Sunday Stealing: Write from Karen

Welcome to Sunday Stealing! It's late Saturday night as I'm answering these questions and I just sent my grandson home after having him all evening. So, please excuse any misspellings, ramblings, and incoherencies, because my mind is about done.

Thanks to our hostess and securer of questions each week, Bev, who has this to say about this week's questions:

These questions from Karen at Write from Karen.  Karen is married and mom of two grown sons.  She says, "I believe in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Writing Well. (I also believe in our Constitution – Don’t Tread on my Rights, Yo)"

1. What’s the coolest item you’ve found at a garage sale, flea market, etc?  I go to a lot of garage sales, flea markets, etc.  To pick the "coolest" item I've ever found is a tough assignment!  I think I'm going to pick the bag of wall paper I bought back in 1987 when we were living with my grandmother and had just finished a big addition to the kitchen.  I stopped at a yard sale a couple of miles down the road and happened to see a paper grocery bag under one of the tables that had rolls and pieces of wall paper in it.  It was a blue and tan plaid...very in style at the time...and when I asked the homeowner said I could have the whole bag for $5. My mom, who is very good at hanging wallpaper, was with me so I asked her what she thought. Her opinion was that there was probably enough on the rolls to cover the one long wall and that we could probably piece the cut pieces enough to cover the backsplash and soffit. When we got around to hanging the paper there was EXACTLY enough to cover the long wall and behind the appliances and (you won't believe this) EXACTLY enough for the backsplash and soffit and we didn't have to cut or piece. The cut pieces were the exact right sizes! There wasn't a scrap left over. 

2. Describe how your day went yesterday.  I was home sick so I didn't do much of anything and I never left the house except to take the dog out. I did a lot of sleeping, binged on episodes of The Librarians, and read.

3. Do you have issues with people entering your personal space? What do you do when your personal space is violated?  It depends on who is invading and how they are invading.  If we're talking about people coming into my office/library/craft room, I'm not crazy about anyone going in there because everything in it is mine and very personal. It's where I create and I don't like anyone messing with stuff or sticking their nose into things.  I usually just don't go in there when anyone other than my husband is here so no one feels the need to go in there.  As for the air space surrounding my person, I'm not particularly bothered by anyone getting in "my" space as long as it is a natural circumstance due to crowded seating or something.  I only get upset when someone INVADES my space.  I can't handle people who have to be right in my face and touching my arm in order to speak to me.

4. What is the one meal recipe you think you’ve mastered?  Probably some of the more old-fashioned things like meatloaf, city chicken, or Hungarian goulash, but I'm pretty good at improvising at the last minute, too.

5.  If you could take back something you did to someone, what would it be?  We were manipulated and used several years back by people in our old church that we trusted and considered friends (family, really) to achieve their goal of ousting the pastor.  I really regret our part in it.

6. Would you describe yourself as spiritual, religious, or something else?  I don't like either of those terms to describe myself, as spirituality can include a lot of beliefs and practices and religions are man's creation hindered by his traditions.  I simply believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit and do my best to be obedient to God's commandments and Jesus's teachings.

7. Did you ever receive detention in school? What sort of kid were you in school – bookworm, smart kid, troublemaker, quiet … etc.  I read a lot, but I don't think anyone thought I was a bookworm. I was smart, but not to the point of being labeled a "brainiac." I rarely got into trouble.  I was quiet unless I was with people I knew and felt comfortable aound. I played sports.  I'd guess different people had different impressions of me.  One thing I can say is that over and over again in every yearbook all the way through school everyone always mentioned my smile and how nice I was so I guess I was seen as happy and nice in a general sense.

8. When’s the last time you ran a mile? How often do you exercise?  The only time I ever ran a mile was when I was forced to in either gym class or Civil Air Patrol. I've always hated running...even when I was an athlete.  Exercise?  I don't with any regularity and I really need to change that.

9. What would you say to your 16-year-old self, and why?  Ask your guidance counselor what other options are out there besides college.  Your dad is wrong about you either go to college or you end up cleaning other people's toilets.  College isn't really going to be your thing.  You'd do better and probably have a career you'd enjoy if you go to a technical school and finish in 8-12 months. 

10. What are you avoiding?  The above mentioned exercise and getting our taxes done.  I guess I'm not so much avoiding the taxes as procrastinating, but they aren't done yet.

11. Describe a “Hah! I told you so” moment you had recently.  Shoot! There was just something the other day, but I am drawing a blank on what it was.

12. What’s more important, where you live or what you do for a living? Why?  I think both are important, but I guess, maybe, that what you do for a living is more important because if you like what you are doing and find satisfaction in it you can generally manage to live anywhere, but if you hate what you do it speads through all other areas of your life.

13. Swear words: Are you pro or con? Why?  I don't use them except in extreme situations they may still slip out, but I try not to even then.  I wasn't raised in a family that swears and was always taught it was crude and not something that people with any amount of class did. I also think that those who can't manage a sentence without an f-bomb (like most teenagers when their parents aren't around) or some of the other more colorful words sound dumb.

14. Paper or plastic? Do you prefer to pack your own groceries?  I'd prefer paper, but not too many stores even offer you the choice these days. The plastic bags are so thin that you have to double or triple bag stuff so I don't see how that's helping the environment more than biodegradable paper bags that can be reused in so many ways.  I don't prefer to pack my own groceries, but since there seems to be a shortage of people with enough common sense to NOT pack my bread and 10 lbs. of potatoes together, I often do.

15. Do you have a shoe fetish? How often do you buy new shoes? Do you ever get rid of a pair of shoes?  I may have more shoes than some, but I'm not into the "fetish" zone.  I buy new shoes when the old ones wear out, a new need arises, or I just see a pair I fall in love with.  I get rid of lots of shoes when they wear out or I tire of them.