Saturday 9

1. Do you every solicit advise on your love life?

Sometimes I talk to my friends and ask for suggestions or feedback.

2. What was the last thing you argued with someone about?

I have insecurities that cause jealousy and that is generally the source of arguments involving me.

3. Who do you hate right now?

We aren't supposed to hate anybody. Unfortunately, I am not honoring this rule at the moment. It wouldn't be a good idea for me to name the person. I am working on not hating them, but this might take a while.

4. Who do you love right now?

My husband, my children, my birth family, and my friends.

5. Where do you want to be in 6 years?

I would love to be most anywhere but where I'm at.

6. What is your craziest vice?

I find my thrill on Cemetery Hill. I stalk dead people. In other words, I like to hang out in graveyards. I totally love genealogical research and it involves a lot of this. I'm not sure if that is a "vice" or not. It is just all that my husband and I could come up with for this question.

7. How did you celebrate Valentines Day?

We watched the movie Endless Love, which is what we watched on our first date on my sixteenth birthday.

8. What is your most unique or fondest memory of a special Valentine's Day?

There are two that come to mind (my husband's, not mine; my memory is shot!).

When I was sixteen years old and living in the Upstate of South Carolina (where they do have a winter time), I wore a sundress on Valentine's Day because my then-boyfriend/now-husband loved the way that dress looked on me. Never mind that it was February and below freezing. I loved him and wore it for him. I don't remember being cold at all.

The second one is that my husband can't hide things from me. I find what he hides generally. One Valentine's Day, he decided not to fight it anymore. He bought candy and just laid it out in the open, right under my nose. I never found it. He surprised me that year. :)

If you want me to find it, hide it. If you want me to miss it, put it in plain sight.

9. Were you in the same location five years ago that you are today? Would you have expected to be?

Yes, I was. Expected? Yes. Wanting? No, but I figure I'm stuck here until I get that 8' x 4' piece of real estate.

Saturday 9

1. Do you enjoy going to a casino now and again?

I've never been to one and don't really think that I would enjoy it. I don't enjoy a lot of noise or crowds.

2. What makes you happy most of the time?

Knowing that Heavenly Father is there for me makes me happy. My genealogy work, my family, and pretty flowers make me happy. There are frustrations that come along with each of these at times, but overall these things make me happy.

3. Are you jealous of someone right now?

In a manner of speaking, yes. But at this point it has gone beyond any jealousy over alienation of affection to downright loathing.

4. You're stranded on a desert island with one fictional character. Who is it? Why?

Eeyore would be my character of choice. He's the only one that I can think of that would understand my way of seeing things.

5. Have you ever been in the emergency room? If yes, for what (most recently)?

Yes, I have been many times for myself and with my children. The most recent time for myself was 18 June 2010. It was when they diagnosed severe anemia and the tumors.

6. Where is the last place you drove to just for fun?

I haven't been anywhere "just for fun" in ages. There are lots of places that I go to that are work-related that are fun sometimes. The last one was in Nacogdoches, TX.

7. If you were to make your living as a photographer, what would love to shoot?

I would love to be able to shoot beautiful landscapes, rural scenes, florals. I also would really enjoy photographing teeny-tiny things and making them look huge.

8. Tell us about a band you like that we might not have heard.

I don't know about any bands, per se. But one of my favorite is a one-woman wonder: Enya.

9. Where was the last place you went shopping? Why?

HEB was the last place that we went shopping. We had to buy groceries.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9's questions this week are as follows:

1. I read that Bud Weiser & Kathy moved into their new house! When was the last time you moved? Where to?

The last time that we moved was in September 2004. We moved from the upstate of South Carolina to the Texas Gulf Coast. This was the biggest move that either of us have ever made, both as children with our parents and as adults. All of my previous moves were usually various places still in Anderson County, South Carolina (and one time to Greenwood County, SC). David was from Atlanta, Georgia and moved to South Carolina as a little boy.

2. If they were making a Hall of Fame for the blogosphere, name a blogger or two who you think should make the list. Why?

There are so many great ones out there, I can't pin it down to one or two!

3. What are couple of funny things you remember your parents saying? (Like, “They're starving there in China, so finish what you've got.” - John Lennon) Do you say them to your kids?

I can't remember anything funny that my parents said when I was young. We did have laughter in our home and tickling was a big feature, but I can't remember any funny sayings.

4. What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?

The fact that I am still alive to be typing a response here is a miracle. In May 2010, I laid down fully prepared to die, knowing it was imminent. I couldn't move, could barely breathe and couldn't speak above a whisper. My husband was having to ice me down, going through many pounds of ice a day. It wasn't due to hot flashes (though those were happening, too). Somehow the ice was helping me to breathe. I closed my eyes and felt myself leaving this life and, then, heard my aunt telling me that it wasn't my time to go to Heaven yet. I was diagnosed with severe anemia and the tumors were found. I wasn't able to get surgery to remove the tumors until October 2010, but they were removed and declared non-cancerous. Although I have mostly recovered, I am much weaker than I was before the anemia took over and am wondering if I will ever be strong again.

5. What is it too late for?

It is too late for listening to the stories of my grandparents, the ones they were so eager to tell when I was young and I was too fidgety to truly listen to. It is too late to ask them how they met and where they got married. It is too late to ask them the things that I'm only learning now that I should have asked. It is too late do a lot of things.

6. What do you try to stay away from?

I try to stay away from things that are going to cause arguments. Somehow those things always find me.

7. When you get into a disagreement or fight, how often are you the first to apologize?

If I feel that I am in the wrong, I will apologize. Generally, I don't feel like I am wrong about whatever the situation is, though. If I did, there wouldn't be an argument in the first place.

8. Tell us about a current issue that you’re unhappy with.

I am unhappy with our current financial status and my memory issues.

9. How often do you update your blog/site and why?

My goal is to update my blogs every day. I'm doing good these days if I get it done a couple of times a week. I enjoy blogging, but I have a very hard time coming up with things to write. As I wait to get my brain back, the memes are a big help.

Saturday 9: Happy New Year!

I want to wish all of you a wonderful New Year, filled with hope, happiness, and love.




Saturday 9's questions this week are as follows:

1. Over all, how do you feel about what happened in your life in 2011?

Honestly? I'll be glad to see this year behind me. Some parts of the year were great, some goals were met. Other areas still need a lot of work! It has been an exhausting year on many levels.

2. Do you do New Year's resolutions? If so, what are they this year?

I don't do resolutions. I have goals, but those goals are subject to change as other things in my life change.

3. In the past 24 hours, I have reconnected with 3 old friends that I've not spoken to in years. If you could reconnect with someone from your past who would it be, and why?

I would like to know what happened to my friend Allison from elementary school. We were best buddies way back then. I left for private school after sixth grade and I don't know what ever became of her. She was a very kind, giving girl.

4. Do you have anything that you would have not done or done differently in 2011 as you look back?

Yes, but the list is way too long to put here. But, for starters, I wouldn't have gone so off course with food choices. I was making good progress with the vegan idea, but fell to temptation and haven't found my way back yet.

5. Going back to my ex-friends that I reconnected with, one of them ended over a boyfriend. She called to apologize. Do you have someone that you fell out with you and wonder how they are?

No one comes immediately to mind.

6. If you had a chance to reconnect with an ex (say for coffee), who would it be, and why?

There are no ex-boyfriends for me. The boy that I liked before I started dating my husband was killed in an accident and we weren't boyfriend/girlfriend. He was just a boy that I liked.

7. One of resolutions is about weight-loss. Have you ever struggled with your diet?

No struggle, really. Either I follow it or I don't. It isn't really a diet, per se, but a lifestyle choice. I am working my way back to vegan, though very slowly at this point.

8. What do you think was the top news story of 2011?

Overall for the world, I have no idea. For me, I guess it would be the earthquake in New Zealand. I still haven't heard from my friend down there. I can only hope and pray that she is OK. I saw yesterday that they've had another one down there.

9. What are your plans for (New Year's Eve) tonight?

My husband and I have watched the ball drop via Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve every year that we've been together, with exception of the switch from 1981 to 1982. I was sixteen years old and in the hospital for a tonsillectomy then and they wouldn't let him stay in my room to ring in the new year. We usually watch it on television, but tonight we'll be watching it online. We will have sparkling grape juice with the kids, clink our glasses (and hopefully not break them!), hope for a better year, and then get on with life.
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Happy New Year to all of you!

Saturday 9

1. There's a Time Genie. She can put you back in time to relive a day that you loved. If you could turn back the hands of time, what day would you relive if given this opportunity?

I can't pin it down to one specific day. The honest answer would be any day that involved a visit with my grandma and grandpa, my granny, and my Aunt Mae.

2. What did you do yesterday?

We did everything we could to avoid going into the Walmart, but ended up there in the evening. The place was basically dead. It wasn't nearly the madhouse we expected it to be.

3. You've been given 3 parachutes, but there are 4 people who need them. Who will you not give one to: Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Kim Kardashian, or Simon Cowell? Why?

This would be so much easier if I only had one parachute to give to someone else. I'd give it to Mel Gibson before any of the others listed. While he's flawed like the rest of us humans, overall I believe him to be a good person. The others, well, my mama said if I can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!

4. Where are you going and where have you been?

I have been to Columbus and I am going to not-Columbus tomorrow. :)

5. They say that books read as a child make more of an impact on a person than books read at any other time in life. Are there any books that you particularly loved, that shaped the way you thought when you were little?

I don't know about shaping the way that I thought, but The Silver Seven made me want to learn to ice skate. I thought that it sounded so exciting. I never had the opportunity, though, as there wasn't an ice rink anywhere near where I lived back then. By the time we got one in town, I was in my 30s and no way was I going to risk trying it at that point!

6. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?

I think the end of this year is what I look forward to the most in the next six weeks.

7. What was the last text message you received?

It was a text from my mama telling me that she gave daddy my message. We weren't able to get through to him on his phone and she was.

8. Do you prefer to call or text?

I have a horrible time hearing on the telephone. I can hear all of the whining of the electronics and it drowns out the voice of the caller. I would much rather text.

9. What were you doing at 9PM last night?

I was eating Thanksgiving leftovers and watching a movie with my husband.

Saturday 9

The following questions are based on the Saturday 9 from 16 July 2011, which you can read here: Saturday 9.

1. Do you believe in the concept of the devil?

Yes, I do believe that there is a devil. My Bible speaks quite clearly about him.

2. What's your favorite nickname that you're called?

There are several, and aside from the nicknames that my husband has for me, my favorite is "Sis". This is what my best friend calls me and I call her.

3. What would you do if someone cheated on you?

I would feel like curling up and dying, but what I would do is cry my eyes out.

4. Do you ever cry at a movie?

YES! There are many movies that make me cry and there are scenes that would make other folks laugh that end up making me cry because of personal memories.

5. Have you got “a ball & chain” or are you single? Are you happy with your status?

I do not have a "ball & chain". I have a husband that I love very much and I am happy to be married to him.

6. Who do you got to for advice?

Generally, I go to my Sis. When my grandparents were alive, they were my go-to for everything, most especially spiritual guidance.

7. When was the last time someone yelled at you?

It was probably a couple of days ago. Thankfully, it isn't incredibly often.

8. When was the last time you spoke with someone that you met online?

Actual verbal communication? I have no clue! I guess technically it would be the schedulers for the jobs that we do, as the job itself was initiated online.

9. Where did you go on your honeymoon? OR Where would you like to go on your honeymoon?

We toured the Southeast. We went to Spartanburg, SC; the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC; Graceland in Memphis, TN; Gatlinburg, TN; Maggie Valley, NC; Pigeon Forge, TN and a zillion other places that I can't remember at the moment.

Saturday 9

Please click the button above to play along!

Here are the questions for this week:

1. Have you ever discovered a betrayal? If so, did you ask, “How long has THIS been going on”?

Yes and yes, as well as the bigger question, "Is it still?"

2. What is the longest line you've ever stood in? Would you do it again?

The biggest line that I've ever been in was probably one waiting for a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia years ago. No, I wouldn't do it again. For one thing, my blood pressure is too high for the Scream Machine at this stage of life, and another, I don't want to be out in the hot sun for that long for any reason anymore.

3. Someone has hung a sign around your neck, and you have to wear it all day long. What does it say?

It probably says, "Hey, pick on me. That's what I was put here for." I'm pretty sure that's what my assigned sign said while I was a kid. But, I would hope for it to say something nice like, "Be my friend. Talk to me and I'll tell you about the Best Friend anyone could ever have".

4. As the Christmas season approaches, what song is it that you just can't wait to hear?

I love, love "Oiche Chiun" by Enya. It is her version of "Silent Night". It is the most beautiful, most peaceful version of the song that I've ever heard. I probably spelling it wrong, because I can't spell it any better than I can pronounce it, but I sure love to hear it!

5. What Christmas song do you dread to hear?

I can't really think of any that I dread hearing, except maybe "Grandma Got Run Over by the Reindeer". Grandma songs always get to me, whether they're meant to be funny or not.

6. How often do you read the last chapter of a book first?

Aren't you supposed to? That's the way I read pretty much anything that I read, including magazines. The good stuff hides in the back, kind of like dessert. It's more fun to start with dessert.

7. Do you have a favorite movie that you just love to see each year during the holidays?

YES! Several, actually. It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (the one with Natalie Wood). Those two I have watched every year since I was a kid. More recently, we've added the Mrs. Miracle movies to our "have to watch" collection. We also enjoy the Andy Griffith Christmas episode with Ben Weaver, where he keeps trying to get himself arrested so that he'll be with them for Christmas. We also generally watch the Macy's parade, but after the Victoria's Secret boob-a-thon during it last year, that may no longer be a part of our holiday festivities.

8. Do you enjoy winter in the area that you live?

If we had a winter where I live, I might enjoy it but, we don't get a real winter here. It barely gets cold. One year we were able to go to the beach on Christmas Eve. That is just wrong!

9. At holiday I think we all show more kindness. In your opinion, is this a “concept” that has value (like money or other tangible things) or does it exist as simply emotion? Why?

I think that maybe it is true because people do realize the reason for the season. They get swept up in the moment and reach out to people when maybe the rest of the year they're real grouches. Maybe some folks think it will earn them brownie points for something and others are genuine. Those that are genuine, however, are kind all year long, not just at Christmas time.

I guess, in the end, the answer varies just like people do.

Saturday 9

Please click the button above to join the Saturday 9 fun!

Here are the questions for this week:

1. Are you more melancholy on occasion?

Depression is one of my battles, yes.

2. What did you think you looked like when you were a teenager?

I thought that I looked like a honker nose, freaky-haired, big-behind, ugly bad example of a human. That thought was constantly encouraged by boys that thought calling a girl "scag" and "fullback" and "dog" was the most productive thing they could possibly do during the school day.

3. Whose advice are you least likely to listen to?

The only answers that come to mind are policemen and politicians, and my husband had to come up with those. I can answer whose advice I would be *most* likely to listen to, but drew a complete blank on who I would be least likely to listen to.

4. Tell us about a job that you liked when you were younger.

Since "younger" isn't pinned down to any particular age range here, I'll answer for in my early twenties. I loved being the errand girl for my late father-in-law. He owned a Western Auto store and I got to do many bank runs and parts fetching errands for him. I also liked being the person that collected payments from the folks that had accounts at his store. They were nice folks.

5. Would you lie to someone if you knew the truth would end your friendship or relationship?

No. I might not volunteer the information unless asked directly, but I wouldn't lie about it.

6. What do you have little or no patience for?

Lying. I despise it. I also have little patience for surprises. I like to know what is going to happen in advance (as much as possible) so that I can plan for it.

7. What is there never enough hours in the day to do?

Reading, writing, anything and everything. But, adding more hours to the day would accomplish nothing because even more things would get in line for the extra time.

8. What is the most productive thing that you accomplished in October?

I added more merchandising jobs to our list of things to do.

9. What have you always wanted to learn but haven't yet?

Irish Gaelic is something that I've wanted to learn for a very long time. I have a CD that teaches it, but because of issues with my ears, I have a very hard time determining the sounds that the teacher is actually making. The difference between the "m" sound and the "n" sound can be a really big problem. One mispronunciation could have me saying something really vulgar, but thinking that I've said something that is OK. I want to be able to hear it clearly so that I can say it properly. This may only be able to happen with an in-person teacher and that is not available to me at this time.

Saturday 9

Please click the button above to join the Saturday 9 fun!

Here are the questions for this week:

1. Adam Duritz (writer and lead singer of Counting Crows) mentions previous girlfriends in songs. In Mrs. Potter's Lullaby he sings “There a little piece of Maria in every song I sing”. Is there a piece of an ex that will always be a part of you?

No, and that is due to the fact that I don't have an ex. I married the only boyfriend that I ever had.

2. Who was your very first significant friend?

The first friend that I actually have any recollection of was Allison. She was in my class at elementary school. We sat together at lunchtime and shared lunches. She was tall(everyone was tall when beside me), skinny, wore glasses (I did, too!)and long, dark hair. That is all that I can remember.

3. What are four (4) things you hope to do this weekend?

1. To get through it without an argument.
2. To line up more jobs for the week.
3. To watch something decent on TV.
4. To get some blog posts created.

4. What do you consider to be the main purpose of your blog?

It depends on the blog. The purpose of One Thousand Gifts is to express gratitude. The purpose of Random Thoughts and P.S. Annie! is to just be a place to put what I'm thinking of, what we're doing, and to respond to the fun memes out there. The purpose of Reviews by Suz is to review products, web sites, and services in hopes of creating an income. Heartstrings by Suzanne is where I share my poetry. Art & Photography Unleashed and Texas Art & Photography Unleashed are intended to bring more exposure for those in the art fields, but I am contemplating closing those blogs as there has not been much response to them. However, a bit of response from artists responding to the interview questions at those two blogs would keep me from closing them.

5. Tell us something that you've never before written about in your blog because it's too personal.

I've never written about ping-pong.

6. If you could choose your doctor, do you prefer someone of the same or opposite sex?

I would much prefer a doctor of my own gender. For years, I dealt with male doctors. Most of them were nice, but it is just too embarrassing. At this stage of my life, I don't want to deal with opposite gender doctors at all, even for things as mundane as a sinus infection. There's just too much baggage involved.

7. If you could dream about anything tonight, what would the subject matter be?

Personally, I would like to revisit the dream that I had the other night when "Bratty Suz" was at the helm. That dream was fun!

8. How do you react to practical jokes when they're played on you?

It would totally depend on the who and the venue. I do not react well to being humiliated. I am an introverted person by nature and public embarrassment just does a real number on me. The response would be very negative and it would take a while for me to calm down.

9. What's on your agenda after this weekend for the upcoming week?

Work, work, and more work, a dentist appointment for Child #3 and a trip for Child #1. I also have a book that I need to finish reading for a review. I would also like to get more blog posts written. AND I want to figure out how to change the template on my blogs without losing what's already there. :)

Saturday 9

Please visit Saturday 9 to play along!

1. If you could put a spell on someone, who would it be and why?

I would put the spell on my husband. The 'why' is a secret. Lucky for him that I can't.

2. If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?

I would go back to the night of 17 April 1993. I wouldn't stay up all night doing laundry and chatting with the neighbor. I would go to bed at a decent hour so that I could make the drive to visit my grandma like I should have the next morning.

3.If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?

The answer regards the same time frame/events listed in question #2. I would have gone to bed at a decent hour so that I could have gone to see my grandma on the last morning of her life.

4. What movie/TV character do you most resemble in personality?

How about a blend? Try Gracie Allen meets Scarlet O'Hara, with a Roseanne chaser. How's that for a combo? :)

5. If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?

Ohhhh, what a loaded question! There's one person in particular that fits here. Because of this person, I have been through a year of "heck". I won't name names or circumstance, but it is a person that should have stayed buried in the past and didn't. I hope for both our sakes that I never meet up with this person again.

6. Name one habit you want to change in yourself.

This is a hard one. There are so many choices. But, as I sit here with majorly dry, itchy hands, the one thing that comes to mind is my habit of practically boiling my hands when I wash them. They don't feel clean to me unless I use really hot water, but this is not healthy for my skin as it is really drying it out something awful. I need to get to a point of believing that they are clean even if the water isn't boiling hot.

7. Describe yourself in one word.

Insecure.

8. List your top three memes that you like to respond to.

There are many that I enjoy, so I'll just mention the first three that come to mind:

Five Minute Friday
Writer's Workshop
Saturday 9

9. Why do you blog?

Mostly because I love to write and always have. The other reason is to help keep my brain active and to aid in the restoration of cognitive function.

Saturday 9

1. Where will you be and doing this Tuesday afternoon?

I will be picking our daughter up from school, but beyond that, I cannot be sure. We work on call, so are never sure where we will be or when.

2. Do you belong to any group(s)?

Online, yes. I belong to two closed groups for Christian women. In "real life", no.

3. Do you feel energized or drained by being in a group situation? (If the answer is "it depends," on what does it depend?)

I feel completely awkward and would rather not be in a group situation, at least not in person.

4. Is there a role you naturally put yourself while adapting when in group situations?

Yes. I play the role of "The Invisible Woman". You know: don't call me out, don't point me out, just pretend I'm not there.

5. In business or formal situations, do you mind hugs or are you offended if it goes past a handshake?

In business situations, I prefer no physical contact at all, including handshaking. In a formal situation, it really depends on the occasion. If it is, for example, my sister's wedding, I will assume it is family-full, so I don't mind hugs at all. I love my family.

6. Do you find what we'd call “ice breakers” a playful way to build community in a lighthearted manner, or a complete and utter hell of forced fun and awkwardness?

I think that ice breakers can be fun. It really depends on the kind of ice breaker. There are just certain things that should not be done in mixed company, and still others that shouldn't be done/said at all.

7. What word do you use far too frequently?

"So". I've been trying to pay attention lately to discover my reset word and have found that I say "so" at the beginning of a lot of statements.

8. What word do you use not frequently enough?

Cha-ching? Really, I have no clue what word that I don't use enough. According to some folks, I use all of them way too much. haha

9. What word do you use when swearing is not appropriate?

"Blankin'" as in fill in the blank. Your choice. I feel like saying one, but I know I shouldn't, so you choose the one that suits you.

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Please be sure to visit Saturday 9 so that you can play along, too!

Saturday 9

Please be sure to visit Saturday 9 to play along!

1. What has someone done unusual to make you feel their love?

Although it isn't necessarily unusual for a man to open or close a car door for a woman, my husband typically doesn't anymore. He used to do it all the time, but it made me self-conscious, so I asked him not to do it. Anyway, I have been dealing with a health issue for the last couple of weeks that makes leaning over to close the car door painful once I'm seated in the car. He has been good about closing it for me as I heal. Sometimes he forgets, but most of the time he remembers and I feel loved when he does remember.

2. Do you own a smart phone? If yes, is it everything you wanted? If no, how seriously have you considered a purchase of the new smart phone?

No, I do not own one nor do I have any desire for a smart phone. I'm doing good to be able to make a call on the regular ol' dumb phone that I have. Any more gadgetry would just make it even more impossible for me.

3. Have you ever camped out to purchase something?

No, nor do I have any intention of ever doing so. I don't like shopping enough to put up with the whole camping out idea and bathroom access, or lack thereof, is a definite consideration at this stage of my life.

4. What is your worst habit?

Both not trusting and trusting too quickly.

5. What is your best habit?

One of my best habits is not being chronically late for things like appointments or events. I have always been one to be early or on time. I detest lateness. I don't want to keep someone waiting any more than I want to be kept waiting.

6. In your opinion, what is life's greatest mystery?

The greatest mystery to me is knowing, without a doubt, that the one you love loves you.

7. Are you one of those people who is constantly busy with projects, social outings, etc. or do you just like to lay low and stay home?

During the early part of the month, we are really, really busy, but it slows down toward the end of the month. Overall, I would prefer to just stay home and lay low rather than being out in the middle of everything. I do enjoy going out to do the jobs that keep us so busy early in the month, but going out for social situations isn't on my list of things to do anymore.

8. Whether you're busy all the time or like to just chill, have you always been that way?

No. When I was younger, I loved going out, whether it was to visit people or shopping or out to eat, whatever. Although I have always been introverted, I was a little less so in some situations when I was 25 years younger.

9. Is there something you'd like to change about how you spend your time? If so, what is it? If not, why not?

Yes, but it is probably better that I not go into this here.