Random Dozen 10.27.09
It’s that time again! Lidna over at 2nd Cup of Coffee has come up with 12 more questions. I just love her memes. They make me think!
1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.
My Grandmother was my favorite teacher — and she was a teacher. She taught in a one room school house and changed the children and the community in which she lived. I was amazed and awed by all the people who came forward when Gram died and said that she had made a major difference in their lives.
2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
Fourteen years I struggled to keep myself sane and our family together while helping my husband, M., deal with his alcoholism. Finally I could not take any more. His mother and I hired an interventionist to come in and talk to him. As the destruction of his life was presented to him, M. remained unmoved. Finally he stood up and said, “Wait. You people keep talking about my drinking problem. The thing is, I don’t have a problem with my drinking. If there’s a problem here, it’s yours.” And that was my epiphany. I know my mouth dropped open and I stared at him in shock for several moments, and then I said, “My problem? Your drinking is my problem?” I laughed. “If it’s my problem, I know exactly how to solve it!” Then I crossed the living room, opened the front door and said, “Get out!” Of course it wasn’t exactly that easy, but the rest was a cakewalk compared to what life had been.
3. About favorite colors–a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
Green — grass green is my favorite color and it brings peace to my soul.
4. What’s a sure sign that you’re getting older?
Aside from these brown spots all over my body, the gray hair and the creeky knees? Loud parties and dancing appeals to me less than quiet dinners with good friends.
5. Please don’t sermonize, but Halloween–is it a yes or no for you?
It is a no for me, but only because of the dangers these days. If it were still safe it would definitely be a yes.
6. What’s your favorite musical?
I can’t decide between Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Guys & Dolls, and White Christmas.
7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
Country! Though I have spent the last several years living in the city — but soon I am moving rural! Yay!
8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It’s true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, “Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn.”
I would appreciate it for the whimsy, definitely.
This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways:
9. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn’t.
I don’t text. Sorry. (I guess THAT should have been my answer to #4.)
10. “It’s not a party unless _______.”
I’m really uncomfortable at it and wish I could go home.
11. When you’re stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
Yo — cell phone video games! And what do you mean no magazines? There’s always a magazine, book or notebook in my purse. I go prepared to entertain myself!
12. If you weren’t yourself, would you be friends with you?
Yes. That wasn’t always true, but these days, I like me.
~*~
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56 Comments
Good answers. We have so much in common, but you knew that already 🙂
Sean the Vampire – Part Six – A Halloween Recap
Nessa — yes, and we seem to share the same little spark of deviltry!
You always give such great answers Quilly and I love learning more about you. 🙂
Akelamalu — glad to entertain!
Sometimes you find all you’ve been waiting for is that little “snap”.
Jientje — yep, the paradigm shift, when suddenly we see things from an entirely different perspective and with much clearer understanding.
Enjoyed reading these answers. You always have thoughtful ones.
Bill — thank you. I try.
I always enjoy reading your answers. Your #9 made me laugh. And #2 made me sad for what you experienced. Glad you have made it through to the other side.
Linda — the good thing about bad experiences, is they teach one lessons one might have otherwise never learned. My experiences with M. made me a stronger, more resilient and more accountable person. It clarified my values and my principles. I know what I want and what I don’t want. AND, all of that lead me to my wonderful Amoeba — whom I appreciate more because I know the other choices out there.
I don’t text either. But then, I think I am older than you!
So sorry you had to go through that (nr. 2), glad you made the right decision…
Can’t wait to hear from you as a “rural mouse” 8)
Mar — I am looking forward to living in a nice quiet place again.
To Nr. 11, those cell phone games are great in a pinch!
And for me it´s no to Halloween too.
Betty — I love my cell phone games! Sunday I played a lot of Backgammon while waiting for the concert to begin!
Nice answers 🙂
Thom — thanks. Did you really read them or did you decide they were too long?
I read them and yes still too long LOL. Everyone writes books with this meme.
I tried to keep it short for you!
I, too, lived with an alcoholic — my grandmother! To this day, I hate the odor of bourbon.
Gigi — it is hard. And I still have anger issues occasionally triggered by the scent or sight of alcohol.
Grass makes me think of itchy legs, but I’ll take your answer too! LOL!
Grass has itchy legs? 😉
green and parties have a similar effect on me but i would never have a star named ater me
Polona — why? Now, I know why you’d not do it yourself, by would you stop someone else from doing so?
Very good and informative answers.
The number 12 question bothers me because if I ewasn’t myself then I wouldn’t be there to like or dislike.
Very good point, Dr. John!
The color blue – because it’s soothing and that’s the color of blue jeans. 🙂
Country mouse all the way.
And, if me and Hubs could go to the movie and get popcorn for 19.95 we might go more often!
Enjoyed your answers.
Carletta — shhh, I keep telling Amoeba blue jeans aren’t a color and he can wear them with anything!
I love your grandma too. Never met her, but I plan to when I get to Heaven and I’m going to say, “thank you for giving Quilly a lot of time to see Jesus!”
Cell phone games – love those too and no texting…I’m a Luddite about some things!
Kelley — Amoeba wants me to write part of my grandmother’s story. I should do it someday — but it isn’t her story alone.
Honestly Quilly. I popped in here this morning, saw that you had done this and left because I didn’t want to read YOUR answers before I had answered for myself. I didn’t come back until now — because NOW, my answers are set to post at midnight. And STILL… we gave incredibly similar responses for # 6, 10 & 12 !!! We’re just twins from separate wombs…
Melli — maybe the hospitals had some kind of mix up at birth — although I look just like my sisters ….
I haven’t posted mine yet, either, but I do mention gray hair and creaky knees, too.
Your grandmother sounds like a wonderful woman.
I haven’t seen all of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers or any of Guys & Dolls, but I love White Christmas.
Barbara — my grandmother was more wonderful than I can ever explain — but I really should try one day.
Wow…your pivotal moment sends a strong message about what people have to go through…thanks for sharing. That must have been very hard!
Also – cute answer to the “party” question… 🙂
Sarah — that which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger …. that’s my motto.
Hey Quilly, glad you didn’t fall into a post hole on you visit. Almost.
You are brave, sharing that second one. I can’t tell mine on the blog
because of the little ears have grown big and read me regularly.
Take my word for it, doing what you did is always a good decision.
🙂
..
Jim — you put a post there so I couldn’t fall into the post hole. AND, my ex- and I separated in 1991. Not once have I regretted my decision and wish I’d made a different choice. Besides, I have Amoeba now and he is worth all the bad stuff I had to go through to get to him.
Yay for country girls :)!
Nicole — I grew up rural and have never become much of a city girl.
I love your answers, Quilly! You are right, this meme makes you think. I have joined it for the first time, and I think we have a lot in common 🙂 . Reading about you and Amoeba on your blog, you have definitely made the right choice at your pivotal moment. Have a wonderful week 🙂
Rosidah — we do have a lot in common, don’t we!
I love how you handled your drinking problem! 🙂 I had a similar problem w/my X. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, SusanD
Susan — blessings to you, too. My life is much better now.
Hi…it’s fun reading your answers again. Linda’s weekly random is feeling like a little neighborhood these days…I’m enjoying getting to know people this way.
Joyce, I know — it’s fun, isn’t it?
Good for you for having such tremendous courage.
It sounds like you are very excited for your move. I’ve never known anyone happy to move away from Hawaii. :v)
Great answers.
Susanne — heat rash 24/7/365 — more outgo than income — 1.2 million people on this tiny island, most of which is uninhabitable cliff sides. Hawaii is beautiful and I have loved living here, but I will be glad to return to a more rural life in a more temperate climate.
I love reading these things! The comments are fun to scroll through as well…now I have to go over and read Melli’s.
BTW…maybe I should plant some allium in a pot so you have some in FH?
Shelly — what a sweety you are! I have been mourning the plants I will leave behind here, rather than dreaming of the new plants I might have there!
I almost put Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – I have really good memories of watching that movie with my mom…
Bug — I saw it first when I was 7, and fell in love with the singing. Now I watch it every couple of years.
Wow! I was blown away by your answer to number two! What an amazing response and how brave of you to deal with it as you did, I am so impressed.
Celeste — there comes a point when ones backbone turns to steel and the hard line is the easy line.
I loved your party answer and your teacher answer. Story of the pivotal moment was inspiring. Thanks for adding spice to the meme, Quilly!
Linda — the story of my life with my ex- has helped more than one woman put her life back in order after her marriage dissolved under the strain of alcohol. I sometimes wonder if that isn’t why the Lord sent me to Las Vegas.
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