Philosopher Jagger

1. What does your car say about you? If you don’t have a car, what kind of car would be your daily driver?
My car says "Mom." I drive a mini-van and that is the stereotype of what it says, but I am so okay with that.
It also says I am practical, as several of my other mom friends insist that they won't drive a mini-van because of the stereotype and have either had to settle for continuing to drive their old, beat-up and run down single-girl cars that they had before marriage because they can't find what it is that they want in in SUV for a reasonable price or are paying way too much for the privilege of driving an SUV that isn't a mini-van. We paid cash for our mini van and I've never regretted it.

2. To this point, what has been your purpose on this planet?
I have no idea. I guess you could say to love my husband and daughter and to be there for my mom. I'd say those are the highest, most purposeful things I have done in my life. Both cheesy and at the same time, poignant, in my mind.

3. If you could trade places with any person for any amount of time, who would it be?
I have no idea again. Maybe, briefly, I'd like to be an actress in Hollywood or something - a really successful one - Julia Roberts? Rachel McAdams? Kirsten Dunst? But I wouldn't want that life for very long - but I would love to spend a little time acting and performing again. I sort of miss those days.

4. What is your favorite kind of cake? If you don’t like cake, what is it about it that you don’t like?
Spice cake with cream cheese frosting. (Similar to carrot cake) Discovered this cake while in college when they served it quarterly at the dessert bar and OMG is it delicious. It's moist and flavorful and when you add the good, creamy cream cheese icing it's DIVINE.

5. Would you have wanted to live in your parents’, grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ generation or only your own?
Thought about that this morning, actually. I am so glad to be alive in the generation I live in! Air Conditioning! Technology! Education! None of the social confines that wouldn't allow you to speak your mind! I'm sure there are benefits to living in older times, too (simplicity for one) but I am so thankful to be living now instead of then.

6. Do you have any home remedies for illnesses, cleaning or otherwise?
DH has a home remedy for the early stage of a cold that seems to help it get through the worst part faster, but you can't do it while pregnant... it involves a really hot bath, a shot of whiskey, a cup of hot tea and dressing yourself as warm as possible and going to bed. You basically do all of the above and then go to bed to sweat it out for as long as you can. It often seems to speed up the process and shortens a cold/flu by a few days. It's not exactly fun, but it's better than dealing with it for any longer than necessary.

7. What is your ideal weather situation?
75-80 degrees as a high with an easy breeze and sunny skies. We get this in the late winter/early spring and what passes for fall around here, so it's not a long-term situation, but when it happens, it's amazing. I call it "Chamber of Commerce weather."

8. What is your best attribute (physical or personal)?
My red hair is my best physical attribute. Personal, I would say my friendliness, but I seem to be less friendly these days - or maybe just fewer and further between. I am less social this time around in my pregnancy and I am really hoping that I return to "normal" after this kid is born. I miss that part of me.

9. Do you text or surf while driving?
I occasionally text, but I try to limit it to stop lights or using the T9 word prediction so I can have at least one hand on the wheel.

10. How long have you known your best friend?
Depends on who you define as my best friend.
My husband and I have been friends for 15 years this fall. But I've known who he is (as in, I could tell you his name) since the 4th grade.
My "sister" started babysitting me when I was 5 or 6, but we didn't become friends until I was closer to 11 or 12.
My 3rd-closest friend who I declare as "my best friend" (having given the other 2 titles that seem closer to me) and I became friends the summer we turned 18 (so 12 years), although, again I could have told you her name when we were 15 and she started working for my parents.