I Guess That’s What You Call Karma

I’ve been diligently not liking people’s Facebook statuses where they share x number of things about themselves because I didn’t want to have to do it myself. Then my friend Laurie gave me the “Liebster Award,” which is supposed to encourage blog readers to visit some other blogs but is also a way to get the blogger to share a bit about herself.

So instead of the five or eight or whatever items I might have gotten on Facebook, I’m now saddled with sharing 11 things. I’m also supposed to answer 11 questions, and ask 11 questions of 11 more people.

Well. That’s an awful lot of work for this time of year, so let’s just see where we get, shall we?

OK, 11 Things

1. I’m really introverted and shy, but I’m great at listening to conversations and throwing in a well-timed, usually sarcastic, one-liner. I like to think people will then remember that one time I said something funny and not the hour I sat there not saying anything.

2. I want to love to travel, and I do like seeing new things, but the older I get the worse I get at being a traveler. I get nervous, I don’t sleep or eat well, and it’s usually not as fun as I imagine it will be. Which does not mean I’m going to stop, just that it’s hard.

3. Though I had flown over the Gulf of Mexico before, I’d never actually been to the ocean until after I graduated college. When I first saw the real ocean, I cried.

4. I can knit through anything. I don’t really care what’s on TV or how geeky the conversation gets as long as I have my knitting. I can also knit in the dark or with my eyes closed, and I’m pretty sure I’ve knit while asleep a few times.

5. I never wanted kids until husband and I had been married about six years. I decided something of our love should still be around after we were gone. I think people might assume we had fertility problems because we waited so long, but really we were only “trying” for two weeks before I got pregnant.

6. I am incapable of baby talk or talking down to children. Which leads some of our friends to say that the girl doesn’t understand anything I say. I think it just gives her an awesome vocabulary.

7. I’m alone a lot and consequently talk to myself a lot. I also tend to have the same conversations with myself over and over. Out loud.

8. My fingernails are almost never all the same length. I usually have two or three super long ones on each hand and the rest are nubs. I should keep them short, but I just don’t.

9. I seem to be incapable of drinking a whole cup of coffee in one sitting.

10. My desk is always a mess. My whole office, really. I hate it but never seem to get it under control.

11. I value keeping in touch with people but I’m really bad at it. I’ve only worked really hard to keep one distant friend in my life. It was hard for about 11 years, until he finally got on Facebook. (I love Facebook.)

And Laurie’s 11 Questions

1. If money were no object, what would you do with two months off work?

Travel in Europe. Despite number 2 above. And knit things for fun. Or maybe not knit at all.

2. Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings?

Harry Potter. I’ve read both, but I love the Harry Potter world a lot more. Probably because I want to be Hermione.

3. What record album or cd changed your life and why?

I always say my favorite album is Abbey Road, because to me it’s just a really complete, beautiful work of art. But I don’t know. Probably something by Tori Amos or the Indigo Girls, because they taught me that girls have power and a voice and need to express it.

4. If you were going to start a non-profit, who would it benefit?

It would either be for literacy, because that’s the key to all learning, or for clean water, because it’s ridiculous that not everyone in the world has access to a thing we don’t even give a second thought to in the “developed” world.

5. What’s your superpower?

I wish my superpower were having my shit together, but it’s not. Maybe making marginally nutritious meals in the time it takes my daughter to watch her afternoon TV?

6. Heels or flats?

Flats, almost all the time.

7. Which chef would you invite to cook your Thanksgiving meal?

Probably Emeril, because I love Cajun food and I think he’s funny.

8. If you were chosen to be a companion to Dr. Who, where and when would you like to go?

The Italian Renaissance, because it must have been quite a thing to have that much creativity all in one place.

9. What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life? (kids and marriage not allowed!)

I’ve written two books and one of them was good enough for a publisher to ask me to write another (due out in 2015).

10. Would you rather sail around the world or fly around the world?

Fly. I am more nervous in boats.

11. Which book could you read over and over and over again?

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It’s one of the few books I ever reread. I love it so much, if the girl had been the boy, I would have lobbied hard to name him Owen.

Tag, You’re It

I don’t want to put any pressure on anyone because it’s the holidays and all, and I don’t know if I have 11 people anyway because Laurie tapped some I would have, but here goes:

Ahoy Friend

Musings of Mother Hood

Tall Boots and Big Girl Panties

Approaching Joy

The Made Thing

Eggs and Herbs

These are all Arkansas ladies who have great things to say and I hope you’ll give them a visit.

Questions, What Questions?

And because this has gone on long enough, instead of questions I’m going to ask you to list 11 things you’re thankful for or 11 things you want to do next year. Or a mix. Whatever.

If you’ve made it this far you deserve a medal. For real.