Thursday, January 6, 2011

Life IS Good, Isn't It?


I’m surprised I even get awards because I’m so terrible about passing them along. I do appreciate them, and they really do make my day, but I’m falling short on passing them on. But today is different; I’m passing this one on RIGHT NOW. . .or, right after I answer 10 questions about myself.


The requirements for the Life is Good Award:
1. First, thank and link back to the person that gave the award. (Thank you Quinn!)
2. Answer the 10 survey questions.
3. Pass the award along to other bloggers whom you think are fantastic.
4. Contact the bloggers you have chosen to let them know about the award.


10 Questions:

1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you are not anonymous, do you wish that you had started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?


I don’t wish I was anonymous because I’m not controversial. I was over at Nathan Bransford’s blog the other day and noticed that the anonymous comments were really distasteful and meant to get a rise out of other bloggers. That’s not really me. However, I would like to think that if I were controversial I would have the balls to use my real name, figuratively speaking of course.

2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

I’m a Taurus so stubborn just comes with the territory. Let’s see. It’s hard to pick and choose on this one. Let me call my sister. . .Here’s what she had to say, “Can I just pick a moment where you weren’t stubborn. That would be a lot easier.” Thanks, sis.

However, she did remind me of my childhood. I don’t remember this because I was too young (or I lost some pertinent brain cells) but this is the way my family likes to describe it: I, apparently, was so stubborn that around 18 months old until I was about 3 years old, if I didn’t get what I wanted from my older sisters, I would hold my breath and pass out. My mom says she knew it was coming because I would start off with a cry that sounded like a siren and then nothing, no sound. Afterwards she would find me passed out on the ground somewhere. I won’t even go into detail about how my legs were too short to walk down the stairs so I rolled down them. I’m like the Bucket-Head kid from the movie, Parenthood.

3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?

A 17-year-old girl who can’t believe she’s actually 32 and has 3 kids. Sure, there are those days I'm too tired to do anything because I have 3 kids, but in the mirror I’m only tired because I was out late with my friends the night before. I still feel very young and because I’m short (4’11-1/2”) I'm often mistaken for a teenager. Salesmen who come to my house have asked for the owner or my parents. When I had my first child people thought I was her babysitter and not just because she’s darker than me because she’s ¼ Filipino. And just a couple of months ago during the kindergarten field trip to Norco High School to learn about farms, I was mistaken as one of the high school students.

4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Coca-Cola is my year-round beverage, however, I love the Tastefully Simple brand of Sangria Slush Mix. (I don't sell this. I'm only linking to it because it's just that good.)

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

Time for myself? That’s a new concept. I should try that and find out.

No, I’m kidding. I rarely get time for myself so when I do I end up writing.

6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

I’m going to put publishing on that list because it is the last thing I haven’t done that I have always wanted to do. If you asked me this 6 years ago, I would have said learn to ride a motorcycle. But then I did learn. I even own a dirt bike that my husband and I take trail riding. If you asked me 2 years ago, I would have said write a book. I would start my ideas and then never have time to finish or focus because I had babies in diapers running around me. I’ve done a lot in my life and wouldn’t give up a thing.

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?

I’m definitely an overachiever. In 10th grade I lettered in academics. When my parents divorced and we moved from California back to Utah where I had grown up, I dropped down to a 2.7 GPA. However, I was determined and managed to letter in Theater Arts and graduate with Honors. Still, to this day, I keep strict schedules for myself. I’m excellent at coming up with ideas, breaking them down into steps, and then accomplishing the task, like building a haunted house in my cul-de-sac every October. I’m terrible about delegating though.

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?

I have several poignant moments in my life. It’s hard to choose. I’ll just give it a try right now and tell you what I come up with. . .Okay, I saw the day I auditioned for The American Academy of Dramatic Arts West. I was standing in a hotel conference room with the woman sent to audition me and a few others from Utah. I was halfway through the piece I rehearsed for a month from Children of a Lesser God. I played the part of Sarah Norman, a deaf former student of her love interest, James Leeds. I had to use sign language and speak with a voice that sounded like a deaf person speaking. The most poignant part of that audition was starting it. I’ll never forget the look on the auditioner’s face when I started signing and speaking like a deaf woman. It was a proud moment. I managed to get accepted for class of 1997. They auditioned over 2,000 people that year and accepted only 500.

It’s those kinds of moments that remind me that if I want something bad enough and I’m willing to work for it I can most certainly achieve it.

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?

I don’t mind sharing my true self. I’m a goof. Either I’m just highly alert about my surroundings or my life is truly stranger than fiction. However, I find it a struggle to write about things that aren’t about writing. I’m not sure what everyone wants to read.

10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

I don’t really enjoy talking on the phone so I’m going to pick reading a book. I love to read. I hate the phone. The only person I talk to on the phone regularly is my sister and that’s because we both have 3 kids around the same age and so if our kids are crazy in the background or if we have to yell at our kids while on the phone it’s no big deal. I wouldn’t put anyone else through that. However, send me a text message, I’ll get back to you for sure.

_____________________

I’ve comprised a list of awesome bloggers that I think more than deserve this award. Some are new to follow me but all have supported me and my craziness in one way or another. Thank you for that. Life IS good, isn’t it? Don't fret if you don't have time to pass this on, I understand.

(Okay, Blogger isn't showing my links the right way so I'm going to just put your names next to your link. Blogger will not get me down today.)

  1. http://writing-art-and-design.blogspot.com/ (Michael & In Time. . .)
  2. http://middledistancerunners.blogspot.com/ (Regina @ Middle Distance Runners)
  3. Erica & Christy @ erica & christy (erica & christy @ erica & christy)
  4. Kelly Polark @ Kelly Polark (Kelly @ Kelly Polark)
  5. http://margokelly.blogspot.com/ (Margo @ Margo Kelly)
  6. L'Aussie @ L'Aussie Writing (L'Aussie @ L'Aussie Writing)
  7. http://danklinefelter.blogspot.com/ (Dan @ Sanguine Musings)
  8. http://unifiedvibration.blogspot.com/ (Nicole @ Heaven on Earth)
  9. Alex @ Alex J. Cavanaugh (Alex @ Alex J. Cavanaugh)
  10. http://thehappywhisk.blogspot.com/ (Ivy @ The Happy Whisk)

20 comments:

  1. Life is good. Thanks so much. These are great and I'm just as horrible at giving them out, and even worse at answering questions.

    Thanks for thinking of me. It's really quite a treat.

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  2. Aw... thanks! I can't wait to check out all of the other award winning blogs! YAY. :)

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  3. Thank you!
    And your answer for #3 really made me chuckle. I remember someone coming to my door when I was about thirty and he asked for my father.

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  4. I can totally relate to your answer for #3! Congratulations on your award!

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  5. Hurray for your award! Good to know more about you! (Also a year round coke lover!)

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  6. Congrats on the award and thanks for passing it on, You are too sweet!

    Michael

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  7. I agree Life IS Good! Thank you for the honors. Great questions and answers and wonderful learning more about you! I'm a CocaCola girl too!

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  8. Congratulations on your award and thanks for sharing.

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  9. Congrats on your award and thank you for thinking of me! I have to say, it's still funny to me that you would actually hold your breath to the point of unconsciousness just to get back at me and Anna! LOL!!!

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  10. Hi Patricia! Congrats on your award and the thoughtful answers. You did this so well. So thanks for passing it on to all the lovely people - doesn't it take ages? I'll do my best to post as it is too easy to forget!

    Thank you for your kind and funny words on my Jodi Picoult post. I've always got this book mixed up with The Plain Truth (which is also about religion). I pride myself on reading all her books as soon as they hit the shop!

    BTW, I see you're looking for publication. As of next week, Wednesday, I'm starting a series where published authors are telling their journey to publication. Some have giveaways! It'd be great if you stopped by! Hoping to see you there!

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  11. THANK YOU! we'll pass it on and answer the questions, but it might take us a while!!!

    Congrats on the award--you deserve it for your great blog!

    i bought the sangria slush a year ago and never made it! (adding it to the list of things to do this weekend! thanks for reminding me i had it!) i'm also short (5'1") and am mistaken for my students (ahem, not high school...elementary) but only because of my height. in the past year i apparently look more my age :0( nobody cards me or questions my age anymore. must be the lines around my eyes....

    very cool that you shared about your arts background. always love learning more about you and your family!

    christy

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  12. Cool post...Congrats on the award. I recently found your blog and wanted to let you know about a contest I'm offering: www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com

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  13. Great post and congrats on your award! :)

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  14. I hate all of you for posting your young ages. That is all. (and a lie. i love you all. with a wrinkle in my eye!)
    erica

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  15. I got a kick out of #3. Here's to the young at heart! And I'd much rather read a book than talk on the phone any day. Congrats on the award!

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  16. Well done on the award and interesting answers. I enjoyed reading and learning more about you! And guess what? You have another award waiting for you at my site!

    http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/awards/

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  17. Congrats on the award and to those you've passed it on to! And thank you for dropping by my blog.

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  18. Congrats on your award! I have another one for you waiting at my blog. How great is that?

    J

    http://jodilhenry.blogspot.com/2011/01/handful-of-awards.html

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