Friday's Feast

I couldn't pass up the chance to do this Texas-themed Friday's Feast brought to us by Texas Tanya.

Appetizer: When was the last time you had some bar-b-que?
We had barbecue burgers a week or so ago. I haven't been out to eat barbecue in a few weeks, though. Now I'm getting hungry!

Soup: How many pairs of cowboy boots do you own?
Just one that are actual "cowboy" boots, but I have a couple of pairs of ankle boots.

Salad: Finish this sentence: Mommas, don't let your babies
grow up to be cowboys! Willie finished that sentence for us a long time ago. Is there any other way to finish that sentence?

Main Course: Name a song that makes you think of Texas.
God blessed Texas. I love this song! My daughter marched in a parade as part of a dance team when she was five. And we used this for our finale performance when she was a cheerleader for her brother's football team two years ago. (They were the Texans.) Enjoy it! [side note - I forgive Little Texas for shooting most of this video in Dallas. And to all you non-Texans - most of us don't dress like cowboys or dance like this. But it's a cool song!]



Dessert: Cowboy hats - Black or White?
Ummmm.... brown! But no one I know wears one anymore.

Happy Friday, Y'all!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?

Funny you should ask! See my post below, Salon Talk. Sore subject right now.


Soup
Name one thing you miss about being a child.

Playing dolls and enjoying it. Really! It's not the same when you're an adult. I've played dolls with my daughter, but the responsibilities are always calling, which takes away from the fun.


Salad
Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.

For taste? Nothing beats real butter.


Main Course
If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?

Spanish would be the most practical for my location, and I can speak un poquito, but I am nowhere near fluent.

I'd like to learn sign language, though. It's so beautiful.

html - What? That's a language, too! And it would be quite useful. Again, I only know un poquito.


Dessert
Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…

... about where I am now. Or maybe not. I have no idea!



Come on and join the Friday's Feast fun!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is the weather like today where you live?

Today started out with sunshine but gave way to lightning and thunder storms in the afternoon. I was thankful. We need the rain, and it cooled our evening temperatures to be more pleasant.

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?

7? My career could move forward. I have a Master's Degree in education, so I could become a principal, but I'm not sure the time is right. My family and children are much more important to me to give up the amount of time necessary in exchange for the higher pay and aggravation.

Salad
What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?

Downstairs kitchen: Cafe curtains only. Dining room: sheers, curtains, valances. Living room: vertical blinds on all windows, curtains on two, and matching valances on three. Upstairs: All the rooms have blinds though they are not all the same type. We have valances that match our bed. The kids all have valances, sheers, or a combination of both over their blinds. Our shutters are only decorative on the outside of the house although I'd like to get shutters that are functional. My husband thinks it's time to change the window coverings in the living room.

Main Course
Name something that instantly cheers you up.

Instantly? Hugs from my twins. Probably nothing else.

Dessert
How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?

Three or four. The snooze button is my friend.

Happy Feasting everyone! Click here to view more participants.

Friday's Feast

It's Friday - Time to Feast. Click here to visit the Friday Feast home page.

Appetizer
Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?

Unfortunately, I'm a Murphy's Law kind of person. If it can go wrong, it will go wrong, so I try to prevent things from going wrong, and to do that, I have to look at the bad side where all the possiblities are. I tend to see the glass half empty. I'm trying hard to change that.

Soup
What is your favorite color of ink to write with?

Usually, a gel ink black pen, but also a regular Bic, medium point pen.

Salad
How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?

Not often enough. If I have one, it's usually at home. I may get one at a salon about once a year. Boy, things change. I used to get one every two weeks back in the day!

Main Course
Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?

Easy question. Yes! My husband! But I've also won books, scrapbooking stickers, and event tickets to see Sweeney Todd off broadway (which I haven't actually received yet - one of my step-daughters really wants to go see this).

Dessert
In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?

Our main computer is in the living room, but not really in it, and I know that makes no sense. Trust me. We have another in the kitchen that used to be in my room. Now I have a laptop, and I can use it in any room in the house.

Thanks for visiting my feast! Click here to visit more.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is the nearest big city to your home?

Houston

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?

9. I'd like to say 10, but I'm sure over the course of the years I've divulged a secret or two.

Salad
Describe your hair (color, texture, length).

light brown with blonde highlights, bangs, shoulder length, thin, and fine-textured. I hate it.

Main Course
What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?

I am courteous, but I have a tendency to get impatient and have a bit of a lead foot.

Dessert
When was the last time you had a really bad week?

About two weeks ago. Things were awful between my husband and me, and work was hectic with state mandated testing. I was exhausted. I feel silly calling it a really bad week now, knowing there are so many people suffering real traumatic events.

To visit the Friday's Feast homepage and view other participants, click here.

Friday Feast

If you'd like to read for Friday's Feast-ers, or, if you'd like to participate, click here!

Appetizer

When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

Yes! It's contagious!

Soup

Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

Hard wood living room and ceramic tile kitchen, breakfast room, dining room, and powder room downstairs. Carpeted stairs and upstairs bedrooms, and crummy linoleum in the upstairs bathrooms. I'm not fond of any of it, though! I like the way the wood and tile look, but I don't like the way they feel on bare feet, and our carpet is so old and needs to be replaced.

Salad

Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Did Diana dance during December?

Main Course

Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

Yes, a friend and co-worker has an adopted daughter the same age as my children. When I was trying to conceive, I had an ectopic pregnancy and two miscarriages (that I know of for sure), and then I couldn't get pregnant again for a while because of a benign tumor blocking one tube and scar tissue in the other. Adoption was looking like a viable option for us until I met the most fabulous reproductive endocrinologist who got me all fixed up. I was blessed, and now I have my beautiful twins, soon to be 12 years old.

Dessert

Name 2 blue things.

Bluebonnets (Texas state flower, although they are arguably purple) and the sky on a clear day.

Friday's Feast 189

Appetizer
What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?

The Pink Panther! No talking, but I was still captivated.

Soup
Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?

This is easy. A cat or kitten. I'd probably get it from one of our local shelters, so it's probably already have a name. If I could name it, I'd base it on its peronality and appearance, but some names I like are Sassy, Lovey, Grace, and Princess. After having said that, I'd probably name it Bob! Here's one kitty currently up for adoption. I sooo want her.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?

6, I guess. What special occasions do I go to any more anyway? And I don't fit in my dressy clothes the way I used to. To heck with it. I'm just gonna stay home and watch a movie!

Main Course
What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?

A lot of talk radio, actually. It's how I get the news, sports info, weather, etc. If the kids or husband are in the car, then there's music. Kids - pop music. Husband - classic rock.

Dessert
When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it?

The last time I bought a clock, it was just a little clock/radio for one of the kids. The last time my husband bought a clock, it was one of those atomic clocks that tells you the indoor and outdoor temp, the time, day and date, and moon phase. It's in the living room above the TV. It's not identical, but it looks something like this.

Friday's Feast April 18

Appetizer
Name a color you find soothing.

Soft colors in hues of blue, pink, lavendar or cream. They are relaxing.

Soup
Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.

I don't remember it! I only remember being nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs!

Salad
What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?

It's an incredibly soft, white bathrobe. I have it on right now.

Main Course
Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see?

There is absolutely NO ONE I want to see who is worth spending the night outdoors in line!

Dessert
What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc.)?

It was a tie! N and A, 5 each, and they are also the last two letters of my first name.

To join us for Friday's Feast, or to read what others are saying, click here.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.

It is called "cheerful." It's dark pink with a light yellow and brown center. It's similarly shaped to a cala lily, but it smells like stargazers.

Soup
Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.

Colbie Caillat (Click her name to go to a link to watch her video. Embedding is disabled, so you'll have to click over for this one.)

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?

7. I try. I can't stand when people leave trash, books, or food in the car. I don't get the outside cleaned as often as I should.

Main Course
How do you feel about poetry?

pretty good! tee hee

Dessert
What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?

My 11 year old son playing at his first baseball game (which I haven't uploaded to the computer yet).

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What does the color dark green make you think of?

A lush forest with plentiful oaks.

Soup
How many cousins do you have?

I'm not sure. First cousins? 7 or 8? 2nd or 3rd cousins? Really, no idea. None of them live in my state.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

Probably 9. Honesty is something I've come to value highly.

Main Course
Name something that is truly free.

Air. And for the most part, love. If it's real.

Dessert
Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Sometimes phantoms resurrect in nighttime gloom.

(That was really hard!)

Click here to visit other Friday's Feast main page.

Friday's Feast

This is my 12th edition. I sure missed doing this last week!

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?

6????

Soup
Do you prefer baths or showers?

showers for quickness, but baths are more luxurious if I have the time.

Salad
What was the last bad movie you watched?

I can think of 2 recently that just didn't do much for me. There Will be Blood (please don't throw eggs!) and Michael Clayton (or tomatoes!)

Main Course
Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.

The Internet, specifically blogging. It interferes with my sleeping. I stay up too late reading and writing and posting photos, etc. Then I don't get enough sleep, but I still have to get up and go to work the next day. I promise myself I'll skip some Internet time and go to bed at a decent hour, but I rarely ever do.

Dessert
Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?

Piano. Both my daughters play. And I also enjoy listening to my daughter play her clarinet while her brother plays the trumpet as long as they're playing the same song.

Go to Friday's Feast to see more!

Friday's Feast #10 for me

Appetizer
Who was the last person you hugged?

My son who came downstairs a few minutes ago for a late-night snack.

Soup
Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.
Take your makeup off every night!

Salad
What does the color yellow make you think of?

The sun, and flowers, and all things spring. And the butter-yellow color of the nursery when the twins were just born.

Main Course
If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?

Nature! Flowers, trees, rain, insects, birds. And of course, family. Candid shots.

Dessert
What was the longest book you ever read?

The Stand by Stephen King. Probably the only book I ever read of his all the way through. The man is twisted. But The Stand was an awesome book. The movie does not do it justice.

Visit other Friday's Feast blogs by clicking here.

Friday's Feast #9 for me

Feast 179.

Appetizer
Name one thing that is unique about you.
I have a Master's Degree in Education.

Soup
Fill in the blank: My favorite activity is reading, but I like scrapbooking, too.

Salad
What type of wood do you have for your home’s furnishings?
The living room is mostly leather, glass, and metal. Our bedroom is done in a dark wood, but I didn't select it. The dining room table is cherry.

Main Course
Who do you talk to most often on the phone?
I avoid talking on the phone, but probably my mother.

Dessert
What level of responsibility do you have in your job?
I'm a teacher, so that probably explains it.

Friday's Feast #8

Appetizer

What is your favorite kind of cereal?

I like Frosted Flakes and Cap'n Crunch. Yeah, I'm a grown-up!

Soup

When was the last time you purchased something for your home, what was it, and in which room did it go?

We purchase a 42" Sony Bravia LCD HD Television. It's in our living/family room.

Salad

What is the funniest commercial you’ve ever seen?

There's one where the guy sends this huge load of coins to the drive through teller, and it bounces off the wall and explodes inside the teller station. Funny! And the one that reminds me of Monty Python where they are using the ATM and the arm comes out of the ATM and rips the guy's toga off (like ATMS's are ripping us off when they charge extra fees.) I don't know why, but those two tickle my funny bone! I usually avoid commercials.

Main Course

Make up a name for a company by using a spice and an animal (example: Cinnamon Monkey).

Garlic Hippo - We sell Italian food!

Dessert

Fill in the blank: I haven’t ______ since ______.

I haven't been asleep before midnight since some time last year.

Friday's Feast #7

Appetizer
How many times per day do you usually laugh?
Quite a few, but I'm not sure if they're all genuine laughs. My husband is pretty funny, and the kids crack me up a lot, but work is so stressful that I don't get to laugh there as much as I'd like to, mainly with the other adults (versus with the students).

Soup
What do your sunglasses look like?
Tortoiseshell-type frames with medium dark lenses, small to fit my face. Nothing special.

Salad
You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go?
If that's the only way I could get to New York, that's where I'd go. I want to see it. My husband has been there once, and he isn't longing to go again. So... take me! Plane, train, auto. I don't care which one. I just want to see it and say I've been there.

Main Course
Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city.
Mild winters. Being close enough to a large city to have venues available for fine arts, museums, theater, dining, shopping, sporting events, lakes, rivers, and oceans, and so on. Oops. That wasn't one thing!

Dessert
If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best?
Light Pink. That's a pretty color.

Friday's Feast # 6

Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?
Coca-Cola! It’s the real thing, baby.

Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.
A boring pencil cup, a telephone, and a water glass (at home).

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?
I try earnestly to be honest. I would rank myself an 8. Wish I could say 9 or 10.

Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?
I think I would rename League City and call it Southshore. I would combine it with the Clear Lake are where I live. The main area of League City is a neighborhood called Southshore Harbor. I just think it sounds classier than League City.

Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?
Students, my own children, and my job all stress me out. Sitting at the computer writing or blogging calms me down.

Friday's Feast #4

Appetizer
Name 2 things you would like to accomplish in 2008.

I don't make resolutions. But a few months ago, I made a committment to myself to exercise more. I bought my membership at the Y, and I have been going faithfully several times a week. My second goal is to be a happier person. I've given this a lot of thought, and even if I don't FEEL happy, I want to project happiness. I do have a lot to be grateful for.

Soup
With which cartoon character do you share personality traits?

Hmmm. I took this quiz to find out. I took the quiz twice, with one or two changes because I was unsure about some of the answers, but both times, I was interpreted as Tweety. The third time I took it, I was considered Pepe Le Pew (without the smell) because I am loyal, take my committments to family seriously, and I don't let romance cloud my judgment of what is real. That sounds more like me than Tweety. It's a fast, fun quiz!

Salad
What time of day (or night) were you born?

I'm not completely sure! I think I was born in the morning.

Main Course
Tell us something special about your hometown.

My hometown of Humble (the "H" is silent), Texas was named for a Mr. Humble who discovered oil there. Humble Oil later became Exxon Oil.

Dessert
If you could receive a letter from anyone in the world, who would you want to get one from?

The mayor of New York inviting me and my family to be his guest for a week at a posh hotel, all expenses paid, so that I could come back to Texas and write about my experience.

Friday's Feast #3

Appetizer
Make up a word and give us its definition.

Randoming - changing the subject to a random topic that has nothing to do with the topic previously being discussed. I use this word quite frequently when talking to my children.

Soup
What is currently your favorite song?

During the holiday season, my favorite song is the POPS instrumental version of Sleigh Ride. (see my post from Dec. 5th for a video)

Salad
What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?

A cat or a kitten, which my husband will not allow. Other than that, a good book to read or some new shoes or boots.

Main Course
Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

Clinique Aromatics Elixir reminds me of my grandmother. I can't smell it and NOT think of her.

Dessert
Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn’t be, and why?

Only one? Give me a break! Anyone who is on MTV because I couldn't care less! It's the bane of our existence.

And Anyone on most of the so-called "reality" shows because I also couldn't care less. I am so OUT of touch with pop culture! I don't watch (and this is going to bring gasps) American Idol or Dancing with the Stars, must less Survivor, Supernanny, or The Amazing Race. I have watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition in the past, but even that gets old after a while, no matter how cute Ty Pennington is. It's almost like one big advertisement. And I liked Wife Swap for the first 2 or 3 episodes, then it really went over the top.

So, all of these people should just get off my TV! Oh, wait! They did! I turned it off.

Friday's Feast #2

Appetizer

What was the last game you purchased?

Guitar Hero - for my son, to replace the one his step-sister scratched.

Soup

Name something in which you don’t believe.

Magic - the kind that is performed onstage. I love to watch it, but I know that it's all an illusion. It's fascinating although I can rarely figure out how they do their tricks.

Salad

If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?

I know it WOULDN'T be Brittney Spears! I would choose Oprah Winfrey because she seems fair, genuine, altruistic, and generous!

Main Course

What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?

LOTS! One of them is a lesson my daughter learned the hard way tonight, that it's not as easy or as glamorous as you think it is to shave your legs.

Dessert

Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

Dimly lit, pleasantly fragranced, maybe with lavender, lots of candles casting soft shadows on the walls, perhaps some fresh flowers in a crystal vase on the nightstand, a cozy bed to curl up on with a fluffy comforter, and a gripping novel to read. If it were really perfect, it would also include a massage therapist.

Friday's Feast #1

This is my first Friday's Feast. I've wanted to try this meme for a while, so here I go!

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?

It used to be one called the Zipper, but as I have gotten older, it tends to make me sick. I like some roller coasters, if they're smooth, and I like loops in them, but I don't like the ones like the new one built at Kemah. It's a wooden one set in a very compact location with lots of steep drops.

Soup
How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?

I usually ending up saying something really stupid or talking too much from nervousness.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?

I enjoy it quite a bit, so I'd give myself an 8 or 9. It's hard to disagree with people sometimes, so if the discussion gets too heated, it becomes a bit like beating my head on a brick wall. But I enjoy discussions such as this with thoughtful, open-minded people who will listen as well as talk.

Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?

Absolutely! I work around children, so it was a must.

Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?

Hmmmm. 10-20 a week. I am so busy helping kids with homework and taking them to their activities, that the only TV I watch is either late at night when I should be in bed (like now) or on the weekend using the DVD or the DVR.