Awards, Challenges and Focus

I relish the gorgeous splashes of hot pink fringe out my office windows!

I am a little behind in thanking Deborah, of Square Grannie, for this award.  Deborah's blog is new to me and I hope you will stop by and say hello.  I recognize her from Ravelry (a knitting and crocheting community).  I appreciate her kindness in passing this along to me.  Thank you, Deborah.

The rules are that you thank the person who passed the award to you; list seven random things about yourself; and then pass the award along to 15 other blogs.  I couldn't possibly pick only 15, so if you read this blog, consider yourself awarded!!! 

And, this morning on Ann, of Sutton Place's, I really enjoyed her post of a random 25 things about herself.  Soooo... I'm going to challenge myself to that (think it may be harder than one might imagine).  And, I'm inviting you to do the same... and pass along the award!  We are all versatile women!  LOL!  That falls under the definition of being a woman, doesn't it?

1.  I unexpectedly love the blog world!!  Never even knew about them.
2.  Came here almost kicking and screaming with my daughter (after a long distance move) with a six month promise.
3.  LOVE the people I have *met* here.
4.  I enjoy challenging myself...

5.  As a young student nurse, I was amazed while observing in surgery... the silent dance of surgeon and nurse.  No words, perfect moves, well executed operation.

6.  I felt, simultaneously, overwhelmed and fascinated... I challenged myself.  I studied hard.  I learned.  I danced.  Oh, how I loved the dance.

7.  For the years I worked in the operating room, I always said I that I would have paid to have been there if they had not paid me.

8.  I finally burned out.

9. I decided to switch to counselling... back to school for a psychology degree.

10. Midterm of junior year, feeling restless... not a good fit, took an aptitude test.

11. Switched to a finance degree... meant starting ALL over (who knew algebra and trig were NOT applicable to business math!  Did get to use statistics!!). 

12. LOVED business math and economics.

13. LOVED my computer classes!

14. LOVED my accounting classes!

15. Grew suspicious of investing in stock as I figured net present value, break even, stock valuation and reporting methods of a company's financials.

16. Developed a business plan of my own... involving historic multi-family properties. 

17. Bailed class again mid-term of my junior year to start the collection of The Old Girls.  Fortunately, I have a very supportive and adventuresome husband, who was and is on board with our plan.

18.  Have never looked back on that decision (especially in light of what COULD have happened to the monies we invested in the Old Girls had we left it in stocks like some of our other savings).

20. Am a firm believer that we are responsible for our own lives.

21.  And, like these photos show... a shift in focus can change our perspective.  If we only look close-up, we miss the waterfall.

22.  I can't throw or catch.  Failed every P.E. test that involved this activity; had TWO black-eyes trying to catch and/or bat; and (NOT on purpose) threw the keys on the roof when hubby dear insisted that I throw them to him one day.  He doesn't ask anymore.

23.  What I lack in coordination, I make up for in tenacity.  I've run four marathons and many, many, many long training runs... along with a few trail runs that would make any marathon pale in comparison of difficulty.

24.  I can't run anymore.  Left knee.  Today... at least most days, tears don't slide down my face when I'm passed by a runner.

25.  Now, I am a knitter, not a runner.

Hope to see some of you take up the award and the challenge!!

blessings ~ tanna