My husband's, Brian, 25 Random Things About Himself...

1. I have a nursing degree but I teach marketing….my wife has a marketing degree but she works in healthcare. I guess it makes sense in some weird kind of way!

2. I believe educating the future business leaders of our world is best gig going. I love what I do and those rascals definitely keep me on my feet!

3. Keeping with the family tradition, both my father and I received our doctoral degrees from Mississippi State University. In fact, our dissertations sit several feet away from each other on the same shelf in the campus library. I have a picture of us holding each (my fathers from 1971 and mine from 2006) in front of the library the day I graduated. The picture sits in a frame on the window ledge in my office.

4. Such pictures mean a lot more to me nowadays after my parent’s house caught fire and burned down (lightening strike) on the eve of Mother’s Day 2001. No one was hurt but nothing of real value was saved. In fact, I have no childhood artifacts…only memories.

5. Another similarity to my father….I am pretty loyal to barbers. In fact, I drive 2 hours, each way, every couple of weeks to get my hair cut…and to see the family of course!

6. I always wondered if my dad got that habit from his dad. I wish I would have had the chance to know either of my grandfathers. Both died much too early in life.

7. My middle name is Russ. It is my mother’s maiden name and I sign everything…and I mean everything… Brian R. Kinard. Maybe subconsciously it is a way to honor a man I never met.

8. I have 2 “half” sisters and 1 “full” sister. Is that politically correct? For most of my life I told people I had 2 “step” sisters….which is false. We all have the same father...I think!

9. I am the last remaining male branch in my family tree. Ironically I have 6 nephews, none of which will carry on the Kinard name. I guess the pressure is on!

10. I have never broken a bone in my body…a consequence that is in part due to never being in a fight. I regret that, as I believe everyone should have one good fist fight under their belt…with or without glass bottles. I guess I still have time.

11. However, I had my upper jaw operated on in 1999. Actually, I have a couple metal plates and numerous screws holding it together now. I’ve had procedures performed by numerous dentists, an orthodontist, a periodontist, an endodontist, a prosthodontist, and a maxio-facial surgeon. Not surprisingly, I believe that is every adult dental specialty recognized by the American Dental Association.

12. I have never been arrested…although I was once cuffed and held for questioning by security at the Birmingham Dog Track for a “minor misunderstanding”.

13. I was baptized and raised as a practicing Catholic growing up. However, I was ex-communicated from Holy Ghost Elementary School in 4th grade for another “minor misunderstanding”. The lab school was way cooler anyway!

14. I am pretty worthless when it comes to any activity involving balance, such as roller skating, skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, or skiing. My wife would probably add walking and dancing to this list.

15. I find massages to be more painful than relaxing. Furthermore, I honestly fear a chiropractor would paralyze me.

16. Speaking of fears…I have only one known phobia: Clowns…also known as Coulrophobia.

17. Also, I have a small problem with motion sickness. In other words, I am unable to play first person video games like Halo, ride the Gravatron/Twirlt-A-Whirl at your local carnival, or ride over ocean swells greater than 3 ft in a boat without vomiting uncontrollably.

18. Anther uncontrollable vice. I constantly bite my fingernails when I am nervous, especially when I watch a MSU or Clemson sporting event.

19. Yes, I love me some sports. In fact, I don’t listen to much music anymore. I am pretty much a 630 AM ESPN talk radio kind of guy these days.

20. I have a cell phone…but never on me. I got in the habit of leaving it in my office so it wouldn’t go off during class. Then I just started leaving it at home. I find my days to be less bothersome, contain fewer interruptions, and more productive without a cell phone attached to my hip. Try it sometime…you just might like it Mikey.

21. I am very organized and I miss Trapper Keepers….they seriously need to make a comeback. Tight roll jeans...not so much.

22. Speaking of tight roll jeans…I would make/force my sister Carole Ann to tight roll my jeans to absolute perfection before every day of school in the 7th grade. God peer pressure was a bitch in Kentucky.

23. I think I have a strange (sometimes referred to as “sick and twisted” by my in-laws) sense of humor which most people probably don’t get. Well, the friends that I have get it and that’s all that matters to me.

24. Maybe that’s why I have few friends and far too many acquaintances. I prefer it that way.

25. My best friend also doubles as my wonderful wife. Lucky me!

A nice morning off

Each week, typically on Wednesdays, I have a half day. I prefer the afternoon off, but I was happy that I had this morning to sleep in a little. I haven't had a full night sleep in a while. Too much tossing and turning....especially when you have a 20 pound dog sleeping with you, plus a husband, all in a queen size bed. I really think we should invest in a king... that would make it so much better! That is all wishful thinking :) I did get to sleep until 9:30 which was nice. Sadly, I have to be at work at 12 and work until 4:30. I suppose that isn't bad at all, but Wednesday is a one doctor day. That doctor is Chris. God love the man, but he is very slow. We always get so backed up and we have some unhappy patients. The past couple of Wednesdays, we've had patients leave because they were having to wait too long. That's not good business. The poor man has an overload schedule when he's by himself and he just can't handle it. I truly think they should cut out a few full eye exams for him. I think it would make things much easier and less stressful. At least today I'm working the front desk instead of screening patients. His patients usually have a lot of history that takes more time. Well, I guess I better go get dressed for a lovely afternoon.

Not So Anonymous, Shopaholic

I really believe I have a shopping addiction. I don't know what has come over me, but lately, every time I got so called "browsing" I end up buying clothes, things for the house, something for Brian and Brody and I there is no need for it! If I see a cute dress or top and I just go ahead and purchase that item. I don't know why?? I don't even have to wear "real" clothes everyday because I wear scrubs 5 days out of the week. I am at disbelief with myself because I use to be the person who would save my money. I would never spend it unless it was for car gas or groceries. I would never buy clothes or decorative items for my home. I guess since I don't have any bills...besides student loans...that I feel I have no need to save my hard earned moola. Plus, life is too short. Might as well spend it today because you may not be here tomorrow. I do have to say, I have bought several cute dresses. I'm just ready for the weather to warm up so I can wear them!

I know this is totally off subject, but I am hooked on a new tv show...Dr. G, Medical Examiner. I guess I'm bringing it up now is because I am watching it on Discovery Health. I don't know why, but I have this strange facination for this show. I guess I'm just curious on how people die...strange, I know. So many people die over things that seem to could have been controlled by medication. Anyway, it amazes me watching Dr. G finding the reasoning behind the death. Too, I grew up around death because my family is in the tombstone business. My Dad sells stones, set stones and cuts death dates. I pretty much grew up in the cemetary. Our house that we lived in growing up was behind my uncle's shop and in front of the office there are tombstones for show. I loved going out there to play, escpecially at night. My friends and I would play hide-and-go-seek in the dark behind the stones. During the summer, I would ride with my dad while he made calls. Could you imagine cold calling to someone who just lost a loved one? I couldn't. To this day I still don't see how he does it! I sold advertisement for 3 years and that was hard enough, but selling tombstones to someone would be even harder. If you haven't seen the show, it's a definite must see!

Snorkeling and Parsailing in Cabo

Check out my Slide Show!

Is ready for Friday!

That's right, I am so ready for Friday. Why you ask. Well, I'm driving to Columbia, TN to see my best friend, Summer, and her husband and little girl. I haven't seen them since last year and Irie is already over a year old. I'm really looking forward to my drive. I'm actually going to spend the night in Florence, SC at Brian's parents, then leaving Friday morning. That way it will take 2 hours off my drive. Anywho, my drive will be really nice. I will get to drive through the mountains. I've always loved the mountains. Growing up, my family and I would go camping in a small town called Townsend. I loved going there. So many fond memories. We would go inner-tubing down the river, drive through Cades Cove, go into Gatlinburg and ride up the sky lift to see the view from the top of the mountain, drive over to Cherokee, and so much more. I've had the opportunity to bring Brian there a couple of times. I think he enjoyed himself when we went. I'm a little more outdoorsy than he is. Grant it, I won't be driving in the state park, but I will get to see the mountains from a distance when I drove through Asheville, Knoxville and the other towns I will be passing by. I think we will have a good time. Summer and I always have fun when we get together. Saturday night we are going to watch the Sex and the City movie. Soooo looking forward to that one. I'm glad I get to watch it with someone other than Brian. I think Brian would have shot himself if he had to watch the movie with me. On my visit, we will just relax and catch up on everything I'm sure. I will leave Monday and head back to Florence.

Tuesday, Brian and I are getting on a plane at 5:45am for San Diego, CA. We are going to spend two and a half days before we jump on a cruise ship to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We are going to the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and to a Padre and Chicago Cub's baseball game. Can't wait. Brian got us a room at the Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp district. Actually, everything is located at the Gaslamp. We can walk to everything from our hotel. I've already looked up the restaurants that are rated to best places to go to check out. It will be a little chilly there, but at least we won't be sweating while at the parks. We should have a ball.

Thursday, at 4pm, we will get on the Carnival Elation ship for our voyage to Cabo San Lucas for 4 nights and 3 days. So exciting! I'm looking forward to eating all of the food. I'm also looking forward to all of the fabulous drinks we will be having. We will arrive in Cabo at 8am on Saturday and we will be there until 4pm. While in Cabo, Brian and I are going snorkeling and parasailing. Sounds like fun doesn't it? I will be sure to take lots and lots of pictures. I've never been on a cruise, so you know that I'm so looking forward to this trip. I got a cocktail dress for the Captain's Dinner and a couple of beach cover-ups to wear on the ship and island. I know this will be a fabulous trip. I'm glad I have a husband that likes going to different places each year. Our first year together we went to San Francisco, the next year to Omaha, NE for the college world series, and this year to San Diego and Cabo. Plus, lots of other places in between.

When I get back, I will post lots of pics.

Our home.

It's finished! We finally moved into our house and I absolutely love it! It was a lot of hard work, but well worth the suffering. Now we can sit back and enjoy our accomplishment.