10 on Tuesday 6-22-10

1. If you could trade lives with another blogger for a day, who would it be and why?

I have no idea. I think most bloggers begin their blogs by wanting to chronicle some stressful (if sometimes also joyous) event in their lives and I don't know that I'd want to trade my own stress for theirs. I guess the closest I could come would be Arwen, but honestly, I'd rather BE Arwen for a day than trade places with her. She has such a peace about her, and I know that comes from her faith, but I really feel like she's just really good at it.

2. Do you prefer receiving handmade or store bought gifts? Be honest!

It depends on who it's from! I have received some incredibly creative, thoughtful gifts from talented and creative people over the years. I have also received some crap! So, if the gift is thoughtful and well-made and makes sense as to why the person is giving it to another person, I think homemade gifts are great. If they are making some cheesy thing just to have something to give, I'd rather not have it - or anything - at all, since I am at a place where I don't need more "stuff."
3. Would you rather camp or stay in a hotel?

A hotel. Hands down. My few experiences with camping have all held some disaster or another and I am proud to call myself a girlie-girl who likes her niceties. Though my husband has already warned me that if we end up having 4 kids or something, a nice RV/camper is likely in our future if we want to take vacations. Often, the thought gives me the heebie jeebies after my mom telling her (fond) memories of camping w/ her family growing up - I'm just too high maintenance for that! But I'm certainly willing to give it a try!

4. What’s your favorite comfort food?

Depends on the mood, of course, but something carb-y to start. Mashed potatoes is often something I really want when I want comfort. Cheese fries. Occasionally chocolate. I'm a food-addict, so I have cravings even when I'm not pregnant and often really want SOME specific thing...

5. You’re having a really bad day at work. How do you unwind when you come home?

When not pregnant, I confess it used to involve alcohol. One glass of wine or a margarita or something. But there is also a lot of TV and depending on the amount of stress and if I need release or I need to let it wash off me, a hot shower or some love-making with my husband.

6. What’s your favorite chore? (Or, the chore you hate the least)
Doing Fuss's laundry. I remember before she was born, getting so excited to wash her new little clothes as I got them as gifts from showers or bought them myself. I figured I'd get over the novelty of tiny clothes and end up not really liking it eventually, but it hasn't happened yet. There is something about these little clothes - often soft and pretty - that makes me smile as I work to get them clean for her, fold them, and put them away in her drawers. Of course, laundry (minus the folding) is probably one of my least disliked chores anyhow, but I actually enjoy doing her laundry. I also like cleaning the bathroom (as long as the toilet isn't too disgusting) in a way because when you have a clean bathroom, you can always tell. You get the immediate satisfaction of being able to say "this is done and it looks like it" instead of some of the more monotonous chores that you can't always tell when they are done (vacuuming, for example.)

7. What got you interested in blogging?
Reading other blogs. I think my first one was Julie at alittlepregnant. I was thinking really hard about getting pregnant and because of my family history, I always assumed I would have trouble getting pregnant (my parents tried for me for 4 years, my grandmother had been told that she would NEVER get pregnant, though they were very wrong.) and I wanted to see how other people handled it. At that point, I don't know that I knew that such a thing existed - online diaries that were open to the public? About really personal issues? But then, I wanted to chronicle my own attempts at getting a baby and I really enjoyed the writing outlet.

8. Are you currently reading a book? What is it?

The only one that is current (if you'd asked me 2 days ago, I would have another answer) is a re-read of the breast-feeding book "So That's What They're For" by Janet Tamaro.

9. Do you have a favorite artist?

My grandmother got me hooked on the Wyeth family one summer when she took my mom and I on this vacation where went to Maine and visited a whole bunch of art galleries as we drove up to Canada. I also like Thomas Kincaid, but am annoyed that every shop that sells art seems to have a gazillion copies of his paintings, etc. But they are beautiful. I also like some commercial photographers - like Anne Geddes and Kim Anderson - I just really enjoy what they do with their subjects. (I was really into black and white, hand-tinted photography for awhile myself, so I absolutely LOVED Kim Anderson - I wanted to BE Kim Anderson in college).

10. Have you ever met someone famous?
I think the closest I've come to meeting someone famous is meeting a few popular local reporters/newscasters over the years when that was what I wanted to do with my career. I know the first time I met one of the more popular local newscasters I remember thinking "I thought he'd be taller." I also met Jaci Velesquez (a Christian singer) and got her autograph when I was visiting my would-be Christian college in high school for a preview weekend.

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