You’ve just gotta love the random questions that Joyce comes up with each week! Play along by posting your own answers, linking up with Joyce, then visiting other bloggers to see how they answered.
1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen’s English in 2012 –amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance. Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Go here to read more about how the words are chosen.
Well, without knowing the definition for this, I’d have to say that blowback can go back to where it originated from. It sounds icky even to say, so what’s the point? I love the terms man cave and baby bump…such visual words!!
2. Are you easily embarrassed?
Hmmm…interesting question. I am somewhat self-conscious, but I can’t say that I get embarrassed easily any more. I’m starting to grow into my skin…finally, after almost 41 years.
3. What is your go-to snack?
I’m not much of a snacker any more. If I have a choice, though, I love chips and salsa or fresh hummus. Yum!
4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what’s your favorite site/attraction?
I’ve visited Washington, D.C. twice. I was eight or nine years old the first time. My family had driven from Colorado to Washington, D.C. Yeah, a long trip. My stepfather had to attend a business conference, so we signed up for an organized tour. I’ll never forget the blisters I got from all of the walking we did that day. However, I believe that my love of history began growing with that trip. The Smithsonian was incredibly overwhelming yet fascinating at the same time. Mount Vernon was so much fun. The Lincoln Memorial was awe-inspiring (Lincoln was an incredibly brave man, IMHO). However, it was my visit to Arlington Cemetery that was the most memorable and sobering. My mom, Super Sis, and I quietly observed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The second time I visited D.C. was when Chicky was in the sixth grade. We flew up for a soccer tournament. We stayed in Manassas, VA, and got to visit the site of the Battle of Bull Run. Oh, to stand on the ground where brother fought against brother. There is a statue of Stonewall Jackson at that site, and I had just finished reading a book about him. He was a charismatic Christian man who, I’m sure, is dancing in heaven right now. I just had to have my picture taken in front of that statue.
I would love to go back to D.C. again and spend more time in such places as the Smithsonian. I also want to see the Vietnam Memorial. I’ve only seen a small replica that visited Podunk, USA a couple of years ago.
5. Sit ups-planks-lunges-squats…which do you hate the least?
I’d have to say that I hate squats the least. I really enjoyed the years I spent taking the kids to school and then working out at the gym. I had buns of steel (LOL) which meant lots and lots and lots of lunges and squats. Planks…not my favorite. I don’t have a lot of core strength, so these are difficult for me.
6. What’s a small act of kindness you were shown that you’ve never forgotten?
Just one, Joyce? I really don’t know how to answer this. Almost daily, I am the recipient of small acts of kindness, whether it’s a smile from a student walking down a hallway or a bundle of flowers from a friend.
As I was typing the above, though, I recalled an incident that will always sit at the top of my list of acts of kindness.
In April 2001, my father unexpectedly passed away. I’ve blogged about this before, but I’ll give you the gist of it in case you’re not a regular reader.
My father was a very healthy man and was training for a triathlon when, while on a bike ride, he fell over, dying instantly of what was later determined to be a brain aneurism. I got the phone call that night and was devastated.
My parents had gotten divorced when I was very young, and I only got to see my dad a couple of times between the divorce and the age of 24, when we reconnected after Rooster’s birth. It had taken years to repair and rebuild the relationship.
My dad was a quirky Frenchman who had lived in Texas for quite a while. As a result, he had a French accent with a touch of Southern twang. It was quite the combination.
He surprised me on my 25th birthday, flying into town with the most beautiful, fancy, Food Network-worthy chocolate raspberry cake that a friend had made especially for me and that had managed to stay intact during the flight.
Our time together was too short.
The morning after his death, I had to break the news to my children, who were in elementary school at the time.
It was not an easy task, and I cried a lot.
Chicky left the room and went upstairs. When she came back, she had a package for me. When I unwrapped it, it was a framed picture that my dad had given her. She told me that she wanted me to have it so I could always remember him.
This was the most unselfish thing a person has ever done for me and coming from a child who sensed the depth of my grief…well, you can only imagine how touched I was.
7. Have you ever been a blood donor?
No, I have never donated blood. I do not weigh enough. I have a huge fear of needles and get light-headed when I get blood drawn. My weight provides a convenient excuse to avoid the guilt of not donating blood.
8. My Random Thought
Super Sis turned 39 on Monday. Yes, she’s really 39 and not just holding. When I was at her house during Christmas, I had left her gift with my older nephew, who tucked it away in a super-secret location. He remembered to get the gift out. She texted me her thanks along with pictures…
I found the bracelet at Kohl’s. It’s a sister bracelet with some sort of gem in it. I wasn’t sure if she would like it. Her picture tells the story…
She’s a gal who likes simple things. The bracelet goes with her style perfectly!
Happy Birthday, Super Sis! You’re a blessing to me and to everyone who is fortunate enough to cross paths with you.
Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Manassas, Stonewall Jackson, travel, Wednesday Hodgepodge | 8 Comments »
AuburnChick's Adventures 