| According to your résumé, you've lived in quite a few cities and had some pretty varied job descriptions. What would you say to people who ask about the path you've taken? |
| | It's pretty wacky, isn't it? I guess to understand the choices I've made in my life - not just career choices, but other life choices too - you have to view them within the space and time in which they were made. I really never had any grand scheme - I just did what seemed to be right for my life at the time - and for some strange reason it's worked so far. I mean, I suppose I could regret some choices, but what's the point? So I'm thinking I'll stick with the method! I also tried to avoid letting fear guide my decisions - that's hard to do, but I think I usually succeeded, and walked into some challenging yet rewarding experiences because of it. And I'm not done yet! Watch out world! |
| What guides your choices in your current space and time? |
| | Kids. Family. Friends. Loved ones. Without question. It now drives almost all of my choices. It's why I live where I do, it's why I work where I do ... it makes life decisions pretty easy to make, really - everything is done with them in mind. It all comes down to a desire for more time spent with them. |
| Do you spend enough time with them? |
| | Well, no - never - because time can't really be measured in seconds or minutes. A close friend pointed this out to me recently (such a clever friend!). Within our mind - within our spirit - time is not a logical concept ... not when you're talking about life experiences. It's like the old saying, "Time flies when you're having fun." I find that the "time" I spend with the people I love is much shorter than the time I spend with my job or other pursuits, no matter how it is measured. Yet I remember it so much more vividly than everything else, because it means so much more. So I'm packing as much time as I can into my relationships with the people who mean the most to me. I don't ever think I'll hit the "enough" mark - I don't think that's really possible. |
| What do you think are your most important accomplishments in life? |
| | Tiana and Addison. Well, then again, that makes them sound like they are MY accomplishments - which they really aren't. It drives me crazy when parents stand around and talk about their kids all the time like they are accomplishments. We didn't create them - God did. And they aren't extensions of us - they are unique individuals who do most of their growing while out of our view. Nonetheless, I am here for them - I am their teacher, their mentor, their provider. I guess my relationship with them is the real accomplishment, but it's always evolving. I watch them grow up with constant joy in my heart. And I thank God every day for allowing me to be part of their world. |
| Have you had a life changing experience? |
| | You mean besides birth? Or marriage? OK, OK. I've had a few. But the most significant one for me had to be after the death of my best friend, Christi. My life was pretty much a mess at that time. After her death, I walked into a church the next Sunday and heard the pastor, Bill Hybels, talk about the book of Proverbs. I had a bit of an epiphany. The title of the message was "Making Life Work," which hit me pretty hard, 'cause my life was NOT working. It outlined the key themes from the Book of Proverbs - things like "Pursue Wisdom" and "Show Compassion." They were things I was not doing. I never realized that the Bible could be utilized in a way that could improve my own circumstances that way - I had always thought it was only about ways to make things "right with God." Yet here it was a way to make things right with ME. |
| So do you apply these themes from the Book of Proverbs to your life now? |
| | Uh ... I guess I should say I do. Usually. Um ... sometimes. Oh, I have struggled with them all. It takes focus, believe me - and my focus is always changing, so at any given time, I'm stronger in one area than another. The one theme from Proverbs that takes precedence over the others is "Forge Strong Families." My worst one is probably "Seek Discipline." I think of it every morning as I put on my running shoes. Discipline Vaneta!!! Discipline!! The other tough one is "Take Initiative." It's so easy to get comfortable in your life and let fear of change take over. I have been trying to take initiative in many areas of my life - in my relationships, in my spiritual life. I try my best to make a decision, then stick with it. I would go crazy if I questioned every little decision I make - so I do my best to avoid that. I think that's the key to taking initiative. |
| What do you do in your spare time? |
| | Exercise - my favorite way to accomplish that is running, swimming and playing around on the basketball court in front of my house (it's a cul-de-sac to everyone else ... basketball court to me), but I've also been hitting the gym. |
| | I really enjoy playing Medal of Honor online - a first-person shooter set in World War II. The best part of playing online is the people - well, and the stress relief you get from blowing people's heads off. And the blood is cool too. And the guns. And the graphics. I belong to an online gaming clan, the mighty Free Soldiers, and I'm working on some Fan Fiction for the clan - I forgot how much I enjoy writing. |
| | I'm a bit of a Disney freak - especially anything to do with Walt Disney World. I also enjoy reading and watching movies (and overanalyzing them, according to a friend). I like cooking and scrapbooking. And I love going out dancing - there's nothing better than letting go and feeling sexy on the dance floor! Oh ... and I admit I've been purchasing some comic books ... uh ... for Tiana ... yeah, that's it. |
| What's your favorite movie? |
| | The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. |
| Who's your favorite actor? |
| | Christopher Walken. I would like to sound clever and describe with some degree of intelligence his acting abilities and his incredible gift for humor. But the real reason I love him is that I find him incredibly sexy. |
| Who's your favorite musician or singer/songwriter? |
| | Bruce Springsteen. |
| Favorite author? |
| | Jane Austen. I have read Pride and Prejudice more times than I can count. The weird thing is, I haven't read period English novels in forever - I've been hooked on fantasy fiction and sci-fi mostly - but Jane Austen has stuck with me since I got turned on by her stuff as a teen. I still pick up her novels and read them every once in awhile. The messages and characters are timeless. Just look what Hollywood has done with her books - many of them have even been modernized in film with great success because of their timelessness. |
| What's your favorite food? |
| | Reese's Peanut Butter Cups - the little ones in the gold foil wrappers. Bite size. Mmmm. And no I haven't had one in months - but don't get them for me!!! Seriously, if you look at what I eat more than anything, it would have to be cold cereal. I am such a freak about nice, cold skim milk - I could drink a gallon of skim milk a day if I allowed myself - and once I get hooked on a cereal, I really get hooked. I could have it for every meal if I didn't enjoy cooking so much! |
| What are your vices? |
| | Yeah, right!! Like I'm going to list those!! Well, my main vice - which I have tried to quit a million times - is caffeine in the morning. Every time I have succeeded in my efforts to quit, I have a bad morning or two, and it all starts over again. A couple years ago, I decided that I need to just resolve to limit it, cause quitting "ain't gonna happen." I can't stand the taste or smell of coffee, but I have one can of Diet Coke every day - pretty early in the morning. The rest of my vices I will keep to myself, thank you. |
| What is your favorite word? |
| | Cool. |
| What is your least favorite word? |
| | So? |
| What turns you on? |
| | Humor. Laughter. And strong shoulders. |
| What turns you off? |
| | Overconfidence. |
| What sound do you love? |
| | A rainshower in the afternoon. |
| What sound do you hate? |
| | The way my kids say, "Maw-Mee," when they are about to tell on their sibling. |
| What is your favorite curse word? |
| | I try not to cuss too much in my everyday language, but I've always loved the saying, "Fuckin' A!" |
| What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? |
| | Lifeguard. |
| What profession would you not like to participate in? |
| | Well, I've heard too much lately about prison guards. Don't even want to go there. |
| If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? |
| | Hello, friend. |
