100 Truths

Hello All. I have been tagged by the lovely Kaitlyn to answer this questioniare of sorts about moi. 100 things in fact, so settle in if you plan to read this whole post. Get ready to know all the deep and hidden recesses of my soul. Not really. But sort of. Okay. . .

1. Real name: Natalie Marie Hoke. Maiden name is Allison, so I spent half my life responding to, "Allison?"
2. Nickname: Nat, BabyGirl if you're my husband.
3. Status: Married
4. Zodiac sign: Virgo
5. Male or female: Female
6. Elementary: Pepper Drive, Chett F. Harritt, Carlton Oaks, & Meadow Elementary. But I feel like I'm forgetting one. I cannot comprehend attending school with the same people, the whole time.
7. Middle School : Lehi Junior High School
8. High School: Lehi High
9. College: UVU, kind of
10. Hair color: Just really plain dark brown color. It's all colored.
11. Long or short: Long, it's easier for me.
12. Loud or Quiet: Quiet. Or maybe not.
13. Sweats or Jeans: Jeans, which I usually wear to work. I do enjoy some comfy pajama pants though.
14. Phone or Camera: Camera. Oh heavens, camera.
15. Health freak: Yes. I confess. If I could I would live the life of the yuppie shopping only at Whole Foods and farmers markets, complete with my own set of canvas shopping bags and yoga matt permenantly attatched to my back. Do you still like me?
16. Drink or Smoke: No.
17. Do you have a crush on someone: Ah yes. He's 6'7 and southern.
18. Eat or Drink: Eat
19. Piercings: Ears
20. Tattoos: Nope
21. Music: I do love love love it. Always have and I don't really discriminate. Except for Country and Top 40 Popish type stuff. I do discriminate against them.
22. Comedies or Horror: I am sensitive little soul who cannot under any circumstances enjoy a horror movie. Comedy, all the way.


FIRSTS:


23. First piercing: My ears. My mom took me to the mall when I turned five so I could have the long wanted little studs in my ears. I was thrilled beyond belief.
24. First best friend: Hmm. We moved a lot, so any friends I had as a kid only lasted a couple years. I would say Sonya, whom I met while we spent a short time living in a little town home in California. We loved Wilson Phillips. Remember them? I was Wendy, she was Carni. And we would lip synch by the pool at our complex. Oh to be a kid.
25. First award: Citizen of the Month. It was for good behavior at school. I was kind of a teachers pet.
26. First crush: Scott Miller, 4th grade.
27. First Boyfriend/Girlfriend: Troy White, 7th grade. He asked me to 'go out' in a note passed during Health class. Didn't last long seeing as how I was closing in on 5'9 and he on 5'3. Dancing at the after school dance was, ahem, awkward. I took an extended hiatus from 'boyfriends' after that.
28. First pet: A black cate named Katie who was the devil reincarnate. Seriously. After that I only had bunnies who are much safer, since we could never get a dog.
29. First big vacation: I got to fly in an airplane when I was around 4 with my mom to come for a visit to Utah. Hey, this was big stuff to my four year old self. I can still remember take off and mom telling me it would feel like a roller coaster ride.
30. First big birthday: I think all my birthdays were big, being the first child and all. But I especially remember my 9th birthday where we played water games in the front yard. Complete with slip n slide, and it's all on video:)
31. First Car: My official first car was a black two door Nissan 200 sx, and I loved that car's very soul. This coming after driving around the old family purple van, which had no radio, no middle seat, and so many strange noises we would play, 'Name That Rattle.'
32. First Favorite Song: La Bamba!!! I don't know what it was about that song but I loved it. I think it was also my first tape. I also loved Magic by America, since they were my Dad's favorite.
33. First phone: Voicestream Wireless cell phone right after I gratuated high school. I still have the same phone number.
34. First Surgery: Surgery to raise my eyelid when I was around eight. It has a very slight droop. Don't make fun.
35. First time on an Airplane: I think I mentioned that one.


LASTS:


36. Phone Call: Husband.
38. Text Message: Husband. We like eachother a bit.
39. Song you listened to: Hmm, let's see. That would have been yesterday. . . Amy Winehouse, You Know I'm No Good. I think.
40. Time you cried: A couple days ago.



CURRENTLY:


41. Getting on your nerves: It is cold. I hate cold.
42. TV: Nothing, it's at home most likely being utilized by no one.
43. Drinking: Water
44. Hair: Wavy
45. Wearing: jeans, white shirt, purple cardigan, comfy flats, long necklace
46. Eating: Nothin at the moment, but I am looking forward to a Cafe Rio lunch.
47. With: Me, myself, my cublicle, by computer, & work I should be doing.
48. I'm about to: Go to a doctor's appointment for that nose of mine. Doc's gotta look up there and make sure everythings operating normally, which I don't take for granted.
49. Listening to: office noises. b-o-r-i-n-g
50. Plans for today: Leave work early (hooray!), go to lunch with that guy I like, go to dr appointment, stop by some establishment that sells shoes, enjoy being with said guy I like, take my behind to the gym, watch 30 Rock.




YOUR FUTURE:


51. Want kids: Oh yes.
52. Want to get married: Already am!!!
53. Careers in mind: I hate this question. I am going to pretend you did ask.
54. Place of Residency: AF Utah
55. Car or Truck: car


WHICH IS BETTER:


56. Shorter or taller: Uh, have you seen me? Or my husband?
57. Romantic or spontaneous: put em together and it's even better.
58. Sensitive or loud: Sensitive
59. Serious relationship or casual dates: You gotta have casual dates to keep the relationship serious right?
60. Trouble maker or hesitant: H.E.S.I.T.A.N.T. It's a problem.
61. No one knows what 61 is supposed to be.


HAVE YOU EVER(Disclaimer on the following section: This is a non judgmental zone, so if you are unable, then stop here. Got it? No judgments shall be passed. Okay, I shall proceed.):

62. Lost glasses/contacts: Don't have either! But I have misplaced many a sunglasses

63.Ran away from home: No

64. Hold a gun/knife for self defense: No

65. Killed somebody: No
66. Broken someones heart: Yes
67. Been arrested: Yes
68. Cried when someone died: Yes
69. Kissed a stranger: Yes
70. Had someone ask you out and you said no: Yes
71. Laughed until you cried: Yes!!!
72. Met someone who changed your life: I really like that guy
73. Fallen in Love: Every stinkin day
74. Found out someone was talking about you: Yes
75. Been Cheated on: No
76. Cheated on anyone: No
77. Lost someone special: Yes
78. Broken a bone: Broke two fingers in elementary school. Does that pesky nose of mine count if it was broken by a surgeon? Twice?



DO YOU BELIEVE IN:


79. Yourself: Yes.
80. Miracles: Ooooh yes.
81. Love at first sight: In a way. In a small way, yes.
82. Heaven: Yes
83. Santa Claus: Yes, why even ask?
84. Holding Hands on the first date: Not really, but I'm sure I've done it so whatever!
85. Kiss on the first date: If you are a current member of my Young Womens then NO.



RANDOMNESS:


86. Righty or Lefty: Righty
87. Last time you saw your Dad: Sunday dinner
88. Do you like the snow: Yes. I lived without it for so many years so it's just magical to me. But the cold is not magical at all. Not one bit.
89. Whats your favorite season: summer
90. Can you swim: Yes, took swimming lessons every summer of my kid life and loved it.
91. Ridden a horse: I actually took equestrian lessons as kid. I really miss it.
92. Ridden a bike: Have the scars to prove it.
93. Photogenic: I don't think so
94. Have siblings: Two sisters, one brother.
95. Beach or Mountains: Beach
96. Hot or Cold: Hot


ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:


97. Is there one person you want to be with right now: Most definately.
98. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life: I am.
99. Do you believe in God: Oh yes
100. Post as 100 truths and tag at least 5 people: Amy, Andrea, Tara, Erin, Sharalee, & whoever wants to!

80s Cartoon Nostalgia

Recently our family celebrated my little sister Breeann's birthday, and I was really excited about the present I got her. Walt Disney's The Little Mermaid, in all it's DVD Platinum Issue glory. Now, you may not think this is wonderful at all, but my sister Breeann was, in effect, Ariel for a period of her life. In fact, she dubbed all of us family members different characters, me alternating between Scuttle and Sebastian, whichever fit her mood. I cannot tell you how many times The Little Mermaid played at our house when she was little. And so, for the sake of childhood reminscing, I bought her her very own copy.

Well that got me thinking about all the cartoons that I loved and adored as a kid. Some of the ficional characters that shaped my little childhood land? Of course there was Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, She-Ra, My Litte Pony, Today's Special, Mary Poppins(Mom says I watched it so much I started to speak with a British accent.), Captain Kangaroo, Reading Rainbow, Annie(the good one, with Carol Burnett), the HuggaBunch Movie and really I could go on and on. Soon Brad joined in on it and our evening consisted of, "remember the one that. . .," or "oooh, I loved the one where. . . " Then I decided I should look on YouTube and just see what they had to offer. Oh dear. I watched a whole episode of Rainbow Brite. The one with the star sprinkles and Murky & Lurky? I also watched an episode of Strawberry Shortcake. I woke up this morning singing the theme song. They even had my HuggaBunch Movie which NO ONE seems to have loved but me. However those singing dolls seem pretty freaky now. Even Today's Special! I had so much fun watching old cartoons I thought I'd put on the theme songs to a few of my favorites. This was a hard list to choose. I had to include She-Ra even though her and her twin He-Man scared me a bit a child, although Mom tells me I had an imaginary friend named He-Man (Hey, I was an only child for the better part of five years okay? No familial playmates for me). And if the early-mid eighties was not your cartoon era, well you won't be very entertained. But if it was. . . enjoy! I dare you not to smile the whole time.

Tulip Love

Forgive me. I may have gotten a little carried away with the pictures, but these tulips are just too lovely to ignore. My husband knows what he's doing. I am still swooning.

The Pope Room

Did you know that in a restaurant in Kansas City, MO you can eat with the pope's head on the lazy susan, staring you in the face? You are all thinking, "Really? I must go and eat a lovely italian meal with the pope. I just must." How do I know this you ask? Well I just returned from a business trip in Kansas City. Makes me sound important doesn't it? Going on a business trip. Don't let that fool you. Little importance here. Anyway, while I was there I did, in fact, eat with the pope. Well, the pope's head anyway. There's this restaurant called Buca Di Beppo, which I think we actually have in SLC, and we went our second night there. It's in downtown Kansas City at this fancy shopping area called The Plaza. You go down about 4 flights of stairs (really) and there you are, succulent Italian aromas abounding. They say this place takes up a whole city block, underground, and used to be a museum so there are all kinds of nooks and cranies. You have to reserve the Pope Room, which we did. And some lucky soul gets to be the pope for the night and sit in the big wooden chair beneath the curtains. Here's a picture of some of our group.
The first time I came here was a few years ago on another business trip (gosh, I am really important) and I was caught very off gaurd at Mr. Pope looking at me enjoy my apple gorgonzola salad. And I was thinking, "Hmmm, wonder if someone will ever make a restaurand with a Mormon Room. One of our prophets on the lazy susan? Nope. Doubt it."
Who do you want staring at you while you enjoy your chocolate cake?
George Washington maybe? It could be an American Revolution Room. Or Gandhi? Maybe Elvis? Or Joseph Smith? No. Just no. Not really working for me. But the Pope Room is pretty popular. Wondering what the subject matter of the evening was? Maybe we discussed Italy or The Vatican, Catholicism or The Da Vinci Code. Nope. We sat around the pope and discussed mormonism all evening. Funny how that happens.

The Lexus Club

Last night Brad and I got to go to the Jazz Game as a gift from a friend, VIP style. Really, truly, bonafide VIP style. So naturally, I must share. When Brad told me we were going to the Jazz Game and that we were sitting in the Lexus Club seats, I figured they were pretty good seats, but not much more than that. Then he told me that it was fancy and we had to go early because dinner was provided. So I thought, cool: free meal. And when we got there, I started to realize what he meant. And that people actually do this. On a regular basis. And I also thought I could get used to this real fast. So when we got there we parked in 'club' parking, and went downstairs to some special entrance so as not to interact with the riff raff. Then we went down more stairs and through some tunnels. I am figuring we're somewhere in the bowels of the Energy Solutions Arena by now. When we get to the Lexus Club Lounge, we are shown to a table. This table:
Yeah. I didn't know this existed. This is a picture of our appetizers. For dinner we had Sea Bass, Prime Rib, and Seafood Newburg(I didn't know what it was either). I am thoroughly enjoying myself at this point. I am being fed, it's seriously good, and a nice lady has just come and taken my coat telling me to," just come back down after the game and it will be here," when we are approached again. This time the nice lady wants to know what beverage we would like served to us at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters. You know, because we're VIP. So we finally figure we've sufficiently stuffed ourselves and decide to check out our digs for the night. We walk through the tunnel and come out on the floor where all the players come out and are shown to our seats.
And this is a little view of our setup. Fourth row, big leather seats, our own flatscreen and previously ordered beverages, and assorted candies. !!! Now I am thinking HOLYCRAP WE ARE SO CLOSE! I am getting excited now. I really am. The music is blasting, the crowd is screaming, and then Jason Kidd comes out and walks right past me. I couldn't care less about the Jazz or the Mavericks (or any NBA team for that matter), and I am really excited, surprising even myself. Woohoooo! Let's play some ball! And Brad? Well first of all, Brad is comfortable.
And second of all, Brad is down for any athletic competition on the planet(really). So he is just pleased as punch. Even though his heart lies deep within college basketball world, he is excited too.

During half time we were told we could come back to the lounge for dessert. We were in there, just minding our own business and enjoying out sweets when Brad gets a funny look on his face. We are practically the only people in the lounge at this point, and in come strolling Jeff Hornacek and Craig Bolerjack. They come sit right by us because naturally, Brad has parked it right by one of the seven giant flat screens in there. Brad jokes around with them for a minute and we leave them in peace, heading back to our seats, the duration of which Brad is telling me that we need to turn around and go directly back and get a picture with that Hall of Famer! Did I know that that was Jeff Hornacek? Did I know that we were just with a Hall of Famer? But eventually he calms down and we figure that well, we are VIP. Of course we were just chit chatting with Jeff Hornacek and Craig Bolerjack.

All in all we just ate it up. We were those people. Taking pictures of every little thing and looking at eachother like we were kids in a candy shop the whole time. Not very VIP-ish. But is was fun, my night as a VIP. And really, I could get used to that.

My Redneck Highschool Tag

To those who care: I was one of the few people who actually really liked high school. I mean seriously, what's not to like? Only bad part was homework, so I didn't do it. I got to see girls, all my friends, play basketball during school and after, and I loved all my teachers (the feeling was mutual). There were four Hokes in our high school while I was there. I was the best. So to those people who didn't like high school(Natalie), my condolences. Here's my tag.

high school tag

1. Did you date someone in high school? Eh, not really. A few girls, but nothing long term. I like playin' the field, and under the bleachers.
2. What kind of car did you drive? 1987 toyota pickup, yellow with brown stripes. We named it rex because I used to go 4wheeling a lot in it. Guess you could say it had some bumps. Also, the radio and speakers got stolen, and dad wouldn't replace them. So no radio, and really bumpy but I still love that truck.
3. Did you pass your driver's license test the first time? yes sir.

4. Were you a party animal? You could say I kept plenty of gum and cologne in my car for when I went at home at night. My parents may have drug tested me a few times. You'll have to ask them if I passed. Doubt it.

5. Were you considered a flirt? I could sweet talk my way into and out of a lot of things. My mom says I started in kindergarten when I got caught kissing under the table.

6.Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? No, they wouldn't let me play because you had to march during football.

7. Were you a nerd? uh, no.

8. Were you on any varsity teams? yes. basketball & soccer. My broken arm kept me from football.

9. Did you ever get suspended or expelled? No, sweet talking skills come in handy here.

10. Can you still sing your fight song? parts.

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Coach Kraft. He was social studies teacher and I had him three times. By senior year I just set up the field for practice and got him cookies from the lunch room instead of going to class. Needless to say, I passed that class.

12. Where did you sit at lunch? Same table, same friends every day for four years. In North Carolina you can't leave campus to eat.

13. School mascot: Red Tornadoes

14. School colors: crimson & gold

15. Did you go to homecoming and who with? We didn't have homecoming dances. We only had two or three dances a year. Too many fights.

Here's me with the notorious broken arm. Darn thing wouldn't heal and stayed broken all through high school. Kept me from sports, not the girls though.

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Yes. All those girls that really wanted me, I'd get with them this time. No discrimination. Also, where else can you hang out with your friends and play sports all day?
17. What do you remember most about graduation? It was so hot a few people passed out, and everyone was hurrying to get outta there to go to beach week in Myrtle Beach, SC. The dirty dirty.

18. Where did you go on Senior Skip Day? No such thing at my school, but we did watch the ACC Tournament every year in class.

19. Were you in any clubs? No.

20. Have you gained weight since then? Yeah, unfortunately muscle does turn into fat when you don't play basketball eight hours a day anymore.

Me and my first lady, my momma

21. Who was your prom date? Payton Lane. And she wore this nice little mini skirt thing.

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? They cancelled it, to Natalie's relief. It seems not too many people cared as much as I did.

23. Did you have a job while in high school? Yeah. Harris Teeter grocery store.

24. Worst class? English and Spanish. Evidently I have trouble with both languages.

25. Favorite class? Math. For some reason numbers just click. I also liked the classes with Coach Kraft, since Natalie is telling me lunch is not a class.