Random Dozen 9/1

1. What insect are you most afraid of? Feel free to post a picture. Insect? I dunno. I guess maybe bees, wasps, things like that.

2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do? Umm ... we buy organic milk for the kids.

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you. Gosh, it's been a LONG time since I've had the dream. But, it's always in a big white house that has a huge lawn. My family – meaning my mom and my sisters – is always there with me, and there's always some evil spirit in the house. Last I remember it we were on the second floor, and there was a stairwell in the back corner of the house that led down below the house, where the evil spirit was dwelling. I remember us trying to pray against the spirit, but ending up trying to flee the house. We were in a small white car, trying to get as far away as possible, but traffic was horrible and we couldn't move very quickly! That was the latest installment. I've had that house in my dreams, with my mom and sisters, and some sort of evil presence, many times throughout the years. The circumstances, the "resolution" or whatever isn't always the same, though.

4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances? Nope.

5. What do you consider your best feature? If we mean physical feature, I'd guess my eyes.

6. What was the last concert you went to? Umm ... I think it was Skillet in November. Or Winter Jam earlier this year. Yeah, that was it. Third Day, Tenth Avenue North, Fireflight, and a bunch of other groups were there.

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced. Can't think of one, sorry.

8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer? Singer.

9. George Washington Carver said, "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute? Umm ... I dunno. I'm sitting at my computer desk in the corner of my living room. The sky is full of clouds, and we're expecting more storms.

10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010? Today? I don't know. I have nothing particularly memorable planned. But, the day's not quite half over, so perhaps something exciting (in a good way) will happen.

11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.) I'm hungry, so right now Taco Bell! ;-)

12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships? Maybe. I don't think all male-female relationships are sexual, but I think the potential is ALWAYS there. Always. So, as a married woman, I try to make sure my husband is friends with my male friends. And he tries not to cultivate friendships with women I'm not familiar with.

Random Dozen 8/11

1. When was the last time you laughed until you cried? Gosh. Somewhat recently. I think laughing at/with the kids.

2. If you found $10 today, what would you do with it? Pocket it and save it until I need some cash.

3. Do you volunteer anywhere? No. I should.

4. What is your favorite summertime veggie or fruit, and how do you eat it? Fresh sweetcorn. YUM! We boil it, then smother it in butter, salt, and a tiny bit of pepper! YUM! I LOVE living in the Midwest!

5. Is your social sphere (circle of friends) small, medium or large? Depends on how you define my "sphere of friends" – all friends, or just people I know IRL? All friends (including those I only know through online interactions), I would actually say it's medium-to-large. Just IRL people, miniscule.

6. When was the last time you attended a family or school reunion? How did that go? Our 10-year school reunion was 5 years ago. I was VERY pregnant with my son, and my husband (who was in my same graduating class at the same school) was gone for a 30-day civilian deployment to New Orleans. (It was his first time helping out with post-Katrina stuff.) It was neat to see people, but I kinda felt like an odd-woman-out.

7. When you're feeling blue, what is the best way someone can cheer you up? Hugs, making me laugh, and relieving me from kid duty for a few hours.

8. Have you taken a vacation this summer? No. I wish we had, but it didn't work out. Maybe next year.

9. What is the most unnecessary item you carry with you all the time? A book. About 90% of the time I have a book in my purse. It goes everywhere with me, because I just never know when I'll wish I had it. It's great for waiting on the doctor at appointments, stuck in a traffic jam (I'm talking stand-still for 30 minutes, which I've experienced), waiting for the bell to ring when picking up the kids after school, etc.

10. What is the best summer flick you have seen so far? Eclipse.

11. Describe a perfect summer day. Hmm ... I could go one of two ways with this. Day 1: AWESOME, powerful thunderstorms. It's not too hot, so I can sit comfortably on the front porch and enjoy the smell of the rain, the feel of the wind, and the sound of the thunder. It's also not too cool, so the rain doesn't make me chilled. It's also not too windy, so I can read a book while enjoying the storm. Day 2: About 75-80ºF, no humidity, a perfect light breeze.

12. Please a share a favorite photo from the summer so far! Umm....all of the pics are on my hubby's laptop, which is going to St. Louis with him today. So, I can't get those right now. Sorry!

Random Dozen 5/4

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated?

Paying bills, which I finished last night.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night?

Depends on what's going on and how tired I am. I'll often take awhile to fall asleep if I can't get my head to stop thinking. When that happens, I'll read for a bit. That usually relaxes my mind enough that I can get to sleep. If I'm really tired, though, I fall asleep almost instantly. Most nights I sleep through – assuming the kiddos do! ;-) I might occasionally get up once to pee, but that's not the norm.

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles?

Ugh, I dunno. LOL Definitely NOT the '80s!

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd?

As in a meal? Um...my hubby is the cook.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?

Yes, unfortunately. It's something I'm begging God to help me STOP! The last thing I bought on impulse? Books, of course! ;-)

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral?

I've already told DH not to worry about a funeral. He can have a memorial service, but don't bury me – cremate me.

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today?

I got to have a chai tea latte this morning! :-) That, and Abby's school's book fair is tonight! :-)

8. What is your favorite type of bread?

Beer bread – YUM!

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.)

Fear developing? That implies something I haven't yet developed, so I guess grumpiness.

10. What trait would you like most to develop?

Whatever the opposite of laziness is and being good with money, being frugal.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why?

Geesh, I don't know. I think the kids' room. It's my favorite. It's calm, peaceful, and I just like it a lot. Not sure if it reflects my personality, though! LOL

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging?

Balance? What's that? ;-) I'm still working on that. I know my priorities need BIG-time straightening up ...

Random Dozen 4/21

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"
Um, no. I have had late books, I think – like in school. But, I hardly use the library, so late fees are very rare!

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?
Both. I try to have a plan/place for it, but our house is too small to make it feasible. So, I usually end up getting stuff as needed.

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?
Um, tornadoes touched down VERY close to my dorms my freshman year in college. Oh, and the summer before my senior year there was one that touched down blocks from my house.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?
N/A ~ I couldn't name any of his songs.

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?
Um ... I dunno. I'm not much for dressing up in costume.

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?
Dictionary ~ it's the tool of the trade when you're an editor! ;-)

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?
I gotta pick a favorite? Pancakes, fried eggs, hash browns, biscuits, waffles, french toast ...

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?
Nope.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Not that I remember.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Nope. Infatuation or lust, yes. Love, no.

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own?
Not sure. I don't really wear them anymore.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")
Probably a book or something else reading-related.

Random Dozen

I haven't done this since before Easter, at least I don't think I have. Anyway, this is another fun one. Random Dozen is hosted by 2nd Cup of Coffee.

1. How do you feel about "Gladiator" sandals, also called "Roman" or "Jesus" sandals? A fashion yea or nay?

I think they are UGLY!

2. What is your favorite pizza?

Taco pizza. GOOD stuff!

3. There are plans in the works to sell roughly 1,000 items from Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. This means you could buy Picard's chair for your family room. If not a Star Trek item, what prop, background, set, etc. from what TV or movie would you buy if you could? [Ex: Hurley's "I Love my Shih tzu" shirt from LOST, the plantation home "Tara" from Gone With the Wind, or Tracy's tambourine from the Partridge Family.]

I have no idea.

4. Name a local food or restaurant that your area is famous for.

Whitey's Ice cream

5. What is your current favorite snack?

Dove milk chocolate and peanut butter squares

6. Hypothetical: You are required to be a reality show contestant. Which show would you choose based on your probability of success? (You cannot choose "none.")

A. Dancing with the Stars

B. Biggest Loser

C. Survivor

A. Dancing with the Stars. While I'd love to be on Biggest Loser, I think I'd be more successful with DWTS.

7. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, how clean is your vehicle's interior?

7.5

8. It doesn't feel like Spring until _________.

I can smell my lilacs – which is starting to happen! :-D

9. Something that made you laugh really hard recently is ____.

The kids. They're always cracking me up! ;-)

10. Tell me about a goal you're working toward.

Losing this baby weight. Ultimate goal: be where I was when I got pg with Abby.

11. Share a thought-provoking or inspiring quote this week.

Umm ... Let me get back to you on that one!

12. Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you.

Sometimes I'll take them for a special snack after school – like out for ice cream (at the aforementioned Whitey's), or to somewhere like Chili's and order dessert. They always love that! :-)

Random Dozen

I saw this one over at Reviews & Reflections. I have so much fun with stuff like this that I couldn't resist! This one is hosted by Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?

Eww! Eww! Eww! Eww! Eww!

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?

I usually pray and ask God to help me.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?

YES! Love them – even better if there's thunder and lightning!

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?

My husband. He is my soul mate. The love of my life.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?

Tattoo

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?

Visiting family downstate.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?

Neither.

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?

My kids.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?

I'm currently reading An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick.

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?

Getting motivated ...

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?

At least five.

12. Which color makes you happiest?

PURPLE, baby!