Since I lovingly and painstakingly came up with each one of these questions for Chelsea, I guess I should answer them myself. :) I tried to think of things I would really be interested in knowing the answers to, and that would also be fun to write about. Here we go:

1. What television character do you identify with?
I wrote this question because it’s so easy for me to answer. I am a real-life version of pre-season 5 Rory on Gilmore Girls. I’m a goody-goody, I’m a bookworm, I’m a homebody who is in love with my town, I love interesting movies, and now I’m even a habitual coffee drinker. I even think we look a little bit alike, although my brother has met her in real life (at a party – yeah, he’s that cool) and he says she looks fragile, she’s so thin. I definitely don’t look fragile.

2. Describe your morning routine.
I press snooze a few times, then lie in bed lamenting the fact that it is SO DANG EARLY and I actually HAVE to get out my incredibly comfortable bed. I spend a few minutes in prayer telling God that it’s just not fair, but then I realize that if I don’t get up NOW, I won’t be able to eat breakfast and that’s just bad news bears.

So I get up, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, take a shower, then wrap a towel around me. I put on face and body lotion and run a brush through my hair. I get dressed and put on deodorant and earrings. I grab my phone and my book and walk to the front of the house. I let the dogs outside and put food and water in their bowls. I put some water on to boil and pack mine and David’s lunch. I let the dogs in when they start to become obnoxious. I prepare coffee. I blow dry my hair in the laundry room because for some reason all the electrical outlets in all the bathrooms are broken. I plug my flat-iron in to heat up. I put on makeup in the front bathroom because the light is best there. I style my hair because if I don’t it does this crazy flip thing. I eat a quick bowl of cereal. I go back to our room and wake David up to say goodbye to him, hoping for some entertaining sleep-talk. I hug the dogs goodbye, then drive to work.

3. How do you do lunch? Bring from home or dine out? Same thing every day or mix it up?
I always bring my lunch, and it is almost always this: Lean Cuisine (either chicken carbonara or roasted turkey breast), banana, yogurt or applesauce, and a Fiber One bar. I eat in the lounge on the unit at work. I also pack leftovers for dinner if I’m working a long day.

4. What is one moment that, although seemingly trivial at the time, changed your life?
After I graduated college the first time, I took a “summer job” at an oncology clinic doing medical records. My plan was to work through the summer and then move to Dallas to do ministry with my best friend. But because of that job I became interested in nursing, and I realized the best place to do that was Houston. I ended up working there for two years while I went to class at night getting prerequisites for nursing school.

5. Name your top three beauty products.
My life was changed when I discovered mousse for my hair, even the cheap kind. It takes away the static, gives my limp hair body, and helps it do what I want it to do. Mascara is the one makeup product that I can’t do without. It completely changes the look of my face. My favorite is Dior DiorShow, but I’m looking for an organic brand. Finally, I am obsessed with the little tubes of Aquaphor. It is perfect for lips: extremely moisturizing, long-lasting, shimmery, and cheap.

6. What do you do when you’re alone in the car?
60% of the time I sit in silence and think, talk to myself, or pray.
30% of the time I listen to audiobooks.
10% of the time I listen to music and sometimes sing, and only 1% of the time is that to the radio.

7. What is the ideal city for you to live in? If you can, take this survey (< that’s a link) and tell us the results. Do you agree with them?

My top result was Norfolk, Virginia. I didn’t know anything about it so I read through the results. It seems like a nice place: on the water, mild climate, a good arts scene. I think I’d like it there. I’ve taken this survey before, and my top result was Charleston, South Carolina. I do love the southeast, it’s quite beautiful. But my heart will always belong to Texas, and I really do think Houston is an ideal situation for me even if you take family out of the picture. It has a few things that are extremely important to me: a best-in-the-country medical center, lots of great food, a warm climate, and awesome theatres.

8. Are you waiting for something?
I am waiting for next week when we get to go to NYC. I am waiting for my next cycle to begin so I can start fertility testing. I am waiting for the fall when I might possibly get to transfer to a hospital closer to home.

9. What was the last shocking news you heard?
The other day I read an obituary at work about one of our patients who had died. It shouldn’t be shocking considering the field I’m in, but the last time I saw this patient (only a couple weeks ago), she was walking around and as loud and boisterous as ever.

10. What are three things you wouldn’t do for a million dollars?
I wouldn’t cheat on David in any way, shape, or form. I wouldn’t renounce my faith. I wouldn’t eat any kind of live insect or other creature.

It was fun to answer my own questions! Although they weren’t all easy, not even for me. Looking forward to reading your answers. :)