Maybe Matilda: 11 Questions

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

11 Questions

I usually don’t participate in the whole blog tag game thing . . . but I was tagged twice in two days this week (by Maggie of Midwestern Sewing Girl and Jennifer of Finding My Way In Texas). That just seems serendipitous, doesn’t it? Plus my buddy/stalkee Chelsea of Two Twenty One did a Q&A post recently that I thought was really fun to read. So heck, why not? I bet you were just dying to learn more random crap about me, right? On the edge of your seats, I’m sure.

When was the last time you cried? And why?

Oh dear. This question is more relevant than you know, Maggie. Once upon a time, I was actually kind of proud of how little I cried—I didn’t cry when Jeff proposed or during our wedding ceremony, I didn’t cry during sad movies . . . I just didn’t cry very often. Then I got pregnant with Forrest, and wouldn’t you know it, I was crying over everything, from the cute little baby lions on Animal Planet (that is true) to hearing baby boy’s heartbeat. I looked forward to the day the raging pregnancy hormones would dissipate and I could get back to my normal heart-of-stone tearless state. To the contrary, my insane hormonal emotions have only gotten worse since Forrest was born—I cry just about every day now, and it hardly takes anything to set me off. I cry over videos of soldiers coming home (here’s a mix for you—tell me that doesn’t get you crying, especially the little girl at 1:40), just about any Disney movie (I was weeping just the other day over the scene in The Incredibles where Syndrome is flying away with Jack Jack . . . that is deeply pathetic), even a Hallmark commercial last night had me tearing up. I think there’s something wrong with me.

What celebrity do people say you look most like?

Back when my hair was longer and when she wasn’t as skeletally thin as she is now, I’d occasionally get Anne Hathaway. I think there was a lot of wishful thinking involved, but flattering nonetheless. I’ll take it.

But I’ve always wondered if people were referring more to the pre-makeover Princess Diaries version:

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Probably growing a human. That’s pretty amazing!

Morning person? Or night owl?

Definitely neither. Can I be a mid-morning through mid-afternoon person? I have a hard time waking up in the morning (there’s usually a lot of moaning and whining and hiding under blankets involved), and I’m almost always in bed by 10:00. I was the one at sleepovers who would say at 9:45, “Guys? How about we stop talking now and go to bed? Okay?”

Worst or most disastrous project ever?

Oh, so many options! Most of my attempts at knitting have been rather disastrous, as well as any and all early sewing projects. Jeff and I once tried to paint a dresser that for some reason never dried completely, but we never knew how to fix it, so we spent the next 3 years prying objects that had gotten stuck to the perpetually-tacky paint off the top. I recently tried to sew a vest for Forrest that came out rather comical. These shoes were pretty bad, too:

I have ruined a lot of things in my crafting time.

Household chore you hate the most?

I absolutely, 100%, truly and deeply despise any sort of work involving floors. I hate vacuuming, I loathe sweeping, I detest mopping. I don’t really mind doing dishes, I kind of enjoy laundry, and even scrubbing toilets isn’t that bad . . . but I hate taking care of floors. Our neighbor has a really friendly golden retriever that I often invite into our place just to lick up the food crumbs from my kitchen floor. I kind of want to get a dog just so it can be my personal vacuum.

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(That’s Forrest “playing” with the endlessly patient golden retriever last summer. She is absolutely the sweetest animal I’ve ever known—I would expect even the most nicely-tempered dog to snap at a baby who constantly crawls on top of her and sticks his hands into her mouth, but she always just sits there and wags her tail. Forrest used to be in love with her, but he finally noticed one day that she is way bigger than him, and he’s kind of scared of her now. She hasn’t noticed yet because she still tries to play with him and he freaks out and screams and hits her until she wanders away, looking dejected and confused. Poor girl lost a friend!)

What is your secret talent?

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I am a crazy-fast typer. I once applied for a job that required official typing test results (a job I did not get, by the way—go me!), and the lady at the testing center was so impressed with my score that she asked if she could photocopy my result page to show to all the other employees because they’d never seen a typing speed that high before. I was absurdly proud of myself. Until I didn’t get the job. I think the fastest score I’ve gotten was something like 130 words per minute.

I’m also a really good speller. Admitting this will make any future blog spelling errors doubly embarrassing. When I was in fifth grade, I won my school spelling bee and went to regionals, where I was eliminated on the word “dappled,” which I misheard and spelled “dapple.” Curses! To this day, that 5th grade school spelling bee is the only time in my life that I ever won a trophy. I’ll spell that out for you . . . N-E-R-D. Nerd.

If a movie was made of your life, what actress would you want to play you?

I have a bit of a crush on Ginnifer Goodwin at the moment. I love her style, I think she’s just gorgeous in a rather unconventional way, and she seems like she’d be so bubbly and fun in real life. So, you know, the opposite of me. But future generations watching my movie don’t need to know that.

So either her or, for authenticity’s sake, pre-transformation Anne.

Who was your first crush on?

This should be fun. I’ll stick with celebrity crushes, since they are the most tragically unrequited. Zach from Saved by the Bell. Lance Bass from N’Sync. Jonathan Taylor Thomas in his Home Improvement days. Nathan Fillion from Firefly (that one might . . . ahem . . . might still be happening . . . ).

What are three things you cannot live without?

I really struggle without a good book to read. And I’m an absolute monster if I don’t get enough sleep (seriously . . . you did not want to know me with a newborn in the house). And I don’t do well without regular “me” time.

Name one thing you wish you did better.

If we’re being serious, I wish I had more patience with Forrest and Jeff. I tend to be rather easily annoyed and selfish and short-tempered.

But what are these blog tag thingies for if not frivolous responses? I wish I were better at photography, baking pretty desserts, knitting, and interior decorating. 4 things.

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Okay, now I’m supposed to tag more people and provide more questions. Meh, I’m not going to tag anyone. If you want to answer these questions, either on your blog or in a comment, consider yourself tagged! My questions are . . .

1. Since I admitted my celebrity crushes, past and present . . . go ahead and name one (or two, or three) of yours. Male or female. Heaven knows I have plenty of each.

2. What’s your favorite book?

3. What are your 5 favorite TV shows?

4. Guilty pleasure?

5. Any goals you’re currently working on?

6. A trend or style you’ve wanted to try, but been scared to?

7. A skill you’d love to learn?

8. If you had a day to yourself with unlimited money to spend and no obligations, what would you do?

9. A person (living or dead) you’d love to meet?

10. If you weren’t doing the career you’re doing now (being a stay-at-home mom counts as a career), what would you want to be doing instead?

11. What are the names you want/wanted to give your kids until your meanie-pants spouse vetoed them?

20 comments :

  1. Whoa, good questions. I'm going to have to think about some of those - stay tuned!

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  2. I have never participated in tagging either, but I sure do love reading about others, good answers, and I am positive we would be good friends.

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  3. I think you look more like Ginnifer than pre transformation Anne.

    Anyway, good questions. I really like the last one. I was secretly hoping to find tons of other people had already answered it so I could read their picks!

    Confession: I keep a draft in my email account with a list of names I come across and like. My husband is very nervous about having kids, but we've discussed it here and there. At one point we agreed on Elizabeth if we have a daughter. I also like Ava. And for a boy, maybe Ephraim, but I bet hubster won't like that one so much... I'd like to tie in some family names too. So for me, August and Henry are in the running. (I'm not sure if he'll go for those either.)

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    1. That is so funny! One of my vetoed name picks was Ephraim! I still love that name ( partly because of that show Everwood)

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  4. I thought I'd join in the fun! Here's my post of 11 Random things! Thanks for the fun!! ~ Sarah

    http://sarahndipities.blogspot.com/2012/02/11-random-things.html

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  5. Ok, this is almost creepy. You listed the same exact 4 crushes I had, in consecutive order as well. Except I also had a crush on Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Are we twins separated at birth?

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  6. These are so fun! I loved your answers. I feel the exact same way about floors. And with a dog, they require even more care.

    I also need to work on patience. I have the same problem. But I think a lot of moms do. All we can do it try our best and take one day at a time.

    Have a great day you fast typer you...
    :)

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  7. Stalkee here. I laughed out loud when I read about Forrest and the dog. (Hah! The first time I wrote that I forgot to put in the "and"-- it read "Forrest the dog". Good thing I proofread my comments! And I just laughed out loud at myself for doing that.) Hilarious, yet I feel bad for the poor girl. Hopefully Forrest comes around.

    I like Ginnifer Goodwin and Anne Hathaway. Both would be good in the portrayal of your life. You're right, we'd have to force feed Anne a bunch of doughnuts beforehand. I've been told that I look like Annalynn McCord. Which I don't understand because I'm pretty sure she weighs as much as my right leg.

    And 10PM? My goodness. I'm lucky if I'm in bed before 12:30AM.

    Brad has been informed of the names I've chosen. There will be no vetoing. Sidebar: I truly believe in choosing your spawn's name before getting pregnant. I know too many people who have gone all crazy on me and named their kid some whack-a-doodle name after becoming pregnant. Here's an example: I know a girl who wanted to name her baby Elizabeth. She gets prego and ends up naming the baby Fiesole (fee-ay-so-lay). Whack-a-doodle. (I hope she doesn't read your blog.)

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  8. Great blog. I know better, yet I still clicked the soldiers link and ended up crying for pretty much the entire length of the video. Well played Rachel. Well played indeed

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  9. We're like the same person. It scares me.

    I thought of you during last week's 30 Rock. "I wasn't on a Michael's Crafts Crafting Cruise."

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  10. So glad you decided to play along! :) And I loved your answers!

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  11. Love your answers! What a fun way to get to know you.

    I cry WAY more now that I've had a baby too. Delightful.

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  12. Loved reading this! You're always fun to read. I answered your questions over on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration- have a great week!
    Valerie- http://occasionallycrafty.blogspot.com/2012/03/11-questions-11-answers.html

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  13. Fun post. :) JTT was also my ultimate crush. Oh man. 5 Favorite TV shows b/c I think everyone should enjoy them as much as I do: New Girl-seriously hilarious. (Can I just be Zoe Deschanel?! Ooh I guess she's my female crush), Modern Family, Glee, Up All Night, Project Runway, and I'm getting into Smash and Downton Abbey

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  14. Your crazy-fast typing skills have me dumbfounded!!! I wish I could type that fast. Blogging must not take you long at all!! wowsers. I can't get over it.

    I think I'm going to take a no-rules, no commitments approach to this question game too...hahah

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  16. NATHAN FILLION. I'll fight you for him. In an unrequited sort of way, of course. Love him on Castle. :)

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  17. You are so darn cute. I think we'd be buds if we met in real life. Hey, there's a website you should check out, it's run by a few authors and they post book reviews (only positive ones!) and anyone can contribute! www.bookshoptalk.com.

    If I had no money and no obligations it would be a SPA DAY, baby! (but at some crunchy organic spa where I will not die of fingernail polish fumes). I've always wondered what a 2-hour massage followed by a mud bath would be like. Preferably with Norah Jones & Sarah Mac serenading me, in person. My days are spent washing out dirty diapers and fixing boo-boos, usually in the clothes I fell asleep in out of sheer exhaustion the night before; so luxurious pampering is my fantasy.

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  18. I feel like I could have written most of the answers you gave to these questions ... I also now feel like a stalker. Really liking the blog tho :)

    - T

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  19. I just discovered your blog today and I love it so far! You sound a lot like me!

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