11 Things

The brilliant and lovely Jessica over at Housewifespice (go check her out! Among other delights, she gives a weekly book review of books for all ages!) tagged me in an "11 Things" post over the weekend. I could pretend to be upset, but who am I kidding? I love these things!! So, without further ado...

Rules:
1.  Post these rules.
2.  Post a photo of yourself and then write 11 things about your life. 
3.  Answer the questions for you set in the original post.
4.  Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5.  Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you have tagged them.

This was my 1st attempt at figuring out Instagram. For some reason, that makes me sorrowful.
 

 
11 Things about my life...

1) Second to Jesus, coffee is, once again, my savior.
2) I'm back at Weight Watchers.
3) I want to eat an entire Portillo's chocolate cake every day
4) I want to wear "normal" clothes again. No more maternity clothes or huge sizes.
5) In late March, I was hospitalized for 1 night because I have some serious blood clots in my right arm. They were probably caused by a combination of pregnancy bed rest, my c-section, and the eleventy-hundred IVs that were placed in that arm (and infiltrated a vein).
6) I am self-injecting blood thinners daily for three months because the fun of child-bearing is never-ending.
7) I just discovered that the blood thinner I inject is derived from "porcine intestinal mucosa".
8) I just decided I will stop reading inserts from medications.
9) I repaired the lace on the 170 year old family heirloom christening gown all by myself!
10) I don't have any real hobbies.
11) I am not ashamed of or worried by #10.


Now, to answer Jessica's questions...





1.  If you were a saint, what would you be the patron of?


Oooo! Good one! I'm assuming the Catholic Church would never let me be the patron saint of cussing, right? So, that leaves impatience or humor. And, since the impatience thing would probably be on the "no-no" list, too, I'm going to with humor. St. Mary Kate of the Giggles.

2.  If you weren't Catholic, what religion would you be? Me likey this one, too! Kyle and I have had this discussion and I really think I'd be an Orthodox Jew. Love the beautiful traditions, the strength of belief, and the latkes.

3.  If you could only eat one kind of animal for the rest of your life, what would it be: beef, pork, or poultry? Easy. Beef. Medium rare.

5.  If you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be? Well, that would be a nightmare, as variety of cuisines is the spice of my life (pun intended). I would probably choose "Italian", but in the broadest sense (all the different cuisines of Italy) of the word.

6.  What is the one movie that you are embarrassed to admit you've never seen? Well, there are certainly many movies that I am embarrassed to admit that I have seen. But, everyone seems to have seen "Citizen Kane" and I have never seen anything more than a clip of that movie. Spoiler alert: I do know, however, that Rosebud is a sled --- whatever that means.

7.  What is your dream vacation? Ha ha!! Well, as I get older and have more kids it becomes less of a "where" and more of a "what type". I would love to go with Kyle to some private island with warm (not hot!) temps, a full-time bartender and chef, and lots and lots of books (both favorite and new-to-me titles). Must stay for at least 2 weeks.

8.  Who is your fantasy dinner guest?  Must be a living person. I'm a "party person", so choosing just one person is difficult for me. So, I'll imagine it's a dinner party of my "usual suspects" PLUS someone with whom I'd love to have a long, one-on-one conversation: Pope Benedict XVI. Not surprising, I know, but I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask, and I'd love to hear how he would handle some situations that I've been in/am currently in. So, totally selfish, yeah. But, it's my party, and I'll use it to my advantage if I want to (totally doesn't go with the tune).

9.  Who is your fantasy dinner guest living or dead?  Can't pick Jesus or Mary, and can't pick the same person you picked for #8. Cary Grant. There. I said it. And, I'm not explaining.

10.   What was the best book you read or were read as a child? Toss up between the "Anne of Green Gables" series and "The Betsy-Tacy" series. The way that Hanna Montana and iCarly have (sadly) influenced many tween girls these days, is the way that Anne Shirley and Betsy Ray influenced me.

11.  If you had to emigrate to another country, I don't know, you're a fugitive from the law or something,  what country do you go to? Ireland. Sorry not to pull any surprises on this answer, either. I feel like I could easily blend in and I wouldn't have to learn a language. Plus, Guinness, Waterford, and the beat of the bodhran? Yes, please!




OK, now here are my 11 questions:
1) Favorite "guilty splurge" food and why?
2) Are Bucket Lists a good idea or not (must defend your position)?
3) Orange Sherbet or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough?
4)  If you had to give up one secular Christmas tradition, what would it be?
5) If you could choose to play any professional sport (you have been bitten by a radioactive spider thereby giving you super-powers), which one would it be?
6) What one phobia (diagnosed or undiagnosed) do you have that no one knows about?
7) Favorite childhood song?
8) What kitchen utensil/gadget/small appliance could you NEVER do without?
9) Obituaries: enjoy reading them or not?
10) You inherit 2 million dollars and decide to keep this fact a secret. Do you spend it slowly & judiciously or do you save it, planning on leaving it all to your family upon your death?
11) If there was one book you could go back and un-read, which one would you choose?


And, I choose Marie from Joy Beyond The Cross, because I'd love to get to know more about my prayer buddy, Christina from It Was The Best of Times, and the Worst of Times... because I always love hearing her perspective, Karen from Karen Edmisten because she is one of my favorite non-fiction authors, and my darling husband Kyle from kylepdempseyonlineinformationdotcom because I really am interested in how he'll answer #3 and #10.

Have fun!!!