Second Blooming

WWTK Wednesday: The Olympic Edition

I am busy, busy packing and preparing for our THREE WEEK trip to the land of Mommy and Pop. So I thought I'd jump in with the We Want to Know ladies. This week, Crazymama asks the questions all about the Olympics, something I happen to have a few things to say about.

1. What was your favorite part of the Opening Ceremonies? I, like every other human being on the planet Earth, loved that Queen/James Bond bit. It was just what you hope would happen, you know? And it proved that she has a great sense of humor. I'm also a sucker for the Parade of Nations - I cry and cry like a fool for EVERYBODY. "Oh look, it's Papua New Guinea!!" boo hoo "It's Namibia! I love them!" boo hoo.
2. Which country are you rooting for? ( I realize we aren't all Americans) Well, I AM an American, and so I am all "USA! USA!" I do, however, have a soft spot for the Brits, since they are our hosts, so they are my second favorites. And Jude thinks that we should be polite and root for Mexico and Canada because they are our neighbors.
3. Which is your favorite event to watch and why? I used to love watching gymnastics, but the level of difficulty has gone so through the roof nowadays, that I get too nervous. I'm like the mothers of the athletes, watching with their fingers over their eyes. I do love a good race. As does Jude. So we're freaking out and jumping around over the swimming. Can't wait for the Track and Field.
4. Have you found a new sport that is surprisingly delightful? Well...I must admit that I'm enjoying that Men's Water Polo quite a bit. Not so much for the sport, but for...well, what can I say? 
   
   
5. Have you always been a fan of the Olympics? What is your earliest  Olympic Memory? Always, always, always! I'm a big, freaky Olympiphile! My BFF Kaysie and I used to always totally obsess over every event. I'm one of those weirdos who, until Jude came along, used to watch every single moment of every single Olympics - I scheduled my entire life around them. My first Olympic Memory? Wow. I guess it's the 1972 Olympics. I clearly remember Mark Spitz winning his seven gold medals -such a crush on him. Sweetly, Jude now seems really terribly interested in everything Missy Franklin. And I absolutely remember this...

 

 Well that was fun. And quick. Head over to Mamarazzi for more We Want To Knowers.

WWTK Wednesday - Fog

Oh no.

Do you remember back two years ago, when I spent two weeks on the sofa with stinking, fracking vertigo? Well, I did. And now I fear that it's BACK.

It's not as bad as before - I don't actually feel like I'm on a boat. I just have a head full of cotton, a complete inability to think straight, and I'm about half deaf. I'm guessing it's the same inflammation of the inner ear thing as before. I really don't NEED this.

I seem to be unable to concentrate, or come up with any ideas. But luckily, Mamarazzi has provided a bit of inspiration, so I'm diving into WWTK Wednesday once again...

1. What is for dinner tonight (bonus for sharing the recipe)?

We have been crazy for veggies around here lately, because I've started getting organic produce DELIVERED to our home, which is a little bit of brilliance. I have a whole post planned about this, so the details will be forthcoming as soon as the cotton clears out of my brain. Anyway, we have been eating lots of excellent produce. And since the thought of grocery shopping makes me slightly queasy, this delivery thing is excellent. Tonight I'm pulling some chicken/apple sausage out of the freezer and serving it with Jan's Pan-Fried Fingerling Potatoes and some fresh spinach, which I'm just going to saute with a little olive oil and garlic. Now here's my question...do I still get the bonus if I'm only providing a link to the recipe? And what is this bonus anyway? Ooo, I hope it's money.

2) Share something you are currently looking forward to.

I am determined to get to Austin this summer! My old college gang is planning another reunion, and I am going to do everything I can to make it a nice long trip so I can see all my girlfriends and my cousins. PLEASE God makes this work! I need me a Texas fix!

3) What are your thoughts on re-gifting?

I would say that it depends entirely on the thoughtfulness behind the re-gifting. If someone gives you something and you're not sure if you'll ever actually use it, but when you look at it you think "That's SO perfect for..." whoever, then giving it to whoever is fine and dandy. If someone gives you something that you don't want and you give it away just to get rid of it and because you're too lazy to go and shop for somebody, then it's just plain tacky.

4) How often do you rearrange your furniture?

Never. I'm stuck in a rut. 

5) Share a picture from your cellphone or camera.

Oh well now, isn't this handy! Jude and I spent a pleasant but mostly uneventful weekend at Cub Scout Winter Camp in Lake Arrowhead, and I was wondering how I was going to work in the pictures! I went a little crazy with the Hipstamatic...

And a fun time was had by all.

Please visit Mamarazzi, Crazy Mama and Queso for more WWTK participants.

 

WWTK Wednesday - Skynyrd

1. Which of the following phrases characterizes how you live your life?
    a. You only live once 
    b. test the water before jumping in  
    c. stability is the key to life

Hmmm, let's see. I think I'll go with b. test the water before jumping in. While I like to think of myself as spontaneous and free-spirited, this is not the truth. I hem and haw and ask about 60 people for their opinions and then I'll suddenly just go with the first thing that comes to me and foolishly dive in.

2.  What were you doing the last time you had a really good laugh?

Jimmy, Jude, Fancy (the dog) and I were all sleeping together in our king-sized bed. Right after we said good night and turned the light out, we suddenly became aware that somebody had...farted. We all accused each other, and finally realized that it had been the DOG. We all giggled our heads off for about 30 minutes.

3.  Who is the last person you hugged?

Duh. Jude.

4.  What song always makes you happy when you hear it?

Duh. "Hey Jude". Okay, I guess that was the obvious choice. And only one of MANY, MANY songs that make me happy. A few things that immediately come to mind off the top of my head...all of Elton John's Madman Across the Water - Side One, the soundtrack to Rocky Horror Picture Show, almost everything by Van the Man Morrison, Carole King's Tapestry,  everything off Gram Parson's Grievous Angel, most of Joe Cocker Live, Sinatra's That's Life, The Stones Sympathy for the Devil, most everything by George Frideric Handel, Dylan's Simple Twist of Fate, early Billy Joel, Blondie's One Way or Another and of course...turn it up...

 

...just to name a few.

5.  What's the first thing you thought about this morning?

DON'T TAKE THE DOG CAMPING! I seemed to have had a disturbing dream that I had taken Fancy camping, and it hadn't gone well - something about a skunk and a creek. I woke up in something of a panic. 

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This week was once again brought to you by...

Please visit our lovely hostesses Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama.

WWTK Wednesday - Argh!

A bunch of y'all have been doing this We Want to Know Wednesday thing (and by a bunch, I mean Vandy) and I've been saying I was going to join in for ages (and by ages, I mean a week), so here we go...  

1.What is your most commonly used word or phrase when you are frustrated?  I growl. Or if I'm writing I "ergh" or "argh". Or maybe..."grrrrr". Other, even sillier but more assertive variations are "errrrrrgghhh!" or maybe even "AAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!" I really must stop doing this. Or...just give into it and get myself a piraty eyepatch. Argh.

 

2. What random question do you usually get from strangers or casual acquaintances? If I was Jimmy I'd say something like "Are you Brad Pitt?", because that's so very funny. But since I am me, I would answer..."Paper or plastic?" But seriously folks, the question I hate most is when people find out I'm an actress and ask me what they might have seen me in. I hate that. For one thing, none of it's very impressive, but also, it's just so embarrassing. There's probably no other profession that makes relative strangers feel that they can ask you to recite your resume.

3. Did you ever correspond by mail with anyone? Who? Do you still have the letters? This question sort of puzzles me. Is there anyone on the planet Earth over the age of, say...20, who hasn't corresponded by mail with somebody? Maybe they mean a penpal? Or is it just that over the last 10 years most correspondence is done via email? Sadly, I seldom write hardcopy letters anymore. But since I am old as dirt, I have, over the years, had several friends who I corresponded with regularly in LONG letters. I have kept a few of the better ones. But my very most favorite letters that I have kept are notes from my Daddy. He didn't write long letters, just very dry, brief missives. He would actually put a sheet of paper off a notepad into his typewriter, and type me little notes. At the bottom he would type "Love," and then he would then sign them in his huge, bold handwriting "Daddy". I've kept about 15, and I TREASURE them. It's funny, I remember them as being really funny, but looking back through them, they're actually really sweet and dear. Had a good cry on this one - I had just moved to Dallas on my own, and my little kitten, Bogie, was at death's door. I know now that the "other losses" he refers to are his and Mama's deaths...

4. Do you dance in public? Why or why not? Jimmy and I are dancers. Don't misunderstand me, we are not GOOD dancers. But we are enthusiastic. We are that couple at weddings and school fundraisers who have a couple of drinks and proceed to make absolute spectacles of ourselves on the dance floor. Remember that Jimmy WAS John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever in his youth, so when certain disco numbers come on, people actually clear the floor for us. Thus far, Jude has not ever witnessed this, which is a good thing, as it will almost certainly be a terrible source of embarrassment.

5. What is your favorite kind of chapstick/lip balm? I have been fairly obsessed with this stuff for a while now - C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint from Bath and Body Works. I get the Plum Mint color...

It is glossy, but not too glossy, gives you a little bit of color and is peppermint flavored so it gives you minty fresh breath. Plus it's cheap. What's not to love? I have been known to carry it around with me at all times, including on Cub Scout camping trips. Because I think it's important that no matter how dirty and stinky and sleep-deprived I become, I remain glossy and minty.

Well, that's my first WWTK Wednesday. Kind of fun, right? Easy.

WWTK Wednesday is hosted by Mamarazzi, Queso and Crazymama!