The Liebstering Liebsters…

Liebster: German for dearest, darling, liked or loved above all others.

So you can imagine my surprise when my little space was nominated for this award from across the globe. Here I am just writing some random thoughts for The World to read if they want. Then someone comes along and says “Hey, darling. I love what you write. Have this award.”

Maybe not in those words, exactly.

But I’m equally honored. A Momma’s View had me listed with other blogs that I read, too. Blogs that my blog look up to as if they were an older, wiser sibling. As if my blog were just a toddling toddler. I suppose it’s equivalent to someone dreaming then finding themselves playing next to those who they have pinned on their bedroom wall.

The rules state that I need to thank the person who nominated me. I did, and I thank you again! Then I need to answer some questions, give some facts, nominate some others and give them some questions to answer. So here goes with the questions given to me…

1. IF YOU COULD ERASE A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

   All the moments of my life have led me to writing this, just as every moment of your life has led you to reading this. If we remove one of those moments, what would happen to the others? Would the butterfly effect change them all? If that’s the case, I’d remove none. I like where I am. If removing one didn’t alter the rest though, I’d remove the day I got my head stuck in a cinder block. 38 years later and I still haven’t lived that one down…

2. WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE LITERARY HEROINE?

   Just one? I think one is Hermione from the Harry Potter series. No, not because it’s Emma Watson. I liked her before the movies ever came out. Hermione is smart, works hard, and is a loyal friend. More importantly, she knows when she needs to break the rules. J.K. Rowling did a fantastic job writing her character. If it weren’t for her, chances are good Harry wouldn’t have defeated You-Know-Who. My other favorite is Liesel Meminger from The Book Thief. Liesel loves books (as the title infers) and while everyone else in WWII German is stealing food, she is stealing books. She learns to read and then learns the power of words.

3. IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

   If I got to take all my family with me, we’d move to Hawaii where there is lots of hiking and lots of water. My Dad’s sister lives in Belize so perhaps that would be fun, too. The Caribbean out the front door and Mayan ruins out the back. Again, lots of hiking and lots of water. Notice a theme? I’m part camel, part fish. A camish.

4. DO YOU LIKE TO COOK? AND WHAT IS YOUR GO TO DISH?

   I love to cook. I think my go to dish is that quick and easy one we call hamburger slop. It’s just burger, a packet of brown gravy, smashed potatoes and a can of corn. My favorite dish to cook though is lasagna soup.

5. WHO WOULD YOU CHANGE LIVES WITH IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? WHY?

   Wow. That’s a hard one. I think I would change lives with an astronaut. I would love to spend 6 months on the ISS. Mom always called me a space cadet, anyway…

6. WHAT WOULD YOU NEVER CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF?

   I would never change my hair style. It’s easy to manage. No bedhead.

7. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

   I would tell my younger self to study harder and stay on track.

8. IF YOU COULD FAST FORWARD 20 YEARS, WOULD YOU? WHY OR WHY NOT?

   Nope. There would be so much I miss. Birthdays and graduations and vacations… Like Van Halen sang, Right Now.

9. WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE, MIND READING OR STRENGTH?

   I pick strength. I don’t want to know what everyone else is thinking.

10. WHO IS YOUR HERO?

    DW, for tolerating me. My parents, for making me who I am even though sometimes it probably didn’t seem like it was working. My brother, for all his tours serving our country overseas. All my teachers, too.

11. WHAT WOULD YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU INSTANTLY AND WHY?

    I would want people to know that in groups, I’m quiet and listening. If you’re patient, I’ll jump into the conversation when I’m ready.

Next step: 11 “interesting” facts about myself…

1. I’m an extroverted introvert
2. I have the smartest, most beautifulest wifey ever. Sorry guys.
3. I’m good at sucking up.
4. If I had a super power it would be the ability to talk to animals.
5. I once went sledding off my neighbors garage roof.
6. I have an idea for a children’s book. I just haven’t written it, yet.
7. I co-wrote a children’s book that we haven’t published yet. It has been turned down by a dozen publishers, though.
8. Crash learned to play Hot Cross Buns on his recorder. I want to stab my ear drums and now understand how my parents must have felt when I was learning to play the trumpet when I was his age.
9. I sound like I’m eating sandwiches in my sleep. I smack my lips like I’m chewing. I’ve never heard it so they could be lying, but I doubt it.
10. I grew up an Orioles fan and am still an Orioles fan.
11. I can roll my tongue and I can flip it both directions.

Now to nominate 11 bloggers. I know some of you might not accept rainbows up the arse these nomination awards, so consider this a virtual high five. A proverbial tip of the hat for doing what you do…

Ipuna Black whom I just discovered
Dorky Mom Doodles
Niki’s Thoughts
Welcome to the Nursery
Fatty McCupcakes
Grubbs n Critters
J.A. Allen
A Nene’s Life

Meh… close enough…

Here are your questions should you choose to accept…

1. How do you re-energize?
2. What yearly salary would you consider “living comfortably”?
3. If you met Mother Theresa, what would you ask her?
4. What ice cream flavor do you think your personality is like?
5. If your car had a super power, what super power would you like it to have?
6. Do you have a plan for your blog for the long run? 
7. Is there a word you avoid using? A word you don’t like?
8. Do you have a favorite word?
9. If we communicated by playing musical instruments, what instrument would you communicate with?
10. Is there a time when something didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to, but in the end you were glad that it didn’t?
11. What’s the best piece of advice you would give a new blogger?

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Going Liebster

Thanks to Tiffany over at Sounds Like Life to Me for nominating me for the Liebster Award. High fives all around!

According to Eli,

It’s a little known fact that the Liebster originated in 1901, the brainchild of one American philosopher Anna Brackett, inspired by a lost text from the Book of Matthew, recently found buried in a time capsule found in Haverhill, N.H., during the Chowder Festival.

Sounds about right to me. Though, like Yoda, no one knows its true origins.

So the rules of acceptance are to share 11 mysterious things you may or may not already know about me. Followed by 11 more questions asked by my friend Tiffany. Followed by my own nominations in which I provide 11 of my own questions.

11 things about me

1. I used to hate mayonnaise and apple pie. Now I don’t mind a little mayo and I love apple pie.
2. I’m an extroverted introvert.
3. I enjoy cooking and my cooking enjoys music.
4. My kids don’t think I’m all that funny.
5. I’m not a gym teacher, but all the gym teachers think I am.
6. I’m an Orioles fan living in Blue Jay territory. I’ve lost one son to the Jays.
7. Nothing is quite as much fun as a giant box, empty wrapping paper tube and bubble wrap. Having the trifecta would be more fun than one person could have alone.
8. When I drink Gatorade after a run I drink blue Gatorade.
9. I’ve been playing the guitar for 15 years but still can’t play a whole song.
10. I dig holes just so I can fill them in again.
11. I wrote a whole post on stuff about me.

Now on to the question portion…

1. Furthest place you have visited? The furthest north and west I’ve been is Calgary. The furthest south is Costa Rica.
2. What are some of your best memories? Wedding day and the birth of my two boys. Growing up I loved 4th of July trips to Harpers Ferry with my mom, dad, and brother and playing sport in high school. 
3. Dumbest thing you have ever done? Put my head in a cinder block. Went to a concert but left the tickets on the fridge. Tried to fly to Nova Scotia without my birth certificate (before the days of having to have a passport) Sledded off the neighbor’s garage roof. Rode my bike to the park and walked home. I could go on and on…
4. What has been your best job?  I loved working as Agricultural Scout. I got to be outside all summer. But I LOVE teaching.
5. Name your favorite movie soundtrack. Last of the Mohicans.

6. Tell us just ONE of your biggest pet peeves. Littering
7. If you could go back in time, would you? That would depend on how far. Maybe?
8. Do you sing in the car like no one is watching when that one song comes on? I do. I sing like no one is watching when it’s just the kids listen. One yells at me to stop.
9. Last time you sent a handwritten thank you note? Does the note I wrote about today in school count? I wrote to tell the teacher how the day went and thanked her for her detailed lesson plan. If it doesn’t count, then it’s been a hundred years give or take.
10. What is your favorite thing to do first thing in morning? Eat. And check email.
11. What inspires you? Nike commercials. DW and the kids are really good at inspiring me to do stuff.  Like cook supper.

Now to nominate some others. As always this is strictly a shout out because I enjoy your blog. HIGH FIVE, BRO! If you don’t want to partake, that’s cool. I’ll still enjoy your blog.

Admissions of A Working Mother
SuperMom Mentality
Grubbs-n-Critters
Anxious Mom

If you feel so inclined, here are my eleven questions for you.

1. Who is your favorite actor/actress.
2. How many hours of sleep do you get each night?
3. What’s something that your kids do to drive you crazy, but doesn’t make you angry?
4. Have you ever embarrassed yourself?
5. What’s your favorite meal to cook?
6. Which flavor of ice cream is most like your personality? Why?
7. What’s one of your kid’s shows that you don’t mind watching over and over?
8. If you take a week long vacation without kids to anywhere in your own country, where would you go?
9. Have you ever been pulled over by a police officer? Why?
10. You’re life now has a soundtrack. What’s its title?
11. Are you more hunter or gatherer?

If I didn’t name you personally but you want to participate, fill yer boots! Like Cards Against Humanity, all are welcome to play along.

Thanks again to Tiffany! Hop on over to see her. Her oldest is graduating high school!

Your Life on Earth

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141016-your-life-on-earth

So I Stumbled on to this page this morning and I felt I had to share. It’s really cool. You plug in your birthday and gender and height and it tells SO much about what’s happened in your lifetime. There are drop down menus providing even more info.

My next birthday on Mercury is in 11 Earth Days.
I’ve travelled 309,495,913,000 km through the Milky Way.
A house fly my age would have a family 21,808 generations.
While I’ve grown a towering 1.67 meters, a Coast Redwood would have grown 15.32 meters.
Tectonic plates have moved 5.85 meters since I was born.

Check it out for yourself! How has life on Earth change in your lifetime?