Answer Me This: the Superhero Edition

Hiya, and welcome to another edition of Answer Me This, the internet's favorite virtual cocktail party, where we all answer the same six random questions and get to know each other a little better.

And now for THIS WEEK'S questions, to answer THIS WEEK . . .

1. What's currently on your To Do list?

Well, since writing an entire post on this topic, I think I can say that my To Do list is pretty much done. I've finished all the baby stuff, and the yearbook, and I've got guest posts scheduled out through the end of August.

We were hoping to have found a new home before this baby came, but that's not looking like it's going to happen. And I don't want to rush it. If we move, I'd really like it to be into our forever home this time. I want this to be the home our grandkids come to visit. I don't want it to be a crazy pregnant lady impulse buy. (Plus, I'm maybe still not quite over the one that got away.) So, even though it would have been great to move while the husband had time off of work for paternity leave, and it would have been great to be in a different part of town before fall (because of some changes we'll talk about later) . . . we're going to wait for the right one to come along in its own time.

So that just leaves having a baby. And that's going to have to happen in its own time too.

2. Better type of superhero: magic/radioactive powers? Or trauma/gadgets/hard work?

So, you guys know about me and the overdoing right? Well, I've currently been on a kick of watching ALL the superhero shows. While sewing and yearbook-making and blog-post-formatting, I watched Daredevil, (and wrote about it here), then Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., then Arrow . . . because those are all on Netflix. (Clicking on the title will take you to it, if you're signed into your Netflix account.)

Except for season 3 of Arrow, which is NOT. I considered being reasonable and patient and just waiting for Netflix to get it, but then I realized that I'm pregnant, and not AT ALL patient, so I immediately bought Arrow: Season 3 on Amazon streaming. And then there was this whole The Flash spinoff. So, I figured I'd better get that from Amazon too. Ya know, just to be safe. (I haven't finished either of those two seasons yet. Clicking on the title will take you to it via my Amazon Affiliate link.)


I find it very intriguing how they've handled the whole D.C. Comic world. All the supernatural heroes and villains are in Central City with the Flash, where all the supers were created by a particle accelerator explosion (obviously). Meanwhile, the good guys and bad guys in Starling City with Arrow are all non-supernatural. Their heroics and villainy are based on science, fortune, hard work, and childhood trauma.

When I brought up Arrow on social media, people had really strong opinions in favor of Arrow or the Flash.

I never really had a strong preference for Batman or Superman, even though it's a pretty similar comparison. Frankie's going with both. At the same time. Plus a lion.


But I REALLY prefer Arrow to the Flash. I love that he has to work so hard to be able to do what he can do. I appreciate that he is in real danger every time he goes out to fight bad guys. There is a very real-seeming physicality to the show that I like. He actually runs up walls to fire escapes and whatnot, using non-computer generated, real stunts. And the jumping chin up thing is UH-mazing. I'm with Felicity on that. And I really do like me a quiet, confident, brooding superhero.

The Flash, on the other hand, has very little confidence and crazy magic powers. Harry Potter has nothing on this guy. He can run fast, obviously, but he can also use his powers to disguise his voice and appearance, heal quickly, run up buildings and across water and THROUGH solid objects, and lightning-resuscitate dead people. He can also travel through time. Technically he's not impervious to injury or death, but his powers are so overwhelming that it's almost not interesting.

There are random instances in which he claims that he somehow can't save everyone, but most of the time, he just zips about saving everyone, no trouble at all.

Anyway, I've enjoyed watching both shows. And the Flash has considerably less inappropriate behavior between characters. And is much less dark. Neither show has graphic violence or nudity. Both shows have immoral behavior and storylines that feature homosexual characters, but both at a level I was okay with (so far). I've let thirteen year old Jack watch the first few episodes of The Flash . . . with me so we can discuss things that need discussing.

In conclusion: I'm team Arrow, all the way.

3. Finding out if baby is a boy or a girl before birth: Good idea? Bad idea?

We don't find out.

We haven't with any of the kids.

The husband has a much younger sister and brother, and he remembers being surprised when they came along. I have to admit . . . at first, it seemed pretty nuts to me to NOT find out a thing you could find out. I like finding things out.

But it was important to him, so I let him have that one. I've been really glad I did.

Now, we own ALL THE BABY STUFF, so it doesn't matter, but for the first go-round it meant we got non-gender-specific stuff at our baby shower, some of which I'm still using thirteen years later. I find my curiosity to be very motivating during the hard parts of labor. Not that I WOULDN'T want to be done with it if I already knew, but somehow, it helps. And I've found that I really love the old-timeyness of an "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" announcement right there in the delivery room.


Better get that photo in now, Dad. Looks like babies are only "shown" until 6:30.

4. Have you ever appeared on a stadium jumbotron?

I have not. And it's not really a goal. I can't think of ever having been shown at a game, or even having my name appear on there with a "special welcome."

But, you don't have to appear on it yourself to appreciate it. The husband took Betty and Gus to a Dodger game last week. Here she is, tearing up a bit at the Kiss Cam.


She's such a romantic.

5. Are you more book smart or more street smart?

If we're talking able to figure stuff out for yourself, I do think I've got that. Writing, blogging, graphic design, photography, sewing, cake decorating . . . all my favorite stuff . . . I'm just kinda winging all of it. Mostly I'll see a picture of something someone else has done, then just by trial and error try to figure out how to do it myself.

But all my "street smarts" are applicable only at home. If we're talking actual STREET street smart, then I'm definitely more book smart. I'm bad at navigating, so if I'm on a street, I'm probably lost. And being able to embroider a very convincing T.A.R.D.I.S. is unlikely to get me out of any jams on the street.

download the free pattern here


6. Have you had that baby yet? (Feel free to skip this one if it's not applicable to you.)

Not yet. But stay tuned to the Catholic All Year Facebook page for updates.

Get your Baby Pool guesses in here. (Either I'm REALLY predictable, or you guys know me really well, or SOMETHING, because the name guesses on there are uncannily accurate.)

And leave your prayer requests here, so I can offer up my labor for your intentions. It's going to hurt anyway. It might as well be for a good cause.

Want to play along? Answer THIS WEEK's questions in the comments, or on your blog and link it up below! Please include a link to this post on your blog. The linkup will be open from now through close of business Tuesday.



Now for NEXT WEEK's questions, to answer NEXT WEEK . . . which will be the LAST week of Answer Me This for this summer. Yes, I know that most people's understanding of "Every Sunday All Summer" would include August. But, I'm not sure I can commit to getting them up on time once there's a new little person in the house. So next week will be the last for this summer, and I'll plan on bringing it back again . . . when you least expect it!

1. What's your favorite grocery store splurge?

2. How's your penmanship?

3. Do you have a "Summer Bucket List?"

4. What's the best thing on the radio right now?

5. Ice cream or frozen yogurt?

6. Have you had that baby NOW? (Again, you can skip this one if you want.)