A New Blog Challenge!

Okay, I meant to start this yesterday, but got so wrapped up in my Mobile Monday and Elite Eight picks that I forgot. I went looking online for some Blog Challenge ideas (because honestly there are some days where I WANT to blog, I just don't know WHAT to blog about- yes, even I have times where I don't know what to talk about- go figure). I found a few lists, so I combined some of the questions from all of them to make my own challenge. Feel free to steal this idea if you would like (and leave me a link in the comments below so I can check out your blog!)

Day 1: Post a picture of yourself with 10 facts

I've done these "facts about  me" before, but I know I have new followers, so to some long time readers, you might already know these! And of course, my long-time friends will know ALL of these! :)

1. I don't eat cake or pie. I mean, I CAN eat them, I just usually don't. It's definitely not because I'm a health nut (because I'm not- must we rehash about my Chick Fil-A milkshake and Blue Bell ice cream obsession)? Even when I was little I didn't eat cake or cupcakes at birthday parties. I'm just odd. :)

2. I'm a wannabe amateur tornado chaser. Okay, so I haven't really chased one, yet. But I keep saying I want to. Whenever there is a tornado warning in the area, I have more than one person call or message me telling me NOT to go out chasing it (I guess my little Mazda is not storm chasing appropriate). I watch all the tornado chasing specials on cable. I had a fan girl moment when meteorologist and storm chaser Reed Timmer not only replied to me but started following me on Twitter. I know, I'm a nerd. I keep hoping he'll ask me to join him on a chase one day, so far, I've received no invite. But a girl can dream...

3. I'm a chocolate milk snob. Now, I don't like plain milk, I have to drink chocolate milk. This started when I was a kid (yes, even as an adult I've tried plain milk and I don't like it- ick). BUT, I have to use NesQuik powder chocolate mix. I don't like the syrup (and don't even think about giving me an imitation brand or Ovaltine). I also have to mix my own, I don't like it "pre-made". See, I told you I was weird!

4. I was 11 years old before I learned to ride a bike. No lie. And we won't mention how many years it's been SINCE I've ridden a bike.

5. I want to play a dead body on one of my crime shows (CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, etc). I can't really act, but I figured not much acting is needed to just lie there.

6. I was a pep squad officer in 8th grade (it's kinda like a cheerleader, except we didn't cheer in front of the crowds at the football games, we were in the stands). Long story how I ended up one. I had a friend who wanted to try out and didn't want to go alone, so I went with her. I ended up getting selected (even though I had NEVER been in pep squad before). Go figure!

Don't judge. No really, don't judge. Don't I look "peppy"? Forgive my hair, it hadn't recovered from the 80s.

7. I don't like Starbucks. To be fair, I don't like any form of coffee, but I don't really care for any drinks at Starbucks. If I want hot chocolate, I'm not paying $4 for one.

8. I despise the game of Monopoly. It goes back to when I was a kid and was forced to play it for HOURS on end. To this day, I refuse to play it. Also with my A.D.D. I would only be able to play about 20 minutes before I'd get distracted or something.

9. I hate when people say "you are really tall for a girl". I'm 5'8, I don't think that's REALLY tall. Now, if I was 6'8, then yes, you could say I was really tall.

10. I was a sports editor for two years at a weekly newspaper. I miss writing, I always thought I would eventually go back to it. Maybe one day I will, I'm still young, right?? :)

Day 2: What are your nicknames and how did you get them?

1. Rach: kinda obvious how I got this one, it's just my a shorten version of Rachel.

2. Ray-Ray: my cousin's kids started calling me this when they were little; I have a friend whose kids call me this now too!

3. Angel: my momma calls me her "little angel". Although with the Rangers rival being the evil empire that is now known as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, I've told her she has to call me her "little Ranger" now. Yes, we take baseball VERY seriously! :)

4. Precious: my sister Martha calls me this (because it's true). :)

5. Dumpling: my daddy calls me this. :) He got it from the Blondie comic strip, they referred to their kid as "Baby Dumpling".

6. Averyfan: Since this is my Twitter handle, a lot of people call me this. And my friend Laura likes to refer to me as Averyfan when she's talking to our friend Chance. BTW, people from Twitter also call me Avery because they think that is my first name.

7. Wonderwoman: I got this when I was working for the newspaper. I not only covered sports, but I covered local town meetings and news beats. One of the city councilmen said I was like Wonderwoman because I did so much (there were many issues of our paper where I wrote the majority of the articles).

8. Sniffles: A friend of mine gave me this nickname in college because the first semester it seemed I was sick so much with allergies or a cold.

9. Boog: My sister Mary has always called me this. For the record, ONLY MY SISTER MARY can call me this. Don't even try! :)

10. Pinky: My friend James calls me this (again, only he can use it). When we worked together, he referred to us as Pinky and The Brain. To this day, we still call each other that! :)

Pinky: "Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight?" The Brain: "The same thing we do every night Pinky- try and take over the world!"

Have a great day!!

XOXO!

Catching up on 30 DBC: Day 20, Day 21, Day 22 & Day 23

Sorry, I've been slacking on this blog challenge. Hope this catches me up! :)

Day 20: Nicknames

I did a Thursday 13 on this once (go here to view that post). I'll post a few of the names here.

-Rach (I think most Rachels are called this)

-Ray-Ray (started by my cousin's kids)

-Sugarfoot (one of my mom's nicknames for me)

-Angel (another one from my mom)

-Dumpling (my dad's nickname for me)

Day 21: Picture of yourself

Back when I had long hair

A more recent picture

Day 22: Favorite city

I gotta say the Dallas area (yes, I know, I'm not TECHNICALLY picking one city, but it's hard to choose which one in the area I would pick). I've lived here for just over 7 years and I love it! I really think there is something for everyone here. Here is just a small fraction of what the area has to offer... :)

We got sports...

Rangers Ballpark, AKA, my summer home

Jonestown, AKA, Cowboys Stadium

American Airlines Center, home of Dallas Mavericks basketball and Dallas Stars hockey

We have museums...

We have musicals, plays, operas and symphonies...

We have good food...

I could go on and on, but I'll spare ya! ;)

Day 23: Favorite vacation

Wow, I'm not sure I have a favorite vacation. I went to New York City a few years ago and had a lot of fun. And I went to Atlanta last year with some friends and had a blast! I'm hoping to go on "big" vacation next year. After a conversation I had on Twitter yesterday with some friends, I might be planning another NYC trip next year! ;) 

Hope everyone is having a great week!

XOXO!

It's Thursday Thirteen/Thirsty Thursday time!

This week for my Thursday 13 I thought I would list 13 nicknames that I am called (I know, I was running out of ideas for a Thursday 13 list, I had to come up with something!)

1. Rach: This is an obvious one, most people named Rachel are called this at some point!

2. Ray-Ray: My cousin's kids started calling me this when they were little. To this day they still call me that. If you call me Rachel in front of them, they say, "No, that is Ray-Ray."

Some of Cousin Ray-Ray's precious bunch (the littlest one is missing from this picture).

3. Sugarfoot: My mom calls me this. It's one of her MANY nicknames for me. :)

  

My mom having dinner with my dad on their anniversary last week!

4. Auntie: I have a few nieces and nephews that call me this when they are trying to be cute. ;)

5. The BFF: My friend Brandy calls me this sometime.

 

Me and Brandy at the Rangers game on my birthday

6. Angel: Another nickname from my mom. She has Caller ID so when she picks up the phone she says, "How's my Angel doing?" One time she was handing the phone to my dad and he asked who it was. She said, "Our little angel". He thought he would be funny and got on the phone and said, "I have no clue who I could be talking to." HA HA! :)

7. Precious: My sister Martha calls me this. And she says it in a loving way, not in a derogatory way. She now calls her two grandsons this!! (that would be "C" and "E"). :)

 

Martha having a Chick Fil-A lunch with her grandson "C". (Yes, the love of Chick Fil-A runs in the family!)

8. Crackie: Unless you were present when I cracked my tailbone in college, you MAY NOT call me this! :) For the story of that incident, you can read about it here.

9. Dumpling: My dad calls me this! When I was little he called me Baby Dumpling (it's a reference to the old Blondie comic strip. They called their kid Baby Dumpling.)

 

My parents at my mom's first Rangers game back in June!

10. Wonderwoman: It's a nickname I got when I was working for the newspaper. I had to cover everything from sports to city council meetings to school board meetings (let me tell you, those  meetings are NOT fun at all!) One member of the city council noticed how I was covering everything around town and called me Wonderwoman. The nickname stuck! :)

11. Sister: My mom calls me and my sisters this from time to time. When we are all together and my mom yells, "Sister, come here please", we start pointing at each other saying, "No, she meant you sister, not me sister." Seeing that I come from a crazy/insane family, sometimes we break into song and start singing the song "Sisters" from White Christmas whenever she calls us that. You think that musicals are ridiculous and people just don't break into song randomly? Try spending time with my family. Happens ALL the time!

12. Boog: My sister Mary calls me this. Again, unless you are my sister Mary, you CANNOT call me this! :)

 

Mary and her three kids. She's been the shortest one in the family for a while now! :)

13. Rae-Rae Hollywood: My friend Elizabeth calls me this. She heard the story about my cousins' kids calling me Ray-Ray and one time my picture appeared in the company magazine. She said I was famous now, and starting calling me that! :)

It's Thirsty Thursday time! Head over to my friend Vic's page here if you want to participate! Since we are on like day 20 of consecutive days of 100 degree temperatures or more, today my Thirsty Thursday will be glass of ice cold lemonade!

 

Here is the outfit I am sporting as I enjoy my refreshing beverage!

 

This picture was taken at the Brad Paisley concert a few weeks ago, but I'm wearing the same outfit today. But this time I'm inside my apartment enjoying the nice cold air conditioning!

It's the 7th inning stretch of the work week. The light at the end of the tunnel is the weekend. Hang on! We are almost there!! :)