journey of life

Four places I go over and over: library, post office, bathroom, bed.

Four people who e-mail me (regularly): Nana, Matt, Gwen, Margie.

Four of my favorite places to eat: Nana’s, Macaroni Grill, Le Vieux Bistro, Tadich Grill.

Four places I would rather be right now: on the beach, in the mountains, Europe, on a vacation with the hubby.

Four TV shows I watch over and over: College football is about it…just don’t watch much television…

Tagged by Gwen.

1. In middle school I fell off a set of basement stairs and broke my wrist at a party, which earned me the nickname “Supergirl” for the remainder of the school year.
2. I began my collegiate career as an engineering major, ended as a history major.
3. I have never personally downloaded an iTune.
4. I took roller skating lessons in elementary school. I still can’t roller skate, ice skate or roller blade.
5. My head is a magnet for golf balls, baseballs and softballs.
6. I choose to be counter-culture and gravitate towards others who deliberately choose their own directions as well.
7. I suck up useless facts about celebrities like a dry sponge (Matt’s words there).  However, I’ve become rusty over the past few years.
8. I have a lazy eye lid that will probably require (another) corrective surgery at some point in my future.
9. I never leave the house without my sunglasses.
10. Eating meat off bones grosses me out.
Tagged by Gwen.

Describe ME in one word…just one single word. I’m interested to hear what feedback I get!

This is THE question that ALWAYS stumps me on those email questionnaires. I have the hardest time thinking of somebody…original. If it could really happen, Jesus would be breaking bread with everybody and it would probably be impossible to get a date with Hitler, Stalin, Ghandi, Einstein, Columbus and my dead ancestors. And, if you think about it, dinner wouldn’t be so grand. You’d be more interested in asking questions, not eating. Maybe the question should be rephrased to say tea and crumpets or coffee and donuts. That would be more appropriate.

Katharine Hepburn is someone who always comes to mind. Her sharp wit, her demeanor, not to mention her defiance of popular culture. She was someone so sure of herself and her place in this world. And since I love to meet people who choose to be counter-culture, who go against the grain, make their own path in life, not afraid to stand up for what they truly believe in, I know we would get along famously.

But, yesterday it dawned on me who I’d really, really like to have dinner with. Gilda Radner. Actually, I don’t know if I could do dinner with her, either. She would probably get me laughing so hard that my drink would come out of my nose. But, it would be so worth it. Everybody loved Gilda. Men swooned over her. Women wanted to be like her. I truly believe she was one of those people with a heart of gold and it poured out love to everybody that met her. Gilda used humor as a survival tool. As a fat kid, she made fun of herself before the other kids could. As a bulimic, she once told a reporter she had vomited in every toilet in New York City. And, when she was dying of ovarian cancer, she did everything she could to fill her life with friends, laughter and love. Now, her memory lives on in Gilda’s Club’s all over the world.

So, in my afterlife if I am so lucky to cross paths with Gilda Radner, I’m going to make some comfort food and break bread with her. And, if you want to come along, just bring along a dish.

“Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.”
- Gilda Radner, 1946-1989

• Lush soap
• outdoor showers (preferably at the beach!)
• putting on pajamas
• foot massages/pedicures
• warm socks (preferably Thorlos)
• Nana’s cooking
• dogs
• kisses and hugs from my husband
• snail mail from friends (or better yet, presents! Thanks, Paul and Holly!)
• fresh, clean bedsheets
• sharing a bottle of wine (or more) with good friends
• good movies
• getting cracked up (as in a good laugh, silly!)
• good books
• dancing (big surprise there, right?)
• camping in the fall
• quality ice cream
• Canadian geese in October
• Saturday football games at Virginia Tech
• traveling with my husband
• lazy, beach days
• first warm days of spring
• sleeping with the windows open
• iced coffee
• a clean house

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate. I think egg nog is snotty.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Um, growing up they were both, but I’m pretty big on wrapping gifts.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I would if I could find some, but I’ve never really looked. Growing up we always had the fake kind.
5. When do you put your decorations up? This one is being reconsidered. Usually, I don’t like to think about Christmas decorations until December actually begins, but I’m thinking if I’m going to get into decorating, I might decorate sooner. I’m not sure if I’m going to change my mind, though. Let Thanksgiving have the month of November. This year, with the move and all, I’m bah humbugging it.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I’d have to say my favorite holiday dish is anything my grandmother makes. Macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole…the list goes on and on. Well, I like most everything but sweet potato casserole.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night and peeking at my Holly Hobby stove when I was three or four. I also remember spending Christmas with my grandparents when it snowed and my Papa got up on the roof with bells.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I found out on the school bus that the Easter bunny was not real and when I confronted my mom about the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy she flat out lied to me. More than anything, I was upset she lied to me, but I now know she was just trying to keep me young for a little bit longer.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No. But, I like what my my cousins do - you get to open one present Christmas Eve, which is always pajamas.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I’ve only decorated my own tree once. I used popcorn, gingerbread men, cranberries and twine and scrap fabric garland with white lights. I was actually quite pleased with the result.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, as long as I don’t have to drive in it! Fortunately, my husband LOVES to drive in the snow.
12. Can you ice skate? Nope.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think the Holly Hobby stove gets the top spot.
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Not to stress out too much and to enjoy spending time with friends and family.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Potato candy with peanut butter. My grandmother and I have attempted to perfect this recipe but we never get consistent results. Once I do, I’ll post it. Now, I really am craving some potato candy.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I’ve been thinking about this. It’s been somewhat strange over the past few years, since we’ve alternated between families for the holidays. I’m wanting to create some traditions of my own.
17. What tops your tree? Um, what tree? No, really… I don’t have a tree topper.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I enjoy giving more.

    When I find something special AND A SURPRISE for the people I love, giving is truly a joy. I’m big on surprise gifts.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? I’m really digging the Barenaked Ladies version of “We Three Kings/Star of Wonder”.
20. Candy Canes? I don’t go nuts over them.
21. Favorite Christmas Movie? “White Christmas” is a classic. I also consider “The Sound of Music” as a Christmas movie, even though it’s not really a Christmas movie.

I am Superman

Superman 80% Wonder Woman 65% Supergirl 55% Robin 50% The Flash 50% Iron Man 40% Spider-Man 35% Green Lantern 35% Hulk 35% Catwoman 25% Batman 20%

I am mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

For shits and giggles I took this quiz and was surprised at the results. Maybe I’ve shed some of my southern accent? What American accent do you have?

Copy and publish on your blog, bold what you have done.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula (Bubba in Biology class)
7. Taken a candlelit bath
8. Said “I love you” and meant it (Every day)
9. 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 tipsy 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
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 (Probably, considering who I married.)
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. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
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
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Loved someone you shouldn’t have
76. Changed your name
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
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. edited (Of course I’ve done something I can’t talk about!)
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
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
99. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
100. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge (We walked around it at the park)
101. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
102. Had plastic surgery (I was three - I have a lazy eyelid)
103. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
104. Wrote articles for a large publication
105. Lost over 100 pounds
106. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
107. Piloted an airplane
108. Petted a stingray
109. Broken someone’s heart
110. Helped an animal give birth
111. Won money on a T.V. game show
112. Broken a bone
113. Gone on an African photo safari
114. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
115. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
116. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
117. Ridden a horse
118. Had major surgery
119. Had a snake as a pet
120. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
121. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours (Mononucleosis!)
122. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
123. Visited all 7 continents
124. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
125. Eaten kangaroo meat
126. Eaten sushi
127. Had your picture in the newspaper
128. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
129. Gone back to school
130. Parasailed
131. Petted a cockroach
132. Eaten fried green tomatoes
133. Read The Iliad
134. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
135. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (Do fish count? I’ve done that once.)
136. Skipped all your school reunions
137. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
138. Been elected to public office (I was S.C.A. Reporter in high school)
139. Written your own computer language
140. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
141. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
142. Built your own PC from parts
143. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
144. Had a booth at a street fair
145. Dyed your hair (Highlights)
146. Been a DJ
147. Shaved your head
148. Caused a car accident (Just a low speed fender bender in a snowstorm)
149. Saved someone’s life