There are apparently some rules I have to follow in order to accept the award:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link to their blog. (Done.)
2. Share 10 honest things about yourself. (Huh. I will attempt to do that without boring the yoga pants off all 12 people who read my blog.)
3. Present this award to 7 other whose blogs you find brilliant in design or content. (I am uncomfortable doing that to people I don't know, so it might be a shorter list than seven. We'll see.)
4. Tell those 7 people they have been awarded. (Noted.)
Here goes ... 10 honest things about myself ...
1. So when I popped over to Amy's blog and read her 10 Honest Things, she started off with a real humdinger: "We have lived in our house for 6 years now, and I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never cleaned the oven." O to the M to the G. I had no idea that was something to be ashamed of. I have been in my house for 10 years and have never cleaned my oven, either, but I would never have thought to mention it. Want to know what I do? I have aluminum foil laid in the bottom of my oven. Anything that drips, drops or splatters off of a pan, the foil catches. When it gets icky, I throw it away and replace it. I've been doing that since about 1993 (when I moved to an apartment in college), and I've never had to clean any of my ovens. That's like 16 years without cleaning an oven. SCORE!
2. I think people who don't read any blogs at all are missing out on something. I know lots of people who don't read blogs. Actually, the MAJORITY of people I know don't read blogs. And it's not like I think that every blog has something to offer ... I've visited probably hundreds that didn't inspire me to visit again. But I have found so many that brighten my day, broaden my worldview, inspire me and evoke emotion in me, and I know that I would be absolutely devastated if they were all to disappear tomorrow. Assignment America: Find a new-to-you blog that resonates with you and subscribe to it.
3. I'm terrible at math, which I think I've mentioned before. But I'm not SO bad at basic addition. I can add all the numbers between one and nine together in my head without using my fingers, EXCEPT for my Achilles heel: 8+5 = 13. I either have to start with eight and count the other five on my fingers, or I have to go 8+8-3 = 13. I do not know why my brain refuses to memorize that one little fact, but I'm 36 and I don't see myself learning it magically now.
4. I got on the boat late for a few TV comedies that now rank among my favorites. I bought them all on iTunes well after they debuted, and I'm totally hooked: The Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother. Thank you, iTunes.
5. I've never seen a single episode of House or NCIS. As a matter of fact, I have a hard time remembering that Mark Harmon is even ON a current TV show. That is very unusual for someone who is basically a walking TV encyclopedia.
6. I hate pennies, but I can't stop using them. If my Chick-fil-A order comes to $4.61, I give the cashier $5.01. If it's $8.84, I give her $10.04. "Thank you for visiting Chick-fil-A." "No, thank YOU for letting me get rid of some of these PENNIES."
7. I have some SERIOUS night-blindness. It's worse in the rain. I hate driving at night because I always feel like I'm subjecting myself and my passengers to unnecessary risk. However, that feeling is not strong enough to override my Need to Control Everything nor my conviction that I am the best driver in our house, so I still insist on driving everywhere we go, even at night.
8. I am overwhelmed by large groups of people. I am much more a "small group person." I enjoy small groups of people even more than I enjoy one-on-one time with people, in general. Small groups have the potential for great storytelling and gut-busting laughter, two of my favorite things on Earth.
9. Speaking of small groups, that term is relative. A small group of people at a party might be 10 people sitting in a loose circle, and hopefully all of them can make me laugh. A small group of people at my table at a restaurant is a maximum of four. A table of six is the most I can do without feeling enormous pressure to choose the "right" seat. I want to sit in the chair that has the access to the most people -- preferably the FUNNIEST people -- which at a table of four is a moot point, at a table of six is any of the four chairs in the middle, and at a table of eight is a total crapshoot.
10. I absolutely cannot BELIEVE how blessed I am to have the family I have. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would have three beautiful boys who throw their arms around me every night and who love me with far more fervor than I am worthy. I never thought that I would have a husband who loves me so much, despite all my flaws (and despite the fact that I think and state that I am a better driver than he is), and I thank God that He put all of these people -- My People -- in my life. He is Good!
Now, I'm awarding ...
1. Patrice at The Williams Family Blog
2. Megan at Hold It Up to the Light
3. Lora Lynn at Vitafamiliae (who I don't think even reads my blog so I don't know how she'll find out about this)
4. I'm a Mom!? at The Incoherent Ramblings of a Stay-at-Home Mom (and a language warning if you happen to pop over there)
