30 Facts About Me, Part 2

In today’s post, we’re picking up on the last 15 facts about me from the original post, 30 Facts About Me, Part 1. In the original post, I covered the first 15 facts that came to mind. In this post, I’m continuing. So, let’s dive right in.

16 – Coffee

I love coffee! Lately, I haven’t been having as much as I typically do, but I really do enjoy a nice cup of coffee with just enough flavored cream.

17 – Hula Hoop Contest

When I was in the first grade, I won 1st place in our elementary school hula hoop contest. I can’t hula hoop now to save my soul. LOL. Maybe one day I’ll start practicing again.

18 – Amangiri Hotel & Resort, Utah

There are a lot of luxury resorts that I want to staycation in, however, I don’t know them by name. The only one that I know by name is the Amangiri Hotel & Resort in Utah. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere and such a beautiful place for peace and relaxation. I plan to visit anywhere between now and the next three years. Have you heard of it?

In the meantime, you can check out our Utah travels on the blog.

19 – Birthplace

I was born in Bluefield, WV. I spent most of my summers there, as a child all the way up until I was a young adult. I also returned to teach at Bluefield State College for one semester in my early 30’s.

20 – Growing Up in Memphis, TN

Although I spent my summers in West Virginia, we lived and went to elementary school in Memphis, TN. I attended Dunbar Elementary School and Oakhaven Schools until we moved to Illinois. I remember transferring in the 8th grade and finishing my school year here.

21 – 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

When I turned 16, my parents surprised me with a birthday party and a 1998 Black Chevrolet Cavalier, right off the lot. At the time, I worked so I paid the insurance and gas and my dad paid the car note. He’s was a great guy!

22 – Ford Escort

After I turned about 18, my dad passed the baton. The 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier was no longer a thing and I had to get my own car. I ended up with a turquoise green Ford Escort. It was cute and had two doors. I had “Laugh Now, Cry Later” put on the top of the front windshield and lined the doors and the license plate in chrome.

I think those may have been the good ol’ days. I don’t remember what the year of the car was. It was probably a 1998, too. The car note was too damn expensive and I never had money. And, even still, I think those were the good ol’ days. We were out having fun and gas was probably $1 a gallon.

23 – The Black Ford Escape

After riding that car for years until it was paid off and raggedy as can be, I finally used it as a down payment trade for a Ford Escape. I didn’t get much for it. I think about $1500, and if I could go back, I would have just kept it and fixed it up over time because I believe it was worth way more than the $1500 that they gave me. But, we live and we learn.

Anywho, enough about cars.

24 – Day Camping

Recently, I came across a Pinterest Idea that noted “Day Camping” as an activity to do. Since I’m so used to camping overnight, I didn’t think of “day camping” being a thing.

After I sat with the thought for a while, I decided that “day camping” would save my love of camping. Camping was something that we did with my dad for a few years up until he passed. Since he’s been gone, the love of camping has faded, however, I could certainly see us going to hang out all day at the campground and just packing up before bedtime (as long as the campground was close).

What are your thoughts on day camping?

25 – The Oregon Trail

I’m old enough to remember playing the Oregon Trail downstairs on my dad’s office computer. If you are unfamiliar with the Oregon Trail, it “is a series of educational computer games. The first game was originally developed by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger in 1971 and produced by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium in 1974”, according to Wikipedia.

Furthermore, it was designed to teach 8th-grade school children about the realities of 19th-century pioneer life on the Oregon Trail. The player assumes the role of a wagon leader guiding a party of settlers from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley via a covered wagon in 1848 (Wikipedia).

26 – Books I’ve Read This Month

Spirit Babies and The Magic of Thinking Big. Yes, two very different books.

27 – Outstanding Staff Nominee

Last month I was notified that I was a nominee for the Outstanding Staff award. I felt so blessed and grateful. Winners won’t be announced until next week, but either way, I’m grateful that my work has not gone unnoticed.

Side note: In my last position of six years, I wanted to win that award every year – and nothing ever happened. And here in my new position, it happened right at two years. Look at God! Thank you, Universe!