Day 8: A place you've traveled to

I would be lying to you if I told you I haven't traveled. My family took vacations all over the nation when I was just a child. We did vacations to Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC...and probably a few others that I can't remember.

But one of my favorite places to visit is Florida. My freshman year in high school was the first time I visited this land of God's eternal beauty. Here I am enjoying a lovely lemon ice with my floppy hat on. I'm pretty sure Jamie and I were at the Animal Kingdom. I thought I was so cool with that hat and my oversized shirts!

As you can see below, I'm not the woman wearing the kitty face shirt. I am in the green floppy hat in the back left. Katie Bormet, Ashley Luening and I rode the Tower of Terror at least 30 times, each time we posed differently. One time included us wearing our shopping bags over our heads. This was one of our favorites, the ol' Say No, Hear No, Speak No jazz.

Look below, and you'll see me and Leann having a blast at my first return to Florida. You see, this was the summer of the Final Four, which was comprised of Daniel Goulet, Emily Pool, Leann Knight, and me. I enjoyed the It's a Small World After All ride for the first time. I was also made fun of by Daniel's mother's boyfriend. Friends, I wanted to sleep in because it was my vacation. The rest of the Final Four went to a church. Mister Boyfriend told Bernice, Daniel's mom, that I better watch myself because my alligator butt is gonna catch up with my woodpecker mouth, which I think means I talk a lot. 

Then came my "family vacation" with Angie's family.

Kids better not ruin my masterpiece theater!

He got his shorts wet and got to walk through town with just his boxer briefs. He thought I was wearing boxers for shorts anyway.

This past year, Zach invited me to join the Burtness family for vacation to Florida, too! Of course, I said yes because it involved me getting to share a room with the nephew, William. And we got to see our brother, Chris, who is a pharmacist for a hospital in Miami.

Good friend Hannah was there, too! I needed a bit of good ol' fashioned massage, then and later then.

And guess what! Less than a month later, Angie's family vacation happened again. It's an every two year thing.

So don't mess with me because I sweat a lot.

As you can tell, I have been to Florida.

Day 7: Favorite movies

I've been known to like a movie or two. That's the truth. If you think I'm lying, you can eat a sandwich. And I hope it's a really bad sandwich, too...one that's been left in the back of that really dirty looking janitor's closet for weeks.But let's jump right into it.

One of my top lovers of movies...movie lovers...movies I love... is Bridget Jones' Diary.

I first fell in love with this film when I was a junior in high school. For months, I watched it every night, while I was falling asleep. The character of Bridget is such a goof and dramatic fool! I love how she is juxtaposed to Marc Darcy. And her quirky job searching. Oh! Don't forget about how she shows up to a costume party that isn't a costume party! Classic!

Coming in at #2: Mrs. Doubtfire

When I was in my week of HR training at my new job, one of the directors asked us what our favorite movie was. For some reason, Mrs. Doubtfire came to mind. I think Robin Williams is hilarious. His run-on-jokes just keep me chuckling to myself quietly all night. In the clip above, "a run by fruiting" was just a bright light of hilarity in the world. It was as if God parted the clouds of Heaven, reached down, and tickled the fancies of all humanity. He also makes me feel like a rockstar when he's rocking out to "Dude Looks Like a Lady," while he's cleaning the house. And no one can forget the great "boobs on fire" scene in the kitchen.

My all time favorite: Waiting for Guffman

I stumbled upon this, while I was shopping around Best Buy with my best friend, Mary. We just laughed in the aisle at the cover, so we knew we had to buy it. We watched it over and over, again. THEN, I found out there was a whole slew of these fake documentaries. Spinal Tap, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind...God has truly blessed me with this fantabulous comedy troop. 

Alan Pearl (Eugene Levy), the local dentist, is just rolling-on-the-table funny.

Don't forget about the musical numbers from the town's sesquicentennial celebration!

Basically, if you have never watched it, and you have a sense of humor, you need to check it out. It's a classic. It's small town amazing!

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

I'm quite a happy fellow, so picking 1 picture that makes me happy is hard to do. It could be of my family, my church, my new coworkers, or even my new kitchen aid my mom bought me.

However, I am going to go with my nephew, William. He is not only adorable, funny, and intelligent... He is also the start of the next generation of the Morrison family.

And we all know Star Trek: The Next Generation was way better than the original Star Trek...depending on your intelligence.

Day 5: A song to match your mood

Lately, I've been in a rather fun and fancy free mood, so I hope y'all know that means I get a treat. If you don't know how much I love certain, shall we say, divas, then you are in for a treat. Although the actual singing doesn't start until about 3:00 on this video, it'll leave you smiling and satisfied. 

It also fits, since I work for a river boat casino...just not named Proud Mary. So take that.

Day 4: Your parents

If there's one thing I've said it's, "I love my parents!" Now you may be thinking, "Of course Adam loves his parents. He's a bastard, and he's always been a bastard." In fact, here I am, judging the size of Sean's head. He can't help it, but I sure can judge. You might think this is cute, until you find out the boy is wiping his face because I just spit in it. While I'm not technically a bastard, I have spurts of being a jerk. My parents had the joy of living through those uncanny moments.

My Dad: Electron Ron

My dad has been an inspiration to me. At a very late age, he experienced the amazing, radical power of God and found freedom from negative mindsets and cycles of insanity. His childhood was no walk in the park. His dad passed away when my dad was preschool-aged. He really had no idea how to be a father in hard times, and my three brothers and I experienced that. Did that hurt my relationship with him? Heck, yeah! He was my high school chemistry and physics teacher, and we cussed each other out in class.

Thankfully, we began working on our relationship (with help from counseling) when I was a senior in high school. I think my older brothers may have missed out on this sort of bonding that we got to take part in, and it could play a part in the potential disconnect. My dad and I have forgiven and apologized for our actions and reactions. He is a new man. A new father. And I hope to see him continue to heal and grow as a loving grandpa to my nephews (and potential nieces), as well as my children.

My Mom: The Mama Bear

My mom was one of my favorite people in my early life. I wanted to protect her from any harm. I hated the idea that something I did might hurt her heart, even going as far as not wanting to tell her I really didn't like a particular pro wrestling action figure she got me. My mom is a terrific listener. She would take me to Champaign, IL to go shopping with her. The 30-minute car-ride there and back was either filled with us singing to Oldies 92 or me telling her about my life, good and bad. I could tell her anything, and that really added some support to my life at fragile times.

While my dad and I had a very tense relationship through junior high and high school, my mom and I rarely had tension. She is a living embodiment of servant. She volunteered for tons of parent helper positions, while I was in school. She was one of my first musical inspirations (although I strayed away from Music Ed. because she warned me not to go into that program). ;) Who knew I would end up being just like her, a worship leader...that's not it. Try THIS. Closer, but not quite. Here ya go; although, my enthusiasm level there is not quite as high as the other jiggle jaggles. 

I love my family. Some pictures with Chris, below.

My nuclear family with Mother Goose.

More of my family...

Day 3: Your first love

While I've given away hints of the secret life of Adam Morrison, there is still plenty more where that didn't come from. I had fleeting fancies throughout my early years, and while I like to mock teenagers who think they are in love...I will mock myself with my supposed first love.
I thought I would do anything for her. I believed that I was committed. I think the real love I felt for her came from hormones. My first love was my 8th grade girlfriend (and also 11th grade), Miranda Fessler.
When you're a teenager, making out pretty much equates to love. So yes, we loved each other...a lot. I feel quite bad for some of our classmates who rode the show choir bus because we loved each other on the bus at night, too. One time, I snuck over to her house while her parents were out, and we loved each other.
Thankfully, I had not really had the ol' puberty, so loving each other stopped at making out. Otherwise, we might have a child with a weird parental experience.

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name

At some point in my life, I decided the faux hawk was the hairstyle of choice. I have had some other hairstyles that have not been as flattering. After a smattering of events, I ended up calling myself "Adam the Hawk." It's not cause I could fly like a hawk...or cuz I got high like where a hawk flies. There might be some prophetic adventure involved, but no one knows the truth.

Later on, I found an amazing poetic post about the bald eagle. While grammar may be fleeting and spelling is an option, you can surely feel the raw emotion of this artist. His most recent post is a deeply insightful commentary on cinema and the after life.

And then magic happened when I combined the two: Adam the Hawk + the American, Bird = Adam the American, bird.

Google Analytics

One of the main reasons I am probably going to keep up with this 30 Day Challenge is Google Analytics. It lets me know how many fools are checking me out and where they be checking me out from. It even tells me someone from San Fransisco has peeped in on my blog. Good thing I'm wearing pants while I type this.


One day, I hope to have a view from every continent, except Australia...because they are an island of criminals. It's a fact. EVERYONE on there is. There's no doubt about it. Just like how we're all sinners. We're all criminals...in Australia. ;)

You'll also notice that Antarctica is a continent. I hope a research scientist down there, studying obese penguins, visits my blog. When that happens, that is how I'll know I've made it big.

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts

Greetings!


I would like to introduce you to one of the most significant people in my life...me. I couldn't live without me. You might be thinking, "Why am I reading this?" I am not questioning you.

You may have noticed that this photograph is not necessarily the MOST recent, but it does show my teeth. If there's one thing I've said, it's, "Look at my teeth." 

I do have at least "15 interesting facts" that I care to share with you. Mind you, I am not thinking clearly.

1. I have pooped my pants as an adult. I would say that I have done it more times than I care to share, but I think it's freaking hilarious about 15 minutes after each incident. The first time, I was in the Czech Republic. I was talking with a lady friend up by the bonfire at the English Camp I was helping at. All of a sudden, the amount of citric acid in the Fanta caught up with me. I said, "Gooh!" and then stood up, walked briskly to the edge of the forest, and then ran down to the lodge. We had to take our shoes off, so we wouldn't scuff up the wood floor. That was tricky, but I was able to slip on the little booties, and I scooted across the lodge hall. I made it to the bathroom, shut the first door, and made it to the water closet. That was as far as I got. The worst news was that I was in the women's bathroom. 
2. I have been to the Czech Republic. See above.
3. I am 25% Italian. That's right. My grandmother is full-blooded Italian. Her parents came across the Atlantic Ocean and met in Clinton, IN. That's why I look Italian.
4. I was born in Paris. I love being able to say that. It's quite the icebreaker. All the ladies be like, "Ooo! You so sexy!" and then I inform them that it was Paris, IL. That's not as appealing. 
5. I love singing. One of the first memories I've been told I have, besides pooping in the tub with my two older full-brothers behind me, is singing at the top of my lungs as I sat on the toilet at my babysitter's house. I was two or three years old.
6. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. I know how to tell if someone is racist...better than commoners. 
7. I worked for a not-for-profit organization for 7 years. I did not make a profit. Other people there did. Discuss.
8. I have been employed at a casino for two weeks. I am still not making a profit. Other people there...are doing MUCH worse than me. 
9. I can't hold my alcohol. 
10. I am the youngest child in my family. I have one brother (Chris) from my dad's first marriage and two full brothers (Sean and Zach). 
11. My parents are still married. That's apparently rare in this world. Obviously, it's not true for my brother, Chris, so I got that on him. Yes, it's a contest.
12. My last girlfriend and I ended our relationship after we both came out to each other. She is now engaged to another woman, and I ended up realizing I wasn't gay after about two or three years. That was an interesting time... I'm not embarrassed by it. Haha! It is quite the story now. 
13. My first kiss happened when my girlfriend had mono. It is the same girlfriend from above; however, it was in 8th grade, not 11th. 
14. Some people think I'm humorous. Not all. To others, I'm quite offensive and rude. That usually comes from a lack of understanding of sarcasm. 
15. I am an ENFJ. Yes, I took the official Myers-Briggs when my previous employer was trying to figure out if I was crazy. I'm a people person. I have people skills, like Johnny Depp.

30 Day Challenge?

Some people say 30 days is enough. Some say not. I say, "What the heck are you talking about?" That usually solves the problem.

Some friends have this 30-day blog adventure (A Care Bear's 30-Days) that they've been fiddling around with. I probably won't survive after two days. Weeks later, my neighbors will report a weird smell from my apartment, and the cops will discover my decaying body. That's how you'll know I didn't finish this.

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3: Your first love
Day 4: Your parents
Day 5: A song to match your mood
Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite movies
Day 8: A place you’ve traveled to
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend
Day 10: Something you’re afraid of
Day 11: Favorite tv shows
Day 12: Something you don’t leave the house without
Day 13: Goals
Day 14: A picture of you last year – how have you changed?
Day 15: Bible verse
Day 16: Dream house
Day 17: Something you’re looking forward to
Day 18: Favorite place to eat
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?
Day 22: What’s in your purse?
Day 23: Favorite books
Day 24: Something you’ve learned
Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26: Your dream wedding
Day 27: Original photo of the city you live in
Day 28: Something that stresses you out
Day 29: 3 wishes
Day 30: A picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge