Howdy! And a very warm welcome to Answer Me This . . . the internet's favorite virtual cocktail party* in which I ask six totally random questions and we all answer them and get to know each other a little better.
Isn't that nice?
*this statement may not be true.
So, here goes this week's edition:
1. How did you get your name?
*this statement may not be true.
So, here goes this week's edition:
1. How did you get your name?
My first name, I believe my parents found in a baby name book. My dad was always against nicknames so they chose names for my sister, Kara, and I that would be unlikely to be shortened.
You can see my rebellious streak in the fact that six of my seven kids go by nicknames.
My middle name is Anne (with an e), for my grandmother, Anita. My daughter Anita is named for her as well, and she's the only one without a nickname. Unless you count Nini or Neetcy. She actually gets called both of those quite a bit, but somehow it's not the same because it's never in writing. In fact, it took a couple tries to figure out how I'd spell them.
2. Do you have a set time for prayer in your day?
Yes and no. Mostly yes, I guess.
Yes, because I start my day with the Morning Offering, before I even get out of bed. I usually go for a run in the morning, and say my rosary while running to Mass. So, I really start big.
Then, I mean to say the Angelus at noon, but forget about 90% of the time. I used to have a reminder on my phone, but I don't usually have my phone with me because I don't like talking on the phone. So, I need to work on that.
We do say grace before all meals, and we say an Our Father as a family at kid bedtime. And I usually manage a quick Examination of Conscience as I'm falling asleep.
I like the practice of thinking of short little prayers -- think Irish Gramma swears, like "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph" or "For Christ's Sake" -- throughout my day as I begin tasks. But I really struggle to work in periods of more mindful prayer, like meditative gospel reading, into my day. Really struggle. As in, I occasionally think I ought to think about doing more of that, but I still don't.
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3. Did your mom work or stay home (or both)?
My mom worked. She was a flight attendant, and my dad was a pilot. My mom was only gone one night at a time when I was little, then home for a few days. My dad's trips were longer, then he was home for longer.
They worked their schedules so that one or the other was almost always home, but we also had a live-in housekeeper.
My mom enjoyed the travel part of her job a lot, if not the waitress part so much. And it gave (and still does give) me the opportunity to travel. Growing up, I knew some moms stayed home but mine had a job, and I don't remember it bothering me any. My parents were and are very involved in the lives of my sister and me.
But, there's that rebellious streak again, I stay home with my kids.
Here are some more thoughts on mothers and vocations:
A VOCATION TO MOTHERHOOD
4. Do you vote?I do. Every time. And California has a LOT of ridiculous tiny elections and we have to vote on all the things our congress people and senators and state legislators and other people who are getting paid to figure this stuff out should be figuring out.
But, I want to be able to complain. So I always vote.
Buuuuut, going to voting booths hasn't been in the cards for me the last twelve years, so I'm registered as a permanent absentee voter. The ballots come in the mail, I do my due diligence online and we figure out how we want to vote, then the husband drops the ballots off at our polling place. I haven't, to my knowledge, missed an election since I've been married. Before that good citizenship was less of a priority. :0)
5. What's your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is Dr. Pepper. I'd rather just drink that all the time and not anything else.
5. What's your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is Dr. Pepper. I'd rather just drink that all the time and not anything else.
But I make myself drink water too. Because my husband thinks its important for staying alive.
And sometimes, I'm trying to be a grownup so I'll drink: wine, pina coladas, mojitos (preferably the husband's Easter Peep Mojitos), or Bailey's and Cream. That's pretty much it for me and alcohol.
Clarification: I didn't have a photo of our Peep Mojitos, so that's a photo/link to a different recipe that I can't actually vouch for.
6. How are your photography skills?
Hmm . . . like most of my other pursuits, self-taught and rooted more in confidence than technique. But I enjoy it, even if I don't technically know what I'm doing.
Clarification: I didn't have a photo of our Peep Mojitos, so that's a photo/link to a different recipe that I can't actually vouch for.
6. How are your photography skills?
Hmm . . . like most of my other pursuits, self-taught and rooted more in confidence than technique. But I enjoy it, even if I don't technically know what I'm doing.
And Christy at Fountains of Home. Post to check out:
Sex is Complex: Or, Why I Never Write About NFP
Next week's questions for Heather and Christy and you are . . .
1. What’s something you've won and how did you win it?
2. Do you save old greeting cards and letters, or throw them all away? Why?
3. When you’re at home, do you wear shoes, socks, slippers, or go barefoot?
4. Who’s the most famous person you have ever met?
5. What has been your best work of art?
6. What’s your strongest sense?
Next week's installment will go live at 10pm Pacific Saturday night, and will be open until 10pm Wednesday night.
So, please, answer this week's questions for yourself in the comments. If you have a blog, answer the questions there, link back to this post, and link your blog post up below. You can even tag a couple other bloggers so THEY can play along too! So fun.