Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Falling into the Random Dozen

It's time for this week's Random Dozen...you can play along too by answering the questions on your own blog and then clicking the donuts to link with others who have joined in the fun.


1. Have you, or someone close to you, ever won an award for anything? (Linda just returned from her dad's ceremony wherein he was given a medal of Honor by the French government for service to France in WW2.)

Yes. My dad was awarded the Navy Commendation medal and also received the Republic of Vietnam's Navy Distinguished Service medal which is rarely awarded to a Marine. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service medal, the Joint Service Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal.

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?

My dad was a career Marine officer. He served in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you?

Gosh, all it takes is for me to hear the National Anthem and I feel patriotic. Seeing our flag fly, seeing our flag fly overseas, standing in a military cemetery here or on foreign soil, standing on the beach in Normandy, fireworks, watching footage of soldiers returning from war, standing at Ground Zero and seeing footage of the day, especially those firefighters running into the heart of the disaster, hearing Taps.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your 'placement' made a difference in your personality?

I am number 3 of 4 and I'm sure it played a part in my personality. I'm pretty easy going and in general I'm a patient person. That might be due to the fact that third children spend a lot of time waiting. I know that I love having older and younger siblings.

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your grandparents or parents?

Integrity

6. If female do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male shirt and tie or polo?

I am happiest in my blue jeans. With heels.

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?

Women in mid life and mothers with newborns have something in common....interrupted sleep. Ugh. I have no problem falling asleep. It is only in the last couple of years that I've started waking in the night, usually just once, but sometimes its hard to go back to sleep. I don't usually get out of bed. I think, pray, write blog posts in my head, bemoan getting older...I rarely turn on the light.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.

This was a hard question. There are many I'm sure but I picked three that we like to throw into the conversation in our family...

"I have skills. You know, like nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills..." Napoleon Dynamite

'You're gonna need a bigger boat." Jaws

"That'll leave a mark" Tommy Boy

9. What is your favorite fall candle scent?

Right now I have Yankee Candle Farmers Market which is a combination of fall flavors...I always have something with a cinnamon-y scent burning. That's my favorite.

10. What is one fall activity you're looking forward to?

Parent's Weekend at daughter2's university coming up soon, hiking with our pup as the leaves change, a destination wedding we'll attend in late October and, of course, watching football. That's more than one I know but I love the fall.

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that has happened to you recently.

I know some of you are cringing thinking I'm going to launch once more into my birthday happenings but I'm not. Let's just say I've written two posts this week that were all about my birthday weekend in NYC which was a surprise most excellently planned by my hubs. If you missed the recap you can read about it here.

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws to be?

Hubs and I met in college. My in laws have always treated me like another daughter and I have always felt like part of their family. We had only been dating off and on for a very short time when I met his parents. We met at his house and after I left his dad looked at his mom and said, "That's the girl he's going to marry." And he was right.

19 comments:

  1. Our favorite movie quote is "These mashed potatoes are creamy" from While You Were Sleeping.

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  2. I listed more than one for fall too. Couldn't help myself as there is just so much to look forward to in the fall:)

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  3. I didn't play this week, but loved your answers. When the colors are presented, especially by a school group ROTC, I get weepy...and my inlaws are the best!

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  4. Loved your answers. And I'm surprised how many different people said their in laws knew they were "the one".

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  5. I love that your father in law recognized that you were meant for his son. That just touched my heart.
    I am curious about your dad...did he answer questions for you that you may have had about war/ the military or was if OFF LIMITS to dicuss?
    I am such a "questioner", I love information, hearing stories getting to heart of ones beliefs. My dad didn't talk about anything, I remember asking him "Dad what was it like growing up? What did you do? Play? Like?" All he said was "I almosted died from menengitis."
    That was it. end of dicussion, no elaborations or explanations. I felt like {What? I'm not good enough to share with? Not smart enough to understand? That's ALL you got? I almost died from ...} I was left to my own knowledge of the man, and what I knew, I didn't like. So needless to say I no longer speak to him. I pray daily, that he will find Christ. Gee, sorry to dump that on you, your #1 answer got me thinking...

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  6. Fall is the best! I didn't do the random this week, but I'd have had to list more than one activity too -- so much to do this time of year!

    Catherine

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  7. Loved your movie quotes. Makes me want to watch those movies again. :)

    I know my MIL knew I was the one (she is no longer alive) but now I'm wondering if the FIL did. Hmmm

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  8. Ha! You're gonna need a bigger boat. Conjures up scary thoughts. My SIL knew I was "the one" the first time we spoke on the phone. We hadn't even met! Crazy. Enjoyed your answers. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, SusanD

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  9. I am with you on the National Anthem...gets me every time. Love your movie quotes, we say the Tommy Boy one all the time too!!

    And yes the nice surprise question should have been written for you.

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  10. Good answers, Joyce. I can tell that you are a patriot, for sure!

    I tried to comment on your birthday posts, but couldn't get things to work for me. I gave up after 3 tries. Hope this one goes through. Your b'day sounded wonderful. Your hubby did good!

    I agree with you about the bunks on the aircraft carrier--too much like coffins. I'm claustrophic, so I skipped the submarine tour. We went on a tour in Charleston, SC a few years ago.

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  11. I couldn't pick just one favorite quote either.

    Love your answers. Especially about waking in the night. I thought I was the only one who wrote their blog in the middle of the night in their head!

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  12. We quote Napoleon Dynamite all the time....love it...I don't even think my youngest know the correct pronunciation of "quesadil-la"....loved reading your answers and am happy there is another jeans and heels girl in the crowd....btw, I want a birthday just like yours!!

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  13. You must be so proud of your dad. So many medals and awards!
    It´s always good to read about who have a good relationship with the in laws.

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  14. We did have some similar answers. Except I've never gotten a surprise NYC trip! Sounds like such fun! (And those desserts? Wow!)

    Loved reading about your dad.

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  15. I love your answers and love getting to know you better. Have a great week.

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  16. If I get time this afternoon, I just think I might have to participate in this Random Dozen. I actually think I have answers and even some pictures to go with them.

    Love your answers, but then I always do. You just have a great way with words.

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  17. You must be very proud of your Dad. Enjoyed reading all of your answers. Parents weekend will be awesome.

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  18. I admire Marines out of all the military branches because they are so tough! (But I'm glad my sons decided to go Army.) Any time I see someone in their military uniform, I get tears in my eyes and my heart swells!

    Loved your quotes. For a few years, I heard "There's no crying in baseball," from "A League of Their Own"--one of my favorite movies.

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