TMI ~ Blogaversary Q&A

'Hence the Name' ~ Where it all began ~ July 16, 2007*

Last year, at this same time, I wrote my first ever blog post. In it I told about how I decided on my blog name and with that simple story entered a world I knew nothing about.

Until then I had not read another blog or had even thought of starting my own. I was jumping head first into uncharted waters. 

During the ensuing 12 months, I became more comfortable with writing about my life and letting people I didn’t know look into a small window of my world. I peeked into the windows of a few bloggers and was invited through the front door of many others. 

I can say that the people I have met through this adventure of mine are amazing. I am constantly in awe of what wonderful writers are ‘out there’ and that they have let me play with the cool kids. I appreciate every one of you who read my rambling writing, those who leave me comments, and welcome me into your lives.

Last week I issued an open invitation to celebrate my freshman year blogging. I want to thank all my blog friends who sent in questions ~ an eclectic collection of inquiries for sure. I never thought I would still be doing this after a whole year, and never thought I would be having so much fun.

Without further ado, I present my 1st Blogaversary Q&A.

Half-Past Kissin’ Time asks: “What is the weirdest/worst thing you have ever done on a dare OR tell about an incident in which you told a truth and regretted it.” This question comes after her own tale of toe sucking…

Because my in-laws and kids read this, I will try to answer this one best I can. It involved an isolated campground bathhouse, Hubs (who at the time was only my college boy-toy) and still being extremely agile and uninhibited.

Maria, THE Immortal Matriarch wants to know: If you could be a character in any film, who would you be, and why?

This has been the most difficult to answer. I think I would want to be either Liz Sherman (Hellboy) or Ororo Munroe/Storm (X-Men), because they are kick ass women with awesome superpowers.

Boss Sanders Ashley asks: What’s one job you thought about doing but quit or never did because you were worried about what someone would think or do?

I have always wanted to write a book, a novel. I have several chapters finished, but haven’t done anything with it for years. I don’t think I could ever feel that it was good enough to be published. I don’t think it’s even good enough for someone to proof.

Jen, The Mom, over at Cheaper than Therapy asks: What is your worst fear?

I am extremely near sighted. If I didn’t wear corrective lens I would be legally blind. I couldn’t identify someone standing two feet in front of me. Every year or so when I have my vision checked, it has more often than not gotten worse. I am afraid that some day soon, I will no longer be able to correct my myopia and will eventually go blind.

Zoeyjane, from Mommy is Moody (we actually share a first name, but she spells her’s ‘all earthy’): If you could change one single, solitary thing in your past 25 years of life, what would it be and how would it impact your present?

I would have never left WK in a situation where he could have sustained his burn injury. I have to wonder if that accident had never occurred would he be having the same problems he has now. One of his counselors suggested that his OCD might be related to post-traumatic-stress from the accident. It’s one of those ‘what ifs’ that I will never be able to answer.

Danielle asked about my Eeyore tendancies: Do you ever experience ’shadowed days’ and if you do how do you work your way out of them?

Fortunately, I don’t have too many of those days. Mainly they occurred when one of my children is having a difficult time with something and I can’t do anything to help them. I tend to be upbeat the majority of the time. When I am down, I have the ability to shut it off at work or around other people. I will sometimes breakdown in private and have one of those body shaking, snot flinging, tears streaming crying jags. That usually does the trick.

Kim at Daily Blessings went question happy:

1. What haunts you that you wish you could change from your past?
I made some really stupid judgement calls about the men I dated when I was in college. Yet, these decisions and their consequences helped me become who I am today, so I can’t say with any certainty that I would change anything.

2. How do you show you love someone, even if you’re not in a loving mood?
No matter what, even if I’m mad at my peeps, every day I tell them that I love them. It might be through clinched teeth, but I still tell them.

3. Where is your favorite place on earth?
The Great Smoky Mts. in Tennessee, early October when all the leaves are turning orange, red and gold. The sun is shining and the air is crisp. It is a little piece of heaven on earth.

4. What is your favorite color and why? What does that say about your personality?
Right now, it’s either brown or blue. I think that says that I need to get some more colorful clothes. I see my self as boring, so tend to wear things that don’t bring too much attention. I need to come out of the shadows and have more fun. 

5. Does the sound of loud fireworks excite you or freak you out a little? For either answer…why?
I typically don’t like loud noises, but I love fireworks. They always remind me of our national anthem ~ the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air ~ and it makes me feel all patriotic.

6. Do you love to read long novels? What’s your favorite genre? If so, who’s your favorite author?
Reading is one of my greatest pleasures. I always have 3-4 books going at once. Right now I have been reading books that are mostly fantasy, supernatural novels. I love anything by Neil Gaiman (American Gods), Dean Koontz (Odd Thomas), Christopher Moore (Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal) and Michael Chabon (Summerland.)

Veggie Mom, who wants you to ‘Eat Your Veggies’ also sent out best wishes: Happy upcoming Blogaversary!

Thanks, and I promise to be better about eating my veggies this coming year.

Momo Fali just marked her own milestone of sorts and I asked her a question. She returned the favor and my question : What is your biggest pet peeve?

I guess I deserve that one. if you were to ask Hubs what my pet peeve is he would say Paul Shaffer ~ can’t stand that freak! But, really, I hate to be lied to. I always find out and the lie is always worse than what was being lied about. 

Dingo, master Photoshop diva at ‘As I was Saying’ : What are you getting me for my birthday?

I was thinking a Tar-jay gift card and a nice Hallmark, but since it is you, I think a puppy would be perfect.

Melissa B, the Scholastic Scribe, wants to know: Boxers or Briefs? She also tried to decipher my blog name ~ Opalstorm. She came very close. Here’s the rest of the story.

To quote Bill Murray (Stripes): ‘I rarely wear underwear, but when I do it is something unusual.’ (I prefer boxers.) The idea behind my blog pseudonym ~ the first year the peeps and I moved to Florida, we had to evacuate our new home because Hurricane Opal was headed straight for us. The Cat 4 storm made landfall a few miles from us on my birthday, Oct. 4. Opals, by the way, are October birthstones.

Groovy Mom at Now is Good: Do you ever wear underwear with hole in them? Ever “fix” a bra strap with a safety pin and wear it?

Not ‘dwear or a bra, I usually just throw them away at that point. But, when I got out all my shorts for the summer, I found I couldn’t zip them up. Too much of a muffin top in the way. I had to mow the yard, but didn’t want to wear long pants or buy new short just for that. I took a ponytail band, looped it through the waistband button hole, then hooked it over the button. A long T-shirt over that, and no one was the wiser that I couldn’t zip up my pants.

OHMommy, who thrives in her Classy Chaos apparently was hungry when she asked: Last meal? (Dude, it’s lunchtime here and I lurve food)

I guess I would want to have a favorite meal… right now I am all about Thai. I was even brave enough once to ask for Thai hot instead of American hot. Wow! The woman who owns the little Thai place in the town where I live told me that to counter the spiciness of the food I should drink warm water instead of cold. I haven’t tried that yet, but I’ll let you know if it works. I really do love me some spicy food.

Eve Gray, at Shut my mouth! wants to know:

1. Where did you go to college and what did you take?
I graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (Go Vols!) with a B.S. in Communications. My major was Public Relations, but my first job and most of them after that was as a newspaper reporter.

2. What is your job?
I am the Content Manager for a travel destination Web site. I populate three web pages with content ranging from tourist/vacation feature articles, community events, articles promoting local musicians and artists, dining reviews, and a little more of this and that.  

3. What are 2 things you still really want to accomplish/do in life?
I want to finish the book I spoke of in the Ashley’s answer and I want to travel somewhere outside of the Continental United States. I have been no further west than Texas and no further north than Michigan. I want to see where my ancestors are from.

Squiffy, the funniest and most ‘unscary’ clowns evah: So, does my bum look big in this????

Sight makes your bum look big. I like ‘big butts and I cannot lie.’

Beany, my Alaskan friend and bloggy buddy over at So Grateful to be Morman: How do you write a positive meaningful article when you are in the dumps negative?

I don’t know if I really ever have. There are times when I am worried, or even scared about something. But, many of these incidents I have no control over so I tend to internalize them and only bring them out to pick at them when my mind isn’t on anything else ~ late at night, or when I’m completely alone. I just don’t deal with it, so it’s like it’s not even there. I can be happy about something else and the darkness doesn’t touch it. Not a good way to deal with things. My head will explode one day and you’ll now know why.

BusyDad Jim, and fellow martial artist: So would you be able to kick both your kids’ asses in a no-holds barred fight?

You don’t even have to ask… of course I can kick their asses, and they know it! The best thing I learned while training is that you can be as friendly as you want with an opponent before the match, but you can’t fight like a girl once you’re in the ring. Someone is trying to knock my head off, I have to get the first point in, always. My kids fear ‘the foot.’ (It would be a good match to watch though ~ HA!)

*This is a Wordle (much like a tag cloud) that was created from my very first blog post ~ ‘Hence the name.’ I stole the idea from Ms H.