Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Random Dozen Meme

Catchy title, don't you think? I'm so glad Lid thought of it! I'm very happy that Lid is hosting this fun meme where we get to answer truly random questions because it satisfies that need in me to harness my randomness at times for the good of all. Participating in this meme is sort of like performing a public service, isn't it? ISN'T IT?!

Well then...



1. On an average, how often do you splurge and buy something for yourself?
Do chocolate and Cheetos count? Other than that, the last time I bought something was in July. We knew our friend was coming in August and could bring things from the U.S. for us. I bought fabric, GLORIOUS fabric, and used books on eBay. 

2. Are you more like Hall or Oates? Just kidding. Real question: What is the last creative project you began/finished? Feel free to post a pic of it. 
 The last one I finished I forgot to take a photo of before I put it in an envelope and sent it to Skoots1Mom after she won a little giveaway on my blog. My current projects are for Christmas. Not sure if I'll get them done in time or not, and they're only tiny little wall quilts. TINY. But I'm doing a number of different techniques that are time consuming. I don't really want to show much until it's finished but here's a close-up so you can see the fun I've been having, trying out the different embroidery stitches on my Pfaff.


3. OK, Goldie Locks, do you consider your house too big, too little or juuuust right?
No house will be big enough until I have a dedicated craft room. LOL  For years the crafting area was the living/dining area wherever we lived. In our current house I have a table in the study where my sewing machine resides and I can sew whenever I feel like it. Mostly. As long as we don't have a guest in that room. There's no place to store all my fabric and other quilting paraphernalia, so they remain in plastic bins of assorted sizes, stacked here and there. I still have to use the dining table if I need to spread out.

4. What is your favorite outdoor chore?
Taking photos of chores my husband has done?

5. If you knew that cigarette smoking was not bad for your health but would be a weight loss tool, would you use it? Why or why not?
NO! Icky smell, yellow teeth, stained fingers...need I say more? Aside from which, smoke of any kind is the major trigger for my asthma. NOT WORTH IT!

6. On a road trip, would you rather drive or ride?
Definitely ride. Not a fan of the driving.
Besides I make a much better back seat driver :-)

7. What do you consider a trivial pursuit?
Doing nothing but sitting around gossiping. That.Would.Drive.Me.Nuts.
Reading a book or watching a movie that doesn't hold my attention.

[Note the oh, so subtle segue into the next question...it would make my high school English teach SO proud.]

8. This weekend, we downloaded the movie "Duplicity" with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. Within 5 minutes, I was bored and annoyed, but I kept watching 5-10 minutes at a time hoping it would get better between small chores. I finally gave up and Jorge watched it alone, and then regretted wasting that time because he disliked it intensely, too. So ... how long do you watch a movie or read a book before giving up on it?
I used to HAVE to finish any book I started. No longer; if it doesn't grab me in the first 2-3 chapters, I have no qualms about putting it down. With a movie I might go half an hour, certainly no more and probably much less. Life's just too short for TRIVIAL PURSUITS.

[Bada-bing! Just tied that up with a pretty little yellow bow :-)]

9. Is there a song that you really love but are embarrassed to admit because it's not cool or it's racy or because it's by Hall and Oates?
I've long been a fan of cheesy country, where the guy loses his wife, his dog, his truck and
*gasp* his guitar... Just love that bluegrass banjo and lyrics like bad poetry which can be so depressing but when sung with an uplifting twang makes you happy anyway. Such as this old Hank Williams song:

Your cheating heart will make you weep
You’ll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won’t come the whole night through
Your cheating heart will tell on you


When tears come down like falling rain
You’ll toss around and call my name
You’re gonna walk that floor the way I do
Your cheating heart will tell on you


Your cheating heart will pine someday
And crave the love you threw away
The time will come when you’ll be blue
Your cheating heart will tell on you


When tears come down like falling rain
You’ll toss around and call my name
You’re gonna walk that floor the way I do
Your cheating heart will tell on you


The lyrics alone can't convey the twang, so I give you 15 seconds from one of the kings of bluegrass...

Now tell me that didn't make you smile.

10. On a scale of 1-10 (10 = extremely) how spontaneous are you?
Two.
On a good day. 


11. Are you a food and/or beverage snob?
Why yes, yes I am!
I determined long ago that if a calorie was going to pass by my lips it had better be good. This prejudice extends to all major food groups, but especially chocolate. I have been known to pass up mediocre chocolate without batting an eyelash. I'd rather not have coffee than drink bad coffee. On the other hand, I love me some junk food so obviously I'm not that big of a food snob.


Now step away from the Cheetos. They're mine!

12. Who/What are you trying to control in your life? (I hear people gulping and see them sweating in anticipation of how to answer this one.)
Only EVERYTHING.


~~~~~~~~~~

The whatever-you-call-it English thing I hosted last night went okay. Besides our co-workers' two youngest (one is in 6th grade, one in 9th), three ladies came. Their skill level runs the gamut from fairly fluent to middle-of-the-road to speaks-no-English-and-understands-only-a-little. My Spanish tutor said it would be best if the participants were somewhat at the same level.

It was never my intention to TEACH English. I simply want to do for them like Graciela has done for me with Spanish: provide a comfortable space and place to practice their English.

The other issue was figuring out a time when everyone can make it (one had to leave half-way through last evening). There isn't one.

Obviously a few kinks to be worked out.

Oh, and I forgot to take a single photo.


~~~~~~~~~~

There's a big folklore dance competition happening this week, right here in Carlos Paz, with participants from other Latin America countries as well as Argentina. Our friend Abraham and his group will be competing tonight. These things start around 9 p.m. and often go into the wee hours of the morning. I cannot last that long so hopefully his group will perform near the beginning. I hope I remember to take photos because Abraham looks quite spiffy in his traditional gaucho costume.

24 comments:

SusanD said...

Hey Kim, Loved your answers to #s 4, 11, and 12. (did you go back to see what those were? hahahaha) I got a chuckle out of them. Aren't these great questions? Thanks for sharing. Have a great day. Blessings, SusanD

Joyce said...

Hi Kim....loved your answers...especially 4, 10, 12...I wrote a book for #12...could have just used your answer!

riTa Koch said...

Fun, fun, fun & funny!

So, did you serve tea?
Forgot to comment loudly on your e-m mention of morning mate!!!???
Is that now habitual?
In honor of your amazing assimilation to the culture, I had mate this morning.

How are going to manage with such disparate levels of English skills?
Did you come up with a name?
Next time photo!

The dance competition sounds like great fun!

Betty W said...

Great answers to the random dozen! I guess if you´re a two in spontaneous and I´m a 10, we would hopefully learn from each other.... :)

To answer your question from my blog, we do have lawn mowers that are cordless. For the longest time we dragged a cord behind us, but we have a pretty big yard and it was so frustrating. Now that we have a cordless one, all we need is lawn!! :)
BUT last night it RAINED! This is a huge answer to our prayers. We are all so happy and thankful and today I took the afternoon off, so I could start planting lawn again.... :)

Susanne said...

Taking pictures of your hubby working. That is funny!

Pam said...

Loved your answers to the random dozen... so funny! Loved your clever little segue. And yes I love me some CHEETOS too. YUM.

Jewel said...

Only EVERYTHING! HA!

Good list!

Skoots1moM said...

I live in randomness with a 17yo... is that a public service, too? :)
i buy used books on eBay, too...some great deals

so excited...eager to get it...the little giveaway (i'll be sure to take a pic)
I'm thinking about making wall quilts out of dd's tshirts and then quilting them into one big quilt...what do you think?
You're brave to be embroidering. My mom likes to embroider by hand.


A dedicated craft room would be nice...I, too, have to use the dining table :(

How many times growing up did I hear this song...my mom and dad had that album...i can still sing it from heart.
What "did-you-call-it"? That English thing you hosted...
I know they enjoyed practicing English with you. Do they know how to say "take a picture" in English...that way they can help remind you ... or else we're gonna have to put your camera around your neck, I guess.

:D

Those traditional gaucho costumes are neat looking...hope we get to see him in it.

Oldfangled said...

Niiiiiice segue. I'm impressed.

quilly said...

I grew up listening to Hank Williams and I can play that song in my head.

As to your writing segue and tidy little bow at the end -- I've spent ten years trying to teach that to 5th graders. It was nice to finally see it done well. ;)

Mari said...

Great questions. I'm so with you on the cigarettes and the control too! And yes - that song has twang!

Heidi said...

You bought July? Intriguing.

Oh, you mean the "So, ya wanna learn some English, 'eh" club you hosted last night- well, glad to hear it went well.

Love your quilting projects and share your photo logging of projects hubz has finished- skills.

:)

Mission4Christ Media said...

All questions count to me but the one that touches me most is #5.

I always tell people mostly youths here in Romania what I hear on media about cigarette in my country...."The federal ministry of health warns that Smokers are liable to die young."

I make friends almost everywhere i go and I do use these statement to minister to those friends of mine that smokes.

Romania is a very different culture for me. I'm still working on the differences but I have never for a day regret my calling.

Mission is a real adventure and I love it so much.

Thanks for visiting.
God bless

Anonymous said...

Loved reading your answers. You look to be a lot better quilter than me.

I'm with you on going to a bookstore or the home improvement places. I love them.

Forelore dance competition sounds like fun..:-)

Have a great day.

Pam from alertandorientedx4 said...

Grew up on old school country. Remember David Allan Coe?
"I was drunk the day my ma got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck
I got runned over by the danged old train."

The quintessential c/w song...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Barbara H. said...

I love you segues and answers! Very creative!

I grew up in a household where Hank Williams and such were played. Can't say I'm a fan. but it does bring back memories.

I took a class in quilting, but I am not exact enough to do piecing well. I admire anyone who can do it -- and in tiny pieces!

Karen said...

How fun that I have a reader in the southern hemisphere! Thanks for visiting my blog. I love your design—all flowery and spring-y and stuff. But that's because you're heading into spring now, right? We are, sadly, entering the dead-zone of seasons. I love sunshine and warmth. Not so much for cold, gray, windy days. Nice to "meet" you!

Greg C said...

I like me some Hank too. But Why don't ya love me like you used to do?

Skoots1moM said...

i got my package today...I GOT MY PACKAGE TODAY...YAY...
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WHAT A GREAT TASTE of Argentina...love the bag so much

i took pictures and added it to my blog... :)

Anonymous said...

Cool Answers loved the song :) listened to the full version on youtube. It is quite some fun ;)



Freedom Debt Reviews

Lhoyt said...

Your Club Espanglès sounds interesting.
I enjoyed your answers to the random questions.
Don´t often do it, but our store had 'coffee yoghurt', and I wanted to try it, so spent the 63 cents and tried it.
On question 3, an adaptation to the saying on income is apropos. 'Your expenses (possessions) will always rise (expand) to meet your income (house size).
Esposure to C/W here in the south has brought me to enjoy it, as long as I don´t dwell on the lyrics!
I always enjoy your writing.

2nd Cup of Coffee said...

#4 has got to win the award for best answer to this question.

Also, I am NOT a fan of country music, BUT, for some reason, I have always loved this song to pieces!

Thanks for contributing your flavor to the random!

Sarah said...

Oh, fun! I so enjoyed reading that! :) Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting on my random dozen...so, you're in Argentina? How cool! I have friends that are on their way now!

Yes, we are currently on deputation...fun stuff! Lord willing, we'll be in Germany this time next year!

Nice "meeting" you!

Sarah

Celeste said...

Love your random dozen - great answers. (and great segues!)

Thank you for visiting my blog, in answer to your question about the third continent, it was Africa, I lived in Zambia for nine years.