The Random Dozen meme is created and hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. She has a Mr. Linky set up if you’d like to see others’ responses or join in.
1. Which physical trait do you now accept–maybe not love, but accept–and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about?
My nose. It’s probably my least favorite feature.
2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom “Family Ties” came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom?
My favorite was Carolyn Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. Patient, kind, thrifty, industrious, creative, sweet — all the things I wish I were!
3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you’d like to learn?
No and no. I had Spanish for years, both elementary and high school, but only catch a few words here and there when I hear it and can’t really speak it at all except a few isolated words. There are a number of things I’d like to learn, but languages aren’t really on the list.
4. Who is your personal hero?
Jim Lubin, who is paralyzed from the neck down due to transverse myelitis, is ventilator-dependent, yet created the Transverse Myelitis Internet Club, which was a tremendous support to me, a similar subscriber list for vent-dependent quads, and an abundance of web sites for the disabled, besides having one of the most even-tempered and sunny personalities that I know of. I get so angry when I see any program on TV that seems to indicate life is over the the plug should be pulled when someone is put on a ventilator. I’m sure it is not the life anyone would choose, but people can have a productive and good life even on a vent.
5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in?
Just one? Ho, ho ho, that’s a good one. But I’d probably say Harvest Loaf Cake, which, though it has a fallish name, we make in December. Haven’t yet this year, but I am hoping to this week. It is hard to keep my hands off of it, though — I am tempted to cut a “little sliver” almost every time I go through the kitchen.
6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value.
Oh, many of them do. When my older sons were in elementary school, moms got together to make ornaments for the kids to take home at the class Christmas party, so many of those are special. A couple of things my mom gave me are special not only because I like them but because she passed away in December a few years ago:
This plays through several songs when you push a button on the back, and the lights in the church flash.
This is one of my most special treasures, also from my mom. I collect Boyd’s Bear figurines, and somewhere she found this Christmas tree with little miniature scenes all though it.
I talked about these last year in a post titled The Island of Misfit Ornaments — our odd or offbeat ones:
These were little wax candle ornaments that we got our first Christmas together.
The brown-haired boy represented Jim, and the blond girl represented me. But one year they got a little melted up in the attic. I couldn’t even get them out of the plastic bags because they were stuck. I don’t know why I haven’t thrown them away — I guess because of the sentimental value. I do keep all candles out of the attic now!
7. How do you feel about snow?
I like that here in SC we only get it once or twice a year, and it is enough to close schools and some businesses for a day (because we don’t have all the equipment that states have who get snow all the time — it would be too expensive for just once a year use). It’s like an unexpected day off when we get it. Within that context I think it is pretty and fun. I don’t think I’d like living where we had a lot of snow all through the winter. I don’t like to be that cold; I’d be nervous about driving; and I have balance issues, so it’s nerve-wracking for me to even walk in it.
8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I’m jealous of any number over three or anything.
About 5, which is why I often take a nap.
9. Tell me about your first crush.
My parents used to tell me I had a crush on my cousin when I was two. I don’t remember that, but, unfortunately, I went through most of my childhood with a crush on somebody. That’s not really a healthy way to live. The first crush I remember was in fourth grade on a guy named George. He had a really unusual name which I am not going to put here both for his privacy’s sake and mine — I would be embarrassed to death if he ever Googled himself and found his name here. Unfortunately a lot of girls had crushes on him, and he was totally uninterested in girls at the time. One of the great mysteries of my life was that he whispered something to me one day, but I didn’t understand what he said, and I was too shy to ask. I fantasized that it was something like, “You’re cute” or “I like you.” But it was probably more something like, “Can I borrow a pencil?”
10. You’re stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw?
Chalk is not my favorite writing instrument, but I’d probably write rather than draw. I’m not sure what I’d write, though — it would depend on my mood at the time. If I was with someone else we’d probably play tic tac toe or that “connect the dots to make squares” game.
11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day’s forecast?
I dress for the current temp with the forecast in mind. I love long-sleeved knit tops in the winter time so I can push the sleeves up or down according to the changing temps. I am often hotter than others, so I dress lighter but keep a sweater handy this time of year.
12. Favorite Christmas movie is?
White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
Stray Thoughts 