Friday Five: Books!

This week's Friday Five about books and reading got me motivated to fire up the ol' blog! (Thanks, Jan!)


1. What books have you recently read? Tell us your opinion of them.
For Christmas, Doug (Christina's boyfriend) gave me Steve Martin's An Object of Beauty, a novel about the business side of art. The book features reproductions of artworks which are cleverly worked into the story. It is ultimately a morality tale, and I predict that the novel will be made into a movie in the future. I loooove Steve Martin.

I am in the middle of reading (and enjoying!) The Book of General Ignorance, which was a Christmas gift from Christina. The subtitle is "Everything You Think You Know is Wrong" -- and that pretty much sums up what the book is about! It seems we have all acquired a lot of misinformation during our lives.

2. What books are awaiting your available time to be read?
My next novel will be The Mysterious Benedict Society, which looks like an easy, fun read. David recently purchased it as a book that he and I could share. I'll read it first, since he is up to his eyeballs in college reading.

3. Have any books been recently recommended?
Amazon recommends allllll sorts of books to me. :)

4. What genre of books are your favorite, along with some titles and/or authors you like best?
Hmmm.... my interests are pretty wide, so it's hard to pick a 'favorite'.

5. What have you read lately that you have a strong urge to recommend? (or to condemn?)
My 'stock' recommendation is Willa Cather's My Antonio, consistently in my top 5 books of all time.

Friday Five: Who or What Lifts You Up?

For this week's Friday Five, Mary Beth, inspired by the singing of a colleague, asks:

What lifts you up when you are low or troubled? Who helps you remember that you are not alone, it's getting better all the time, etc.? Your five responses can be people you know, people you DON'T know, music, places, foods, scripture, surprises, something you do for someone else. It could be a pair of slippers. It could be a glass of water.

Bonus: Do you like the song "Jingle Bell Rock?" If you do, who do you prefer to hear sing it?

1. Christina and David! They are so much fun to hang around -- and always so thoughtful. (e.g. When they came home for Christmas break last night, they brought flowers and a red velvet cake for our anniversary gift!)

(picture taken this summer at Uncle Maynard's food pantry program in South Dakota)

2. Cats! Sure, Soots is a little 'goofy upstairs', but you gotta love him!

(Soots in a rare moment of calm lap-sitting with Christina)

3. Music! Have I mentioned I like Carole King? ;)

(picture from Mother's Day 2010 concert)

4. My bike! A good bike ride is always uplifting, although this time of year I don't get out nearly as much as I would like.

5. This time of year I looove Christmas books and movies.



Bonus: I'm not that much of a country music fan, but I do like the Randy Travis version of Jingle Bell Rock -- mostly because Mike likes it so much!

Friday Five: Connecting

My sputtering on-again, off-again blog is... ON today, as I play the Friday Five. Jan's questions were inspired by her reading of Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam and thinking about relationships and the Golden Rule.

Here we go:

1. Self: Who was your hero/heroine when you were about ten years old?
The first person who came to mind was Roy Rogers! Although, this choice is probably more accurate for age 7 or 8 or so. Roy always tried to do the right thing, and got to ride his palomino, Trigger -- cool stuff.

2. Family: Who are you most like? Who is most like you?
I am probably most like my grandmother -- at least I hope so because she was awesome! :) I think my temperament is similar to hers, and I share her appreciation both for the importance of family and for 'the land'/nature.

3. Friends: How do you stay in touch?
My first thought is: 'not well enough' -- because life seems so busy! However, going out to lunch or coffee is one way to keep in touch. Facebook is also nice, especially for 'old' classmates, etc.

4. Neighborhood, community: What are ways you like to be involved?
We know our neighbors and are friendly with them, but it is mostly a 'chat out by the mailbox' kind of thing.

5. Job/church: Do you see a need that will help in developing connections?
My job involves connecting with people all day long -- mostly one on one in the exam room. But often there are family members who come along for the eye exam, and I always appreciate that.

Bonus: A link or anything else about connecting.
Yay! An excuse to post a Carole King song!

Friday Five: Storms of Life Edition

Here's me... scanning the horizon for storms. (OK, this was just an excuse to use a picture from our recent trip to South Dakota.)

I'm baaaaaaaaaack (again). My good blogpal, Processing Counselor, suggested a captcha to help solve my Asian spam dilemma, so I'm giving that a go.

Now onto this week's Friday Five!

Martha writes:
I'm listening this morning for word of Hurricane Earl. Is he coming to visit, or will he bypass my part of Maine and move further Downeast, or veer toward Nova Scotia? Should I buy those bottles of water, just in case wind brings branches and power lines down? And how many times will the tracking map change today?
Herewith, a Friday Five about the storms of life:


1) What's the most common kind of storm in your neck of the woods?
I grew up in North Dakota where the most common kinds of storms were blizzards in the winter and tornadoes in the summer -- each possessing their own special charm. Living now in the Pacific Northwest, I am trying to think of what type of "storm" we get here... and I'm coming up short. We really have super mild weather. (Of course we get lots of rain at times, but not really storm-like rain. We've also had a mild earthquake or two.)

2) When was the last time you dealt with a significant power outage?
I'd have to go back to my childhood and Dakota blizzards for this one. However, when we lost power we had a generator. On the up side we had power and warmth, but on the down side it was so darn loud that our hearing was in jeopardy.

3) Are you prepared for the next one?
Sadly, no. Because of my past experiences (see #1 and #2!), I haven't felt motivated to get a disaster kit together. But if a big earthquake hits, I'm in trouble.

4) What's the weather forecast where you are this weekend?
It's beautiful today (sunny, mid-70s), but the rain is probably rolling in tomorrow.

5) How do you calm your personal storms?
I like music and talking with friends.

Friday Five: Work Out Edition

Mompriest gives us this week's Friday Five! She writes:
For this Friday Five let's ponder the various ways we work out (or not), physically, spiritually, and/or psychologically.

1. Do you work out physically, spiritually, or psychologically? (I'll let you define what that might mean to you)
I don't think any of my activities would be strenuous enough to use the term "work out". :)

2. Are you more inclined to join a gym, or a book club?
I would be more inclined to join a book group -- actually I would love to find a good book group to join! I'm less inclined to join a gym because I prefer getting my exercise in the great outdoors.


(That's me in Colorado with Christina & David.)

3. Are you more inclined to read self-help books like Gail Sheehy's "Passages" or spiritual books like Richard Rohr or Theresa of Avila? And if so, what is your favorite?
Hmm... I don't really read self-help books (maybe I should!) -- I'd be more likely to read spiritual books. (Actually I read Black Elk Speaks some time ago and that was cool...)

4. Are you a loyal fan of a sports team? Or do you join the bandwagon when the local team is winning? And, if so, which one?
I enjoy baseball, and I root for both the Minnesota Twins (team of my childhood) and Seattle Mariners. When they play each other I don't care who wins!

5. Or do you lean more toward having a favorite theologian/Spiritual writer or self help author and if so, who? And, why.
In terms of theologian-type writers I like Marcus Borg and Kathleen Norris (although I haven't read anything lately by either of them).

Bonus: What was the last play-off series you watched and did your team win?
The only thing I can think of is Dancing with the Stars! And obviously that doesn't count, so no bonus points for me!

Friday Five: Family Trees

Sophia had a recent "genealogical adventure" which inspired this week's Friday Five...

1. Do you have any interest in geneaology?
Yes! Several years ago I did some research and was able to get lots of good genealogical information. I haven't done any recent work, but I would like to get back into that and create a family tree book.

2. Which countries did your ancestors come from?
My ancestry is entirely of the "Germans from Russia" group. (Quick definition: In the 18th century, the Russian Czar invited German citizens to settle near the Black Sea and Volga River areas. In the 19th century, many of them moved on to America. Quicker definition: Think Lawrence Welk.)

3. Who is the farthest back ancestor whose name you know?
That would be Wendell Hoerth and his lovely wife Otilia -- both born around 1583.

4. Any favorite saints or sinners in the group?
My most famous relative is Bob Newhart.

5. What would you want your descendants to remember about you?
Hmm... I guess if I ever do complete my family tree book, they would fondly remember that I gathered and preserved that information for them!

Bonus: a song, prayer, or poem that speaks of family to you.
I'm going with this clip of the closing credits of the Lawrence Welk Show. That show reminds me of family -- both mine growing up and my own kids who watched it (on PBS) as they were growing up. And I love Lawrence's accent -- it reminds me of 'home'. :)

Friday Five: Friendship

Kathrynzj "spent the better part of last week on a continuing education cruise with a group of revgals", so today's Friday Five is about friendship.

1) Do you remember your first best friend? What did you do together? Are they still in your life?

Debbie D! (That's her on the left at my 9th birthday...)



Oh gee, what didn't we do?! There was lots of playing outside (bike riding, swimming at the pool, etc.) We formed a two-person club, the "N.O." (Nosy Organization) and made a little clubhouse in her garage attic. We played with Barbies (which may explain my cake) and had epic Monopoly battles (notice I did not use the word 'game'!) I lost touch with Debbie over the years and haven't been able to find her! I might have to hire a private eye!

2) Did you ever have to move away or have your best friend move away from you?
We moved in the middle of my junior year in high school from North Dakota to Montana, but Debbie and I weren't "best" friends then, just "regular" friends! I definitely missed the friends I left behind, but made some really good new friends.

3) Are there people in your life now that you can call 'friend'?
Yikes, I hope so!

4) What are some of your favorite things to do with your friends?
Go for coffee, meet for lunch, bop around antique stores, break glassware while transporting it in the van (yes there's a whole story there!), etc.

5) What is a gift friendship has given you?
The gift of 'connection', if that makes sense.

Frday Five: Spiritual or Religious?

Yesterday Mompriest attended a conference led by Diana Butler Bass, and that sparked this week's Friday Five. Mompriest invites us to share five thoughts, ideas, or practices that we consider to be "religious", then five we consider to be "spiritual."


Here are 5 I would put in the "religious" category:

1. Responsive readings during church. I am going to write in the past tense here since I am presently unchurched... but I often found responsive readings devoid of significant meaning (at least on a personal level). And maybe my being a child of the 60's gives me a big nonconformist streak, but I don't like being 'forced' to say something I may or may not agree with.

2. Standing, sitting in unison at specified times during church services. Again, I'm sure my nonconformist streak doesn't help this one.


(googled image from here)

3. Singing some of the hymns. I just flipped open a hymnal and randomly saw: "Good Christians all rejoice and sing! Now is the triumph of our King." The 'King' stuff always seems weird to me. (On the other hand, I have no trouble with Cat Stevens' Morning Has Broken...)

4. My former church always insisted on 'doing' communion the exact same ritualistic way. This made communion 'religious' instead of 'spiritual'.

5. Going to church simply out of habit...

And here are 5 things that are, for me, in the spiritual category:

1. Being out in nature. There is a 'spirituality of place' when one is hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, etc.

(from one of our Mount Hood area hikes)


2. Music. And I often find 'secular' music significantly more meaningful and spiritual than 'church' music. Just one example that comes to mind is Carole King's song Tapestry.

3. Theatre. Quite often I find plays to be transcendent. One example would be Broadway's Wicked. Another would be WWU's production of Dog Sees God in which Christina played Marcy.

4. Reading. A good book (fiction or nonfiction) can also be transcendent.

5. Petting Soots. Yep, spiritual! :)



And as a bonus, since I picked on the church earlier... When church 'services' are 'gatherings' and have an experiential focus, that can be spiritual!

"Staving off the Gloom" Friday Five

Sally writes this week's Friday Five:

Candlemass is past, and Christmas is well and truly over, here in the UK February looks set to be its usual grey and cold self. Signs of spring are yet to emerge; if like me you long for them perhaps you need ways to get through these long dark days. So lets share a few tips for a cold and rainy/ snowy day....

1. Exercise, what do you do if you can't face getting out into the cold and damp?
I ride my stationary bike and channel surf. (That might count as two exercises.)

2. Food; time to comfort eat, or time to prepare your body for the coming spring/summer?
Umm, both?

"Me want fooooooood!"

3. Brainpower; do you like me need to stave off depression, if so how do you do it?
I don't really find that I need to stave off depression per se, but I do like to keep the ol' noggin functional. Reading and making my little slide show videos both work well for this.

4. How about a story that lifts your spirits, is there a book or film that you return to to stave off the gloom?
I tend to read and watch new things rather than repeat... but if I want a good laugh I'd probably watch one of the Pink Panther movies. Peter Sellers and Steve Martin both crack me up.

5. Looking forward, do you have a favourite spring flower/ is there something that says spring is here more than anything else?
We have tulips planted in our yard. Those say spring!

Bonus; post a poem/ piece of music that points to the coming spring...

It's gotta be Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra!

Friday Five: IF

Jan has us pondering the following...

1. If you were a color, what would you be?
I'm going to say blue-green, the color of deep water, like here at Crater Lake. (By the way, I can't believe I've never been there and we only live one state over! I'm going to have to 'fix' that!)



2. If you were a flower (or plant), what would you be?
Maybe one of those scrappy trees up near the top (treeline) of a mountain. For example, an alpine larch is hardy enough to survive low temperatures in thin, rocky soil, and its wood is strong and durable.



3. If you were an animal, what kind would you be?
I would be a dolphin, because they are smart and get to play in the ocean. (But hopefully I wouldn't get caught in a tuna net.) Ah, here's good ol' Flipper:



4. If you were a shoe, what type would you be?
TEVAS! They are quite versatile and fit my 'style'. I've worn them hiking, to work, and even gone into a lake with them on.


5. If you were a typeface, which font would you be?
Hmm... maybe something like freestyle script because it seems 'friendly'.



Bonus: Anything connected with metaphors that you'd like to contribute.
Because I like looking on the bright side...



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credit:
all pictures googled

Friday Five: Dreams

Todays' Friday Five asks us to share about the many different dreams and visions in our lives.

1. Do you tend to daydream?
Hmm... I guess I would say that when I have the luxury of time on my hands (which is not often enough) I do like to do a bit of day dreaming.

2. Do you usually remember your night dreams? Do you find them symbolic and meaningful or just quirky?
I wish I remembered my dreams more often. I have a tendency to think that one can find symbolism in all 'quirky' dreams and derive some sort of meaning from them.

3. Have you ever had a life changing dream which you'll never forget?
I have a couple of dreams I'll never forget (which involve people who have passed away), but I wouldn't say they were life changing.

4. Share a long term dream for one or more aspects of your life and work.
This is superficial, but I have had a dream to convert our dining room into a 'relaxing room' (the dining room just doesn't get used that often and is a waste of space) and I hope that will happen this year.

5. Share a dream for 2010.
I just got Gore's new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Helping the planet is definitely a dream/goal for me.


Bonus: a poem, song, artwork, etc. that deals with dreams in general or one of your dreams
I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but the title fits and I like this Supertramp song:

Friday Five: Christmas Traditions

For this Friday Five, Jan asks us to "share five things about the Christmas traditions in your family."

Since Christina and David are home (yay!), I snagged Christina to help with this while David was practicing his trumpet.

Traditions we always do:
* Some time during the season we go to the Portland Zoo to take in Zoolights.

* There are a few "must watch" Christmas movies -- e.g. PeeWee's Christmas Special, The Snowman, Muppets Christmas Carol, and Rankin-Bass specials.

* Christmas tree ornaments are put on the tree while David selects/plays the music.

* On Christmas Eve, we go to a church service, then go to Grandma's for a huge holiday food spread before opening presents.

*Oh yes, and who can forget... the cats always get catnip from Santa on Christmas morning.

Traditions we always cook or eat:
* Christmas cookies

* Fudge!

* Hickory Farms cheese spread, crackers, and meat

* Ham or turkey on Christmas day

Traditions we would like to start:
This year we bought a Germans from Russia board game (to help celebrate our ethnicity!) which we just played this evening. This has a pretty good shot at becoming an annual tradition.

Traditions we would like to discard:
* Someone always seems to get a Christmas cold. Let's ditch this tradition.

* Also, we almost always have a 'green' Christmas here in the Pacific NW -- We'd rather have a white one.

Anything about our family Christmases:
We always stay home, and have a small, but nice holiday.

Friday Five Do Nothing Edition

Sallys says: I am reading a wonderful little book for Advent it's title: "Do nothing Christmas is Coming!" So this weeks Friday Five is simple. List Five things you won't be doing to prepare for Christmas. And while you are doing nothing play the bonus, put your feet up and listen to your favourite Advent Carol, and post it or a link to it.

Hmm... It would perhaps have been easier to list what I still have to do to prepare for Christmas! But in any event, to prepare for Christmas I will not be...

1. ...eating fruitcake. This is incredibly easy since I don't like it.



2. ...drinking eggnog. (Ditto, and let me add "Ewwwww.")

3. ...not be putting up all of the Christmas decorations inside the house. (The Coca-Cola bears were never a good idea!)

4. ...not hosting our two-family gift exchange (with the Dust Bunny family) at our house since the Thanksgiving Pie Fest was here.

5. ...not going to go crazy with putting up lots of outdoor lights and decorations. C&D get to do that when they get home!

Here's that bonus Christmas song:




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cartoon from here

Friday the 13th Five

1. How is this Friday the 13th looking for you?
Well, it could be looking better. Hubby is sick! Yesterday he left work early with a pounding headache, then developed a fever and nausea. (I'd report on his progress, but he's still sleeping!) I suppose technically we can't blame Friday the 13th since it happened on Thursday the 12th!

2. Have you ever had anything unlucky happen on Friday the 13th?
Nope, can't say that I have. As a child I had a black cat, so I'm sure 'Katze' counter-acted anything that Friday the 13th could throw my way! ;)
Here's Katze and me:


(The camera caught me at half blink, but Katze made up for it with his wiiiiiide open eyes!)

3. Did your family of origin embrace or scorn superstitions?
We'd be more on the scorn side! Although I think 'amused' would be a better word.

4. Are there any unique or amusing ones from your family, region, or ethnic background?
Yes, there's that word amusing! My ethnic background is "Germans from Russia" and one superstition is that if you, for example, bruise your elbow or knee, your parent (or friend or whatever) blows on or kisses the area while saying "Heile, Heile Katzendreck, Morgen ist alles Wieder Weg!" -- which I think basically means with the magic of cat poop, it will be better tomorrow.


(Who knew there would be a picture of Katzendreck on the internet?!)

5. Do you love or hate horror movies like "Friday the 13th"?
Hate them. And I can't over-state that.

Friday Five: What's New

Songbird writes about a new baby on her street who has her "thinking about all the new things that please us with their shiny freshness." For this week's Friday Five we are supposed to "share five things you like *especially* when they are new."

1. New books. I like the way they smell when you flip through the pages. (This is one drawback of the Kindle, but I still love my Kindle!)

2. New snow. What could be more fresh?!



3. New hiking trails. Ooh, the call of adventure as you discover a new path!

4. Opening a new package of my faaaavorite molasses cookies. (Yes, I'm addicted.) The first cookie is so soft and delicious, but the longer the package is open, the less soft and delicious they get. *sniff*



5. Hint to family: I would *especially* like a new canoe if I got one for Christmas...



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googled all pics

Friday Five: Fall

Singing Owl writes:
The Autumnal Equinox has just come 'round again... There is something so nostalgic about this time of year... The nights grow cooler, crops are harvested, for some of us the leaves are beginning to change colors...

For this week, let's share some memories along with some hopes and expectations.

I love autumn -- it's my favorite season! (Although sometimes I say that at the start of summer. And winter. Well, you get the idea.) Anyway... Since I recently discovered some old family photos in a trunk at my mom's, I'm going to answer these F5 questions using some of those pictures!

1. Share a Fall memory.
A couple of favorite fall memories are jumping in a big pile of leaves and heading back to school. I don't have a picture of me jumping in leaves, but here's a picture of me heading back to school. (I'm not sure why I needed the big briefcase. Sheesh!)


And here's a school photo from 4th grade (taken in October '65).



2. Your favorite Fall clothes--(past or present)?
In the past, plaid figured prominently. Here I am with my cousin Cheryl, taken late 1970.


3. Share a campfire story, song, experience...etc.
The only thing I can think of here is sometimes there would be a bonfire after football games. No picture...

4. What is your favorite thing about this time of year?
One of my favorite things is/was trick-or-treating at Halloween. I loved it as a kid, I loved it when C&D were growing up, and I still love answering the door and seeing the neighborhood trick-or-treaters. (Here's my brother and me in 1965.)



5. What changes are you anticipating in your life, your church, family...whatever...as the season changes and winter approaches?
The main change is that Hubby and I return to "empty nesting" this time of year. Sigh.

Bonus: What food says "AUTUMN" at your house? Recipes always appreciated.
Autumn is soup time! Here's Debbie Delzer and me enjoying some soup at her house. (OK it could be cereal, but that doesn't fit my answer!) Notice my sweater--also a fine fall fashion.

Friday Five: Where on the Stairs?

For this week's Friday Five, Jan uses A.A. Milne's poem, "Halfway Down" (from When We Were Very Young). I think he should have entitled it "Halfway Up", but I digress.




Halfway down the stairs
Is a stair
Where I sit.
There isn't any
Other stair
Quite like
It.
I'm not at the bottom,
I'm not at the top;
So this is the stair
Where
I always
Stop.

Halfway up the stairs
Isn't up,
And isn't down.
it isn't in the nursery,
it isn't in the town.
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head:
"It isn't really
Anywhere!
It's somewhere else
Instead!"

(Here's the youtube link of Robin the Frog singing it on the Muppet Show.)


And here's the prompt:
Thinking of your childhood as a stairway, when did you feel (and how did you feel):

1. at the bottom?
A low point on the stairs was when my grandpa died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 65. He was such a great guy with a positive outlook on life, and everyone seemed to love him. (His service was held in the high school gymnasium and it was totally full!)

2. at the top?
Ah, I'd have to go with the carefree summer of '72 -- lots of time spent at the lake with friends, etc.

3. halfway?
Hmm... I guess I view the staircase as a 'road' of sorts (and I'm obviously 'into' roads!), so most of my childhood (and life in general) would be 'halfway' -- with part of the journey behind me and part of the journey ahead. And of course, there's the good and the not-so-good along the way.

4. At this point in your life, where would you place yourself on your own stairway?
See #3! I'm just happy climbing the stairs / heading down the road!

5. Identify a place for you that "isn't really anywhere" but "somewhere else instead."
This would have to be when I'm reading a novel. For example, I just finished The Help (on my Kindle) by Kathryn Stockett. It transported me to the South in 1962. (If anyone is looking for a good read, I'd recommend it!)

Friday Five: Recharging

Sally's laptop battery recently died, which got her thinking about energy and recharging batteries. This Friday Five asks: "what/ who gives you energy?"

1. Is there a person who encourages and uplifts you, whose company you seek when you are feeling low?
When I'm feeling low, I usually like to wallow alone in my crankiness for a bit. When I'm out of that little phase, I do have a great family and friends (you know who you are!) who are supportive and encouraging. Marble the Cat is also a good companion. He understands cranky.

2. How about a piece of music that either invigorates or relaxes you?
Wow... it's hard to single out one piece of music or even one artist! (Although if forced on the artist my knee-jerk response would be Carole King.) I really like music from the 1965-1975 time frame; jazz is great; so is classical.


3. Which book of the Bible do you most readily turn to for refreshment and encouragement? Is there a particular story that brings you hope?
Hmm...I could pick something, but to be really honest I'd have to presently answer "none" and "nope". I do love reading though -- and reading in general is a source of refreshment for me.

4. A bracing walk or a cosy fireside?
A bracing walk -- i.e. a hike! I love to "play outside" (which is important when a good hunk of your workday is spent in a window-less exam room). I have recently been dropping not-so-subtle hints to my family that I want a canoe. I think the Empty Nest Hiking Club should add a new division: The Empty Nest Canoe Club. That would be a great way to recharge the ol' battery!



See--this one is even a red Christmas color!

5. Are you feeling refreshed and restored at the moment or in need of recharging, write a prayer or a prayer request to finish this weeks Friday Five....
We have just recently returned from vacation in Colorado (plus both Offspring #1&2 are still home), so I'm feeling happy, refreshed, and restored.

Friday Five: Wild Animal Edition

Mompriest has a family of bobcats living on the roof of the house across the street from her. For this week's Friday Five, she invites us to share our own wild animal story.

I don't have anything as exciting as bobcats, but I have come across some cool animals on hikes and/or bike rides. So here are my 5 Close Encounters of the Animal Kind:

While on a bike ride I have come across an eagle...



...and a coyote:



While hiking I have come across this deer...



...and this fish. (The hike went by an area where there was a 'viewing area' in the stream.)




I don't have my own picture of this one, but years ago in Montana while on my way to Park Lake I came across a moose!


(picture from here)

Friday Five: Child's Play Edition

Kathrynzj writes: Today’s Friday Five celebrates the spontaneous child in all of us… ar at least the one that we admire in someone else:

1) On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being "I can’t do this now I am about to jump into a pit of plastic balls at the mini-mall" and 1 being "I can’t do this now until I can get all of the fonts on my blog to match" – where are you?

I like to think I'm at the good balance point of 2.5. (I'm not saying I'm there; I'm just saying I like to think that!)

2) What is the silliest/most childlike thing you have done as an adult?

Hmm... I tend to go for "small sillies" rather than big ones. One thing that comes to mind is our now annual Thanksgiving pie festival with the Dust Bunny family which I've previously posted:



Another thing that comes to mind was stealing a friend's chair and writing ransom notes.

3) Any regrets?

Only that I wasn't paid a fair sum to return the chair. :)

4) What is the silliest thing you have ever seen another adult do on purpose?

Someone at the clinic likes to dress up for holidays. For example, on St. Patrick's Day she wore an over-the-top green outfit including a bright green wig.

5) What is something you wish you did when you had the chance?

I thought it would be fun to skydive when I was younger. I'm not fond of heights now so I definitely would not be interested in doing that these days. Although perhaps Presbygal could talk me into it. (Click to enlarge)