Random Dozen

This week's Random Dozen are totally random -- questions submitted by Linda's readers.  This was an interesting change of pace.  To play along, click on the image above.  ;-)

1. From "Men Are Dumb ....": If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be?

Oh my, that would imply (to me) a dramatic entrance … and as a die-hard introvert, I wouldn’t want to do a dramatic entrance …  I prefer to rather discretely get the lay of the land, find someone I know well, and quietly make my way to him/her.

2. From Pam of "Alert And Oriented x 4": Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of the object of your most painful shoe-buyer's remorse?

Instead of talking about beautiful, fashionable shoes like everyone else is going to do, I’m going to mention the blue flip flops that I bought last summer to wear on the beach.  I wanted something inexpensive and I didn’t care how they looked, since I had only planned to wear them on the beach while on vacation, so I bought the cheapest pair I could find at Wal-Mart.  Turns out, I didn’t even wear them on our trip!  But when summer came this year, I threw them on the first time I went out to work in the yard – and discovered that they were THE. MOST. COMFORTABLE shoes in my closet.  And at my age (and with my plantar fasciitis), comfort is at the top of the list in importance when selecting shoes.  Unfortunately I wore these shoes so much that they’re just about worn out.  I’ll be on the lookout next spring for a pair just like them!

3. From Susanne of "Living to Tell the Story": Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you've personally experienced.

For my 50^th birthday, DD suggested that we join DSIL and her at a mystery/dinner theater in a small town on the river about 30 minutes from here.  We met at the hotel downtown and then were bussed to the theater, a good 5-10 minutes away, up on the bluffs.  When we entered the theater, several of my friends were there to spend the evening with me.  The meal and the mystery were average, DD’s thoughtfulness and planning were unforgettable!

4. From Lori of "Just me and My Life": If you were a flavor of ice cream, which would you be?

Vanilla chocolate chip … plain, bland maybe, with just a little crunchy flavor every once in a while. 

 

5. Cindy Swanson of "Notes in the Key of Life" asks: Have you ever had a crush on a movie star? Who was it, and are you still crushing?

No, although when I was in junior high/high school, I did have a crush on Tim McCarver (catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals).  Obviously that is LONG over.  LOL

 

6. Jill from "Jill Boyd's Place" inquires: Glasses or braces--if you had to wear one, which would it be?

Braces.  They’re a temporary correction, where glasses have to be worn the rest of my life.  And unfortunately I have to wear glasses L; I did wear contacts (and loved them!), but I had recurring eye infections (thanks to my blepharitis), replacing those contacts a couple of times a month (plus the antibiotic ointment) just got to be too expensive. 

7. Nel from "Fasteneau Facts" asks: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Oh, this is an EASY one!  I’d live on Hilton Head Island, no more than a couple of minutes' walk from the beach.  In fact, that would be my reality … except for the pesky fact that DD and 4 T’s are here in Illinois.  They’ve said that they’d be willing to move … if we could just get a job for DSIL.  Hmmmm, maybe it’s time to start a job search for him!  LOL

 

8. Thena from "Patiently Waiting" wants to know: If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive?

A new kitchen.  We’ve only been in this house just a little over 2 years, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this kitchen (now that we’ve replaced the horribly inefficient and terribly loud dishwasher).  But I’d love to be able to put in new cabinets, granite counters, tile backsplash, and stainless appliances.  But since there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this kitchen … it’s not unattractive, it’s very functional … I can’t justify spending the $$ to redo it.  So I’m learning to be content with it. 


9. From "Life Through Bifocals," LynnMarie asks: What is your favorite birthday meal?

Tutto mare at Zia’s on The Hill in St. Louis. 

10. Debby at "Just Breathe" checks in with: Do you still send hand-written thank you notes?

Yes, to non-family members.  To my family members, I thank them verbally and through e-mails.

11. Linda from "Mocha with Linda" poses this question: What is something you've done that you never thought you'd do?

Moving back into a new house.  We bought a new house when DH & I married, back in 1987.  We had so much trouble with that house (and got absolutely no help from the builder) that it wasn’t long before I just hated that house.  It never felt like “me”, never felt like home.  I swore – NO MORE NEW HOUSES.  Our next house was a 50-year-old charmer that I absolutely loved.  And when we decided to move until our “retirement home” (i.e., our home where we’d live when we retired a few months later – NOT an “old folks home” LOL), I was determined to move into another charming older home … just something all on one level, in a nicer neighborhood.  And we ended up buying a new house … with an open floor plan (something else I was sure that I didn’t want) … and we absolutely, positively love this house, love the location, love the neighborhood (and our neighbors).  I’m convinced God knew what we needed/where we needed to be and led us here in spite of my preconceived notions of what I wanted. 

12. Jewel, my homegirl from Indiana who writes at "Musings from the World of Jewel," is very insistent that we answer this: Mount Rushmore honors four US Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?

Symmetry and consistency is HUGE in my world, so I think if you’re going to add anyone to Mt. Rushmore, you’d have to add another President.  And I’m not sure what other President was noteworthy enough to warrant being added to Mt. Rushmore, other than possibly FDR.