? Be honest!

Here are some other TFT:

Michelle-Expensive Clothes

Ang-Optimism

Kristi-Caffeine

Thoughts for Thursday-Tattoos and Piercings

Many of the people in my generation have tattoos and piercings. I find it rare to know someone in Generation X and Y that does not have a tattoo. I got my first tattoo when I was 22 years old, which seemed old back then to get your first one. I got mine for a great reason...in spite of my boyfriend at the time who just broke up with me who thought tattoos on girls were unfeminine. I ended up getting a single small tattoo on the left side of my lower back that was a Kanji symbol, which is Japanese script dervived from Chinese characters. The character meant "Ambition". That was 1999. Fast forward to 2004 and that is when I extended my tattoo art. My first character was transformed into a bigger version of "Ambition", along with 4 other Kanji symbols across my whole lower back. The remaing characters are as follows in this order: "Persistence/Strength", "Female/Woman", "Loyalty" and "Discipline". I got these tattoos to remind myself of how I want to live life or how I strive to live life with the "Female/Woman" as the center of all of them. Here are a couple of pictures of me actually getting my tattoo and then the finished result, which I didn't have any older pictures of so I took the last picture shown last night. Michael was there to help me get through all the pain and we just started dating shortly after that. You can laugh at the picture of me crying. It wasn't funny then but it's funny now.

Now to piercings. I got my ears pierced when I was 9 years old, which was really late compared to all of the other girls my age. From 7-8th grade, I pierced my own ears multiple times, with 4 in one ear and 2 in the other. I wore 2 in each ear for quite awhile. I then got my belly button pierced when I was 18 years old and that lasted 6 months before I took it out. My final piercing came at 19 years old when I got my tongue pierced. I had that pierced for 5 years before finally taking that out.

My questions to you are....

Do you have any tattoos? Where is it on your body? What is it of and when did you get it? What was the reason, if any, behind it? Do you regret having getting a tattoo? Would you get another? It is ever too old to get a tattoo? If you have a tattoo on your lower back, it is considered a "tramp stamp"?

Have you ever had any piercings? How many and where? Do you still have them? Would you consider a piercing now?

Do you think the piercings were a phase as it seems to have declined in popularity? Do you think the same of tattoos?

More Thoughts for Thursday posters:

Michelle Leigh on Plastic Surgery

Ang on Road Trips

Thoughts for Thursday-Dreams

I was writing an email earlier this week right before I went to bed about a certain someone and that night, I dreamt of that person. I felt like that is the reason why I did dream of them because that must have been one of my last thoughts before I went to bed.

I rarely remember my dreams but I would assume that I do dream because I believe you can only dream when you are in the R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement) stage. That's the deep stage of sleep that most of us are in before the alarm clock goes off. Michael says I whimper and cry in my sleep quite often so I wonder what's going on in my pretty little head while my eyes are closed? My questions to you about dreams are as follows:



Do you remember your dreams?

Do you continually dream about the same thing?

Are your dreams normally happy or scary?

Have you ever looked up a dream in a dream dictionary after having one? Did you find the results to be accurate?

Have you ever had a specific dream that turned turned out to be a premonition?

Do you dream of loved ones that are no longer with us?

Do you believe dreams mean something more than just a dream?

Please share anything that you want to!


Other Thoughts for Thursday Posts:

Kristi -Little Girls and Makeup

Ang -Immediate Family

Helmet-Now or Later

Thoughts for Thursday- Getting Picked On

I went out shopping and to dinner with my sister, Jamie yesterday and we started talking about her son, my nephew, Keith. Keith started kindergarten almost a month ago and Jamie said he has talked to her about a kid in his class named Christopher who picks at him and pinches him during quiet time. I don't know if he is really considered a bully at this point but nonetheless, he is bothering Keith.

This made me think back to when I was in school and whether or not I was picked on or teased or whether I teased other kids. I think for the most part, I got away pretty good without being teased or picked on. I do remember one specific situation that I will never forget and I think about it every so often. I was in 7th or 8th grade, which would make me 12 or 13 years old and I was in junior high. I went to White Bear Lake Central Junior High and after a dance or a school event, we would all go to the McDonald's on Hwy. 61. After one such event, I was with my friends and and we were walking by all the popular boys from our school in the restaurant. In order to be a popular boy in White Bear, you had to play hockey. I think that was the only prerequisite and then you were in. (Ok, maybe there was some other qualifications I am not aware of) Anyways, one of the boys, who is now married to another girl that we graduated with so I will keep him nameless, (even though some of you WB people can figure it out), called me fat as I walked by, and for no reason, but in front of all the hockey players. I didn't even know him. I had never talked to him or had ever had a class with him. I only knew who he was because he was a hockey star. It was devastating. I pretended not to hear because I didn't know want or know how to react to it. After I was completely past all of them, I heard another one of the hockey players, who I will name, Karl Stuemke, say to that other hockey player, "Dude, don't say that, that's Dana." That made me feel a little better. I still thank you for that, Karl! Even though Karl and I were friends into our 20's, (and still would be if we saw each other today) I never told him about that story. I am sure he doesn't remember. But my point is, I DO remember. I remember like it was yesterday, so vividly in my mind. I remember exactly what clothes I was wearing that day and I definitely remember exactly how I felt.

My questions to you today are....Have you ever been bullied or picked on? I am sure most of us have but is there a specific time that it happened that you haven't been able to forget? Or on the other side of the coin, have you picked on someone that still after all this time, you think about it and regret your actions? Share your stories with me. We've all grown since that time, (well, hopefully) so don't be afraid to share.

PS: White Bear girls, if you can't figure it out and want to know who it is, email me and I will tell you. :)

Here are some other TFT's for today:

Kristi- Sports Fans

Ang- Extended Family

Jenny- Favorites for Fall

Renee-This is your Life

Thoughts for Thursday-Pets

Pets are very important in so many people’s lives. I currently have 2 cats. Fuzzer is 8 years old and Powder is 5 years old. Both were adopted through pet rescue agencies. I LOVE them to death and they are such a big part of my life. If I was single, I might end up being the proverbial cat lady. I think I would have 1-2 more cats if I lived on my own. I love each of them for different reasons and their distinct personalities. I got Fuzzer first, so he is my buddy and Powder is just such a baby that no matter what age he is, he will always be the little baby. I had a hard time naming my first cat. I originally thought his name was going to be Mangy, even thought about Chewbacca (or Chewy), debated on Baby Fuzz and then decided on Fuzzer. (His full name is Fuzzer Falzone. Falzone is my Mom’s maiden name. It just rolls off the tongue nicely.) I heard that! I heard you chuckle! Fuzzer was a name at the time that was generic for all cats. Any time I might see a cat, I would say, “Oh, look at the little fuzzer!” And Powder’s was obvious. He’s white. Ok, I’m not that creative. I also talk in weird voices and say things that sound stupid if I were talking to a human but I guess that’s my cat language. Oh, and when I talk to Fuzzer, I talk with a lisp so Fuzzer becomes Futhhhurr. Ok, I’m starting to sound borderline mental.
Growing up, we had a black cat named Eddy for almost 20 years! We got him in 1987 and he died in 2006. I don’t think my parents ever thought that he would have lived that long when they decided to get a cat. We also had a dog when I was about 4 or 5. His name was Bear. I think we found him and then didn’t work out for whatever reason so we dropped him off at the park. It seemed like a normal thing to do but now it’s seems cruel! Maybe that’s where we found him. I don’t remember. We also had a cockapoo named Honey Bear a few years later. Again, he didn’t work out. I don’t know what the problem was but we gave him away to a family and then either he didn’t work out with that family and we took him back or we missed him so much and got him back. Either way, we had him two times. Then I guess we got rid of him again. I don’t think he was ever trained correctly or something was wrong with him. We don’t have a great track record with dogs!
When I lived with Eric in 2000-2001, he had over 20 “pets”. It was a complete nightmare for me most days when it came to the amphibious creatures that also shared an apartment with us. He had terrariums or cages or whatever else full of anoles, geckos, skinks, a prehensile tailed skink, which has a face like a snake, chameleons, a Savannah monitor, which shouldn’t be allowed as a pet as it got out and on my bed and came after me one time, and many different snakes. If you don’t know any of the creatures, I have described, look them up and imagine living with that many things at one time.
Michael grew up with dogs and cats but also skunks, squirrels and raccoons. No, I’m not dating a redneck. His dad is very good with animals and when the mom of an animal familiy got killed, he would take them in, nurse them and then turn them back into the wild when they were old enough.
My question to you is…do you or have you had any pets? What kind? How many? Did you have pets growing up? How did you come up with your name for your pet(s)? Please feel free to share anything else about your pets.


Other Thoughts for Thursday posters so far:

Kristi- Live Music/Concerts

Ang- Change

Kim-Food


Here's some pictures of Fuzzer, Powder and Eddy:

Thoughts for Thursday-Phobias

Phobia: an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation .

I have one particular phobia....spiders. It makes me feel uncomfortable even typing the word. I do not know how or when my fear became so apparent that I have to alter my life around them. I know I did see the movie, Arachnophobia, in the movie theatre when I was about 12 and I remember the spiders grossing me out but not to the point of not being able to look at the screen.
Today, I cannot look at a spider on TV, the Internet or magazine. I cover my eyes every time. Sometimes I even get so upset after seeing one that I start to cry. One time I told a former coworker that I was scared of spiders. He went back to his desk and sent me an email. I opened the attachment and it was a picture of a spider. I screamed and then started crying. Boy, did he feel really bad after that! He just had no idea of how extreme my fear really is. And of course I do not like them in person either. Fortunately, I live in Minnesota and the potential for "super scary spiders" is not that great. I love Minnesota for many reasons but not having tarantulas or other big spiders is a factor of why I continue to live here.
Spiders also seem to gravitate towards people that like them least. When I moved in with Michael about 18 months ago, they instantly followed me. Michael had said that he did not seen as many spiders in 10 years being at that house than he had in the first couple of months I was there. I am sure they were always there but there wasn't someone looking up in the corners of the ceilings and searching for them. Yes, I do that. Even when Michael happens to look up (for whatever reason), my eyes are right there with his looking to see if there's a spider. If he does spot one, he will try to kill it without even alerting me that there is one but since I am always "on guard", he doesn't get them very often without me knowing what's going on. Here's another "funny" story for you. Last year, Michael and I were making dinner in the kitchen and within a span of an hour, I saw 5 different species of spiders. I'm not kidding. They were all completely different. I do make Michael kill them unless he is not around. Then I have to work up the courage to get them myself. Aauugghh...I would rather have 100 snakes crawling all over me that to have to even look at a tarantula in person.

So my question to you is, what's your phobia(s)? When did you became aware of it? Was there any trauma you experienced that makes you feel the way you do today? Do you think you could ever overcome it?

Here are some other Thoughts for Thursday Posts for today:

Kristi : The Autumn Season

Jenny: How you choose your political candidate

Thoughts for Thursday - 9/11

Because my Thoughts for Thursday topic is the same as many other bloggers for today, I decided against doing a post of my own and will direct you to the other 9/11 TFT bloggers sites I go to. Please feel free to leave any comments though if you want to share any thoughts or feelings about this topic.

Kristi

Michelle

Thoughts for Thursday- Famous People

Today's TFT is a fun and carefree topic: Have you ever met anyone famous? Your definition of famous can mean any number of things. It can be famous locally, nationally or internationally. It can be anyone from Hollywood celebrities, politicians, media people, musicians, etc. Actually, I guess just as interested if you have been up and close with someone famous. If you didn't talk to them but were right by them, that counts. Even though I thought of this topic, I am finding it hard to remember who I have met before. I started typing out my list and then deleted it because the list was so boring. It was comprised of current and former sport figures and musicians and bands so I won't bore you with my list.



So who did you meet? Whomever has the best answer wins a prize**!




**Ok, there really isn't a prize. I'm just trying to spark interest, people!

Other TFT:

Kristi on Volunteer Work
Michelle Leigh on Sarah Palin, Republican VP candidate

Thoughts for Thursday-Social Networks

Remember back when the social network websites were Classmates and Reunion in order to get in touch with people? They are both still around but they seem very archaic compared to what is most currently offered. Now there's Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, LinkedIn and I am sure many others that I am not familiar with.

I am on both Facebook and Myspace. I signed up for Myspace (after much hesitation, mostly because I felt too old to do so) because it seemed like everyone was on there and I thought it would be a good way to connect with others. After signing up, it became very addicting trying to search for people from high school or from the past or just trying to find that perfect layout and song to compliment your page. Now, I rarely use Myspace. I sign on every 3 weeks or so and peek around. Everyone started to gravitate towards Facebook. Facebook may not be as flashy and fun as Myspace but I find it keeps you more in contact with true life friends, not with musicians and celebrities like Myspace does. I also use LinkedIn, which is best described as a Myspace or Facebook for work. It allows you to add professional contacts that you currently work with or have worked with in the past. It also allows you to add your credentials if you are looking for a job and lets you give or receive recommendations from coworkers.

Through both Reunion, Myspace and Facebook, I have had people contact me from the past. Three people have sought me out on these websites this year that I truly lost contact with. One was a girl I was friends with and used to work with at my very first job. I hadn't talked or seen her since I was 19. We recently went out for dinner to reconnect and now we are at least acquintances in each other's life again. I also was contacted by a very good friend this past March. I went to high school with her but we didn't really become good friends until we were about 19 or 20. We hung out and were best of buds until around 23 years old. Some of the best times of my life were hanging out with her. She now lives in Florida and I will be meeting up with her down there in November. Another person contacted me after not speaking with him for 2 years but I hadn't seen him since 1999. It is amazing to hear how of his life has changed and the destructive path he was headed down to how he is a now a mentor for kids and tells of his story to avoid that happening to them.

So to me, these types of websites do serve their purpose, if not just for entertainment value.

My question to you is do you use some sort of social networking website like Facebook or Myspace to keep in touch with people? Do you like it? Does it make you still feel like you are in the loop with people you have lost touch with? Have you had anyone contact you after an extended period of time? Have you contacted anyone after an extended period of time? If you have kids old enough to have their own page, do you look at their information or monitor what they are posting? What do you think the next generation of these type of websites will be like?

Here is a link to another Thoughts for Thursday:

Michelle on Blogs: Being Candid and Why You Read Them

Thoughts for Thursday (TFT)

A couple of my blogging friends have been part of a post that happens each Thursday called, "Thoughts for Thursday". I have wanted to join in and participate with this but either I forget about it or I don't have a topic ready. So today is my debut. Thoughts for Thursday appears to be started by Nicole, a blogging friend of my friend, Kristi. It was started about a year ago and each Thursday, anyone can participate. Being it is my first one, today's topic will be light.

Who were your crushes/idols growing up?

I have a few that I remember clearly. I particularly want to talk about when you were a teenager or those adolescent years but feel free to discuss anyone throughout your lifetime. First of all, I am 31 years old. My first crush would have to have been in 1984. It was Michael Jackson. My sister and I loved Michael Jackson. We listened to the album, yes, actual album, Thriller over and over again and danced to it in the basement of our house. As far as girl idols, my sister and I both wanted to be Madonna not too long after our Michael Jackson crush. We would make our clothes and wear gawdy jewerly to mimic her. And of course we danced and danced and danced to her songs in the basement.

Around 12 years old, my super crush was Corey Haim. I thought he was the hottest guy ever. I would take my allowance each week and ride my bike to the store and buy magazines like Teen Beat. I would cut out any and every picture of Corey Haim and tape it on my walls until my walls were plastered with his face on all 4 walls. (Corey Haim is on the left, Corey Feldman is on the right in the photo below)


Picture Provided By: TeenIdols4You.com

I can't remember how long this phase lasted but it couldn't have been too long because soon after came New Kids on the Block. The 1st and 2nd concert of my life was NKOTB. I started out with a crush on Donnie Walhberg then I moved on to Jonathan Knight. I would watch their videos, play their music and again plaster their pictures all over my walls. I remember buying as much NKOTB merchandise I had money for at Spencer's in the mall.




So who were your crushes/idols? During what year(s)? Please share all your details with me!

This is where I will link you to other Thoughts for Thursday bloggers. I'm still getting into this whole blogging community so in the coming weeks there should be more links to others.

Kristi on Speeding

Kim on the State Fair

Michelle on Random Thoughts


Have a great day!