5QF-Sunday edition : )

Well, well, well...or should I sing, "Oops! I did it again!" I worked Thursday night and slept through five question Friday. When this happens, I feel compelled to answer the questions anyway and end up "blogging" on someone else's comment section. So...I decided I'd go ahead and answer the questions any old way. Better late than never, right?

1. What is on your Summer 2013 bucket list?
Get to the beach and get some sand between my toes...which I just did last weekend. I plan to post more on that a little later! We still need to use our tickets to the planetarium and I owe my daughter a date at the bowling alley. Finally, we would like to visit a water park. I'd better get busy...August is here, and that means summer is almost over!

2. What is the most useless item on your child's back to school list?
We're sort of outgrowing the whole back to school shopping supply list. Once my kids hit high school they got "lists" from individual teachers with requested items on the first couple of days of school, so no "back to school bargains" for moi! Never liked when the teachers asked for each student to bring 3 boxes of Kleenex or 12 dozen pencils on day one. Where do they store all of that stuff? Doesn't an overabundance of supplies encourage waste? The kicker is sending all of that loot on the first day and still having to replace stuff after Christmas break!

3. What is the one reality TV show that makes no sense to you?
I do not watch reality shows, period. Is there anything real about them, seriously? Give me a good old sitcom any day over any reality show.

4. What is one movie you can watch over and over again? Why?
Oh Brother Where Art Thou and The Little Mermaid because they both have awesome music I love to sing along to (read: I have the soundtracks memorized).

5. What's your favorite back to school tradition?
Sadly enough I don't think we ever really established a back to school tradition in our little family. I do not particularly enjoy shopping for clothes and stuff, but my kids get really excited about it, so I try to be a good sport. School supply shopping is a nightmare for us non-shopoholics...no matter how early we shop, someone is always out of one or two items on the list (or those items haven't been stocked yet). This warrants another stop somewhere else where the item is not on sale, but you're hot and tired (this is August in Texas, after all!) and just want the pain to end. There's always some weird item like pastel colored 3x5 notecards that are only available at one of the smaller drugstores where "sales" come in the form of rebates so you have to pay up front and then fill out paperwork and save UPC symbols ,etc. to get your 50 cent savings *sigh* I have exhausted myself just thinking about all of that.
I guess my favorite tradition was taking a picture of my kiddoes on the first day of school with their ear to ear smiles, super-size backpacks and new lunch boxes and sneakers. My kids grew weary of that by mid-elementary school when it was no longer "cool" for mom to escort them to their classroom (carrying grocery bags full of aforementioned five boxes of Kleenex, 12 dozen pencils, and other miscellaneous supplies) and snap a picture of them with their homeroom teacher on the first day of school...c'est la vie, right?

That's all for now, my friends! Gotta get my snooze on for work tonight. I love my job. I wouldn't, however, be too sad if they called and cancelled me tonight : )
Until next time...

Five Question Friday-12 July 2013

Welcome back to Five Question Friday! I'm excited that Mama M is back and 5QF is back in business this week. For details on how to participate and a "clean" copy of the questions to paste on your own blog, hop over to Mama M's blog My Little Life. Now, here I go...

1. Would you rather pay for house cleaner or spa day?
I'll take both, please! The house cleaner can come while I'm away at my spa day LOL! If I had to choose one, I'd say the house cleaner...definitely more of a necessity around here. In fact, I'd probably have to bribe the house cleaner with a day at the spa for after she finishes cleaning my house. 

2. Who plans what gifts you get for holidays, you or your spouse?
This is a source of contention in my household (or maybe it's just me)...the hubs and I discuss what to get for whom. I sketch out a budget (very loose use of the term, mind you) and then I usually do most of the shopping, exhausting the budget. Then, the hubs swoops in on Christmas Day with really expensive gifts for the kids (expensive like flat screen televisions for their individual rooms ::angry eyebrows:: does anyone else think that gift is wrong on so many levels?) that were NOT on the list and NOT included in the budget. So, I guess the answer to the question is I plan, he adds to it.

3. How many hours of sleep do you get? Do you need more?
Well obviously not enough given my temper flaring from the previous question! Just kidding. I work nights and my schedule is inconsistent so I sleep whenever i can for however long I can...the more hours the merrier! On any given night that I'm not working I usually get about 6 hours of sleep. When I sleep during the day in anticipation of a work night, I get anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. On my days off, I sleep away half of the day and then get back on my night sleep schedule without difficulty.

4. Do you like your hair long or short?
Short = Easy and I love easy, so I'd have to go with short. However, I'm currently in the process of growing out my hair au naturale so it's getting long (or should I say "big"). Styling "in between, natural" hair is a double edge sword. There are more options: afro, twists, braids, flat iron straightening, etc. but it's a lot more work that wash and go short hair where the only "styling" option is which headband or hair clips to wear.

5. When was the last time you were pulled over and what was it for?
The last time I was pulled over was several years ago. I was still working at Parent's Day Out and "Officer Jack" had visited the school to talk about community helpers with the preschoolers. Then a couple of weeks later Officer Jack pulled me over for expired tags. Oops! I had the new tag in my glove box. I was just waiting for to get my vehicle inspected so I could change out both stickers at the same time. Officer Jack reached in my driver's side window, peeled off the old sticker in one fluid motion and stuck the new one on...problem solved, no ticket necessary!

Well, that's it for now. My mom, daughter, niece and I are heading to a play this evening, so I need to get a head start on dinner preparations and all of the "what to wear" business as well. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend. Until next time...

I sing because I'm happy!

It's here again, folks!  Five Question Friday hosted by Mama M at My Little Life (www.fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com). Feel free to click on her hame or link to get all of the "rules of engagement" and then join in the fun. You may also answer any of the questions in a comment below as well if you're just passing through.

1. Have you ever been robbed and how did you handle it?

Gosh, I guess I'm very fortunate in this regard. The only time I was "robbed" was when I was in elementary school. Someone broke into our house through the garage door and stole my pineapple shaped bank (not Sponge Bob related but a little mouse standing next to a big pineapple bank...Lord only knows where that thing came from way back when) full of quarters. I was naturally upset but didn't lose much sleep over the incident as I was a child and did not equate the loss of my bank with the loss of security my folks probably felt at having had someone break into the house.
2. What do you do at a kids function when Parents don't behave? Meaning they are the ones being impatient and rude.

I fume on the inside but rarely say much out loud. I wish I could speak up sometimes, but it never has been my nature to "rock the boat" so to speak. I shake my head and conclude "no wonder kids behave the way they do."
3. Have you heard of a potty party? Will you/have you had one for your child(ren)?

I am beyond the potty training years, so I'm not familiar with the whole "potty party" business, but it does not sound much like something I would have done even if it had been around when my kids were small. A couple of potty training videos from the library and a jar of m&m's on the bathroom counter did the trick for us.

4. How young do you think kids should be when they start taking swim lessons?

We have an in-ground pool at our house, so both of my kids were in swim lessons before they could walk. It totally depends on the child, though. My daughter was not as comfortable in the water as my son, so I tried a couple of different approaches with her.

5. What makes you happy?

So many little things in life make me happy, it will be hard to narrow them down. Does anyone remember the "Happiness Is..." song from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"? Click <here>; to go back down memory lane : ). I will try to name a few things that make me happy...music is one: simply listening (to all different kinds) or singing along (much to my children's chagrin). Ice cream, just one dip is all I need (every day, that is). The smell of good stuff cooking or baking in my kitchen. Ever throw something in the crockpot before church and then take a nap when you get home. You wake up and the whole house smells wonderful AND dinner is almost ready?! Happiness! Also, naps make me happy. Free stuff makes me happy...I've won three small items on blog give-aways and I felt oh so happy to receive them! Reading comments on this blog makes me happy. Commenting on others' blogs makes me happy. Watching my kids grow up and succeed at stuff I never would have been brave enough to even try makes me happy. Stuff that turns out right...from a new recipe to a craft or project. Finally, hearing from friends makes me happy. Everyone is so busy, so it's not all that often that we make the time to pick up the phone and chat, but even a little FB message or birthday greeting or Christmas card...any contact at all makes me happy.

Let me go see what everyone else is up to. Here's hoping you all have a happy weekend! Until next time...

Five Question Friday -15 April 2011

Aaarrrggghh! It's tax day! Only not really because for some reason the government has extended the deadline to Monday, April 18th...go figure. I also don't really have to panic because my taxes are already done (as of Wednesday, that is LOL!) Seems like last year we had already filed, received and spent our income tax return well before April 1st.  Anyway, I digress...
Fridays just don't seem complete without those five little questions from Mama M at My Little Life! Feel free to join the fun if you please. The rules are simple: copy and paste the original questions to a new post on your blog then answer them. Pop back over to My Little Life and add your blog to the list so others can check out what you have to say about the questions...here goes. Feel free to answer any or all of the questions in the comments below.

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?

That's a toss up between all of the trees budding and the winter weather giving way to warmer breezes characteristic of spring 

2. What was your best birthday ever?

My sister might be offended if I don't say the surprise "prom" birthday party she threw for my 40th birthday, but I think my 25th birthday was definitely one of my favorites.  I was back stateside from my Peace Corps assignment in Honduras.  I decided to travel out east via Amtrak to see some of America and visit friends I had met in Peace Corps. So, I spent my 25th birthday footloose and fancy free doing the things I loved: traveling and spending time with friends.  They even hosted a potluck dinner on my behalf and someone brought home-made cinnamon ice cream! A perfect segue into the next question...

3. What is your favorite dessert?

Cake (7-up cake or white cake, white frosting) and ice cream. I'm not ruling out all of the other scrumdiddylumptious affairs...I love a good cheesecake, cookie, cupcake, pie or cobbler, too!

4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?

Remember that question some weeks back about being superstitious? Well, I'm going to knock on wood before I answer this one. I've never had to use an excuse to get out of a ticket. I did get pulled over once by Officer Jack, the police that had just visited the Parent's Day Out program where I worked. I thought if I painted a big smile on my face and greeted him with a sweep of my open-palmed hand in a circular motion and a "Hi, Officer Jack" like he taught the kids, he may have mercy on me. He was only pulling me over because he noticed my registration was expired. I had the new tag in the car with me and was waiting until I went to the dealership to get my oil changed so they could deal with the sticky mess of removing the old one and applying the new one.  Officer Jack reached in, swiped the old sticker off in one swoop, stuck the new sticker on and sent me on my way. No ticket (or need for excuses) involved!

5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?

I've recently discovered that I like the nice soothing alarm tone on my cell phone so I've been setting that.  However, I usually wake up before my alarm(s) go off then doze back off until I hear the chimes.

Five Question Friday -08 April 2011

It's late, but it's officially still Friday in my neck of the woods, so I thought I'd go ahead and post/answer the questions for Mama M's Five Question Friday.  I won't bother with all of the rules and links and such as it's pretty much a done deal (well, okay, I'll link <this space> back to Mama M's blog just in case you want to pay her a visit, which I highly recommend).  Anyway, tomorrow is a work day, so I shan't tarry.  Here goes...

1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I could write a list of things I'd change, however, in the interest of time (and the fact that the question clearly states ONE thing)...I'd change my "tendency-toward-procrastination-poor-time-management-disorganization" flaw.

2. Write about a time when you got lost.

Years ago, I learned on PBS that homing pigeons have this thing in their brains that lets them go out on a mission and find their way back home. Well, thank goodness I'm not a pigeon because I don't think I have one of those. I can get lost going in and out of stores in the mall--not that I subject myself to that torture very often. When I was in high school, a friend got me a temp job at DFW international Airport. The day before I was to report to work I decided to take a test drive so I'd know where I was going. Thank heavens I did.  Not only did I NOT realize there was a south entrance and north entrance to the airport, but I didn't know which one I had used to get where I was. I found where I was supposed to go without incident, but on the return trip home I must have looped back and forth for an hour before I finally got my bearings and made it home trembling, broke and out of gas.

 

3. Camping or 5 star hotel?

Each has it's place. On the whole, I'm kind of a country girl at heart and really enjoy camping with my kids (in my parents' pop up tent if that counts).

4. Have you donated blood?

I donated blood many moons ago when I was in college and received a follow up letter informing me that my blood had been destroyed because it contained some antibodies or something and I was ineligible to donate ever again.  Many moons later I went with my hubs to give blood and they asked if I'd like to donate, too.  I explained my predicament, but they let me donate anyway.  I got a similar letter in the mail and have not donated blood again since.

5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?

For the past umpteen years we haven't had enough money to budget. I just paid what bills I could and then rolled the unpaid ones over to the next month and prayed for the hubs to work some extra shifts or something.  Now that I'm working and we're crawling out of that downward spiral and looking toward college planning, etc, I foresee a budget in our near future.

Whew! That was fun and now I'm done...in about 30 minutes. That may just be a blog record for me! Good night my friends. Until next time...

Five Question Friday-18 March 2011

T.G.F.F. I mean seriously, people Thank God for Fridays...as Friday seems to be the only day I even think of blogging. Actually, it's not the only day I think of it, but it does seem to be the only day I actually sit down and do it! I thank Mama M over at My Little Life for the inspiration in the form of five little questions that give me something to gab about.
Work is going relatively well.  I often think back to when I read Thomas the Train books to my kids. We had a pop up book where Thomas crashed into the station master's house as he and his family were eating dinner. As dishes and food flew everywhere, someone exclaimed, "Thomas! You great clumsy ox!" That's kind of how I feel at the hospital.  I'm slow and still trying to find my "groove." I look up drug compatibility and watch the clock as I administer "slow push" IV drugs. I like to be very thorough, but unfortunately it throws me behind and I feel like the "great clumsy ox" when I've spent most of my shift trying to catch up.  I didn't eat lunch until 3:40 the other day, and I still had 3:00 meds to give one of my patients. My preceptor finally said, "Eastlyn, stop. Go and eat. We will catch up when you get back." Boy was I thankful for that break! In the hospital, we have codes for everything: code blue means someone stopped breathing, code red means fire.  I teased that they'll have to implement a new code: "code resident" meaning a resident somewhere in the hospital has collapsed outside a patient's room with a handful of syringes and pills, an empty stomach and a full bladder.
Anyway, back to 5QF...feel free to join the fun.  Just click <here> to hop over to Mama M's blog and get the original questions and official rules. It's a blog hop so you can also see what others have to say in response to the questions! It's a lot of fun.

1. Have you ever testified in court? For what?

I'm thinking probably not. That's something I would remember, right, like the whole swearing in and vowing to tell the whole truth so help me God?

 

2. Do you still have your wedding dress?

Yes I do, but I don't know why. My sister-in-law who is smaller than I was when I got married used it and had it altered. My one and only daughter is already bigger than I am now, so she probably won't want to wear it (not to mention poofy long sleeves probably wouldn't suit her taste). What do you do with a wedding gown once the wedding is over?

3. Is there a special place you like to go when you're happy, sad, stressed, etc.?

Sadly enough, I don't think I have any "special place." It is a goal of mine to one day establish a little uncluttered corner of the house where I can go to hang out in peace and quiet, pray, meditate or whatever. In the meantime, I guess the comfort of my snuggly bed is my refuge/sanctuary.

4. If you have kids, do they sleep with you? If you don't have kids...will you let your kids sleep with you when/if you have them?

When my son was born, I was so nervous about having a tiny little helpless human being entrusted to my care that I kept him practically attached to me at all times...including bedtime. His bassinet was within arm's reach of my bed, but usually he was in the bed with me and the hubs.  When he was about 9 or 10 months old, I tried placing him in his crib in his nursery, and he stretched out and slept...well, like a baby. He seemed to be glad to have his own space. When my daughter came along, she might have slept with us for the early nursing days, but she slept in her own crib, too.

5. Do you watch late night TV?

I used to watch Jay Leno on occasion, but because (1) he's no longer on and (2) the TV in my bedroom doesn't work, and (3) I'm exhausted whenever I crawl into bed, I have given up on late night TV.

That was fun, now I'm done...gotta run a few errands, cook a couple of meals and get ready to work all weekend long. Have a great weekend. Until next time...

Five Question Friday-11 March 2011

Oh my, it's Friday again already. Everyone knows that means time for Five Question Friday, hosted by Mama M at My Little Life.  Click <here> or on her name to visit her blog and get the rules and original questions to copy and paste on your own blog.  You can also link your blog to hers so others can read what you have to say in response to the questions.  Too much trouble? You're welcome to answer the questions in the comments below, also. Have a great weekend.

1. Do you know what your REAL hair color is?

It's whatever color my hair is now: mostly black with an ever increasing number of grays in the mix.  Although at times my hair turns a little lighter shade of "so dark brown it looks black" in the summer with pool chemicals and sun and such, I've never colored my hair.

2. Do you plan ahead for summer, or fly by the seat of your pants?

Unless there's something for which we must plan in advance, like a family reunion, it's usually the fly by the seat of our pants "planning" in the White household. Money is always the deciding factor, and there's usually not a lot of it to do much with.  Mike and the kids both have summer birthdays so we do "plan" how they'll celebrate. Maybe that counts for something.

3. What is your favorite meal to cook?

Oh, gosh, I love to eat, so practically every meal is my favorite meal. If I had to choose one favorite meal that's not too much work but still feels special, I guess it would be smothered pork chops, sweet potatoes, cabbage & cornbread. Soul food = comfort food.

 

4. Do you get offended by not receiving thank yous?

I'm a little hypocritical here, and I'll tell you why...I do enjoy receiving thank yous, but sometimes I forget to write them myself.  Years after my hubs and I were married, I was "cleaning out" some old boxes and found a box of thank you notes from our wedding.  Mostly, they were blank notes and envelopes, but some were written and addressed, but apparently never mailed! Imagine the horror! Oh, Miss Manners would be so displeased as it was well past the allotted 6 week grace period for accomplishing such a task.
I truly dislike shopping. So, if I've taken the time to grab my purse, trudge to the shopping center or heaven forbid the mall and browse through racks and shelves of stuff looking for just the right thing for someone, I am offended if they never so much as acknowledge receipt with a thank you. It can be a phonecall, an email or an old-fashioned note in the mail (which I probably love the most to break up the monotony of bills and ads),

5. How did you meet your best friend?

 

Well, I met my traditional BFF when we were in grade school.  We're nine months apart in age, so she was a year ahead of me in school. Our families had been invited to a cook out at a mutual friend's house, and that's where we met.  She was tall and thin and had a long ponytail, not to mention she was the "older sister" I never had. We became fast friends that summer, and we still keep in touch today. I loved the sanctuary of her quiet "only child" home, and she loved the chaos and confusion of my childhood home shared with a younger sister, two brothers and a dog. Although we aren't as close as we once were, we always pick up where we left off, giggling uncontrollably as we bring each other up to speed on life's ups and downs.

I met my more recent BFF, with whom I chat, rant and rave, listen, share recipes, etc., when my brother introduced us several years back and then married her in 2006. Guess I'm a lucky girl to have several "besties."

Five Question Friday-28 January 2010

Wow, this is actually my third post this week. That's exciting (well, to me anyways since I was getting so lacksadaisical [you English teachers help me out with that one, please!] about posting).  I have tons of quirky little stories and fabulous new recipes rattling around in my coconut, but I just can't seem to get them posted on this blog.  I'll try harder.  Anyway...let's get on with Five Question Friday, a blog hop hosted by Mama M at My Little Life.  This is a fun way to learn more about your blog buds as well as hop around and explore some new blogs you might have overlooked before.  Stop by My Little Life for the official rules and original questions and join the excitement. Here goes...

1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?
Probably Heifer International since it's roughly based on the philosophy that "if you give a man a fish, he eats for a day; if you teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime."
2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?
Deep in the heart of Texas here we don't get many snow days, so we happily welcome them when we do get them. It's never more than a day or two, and they don't become a "pain in the butt" until we have to tack on extra days at the end of the school year or go to school on a Saturday or whatever to make them up.

3. What talent did you wish you had and why?
I'd love to be able to sew; then I could truly be that much closer to becoming the Proverbs 31 woman. I've always been impressed with people who can look at an outfit and recreate it with or without a pattern.  I was in 4-H as a kid and took home ec in high school, but to this day "make it in one day" patterns still take me a month to complete-LOL!
4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?
No, no and no. Sometimes I think it would behoove me to pay a little more attention to the news so that I'm not caught totally off guard when someone mentions what's going on in Korea or what a shame about the Arizona victims.  I rarely turn on the TV on my own volition. The hubs just called from work to report that there is a bomb threat at the Cowboys' Stadium where the Super Bowl is supposed to take place next weekend.  That's not good, but I never would've known had he not called. Because it's about 15 minutes from  my house, I suppose I should tune in to the news and see what's happening.  Anybody heading to my neck of the woods for the Big Game?

5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)
Wow, ummm...hmmmm I'd have to think long and hard about that. I can say I am NOT a beer person at all, but I do like the sweet and fruity stuff: a combination of pineapple juice, cranberry juice & Vodka works for me! I've never been too big on traditional martinis or bloody marys & such.

Well, that was fun and now I'm done! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend. Until next time...

Five Question Friday 12/03/10

I thought since it is now December and I don't ever want you to get bored visiting my blog on Five Question Friday, I'd woo you with my very own rendition of my favorite Christmas carol.  ::clearing throat::  Mi-mi-mi-mi. La-la-la-la.  Eh-hem.  That was just the warm up folks.  Here goes...What? You can't here what I'm singing?  Well, according to my cousin, maybe you're luckier for it. I will let you know that although I usually sing alto (or whatever the people next to me sing, really), I CAN hit that really high note at the end of  "O, Holy Night."
Anyway...moving right along to the real reason I'm sitting at my computer when dishes and dust are calling me by name: Five Question Friday blog hop hosted by Mama M over at My Little Life.  Please hop over to her blog to get the official rules and original questions to post on your very own blog. Don't forget to link up so others will know to check out your answers to this week's questions.

1. What's on the top of your holiday wish list and why?!

I try to encourage my family to write down on a wish list things that they want/need throughout the year.  This it to include mundane stuff like socks and underwear (obviously needs) and all of the extras.  It's like the ongoing grocery list stuck on the fridge, and everyone understands that these are suggestions only--some will be purchased some will not.  This way when birthdays, Mother's days, Father's days, etc. roll around or a little extra cash trickles in I have a clue as to what to get.  I started this tradition some years ago when my daughter fell hook, line and sinker for some "video now" electronic toy that she just had to have for Christmas.  She used it for about two weeks and you could no longer buy the little discs by the next time Christmas rolled around!  My idea doesn't work very well in my household b/c people take their lists off of the bulletin board in the kitchen to add something to them then they get lost in the mountain of bills, ads, mail and graded school papers that clutter my kitchen table never to be seen again!  Or, as is my husband's case, he just mentions things he wants at random times and expects me to remember 6 months later.  Anyway, I just put that idea out there for those of you organized folks that may benefit from such a system. Back to the original question, what's at the top of my holiday wish list?  I'd have to say as of a couple days ago, a food processor is at the top of my list.  Laura at "Home is where the heart is" posted a great recipe for Korean meatballs that involves chopping up chicken breasts in a food processor.  I've found so many recipes that require one.  I'm wondering how I've lived this long without one.  A new vacuum would be pretty close to the top, too.  My husband refuses to buy me "tools" as a gift.  I think it's just because he doesn't want to come off as a male chauvinist to his friends: "What'd you get your wife for Christmas?" "I got her a vacuum cleaner."  "Dude, you should have gone to Jared's!"

2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past?

I'd have to say a Christmas wedding was probably my greatest past Christmas gift.  I don't usually ask for much (you can never go wrong with a Target or craft store gift certificate IMO), but I love the Christmas season and we had an absolute blast getting married in December.

3. If you had life to do over, what would you be when you grow up?

I remember back in high school I considered going to medical school (ob/gyn).  I took 3 years of Latin for crying out loud!  In my not-so-infinite 18-year-old wisdom, I decided 8 more years of school was simply unreasonable.  I was also discouraged by malpractice insurance rates for ob/gyns and having to look "down there" when there wasn't a baby crowning (you know, the gynecology part of the business).  In other words, I completely talked myself out of becoming an ob/gyn. I still love all things labor and delivery, and would probably be a nurse-midwife when I grow up if I had to do it over again.  I've got the "nurse" part out of the way, so I may still be able to manage the "midwife" part.  I'll just have to change "when I grow up" to "when I grow old."

4. When do you put up your tree?

We don't have a set tradition for putting up the Christmas tree.  Now that the kids are 12 and 14 we should probably be better about stuff like this so they have a sense of tradition before the fly the coop!  It usually gets put up about 2 weeks before Christmas (and has been known to stay up past Spring Break--in my defense, I live in an older home when everything was built with walls and doors unlike today's homes where rooms blend together and are spacious and open.  The tree was in the dining room which has no dining room table or any other reason to go in there except to look at a Christmas tree, so it was kind of out of sight out of mind).  One year, I stopped by the grocery store the day before Christmas eve for a couple items and dragged home a real tree that was drastically reduced for obvious reasons.  You'll be glad to know we did not leave that one up until Spring Break!  Now, I feel a little guilty, so maybe we'll put up our tree this weekend.

5. What is your favorite Holiday?

Is this one of those questions where you ask several questions whose answer is "stop" and then you ask what do you do at a green light?  You asked about Christmas gifts and Christmas trees and then expect me to say "Christmas" for this question, right? Maybe not, but my favorite holiday is Christmas.  I love the lights and music and warm fuzzies derived from helping those in need, the giving spirit, the family time, the reunions with friends I haven't seen all year, the baking, etc.  I also love the Advent preparation (our hearts, our homes) that leads to Baby Jesus, the Word made flesh.  I love it all!

Five Question Friday strikes again! 11/19/10

First of all, let me start by saying "Happy Birthday" to my mom and my good friend Estella M.  I love you both and hope each of you enjoys your special day.  

Having said that, let's move on to...

Welcome to newcomers and faithful followers alike.  If you'd like to join the fun visit Mama M. at My Little Life to copy the questions and link to the blog hop.  The questions are usually lots of fun.  Here goes...

1. What Christmas song do you loathe?

Can’t say that I "loathe" any Christmas songs.  Even the corny or annoying ones grow on you after a while.  I may change my mind after seeing what others have to say on the matter.

2. Do you and your significant other cuddle at night or sleep on opposite sides of the bed?

We “spoon” always.

3. Have you ever had surgery?

Not unless you count the time I had a really bad blocked duct of some sort in my lower eye lid and they had to lance it.  That was my one and only stitch, too!

4. When do you typically have your holiday shopping done?

Never.  I do not shop, people!  Okay, so sometimes I am forced to brave the mall, shopping centers, and department stores around this time of the year.  I’m usually done by the week day before Christmas.  It’s totally a money thing…buy a couple of gifts this pay period, a couple more the next, etc.

5. If money were not an issue (and you HAD to pick something), what would your ultimate luxury item be?

That cute 2-seater convertible Mercedes.  There are some numbers that better define it, like 250 series or something, but I’m not that into cars!  I’d also love a beach house on an island somewhere…IF money were not  an issue.