Tidbit #2

Tidbit #2:
The entire family delivered the Girl to the airport this morning. We met up with our friend Andrew, who flew up to get her, and fly down with her to Huntington Beach. She is having her second annual Birthday Weekend with Andrew's family, specifically his youngest daughter, the Girl's favorite friend in the whole world. Adrew and his youngest will fly our Girl back on Sunday.
He is now a flight attendant, so the girls are getting to see each other more often lately. How cool is that?!
LB

Catch-up in tidbits.

Tidbit #1.
I miss blogging. I have stories that I just can't do it all, and don't have time. So wouldn't it be cool if I made time for things, and if I can do and be it all. Sounds like a great deal more fun, entertainment, and inspired learning in the second view.

LB, off to eat citrus pork, roasted asparagus, and whatever else the Man-Child and Papa Dude have fixed for me.

Likes and dislikes

What I love about my body:
I love the way my body looks and feels in the buff. Standing in front of a mirror I see a body that Renoir would have loved to paint. I love the curves- it is like a hilly, mountain terrain. I love that this body has been through all it has. I love that it supported and birthed two beautiful, healthy, glorious human beings.

What I am not enjoying about this body:
Trying to stuff it into clothes that are not made for it. Pantyhose are torture devices in case you didn't know. THey just don't make clothes for short, round women.

Off to clean the living room while my mama folds laundry. The goal for today is to have it clean enough to support my collection of Christmas decorations.

LB

My life this week: In a nutshell

What have I been doing this week, and what are my plans for this weekend?

Buying formal wear for two kids: One two-piece suit, white shirt with clip on tie, black slacks, black socks, white undershirts, black floor-length velvet dress, new tights, hair bands.
Buying stuff with which to make Christmas presents. Don't even ask when I plan to make them!
Buying Christmas tree, lights, ornaments.
Buying groceries.

Preparing children for and attending, or driving various children to:
Varsity state qualifying speech and debate tournament, band concert, piano gigs, recitals, etc.
Attending all day seminars in which I learn to communicate and be integrity in all that I do.
Visiting friends, my mom, attending Christmas parties, making phone calls, volunteering at the food bank, volunteering some more at the First Place school, signing up to volunteer at high school basketball games, etc.

Trying to sit with one kid at the piano, then bounce over to the other kid who is struggling to write an essay on Gilgamesh.

Trying to keep 3 cats off the kitchen table. Learning how to clip chicken toenails. Pulling carrots and beets out of frozen gardens.

Whew! I am hoping I will be able to blog thoroughly on Sunday, this will have to do for now!
LB

Snow Globe of Doom on an Icy cold day

Ok, this is just hilarious- got this one from Jordin over at Looking for Grace Notes- the Snow Globe of Doom.
She sent it to me in honor of our snow day today. We had only about an inch of snow, but nasty ice everywhere. Shut down everything from schools to massage therapy offices to dentists.
We had a great day- sleeping in, bringing in firewood, drinking hot spiced cider, reading out loud, working on the Girl's Ancient Egypt notebook, the Boy and I discussing the Epic of Gilgamesh using Socratic Dialog, having soup for supper, and then watching Superman Returns.

While the kids and I were doing school around the kitchen table this afternoon, the Papa Dude got to go out into the icy cold day and find a dentist that was actually open to repair a chipped tooth. He chipped it on of all things, a prickly pear cactus seed. So much for our being open and trying new foods!

All in all, minus the chipped tooth, it was a good snow day. It was fun to not have to go anywhere, and just be able to school the kids.
LB

This was funny- I couldn't resist.

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form. Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up. Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Update at Green Dragon

I posted an update at The Green Dragon tonight. It doesn't have anything to do with reading challenges, but you might find it interesting.
LB

Quilting meme

Cool! A quilting meme! Got this one from Sioux's Zest.
You highlight what you have done. Anyone want to do this one?

Have You Ever?

1. Taken a quilting class
2.Paper pieced
3. Hand quilted
4. Hand pieced
5. Created your own pattern
6. Published a pattern in a magazine or book
7. Gone on a quilting retreat
8. Gone to a quilting convention
9. Met someone who wrote a quilting book
10 combined your quilting with some other craft
11. Done any three dimensional quilting - like fabric origami
2. Made something using Thimbleberries fabric
13. Made something using batiks
14. Dyed your own fabric-only once- just tie-dying
15. Made a landscape hanging
16. Made a New York Beauty quilt
17. Made a baby quilt
18 Made a wall hanging
19 Made a journal quilt
20 Submitted your journal quilt for viewing
21 Made a fabric postcard-haven't yet, but want to soon.
22 Made a artistic trading card (ATC)
23 Exchanged artistic trading cards
24. Mailed your own postcard
25. Made a lap quilt
26 Made a twin size quilt
27 Made a full size quilt
28 Made a queen size quilt
29 Made a king size quilt
30 Donated a quilt to charity
31 Sent a quilt out to a quilter
32 Thrown away a UFO
33 Given away a UFO
34 Cut up a UFO and made something else with it
35 Ripped fabric instead of cutting it
36 Made a quilt exactly like the pattern, with no changes whatsoever
37 Done any Sashiko
38 Quilted your own quilt
39 Did free motion quilting- just a tiny bit- I am just learning
40 Put any embroidery or beads on your quilt-another one where I have to say not yet but soon!
41 Given away your quilt to a stranger
42 Swapped fabric
43 swapped blocks
44 participated in a round robin
45 participated in an ostritch round robin
46 kept a journal about your quilting
47 written a letter to someone who made an antique quilt
49 kept a blog about your quilting
50 participated in a gift exchange
51 sent a quilting random act of kindness
52 joined a newsgroup about quilting
53 made a quilt using a pattern from quilterscache
54 joined an online block of the month
55 made a block of the month quilt- I just signed up for one of these- I can't wait to get going on it.
56 subscribed to a fabric of the month club
57 bought fabric at an online store
58 bought fabric from ebay
59 own more than one sewing machine
60 have a room dedicated solely to sewing- in my dreams!
61 hide a fabric purchase
62 finished making a holiday gift before July
63 spent more than $200 in one quilt shopping trip
64 made a quilt using a book from the library
65 worked with someone else to make a quilt
66. joined a quilt guild
67 become president of a quilt guild
68 taught a quilting class
69 helped someone else get the quilting bug
70 taught a child to sew
71 made a Dear Jane block
72 Made a miniature quilt
73 watch QNN - quilters news network
73 subscribe to a quilting magazine from your own country
74 subscribe to a quilting magazine from another country
75 buy fabric from another country
76 swapped completed quilts with someone else
77 asked for quilting help online
78 gone to a quilt shop to ask for quilting help
79 bought fabric at a local quilt shop
80 traveled more than 100 miles to go to a quilt shop
81 used nontraditional fabric for a quilt - something other than cotton or flannel
82 made a quilt using instructions given to you on a blog
83 make comments on someone's quilting blog
84 meet a quilter in person after only having talked online
85 had a quilting retreat in your home
86 own quilting software
87 made a quilt you designed on your quilting software
88 done any quilt research - history, interviewing quilters, etc.
89 had any quilt related subject published anywhere
90 donated a quilt to a museum
91 bought a quilt from a thrift store
92 made a quilt using fabric from a thrift store
93 made a quilt using photos
94 made a pastel quilt
95 made a quilt using brights
96 made a quilt using ethnic fabric from another country - African, Asian, etc.
97 made a quilt using leftover blocks from other quilts
98 had your quilt in a magazine, newspaper, newsletter, TV, etc.
99. submitted your quilt to a quilt show
100. won any ribbons with your quilts
101 had more finished quilts than UFOs
102 made a quilt using reproduction fabrics
103 took a break from quilting that was longer than a year
104 made money with your quilting
105 had a job in the fabric / quilting industry

Being Thankful & Watching Movies

Cool! I posted a pic! So much to be thankful for here. Thought I'd list the movies we have to watch this long weekend.
Last night we watched Ice Age 2 The Meltdown. It was ok. Good for Laughs, I guess.
We also have Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. I want to watch this one tonight. I absolutely love Gary Cooper, sigh. For tomorrow, we have Pocketful of Miracles with Glenn Ford and Bette Davis. I haven't seen this one before. We also have Back to the Future 3, which the kids have seen, but the Dude and I haven't. The kids will probably just watch this one again while we watch Intolerable Cruelty with George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I have to admit, I am surprised that Clooney made Sexiest Man twice in one lifetime- just for the record, I can think of many other famous men I think are sexier. But he is a good actor, so I will put up with it!

OK, off to go eat some more roasted nuts while we wait for the turkey to get done!
LB

Happy Thanksgiving!

As those of you who know me will remember, we usually host an "orphan" Thanksgiving, and cook a huge Indian feast, filled with curries, and riatas, and the works. But this year, there didn't seem to be any other orphans needing a place to be (which is a very good thing!), and I was tired of doing half of the huge amount of work required for a feast. And just last week, I helped cook a Thanksgiving meal for 100 people. It was fun, but exhausting. I also have the fresh memories of last Thanksgiving, which is when I started to get sick, and I just couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for this upcoming holiday, and the work involved for me.

So when the Papa Dude sat us around the table late last week, and asked us what we wanted to do/eat for Thansgiving, I had a hard time coming up with ideas. I finally got into the idea when I realized I could make an unreasonable request. I asked for a traditional turkey dinner that I didn't have to prepare. Here is the result of that request. My living room is clean, and I did none of it. There is a stack of 4 movies on the telly, and I didn't have to go to the movie store. The children wrote up the menu, and the grocery list, and did the shopping (I did taxi them to three stores, break up 2 fights over who got to push the cart, and helped them comparision shop.) The children and the Papa Dude have been cooking and cleaning and there are a lot of great smells coming from the kitchen. Meanwhile, I have had long baths, have read a bit of mind candy, talked to good friends on the phone, cleaned up my sewing area, and practiced relaxing (yes, I do have to practice letting go and letting others do all the work!). This is a great idea, and definately prompts me to make more unreasonable requests! I also would like to say how thankful I am for my little family.

Today's menu:
snacks:
broiled garlic shrimp
sweet spiced nuts
herbed spicy nuts
cucumber and radishes
olives and pickles

Main menu:
Dry-cured rosemary turkey
gravy
wild rice stuffing with dried fruit and spiced nuts*
Challah*
cranberry-orange relish
twice baked sweet potatoes
garlic kale
roasted asparagus
punkin pies#

* I made these, cuz I wanted to, and/or the recipe is only found in my head.
# I made the crust, the kids did the rest. We ended up with 6 pies! Look out neighbors, here I come!

Well, I need to go knead the challah, Happy Day to you today!
LB

I'm Spring, what are you?

Got this one over at Miz Booshay's blog. I would have to say it was fairly accurate, though I do love Autumn as well. How 'bout you?

You Belong in Spring

Optimistic, lively, and almost always happy with the world... You can truly appreciate the blooming nature of spring. Whether you're planting flowers or dyeing Easter eggs, spring is definitely your season!

What Season Are You?

It Fits!

Okay, I am thoroughly deep cleaning my room today. I was clearing off my dressing table, happened to find my wedding ring, slipped it on, and for the first time in 7 years, it fits!!! I haven't weighed this much in that long, and as frustrating as it is beginning to be to be overweight, my wedding ring fits. I have to admit- THIS part of it I am going to enjoy.
LB

A contest!

I used to not enter any contests, because I never won any. Great logic, huh? But lately, I have been entering in any contest, or drawing I can, and I actually win sometimes- anything from free soap, to an Ibanez guitar. And it is fun, whether I win or not. SO here is the latest one I have found. Check it out. Jennifer over at The Wilson Six is having a drawing for a custon-made notepad. Fun!

Papa is downstairs fixing breaky, and I need to get the kids up and moving, but will try to post later today- there is a lot of stuf happening here, and I need to tell you all about it! Ask me about tournaments, and cars crashing fences!
LB

Re-post. Rice Krispie treats

A recipe for fake rice krispie treats

This is for Dy, even though her boys can have marshmallows, and for anyone else who, like my kids is allergic to corn, and can't have real marshmallows.

Date Balls
1/2 cup butter (I use cocnut butter)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 pound chopped dates (Santa was so sweet to bring me a new food processor for things like this!)
1 beaten egg
1 TBSP milk (I use rice, almond, or coconut milk)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (or dried blueberries, coconut, maybe m & m's if you can have them)
2 cups rice krispies
1/2 tsp salt
choice of coating (nuts, bits, coconut, etc.)

Cook butter, sugar and dates until boiling over low heat. Add beaten egg, milk, vanilla, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cook 2 minutes, cool. Add chopped nuts and cereal. Form into balls the size of a walnut. Makes 3 doz. Roll in nuts, coconut, melted chocolate or powdered sugar.
I got this recipe from Shelly in Il, from the WTM boards.

LB (and the Girl who can't wait to make these again!)

One hundred and fifty things.

One hundred and fifty things.

The object of this list is to highlight the things that you have done.

Feel free to borrow this and complete it on your blog.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21.Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight----- canned whipped cream!
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites-----castle ruins in Germany
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married-----yes, but I couldn't tell you the date!
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo--- not yet, but I have one planned.
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children - still raising!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds-----If you add it all up.
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray----a baby one at the aquarium
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone------- does having your nose broken for you count?
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet----- not me,but dh had a python names Monty
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states----- I think I am tied on this one
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach------ {{shudder}}
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey-----not yet, but on my list for this year.
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident---but it was just a fender bender.
150. Saved someone’s life

Hi!

I feel like I am riding a roller coaster. Sometimes I am up, sometimes down, sometimes rolling along, but knowing, just knowing there is a steep hill coming up. Sometimes I just wanna get off, but know that the ride doesn't stop in the middle. Can one sigh and smile at the same time, I wonder?

In no particular order:
Today was day two of my three day class titled Homeschooling 101 at the local community college. We stayed an hour past the end of class- I am going to have to call the continuing ed. lady and have her bump it to four hours each day instead of three. I only have three students, but it has been such a good experience for all of us. It does exhaust me though- I have been fighting off a cold successfully for over a week, but today it caught up with me- I was sucking down Cold-Eeze and cough drops the whole class, and when I finally got home, I slept for two hours. Got up, fixed a good dinner- turkey breast, taters, shrooms (I was given a flat of shrooms- there is over a pound in the pot!) , and onions, all cooked in the crockpot in a rich chicken broth with herbs and white wine. Also cooked some zucchini and cauliflower. Papa is out getting movies and then I should be able to climb into bed again.

The Boy played in the marching band last night at the high school's homecoming game. He looked to handsome in his band uniform (No, Dy, I didn't get pics, but I will.). It is black tuxedo pants, and a handsome red jacket, with white trim. and a high red hat with a white plume on top. He marched and simultaneously played french horn at the same time- a tricky feat, let me tell you! We left shortly after the half-time show, when the score was 46 to 0. The final score was 55 to 6, our team winning.

How did the Boy get home if we left after halftime, you might wonder? Well, we succumbed and got him a Tracfone. In the month he has been at the high school, he has been stranded twice, or his schedule changed, and it has been a problem not being able to communicate, or to have to give him my cell phone, and then I am not able to leave the house. He has only had it two days, and I am already glad for it.

Papa is back with the movies (Prairie Home Companion, and the rest of season 1 of Third Rock From the Sun). I will sign off and not worry about not getting it all down, I will just be glad that I got this much down, and try to write again soon.
TTFN,
LB

Oh where, oh where had friend LB gone,

O where, oh where can she be?

Well, the answer is that she is doing her best to live life. My schedule is unbelievably hectic this year. I feel like Midnight Blue (our new van) and I could be hired out as a taxi service. The last few days, I have been leaving the house at 8 or 9 in the morning, and not getting home till 4 or 5. I am really struggling with this.

Part of the issue is that we have more going on than I had originally thought we would. I had not taken into account that when the Girl was preparing for a piano competition (Bach Fest at the downtown Sherman Clay store, Oct. 7th), that she would be taking 2 piano lessons a week, instead of 1. She has an amazing teacher, and they are working very hard. I don't want to discourage this in any way, but it takes up 2 hours of my day for each lesson.

The other thing that is sucking my time up is my physical therapy. I am entering my 6th month of physical therapyand going twice a week. Again, this takes up two hours of my day, and then I am supposed to go straight to bed and rest afterwards. Thanks again so much to the poopy-butt-head that decided to take his road rage out on me and push my sweet mini-van into a tree, and then thought it was ok to drive off without even an apology.

These two things are really eating into my week. I want to be able to spend time each week with my mom, I want to spend an entire day volunteering with those less fortunate than us, I want to cook wonderful meals for my family, and have a living room that is clean and welcoming. I want to do my household chores pain-free and joyfully. I want to get my basement cleaned and organized so my hunny can get the chores done he needs to down there. I want to read tons of books this year, and make lots of quilts, and then blog about them. I want to spend time preparing for my teaching jobs (Yeah, did I mention I am supposed to be teaching nature studies 3X a month, and also a class or two at the community college?). I also want to feel like I am doing a good job as a teacher, and supporting the kids in their educational endeavors. But right now, I just feel like an inadequate taxi driver.

It would help if my Boy was self-motivated in his studies. He is not using the little bit of time that he does have with me to his advantage. THe hormones get in the way. I think he is starting to get it, but it is so hard to be patient with him right now.

Well, in a nutshell, that is what is up with me, ans why I haven't been blogging. I don't have this issue resolved, but will spend some time thinking about what poosibilities I have here.

LB

Friday Five for Donna

Today's Friday Five, as always, from Miz Booshay

Appetizer
Who was the last person you hugged?
A double hug with both my Girl and my Boy, in a poor attempt to get them to stop fighting for a minute this morning.


Soup
Would you ever have plastic surgery?
No, not for looks, but I have considered reconstructive surgery for my poor mangled nose, which would be done by a plastic surgeon.

Salad
What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?
Dang, I have too many fast food places! A loaded, drippy burger from Herfy's with fried zukes on the side, or a loaded pizza, or orange chicken.

Main Course
What time of day do you usually feel most energized?
From about 10 in the morning to about noon.

Dessert
When you were a kid, what job did you most want to have when you grew up?
Well, at one time, all I wanted to be was a gazelle, lol. That translated into being a ballet dancer, but my body has never been the right shape for that. Then I wanted to be an artist, and an early childhood ed teacher. I also wanted to be a mom and adopt all my kids.

Okay now, I would really like to see some answer in the comments, or some links to your blog, if you haven't already done this at Donna's, okay?

TTFN,
LB

One Book Meme

Found this one over at Circle of Quiet.

1. One book that changed your life: For some reason, this was a hard question. I will say A Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: A complete volume of all the works of William Shakespeare

4. One book that made you laugh: Why is this a hard one? I guess I have read too many to pick just one easily. How 'bout the funny bits in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

5. One book that made you cry (and it wasn't necessarily in a good way, although I do think this was a good story): The Wedding by Nicolas Sparks

6. One book that you wish had been written: A memoir written by either or both of Robin William's or Jonathon Winter's mothers, on how to successfully raise a very kinethetic Boy to adulthood without squelching their weirdly wonderful traits.

7. One book that you wish had never been written: She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. Too close to home, too sad, hard to read, yet I couldn't put it down. Left a bad taste in my mouth for months. I am following the example set at A Circle of Quiet, and not linking to this one.

8. One book you’re currently reading: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: The Iliad by Homer

10. Tag five others: I won't tag, but you are all invited to the party. Let me know if you blog this, or leave it in the comments.

I feel compelled to add this question!
11. One book you just couldn't put down till it was done: East by Edith Pattou
LB

50 things for Laney

50 things
Actually, it's just 49 things. There is no #17. My question is why not? Was #17 offensive? Can we make one up for #17? I think I will, just for fun!

I was tagged for this meme from Laney at Press On.
Miz Booshay did it too.
1. My roommate and I once: Had a huge screaming fight in the parking lot because she was dating my scary drug-addict/alcoholic/abusive brother and had him move into our apartment without asking me.

2. Never in my life have I: been in a wet t-shirt competition.

3. The one person who can drive me nuts, but then can always manage to make me smile is: My Mama.

4. High school was: pretty horrible until I found a great group of outcasts to be friends with. I am still friends with several of them 23 yrs later.

5. When I'm nervous: I bite my nails to the quick, I stutter, and my left eye twitches.

6. The last time I cried was: Yesterday. Having a heart to heart talk with my kiddos.

7. If I were to get married right now, my bridesmaids would be: Hmm. I never actually had a wedding. How 'bout my bestest friend from high school, Mary, and my daughter? Is 11.5 too young to be a bridesmaid?

8. Would you rather run naked through a crowded place or have someone e-mail your deepest secret to all your friends? I am not sure I have any secrets that are that deep, really. I don't think I'd choose the running nekky through a crowd, either. At least not with this current body shape!

9. My hair: Is no longer naturally auburn. Why did no one warn me that red hair fades with age!? Now I have to get my red in a box. Help! My roots are showing!

10. When I was 5: I think that was the year my family forgot my birthday for the first time (yes it happened more than once!).

11. Last Christmas: We spent way too much money on books, books, and more books.

12. When I turn my head left: Hey! I can actually do this without pain! Cool. I see a messy living room when I do it though. Phooey.

13. I should be: Well, there are truly no shoulds, but I could be sitting with the Girl, doing MY schoolwork.

14. When I look down I see: 5 pairs of shoes on an unswept wood floor.

15. The craziest recent event was: trying to locate escaped chickens in the dark with a flashlight.

16. If I were a character on "Friends": I don't have a tv, so find it hard to remember the characters' names, but probably the dude that David Schwimmer plays.

17. Someone from my childhood I view as a positive role model: My dear friend S. Melton. She was/is a wonderful mother and she taught me so much about having patience with children and your spouse.

18. My favorite aunt is: My aunt Violet. She grew parsley in a pot on her front porch for me, spoiled me rotten, and loved my husband and kids right away. She has dimensia and doesn't remember me anymore, sigh, but I have some delightful memories of her from my early childhood.

19. I have a hard time understanding: Algebra

20. One time at a family gathering: First time I had seen my (abusive, alcoholic, and very scary) father in many years. My sister showed up and started screaming at my father from the front yard, at the top of her lungs, for all the horrible things he did to her as a child. They were all true, and it really spoiled the whole mood of the evening, but took the focus off me so I didn't have to tell my father that I was in a relationship with a man he had never met and pregnant.

21. You know I like you if: That's easy- I like everybody. I will talk to anyone.

22. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank: Probably my family for putting up with me while I was working towards the goal.

23. Take my advice: Don't tense up your entire body right before your vehicle is rear-ended and you see you are going to crash head-on into a tree. You will end up in P.T. for the next year, sigh, ask me how I know.

24. My ideal breakfast is: A whole wheat english muffin or a very seedy whole grain bread with bacon or sausage, fried egg, tomato, cheese and butter, and a huge glass of grapefruit juice. Right. Dreaming, of course. I need to make myself a boring protein shake now, sigh.

25. If you visit my home town: I would take you to the cheese factory, where it was rumoured that I was almost born, as my mother went into premature labor while taking a tour. I still don't know if this is just rumor, or if this really was where she went into labor, but my older sibs still tease me about it.

26. Sometime soon I plan to visit: the feed store

27. If you spend the night at my house: You can have my dd's bed or the couch, and we can stay up late talking over hot chocolate.

28. I'd stop my wedding if: I really have no idea- did I mention I never had a wedding? Maybe if my intended showed up drunk, or with lipstick on his cheek.

29. The world could do without: cockroaches and slugs.

30. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Get this straight: I would never, ever, ever be willing to lick the belly of a cockroach. I have now met a pet cockroach up close and personal, and it was a very trying experience for me!

31. The most recent thing I've bought myself is: A little chart that tells you what the percentage score will be regardless of the number of problems on the test or assignment. It is way cool.

32. The most recent thing someone else bought for me is: Papa bought me rings and lids with which to can, and he bought me some pomagranite juice, too. My fave drink after a hot day over the stove.

33. My favorite red head is: My young friend L. Don't worry, I have already warned her that red hair fades, so she won't be dissapointed like I was, when I was no longer a redhead.

34. My favorite brunette is: hmmm. No one here is a brunette, other than me. The Papa dude is my favorite gray-haired dude that was a brunette way before I met him, does he count?

35. My car must have a sign on it that reads: Not sure. I used to have a sign on my VW that said, "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

36. The last time I was drunk: I thought it was a stupid waste of time, and not much fun, and decided not to drink again, and I haven't.

37. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds: Turtles, and horses.

38. I shouldn't have been: There are no shoulds and shouldn'ts. I refuse to live in the past.

39. I should have: I am perfect just the way I am. See above.

40. Last night I: went to Trader Joe's with the Papa Dude, and he kissed me in the frozen food isle. Cool.

41. There's this girl I know who: loves to play the piano.

42: I don't know: what the future holds....but I am cool with that. One never knows, do one?

43. A better name for me would be: Can't think of one now, but when I was a kid, I wanted to be named Elizabeth Laurel.

44. If I ever go back to school I'll: take lots of art, music, and history classes.

45. How many days until my birthday? approximately 210.

46. One dead celebrity I wish I'd met is: Gracie Allan

47. I've lived at my current address since: Halloween, 2003

48. I've been told I look like: My mother from the neck up, and my paternal grandmother from the neck down.

49. If I could have any car, it would be: A VW covertible, or a 1965 Mustang convertable.

50. If I got a new cat tomorrow, I would name it: No new cats! 3 is plenty. The ones we have are named Sassy, Sparrow, and Catkin. Enough is enough!

TTFN,
LB