Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Tagged At Eleven

 Julie Fedderson from Gypsy in My Soul and Nancy S. Thompson were kind enough to both "tag" me with their versions of 11 Questions that have been circling around the blogosphere. I decided to combine the best questions from each of them, though this experience has made me miss my dentist.

1) What is your favorite scent?

Homemade chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven.

2) If you could go back and do anything over, what would it be?

I should have started flossing earlier.

3) What is your most bizarre beauty ritual?

I used to sleep with rollers in my hair when I was in college. Freshmen year I lived on an all girls floor so I'd parade around in them in the wee hours. One night a boy came over for a surprise visit, and actually asked me out on a date rollers and all. He started wearing glasses shortly after.

4) What was the weirdest moment of writing inspiration you've had?

When I was in the middle of a conversation with my doctor during a colonoscopy.

5) What is the best character name you've ever come across?

Lili Von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles.

6) Plotter or pantster?

My goal is to become a plotter, but I'm still a fledgling pantster.

7) What's your anger style?

I become very patriotic when I'm slightly perturbed. My neck turns red, my blue veins in my forehead pulsate, and the rest of me is as white as this page.

8) What is your favorite quote?

"All of us have moments in our lives that test our courage. Taking children into a house with a white carpet is one of them." - Erma Bombeck

9) What was your favorite book in 2011?

I really loved The Help, and was thrilled when Octavia Spencer won the best supporting actress Oscar for her portrayal of Minnie.

10) What moment in your life would have won the $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Video's?

When I was about 10, my parents took us on a family vacation to San Diego. We were standing in front of the orangutan cage at the San Diego Zoo when all of a sudden I felt a sharp pellet hit me. A few seconds later, it happened again, but I couldn't tell where it was coming from. Then my dad started singing, "Who got hit by orangutan mmm...?" Of course it took a while until I put two and two together, which is exactly what the orangutan was doing, before I moved out of the way.

11) What's the coolest thing you've ever done?

I was campus editor for our local radio station, when G. Gordon Liddy was promoting his book Will at universities all over the country. At the preliminary press conference, I asked him for an interview when his speech was over. There was a huge turnout and everyone wanted to ask him questions afterward. One chapter of Will was about how G. Gordon Liddy feared rats as a boy. In order to overcome his fear, he killed a rat, cooked it, and then decided to eat it. I had to stick around until everyone left before he finally gave me a midnight interview. My hands shook as I read the questions, but at least he didn't notice the charred pages in my teeth.

Thanks to Julie and Nancy for this nostalgic trip down memory lane. Julie has the unique talent of being informative and entertaining while delving into the most unusual subjects at Gypsy In My Soul. Nancy S. Thompson is always encouraging writers to reach their goals by sharing her thought-provoking insights, and has just recently signed on to have her first book published. Be sure to visit both of these exceptional bloggers for the sheer joy of it, and you might learn a thing or two along the way.

38 comments:

  1. I had a goood chuckle... especially your vivid 'anger style' description!
    Colonoscopy inspired writing? Wow! I'm just wondering what actual story emerged from that moment?

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  2. Americas Funniest would have gone for the orangutan incident..too bad you didn't have curlers in your hair at the time.

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  3. Hahaha I can actually relate to number four. Happened to me too. Hey, when inspiration strikes, go for it!

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  4. I think it's the food deprivation in preparation for number four. It's like fasting for a vision or something.

    And I picked The Help for my favorite novel in 2011 too. It really was a great read.

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  5. Mish - Just the absurdity of the situation made me want to ask the nurse for a notepad! Thanks Mish!

    Delores - If I was wearing curlers at the time, I probably would've become Mrs. Orangutan! Thanks for one of the best comments ever Delores!

    Stephen - I'm glad you had your number four and hope that everything went well! Happy almost Birthday!

    L.G. - That cocktail certainly doesn't help either! It's great that you also had a colonoscopy, as so many people keep putting it off. I remember that you also loved The Help. Have a wonderful time in England, and I can't wait to read all about it! Julie

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  6. Argh! I had this whole comment typed out and then I got kicked off! Let's see if I can rewrite it...

    I think you're the next Erma Bombeck! You are so funny!! I used to live behind a bakery and the smell of fresh baked bread was the most heavenly thing ever!! I wear a sleep mask and since I put on moisturizer most nights, I that's what's kept the wrinkles away. And yikes, during a colonoscopy? *shivers* I had a similar zoo moment at the San Francisco Zoo but it was with the chimps. They'd do a pre-launch jig then fling huge piles of crap at bystanders. I've never laughed so hard in my life! And I LOVED The Help. Awesome book!

    Thanks for answering the questions and for the shout out, too.

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  7. Hi Julie, your 200th follower here-I enjoyed reading this and laughed out loud at some of it -especially nos 4 and 8! The Help is a great book-found the film disappointing though as most of the subplots were missed out (and I wanted to see more of the love story bit)-although I did think the Oscar was deserved by Octavia. Comparing a much-enjoyed book to a film can be tricky I find, especially if I've just read the book when I see it. ps, you obviously feel bad about missing the dentist as you mention flossing (I should have started sooner too) pps, will check out Julie and Nancy's blogs when get a mo'. Glad I visited.

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  8. You forgot to mention the red "house dress" you wore with the curlers.

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  9. The coolest thing I've ever done?
    Easy.
    That would be reading your blog.
    Ya think that was too much sucking up?
    I can do better.

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  10. You score big points for the Blazing Saddles name!!

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  11. Nancy - It must've really taken a lot of willpower living behind a bakery! I always loved Erma Bombeck growing up, and appreciate her even more after having kids! Thanks so much for passing this along to me, and I'm so excited about your upcoming book!

    Anita - Thanks so much for being my 200th follower! I'm sorry that you didn't like the movie as much as I did. Be careful with the flossing, as over flossing may also cause damage. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better Anita!

    Anon - So glad you remembered my red tent that especially came in handy with the "Freshmen Fifteen!" I do have a photo with that winning combination under lock and key!

    Al - This is a huge compliment coming from one of the funniest guys I know! Feel free to make fun of any of my silly stories whenever the mood strikes you! Thanks Al!

    Alex - Blazing Saddles is one of my favorite movies! "It's true, it's true!"

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  12. Hi Julie! What interesting questions and answers. : )

    Susanne
    PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

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  13. Grrrrrreat answers. But how in the world did you manage to stay awake during a colonoscopy??? I've tried, but every single time, I go off to la-la land. And worse, when I wake up, have absolutely no recollection of anything the doctor had to say to me. Total amnesia. Good thing my hubby was there.

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  14. Great questions and answers. I love knowing more about you.

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  15. Susanne - I really had fun answering Julie and Nancy's creative questions! Thanks Susanne!

    Susan - My doctor just gave me a local anesthetic, so that I could enjoy every minute of it! The highlight was viewing the procedure on the monitor, while I was asking for a play by play account. Thanks Susan!

    Carol - Maybe you know a little too much now! Thanks Carol!

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  16. Loved your answers - I can picture you becoming patriotic, haha!

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  17. I love your favourite quote. I thought it was going to be a really serious one for a start... well it was serious but you know what I mean. And the picture of you providing target practice for an orang utan is priceless!

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  18. Talli - Like many things in life, it's best when it happens in a dark, preferably soundproof room! Thanks Talli!

    Rosalind - Erma Bombeck could always make every situation funny. Yes that orangutan almost scarred me for life! Thanks Rosalind!

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  19. What great questions, and I love your answers! Such a wonderful sense of humor. I wish I'd started flossing much earlier, too! Take care, Julie!

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  20. I can't stop laughing. I LOVED your description of when you get angry. Patriotic? That is classic.

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  21. Lynn - Thanks so much, and take care of your pearly whites!

    Ciara - It is similar to a fireworks display complete with sound effects! Thanks Ciara!

    -Julie

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  22. Fun answers. Colonoscopy is weird enough without the conversation. I'd rather have the chocolate chip cookies. I promise I'll floss afterwards.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out
    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  23. I loved the answers specially the patriotic one and the guy who got glasses later on, your beauty dazzled his eyes no less. :)

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  24. Excellent answers, Julie - the Erma Bombeck quote, favorite character name, all of it. Of course, my favorite scent is yours too.

    Be well.
    xoRobyn

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  25. Lee - I'm sure that they all regretted not giving me something stronger to numb their pain! Keep flossing after those chocolate chip cookies! Thanks Lee!

    Rek - I wonder if he was sleep walking at the time?! Oh well, we'll never know. Thanks Rek!

    Robyn - I'm so glad that your nephew takes after you, and also appreciates the finer things in life! Soon you'll have to introduce him to Mel Brooks, while sprinkling in some quotes from Erma! Thanks so much Robyn!

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  26. G. Gordon Liddy is my alltime favorite hero ...

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  27. Jackie, I spent a lot of time preparing questions for the interview, but somehow I stumbled on one of the facts. He quickly corrected me, and I apologized by telling him that I read his book twice. Then G. Gordon Liddy replied to this student reporter, "Perhaps you should have read it more thoughtfully the first time."

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  28. I've tagged you for the Lucky 7 Meme. See my blog for details!

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    1. Thanks for thinking of me Ilima! I really enjoyed reading your Lucky 7 Meme! Julie

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  29. Funny about your writing inspiration moment. As I was going under for my colonoscopy (yep-they put my ass out. Along with the rest of me), I thought, "Hey, this could make a funny story."
    And so was born "Journey to the Center of My Bowels."
    I put it on Blogger sometime last year, but I seemed to have misplaced it. Maybe it's in my other pair of pants...?

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    1. Great title! I would love to read it sometime, as long as you don't include the pictures! My doctor actually gave me a picture of a polyp for a souvenir. It was lovely. Thanks Al!

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  30. Hi Julie, I'm just stopping by to say hello before the A-Z challenge begins. Glad to see you'll be playing along. I'm a new follower here :)

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    1. Hi Martha, Thanks for following me and I look forward to getting to know you during A to Z! I did it last year and it was a blast! Julie

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  31. Some amazing answers you have there, Julie. Yes to the smell chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, no thanks to the colonoscopy conversation. I don't remember Lili Von Shtupp. I only remember the campfire scene.

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  32. Some of these made me laugh out loud, Julie, so funny! I cracked up about the flossing and the patriotic anger, also the boy getting glasses LOL. And what a cool thing you did! That must have been such a great experience.

    Happy weekend to you! I'm looking forward to your posts for the A-Z. :)

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  33. Nice post! I just came across your blog via the A-Z Challenge and I can't wait to read your posts! I now follow you :)

    Please check out my blog over at yadinbromberg.blogspot.com

    Good luck throughout the month!
    Cheers!
    -Yadin

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  34. Lee - Madeline Kahn played her to perfection! The campfire scene is a classic! Thanks Lee!

    Julie - I can't believe A to Z starts tomorrow! Looking forward to seeing your fun posts too! Thanks Julie!

    Yadin - Thanks for following me and I'll be back to visit you again soon. Good luck to you too!

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