Kids Say the Darndest Things!

Yesterday my husband, referred to by the grandkids as Papa, was taking the 2 cutest kids in the world for a short drive. The 5-yr-old Jeff says in a very sad voice, "Grandma doesn't go to church." According to Papa the concern for my eternal salvation was evident in his voice. Three-yr-old Megan chimes in, "Grandma goes to the library."

I'm hoping the library is closer to heaven than hell.

13 Things About Me A~Z Part 2

N ~ Z

N What’s the story of your NAME? were you named after anyone? Do you go by a nickname? Any aliases?

I wrote a Thursday Thirteen about my name a couple months ago. You can find it here. My parents were thinking of naming me Carol, I think, but my Dad was called overseas before I was born. After I was born my mother received a telegram from Dad that said, "Name the young lady Cheya." Mom had to spell it to the records people. She didn't even know how to pronounce it. Dad later told me it meant someone who was dear or special to you. Needless to say, I like it.

O OBSERVANT - What’s around you right now? What do you see?

Do I really have to say?! There's quite a bit of clutter - we are talking about my computer desk! Let's just leave it at that.

P Who are the special PEOPLE in your life?

My family, both immediate and extended. My youth-in-custody students at school.

Q Any Little QUIRKs About Yourself:

My husband could list these better than I can. He says that's one of the things he loves about me. One that comes to mind - I like to spread the peanut butter and jam out to the edges of a sandwich. If having a hamburger or hot dog, I can't stand to have the mustard directly on the bun, it has to go on top of the ketchup. When I just pop up some popcorn to eat while reading, I hate to be interrupted. That's enough for now. I don't want to scare anyone.

R What do you like to do for RECREATION?

I love to Sunday drives around the valley. I enjoy blogging, reading, playing Killer Bunnies with my family (actually just about any game, but Killer Bunnies is the most recent), drawing house plans, scrapbooking, quilting, cross-stitching. Haven't cross-stitched in a couple of years and it's been months since I've scrapped. I love to lay in the hammock for a brief period everyday, but I think that's over until next spring. Mostly I like to read.

S Do You SING in the Shower? In the car? For your friends? Shower?

I never sing in the shower because I'm always courteous to those who might hear me. I love to sing in the car when I'm alone. My friends are still my friends because I DON'T sing in front of them. My daughter and some of her friends have beautiful voices and I love listening to her. Also, love listening to my husband. He tends to drive under the speed limit, but if I can get him singing hymns, he pushes harder on the gas, especially How Great Thou Art. Double bonus for me - listening to him sing and going faster!

T What’s at the Top of your TO DO list?:

I've been telling myself often lately that I need to start exercising, but I haven't actually written it on a list, so I haven't started yet. Do I need a to do list if I have a -to-be-read list? (My husband may think so)

U Any UNUSUAL Experiences:

A few spiritually related things that a bit too sacred to talk about over the internet. Nothing else I can think of .

V VEGAS,Vienna,Venice,Vladivostok… How far have you traveled? What’s your favorite City?

I've been from Tijuana, Mexico to Tofino, Vancouver Is., Canada (north to south) and Forks, Washington to somewhere in Maine (east to west). Also east to west from San Diego, California to the Outer Islands, North Carolina. Love to travel and I love to drive throughout the states.

W WINTER, Spring, Summer, Fall… What’s your favorite season?

I'm still torn on that one. I love both Spring and Fall. Spring because of the new life. Love to walk around the yard and see which bulbs are poking their little green arms up out of the ground, which trees are budding, etc. I love the anticipation of green and warmth. Fall is delightful because it's cooling off again and oh, the beautiful colors. The harvest is great, the abundance of food corn, squash, tomatoes, etc. (I do like July for the raspberries)

After living in Southern California for several years where they didn't have distinct seasons, I decided I would rather put up with summer and winter so I could have Spring and Fall. Each brings something delightful with it. I don't think I could live someplace that was mild and nice all year long. Give me the variety, please.

X EXes - Things You Don’t Do Anymore (but did, once (would you, again?))

I was going to say take hikes, but I never did that much anyway. Can't think of anything else.

Y Any secret/deep YEARNINGS?

There's always chocolate, but I guess that's not a secret to anyone.

Z ZERO to ZENITH - Where are you in your life? Still growing? On an upward (or downward) curve? Just skating along?

I'm skiing down a downward slope! Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I do know I'm not going upward, so I guess I'm just skating along. At my age that means down, though. Tomorrow I'm going to pull myself up by the nap of my neck, tho!

13 Things About Me A~Z

A ~ M

I am borrowning (*cough* stealing) this idea from Karen at Write From Karen blog. She has some really clever ideas and her Thursday Thirteen posts are always super. Great site about writing, reading, and living.

1. A - If you were an ANIMAL, what would you be?

I'd like to be a cat that lives in an elegant home with owners that feed me in cut crystal bowls.

2. B - BOOKS: What’s on your reading list?

Birds of a Feather (book 2 in the Maisie Dobbs series) by Jacqueline Winspear
Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Bel Canto by Anne Patchett
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett
Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

3. C - COMPULSIVE about anything?

I guess you could say that I'm compulsive about reading - I must read everyday even if it's a little.

4. D - DREAMS - Do you … dream in color? remember your dreams? keep a dream journal?

I do dream in color, but I don't keep a dream diary. I did have a dream the other night that I felt held meaning. I kept accidently dropping things out the upstairs window, the cordless phone, the tv remote, and something else I don't remember. I struggle to get them but only sent them further down the sloped roof. There was much worrying and ineffectual effort on my part. Finally my husband, the hero, came home, put a ladder against the side of the house, and climb up on the periously steep roof and retrieved the items. The next day I figured out the meaning - There were jobs around the house that I couldn'd do but that I worried about. I needed Myke to do them for me.

5. E - EATING - what’s your usual snack?

Used to be Mystic Mint cookies until all the stores in the area quit carrying them. Now it's a mint chocolate cookie made by Dove.

6. F - A Few of your FAVORITE Things:

The lap quilt my daughter made me, my desk and computer, a phone that's close at hand when it rings, our comfortable and reliable vehicle, clean sheets from off the line, laying in the hammock in the spring or fall, bed and breakfasts, trips with my husband, the Oregon coastline, books, other people who share their talents, the scriptures,

7. G - GIGGLES! What (or who) makes you laugh? Do you have a good sense of humor?

It tickles me pink to watch my grandkids discover and enjoy things that I've grown callous to over the years. When they laugh, I can't help but laugh.

8. H - major HOT Button:

People who are inconsiderate, who are rude, who think they are the only ones that matter.

9. I - I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father.

10. J - What kind of JOKES do you like? Dislike?

I like jokes that are clean with an unexpected punch line. Or that touch on a quirky truth about human nature. I do not like jokes that make fun of someone or of a group of people. Here's a joke I think is funny in a cute sort of way:

Do you know what the snail said as it rode on the back of a turtle? "Slow down, you're going too fast!"

11. K - Also KNOWN As… Aliases? Screen names? A non de plume perhaps?

My only alias is booklogged, my blogging name.

12. L - I LOVE …

My family. I love being a grandma to a 5 yr old boy and a 3 yr old girl.

13. M - How do you feel about MEETING people? Do it all the time? Rarely? Parties or 1-on-1?

I don't like to meeting people, but sometimes I have to with my job. I think I'm generally poised and easy to talk with. I like gatherings with my family were I feel comfortable. We eat good food, have interesting conversations and play lots of games.