Honesty really is the best policy – well, we’ll see…

Debby tagged me in a meme that seemed just a bit more fun and a little more shady than the average meme.

Of course that meant I had to participate.
In the Completely Honest Meme I need to list 10 secrets or things I’ve never told anyone. Since my husband pretty much knows everything I’ll just share some stuff I’ve never told my readers…
  • For our first wedding anniversary I had artistic nude photos taken of myself as a gift for Hubby. They still hang on the wall in our bedroom. I often look at them and think ‘Damn, I was hot!’
  • I never went to the prom because I never had a date. I was kind of a loser.
  • I have not seen or talked to my real father in years. Last I heard he was dying.
  • I kissed a girl once in high school. I didn’t like it.
  • I once sold a half empty bottle of vodka to the neighbor kid so I’d have money to buy cigarettes. I was 17.
  • I didn’t believe in God until I was in my 20′s.
  • I think Barack Obama is a tool. Well, that’s not really a secret.
  • I am completely addicted to the Freak Shows at the fair. I know they are a total rip-off, but I never hesitate to pay the 2 buck to see a two-headed goat.
  • The sound I make when I blow my nose has been compared to the sounds of a moose mating call.
  • I once wrecked my car driving home on a snowy night. I told my parents I slid on the ice, but I really hit two trees because the boy in my car was trying to feel me up.
I’ll understand if you never come back again. Or, you could share a secret in the comments and make a gal not feel so freakish and weird.
Hello?

If you don’t know Kate Inglis well, shame on you!

I met Kate Inglis when I went to Blogher this past July and immendiately came home and began stalking her blog. She’s an amazing writer and has this ability to observe the world like no other. I love getting lost in her words and stories.

Not long after learning of her blog and becoming a dedicated fan I discovered that she was publishing a book! This is always a big deal in the blog world. We rally and cheer and shout from the rooftops when one of our fellow bloggers gets a book deal. But, her book is a little different.

I can’t even explain the premise, but I do know that I’ve been aching to get my hands on her book so that I can snuggle down with my children and read aloud the adventures of The Dread Crew: Pirates of the Backwoods. When I read that she was offering a chance for me to get my hands on an advanced copy of the book and participate in a first review of the book I wanted to jump at the chance. So, here it is: My chance to win and a meme about stories…

1) You are facing an epic journey. You may choose one companion, one tool and one vehicle from any book or film to accompany you. Or just one of the three. It’s up to you. What do you choose? Jesus. If I’m taking and epic journey I’m taking The Lord with me!

2) You can escape to the insides of any book. Where do you go, and why? The Great Gatsby – the setting and parties and costumes are so breath-taking! Plus, some of those characters could use a swift kick in the behind!

3) You can bring one literary character into your current life. Who do you choose, and why? Anne Shirley – I think we would be kindred spirits!

4) The Garden of Eden is my go-to book. I could read that book fifty-seven times in a row without a break for food or a pee and not be remotely bored. In fact I’ve already done that but it wasn’t fifty-seven times. It was sixty-four.

5) Of all the literary or film characters that made an impression on you as a kid, who was the most enviable? No specific character comes to mind, but Judy Blume sure made a mark.

6) Of all the literary or film characters that made an impression on you as a kid, who was the most frightening? That pig-nosed character from the Star Wars movies. He gave me the most horrible and vivid nightmares!

7) Every time I read Flannery O’Connor, I see something in it that I haven’t seen before.

8) It is imperative that The Garden of Eden be made into a movie. Now. I am already picketing Hollywood for this—but if they cast Tom Cruise as the main character, I will not be happy. I will, however, be appeased if they cast Durmot Mulroney.

9) A Thousand Country Road (Epilogue to The Bridges of Madison County) is a book that should never be made (or should have never been made) into a film.

10) After all these years, the slaughter scene in the book/movie A Day No Pigs Would Die still manages to give me the queebs.

11) After all these years, the scene where Bastian and the Luck Dragon fly over Fantasia after it’s been saved in the book/movie The Neverending Story still manages to give me a thrill.

12) If I could corner the author Charles Bukowski, here’s what I’d say to them one minute or less about their book, I may only have a minute, but I’ve just got to see if you’re really so crass in person.

13) The coolest non-fiction book I’ve ever read is Art As Experience by John Dewey. Every time I flip through it, it makes me want to help the world have a true love of art and literature and music.

meme

I stole this meme from my dear friend Bragger – an old friend of mine and the writer of a very funny blog that deserves to be much more popular than it is because she’s quirky, has a wicked memory, and tells a story like nobody’s business! Plus, she has her doctoral degree and has offered margarita services whenever I may need them while working on this Ph.D. Talk about a good friend!
Plus, stealing this meme from her buys me another day to come up with a real topic…

What are your most common nicknames?
Neena or Honey


What is today’s weather?
Gorgeous! It’s sunny and just a bit cooler than it has been. Fall is in the air!

Where did you go on vacation this year?
We didn’t. We tend to make excuses about spending the money, but we’re looooong overdue for a family vacation. Maybe next year…

What did you do there?
I didn’t go anywhere.

Where did you stay?
Please quit reminding me that I didn’t take a vacation, yo!


What job do you do?
Nothing that gives me a paycheck. I’m a stay-at-home mom that likes to pretend she’s a writer and twice a week masquerades as a student.

Describe where you live.
A very small town known for scarecrows. Typical suburbia.

What do you usually do on weekends?
I try to spend as much quality time with my family, catch up on my reading, try to work in some writing, and avoid all things sports related.

What food hits your ‘bliss spot’?
Ice cream with peanut butter, baby!


What drink really does it for you?
I’m a wine gal.

Describe the first friend that comes to your head.
My goofy friend Raygan. Today she’s actually headed back to work after having an adorable baby girl this past Summer. I know that must be hard, so she’s in my thoughts today.

What was the last restaurant you went to?
We went to IHOP this past weekend to see some family that came in to town. We had a wonderful time and ate way too much food!

Where would you like to live if you had unlimited moneys and nothing stopping your dreams?
New York City. I’d buy an amazing apartment in the middle of Manhattan and I’d raise my children in the big city! Oh, and Hubby is welcome, too – if he can tear himself away from the South. I’d also love an old Victorian house to fix up.
What is the likeliness of your achieving this dream home?
The city will never happen and hubby hates moving so I’m guessing the Victorian is a no-go, too.


What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to read! I enjoy spending time just looking around the bookstore and imagining what’s behind all those covers!

What’s your favorite genre for TV programs?
I’m a sucker for trashy reality TV (real housewives, 16 and pregnant) and I love drama!

What’s your favorite genre for music?
I love New Age music!

What’s your favorite song that’s sad?
Only Time by Enya – it’s like an emotional dance

What’s your favorite soppy film?
The Bridges of Madison County. I read the book a long time ago, but the movie gets me every single time!

How about your favorite chick flick?
It’s not a flick, but I love Gilmore Girls! I’m working my way through the series on DVD for about the 5th time.

What are you looking forward to at the moment?
The kids and Hubby going to bed so maybe they’ll all actually wake up in a good mood.

What are you dreading at the moment?
The next two weeks until my nighttime driving glasses come in. Night blindness is a bitch!


How would you describe your personality?
I’m anxious and a bit uptight, but I have a flare for sarcasm!

If you had a personality eraser, what part of yours might you erase?
My lack of confidence. I’d totally get rid of that!

You are given $5000 to spend in 1 day, what do you do with it? Remember, no limitations!
I’d buy clothes and shoes and clothes and shoes. And, clothes. Oh, and some shoes.

What is your biggest fear?

Divorce.
Goodbye forever!

8 Things: A Meme

It’s been a while since I’ve participated (or even been tagged for a meme). I like memes because they don’t take a whole lotta thought and it allows me the change to let everyone get to know me better, which I consider a highlight probably more than you. So, moving on…
I stole this idea from my friend Bragger who stole it from one of her friends. It’s plagiarism at it its finest!

8 THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO:

-my mom coming to visit
-starting school in the Fall
-my brother and his wife getting out of Iraq at the end of the summer
-eating the tomatoes I’m growing
-snuggling (and then giving back) my friend’s baby that is due in just over a week
-a good night’s sleep
-my next trip to the bookstore
-watching my children grow up
8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY:
-vacuumed the carpet
-scooped the litter
-sent a fax
-bought a trash novel
-went to the grocery store
-watched the baby cardinals hatch in my front yard
-changed 6 poopy diapers
-canceled an appointment
8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO:
-walk without my thighs rubbing together
-sew
-drive on the interstate
-have more babies
-run 3 miles
-party like it’s 1999
-drive a stick shift
-make homemade pasta
8 SHOWS I WATCH:
-Real Housewives of OC, NY, NJ, and ATL
-Intervention
-Food Network (just about all of it)
-Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern
-Good Morning of America
-Big Cat Diary
-Animal Cops
-Greys Anatomy

8 FAVORITE FOODS:

-chips and salsa
-peanut butter
-salad
-chicken pot pie
-steak (medium)
-pot roast
-asparagus
-salami

8 PLACES I’D LIKE TO TRAVEL:

-Italy
-Africa
-Ireland
-Caribbean
-Grand Canyon
-New York City!!!
-Vegas, baby!
-Hawaii

8 PEOPLE I’VE TAGGED:

(I hate having to pick people, so here’s 8 people I’d like to meet)
-Oprah
-Paula Deen
-John Cusak
-so many of my bloggy pals
-Meryl Streep
-my husband for lunch
-Barbara Walters

Spoken like true little rugrats

I found this great little questionnaire on Facebook and decided it would be better appreciated here.  It is a list of questions that I asked my children so that I could get a glimpse at what they really think about me.  Keep in mind that my children are 4 and 3.  I didn’t bother asking the baby because she was busy sculpting with waffles and Cheerios and could not be disturbed!

So, here goes!
1.  What is something mommy always says to you?
-Mia: not to do things
-Jake: to clean up my room
-For the record, I also say ‘be quiet,’ ‘No,’ and ‘Lord have mercy’

2.  What makes mommy happy?
-Mia: by listening
-Jake: when we play
-I say it’s the little happy pill I take every morning.  

3.  What makes mommy sad?
-Mia: not listening to her
-Jake: when we don’t play
-The destruction of the rainforest doesn’t help either.  
4.  How does mommy make you laugh?
-Mia: by tickling me!
-Jake: stomping around
-Perhaps I should have auditioned for Stomp, but I was too busy birthin‘ all them babies. 
5.  What was mommy like as a child?
-Mia: she was a crazy girl
-Jake: she liked to go to school
-I was a musical prodigy, but sadly my parents thought my talents would be better spend              doing crappy chores.
6.  How old is mommy?
-Mia: 55
-Jake: 45
-Perhaps it’s time for a stronger moisturizer
7.  How tall is your mommy?
-Mia: 10 feet tall
-Jake: Giant!
-That better not be in reference to my ass, Jacob!

8.  What is her favorite thing to do?
-Mia: write, balance the checkbook, and see daddy
-Jake: make breakfast
-These monsters don’t know me at all!
9.  What does mommy do when you’re not around?
-Mia: work around the house
-Jake: clean the house
-They forgot ‘works towards world peace while clipping coupons’
10.  If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
-Mia: for family
-Jake: for milk
-Apparently I need to give up writing and buy a dairy cow
11.  What is your mommy really good at?
-Mia: knitting
-Jake: laundry
-Nope.  Can’t knit and I hate laundry.  
12.  What is your mom not very good at?
-Mia: wiping
-Jake: not putting stuff away
-Damn kids are delusional.  
13.  What does your mom do for a job?
-Mia: work at the workshop
-Jake: goes to the store and buys chicken nuggets
-Seriously!?

14.  What is your mommy’s favorite food?
-Mia: broccoli
-Jake: broccoli
-Yea, right.  Put that on the side of a fat, juicy, whopper baby!

15.  What makes you proud of your mommy?
-Mia: how happy she is
-Jake: when she goes to the store and buys toys
-Thanks, Mia.  Jake, you’re a turd!
16.  If your mommy was a cartoon character, who would she be?
-Mia: just herself
-Jake: Star Wars
-I’m going to take the opportunity to assume he’s referencing Leia in the gold bikini and                not Jabba the Hut.  

17.  What do you and mommy do together?
-Mia: make up stories
-Jake: play
-Alright, kids.  Way to make me sound like a good mommy at least once.  
18.  How are you and mommy the same?
-Mia: We’re not!
-Jake: being friends with people
-Awe, Jake!  Sorry I called you a turd.  Oh, Mia.  You can’t escape genes, honey.  

19.  How are you and your mom different?
-Mia: we’re not the same size
-Jake: I want to color.  Are we done?
-I’m losing um’!
20.  How do you know mommy loves you?
-Mia: by listening
-Jake: she kisses me
-Geez, guys.  I tell you all the time!

21.  What does mommy like best about daddy?
-Mia: when he comes home
-Jake: hugging each other
-rawr!

22.  Where is your mommy’s favorite place to go?
-WalMart
-Old McDonalds
-How white trash do ya’ll think I am!?

I’m debating now if I should have taught them to talk.  There’s still hope for the baby, whose in the corner eating a crayon and crapping her pants by the way.  Thanks, baby.  

The Truth about Facebook (and a meme)

I am fairly new to the whole Facebook fad.  I have a profile with a few pictures of the family and a handful of friends.  But, other than writing on ‘my wall’ I’m kind of a Facebook moron.  See, I don’t know how to do all the extra stuff, but I keep getting sent virtual margaritas, pink ribbons, hugs, grenades, and weird ‘are you the coolest’ challenges.  

I don’t do any of these.  And, I don’t respond to any of these. 
First, I don’t know how.  And, second, I am well aware that I am not the coolest and I don’t need some random acquaintance from high school reminding me that I’m ‘sofa king’ stupid.  And, third, I once tried to use one of these to send a friend of mine a birthday wish  and they were all ‘it costs money to use this feature.’  Screw that when I can write on someone’s wall for free!  So now I’m wondering how bad our economy really is if even the price of a virtual margarita is too high.  
Plus it is easy to feel like a Facebook outcast when you get denied friendship by someone that you would have never pegged to be the denier.  Is that even a word?  Then I wrote on someone’s wall and they erased it!  
I feel so judged!
And, my hubby recently got sucked into the Facebook vortex and he’s finding all these freaks from his past and I’ll hear him on the computer saying things like, ‘I remember her’ or ‘Man she was weird’ or ‘We dated for a while’ or even ‘WooHoo.’  
Actually, he’s never shouted ‘woo hoo‘ but he might as well have with all the lady friends he seems to be finding.  I so want to shout ‘Dude!  Go find a guy friend, scratch yourself, spit a little, and watch a game.’ 
Plus, he set up Facebook to work with my IM program on my laptop.  I only have an IM program so that he and I can send cute little misspelled flirts to one another throughout the day.  But, with the way he hooked that bad boy up I get a notice every time someone I know on facebook signs on or off.  And, it isn’t just a simple notice.  No.  It’s a loud quack!  Because the chat program has some sort of duck mascot so I just get quacked at regularly throughout the day.  
Denied and quacked.  Too bad it can’t just point and laugh. 
But, my point is this:  I got sent a ‘note’ through Facebook and it said that I am to list 25 random things about myself.  Since I have no earthly idea how to do it through Facebook I just figured I would do it here.  So, here goes:
25 random things about myself
  • I’m a Republican and I’m actually pretty conservative
  • People seem surprised that I’m a Republican and pretty conservative
  • I once swallowed a live goldfish due to a basketball tradition at my high school
  • I never went to prom because I didn’t have a date
  • I can’t fall asleep without the TV
  • I like to eat in bed
  • I actually wondered if Michelle and Barack ‘did it’ after the inaugural balls.  Come on!  He’s the most powerful man in the world – you know you thought about it, too.  
  • I am fascinated with shows about prison – LockDown, baby!
  • I’ve had plastic surgery – but it was for medical reasons and totally necessary!
  • I love the color green.
  • I’m having trouble thinking of things to list – apparently I’m not that interesting
  • I once sold a half empty bottle of vodka to the neighbor boy when my mom was done making jello shots for Bunko.  
  • I used to smoke.
  • I recently found a random cigarette hidden in the car.  I left it where it was.
  • I will always think that Joey should have picked Dawson, not Pacey.  
  • I dance a lot when nobody is home
  • I used to drink pickle juice right from the jar
  • I hate coconut
  • I think Air Supply rocks!
  • I clean my ears every single day
  • I prefer brand name cotton swabs – the generic have skippy tips!
  • I have never had a cavity
  • My dog has severe bad breath – I paid to have her teeth brushed.  It didn’t help
  • I have an unnatural hatred for Gloria Estefan
  • I think Angelina Jolie is a homewrecker!
There ya have it.  Are you running yet?