Farewell, Five Question Friday

 

 

So, as I’ve been doing every Friday for quite some time now, I dropped by Mama M’s place to check out the questions for the day. But, instead of questions, I found sad news:  Five Question Friday has been put on an indefinite hiatus. 

Having just retired one of my own blog themes—and not even one that’s a link-up that requires attention beyond putting my own fingers to keyboard— I can understand how she feels about reaching the “have to” stage of something. And she’s right, at those moments, it’s far better to opt out than to try to do something you really don’t want to do anymore. 

So, while I admire her courage in laying to rest something that’s been very successful on her blog, now I have to worry about what it means for mine.  (It’s all about me, you know!)  In the space of one short week, two of my theme days have now gone by the wayside.  Maybe that’s some sort of sign that it’s time for a change here, too, though I’m not sure what.  As I said before, I’d like to replace those days with new and exciting themes, I just need to figure out what those new themes might be. 

Of course, it won’t be the end of the world if I just have to chatter about random thoughts for a while on Fridays and Sundays, or maybe browse around the great World Wide Web and try out a few memes and themes and see if any really feel good to me.  One of the most beautiful things about blogging really is the fact that I’m free to do whatever I dang well please; there’s definitely a certain liberation in that feeling that doesn’t come from too many other parts of life.

So, I’m putting my thinking cap on, but I’m jamming it tight onto my head because I’m just going to see where the wind blows me.

Five Questions for the New Month

 

I’m going to agree with Mama M and say that I simply cannot believe it’s August already.  This year is flying by.  On the upside, that means it’ll be like tomorrow when I finish my paralegal degree, even though it won’t really happen until the end of the year.  But while I might be ready to have my degree, I’m not ready for all the other stuff that comes along at the end of the year, so let’s not rush things too much, shall we?

But let’s do rush right into this week’s questions.

1. What is on your Summer 2013 bucket list?

Well, “bucket list” might be too strong a word, but I did recently get it in my head that we should visit a local peach orchard and pick ourselves some fruit.  I was hoping we might do that tomorrow, but apparently Tiger Woods is having an awesome tournament, and Brian wants to see what’s next.  I’ve got nothing in particular against watching golf (understanding that “watching golf” is a euphemism for “afternoon nap”), but considering I’ve only got three weekends without school commitments, I was hoping to get out of the house a bit. 

On the other hand, we have already made plans to take a short weekend away for my birthday, which is also the last weekend before school resumes.  There’s an Amtrak route that runs from here down to Ft. Worth, TX, and I’ve wanted to ride it since it set up shop here years ago, so we’re finally going to do it.  So that’ll be summer fun for sure.

2. What is the most useless item on your child's back to school list?

Well, my son has decided to go back to school this fall, but I really have no idea what’s on his list, even though I’m paying for it.  But I’ll tell you the most useless item on my list:  a set of the Oklahoma Court Rules, a two volume set of large paperback books which cost approximately $240.  As you might guess, they detail the ins and outs of the regulations you need to know for using the court system here.  So why is such valuable information useless?  Because it’s all accessible online, for free.  And, these books are published every year, which means my two hundred and forty bucks is No good for less than six months.  And I know exactly how useless this is, because I bought the 2012 set just prior to the spring semester, and opened one of the books a total of one time, and that was only because I was having some trouble with my internet connection.  Useless, I say.

3. What is the one reality TV show that makes no sense to you? 

The one?  Uh, none of them make sense.  You can visit my first Tube Day Tuesday post for a quick look at how I feel about reality television.

4. What is one movie you can watch over and over again? Why?

There are actually a lot of movies I can watch repeatedly; I’m not one of those folks who thinks it’s ruined after the first time around.  Raiders of the Lost Ark, Tango and Cash, The Negotiator, Die Hard, ET . . . the list goes on and on.  And why?  Because interesting characters and interesting story lines are always a good time.

5. What's your favorite back to school tradition?

No tradition, really, but I do love looking through my stack of text books (except those that are useless, as I just mentioned) and getting new notebooks and pens.  I’m sort of a nerd.

And that brings us to the end of another five questions, and me to the end of another day.  These first few days out of school I’ve been up almost as late as normal, so still not getting nearly enough sleep.  But the only good thing about not picking peaches tomorrow is that I can sleep in.  And I intend to.  Good night.

Five Questions Interrupted by a Nap

 

It’s Friday, Friday, Friday!  Of late, this has become the night I get my best and longest sleep of the week, so I’m looking forward to making that trend continue.  So, let’s get to the questions and I’ll get to my bed.

1. What is your best secret cleaning tip?

Hahaha!  If you could look around my house, you’d know the answer to that without asking.  Actually, my big tip is to let someone else do it for you!

2. What is your favorite food to snack on during movie night?

Buttered popcorn or Junior Mints.  That’s movie snacks, as far as I’m concerned, at least at the theater.  We don’t really have too many movie nights at our  house, but I’d think similar snacks would be called for.

3. If it was up to you, what would you have named the royal baby?

Not George, I feel quite certain of that.  Nothing against all the fine and upstanding Georges, of course.  And, I have to admit, I’m a big fan of Alexander.

4. If you could be any Disney character who would you choose?

If it’s okay to blur gender lines, I think I might want to be Simba.  He’s got the obligatory traumatic childhood, of course, so that’s kind of a bummer, but he’s good and kind, makes the most of a bad situation, and is willing to step up and do the right thing when called upon.  I suppose on some level, that’s just about a blueprint for any Disney hero, but I’m still going with  Simba.  He’s cute and he’s got good music.

5. What's the most important part of a healthy relationship?

Honesty.  Or maybe laughter.  Or communication.  Oh, that’s hard to say the most important.  But my first instinct was honesty, and I think I’m still going with that.  It really doesn’t matter how much you’re talking or laughing if it’s all lies anyway.

Okay, so remember when I said I was looking forward to my bed?  Well, that was many hours ago as apparently I fell asleep sitting right here on the couch typing up these answers.  I must’ve needed that sleep more than I even knew.  But, it’s now just after 5:00am, and I can tell already I’m going to have a kink in my back and my neck from the weird angle I’ve been at; I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m getting far too old to be comfortable sleeping on a couch.  My bed is going to feel extra good now!

So, good night, or good morning, and I hope you all have a pleasant weekend ahead.

Five Questions Before Bedtime

 

Welcome to the end of another very long week.  I am so glad to say that the summer semester is winding down, as I’ve decided I’m just getting too old for this non-stop schedule of mine.  I actually felt like I might fall asleep driving home today, and I have to tell you, that’s not a very good feeling.  I got home and fell into bed for a couple of hours, then Brian and I went out to dinner.  It’s the second Furlough Friday, so probably we should be more frugal with our funds since there’s another couple of months of furlough days coming up, but I was far too tired to cook.  And he’d been out mowing all day, so he was pretty beat, too.  Chili’s was much easier, and besides, they have these yummy jumbo pretzel appetizers.

But enough of that, let’s get on with this week’s questions.  Thanks as always to Mama M for hosting.

1. What is one thing you have too many of in your house?

Probably plastic souvenir cups.  We don’t stand on formality around here, and most of our beverages are served in a plastic cup.  So if we’re out somewhere buying a drink and getting a reusable plastic cup is an option, I usually do that—especially if I’m someplace that I actually want a souvenir from.  The ones from vacations and such I always want to keep forever, but I’ll admit that we could probably stand to get rid of a few that came from the local football stadium.

2. Did anything go not quite as planned on your wedding day?

Well, of course.  Does any wedding day ever go completely smoothly?  Thankfully, though, I don’t remember anything too drastic going wrong.  Brian’s car had broken down the day before.  Something relatively simple (well, you know, for a car guy like him), so he could fix it up, but that meant he had to spend the morning of the wedding actually fixing it.  But since we were driving down to Dallas to catch the flight to our honeymoon destination, we sort of needed a car.  I don’t remember now why we couldn’t drive mine and let the repair wait until after we returned, but I know that’s not how it worked out.  Also, as Brian and I were walking out of the chapel, my dress caught on the hinge or something of the door, not only snagging me and slowing down our exit, but it ripped just a little bit.  Fortunately it was only the underskirt, but it still made me sad.  My guess is there were other small things that didn’t go as they were supposed to, but that’s all I really remember, so I’ll consider that a win.

3. What is your favorite summer smoothie recipe?

Nothing too fancy; I prefer a piña colada flavor, pineapple and coconut.  Though I actually make mine with a splash of orange juice, too, so it’s got a slightly different tang than just proper piña colada.

4. What is the weather like where you are?

It’s warm, hot even, but not the kind of miserable swelter that it often is this time of year.  We had some rain for several days earlier this week, so things were significantly cooler then—in the 80s—but it’s warmed back up now.  It’s supposed to be mid 90s for the next week or so, which isn’t too bad at all.  Nice summertime weather. 

5. What is your favorite book to read to your kids?

My kid is long past the reading to stage, but anything Seuss was usually a big hit in our household back in the day.  Also, I have to say that much of my fondness for the Harry Potter books likely stems from the fact that Billy and I sort of read them together.  The first one came out when Billy was about six or seven, and I read that one to him, with him watching the pages intently.  A year or so later when the second one came out, we took turns reading it to each other.  By the time the third (and subsequent volumes) came out, he was reading them on his own and we had to buy two copies because we both wanted to read them right away.  Fun times.

And, that’s that for the questions this week.  I’ve done my juvenile law worksheet, but won’t be able to upload until tomorrow due to routine server maintenance at the school.  I am considering doing one section of math homework, but the reality is I will probably jog in place for a few minutes (because I’m about one thousand steps short of my 8500 goal) and then go to bed.  Nap or no nap, I am still mighty tired.  As I might have mentioned, I am not getting any younger!

Goodnight, and happy weekends to you all.

Five Questions and a Helping of Exhaustion

 

A big, huge, TGIF!  Only three more weeks of summer session, and then I’m hoping life will begin to feel just a little bit normal again.  And maybe I’ll even start getting a normal amount of sleep.  Tonight, my goal is to be in bed by ten.  That sounds absolutely glorious!

Anyway, it’s Five Question Friday, so let’s check in and see what’s going on.

1. Would you rather pay for house cleaner or spa day?

As a one time splurge, or a regular happening?  If it’s the former, then spa.  I’d like to treat myself to a nice massage and a bit of pampering.  But if a regular thing, I’d rather spend the money on housekeeping.  I sorely hate cleaning; consequently, it doesn’t get done all that often.  If I had quite a bit of disposable income, I’d definitely spend some of it on house cleaning services.

2. Who plans what gifts you get for holidays, you or your spouse?

Me, entirely.  Every once in a while Brian might accompany me on a shopping excursion and put in some small amount of feedback, but neither of us really enjoy that too much, so I try to keep it to a minimum. 

3. How many hours of sleep do you get? Do you need more?

Right now?  I’m getting by on an average of about five hours a night.  Do I need more?  Absolutely.  As I’ve probably mentioned at some point, my perfect amount is about nine hours, though I’m pretty functional on about seven.  Fewer than that, and I start feeling it after only a few days.  Fewer than five, and I feel it immediately.  I’m on week six of that five-ish average, so, yeah, I definitely need some shut-eye.

4. Do you like your hair long or short?

I’ve been wearing it shortish for quite a long time now.  If all things were equal, I’d probably prefer it longer, but all things are not equal, and when it was longer, my hair was so heavy it caused me to have pretty frequent headaches.  I have enough headaches without putting another five pounds on top of my head making it worse.  Besides, even with my hair short, it takes at least fifteen-twenty minutes to dry my hair; there’s no way I’d want to spend the time necessary to dry long hair.

5. When was the last time you were pulled over and what was it for?

Ummm . . . It’s been long enough ago that I really don’t remember it.  I’m sure it was for speeding, though now that I write that, it sounds pretty bad.  It’s not that I speed often, it’s just that that’s what people get stopped for.  I’ve tried to rack my brain, and I’m going to guess it’s been about ten years since the last time I was pulled over.  I hope that doesn’t mean I’m due sometime soon.

 

And that’s it.  Now I’ve got about an hour before my self-appointed bedtime, so the question becomes whether I should do a little homework, spend it browsing Facebook, or just add an extra hour to my sleep cycle.  Oh, that last one sounds oh so tempting.

Happy weekend to you all.

Five Question Summer

 

Happy summer!  It’s warming up nicely around here, and pretty soon it’ll be hotter than just about anyone would want it to be.  But no matter what, I would always rather be hot than cold, so I’m good with summer.  But since it’s not even quite nine o’clock and I have already been falling asleep, I think we should get right to the questions.  Thanks to Mama M. for Five Question Friday.

1. Have you ever been robbed and how did you handle it?

Sad to say, I’ve had two houses burglarized, once when I was a kid and once just a couple of years ago.  In both instances, it was a while before I felt safe in my home again.  That thing they say about feeling violated and that it’s about more than the stuff that was taken—all of that is true.  I’m seriously hoping there will not be a third time.  Oh, and one time on vacation, our truck was broken into at our hotel.  They only got a few bucks worth of change, but I was really annoyed our vacation time had to be interrupted with police statements and such.  People really shouldn’t take what isn’t theirs.

2. What do you do at a kids function when Parents don't behave? Meaning they are the ones being impatient and rude.

I don’t know that I’ve ever had this experience, at least not enough that it made a lasting impression.  And, since my son is grown, I’m not likely to have to deal with it.  But, in general, I think you deal with rude people by being exceedingly nice.  Kill them with kindness is my motto.

3. Have you heard of a potty party? Will you/have you had one for your child(ren)?

Um, not to be too succinct, but, no, and no.  Though I do think the idea of celebrating and rewarding successful potty habits is a good one, I’m not sure it calls for an all-out party.

4. How young do you think kids should be when they start taking swim lessons?

If we’re talking about formal lessons, I don’t even know that that’s entirely necessary.  As long as there’s some adult in the child’s life that knows how to swim, and if they’re willing to spend some time in the water somewhere, the kid will learn; it’s really sort of natural.  I mean, it’s not natural to swim like Michael Phelps or anything, but basic paddling around comes pretty easily, it seems.  But, to the question of when, I think kids need to be exposed to the water pretty early.  I think all of that “natural” stuff fades away if you wait until they’re old enough to be afraid.  So, definitely pre-school, and probably toddler age.

5. What makes you happy?

I’m fortunate that I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of gal, so there’s a long list of things, but some of them are:  spending time with family and friends, a beautiful sunset, watching kittens frolic, good TV, peppy music, vacationing, taking pictures, writing . . . I could go on and on.  Like I said, I do think I’m fortunate that I’m pretty hard-wired to see the good in things, but I also think it’s something of a choice.  I prefer to choose happy.

 

And now, I do seriously think I’m going to head to bed, and maybe sleep for about fifteen hours and see if I can’t first catch up on my sleep from this week, and then stockpile a bit for going forward.  Then it’ll be time to wake up and tackle the homework.  We’re three weeks into summer session already, which means mid-terms will be coming up soon; can’t start slacking now.

Good night.  Enjoy your weekend, and remember to choose happy.

 

Five Question Payday

 

 

It’s Friday, and boy am I ever glad!  Not sure what finally caught up with me today—lack of sleep, iffy diet, lack of exercise, or the head cold thing I was fighting earlier this week—but I went out for lunch today and had a small heat attack—got too dizzy to keep walking and had to call Brian to come get me and drive me back to work.  Which, incidentally, was only about three blocks away.  Ridiculous. Not sure what was going on, but even though I went back to work, I made sure to take it easy and drink lots of water. 

Unfortunately, the lunch I was on my way to was the legal assistant association that awarded me the scholarship, so I feel really badly that I couldn’t get there to accept the honor in person. 

On the upside of the day, I got my first paycheck.  If I haven’t already said so, I’ll explain that I’m not exactly signed up for a mega-million contract, but it still feels nice to be earning an income again.

But, enough of all that.  Let’s get on to the questions, because I’m seriously considering going to bed about eight o’clock tonight.

 

1. What do you appreciate most about your children's Dad?

In terms of his Dad-hood, I most appreciate his stability and responsibility.  Being a good provider might not be the most important thing about being a parent, but there’s no denying that it is important.  I’m grateful that I never had to worry whether my kid would have a roof over his head or food on the table.

2. Do you always wear your seat belt?

Well, most always.  Often if I’m sitting in the backseat—which doesn’t happen all that often—I don’t buckle up.  The belts in back are far more uncomfortable than the ones in front.  Of course, I know that’s a poor excuse, and I should wear the belt regardless of the circumstances, but that dang back seat is my weak spot.  But if I’m in the front seat, always.

3. Do you dream and do you remember them?

I do dream, though I remember them far less frequently and vividly than I used to.  More than an actual memory, I am often left with some sort of feeling, so often all I know is if it was a good dream or closer to a nightmare.

4. What is one thing you swore you'd never let your kids do before having them, that you have now changed your ways about?

Honestly, I don’t know that there is anything.  Not because I’m all that good at sticking to things, but because I just don’t know that there was anything I put on the “not in my house” list.  Something that I am is fairly practical, and when I go into something new, I easily recognize I don’t have all the answers, so I don’t make too many grand proclamations about how I’m going to do it. 

Oh, but now that I’ve said all that, I will say that there was one thing I did say I wouldn’t do:  spank my kid with a belt.  Let me be clear:  as a kid, I was disciplined and not abused, but as an adult, I decided that no weapon was necessary to do that.  I’ll admit that I spanked my son a few times, but there was never more involved than my hand on his butt.

5. If you could be granted one wish, what would it be?

I’d like to say that I’d wish for world peace, or something completely altruistic like that, but I’d need at least two wishes before I’d get to that, maybe three.  But if I could have only one wish, it would have to be for my son to truly find happiness in his life.  I know there are a lot of pieces involved in allowing a person to be happy, but I do worry that he’s not managing to put those pieces together so far.

There you have it; this week’s questions.  Thanks for dropping by, and if you’d like to see other answers, drop by and visit with Mama M.  Have a good weekend!

No Questions, but 5 Things

 

So, I waited until the last minute to check in over at Mama M’s place, only to find that there is no Five Question Friday for today.  This makes me sad.  Not just because it’s an easy post to get together, but because I also am frequently amused and/or interested in the questions and others’ responses to them.  But, who am I kidding?  Since I wrote those last couple of sentences almost an hour ago—just before drifting off to sleep for a while—I think it’s safe to assume that the easiness really appeals to me!  This is especially true at the end of my first week back to work, when I’m really dragging and barely hanging on.

So, to honor my first TGIF as an employed person, and in the spirit of 5QF, let’s play a quick round of 5 Things, in this case, 5 Things About My New Job . . .

1. As you might expect from a law firm, it’s located in the heart of the downtown area, close to the courthouses and such.  Downtown is quite possibly the last place I would have ever expected (or particularly wanted) to work.  I’m hoping to find out all the good things about being in such an area so regularly.
2. When I was shown around the office Monday morning, I wondered for a minute if maybe I’d somehow become employed on the TARDIS, or something, as there was a labyrinth  of offices that I never would have expected from the outside.
3. I’m pretty sure that I’ve already been responsible for the death of at least one or two trees, due to the sheer volume of paper we use; I’m already working on suggestions to digitize some of what we do.
4. The parking lot is on the roof of the building, with a crazy entrance ramp around a sharp corner.  Last weekend, Brian and I drove up to the city so I could practice the parking maneuver; wouldn’t want to crash into the building on the first day!
5. Everyone seems to value the contribution made by others. “Thank you” is a pretty common phrase heard throughout the halls, and I think you can’t go too wrong with that. 

And, that’s five things about my new job, though it’s now almost three hours after I started this post, and that drifting off to sleep thing I mentioned earlier has become pretty routine.  I think I need to just give it up and go on to bed.  Here’s hoping for a return to 5 Question Friday next week.

Five Questions to End a Stormy Night

 

I’m coming down off a fairly tense evening, all courtesy of the expected storms that actually did materialize.  There were major storms all over the metro area, with several tornadoes.  Thankfully, the tornadoes themselves were not as strong as last week’s, but my guess is the light of day will show that there’s still plenty of damage.  And, saddest of all, more people lost their lives.  The details are not yet confirmed, but it seems like maybe a handful of people perished.  And, apparently dozens of folks have been taken to the hospital, some in critical condition.  So, so sad.  Things got close enough to us tonight that I insisted we move to the bathroom for a while (if you’re not familiar with shelter procedures, the idea is to be in the smallest, most interior room in your home, which is almost always a bathroom or closet), which I think is the first time we’ve done that in the almost 15 years we’ve lived in this house.  Not a bad record, but it wouldn’t have bothered me to go a bit longer.

Anyway, like I said, it was tense.  I’m going to spend a little bit of time unwinding with Five Question Friday, and then I think I’m just going to bed.

1. What is an acceptable age for girls to start dating?

In terms of a real date, just the two of them, all on their own, probably 16.  About a year—or maybe two, for a mature girl—earlier than that would be okay for something like a movie date or something, where parents pick up and drop off, even if they aren’t around to be chaperones. 

2. Do you think your kids should have summer homework?

I don’t think there should be official school homework, but I also don’t think the kids should just put their brains on standby for the summer, either.  I think reading during the summer is the best way to keep the learning ongoing, even during vacation.  When my son was young, we would set reading goals, usually in conjunction with the library summer reading program.  Since he got to pick all the books and all, he always enjoyed it.

3. Would you prefer to live without AC or heat?

I get cold really, really easily, but even so, I think I could do without heat easier than AC, mostly because you can always put on some extra clothes or stay under a blanket to stay warm, but it’s really hard to get cool.  Especially when I sleep I need the air, because I get really hot when I sleep, and I can’t sleep if I get hot.

4. What the worst thing about staying in a hotel? (Besides not being with your family)

I actually like staying in hotels, so I don’t really have a long list of bad things about it.  As you might expect from a confessed TV junkie, I don’t like it when the available stations are limited.  And I don’t like noisy air conditioners (because, as I just mentioned, it’s going to be running when I sleep).

5. So, do your kids really get "104 days of summer vacation"? (Bonus points for those of you that get this reference!)

First, I’ll confess that I had to Google the reference, but that’s probably because my “kid” is 21 years old, so I’m a little out of touch with some of the things that the kids these days do.  As for the question, uh, no.  I’m not sure kids around here even get 100 days.  Like I said, I don’t have need to keep close track of that these days, but my guess is it’s about 90ish. 

Okay, and that’s it.  I’ve got a headache and I’m kind of beat, so I’m heading off to bed.  Hope you all have a great weekend.

Five Questions on a Holiday Friday

 

Friday again, and time for more questions from Mama M.  No build up today, let’s just get rolling.

1. Do you wake before the alarm or stay in bed until the last possible second?

I’m really not much of a morning person, so if I have to get up even a little bit early, it definitely takes the alarm, and usually at least one snooze.  In fact, as part of my preparation for becoming employed again, I have to spend the next week adjusting my sleep/wake patterns so that I can be where I belong at 8:30 every morning.

2. Who should get a baby shower? Is it just the first baby or all babies?

I think all babies.  Unless the children were pretty close together, there’s a good chance the parents have already disposed of the earlier stuff.  And even if they kept it, every baby deserves some new stuff all their own, and to be celebrated as a precious gift.

3. How will you spend Memorial Day?

We don’t have any big plans, so it’ll be pretty low-key, whatever it is.  Probably just hanging out, maybe grill a hot dog or two, or try to take in a movie (though our theater of choice is still closed due to tornado damage).

4. Do you have a Storm/Hurricane/Tornado/Fire plan for your kids, house..?

We discuss frequently where in our home we would take shelter in the event of a tornado, though we also say every year that we really need to invest in an underground shelter.  As recent events have made tragically clear, trying to withstand those sorts of winds inside any building is not always a reasonable approach.  And, like everyone everywhere, whenever we talk about any of these sorts of disasters, we have to ponder which of our personal treasures we would try to save.  It’s a hard decision.

5. What is your favorite morning drink?

My favorite?  A nice Sonic Coke.  The one I actually drink?  Water.  I’ve fallen off a lot of the health/fitness wagon in the past six or eight months, but the drastic reduction in soda intake has managed to mostly stick.

 

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Five Questions and Sandwich Shopping

 

So, my first day of summer break passed far too quickly, and without quite as much relaxing as I would have liked.  And, we’re doing a family picnic tomorrow, which will be fun, but I’m unprepared.  It’s nothing fancy, just sandwiches, but it turns out I don’t even have those meager fixin’s here in the house.  I really should have shopped this evening, but I was far too tired, which means I’ll have to be up at the crack of dawn to run to the store and get things going.  I’m pretty sure that means the pasta salad and Jell-O cake I was planning to make are going to become macaroni salad and cupcakes from Wal-Mart.  Don’t judge.  But, since I do have an early rise tomorrow, let’s get the Friday questions rolling so I can hit the sack.

1. Do you have a doppelgänger?

First, this question makes me laugh, and makes me think of How I Met Your Mother.  But, unlike the HIMYM gang, if I have a doppelganger, I haven’t found them yet.  Guess I’ll have to keep looking. 

2. Do you keep your car cleaned up?

Let’s just say that I almost couldn’t stop laughing long enough to type this answer.  As I mentioned just yesterday, cleaning out my car will have to be on my to-do list for this vacation, but I can guarantee you it won’t stay clean long.

3. What is a current fashion that drives you crazy.

Well, for the most part, I’m so far removed from current fashion trends that I don’t have much of an opinion about them.  As far as I’m concerned, jeans and a tee shirt are timeless.  Though, like many people in my generation, I could live without the whole baggy pants hanging down over the boxers bit.

4. How often do you go grocery shopping?

Brian does our regular shop once per week; I usually make a mid-week run for whatever miscellaneous items we need to get us through.  Though, as discussed earlier, that doesn’t always mean we’ve got stuff to throw together a sandwich. 

5. What has been the best surprise of your life?

That’s a hard question.  I don’t know that I’ve had a lot of really big surprises along the way.  The huge things that are often surprises—marriage proposals, pregnancies—those things were discussed and planned.  One time I had a surprise birthday party—well, dinner gathering more than party—and that was nice.  I think I told you once before about the day my dad surprised us with cable television, and that was a nice surprise.  Oh, and I was really surprised by The Sixth Sense; does that count?  Mostly, though, I like the little surprises in life—a butterfly landing on your arm, the rainbow that pops up over the highway, a sudden cool breeze on an unbearably hot afternoon.  Those are the best surprises of all.

And, now, dear friends, I believe I will sign off, go to bed, and awake bright and early for morning grocery run.

Do drop by My Little Life for more 5QF entries. 

5 Qs Today, 5K Tomorrow

 

   Hidey ho, folks, and welcome to another Friday.  Lots of errands today, but trying to save some energy for the 5K tomorrow.  Even walking it is going to be a bit of a push for me, but I’m still looking forward to it.

  But let’s get to the questions, shall we?  Provided, as always, from Mama M.

1. What's the one personal hygiene thing you will not do in front of your spouse?

Well, we’ve been married a long time, so there’s not much we haven’t been privy to.  But, since I usually check my weight as I’m getting dressed, I prefer not to do that with an audience.

2. What's your favorite thing about a newborn?

Of course, the smell is the first thing that comes to mind; who can resist the way a baby smells?  And, while it takes a few months, so I suppose not technically still a “newborn”, I absolutely adore the sound of a baby laughing.  I’m not sure there’s anything better.

3. When is "too young" to have a Facebook account?

Definitely younger than thirteen is too young, IMO, maybe even 15.  There are crazy people in the world, and, unfortunately, they like to take shelter in the anonymity of the internet.  Before they’re teenagers, kids have absolutely no idea how to protect themselves.

4. What are you hoping for for Mother's Day?

More than anything, I’d love for my husband and my son to finally get along again, but my instinct is that that happy day is still a few years down the road.  They both need to grow up a little bit more first.  So, I’d settle for a nice lunch out somewhere.  We’ll be taking my grandma out, but I’ll get to pick the place.

5. What was the best field trip you ever took in school?

When I was a kid, the annual 8th grade field trip was always a trip to the OKC Festival of the Arts.  It’s the thing you looked forward to for all of your middle school years, and our 8th grade class was no exception.  When the day finally rolled around, it was a typical spring day here in OK—which means you never really know what you might get.  In this case, it was sunny early on but cloudy and then rainy before the day was over.  But the part that wasn’t typical was that it was actually a gentle spring rain, the kind you always read about in books and see in movies but that rarely come to pass around these parts.  (For us, it’s drought or torrential downpours, rarely anything in between.)  We had the most fun, walking around in the rain, just wet enough to stay cool, even a small puddle or two to splash through like little kids, and singing, “It’s Such a Pretty World Today”.  I still remember some of the other patrons looking at us like we were a little off-balance, but most of them just smiled as we passed by.  I’m pretty sure they wished they could be having as much fun as we were, instead of feeling like their day had been ruined by the rain.  Hands down, best field trip ever. 

 

And that’s it for today.  It’ll be an early night tonight so I can get a good night’s sleep—though I am going to try to get at least a few hours of stuff off the DVR, and maybe even get at least one study guide put together.  Now that I read over that, I suppose I should reverse the priority of those tasks, but I’m just not sure that I will!

Five Questions, but Only One Book

 

It’s Friday, that half-slack, half-homework day.  Probably should’ve been more homework this week, since tomorrow it’s up to Tulsa for BFF Kim’s wedding.  I think I’ll be taking the laptop along to do some work on the drive since I get to be a passenger. 

But let’s get right to the questions presented by Mama M. 

1. What is your next home improvement goal?

Well, we bought a microwave just today, does that count?  No?  Okay, we also have a retaining wall out back that has recently cracked.  As far as home improvement goes, it’s not sexy, but it will likely have to be repaired sooner rather than later.  Though I’ve just recently been revisiting some photos of a really cool workout room someone posted on Facebook.  I tell you, it’s cool enough that I think it could really get me motivated again.  Here, let me show you one of the photos:

How cool is that?  I’d link you to the rest of them, but they’re in a closed group, so I don’t think you can see them there, but I think Mary wouldn’t mind me showing off her gym a little bit.  Anyway, really, who wouldn’t want to work out in a room like that?  Maybe when I’m working again (I mean at a job, not in the exercise sense) I’ll spring for something nifty for my own workout room.

2. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? No religious texts (ie Bible, Quran, Torah, etc, etc)...

Ummm . . . I have no idea.  I mean, literally, no idea.  How do you pick just one?  I don’t even read all that regularly these days, but I still don’t think I could think of a book that I’d want to read over and over again forever, or serve as the last book I ever read.  Too much pressure. 

3. What is on top of your refrigerator?

Some bread baskets and a couple of large cups, I think.  And, if we’re being honest, probably some dust. 

4. What are your favorite or most used phone apps?

Well, the ones I use the most often are the weather and Facebook apps.  The ones that are probably my favorite are Grocery List and Clear Checkbook, because they’re both really helpful for daily stuff.  And just lately I’ve been enjoying spending some time with 4 Pics 1 Word.

5. What's the one thing you hate most about your spouse’s job?

That he doesn’t enjoy it more.  I mean, there’s a fundamental aspect that he really likes, but—like most jobs—there’s a lot of bureaucracy, and that part makes him crazy and makes it hard for him to do the parts he really likes.  (And he works for the government, so you can imagine it’s a lot of bureaucracy!) 

And that’s it for tonight.  Can’t be up too late since we have to be up and on the road by 9ish tomorrow morning for the big wedding day.  For us night owls, that’s like the crack of dawn!

Happy weekend to you all.

Friday Questions, with Answers from an Introvert

 

Another Friday, another pretty wasted day.  But, I did make dinner for the family, and very soon I will be doing a little bit of homework.  That’s about as productive as I get these days on Fridays.  But before the homework, let’s check in on this week’s Five Question Friday.

1. Who drives when your family is together, you or your spouse?

Brian almost always drives, though I can honestly and objectively say that I am the better driver.  Even he’ll usually admit as much, but he still doesn’t like to be the passenger.  And it’s not that I never get lost, nor do I have a particularly keen sense of direction, but I am a more attentive driver, so mishaps like we had last night happen far less often to me than him.  Really, I should probably do most of the driving, but he’s just not very good at riding, so I suppose we’ll just leave well enough alone. 

2. Are you an introvert or extrovert?

Introvert.  See here for the longer answer.

3. Are you married to an introvert or extrovert?

Extrovert.  See above for the longer answer.

4. What's your favorite type of social media?

Facebook, no question.  I’ve got accounts at (among others) Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, YouTube, Get Glue, several fitness sites and, of course, this blog, all of which qualify as social media, but Facebook is the one that does what I think social media is most supposed to do—keeps people socializing with each other. 

5. What's your favorite way to "recharge"?

Usually just spending time by myself with absolutely no commitments.  Sometimes that alone time involves watching TV, sometimes reading, sometimes writing, sometimes listening to music, and sometimes literally doing absolutely nothing.  Of course, if I lived close to a beach, my recharging would probably involve sitting in an isolated spot by myself and listening to the waves, because that’s great.  In fact, sometimes my recharging involves imagining that I’m sitting alone on a beach listening to waves.  But, I’m sure you spot the constant here:  I need to be alone. 

 

And that’s it.  I have to be honest; I was hoping that would take a little longer, because I’m not quite ready to buckle down with the schoolwork just yet.  Of course, I am thinking about some sort of snack, so figuring that out will take a while.  In the meantime, happy weekend to you all.

Five Questions and a Day Off

 

Fridays are such strange days for me.  They are my “off” day—no classes.  And I always think it will make a great day to get caught up on some homework, or housework, or any number of other things that get neglected during the week.  But it so very rarely works out that way.  If I actually end up having a free day, I tend to take full advantage of it and just rest all day.  Or—like today—I wind up getting myself committed to too many things (always thinking, “oh, well, I have all day”) and then I just end up worn out and still don’t accomplish the extra homework, or housework, or whatever.  So, on Fridays, I typically get far less done than any other day of the week, which is maybe the way it’s supposed to be on a day off, but I always feel guilty about it.

But what I do need to get done is this week’s Five Question Friday post, so let’s get after it.

1. Where do you hide things from your kids at?

Kids, husband, it’s all the same; things that need to stay out of sight go into the depths of my closet.  It’s a particularly good hiding spot.  In fact, I’ve been know to stick holiday gifts in there and then forget them myself.

2. What is your favorite rainy day activity for bored toddlers?

Thankfully, this is not something that needs to concern me any longer.  However, let me say that it doesn’t take long to learn that there are only so many books you can read, puzzles you can work, and pictures you can draw.  Barney was a very good friend.

3. Are you a punctual person or are you always running a few minutes (or more!) late??

I hate to admit that I am often tardy to various things.  Strangely, very, very rarely am I ever late to class.

4. When eating out, do you prefer off the beaten path "Mom and Pop" cafes or tried and true national food chains?

As I may have mentioned, I am not very adventurous when it comes to food.  Consequently, I tend to stick to the places that I know are “safe”, which often means well-known chains.  However, several of my favorite vacation food memories come from local spots:  some spectacular pancakes in Santa Fe, NM, the best orange juice I’ve ever had in Pasadena, CA, and some truly scrumptious pizza in Fort Bragg, CA.  All the kind of stuff you won’t find at IHOP or Pizza Hut.

5. Does your significant other snore? Do YOU snore?

I snore sometimes, most often when I am extremely exhausted.  But I don’t think it’s very bad, though, naturally, it’s hard for me to know for sure.  Brian, on the other hand, snores like crazy.  And it’s not just that it’s loud, but it goes on for a really long time.  It’s not too bad when we go to bed together, because then I usually fall asleep before it gets too bad.  But, because of our conflicting schedules, that doesn’t actually happen all that often.  And when I go to bed after he’s already in a deep sleep, it can be a real challenge to get there myself.  I try and get by with just a few well-placed nudges to get him to quiet down, but sometimes that doesn’t work and I actually have to wake him up. That makes him pretty cranky.

And that’s it for tonight.  Here’s hoping I find at least a little bit of motivation to get something done before I have to go to bed.  And, maybe also hope that I don’t fight the snore monster tonight.

Five Questions from the Road

 

Happy Friday, everyone.  I’m sitting here in the hotel room, pretty dang tired (had to break down today and take a nap), and knowing that I should be doing some homework, but I just don’t think I have it in me.  So, instead, I’m going to answer this week’s Five Question Friday, and then I might go to bed.  If I can turn in before midnight, I can get about six and a half hours of sleep, which would be the best night this week.  It’s pretty tempting.  So, to see if we can make that happen, let’s get to the questions.

1. Would you go to your high school reunion?

I haven’t yet, and I think we’ve had three.  I don’t imagine I’ll feel much different by the time the next one rolls around, either.  I mean, I wasn’t miserable in high school, but I’m certainly not one of those people who looks back and considers them the happiest days of my life.

2. What's something that you've recently splurged on; either for yourself or someone else?

I haven’t done a ton of big splurging lately, trying to be a bit more conservative  than I might have been in the past, but just yesterday, I did order a couple of concert tickets.  Keith Urban is coming to town in October, and I intend to be there.

3. How do you handle your child's fever?

Well, to start, my child is not a child any longer.  And, fortunately, even when he was a child, he wasn’t sick all that often.  But, when he did have a fever, it was pretty normal stuff—cool cloth for the head, and some Motrin.

4. What's the nicest thing to happen to you lately?

I am currently enjoying an almost all expenses paid trip to California, and that’s pretty nice.  But I think the best part of it has been getting to know my fellow officers better; that’s been really nice.

5. What is your current favorite song?

That’s a tough one, since it changes pretty frequently.  But I think maybe it’s “Merry Go Round”, by Kacey Musgraves.  It sounds pretty upbeat, which is a nice offset to lyrics that really aren’t upbeat at all.

 

And that’s it for tonight, folks.  Time for pajamas and an early night, I do believe.  Have a good weekend. 

Five Questions on a Good Friday

 

It’s Friday again, and I am glad the week is over.  I got most of my study guides put together, and filled out some scholarship applications for next semester (almost certainly a waste of time, but I couldn’t not try), but other than that, mostly took it easy today.  Now I’ve got two days to cram a whole lot of information into my brain before my mid-terms next week.

But I’m done thinking about it for the moment; it’s time to focus on Five Question Friday.

1. How often should adults have birthday parties?

Well, I don’t know about full-on parties, but I think everyone should have a birthday celebration every year.  A favorite meal shared with family and friends, and a cake.  Everyone deserves at least that much.

2. What was your room decorated like when you were a child?

We moved to a new house when I was in fourth grade, and I got to pick my room.  Back in the day, new houses apparently came with curtains already installed, because the room I chose had long, red drapes that I just loved.  Beyond that, most of the decorations were just posters and pictures.  I had some Teen Beat idols, of course, but most of the things on my wall were Star Trek.

3. Do you have any traditions for Easter? If so, what? and do you have a why behind that?

We usually try to do some sort of simple family meal (picnic is always my preference, but the weather is rarely cooperative around here this time of year), and a little egg hunt. The only problem with the egg hunt is that we don’t have a big family of kids; Taylor’s the only child now, and I think he may have outgrown hunting eggs.  But, whether or not he’s outgrown it, I don’t think we’re going to manage a gathering this year.  My guess is Sunday will be spent doing homework.  Though maybe we’ll try and take my granny out to breakfast or something; Monday is her birthday, but we won’t be able to get together then.

4. Do you get Good Friday off? If so, any plans?

Well, I’m not currently working, and I don’t have class on Fridays, so I was off, but I don’t think that counts.  As for how the day was spent, see above.  And I truly mean no disrespect to those celebrating a holy day today, but, honestly, just having a bit of time to breathe made it a very good Friday for me.

5. Did you wear hats & white shoes to church on Easter? (Or was that just in the South?)

As I think I may have mentioned before, we’re practically heathens around here; no church services for us.  But, when we were kids, my sister and I did always get a new Easter dress—usually matching.  We might’ve gotten some white shoes, but rarely hats.

 

And that’s it.  Now, I think I will continue trying to clear some space off the DVR.  I’m currently in the middle of my annual tradition of being annoyed by March Madness and all its interruptions to my regular viewing—especially considering a pretty significant portion of my regular viewing takes place on CBS—but that did cut down on quite a few hours of television that were waiting on me. Not altogether a bad thing, since I do need to focus on school this weekend.

Hope you all have a happy weekend, and, if you celebrate Easter, may it be blessed.

First Five Questions of Spring

 

Well, my spring break is dwindling away, and I haven’t gotten even a fraction of things done from my to-do list.  I guess I’ll have a busy weekend.  I did finally do my taxes today, though, so that’s one less thing to worry about.  Tomorrow (or maybe even tonight, if I don’t crash out too early) I’ll tackle a bit of homework.

For now, though, let’s see what’s happening with Five Question Friday.

1. What advice would you give a newly married couple?

I think I might’ve answered this question—or something similar—once before, so I hope I don’t contradict myself too much.  But, one of the things I think I’d say is that it’s okay if it seems like married life is an adjustment.  Assuming that you weren’t living together beforehand, just getting used to being around someone so much takes some getting used to, no matter how well you know them.  There are a lot of little daily things to work out; getting along with someone for the rest of your life doesn’t just happen magically.  But it’s worth the effort.

2. Who does more laundry around your house?

Brian does the vast majority of the washing and drying, but I end up with most of the putting away.  Though, to be truthful, quite often the clean clothes sit in a pile or basket longer than the dirty.

3. What items, if any, do you prefer to buy organic or make yourself?

I’ve got nothing against organic anything, but I guess I’m too much a product of the convenience generation, because I won’t go out of my way to find anything organic.  Billy occasionally goes out and buys his own groceries, and when he does, he prefers to shop at the natural food store, but I notice he doesn’t turn down the less-clean, free food I serve him.  I suppose that might make me not a very good mother, but I think I’m too old to change too many of my ways.

4. What book/TV series would you recommend for a friend on bedrest?

Well, obviously that would depend on the friend, though I’d say if you’re going to be laid up for a while, you couldn’t go too wrong with working your way through the Harry Potter books.  If you’d rather watch TV, there are plenty of shows that I think make for good marathon viewing, but to keep the list short, I’d select just one drama and one comedy: The West Wing and The Big Bang Theory. 

5. So, they say it's Spring now...what does your "spring" look like at this very moment?

Well, at this literal moment, it’s night time, so it looks black.  But today, it was mostly sunshiny, but cool.  And this weekend is supposed to be dreary and cold.  They say we might even see some snowflakes.  I’m pretty sure the Pennsylvania rodent missed the mark this time around.  Still, a week ago we had some lovely spring days.  The early spring trees in the area have bloomed and are making things look more lively, even when the temperatures have dropped again.  My guess is that’s not actually so good for the trees, but I like to see the flowers; it reminds me that the for-real spring can’t be too far away.

 

And that’s another wrap.  Link up with Mama M to share your own answers, or tell me all about it in the comments.  And have a wonderful first weekend of spring, whatever your weather may be.

 

5QF—5 Quarters Full

 

So, it already looks like spring break is turning into a case of “the best laid plans”.  Looks like there might be issues to deal with for my granny over the next few days.  Really, I should be grateful that things are happening now, when I actually have some time to deal with it.  I’ll just keep reminding myself of that.

For now, let’s take a look at Five Question Friday.

1. What is one thing you wish you did not have to teach your children?

That not everyone is a good and decent person.  I wish we lived in a world where people could all be trusted and counted upon to do the right thing, but that’s just not the way it is.

2. What are you going to use since Google Reader is going away?

I don’t think it’s going to be too much of an impact for me.  I do use Reader, sort of, but I don’t think it’s going to leave a big hole in my life, or anything.

3. British comedy; Hilarious or strange?

Strange, without question.  I mean, you have seen Benny Hill, right?  Though I will never forget literally busting out laughing one day years ago when I heard a commercial for some Monty Python movie or another.  I was shopping somewhere, and the radio was playing over the PA system.  I wasn’t paying much attention because I’ve always thought British humor was strange, so I had no intention of seeing whatever film it was advertising.  Then, the ad got to the typical closing line, “Coming soon to a theater near you”, but what made me laugh was the follow up line:  “And if it’s not . . . MOVE!”  That still amuses me.

4. Do you prefer card games or board games?

Board games.  From Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders as a kid, to Trivial Pursuit and Taboo as an adult, those kind of games are much more fun than cards.  Not that I haven’t had some enjoyable hands of Go Fish or 5 Card Draw, mind you.

5. Will winter ever end?

I’m hoping it’s actually over around here, though I’m likely getting ahead of myself.  High 70s yesterday and low 80s today, with another spring-like day predicted for tomorrow.  Sunday it’s supposed to cool off again, though, and be cool all week.  That’s not really my idea of a “spring” break, so I’m hoping they’re wrong about that.  Goodness knows, it wouldn’t be the first time.

 

Okay, my brain is a little fried right now, and also feels like it’s overflowing with things to think about, so I think I’m going to wrap this up.  The only debate will be whether I just crawl into bed to forget everything for a while, or veg out while clearing off some DVR space.  Tough call.

Happy weekend to you all.

Five Question Friday—Travel Edition

 

5QF comes to you this evening from lovely downtown Springdale, AR, which means I’ve survived the first segment of my weekend trip—the actual driving portion.  Actually, I dozed a bit on the way over, which probably made me not very good company, but even when I was awake, I was trying to study (probably what made me sleepy), so I don’t guess it made much of a difference.

Anyway, day one of the conference is completed and we’re settled back into our room.  I’ve taken a quiz (successfully, I might add), and uploaded the day’s pictures to the group Facebook page, so I figured I could take a break long enough to answer some questions.  So, let’s get to it.

1. Does your family coordinate clothing for church on holidays like Easter?

Well, I guess I’m the heathen who has to point out what a presumptuous question this is, because we don’t go to church.  But, we do celebrate holidays, with no coordinated clothing.

2. How do you get out of a funk?

Good music, good TV, good friends.  Basically, I just surround myself with the things that make me the happiest.  It might take a while, but it usually works.

3. Online friends - real friendships or not?

They certainly can be.  Like anywhere else that you meet people, some of the relationships are deeper than others.  I have some very good friends that began as (and are still primarily) online friends.  I wrote about it briefly several years ago.

4. What is the one food you must eat in a restaurant (not make yourself)?

That’s kind of a tough one.  I’m sure I’ve mentioned that I’m not much of a cook, so I’d always prefer to eat in a restaurant.  Still, I can make most of the things I’d want to eat.  Though, I think we’ve discussed before that I don’t have a waffle maker, so I can’t have those at home.  And, I don’t ever cook just plain old pinto beans, mostly because Brian doesn’t like them.  So, beans and cornbread pretty much come from somewhere else.

5. What would happen in your home if you ran out of ketchup?

Nothing; we don’t use the stuff.  In the summertime, when we’re going to be making burgers and dogs and such with visitors over, I try to remember to buy some to have on hand, but usually people end up bringing their own or doing without. 

 

And that puts a wrap on the questions for this week.  I think we’re going to maybe find a late dinner somewhere and then get a good night’s sleep.  Thanks, as always, to Mama M for providing the questions.  Do share your thoughts in the comments below, and have a great weekend.