A Dozen

To change up my recent travel posts so all 3 of you don't get bored, I'm going to throw in 2nd Cup of Coffee's Random Dozen questions along with some random, albeit beautiful, pictures I took while on the trip.  How do ya like that for tootin' my own horn?  heehee

1. Is there a word which you initially mispronounced?  Were the circumstances which you made the faux pas embarrassing?  

Hmmm...I can't think of any right off.  However, when we were kids and riding in the car, sometimes I would say, "Ham on game!"  instead of  "Hang on, gang!" which is what my dad used to say to us if we had to stop quickly.  But, no, I'm not embarrassed to reveal this.  After all, I was only 4 years old. ; )

2. How do you feel about the use of texting shortcuts and trends? (ex.: "I've got ur notes.  Get them 2 u 2morow?")  

I'm indifferent.  i use some txtng shrtcts but i thnk it cld get cnfusng if u used m 2 often.  And I try to avoid miscommunications as much as humanly possible.

And here's an example just from this morning (after I had already published this post):
Background:  My birthday is tomorrow and Brian has the day off and wanted to know what I want to do - Here are our texts back and forth about this subject.

Me:  Birthday plan - drop off L at school, brkfst, High museum for Dali exhibit
Brian: Bet
Me: Bet?
Brian: low, ok
Me: What is low?
Brian: In other words
Me: (realizing that my phone's capital i's look like lower case l's)
Brian: low, im wichu
Me: My capital i's look like lower case l's.
Brian: Not my fault
Me: Ahem
Brian: low, i love you

Of course, I'm substituting his upper-case i's with lower-case l's so you can basically see what I was seeing.

3. Tell me about your high school senior picture. Please feel free to post.

Ugh.  Must I?  Mushroom hair.  'Nuf said.  And they misspelled my name in the yearbook.  But, then again, nearly everyone misspells my name and I'm used to it by now and it doesn't bug me.

4. How funny!  There isn't a number four!  Let's see if I can think of one... 

Gosh!  I got nothin'.

5. Share a high school or college homecoming memory.

Homecoming was usually kind of uneventful.  I do remember not knowing if I was going to go to the Homecoming dance my senior year and I decided to go and ended up borrowing a dress from a friend or my cousin and going solo. My mom dropped me off (no car of my own) and since I was "unattached" was able to dance with whomever I pleased.   I was much more interested in watching my friends play in the football game beforehand and checking out what the Homecoming court was wearing and who would win the crown.

6. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Sunsets.  I'm not what you'd call a "morning person".

7. What is something that you have not done that you desire to do?

Go to Italy.

8. If you could come back (in another life) as an animal, which would it be?

A house cat.

9. Where were you 10 years ago?  Please feel free to elaborate more than just your physical location.

Weekend of my birthday October 2000?  I was at a Dress as Famous Couples Halloween party dressed as Sonny Bono and Brian was dressed as Cher.  Naturally, because he's taller and does a mean impression of Cher tossing her hair over her shoulder.  He can even do it without hair on his head! .... He's such a good sport!

10. When you are proven to be correct in a contentious discussion, do you gloat?

I try not to engage in contentious discussions.  But, IF I'm proven to be correct, (which would be rare) then I don't gloat.  I just  bite my lip and smile a lot on the inside.

11. What is your favorite food which includes the ingredient "caramel"?

Caramello candy bars

12. If you could be part of any fictional family, which family would you choose and why?

I don't want any family but my own.    Awwww...

I wouldn't mind having the name Sinead

 I loved the questions for the Random Dozen today! 

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?  I'm probably a 1.5. 

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?  Cleaning Landon and Anna's rooms the other day!

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?   From 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. and then from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?   The first thing that springs to mind (and I will only list one since there are so many) is we were really late to Brian's great-uncle's funeral.  We had to wait until Brian was off for lunch and then drive over an hour away.  We made it there in time to hear Taps being played.  We love you, though, Uncle Jasper and we'll see you again!

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?   Driving around with the windows rolled down!

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?   Yes!  I was just laughing this morning, when I dropped Anna off at preschool, about how EVERYONE had on green!   Every little person and every teacher!   I think it's very funny that we celebrate this day in this manner.  And I wonder if Ireland knows how much we love them?

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?   Electricity, water, how a camera can "see" what you see and then remember it and store it and you can print it out!, that the continental plates shift and move, stars, languages that use symbols that are different from the ones I use (i.e. Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Japanese), the internet, how musicians can put notes and words together into something beautiful, ...I'm in awe every day.

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?   Sweet little lamb

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?  Gee whiz, I'd probably waste it.  I'm already given 24 and I waste most of those already.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?    A new wardrobe

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.  Plumbing

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. Mine is "Zoe O'Sullivan." I love it!  Mine was Sinead Flannery

And, on that note, (and copying Joyce's idea) I'll end this post with the ethereal voice of Sinead O'Connor singing Sacrifice who was born in Glenageary Dublin.  ; )   Wouldn't you love to be that beautiful bald?

My Brain Needs a Break

I've been feeling a bit distracted or something, lately, with all the stuff going on at home (in-laws, brother in town, kids' school stuff, etc., etc.) and I've kind of set this here blog off to the side for a moment.   In an effort not to neglect it too horribly I think I'll just participate in other blogs' linking up parties (for lack of a better phrase).  That way I don't have to use my brain too much.  ; )

I haven't done Linda's Random Dozen in a while but I always love  reading Joyce's answers and so here I am again.

1. Are you pleasant when you're ill, or are you a grumpy, fussy patient?

I think, if I'm being honest, that I lean way to the side of grumpy and fussy.  Unless we're talking about pain.  Then I think I handle it mostly well.

2. When you find out that school is canceled (due to inclement weather) what is your gut reaction?
WOOPEE!  Where's my camera?

3. What is one domestic skill you wish you could improve?
Daily cleaning up.

4. Do you decorate your home for Valentine's Day?
Nah

5. What song is on your mind today?
Ray Lamontagne's  "You Are the Best Thing".  Hopefully, you'll find out why in a couple days. *wink*

• You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

 

More Ray LaMontagne music on iLike

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6. Do you prefer contemporary movies or classic?
I love both.  I like the classic story-lines/plots but I also like the more contemporary camera techniques and film editing.

7. How well do you "compartmentalize" your feelings? For example, how well can you put aside a really trying moment to deal with the immediate situation which is not related to the trying moment, e.g., putting aside a tiff with your spouse in order to finish wallpapering a room.

Ummm... This would not be something I would write down as a strength of mine.  ; )

8. What is the first thing that attracted you to your spouse? (Or if you're single, to your best friend.)
His reputation.   He was cute and funny but when I first told people I was dating him EVERYONE said, "He is SUCH a nice guy!" 

9. When was the last time your heart raced?
Last night when I saw that Corinne is going to try and get some bloggers together and I REALLY REALLY want to go!!!

10. What are your memories of Valentine's Day at school?
Shoebox mailboxes and cutting out hearts and gluing paper doilies to them to make valentines.

11. If you were going to receive candy for Valentine's Day, which would you prefer?
Of course, chocolate comes to mind first but then those chewy, sugar-coated hearts.

12. Red or Pink?
Red!  Absolutely!  It's my favorite!

Tagged!

Joyce, at from this side of the pond, tagged me in her blog yesterday and I'm playing along because, well, I think she's one of the coolest chicks I haven't yet met. Please check out her blog; especially her pictures of New Joisey. I have never listed NJ high on my places I'd like to visit list but after looking at her pics the other day it's creeping up the list. Going to meet Joyce would be reason enough, though.

1. Where is your cell phone? Hopefully in my purse. Otherwise I will spend at least 20 minutes looking for it again tomorrow, which is becoming part of my routine.

2. Your hair? my favorite accessory
3. Your mother? FAB-ulous! Fun, dependable, punctual, honest, funny. We all broke out in a chant "Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!" when she got home the other night and she said, "Yep. Christmas must be right around the corner."
4. Your father? Quirky doesn't begin to tell that story.
5. Your favorite food? Do I have to narrow it down? Sour cream
6. Your dream last night? I don't remember last nights' dream but the night before involved Carol and Jeremy Smith and Josh Dorminy calling out the words for a spelling bee: "Snail. Snare. Carburetor."
7.Your favorite drink? Ice cold skim milk
8. Your dream/goal? Good. I only have to think of one. ...To not give my children too much to tell their therapists.
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? quilting
11. Your fear? I'm not sure I have any. I'll let you know if I think of one.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Right here.
13. Where were you last night? Right here.
14. Something that you aren't? self-motivated
15. Muffins? huh?
16. Wish list item? Nikon D40
17. Where did you grow up? Detroit, Michigan until '87. Then Roswell, GA for a year. Then Acworth, Georgia until I married Brian. And, technically, I could list everywhere I've ever lived since I haven't really grown up yet.
18. Last thing you did? Typed that last sentence.
19. What are you wearing? Embellished tee, khakis, and underthings.
20. Your TV? Off.
21. Your pet? mean cat. But you'd be mean too with those kids around.
22. Friends? Oh, Lord, thank you. They're the coolest.
23. Your life? Undeserved
24. Your mood? Tired but happy
25. Missing someone? A little but they'll be back.
26. Vehicle? Soccer Mom Special
27. Something you're not wearing? socks
28. Your favorite store? Ikea.
29. Your favorite color? cranberry
30. When was the last time you laughed? 10 minutes ago
31. Last time you cried? This morning when I looked at Kimmy's wedding pictures on Facebook.
32. Your best friend? Callie
33. One place that I go to over and over? Bahia Honda State Park (in my mind)
34. One person who emails me regularly? My Uncle Rick - enough with the forwards already. ; )
35. Favorite place to eat? On the Border

There you go, Joyce. Lovin' ya here south of the Mason Dixon line. There are plenty of watery views around here. Come on down; the weather's fine!