I like a good list, kinda like I like books and chocolate and other such favourite things...you may already have noticed this from previous blog entries. So when I came across another list put out by a few other blogging moms out there, I immediately gravitated to it and stole it for my own - thank you for the idea "mom to the screaming masses" and "little texas love nest."
1. Name someone with the same birthday as you:
2. Where was your first kiss?
In the back of a friend's pickup truck. Uh...actually, maybe that's not quite the right answer...do awkward two-minutes-in-the-closet activities related to the game of spin-the-bottle count?
3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property?
Hmm, should I really answer this one? I'd like to quibble on one point first - what does 'seriously' mean? The truth is that when I was in bible college (yes, I get the irony), a good friend taught me how to pick locks. He and I regularly 'entered' the administrative building at night to do whacky things to the classrooms and offices, or to hang people's stolen underwear, and perform other such shenanigans. Our 'signature' was the drawing of a stick person with a halo over his/her head...our moniker was "the saint." There...I've confessed my dirty little secret. I'd say I'm sorry, but it was really too much fun for regrets!
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
Only once that I can recall. In a moment of reactionary anger to being scratched all the way down my face, I spanked Matthew on the bum once, when he was eighteen months old. His reaction? A heartbeat of time later, he bent down from where I was holding him in my arms, and he bit me on the shoulder. It was in that moment that my unresolved feelings about spanking became resolved...I decided never to spank him again because all it did was make him act violently in return.
5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
Sigh. Yes. I used to sing in choirs, and, as kids, my sister and I were regularly asked to sing (or play, on flutes) duets for various church or family functions. I remember on one particular occasion singing at a cousin's wedding when I was about twelve and my sister about ten; we sang some song about various things they'd need in their marriage (like kleenex, toilet paper, etc - we even used props). It seemed to amuse the crowd at the time, but in hindsight I wonder if they were laughing at us rather than with us!
6. What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex?
Eyes - it's certainly one of the things that I find attractive about Geoff - his beautiful, seriously-blue eyes. After eyes, I'd have to say it would be teeth - I enjoy a good smile!
7. What really turns you off?
People who act like victims rather than taking responsibility for themselves. I see it all too often in certain clients (and in some of my personal acquaintance) and it's a real button pusher for me (I have to manage that while working!).
8. What do you order at Starbucks?
Over the Christmas season, it's a Grande Egg Nog latte, lite, extra hot, with lite whip. At other times of the year, I'll occasionally indulge in a Grande non-fat Peppermint Mocha, extra hot, lite whip. Yummm, just the thought of either of these is really appealing.
9. What is your biggest mistake?
Well, I've definitely made a couple of biggies, but I'd rather keep the big ones private, if you don't mind. Amongst the lesser of the evils, a couple that jump to mind are: focusing too much on what others wanted from me rather than what I wanted, when I was deciding what degrees to take in university way back when; and about a thousand instances of being too insistent on my own viewpoint rather than listening first to what the other person has to say.
10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
If one counts eating to excess at times, yes. Otherwise, no. One might also wonder about youthful decisions to do certain things, horseback riding for example...oh wait, I couldn't have anticipated falling off of one and breaking a limb, it just happened.
11. Say something totally random about yourself.
I confessed this once before for those who were reading earlier posts: I had the longest ear lobes in grade ten (measured by Don Derksen); now that you have pictures of me (see recent post), you can ascertain this truth for yourself. Good news is that I guess I could fit multiple sets of earrings in those lobes, should I ever want to.
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
In my twenties and early thirties, I used to get told regularly that I looked like Helen Hunt - it was something about the nose, eyes, and voice, I was told. Since gaining weight in the years since then, I don't get that comment any more.
13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?
Independently of Matthew? Resolutely no. As I write this though, I am sitting in a half-reclined position on the family room couch, with Matthew sitting on top of my legs and, because we're both sick, we're watching Treehouse's "Olivia" show. Darn, now that song ("O-livia - - O-livia") is going to be going through my head for the next twenty-four hours.
14. Did you have braces?
Nope...escaped this torture. I didn't even have any cavities until I was in my twenties (still only have three). My dentist (past and present) likes to say, when he sees my teeth and overbite: "God they're beautiful; I wish all of my patients had your bite." My overbite is apparently a claim to beauty...but don't look too carefully at my mouth...my teeth need whitening again.
15. Are you comfortable with your height? (5'7")
I am, though as another blogger wrote, I wish I were a bit taller so that I could justify some of the extra weight!
16. What's the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you?
When my husband and I were standing at the altar getting married and the pastor asked if he would take me as his wife, he answered in a loud and confident tone: "Absolutely." Bet he's regretted that a time or two! More recently, on Sunday evening, after coming home from our trip, Geoff volunteered (volunteered) to venture out into the -20something weather to go and pick the cat up from her vacation home twenty minutes' drive away (in a very cold car). That's pretty darn romantic to me, to be honest.
17. When do you know it's love?
When you decide that, for better and for worse, in good times and in the really bad times, you want to stick it out with the person you're married to.
18. Do you speak any other language?
My first language was German, but I'm not comfortable talking it any more. I still understand a fair bit of it.
19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
Yes, three or four times about twenty years ago, before I went to Hawaii for the first time. Since then, not again...for which my skin doubtless thanks me.
20. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yes, on route to my law school grad, with my date/best-friend-at-the-time/fellow graduate, Edward. He surprised me with the long black limo...complete with champagne!
21. What's something that really annoys you?
Absolutely the answer to this is: slow drivers who don't pull into the right lane of the road as per proper road etiquette and who, therefore, prevent me from travelling at the higher speeds that I prefer. Don't worry - I'm not prone to road rage; it just bugs me.
22. What's something you really like?
Oh that's easy, a zillion things: Time to read; the smell of butter in a frying pan; going to the movies; seeing my kid laughing; the uncommon sight of my home being tidy and clean.
23. Can you dance?
No, I grew up in a Mennonite home, didn't you know? Drinking and dancing were "verboten" (forbidden). Of course, a couple of things have changed since I was a kid. First, I do drink a very occasional glass of wine. Second, I recognize that I would have loved learning how to dance because I love music and I love to move to music. So when it's just me in the house alone, I love to turn on music and dance in the privacy of my own home. Alternatively, when it's me and Matthew at home alone, I can tell you in confidence that there are days that we dance and dance and dance! We twirl and gyrate our way around the family room floor, being goofy and laughing ourselves silly. Skill doesn't seem to matter - I love those moments.
24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
Nope. I've been in the emergency room a few times, but not via ambulance.
25. Tag five people
Well, on this front, I don't really want to impose this requirement on anyone...but for anyone who'd like to tackle this list, it's kinda fun. I'd love to read your responses!
1. Name someone with the same birthday as you:
- Astronaut Neil Armstrong
- "WKRP in Cincinatti" actor Loni Anderson
- My childhood best friend, Karen Mehta (born on the same day in the same year)
In the back of a friend's pickup truck. Uh...actually, maybe that's not quite the right answer...do awkward two-minutes-in-the-closet activities related to the game of spin-the-bottle count?
3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else's property?
Hmm, should I really answer this one? I'd like to quibble on one point first - what does 'seriously' mean? The truth is that when I was in bible college (yes, I get the irony), a good friend taught me how to pick locks. He and I regularly 'entered' the administrative building at night to do whacky things to the classrooms and offices, or to hang people's stolen underwear, and perform other such shenanigans. Our 'signature' was the drawing of a stick person with a halo over his/her head...our moniker was "the saint." There...I've confessed my dirty little secret. I'd say I'm sorry, but it was really too much fun for regrets!
4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
Only once that I can recall. In a moment of reactionary anger to being scratched all the way down my face, I spanked Matthew on the bum once, when he was eighteen months old. His reaction? A heartbeat of time later, he bent down from where I was holding him in my arms, and he bit me on the shoulder. It was in that moment that my unresolved feelings about spanking became resolved...I decided never to spank him again because all it did was make him act violently in return.
5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
Sigh. Yes. I used to sing in choirs, and, as kids, my sister and I were regularly asked to sing (or play, on flutes) duets for various church or family functions. I remember on one particular occasion singing at a cousin's wedding when I was about twelve and my sister about ten; we sang some song about various things they'd need in their marriage (like kleenex, toilet paper, etc - we even used props). It seemed to amuse the crowd at the time, but in hindsight I wonder if they were laughing at us rather than with us!
6. What's the first thing you notice about your preferred sex?
Eyes - it's certainly one of the things that I find attractive about Geoff - his beautiful, seriously-blue eyes. After eyes, I'd have to say it would be teeth - I enjoy a good smile!
7. What really turns you off?
People who act like victims rather than taking responsibility for themselves. I see it all too often in certain clients (and in some of my personal acquaintance) and it's a real button pusher for me (I have to manage that while working!).
8. What do you order at Starbucks?
Over the Christmas season, it's a Grande Egg Nog latte, lite, extra hot, with lite whip. At other times of the year, I'll occasionally indulge in a Grande non-fat Peppermint Mocha, extra hot, lite whip. Yummm, just the thought of either of these is really appealing.
9. What is your biggest mistake?
Well, I've definitely made a couple of biggies, but I'd rather keep the big ones private, if you don't mind. Amongst the lesser of the evils, a couple that jump to mind are: focusing too much on what others wanted from me rather than what I wanted, when I was deciding what degrees to take in university way back when; and about a thousand instances of being too insistent on my own viewpoint rather than listening first to what the other person has to say.
10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
If one counts eating to excess at times, yes. Otherwise, no. One might also wonder about youthful decisions to do certain things, horseback riding for example...oh wait, I couldn't have anticipated falling off of one and breaking a limb, it just happened.
11. Say something totally random about yourself.
I confessed this once before for those who were reading earlier posts: I had the longest ear lobes in grade ten (measured by Don Derksen); now that you have pictures of me (see recent post), you can ascertain this truth for yourself. Good news is that I guess I could fit multiple sets of earrings in those lobes, should I ever want to.
12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
In my twenties and early thirties, I used to get told regularly that I looked like Helen Hunt - it was something about the nose, eyes, and voice, I was told. Since gaining weight in the years since then, I don't get that comment any more.
13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?
Independently of Matthew? Resolutely no. As I write this though, I am sitting in a half-reclined position on the family room couch, with Matthew sitting on top of my legs and, because we're both sick, we're watching Treehouse's "Olivia" show. Darn, now that song ("O-livia - - O-livia") is going to be going through my head for the next twenty-four hours.
14. Did you have braces?
Nope...escaped this torture. I didn't even have any cavities until I was in my twenties (still only have three). My dentist (past and present) likes to say, when he sees my teeth and overbite: "God they're beautiful; I wish all of my patients had your bite." My overbite is apparently a claim to beauty...but don't look too carefully at my mouth...my teeth need whitening again.
15. Are you comfortable with your height? (5'7")
I am, though as another blogger wrote, I wish I were a bit taller so that I could justify some of the extra weight!
16. What's the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you?
When my husband and I were standing at the altar getting married and the pastor asked if he would take me as his wife, he answered in a loud and confident tone: "Absolutely." Bet he's regretted that a time or two! More recently, on Sunday evening, after coming home from our trip, Geoff volunteered (volunteered) to venture out into the -20something weather to go and pick the cat up from her vacation home twenty minutes' drive away (in a very cold car). That's pretty darn romantic to me, to be honest.
17. When do you know it's love?
When you decide that, for better and for worse, in good times and in the really bad times, you want to stick it out with the person you're married to.
18. Do you speak any other language?
My first language was German, but I'm not comfortable talking it any more. I still understand a fair bit of it.
19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
Yes, three or four times about twenty years ago, before I went to Hawaii for the first time. Since then, not again...for which my skin doubtless thanks me.
20. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Yes, on route to my law school grad, with my date/best-friend-at-the-time/fellow graduate, Edward. He surprised me with the long black limo...complete with champagne!
21. What's something that really annoys you?
Absolutely the answer to this is: slow drivers who don't pull into the right lane of the road as per proper road etiquette and who, therefore, prevent me from travelling at the higher speeds that I prefer. Don't worry - I'm not prone to road rage; it just bugs me.
22. What's something you really like?
Oh that's easy, a zillion things: Time to read; the smell of butter in a frying pan; going to the movies; seeing my kid laughing; the uncommon sight of my home being tidy and clean.
23. Can you dance?
No, I grew up in a Mennonite home, didn't you know? Drinking and dancing were "verboten" (forbidden). Of course, a couple of things have changed since I was a kid. First, I do drink a very occasional glass of wine. Second, I recognize that I would have loved learning how to dance because I love music and I love to move to music. So when it's just me in the house alone, I love to turn on music and dance in the privacy of my own home. Alternatively, when it's me and Matthew at home alone, I can tell you in confidence that there are days that we dance and dance and dance! We twirl and gyrate our way around the family room floor, being goofy and laughing ourselves silly. Skill doesn't seem to matter - I love those moments.
24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
Nope. I've been in the emergency room a few times, but not via ambulance.
25. Tag five people
Well, on this front, I don't really want to impose this requirement on anyone...but for anyone who'd like to tackle this list, it's kinda fun. I'd love to read your responses!
Ooo, I recently picked up a book titlted (I think), "My Life in Lists" - found it at Winners or HomeSense, but I'm sure it's out there in other places. Haven't started it yet, but it looks like great fun!
ReplyDeleteJoy, you truly must be a woman after my own heart!
ReplyDeleteI should clarify, though, that the state of my house does NOT reflect the fact that I like lists - lest anyone equate a love of list-making with an ability to list-COMPLETE!
Ruth
I love your lock-picking story, have you read Leslie Charteris' Saint books? The Saint leaves a calling card just like the one you describe :-)
ReplyDeleteVery cute Ruth. And thanks for the encouragement, I seem to be needing it these days. Sorry to hear that you are feeling anxious too - we must trust this journey - what other choice do we have??? Although, we can trust, but we don't have to like it, right??
ReplyDeleteL
P.S. Glad you have put a face to your blog - even though I have seen it before - blogs are so much better when you can complement all the words with pictures.
Mim - I've never even HEARD of this author with a 'saint' calling card...I wonder if my friend had (though I'm guessing not - he wasn't so much a reader as much as he was, well, non-academically inclined!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Ruth
Enjoyed getting to know you here. I also loved the lunch we had in Kitchener. Hope all is good with you. YEAH REFERRALS!
ReplyDelete