50 Questions. Because I’m Exhausted.

I just flew home yesterday from a quick trip to Mexico (and boy, are my arms tired! Ba dum psshhhh!). The trip was a vacation for me and work for Jim; his company has a factory there so I was basically the tagger-alonger. It put a huge cramp into being able to say things like

“We can stay up late because we’re on vacation!”
“We can get dessert every night because we’re on vacation!”
“We can do some afternoon drinking because we’re on vacation!”

Because really, only I was on vacation. (Don’t feel bad for him; he still made the most of Mexico when he wasn’t working.)

While I was there, I did a few hours of work each morning and then walked around for a few hours taking pictures, which is one of my favorite things to do in the world. After that, I spent time at the hotel pool swimming, reading, and enjoying a few margaritas. It was really rough.

There were lots of notable moments while I was on my trip. Three of my favorites?

Finding one of those “Share a Coke” bottles with my name spelled CORRECTLY (does not exist in America). It was at the very front of the cooler at the convenience store, waiting for me.

Enjoying what might have been the best dessert of my life so far on our last night there: Dark chocolate soufflé, almond crumble, crystallized rose petals, and rose ice cream.

Getting upgraded to First Class on one of our return flights. I have no desire to fly coach again but I suppose that’s normal.

Since vacation has to end at some point, I found that First Class was a more gentle way of making the break.

As I dealt with re-entry today, I found myself thinking about all of the posts I have in draft and how I just don’t feel like working on any of them because I am SO! TIRED! Then I remembered that Kari tagged me to answer 50 questions and I thought, “Huh. I’ll just do that.” Also, since I know how much she loved it when I mentioned her name a bunch of times in my Writing Process post last week, I’ll just say Kari Kari Kari Kari Kari Kari Kari.

Oh, and Kari.

So anyway, I’m going to go ahead and jump feet first into these questions.

1. What are you wearing?
I am wearing my charcoal-gray Lululemon yoga pants that I did NOT pay for; I got them when I went to see Oprah in her last season. These pants and my Lululemon travel bag (also obtained as a gift that day) are two of Melisa’s Favorite Things. Oh, I’m also wearing a pink and gray t-shirt, and I’m barefoot. I really don’t like wearing shoes at home.

2. Ever been in love?
OF COURSE. Still am.

3. Ever had a terrible break up?
Yes, but not with a guy. It was with a female friend (not a romantic girlfriend), and when it imploded it completely threw me. I still don’t like when my brain goes back to that time. That said, I rose like a phoenix and became a better person because of it. It was a real life demonstration about how some people are only meant to be in our lives for a while in order to teach us something. That friendship and the messy (understatement) ending of it taught me multiple lessons that I carry with me every day.

4. How tall are you?
Wow, great segueway. (note the sarcasm.) I’m five feet seven even though my doctor claims I am now a half inch shorter. I don’t accept that.

5. How much do you weigh?
That’s nobody’s business.

6. Any tattoos?
Nope.

7. Any piercings?
Yes, one in each ear. About 95% of the time I am wearing little diamond studs that have screw-on posts. Jim bought them for me when he was in the Navy and visited Haifa, Israel. I wear them almost all the time for three reasons: I love them, they match everything, and I’m lazy.

8. OTP (one true pair, favorite fictional couple)
I don’t think I have a favorite but the first fictional couple that came to mind was Monica and Chandler on “Friends”.
I’m also quite fond of Cliff and Claire Huxtable.

9. Favorite show?
I can’t choose just one and since Kari (there I go again, naming her) chose more than one I’m copying that strategy. My favorite “classics” are “The Cosby Show”, “Friends”, and “Seinfeld”. My favorite current shows are “Mad Men”, “Modern Family”, and “Suburgatory”.

10. Favorite band(s)?
I don’t really have a favorite current band even though I listen to pop music galore on a daily basis. My favorite “classic” bands are INXS, Berlin, Duran Duran, and the B-52s.

11. Something you miss:
My friends who don’t live near me. Don’t get me started.

12. Favorite song:
I can’t. I don’t have one and couldn’t even cut the list down to be short enough to list here. Also, my favorite depends on what’s going on at any given moment. For example, I can tell you that my very favorite “angry song” is “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morisette. I have never been that angry at a guy but I absolutely love to sing that song at the top of my lungs when I need a release. Or even when I don’t need a release. I have so many favorites, though!

13. How old are you?
I’m 45 and my birthday is next month, so please ask if you’d like to know where I’m registered. (Kidding on the second part.)

14. Zodiac sign?
Scorpio

15. Quality you look for in a partner?
Kindness, intelligence, sense of humor, sex appeal. Not necessarily in that order but also not in any particular order ever. Also I know, that’s four. Luckily when I saw Jim holding up the wall outside the boys’ bathroom in high school, I had a feeling he would possess all four of those. He did, and he does. #Winning

16. Favorite quote?
You probably saw this coming but I have two. “Go big or go home!” and “Dull people have immaculate homes”. I don’t know who said either one. The second one is something my mom used to paint on wooden plaques to sell at craft shows back in the day, and it stuck with me. I live by both.

17. Favorite actor?
I really like Joseph Gordon Levitt but I’m not sure if I would say he’s my absolute favorite.

18. Favorite color?
Red, without hesitation. I have always gotten compliments when I wear red and shades of red so I think of it as my “power color”, but it is also the color of energy, passion, and action and since I’m “all in” on everything I take on, I think it suits me.

19. Loud music or soft?
LOUD. To eleven.

20. Where do you go when you’re sad?
I don’t go to any place specifically except “within myself”. I get very quiet when I’m sad.

21. How long does it take you to shower?
Between five and ten minutes.

22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
If I’m going to workout, ten minutes. If I am showering and doing my hair and putting on makeup, about twenty-five to thirty minutes. Totally low maintenance.

23. Ever been in a physical fight?
With my sister when we were little, but not since then.

24. Turn on?
When Jim and I are having an especially good day full of laughter and smiles and conversation and eye contact. Perfect day.

25. Turn off?
Like Kari, I’m going with bad breath but I’m also letting you know that Jim doesn’t suffer from that; it’s just that I don’t like bad breath in general.

26. The reason I started blogging?
For writing practice.

27. Fears?
The highest of heights—like skydiving or bungee jumping—and failure.

28. Last thing that made you cry?
When I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago. I cried a lot while recovering because I don’t like not being able to do my normal activities.

29. Last time you said you loved someone?
When Jim called to tell me he was on his way home from work.

30. Meaning behind the name of your blog?
I wanted my blog title to reflect my general location in the Chicago suburbs, and I liked the word “scrawl” because I knew I was going to be writing lots of random stuff. The definition of “scrawl” is “hurried, careless writing” and I figured that when I really worked at a post and it turned out really good, it would be a nice surprise. This blog is, I figure, eighty percent actual scrawling, twenty percent non-scrawling.

31. Last book you read?
“Rebecca”, by Daphne du Maurier, for the two thousandth time, while on vacation. If you have not read it, YOU MUST. It’s my all-time favorite book.

32. Book you are currently reading?
I just started “Thrive” by Arianna Huffington.

33. Last show you watched:
“Top Gear”. Sigh. It’s Jim’s favorite and it’s on right now. I hardly ever say anything because he’ll gladly give me a pass when I want to watch “Dancing with the Stars”.

34. Last person you talked to?
Jim, about two minutes ago.

35. The relationship between you and the person you just texted?
Liz, my sistuh-from-anuthuh-muthuh. I luhv huh.

36. Favorite food?
Steak. Hands down. Especially if it comes with a baked potato.

37. Place you want to visit?
Breaking this into two parts. A place I want to visit AGAIN is Munich, Germany. A new place I want to visit is London, England.

38. Last place you were:
Target. AGAIN.

39. Do you have a crush?
Yes, on my husband and cupcakes. In that order.

40. Last time you kissed someone?
Two hours ago when Jim walked in the door.

41. Last time you were insulted:
Tuesday, by my friend Lori. But she does it to be funny so I got over it and sent a zinger her way in return.

42. Favorite flavor of sweet?
Chocolate. I get it from my mom, who looks at the dessert menu before ordering anything at the restaurant not only to make sure there’s chocolate on it but also to determine how much she can eat for the meal and still have room for chocolate.

43. What instruments do you play?
I can play a mean Playskool xylophone if I have a music book that tells me what colors to tap in what order.

44. Favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring and those diamond stud earrings I already told you about.

45. Last sport you played:
Outside of gym class? Probably bowling. Badly.

46. Last song you sang?
I know Kari was super-excited about my answer to this question. I listen to Spotify all day long and I listen to a wide range of music. I THINK the last song I sang out loud (to nobody in particular) was “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem, but here are some of my favorites that always get cranked up and shouted out when they come on:

“Ant Rap”: Adam and the Ants
“Fireball”: Pitbull
“Rapture”: Blondie
“Sex (I’m A…)”: Berlin
“Golddigger”: Kanye West
“Bad Medicine”: Bon Jovi
“Wild Ones”: Flo Rida

Need I go on? I could list favorite sing-along songs for DAYS.

47. Favorite chat up line:
I am not currently dating so I don’t use chat up lines.

48. Have you ever used it?
NO.

49. Last time you hung out with anyone:
Besides hanging out on vacation with Jim, I “hung out” with Tracey a couple of weeks ago but we were also working on LTYM stuff. Still qualifies as hanging out.

50. Who should answer these questions next?
I’m not tagging anyone, so I say whomever wants to answer them, go for it! Please let me know if you do so I can read your answers!

Shew. FIFTY QUESTIONS. Now I’m even more exhausted than I was an hour ago. Zzzzzzzz….