8 Day Random Challenge--DAY ONE

I desperately need to lighten up. This blog has been heavy and serious and I am sure you would like me to lighten up, too. SO I decided to do a blogging challenge to force me out of my introspection as of late. I chose the  8 DAY RANDOM CHALLENGE from "Heck Yeah Tumblr Challenges." Today's challenge is: 8 facts about yourself. So here we go!

1) I like hiking!

It's true. The beauty of Missouri, the amazing karst to be found here, and the relatively proximity of rural areas have afforded me lots of opportunity to spend time in the woods. Some of my favorite places to hike include Bennett Springs State Park, Compton Hollow, Dogwood Canyon, and Buesik State Park.

My first trip to HaHa Tonka 2006

But THE absolute BEST place is Ha Ha Tonka State Park. It has amazing karst features--sink holes, caves, a natural bridge, a spring, and even castle ruins! It also has a KILLER hill. But you feel amazing when you make it to the top. I go here a couple times of year with my hiking buddy, Mere. It's an easy drive about an hour and a half. It has a lot of trails of varying distance and ability levels. It's big enough that even when there are a lot of people there, you don't feel like its crowded, you can still have space to yourself. In the fall, it is alive with color. I have even gone by myself a couple times.

2) I've never broken a bone--I don't think. 

I fell off a balance beam during the gymnastics rotation at school and I may possibly have broken a toe or two, but since they can't do anything to fix toes anyway, we never got it looked at. I just couldn't wear a shoe on my left foot for a while. My 4th toe has been crooked ever since.


3) My favorites always change--except people

If you ask me at different times what my favorite color, food, music, pastime, or anything else is, the answers are bound to be different. I go through phases, I love something for a while and then I get bored with it and move on. I sometimes find this annoying about myself, but it also makes me interesting, depending on how you look at it. The one thing that doesn't ever really change is/are my favorite people. I joke with some of them where or how high they rank on my list, but the reality is, there's not a list. It's just a group. Once someone becomes one of my favorite people, it would be almost impossible for me to rank them compared to the other favorites. I love them all for different reasons. But I am loyal to a fault, so once someone is a favorite, it is near impossible for them ever to not be a favorite. It would take something pretty ugly, but the people that I tend to pick as favorites aren't even capable of that. So, basically they are my favorites for life.

4) I have lots of odd certifications.

I spent 4 years working in disaster response and preparedness. This means I've learned a lot of things that would seem strange for a girl like me. I have a Amateur Radio (HAM) operator licence. I am a CERT team member (Community Emergency Response Team). 

Trying out my new gear before our Search and Rescue
 test for CERT certification

I have been trained in triage and search and rescue and fire suppression. I have a Tropical Meteorology certification from the Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference. I am trained in FEMA Incident Command Systems (ICS) 100 and 200, and though not official, I trained myself how to track storm systems and assess disaster threats including tornadoes, wildfires, ice storms, and mass power grid failures. I've written preparedness articles until it made me almost paranoid. I can tell you how to purify water, where to find alternative sources of water, how to start fires, what to pack in a preparedness kit, how to shelter in place, etc. I know a lot of cool stuff, but to most people it seems weird or paranoid.

5) I've had a lot of nicknames in my life, but....

Ju-Ju, Yuri, Yudi, Jude-eye, Jude, Judes, Hey Jude, Murph, Judster, Mother Goose, feel free to call me any of those, or make up a new one.... 

But never, never, ever call me Judith. 

Even if that is my real name.

6) Speaking of names, did you know I was named after the Catholic Saint Jude? 

My mother prayed to him before she was married for something important to her. She has never said what it was, but my dad suspects that had something to do with either meeting or reconciling with her father. She promised if he answered her prayer she would name her first born after him. Boom. Done. St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes and impossible situations. I kinda like that. It seems fitting for who I am. 

7) I like earrings, a lot.

Its kinda weird. But I love earrings. Big ones, especially. And colorful. Or dangly. I have about 50 pairs at any one time, but I buy cheap ones, because I they fall out and I lose them and so I don't want to invest a lot of money. So I usually don't pay more than $3 for any of them.

8) If I have to pick, I pick dogs.

Nothing against cats. I like cats. We've owned cats my whole life. But If forced to pick, I am team dog. Preferably, one that doesn't shed and likes to cuddle. The family I live with right now has a dog named Charlie. He's perfect. I would love to find a Charlie for me. Isn't he cute?

Tune in tomorrow for Day Two...7 Like and Dislikes.