Sunday, June 03, 2012

Eleventy Reasons To Love Blogging

One of the benefits of being part of our little blogging community is that when I'm feeling oh-so-uninspired (and I still am, a little, but I'm trying to drag myself out of the whiny pit), someone will come along with something to get the words flowing a bit again. This time, it was Sleepy Joe, who tagged me in a little question and answer game that's making its rounds. Many thanks, Sleepy Joe, for tagging me and thereby giving me some motivation to get up off the couch and back to the computer.

The rules: tell 11 things about yourself and then answer 11 questions posed by the blogger who tagged you. After that--and here's where we hit the snag: you're supposed to tag 11 others with your own list of questions. I run into the same problem I often do, which is that many, if not all, of the people I would tag have already been tagged by someone else (or even someone elses). So what I'm going to do instead is invite anyone who is reading this who hasn't already been tagged to play along. I'd love it if you answered my 11 questions (which will appear at the end of this post) and left a link to those answers in the comments here. While it may look like pure laziness on my part, I prefer to frame it as a great chance for some of the lurkers to come out of the woodwork and introduce themselves to the rest of our bloggy community.

So, now, 11 things about me--and not just any 11, but 11 I have not previously shared on some other numbered list of random facts about me. (Other lists can be found here, here and here.)

1. When I was younger, I was absolutely certain I would grow up to have triplet daughters and name them April Mae, Mae June, and June April.

2. I am practically giddy about the fact that so many of my favorite authors have new titles out or coming soon.

3. I frequently plan out exactly what I would do with a major lottery jackpot; I very rarely buy a ticket.

4. The two non-negotiable facets of my "dream home" that I will buy/build with the lottery winnings from the tickets I never actually buy are a library and a pool.

5. Sleep deprivation and the resulting fatigue impact every single aspect of my life. It has gotten worse, not better, as my kids have grown up.

6. If self-doubt ever becomes an Olympic sport, I'm a shoo-in for the gold. Probably.

7. I hate my current cell phone, but I'm too lazy to do anything but whine about it.

8. I should probably not do lists about myself when I'm exhausted and cranky.

9. I love cabbage.

10. When I was in my late teens or early twenties, I woke up with this phrase in my head: "It's like a wilderness of mirrors, everywhere you look, there you are." I'm still kind of convinced it means something more than it seems to.

11. I love toads and frogs. Especially itty-bitty ones.

Now for my answers to Sleepy Joe's questions:

1. Who is your literary hero? I don't know that I would call her a "hero" exactly, but the literary character I most identify with is Nelly Dean, the housekeeper in Wuthering Heights, from whom the traveling Mr. Lockwood hears most of the story of Catherine and Heathcliff's disastrous relationship.

2. Why? The first few times I read Wuthering Heights, I saw her as just the delivery system for someone else's story, but later came to see that there are points at which she plays a role in trying to save certain characters from themselves and one another. I identify with her non-flashy way of trying to come to the rescue as well as her failure to do so--and, of course, I identify with (and envy) her observational skills. Nelly Dean, who would likely have been barely literate in her time and place in the world, nevertheless took outstanding notes.

3. What is your favourite children's story? Hands down, the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Especially These Happy Golden Years, when fifteen-year-old Laura ventures out into the world to teach school.

4. Are you a closet reader, are there some books that you won't admit to reading?  Since I never leave the house without whatever I'm reading, I'm pretty much an open book when it comes to books. That said, I would say celebrity memoirs are my biggest guilty pleasure. I like to think of them as the literary equivalent of a palate cleanser between the more nutritious and satisfying main dishes.

5. Do you have any regrets in life? I have this theory about regret: it's pointless. You can't change the past and even if you could, to change the tiniest detail would be to put everything else up for grabs. The thing about theories, though, is that they are so theoretical. In reality, regret is probably unavoidable. For example, sometimes I regret adopting that theory about regret.

6. Name one ambition, not including getting your writing published. I've always kind of wanted to be the person my mother-in-law seems to think I am. I don't see her often (which is probably key here), but she is always so sweet and complimentary that I feel I should be a better person just to be worthy of her praise.

7. Heels or flats on a night out? It's a little embarrassing to admit (one for the "Ways I'm Not A Grown-Up" file, for sure), but I would have to purchase heels or flats for a night out (not to mention the entire rest of the outfit). I currently own two pairs of shoes: sneakers and a pair of men's flip-flops I bought on clearance at Kmart four years ago. This is not an exaggeration.

8. What is your comfort food? I am in a passionate and highly dysfunctional relationship with food in general so it's very difficult to narrow it down, but I guess I would say potatoes. With the exception of fast food fries, which I detest, I love them no matter how they're served up.

9. Normal clothes or comfy PJ's? My "normal" clothes are pretty comfy so the distinction between the two is a fine one; I don't really feel qualified to answer this question.

10. What is your favourite film? Hmmm, another one for the "Ways I'm Not A Grown-Up" file. I've never really thought in terms of favorites, but the movie I've rewatched the most number of times and would absolutely watch again right now if it happened to be on TV is that high school angst-fest The Breakfast Club.

11. Coke or Pepsi? If my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper is unavailable, my fall-back is Diet Coke. Pepsi is icky.

And, now, at long last, patient readers, my eleven questions for anyone willing to play along.

1. If time travel were possible, where would you go first? The past? The future? A specific time?

2. If you could claim any existing literary work as your own, what would it be?

3. You come upon a group of extraterrestrials disembarking from their ship in a deserted field. What is your first thought? First action?

4. I once read that smell is the sense most closely linked to memory. Which scent most strongly brings back childhood for you?

5. If you could rewrite the ending of a favorite book or movie, which one would it be and why?

6. Speaking of childhood, what food or foods make you wrinkle up your nose even now that you're a grown-up?

7. Who is the friend who's been in your life the longest? How did he or she come into your life?

8. Who has been your greatest teacher (inside the classroom or out)?

9. Do you have or have you ever had a nickname? Love it? Hate it?

10. What would the teaser on the back of your autobiography be?

11. Though you've no doubt been warned, do you nevertheless judge books by their covers?

29 comments:

  1. It's great that you played, Masked Mom! Loved getting to know more about you .. Loved your triplets' names..hehe ...And now I'm off to watch a certain John Hughes film..

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    1. Have you ever seen it before Larissa? Let me know what you think.

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  2. #10: I did some serious cleaning this weekend and found my unopened copy of "The Breakfast Club"... I am so excited! I was positive I owned it, but had been reduced to renting it from the library because I couldn't find my DVD. Whew!

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    1. Yay! I have it as part of a boxed set called the High School Reunion Collection. It came with Sixteen Candles and Weird Science, which I thought was kind of a strange choice, but maybe they figured if they'd included Pretty In Pink, we'd have overdosed on Molly Ringwald. Currently, my fifteen-year-old niece has my copy of The Breakfast Club and her father reports she's been watching it over and over. It's truly a classic of a certain sort. ;)

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  3. I'm so glad you did this. I might take you up on the questions and add to the ones TangledLou asked. And how I love The Breakfast Club. Larissa, do tell us whether you enjoy it!

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    1. Hi, Margi--I'd love to see your answers to my questions as well as to TangledLou's. Be sure to come back and leave a link if you do them. I loved her questions--especially the belly button condiment dispenser one. She set the bar pretty high, as always.

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    2. Aw drat, I had forgotten you already did this and I <a href="http://themhalf.blogspot.com/2012/06/its-all-fun-and-games-until-youre-it.html>tagged you</a> too! My memory is clearly faulty. Maybe you can play with the questions in the comments?

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    3. Am I going to have to rent this film to see what you are all talking about?!?!?!?

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    4. Hmmm, I would definitely be curious to hear what you think about it. I assume most people who love it originally saw it when they were teenagers so it would be interesting to hear what someone who saw it first as an adult would think of it.

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  4. We could stand on that Olympic podium together.

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    1. Absolutely, Jewels. I could use the company/back-up. Seems like it would be pretty scary up there with all the world looking at me. ;)

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    2. It might get a little crowded up there for all of us ;-)

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  5. Your triplet names are hilarious! And I am so with you on #3 - - I do that ALL THE TIME! I even write it down - - every dollar accounted for! I don't buy lotter tix either, but I still have fun deciding how to spend my winnings!

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    1. Even though I've really planned ahead, I like to imagine that if I ever did actually win with one of the two tickets I buy each year, I'd probably FAINT.

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  6. I tried, but technology interfered. :)

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    1. Technology can be a real bitch, can't she, Mark? ;)

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  7. 1. If time travel were possible, where would you go first? The past? The future? A specific time?
    Sappy answer: the past, to tell my Dad I love him.

    2. If you could claim any existing literary work as your own, what would it be?
    The Hunger Games trilogy. No, seriously. I dig it and they're wildly successful. I'd like to be creative like that.

    3. You come upon a group of extraterrestrials disembarking from their ship in a deserted field. What is your first thought? First action?
    My first thought is probably whether they're thirsty. I'm likely to offer them water.

    4. I once read that smell is the sense most closely linked to memory. Which scent most strongly brings back childhood for you?
    Camel cigarette breath mixed with coffee, heavy on the cream *and* sugar.

    5. If you could rewrite the ending of a favorite book or movie, which one would it be and why?
    Mockingjay. I felt it was rushed.

    6. Speaking of childhood, what food or foods make you wrinkle up your nose even now that you're a grown-up?
    Hamburger Helper. Gag.

    7. Who is the friend who's been in your life the longest? How did he or she come into your life?
    Dr. Yu. We met in 5th grade in Germany and have kept in touch through moves all over the world, through marriages and babies. We saw each other for the first time in 25 years a few months ago.

    8. Who has been your greatest teacher (inside the classroom or out)?
    My Dad

    9. Do you have or have you ever had a nickname? Love it? Hate it?
    Large Marge - never cared for it. Butter, Sunshine, Punkin - I'm okay with those.

    10. What would the teaser on the back of your autobiography be?
    Just when you thought it was safe to ... wait, is that taken?

    11. Though you've no doubt been warned, do you nevertheless judge books by their covers?
    Absolutely. Sometimes I'm right, but sometimes I'm so wrong it's painful.

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    1. Thanks for playing along! I love your answers. Number four was especially evocative--I have scents like that where if I pick up even a whiff of something similar, I'm transported momentarily back to childhood.

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  8. I have three kittens that need names, I may have to steal your triplet names, they are so so so cute!

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    1. I was around ten or eleven when I came up with them. I would be honored if you "stole" them. :)

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  9. You have some great questions- damn it, I want to play again! LOL It is so nice to "hear" your voice again- welcome back:) p.s. your triplet names are hilarious, I would HAVE to have a library and a pool as well (though my library would have built-in bookshelves wall to wall, floor to ceiling, and would require a rolling ladder), and I frequently plan out what I would do if I won the lottery even though I buy tickets once or twice a year.

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    1. Hey Carolyn - see my response below to MM -- I still have your tag from a couple of weeks ago - in fact , the questions make me freeze b/c I don't have "cool" answers! But I am getting bolder!

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    2. A rolling ladder is totally non-negotiable--an absolute must-have. And yes, I buy approximately the same number of tickets as you do. Hubby and I were talking about the lottery the other day and he called me out on never buying tickets by saying, "You know, you stand a significantly better chance of winning if you actually BUY a ticket." My answer was, "Yes, you stand MORE of a chance, but I wouldn't call it a significantly better chance. It's the difference between ZERO in a bazillion and ONE in a bazillion." :)

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  10. I have really missed you, MM -- I want to play with your questions too - I do tend to get intimidated by these things b/c I don't' initially have answers - I take the questions so f-ing literally and then I am stymied -- give me time and I will do something here JUST FOR FUN1

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    1. I have missed everyone as well. And I know exactly what you mean about the intimidation thing. It took me a ridiculously long time to finish this post. It was open on my computer for most of this past week. Looking forward to whatever you come up with--for my questions and cdnkaro's as well. ;)

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  11. I own a ridiculous number of pairs of shoes, yet I live in tennies. I bought a pair of Brooks ones a few weeks ago and I truly may never wear any of my other shoes again.

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  12. Thanks for playing along, I am soooo sorry it has taken me so long to come and check out your answers!! I have no real excuse, although I could list a few pathetic ones if pushed; busy, busy and busy with a side of tired.

    Any way I can't believe how similar we are!!

    I too have a dream house with a pool and a fantactic circular library complete with spiral stair case and those funky shelving ladders, not to mention the big comfy chairs that you can curl up in....must buy a lottery ticket!

    Giddy over new titles, giddy about books in general!!

    I love the names of your potential triplets, although wouldn't it be great to have had 3 girls consecutively whose birthdays were at the end/beginning of the months of their names!

    And I too have a very dysfunctional relationship with food, except it is sweet things that get me every time!

    I only wish my mother-in-law had such a nice opinion of me!!

    PS your questions are great and if it wasn't nearly midnight and my head didn't feel about to explode I would answer a few. Maybe I'll come back and do just that!!

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    1. Don't feel bad about taking a bit to get back--it sure took me a while to answer them. Busy, busy and busy with a side of tired sounds pretty familiar to me, too. Thanks again for tagging me. ;)

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