Ella's Winter Meme

Not only do I love to do memes, I think I love to write them, too.  The ideas come to me at the oddest times.  Been working on these for several months.  Hope they spark things up a bit - feels like we all need something to get us through to spring.  Here we go!


1.  You have to leave your house because of a disaster.  All the people and pets you love are safe.  If you could choose just one item to carry out, what would it be?

It would have to be our box of old photos.  Family and friends, the old ones, the little ones, and the ones gone now.
 

2.  Tell us about a book or series of books you loved as a child.  

There were so many!  All-of-a-Kind Family, The Bobbsey Twins, The Borrowers, Nancy Drew.  I still have several with my name printed at the front.  I remember days when I would start a new book and never stop until I was done.  Did you ever read by flashlight under the covers?


3.  Name one item of clothing that you love for your spouse to wear. 

I adore Sam in a navy suit, pale blue shirt, and suspenders (or braces in the UK).  I have a "thing" for men in suspenders.  In the City district of London with all the business men in braces, I was in a constant state of heat.

4.  Is there a lullaby your mom or dad sang to you that you also sang to your child?

My dad used to sing us a depression-era song called "Bread and Gravy."  I also sang it to my boys when I tucked them in at bedtime.  With my brother and sisters, I sang it for our father at his funeral service.

  
5.  Tell about the fanciest restaurant at which you have ever dined.


Friends in London took us to Simpson's on the Strand.  It was so elegant I could hardly breathe.  The carver wheeled a silver cart to your table with all the meat on it - huge dripping joints.  I chose lamb.  One friend had put 2 pound coins in my hand at the last minute, because I did not know that you were supposed to tip the carver when he came to the table.  Such food!

6.  Tell us about any phobias you have. What else are you scared of?

Definitely have claustrophobia.  When I was a child, elevators scared me because I was crushed once.  I am better now but will not get on a crowded one.  For the last MRI I had, it took 2 Valium and one of my sons to hold my hand the whole time.
 
I think I have already mentioned I hate snakes!  Only time I ever almost hit a student.  He thought it was so funny as he came at me with a 6 ft. bull snake.  Luckily I was rescued before I hit that kid in the head with my purse!


7.  Is there something old from a family member that you treasure?

I have 3 items from my grandmother that mean the world to me.  I wear her wedding band on my right hand always.  I also have a thimble and her sewing box.  I used to play under her sewing table when I was small and remember having my dolls live in it. 


8.  If there is reading material in your bathroom, what magazines or books could be found?

Sort of an eclectic mix.  You have a choice of garden and porch books, London picture books, or World War II magazines.


9.  Tell us about your dearest childhood friend.

She was a bouncy little Polish girl.  Her last name was impossible to spell.  We were inseparable for years.  One very hot summer we spent building dollhouses in my basement.  (It was cool down there.)  She and I also took tap dancing together, but only S. was any good at it.  I sucked.  We were both very good at ditching Sunday School, though.

Note: I again have a lovely, bouncy Polish girl for a dear friend!


10.  Is there a household task that belongs to your husband?

Yes, Sam is in charge of the grocery shopping on Saturday mornings, although I usually make a trip to the Farmer's Market for the fresh produce.  It helps if you can show him what the package looks like.  He loves finding the HUGE size of something even though there are just the 2 of us now and we have a small fridge.


11.  Have you ever smoked pot?  How old were you the first time?  Do you still enjoy?

I was so ignorant and naive about weed when we were in college.  Once when we were invited to a professor's house for dinner, someone started passing a joint around the table.  I reached in my purse to pull out a pack of cigarettes, all excited to help everyone out.  I said, "You guys don't need to share.  I have plenty of smokes."  Sam just whispered in my ear to shut up and he would explain later.

I have tried pot several times over the years, but I never seem to feel anything.  If I want a buzz, look to see me sipping a good IPA.

And This is a Very Good One

12.  If it is cold, what do you wear to bed?

Hate being cold in the winter!  I bundle up like an Eskimo when I go outside, and my idea of pajamas is knit pants and shirt along with very big socks.  If Sam is in a lingerie mood he knows to turn up the heat or it's just not going to happen.



13.  How old were you when you lost your virginity?  Share any story with which you are comfortable.

I have always wondered where the idea of "lost" came from.  Think instead of what you found!  We were both nineteen and away at school for the first time.  It was just Sam's dorm room, but it couldn't have been more special if it had been the Waldorf.  After that, I knew the nuns were all wrong about sex.

14.  Think of something you did as a kid about which you were glad your parents never found out.  If you were a perfect child, you may just respond with "Perfect", but the rest of us will hate you for it.

The manhole covers were removed to do some work on the storm sewers.  Down by the creek, we found the huge storm sewer pipe that emptied there.  We decided to crawl through it all the way back to our street, about 5 blocks.  I was so scared but refused to let anyone know. The circumference of the pipe kept getting smaller and smaller.  Remember the claustrophobia I spoke of!  What a dumb thing to do!  I was positively shaking when we crawled up the ladder and back out.


15.  Boob Question - 
Think Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.  

Do you think your boobs are: 
a.)  Too big
b.)  Too small
c.)  Just right
d.)  "All of the above" is not a valid answer.

My answer is "a" because I do not like being big on top.  It is very heavy, and you have to buy a larger size of shirts almost every time.  Obviously, Sam is not going to agree on this answer.

           Looking forward to reading all of your answers now!  
                  That is the fun part of memes, my friends.