Tagged.
December 14, 2010 12:28 Filed in: This and that
I’ve been tagged by my BFF Kathy. (It was forever ago and I hope she forgives me for taking so long to respond to it.) I’m completely cool with this because it's obvious I enjoy talking about myself. Instead of nice short one-sentence answers, which her friends seem to be better at than I am, I went a little overboard. I hope you find me as interesting as I do.
Which 5 items would you take with you in a fire (besides your family members and pet(s)? Oh, tough one! There are so many things in this world I’m attached to. I become quite sentimental about stuff, especially stuff given to me by people I love (and who I’m happy to say love me too). I look around and see not-particularly-valuable china plates and cups I’ve inherited from my parents, furniture and whatnots collected at flea markets and yard sales with Programmer Dude, projects my son created all through his school years, and lots of books.
Books I try to part with but can’t. Knitting books, favorite childhood books (especially well-loved ex library copies), histories, Christmas books, gardening books, books for planning our someday honeymoon to Scotland. Then there’s all the yarn and fabric I’ve been collecting for quite some time, several LARGE plastic bins’ worth. So ... Much ... STUFF. Goodness, what would I do without all my stuff?
But of course, it isn’t stuff that makes the world go ‘round, it’s love -- the love of my dear ones who live in this house with me. So if it all went up in cinder and ash, I could (sadly) leave it all behind as long as the living ones are safe. But if I really did have the luxury of dashing around and collecting five things before exiting safely, they would be: every photo in the house that isn’t digital and can’t be replaced (that counts as one thing, right?);
two sketches of a very young me done by my mother, not so much because they are me but because they were done by mom, who was always surreptitiously sketching us (that counts as one also, yes?); a metal sculpture my son created in school, which he dedicated to mom after she died; our box of wedding mementos, including copies of our handmade invitations; and the Fall 1993 issue of Vogue Knitting, given to me by Kathy--I’m irrationally sentimental about that magazine.
What would your last meal be? For starters, lots of warm sesame semolina bread dipped into Lucini olive oil, followed by Programmer Dude’s superdelish shrimp creole spooned over a bowl of hot white rice, accompanied by glasses of chilly Pinot Grigio, ending with a decaf triple grande two pump with whip mocha from Starbucks (if it's the last meal, who gonna care about the fat and calories in a little whipped cream?). But why wait until the end--I'm thinking we need to have this meal as soon as possible!
Who was your favorite teacher and why? When I studied science writing at Columbia College, I had the good fortune of taking classes taught by Pete Gorner, a science writer with the Chicago Tribune. Pete was a little gruff and so at first I was moderately intimidated by him. But he inspired me, edited and pushed me toward quality work, helped me understand the scientific process, all of which gave me the confidence to tackle difficult scientific subjects as well as (or sometimes better than?) the science nerds who were also in those classes.
After I wrote a particularly good (if I may say so myself) article about the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco (and he thought so too judging by the "A" on the paper), Pete took me under his wing, called me his “protege” to one of his colleagues, and helped me get my first article published in the Chicago Tribune, which launched my brief but prolific freelance writing career. I won’t go into my regret at having abandoned those studies mid-way toward my degree and, hence, not following my bliss all these years, but if I ever “make it” as a science writer in the future I will credit Pete for giving me the confidence to believe I'm a good writer and for knowing I was on the right path. Thank you, Pete.
Coffee or tea? Oy, I can’t easily choose! I have two large mugs of kiwi pear Republic of Tea green tea every day, rain or shine, summer or winter, not for the caffeine buzz but for the flavor and sheer comfort of sipping tea. But I crave decaf Starbucks decaf mochas and lattes. If I had to choose, though, I’d choose the tea. Can’t get through the day without it. Wait, no, I’d choose the Starbucks. Tea. Starbucks! ACK. Tea. That’s my final answer. Tea. starbucks.
Where is your happiest place on earth? Right here in my very own home. I’ve dreamed all my adult life of having my own home, with a man I love, our kids and critters. And I finally have it! A dream come true. We’re as happy as clams in our cozy abode, fixing it up together, snuggling in front of a fire when the cold winds are a-blowin’, praising the chlorofluorocarbon gods for central air conditioning during the sweltering summer months, digging in the garden and watching it grow, sipping wine in the wee li'l back yard, secretly high-fiving each other when all of our kids join us for dinner. My happiest place on earth is right here! (Contented sigh.) Now, if someone magically transported it all to the Cotswolds, we wouldn’t complain.
What’s been your favorite age (so far)? Whatever age I am always seems to be better than the previous one. When I was in my 20s, I thought that was it, best age ever! Then I got to my 30s and was raising my son, becoming more comfortable with myself, still reasonably trim and flexible, and I thought hey, this is good! I like being in my 30s. Now that I’m in my 40s I’m happier than ever, even if I am facing some cruddy mid-life junk and those d*mn stubborn last ten pounds. But I’m doing it with more wisdom and the love of a good man by my side (I keep mentioning that because after a number of really bad relationships, I'm still on cloud nine over having finally met the Right One) in my happiest place on earth (see #5). I do sort of miss being in my 20s and not worrying about retirement savings, health care, job security, resumes and cover letters, two teenage boy$ on the car in$urance policy, jowls, crows feet, and all the other pesky grownup junk we have to deal with in our 40s ... but I’ll take now, thanks.
Do you believe in ghosts? Why/why not? I believe! For two reasons: one, several people--including my mom and my best friend-- have told me some real ghost stories, about people they know, or people who know people they know, that made me a believer; and two, I’m fine with believing in things I can't see or easily explain. I’m perfectly comfortable with the idea that the spirits of once earthly living things return and hang about for one reason or another. I’m not sure I’d feel entirely comfortable in the presence of a ghost, at first. Even though I believe, it would probably be hard to, well, believe it if I was actually seeing a ghost. But I’m open to it. As science oriented as I can be, I don’t think we can, or should be able to, concretely explain everything. There has to be some magic and mystery in the world!
Okay, now I will pay the tagging forward and offer up some Christmas related questions to Mark, Wendy, Lynette and Monica at PassionKnit, Laurie (who has woefully neglected her blog!), and back to Kathy, who is welcome to stop the endless loop of tagging right then and there. Feel free to answer in the comments section below, on your own blog, by e-mail, or not at all --because you’ve got Christmas shopping and baking and hustlebustle to take care of, right?
Actually, I wouldn't mind if anyone answered the above questions. Don't wait to be tagged!
What would your last meal be? For starters, lots of warm sesame semolina bread dipped into Lucini olive oil, followed by Programmer Dude’s superdelish shrimp creole spooned over a bowl of hot white rice, accompanied by glasses of chilly Pinot Grigio, ending with a decaf triple grande two pump with whip mocha from Starbucks (if it's the last meal, who gonna care about the fat and calories in a little whipped cream?). But why wait until the end--I'm thinking we need to have this meal as soon as possible!
Who was your favorite teacher and why? When I studied science writing at Columbia College, I had the good fortune of taking classes taught by Pete Gorner, a science writer with the Chicago Tribune. Pete was a little gruff and so at first I was moderately intimidated by him. But he inspired me, edited and pushed me toward quality work, helped me understand the scientific process, all of which gave me the confidence to tackle difficult scientific subjects as well as (or sometimes better than?) the science nerds who were also in those classes.
After I wrote a particularly good (if I may say so myself) article about the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco (and he thought so too judging by the "A" on the paper), Pete took me under his wing, called me his “protege” to one of his colleagues, and helped me get my first article published in the Chicago Tribune, which launched my brief but prolific freelance writing career. I won’t go into my regret at having abandoned those studies mid-way toward my degree and, hence, not following my bliss all these years, but if I ever “make it” as a science writer in the future I will credit Pete for giving me the confidence to believe I'm a good writer and for knowing I was on the right path. Thank you, Pete.
Okay, now I will pay the tagging forward and offer up some Christmas related questions to Mark, Wendy, Lynette and Monica at PassionKnit, Laurie (who has woefully neglected her blog!), and back to Kathy, who is welcome to stop the endless loop of tagging right then and there. Feel free to answer in the comments section below, on your own blog, by e-mail, or not at all --because you’ve got Christmas shopping and baking and hustlebustle to take care of, right?
- What is your favorite Christmas memory?
- What is your favorite food and drink that you make or buy specifically for Christmas? is it a family tradition or one of your own?
- Is Christmas a religious celebration for you, a spiritual-but-not-religious holiday, both, or something other?
- What is your favorite Christmas song or album, sung by whom?
- What one Christmas movie do you have to watch, and is there one you absolutely have to avoid?
- Is there anything special you do to get through the cold gray months of January and February once the sparkle and anticipation of Christmas has come and gone?
- Do you still believe in Santa Claus?
Actually, I wouldn't mind if anyone answered the above questions. Don't wait to be tagged!
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