Thought I'd start a little meme of sorts for those who like to answer questions and
who might need a blog post inspiration to put on their own site.
I'll ask and then answer the questions about myself.
1. What is one thing you really look forward to every day?
It used to be the first cup of coffee and reading my Bible. Lately I haven't been having coffee since my iron count is low.
2. What is one of your good habits? I shower every day.
3. What is one of your bad habits? I don't always put things away when I'm done with them.
4. How does your place in the birth order affect you, positively and negatively? I am the second. On the positive side, I can take directions from people who lead well (ie if I agree with them and their style!) and I tend to be adventurous. On the negative side, I have always viewed myself as "not quite good enough" at anything since my older sister is smarter, more efficient, and generally better at most things (writing, cooking, organizing, remembering birthdays, finances, etc).
5. What is something you really admire about your best friend? Her compassion.
6. Do you prefer baking or cooking? Cooking. It's more forgiving, and it's necessary. I tend to be instinctive about flavors, although I've had some real botches in the kitchen that made even McDonald's look like a five-star restaurant. I have to be in the mood to bake, but that mood only strikes about 5 times a year. To me, cooking is art, and baking is science. I've always been more drawn to art.
7. What was the most embarrassing thing you've done lately? Wow. There are so many. I ALMOST embarrassed myself on the phone when the GYN called to tell me test results. (He's not the only man besides my husand I've nearly "woopsed" with this.) When the doctor said, "Okay, call me if you have any more questions," I ALMOST said--when hanging up, "Okay, love you, too."
8. What is one thing you'd like to accomplish in the next year? I want to improve a few key relationships.
9. What is something you'll pay "good money" for? A great haircut.
10. What was something that made you laugh today? Rereading my young boy's spelling assignment aloud to my husband. I had said to Joel on Friday, "Write a sentence for each of your 10 words, and write the words three times each." He wrote, "Dad's hair is grey. Grey, grey, grey."
Let me know if you borrow these questions so I can read your answers. Should be intriguing.
Showing posts with label tags. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tags. Show all posts
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Friday, October 02, 2009
5 Words Meme
Upon request, Krista sent me five words as a writing prompt meme (not that I usually struggle with verbal constipation; I was more curious than needy, surmising what five words she might think to send me). When I asked "why these five?" she said she thought I'd either have a lot to say about them, or she had no idea what I'd say.
In the order in which she wrote them, I will respond in a stream-of-consciousness way. No real organization. (My excuse? It's Friday night. The first syllable of that word is "Fried" as in my brain's condition right now.)
1 BOOKS ... I love the sound of the word "books." Only positive images come to my mind. Hearing my mom's voice read to my sister Rachel and me at naptime when I was three. Watching my dad take posterboard, markers, and a copy of Yertle the Turtle to create a children's sermon on pride. Smelling the brand new pages of brand new books when the Abingdon library opened . Smelling the musty old pages of Grandpa's Baptist hymnal whenever I dust them, and get the feeling of touching the hands that held the very same book and sang the same beautiful anthems to the same wonderful God. I grew up with parents who highly valued books. My mother was never what you'd call a "shopper" of clothes, shoes, and trendy household goods, but she could spend hours upon hours in a bookstore. I worked for a summer at a Christian bookstore, as did she. My son, Stephen, it just occurs to me, is a third-generation Christian bookstore employee. Much as I love books, I don't have as much of a problem parting with them as some folks do. This summer, when I decided to alphabetize all the books in the basement by author's last name, I heeded the Lord's prompting when tempted to hoard even such valuables as books: tithe on them (as in, give away ten percent of them).
2. ADVENTURE is a word that conjures up feelings of excitement and fear and wonder and energy. When I think of adventure, it involves a modicum of mystery: Where exactly is Vladimir, Russia? Will my room in heaven have all the flowers my mind and heart can ever want? How can I make grammar NOT boring to fifth and sixth graders in such a way that they "get it"? What will I look like when I'm 80, if I'm still alive? What if Plan A doesn't work out? I'm excited about Plan B. It always works out, and sometimes is even more fun that Plan A.
"Adventure" makes me remember Great Adventure, a theme park my friend
Cindy and her sister Sondra invited me (and my older sister) to when I was in seventh grade. It was one of the most fun days of my entire life. I splurged on a stuffed frog at the end of the day and had a bunch of people at school sign it. How many other people can say they've owned an autographed frog?
3. BABIES... Nothing says "Made just for you by Jesus" quite like a baby. No two alike, not even identical twins. I loved being pregnant with my babies, an unspeakable, unmatchable, unquestionable pleasure of being Woman. Never has joy been so great as when I felt a baby kick inside my womb. Never has a sorrow been so deep as when the doctor said, two different times, "I'm sorry, there is no heartbeat."
I can't write those words without crying, and it's been ten years since our second loss.
I didn't think I could ever love a baby as much as I loved my first baby, Ben, and when I got pregnant with our second, Sarah, I begged the Lord to give me as much love so that she wouldn't feel deprived. I think He laughed; it was an absurd request, thinking back now. Of COURSE, as surely as the sun rises and sets, I loved all my babies, and would love a hundred and twenty babies if I had them (though I'm glad God chose a much more manageable number for me).
I'm looking forward to having grandbabies. In fact, I find myself wondering what they will call me. Paul wants to be PopPop. I know I don't want to be Grandma (sounds so old ladyish) or Granny , but would love a completely unique name from my grandbabies, something one of them creates for me from baby babble. "Priddy Gammy" would do!
4. CHANGE--I am just about evenly split in my knee-jerk reaction to this word. Having lived in 13 houses by the age of 11, I adapted quickly and rather easily to change. I have lived in the country, the city, a small town, a college dorm, in the 'burbs, at the beach, in a duplex, in single-family homes. I have lived on food stamps and have dined on gourmet food. (I much prefer the latter.) After 21 years as a single, I got married and the change to wife was a lot harder than I imagined. But the change from not-a-mother to a mother ? Totally unprepared for that. To be responsible for another human being 24/7 changed me profoundly. The starkest revelation was that I hadn't changed fundamentally; I just couldn't hide the parts of me I had always been able to hide before: the ugliest, most selfish me. But then again, changing diapers and
hearing my babies coo and seeing their luminous smiles and gazing upon their blue-eyed beauty for lo these 21 more years, has been an uncomparable experience. I am ready to die, for I know my Savior and have been a mother. Those are the two deepest joys of my life.
5. PUNS -- For the most part, people think of my jokes as the first two-thirds of the word "pun." I can't help it. My husband calls it Dauber humor. I call it Kansas humor. I have no concept of living a day without puns. It would be an adventure, a real change, an idea to baby, something to put in the record books. Punless Zoanna. Unthinkable! (But worth a try, perhaps?)
Anybody else like to write on 5 words? Let me know in the comment box.
In the order in which she wrote them, I will respond in a stream-of-consciousness way. No real organization. (My excuse? It's Friday night. The first syllable of that word is "Fried" as in my brain's condition right now.)
1 BOOKS ... I love the sound of the word "books." Only positive images come to my mind. Hearing my mom's voice read to my sister Rachel and me at naptime when I was three. Watching my dad take posterboard, markers, and a copy of Yertle the Turtle to create a children's sermon on pride. Smelling the brand new pages of brand new books when the Abingdon library opened . Smelling the musty old pages of Grandpa's Baptist hymnal whenever I dust them, and get the feeling of touching the hands that held the very same book and sang the same beautiful anthems to the same wonderful God. I grew up with parents who highly valued books. My mother was never what you'd call a "shopper" of clothes, shoes, and trendy household goods, but she could spend hours upon hours in a bookstore. I worked for a summer at a Christian bookstore, as did she. My son, Stephen, it just occurs to me, is a third-generation Christian bookstore employee. Much as I love books, I don't have as much of a problem parting with them as some folks do. This summer, when I decided to alphabetize all the books in the basement by author's last name, I heeded the Lord's prompting when tempted to hoard even such valuables as books: tithe on them (as in, give away ten percent of them).
2. ADVENTURE is a word that conjures up feelings of excitement and fear and wonder and energy. When I think of adventure, it involves a modicum of mystery: Where exactly is Vladimir, Russia? Will my room in heaven have all the flowers my mind and heart can ever want? How can I make grammar NOT boring to fifth and sixth graders in such a way that they "get it"? What will I look like when I'm 80, if I'm still alive? What if Plan A doesn't work out? I'm excited about Plan B. It always works out, and sometimes is even more fun that Plan A.
"Adventure" makes me remember Great Adventure, a theme park my friend
Cindy and her sister Sondra invited me (and my older sister) to when I was in seventh grade. It was one of the most fun days of my entire life. I splurged on a stuffed frog at the end of the day and had a bunch of people at school sign it. How many other people can say they've owned an autographed frog?
3. BABIES... Nothing says "Made just for you by Jesus" quite like a baby. No two alike, not even identical twins. I loved being pregnant with my babies, an unspeakable, unmatchable, unquestionable pleasure of being Woman. Never has joy been so great as when I felt a baby kick inside my womb. Never has a sorrow been so deep as when the doctor said, two different times, "I'm sorry, there is no heartbeat."
I can't write those words without crying, and it's been ten years since our second loss.
I didn't think I could ever love a baby as much as I loved my first baby, Ben, and when I got pregnant with our second, Sarah, I begged the Lord to give me as much love so that she wouldn't feel deprived. I think He laughed; it was an absurd request, thinking back now. Of COURSE, as surely as the sun rises and sets, I loved all my babies, and would love a hundred and twenty babies if I had them (though I'm glad God chose a much more manageable number for me).
I'm looking forward to having grandbabies. In fact, I find myself wondering what they will call me. Paul wants to be PopPop. I know I don't want to be Grandma (sounds so old ladyish) or Granny , but would love a completely unique name from my grandbabies, something one of them creates for me from baby babble. "Priddy Gammy" would do!
4. CHANGE--I am just about evenly split in my knee-jerk reaction to this word. Having lived in 13 houses by the age of 11, I adapted quickly and rather easily to change. I have lived in the country, the city, a small town, a college dorm, in the 'burbs, at the beach, in a duplex, in single-family homes. I have lived on food stamps and have dined on gourmet food. (I much prefer the latter.) After 21 years as a single, I got married and the change to wife was a lot harder than I imagined. But the change from not-a-mother to a mother ? Totally unprepared for that. To be responsible for another human being 24/7 changed me profoundly. The starkest revelation was that I hadn't changed fundamentally; I just couldn't hide the parts of me I had always been able to hide before: the ugliest, most selfish me. But then again, changing diapers and
hearing my babies coo and seeing their luminous smiles and gazing upon their blue-eyed beauty for lo these 21 more years, has been an uncomparable experience. I am ready to die, for I know my Savior and have been a mother. Those are the two deepest joys of my life.
5. PUNS -- For the most part, people think of my jokes as the first two-thirds of the word "pun." I can't help it. My husband calls it Dauber humor. I call it Kansas humor. I have no concept of living a day without puns. It would be an adventure, a real change, an idea to baby, something to put in the record books. Punless Zoanna. Unthinkable! (But worth a try, perhaps?)
Anybody else like to write on 5 words? Let me know in the comment box.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Six Things That Make Me Happy
A tag from Krista.
1. Driving my convertible with the top down on an 85-degree day.
2. Teaching. Those "a-ha!" moments when students finally "get it" intellectually. Or, like today, when one of my students got a terrific grade on this year's first history quiz and said, "Mrs. Zubrowski! I can't wait to show my mom! She'll explode with surprisement!"
3. Brian Regan's humor. My favorite sketch lately is his one about run-on sentences. Go to YouTube and search the key word "reading". He also has a hilarious bit about lazy writing. "Take, for example, the phrase, 'one thing led to another.' Paraphrasing his joke, "I hate it when people write, 'One thing led to another and--. What kind of lazy writing is that? Ummm... (pretending to read), "Adolph Hitler's application to art school was rejected. One thing led to another and the United States was engaged in war with Germany."
4. Princess Diana roses blooming up around my lamppost. As I get out of the van (or into it), I get a lovely whiff . The salmon color is beautiful in summer or fall arrangements.
5. Being told I smell good, especially by my husband or littlest child. But I like to think my students notice and keep the compliment tucked away in the Fond Memories section of their brain. I want to be one of those teachers who is remembered for smelling good. Thirty-eight years from now I want my students to smell a perfume that triggers wonderful memories of their 5th/6th grade year when they learned how life-changing it is to understand the difference between direct and indirect objects.
6. Having my hair shampooed. If I were independently wealthy, I would pay just to have someone else shampoo my hair and massage my head whenever I want, for as long as I want, at the exact temperature I want, and never get my collar wet in the process.
If you share any of these "happinesses," you're tagged. You don't have to use them in your tag, I just want to see who identifies with my little loves in life.
1. Driving my convertible with the top down on an 85-degree day.
2. Teaching. Those "a-ha!" moments when students finally "get it" intellectually. Or, like today, when one of my students got a terrific grade on this year's first history quiz and said, "Mrs. Zubrowski! I can't wait to show my mom! She'll explode with surprisement!"
3. Brian Regan's humor. My favorite sketch lately is his one about run-on sentences. Go to YouTube and search the key word "reading". He also has a hilarious bit about lazy writing. "Take, for example, the phrase, 'one thing led to another.' Paraphrasing his joke, "I hate it when people write, 'One thing led to another and--. What kind of lazy writing is that? Ummm... (pretending to read), "Adolph Hitler's application to art school was rejected. One thing led to another and the United States was engaged in war with Germany."
4. Princess Diana roses blooming up around my lamppost. As I get out of the van (or into it), I get a lovely whiff . The salmon color is beautiful in summer or fall arrangements.
5. Being told I smell good, especially by my husband or littlest child. But I like to think my students notice and keep the compliment tucked away in the Fond Memories section of their brain. I want to be one of those teachers who is remembered for smelling good. Thirty-eight years from now I want my students to smell a perfume that triggers wonderful memories of their 5th/6th grade year when they learned how life-changing it is to understand the difference between direct and indirect objects.
6. Having my hair shampooed. If I were independently wealthy, I would pay just to have someone else shampoo my hair and massage my head whenever I want, for as long as I want, at the exact temperature I want, and never get my collar wet in the process.
If you share any of these "happinesses," you're tagged. You don't have to use them in your tag, I just want to see who identifies with my little loves in life.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Latest tag, revised
Beth tagged me. (Thank you! It makes me feel special. Doesn't take much, huh?)
What were you doing 10 years ago?
Trying to conceive baby number 4
Watching all of my kids play on various sports teams in the spring and summer
Trying to sell our house in Dundalk to move to Harford County
Favorite Snacks
pistachios
chips and salsa
yogurt
string cheese
To Do List
I like adding stuff to my to-do list after I've done it just so that I can cross it off.
Today my list consisted of cleaning the little bath, sweeping and mopping the k. floor, washing whites, dusting the whole first level, and assigning the rest of the chores to the kids! After that my list was mental: go to Sandy Cove for an afternoon of swimming and trying to tan my white skin.
Jobs I Have Had
matador
gladiator
runway model (I first typed "runaway model" which is more like it)
presidential press secretary
liar
Places I Have Lived
Aberdeen, MD
Edgewood, MD
Baltimore, MD
KC, MO
Alden, KS
Greensburg, PA
Towson, MD
Dundalk, MD
Abingdon, MD
Bad Habits
almost everything I do is in excess
5 Random Things People May Not Know about me
1. I save a whole lot of greeting cards. I mean a whole lot. Words mean so much to me.
2. I can sleep almost anywhere but not on my back.
3. I love to swim.
4. I would rather take a missions trip than a vacation.
5. I crack myself up daily but my family just doesn't appreciate good humor when they see it unless it's written on the side of an ice cream truck.
CD I would want if stranded on an island
Rich Mullins' "The World as Best as I
Remember It"
What I’d Do if I Were a Billionaire
This one's tough. I can't fathom a billion dollars, let alone figure out how to spend it. But, getting started would be easy: Tithe a cool million
I wouldn't know what to do with the rest.
Just kidding. I would pay off our debts, pray about paying off the medical debts of people I love.
and pay off any debts our church currently has.
I would travel a lot and make it financially possible to take with me those who wanted to go along. My first choices would be returning to Russia (missions), going to Italy (third honeymoon), wherever my good friend Barb wanted to go (girls' month out), and invest in real estate in my favorite destinations or places to house missionaries.
I would pay the kids' tuitions, but still make them pay for their books and incidentals.
I would replace my knees, maybe get laser eye surgery, get new arches in my feet and have my heel spurs removed, and invent a non-surgical, non-sweating, non-food-depriving way to have the body I want.
I would have fresh flowers in the house every day in every room.
I would hire maids and landscapers and personal massage therapists on call 24/6.
I would hire a chef to cook for the family when I wanted that, and to provide the ingredients and training to me when I wanted to do it myself.
I would buy motivation to do all the things I haven't had it for up till now. Maybe then the back of our basement would get dejunked.
It's a good thing I'm not a billionaire. I'm plenty selfish without a boatload of money!
I tag you if you are between the ages of 19 and 39.
What were you doing 10 years ago?
Trying to conceive baby number 4
Watching all of my kids play on various sports teams in the spring and summer
Trying to sell our house in Dundalk to move to Harford County
Favorite Snacks
pistachios
chips and salsa
yogurt
string cheese
To Do List
I like adding stuff to my to-do list after I've done it just so that I can cross it off.
Today my list consisted of cleaning the little bath, sweeping and mopping the k. floor, washing whites, dusting the whole first level, and assigning the rest of the chores to the kids! After that my list was mental: go to Sandy Cove for an afternoon of swimming and trying to tan my white skin.
Jobs I Have Had
matador
gladiator
runway model (I first typed "runaway model" which is more like it)
presidential press secretary
liar
Places I Have Lived
Aberdeen, MD
Edgewood, MD
Baltimore, MD
KC, MO
Alden, KS
Greensburg, PA
Towson, MD
Dundalk, MD
Abingdon, MD
Bad Habits
almost everything I do is in excess
5 Random Things People May Not Know about me
1. I save a whole lot of greeting cards. I mean a whole lot. Words mean so much to me.
2. I can sleep almost anywhere but not on my back.
3. I love to swim.
4. I would rather take a missions trip than a vacation.
5. I crack myself up daily but my family just doesn't appreciate good humor when they see it unless it's written on the side of an ice cream truck.
CD I would want if stranded on an island
Rich Mullins' "The World as Best as I
Remember It"
What I’d Do if I Were a Billionaire
This one's tough. I can't fathom a billion dollars, let alone figure out how to spend it. But, getting started would be easy: Tithe a cool million
I wouldn't know what to do with the rest.
Just kidding. I would pay off our debts, pray about paying off the medical debts of people I love.
and pay off any debts our church currently has.
I would travel a lot and make it financially possible to take with me those who wanted to go along. My first choices would be returning to Russia (missions), going to Italy (third honeymoon), wherever my good friend Barb wanted to go (girls' month out), and invest in real estate in my favorite destinations or places to house missionaries.
I would pay the kids' tuitions, but still make them pay for their books and incidentals.
I would replace my knees, maybe get laser eye surgery, get new arches in my feet and have my heel spurs removed, and invent a non-surgical, non-sweating, non-food-depriving way to have the body I want.
I would have fresh flowers in the house every day in every room.
I would hire maids and landscapers and personal massage therapists on call 24/6.
I would hire a chef to cook for the family when I wanted that, and to provide the ingredients and training to me when I wanted to do it myself.
I would buy motivation to do all the things I haven't had it for up till now. Maybe then the back of our basement would get dejunked.
It's a good thing I'm not a billionaire. I'm plenty selfish without a boatload of money!
I tag you if you are between the ages of 19 and 39.
Friday, January 25, 2008
(The First ) 7 Weird Things About Me
1. I love cars. Old, new, sedans, coupes. Sporty, luxury, doesn't matter. It's the only expensive earthly item I think much about. But I don't covet them. I really don't. It's weird that I never get jealous of someone else's car but I think, "'Boy, I'd love to drive that right now!" and then the urge passes as quickly as it comes. with no discontentment. I want to own a 1980-84 black Jaguar, or at least to ride in one soon. Sometimes I fantasize about having a new car every three weeks or so from now till they take my license away.
2. I am 911 Queen. It's downright embarrassing the number of times I've called 911 while on the road. I'm a real tattler of speeders and love to say, "Yes, he's zooming past exit 74 on I-95, southbound, late-model red Chevy..... No, of course I didn't get the tag number. He was speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddinnnnggg!" I've called 911 for downed wires, traffic lights out, apparent road rage, suspicious behavior, smoke in the air, small children out of their carseats, and every single accident I see.
3. Sometimes when I have conversations in my head, I'll speak out loud. Randomly. We'll be driving along the open road, and I'll be lost in my thoughts, oblivious to passengers, seeing nothing that would jar me into 911 mode.... For example, I might be on the beltway heading to a friend's, thinking about joining a quilting guild one of these days, and in my head I'm conversing with the women about quilt patterns and colorways.
"How about a rail fence in blues, greens, and tans?" I say.
"What are you talking about?...... Who are you talking TO?........ Who said anything about fences?" my passengers have asked, looking perplexed.
I think Sarah and Stephen were actually getting spooked by it, so I have tried to curb it. It's kinda freaky to me, too. (Makes me wonder if it's an early indicator of Alzheimer's.)
4. Some days I just want to move. As in, leave the state, the country. Just for the fun of exploring God's great earth. It's highly motivating to me, so I start rapidly dejunking as if I'm going to be moving. I get it from my mom. We moved 11 times by the time I was 13. I remember just a few of our moves. The only really painful one was from Kansas to Maryland at the end of 4th grade.
5. I would love to try living in every possible arrangement. So far I've lived in: a city apartment alone, a city apartment with friends, an apartment house for internationals (my parents owned it and called it International Friendship House), a farmhouse, a split level in the country, a college dorm with roommates, a dorm room alone, a small town parsonage, government housing, a seminary campus apartment, a rancher in the burbs, a duplex, and single family homes. At times the eccentric author in me wants to take on a new ID and write memoirs of my experiences in disguise. Where would I live? on an island; on a houseboat; in the bush; in a homeless shelter; in a palace; in host families' homes all over the world. 'The only place I would avoid experiencing is prison. My fertile imagination ....
6. I like to eat okra right off the stalk, with salt, in the garden. Haven't done that since 1977.
7. My father-in-law, God rest his soul, was right when he told me I was born with a horseshoe up my butt. Whether it's by strategy, knowledge, or luck (99% luck), I seem to win almost every contest I enter. At baby and bridal showers, find myself taking home candles, note cards, bubble bath, you name it. I've also won countless raffles. Paul has benefited from my horseshoe; when we were dirt poor with two preschoolers and a babe on the way, he ran a 10K race and hung around for prizes afterward. We won an all-expenses paid trip to Tampa, Florida. How does this happen? It's weird. One time I went to a shower and said to myself, "Don't play any games or answer any questions. Just keep quiet in the back. " When I got there, I hung out in the back, unusually quiet. All I had done was write a recipe for the bride to be on an index card, and dropped it in the basket. Just like everyone else. Well, wouldn't you know, after passing up all the games, zipping my lip when I wanted to blurt out my guess to a question, the emcee says, "and one more thing...we're going to draw a recipe card out of this basket, and whoever's name is on it wins this last prize." I hung my head as she read, "and the winner is....." Too bad they don't give away Jags at these things.
I tag you if you have ever won a contest of any kind or if you like okra in any form.
2. I am 911 Queen. It's downright embarrassing the number of times I've called 911 while on the road. I'm a real tattler of speeders and love to say, "Yes, he's zooming past exit 74 on I-95, southbound, late-model red Chevy..... No, of course I didn't get the tag number. He was speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeddddinnnnggg!" I've called 911 for downed wires, traffic lights out, apparent road rage, suspicious behavior, smoke in the air, small children out of their carseats, and every single accident I see.
3. Sometimes when I have conversations in my head, I'll speak out loud. Randomly. We'll be driving along the open road, and I'll be lost in my thoughts, oblivious to passengers, seeing nothing that would jar me into 911 mode.... For example, I might be on the beltway heading to a friend's, thinking about joining a quilting guild one of these days, and in my head I'm conversing with the women about quilt patterns and colorways.
"How about a rail fence in blues, greens, and tans?" I say.
"What are you talking about?...... Who are you talking TO?........ Who said anything about fences?" my passengers have asked, looking perplexed.
I think Sarah and Stephen were actually getting spooked by it, so I have tried to curb it. It's kinda freaky to me, too. (Makes me wonder if it's an early indicator of Alzheimer's.)
4. Some days I just want to move. As in, leave the state, the country. Just for the fun of exploring God's great earth. It's highly motivating to me, so I start rapidly dejunking as if I'm going to be moving. I get it from my mom. We moved 11 times by the time I was 13. I remember just a few of our moves. The only really painful one was from Kansas to Maryland at the end of 4th grade.
5. I would love to try living in every possible arrangement. So far I've lived in: a city apartment alone, a city apartment with friends, an apartment house for internationals (my parents owned it and called it International Friendship House), a farmhouse, a split level in the country, a college dorm with roommates, a dorm room alone, a small town parsonage, government housing, a seminary campus apartment, a rancher in the burbs, a duplex, and single family homes. At times the eccentric author in me wants to take on a new ID and write memoirs of my experiences in disguise. Where would I live? on an island; on a houseboat; in the bush; in a homeless shelter; in a palace; in host families' homes all over the world. 'The only place I would avoid experiencing is prison. My fertile imagination ....
6. I like to eat okra right off the stalk, with salt, in the garden. Haven't done that since 1977.
7. My father-in-law, God rest his soul, was right when he told me I was born with a horseshoe up my butt. Whether it's by strategy, knowledge, or luck (99% luck), I seem to win almost every contest I enter. At baby and bridal showers, find myself taking home candles, note cards, bubble bath, you name it. I've also won countless raffles. Paul has benefited from my horseshoe; when we were dirt poor with two preschoolers and a babe on the way, he ran a 10K race and hung around for prizes afterward. We won an all-expenses paid trip to Tampa, Florida. How does this happen? It's weird. One time I went to a shower and said to myself, "Don't play any games or answer any questions. Just keep quiet in the back. " When I got there, I hung out in the back, unusually quiet. All I had done was write a recipe for the bride to be on an index card, and dropped it in the basket. Just like everyone else. Well, wouldn't you know, after passing up all the games, zipping my lip when I wanted to blurt out my guess to a question, the emcee says, "and one more thing...we're going to draw a recipe card out of this basket, and whoever's name is on it wins this last prize." I hung my head as she read, "and the winner is....." Too bad they don't give away Jags at these things.
I tag you if you have ever won a contest of any kind or if you like okra in any form.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wish List Tag
Beth tagged me. This one asks the taggee to create two lists: one materialistic, the other spiritual or altruistic. However, I personally have to be careful because if I dwell on it too long, it fuels discontentment. So I'm going to put a gratitude statement after each one.
1. I wish I had a new kitchen with beautiful cherry cabinets, granite countertops, more drawers, and an island.
I am very grateful for the kitchen I have. Enough cabinets to house what I have (almost) but not so many that I can further indulge my love of dishes, gadgets, and small appliances.
2. I wish I had a laundry room on the same level as the bedrooms and bathroom, as opposed to having it in two flights down in the basement.
The truth is, if doing laundry were easy, we'd probably accumulate more clothes. We have too many as it is. Besides, I need the exercise, and Paul doesn't have the worry of a 3rd floor laundry room flooding the lower levels.
3. I wish I had some whiteware dishes. Food just looks superb against white. But, I am thankful for the dishes I have--three sets, including china--and the free hutch and buffet given me by my dear friend Bonnie.
4. I wish we could figure out how to make our family room suit everyone. I'm not comfortable in it because of the mismatched styles and the broken door on the TV armoire and the lack of art. However, I am very thankful for all the good times we've had as a family in that room and that we hang out together regularly.
5. I wish we had twice as many children, including adopted ones. But I am grateful for every baby I carried, even the ones who weren't born, for their brief lives took me into a closer relationship with God. I also love, love, love the four children we have-- and have not given up on the notion that God may still want to add to our quiver through adoption.
I am extremely blessed and am glad I don't dwell on what I don't have.
Spriritual Wish List
1. I wish I had a quiet and gentle spirit. But I'm thankful for the hope to change.
2. I wish it was easy to submit to my husband. But I'm glad that he's patient with me.
3. I wish all 4 of our kids were believers. Grateful that it seems that the Holy Spirit is really acting on my youngest one's heart for salvation.
4. I wish I loved my neighbor as myself. I'm thankful for First Corinthians 13 that tells me what that looks like, and for Jesus who modeled it in his humanity.
5. I wish I was faithful in all the little things. I'm grateful for every victory that God has given me in little things, and that He keeps giving me new opportunities to improve in faithfulness.
I tag Leanne, Betty, and Tori. Feel no pressure, though. Not everyone likes tags.
1. I wish I had a new kitchen with beautiful cherry cabinets, granite countertops, more drawers, and an island.
I am very grateful for the kitchen I have. Enough cabinets to house what I have (almost) but not so many that I can further indulge my love of dishes, gadgets, and small appliances.
2. I wish I had a laundry room on the same level as the bedrooms and bathroom, as opposed to having it in two flights down in the basement.
The truth is, if doing laundry were easy, we'd probably accumulate more clothes. We have too many as it is. Besides, I need the exercise, and Paul doesn't have the worry of a 3rd floor laundry room flooding the lower levels.
3. I wish I had some whiteware dishes. Food just looks superb against white. But, I am thankful for the dishes I have--three sets, including china--and the free hutch and buffet given me by my dear friend Bonnie.
4. I wish we could figure out how to make our family room suit everyone. I'm not comfortable in it because of the mismatched styles and the broken door on the TV armoire and the lack of art. However, I am very thankful for all the good times we've had as a family in that room and that we hang out together regularly.
5. I wish we had twice as many children, including adopted ones. But I am grateful for every baby I carried, even the ones who weren't born, for their brief lives took me into a closer relationship with God. I also love, love, love the four children we have-- and have not given up on the notion that God may still want to add to our quiver through adoption.
I am extremely blessed and am glad I don't dwell on what I don't have.
Spriritual Wish List
1. I wish I had a quiet and gentle spirit. But I'm thankful for the hope to change.
2. I wish it was easy to submit to my husband. But I'm glad that he's patient with me.
3. I wish all 4 of our kids were believers. Grateful that it seems that the Holy Spirit is really acting on my youngest one's heart for salvation.
4. I wish I loved my neighbor as myself. I'm thankful for First Corinthians 13 that tells me what that looks like, and for Jesus who modeled it in his humanity.
5. I wish I was faithful in all the little things. I'm grateful for every victory that God has given me in little things, and that He keeps giving me new opportunities to improve in faithfulness.
I tag Leanne, Betty, and Tori. Feel no pressure, though. Not everyone likes tags.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Okay, so after a Tongue-Lashing...
I've got young moms on the heart, but I guess not the brain. Sorry if my tag on Summer Sammich stressed any of you young moms out.
Let's go with non-moms this time: Libby, Sacha, Sarah, and Leanne. Two S's and two L's. I didn't plan it this way. 2
Let's go with non-moms this time: Libby, Sacha, Sarah, and Leanne. Two S's and two L's. I didn't plan it this way. 2
Thursday, July 12, 2007
8 Things You Might Not Know About Me
1. I like to talk.
2. I am opinionated.
3. I am overweight.
4. I like to give gifts.
5. I love the Lord.
6. I cry easily.
7. I also laugh easily.
8. I take a nap 3 or 4 days a week.
Okay, this wasn't supposed a "duh" list, was it? How about this?
1. I love long road trips, but fall asleep within an hour into one.
2. If I could change races for week, I'd be Indian. (As in, from India, not native American.)
3. I look forward to going to the dentist.
4. Working for money for my own sake doesn't motivate me; working for a worthy cause does.
5. When it comes to shopping, I'd rather buy for other people than for myself.
6. Clipping a dog's hair mats makes me gag.
7. I have a paralyzing fear of jellyfish.
8. I love cars, especially old pink ones.
Friends: please repost on your blog.
2. I am opinionated.
3. I am overweight.
4. I like to give gifts.
5. I love the Lord.
6. I cry easily.
7. I also laugh easily.
8. I take a nap 3 or 4 days a week.
Okay, this wasn't supposed a "duh" list, was it? How about this?
1. I love long road trips, but fall asleep within an hour into one.
2. If I could change races for week, I'd be Indian. (As in, from India, not native American.)
3. I look forward to going to the dentist.
4. Working for money for my own sake doesn't motivate me; working for a worthy cause does.
5. When it comes to shopping, I'd rather buy for other people than for myself.
6. Clipping a dog's hair mats makes me gag.
7. I have a paralyzing fear of jellyfish.
8. I love cars, especially old pink ones.
Friends: please repost on your blog.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Answering Bri's Tag
. Where do you work? I don't. I goof off all day, every day.
2. What color are your socks right now? Which socks? I have lots of them, but no two that like to spend time together.
3.What are you listening to right now? Joel strumming his dad's electric guitar and saying, "Ya like that sound, Mom?"
4. What was the last thing that you ate? chicken and dumplins.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Oh, yeah. Nothing like it.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? fire engine red
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Sandy Barranco. Around noon.
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course!
9. How old are you today? 41.75
10. Favorite drink? Dunkins Original Blend with CoffeeMate Hazelnut creamer anytime; when I'm hot, ice cold water or my daughter's Southern swate tay
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? lacrosse
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Twice. Not fond of the result either time.
13. Any pets? One Golden Retriever named Molly.
14. Favorite food? Just one? Let me make it a combo: an appetizer of nachos with all the toppings, Beef Burguday over garlic mashed potatoes, a side salad of Romaine hearts wtih bacon, mushroom and honey dijon dressing homemade, Sandy Browne's Apple Crumble with Breyer's or Edy's real vanilla ice cream or ROY's chocolate lava souffle.
15. What was the last movie you watched? Amazing Grace. I'm so not a movie buff.
16. Favorite day of the year? Easter Sunday
17. What do you do to vent anger? Same as Bri, who said, "Oh, not anything productive or God-glorifying most of the time: throw things, hit things, slam dishes, doors, yell. Occasionally, I'll clean like a crazy woman". But I will add to that my other ways of venting: I have been known to drive to Arbutus at midnight with less than 1/8 of a tank of gas. I have called Barb to ask her to meet me at the airport in 4 hours. But often I cry when I can't stands no mo'. Sometimes I cuss.
18. Favorite childhood toy? Barbies (and Ken). We always had lik 12 Barbies and one Ken. What was up with that? He had a tan,decent muscles, and thick hair but absolutely no skills or money. Not exactly who I'd pick to woo me in my 40s.
19. Cherries or Blueberries? bing cherries picked right off a Kansas tree; blueberries in muffins or pie or on top of Grape Nuts with yogurt
20. Do you want your friends to post this? Pretty please?
21. Who is most likely to respond? Most people I know have already done this.
22. Who is least likely to respond? Laurie
23. Living arrangements? house on a slope in the burbs with hubby and 4 wonderful kids and a big old lovey dovey dog
24. When was the last time you cried? last week remembering an old wound
25. What is on the floor of your closet? less than the last time I answered this question, but still more than there oughta be
26. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Barb in KS is the friend I've had longest. Barb, if you're reading this, figure out how to register on Blogger and do this!!! You have every talent know to man or woman. If you can gut a deer when you're 7 months pregnant, you can figure out Blogger.
27. What did you do last night? Fell asleep on the sofa at 7 pm after getting home from a day of service at the GAiN warehouse with the CDS.
28. Favorite smells: gasoline, rubber, horse sweat, baby's nursey milky breath, apple pie with cinnamon, Downy fresh laundry, my husband, most men's cologne, mown grass, sawdust, vanilla candles, a crackling bonfire, a swimming pool, and much more...
29. What do you regret the most in life? the years between 14 and 20.
30. What are you most afraid of? Alzheimer's, if it made me forget God and all His benefits.
31. What are your favorite types of hamburgers? charbroiled on the 4th of July
32. Favorite breed of dog? Goldens
33. Number of keys on your key ring? 1
34. How many years at your current job? 21.5
35. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
36. Which states have you lived in? Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri
37. Favorite Holiday? Thanksgiving. Lots of people, lots of food, lots of good memories, lots of thanks, no obligatory gift giving
38. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? Does a vacuum cleaner count as heavy machinery?
2. What color are your socks right now? Which socks? I have lots of them, but no two that like to spend time together.
3.What are you listening to right now? Joel strumming his dad's electric guitar and saying, "Ya like that sound, Mom?"
4. What was the last thing that you ate? chicken and dumplins.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Oh, yeah. Nothing like it.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? fire engine red
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Sandy Barranco. Around noon.
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Of course!
9. How old are you today? 41.75
10. Favorite drink? Dunkins Original Blend with CoffeeMate Hazelnut creamer anytime; when I'm hot, ice cold water or my daughter's Southern swate tay
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? lacrosse
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Twice. Not fond of the result either time.
13. Any pets? One Golden Retriever named Molly.
14. Favorite food? Just one? Let me make it a combo: an appetizer of nachos with all the toppings, Beef Burguday over garlic mashed potatoes, a side salad of Romaine hearts wtih bacon, mushroom and honey dijon dressing homemade, Sandy Browne's Apple Crumble with Breyer's or Edy's real vanilla ice cream or ROY's chocolate lava souffle.
15. What was the last movie you watched? Amazing Grace. I'm so not a movie buff.
16. Favorite day of the year? Easter Sunday
17. What do you do to vent anger? Same as Bri, who said, "Oh, not anything productive or God-glorifying most of the time: throw things, hit things, slam dishes, doors, yell. Occasionally, I'll clean like a crazy woman". But I will add to that my other ways of venting: I have been known to drive to Arbutus at midnight with less than 1/8 of a tank of gas. I have called Barb to ask her to meet me at the airport in 4 hours. But often I cry when I can't stands no mo'. Sometimes I cuss.
18. Favorite childhood toy? Barbies (and Ken). We always had lik 12 Barbies and one Ken. What was up with that? He had a tan,decent muscles, and thick hair but absolutely no skills or money. Not exactly who I'd pick to woo me in my 40s.
19. Cherries or Blueberries? bing cherries picked right off a Kansas tree; blueberries in muffins or pie or on top of Grape Nuts with yogurt
20. Do you want your friends to post this? Pretty please?
21. Who is most likely to respond? Most people I know have already done this.
22. Who is least likely to respond? Laurie
23. Living arrangements? house on a slope in the burbs with hubby and 4 wonderful kids and a big old lovey dovey dog
24. When was the last time you cried? last week remembering an old wound
25. What is on the floor of your closet? less than the last time I answered this question, but still more than there oughta be
26. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Barb in KS is the friend I've had longest. Barb, if you're reading this, figure out how to register on Blogger and do this!!! You have every talent know to man or woman. If you can gut a deer when you're 7 months pregnant, you can figure out Blogger.
27. What did you do last night? Fell asleep on the sofa at 7 pm after getting home from a day of service at the GAiN warehouse with the CDS.
28. Favorite smells: gasoline, rubber, horse sweat, baby's nursey milky breath, apple pie with cinnamon, Downy fresh laundry, my husband, most men's cologne, mown grass, sawdust, vanilla candles, a crackling bonfire, a swimming pool, and much more...
29. What do you regret the most in life? the years between 14 and 20.
30. What are you most afraid of? Alzheimer's, if it made me forget God and all His benefits.
31. What are your favorite types of hamburgers? charbroiled on the 4th of July
32. Favorite breed of dog? Goldens
33. Number of keys on your key ring? 1
34. How many years at your current job? 21.5
35. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
36. Which states have you lived in? Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Missouri
37. Favorite Holiday? Thanksgiving. Lots of people, lots of food, lots of good memories, lots of thanks, no obligatory gift giving
38. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? Does a vacuum cleaner count as heavy machinery?
Sunday, February 04, 2007
All About Me: Narcissism Guess Tag, Part 1
Just finished a bowl of Rachael Ray's French Onion Soup with an Italian Attitude. Yum! Decided against making the chili since no orders came in.
Anyway, I started wondering what little known facts there are about you frequent readers. I love finding out tidbits about people. Sometimes I find myself thinking or saying, "I can see you doing that." Or "That really surprises me about you!" Those tidbits might be considered trivial, but I refuse to call them trivial. Every life is a masterpiece and every experience in that life, no matter how small, is like a brushstroke of God's magnificent paintbrush.
Here is a five-category test about me. Narcissistic? Yes. Nostalgic? You betcha. Nonsense? I hope not. This tag I made up.
Multiple choice. My answers are in the comment box.
1. Which dramatic role have I never had?
a. Rumpelstiltskin, title role, 4th grade skit
b. Amaryllis, piano lesson girl in "The Music Man", 6th grade, community musical
c Fairy in "Dance of the Swan" , 3rd grade ballet
d. Emily in "Our Town," high school play
2. On which athletic team did I never compete?
a. softball
b. field hockey
c. tennis
d. swimming
3. What kind of lessons have I never taken?
a. piano
b. riding
c. tap dance
d. etiquette
4. Which type of vehicle have I never driven?
a. stick shift car
b. dirt bike
c. pickup truck
d. ATV
5. What is my favorite genre of literature?
a. historical fiction
b. science fiction
c. romantic fiction
d. nonfiction
Tag yourself. Feel free to use these categories, or make up five of your own.
Anyway, I started wondering what little known facts there are about you frequent readers. I love finding out tidbits about people. Sometimes I find myself thinking or saying, "I can see you doing that." Or "That really surprises me about you!" Those tidbits might be considered trivial, but I refuse to call them trivial. Every life is a masterpiece and every experience in that life, no matter how small, is like a brushstroke of God's magnificent paintbrush.
Here is a five-category test about me. Narcissistic? Yes. Nostalgic? You betcha. Nonsense? I hope not. This tag I made up.
Multiple choice. My answers are in the comment box.
1. Which dramatic role have I never had?
a. Rumpelstiltskin, title role, 4th grade skit
b. Amaryllis, piano lesson girl in "The Music Man", 6th grade, community musical
c Fairy in "Dance of the Swan" , 3rd grade ballet
d. Emily in "Our Town," high school play
2. On which athletic team did I never compete?
a. softball
b. field hockey
c. tennis
d. swimming
3. What kind of lessons have I never taken?
a. piano
b. riding
c. tap dance
d. etiquette
4. Which type of vehicle have I never driven?
a. stick shift car
b. dirt bike
c. pickup truck
d. ATV
5. What is my favorite genre of literature?
a. historical fiction
b. science fiction
c. romantic fiction
d. nonfiction
Tag yourself. Feel free to use these categories, or make up five of your own.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
WooHoo! I've Been Tagged!
EDIT: I TAG 2 more freinds. Your last names start with B.
Thanks, FishMama! What a silly thrill it gives me, like getting tagged on the playground during a game of Red Rover.
Book Meme
EDIT: I TAG 2 friends whose last names start with B: DONNA and KATE.
Here's how this tag goes:
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
On page 123 is only one short paragraph and then a diagram called Desk Setup. Um...not exactly what I had in mind. So I'll go back a page. (I adopt the right to tweak the rules, just like FishMama did!)
The book: Simplify Your Life
Author: Marcia Ramsland
Page 122, sentence 4, plus the next 3.
Thanks, FishMama! What a silly thrill it gives me, like getting tagged on the playground during a game of Red Rover.
Book Meme
EDIT: I TAG 2 friends whose last names start with B: DONNA and KATE.
Here's how this tag goes:
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
On page 123 is only one short paragraph and then a diagram called Desk Setup. Um...not exactly what I had in mind. So I'll go back a page. (I adopt the right to tweak the rules, just like FishMama did!)
The book: Simplify Your Life
Author: Marcia Ramsland
Page 122, sentence 4, plus the next 3.
"'If I can't manage this better, I am going to have to look for another
job.
The stress is killing me."
All three women were in despereate need of organizing their workplace, and they needed help right away. The good news was that there were ways to streamline how they went about their work, but they just hadn't had the opportunity to learn them yet. They agreed that a lack of organization results in the stress of misplaced items, deadline pressures, and busyness without satisfaction. "I tag Beth K, Renee in France, and Sarah, my daughter. Let me know if and when you do this and if I can link to you.
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