BYOC #5

1. Name a career you would NOT want to do and tell why.

A Mom (don't start hating me just yet--I have an explanation).  I don't hate kids.  I actually like some kids.  I just don't want any for myself.  I am an extremely generous person.  I love to help people and have literally given the shirt off my back to someone in need (well, actually, it was my coat).  But, I'm selfish.  I don't have it in me to give 24 hours a day.  I worked in a public library...I hated storytime (so loud and too much whining and crying).  My friends have kids...I usually only think they're cute for a couple of hours.  And, my friends don't really have lives outside of their kids.  I don't want that.  I like my life.  I like having my husband all to myself.  I like that we can go places at the drop of a hat (no planning for babysitters, or worrying about soccer practice, etc).  I like being child-free.

2. What’s the best present you ever received for your birthday?

My birthday is January 6:  12 days after Christmas; 8 days after my sister's birthday; and 6 days after New Year's Eve (for which we generally have 20+ people at our house for several days).  By the time my birthday comes around, I am just plain t.i.r.e.d.  The best present for my birthday is not making me do anything.  My husband and family started doing this for me about 3 years ago and I love it.  On my birthday, I get to sit home, order pizza, and watch TV in my PJ's.  (no cooking, no cleaning, no conversation)  It's heaven!
Oh, and the fancy self-grinding coffee maker that my husband (then boyfriend) got me the first year we were together.  He knew the way to my heart was through good coffee. ;)

What do you hide behind?

Attitude.  If you met me in real life, you'd meet someone with a lot of confidence.  You'd meet someone who doesn't take any B.S.  You'd meet someone who is not afraid to tell the truth, even if it's unpopular (or gets her in trouble at work).  You'd meet someone who is tough and can take anything. 
But, I'm also very sensitive.  I CARE what people think of me.  I want people to like me and will cry if I think I've hurt someone's feelings.  I'm not at all confident.  And, I still worry about things that I said to people 15+ years ago.  
I pretend to be tough, but I'm not.

4. Where were you born?

Decatur, GA

5. A little twist on this one..usually we ask – what blog spoke to you the most, stuck with you, had the most effect on you this week? This week I’m adding to that which comment may have affected you greatly? Sometimes a blog can lead to amazing comments and they deserve their own claim to fame here in this question.

Lori's (A Journey to Embrace) post from yesterday really got to me.  
All day yesterday, I was thinking about my journey to where I am now--waiting for approval.  I was thinking about my eating habits over the last couple of weeks and my "unweightloss" program of the last 3 months.  I just read all of Lori's blog from beginning to end over the last few days and was thinking about how I didn't measure up.  I didn't take the 3-month diet seriously.  I didn't make consistent, healthy choices.  I didn't clean out my refrigerator.  I went on a 2-day liquid fast before my last weigh-in because I had been eating Doritos and chocolate cake for the last month. 
And, I was comparing myself to her.  She had such dedication and, while she had to actively try not to lose too much weight, she took her 6-month unweightloss program seriously.  She made some real, positive changes in her life and eating habits.  And, she started her pre-op diet early "just in case."  And here I am NOT starting mine and using this time to "stock up" on junk food and fried chicken.  
So then today I read her post and find out that the whole time I've been feeling bad about myself and looking up to her, she's been really scared and doesn't feel like she's doing a good job.  I know that "oh crap!  what have I done?!?!?!" feeling and my heart was pounding as I got toward the end of her post.  I think I cried.  The honesty was both refreshing and heart-breaking.