100 THINGS ABOUT ME!!!

Thanks for this idea, Boni! 1.I try really hard to obey the Sabbath. It may not always be Sunday, but I try one day a week doing NOTHING… and I mean NOTHING! I really do believe in the powerfulness of resting. 2.My favorite time of day is the morning, especially when I get to spend it with Michael 3.I love the outdoors: hiking, fishing, running, reading, almost anything outside. 4.I love fruit. 5.I LOVE to read, especially books about leadership, ethics and personal growth 6.I am on a personal quest to find the world’s best French Fries. So far, Houston’s restaurant in Memphis has the lead (thin, string-like), but my search is not over. 7.I love to have my feet massaged. A pedicure is only one of two things (see #8) I will charge to my credit card when I am short on cash. 8.I hate to get my hair cut because I have to make small talk for 2 hours. But I spend a lot of money (even times when I am broke) to get a good haircut and color (see #9) so that the rest of the time I can just run my fingers through it and go (see #10). 9.I have NO idea what my true hair color is. I have colored my hair since college so all I know is the blonde is not real. 10.I have not brushed my hair in more than 5 years. 11.All of my emotions come out as tears. Pretty weird given my upbringing (see #12). Whether I am happy, mad, confused, frustrated, surprised, or sad, I cry. 12.I have never seen my mother cry. 13.I am not good with small kids. When my kids were small I felt like a complete failure as a mother. Now that they are older and can be rational and logical, I feel more confident in my abilities as a mother. But there for awhile, I cried A LOT (see #11). 14.I hated high school. Since I was a year younger than everyone else (see #15) I always felt awkward. Sometime after college during a crying spell (see #11) I threw out my high school yearbooks and have regretted it ever since. Now because of facebook I am reconnecting with a lot of high school “friends” and wish I could look them up in the yearbook to better remember them. 15.I skipped the 4th grade. After attending a very good elementary school in Seattle for my 3rd grade year, we moved back to Hot Springs for the 4th grade and Mom and Dad advanced me a year. Although this actually worked out very good for my career (I believe this is the reason I am now a college professor because I then put so much pressure on myself to make good grades), for many, many years it was a handicap to my self-esteem. 16.I wish I was more concerned about keeping my house clean. I simply do not take the time. My mind is so one-tracked and focused that when I get up in the morning I just want to accomplish my “list”. Housecleaning never makes that list. Maybe I am too focused on getting praise for my actions. You know, no one ever comes into a house and comments “she must have mopped, good for her” or “her baseboards are dust free, what a woman” or “I’ve never seen pillows so fluffed”. People only notice if you DON’T do housework. 17.When I was a kid, I wanted my name to be “Rose”. Bevalee was just goofy and weird and too long of a story to tell to anyone. But Rose… wow! What a great name! 18.I love Barry Manilow. I don’t just mean his music (although it is awesome) I mean the man! When I was in junior high everyone else had pictures of Shaun Cassidy taped to their locker doors. I had a picture of Barry Manilow. I used to practice the piano (see #20) longer cause I knew music would be the only way I would get to meet him. I still want to meet him or at least see him in concert one more time before he retires. 19.I took violin lessons and hated it so much that I would practice the piano (see #20) longer to get out of practicing the violin. 20.I took piano lessons from first grade through sophomore year in college. I can play NOTHING now. I just wasn’t as talented as we all hoped I would be. 21.I HATE to shop. I have a list, go get it, and get out. Even when shopping for clothes. For example, if I decide I need white shorts. I will go to Macy’s or Dillard’s or Old Navy, etc., grab 3 or 4 pairs that might work, and leave. No sorting through the racks for blue or brown or others that are cute. Just straight to anything white, grab it and be gone. 22.Eva reminds me so much of me when I was her age. 23.I have a certain time of day when I return phone calls. So I hardly ever answer the phone when it rings. If you call me it is probably going to be the next day before I call you back. (See #24) 24.I hate to talk on the phone. Even to people I love. I want to get off as soon as I get on and sometimes even while I am dialing. I have to make myself talk on the phone (See #23). 25.I don’t think I would have had kids if my Mom had not gotten sick. (Probably because of #26.) I’m not thankful she got sick, but I am thankful the experience put things into perspective for me. I can’t imagine my life without those two blessings. 26.I wanted to be Mary Tyler Moore (actually Mary Richards on the Mary Tyler Moore show). I loved the fact that she was a career woman, that she dressed so cool, had a neat apartment, and dated on school nights. 27.I LOVE lima beans! I could eat nothing but lima beans for days. 28.Physically, I think getting old SUCKS! Of course, I feel more confident, wise, and happy than I ever have. But man… physically, it stinks! 29.Every morning since I’ve turned 40 my feet begin to hurt as soon as they hit the floor. (See #28) 30.When I was 12 and 13 I used to cry because I had no boobs. Now “my girls” are so big they have names and live in separate zip codes. I heard a rumor Obama is thinking about taxing each as separate heads of household. Be careful what you wish for. 31.I used to be a die-hard Republican, but I have gotten so mad at the party lately I just call myself a conservative. 32.I hate my knees. 33.I cannot believe how much useless information my Dad has at his fingertips. I am SO not like that. Now, I have somehow raised a boy who has exactly the same “gift” as my Dad. They need to team up and go on Jeopardy. 34.My number one value on all surveys and assessments I have taken is autonomy and independence. It explains why I stay in higher education when I could make a lot more money someplace else. 35.I am very concerned (almost obsessed) that I am not making enough of a difference with my life. I think about my contribution to the world and to those I love on a daily basis and really hope I am providing something of significance to them. (See #92) 36.I can remember specifically the first time I told a lie. I was 5 and The Porter Wagner show was playing in the background. I still cannot hear his name or any of his songs without feeling very guilty. 37.I LOVE being married to Michael Vitali!!! I have never been happier! He is my best friend and I love spending time with him. He is the only person I have ever met that I didn’t think would eventually bore me. 38.I talk to food. For example, when I am preparing lunches for the kids I will explain to the apple why I want to cut her up and why I chose her above the other apples in the bowl. I started doing this when the kids were small to entertain them, but I haven’t been able to stop. 39.My brothers used to spell out words so I wouldn’t be able to figure out what they were saying. I would then run to Mom and say, “What does P-U-N-K spell?” She would say, “Beautiful”. What a great Mom! 40.I am a fairly laid back and usually calm parent. I think my kids are now old and mature enough to make many decisions for themselves. I just explain to them the consequences of each choice and then stay out of it. We’ll see if it works, but for now it seems a better option than the constant, useless nagging I used to do. 41.I hope my relationship with Michael grows into something as special as what I see in my parents. 42.I believe society has confused ethics with compliance. I believe being ethical goes well beyond just “not doing wrong” or “not making mistakes”. Ethical leadership calls for us to do what is right. 43.The one lesson I hope I pass on to Eva is independence. I want her to take personal responsibility for her personal growth, for her financial stability, and her professional achievements. I want her to build a strong foundation in each area of her life before she begins to look for a life partner. 44.The one lesson I hope to Travis is acceptance of self. I want him to love himself and understand that comes before he can love anyone else. I want him to be his own person and not fight the uniqueness that is his gift from God. 45.Michael always wants to open the car door for me, but I always forget and open it for myself. 46.I have REALLY let go of my need for control since turning 40. 47.I believe my life is in balance and am proud of myself for achieving the life/work balance I have known I needed for many years. 48.I can relate almost every situation back to a “Friends” episode. 49.My favorite movie is Phenomenon (see #50). 50.I love John Travolta. 51.I still get butterflies when Michael kisses me. 52. I ALWAYS initially overreact to things. If I can get past that initial reaction, however, and talk things out with someone, I am VERY logical, rational, and laid back about most situations. But watch out if you catch me when I first find out about something. 53.I love to run (if you can call it that). It clears my mind and puts me in a great mood. But I am a VERY slow runner. In fact most people can walk faster than I can run. But at least I am out there doing it! 54.I have a special ring tone for Michael (a duck since he’s a quack). I love that tone more than any other. My heart skips a beat when I hear it. 55.I wore glasses in my 20s, but haven’t needed them since I was about 33. 56.I love rainy days when all I have to do is read. 57.I snore. Eva can hear it through the walls with both our doors closed. She says it sounds like a lawn mower. 58.I have no idea when weather is “hot” or “cold”. I know 95 is hot and 30 is cold. But any temperature between the two throws me. Do I wear shorts? Long sleeves? Long pants? A coat? 59.I have no idea what temperature I should keep my thermostat. (see #59 for reason) 60.I think people believe I am over-emotional (see #11 and #52). 61.I hate the phrase “Don’t take it personally.” People say that at work all the time. “It’s just business” is another that should be eliminated from all managers’ vocabularies. How do managers expect you to give 8 hours a day and it NOT be personal? Remember… that is 8 hours away from my kids, my books, my Michael… it BETTER be personal! 62.I have witnessed first hand the biggest mistake managers/leaders make is believing it is all about them. But those leaders who have at their core a belief in something bigger than themselves are those who are most successful and respected. 63.I believe we cannot be what God intended for us until we accept and love ourselves. 64.I wish I had a closer relationship with my brothers. 65.I got through undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. program without incurring any debt. 66.Michael didn’t kiss me until we had gone out 12 times. 67.I am a lousy driver. Sorry Dad… you tried. 68.When I turned 35, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish before I turned 40. I wanted to finish my CFA (finished at 39), learn how to fly fish (did this with Dad at 38), learn how to knit (finished about 3 scarves at 37… I still wear one of them), and learn how to play golf (took lessons at 36). 69.I turned 45 this year so I made a list of things I want to accomplish before I’m 50. I’m going to share, but don’t hold it against me if I don’t reach them. (1) I want to run a half-marathon; (2) I want to go on an Alaskan cruise; (3) I want to go on a mission trip; (4) I want to do a significant service project with my kids; (5) I want to see Barry Manilow perform one more time (see #18). 70.I cannot lie down without having a cover. 71.I cannot watch TV without lying down. 72.I LOVE popcorn. 73.I put my make-up on in bed. 74.I usually answer email with my laptop in my lap while in bed. 75.I hate Christmas. I love the IDEA of Christmas and what it stands for, but it gets so stressful and is so commercialized. 76.I feel technologically inadequate. It is moving so fast and I just can’t keep up! 77.I am a relatively optimistic person. 78.My kids and I drink almost a gallon of milk a day. It is mainly Travis who drinks milk with everything. 79.I was skipping school (sorry Mom) the day Ronald Reagan was shot. 80.I love hats. I wish bonnets and pill box hats and other hats for women would come back in style. I wear hats as often as I can. Mom knits most of them, but I love to wear them in the summer too. 81.I have about a dozen boxes in my garage of projects I have started and never finished. Maybe finishing them will be on the list I make at 45 (see #69). 82.I love to go to bookstores, although I always leaving wishing I had more time to read all that interests me (see #5). 83.I love flavored water. I hate plain water, but add those 5 calories of raspberry goodness, and I could drink my weight in water. 84.I love my job but hate where I work 85.I have no regrets in my life. Although I have made many, many mistakes, it is from those that I have grown to become the person I am today. 86.I really do like myself. 87.I feel sorry for people who are so scared to fail they don’t try new things. 88.This summer is the first time since 1995 (the summer Eva was born), that I am not working. One of the reasons I chose higher education was so I could have summers off, but I have never taken them off (probably because I lacked life balance). I hope I never work another summer. 89.The biggest heartbreak in my professional life was when the Center for Ethical Leadership closed. I’m not sure I will ever completely recover from the experience, but I have tried to grow from it. 90.Learning about the field of positive psychology and the research behind happiness has changed my life. 91.I can’t wait to retire. Not because I hate my job, in fact I LOVE my job (see number #84, but because there are so many things I want to do. 92.I truly believe God still has great plans for me. I believe the second half of my life will be one full of purpose and serving others. (See #35) 93.I love to fish, but only with ultra-light fishing gear and only for limited amounts of time. 94.I have discovered I enjoy cooking and LIGHT gardening and entertaining. 95.I feel sorry for people who hate their jobs. 96.I worry that I give too many material things to my kids and am not teaching them important lessons about serving others. 97.I spend time with God everyday and often feel Him speaking to me, moving me, or encouraging me. 98.I can’t wait to be a grandmother. Now I CAN wait for what has to happen in order for me to become a grandmother (kids dating, getting serious about someone, getting married, etc). But becoming a grandmother is going to be AWESOME. I also think Michael will be a FANTASTIC grandfather! 99.I believe there are a lot of hurting people in the world. I think people get so used to walking around carrying their burdens they don’t even realize how much happier and content they could be if they “let go and let God.” 100. I love Arkansas, every part except the Delta. I hope someday I will live there, have a cabin there, or in some way be a part of that beautiful state.