I've Got a Question

My head is spinning with so many things I want to write, but I can't land on one thought for long.  Another Bermuda post?  An ode to M&Ms?  The story behind the actual apology that began, "I'm sorry you have a waffle on your butt." 

Nothing sticks.

So, I am grateful for Lillian's tag today.  (Lillian is a fabulous writer and painter from It's a Dome Life.  She lives in a dome.  For real.  She painted this



while in her dome.  She paints chickens.  I have a chicken coop.  We're made to go together.  She paints lots of other lovely things, too.  Go to her blog to take a gander.)

Update:  Dyanne at I Want Backsies also tagged me today.  Dyanne is brand new to blogland, but you'd never know it.  She has a positive, funny outlook on her life as a preschool teacher and mother of 2 teens.  That outlook continues when she talks about her breast cancer diagnosis less than a year ago. 

I get to answer questions! 

1. Where were you born?  Canton, Ohio.  Or, as Hubby calls it, the armpit of America.

2. Were you named after someone?  If I remember correctly, I was named after my dad's first fiance, who drowned in her backyard after a flood.  Check the comments in a day or so.  I'm sure my dad will set us all straight. :)

3. How many children do you have?  Six. 

Gotta say, these questions are the easiest ones I've ever had to answer!

4. How many pets do you have?  I don't know if you can say we have any pets.  No animals actually step foot in the house.  Our dogs are working dogs.  Their job is to cover our land with animal carcasses and tear up all landscaping, cars, and miscellaneous other objects in order to deter all potential burglars. 

5. Your worst injury.    That I inflicted or was experienced by me?  My worst injury I experienced is a toss-up between the cut on my lip that needed stitches or the road rash I got after crashing my scooter in Bermuda.  I once killed a dog with my minivan.  That's probably the worst injury I caused.

6. Do you have a special talent?  You mean like driving a 12-passenger van in reverse without hitting anything?  Check.

7. Favorite thing to bake?  Banana bread.  It is so yummy, so easy, and the kids always help me.  It's the one time when "help" actually means help, and is not a sarcastic "help" which means they only make things worse.

8. Favorite Fast Food?  I don't eat it  unless it's for a school fundraiser at Chick-fil-A.  I used to, but since I stopped, it just tastes awful to me.  Except Taco Bell crunchy tacos and Arby's roast beef sandwich.  I will eat those maybe once a year.

9. Would you bungee jump?  Now?  No.  In 30 years?  Heck ya.  I don't want to do anything that is remotely dangerous while my kids are still living with me.  Once they are all independently wealthy, I am going to be the grandma you all follow on youtube, doing all sorts of outlandish things, just because I can.

10. What is the first thing you notice about people?  Their footwear.  I'm constantly looking down, keeping tabs on little boys, so feet is what I see first. 


11. When was the last time you cried?  Watching this video yesterday.  Two different people showed it to me, and I cried both times.  But I cry about everything.  I cry during the singing of the national anthem at ball games.  I cried at the 8th grade vs. teachers volleyball game.  I'm a sentimental crier.

12. Any current worries?  The usual.  "What's for dinner?"  I'm not a worrier.  There are very few things that I ever worry about. 

13. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly.  Milk and water are the only two things I drink every day.  Or even every week, for that matter.

14. What’s your favorite book?  I really don't have one.  I read everything I can get my hands on, then promptly forget what it is I just read.  The latest book that I have read and remember really liking is War Brides by Helen Bryan.  I am approximately 58% of the way through (Anyone else get annoyed by the Kindle's inability to tell me what flippin' page I'm on?) Green Girl's book and am enjoying it very much.

15. Would you like to be a pirate?  Glad you asked.  I don't understand the whole pirate thing at all.  Why do people encourage their children to dress up/act like pirates?  There is nothing good about a pirate.  Their entire purpose is to drink rum and cause all sorts of problems for people, what with the stealing and walking the plank.  Why would anyone want to be one?

16. Favorite Smells.  a flower bed full of hyacinth, garlic sauteing in butter, donuts, my husband.  If my husband ever came home carrying a bouquet of hyacinth, after working in a donut shop in the morning and an Italian restaurant at lunch, I'd jump him at the door.

17. Why do you blog?   Recently, a friend introduced me to her husband by saying, "This is Christine.  She likes to talk and laugh."  While not exactly a glowing introduction, it is true.  When I blog, I get to talk all I want without having to be concerned with hogging the conversation (which I've been known to do many times) or coming up with questions to draw the other people into the conversation.  And, I can laugh as loud or as much as I want without people judging me.  Well, people besides my family, but I don't care what they think.  Basically, I am having fun.

18. What song do you want played at your funeral?  There can't be just one.  I want lots of songs.  I love music, and I want people to celebrate who I was/am.  I'm done with this topic.  I don't like talking about myself like I'm not here anymore.

19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?  My vanity.  (Perhaps the song "You're So Vain" should be at my funeral?  That would be funny and true!)

20. Favorite hobby?  I wish I could say something cool and interesting, like surfing or rock climbing, but I can't do those things.  Really, I like to garden and read. 

21. Name something you’ve done, but you never thought you would do?  Anyone who has read this blog knows the answer to this one.  Dispose of a 200 pound pig.  Duh.

22. What do you look for in a friend?  I want friends who are funny, confident, compassionate, good parents (You know a friendship cannot work very well if you can't stand the way she parents her children.) and have positive personalities. 

23. Favorite Fun things to do?  a.)Vacation with my family.  Anywhere.  Any length of time.  We just have so much fun.  (b) Hang out with friends. 

24. Pet peeves.  Meetings that aren't run well.  They should start on time, have a point, stay on topic, and end in a timely manner.  Secondly, the phrase, "I could care less".  I notice it every time.  If you could care less, then it means you care about it at least a little bit.  Don't you mean to say, "I couldN'T care less".   The pet peeve isn't that people use it.  My pet peeve is that I actually notice such ridiculous things.

25. What's the last thing that made you laugh?  The conversation I had with Hubby this afternoon.  I'll eventually get to write a post about it, but it has to do with that giant pencil from a few weeks ago.  Yes, we're still dwelling on that.  We are very immature people.

I am now supposed to tag a bunch of other people, who may or may not choose to answer the questions.  It is completely up to them.  I'll read their blogs whether they play along or not.

A few blogs that I enjoy:

Camp Patton

Life on the Funny Farm

Oh, Jones

Notes from the Shallow End

Hye Thyme Cafe

Here's the Thing

Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms

Have a lovely day!