Saturday 9 - Aida

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Aida

1) Have you ever been to the opera?  Yes, and I didn't enjoy it one iota.  I'm not opera material.  I appreciated it, don't get me wrong... but I am definitely not the audience for that type of performance.  I prefer a beat, something you can sing along with... screaming fans... a laid-back environment... I want to be able to have a conversation and not have to sit in silence the entire time.  

2) Maria Callas was often called a "diva." Is that a compliment or a criticism?  I would be inclined to believe that would be a relative and subjective term that could both be used as a type of compliment but ... directed at a different subject COMPLETELY critical.  In calling Maria a "diva," I would believe it were a compliment.

3) Aida was composed by famous Italian Giusseppe Verdi. In addition to opera, what else can the world thank Italy for?  Marco Polo... isn't that like THE first swimming game kids learn?  How about... DaVinci?  He was a multi-faceted individual of many talents... the entire Renaissance can be encapsulated in some of his works.  Brilliant man.  Galileo, of course, who helped pioneer the way for Newton... (and food...but that rather goes without saying!)

 

4) Verdi was Italian and Callas was Greek. Would you rather vacation in Italy or Greece?  Yes.  :)  

I pine for a vacation in Italy.  I would want to visit the truly "touristy" spots.... because you have to just say "I've been there."  Like... Sicily's Valley of the Temples, Cinque Terre, the Colosseum, Pompeii, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Fontana di Trevi (among others)...those are just top on my list.

   

Greece would beckon me to visit the Parthenon... This area of the world is so rich in history and artifacts.... I truly would geek out at the opportunity to be among such amazing collections.  I would love to be in the presence of the Temple of Poseidon or the Meteora.  I'd walk along the beaches in Crete or visit the Delphi Ruins.... Again... history geek loving adventures... 

   

5) The Marx Bros. starred in A Night at the Opera. What's the funniest movie you have ever seen? I don't really "do" favorites because it's all so subjective based on  personalities... Trying to consider a movie that I have truly laughed out loud on -- I think the list would be small.  In the top 10... Dumb and Dumber.  Yes, I realize that I have probably lost many a great friend at this very moment, but you have to be who you are... and I am a fan of Dumb and Dumber.  The Jerk is another one that truly had me going.  Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler... and by that train of thought Billy Madison and Waterboy... and Coming to America. I really loved Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in Rush Hour.  Jim Carrey's antics in Liar, Liar always get me rolling as well.  All that being said, however, it would be impossible to pick a favorite.

       

6) What's for dinner tonight?  Who knows!  It will be a surprise.  

7) Are you wearing any jewelry right now?  Nope.  Rarely,if ever, do I wear jewelry.  Buuuuut... HE does!  Wasn't Mr. T so cool?  

8) Sam Winters has a scratchy throat and watery eyes. How do you treat the common cold?  Personally, I probably only buy extra boxes of Puffs Plus with Vicks.  Addressing your most annoying symptoms is seemingly the only thing you can do to "treat" a cold since they are viral.  

9) Do you need your glasses (or contacts) when you drive?  Nope.  I had LASIK years ago. It's still so creepy to think I let someone LASER MY EYEBALLS!  

5 Question Friday

1. What is your favorite book to read with your kids?  My children are different ages and... because of that they are at totally different reading levels with completely different interests.  Josh (13) enjoys books about outdoor adventure and sports.  He really enjoyed the Hatchet series and we read some of those together.  We also read Sign of the Beaver together... he really liked that.  

 

Drew (8) loves anything Star Wars, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (they're not beating THAT horse to death are they?), Captain Underpants and Magic Tree House.  Frankly, I really enjoy the Magic Tree House books because it's a GREAT historical fiction to give kids a little something more than JUST a story.

  

Benji (2) is just starting to take an interest in books.  He likes me to "read" him a book... but mostly they're just picture books where he likes to point out what is in them and make the sounds the various animals make.  He has, however, taken a liking to Sandra Boynton books and I adore them!  The first one pictured below is his favorite!

  

Both older boys enjoyed The Box Car Children series and I own the full set.  I'm sure that will be appreciated by the little one, too, in time.

2. After having kids, what body part has changed the most?  Is this a trick question?  Yikes!  It would so much easier to answer this had you asked what HASN'T changed the most.  (insert sad face)  The fact of the matter remains that I... in all my 5'2" glory carried three children -- one of which was almost ten FREAKIN POUNDS!  If my body was supposed to stay the same, it would have.  However, it didn't.  My abdomen, obviously is going to be an eternal place of "motherhood"... but it won't stop me.  

3. Would you ever go back to college? What would you study?  Law.  Hands down... no question.  

4. How do you close a phone call? Bye, bye bye or other?  It really depends who is on the other end of the phone line.  I may say, "Goodbye."  Alternatively, I may say, "See ya."  Sometimes I end it with "I love you, bye."  If it's a telemarketer, they get neither a hello nor goodbye.  It's answer, click, hangup.

5. What is the one food that will always be your "cheat food" on a diet? I don't consider eating clean and healthy a "diet."  It, for me, is a way of life.  I have amazing resolve and willpower.  As such, I don't really limit myself.  If I want something, I will have it. I will have an appropriate serving size as well and only ONE serving of whatever I want.  I do not overdo it.  Rather than a full serving of french fries, I may eat two.  

Friday Fill Ins

It's Friday....and you know what THAT means!  It's time once again for Friday Fill Ins!  I love these little memes!

And...here we go!

1. Sniff, sniff...what is burning? That was the question that crossed my mind on Monday when you could SEE smoke and SMELL something burning... but even the fire department were unable to determine the source (I called to report it and they already had an engine out in the area tryign to find anything.)  It was quite creepy, however, because the entire park near our home was full of smoke... 

2. I am a sports fan, but only of whatever my children are playing (for the most part).  I will say that I am a Texas Rangers baseball fan and have been all my life.  No, I'm not a die hard fan that knows every member on their roster, from what college they hail nor do I even know at any given time who is even on their team... I am just a fan.  I am also a Denver Broncos fan.  I am a native Texan and I believe you really have to be a Cowboys fan (to some degree) and I am... but since they're such a joke, I really could care less.  I do root for the USAFA, the Red Raiders and .... I've even been known to cheer for the underdog in a few situations... just cause... that's how I roll.

3. What in the world was I thinking accepting a month-long plank and an ab challenge on top of my daily workouts!  That's okay... bring it!

You want in on the challenge?  Here ya go!

4. I simply cannot function without a daily dose of peace and quiet.  That is a high commodity in my life.  The "noise" of life renders my thoughts unable to process and complete leaving me with a severe case of "MB."  You know... "Mommy Brain"  When you put the milk in the pantry... try to put the diaper on your child's head instead of their butt... put a slice of cheese on the kids sandwiches -- still wrapped in plastic.  Yeah... MB!

5. One of my dreams is to get back to Colorado as soon as possible.  Is that a dream or a goal?  Both?  Whatever... part of me is missing...

6. Common sense seems to be a trait that is possessed by so few.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing after a fun-filled day with my bestie, Tamara, in Canton at First Monday Trade Days, tomorrow my plans include a basketball game for Drew, baseball practice for Josh and an evening among Scouting elite and Sunday, I want to do nothing.  Supposedly there's a football game on somewhere!