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Senior Year in High School … BACK in the Day!
I was tagged on Facebook for this and decided to post here. Feel free to play along in the comments below! 
Fill this out about your SENIOR year of high school! The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be!! At the end, choose 10 people (or more) to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.
IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR DID YOU…
1. Did you date someone from your school? Nope.
2. Did you marry someone from your high school? Nope.
3. Did you car pool to school? Nope.
4. What kind of car did you have? A Chrysler 5th Avenue (aka “the tank”)
5. What kind of car do you have now? A Hyundai Santa Fe
6. Its Friday night…where are you now? At home or out with my girlfriends.
7. It is Friday night…where were you then? Most likely at the football game.
8. What kind of job did you have in high school? Cashier at Dairy Queen.
9. What kind of job do you do now? Web designer for UAB.
10. Were you a party animal? Not really.
11. Were you considered a flirt? Nope.
12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Not during my senior year, no. I was more into sports by then.
13. Were you a nerd? LOL, yeah pretty much.
14. Did you get suspended or expelled? Nope.
15. Can you sing the fight song? Yep, LOL!
16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Mrs. Dawkins, Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. Wallace, Mr. Bradford, and Mr. Parker
17. Where did you sit during lunch? In the lunchroom with my friends.
18. What was your school’s full name? Corner High School
19. When did you graduate? 1993
20. What was your school mascot? Yellow Jacket
21. If you could go back and do it again,what would you do? Study more!
22. Did you have fun at Prom? Not really, my Junior Prom was a lot more fun.
23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? That’s a big ‘no’ there.
24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? Certainly!
25. Do you still talk to people from school? A couple, yeah.
26. School Colors? Black and gold.
27. What celebrities came from your high school? None that I know of …
Ode to Cute
January 12, 2009 by Nicki
Had a good weekend. Jim, Jess, and I went down to Prattville and saw Jim’s mother. We did a bit of shopping, sight-seeing, and had some really awesome barbecue (I’m talking giving Green Top a run for its money good!!!). It rained all the way down there, and all the way back. I’m so sick of all this rain, it’s giving me headaches out the wazoo.
I woke up this morning with a headache and have been in a bit of a mood. Traffic was unreal this morning, so I was late to work. I stayed up late last night watching the Armageddon/2012 specials on the History channel, so I’m tired and a little cranky. (and when I don’t get enough sleep, I’m more prone to having a headache!)
I did get a little happy moment this morning … this bit of cute was posted to my friend Sangi’s LiveJournal:
Beaker was always one of my favorite Sesame Street characters, and I thought that was just too cute not to share! 
Of mice and memories
January 7, 2009 by Nicki
A few weeks back, we had an unwelcome visitor of the rodent persuasion. (a mouse in the house) Jim had set several traps around the house with cheese and a few with peanut butter. None of them worked, they sat out for a day or so with no nibbles, no snaps, not even near-misses.
Apparently we had a lactose-intolerant mouse who didn’t like peanut butter. What animal doesn’t like peanut butter???
Anyway, I tried a different tactic. I took a small piece of one of the butter cookies my mother sent to us. I had a hard time keeping it on the trap, so I secured it with a small dab of butter.
*SNAP!!*
That little sucker took the bait within 20 minutes of me sitting it down and leaving the room. I felt bad for the little thing though. (I don’t like killing another living thing unless it’s necessary … and let’s face it, it’s very necessary here!) Jim remarked that it seemed odd to have lived out here all this time and to have never had the slightest hint of mice problems until now. I replied, “That’s because we had a cat.”
You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, but Hobie was quite the mouser. She always kept this house free from ANY form of unwelcome visitor. Don’t get me wrong, she was THE little diva who liked getting her way and living the good life inside a nice cozy house. But when it came to anything invading her “domain”, the unfortunate critter was history in a heartbeat.
She passed away two years ago today. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I still think of her often. Many nights, when the house is dark and quiet, I’m almost sure that I’ve seen or heard her …
… and with this, I know her spirit still dwells here, with us.
Tide, get ready to ROLL!
December 6, 2008 by Nicki
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H/T: Beth C
ROLL TIDE ROLL!
The Tide rolls over Auburn 36-0
November 29, 2008 by Nicki
Rammer Jammer Yellowhammer, you gave them Hell, Alabama!
I have to admit, I’m enjoying every minute of this madness. Outside of a few missed calls and lousy announcers (CBS, you SUCK!), I have hollered and screamed my happy little heart out and am sitting here elated. The last time Alabama shut out Auburn was during the 1992 season.
*enter: Twilight Zone theme*
You GO, Tide! Be happy and celebrate your sweet little hearts out tonight. You’ve earned it. But come Monday, it’s back to the field and time to keep your eyes on the prize. Florida is going to give us a run for our money next weekend!
A lucky woman am I
I’ve enjoyed connecting with family and friends. I ate my fill of turkey, dressing, ham, a wide assortment of sweetened vegetable casseroles and colorful salads, and let’s not forget — my mother’s delicious Southern pecan pie. I watched my daughter play football with my father, then my husband, then I took a turn.
My God, she’s got a cannon for an arm! If she learns a little control, she’d make a decent QB. Look out, Bama, I’ve got one coming your way in a few years! 
We’re sitting around listening to some Loreena McKennitt, anticipating the oncoming turkey-induced coma that follows such feasts as we’ve had today. My husband has been sitting here trying to talk me back into singing — and with everything I have going on, I admit that I have missed it. (Performing is another matter, but singing I love…)
I told Jim I’d think about it … and I am …
But in the meantime I’m happy sitting here enjoying the warmth and I’m thinking to myself, what a lucky woman I am. I hope everyone is having a great holiday.
Love and blessings to you all!
Christmas Meme
November 19, 2008 by Nicki
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My best bud, Teresa, sent me this and I’m sharing my answers with y’all! 
Okay, here’s what you’re supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE! Just copy (not forward) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person
that sent it to you……Tis the Season to be NICE!
(Obviously, this is not email … I’m posting to my blog for more funnery! 
)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper, but I’m seriously thinking gift bags this year. (easier to carry!) Though “Santa” will most likely be wrapping!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial for now (it’s nice and pre-lit!). Real trees once we get a bigger house.
3. When do you put up the tree? First week of December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Year’s if I’m lucky! LOL
5. Do you like eggnog? For the most part, yeah.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Lite-Brite
7. Hardest person to buy for? My father.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My niece.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have 2.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, baby!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? (Well, I could actually name it, but Teresa’s answer sounds so much better than mine, LOL!) There is no bad Christmas gift, because at least that person thought of you.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually much later than I’d like.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, shame on me — BUT, in my defense, I re-gift to someone who I know would really love and appreciate the gift more than I would!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Dressing! And Mother’s Peanut Butter Balls and Fudge.
16. Lights on the tree? As if there’s any other way to dress a tree???
17. Favorite Christmas song? I have several: “Silent Night”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, and “O Holy Night”
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel a little, but mostly stay home.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? *sings* “You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. Buuuuuuut do you recall the most famous reindeer of all? Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer … “ (this is Jessie’s favorite Christmas song!)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve — I’m impatient!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The crowds.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Crimson!!!! (Duh?)
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and dressing!!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I have an Amazon wishlist that I’m compiling.
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Ben, John, Miranda, … you?
News of Fravia+
I received an email from Father Luke this morning with news that a mutual friend has fallen ill … Fravia+. According to a post on his site, he was diagnosed a little over a year ago with a tumor — a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the neck, to be exact. He has had many months of therapy and will be undergoing various operations and experimental chemotherapy to try to slow the tumor’s growth.
On his site he quotes, “Si sta / come d’autunno / sugli alberi le foglie.” This loosely means “We are as the leaves that cling to the branch in Autumn”, an Italian poem “Soldati” by Giuseppe Ungaretti. It’s about life, fall, uncertainty and things passing by. Fravia+ is uncertain of his chances of survival.
Something that had impressed me — for every occasion, his quotes and teachings contained poignant messages with deeper meaning.
While we’ve lost touch over the years, he is someone I have always respected. You see, way back when I was an “internet youngling”, I considered Fravia+ to be a teacher and friend, and I’m deeply saddened by the news of his illness.
Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Tag, I’m it! 6 Random Things
WebKittyn tagged me for this meme, and you know me, I can’t pass up a quizzie!
The Rules:
- Link to the person who tagged you.
- Post the rules on the blog.
- Write six random things about yourself.
- Tag six people at the end of your post.
- Let each person know they have been tagged.
- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.
Ok, here goes!
- In junior high school, some friends of mine would hold gross-out contests during lunch. I almost always won. Through those contests, I discovered that I love chili and oreos (yes, together).
- If I could do anything in this world, I would want to be either an opera singer or a cartoon voice-over artist.
- Banana Boat and Bath & Body Works products give me a rash.
- I have a Trapper Keeper that I use to keep my design ideas and notes handy.
- Artificial sweeteners make my stomach hurt.
- Canned and bottled sodas taste “funny” to me, but those from a fountain are delish!
Now it’s my turn to say, “Tag, you’re it!”
Glas, Zang, Jules, Cookie, Beth, and Conservative Belle.
Anything for metal
October 30, 2008 by Nicki
Heavy metal is what I consider my “first love” when it comes to music. Although I have branched out into other genres over the years and have lots of favorites from 20s and 30s jazz and blues, to bluegrass and cajun banjo-picking, to opera and classical, I still always come back to heavy metal. When I’m in good mood and want something to match, or feeling nostalgic and craving a particular sound, or simply need a “pick me up”, I pop some heavy metal in my CD player or MP3 queue, and am instantly in love all over again.
Hell, I “earned” my online moniker because of heavy metal. I was dubbed ‘Nitallica’ by a friend in high school because at the time bands like Metallica were, for years, the staple of my proverbial musical diet. I happily credit heavy metal as a constant source of inspiration for many of my digital and other artrial emissions over the years, as well as a positive focal point from which I drew strength during darker periods in my life. While I appreciate many different forms of music, what really quickens my pulse are the primal sounds of lightning quick guitar riffs, thundering percussions, screaming/thrashing vocals — simply put: metal makes my heart smile.
One of my co-workers just sent me the link to an article posted yesterday on USA Today’s website:
Nothing else matters: Iraqi heavy metal returns
BAGHDAD — At a private dinner club on the banks of the Tigris River in Baghdad, Muthana Mani screamed threats at a wild-eyed crowd of young Iraqis.
“I’ll see you die at my feet! Eternally I smash your face! Facial bones collapse as I crack your skull in half!” he roared.
Two years ago, these kinds of threats in Iraq typically came from members of al-Qaeda, or violent sectarian militias. Saturday night, they were directed at 250 Iraqi fans of heavy metal music who fearlessly donned eye shadow, anarchist pendants and black T-shirts and came out of hiding to attend Iraq’s first metal concert in five years. Throughout the two-hour show, the crowd thrashed about, a sea of sweating bodies and banging heads. They screamed obscenities and broke tables. It was a scene that would have made any American metal fan proud.
It was also another indication of just how much security has improved here. When religious extremists controlled Baghdad’s neighborhoods, being a member of heavy metal’s unique subculture could amount to a death sentence, says Mani, 21, the lead singer of Brutal Impact, one of the two bands that played the concert.
“If I wore a T-shirt like this one,” Mani said in an interview after the show, pointing to a logo of a bleeding skull, “they’d have killed me.”
That is just freakin’ awesome. Freedom … and Metal. Two of my favorite things — and those Iraqi youths now have both.
Just one more reason to thank our troops!
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