Come play!

It's Wednesday which means it's time for the weekly random dozen hosted by Linda at 2nd cup of Coffee. Come play along! Answer the questions on your own blog and then link here for all the world to see.

1. I've always wondered why we were taught both printing and cursive. Do you prefer to print or write cursive? (Keyboard is not a choice.)

I prefer cursive and I like my handwriting. I still like to write cards and letters and I love to get a handwritten note.

2. Are you a dreamer or a realist?

Dreamer. Totally.

3. Billy Joel or Elton John?

Oh please don't make me pick...I love their music...both of them. I think I will have to go with Billy Joel although I do love me some Elton John too...Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man...those are some of my favorite songs of all time. But...I love everything Billy Joel has ever done and he's an amazing performer too.

And I hope to goodness there aren't any comments this week about 'who is Billy Joel?'

4. What is the scariest movie you've ever seen? Not limited to horror flicks but also includes ones where the tension or suspense is killer, for example, Flightplan (2005): A bereaved woman and her daughter are flying home from Berlin to America. At 30,000 feet the child vanishes and nobody admits she was ever on that plan.

I steer clear of anything advertised as super scary. I don't mind suspense but try not to watch anything that will keep me awake at night. The first thing that popped into my head was Jaws. It can still unnerve me even though I know what's coming and the special effects are not all that great by today's standards. Still, just hearing the music play can give me a little knot in my stomach. More recently I thought Taken was pretty terrifying...particularly in the beginning when she is laying under the bed and thinks she is safe-yikes!

5. Now what is the scariest real-life moment you've had?

Not too many super scary moments for me...A few years ago I was involved in what appeared to be a very minor car accident where I was hit in the back fender. I was exiting a shopping center and was stopped, waiting to merge onto a busy road when suddenly I was hit from behind. I couldn't imagine how it had happened (broad daylight, wide open view) but I heard the tail light break and as I got out of the car to take a look the gentleman who had rammed my car charged at me. Literally. He was out of his vehicle running towards me, shouting, screaming, swearing like you have never in your life heard, made it clear he had more than a few issues with women, eyes bulging, face bright red...all directed at me except it was like he didn't really see 'me'... I was just the target. He was in an absolute total rage and it took me a second to register what was happening. At one point he jumped back into his car and came at me with the vehicle. Then he was back out again racing towards me on foot. I was shouting at my kids to lock the doors and get on the floor of the car and to call 911-I'm on the far side of the car shouting back at him...he was shaking his fist and trying to get around my car to do I don't know what and I didn't want to think about it. I was praying he didn't have a weapon because I could just see the newspaper headline, "Woman in the wrong place at the wrong time" -by now I realized he was just so full of white hot anger that he needed to let it out on somebody and unfortunately that somebody was gonna be me. While we were on the phone with 911 he suddenly had a total breakdown and flung himself across the hood of my car and started sobbing. Thankfully an off duty policeman showed up right about then...he'd heard the call and was nearby. The incident ended with the psychiatric intervention unit of the police force being called in to remove him. It was all really disturbing and in those first few minutes was really very scary.

6. What word do you misspell without fail?

I honestly cannot think of one.

7. Name something you like to do but are not really talented or good at.

Sing. Let me just add here that the fact that I have no musical talent whatsoever does not stop me from singing. Oh no it does not. This is one of the things I'm looking forward to in heaven-I will be singing in tune : ) Thankfully my husband is very musical and my kids inherited those genes.

8. Do you get your emotional/mental batteries recharged by being around people or by having alone time?

It depends... both work depending on why I need recharging...if I've had too much on the schedule then definitely some alone time, preferably a long soak in the tub, a good book. Recently though I haven't really had enough on the schedule and too much alone time isn't good for me either...I need my peeps.

9. Have you ever been on TV?

No. I was interviewed by BBC Radio4 for a 30 minute radio program last year though and that was fun. Especially since it was just audio and I'm pretty sure the radio doesn't add ten pounds like the tv does.

10. Apple or pumpkin pie? (Don't be greedy.)

Apple but only if greediness isn't an option.

11. How many magazine subscriptions do you have?

None at the moment...I treat myself to magazines when I'm traveling but don't currently subscribe to any. Now that we're back in the US I will probably renew my subscription to Southern Living. Yes I do know that I live in the Northeast but a girl can dream can't she.

12. What lesson do you have to keep re-learning?

I think Paul said it best, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Come on, Sara Smile...it's time for another Random meme

Linda is hosting her weekly random dozen and she had a bit of a Hall and Oates theme going in her original post. Come play along...just answer these questions on your own blog and link back here to share your answers.

1. On an average, how often do you splurge and buy something for yourself?

not very often...I splurge on my children

2. Are you more like Hall or Oates? Just kidding.

Real question: What is the last creative project you began/finished? Feel free to post a pic of it.

I'd say definitely Daryl Hall.

Sorry, I liked that question better. I've been busy moving house and haven't done too much creative stuff lately...does baking cookies count? I'm going to say it does because that's something I've done recently...heath bits peanut butter cookies... the recipe is on my blog if you're interested. And believe me when I say you should be because they were delicious.

3. OK, Goldie Locks, do you consider your house too big, too little or juuuust right?

just right.

4. What is your favorite outdoor chore?

planting flowers in the springtime or fall...love the seasons, love getting my hands in the dirt and love enjoying the beauty as they bloom...it doesn't really feel like a chore

5. If you knew that cigarette smoking was not bad for your health but would be a weight loss tool, would you use it? Why or why not?

not bad for your health? as in not addicting either? I think I'll still say no because I don't like the way it makes everything smell

6. On a road trip, would you rather drive or ride?

ride...of course my hubs would say ride is code for sleep

7. What do you consider a trivial pursuit?

well, some days I'd say blogging : )

8. This weekend, we downloaded the movie "Duplicity" with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Within 5 minutes, I was bored and annoyed, but I kept watching 5-10 minutes at a time hoping it would get better between small chores. I finally gave up and Jorge watched it alone, and then regretted wasting that time because he disliked it intensely, too. So ... how long do you watch a movie or read a book before giving up on it?

I give a book a few chapters before giving up...it has to be really really bad for me to stop reading. Not sure I've ever really given up on a movie...I generally sleep watch to the bitter end.

9. Is there a song that you really love but are embarrassed to admit because it's not cool or it's racy or because it's by Hall and Oates?

Hey now...Hall and Oates had some classics...I still remember dancing with my then boyfriend-now husband in college to Kiss on my List. To answer the question though..pretty much anything by Abba, pretty much anything by The Carpenters....but I'm not embarrased by it...I did just put it out there on my blog after all. I like a very wide range of music so I think I can be forgiven for any that might be considered uncool by people who say they never listen to that kind of music but when it comes on the radio they somehow know all the words.

10. On a scale of 1-10 (10 = extremely) how spontaneous are you?

well...before I met my hubs I think about a 2...he might say I was closer to a 1. He was/is a 10+ and has pulled me along with him enough that I think I'm about a 5 now. He might possibly say 4 but he's not answering these questions so we'll go with my answer which is 5.

11. Are you a food and/or beverage snob?

No. That being said though...I do love very fine dining and gourmet meals and appreciate the art and effort and presentation and of course the taste of a a carefully prepared meal. I also love a bbq in the backyard and pizza right out of the box too -I'm definitely not a food snob. I really didn't know a whole lot about wines before moving overseas so I'd say I'm more of a wine snob now than I used to be. I wouldn't actually call it snobbery...it's just that I'm more particular about the taste now than I was 10 years ago. Plus once you hit a certain, ahem, age every calorie counts so I'm a little bit more aware of how I'm 'spending' my calories.

12. Who/What are you trying to control in your life?

well now...I see this week we've saved the biggie for the end....hmmm....how to put this...well, I've been happily married for 25 years so obviously the control issues there have been resolved...and my children are college students so nearly all grown up... I confess I still try to put my .02 in there quite often...I like to think I've let go of the control part and now its just sharing my wisdom : ) That sounds so much nicer don't you think?

I like to be in control (see spontaneity question above) in certain settings and if we're in a meeting or working on a commitee project I probably tend to take the bull by the horns and organize/take charge to a certain degree. I love people and enjoy working in groups... I just hate it when no one is running the show and everyone is saying I don't know what do you think? and they respond with well I don't know what do you think? That kinda makes me crazy.

All of my married life it seems God has kept us moving... new home, new town, new schools, new country...all make me feel very out of control, at least initially. And then it seems that just when I get really comfy off we go again...I've had to release a lot of my need for control and just roll with where life has taken us. That has been a very good thing.

Cheaper by the Dozen

How do you like my random title to go with today's random meme? Here are this weeks questions...

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

I didn't hate middle school and I absolutely loved 8th grade. Middle School was called Junior High where I lived and was grades 7 and 8 only. I honestly don't remember much about Jr. High...no single event or memory stands out...Here are some bits that come to mind...finally getting to be part of the youth group at church, riding a bus to school-we walked in elementary, roller skating on Friday nights and sometimes Saturdays too...asking a boy I liked to skate or hoping he would ask me, braces-ugh, an end of the year school dance in 8th grade (it was special because we didn't have many dances), my English teacher sporting hot pink lipstick on her teeth every single day, lockers-didn't have those in elementary school, babysitting...recognizing I was growing up...wanting to stay a kid some days, wishing I were all grown up others...

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

Golden Slumbers...my husband used to sing this to my youngest daughter to calm her when she fussed...and it was pure sweetness.

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

Jeans. Next question.

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

This would kind of depend on who/what/where the party I'd be a guest at is all about... but I do love to host a party...my husband and I make a good team. We love chatting about the evening when we do the washing up afterwards.

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

Please say it isn't so!!! (Insert stomping feet here) Oh I really hope not! I love the feel of a book in my hands. I love looking thru lots and lots of books in libraries and book stores and friend's bookshelves. I love turning pages. I love a book next to my bed at night. I love passing a well loved book onto someone else. I love giving my childhood books to my children and look forward to passing some of their favorites on to their children. I love marking up study books and then going back to re-read later and see if I feel the same. Does absolutely everything have to be electronic???

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

Reading but oftentimes I need a visual to go with the words so maybe a little experience too.

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

Not wanting children would have been a deal breaker for sure.

An inconsiderate person. No sense of humor. A sense of humor ranks way up near the top on my list of must-haves. I've been married for 25 years and my husband is still one of the funniest people I know.

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

I love a combination and my favorite movie theatre snack is popcorn and milk duds. If I have to choose I guess I'd probably say salty. I mean we're just talking snacks here which means I can still have my sweets for dessert, right?

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

So that's where the dustbuster has been hiding! I've only been in my house about 2 months now so it hasn't been there long.

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

A Few Good Men but TC has pretty much lost all appeal for me in recent years. I don't need to explain do I?

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

I put it in my guest bathroom...I like to have extras there for people who are visiting. You might say staying with me is just like staying at the Ritz. Or you might not.

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

This is a toughie...I love the whole Thanksgiving meal, does that count? Otherwise I guess a good pot of chili or homemade soup, something warm and cozy. I heart autumn!

Join in the random dozen meme each Wednesday by visiting 2nd cup of Coffee ...

just answer the questions on your own blog and leave your link at Linda's.

Everybody's working for the weekend

I thought you'd appreciate a little Loverboy to get your week started. You're welcome. Loverboy was a popular 80's band in case you're too young to know or in case you were preoccupied during 1981.

It's Monday so how about a little weekend update? It will be kinda like Saturday Night Live except without the funny...

Let me begin by saying it was good to be home in our own house. In fact it was great. We knocked out a few projects and by we I mostly mean my husband. I did cheer him on as I finished a book I could not put down (Still Alice by Lisa Genova in case you're wondering) and it was my birthday after all. Hey, my kids can make theirs last for weeks so I figured mine could run through the weekend, right?

Early Saturday we had a landscape architect out to give us an estimate on putting in some uplighting in front of the house...a relatively small project. I went into the house for literally five minutes to get everyone coffee and came back outside to find husband and landscaper at the back edge of our deck pacing out a 20 x 20 patio with a fire pit and plantings all around. And there was talk of drains and rocks and more plantings on the side of our driveway. And perhaps a bed cut around a large tree out front. And maybe a little something around the mailbox and driveway entry lights. Whoa! Lights. We're starting with lights.

Besides all the dreaming we painted our front door and our porch railing (again, using the term we very loosely), washed the windows in the back of the house (I did locate the correct product in Loews), power washed the front walkway...and here I genuinely was a huge help because as soon as my husband turned on the power washer the tiny little tip shot outta there like a bullet. We were like CSIs marking off a crime scene while trying to locate that small, but unfortunately essential, end piece. He was ready to give up and use the superduper spray nozzle when I spotted it in the shrubbery. As an aside does anyone else's husband get a big grin on their face when they get to power wash something?

And while we were doing this and that we may have happened to glance over and see this-

We have four acres of forest behind our house so I have no idea why they are standing here...some kind of confab going on it looks like. They eventually lined up and trotted across the street and into the woods...so pretty.

What else...oh I may have eaten 1/4 of a German chocolate cake. My husband had one made specially for my birthday. Thankfully it was only half a cake so when I ate half of that it was really only 1/4. Whatever...I met my good friend Jillian this morning after my walk so its all good. Has anyone else noticed she can't count? She likes to say 'only three more' and then we do something like 12 by my count. She's mean like that.

We went to church on Sunday...this is the first time we've been to church in our new town since moving into the house mid-July. We've only actually been home three weekends so this was really our first opportunity. We visited a church we used to attend when we lived in this area 15 years ago... it's changed quite a bit but as I sat in the pew I couldn't help but think about my sweet little daughter2 at age 3 performing in a VBS program there in 1993. The entire week she had refused to sing any of the songs when they practiced them on the stage. The night of the program she did everything but grab the microphone and walk out into the crowd. Such hilarity.

Hubs and I may have spent part of Friday evening watching some of our old VCR tapes that we haven't seen since before we moved to England. Little girls with their soft sweet voices and babydolls and bicycles with training wheels, and big pink bows and little blonde curls...we agreed we could only watch a little bit...the sweetness almost makes your heart hurt. Well that and the fact that I seemed to enjoy speaking at a decibel level that only dogs can hear. Why? And what was my husband thinking with that big mustache and those tennis socks? And my hair??? It's just too much in every sense of the word. Why is it so dark? Was my hair really that dark? Well, obviously the answer to that is yes since we have it saved for posterity on videotape but yuk. Oh and I was really thin. And young. Like I said, our hearts could only take so much y'all.

It's time to be productive so I'll leave you with a picture of what I saw as I walked over our hill this morning...

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Enjoy your Monday...Joyce