Sunshine Award – Fun for a Cold and Snowy Week

You know what’s really nice?

When you find out that not one but TWO of your bloggy friends thinks you’re the bee’s knees and nominates you for a snappy little blog award. These things are mildly silly, aren’t they? Akin to the middle-school chain letter? But they’re really mostly awesome. First, because who doesn’t want to feel really happy that somebody thinks they’re cool enough to get an award and second because who doesn’t love answering all those great questions that let other people get to know more about you…but really make you think about yourself.

And so I was completely thrilled when Lizzi shot an e-mail my way directing me to her post in which I am given a Sunshine Award. I think the e-mail notice is because Lizzi probably already knows that I am highly likely to either be A) behind on blog reading on any given day or B) distracted enough by something while doing said blog reading and therefore completely miss the fact that one of those names in the list is mine.

And so I started my Sunshine Award post and got totally distracted. I know you’re surprised.

And then I got a bit behind on my blog reading and was in the middle of a marathon catch-up session when HOLY WOW there I was on Sarah’s list of Sunshine Award people. Woot! See? That’s exactly how it happens.

But then…I realized that I had better make some progress on these posts.

And so finally…if you can all stomach it…here they are!

The award: The Sunshine Award.

The way I understand it, this award is for those blog friends who bring sunshine to your life with their words and their lovely personality. You list some awesome/interesting/unusual facts about yourself, answer their questions, nominate others, and pass it forward with your own fun questions for them to answer.  See that’s the part where I’m going to have a hard time…I don’t know how I’m going to come up with the right list because there are just so many. And a lot of those sunshine-y people on my list have already been on somebody else’s list…

What to do?

While I try to figure that out, I’ll get to the business of the awesome/interesting/unusual facts about myself and the questions from Lizzi and Sarah.

Awesome/interesting/unusual facts:

1. I am completely missing a permanent tooth. My left lateral incisor, to be precise. I also have a sixth lumbar vertebra in my back. Perhaps that tooth didn’t get the memo about where it was supposed to end up.

2. I know how to play the flute and the piccolo. I don’t actually play them on any kind of regular basis. The other day Kidzilla asked me why not. Indeed, why not?

3. My gray hair is growing in a sort of stripe. No idea why.  I cannot think of a single relative on either side of my family who had gray arrive in this particular manner. It’s a fairly thin stripe, but when my hair is not pulled back, it is noticeable.  I like it.

4. I can remember the words and tune to just about any song I’ve ever known. A song can come on the radio that I haven’t heard in ten years and I can sing along without error. I can remember songs my Mom sang to me as a little girl and whip them out of nowhere to sing to Kidzilla. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast most days, but this I can do.

5. Speaking of music, I can often recognize a song in just a few notes or seconds. If they ever bring back the game show Name That Tune, I’m signing up.

6. I can spell pretty much any word thrown at me and get it correct. I used to win school-wide spelling bees all the time. There is one word, however, that is my kryptonite: recipe. One year, I incorrectly spelled it r-e-c-i-p-i-e and tanked one of said spelling bees. It has haunted me ever since.

7. I have never been bowling in my entire life. I’m including this under the “unusual” category because every time this has ever come in up in conversation with anyone the reaction is complete shock and disbelief. Apparently, this is a distinct oddity.

8.I am a terrible insomniac. It doesn’t matter how exhausted I may be, I rarely sleep well at night. I guess my internal clock just doesn’t get nighttime. Either that or I’m a vampire.

9. I can pronounce someone’s last name correctly just from reading it (not hearing it) on the first try about 99% of the time. This is handy when you’re a teacher and you have to read a class roster. Say it incorrectly and the entire room thinks it’s hysterical. It’s not. I rarely mispronounce or butcher the name entirely. Not sure why – just an ear for language and word use, perhaps?

10. I almost always know who is calling me on the phone before looking or answering it. And no, it isn’t because people have individual rings. It’s just something I’ve always been able to do. Call it a weird parlor trick.

11. I can’t think of any more awesome/interesting/unusual facts because I pretty much used them all up on my double-Liebster post. Plus, I think #1 counts as two, so I’m good.

Lizzi’s questions:

1. Someone’s at your door. Who would you like it to be, and why?

The pizza guy. Because it means I am taking a night off from cooking.  But wait, that sounds bad. I love cooking – it’s my therapy, my peace. I mean in no way to imply that I do not enjoy cooking or that it is somehow a chore. But still, every now and then you just need to step back and have a pizza night. And a pizza night often means my Mom has popped in, so that’s also pretty cool.

2. What do you think you’ll be like when you’re really old?

Cranky.  Somehow I just know I’m going to be that crabby old lady at the end of the street who everybody thinks is either really mean or a witch. But then someone will be brave enough to get to know me and realize that underneath that gruff and cranky exterior is a big old marshmallow. And then it will be a fun game watching all the new kids be scared of the cranky lady until they figure out she’s pretty cool.

3. What was your favourite day out as a little kid?

I don’t know. Really, I don’t. I’m such a homebody and I think I’ve always been.

I do recall enjoying summer outings to the local amusement park with my whole family for my birthday. We’d use the picnic pavilions, cook hot dogs and eat all the great picnic-y stuff we brought along, including a homemade themed birthday cake made by my Aunt and Godmother. One particularly great cake was the Star Wars cake she made, complete with action figures positioned in the cake-scape. And the fun had nothing to do with the fact that my then teenaged Uncles enjoyed pretending piles of brown icing were wookie poop. (When I think about their antics back then, I am completely impressed and amazed at how unbelievably successful they are as grown men.)

I also always loved when my Mom would take us to the public library in the summer for the summer reading club. Something about stepping from the hot outside to the cool and near-silence of the library was magical. I remember one particular summer when the library did a fishing themed program. I don’t know why, but that one stuck in my head.

Summers we used to do things like pile all the cousins and the youngest Aunts and Uncles into my oldest Aunt and Uncle’s van and go to our Great Aunt’s front porch/yard to watch the fireworks. And a summer evening movie is spectacular.

4. Describe a time when you realised you were thinking an entirely new thought.

New as in different than the one I was just thinking previously? About every ten seconds of my day.  New as in brand new to me and never been thought by me before? Hm…about a week ago it occurred to me that I was thinking about the book I may want to write in terms of the book I am writing. How’s that?

5. Have you ever had a moment where you’ve felt like ‘the ancestors’ were looking over your shoulder?

Yeah. Often. It’s usually when I say or do something inordinately stupid that I just know my Grandparents would not have thought was all too wise. This usually happens in extreme parenting scenarios (and with Zilla, there are many) or in the context of dealing with husband/wife dynamics.  I’m sure they look over my shoulder all the time. I think I am more aware of the possibility when I can hear them telling me why it’s not a smart idea.

6. Did you rebel as a teenager? How?

I don’t think I did, really. I’m the firstborn, the obedient, the goody two-shoes, if you will. I followed the rules and on the few occasions when I may have attempted to break them, I invariably got caught and my Mother knew about it before I got home from school. I decided fairly early that it wasn’t worth it. I’m still pretty much that way – I don’t generally rock the boat and I like rules and guidelines.

7. What’s your favourite sandwich?

Bacon, lettuce, and tomato with mayo…hold the lettuce. And then add cheese and avocado. See, I hate lettuce and mayo in the same place. The mayo makes the lettuce nine kinds of nasty. So I absolutely only put lettuce on a sandwich at home, if I’m really in the mood, and if I’m going to eat it immediately so no nastiness can develop. But as a rule, I skip the lettuce entirely. If I want greens, I’ll eat a salad and I do that plenty often enough so my sandwiches can be left in their un-nasty state. So the sandwich ends up being bacon and tomato with mayo, add avocado and cheese. Words on great whole grain bread. Works on a toasted hoagie roll.

8. Which cartoon character do you most relate to?

I don’t think I relate to any. Nothing comes to mind after days of thinking, so I’m going with none. I’m pretty sure the BFF could weigh in on this one, though, so maybe she’ll help me out.

9. What are your favourite shoes like?

My favorite shoes are the ones that are not on my feet. I hate shoes. I like sock feet. I have stupid feet with skinny heels, wide fronts, and high insteps. Finding shoes that look great and feel comfortable happens almost never. But my favorite shoes to wear are boots mostly because boots usually manage to work for me. The best are black boots, just above the ankle, with a heel of about two inches.

10. If you could be someone else for the day, who would you be?

I don’t think anyone. Well, maybe that’s not true. I guess there are lots of people who I’d like to swap places with for a day, but only to see what it’s like being them or to understand what they have to deal with. But in all honestly, I like being me. I like my life. I’m pretty happy right where I am.

Sarah’s questions:

1. In what form do you prefer your chocolate?

Dark. After that, all formats are negotiable.

2. What did you major in in college (or university)? Do you still do something related to that field?

My first instinct about college was to take a year off after college and “find myself.” My Mother thought this was a grand idea and agreed wholeheartedly. I remember her words. “Sounds like a great idea. Find yourself in college.” And so off I went. Fresh out of high school, I had designs on a career in some kind of business, perhaps even law. And so I grabbed an Associate Degree in Specialized Business with a concentration on paralegal skills. And then I worked in business for a while…law office, human resources, customer service department in a large company…hated it. Blah.

After diddling around for a few years, I went back to school in my late twenties, majored in English, minored in Theology, and ended up with a teaching certificate in secondary education in the field of English. Do I use that?  I teach English in a Catholic high school. So I’m going with yes.

In my late thirties, I went back into the classroom (although this time it was an online program – LOVED that) and earned a Master of Science in Curriculum Development and Instruction. I concentrated my course work in literacy across the curriculum and teaching the exceptional learner. Do I use that? In my everyday classroom, I suppose it certainly does come in handy. But I would probably be using more of it if I could move into a position in learning support and curriculum development/accommodations for exceptional students.

3. Name a word you love to say.

Noodle. And Weasel. Say them out loud – go ahead, I’ll wait while you try it. See? They are fun to say. I suppose if I’m being honest, I could add a less savory word or two, but those are reserved for times of necessity and certainly not in earshot of impressionable young minds.

4. Name your three best physical features (your favorites, not society’s).

Hair, eyes, and boobs. (Am I allowed to say that? So not politically correct.)  I have good hair – I’ve always been told so. It’s a nice color, takes a good cut well, and despite any abuse heaped upon it, has always been particularly healthy and shiny. I could’ve been a Breck girl. (Bonus points go to those who are old enough to know what that means.) So far, at 43, I have very little gray to deal with and am quite proud and happy to display the ones I do. I earned those babies. I especially like the little silver stripe I’m developing in the front. That’s cool. I like my eyes – they are a fairly unique shade of green. At least that’s what people tell me. I like that they are different. Finally, if I may be so bold, I am fairly well-blessed by the breast fairy and so far they are behaving nicely. And since my father’s mother lost both of her breasts to breast cancer in her early 30s, I’m grateful that mine are here and healthy.

5. What is something that has made you proud in the last week?

My daughter. She is making very positive strides at school and at home in the behavior department. Lord knows Kidzilla has odds stacked against her but in this family we refuse to let ADHD and all its co-morbidities and symptoms and idiosyncrasies get the best of us. So the Fab Hub and I are quite happy and quite proud of Zilla’s ability to take the things we are teaching her and put them into practice.

6. What is one of your favorite aromas?

My  kid. Is that weird? I’ve never been quite sure if it’s her soap and shampoo or just her, but Kidzilla has a particularly great smell about her little self.  I also like the smell of the Fab Hub. When we were not dating, when he would hug me, I’d bury my nose in his shoulder and just breathe in. He thought it was decidedly weird. But I loved his smell (usually still do). I love the smell of lilacs because they remind me of my Grandmother’s yard, which reminds me of all kinds of lovely memories attached to my Grandparents and their home. I love the smell of vanilla and sandalwood because they remind me of my Mom. She’s still around, of course, but I don’t generally just walk up and smell her.

7. If you could only have a bathroom or a kitchen, which would you choose?

A kitchen. If you’re a guy, this is a no-brainer. A little more complicated if you’re a girl, sure, but still doable. You can do your business outside in a hole if you really have to. Or in a chamber pot or whatever. There are other ways to bathe (even if not so enjoyable) than taking a hot shower or a hot bath.  But for me, cooking is a big part of who I am and how I love spending my time. I do not see myself enjoying it in quite the same way if I had to do it outside in the cold over a pile of sticks. I’ll take my gas range and culinary trappings any day, thank you.

OK, on to my set of questions for my award nominees…

1. If you were going to write a book, what would you call it and what would it be about?

2. What’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever done?

3. What accomplishment are you most proud of?

4. If you could try out any job for a day, what would you like to try?

5. What’s one thing you’re deeply proud of — but would never put on your résumé?

6. Have you ever won an award? What was it for?

7. Ever fantasize about being in a rock band? What would your group be called?

8. What’s the hardest thing you ever had to write — and why?

9. Have you ever set two friends up on a date? (How did it go?)

10. What was your favorite game to play as a child?

And the final step: my own list of Sunshine award nominees.

This is the hard part. It’s hard because it’s easy – I can whip off a list of ten people who I would pass this on to in a second. Some of the people I can think of to name have already done one of these recently. Are they really going to want to do another?  And there will be someone I mean to list but completely flake on and leave out. I do not aim to hurt feelings. And when I put people on my list for Liebster awards…well, most did not run with the thing and do their own post. That was a bummer.

So here’s what I’m going to do.

The truth is that my readers are indeed all rays of sunshine in their own individual ways.  If it weren’t for them, well, there wouldn’t be any dialogue, interaction, fun, or friendship here. So all are welcome and I’d really love if you’d say “yes, I AM sunshine and I’m going to do a Sunshine Award post. “ It actually is pretty fun – made me think of all kinds of things that I might not have without the prompts. And it’s great blog fodder, really – it stretches your mind a little and doing this has given me some ideas for other posts. Not up for the full commitment? How about grabbing one or two of my questions and answering in the comments? Or turn it into your own post and call it a mini-award.

The magic (and the sunshine) is in the comments, friends…leave yours!