Musings of a Loquacious Mind

48 Questions

Here's the deal, I am a hypocrite.  I like reading people's notes.  I even like being tagged (even if I don't carry the chain along, because I like having the notification to read the note) and the idea of writing the note.  I just don't like tagging people.  Why?  I'm not sure.  I really would love to read everyone's responses.  I sometimes check around for notes that I'm not tagged in.  But I fear becoming a pest, or being rejected from a Facebook note.  So I'm only tagging the people that tagged me.  But if you write a note, tag me so I can read it!

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
As my friend Colin pointed out, "There were approximately 106 billion people who lived on this earth and were presumably named before I was born."  And if you are also friends with Colin and have not read his answers to this, you simply must, because they are all so wonderful.  Go.  Now.  This note will be here when you get back.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Shockingly, I can't remember.  Generally I cry pretty easily - stubbing my toe, a real or perceived snub, watching the ending of "Cool Runnings" or "Armageddon" (shut up!) - and having been pregnant, nursing or clinically depressed for the past 2 1/2 years exacerbates the situation, but... I really don't remember.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I don't think it's particularly nice, but I like it because it is mine, and I love watching words flow onto paper when I journal.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Perhaps turkey?  Definitely deli vs. package.  Perhaps a better question is "what is your favorite lunch cheese?"  And then the answer would depend on the lunch meat available, but in general would be Munster.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes.  Two.  Both girls.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I have several friends that are so much like me in many ways that it is scary.  So have to believe that if I were another person, but still had all of my own traits, I would be friends with me.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Constantly

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
I assume so

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
If it were free

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Fresh Cheerios

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Turkey Hill Peanut Butter Chocolate

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Gee, I don't know.  Their teeth?

15. RED OR PINK?
Pink

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
That every couple of years I let depression rear it's ugly head

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Perhaps college-Katherine.  She was a very cool person, and needs to come out more.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST?
Yes, I do.  I am a nosy/curious/inquisitive person, plus, the more people that do it after me, the less I feel like the person that discovered Members Only jackets in 1991.

19. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans, t-shirt, sneakers

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The hum of the CPU and dishwasher

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Iridescent white

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Keith's body wash, the smell of smoke that clings to my husband when he grills out, cloves, Johnson's Baby Wash clean hair and baby tummy, cured tobacco (not smoked, just cured tobacco leaves)

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Keith

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I have had five people send it to me, and I truly like them all, and consider each of them a real friend

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
TV - gymnastics; live - Tar Heel basketball

27. HAIR COLOR
Brown, with silver white threads creeping in

28. EYE COLOR?
Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
I do, and have for thirteen years now

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Bread

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
If those are my only choices... happy endings
Don't most scary movies have happy endings, though?  I mean, basically?

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
"Can't Hardly Wait", I think

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Red

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter.  You can always put on more clothes, but there's only so much you can take off...

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Nobody, because I'm only tagging people who sent this to me!

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
(see #37)

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Anne of Green Gables (upstairs); Joshua (downstairs); Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews (computer); Baptist Faith and Message, Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman (Bible Studies)

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD
My mouse

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
I think some Law and Order?  Not much comes on when you don't have cable!

42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)?
The ocean & thunderstorms

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Italy

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I am a wicked fast crocheter

46 WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Everyone's!

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
We met at Grove Avenue Baptist Church when he came to my Sunday School class on April 20th, 2003 (the day after the 80s Scavenger Hunt).  We first really talked (about his issue with shoes and my fear of squirrels, and the shocking revelation that he was a police officer after my open thumbing-of-the-nose at traffic law, among other things) when much of our class went to Deep Run Park for lunch.  We both had Arby's.  He fed french fries to the squirrels to try to get them to come closer, just to taunt me.  I fell in love with and married him, anyway.

The Prayer of Jabez

Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.

1 Chronicles 4:10 

From a MySpace survey

1.)Q. Are you currently in a serious relationship?
A. Well, there is this guy.... (in case you can't read my playful tone in type, the answer is "yes, I'm married!")

2.)Q. What was your dream growing up?
A. Like dream profession or career? And what age growing up? When I was about 4 I wanted to grow up to be a My Little Pony. Then a pediatrician. Then a contractor. Then an ad guru. But always a mom at some point, so I'm living my dream!

3.)Q. What talent do you wish you had?
A. Just one? I wish I could sing really well!

4.)Q. If I bought you a drink what would it be?
A. In 8-10 months it can be a Long Island Iced Tea or a G&T, but for now it would have to be a Diet Pepsi, and if it's in a two-liter, Caffeine-Free

5.)Q. Favorite vegetable?
A. Broccoli?

6.)Q. What was the last book you read?
A. A Whiff of Death, by Isaac Asimov

7.)Q. What zodiac sign are you?
A. Virgo

8.)Q. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
A. All that's left is one hole in each ear.

9.)Q. Worst Habit?
A. It used to be biting my nails, but I've been awesome at not doing that since March '07. So now? Um. Not that there are none, but WORST? I forget to buckle my seatbelt a lot of the times in the car.

10.)Q. If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
A. (I'm answering from a post by Pam) I would definitely offer Pam a ride. I would be confused as all getout as to why she was walking down the street in VA, and would check to make sure it was Pam and not her evil twin (or, the not-evil twin).

11.)Q. What is your favorite sport?
A. To watch on TV? I guess men's gymnastics. (I'm a less than casual fan of football (Kris'll get that)). To watch in person? Baseball, but only if I get to drink beer. To play? Baseball/softball or tennis. or karate, but I'm so out of practice.

12.)Q. Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
A. generally optimistic, but my sister-in-law is a contagious worrier

13. )Q. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
A. Whether Pam or someone else, I would probably have and inner freak-out and then try to pretend like I'm not mildly claustrophobic and try to stop thinking about the beginning of Speed

14.)Q. Worst thing to ever happen to you?
A. That I would write about on a blog? And that I was completely non-complicit? Well, when I was on my honeymoon I got pooped on by a pigeon in Venice. I really didn't speak enough Italian to convey what was wrong when I was trying to get a napkin or wet wipe or something, and we had been in line for a while and didn't want to start over again!

15.)Q. Tell me one weird fact about you.
A. In college I made things out of duct tape and my nickname in certain circles was "Duck"

16.)Q. Do you have any pets?
A. Nope

17.)Q. What if i showed up at your house unexpectedly?
A. Well if I'd known you were comin' I'd'a baked a cake. But I would give you a hug, tell you to ignore the mess, and invite you right on in. I can make a cake while we talk.

18.)Q. What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!)
A. Heh. I already told Pam what my first impression of her was.

19.)Q. Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
A. Neither. But my husband goes with scary!

20.)Q. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
A. Right now I would wave the magical wand of "figure before kids with no effort"

21.)Q. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
A. Depends on the crime.

22.)Q. What color eyes do you have?
A. Brown

23.) Q. Ever been arrested?
A. Nope, but I have a cop drive me around all the time

24.)Q. Bottle or can soda?
A. 24 oz bottle vs 12 oz sodas - 2 cans. But in general, bottle, because there's more soda

25.)Q. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it?
A. Tithe, max out my yearly donation to a Roth IRA, set aside the appropriate amount for taxes, and then go shopping for dining room furniture!

27.) Q. What's your favorite place to hang at?
A. My den

28.)Q. Do you believe in ghosts?
A. Not during the daytime and when there are other people around

29.)Q. Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
A. Spare time? What's that? Back when I used to have some, I liked to crochet.

30.)Q. Do you swear a lot?
A. Not really. I have the urge to swear a lot, and use lots of phrases like "Fudge Nugget!" and "Pickletosh!" and "Crab cakes!"

31.)Q. Biggest pet peeve?
A. I can't pick just one to be biggest.

32.)Q. In one word, how would you describe yourself?
A. Tired

33.)Q. Do you believe/appreciate romance?
A. Appreciate

35)Q. Do you believe in God?
A. Yes

36.)Q. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
A. Yeah, if you want to cut and paste from the blog, email me or go for the comments or let me know you filled it out on your blog.

Labels: survey

I'm afraid of 25 out of 71 common fears

From a MySpace forward thingie....

IF you get more than 30, I strongly recommend some counseling!

IF you get more than 20, you’re paranoid!

IF you get 10-20, then you are normal!

IF you get 10 or less, you’re fearless!

People who don’t have any are full of crap!

I Fear…

1. getting beat up
2. black people
3. + the dark - not so much of the dark, but what I don't know is in the dark
4. staying single forever
5. being a parent - although I sometimes fear failing at being a parent
6. giving birth - but after last time I fear the pregnancy part
7. + being myself in front of others
8. open spaces
9. closed spaces
10. + heights
11. + black cats - well, I'm mildly afraid of all cats I don't know;
    I'm not more afraid of them for being black
12. + dogs - truth be told, I'm basically afraid to some degree of all animals
13. + birds - animal, so... plus, have you ever been pooped on by a pigeon
    and not been able to speak enough of the language to get a napkin? yeah, not fear inducing like
    The Birds or The Dark Half or being in the Colonial Heights Wal*Mart parking lot, but still
14. + fish - there really needs to be a spectrum here;
    I'm not afraid of goldfish in a tank, but live (or dead, for that matter)
    ones in lakes and at the ocean? yeah
15. + spiders
16. + flowers or other plants - again, spectrum! checking this
    makes me look so mentally unsound
17. + being touched - not to Howie Mandel levels, but especially on my collarbone or wrist
18. fire
19. + deep water - not of its existence, just being in it
20. lakes
21. silk - that is so weird; who is afraid of silk? and yet I checked "flowers or other plants", so....
22. the ocean
23. + failure
24. + success - if I'm being completely honest...
25. thunder/lightning - I love them!
26. + frogs/toads
27. my boyfriends/girlfriends [sic][husband's] dad
28. boyfriends/girlfriends [sic][husband's] mom
29. + mice/rats - which made my 7th grade science
    fair project interesting, to say the least
30. + jumping from high places
31. snow
32. rain
33. wind
34. + crossing hanging bridges
35. death
36. heaven
37. being robbed
38. falling in love
39. clowns - but Keith is! ask him about his encounter at Arby's...
40. large crowds of people
41. men
42. women
43. + having great responsibilities - which is another reason I would be a terrible Spiderman
44. + doctors, including dentists - specifically, needles and giving blood- eek!
45. tornadoes
46. hurricanes
47. incurable diseases
48. + snakes
49. + sharks
50. friday the 13th
51. ghosts
52. poverty
53. halloween
54. school
55. trains
56. odd numbers
57. even numbers
58. being alone
59. becoming blind
60. becoming deaf
61. growing up
62. + creepy noises in the night - well, sometimes it turns out to be bats
    in your room. And guess if I am afraid of bats....
63. bee stings
64. + not accomplishing my dreams/goals
65. + needles - does this mean I can uncheck doctors?
    I'm not afraid of sewing needles, though!
66. blood
67. + dinosaurs if they were alive - ok, (a) they're animals, and
    (b) who wouldn't be! Hello, Jurassic Park, anyone (book is worse than movie -
    they are smart little genetic freak animals)
68. the welcome mat
69. high speeds
70. throwing up
71. falling in love - wasn't this already on here?

Labels: survey

La

It's the final countdown!

You know what? That ticker above ----^ is not entirely accurate. You'll notice the "featured" baby is the last one (that's right, we're approaching delivery!), but the "days left" is a little off. At least by the way I count.

Like let's say I was counting down days to my birthday, and it was August 23. I would probably say "only three more days until my birthday!" I might even say "only two more days until my birthday!," if I was thinking of days between my birthday and the current date (especially after about noon). Certainly on August 25 I would be saying "Tomorrow is my birthday!" and certainly not "Two more days until my birthday!"

But the counter seems to count the day it is, every day up to the baby's due date, and then the baby's due date when calculating the "days to go." When it was 100-some days left, no big deal, but now that I am within spitting distance of D-day it seems to make it further away.

Of course all of this is assuming I am going to go into labor on my due date. Maybe I'm pessimistic, but since I had to be induced last time I just kind of assume I'll have to be induced again this time (so the date is right) or, depending on the 37 week U/S, have a planned C-section about a week before. But I could go into labor, and both of my younger brothers were about 3 weeks early (and quite chunky monkeys, so good thing for my mom they came early!)(not that I was a petite baby, at 9 lbs 9 oz, but I was full-term and not the biggest).

So we have been getting ready for Broccoli, obviously, and yesterday the big two things on my list got done - we bought her Bible and I got her blanket back (it had been at the State Fair). I do want to pre-layout the announcements, but that's not as big a deal to me as having those two things, because I'll want those at the hospital.

Well, I guess one more thing... Keith and I have to agree once and for all on the spelling of Broccoli's real name.

Labels: pregnancy

"OB" Appointments are more fun than the "/GYN" part

I've decided the 24 week Ante-Natal obstetrician appointment is the best one. I guess it would be better if it included an ultrasound (it's always fun to see what the kid is up to), but other than that it has several distinct advantages:

1. I don't have to talk about throwing up - because I'm finally not (much)! I'm down to maybe a whole tab of Zofran a week (I was up to three a day and still mildly miserable for quite a while), and while I am not completely nausea-free, I am not by any means nausea-ful.
2. I'm not in heartburn city yet. About the time the nausea subsided last time I was spending about half of my nights sitting up and sleeping against the wall, crunching a half-dozen or more Tums a night. I'm not there yet! I have to take a few Tums right before bed, but other than that it is good going. And pizza for dinner might not have helped matters.
3. I'm not big and broiling yet. I gained just 2.5 lbs since my last appointment (total weight gain: something like 10 lbs), and can still fit in non-maternity clothes (some with more success than others). And while my poor husband has to bite the air-conditioning price bullet and my sister-in-law keeps socks at our house so her feet won't be cold when she comes over while I still wake up with my hair soaked with sweat, I'm not the furnace that I'll be at 9 months. Why my mother decided to be nine months pregnant in the middle of hot, sticky, humid Southern summers all three times I don't know!
4. The entire appointment went like this: get there, change insurance forms (grr, City of Richmond! but now we have vision (but that's another post)), get called back, do the 'pee in a cup' routine, get weighed, listen to the baby's heartbeat, talk to the doctor for a little, hug her and go. When else do you want to hug your doctor? Especially the "big girl doctor"?

So all in all Broccoli is doing fine and Mommy is doing fine.

Oh, I'm still a little dehydrated, so you can buy me a (completely non-alcoholic, possibly non-caffeinated) drink the next time you see me!

Labels: pregnancy