A Picture of My Favorite Book

This book isn't anything that represents me being an intellectual in any way. It isn't one that I can get pompous about when talking about favorite books in English classes. Nonetheless, it is my favorite book. I read it every year before or right after classes start. It reminds me about having imagination and looking at the details and the finer things, things I tend to forget throughout the school year. It's a children's book, one that makes an impression and reminds me not to look at the sidewalk while I'm walking because there are so many amazing things to focus on. I think everyone should read this book whether they are an adult or child. I do not expect everyone to like it, as I do, but it would be nice if people gave it a shot.

A person who has gotten me through the most

My mom has definitely been there for me through a lot in my life. Through losing boyfriends, skinned knees, stitches, and going off to college, my mom has been the one who has seen me through. In high school, I could have honestly called her my best friend and my close friends all called her mom, too. She worked at countless swim meets, watched basketball games, and came to mock trial tournaments. She counseled, listened, and parented, pretty much single-handedly. She coached my softball teams, was the "room-mom" in elementary, and chaperoned trips all over the state.

Though we have had our typical mother/daughter disputes, my mom was always there growing up.

A picture that makes me laugh

"It's the altitude," was the family mantra the week we spent in Colorado for my uncle's reunion. Clearly, this picture is a perfect example of that. My cousins may or may not have had a few drinks but I don't think that would have changed anything about what allowed this moment to be captured on film. Weird things happen when we all get together, but it wouldn't be quite as much fun without it!

My Most Treasured Item

My most treasured item has changed over the years and I am sure it will continue to change as time goes on, as my life changes, and as I reevaluate what is important in my life. However, at this time, my most treasured item is this photograph of my dad as a young boy. There are very few photographs of my dad as a child and I am lucky to have this one. It makes me wonder, what exactly was he like as a little boy? What were his biggest hopes and dreams? Was that dog his best friend? (I don't remember the name of that dog, though I am sure my mom or his brothers would remember) Did he ever dream he'd end up the way he did? I see potential and hope in this picture which is something I lost when he died. This picture re-invites my imagination to hope for a better future, not just for this little boy, but in general. It allows me to hope that changes are made for the better from now on instead of a spiraling path downward as we grow up.

What was this moment to my dad? I don't know, and I will never know; but to me, this moment captures the reason I want to be a better person, why I want to never let myself down, and why I never want my children to look at a picture of me and wonder, "What if?"

The Person I Would Love to Trade Places With For A Day

Janet Napolitano

I should start out by saying I would not want to BE Janet Napolitano, rather, trading places with her for a day would be an amazing experience. Perhaps it's because I am nosey and would like to know what's going on in the world or perhaps it is because I think there are so many problems pertaining to her department right now, I would love to be in the position to have my opinions heard. Either way, trading places with her for a day would give me an amazing opportunity to meet our country's leaders, be in a position in which they would listen to me, and of course give my peers the opportunity to meet Janet Napolitano as she attended my classes and worked my job. Funny thing, we are both in "security" positions, though that's probably about where most of our similarities end.

A Picture of My Favorite (Recent) Memory

I had to change my post to my favorite recent memory because the pictures of my favorite memory as a kid are in a box in my mom's house somewhere. So here is my favorite recent memory.

It was in Oregon in 2009, visiting my boyfriend for the first time. It was one of last days I would be there before I had to go home. I remember I was starting to not believe that Oregon got a lot of rain because it had been blue skies and sunny the whole week I was there. We had talked all week about going for a hike and that morning it was pouring rain. He kept asking me if I was sure that I wanted to go since it was so wet and gross outside; I kept replying yes, of course I did. I started to think that maybe he didn't want to go. I came to find out that he just couldn't believe I would actually want to hike in that weather. We didn't know that there was a parking lot close to the trail we were hiking so we walked about 7 miles in total for a 2 mile round trip trail! We ran into all kinds of little creatures on the path that probably wouldn't have been out if it wasn't raining. We dumped water bottles on each other and freaked out a little bit because that water was just a little colder than the rain water that had been pelting us all morning. We made it to the top of the extremely muddy trail, back down, and back to his dorm. During this time we learned a lot about each other, not necessarily through what we were talking about but how we handled all of it. I think he learned that I wasn't as much of a wimp as he thought I was. I learned that wanting to have adventures together is very important to me. I learned that a small accomplishment together can be a huge accomplishment for your relationship. This trip really set the tone for the rest of our relationship. We learned to trust each other and just enjoy each other. Let the little things go and believe that you can make it if you want to, rain or shine.

A Habit I Wish I Didn't Have

Oh nail biting. I don't do it when I am relaxed or having fun but as soon as I get stressed or am in a stressful situation, there go my nails. My nails usually look normal over breaks but as soon as I get back to school, they disappear. I could have worse habits, but this one is just plain annoying. And pretty gross, too, if you think about it.

30 Day Challenge: Cast of My Favorite Show

Though this is an early picture of the cast, even the later episodes are great. A lot of shows tend to lose their fire after the first three or four seasons but House follows through with its theme and doesn't lose what's great about it. Granted, the best episodes are the early ones with the original cast but, then again, change has never been my favorite thing and seeing as how I still think the later episodes are good, it definitely says something positive about the writers and actors in this show.

Me and Someone I Have Been Close With For A While

This boy has gotten me through some rough times and has stood by me even when other people were walking away. He's someone who knows you don't have to talk every day to be friends, will drop everything to help, and doesn't expect anything in return, but will definitely take a homemade meal if you offer. We have had some great times together including getting ready for drag show performances, Halloween parties, and just getting away to the Cheesecake Factory to escape from the world that is school.

We're both kind of bad at keeping in touch long distance over breaks, but back at school, nothing has changed. We catch up and everything goes right back into place. Honest, open, and trustworthy, I could call him my best friend at school.

Day 1: 15 Facts About Myself

1. I love orchids

2. I like road trips

3. I love photography

4. I wanted to go to photography school

5. I don't follow recipes

6. I have five inches of memory foam on my bed, and I love it

7. I got my first cell phone in 8th grade

8. I am an English Major

9. I own the entire original Babysitters club collection

10. The beach relaxes me

11. I get nervous performing for one or two people but don't mind performing for large groups

12. I enjoy working

13. I have learned that I don't want to fix people. I want to love them for who they are.

14. I don't have a favorite color

15. I believe balance is the most important part of life

30 Day Challenge

I have seen this 30 day picture challenge a few times and have decided I am going to give it a shot. My pictures each day will coincide with the following:

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for awhile.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 04 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn’t have....

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Day 10 - A picture of your favorite book.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

Day 17 - A picture of someone that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite vacation.

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

Day 25 - A picture of your day.

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.