It's going around. . . a meme--and a GIVEAWAY!

For Susan, because I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading her responses. She got it from another blog, whose author got it from another one. . . and so the sharing of friendly trivialities goes. . . So, just in the spirit of fun--and more purging--I am going to make this post a giveaway too! The winner will receive two brand-new, unopened cassette tapes (yes, they still exist!) of The World Sings Goodnight (Parts 1 and 2). This is music I got as a prize at a baby shower before Smiley was born and which I could not wait to listen to--until I tucked it away and forgot about it until just now, when it seems a little moot. Maybe you know a baby or Mom who will enjoy this? To enter to win, please post a comment in which you share your own answers to one or more of the questions below!)

What color are your socks right now? Believe it or not, thick winter weight Smartwool socks (the ones on the far right). It has been barely 60 degrees in the house in the mornings here. Yes, I live in California. I'll explain in a separate post.

What are you listening to right now? The kids humming and chatting and sometimes arguing while they color.

What was the last thing you ate? Earl grey tea with milk and dark chocolate. (Hey, it was elevensies!)

Can you drive a stick? Yes, and when I do, it is our Subaru WRX, which is super zippy and has no carseats and so I feel like a racecar driver.

Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Dear Husband, calling from work hoping I could find something he had misplaced. One of my official titles around here is Finder of All Lost Things.

How old are you today? 38 years, I think, and I SO can't be bothered to calculate to be sure, let alone figure out the months and days like everyone else did. I'm quite happy with a nebulous age.

What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Sports? TV?

What is your favorite drink? A cup of really good tea, with milk--if it has something tasty on the side. (A cup of tea is not a cup of tea without something tasty on the side.)

Have you ever dyed your hair? In college I did a "dorm job" dying it a darker brown--and it looked pretty much the same as before, except all my hair's natural shine was dulled. I am way too much of a cheapskate to get my hair professionally dyed. If I ever did, I would have the under layer of hair royal blue.

Favorite food? Vegetarian Ethiopian food. Second place, vegetarian Thai food. Third place, anything I didn't have to cook myself.

What is the last movie you watched? Instant download of Rudy last night. Love me a feel-good, underdog, inspired-by-true-events, instantly available movie.

Favorite day of the year? The one on which my family enjoys each other all day long, no matter where we are or what we are doing.

How do you vent anger? When I am realllly mad, I go cry and vent to God.

What was your favorite toy as a child? My little rubber animals--most of them "erasers" shaped like animals that I chose from the prize box one of my elementary school teachers had for rewarding extra good behavior or performance. I think I might still have a couple of them tucked away. . .

Favorite Season? Fall. Esp. out here on Monterey Bay when it is the most gorgeous time of year.

Cherries or Blueberries? Allergic to cherries, so blueberries.

Living situation? Tiny decrepit house filled with too much stuff but just the right number of people.

When was the last time you cried? Last night. (Rudy. What can I say.)

What is on the floor of your closet right now? Tub of out-of-season clothes, basket of shoes, cardboard wrapping paper station, dust bunnies.

What are you most afraid of? Trivial answer--spiders like the one on the left in that photo, which was taken a couple of years ago in the Underbelly of the house, right next to my dryer. The spider's legspan was three inches. Look at how he completely dwarfs "Shelob," who at the time was my residential window sill spider. Spiders are not bad, and whenever we get into spider season, I remind myself that they are useful predators, and for every one spider there are hundreds of prey--meaning insects who will otherwise be invading my home. So I leave the spiders alone outside and under the house, except when we vacuum the Underbelly about twice a year. But this kind of spider has THRICE appeared INSIDE our house in the past year!!! I try not to let the children see my fear.

Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Um. . . how about a good BLT or barbeque pork sandwich instead? If I am eating meat, I go right for the bad stuff.

Favorite dog breed? The Good Old American Mutt. But I have been toying with the idea of a standard poodle for our next family dog, since they are supposed to be a good breed for people with allergies.

Favorite day of the week? Don't have one. Maybe Monday--it feels like a fresh start.

How many states have you lived in? 4. Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, California.

Diamonds or pearls? I wear both almost every day! (My favorite earrings are grey pearl drops--wearing them now!) London blue topaz, too--in my wedding band with the diamond.

What is your favorite flower? Wild chicory. Then come Blue Hydrangea and Love in a Mist (pictured).

Did you get an H1N1 vaccine? No. Don't EVEN get me started.

And since that last question seemed like an odd one to end on, I'm adding two more:

What are you most thankful for at this moment? Every minute = another chance to parent the way I want to, with grace. That and organic dark chocolate with orange.

What is one goal you hope to meet today? To vacuum behind the dresser.

Allrighty sister friends and readers! Please join in the fun and post a comment--I'll randomly select a winner next Monday!