Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sunday Stealing

The Scottish Meme (though I don't know why it's called "Scottish"!)  This meme sounds vaguely familiar in parts, so excuse me if I'm repeating myself.

1. Where are you from and where do you live now?

Born and raised in San Francisco, now living in Davis, California, which is 80 miles east of San Francisco and 20 miles west of the capitol, Sacramento.

2. Favorite childhood story/book/film?

Hmmm...story?  There was a short story about a Chinese family whose barn burned down and in poking around in the ashes where their pigs had been, they tasted roast pork for the first time (because it was forbidden to eat pork).  I can't remember how it ended.  Favorite book, The Island Stallion, by Walter Farley (who also wrote all the Black Stallion books).  Favorite film?  There were too many I loved as a kid, but just to name one, let's say Bambi.

3. If you could change gender for a day what would you do?

Pee standing up.

4. Do you feel your family is complete or would you like more/some children?

Well, since I just had my 69th birthday, I would say that having more children is a physical impossibility.  I wouldn't mind having back the two that died, though.  

5. What do you do/Where do you work and do you enjoy it?

I am a retired medical office manager, working part time as a theater critic and volunteering in a used book store.  I love seeing all that theatre, and I love being around all those books.

6. Which three words do you think sum you up?

Compassionate, funny, fat

7. If you were a fairy what magical powers would you possess?

Nestle in a nutshell, dive into a dew drop, gambol upon gossamer

8. If you were invisible, where would you go and what would you do? Why?

Sit in the Oval office for a couple of days and find out the way government is REALLY run.

9. What song can’t you listen to without crying?

"In the Arms of the Angel," which was the song Marta and Paul's widow sang at his funeral.

10. Which book changed your life – or at least made you think a lot?

"East of Eden," especially when read in conjunction with "Journal of a Novel," which is a collection of the letters John Steinbeck wrote to his publisher while he was writing the book.

11. Why do you blog?

Because I can't NOT blog.

12. What is your top ‘me-time’ tip?

Always have a book with you.

13. What can’t you live without?

Water.

14. Which of all your blog posts are you most proud of and why?

This is my 4,353rd blog post.  It's impossible to pick just one, but I am proud of the entries where I took a stand on something -- gay rights, the latest Catholic church scandal, child slavery in Ghana, animal abuse, etc.

15. Have you ever met a famous person? Who and where?

Judy Garland at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco in 1961; Carol Channing at the Ovation Awards in Los Angeles in 2000; Theodore Bikel at Sardi's, opening night of our friend Jim Brochu's play, Zero Hour.

16. When did you last have a full night's sleep?

April 23, 1966 (the day before our first child was born!)

17. What would you think is harder: Going to work or staying at home with children?

I've done both, and both are hard.  Being at work when your children are at home is very difficult. Being home with the children is the most rewarding.

18. What are you doing for Easter?

Probably roasting a leg of lamb for my mother.

19. What is your favorite drink?

water (truly)

20. Do you play any sports?

Is Scrabble a sport?

21. What is your most embarrassing moment?

In grammar school when I tore the back seam of my pants and had to walk home about 5 city blocks with my backside hanging out--especially when I ran into a classmate en route.

22. How clever are you?

Depends on about what.  I'm not crafty, but I can be clever about some things.

23. Name a new favorite TV show?

Once Upon a Time and Grimm.  Love 'em both.

24. Any guilty pleasures?

Yes.  Next question...?

25. If you could have chosen your own name, what would it be?

Barbara, because when people can't remember my name 90% of the time they call me Barbara, so it would just be easier if that had been my name to begin with (and, in fact, it is what my parents almost called me)

26. Who do you most admire in life, and why?

My mother because she has lived to 92-1/2 with grace and dignity, has endured plenty of hardships, and still maintains her good humor and everybody loves her.

27. What is your most treasured possession?

Delicate Pooh.

28. Tell your favorite funny joke

It's much too long to write here, but the punch line is "why don't you write your mother?"

29. What is your biggest fear in life?

Losing more people that I love.  Being helpless and dependent on others for everything.

30. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? What does it remind you of?

It depends on the day, but generally a vanilla base with something chocolatey and crunchy mixed in with it.  I make a fabulous malted milk ice cream that you can't buy anywhere.

3 comments:

Kwizgiver said...

Your magical fairy powers are creative!

Mary Z said...

Peeing standing up was the only answer I could think of for the one about changing gender. Glad you posted it!

poundheadhere said...

Darn - I had forgotten that your journal doesn't send out automatic notifications when you update, so let it slide for ENTIRELY too long. I'm stealing the meme. It's interesting to see the childhood favorites AND the book which most influenced you. Sometimes favorites tell more about a person than a monologue.