aka.......

So I thought I would put together a list of my nick names over the years. And yes, I have to explain them or they won't make any sense to you. I think this is more for my benefit than yours! Makes for a good laugh anyway. Here goes. Are you ready for this?!

• Kris - what my closest friends and some family call me.
• Dini - my little sister, Sonya, couldn't say "Kristina" when she was little. It came out as "Dini" and so now it's stuck. Mostly just my older sister, Elise, calls me this now.
• Dean - Sonya has reformed "Dini" to "Dean." Much cooler.
• Tina - the only person the world I will let call me this is my old roommate Allie. She's the only one who can get away with it.
• Krisonya - seems to be what my Mom ended up calling either me or my sister growing up, a combination of both of our names.
• Stretch Armstrong - came from my brother I'm pretty sure.
• Treetops - also from my brother. He liked to tease me about how tall and skinny I was.
• Kristini - Elise likes to call me this, or used to at least
• Nutsy - bahahaha, one of my favorites. I earned this one from my old roommate, Jessica (aka Jessie Messie), because we were so crazy together.
• Krisco - from my basketball coach and biology teacher in high school/college
• Big K or just K - from my momma
• Sweet K - also from my mom. Because I'm sweet or because I like sweets? Hmmm....
• Anderson - my Calculus teacher at Eastern Arizona
• Miss Anderson - Aaaaah! I'm still not used to my students calling me this!
• Miss Andy - from my Thatcher High School students
• Miss A - Thatcher and Maeser Prep students
• Señorita - also my students
• Hazelnut - an ex-boyfriend
• Bloomer - BAHAHAHA, also one of my favorites. From my best friends in high school. Thanks Trisha. I'll always remember that.
• Swedish/Destructive - my good friend Melyssa and I called each other these because 1) we both love swedish fish and 2) we usually ended up destroying things in Chemistry
• Tree - from my friend Michelle. We are opposites in height so her name is Stump.
• Mac Jr. - naturally since my dad is Mac. So growing up he made up this dude named George Mackelbee. I don't even remember in what context he used him/his name in, but I just started calling my daddio Mac. Thus, I became Mac Jr.
• Sta. - this is a great story. The beginning of last school year I was passing back tests and I had an autistic kid who didn't agree with one of his questions I had marked wrong. So he just shouted out, as loud as he could mind you, "COMMUNIST!" It was great. Then later in the same class period I was writing an example on the board with my own name, Sta. Anderson (I had forgotten the "r" for Srta., or señorita). My kids all liked that! Sta., for Stalin the communist. Thus, "Sta." was born and they have called me that ever since, even all my other classes that don't even know what actually happened. I'm sure it will continue this year too.
• Monstruo - notice the masculine form. I picked up this one in Mexico this summer. I was dared to ask some kids to play soccer with them. Loving dares, I didn't even hesitate. So I asked to play, they gave me the ball, and I kicked it as hard as I could. Smack! It hit a kid right in the head/chest. Oopsy.....
• Xtina - also from Mexico. This is going to be my new rock star name when I go big. And go big I will! Just you wait! Apparently Christina Aguilera did this at one point.
• Slinky - on the way back from China, my friend Mary and I were talking with this little girl at the San Fran airport. Mary had asked the girl if she wanted to be tall like me when she was older and she said, "Yeah! Like Slinky!" You know, Slinky, from Toy Story. And so it stuck.
• Hi Ho - like the song from Snow White, "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go!" My friend, Abbey, is Yo Ho like, "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me." These came about while in Disneyland.

Oh man, what a list..... You got any more names for me? I'll take 'em! Feel free to call me any or all of them.

What? My Dad is David Letterman?!

I've heard it enough that I should probably start believing it. We have a celebrity in the fam. I have been told numerous times that my dad looks like Letterman, not to mention how many times he has been told himself. Look, it's Mr. Letterman! Same receding hairline, gray hair, the glasses, the gap in between the front teeth (my dad had to go and ruin that with braces), the same face shape, same creases around the smile. The resemblance is uncanny. Sometimes I forget to ask my dad for an autograph.

Speaking of autographs, some dude at the Chicago airport actually DID ask my daddio for his autograph. He thought he was speaking to the real David Letterman and still does to this day. It's a great story. One to die rolling on the floor laughing. You'll have to ask my dad for the full details.

Just look him up on the Frostburg State University website. Yep, soon you won't be able to call him anything less than Dr. Anderson (or Dr. Letterman). He is finishing up his doctorate in business administration with an emphasis in management. He begins teaching at FSU in Maryland this week in fact and is quite excited. I'm excited for him. Can't wait to visit!

Just for kicks, one of my favorite Top Ten's on Letterman.... It's good!

I'm a Plant Owner!

I saw these cute guys at Ikea and just couldn't resist. I like having green around during the whole year too, not just summer. They already brighten up my day.

The big one has been named by my roommate as Seymour. Love it. Couldn't fit any better. I will be blogging from here on out with weekly posts about Seymour and how much he has grown, pics included. Ok, not really. The little guy doesn't have a name yet.....what goes well with Seymour?

Problem is this is my first time owning plants. I really hope I don't kill them off. Shoot, I don't even know how often to water them or how much. Help!!

Real or Fake??

Hmmm....this one is tricky. Take a close look before you answer. After reading I'm sure you'll be able to tell. I've always had pretty thick nails. Most people think it's a blessing, but really it's a curse. Once they get long they are hard to cut. I haven't had them this long and in such good shape for a while. When people get a good look at my nails they always think they are fake, then in shock when I tell them they aren't. Lucky, the say. I guess so. At least I know I'll never have to get fake nails for my upcoming wedding. Ha, I'm not even close! Don't get ahead of yourself now!

Did you say Coach and Dolce & Gabbana??

Check out my new purchases from China. It was a big deal you know to actually go back to the mother land of basically all items purchased in the USA. You don't even have to look hard to see that all-too-familiar "Made in China." I actually got to purchase my Chinese souvenirs IN China. How bout that?!

So they have markets where they sell knockoffs of everything. You would never be able to tell by just looking at it (they do a much better job than NYC or Mexico). I purchased the Coach wallet for 40 yuan, about $6, and the Dolce & Gabbana purse for 120 yuan, about $18. Can't beat that! They have yet to disappoint me either.

The price may seem cheap, but it didn't come without paying yet a higher price. Bargaining in China is insane! I'm a PRO when it comes to Mexico.....I just shoot the breeze with the Mexicans, chat it up, and throw out meaningless insults. It's great fun. It's one of my favorite things to do actually, probably #1 on the list. For sure, along with chasing down nerds with squirt guns.

It's a whole other story with the Chinese. They are super intense and up in your face. They don't even give you time to think about anything. I bought a few things I probably wouldn't have just because they are so persistent. They are good. Instead of just chatting it up (like with the Mexicans) you have to say your lowest price, then walk away. They will call you back; you say the same price and walk away. You get called back again. Again. Again. It may take 4 or 5 times but you'll finally get it for the price you want. They pull you back by the arm too. This whole process is very time consuming. I probably could have mtn. biked a few trails in that time. I think I got a lady from 260 yuan to about 40 yuan. It's craziness I tell you! But fun nevertheless.