Monday, June 1, 2009

It's So Easy

Before I do anything else, I have to say that I am truly impressed. When I said, "ask me a question," I was hoping to get a dozen or so questions I could use to do one post - maybe enough for two posts if I was lucky. You all came up with over a hundred questions!

They were so many amazing, creative, interesting questions, I couldn't imagine how to pick a winner. So I didn't. I called up my dear friend Hallie and asked her to do it. I've judged contests for her before, so it seemed only fair to let her pick. I sent her a document with all the questions, and as I emailed it, I thought to myself, 'gosh, I hope she picks something that I know the answer to...'

No such luck. She happened to pick three questions (so we have first, second and third place winners) and all three of these questions made me have to think. A LOT. ON A WEEKEND.

So congratulations to our winners. If you send me your address (or the address of your designated recipient) I will send out your prizes (5 cards for 1st, 3 for 2nd and 2 for 3rd).

In third place, Staci from Bliss, who asked:
If you had an "Indian"* name, what would it be, and why would you want to have that particular name? (*such as Running Bear, etc.)

I've been thinking about this all weekend. I thought about and discarded some (Naps with Cats, Running Bar Tab, Chasing Pavements, Dances in Underpants) and finally settled on Laughs with Abandon. Maybe even CHIEF Laughs with Abandon. Why? Because this is exactly what I want to do - perhaps what I need to do - to survive this life with my sanity intact.

In second place, Evansmom (she doesn't have a blog, yet...), who asked:
Maria Shriver talks about having commas after her name (i.e. Maria Shriver, Kennedy relative, wife of Arnold, First Lady of California, Author, etc.) What are the commas after your name AND what commas do you want to add in the next 10 years?
Gee, way to make me take stock of my life. After I crawled out of the deep depression this question put me into, I came up with this: My current commas might be something like this: Mother, Friend, Adoptee, Writer, PR Specialist, Cat and Dog Enthusiast, Water Lover and Girl Who Once Rode The Train With Chris Noth. I'm sure I could come up with more, but they would likely be even more pathetic, and who needs that? In the next ten years, I would like to add: World Traveler, Published Author, Reunited with Birth Family, Grandmother, Boat Owner and Girl Who Once Rode the Train with Pierce Brosnan.

And, in First Place, c3 (who doesn't have a blog - at least not as far as I know), who asked:
If you could duplicate in yourself the talent of just one artist, who would it be?
What a great question, but how difficult to answer! I have so much appreciation for talent in many forms. I had a list going on the kitchen table, and it included an eclectic mix of artists I admire: Michelangelo, Beethoven, Freddy Mercury, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollack, Vivaldi, Norah Jones and Janis Joplin, among others. And I was restricting my list to artists in the painting/sculpture and music areas only. If I had even thought about adding actors and authors to the list? Instant overload!

I thought about it for a long time, and I came up with my choice. I would like to duplicate in myself the talent of Georgia O'Keeffe. O'Keeffe's paintings are beautiful and sometimes haunting, and I'm particularly drawn to her flowers. If I could produce anything even close to that, I'd be thrilled. I can draw stick figures that you might be able to recognize as such. I can kick ass at Pictionary - if I can pick my partners, that is (it's all in how well you know each other.) The ability to draw? Nope. None at all.

The fact that I wish I had some artistic talent is not the only reason I picked O'Keeffe. She is not only my favorite painter, she's someone I have long admired. She was a strong woman who succeeded where many women failed and didn't care what anyone thought about her. She lived a long life and continued to practice her artistry even as she became blind. I'd like a little of that attitude, along with the talent!

There you have it. I will be answering most of the rest of the questions in posts this week, so stay tuned. I promise to be honest, even if it hurts.

23 comments:

Corrine said...

DAMN!!!!

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Kudos to you for doing a great job answering all 3 questions. I KNEW you had it in you.

I think I would give you the Indian Name, COOKS LIKE NO OTHER. Not very Indianish but it's accurate. And if we must make it sound Indianish, we can add CHIEF COOKS LIKE NO OTHER. Happy?

I'd like to add to your list of comma stuff, FRIEND WHO FINALLY CAME THROUGH FOR HALLIE AND BOUGHT HER THE PRADA BAG SHE SO JUSTLY DESERVES.

And O'Keefe? DUH!!!! Why didn't I already know that? I would if I paid any attention to your office walls all those years!!

Good job!

Hallie

Now get busy on my Gayle card.

Unknown said...

You pick a judge who shows pictures of deformed penises and vomiting cats every Monday?

And you trust her judgment? What is this world coming to?

Are these winners actual humans? Have you checked to make sure they are not aliases for Hallie Twomey?

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Andy is mean.

That's my new motto.

Hallie

Unknown said...

it's already been usded Hallie

try...

"Andy is mean24354"

Unknown said...

usded?

wtf?

PLEASE take the bottle from my hands

Caution/Lisa said...

Goodness, those are great questions. No wonder I didn't win :(((

LOVE your answers. From now on you shall be LWA to me. A fantastic name!

And Andrew Scott Turner? You made me laugh. Really laugh.

Evansmom said...

Why would your commas depress you? You don't give yourself enough credit! I don't think of you as a "mother". I think of you as a "mom". What is the difference you ask? Lots of women are mothers but they would never be in the running for mother of the year. They wouldn't stand on the sidelines cringing because their child is playing in a rough sport. Nah, they just wouldn't care. A mom, on the other hand, stands there - no matter what the weather is and toughs it out. A mom drives her son to college because he doesn't have a license - and then pushes him to get one!. You, my friend, are an amazing mom with fabulous kids. I can't think of a better comma to have!

Secondly, "friend" is a little bland too. There are friends and then there are friends that would offer help even though it might not be convenient to them, that would drive hours just to visit for 10 minutes, that would cheer just as loudly for a friend's child as she would for her own and that makes her friends better people. That, my dear, is you. Your second comma should be "loving and devoted friend".

Writer - how about blogger extraordinaire? One entry, I am nodding my head in agreement, the next entry I am wiping tears from my eyes (your Memorial Day entry was particularly tear inducint) and the next entry I am laughing out loud. Each time, I am entertained.

I look forward to the next 10 years when you add more commas. I know it will be a fun ride!

Andrew, I assure you I am a real person. The stories I could tell....:)

MaBunny said...

Wow, congrats to the winners - those truly are great questions!

Odette said...

Oooh great questions! Loved the answers too! Can't wait to see what the other questions bring! :)

Eva Carper said...

those are really great questions!

Unknown said...

I'm sorry I missed this contest, cool questions.

How is Alex's head????

Alice said...

Love, love, love your Indian name. I'm going to think one up for myself now! :)

Reddirt Woman said...

Cograts to all, and drats! I didn't make the cut... oh, well...

These are dang good questions. What a great idea.

Way to go, Laughs With Abandon!

Helen

Joanie said...

When my son was little, my brother named him "Timmy Wreck-a-house" and with good reason.

for a different kind of girl said...

If those represent the questions you got, you must have have some truly awesome, very curious readers!

I think my Indian name would be Falls Asleep With Book In Her Face and Has To Re-Read The Same Two Pages Every Night. Yep, it's long, but I like to think that just means I carry great authority!

Evansmom said...

What do you mean She doesn't have a blog, yet??!?!?

Is that a challenge?

Lori Skoog said...

Sorry I missed this....would have been a fun challenge!

Cupcake Blonde said...

Those were some great questions. Mine were completely lame when compared to those! And some fabulous answers for them too. I love the comma one. It is going to make me think about my commas. :)

Joanie said...

I left you a little something on my blog. :)

Joanna Jenkins said...

Hi, I'm new to your blog via Joanie's Random Ramblings. I'm so glad I stopped by! What a fabulous post! I'll be back for more soon! Nice to meet you.

Unknown said...

too much fun!
nicely done! great comments too!
~AM

Staci said...

OH MY GOSH! I've never won anything before!