1.Your name spelled backwards? -- Ellehcim.

2. Last incoming call on your phone? -- Uurintuya.

3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? -- A copy of Mongolia's 2005 proposal to the Millenium Challenge Account in English.

4. What's your favorite restaurant? -- This question isn't fair because I'm outside of the U.S. But, my favorite restaurant would have to be Olive Garden, which is lame I know. I also have a soft spot in my heart for Bob Evans.

5. Last time you swam in a pool? -- Summer '05 in downtown Harrisburg, PA. Pool belonging to the apartment high rise across from International House where I lived.

6. Britney Spears is a skank. Agree or disagree? -- For the most part I agree. She's just trashy. But she's got more money than me so more power to her.

7. How many kids do you want? -- 6. Yes, I want an army.

8. Type of music you dislike most? -- Elevator music. Of the Kenny G persuasion.

9. What was the last thing you bought? -- One bag of cookies from the Russian store for 1300 tugrugs.

10. Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle? -- Not that I can recall, no.

11. Does someone have a crush on you? -- My future husband Chris of course. Other than that who cares. Jess and Ash are obv in love with me though. And I love them right back.

12. Ever made a prank phone call? -- The last time I made a prank phone call was probably in the 6th grade at Jackie P's house.

13. Listening to music? -- Not right now because I'm at work.

14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? -- Yes. It depends on a few things though. Like if I was in Vietnam, probably not.

15. What clothes are you wearing right now? -- Long underwear, black boots, gray pants, green tank top, bright pink jacket.

16. Do you have a garden? -- No, but I do have a plant in my kitchen. It's very tall.

17. What's your favorite comic strip? -- Can't say that I have one?

18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? -- Yes I do. And I resent this question. Haha. No really, I sang the national anthem a capella at my high school homecoming football game in 2001. It was hot. And really long. Reverb sucks.

19. Bath or Shower in the morning or night? -- I shower in the morning which is why I am always late for everything.

20. Hello or goodbye? Goodbye. I guess we were supposed to choose one?

21. Favorite pizza topping -- Bell peppers.

22. Chips or Popcorn? -- Chips. Popcorn makes my stomach hurt.

23. Favorite color? -- Red.

24. What did your last text message you received say? -- "Tand 99349268 dugaaraas 500 negj ilgeelee." (Which means "You have just received 500 units from 99349268." That number belongs to my friend Melinda who sent me units this morning because I haven't left my apartment for 3 days until today and I was running out.)

25. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? -- That would be no. I'm not for 'em.

26. Orange Juice or apple juice? -- Orange juice.

27. Who was the last person you ate dinner with? -- Danny, Ethan, and Danny's friend Kristen from Australia last night at M100.

28. What did the last text message that u sent say? -- "Yay thanks homie" to Melinda in reference to the units she just sent me. I think she owed me anyway.

29. Lucky number? -- 4.

30. Last time you ate a homegrown tomato? -- Tomatoes are gross.

31. Have you ever won a trophy? -- I've won medals, but never a trophy. Trophies are tacky. Haha.

32. Are you a good cook? -- Not really. Though I have been forced to become one after moving to Mongolia where you have to make everything from scratch. Bastards.

33. Do you know how to pump your own gas? -- Yes. I didn't grow up in New Jersey. Although I am moving there after Peace Corps.

34. Do the Chinese really use cats in their food? -- I'm gonna say no. I'll find out when I go to Beijing next summer.

35. Sprite or 7-Up? -- Sprite.

36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school? -- Never. Public school all the way.

37. Last thing you ate? -- Tsoivan. (Traditional Mongolian meal that consists of homemade noodles, mutton, vegetables, all fried in lots of oil.)

38. Ever thrown up in public? -- Is this a serious question?

39. Would you rather find true love or be a millionaire? -- Find true love. Because I actually found it.

40. Do you believe in love at first sight? -- No. You can love a person within minutes. But real love takes time.

41. Do you wear glasses or contacts? -- Neither.

42. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? -- Right now I work in a hospital in Mongolia. Hard question. In the States, the last person I visited in the hospital was my friend John who almost died in a car accident.

43. Where were you for Valentine's day? -- At Penn State.

44. Last time you laughed? -- The last time I laughed really hard was probably in Ulaanbaatar about a week ago. There were many fun drunken nights and I laughed a lot.

45. What's your favorite animal? -- I'm not really an animal person. If I had to choose I'd probably say a monkey. That's a lie. I don't know.

46. What was the name of your first pet? -- Tetra. It was a fish. My sister and I cried when it died.

47.Who was the second to last person to call you? -- Danny.

48. Is there anything going on this weekend? -- Melinda might visit. Otherwise probably going to our usual ET Palace/Allegro and drinking and dancing and counting the bottles of vodka that we buy at the bar.

49. How are you feeling right now? -- My stomach is growling.

50. Who or what do you think about the most? -- Chris, America, sex. Not necessarily in that order.

51. Who filled this survey out before you? -- Jess.

52. Who do you think will fill this survey out? -- Probably some random who copies it from my/Jess's page.

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FIVE YEARS AGO
Five years ago, it was the year 2001...

Take this quiz, post the results, and see how much things have changed since then.

What grade were you in?: A couple months in to my senior year of high school.

Where did you go to school?: Colerain High School.

Where did you work?: Jansi Drycleaners.

Where did you live: Cincinnati, OH.

Where did you hang out?: Newport on the Levy, Steve's house, Student Council room, Sitwell's, Trevor's house, various Waffle Houses in the Greater Cincinnati Area...lol

How was your hair style?: Short. I had just cut off all of my long hair to the dismay of many of my friends.

Did you wear braces?: I had them taken off in the summer before my senior pictures.

Did you wear glasses?: Never have.

Who was your best friend?: Steve and Rebekah.

Who was your girlfriend/ boyfriend?: No one.

Who was your celebrity crush?: Johnny Depp. Still is.

Who was your regular-person crush?: I had a few I'm sure. They were all stupid.

How many piercings did you have?: One belly-button ring.

How many tattoos did you have?: None.

Who was your favorite band?: Dashboard Confessional.

What was your biggest fear?: Not being able to afford college.

Had you smoked a cigarette yet?: Yes.

Had you driven yet?: Of course. I had my license and a white '87 Chevrolet Celebrity with a collapsing interior ceiling.

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LETS SEE WHERE YOU ARE NOW !!!!!
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What grade are you in?: College graduate.

Where do you go to school?: just graduated from Penn State University (Main Campus).

Where do you work?: I am a Peace Corps Volunteer working for the Orkhon Aimag Health Department in Erdenet City, Mongolia.

Where do you live?: Erdenet, Mongolia.

Where do you hang out?: My apartment, ET Palace, Allegro, M-100, internet cafes, other PCVs' places...

How is your hair style?: Long and curly.

Do you wear braces?: No.

Who is your best friend?: Chris, Ashley, Steve, Melinda

Who is your girlfriend/boyfriend?: Chris.

Who is your celebrity crush?: Johnny Depp. Sometimes Justin Timberlake but that's one we don't go around telling people.

How many piercings do you have?: Still one.

How many tattoos do you have?: One. I got it done on my eighteenth birthday a couple of hours before the Pajama Jam...hahaha...I was such a wench.

Who is your favorite band?: Pearl Jam.

What is your biggest fear?: Being accosted by a drunk Mongolian man. Or being kidnapped and sold in Thailand as a sex slave.

Have you smoked a cigarette yet?: Regularly. Way too many crappy Mongolian cigarettes.

Have you driven yet?: The last time I drove was in May when I rented a car to visit Chris before I left for Mongolia. Peace Corps rules forbid volunteers to drive in country. Good times!

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mood: crazypants
watching: #1 single



Today I came home from class to find around 6 messages on my answering machine from various Peace Corps people at the national office in Washington, DC. I have finally been medically cleared worldwide and will be serving my 27 months as a volunteer in Mongolia. Right now I'm completely exhausted, having felt every emotion possible today, as it was quite a shock to learn that my program departs on June 2 which is IN 6 MOTHER FUCKING WEEKS. I don't even have a passport yet. I've never even been out of the country. Besides to Canada with my best friend Steve from WOMS, but Canada hardly counts at anything. Especially when you vomit in a Canadian parking garage. And then in your hand at customs. But, I digress...

So Mongolia! I don't really feel like explaining what I'm going to be doing in my own words, so here's what the Peace Corps says about it:

Peace Corps/Mongolia's Health Sector revised its Health Project in the spring of 2002. In collaboration with representatives from the Ministry of Health and other international organizations, the changes reflect the current needs and strengths in the country. Much progress has been made in the past five years in the infant and maternal mortality rates, for example, and yet issues such as sexually transmitted infections, alcoholism (especially with adolescents), poor nutrition, and reproductive health are causes for great concern in both urban and rural areas. Newly defined goals and objectives of the project will guide your work as a PCV in one of the most sparsely populated countries of the world.

Your knowledge and skills as a health extension volunteer is extremely important for community outreach activities to increase public health awareness, promotion and education throughout the country. You will be working in a healthcare system that is in transition. Formerly a Soviet-based, curative medical system, the opportunities in Mongolia are opening up for public health and health education. Health Promoting Schools can provide an avenue to promote healthy lifestyles to students. There is a tremendous opportunity to teach disease prevention & public health topics to reduce problems of poor nutrition, alcoholism, smoking, and lack of exercise, to mention a few. Peace Corps initiatives and other secondary activities may include teaching sessions or developing activities on HIV/AIDS, Life Skills, and Youth Development. Organizing health or sports clubs as well as working with the Youth Red Cross Clubs can promote improved health and wellness.

Although you cannot practice direct patient care as a PCV in Mongolia, your teaching and training of others is crucial for sustainable development. Your contributions, like those of PCVs before you, are invaluable. By continuing health outreach efforts, the concepts of public health and disease prevention are reinforced, thus strengthening the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the well-being of the people in Mongolia.

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watching: E! news
mood: satisfied



It's now been 5 weeks and counting since I sent in my medical clearance packet to the Peace Corps, which is the last step in the very long and taxing process to becoming a Peace Corps Invitee. Right now I am a Nominee. As it stands, I am going to be doing health education and outreach somewhere in Central Asia, departing sometime in August or September of this year. The "somewhere" and "sometime" part is what's killing me. They said it would take 4-6 weeks from the time they receive my medical clearance packet for me to know anything about my specific assignment. For 5 weeks now everything has been on hold; I have no idea how much time I have after graduation to work, or do an internship, or fly to see my boyfriend because my location and departure date are both still subject to change. I have plenty of job prospects, both for the summer and for long term, but there's no way I can follow through on any of them until I know exactly when and if I'm leaving. I have left all my options open in preparation for the very unlikely, but very unfortunate (and scary), event that I am not medically cleared for service. IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING.

I'll receive word any day now, right? RIGHT?!?!

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mood: indignant
watching: so notorious



Sometimes you speed on I-71 when you are driving from Cincinnati to central Pennsylvania on a Sunday night. And sometimes there is a cop pacing you for five miles and you don't notice because you are smoking a cigarette and fucking with the sun roof in your hot Pontiac G6 rental car. And even if you did notice, you probably wouldn't have cared because you never thought a cop could or would pull you over for speeding while the cop car was moving. They have to be stationary, and they have to radar you, right?

Yeah that's a big fat no, dumbass. She definitely cited me, I definitely have to pay $106 and I definitely now have 2 points on my license. I was so beyond pissed. Mostly at myself because if I had been paying attention to the huge fucking state trooper riding my ass for 5 minutes I could be $106 richer. I know it's not the end of the world, but considering how much I shelled out for gas this weekend, the ticket just really pushed me over the edge.

And if your name is Rob and you are my brother and you are reading this, please don't tell Mom. Thanks.

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mood: road trippy
listening to: the radio



That's Cincinnati. My city is uber gorgeous. I'm going home this weekend for my Grandmother's 75th birthday party, which is turning out to be quite the bash. Grams is awesome because she has over 200 people coming to her birthday party. She's so popular! It's a casino-themed night equipped with everything from game tables to fake money with her picture on it. Oh, and alcohol of course. It's like a mini friggin Catholic festival. Booze and gambling...you know how the Catholics do. Haha. It's also a surprise for her, so I am the slightest bit nervous that she's going to faint when she walks into this party. I love my Grams so much because she kicks ass. No, seriously, she could kick your ass. The woman had 14 children who are all still living, so you figure it out. Definitely the most amazing woman I know. Next to my own mother of course. :)

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