Random Dozen

1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow?

I have a "thing" with loud noises. One doctor told me that I probably didn't have nerve endings in my ears. My family just thinks in my "first life" I probably died in the war with cannon fire or something. (Nooooo I don't believe in reincarnation--just throwin' the theories out there!) Anyway, I cannot even be around balloons popping, so gun shooting is absolutely, 100% out of the question!

Now, I HAVE shot a bb gun and an "air rifle" and I am quite an excellent shot with those. This has always made me wonder how I'd do with a bigger, louder gun sans the ear problem of course!

I have fired plenty of arrows. Archery used to be part of our PE classes in our state. We also did it at camp when I was a preteen. I'm not as skilled at that as I am the bb gun and air rifle. (Sheez, after that long answer, you may not even be reading on to the next 11!)

2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are? I didn't until the advent of Facebook. I have reconnected in cyberspace with MANY of them! And I'm TRYING to connect with some in real life....I'm hopeful it will happen in the next---oh---year or five or ten at the rate we're going! ;-)

3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time? This is a VERY funny question for me. I am pretty much a little early to on time most of the time. The BIGGEST argument DH and I had during our dating years was because I was TWO (count 'em ONE-TWO) minutes past when I said I would be for dinner in college. He's MUCH more relaxed these days and I'm much more on time. We balance each other that way!

4. Are you more of a New York or California type? Probably NY, but I don't really know why. I've been to California, but it's not my favorite place at all.

5. Do you have a special ring tone? For those who have stayed with me this far--here's a "brief-answer gift": Nope.

6. What is your favorite type of chip? Hmmmm...that's a good question. I don't really like chips all that much. If I was picking one out, I'd have to say the Ballreich's that my Mother loves. They only sell them in VERY FEW places...so we have to buy out the store when we go to Ohio in order to bring them home to Mom. They do taste different...and I can eat quite a few!

7. Best comedy you've ever seen is ....I HAVE to copy Melli on this one...Menopause the Musical is definitely a roll-on-the-floor-laughing kind of show! If you've never heard my story about seeing this musical the first time, here's the link to it. I still think of this event EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I have seen it...which, by the way, is THREE.

8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, "How'd that work for ya?" Yes, yes I have. And, Phil, I'll have to abstain from answering the question of how it worked so as not to incriminate myself.

9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self? Most definitely my house. There are so many things I'd love to see done...of course, I remember "Trading Spaces" and I would have to have SOME control over the makeover. To let someone just change my traditional decor to Asian or Art Deco (for example) would NOT be OK with me!

10. Are you allergic to anything? Another brevity gift: NOPE.

11. Why is it so hard to change? My favorite "change quote" is "Nobody likes change except a wet baby." It's hard because it requires doing something different. Even when it's positive it's out of our norm and that means that initially we're out of rhythm. Most positive change is worth the uncomfortable feeling that precedes it, however.

12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable." Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you'd like to about this topic. When you love something or someone with your whole heart, then you are at risk of not being loved in return. You risk being hurt deeply. In essence, you put your heart out there for another and ask them to hold it for you. You're vulnerable because it can be painfully broken by the actions and attitudes this sometimes brings. BUT I believe if we never become vulnerable, then we never can fully love anyone or anything. We HAVE to open ourselves up and trust that each moment of love and each heartbreak is what makes us who we are.

OK that was a DEEP question to end this on! Happy last week of February everyone!