A Dozen of My Random Thoughts…November 3

Here I am on another Wednesday– without “Lid’s” Random Dozen questions.  You know that I am a creature of habit, don’t you?  Therefore, I’m doing my own “random thing” today…

(1)  Wednesday is the day of my annual visit to the gynecologist!  Whoo Hoo!  I’ll be experiencing this while some of you are reading this  post.  What woman enjoys visiting her gynecologist?  Not me!  Don’t get me wrong–I love Dr. Barry to death, but visiting with him while wearing nothing more than a paper-thin gown, and having my feet above my head,  is not my idea of fun!  I’ve given birth to three children, had a hysterectomy, and this August marked 10 years that I have been Dr. Barry’s patient–but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to pelvic exams.

(2) After dragging out my tank tops last week, I have the heat back on this week.  What is up with all of that?  It’s no wonder everyone stays sick around here.  It’s November–time for cool weather to come around and stay for a while.  I remember a time when we could actually pack up our seasonal clothes.  These days my laundry is a mixture of tank tops and long sleeves…

(3)  Brad and Jenn spent Tuesday on the road.  They had to travel back to North Carolina for her post-op check up.  Nothing like traveling 14 hours in one day–for a check up!  Hopefully, this will be her last trip to North Carolina for anything cancer related!  Both are planning to be at work on Wednesday…

(4)  I’m trying to cut down on my consumption of sweet iced tea, but it’s not easy.  Food does not taste as good when it is followed by water!  At the moment, I am drinking half and half–one-half sweet tea mixed with one-half water.  Hopefully, I can work my way to 100% water–eventually!  Why am I doing this, you might ask?  In an effort to cut calories…my bathroom scale is moving in the wrong direction…

(5)  I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in several nights.  Bobs the cat has “misbehaved” (sprayed), so she’s has been restricted to the yard again.  Consequently, she spends the entire night clawing at my bedroom door…More and more, I find myself asking “Why did I tame this feral cat and bring her home with me, and why is she doing this after 3 years?” 

(6)  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…everywhere!  Why is it, that Thanksgiving is sort of over-looked by so many people?  My daughter even made the comment “I’m ready to put up my Christmas tree.”  No, no, no…let’s give thanks first, please!

(7)   Speaking of Christmas, I don’t decorate for it before Thanksgiving, but I do shop early!  I have already purchased the majority of my gifts.  Most of the gifts that I purchase are for the grandchildren.  All of the adults in the family purchase two adult gifts each, we put them in a pile, then play a game with them.  Everyone goes home with two gifts each-and we have lots of fun.

(8) I haven’t been enjoying “Dancing With The Stars” as much this season as I have in the past seaons.  I don’t know if it’s the dancers or if I’m just tiring of the show–maybe  it’s a bit of both.  I usually call in and vote, but not this year.  Nobody has really captured my heart.  I’m proud of how far Bristol Palin has come.  She’s no Ginger Rogers, but she has progressed quite a ways since that first episode!  What’s next?  Dancing on Ice???

(9)  Has anyone else’s health insurance premiums gone up, while the coverage went down?  What’s up with that?   In addition to insurance premiums going up…pay raises are going down.  Nothing else is going down though–except the amount of food in a box or bag–for the same price as before!  Can those snack-sized candy bars get any smaller(?)–and you get less of them, too.  So many food  packages are smaller–or have less content inside.

(10)  I’ve been trying to learn how to post links in my blogs without typing out the entire URL.  I finally asked my blogfriend Joyce to tell me how to do it, and she graciously told me.  Thanks, Joyce!!!  I’d been trying to figure out how to do this for quite a while.  I had no idea it was so easy to do!   Hey, you really can teach an old dog new tricks!   By the way…try out my link and check out Joyce’s blog.  She has a way with words, and I love her blog.

(11)  It’s election evening as I am finishing this post up.  My husband and I have been babysitting our grandson,  so our son and his wife could go and vote.  They just returned from voting.  They were the last two people to get to vote before the poll closed.  That was cutting it close!  I was so afraid that they wouldn’t make it because Christina was out of town until late.  I’m sad that Brad was gone and didn’t get to vote…he missed his chance to fill out an absentee ballot, but he’s normally a faithful voter.

(12)  Speaking of voting–I voted for the first time in today’s election.  I was nervous about it, but it was a piece of cake.  My husband got off early so we beat the crowds.  We had to wait in line, but only for about 15 or 20 minutes.  Thanks to Brad’s detailed description of how to use the voting machines (he’s worked at the polls before), I didn’t have any problems at all!  I voted, got my  “I’m a Georgia voter” sticker, and came home.  It only took me 56 years to get this sticker…and I am proud of it!

Whew…that’s  my Random Dozen thoughts for this Wednesday–finally!  Coming up with a dozen random thoughts is a lot harder than I thought it would be… I may have to start doing a Random half-dozen!  I sure do miss “Lid”…Have a great day everyone–you already know where I’ll be 😦

Random Dozen…The Last Regularly Scheduled One

 

They say “all good things must come to an end”, and so it is with the regular weekly meme “The Random Dozen” which has been hosted by “Lid” over at 2nd cup of coffee.  I am grateful to “Lid” for hosting this meme for so long.  Because of my participation in this meme, I’ve made many blog friends that I probably wouldn’t have found, otherwise.  I do hope “Lid” will host an occasional Random Dozen so we can all get together for a “reunion” of sorts!  

Today “Lid” is sending us off with two final, random questions to ponder…

1. What scares you the most

A) Physically
B) Emotionally

Why does it scare you, and how do you cope?

My biggest fear, physically and emotionally,  in life is the fear of “becoming very ill” again.  Back in 1994, when I was first struck with an “auto immune disease”, I was knocked off my feet and out of life.  At first, I could barely move any of my joints–closing my hands was impossible.  I was in constant pain, and I had fatigue so bad that I couldn’t walk 50 feet without having to sit down.  I ran low-grade fevers every day.  I couldn’t eat, and my hair began to fall out.  Life, as I knew it previously, was over.  It took months of trying different medications, before my doctor found the right combination to put my disease into remission, and more months after that, to regain my stamina.  I’ve never forgotten those miserable months…I always feel like I am living with a ticking time bomb in my pocket, because this ugly disease can flare up again at any time…In the meantime, I continue to take the daily “meds” that help keep this disease “at bay”–knowing full well that those “meds” are a double-edged sword, and are harming my body in some ways while helping it in others. 

I cope with my fears through prayer, and by living life one day at a time.  I enjoy the good days, and endure the bad days, hoping that they won’t last too long.  I learned a long time ago how to live “a new normal”.  I do not take one day of my life for granted.    I now realize that good health is the most important gift a person can have.  If you still have yours, thank God for it.

2. What comes to mind when you read the phrase, “Nothing gold can stay?” 

Whenever I read the poem from which this quote came, it made me want to cry.  I was thinking how things are always changing, and can never stay the same.  Sometimes, change is good, but for me, it’s always hard!  I spent hours and hours last week making video montages of my little granddaughter’s first four years of life,  in honor of her fourth birthday.  I cried every time I watched one of them–realizing how fast time is passing, and how much she is changing–along with the rest of us.
 

While searching for songs to use in Madison’s video montages, I found a very moving video on YouTube.  I’d like to end this post by sharing it with you.  It goes along with the theme of “changing”…Enjoy–and get a tissue!

Random Dozen…October 13

Hello everyone!  I’m joining up with “Lid” for her weekly Random Dozen again.  I’m  having another mammogram today, and I can hardly wait!  Oh the joys of beng an “older” woman!  I also get to have blood work done–the good news is that my husband is buying me lunch before all of these “fun” activities…

I’ll tell you what I think “real fun” is–answering these questions, then comparing your answers to mine!  Bring on some “real fun”!  Now without further delay…my random dozen answers!

1. Is there a word which you initially mispronounced? Were the circumstances in which you made the faux pas embarrassing?  My latest blunder is apparently the way I pronounce “Blu-ray”…my youngest son was quick to correct my pronunciation.  He says I accent the wrong syllable!  He also makes fun of the way I pronounce “Pontiac”.  What can I say…I’m old!  At least I don’t say “chester drawers” anymore! LOL  I grew up thinking “chester drawers” was what a “chest of drawers” was called, because that’s what my parents called it.  I was very embarrassed when I realized my mistake–as a young adult!

2. How do you feel about the use of texting shortcuts and trends?  Well, I don’t text, but I’ll have to admit the shortcuts that I’ve heard of are clever…However, I have “teacher blood” running in my veins, and it bothers me to see words spelled differently–or words mispronounced.  (I guess that’s where my son gets it from) 

3. Tell me about your high school senior picture. Please feel free to post.  The first thing that I have to tell you about my senior picture is “Man, that was taken a long time ago–over forty years!”  Imagine my surprise when I arrived to have my photograph made and discovered what a simple little thing that “drape” was!  I’d envisioned it as a dress or something similar. Ha Ha  The joke was on me!  For some reason, our drapes were blue.  I’d always expected them to be black.  I don’t know if I can locate one of my senior pictures, but if I do, I’ll post at the bottom. 

 5. Share a high school or college homecoming memory.  Boy, you are taxing my brain today…my favorite memory is of finally graduating from high school!  I was so happy to be “finished”, and so ready to get married and begin a “real life”.  I was not disappointed either!  Married life after graduation far exceeded anything that  high school had to offer!

6. Linda at Mocha with Linda wants to know: “Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?”  I prefer sunrises.  There is just something about watching the sun rise to bring light to a brand new day–a new beginning.  Unfortunately, I don’t get to witness very many sunrises– I prefer to sleep.

7. Lea at Cici’s Corner asks, “What is something you have not done that you desire to do?”  I’ve written about this before, but I’d love to go to a place where the beaches are white and sandy, and the water is crystal clear!  I want to be able to see my toes in the water.  I’d be  happy seeing the Florida Keys or perhaps the Bahamas.

8. Carol at Wanderings of an Elusive Mind ponders, “If you could come back [in another life] as an animal, which would it be?”  I don’t really care what animal I am–as long as I would be a pet belonging to my husband!  He’s a wonderful master–and he has a warm and loving heart.  I bring home all of the animals–but he “fusses” over them the most.

9. Joyce from The Other Side of the Pond is curious: “Where were you 10 years ago?” Please feel free to elaborate more than just your physical location.  Isn’t it amazing how much our life changes in just 10 years?  Ten years ago, I was recovering from a total hysterectomy, and beginning to feel better than I had in years!  I lost 20 pounds, and began a daily exercise program of walking.  I was still working as a paraprofessional in first grade, and I was enjoying my job very much.  I believe that was also the year that my teacher was voted  “teacher of the year” for our school system.  My second oldest child was in college–and hating it, while my youngest son was experiencing his first year at public high school–and loving it!  Our oldest child, a daughter, had just met the man she would end up marrying  just a few short months later!  Wow…lots of stuff going on back then!

10. When you are proven to be correct in any contentious discussion, do you gloat?  I don’t think that I actually gloat…but I do feel a bit of satisfaction :)–I’m only human!

11. What is your favorite food which includes the ingredient “caramel?”  It’s without a doubt–Caramel Cake!  My son-in-law’s mother (whom I went to high school with) makes the best caramel cake I’ve ever eaten!!!  In fact, she makes the best cakes of any kind that I’ve ever eaten.

12. From my 17 year-old daughter to you: “If you could be part of any fictional family, which family would you choose and why?”  I’ve thought and thought about this question.  I finally settled on”The Waltons”–even though the show was based on an actual family.  It was between The Waltons and the Ingalls on “Little House”.  I love the “good old days”–when families consisted of a mother and a father(not two mothers, two fathers, or a single parent).  I love the idea of belonging to a large group of siblings, and I love the times when morals and values o f most everyone were still pretty much intact.

Me as a senior...a long long time ago!

Random Dozen…Last One For September

I’m joining “Lid” for the last Random Dozen of this month.  Where does the time go?  If you would like to join, just click her button at the top of this post for details.

1. Do you believe, somewhere deep inside, that blondes do indeed have more fun? That they are “dumber” than brunettes or redheads? Be honest!  Okay, I do think that blondes have more fun, because guys seem to prefer them–which, in turn, leads to more social life, aka “more fun.”  I don’t buy into the “dumb blonde” thing, however.

2. Which animal would you most like to observe in its wild habitat?  Any kind of wild cat, but preferably a tiger.  They are so beautiful.

3. This week the U.N. announced that Dr. Mazlan Othman has been appointed the official “Alien Ambassador,” should any extraterrestrials contact us. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever seen a UFO?   Well, no, not that I can recall!  We don’t have any UFO’s in “Gooseneck”–except for a few crazy motorcyclists.

4. Name your favorite Hitchcock film.  That would be Psycho.  What a scary movie in its time!

5. Would you rather spend time at the library, the mall, a craft store or home? Well, home is my all-time favorite, followed closely by the mall.  I love to walk the mall and just look.

6. Which Disney princess is your favorite? (Or Disney character, if you are a guy)  Ariel, The Little Mermaid, because that’s my favorite Disney Princess movie.

7. What kind of art is your favorite?  If you saw the walls of my home, you’d know…I like photographs of my family, but I do like Thomas Kincaid as well.

8. How do you feel about viral videos, that is, videos made by amateurs that end up on Youtube receiving thousands of hits?  I don’t really get “into” the Youtube thing, but a lot of people apparently do…

9. Where do you buy your jeans?  Oh, please, I haven’t worn jeans in 30 years!  Those things wear terrible.

10. Tell me about your first automobile accident.  It was early one morning, it was raining, and I was on my way to pick up my mother to go take her to the hospital to see my dad before his surgery that a.m.  I was only going about 35, but I hit a slick spot on the highway, and my van began to slide out of control.  I slid off the edge of the road and hit a dirt embankment.  I wasn’t hurt, and neither was my car, but I got hysterical because a girl had recently gotten killed in the same exact spot a few weeks earlier– on her way to work.  It was the same scenario–rain, slippery road, etc., but she slid in the opposite direction and hit an oncoming car.  I called my husband at work, and asked if he could please come and drive us to the hospital.  He got all excited, was driving too fast for conditions on the way to pick us up, and he, too, hit a slick spot and landed in a ditch–a very deep ditch!  Two wrecks within 30 minutes of each other.  He then called me to come and pick him up!  We left his truck in the ditch, but still managed to make it to the hospital just in time to see daddy on his way to surgery–that was close!  By the way, there was $1600 hundred worth of damage to the truck–my husband was fortunate that he wasn’t seriously injured.

11. Have you ever been honest when you knew you would benefit more if you would be dishonest?  Yes, I have a hard time telling a lie, so I’ve made things difficult more than a few times.  I”m known in our family for my “brutal honesty”.

12. If you were appointed “Ambassador to Aliens,” what would you show and tell first about life on Earth? What would be the most difficult thing to explain?  Oh please, I just can’t even go there today…

Random Dozen…September 22

It’s time to join “Lid” for her weekly Random Dozen meme.  If you would like to join in the fun, just click her button at the top of this post…

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything?  If you mean military awards, that would be my father-in-law.  He fought in WWII, and received both a bronze and a silver star.  In other kinds of awards,  our oldest son won the Presidential Scholarship to a local college (all tuition paid for an entire year), while  our youngest son won regional and  state FBLA awards in Banking and Finance. 

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?  That would be my husband and my brother.   Both of my husband’s parents served as well.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.  The song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood stirs me every time I hear it.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your “placement” made a difference in your personality?  I am the youngest of two children.  I may have been “spoiled” a little bit because I arrived nearly nine years after my brother, I don’t know that it affected my personality though.  My brother has always been talkative and very out-going, while I’ve always been quiet and reserved. 

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.” Devotion”– to God, family,  and home.  My grandmother was the perfect example, and I always wanted to be just like her. 

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants?  I don’t like the way skirts fit me–I only buy dresses, so my answer is pants!

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night?  If I wake up, it’s usually only one time–for a bathroom break!   What do you do to go back to sleep?  Usually I go right back to sleep.  Whenever I can’t sleep, I put the tv on the music channel that plays guitar/piano music…it works every time, but the sound has to be very low…

8. Share a favorite movie quote.  Oh…that’s too hard.  I love movies!  How about “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!” I remember being so happy when Rhett Butler FINALLY told Scarlet O’Hara those words. 

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?  I don’t really have a favorite.  I like cinnamon apple or pumpkin pie, among others.

10. What is one Fall activity you’re looking forward to? I enjoy decorating the yard for Halloween (for the grandchildren), and I enjoy seeing the grandchildren dressed up in their trick-or-treat costumes.

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently. Our grandchildren presented my husband and me with a framed photo collage for Grandparents Day.

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be? I was probably nervous at first, but that quickly went away.  They made me feel like a part of their family from the very first day.  Did I mention that I had just turned 15 when I met them?  They were always like a second set of parents to me.  While my husband-to-be was away in the army, sometimes I used to go and spend the night with them on the weekends.  My future mother-in-law and I would go on shopping trips, too.

Random Dozen…September 15

Can you believe that this month is already half gone?  Me either.  The week is also half gone, which means it’s time for “Lid’s” Random Dozen questions again.  Sit a spell and join me as I ponder the answers to her thought-provoking questions, because sometimes…”enquiring minds want to know…”

1. Do you do garage sales? If so, tell me about one great find. If not, tell me why not.  I used to have garage sales (here in Gooseneck, we call them yard sales ) all the time when my children were growing up because I accumulated so much useless stuff so quickly.  I have shopped at a few garage sales myself, but don’t go regularly.  My husband went to a yard sale a while back and bought a fantastic (convertible) ladder, which he needed because our old one broke and threw him off, causing him to break his wrist!

2. Name the last thing you fixed.  Well, remember I am from “Gooseneck” located here in the south, so the word “fix” can have a variety of meanings…I usually fix supper every night, but somehow I don’t think that’s what you mean, Lid.  Let’s go with this answer…”I fixed  granddaughter, Madison’s, dress today by hemming it shorter.”  That’s probably still not what you had in mind, was it?

3. Name your A) Favorite item of makeup OR B) Favorite tool  Woah, that’s a weird choice of answers…I’ll go with my favorite item of makeup, which is that neat all-in-one foundation/powder combination that comes in a compact.  One swipe and I”m good to go!  I first used  L’Oreal’s brand, then they discontinued it, forcing me to now pay double for Clinique.   By the way…my favorite tool is a hammer–I love to move things around on the walls a lot!

4. Which room in your home needs organizing more than any other?  That would be my husband’s pool room.  It’s become the “everything room”.  It has the grandchildren’s toys, and my scrapbooking and sewing supplies, and my treadmill cluttering it up.  It would be nearly impossible to play a game of pool in there at the moment.

5. Which room could use re-decorating?  Thankfully, all of the rooms in our house are still in good shape since we just built the house 3 years ago.

6. Share something unique about your town.  We are “noted” for growing “sweet Vidalia onions” here…and we have an “Onion Festival” every May.  Well, that’s not unique to just us, our neighbor, Vidalia, does the same thing–their onion festival is a couple of weeks before ours.  I wonder how many towns celebrate onions????

7. If you could send a one-sentence message to your great-grandchild, what would it be?  You have descended from a line of ” fiesty ancestors”–especially some of the women–and no, I”m not going to explain that statement 🙂

8. Do you Facebook?   Yes, I do, but I usually just read what others have to say.  I do all of my on-line talking on my blog…by then I am tired of talking!

9. Describe your favorite shoes.  That’s easy–they are my first pair of Crocs!  They are now 4 years old, beige in color with various colors of paint and stain on the tops of them from doing home projects while wearing them.  I  own about a dozen pairs of Crocs in various colors, but none wear quite as good as that original pair 🙂  I wear Crocs EVERYWHERE except to church!

10. Do you listen to more talk radio or more music radio? What kind of station is it?  I listen to country music radio…or I listen to nothing at all–but I enjoy all kinds of music!

 11. How far would you travel for a really good (favorite) meal?   I would say about 60 miles(one way), because we used to have to go to Savannah to eat in  a popular restaurant.  Remember, I live in a small town.  Thanks to the growth of nearby Statesboro(and Georgia Southern University), we have cut the necessary trip down to about 30 miles, because Statesboro now has most of the same restaurants as Savannah!

12. If you were totally honest with yourself (and us) what should you probably be doing right now instead of blogging?  I should be cleaning the house!  My house used to be a lot cleaner in pre-blogging days, but blogging is so much more fun than cleaning the toilet!!!

Many thanks to “Lid” for searching out these thought-provoking questions–when she could be cleaning her toilet, too!  We love and appreciate all that you do for us, “Lid”.  Just click on “Lid’s” button at the top of this  post to see more Random Dozen answers.  Thanks for stopping by…

 

Random Dozen…September 7 Edition

Welcome to Wednesday’s Random Dozen, hosted by Lid over at 2nd cup of coffee.  For more Randomness, just click on her button at the top of this post!

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.  This will sound silly to most of you, but my husband makes the best banana sandwiches in the world!  It’s just banana, miracle whip, and bread, but nobody can make one like he does!
2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?  That’s a difficult question, since at one time or another I’ve been inspired by each one of those things.  If I have to choose one, I’ll say “a good conversation”.  You just never know when “what you have to say, may be just what another person needs to hear”to become inspired.  God works like that.
3. What is your favorite board game?  Years ago, not long after we were married, my husband and I had a board game called “Dealer’s Choice”.  It was a game about buying and selling used cars, of all things!  We used to play that game with Ed’s younger brothers and their friends on the weekends, and we had the best time!  I can still hear Dale S. saying “Something “turrible”(southern drawl) is going to happen to your car…”, then he’d play a card to destroy our vehicle in some way.  Fun memories!
4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?  Isn’t it natural for older people to become less tolerant?  Back in the day, I spent 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with LOTS of small children, but that was then… Now,  I love my grandchildren to death, but I wouldn’t want to be with them 8 hours a day for very many days at one time.   I guess my age is showing, huh? 
5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.  I can’t choose one–it’s a tie between sugar, tea, and catsup! 
6. Do you agree with Tennyson’s assertion, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?” Yes, I do.  I think it’s a sad day when  a person lives their entire life and never experiences love–even if the love doesn’t end well.
7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.  Well, here’s an embarassing moment…I can’t name one!  I’ve never been anyplace that has one!  Whenever we go on a vacation, Washington is  never on our list of places to see…  I once visited Elvis Presley’s home, “Graceland”, does that count? Ha Ha
8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?  For me, it’s more painful to be disappointed in myself.  I can’t help what others may do or not do, but I am in control of me.  Does that make sense?
9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?  I love my kitchen!  I have decorated my kitchen in a Coca Cola theme, using the colors of red, black, and white. I have lots of “coke themed” items scattered throughout my kitchen–even the telephone is Coca Cola!  Most of my decorative items were purchased through eBay auctions, over a period of a few years.  I especially love my cookie jar collection, but I also love the kitchen sign that I had custom-made by an eBay seller.  The menu items are actual recipes from my cookbook collection. ( See pics at the bottom of this post)  
10. Are you a crafty person?  Yes, I try to be crafty.  I love to “do” all sorts of arts and crafts, but I’m not as proficient at some things as I’d like to be.  My current project is scrapbooking.
11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?    Bar-b-qued chicken or ribs.
12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.  I stayed at home, and didn’t do a thing!   I guess you could say–I rested!  We usually do our Labor Day activities the weekend after Labor Day.  Look out beach, here we come!

one wall of my coca cola kitchen

my custom-made sign

Random Dozen…September 1

Hey there!  Can you believe it’s already September?  Me either!  I’m joining “Lid” for her weekly meme of Random Dozen questions.  I had a hard time with the questions this week, but  here are my answers.

1. What insect are you most afraid of? Feel free to post a picture. 

That would be those really big cockroaches, or what some people call palmetto bugs.  I’m only afraid of them if they fly toward me–then I get scared!
2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do?

I haven’t gotten involved in the green movement very much.(shame, shame)  I have some flourescent bulbs in my home, does that count?

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you.

I can’t think of a recurring dream that haunts me.  I do find it a bit disturbing whenever I dream about a family member who is dead.  I can hear their actual voice in my dreams.  My parents have been dead for many years, so it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a dream.

4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances?

Wow, this just isn’t my week with these questions…I’ve never flown in an airplane.  My most exciting mode of transportation was a Greyhound bus ride– when I was sixteen!

5. What do you consider your best feature?

These days…none!  When I was young, I had long, straight hair.  I used to get a lot of compliments on my long hair, but that was a long time ago…

6. What was the last concert you went to?

A few years ago–actually it was more like 15 years– I went to see Alan Jackson.  We had second row seats!  It was the concert experience of a lifetime.

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced.

My shoe slipped on the front church steps one time–but I didn’t fall down!

8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer?

I shouldn’t be, but I am a singer.  I “make a joyful noise”.  My husband, on the other hand, is a whistler.  He’s always whistling a tune!

9. George Washington Carver said, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute?

I’m hearing a bunch of happy frogs in and around my yard!  I believe there may have been a few “frog parties” going on around here!  I’ve noticed a lot of new little froggies lately.

10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010?

I’m taking a shopping trip with my daughter–a girl’s day out!  We are leaving Madison, my granddaughter, with her other grandma, so it will just be the two of us.  We don’t have many of those kinds of trips, so it will be memorable.

11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.)

Hands down–the Liberty Bell.

12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships?

Yes, I do, but unfortunately,  sometimes those friendships tend to turn into something else.

Random Dozen…August 25

I’m joining “Lid” at http://www.2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com for another Random Dozen…because I enjoy answering her questions, and participating in this meme–and it’s a day that I don’t have to “tax” my brain too hard to think of what to write about!!!  Here are this week’s questions and my answers.

1. What is your favorite Mexican dish?
Well, believe it or not, I am one of those people who really doesn’t care for Mexican food, but I’ll say tacos, because I do eat those every now and then.

2. When you were a kid, did you get started on your homework right away after school, or did you procrastinate?
I didn’t do it immediately after school, but I always got it done before bedtime.  I can hear my youngest son saying “Procrastinator” as I write this! LOL 

3. What is your favorite store for home furnishings?
Any store that has what I am looking for!  I don’t have one particular store that I am partial to.
Years ago there was a local store called Joseph Evans Furniture.  Mr. Evans had his furniture set up in “pretend” rooms so you could see how it would look in your house–sort of like Rooms To Go.  I guess his idea must have caught on!

4. When you were young, did you like school lunches?  Yes, actually I did.  My favorite lunch was Ravioli, while my least favorite one was Salisbury Steak.  Then I became a teenager…and it was no longer “cool” to eat in the lunchroom!

5. Is religion a crutch?
No, I’ve never thought of my religion as a crutch. 

 
6. In your region, what is the “big” (most popular in the community or state) high school sport?  I would say it’s football–definitely, football! 

7. Do you consider yourself rich?
If you are talking “moneywise”…no.  If you are talking “blessings”…yes!
8. Which of these would you have the best chance for success in administering:
A) CPR
B) Heimlich Maneuver
C) Changing a flat tire

I would say CPR–because my husband has told me and showed me how to do it several times.  He’s performed it  numerous times over the years,  because he works in a hospital.  He actually performed CPR on my daddy once!

9. Which dance would you prefer to learn & why:
A) Salsa
B) Hip Hop
C) Waltz
D) Swing
Did anyone happen to see Kate (of Jon and Kate Plus Eight fame) on Dancing With the Stars?  I am a worse dancer than Kate was!  That being said–I would choose the Walz because it’s slow and graceful–and doesn’t require much shaking and twisting.  LOL

10. What’s the worst news you’ve ever delivered to someone?   Having to tell my mother that my father had died.  They had been living in a nursing home (together) for about 2 years.  He was in and out of the hospital a lot during that time.  In May of 1991, daddy went to the hospital for tests, ended up having exploratory surgery, the died a few days afterward from surgery complications.  He was only 65 years old. 

11. Name something you learned in college that had nothing to do with classes or academics.  I never attended college after high school, but about 30 years later, I decided to enroll in “on-line”  college classes.  I successfully completed two semesters of college on-line(and began a 3rd before I decided that I no longer wanted to teach preschool).  I learned that I can do anything that I set my mind to, and I also learned that they sure do keep those high school transcripts for a   l-o-n-g   time!

12. New variation on an old question: If there’s a song in your head that just won’t get out, what is your favorite (or most repeated) line in that song?  I don’t have any song stuck in my head at the moment–no, wait, actually I do.  It’s that silly little “Cabbage Patch Kids” theme song–“Cabbage Patch Kids, growing in the garden, Cabbage Patch Kids, growing in the sun…”  It was popular back in the 80’s when my daughter was growing up.  I recently found the record on eBay and purchased it so my granddaughter could hear it!  I always loved that little tune!

Random Dozen…August 18

I’m joining “Lid” at http://www.2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com for Random Dozen.  I hope you enjoy my answers, maybe you will even decide to hop over there and join in the Wednesday fun!

1. What is your favorite fair/carnival food?    No doubt about it–a big, juicy, red candied apple!

 2. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?    A few weeks ago I would have said ” some resentment”, but thankfully I’ve had a change of heart and let go of some things of the past!  With that being taken care of, my next answer would be “a lot of stuff in my storage room/shed!”

 3. What is your favorite gift to receive?  Anything that is a “surprise”.   A simple phone call, a nice email.  A picture from my granddaughter.  I’m easy to please.  My husband always makes me happy when he surprises me with a large doughnut or cinnamon roll from work!   LOL Unexpected flowers are high on my list of favorites, too!

4. When was the last time you tried something new?  Last night when I was trying to figure out how to stream a Netflix movie through the Wii.  I’m sure it was hilarious watching me try to get the Wii remote to work the television!  I’m not “tech savvy” at all!

5. What is your favorite and least favorite book genre?
Memoir, Mystery, Political Intrigue, Romance, Humor, Historical Fiction, Historical nonfiction, Chick Lit, Self-Help, Other        I’d have to say it’s a tie between Memoir and Romance.  I tend to alternate reading one or the other.
6.Silver or Gold?    I like them both, and have some of each.  My wedding rings are silver, while my anniversary band is gold.  My watch is a gold/silver combo.  That pretty much sums up the jewelry that I wear.  I’m allergic to all of my pierced earrings, but I occasionally wear a chain or necklace to church.

7. What makes you sigh?  A boring movie, a boring sermon or speech,  waiting in a doctor’s office, or hearing “bad news”.

8. If you didn’t know how old you are, how old would you claim you are?  Sadly, I  would claim to be older than I am–probably by about 5 years, so I’d say 60!  I’ve always felt older than my actual years–not just physically, but mentally.  I matured early.  My husband is 5 years older than me, and we have always gotten along great!

9. Would you break a law to save a loved one? To protect a loved one?    As much as I hate to admit it, yes, I probably would.  My love for my family runs deep, and we all know that a mother will do things for her children that she wouldn’t otherwise do.

10. If you had to teach something, what would it be?  Since I have had the pleasure of teaching while working as a parapro, this answer is easy.  I’d teach reading!  I absolutely love teaching a child how to read.  It’s so much fun to begin by teaching them sight words.  Then moving on to watch them learn to read a book, understand what they read, then actually enjoy it.  I miss that…

11. You’re having lunch with 3 people whom you respect and admire. They begin to criticize a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. What do you do?  Truthfully, I probably would sit there and keep my mouth shut.  I would not say a word! 

12. Which of the 5 Love Languages is your prominent means of experiencing love?
Quality Time
Physical Touch
Acts of Service
Gifts
Words of Affirmation
I took the test, and according to it, I had a tie between “Words of Affirmation” and “Quality Time”.   “Physical Touch” came in a close third.  That sounds about right to me…

Thanks so much for hopping by today.  I appreciate it very much.  If you haven’t read yesterday’s post entitled “You’ve Got Mail”, you should.   It’s an interesting story about my past adventures involving mail…Have a great day everyone!