Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people 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.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

01 - I share a birthday (April 14th) with Anne Sullivan (teacher of Helen Keller), Pete Rose and Anthony Michael Hall among others. In addition, the Titanic hit an iceberg and president Lincoln was shot on that day

02 - The first CD I ever bought was Tom Petty & the Hearbreakers' 'Into the Great Wide Open'. The most recent was Brad Paisley's 'Play: The Guitar Album'. I have broad tastes.

03 - My first concert was Cheap Trick, Starship and REO Speedwagon in June 1994. I was taking summer classes at a local community college and most of my class was at the concert. Our professor had no clue why half the class was deaf the following day!

04 - Thanks to #3, I've smelled marijuana. Heidi--you're not missing anything!

05 - I have a half sister named Barbara I've never met.

06 - I took weightlifting in high school.

07 - I spent 3 college spring breaks in Panama City Beach, Florida sharing the gospel instead of partying hard. Not surprisingly, I *remember* the fun I had!

08 - I'd rather be behind the camera than in front of it.

09 - My best friend in high school was also named Stephanie. We were also lab partners in high school and college chemistry and when our teacher (Mr. Highland!) wanted us, all he'd say was "Stephanie..." and he'd get both of us.

10 - I have built and flown model rockets.

11 - I've always wanted to play the drums.

12 - My ultimate job would be to go on tour with a Christian band or artist.

13 - As a small child, I refused to eat unless I could put ketchup on my food. While I still use more than the average person, I no longer refuse to eat if I can't put ketchup on my food.

14 - When I was 10 or 11, my parents bet me I couldn't eat an entire bowl of just ketchup hoping I'd get so sick of it, I'd stop using it. They lost two-fold. I got the baseball glove I'd been wanting and I continue to use ketchup.

15 - I have trouble enjoying a meal when I know I'll have to clean up afterwards.

16 - I love traveling with friends, but hate traveling with my parents.

17 - My mother and I had the same first grade teacher.

18 - My work has been published in both a scientific journal and in a CD booklet.

19 - I collect Beanie Babies, but only the dogs.

20 - I started drinking Mountain Dew because my family would take the pop I bought with my allowance without having the courtesy to ask (which is still a pet peeve of mine) or say thank you. Nobody liked Mountain Dew so I began buying that instead.

21 - I hate wearing name tags. It's an unfair advantage for the other people I talk to.

22 - I'm fascinated by aircraft carriers.

23 - I've been an assistant judge at the Physics Olympics.

24 - In high school, I built a miniature bridge made of toothpicks for a class project. Before I started working on the project I sprained my wrist so my bridge was built one-handed. It held a very respectable 7 pounds. For the same class, I also built a device made of 4 pieces of standard paper and a foot of masking tape that would safely allow an egg to fall from more than 15 feet without breaking. It did not get a proper test because the principle wouldn't let us get on the roof to try it out.

25 - I wasn't sure I was going to make it to #25. After I hit "Publish" I will probably think of other things that would've been better.

Back On My Soapbox!

Hey everyone! I've decided to start a blog again. I've missed writing about my life. There is something therapeutic about it. C.S. Lewis said that joy was not complete until it was expressed, which I totally agree with. By the same token, there's something about "spilling your guts" when bad things happen that makes us feel a little bit better.

Sit back, relax, and read on!