Erik Quinn: The Heart of a Family

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

A Game of Tag

Stacey at All Moments Remembered tagged me, and I finally have a moment to sit down and participate. My participation can be hit and miss because of time constraints, but I enjoy being remembered this way. It also may take me a fortnight to even begin to respond to your tag. My apologies for that! This particular tag asks me to list seven random things about myself. Once again, this sounds much easier than it actually is, but here goes. Since it is still early, I'm not sure what I'll come up with. My apologies in advance.

One -- Once again, I admit to be a teensy bit of a voyeur. I enjoy taking a walk at dusk and quickly peeping into the windows of homes that line the street, attempting to determine what people are eating for dinner, what they are doing together, or what show they are watching on television. Looking at this slightly disturbing habit, I have concluded it stems from living alone for so many years. I used to jog a lot and picked this practice up on runs through the neighborhood, as I was lonely and wondered what people would see if they looked through my window later in my life. Please don't call the police if you see me walk by and wave. Invite me in for coffee.

Two -- Although I have a rich imagination and don't consider myself a Puritan in any fashion, any of my dreams of a remotely naughty nature are almost always totally and completely censored in various ways (fig leaves, cut to another scene, instantly wake up, etc.). Although I find this highly amusing, it has always been more than disappointing and frustrating. I mean, who wouldn't want to consume a chocolate sundae stark naked with CNN's Anderson Cooper? On the other hand, my dreams of violence are, unfortunately, in graphic Technicolor. I wonder what a psychiatrist would say about this. This is exactly why I stopped going to see one.

Three -- I have an obsession with puppets and marionettes of any kind.

Four -- Unfamiliar children still tend to scare the crap out of me, especially of the typical variety. I was formerly the quiet woman in the checkout line who didn't always say hello to kids like my son. I could freaking kick myself for that now. I say hello now.

Five -- I can easily consume a giant pizza or at least seven items from Taco Bell by myself (and have). I have gone to dinner with more than one fellow who liked what I ordered and was disappointed (and secretly impressed) to discover he didn't get half of my entree when I was finished eating. I also tend to eat when I'm sad. I did this off and on for years. Thank goodness for a little something called Weight Watchers. Thanks to WW, I already lost half of the HAPPY weight I gained this weekend.

Six -- My celebrity encounters include Henry Winkler, Ginger Rogers, Siegfried (of Siegfried & Roy), and Kevin Costner.

Seven -- My biggest pet peeve: We all judge people to some degree, as it is sometimes required for survival, but when a person is judged because of their differences, sometimes even beyond their control, especially by those who readily declare themselves more righteous than others, I wonder sometimes what year this actually is and if there is hope for this world at all. This really saddens me, as it tends to generate hate, causes great pain, and pushes people away, even if that wasn't the original intention. Maybe we should spend less time trying to change, alienate, or "save" people by trying to make them like us and more time loving them just as they are. There doesn't have to be agreement. Just love. It isn't always easy, but give it a shot. You might just be surprised at the outcome. Your heart and your world might open like you never imagined they could. I'm also terribly sad because I feel that this phenomenon has created hate in my own heart, diminished my own capacity for love and acceptance for those I don't agree with, and extinguished some of my trust in others.

There you have it. More of me, whether you wanted it or not.

You may consider yourself tagged if you wish. List seven random things about yourself and tag seven others. Thanks, Stace.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Tagged

Stacey, my ex-neighbor, whom, strangely, I have never actually met in person and just recently met through this blog, tagged me. Thank you, Stace, for including me in your first tag, and to Heidi for introducing us. To everybody else, if you would like to participate, consider yourself tagged.

What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was lonely. I was also in the process of purchasing my first house and moving out of my one-bedroom apartment that was located in a building that smelled like feet and onions. My new home was a tiny, 3-bedroom house with blue vinyl siding and a nice yard filled with wild rosebushes, day lilies, and willow trees. I still drive by the place almost on a daily basis, and even though where we live is much nicer, I will never forget the feeling I had the day I turned that little gold key and stepped inside. I remember standing there alone in the quiet for a few minutes and enjoying that moment, knowing it was important to me. I sure miss that little place.

What were you doing one year ago?

I was planning Erik's second birthday party and settling into my fairly new transcription job at home, happy at last to be out of an office and away from urology and the wonderful world of prostates. Things were definitely looking up. I had Erik fitted for orthotics, and once they were on him, trips to the store were never the same. My little boy pretty much woke up one year ago.

Name five snacks you enjoy.


Weight Watchers giant cookies and cream ice cream bars, baked Doritos and salsa, Laughing Cow cheese on whole-wheat Ritz with tangy, green grapes and a giant glass of red wine, those nasty, greasy, fried jalapeno and cream cheese wontons at the restaurant down the street (Ohhhhh yesssss!), and Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia (it's a good idea to stay away from me if I am eating that particular snack). Hey, at least I started out healthy.

Name five songs you know all the lyrics to.

I can't state with certainty that I know all of the lyrics to five songs. Erik knows more than I do. Here are some songs I know well: Anything by Gwen Stefani and/or No Doubt, ballads by 1990s hair bands, "Elmo's Song," "Happy Birthday," and, of course, all of the songs I have made up for my son over the years. I mean, who can forget such homemade classics such as "We Brusha, Brusha, Brusha" or "There's a Skooby in the Bucket?"

Name five things you would do if you were a millionaire.

I might enroll in medical school so I can be the only freaking physician specializing in Williams syndrome in this particular region, hire a full-time therapist for Erik, quit the ridiculous medical transcription field and write full time, buy my great-uncle's old apartment in Paris so I could stay there whenever I felt like it, and drink good wine all of the dang time. Either that, or invest in a few good electrolysis sessions (getting old bites).

Name five bad habits you have.

Using my sarcasm/dark sense of humor as a defense mechanism without thinking of the consequences, occasionally pretending I smoke cigarettes in a social setting, skipping church for a year or two at a time, not returning phone calls even though I intend to, and losing my temper too quickly.

Name five things you like to do.

Cook/bake something new, go out with friends, watch trashy movies, write, and sleep without dreaming.

Name five things you will never wear again.

Anything sleeveless, liquid eyeliner, thong underpants, a bridesmaid's dress, and maternity clothing.

Name five favorite toys.

My iPod, computer, steam hair rollers, food processor, and margarita maker.

Where will you be in 10 years?

Hopefully, the urban sprawl will have overtaken us and we will be living comfortably elsewhere in town in a home with a private place for our growing, increasingly independent boy, who can live with us for as long as he likes.

I hope that we will all be happy.

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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

And Now for Something Completely Different...

This goes out to Shaena and Leanne, whom I received this from.

Place an X by all the things you've done, or remove the X from the ones you have not, and send it to your friends. This is for your entire life!

(X) Smoked a cigarette (Note to self: NEVER buy cigarettes in France again)

(X) Drank so much you threw up (Peach California Cooler; 1989)

( ) Been arrested

(X) Gone on a blind date (still on it 6 years later)

(X) Skipped school (forced to leave school by favorite teacher on Senior Skip Day)

( ) Watched someone die

( ) Been to Canada (missed the ferry)

( ) Been to Florida

(X) Been to Mexico (Mas tequila!)

(X) Been on a plane

(X) Been lost

(X) Been on the opposite side of the country

(X) Been to Washington DC

(X) Swam in the ocean

(X) Felt like dying

(X) Cried yourself to sleep

(X) Played cops and robbers

(X) Recently colored with crayons

(X) Sang karaoke (not pretty)

(X) Paid for a meal with only coins

(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?

(X) Made prank phone calls (before caller ID)

(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose

(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue

(X) Danced in the rain

( ) Written a letter to Santa (just to Tooth Fairy that I can remember)

( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe

( ) Watch the sun rise with someone you care about

(X) Blown bubbles

(X) Made a bonfire on the beach

(X) Crashed a party

(X) Gone roller skating (not pretty)

(X) Gone ice skating (again, not pretty)

Any nicknames? Nancy the Nun (thankfully retired), Gnuknee (retired), Nanny (popular with kids), Nan (only two people call me this daily anymore), Nance (completely interchangable with Nancy), Pebbles (retired), Barbie (in my dreams...long retired), Kitten, Mai Tai, Sassafras, and Poopy.

2. Mother's name? Same as my middle name.

3. Favorite drink? Perfect margarita (nice and sour) with salt.

4. Tattoos? No. A growing collection of birthmarks, scars, and beauty marks, though.

5. Body piercing? Three holes in one ear and one hole in the other.

6. How much do you love your job, on a scale from 1 to 10? 7 (varies)

7. Birthplace: About a mile and a half down the road on the hill where the Phoenix Inn is now (hospital is long gone). I didn't get far.

8. Favorite vacation spot? Oregon Coast or Maui. I like staying close to home now.

9. Ever been to Europe? Yes, twice.

10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Heck, yes.

11. Ever been on TV? Yes.

12. Ever steal any traffic signs? In high school, I did steal signs. However, I returned them to the public works department one dark night around the time I graduated.

13. Ever been in a car accident? Too many. Luckily, they were minor.

14. Got a 2 door or 4? 4 on my Jeep.

15. Salad dressing? Ranch.

16. Favorite pie? Mom's rhubarb custard pie.

17. Favorite #? 10

18. Favorite movie(s)? Blood Simple, but I love a lot of them.

19. Favorite Holiday? I love them all. I used to enjoy Valentine's Day because the girls all wore pink and red in the office, and it felt quite festive. Now that I work at home and am a mother, I enjoy them all to a degree I never imagined I would. I even decorate now.

20. Favorite dessert? Root beer floats.

21. Favorite food? I love almost all of them, but I do love SPICY food, like Thai or Mexican.

22. Favorite day of week? Friday.

23. Favorite brand of soap? I love the Bath & Body Works shower gels in juniper or blackberry.

24. Favorite toothpaste? I don't feel very strongly about any of them.

25. Favorite smell? Vanilla, citrus, or freshly cut grass.

26. What do you do to relax? Sleep, read, or watch television. I enjoy anything that gets my mind off reality for a while. These little quizzes are fun, too!

27. Do you have a message for your friends (and family)? I love you!

28. Where do you see yourself in ten years? Eating dinner with the President and First Lady at Erik's side or watching Erik shake hands with celebrities at a charity event.

29. Farthest away you are sending this? A shout out (HOLLA!) to Hungary, England, and Australia! And anyone else I may have forgotten.

30. Dream car? One of those zippy new Mercedes convertibles in electric blue. My dream car changes every year. I will forever miss my macho-sounding Toyota Supra that was stolen, stripped, and shot full of holes. It was a total dude magnet, BUT, then again, it was not so good for hauling around a little dude in a car seat.

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