Eleven

My friend sent me this and since she is someone who simply radiates optimism and strength, I will pass this on :-).

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag 11 people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter/facebook and tell them you've tagged them.

11 Random Things

1. My life is fairly an open book -- which means I hide very little. I have no poker face and I am blunt. If I am happy, I smile. You get the picture.
2. Music is something I've gained a sincere appreciation for in my life. I am grateful for my neighbor Sophie, from a long time ago, who told me about a presentation she was doing in a class at school about how a person's attitude can be changed with music. I had never before considered such a thing (music to me at that time in my life probably consisted of singing in primary at church and practicing the piano -- which could be a whole 'nother' blog). I love music, all kinds (actually, I have yet to appreciate rap, I just can't enjoy it, never could dance to it and when I recently heard it played as the "pump everyone up" music before a basketball game, I just couldn't get into the choppy rhythm). Anyway, I can listen to the syrupy voice of Anne Murray, feel like I am in California with the Beach Boys, go back in time (wayyy back to my senior year in high school) with Soundgarden and Oasis, and most recently just love Johnny Cash. Music makes me happy.
3. I am really a loner and mostly OK with it. I love socializing with friends, but truth be told, I am happy as a clam jogging by myself and being by myself in my house. I think my problem is that I just can't think of more things to say to people in a social setting . . .
4. That said, reminiscing about past memories and experiences with friends and family is my top favorite social thing. Doing so gives life more meaning and pizazz and motivates me to make more memories.
5. I fully plan to have a wig some day. I think it sounds fun to be able to just plop a hair-do on my head and call it good, for the whole day.
6. I have had an inordinate amount of embarrassing moments, I like to call them "character-building" - wonder what I should do with them all?
7. I LOVE where I live. In fact, I mostly have always loved where I lived, wherever it was. Once I met a person who had nothing but complaints about where he lived, where he grew up, even where his wife grew up. I don't EVER want to be like that.
8. Raising children is very humbling. I am at the mercy of a much greater power than my own, heaven help me I pray.
9. In a recent personality questionairre, I learned my love language is "Words of Affirmation". I can live a couple of months off a nice compliment.
10. I believe in angels.
11. Lastly, when I was learning "how to be a Mom" for the 24 years before I became a Mom, I had no idea I was comitting the next 20-40 years either preparing, cleaning up from, or cooking 3 meals EVERY day.

YOUR TURN TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS

1. If you knew today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it?

Walking through "The Enchanted" forest with my kids - letting them pick up every bead they find, and turn over every rock
Reading our favorite stories together - might include: "Seven Silly Eaters" or "Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young" or "Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing"
Singing and Dancing - our "Dazy Crances"
Holding hands with my husband and hugging for at least 8 minutes
Must have a phonecall with my parents - can my mom be sewing in the background? And, my dad - I'd like him to say something like ,"Now you're mad" or "Have you run out of questions?"

2. Do you dance crazy when nobody is looking?

As mentioned above, we do have a crazy dance (did you catch that - my youngest made that up), and do it as often as we'd like :-)

3. Who is the first person you call when something happy happens to you and you want to share?
My sisters. I just go to the one on my "menu" who comes first and if she isn't home, I go to the next one. This happens on a fairly regular basis. If I strike out five times (including my parents - they count too), I leave a message saying something like, "Everybody hates me, nobody likes me, guess I'll go eat worms." 

4. What was the last dream you had about?

Let's make this interesting -- I don't remember my last dream, but I will state here I have had MANY dreams of high school sports, usually basketball. I am late for the game and Coach Paskins is there and Karen. And, without fail - I am in my underwear. I usually don't realize what I am wearing till I've been running up and down the court.

5. What is your favorite feature on a person's face?

Eyes - must go for those eyes

6. What was the worst punishment that you received as a child and why?

Spanking -- definitely remember being spanked when I poured my sister's perfume all over her room

7. Are you usually late, early, or right on time?

late -- apologetically

8. Have you ever come upon an accident? Tell me about it.

Thankfully No


9. Have you ever had an imaginary friend? Do tell. :)

I have had millions of imaginary friends. I had them till I was in 8th grade or something. There were something like 5 boys in town and ME. So, I played by myself all of the time (it's not like I had any siblings -- ha ha). I had the greatest house and yard and school-across-the-street-with-an-amazing-playground. So, I was always outside. Much of the time, I was Miss America on my rollerskates and I think my name was usually Christina. If the wind was blowing just right, my hair would "flow" and I'd look great for the pictures that I'm sure all of my imaginary paparazzi were taking.

I can't be disloyal to my few real girlfriends in my small town. I played with Emma and Kelly and Sonia in those years too. But I digress. . . the question is about imaginary friends.

10. What is your favorite word?

I am often coming up with words that are unusual and using them endlessly, or at least till I find a new word. Today, I learned about the word "retrenching" -- I want to start using that word, it means:

retrench (v) - Bing Dictionary

re·trench

[ ri trénch ]

1. economize: to reduce something such as costs
2. cut something out: to cut out, cut back, or omit something
3. reorganize: to stop doing something in order to reorganize or rethink something

Synonyms: cut back, economize, save, save money, tighten your belt, make savings, make economies, make cuts, draw in your horns

I like that last phrase - "draw in your horns" -- I could use that with many people - ha ha

11. If you could have a slave for a day, who would it be, and what would you have them do?

It would be a Colette-Clone and I would have them do everything I need to do every day - cook, clean, chauffeur, etc. I would then, head off on a hike or a trip to the ocean or the mountains

11 New Questions

1. I'd love to hear your top favorite books - like maybe three and why you liked those books.
2. Who was your first favorite Hollywood crush?
3. If you could legally/morally do anything what would be your vice?
4. Please share a time you felt close to God
5. See, I'm all over the place with these questions. Tell me about your first best friend.
6. If you could tell give your teenage self some advice, what would it be?
7. If you found $20 on the sidewalk, what would you do with it?
8. What is your idea of "fun"?
9. Running out of thoughts here.... this post has only taken me three weeks to write . . . state your best marriage advice (even if you aren't married, you are the pro).
10. On a roll here, tell some parenting advice.
11. Lastly, Give your definition of a strong woman - no names, just definition.

11 Tagged People

1. Melissa - you knew this was coming to you didn't you?
2. Janie
3. Jessie
4. Linnae
5. Cindy
6. Oh, should I be putting last names here? Let's just say most have had the last name Fuller:  Erin K
7. Jody
8. The following names are Non-Fullers that I think might read my blog: Sonia
9. Monika
10. Wendy A.
11. Sheila M.