Five Questions from Jack

(Found on google images: isn't this cloud image gorgeous?)

About a week ago, after reading it on her blog: Slightly Off-Centre, I asked for five questions. As you can see, these questions were personalized for me, so I want to thank Jack for her time and patience slogging through my blog looking for something to ask me!

1. Name one place on earth you've never been, but vow to visit some day.
I have never been to Italy or France, but ever since I received a book on Rome for Christmas, many years ago from my Dad, I have always wanted to go. I vow: some day I will visit Rome and Vatican City. Or better? A Mediterranean cruise with plenty of ports of call!

2. This morning when you looked at yourself in the mirror, what was the first thing you thought?
I thought how much I like this new hair colour! And then wondered how long it would last before I had to go back to Euphoria to get it done again. Oh, and how much I have to run out and get some Crest, I really don't like the toothpaste I've been using.

3. Which cliché or often cited quote do you think needs to be placed in quarantine for a few decades?
I have to admit, when I got this question I was nervous that a number of clichés were found when Jack was going through the blog to find questions to ask me! I hope not, but if you find an annoying phrase - that I use over and over again - let me know! Oooh, maybe it's "at any rate" because I know I use that a lot! My all time biggest peeve - though maybe not yet a cliché: "my bad" - especially when said by anyone old enough to have teenagers of their own! (Mind you, I hate it when my 20-something instructors use it too.) Oh, and "thinking outside the box" - come on, unless you're a lemming - cliché anyone? - how else are you supposed to think?

4. In your post "Ducks in a row - 10. Find my dream ", you said you were looking for a dream... Name something you have always wanted to do? Maybe something you dreamed of as a child but have given up as unrealistic? It could be something you still want to do but are afraid of failing? What fears are stopping you? And what would be the worst that could happen if you overcame those fears and pursued your dream? Oh, Jack, a hard one, a very hard one ... actually, that's a very hard FIVE questions! I was considering wimping out and saying something flip like: if you can figure it out let me know, cuz I'm stuck! And I am stuck. Okay, I'll take them one at a time: Name something you have always wanted to do? I did it, I wanted at least four kids and raise them to be positive and contributing members of society. Long story but I had to prove - to myself - that I could do it. Who knows, there's time left, but I think I'm doing okay. Maybe something you dreamed of as a child but have given up as unrealistic? When I was a kid I wanted to be an art curator or an anthropologist. Or a writer or a painter or professional tennis player. Or an opera singer or a lawyer. Or a Missionary or ECE teacher or social worker. Over the course of time I lost the passion, acquired allergies, refused to quit smoking, talked out of it, many, many things happened. It could be something you still want to do but are afraid of failing? I suppose the only thing I'm afraid of failing would be something that has to do with my photography, writing or painting. I'm getting over it. As long as they make me happy it really doesn't/shouldn't matter the opinions of others. Some will like it, some won't. Those who do will support, those who don't will move on. Right? What fears are stopping you? As far as fear of failure goes: I've failed at plenty but it has never stopped me from trying again. I'm a bit tenacious like that ;) And what would be the worst that could happen if you overcame those fears and pursued your dream? I'm slowly coming to realize that my definition of purpose is what other people refer to as a dream. I have always understood that a dream "came" to you, a calling of some kind. Some kind of passionate driving force that cannot be denied. That definition I do not have. Maybe I'm too grounded. Wired in practicality to have a dream in the traditional sense. But I do have a glimmer of an idea.

5. It's bittersweet to watch our kids grow becoming more and more independent. Recently, I have been experiencing my own version of "empty nest syndrome". It's no secret you adore your 4 kids... How - if at all, have you been preparing yourself for the day when your little chicks fly from the nest?
Right now all of my focus has been on the kids, all efforts are going toward preparing them for when they fly the nest. Realistically, I will have a child here at home until Caden enters boarding school in grade 12, which will be 2017. That seems very far away. I'm in denial - because I can be, at least for a little while!


Do you want to play?

Rules:
And now the rules for this little meme…which is a challenging one by the way because you just don't know what's coming your way….
If you want to participate:

1. Leave me a comment saying: "Interview me"; or, send an e-mail to l2l.leemonade at gmail dot com
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions (please be quicker than me ;) thanks Jack for your patience!!)
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.