You Charmer, You!

Esther gave me a very nice award.  :)  I've been very bad about responding to these lately, but I feel guilty (Catholics do guilt very well), so I'm going to try to pass this on.  I'll be adding the picture to the sidebar ASAP.

“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

Well!  Who to pick?  Let's try this list out.

1. Jennifer at Conversion Diary 
2. Julie at Happy Catholic
3. The Anchoress, as if she would read my blog!  ROFL!
4. The Raving Theist, who deserves something big for his big decision.  (Maybe I should get him a picture with something manly in it, like gears or power tools or football players or something.)
5. The Crescat, for having the flat-out best Catholic eye candy out there!
6. Christina, the Hot Carmel Sundae, even if her posts are fewer these days
7. Faith and Country, for consistently beautiful photography (check out the recent winter-blues-beating garden pictures!)
8. Stacey at Housewife in Flip-Flops, because not much beats her stories about Ace for a good humor break

Seven Quick Takes

Is it Friday already?  Time for Seven Quick Takes, hosted generously at Conversion Diary.

~one~

I blogged earlier about how having a schedule helps me stay on track and accomplish more.  I'd forgotten how much I really need a list to get things done.  Now I need to work on getting the list in front of me here, at the computer, so when I'm finished with work, I'm less tempted to stay online and fool around.

~two~

Which reminds me of this: I have a long way to go to be a better mother, to get where I want to be.  I have a tendancy to be very selfish with my time, wishing for more "alone" and "for me" time than my schedule and responsibilities really allow for.  Everything around us tells us that we need to have XYZ for ourselves.  "Your needs shouldn't be put aside!" culture tells us at every turn.  But that is completely the opposite of what God asks us.  Again and again, Christ tells us to put our needs last, not first.  

~three~

And that brings me to what I hope will help me.  I have ordered a copy of In Imitation of Mary.  Travel Man read In Imitation of Christ and found it to be quite the humbling experience.  I'm sure that I am nowhere near where I ought to be, let alone at the point where I resemble the most perfect creature in the history of Mankind!  So I anticipate some very painful humbling.  I'm ready for that two-by-four, Lord.  Sock it to me!

~four~

And I know ... be careful what you wish for.  But I really do wish for this, to become more like the Blessed Mother.  Our Lady has so much to teach me, and I've really felt her reaching to me recently.  Whenever I pray the Rosary, I find myself thinking, "What can Mary teach me through this Mystery?"  (And, admittedly, it is not often enough.  I need to stop putting it off each day.)  I've actually learned a lot and found new things to meditate on when I approach the Rosary in this way.  Let's face it, I've been praying the Rosary, off and on, for more than 30 years.  Seeing something new is a wonderful way to renew my love of this beautiful prayer.  

As an example, with the Joyful Mysteries, when I contemplate the Annunciation, I think about Mary's obedience to God.  She had absolute trust in God and that He would provide for her.  There was no question from the Blessed Mother about what would anyone do to her if they discovered her unmarried and pregnant.  No question about if she'd be safe, or if Joseph would still take her in as his wife.  No question about any of those things.  Nor did she hesitate, except to wonder how it was going to happen that she, a consescrated virgin (scroll down to "Presentation of Mary"), would have a baby.  "How can this be?" she asks.  This is the kind of trust I must strive for with God.  This is what Mary wants me to learn from her when I contemplate this Mystery.  I can do this with nearly every one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, and it's a process through which I can learn quite a bit.

~five~

Jennifer mentions the funny images on the cat food bag at her mother's house here.  I have had questions about pet food, too.  How do the people making the food know it's delicious and juicy?  Do they have testers who try it and report back?  And how bad is your life if you are the guy who eats cat food and dog food to try out the tastiness and juiciness of the different formulas?

~six~

Speaking of pets, our hopes for killing off the chipmunk population by getting a cat have been dashed.  While visiting my grandmother, Big Girl suddenly came down with a very nasty cold that suddenly disappeared the morning we left again and were about an hour away.  The only thing I could think of was that she was playing with Nana's kitty.  A lot.  So we are pretty sure that Big Girl is allergic to cats.  Bummer.  I'll have to work on my death-looks more and see if I can't kill the stupid pests by staring at them really hard.  So far I haven't had luck with this method, but I'll let you know if it works.

~seven~

Little Girl's dance recital date has been announced, which means that we're going to try to get her First Communion date set up to be the same weekend.  Her big wish is for the family she loves to be able to come and see her perform in the end-of-year show.  Hopefully, not too many of the other kids want the same date, since it's all scheduled so that no more than two or three children receive at the same Mass.  But I'm looking forward to searching for her First Communion dress.  If Big Girl's dress doesn't fit (and this is the ideal to the girls - to share the dress), we'll hit the stores in late March and see what we can find.  

When she thinks about it, Little Girl actually vibrates with happiness.  It's really a sight to see.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a super weekend, everyone.  God bless!

Seven Random Thoughts

I've got a little time before I bake my next batch of cookies for the parish's New Year's Eve party (after the Vigil Mass for tomorrow's Holy Day of Obligation), so I thought I'd play along with Jennifer in preparation for Friday's seven random thoughts meme.

One:

I have taken a big break from the heaviest of our school subjects since Advent, which always makes it hard to get back in the groove of things.  However, I have an outline for what I want to do, especially the literature we're starting in January.  I'll post more details as I get more details planned.  ;)  But we're looking to have some fun with Broadway musicals, Google Earth, and world explorers.

Two:

There was quite a flurry of business for me when I was working before Christmas.  But I was successful in my work, and managed to make some nice bonuses that went towards a couple of nifty gifty items for Travel Man and myself.  Camera for me, Tom Tom for him, and maybe a movie out for the girly-kins.  I want to see Despereaux, but we're still reading it, so we can't go yet.  Maybe Bolt.

Three:

Which reminds me.  What a phenomenal year it has been for family movies!  Usually, we can see everything we want to take the girls to in a year, even though we usually only go to the movies with them two or three times per year.  But this year, we missed Kit Kitteridge, Horton Hears a Who, Kung-Fu Panda, and more.  We did see WALL-E with them (Travel Man posted about it here), and we might be lucky enough to see Bolt and Despereaux, but there is just as good a chance that we will miss one of those.  I've seen reviews for Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler that say it's a great kids' movie that lacks those not-always-subtle sex jokes.  So thank you, Hollywood, for inundating us with movies that we actually want to take the kids to see!  I hope they were rewarded by those who could afford to go out a lot.  We'll reward them with rentals and/or purchases.  (Heck, we have two copies of WALL-E, but the girls don't like when I tell the story of why.)

Four:

Now that we are in the middle of the Christmas season and the new year is starting up, I realize that our regular crazy schedule will be underway soon.  Starting Monday, Little Girl starts dance again.  Tuesday is the first basketball practice, with games on Saturdays.  Story time at the library will be starting up, too.  I've got activities with Respect Life (like the Fight FOCA campaign and a quarterly baby shower for Catholic Charities).  Travel Man will don his super suit again as basketball season comes to a close.  School lessons will start again in earnest.  And Little Girl will start preparation for First Holy Communion!  Somewhere in there, I'm still going to be working 20 hours a week.  Whew.  Did I mention co-op is starting again, and I want to read some Shakespeare with the 5th through 7th graders?  Yeah, I need a copy of "Comedy of Errors."  And I wonder where the year went.

Five:

Speaking of where the year went, this year has flown by.  If you know how that happened, please inform me.  I'm clueless.  Suddenly I'm the mother of a ten year old and a seven year old.  I pick up pictures of the girls sitting on Santa's lap from the parish brunch, and I get some picture of these BIG girls that look a bit like my own little ones.  I think the camera is wonky or something, but the photographer insists it works fine.  

Whatever.

Six:

And more on this year.  There have been a lot of changes for our family.  I've blogged about our Dave Ramsey plan before, and I cannot tell you just how much it has changed our lives.  One year ago, I wasn't sure how we'd make it.  We needed to sell that van.  We needed to pay off some serious debt.  And I'd just gotten out of the hospital and knew I had about $3000 worth of medical bills coming my way.  Throughout the year, the Soccer Mobile has needed more than $2000 worth of repairs, our family computer died, we took trips to Texas and South Carolina and South Dakota, and I started a business, with start-up costs that meant I didn't really see profit until July.  In spite of this, we managed to pay off an obscenely large amount of money, about half of which was taken care of by selling my van.  We have one large piece of debt left, which we moved from our credit card company to our credit union, and our two mortgages.  God willing, we think we might be able to pay off that last non-home debt by around this time next year.  If you told me that was possible a year ago, I'd have laughed in your face.  

If you are in financial crisis, look at Dave Ramsey's site and get a hold of The Total Money Makeover.  We've made sacrifices, but the girls are still in dance and sports, and we still took our family vacations.  Biggest difference is that I started my business, which is helping keep those things going.  But you can do it.

Seven:

Christmas is not over yet.  I am still wishing people Merry Christmas!  This season will last until the Epiphany, January 6.  These are the twelve days that you were singing about!  

If you are unfamiliar with the concept, you can read more about the Christmas season here and here.  One nice thing about being Catholic is that I know all those decorations are not "just for one day."  Christmas is nearly two weeks long!  Not as long as Easter (which lasts 50 days), but still ... Being Catholic really enhances your understanding of this time of year.  Our joy and excitement over Christmas was made more so by our Jesse Tree readings.  And our happiness about the season will continue right through Epiphany, when Travel Man will bless our home and inscribe a blessing over each doorway of our home.

Special Ornament

Carolina Cannonball asked about ornaments with sentimental value.  I've got one for sure.

When I was somewhere in the neighborhood of five years old, my grandmother made an ornament for me.  It's a little angel, and I've kept it all these years.  Most of the time, if anyone else hung it, I'd freak out.  It's my ornament, dang it!  

I let Travel Man hang it up this year, though, so she'd be nice and high.

I commented last night that I wondered if my grandmother would have known or even guessed that I would have kept that little angel all these years.  She's now more than 30 years old!

I've got a lot of other ornaments on the tree from my childhood, but that one is my favorite.  Nanny made it for me, you see.

Book Worm Meme

Jean tagged me for this.  I can play, but I'll leave a somewhat open tag at the end because I am swamped.  

************

The Rules:
Pass this on to 5 blogging friends. Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write the 5th sentence, as well as two to five sentences following that.

************

Okay.  Here goes with the quote.  It's from my Bible, which happens to be the closest book that isn't a product guide for software.  (Those aren't really books.)  If I would have had to turn around, I think I might have come up with schoolbooks, as there is a shelf full of them behind me.  LOL!  New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition:

"Bring them to me," said his father, "that I may bless them."  (Now Israel's eyes were dimmed from age and he could not see well.)  When Joseph brought his sons to him, he kissed and embraced them.  Then Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your descendants as well!"

Joseph removed them from his father's knees and bowed down before him with his face to the ground.  Then Joseph took the two, Ephraim with his right hand, to Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand to Israel's right, and led them to him.

(Genesis 48: 9b-13 - link is Douay-Rheims)

Now for that semi-open tag.  I tag anyone who is going to be participating in the National Night of Prayer for Life on the night of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Remember to leave a link to your post (not just the main blog link) in the com boxes below.

6th Picture, Again

Sarah used her sixth event in iPhoto, and I hadn't even thought of that.  Hmmm...I'll do that AND my 6th from 6th on MobileMe.

iPhoto:

MobileMe:

6th Picture, 6th Folder

This looked like fun!  Leave a link if you want to play, too.

Look at the sixth picture in the sixth folder and post it on your blog.  Here's mine:

hmmmm... Looks like Big Girl had a hold of the camera, huh?  

Hat tip: Amy (Knit Together)

Four Things Meme

Mom sent this to me in e-mail, but I'm turning it into a meme.  

Just 4 things...each
 
A) 4 places I go to over and over: 

  church, Wal-Mart, sports practice, dance 

(okay, so I don't GO to sports and dance, but I'm driving those who do) 

 

 B) 4 people who e-mail me most regularly:

   Mom, Denise (my sister), Dad, Soccer Dad/Travel Man

  

C) 4 of my favorite places to eat: 

   home (really!), Mama Maria's (local place), KFC, Outback (or any steakhouse) 

 

D) 4 places I would rather be right now: 

  with Soccer Dad/Travel Man, on vacation in Rome, visiting far-away family, 

 

E) 4 people I think will respond:

   Stacey, Barb, Heather, Sarah

  

F) 4 TV shows I watch over & over:

   The Office, House, Sarah Conner Chronicles, Heroes

 

Consider yourself tagged if I mentioned you in (E)!  Remember to leave a link in the combox to your post.

Quirks Meme

Julie, the famously Happy Catholic, has tagged me for a meme!  I'm pausing from mowing my behemoth front lawn for a moment (lest I have heart failure) and thought I'd give it a whirl.  I've done quirky memes before, but I thought I'd stretch and see if I can't come up with something new to say.  First, the rules:

1. Link the person(s) who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Okay, then.  Let's play.

1. I am a horrible procrastinator.  (As if I actually needed to say that after mentioning that I'm in the middle of mowing the lawn!)  Part of this derives, I've discovered, from my need to do things just so, and feeling that I have to give myself LOTS of time to do it.  Part of it also derives from the fact that I'm basically lazy and kind of wish that a magic fairy would come and do my tasks for me.  When I was a girl, I envied Snow White for her woodland-friend-helpers.  "Why can't I get a bunch of cute bunnies and squirrels to help me clean my room?!?"
2. I have this need to feel accepted and approved.  Since I'm already kind of shy (as in, I am very scared to talk to people I don't know well, especially when I have no one near me to help me feel brave), if I feel as though I'm being shunned for something I've said or done, I get very down.  Call it insecurity or vanity ("It has to be something about me, right?"), I tend to take everything - and I mean everything - personally.
3. I am also, oddly enough, not very good at accepting compliments.  I've had to learn to do it right; that is, to say, "Thank you," and shut up.  No one likes to dole out a compliment and be told they are wrong.  
4. I've already admitted to strange sleeping habits.  (We all know that the only way to protect yourself from monsters is to be under a blanket up to the neck and not to let any body part hang over the side where something can grab you!)  But I have also discovered, thanks to Soccer Dad, that I have a funny quirk.  When I roll over, it is ALWAYS in the same direction.  I couldn't tell you which, but it's always the same.  Even if it means a 3/4 turn to get to my side.  I wonder if I'd roll the opposite way in Australia.
5. When reading online, I click and highlight like crazy.  Word, line, paragraph.  Word, line, paragraph.  Click and drag.  Read in the highlight.  Read out of the highlight.  Highlight the part I'm going to read next.  Click, click, click.  Word, paragraph...  Oops!  I missed the line.  Start over.  It makes my husband absolutely insane to watch me, and I am forbidden to touch the mouse if I make him read something on my monitor.  
6. I have also admitted plenty of times that I can't stand bugs.  Anything with more than four legs is NOT my friend, and I don't care if a housekeeping spider eats other bugs it has to do so outside where all the bugs ought to live and stay away from me completely.  Have I ever mentioned that I also have a serious problem even touching a picture of a bug?  (All of this amounts to my family being stunned into momentary silence when I announced that I would do a unit on insects with the girls and look into an ant farm.)  But, yes, bug pictures are really icky.  I don't want to touch them.  Creepy ... *shudder*

Okay, that's all for me, folks.  I can't think of six people who haven't played, so I will tag anyone who is reading this who has ever had a pet spider (or a brother or sister who had one).  In addition, if you had a pet that had to eat live bugs, you can play, too.  (My niece, for example, has had an African Fat-Tailed Gecko that likes live crickets.  I love that girl so much that I actually BOUGHT 25 LIVE CRICKETS FOR HER AND TRANSPORTED THEM IN MY CAR.  I am certain that I got out of Purgatorial time on that day.)  So if you're a crazy bug-lover, here's your chance to gross me out.

Bring it on.

 

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

One Word Meme

I have just been busy, busy, busy.  So I thought I'd waste time!  LOL!

Hat tip: Esther

1. Where is your cell phone? purse 2. Your significant other? Nathan 3. Your hair? graying 4. Your mother? cheerful 5. Your father? steadfast 6. Your favorite thing? reading 7. Your dream last night? blank 8. Your favorite drink? coffee 9. Your dream/goal? debt-free 10. The room you’re in? family 11. Your church? Catholic 12. Your fear? Hell 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here 14. Where were you last night? working 15. What you’re not? outgoing 16. Muffins? chocolate! 17. One of your wish list items? MacBook 18. Where you grew up? NJ 19. The last thing you did? worked 20. What are you wearing? skirt 21. Your TV? Samsung 22. Your pets? fish 23. Your computer? Mac 24. Your life? wonderful 25. Your mood? teary 26. Missing someone? yes 27. Your car? Jeep 28. Something you’re not wearing? glasses 29. Favorite store? Target 30. Your summer? FAST! 31. Like(love) someone? Lots! 32. Your favorite color? blue 33. Last time you laughed? morning 34. Last time you cried? WALL-E 35. Who will re post this? Stacey

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Six Word Epitath

I remember looking at the historic graveyard in Toms River, NJ, and reading a tombstone that read:

View me now
As you pass by
As you are now
So once was I
As I am now
So you must be
Prepare for death
And follow me

It was cool and it gave me the creeps all at the same time.

If I'm in charge of writing my epitath, I don't think I'll be as clever. But I'll give it a shot.

Ma Beck tagged people who had pets named after TV characters. I had a dog named Ernie. Therefore, I am tagged for this meme.

Six word summary of my life, as I'd like it on my tombstone:

Don't forget to look under stuff!

(Soccer Dad will get that. Love you, honey!)

I will tag anyone whose birthday is within 15 days of this post, past or future.





Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Seven Random Facts Meme

Heidi tagged me! (I'm so excited!) I'm short on time today, so let's get started.

Here are the rules:

• 1. When tagged place the name and URL on your blog.
• 2. Post rules on your blog.
• 3. Write 7 non-important things/habit/quirks about yourself.
• 4. Name 7 of your favorite blogs.
• 5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

And here are my seven random facts, in no particular order:

1. I did not drink - nay, I did not even like coffee until we went to Alexandria, Virginia, in November 2006. I could stomach a little coffee if I had a pound of sugar in a typically-sized cup, but I normally didn't like it. But I had discovered that I liked Starbuck's Frappacinos - does anyone else remember that Dana Carvey stand-up thing about them? - and so when we were getting ready to go to the Metro the first morning on vacation, Soccer Dad told me to go into Starbuck's with him for coffee. "All I like is Frappacino, and it's cold," I complained. "Try a mocha. Hey, they've got the hot Peppermint Mochas - like the special Frappacinos you like!" It was like drinking a warm thin mint cookie! I now drink close to half a pot a day, and more lately, in spite of the Lenten fast from it. (I need to be awake for class until midnight!)
2. I hate coconut. Detest it. Well, unless it's in a drink with pineapple (which I also hate) and rum. Somehow the three together isn't too bad. ;) But, anyway, back to coconut. We were walking through Sam's the other day, and Soccer Dad saw a coconut cake, and at the same time as I was saying, "That looks repulsive!" he cooed, "Oh, that cake looks so delicious!" I smiled and said that if he gets a lot of coconut-loving friends to come over, I'd learn to bake a coconut cake. (Maybe I'll surprise him with coconut cookies one of these days.)
3. Except for the fact that they're crowding my tulips at the moment, I actually don't mind dandelions all that much. Let's face it - they grow without much prompting, they are pretty, they're fun to blow seeds from, and you just plain can't kill them. When I was a girl, our neighbors' yard had nary a dandelion in it, but ours had lots. We had actually bought the house from said neighbors because the gentleman's father had lived there until he passed away. And that father was part of the reason we had dandelions; he liked dandelion wine! LOL! So even though Mom and Dad did put down weed killer, Mr. Lacatena's father's dadelions were with us to the end. Honestly, I think I will just give up trying to get rid of them. Already, my lawn is dotted with them.
4. I cannot seem to keep my desk clean. I'll clean it up so I can see the top of it, and then it seems to be just as bad within two days. It's very frustrating, and I'm hoping that once I'm finished with my online class, I'll be able to get it cleaned off again. But I have a serious problem with being a pilot lately. Pile it here, pile it there.
5. Life seems to have come to a screeching halt because of that class. School has been very light, with concentration only on religious education and Greek Mythology. I do admit, though, that Big Girl wrote a wonderful essay on the children resulting from the marriage of Gaea and Pontus, bringing the line to Triton. And Little Girl did her best to do the same with the much-more-difficult line of Gaea and Unranus (including the children of Cronus and Zeus). We'll probably read some stories today, and school will be more normal once I'm finished with my class next Friday. In spite of the fact that we do some kind of schooling year-round, I feel incredibly guilty about this. Never mind that they are ahead of their peers in a lot of ways. Guilt reigns!
6. I have been dreaming about computers and technical specifications for Apples for more than two weeks. Last night, I dreamt that I had to start taking phone calls, but that I was using my VOIP headset instead of the one for my phone, and then my times were changed and put off for a week. (Think I might be nervous?) Interestingly enough, I actually have been able to understand the material better after these dreams, though I cannot remember much specific about them.
7. I go through periods of cravings where I cannot get enough of something, and then I burn out on it. It's very strange. Right now, I'm very into Tomato Basil Wheat Thins. I'll scarf down a box in two or three days, then finish off my regular box (they are good to snack on during my class), and go off and buy more. I cannot figure this out. I think I've got an addictive personality or something. But I haven't burned out on the Tomato Basils yet. I'm sure it's coming, and when that happens, I'll look back and wonder what was that about?

Okay, tagging time! It's hard to pick seven favorite bloggers, but I'll try (and I hope I'm not tagging someone who's already done this):

• Sarah, the snoring scholar
• Julie, the Happy Catholic
• Crazy Laura
• Mrs. R (who I actually know in real life)
• Barb the SFO
• We might have to wait until the flu passes, but also Stacey, the Housewife in Flip-Flops
• CatholicGOP Sunny

Now I'm off to see what the popsies are up to.

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Meme, Meme, Meme!

I'm still a little wired from class (though I'm about to fall dead asleep at any moment, I think), so I thought I'd finally get to the two tags I had from Sunny. (Sorry I took so long, and I'm also sorry if I'm doing this on the wrong blog.)

Meme Number One: Five Favorite Parables!

I actually avoided this one for a while because I have SUCH a hard time with it. I can tell you the parable I have the most trouble with, but not so easily tell you my favorites. But I'll try.

1. The Seeds and the Sower (sorry, but I'm a wee bit too tired to look up specific chapter and verses) - I like this one because it makes clear that we must persevere in order to be saved.
2. The Lost Sheep - I am, quite frequently, that lost sheep. Know what the shepherds would do to sheep who got lost constantly? They'd break their little legs so they couldn't run, then carry the little guy around until he healed. By the time it was over, the sheep didn't want to run away because he had to let the shepherd carry him and he just got used to depending on him. So, if you're in a tough spot because you've kept running away, just think of it as Jesus breaking your legs. Well, sort of. You know what I mean, right?
3. The Workers in the Vineyard - This one actually bugs the heck out of Soccer Dad. Business guy that he is, it's tough to see why that last group, the ones who came in and did five minutes of weed-pulling, get paid the same as the bunch that came in at sunrise and broke their backs all day long. But I noted this Sunday that this is quite like the Lord's Divine Mercy! From what I understand, Christ told Saint Faustina that He offers His Mercy to each and every dying soul. And so those souls who accept at that moment of death are like the guys who pull weeds for five minutes and get a full day's wage. And, considering I came in at sunrise, took an extra-long lunchbreak and about a dozen smoking breaks along the way, I'm pretty glad that my reward for persevering will be the same as someone as saintly as Saint Therese or Blessed Imelda.
4. The Vineyard Owner's Son & the Rotten Tenants - I can't tell you how many times I heard this before I realized it was about how Israel treated God's prophets and that Jesus was predicting His own death. Every three years until I was about 35 or so. Yeah, I'm dense. But, then again, every time I hear the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac (and I hear it at every Easter Vigil!), I think I get something new from it.
5. Finally, the one I struggle with so much that it's on my favorites list ... The Prodigal Son - I am TOTALLY the older son here. I'm the older sibling and everything, too. I am overjoyed, as a mother, when the younger son comes home. Being a parent has changed me in how I see this parable today. God is slowly softening my heart towards His story. But I still struggle with the idea that that younger brother grouched at his father for his inheritance (early!), took off, spent it on debauchery, and then got a party when he came home. Every time we get to it in our cycle of readings, I pray that I'll understand it better and come to terms with it. After all, I'm not just the older son. I'm prodigal, too.

Now, for Meme Number Two: Questions About Me!

This one isn't hard; I'm just swamped with work lately! Here goes!

The rules are:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.

2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.

3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

What I was doing 10 years ago:

• Ten years ago I was vomitting constantly. (I was only a few months pregnant with Big Girl. I'd stop - and be off the Thorazine - just after Mother's Day.) I was also trying desperately not to fail Beginning Teacher Plan (again).

Five things on my To Do List today: (not in any particular order)

1. Sleep some
2. Study for my class
3. Help the girls with Religion and Greek Mythology
4. Fold that last bit of laundry
5. Oh! Soccer practice! If it's not raining, I'll bring Big Girl there and make a few Rosaries, as long as it's not too cold for me to move my fingers.

Snacks I enjoy:

• I have been on a Wheat Thins binge lately - reduced fat and/or Sun-dried Tomato and Basil
• Raspberry yogurt with chocolate chips
• chocolate chip cookies
• kettle corn
• pretzels

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

• Pay the debts off for our family plus our extended family
• Buy a farmhouse with a minimum of 5 acres
• Buy back my minivan (Hey! I sold it! Guy's coming Thursday to pick it up and hand over the rest of the money!)
• Pay off the parish's debt and add copious amounts of money to the stained glass window and decorations fund
• Get a ton of stuff for our crisis pregnancy ministry
• Invest well and live off the interest
• Go to see the Vatican
• Give away as much as I could!!

Three of my bad habits:

1. Procrastination
2. Lazy (at least I'm honest about it)
3. I steal ideas from other peoples' memes. (Both of the first two were actually Sunny's! But they are my bad habits, too.)

Five places I have lived:

1. Fort Bragg/Fayetteville, NC
2. Roselle Park, NJ
3. Toms River, NJ (Go Indians!)
4. Lake Mary, FL
5. Southwest Virginia (Sorry, can't be too specific! Blue Ridge Mountains is as good as you get.)

Five jobs I’ve had:

1. Library page (responsible for shelving books after they were checked in, and no, I wasn't really supposed to sit and read for 45 minutes at a time)
2. Waitress at Perkins, The Office Lounge (TR, NJ), TGIFridays (Altamonte Springs, FL)
3. Retail sales at two different stores (neither of which is known by their original name)
4. Teacher's Assistant/Interpreter and (later) just plain Interpreter/Live Captionist for the Deaf
5. Third Grade Teacher

I am breaking the last rule by leaving an open tag. Just leave a link in the com boxes if you want to play along with either one!

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Book Meme

Esther tagged me for a book meme!


1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why?

In This House of Brede. I'd read about Rumer Godden often at Julie's blog, and then I finally decided to read this after seeing a favorable review at The Curt Jester. I keep wanting to find out more about what happened to the characters after the book was finished!

2. What is one of your favorite childhood books?

My favorite book from childhood? I have no idea! I read so voraciously, it was practically ridiculous! I can tell you two of my favorite children's books, though, that I didn't read until I was an adult and that I've read again and again. First is The Giving Tree, which I didn't discover until I was 21. I stood in the bookstore sobbing uncontrolably when I finished it. The other is by Max Lucado: Just in Case You Ever Wonder. In Lucado's book, he tells his daughters that he loves them unconditionally and forever. It is beautiful and tender, and Big Girl used to make me read it every night before bed for nearly a year. I had it memorized. ;)

3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible?

Yes. More specifically, I have a favorite chapter in that book. I love the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Saint John because it contains Christ's promise of the Eucharist. When it comes time to read that at Mass, I close my eyes and smile serenely as I listen, and I thank God for His sublime gift of the Holy Eucharist!

4. What is one book you could read again and again?

There are a few books that I've read more than once. Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is beautiful and heartbreaking, I'm gearing up for a re-read of The Lord of the Rings, and the moment I finished In This House of Brede I wanted to pick it up and start it over again. (Still want it for my birthday, honey. Don't forget!)

5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why?

I don't have a Lenten reading list, which makes me wonder if I ought to since so many other bloggers do. However, I did take time to read The Dolorous Passion one year, and it was just amazing. What we do make sure to accomplish each year is to watch The Passion of the Christ every year, preferably on Good Friday. (No, the girls aren't allowed to watch it yet, or even to look at the book I have with the beautiful pictures from the movie. Too much for them at their tender ages.)

And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent?

I'd like to finish my book about a large Catholic homeschooling family and get it published someday. As for the jacket ... that's a toughie. I'm honestly not sure. I can't fantasize about it, so I keep coming up with friends of mine (who might be willing to do it, anyway).



[image source]

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

My Privileges Meme

I saw this at Esther's blog, and I thought I'd play along. I'm not tagging anyone specifically. If you want to play, go ahead!

From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college (2 year degree)
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18 (ah, but I paid for it myself)
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family


I have to say that some of these don't make much sense. I mean, as far as #34 is concerned, I don't know what heating costs were, but my parents sure did like to tell us to put a sweater on when we were chilly. I remember the heat being turned UP to 69 in the mornings. Plus, that commercial airline thing: once with my parents, once with my aunt who took me on a vacation with her. But I guess that was still pretty cool. Of course, I know my life has been abundantly blessed.

God is good. :)

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

The Ask-Me-a-Ton-of-Questions Meme

I saw this meme at Adoro te Devote, and since I have an iPod and a cell phone, I thought I'd bite.

1. Do you wear a name tag at work? Nope. Kids know me, and so does my husband.

2. What kind of car do you drive? Tricky question, actually. I have a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee (Laredo) and a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country, but we are in the process of selling the latter. (Yes, the pretty shiny one I took a million pictures of. Know anyone who needs a really nice minivan?)

3. What do you order when you go to Taco Bell? I cannot tell you the last time I was in a Taco Bell.

4. Have you ever had a garage sale? Yup, right before we moved from Florida to Virginia.

5. What color is your iPod? White. It's exactly the same as the pope's, except I am relatively sure that the Holy Father does not have "Whipping Post" by the Alman Brothers on his. Or "Baby Got Back."

6. What kind of dog do you have? The invisible kind. Actually, the pop-up trailer was the dog for a while. The kids asked when we'd get one, and I said we'd spent the money on the trailer. "Pet it when you go outside," I quipped.

7. What's for dinner tonight? Chicken tenders from the crock pot, simmered all day in chicken broth, butter, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, and poutry seasoning. Smells lovely. Probably some ramen noodles, peas, and cranberry sauce with it.

8. What is the last alcoholic beverage you had? I can't remember if it was a beer or a glass of white wine. I've been alternating.

9. Stupidest thing you ever did with your cell phone? Um...tried to call someone while turning and did not notice that the oncoming car was NOT turning onto the street I was on. Totalled two vehicles in one shot.

10. Last time you were sick? Just before Christmas. See my post about that here, if you're glutton for punishment (or missed it and are morbidly curious).

11. How long is your hair? About three inches too short for Locks for Love and about three inches too long for me to do much of anything attractive with it.

12. Are you happy right now? Sure! Why not?

13. What did you say last? "Please go up and put away your pajamas. You left them all over the place this morning."

14. Who came over last? Several of Soccer Dad's co-workers for our Happy Happy Joy Joy Bowl Day Party.

15. Do you drink beer? Yes, but only the darker varieties.

16. Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted? No. My sister is three years younger than me. And I never said it to her, either.

17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys? My Sacred Heart badges. They all say to call a priest if I'm injured in an accident.

18. What did you get for graduation? A cruise with two of my friends. I went with two friends and came back with one. We did all come back together, but we had a MAJOR falling out over drinking on the last night of the cruise. Two of us were furious at the third girl. I sometimes wonder what happened to her.

19. Whats in your pocket? Um...my handsies?

20. Who introduced you to Dane Cook? Whoozat?

21. Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear? No, but my girls would LOVE to go to that place.

22. What DVD is in your DVD player? Upstairs: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi; Downstairs: "Christmas Gregorian Chant by Monastic Choir of the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fontgombault." Really.

23. What's something fun you did today? Helped Big Girl work on her free throws for basketball.

24. Who is/was the principal of your high school? Um...I forget! I know Mr. Musselman was the assistant principal and that his son played at least one season as a pitcher for the Toronto Bluejays. Can't for the life of me remember the head principal.

25. Has your house ever been TP'd? No, thank God!

26.What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"? That Meow Mix commercial where they sing it again and again.

27. What are you listening to right now? Little Girl bouncing up and down in her room.

28. Drinking? Nothing at the moment. Milk with dinner. A glass of wine after while I wait for Soccer Dad to get home.

29. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart? mmmm...Probably the seasonal stuff, especially at the tail end of the season when it all goes on clearance. I picked up a nice tablecloth for next Christmas for $5 last week. I also really like the kitchen gadgets aisles. I like getting things to make cooking easier.

30. When is your mom's birthday? June 19

31. When is your birthday? April 29

32. What's the area code for your cell phone?540

33. Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing now? Actually, I am wearing my senior shirt from high school. I bought it at Toms River High School South. Twenty years ago. (I hope we have a reunion this year!)

34. Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror? Air freshner, shaped like a soccer ball. Soccer Dad brought some home because a vendor left them for free at the office.

35. How many states in the US have you been to? Oh, I did this once. I think it was 21 or 22. I can't recall exactly.

36. What kind of milk do you drink? 1%.

37. What are you going to do after this? Eat dinner, get the kids to bed, watch football or basketball if I can find it.

38. Who was the last person you went shopping with? The girls. And I think Soccer Dad, too. Yeah...after Mass. I had to buy (ahem) foundation wear for Big Girl. A very distressing trip, to tell the truth.

39. What is your favorite fruit? Probably either grapes (best on Cheerios) or strawberries (best with sugar and cream). Unless you count chocolate. Can we count that?

40. What about your favorite dessert? Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. Must be green. Best with chocolate sprinkles. Yummy!

41. What is something you need to go shopping for? Milk, bread, mini peanut butter cups (for cookies). Probably more grocery stuff.

42. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives? Yes, I was named after my mother's two sisters, and my father's grandmother had the same first name as me. Imagine my surprise when I found the little prayer card from her funeral when I was about seven!

43. What kind of car does one of your siblings drive? Baby Sis drives a Chrysler Town and Country. Can't drive less than a minivan with three children!

44. Do you like pickles? Yes!!

45. How about olives? Yes

46. What is your favorite kind of gum? Cinnamon flavor. The hotter the better!

47. What is your favorite kind of juice? Orange, though I'm not so keen on it any more. Oh! Maybe V-8 instead!

48. Do you have any tan lines? To have tan lines one must first have a tan.

49. What hospital were you born in? Womack Army Hospital.

I tag anyone who has sold a car in the last three months or is in the process of selling one now.

Lucky Seven Meme

I've been tagged!




Rules of this meme:



Directions:

1) Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.

2) Share 7 facts about yourself that you think most people don't know.

3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.



Hmmm...I've done similar memes, so let's try to come up with something new here. :)

1. I am terribly insecure. I beat myself up for past mistakes, even small ones that make no difference to me or anyone else (and that I am sure no one else remembers) for years. Literally. For example, I have a clear recollection of doing something outrageously idiotic (okay, it's probably not that idiotic, but go with me here) when working part-time in a department store. In Florida. Part time. In 1995. When I remember it, even now, I cringe and feel sick. Two people whom I've never seen again were the only witnesses - oh, gosh, I just thought of security cameras! - and I still get an upset stomach when I remember it.
2. Well, that last one was cheery, no? How about something lighter than that? I have been to every state on the East Coast of the US except Maine. I'm pretty sure I've been to New Hampshire, that is. If not, make it two states on the East Coast. All by car, too.
3. In 1987, I attended a Summer Session at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was great, I met lots of interesting people, and learned that Top Gun is a completely different movie when viewed in the presence of about 150 midshipmen.
4. I have always known that I wanted to be a mother. I considered becoming a nun once, but it was short-lived, and I thought that maybe if I became a widow, that would be when I entered a convent. (I also wanted 45 children until I found out how they were born! LOL! Oh, and I told my mother I would be her maid - or so she says. I didn't sign anything. I'm going to get my kids to sign something if they say that.)
5. I have mailed Christmas cards to my entire family - aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins - since I was 16 years old. I would by the cards myself, buy the stamps, and write a personal note inside each one of the cards. I'd lick those envelopes and stamps, too. Every year. It's only been in about the last five years or so that I think I started getting cards from them even before I mailed their cards (or, in recent years, letters).
6. I am woefully slow when it comes to certain ... ahem ... innuendos. For example, Soccer Dad and I watched the video for David Lee Roth's "California Girls" when researching his Halloween costume. (Oh...I should so post pictures of him as Diamond Dave!) We got to the "...midwest farmers' daughters..." part - you know, with the girl peeling the ear of corn with the "come hither" look on her face - and I didn't say anything. I'd seen it a million times. Then, about two hours later, it hit me what that was all about. I kid you not. I am 37 years old, and I am just getting that. Soccer Dad thinks that is hysterical.
7. Okay, this is sort of scary to admit to people who, in all possibilities, could be actual writers who get paid. I am in the process of writing a children's book about a girl who is in a homeschooling family with 17 children. I am testing it out on my nine year old, who is the same age as the narrator, to be sure vocabulary is about where it should be. And I'm having fun with it, and my girls love the story so far. And I hope one day it will be good enough to see about getting it published. And that's something I haven't told but about three people outside of Soccer Dad and the girls. (See how priviledged you all are?)

Tags...for seven. Let's see... How about:

1. Regular Guy Paul
2. Former Old Dominion Resident Jay
3. One of my favorite converts, Jennifer
4. My amazing husband, TravelMan (yes, he's Soccer Dad here, but he's got a new blog ready to go for next year)
5. Tony of Catholic Pillow Fight
6. Busy-With-School Sunny
7. Lovely British Mom of 10, Jackie

Hope this isn't a second tag for some of you. I'll try to get around to drop notes in your com boxes tomorrow. (Let's see how many of those people read my ramblings on a regular basis.) For now, it's MAGIC TIME! (ESPN, basketball Friday, Orlando vs. Charlotte)

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Google Picture Meme

Correction: Seen at Coucoumellisms, snagged without being invited to do so, cuz it looks neat.

THE UNCREDITED GOOGLE IMAGE MEME

(How to play: Type the answer to the following questions into Google Image, then pick from the first page.)

1. Age at my next birthday:

2.Place I'd like to travel:

3. Place I've been:

4.Favorite food:

5.Place I was born:

6. Place I live:

7. Name of past pet:

8.Best friends' nickname:

9. My first name:

10. First job:

Want to play? Leave a comment in the box and go for it!

Please browse my eBay items. Thank you.

Another 40 Reasons to Have Children (With Updates & Links as They Come)

Some repulsive woman in Europe regrets her children, writes a book about it, and becomes even more wealthy than she was already (from writing a book about how to slack off at work - golly, this woman gets better all the time). She wonders why her kids are more interested in Harry Potter than her book, which she gave to each of them - at 13 and 10 - to read. (Hint: The Harry Potter books see children as intrinsically worthwhile and your book doesn't.) Various bloggers start compiling lists of their own 40 Reasons in favor of parenthood.

I can't resist trying to get in with the "in" crowd (I've never really been a part of it, but I keep trying!), so here's my own list. Maybe Soccer Dad will find a minute to add his voice to the crowd, too.

40 More Reasons to Have Children

1. You can't understand unconditional love until you look at the trusting eyes of your infant.

2. "I love you" takes on a whole new meaning.

3. Sudden bravery: timid women can suddenly become bears in defense of their babies!

4. Realizing that God has entrusted a living soul to you and your husband!

5. Realizing that God has not left you alone to tend that soul.

6. Tiny fingers grasping yours as you feed her in the middle of the dark, silent night.

7. Piles of drawings and love notes that say things like "I LOVE YOU MOMMY LOVES LITTLE GIRL" - and having them taped up around the computer, all over the bedroom, in the bathrooms, in the hallways...

8. Priceless art looks a lot like crayon on computer paper instead of oil on canvas.

9. You really don't need those shoes as much as the growing-like-a-weed children! And you suddenly find that you don't mind having ratty old sneakers.

10. Your children are ready to call and complain to Wal Mart that they cannot nominate you for Teacher of the Year because you homeschool.

11. Soft baby skin against your own.

12. That sweaty spot under your chin that comes from the baby falling asleep on your chest while you were dozing.

13. Remember how great it was the first time you received Holy Communion/went to Disney World/sat on Santa's lap/grew something in the garden/rode your bike without training wheels/sat on a horse alone/jumped a wave at the beach? It's junk compared to watching your children experience the same childhood joys for the first time! (Who would have thunk that the character parade at Disney World was a cause for tears??)

14. You don't have to feel guilty for singing Veggie Tales songs.

15. You also don't feel guilty any more for reading The Giving Tree again and again.

16. You get to read all the children's books you missed the first time around!

17. Your children think you are the prettiest woman in the world.

18. They also think you are the best artist in the world.

19. You suddenly appreciate your own parents much more and realize that they weren't really too strict most of the time.

20. Cuddling under a big fleece blanket while watching movies together.

21. Remembering why it's fun to play in the snow.

22. Listening to their prayers.

23. Watching them do a silent acting show where they dress up to be Indians and take turns hunting and then use the stuffed puppy dog as a "deer" because they have no stuffed deer and then they gut the stuffed puppy and roast it on a spit that is actually a stick-horse and then proceed to eat it but that is not as funny as when they decide that the deer should be bigger so the younger daughter becomes the deer and gets shot with an arrow and gutted and eaten in the second act and you have to control yourself and not laugh too much or pee yourself because that will only serve to embarrass them. (shhhhhh...don't tell them I told you that)

24. Little smiles that light up the entire world.

25. When you add more children to your family, the love mulitplies - not divides.

26. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other big holidays would be very lonely if you didn't have anyone to share it with.

27. Your mundane childhood is so much more interesting to your children than it is to you.

28. Laundry was never as fun as it was when I was folding those teeny, tiny clothes - especially the socks!

29. First steps.

30. Birthday parties at your house where you have Yard Olympics and the kids have to do a relay race and run in Dad's boxer shorts and T-shirts.

31. Realizing that a party in the park or a party where kids trip um, run in Dad's boxer shorts is actually at least as much fun (if not more) than the party with the juggler or the magician.

32. Watching them win at sports. (Or watching them lose with grace.)

33. Your husband is never as manly as he is when he is being Daddy with the kids.

34. Your dream vacations actually consist of doing things with your family instead of sunning yourself on a beach alone with your husband. And you don't care. You actually like it better.

35. Your husband becomes the strongest man in the world, and your daughter tells you that if he weren't already married to you, she'd marry her Daddy. Because he is perfect. (Which you always suspected, anyway.)

36. When your husband travels for work, you've got plenty of company!

37. What other reason do you have to read Beatrix Potter books out loud?

38. You get to skip through Wal Mart's parking lot while singing "Here We Go Looby-Loo."

39. You get to watch your husband skip through Wal Mart's parking lot. (No singing.)

40. Some day, when you are old and gray, little babies will come and visit you again, brought to you by the very same people who were once so small and tiny. And you'll get to experience so much of this list again. And, if you are blessed with a long life, again with your great-grandchildren.

I want to dedicate this list to my Nana, who turns 88 today. She is the mother of six children, grandmother to 12, great-grandmother to five. She had (I think) 12 or 13 children in her own family, too. I'm sure she could come up with her own list of at least 40 reasons. Probably more.

************************

Now, then, let's get this list going as a meme. You parents out there, add yours to the list, and let's gather these together in one great, big post. Leave your links in the com boxes, please. (Be sure to leave the exact link to your post, or we won't be able to find it later!)

Updates:

More lists (in addition to the ones to which I linked in the main post - there are three there):

The Bookworm

Montessori for Everyone (who has 75 reasons!!!)

Catholic Wife and Mother

Heather Claypool

Baby Steps (I think my favorite - because it's so true - is this: "13. Having children makes you extremely aware of the things in your home and how wholesome they are. The radio sounds different when you know your child is listening and absorbing the messages in the songs and ads. The television looks different when you know that those images are being recorded by a little mind. It makes you more aware of the filth in our culture & more motivated to keep it out. This is not only good for the Littles in the home, it's also good for the Bigs.")

The Man Meme

Seen at Amy's place, who saw it at Aimee's place.

(No, sweetheart, it's about my man, not for my man. Sorry.)



The Man Meme



1. Who is your man? Nathan

2. How long have you been together? 17 years on December 1

3. How long did you date? 3 years

4. How old is your man? 38

5. Who eats more? Definitely him.

6. Who said “I love you” first? Nathan can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he did. If not with the exact words (which is what I think, too), he definitely tole me in not so many words. I remember laying on the floor of his townhouse before we were even dating (I had another boyfriend at the time) and telling him about being a teacher. "I want you to teach my children," he told me. When I commented that he should live close to me for that to happen, he said, "I know. I want to live the next pillow over." If that isn't "I love you" in disguise, I don't know what is.

7. Who is taller? Nathan, by 6 inches.

8. Who sings better? Me.

9. Who is smarter? I think he is. We're both pretty smart, but he likes to tease me because I read slower than he does (it's not an easy feat to read faster than me). He calls me "Dullard" affectionately. :) Also, he would likely argue this answer, which makes him pretty smart.

10. Whose temper is worse? We are both slow to anger with each other, but I think his is a little worse than mine.

11. Who does the laundry? Me, but he irons his own clothes. He usually does a better job ironing because I have no patience.

12. Who takes out the trash? I do, except when I ask Big Girl to take it out. (Hey, being nine comes with special privileges!)

13. Who sleeps on the right hand side of the bed? Me.

14. Who pays the bills? Me, with the money he earns.

15. Who is better with the computer? Me.

16. Who mows the lawn? I do unless the self-propeller isn't working, then he does the half with the giant hill.

17. Who cooks dinner? Me.

18. Who drives when you are together? Isn't that just the man's job?

19. Who pays when you go out? Well, no matter who picks up the check, it's always the money he earned at work that pays for everything. Unless relatives send us money and we splurge by going out to eat.

20. Who is most stubborn? Um...toss-up there.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Another toss-up.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, partly because my parents can't stay away from our children. (My mother is under the impression that the granchildren are her own children.) Also, my mom and dad live a lot closer than his mother.

23. Who kissed who first? I think we kissed at the same time. I might have made the move first, though. He did not argue.

24. Who asked who out? See number 6.

25. Who Proposed? Nathan, on December 4, for our anniversary, which he said he wouldn't do. Both knees, beautiful ring, totally floored me. Also, it was preluded by a nice poster of a Dodge Viper. (He probably could have asked me with that! LOL)

26. Who is more sensitive? That is actually hard to say. I cry much more easily, but he is a great big softie inside. I remember someone once said that men are like M-1 tanks. Very tough outside, hard to get into, but easy to break once inside. One stray elbow and you've destroyed a very pricey toy. I have to agree. I act more sensitive, but I know I could easily devestate Nathan if I weren't careful.

27. Who has more friends? He does, hands down. I'm an introvert.

28. Who has more siblings? Tie. We are both one of two children. Two boys in his family, two girls in mine.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Hubby gave me a great card for our anniversary in August. The front reads "Happy anniversary from the one who wears the pants in the family..." and the inside reads "...to the one who picks them out." He's the head of the family, and I'm the neck. ;)



If the spirit moves you, go on and leave a link to your meme answers in the com boxes!