1. Where the hell have you been?
Busy. Entertaining family from Trinidad, taxiing kids between schools, doctors, orthodontists and McDonald's. Crazy sewing orders for my shop (thankyouverymuch), and shuffling laundry all around the house. I've also managed to get in a shower now and then and get at least a few hours of sleep most nights.
2. Before yesterday, how long had it been since you'd had your teeth cleaned?
Nine years. Yes, blew me away, too. Those damn kids have sure made time fly. The totally surprising thing was that my teeth are in great shape. Must be all the Trident gum I chew. You know, it's recommended by 9 of 10 dentists.
3. Where the hell is Trinidad?
17 miles from the coast of Venezuela, and about 8000 miles from my front door. Don't feel bad. I had to look it up the first time, too. (map courtesy of National Geographic)
5. What's the strangest/grossest thing you've ever eaten and are embarrassed to admit you like?
Speaking of Trinidad, the strangest thing I think I've eaten and liked was something I ate there. Black pudding. It sounds totally gross but once you drink enough rum and pretend it's actually pudding, it's quite good.
6. How tall are you?
5' 6 99/100ths". I used to be 5'7".
7. How much do you weigh?
Seriously? I'm not going to tell you that. It's something only my doctor and I discuss and generally it's not a very pleasant conversation. But it's not really my weight that is the issue. It's my height. I'm about four inches too short.
8. Do you still scrapbook?
I'm so sorry to say that I haven't made a layout in about six months. Currently most of my scrapbooking supplies have been boxed up to make room for the fabric store that exploded in my studio.
9. Do you still take pictures?
All the time. But my photography business has been closed for over a year. However, as a favor, I did recently take photos for my sweet friend who just had a baby. It felt good to don my photographer's hat again for a bit:
These were taken in the hospital about two hours after he was born. My ovaries were aching. Threw me into baby fever something fierce.
10. Have you ever baked a pie?
I have! I recently baked my first apple pie with apples we picked in Julian. It was quite good and super easy. I used a store-bought crust and found a recipe for the filling on the internet and voila! Easy as pie.
11. How many yards of fabric do you own?
I estimate that somewhere around 250 yards of fabric is currently staring at the back of my head. This includes fat quarters, pre-cuts and vintage linens.
12. What kind of car do you drive?
I have a Honda Odyssey. It's about five years old and has about 80000 miles and is still a great car. I'm working on a way to convert petrified french fries, ground-in goldfish crackers and abandoned happy meal toys into clean fuel for my car. I'll let you know when I'm done with that.
13. What else do you know how to do?
I can touch my nose with my tongue, type 70 WPM, cook BBQ chicken in the crock pot, give great hugs, and play the air drums to every song Journey ever recorded. Among other things.
14. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Parents who don't make their kids wear seat belts or who don't know how to properly use car seats and infant carriers. Grrrrrrr. I see this all the time, all around town and it really chaps my hide.
15. Any book recommendations?
If you haven't read "The Help" yet, please do. It was my favorite book last year.
16. What's on your Christmas wish list?
Answered prayers. And a Kindle.
17. Guilty pleasure?
"Friends" reruns and gingerbread lattes.
18. How old were you when you discovered the truth about Santa?
About six or seven. I peeked through the heating vent into the living room and busted my mom stuffing our stockings.
19. Favorite color?
Blue. I never met a shade of blue I didn't like.
20. Paper or plastic?
I'm torn on this one. I re-use plastic bags a lot and we recycle them. Paper seems to be more environmentally friendly but I don't end up re-using them as often. Yes, I should use all the re-usable fabric and oil-cloth grocery bags I've made over the last few years, and I have the best intentions to do so. They're in a box in the back of my car and I forget them there every time I go to the grocery store. There's usually a muffled "shit" coming from somewhere on aisle three when I realize I've forgotten them. Again.
And I'd like to take a moment to say a huge "THANK YOU!" to all of our veterans and men and women in uniform on this Veteran's Day. I have a brother and a sister who are both officers in the Army. And 11 years ago today my father passed peacefully in his sleep. A Vietnam veteran, there was no better day for him to go.
And that's it for today. More regular blog posting on the horizon.
Peace out.