Interview - Jen

Andrea Rooks has interviewed me. She was my college roommate, and the only person besides Travis that I lived with for more than a year that I did not end up disliking.

1. How are you most like your parents?

Aren't we all trying to avoid becoming like our parents?

It has always been said that I look exactly like my dad, only with longer, prettier hair. Besides the obvious physical similarities, I notice I have very similar body language to my dad. I catch my self holding my posture a certain way and I am struck with "whoa, Dad does that too!" I think I have his sense of humor too, and though he rarely smiles, I have seen him do it and I have his dimples.

My mother has always lamented the fact that I am nothing like her. "You don't seem to have an ounce of Goodson (her maiden name) blood in you!" I would get this accusation on a fairly regular basis from her when I was growing up. I am a lot more outgoing than my dad though, so I am guessing this comes from my mom.

Even though you did not ask, my sister is practically a carbon copy of my mom down to her personality.



2. What do you think will change the most in your life once Alton is born (besides sleep)?

This thought has been on my mind a lot lately. I really wanted to be a mother. But beyond giving birth and breast feeding him for the first year, I didn't think it through a whole lot. I realize even now, my priorities have shifted. I am trying harder to save money, and I have no interest in buying things for me any more. It has all become about the little guy.

The most petty, but big change was something we realized recently. Travis and I love to travel. We especially love to go places at the drop of a hat for a weekend, or during the "off season" so things aren't as crowded. Now that we are going to have a little boy, Travis pointed out, "we are going to have to go on vacation when everyone else does!!!" Once Alton starts school we won't be able to go anywhere mid-week or during the fall, which is an excellent time to go on vacation.

One last thing, I have always figured I would go back to school at one point. I realized a few months ago, (I actually had a dream about it) that I won't be able to do that for quite a while, at least until Alton and the player to be named later (a younger sibling) start first grade.



3. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Oh this one is hard. I am a VERY judgmental person and I form opinions like nobody's business. I think though it would have to be horrible customer service. I worked for Starbucks for three years and I know how to give GOOD customer service. So it really bothers me when sales associates or servers aren't very helpful and make it obvious that they would rather be anywhere but where they are.

Second and it had to be mentioned because it is that annoying to me, is when you call a customer service line for your credit card company or your cell phone company and the CSR is in India. They mean well, but they are so hard to understand and I NEVER get satisfaction when I call and have to try to have a problem solved be them. I have been yelled at a couple of times, and hung up on more than once. I guess that falls under the bad customer service umbrella
though.



4. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in life?

Well I haven't given birth yet, and I haven't finished school. So I think I would have to say becoming Christian and marrying such a Godly man. After my rough upbringing and family drama growing up, I never thought I would want to get married and have a family.

That is one reason I am so thankful for my brief time at Cal Poly. I was able to see people like Andrea who came from a Christian family that wasn't perfect, but were able to get along and have healthy relationships with each other. It made me realize that I wanted my future spouse to be a man who grew up in a Christian home.

It still boggles my mind that God decided that I was worthy of Travis. He is a wonderful husband, he will a tremendous daddy, and he is a Godly man. He has incredible faith in the Lord and I pray that Alton gets that from him.

The other thing would be that I finally learned how to manage money and I am no longer in debt. :)



5. If you could pick up one hobby and were guaranteed success, what would you do?

I have always said that if I could change one thing about myself, it wouldn't be to lose 100 pounds (although that would be nice too) it would be to have a nice singing voice. Not a make my living from my singing voice, voice. But one that was pleasant and people liked hearing. Travis always teases me that he married his dad. Lowell would often sing very loudly and very off key. I have to remind my husband (who has forbidden me to sing to anyone except our child, and that is only until he knows better) that God said to make a joyful noise, not make an in
tune and on key noise.

When I was at Cal Poly, I always went to Worship practice for large group, but I never got to be one of the singers up front. I always wanted to be one of the singers up front!!!

Now that you’ve read my interview, you call play along. Here’s what you do:

1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” (If I don’t have your email address already, either leave it in the comment or email me at Jen2678 @ msn.com

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.