30 Questions: Misunderstanding

What do you think people misunderstand most about you?

I can come off a bit cold and bitchy at times. I assure you - I am neither one of these things! Those of you reading this probably already know that. But I tend to be shy when you first meet me (hence the cold part) and I tend to overshare once I feel comfortable around you (hence the bitchy...as my form of oversharing is storytelling, which comes off as me trying to one up everyone). Both of these kind of link to the fact that I love to write...so, naturally, I like to tell stories and I also tend to have many introverted moments.

But, get to know me and you will know that I'm a loving, talkative person who delights in sharing just about anything with her friends and loved ones!

30 Questions: Love Language

What is your love language?

I don't know the first thing about love languages! So, I took a quiz and it tells me my love language is "Quality Time."

"In Quality Time, nothing says 'I love you' like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes you feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed activities, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful."

Seems about right to me! There are few things that upset me more than people flaking out on plans that I've been looking forward to. I like to think I'm dependable and wouldn't do that to other people, so I'd really prefer if it was the same in return! 

30 Questions: My Body

What is your favorite part of your body and why?

My eyes!

I've always loved my eyes. It took me a few years to accept an eye color that doesn't quite fall into the existing color categories (I wore blue colored contacts in high school because I didn't like people asking me what color my eyes were), but regardless of their color, I've always loved them.

Sometimes they're very blue. Sometimes they're very green. Most of the time, they're kind of an icy mint-blue shade. My friend Katrina once referred to my eye color as the color of Siberian husky eyes. 

Here's a few samples of my varying eyes for you...

Minty blue-grey (I know...super flattering picture!)

Blue

Green

Dark greenish blue

Minty

30 Questions: Popular

What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

I'm not 100% sure that most of the world has this wrong...but I'm going to go with the notion that different is bad. 

I think different is amazing.

People who dare to think differently are the ones who change the world. Without differences in opinion and background, we would never see any sort of change. Difference makes the world go round.

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" - RFK

Think different!

30 Questions: A Historical Dinner

If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

This is another one of those questions that is on EVERY SINGLE one of these survey things and I always hate. 

But I'm going to be cliche here and go with Jesus, mainly because I'd like to hear his thoughts on all of the crazy things people like to throw around in the name of Christianity. 

As far as what we'd eat? I don't know, but I know we would drink plenty of wine.

30 Questions: Family Dynamics

Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.

Okay, I've kind of been putting this one off. It's not because I don't want to share my family dynamics...it's not that at all! It's just that there's a lot more to this answer than a simple "Then is was ___ and now it is ____."

So, family dynamic of childhood.

My brother, sister and I were pretty imaginative kids. My parents kind of let us do our own thing, which cultivated that imagination. We ran all over backyards and basements, dreaming up ridiculous TV shows (complete with theme songs) that we starred in. We made "potions" from whatever we could find. My parents were always there for us and we did get in trouble when it was warranted, but they let us figure ourselves out and make our own mistakes. 

Among the kids, I was sort of a silent ringleader. My brother and I would gang up on my sister (as she was the youngest and generally the most likely to tattle/whine/etc.)...but I somehow always managed to avoid getting in trouble even though my brother was not so fortunate.

And now, the dynamics of today.

We're all friends. Parents, siblings...we just hang out. Clearly, there's still a slightly different dynamic between me and my parents and me and siblings, but we all like each other. I talked to my mom and dad on the phone almost every day. When I'm home, I go out to the bars with my siblings. My whole family plays drinking games together. We like going on vacation together.

In short, it's pretty awesome.

I'm pretty blessed to have such an awesome family!

30 Questions: Hobbies

List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.

1.) Cooking - I've loved cooking my entire life. My earliest memories are of cooking! I don't know why I love it so much...I think it has to do with the cultural element of food. It brings people together, no matter where they're from or who they are. It's something everyone has in common. Nobody gets mad when you bring them delicious food!

2.) Shopping - It's always been a stress reliever for me, which is odd since my family tends to not particularly enjoy it. There are few things that make me happier on a Saturday afternoon than going to the mall and just leisurely wandering around. I don't have to buy anything...I just enjoy going. Yes, I know it's weird.

3.) Traveling - I don't feel like I should have to explain this one! There's so many amazing things you can get out of travel. From the bit of traveling I've done, I've gained new favorite foods, a new appreciation for different cultures, language skills, friends, indescribable experiences...the list could go on for ages. The magical thing about travel is that it changes you as a person for the better. I wish everyone could dive into another culture with an open mind...it'd make the world a better place.

4.) Exercising/Being Active - While I sometimes have a love/hate relationship with the gym, I love being active, particularly when it doesn't seem like I'm doing it solely for the exercise aspect. Whether it's throwing on a pair of skis and or going for a walk, I love being able to get out, experience nature and appreciate my body for the amazing things it is capable of doing.

5.) Writing - I've always expressed myself far better through written words than spoken ones. Writing just makes sense to me. I love it and I would not be who I am without it.

30 Questions: Predicting the Future

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

I'm going to cheat and not really answer this question because I don't try to really think about where I'll be in 5-10-15-however-many years. It's not because the future freaks me out (cue Motion City Soundtrack song) or because I'm a commitment phobe. It's because I spent a good five years of my life planning where I'd be in the future and guess what? I was totally wrong and couldn't be happier about that.

So, my approach to the future is just to go where the ride takes me. That's not to say I don't have goals. I'd like to get married and have kids. I'd like to continue to have a successful career in Olympic sports. However, I'm on no strict timeline for any of those. It's out of my hands, and I'm completely fine with that.

So, all I'll say to where I see myself in the future is that I see myself living my life and continuing to go with the flow!

30 Questions: Superpowers

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?

As a fan of TV shows like Heroes and movies/comics like X-Men, I could get pretty specific with this answer. But long story short, I'd love to have the ability to fly or teleport. It'd just make life much easier! Rather than sitting in airports for hours waiting to travel home for holidays or somewhere for work, I could just up and go. First thing I would do? Probably cancel my plane ticket for the holidays and travel home with my newfound powers!

Plus, flying would just be fun.

30 Questions: Childhood Memories

Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

Those of you who know me well know that I have an absolutely horrible memory (well, unless we're talking about song lyrics or very random trivia). This applies to me as a little kid, as well. So, most of my childhood memories are lacking in detail because I don't remember much of them!

My biggest memory from childhood is baking cookies. Whether it was Christmas or just making chocolate chip cookies, it was always an event. My brother and I would always make a game of sneaking to the refrigerator to snag a taste of cookie dough while it was chilling. There was always a fight over who got to lick the bowl or the spoon. Usually, I cheated by "accidentally" leaving a lot of dough on the spoon and claiming that. Christmas cookies were the biggest of all our baking - it was an all-day event, starting with making the dough, then chilling it for a few hours, then absolutely destroying the kitchen in a cloud of powdered sugar and flour as we rolled out the dough and eventually iced the cookies. And every year, we took a picture like this:

Next stop on the memory train is family travel. I remember going on my first cruise when I was in 4th grade with my mom's entire extended family (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents). To a 4th grader, that ship seemed like being let loose in a big city! We went to our kid's clubs and snuck through the casino even though we were convinced we'd get kicked off if we got caught in there. Also when I was little, I went to Washington, DC, with my dad. We waited in line with some Chinese tourists at the Washington Monument who were obsessed with my blonde hair and wanted to take pictures with me. I wore little dresses around because I was at an age where I liked to do that. It was a great trip for a young girl to go on!

Finally, I remember creating crazy, imaginative games out of nothing with my brother and sister. We still laugh today about some of the things we came up with! We had "games" called Alaska (this was mainly just hiding under lots of blankets), Kitty Kitty Kittens, the Return of the Alien Show and many, many more. Most had their own theme songs to go with them, too. We were very creative children who really found a way to have fun with just about anything. 

So, there are the memories. And as a bonus, here is my famous photo from my infancy.

30 Questions: Where to Live

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

To be perfectly honest, I don't think I'll ever have one place I'd want to live. I have a list of places I would love to live at some point in time, but there's a reason I titled this blog "Midwestern Nomad." I don't like to stay put!

That being said, the two places that top my list of where I'd like to live at some point in time are London and Hawaii. I've never actually been to Hawaii, but I feel like the combination of mountains, ocean and awesome weather would be a good one for me. However, I think I'd go a little stir crazy on an island, so it wouldn't likely be permanent. London has been a dream destination for me for a long time. I love British culture and British people. I love London's blend of old and new. I never get tired of it! 

PS - This is my 100th blog post! Yay!

30 Questions: Forgiveness

What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?

My previous employer laid me off (along with several other employees) in a less than professional way. I was still in London after weeks of working 20+ hour days. Despite being told I did not need to look for a job when I asked before the London Olympics, I found myself unemployed in one of the world's most expensive cities.

The thing that made it difficult, though, was not the circumstances. It was the fact that this company had spent the prior year preaching about employees being family and treating one another that way. It felt like a betrayal on a very personal level rather than simply being laid off for financial reasons. There are far more details I could get into about why I felt the way I did, but I won't get into those here. I had (and still have) good reason to be upset.

However, I don't see any point in dwelling on bad things. Before I moved, I met with the company's CEO to talk. We talked for a good hour or so about everything. While I cannot in good faith recommend the company to anyone I care about for Olympic travel due to my personal experiences, I've buried the hatchet with my former coworkers. They are humans who have flaws but still mean well. I can forgive while still accepting the lessons I learned there. 

I've moved on, and I'm happy for the times that I have had. I'm grateful for the people I've met and the experiences I have had the opportunity to experience. Without my previous employer, I wouldn't have met many of those people or had some of those experiences. Everything happens for a reason and I truly believe that.

30 Questions: The Greatest

What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

MUSIC!! I've always loved music! If you've ever been in a car with me, you've heard me singing (although I cannot guarantee the quality of that singing). I've never stuck with any instruments, though, and I wish I had the ability to play them. I can knock out a few chords on the guitar or play a rudimentary piece on the piano, but I've never been able to do either well. I can read music and have even taken the time to sound out tunes on the piano so that I can write them down...but a quick little melody line doesn't sound all that exciting without harmonies to go with it!

Some of you have also read the song lyrics I have written. I wish I had the talent to put them to music. I always have a tune in my head when I write the words (hence why I call them songs and not poems), but I lack much in terms of ability to write the actual music down.

So, there you have it. I'd love to be a musician!

Bonus picture of me being Lady Gaga back in grad school

30 Questions: Greatest Accomplishments

What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1.) Sticking to my dream of working in the Olympic movement and making it happen!

2.) Getting my Masters degree

3.) Maintaining close relationships with family and friends despite distance

4.) Going from never using a DSLR camera to being an official World Cup photographer in less than two years

5.) Accepting myself for who I am and appreciating my quirks

Yeah, I know they're a little less than concrete, but give me a break...my life has only just started and I intend to accomplish a lot more with it! :)

30 Questions: That Stupid Animal Question

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

I hate this question...and EVERY survey-ish thing always seems to ask it! So, my cop out answer is that I would be a bird because I would rather enjoy flying. But if we're being honest here, I'd much rather fly like a superhero because I could do without the bulky wings.

In honor of that, here is a photo of me attempting to fly.

30 Questions: 5 Strengths

Describe 5 strengths you have.

1.) Loyalty. It takes awhile to get "in" with me, but once you're in, you're in. I've got your back through anything.

2.) Resilience. I've moved all over the country, had crazy experiences and many ups and downs, but I always land on my feet.

3.) Openness. Since I was tiny, I have always been fascinated by other cultures, religions and peoples in general. While I have my beliefs, I also have the utmost respect for others' beliefs. I will always fight for the right of people to hold those beliefs, as well.

4.) Intelligence. I don't quantify this as IQ or anything like that. Yes, I'm educated. I was valedictorian of my high school, graduated college with two majors and two minors and have a Masters degree. I've taken a couple of college courses since then just for fun. But more than that, I choose to continue to educate myself even outside of school. Intelligence is far more than sitting in a classroom; it's learning from people, experiences and diving into new situations. I like to think that my experiences and education combined have shaped me into an intelligent person.

5.) Attitude. Regardless of the situation, you can count on me to be the one smiling or cracking stupid jokes in the most tense situations. Call it a coping mechanism or whatever you'd like, but to me it's youthful enthusiasm. I hope that the little kid inside of me never goes away!

30 Questions: 5 Weaknesses

Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

1.) Delicious and pretty baked goods

2.) Flat Boots...particularly equestrian style or Uggs

3.) Men in suits

4.) Cute, small animals

5.) Bright colored clothing/shoes/accessories

30 Questions: One Day

Describe a typical day in your current life.

6:30 a.m.

Alarm goes off. I promptly reset it for 15 minutes later.

6:45 a.m.

Reset alarm again.

7:30 a.m.

Finally get out of bed after many reset alarms.

7:35 a.m.

After checking Facebook and Twitter on my phone, I drag myself out of bed to brush my teeth, wash my face, get dressed and put on makeup. Usually, I listen to music while getting ready.

7:55 a.m.

Get in the car and head to work.

8:05 a.m.

Arrive at the office. The first thing I do is fill up my Paris Starbucks mug with tasty Silver Bean coffee (it's the best drip coffee I've ever had, and fortunately, that's what we brew in the office!) then catch up on emails while eating handfuls of Trader Joe's High Fiber O's cereal.

8:30 a.m.

Send out or schedule a couple of mass emails after a few rounds of double-checking.

9:00 a.m.

Proofread some press releases/emails/other documents for other departments. 

9:30 a.m.

Update some web content for an upcoming newsletter.

10:00 a.m.

Compile all stories, links, blurbs, etc. for an upcoming newsletter and send to graphic design to get made into a pretty little HTML document.

10:30 a.m.

Email some athletes regarding quotes and upcoming socials.

Noon

Either head to the Center of Excellence gym for the "Hour of Power" lunchtime workout or, if I forgot to bring food from home or am feeling unmotivated, head out to my car to get lunch somewhere. My usual suspects so far in Park City for lunch: Arby's (if I'm in a rush), Windy Ridge (awesome bakery) or Starbucks. Occasionally, I'll just run back home and eat leftovers.

1:00 p.m.

Catch up on lunchtime emails.

2:00 p.m.

Usually, this time of the afternoon is booked with meetings. These vary from catch-up meetings within my department to brainstorming meetings on upcoming projects with other departments.

4:00 p.m.

Last hour of the workday! I usually spend my final hour of the day following up on projects, wrapping up today's projects and making to-do lists for the next day or two to make sure no projects fall through the cracks.

5:00 p.m.

Work is over! I head to Whole Foods to grab some food for dinner. My favorite right now is their spicy beef chili. After getting food, I might make a stop at the Utah State Liquor Store to pick up a bottle of red wine to go with my chili.

7:00 p.m.

Now that I am fed, it's time to change into pajamas and be lazy. I chat with my roommates, enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of tea and eventually head into my room to chill out.

8:00 p.m.

TV time! I typically catch up on my favorite shows on Netflix or Hulu. So, that means watching Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family, The New Normal or any other of the shows that catch my interest!

10:30 p.m.

Off to bed. Gotta be up early!

30 Questions: 10 Pet Peeves

Describe 10 pet peeves you have.

Okay, I'm not going to lie...I'm really happy this question allows for ten pet peeves instead of the usual three or so. I have a lot of pet peeves. What can I say? I'm opinionated.

1.) The use of Comic Sans...ever.

2.) People who choose not to educate themselves on political issues before an election.

3.) Bad drivers

4.) Close-minded/judgmental people

5.) Poor grammar

6.) People who wear tons of makeup to the gym

7.) People who never respond to calls/texts

8.) Fake people

9.) People who ignore their poorly-behaved children in public

10.) People without a sense of humor!

30 Questions: Most Embarrassing Moment

Describe your most embarrasing moment.

Okay, so this one is kind of a cop out for me. I don't have a most embarrassing moment! But there is a story as to WHY I don't embarrass easily.

Many of you reading this probably know my mother. I love her to death. But growing up, you pretty much had to accept that she was going to embarrass you and you had to own it. So, that's what I did. I'm pretty sure my siblings did the same thing. Usually, when Mom tries to embarrass us, we just take it even further or turn on the sarcasm. 

Me and my lovely madre...the reason I don't get embarrassed :)