Monday, August 27, 2007

Getting Acquainted

What I did this weekend:

Late Summer BBQ

**********

Newly discovered fellow blogger Jessica has challenged us to a meme. I think it has done the rounds on email for a few years and has finally reached the blogosphere.

Getting Acquainted

1. What time did you get up this morning?
11.30 am. Hey, it's a holiday here today.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
I prefer pearls, even though diamonds are my birthstone. Of course, you can't wear pearls to a ball. And I think it's amazing that diamonds are always cooler than the ambient temperature.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Ocean's 13 - I know, way back in June.

4. What's your favorite TV show?
Tie between CSI, House, Ugly Betty, or Doctor Who

5. What did you have for breakfast?
The last slice of brown bread toasted, with peanut butter and strawberry jam, and then a couple of oat and honey biscuits.

6. What's your favorite cuisine?
Depends on the mood - Chinese, Thai, Indian, Tex-Mex, or American

7. What foods do you dislike?
Spanish, boiled vegetables, liver

8. What is your favorite chip flavor?
Doritos (with queso of course)

9. What's your favorite CD at the moment?
Not one, but see my last post, FYI.

10. What kind of car do you drive?
Sorry to say, nothing anymore (or yet...) but I used to have a silver plum Saturn SL2.

11. Favorite sandwich?
BLT, or cheddar cheese and ploughman's pickle.

12. What characteristics do you despise?
Dishonesty, insincerity, fickleness, rudeness, insensitivity

13. Favorite item of clothing?
I don't have one at the moment.

14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go?
Ooh, either Greece or Thailand.

15. What color is your bathroom(s)?
Sand and blue/aqua (no, we don't have 3 bathrooms, this is all in one)

16. Favorite brand of clothing?
Not really faithful but I am partial to a bit of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. I often find with surprise that quite often at least one item on me is one or the other. Also have a lot of H&M, and Principles.

17. Where would you retire to: beach, or wooded retreat?
Wooded retreat - I love forest sounds, smells and sights

18. Favorite time of the day?
Sunset

19. What were your most memorable birthdays?
When I was a child I would have a birthday dinner in April when I was born, and a birthday party in midsummer June when I was supposed to be born. Friends came over, we ate snacks and ice cream, played in the garden, maybe there was an entertainer, everyone gathered round for the cake, and either Anthony or Christopher, my two oldest boy friends would be at my side to give a birthday kiss on the cheek after I blew the candles out.

20. Where were you born?
In London at Queen Charlotte's Hospital

21. Favorite sport to watch?
Tennis or various winter Olympics

22. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?
Lots of people

23. Person you expect to send it back first?
I don't know!

24. What fabric detergent do you use?
Surf and Persil, but they have to smell good. I spend ages sniffing and deciding.

25. Were you named after anyone?
Not officially, though I do have a few Icelandic ancestors called Olaf (m) and Olave (f)

26. Do you wish on stars?
I wish I did! I prefer to stare at them.

27. When did you last cry?
Oh, it's been too long. When I went to Dallas to say goodbye to my Gran in March. Another is definitely overdue (yep, still).

28. Do you like your handwriting?
I am rather proud of it, and enjoy writing. Love watching the letters form on the page.

29. What is your most embarrassing flaw?
Physically? Flat as a pancake.
Personally? I'm a bit nerdy.

30. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you?
Yes, if I wanted loyalty, but not if I were looking for the life of the party.

31. Are you a daredevil?
Unfortunately, no.

32. Have you ever told a secret you swore not to tell?
Yes, but it was to a stranger who couldn't tell anyone I know.

33. Do looks matter?
Yes, instinctively, though they have to be paired with a respectable brain.

34. How do you release anger?
I snap and shout; yes, the psychology major does not practise sublimation or deep breathing, shame on her.

35. Where is your second home?
I don't even have a first home anymore. I have lots of stopovers around the world, will that do?

36. What were your favorite toys as a child?
My cars and my Dad's DESMOND (Digital Electronics Set Made of Nifty Devices). Oh my gosh, I hope we haven't given it away...I used to open the manuals and follow the experimental exercises for hours on end.
Can you tell, those careers I nearly went into really do suit me!

37. What class in high school do you think was totally useless?
I was happy with all of them....nerd....

38. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
I don't know. Depends on my mood or who I am with.

39. Favorite movies?
Oh noooo. Amelie, Pride & Prejudice, The Matrix trilogy, all the Austin Powers, Amadeus, Immortal Beloved, Metropolis, Jean de Florette/Manon des Sources, Apollo 13, Gladiator, and so many more.

40. What are your nicknames? Liv, Livvy, Livsy, Livsylou

41. Would you bungee jump?
Maybe...

42. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes, though I only have one lace-up pair

43. Do you think that you are strong?
Sometimes surprisingly so for someone with my slight build

44. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Wall's Cornish (UK) or Haagen Dasz choc choc chip (US)

45. What are your favorite colors?
various shades of blue-green

46. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
Sensitivity that runs too deep. I'm working on it...

47. Who do you miss the most?
My dad

48. Do you want everyone you sent this to send it back?
Of course :)

49. What color pants are you wearing?
Um, if this is American and you mean trousers, then black.
If this is British and you mean undies, then pink.

50. What are you listening to right now?
My mother has popped in a Santana CD...

51. Last thing you ate?
Blue Sapphire tea and dark chocolate digestive biscuits

52. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Rrrred

53. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Diva

54. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Eyes, whole face, smile - all in a split second as you do

55. Favorite Drink?
English breakfast tea with milk and brown sugar

56. Do you wear contacts?
No, nor glasses

57. Favorite Day of the Year?
One day? Impossible. The month of April in Texas.

58. Scary Movies or Happy Endings?
Happy Endings :)

59. Hugs OR Kisses?
Hugs, since there is a dearth of kisses

60. What Is Your Favorite Dessert?
custard, apple sauce and almond paste pie (Mum's invention)

61. What Book(s) Are You Reading?
Next, by that genius Michael Crichton and my second reading of Vanity Fair by William Thackeray

62. What's On Your Mouse Pad?
Haven't got one, just a laptop touchpad

63. What Did You Watch Last night on TV?
I don't think I watched any. If I did, it was fuzzy/black and white and therefore not memorable.

64. Favorite Smells?
An egg frying in butter. SJP Lovely and Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. Jasmine, camellia, roses. Fresh baked bread. My bunny Lulu's cheek. The smoke from a match after you blow it out. A thunderstorm.

65. Rolling Stones or Beatles?
The Beatles all the way, baby

Now, if you have not done yourself in with boredom, I invite you to join in and let me know when I can come by and read it!

16 comments:

Dan said...

Olivia, your sensitivity makes you the wonderful person you are. Don't change that my sweet friend.

But custard?? Custard?? :)

Hugs Olivia.

Anonymous said...

Now I'm curious - what do you not like about Spanish food?

Anonymous said...

You don't like boiled veggies? I can understand not liking overboiled ones but not all boiled veggies surely?

Are you also suggesting that you want more kisses or that hugs are better?

Anonymous said...

#30 I love that about you :-)
HUGS HUGS and more HUGS

Anonymous said...

I picked up on your blog and posted my answers in mine. Always diverting to read ppl's answers I find. :o)

Olivia said...

Dan - homemade custard, it's nyam!
But Dan, I don't want to spend the rest of my life battling low periods brought on by things people do or say, or negative events...
I just need to relearn how to compartmentalise like I used to.

I won't stop being a sympathetic person, though.

***

Planethalder - welcome. Not surprised you picked on the food aspect!
Spanish food uses too much tomato and peppers, and I find them disagreeable.

***

Froggie - OK, OK, I like boiled courgette with butter, oh, and corn. But don't go putting bioled peas and carrots and cabbage in front of me. The archetypal boiled English vegetables.

Hugs are awesome, more kisses would be great. Hugs are more enveloping.

***

Nikki - you made me look. That is so sweeet of you to say!
*hugs*
Nice to see you round, how's work?

***

Rox - I am glad you joined in, well done :) I already visited !

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

For some reason I'd thought you were a daredevil. I don't even know if I am.

Don't lose being sensitive, it makes you more aware of other people's feelings.

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading about you. Two birthday celebrations? Cool! Guess you were a premature baby.
I've never had English breakfast tea. Now I want to try it.
I like your nicknames, Liv!

Dan said...

Yes, you're right ... it's a fine line. Hugs Olivia!

Beenzzz said...

I'm more of a hugs than kisses person...unless it's D. or Z., then it's both!

Olivia said...

Guyana Gyal - *speechless* I can't believe you thought that!

I'm very aware of people's feelings, almost too much so. I catch every nuance and mood and respond too much to them.

***

Jessica - yes, just over two months early, I weighed 2lbs 6oz.

English breakfast tea should be easy for you to find, I just hope you have the right water for it up there.

***

Dan - glad you got my meaning.
*hugs*

***

Beenzzz - my family is very kissy, but lately I've grown out of it. I'm not feeling very huggy right now either. Feel somewhat shrivelled up!

Jahooni said...

How you sat there and done this is beyond me but GLAD you did because know I know all your secrets. Watch out!

ML said...

Loved you answers!

Mas. said...

:)
been too long since I've been around here.
hugs
M

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Olivia said...

Good lord, I just had the longest spam comment in history. How do they get past the word code?

*delete delete*