Liz Has Tagged Me

I love these silly get to know you games, so I couldn't resist when Liz tagged me! So to thank her I thought I would post a few of my favorite pictures of us over the years as I answer these questions.



THE RULES:

1. Post these rules
2. Post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions provided by the one who tagged you
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag
5. Tag 11 people



11 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME:

1. I have a phobia of snails and slugs. (It is a legitimate phobia people! It is called Molluscophobia.
2. My right food is slightly larger than my left foot.
3. The first thing I notice when out shopping for clothing is how soft the article of clothing is.
4. I usually am reading at least two books at a time.
5. I have to study with either music on, or a movie that I've seen before playing.
6. The first play I was ever in was called Turkey Lurkey, and I played Goose #3.
7. I have a fear that I love and need my friends more than they need me.
8. I am ADDICTED to Dr. Pepper.
9. My hands look like old lady hands.
10 My eyes change color from blue to green depending on what I'm wearing.
11. I currently have 3 gray hairs.



11 QUESTIONS Liz ASKED ME

1. What’s a quirky habit of yours? Whenever I sit down at any desk, I take my shoes off. (I do it at work all the time, and I just realized I did it when sitting down here in the computer room.
2. What was the last song you listened to? I am embarrassed to say this, but it was "We Found Love In A Hopeless Place" by Rhianna... it was on the radio.
3. If you had a weekend off to go wherever you wanted, where would you go? (Just the weekend!) For some reason my first response to that was Monterey, CA. I've always wanted to go, and I really have no reason why I haven't been other than life just got in the way. I really hope I go there soon.
4. Describe your ideal self in seven words.The best me that I can be.
5. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? I told my kindergarten teacher that I wanted to be a secretary when I grew up. Way to set a high standard. (No offense to those who work entry jobs in an office... it is what I do now.)
6. Describe an awkward moment you experienced in college: Oh man, there are just soooo many. This was the first one I thought of, but I really am embarrassed to share it. After FHE one night (my first year of college) we were all sitting around talking in the living room and I let a giant fart out into the world. I was so shocked, and in awe of the volume I couldn't do anything but blush. I still can't think of what an appropriate response would have been to that event.
7. One of your greatest accomplishments in life so far: My first cheeky thought was getting my motorcycle license, but honestly I am very proud of that. I set a goal, and achieved it, and felt a great sense of accomplishment whenever I was on my motorcycle. (I miss you Angus!)
8. If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would you pick and why? This is a really strange question, and my first thought was... well do the dead still eat? Honestly right now it would be my 4th great grandfather Phineas Jagger, to ask where the heck the family line went before him. It really seems to have disappeared. I also just think it would be amazing to sit down with any relative a few generations back, to just see who you came from.
9. What is one event that fundamentally changed you forever? This may be really cheesy but I would have to honestly say choosing to be baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was the best decision of my life, and has led me to so many great things, and will continue to do so.
10. If you could have one superhero power, what would it be and why? It would be to have a continually fast metabolism... then I could eat without worry, of gaining weight or other body issues. (I know it is a self choice, but as I am drinking a Dr Pepper and eating Golden Grahams cereal, it is where my mind is.)
11. You have the chance to spend a month in one major European city. ONLY ONE. Where do you go? This is a really hard question, but seeing as my heart was at home in Edinburgh, I will have to say there. Yes, that will do.



11 QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE I’VE TAGGED (and anyone else who wants to participate):

1. Who was your greatest/favorite teacher? Why?
2. How many roommates have you had since graduating high school?
3. Who is your favorite cartoon hero? (Comic book or otherwise)
4. What is the first thing you think of when you hear my name? =)
5. What is one of your hidden talents?
6. What is the last book you have read?
7. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
8. Who was your first celebrity crush?
9. What was your first job?
10. You are stranded on a deserted island and you can only take two things with you... what do you take?
11. Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) or Zach Addy (Bones)?



11 PEOPLE I HAVE TAGGED:

1. Samiee
2. Naomi
3. Esther
4. Ella
5. Allisoni
6. Missy
7. Kjersti
8. Shanelle
9. Becky
10. Cam
11. Stacey



I really am an odd bird! Yikes.

Current Crazy Idea

So... I was slightly inspired by my reading choices this year, and by the movie adaptation of the book "The Jane Austen Book Club" and decided that I wanted to start a book club. So I did... you can get to it here.



Now the books I have read so far this year have been talked about in earlier posts, namely Sh*t My Dad Says, and My Life In France. Well the next book was the Tao of Pooh, which really was insightful and delightful, and I would have loved to have someone to discuss it with. The same goes for my current read Gods Behaving Badly. Its a fictional work about the Greek gods, it helps me to learn who they are, and their characteristics. It is set in London, and it is funny! I know they are doing a film adaptation, but I'm almost positive it will be R, so I won't be seeing it. D word.





But yeah for good books, and yea for trying new things.


So if you are interested in discussing books with me you can sign up with the blog!

One ForThe Money; Book vs. Film

Last night I had the opportunity to see the film version of "One For The Money". Now I had a lot of hope for the adaptation, wanting it to be as good as the books I love.

Sadly it didn't really get near the books. I don't understand why screenwriters ruin an already wonderful script in the way of the ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL. When in doubt use the book.

That being said, I enjoyed Katherine Heigl playing Stephanie Plum,Jason O'Mara playing Joe Morelli, and Sherrie Shepherd playing Lula. I was disappointed in Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur. Daniel Sunjata as Ranger grew on me. But the script made it really hard to take anything seriously.

That being said I will probably go and see the movie again. I'm not sure I can help it. I love the books, and I am hoping they do a sequel. I just want a bigger budget and a different screenwriter who has actually read the books.



*I'm such a nerd that I've read the books once a year. (And yes there are 18 books to date.)

Life a la Julia Child

I just finished "My Life In France" by Julia Child, and I have to say that I fell in love with her and her enchanted life. And as I read it I realized that I knew people just as enchanting and full of life. And it made me think of my year in England.

Jesse and Kathleen have the same type of love and relationship that is described by Mrs. Child. Jesse supports Kathleen in all she does, and vice versa. Interestingly enough, Kathleen and Jesse have the same wedding date as the Child's, only 60 years later! And the similarities don't stop there. The more I read the more I appreciated the Thorsons in my life, and all that they are.




Then I realized that the relationship between Julia Child and Simone Beck is also very similar to the friendship of Kathleen and Annie. They are both fantastic cooks, and love to create things together. They have a wonderful relationship and build each other up.

I was the taste tester for their creations and it was a job I took very seriously! I loved it! But beyond food they truly are soul sisters, and I can't wait to see what they get into in the next 40 years. (I wonder if it will be their B&B.)




This book was just what I needed at this point in my life. I have been a little down and feeling a lonely, but this book reminded me of a dream year of my life, and the people that mean the world to me.



Julia Child was a go getter and a dreamer. She knew what she wanted and she worked for it; and inspired many along the way! Now I have to get over my fear of cooking and attempt some of her recipes.

* "Learn how to cook - try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!" (Applying this to all aspects of my life.)

* "The pleasures of the table, and of life, are infinite - toujours bon appetit!"

The Count of 2011

My love of books and most media was renewed this year. I read 54 books, saw 16 plays and 68 movies, and ran 70 miles. (I was hoping for way more miles, but I just got too lazy.)

Some of the books that really got me thinking, or that were just plain awesome were:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins, How I Paid For College: A Novel Of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater and Attack Of The Theater People by Marc Acito.

The movies I loved the most fell into a few categories: 1. BBC stuff: Cranford, Jane Eyre (2004), Under The Greenwood Tree, and North & South. 2. Documentaries: Stephen Fry In America, Waiting On Superman, Pixar, and American The Story Of Us. 3. New Releases: Sherlock Holmes 2, True Grit, The Muppet Movie, Captain America, and Fast Five. 3. TV Series: Outnumbered, Breakout Kings, and Spooks.

Okay, so after reviewing this... I realise I love movies, TV, books, and plays too much! Gulp!

Book #1 Of 2012

A few years ago I bought my dad the book "Sh*t My Dad Says" for fathers day. That spring he took it with him to Chicago when he went to see family. Once there it got read by him and my grandpa. And as he was leaving my Uncle wanted to read it. The book has remained in Chicago ever since.

Now I spent the new years in Chicago and found the book. I read it in about a day, and I have to say IT IS AWESOME! (I would prefer to say amazing, but apparently the American public has said that word too much, and some feel it should be stricken from the dictionary.)

Here are some of my favorite quotes: (Warning...most of these quotes will have swearing in them!)

ON ACCIDENTS: "I don't give a shit how it happened, the window is broken... Wait, why is there syrup everywhere? Okay, you know what? Now I give a shit how it happened. Let's hear it!"

ON SPORTSMANSHIP: "You pitched a great game, you really did. I'm proud of you. Unfortunately, your team is shitty... No, you can't go getting mad at people because they're shitty. Life will get mad at them, don't worry."

ON HIS FIRST SCHOOL DANCE: " Are you wearing perfume?... Son there ain't any cologne in this house, only your mother's perfume. I know that scent, and let me tell you, it's disturbing to smell your wife on your thirteen-year-old son."

ON RECEIVING STRAIGHT A'S ON HIS REPORT CARD: "Hot Damn! You're a smart kid - I don't care what people say about you!... I'm kidding, nobody says you're not smart. They say other stuff, but not that."

ON TRYING OUT FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN FOOTBALL TEAM: "I ain't letting you try out, you're too skinny... No, I hate to break it to you, but you can't do whatever you want, and you most certainly are not a man."

There are way more quotes to share, but those are just a few of my favorites... and the ones with the least amount of swear words. =)

PS I know this book came out years ago, but I still felt the need to share its awesomeness.

Rock Climbing

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend the day with my cousin Patrick and his daughter Abby. Now we let Abby decide what we did, and she wanted to try rock climbing. I thought it sounded like a fun adventure, so I agreed to tag along.



Now Pat and Abby were naturals, and really seemed to get the hang of it really well. There were 21 different spots that we could climb, and they really climbed a good number of them. And again... they made it look easy.



Now we were rock climbing for over 3 hours, and I was in no shape to go the whole time. I expected my arms to be sore, but I never really thought much about my hands and forearms. But holy crap they just gave out after about 2 hours. That is when I decided to become the photographer of the group.



I kinda wish I was like this little girl below... she was so light that when she let go of the wall she started to float up... until her mom could pull her back to the ground. Now that is my kind of climbing.



All joking aside I really enjoyed myself, and am going to look for a climbing place in the Bay Area. It was a great work out, and a lot of fun to do with friends. I just wish I wasn't such a wuss...and wasn't so sore today. I can't grip anything... and can't lift either. Holy poop I'm tired!