It’s All About Me

Do you close the bathroom door when you’re home alone?

Nah. The cats would not have been able to keep me company otherwise…

Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?

Again, SERIOUSLY??? What kind of idiotic question is that?!? I’m not even going to dignify that one with an answer…

Dream job (realistic or fantasy, your choice)

An arts and craft teacher for children. When it was my turn to help out at the preschool when the kids were little, I loved the craft/art time. When Lia came along, I started collecting tons of ideas and examples from the internet and have had a GREAT time with her. I think I would be a very good teacher for that. I would also enjoy sharing how to make altered books with adults.

What's the worst thing your kid has gotten into when you turned your back, went to the bathroom, started dinner, etc.?

Paul was EXPERT at this!! My three favorites: #1 – He got into the fridge drawer where the bag of chocolate chips was. Took them out and scattered them ALL OVER THE FAMILY ROOM FLOOR. The carpet is dark, so I really didn’t realize this until I started walking (barefoot) in the room. #2 – We were playing games with friends at the table while Paul opened the zipper of one of the bean bag chairs and spread the little Styrofoam beads ALL OVER THE FAMILY ROOM FLOOR. Our friends got down on the floor with us to scoop it all up. There was too much to try and vacuum it up. #3 – Paul was a bit of a drooler when he was very little and had a perpetual rash on his chest because his shirt was always wet. We would smear diaper rash cream on it to soothe it. Apparently he decided to self-medicate one time…all over the lower half of his face, his neck and his chest. Somewhere in the black hole where pictures hide, there is a picture of this episode…

Was your child’s (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate?

Right from the beginning, we knew that if the first child was a girl, her name would be Sarah. It was our favorite Bible name for a girl. Her middle name would be Louise, which is my and my mom’s middle name. What we struggled with was a name if it was a boy. We liked the name Paul, because that was the name of Marv’s dad, but we felt that Marv’s older brother had dibs on that. We sort of liked David or James, but never really came to a firm decision. Thankfully, Sarah was born first. When I was pregnant the second time, so was my sister-in-law. She went into labor first, they named their son John, so we felt we could use the name Paul. We could NOT come to an agreement on a girl’s name. Sarah was always our first and only choice. As we were driving to the hospital and arguing about a girl’s name, we half-heartedly decided on Susan. Hadn’t a clue for a middle name. Once, again, thankfully it was Paul who arrived. His middle name was going to be Jacob, which was my grandfather’s name, but Paul was born on his grandfather Joseph’s birthday, so Joseph it was.

Next Round (AKA who cares?!?)

Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" kind of person?

Growing up, baths were what was going on. There was a little enamel pot that we used to rinse our hair when washing it in the bath. I enjoyed baths, especially the treat of a bubble bath. When I was grown, I still enjoyed a nice long soak. The times I had to wash my hair, it was a shower. It’s mostly showers now, because of my mobility issues. I would love a good soaking tub that would be easy to get in and out of.

Camping or 5 star hotel?

I used to enjoy the small amount of camping we did when the kids were little. As time went on, I could no longer sleep on the ground, it had to be in a cot. I doubt I could even manage that now. I’d love to camp if it involved a cabin or RV. I love being out in nature.

I have NEVER been in a 5 star hotel. I would love to give it a try, though. When our niece got married we stayed in a VERY nice hotel with an outstanding breakfast bar. That’s about as ritzy as we’ve gone. I’d love to have the money to stay in a great place, have room service meals, big fluffy robes, etc.

Have you ever donated blood?

I used to do that on a regular basis, and I have the t-shirts to prove it! When Paul was still here, he would donate regularly because he said he was a universal donor (O-). When I said I was too, he said “Then WHY aren’t you donating?!?” So he guilted me into going with him. We would sit in the chairs opposite each other and see how fast we could fill up our bags by pumping the little balls they gave you to squeeze. After he was gone, I still went regularly. I can no longer donate because of my health and the medication I’m on.

Have you ever had surgery?

You betcha! #1 – Tonsils age 5.  #2 – Wisdom teeth in my teens.  #3 – Hysterectomy in my 40s.  #4 – (L) Knee replacement 2006.  #5 – Bronchoscopy 2018 (not technically a surgery, but I was sedated and almost had to spend the night because of my blood pressure.  #6 – Lung biopsy 2018. DONE BY A ROBOT!!

That’s it so far…got another one coming up though as of Sept. 26. #7 – (R) Knee replacement!

When did you move out of your parents’ house?

When I got married in 1976. I’d never been on my own. Went from my father’s house to my husband’s house. But I did know how to cook!

Blogfodder

I came across a dead blog that had some good questions to spark my writing. Because of my age, a lot of them just no longer apply to me. Others were pretty interesting. Hope you think the same. I’ll be spreading these out over several blogs.

Fave Winter/Summer Drink

First of all…COFFEE any time of day, night or season. Otherwise:

Winter: Hot tea with a splash of Jack Daniel’s. Hot chocolate, maybe with a splash of Kahlua.

Summer: Iced coffee, soda, any kind of fruity alcohol drink.

Where do you escape to when you’ve had enough?

Usually books. I used to enjoy kicking back and listening to music, but my mind doesn’t cooperate and keeps running in circles. Sometimes I’ll zone out to reruns of Castle or Bones. I recently got the entire series of Psych and will start on those.

Ice cream: bowl or cone?

I love ice cream, but only in certain ways. I’ve never cared for it in a bowl and just eating it. I prefer it as a sundae, on a piece of hot pie, a float of some kind. I do like having it in the cheap cones that fall apart easily. It limits the amount of ice cream I have and I just like the taste of the cones. Fave flavors? Rum Raisin, Black Cherry, Vanilla Bean, Cotton Candy.

Least fave/most fave house chore

Seriously?? Do you NOT know the meaning of the word “chore”??? Ironing is at the top of the list as THE most hated chore. Hate, hate, hate. I’d rather clean the toilet than iron, and I’m NOT fond of cleaning the toilet. And while it’s not exactly a favorite, I guess laundry is the chore I mind the least. Pretty much of a no-brainer. Put the clothes in the washer, then put them in the dryer. Not fond of the sorting out afterward, folding, hanging in the closet, etc.

If you had the extra money, what would you chose – landscaping or a pool?

In my younger years, when the kids were here, it would definitely have been a pool. Now, though, it would be landscaping. A nice little area in the back yard with a small paved patio, nice shade, a cute little table for drinks, comfortable chairs. And fairy lights! I would LOVE to have a space with fairy lights all around for the evening. THAT would be the place I would escape to when I’d had enough.

August 2019 Book Report

YA special! Lately, when Lia visits, she brings along several books that she is in the process of reading and/or thinks I will like. Her reading tastes have matured a great deal over the last couple of years. We have a lot of fun discussing them afterward.

Bigger Than a Breadbox (2012) by Laurel Snyder

Rebecca is struggling with the separation of her parents, living with her maternal grandmother and having to leave her father behind. She finds an old wooden breadbox in her grandmother’s attic and discovers that if she wishes for something that would fit in this breadbox, it will appear. She discovers also that there is a price to pay for all these wishes.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Wishing Day (2017) by Lauren Myracle

On the 3^rd night of the 3^rd month after a girl turns 13, she gets to make 3 wishes at the Wishing Tree. One impossible wish; one wish she can make come true herself; one deep wish of her secret heart. Natasha doesn’t know if she believes all of this, but is willing to try it out. First book in a trilogy.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Ordinary Magic (2012) by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

In a world where everyone has some kind of magic, the few who are born without magic are outcasts. When a child turns 12, they are given a test to see what kind of magic they possess. If it turns out they are an “ord” or ordinary person, they are usually sent away from their family or are sold as slaves. Abby is very much loved by her family, though, and is instead sent to a “special” school to learn how to live a full life without magic. I was very disappointed to learn that there are no sequels to this book. I would love to learn more about what happens to all the characters.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Breakout (2018) by Kate Messner

Wolf Creek Middle School is contributing to the community time capsule project. Nora is excited by this because she wants to be a reporter some day and writes several letters to future residents of the town. When two inmates from the nearby prison escape, everything in this formerly sleepy, friendly, easy going town changes. People start locking their doors for the first time. The book consists of sticky notes, letters, news articles and the like that Nora gathers together to put in the time capsule. Very cleverly done. Great book to get kids thinking.

 ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The Secret of Nightingale Wood (2016) by Lucy Strange

Very cool book. The year is 1919 and 12 year old Henrietta (known as Henry to her family), her parents, her baby sister and Nanny Jane move from London to the countryside after the tragic death of Henry’s brother and the complete breakdown of their mother. While all the adults are concerned and caring for the mother, Henry is left alone a lot and seems drawn to the mysterious Nightingale Wood near the house. She sees smoke coming a campfire in the middle of it. She investigates and thinks she discovers a witch living there. She starts seeing the spirit of her brother, Robert. No one will tell her what is wrong with her mother or even let her see her mother. She finally takes matters into her own hands and rescues her mother from an asylum.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~