I’m working on a positively scintillating essay called “Why Socialism Won’t Work” and I have a video of Spot doing her elbow dance to post, but I’ve been wanting to participate in Conversion Diary’s 7 Quick Takes Friday, so instead I’ll answer some questions I’ve been meaning to answer, because blogging is really all about narcissistic over-sharing anyway. (And I hope you’ll play along with two of these things, so pay attention. Or not.)
First, I’m missing Marie from Memarie Lane. She always had clever posts about unexpected topics. One of her last posts was an interview meme, which I signed up to do. The way it works: if you’d like to be interviewed (i.e. post your own answers to questions I email you), be one of the first five people to say “interview me” in the comments.
Here are my answers to Marie’s questions:
1. Do you think you guys will have any more kids? Yes, except when I’m sure we won’t. If I had money to hire serious household help, I’d say for sure, but . . . I do feel like I’m just four years from my personal “too old” cutoff (35) — I have an aunt with Downs Syndrome, and can’t imagine coping with that sort of thing (I worry about admitting this, because isn’t that like almost daring God to say “Hmmm, guess what trial would be really good for our friend Jane down there?”). My other reason for waffling/delaying is that I really enjoyed Sally when it was just her and me for almost four years. Since Spot won’t enter kindergarten until roughly 2075 (October birthday, don’t ask), it’d be nice to wait a couple years so I can really savor all the last things with my last baby.
2. More than once you’ve subtly expressed some disgruntlement with your faith. Can you elaborate? Yes. I don’t like polygamy (the concept or history, though let’s be clear that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/LDS/Mormon church has not practiced or condoned it since 1890), and . . . that’s basically it . I wish we as a people were more friendly to those of other faiths and persuasions, and occasionally I wish women (I) were in charge, but overall, if I have problems with my faith, it’s just the reality of being an imperfect person living among other imperfect people, and not a reflection of the God I believe in.
3. What is your opinion of the Large Hadron Particle Collider? I think I’ve heard of this — Yes, isn’t this that big particle collider named after that atomic particle discovered by Dr. Hadron? I’m all for scientific progress. Amen.
4. If you were asked to participate in Momversations, what topic would you want to discuss? I thought the “Which is harder: marriage or motherhood” one was great. I had a much easier transition to marriage than motherhood, and I wonder if it helps to get married young, and conversely I imagine motherhood might be easier a little older than I was (23). A topic I don’t think they’ve covered that I find fascinating is how and whether you should tell your kids they don’t have a particular talent. This question burns within me every time I watch American Idol, especially the early auditions.
5. When Sally has her first period, how do you think you will react? I hope I’ll react more intelligently than my poor parents, who, when faced with a 13-year-old daughter who’d been bleeding all day, worried that I might have cut myself down there. (My dad’s a family doctor, and my mom is . . . a woman). But seriously, I hope I can somehow convey that this isn’t the worst thing that will ever happen to her, with a straight face. (The worst thing is having to wear a bra for the rest of your life.)
(end interview)
6. I’ve been enjoying Boomama a heap lately. Her recaps of The Bachelor are so entertaining, even though I’ve never seen the show (I prefer classier shows like True Beauty). And she just has this funny, humble warmth. Makes me wish I could sit in her kitchen and just listen to her talk.
7. I found a Craft it Forward carnival on Steff’s OkieRiverMama blog, and thought it sounded fun. Except my idea of crafts extends to construction paper and washable crayons. Then Laura tweeted about this homemade chocolate chapstick, and I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy all the ingredients. So, if you want to risk some lip balm d’Jane, and to craft it forward (though I have to say I hated that movie) by offering to make macrame tapestries or personalized-scent soy candles for three of your commenters, be one of the first three people to say “craft it forward” in a comment.
Jane
(This is also my contribution to Sue’s Very Funny Friday. I must say that Sue, besides being pretty darn funny, has the most apt blog title ever. Bless her heart.)
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It’s 5:00 AM. Something went bump in the night. I’m not sleeping. I have 4 dozen mini-cupcakes to make today for a princess birthday party where the main princess doesn’t like frosting. I also have 23 students who are about to find out that Walt Whitman was NOT drunk while writing “Song of Myself” and that even though he does talk about himself he is not a “snob”.
so yeah, I’ll do it. Interview/craft me – what am I doing again?
you can interview me if that sounds interesting to you. i don’t know if i’m willing to post it on my blog, so let me know if that’s a requirement.
and by the way, i don’t wear a bra, and i’m getting a hysterectomy. so those things don’t have to last forever…
Oh please interview me! Unless you’re sick of hearing from me already?
LMAO: “blogging is really all about narcissistic over-sharing”
true ‘dat!
Hey I’m still reading! And blogging at my homeschool blog. I’m finding my homeschool blog to be very cathartic, I feel I can be more myself there. Weird.
Can’t find your original post on this topic, but how are you coming with “So Brave, Young, and Handsome?” He’s got a new one up for March, and I’m just a few pages into Feb! Eek!
Interview me! (more comments from me to follow, whether you like it or not!)
Kikibibi — Actually . . . I have not even started So Brave, Young, and Handsome, because I couldn’t find it at the library, or my closest Barnes and Noble, so I went on Half.com (which is really the only place I buy books), and I paid 5.99 for expedited shipping two weeks ago, and apparently “expedited” = “on a snail’s back.”
So yesterday I ordered the March book. It’ll probably get here before the February one, but at least I’m making an effort to read good liturchure.
(and if anyone else wants to do the online book club thing, check it out here and here.)
Okay, I’m going to craft it forward as well, as long as I don’t have to make macrame tapestries or personalized-scent soy candles. I want some chocolate lip balm! I am so not even approaching the coolness and wittiness level of you and your other readers/blogs you read. So I just want to tell you thanks for reading my blog even though it probably ranks up there with Sally’s homework. Maybe if I ever get my brain back I may be able to try working on my writing. Anyway, off on a tangent here…much enjoyed reading your interview. Marriage was a lot easier than motherhood for me too. We definitely are alike, we two, except you’re witty and a genius and I’m just a regular old nerd. Can’t have it all I suppose…..
Actually, Sally doesn’t really do any homework. Sometimes I remember to remind her to do those dumb worksheets, but mostly we’re conscientious objectors to homework.
(I totally hear you on the “Maybe if I ever get my brain back.” I have the time — or could make the time — to really work on writing, but am lacking the brains, drive, or inspiration, or maybe some combination of the three.)
Oooh! I can’t wait to refute your points on your essay! This should be fun.
The period thing made me laugh out loud. That was unbelievably funny. I got mine 10 days after my 10th birthday and I knew right away. I wore a pantyliner and thought EVERYONE COULD TELL.
Periods ARE the worst thing about being a woman. Heinous.
the church thing…I think that one we realize people are people, in or out of the church, and our beliefs are not based on the people, we do a lot better being religious. At least for me. This is not always an easy thing, but it sure helps when I am feeling “underwhelmed” with my religious experiences.
are you saying you would not recomend your dad as a doctor?
ooh i havent done the interview thing…
i am going to make the soaps next week…are there any flavors you are partial to? I have lots of choices like strawberries and champagne, tutti fruitti, ocean mist…let me know kinda what you like
steff
Great! So I at least rank a notch above Sally’s homework! And if you’re lacking “brains, drive, or inspiration” now, just imagine what you could do if you did those things? Jane Austen….move over! (actually, while I love Jane Austen I would MUCH rather read you…)
Erin — exactly.
Carolyn — My dad’s a great doctor, at least, I trust him. I think it was a case of not seeing what you don’t expect (and with your kids you have pretty set expectations, I think). Also, I was their first, and even though *I* had been to that awful maturation program, none of us were ready for my puberty, I guess.
Oh Sharla — if I ever go insanely over-confident maniacal and start having SERIOUS delusions of importance, you know they’re gonna blame you, right?
[...] I said I’d do the Craft it Forward thing, and the Interview thing. First, here are the interview questions I want to ask Beth, Cousin Sylwia, Kikibibi, Sharla, and [...]