Random Questions

I saw this on a friends blog and I love these things so I decided to play, too.

1. First name? Tanya

2. Were you named after anyone? a character in the movie Doctor Zhivago

3. When did you last cry? Week before last when my boss's sister passed away

4. Do you like your handwriting? eh... it's okay... I wish it was better

5. What is your favorite lunchmeat? turkey

6. Do you have kids? nope (by choice)

7. If you were another person, would you be friends with you or not? sure, I like me =)

8. Do you have a journal? yes, but entries are few and far between

9. Do you use sarcasm a lot? yes, but in a funny (not mean-spirited) way

10. Do you still have your tonsils? yes

11. Would you bungee jump? not a chance

12. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? not usually

13. Do you think you are strong? yes, most of the time

14. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? eh... not a big ice cream fan... if I had to choose it would probably be mint chocolate chip or cookie dough

15. Shoe size? 7.5 or 8

16. Red or pink? I love both! =)

17. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? my apparent inability to cimmit to a healthy lifestyle for the long-term

18. When and where were you born? in Jacksonville, FL in 1968

19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? black pinstripe pants, black shoes

20. What is the last thing you ate? eggs and toast

21. Favorite smell? cinnamon

22. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? the bank to cancel my check card that is apparently lost

Phil and Libby

For those that know me (or have read certain blog entries), you know that I am quite close to my (3) bosses. They are wonderful men, I've been to their homes, we have great relationships. My boss, Phil, is an amazing man. He is a retired Navy Captain who accomplished some pretty incredible things during his Naval career. I respect him and think the world of him. For the past 2 years his sister Libby has been battling cancer. At age 54 she is the "baby" of the family. Libby went through surgery, chemotherapy, countless medications and treatments... and all the while maintained the most positive, upbeat attitude. She was an absolute rock. She was the one encouraging the rest of her family and admonishing them to stay positive. Over the past several months, the prognosis grew bleak and it has been a steady decline over the the last few weeks. Libby passed away at her home in Mississippi Wednesday morning. Phil received the call while we were at the office and, while is was not unexpected, it was still heartbreaking. He was in a daze as he sat at his desk and began to make the calls to family and friends. Today he is in Mississippi preparing for the funeral tomorrow. My heart is with him... not as an employee, but as a friend.

I was reading a friend's blog today and there was an entry about attitude and perception. It hit home with me and I immediately thought of Libby. This lady, despite what she was dealing with on a daily basis, possessed an attitude that was inspiring. Libby is very much in my thoughts today. I never had the opportunity to meet her, but, through Phil, I feel as though I knew her. And I hope to remember Libby's attitude as an example to myself.

Alberto

So the 2006 hurricane season isn't exactly staring out with a bang. Which is a good thing. Alberto never even made it to hurricane strength which it had been expected to do - instead it stayed a tropical storm. We've had lots of rain and wind since Sunday night but that's it. Nothing major. There have actually been some benefits... we definitely need the rain. We're about 7 inches below average for the year. Plus, all the rain did a lot to aide the firefighters south of here who have been battling wildfires for the past six weeks or so. And... I love rainy weather. Despite the fact that all the moisture in the air means an instant bad hair day the second you walk out the door. Lame. Anyway, hopefully the rest of the season will be as mild. We definitely don't need a repeat of last year.