Tuesday, October 13, 2009

It's time for the weekly Random Dozen Meme!!! (cue music and applause)

I was going to start this post by telling you about the book I started yesterday, but it's turning out to be not such a great one. It's the true story of a highly dysfunctional family and has some great stories (one had me howling with laughter), there are the not-so-nice parts as well. But I tried.

On to the weekly Random Dozen. I would put the cutesy little graphic here, but blogger freaks out every time I try to.

1. I've always wondered why we were taught both printing and cursive. Do you prefer to print or write cursive? (Keyboard is not a choice.)

I hate cursive and never use it, probably because my cursive handwriting is not lovely and flowy like some people’s. The only reason I ever taught my children cursive was so they could read letters from Grandma, who still uses it.

2. Are you a dreamer or a realist?

Definitely a realist. I drive my family crazy with my reality checks. They want a cute puppy and all I see are dog hair and carpet stains. I’m no fun.

3. Billy Joel or Elton John?

Now that I’m a Christian, neither. But back in the day, Billy Joel. I never liked Elton John. He sang stupid songs.

4. What is the scariest movie you've ever seen? Not limited to horror flicks but also includes ones where the tension or suspense is killer, for example, Flightplan (2005): A bereaved woman and her daughter are flying home from Berlin to America. At 30,000 feet the child vanishes and nobody admits she was ever on that plan.

I watch very few movies, so I don’t have many to choose from. I’d have to say Air Force One with Harrison Ford. I was so tense I couldn’t go to sleep for hours after I watched it.

5. Now what is the scariest real-life moment you've had?

When one of my children was choking last year. This particular child was sitting at the table turning dark purple, eyes rolling back, and we could not dislodge what said child was choking on. Ben was yanking child and chair together off the floor trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver, and finally, just before child passed out, child coughed and started breathing. Easily the most petrified I have ever been. Every parent should learn the Heimlich maneuver.

6. What word do you misspell without fail?

Apparently. I have to look it up every time. See? I just did.

7. Name something you like to do but are not really talented or good at.

Play the piano. Ten years of lessons and I can barely pick out a hymn. My kids have all the talent.

8. Do you get your emotional/mental batteries recharged by being around people or by having alone time?

It depends. Sometimes spending the day with our Sunday school class (college and career age) is recharging, but at the same time it’s exhausting. But I do like alone time too. If I’ve been with a lot of people, I need alone time. If I’ve been at home a lot, I need people. We’re never satisfied, are we?

9. Have you ever been on TV?

I don’t think so, but I was interviewed by USA Today in D.C. two years ago at an immigrant rally (I wasn’t there for the rally, and might have been the only Caucasian in the city that day) and the interview played on their website.

10. Apple or pumpkin pie? (Don't be greedy.)

Pumpkin. With a homemade crust and real whipped cream—not that nasty, fake stuff. I come from a long line of homemade pie makers, so it has to be good.

11. How many magazine subscriptions do you have?

National Review, Taste of Home, and Better Homes and Gardens. Three that I pay for. We also get Forbes and Reader’s Digest, courtesy of my parents. National Review is my favorite.

12. What lesson do you have to keep re-learning?

Don’t put a favorite sweater in the dryer “just for five minutes to get the wrinkles out.” I come back 40 minutes later and it fits a six-year-old.

Off to my bath now. Have a great day!

Be thankful ~

Karen

3 comments:

Catherine said...

#2! Yes! They think I am such a party pooper sometimes.

#6 -- that's a word I do actually have to think more about than others.

We are definitely related.

Susanne said...

Been there done that with the sweater!

My friend started to choke on something in a restaurant and it was really scary for a few seconds. I can't imagine having it go that far with a child. Truly terrifying!

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

We had a child choke, too, and it was horrifying.

#12: I can relate!

Have a great weekend.