Two, Two, Two Lists in One!

Yea it’s me.  I’m still alive.  I know you’ve missed me.  Right?  Sure you have!

Anywho.

Two of my favorite bloggers have invited me to make lists, and after coming off some kind of nasty virus, I’m not feeling particularly “listy”.   However, because I adore Pamela Fagan Hutchins Road to Joy and Chicktuition, I am compelled to participate.

 Then there’s also the fact that I enjoy talking about myself.

So.

I decided to combine the lists, pick my favorite questions from each list, and compile my own unique list.  In honor of Pamela and Chicktuition, of course!   Ahem…

So here goes.

1.  Who was your favorite teacher and why?

Definitely Miss Dennis, my high school English teacher.  She not only mesmerized me with her beauty and very short mini-skirts, but she actually saw me.  I was one of those invisible girls in school.  You know the kind.  I just blended into the walls and hoped against hope for my high school years to hurry and be over.  She encouraged my writing and treated me with respect like I hadn’t experienced yet in my young life.  Amazing woman, Miss Dennis.  I hope she’s doing well.

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be away from my mother, basically.  I had so many different dreams, while waiting and waiting to turn 18 and get out of the house.   I wanted to be an actress, a writer, a stewardess, a singer (totally off the mark on this one.  Can’t carry a tune) and a teacher.   I ended up going into the Air Force right after I turned 18.  I’ve had many jobs over the years, but the only one that’s come to fruition from my childhood dreams has been the writing. 

3. What is the single most important thing you think parents should teach their children?

I cannot pinpoint one thing.  I have three in mind and couldn’t, in good conscience, leave any one of them out.   Compassion, tolerance and integrity are so basic and yet, so very vital to the emergence of a well-balanced, productive, and hopefully happy adult.  Perhaps the best thing a parent can do is teach by example.  Be the person your children should emulate.  They will emulate you, no doubt, so be the example.  When I look back, I do have so many regrets as to the example I should have been.  However, my boys always knew where I stood regarding my love for them, my belief in kindness and honesty, and my respect for diversity and other cultures.

4. What is your favorite book and how many times have you read it?

My favorite book is Swan Song by Robert MacGammon.  It is a horror story that you cannot put down.  If you read and loved Stephen King’s Stand, you’ll be crazy about Swan Song.  I’ve read it through three times.  It’s a thick novel.

5. If you could only pick one movie to watch for the rest of your life what would it be?

American President with Michael Douglas.  Weird, huh?  Well, it’s a romance.  Also, I love anything Michael Douglas is in and he was drop-dead gorgeous in this movie  (Annette Benning wasn’t bad either!).   It was also a bit of a fairy tale.  We’d all like to have a president like Michael.  Just a heart-warming movie I never got tired of.  I’ve watched it dozens of times.

6.  What’s your dream?

Without a doubt, My Dream is to be a successful writer.  I won’t give up, either.  That’s a promise.

7.  Something besides your children that you are proud of.

I’m proud of my propensity toward writing fiction.    I can make up some pretty good stories, if I do say so myself.  I’m also proud of my work in Grad School.  It’s a labor of love and I plan to be finished by December, so wish me luck.

8.  Ever had a scary parenting moment?

When my youngest was 14, he was diagnosed with cancer.  It was called osteogenic sarcoma  (I will never ever forget those words).   Our scary “moment” went on for weeks.  However, we won the lottery.  No, not money.  Our lottery was that when we sent specimens off to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion, we were told that our son did Not have cancer, but rather a progressive, but Non-life-threatening disease called chondroblastoma.  He had been originally diagnosed with a 50/50 chance of living 5 years.  He is 29 now, a successful lawyer, and one of the kindest, most likeable men you’d ever want to meet.    And yes, I’m tearing up as I type this.  The memory never fades.

9.  If you met your favorite movie star and could say whatever you want to him or her in 140 characters or less, what would it be? (And who is the movie star?)

I would want to meet Jennifer Lopez…the object of my fantasies.  What would I say? 

“Uh.  Uh.   Uh.   Uh……”

Then I’d run away in embarrassment and wipe the drool off my face. 

10.   Do you have any advice for Snooki?

 Charm school.  And...Just say No to the tanning booth. 

I added an eleventh question of my own.  Because I roll like that.  And apparently have an affinity for ‘tired’ clichés. 

Anywho….

11.  Who, why and what are you wearing?

The who would be Kohls.  The what would be a t-shirt with a picture of Sheldon from “Big Bang Theory” on the front…and my pajama pants.  The why?  Comfort.  ‘nuff said.

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There are apparently rules to this randomness, so I hereby tag 5 (only choosing 5 because the others I would have chosen have already been chosen and I’m sure they can do without another invitation) other blogger writers to join the fun, and I recommend you, dear readers, check them out, after you go read Pamela and Chicktuition:

My BFF Mary over at Babe’s World.

My LIL Sis Robin over at LIL Sis Speaks.

My IRL friend Lisa over at Grandmas Briefs

My dear writerly long-distance friend Vidya over at Going a Musing

My friend junemoon over at Like Water on a Rock or Off a Duck’s Butt

And why have I tagged my poor friends here? Because I am asking them to join in the over-revealing and answer these eleven questions (edit the questions as you see fit, my friends, and forgive for the tag, as I know not what I do) for the great unseen stalking masses on the internet. Thanks, ladies.

XOXOs!!