when the weather outside is frightful...

...and I'm stuck in an airport, I appreciate a good distraction. Luckily for me, Kristin from The Kitchen Sink (an incredible blog with delicious dishes and wonderful writing) tagged me for a little questionnaire.


What were you doing ten years ago? Although I'm not certain, it's a safe bet that for me, June of 1998 was spent at various basketball camps and tournaments. It's a safe bet because it's what I did every summer from ages 11 to 18. Yes, folks, basketball was my world for about a third of my life.

What are five non-work things on my to-do list for today?
#1. Begin preparations for my weekend excursion to New York City [New York City! (said like the fella in the Pace commercials...)]. That's right, folks. This country girl is taking a deep breath and going in!
#2. Give money to undeserving people. This is more commonly referred to as "getting gas."
#3. Eat massive bowl of this:


#4. Fertilize tomato plants.
#5. Deposit latest expense check in the bank. Money in the bank is a good thing.

What snacks do you enjoy?
#1. Guacamole. Salsa. Hummus. Various other dips.
#2. Yogurt and granola. Yogurt and berries. Yogurt and various other additions.


#3. Glazed walnuts. Salty cashews. You got it--various other nuts.
#4. Kashi Go-Lean Crunch. Honey Nut Cheerios. Various other cereals.
#5. Apple chips. Grapes. Various other fruits.

bonus (because who can be healthy all the time?):


What would you do if you were a billionaire?
#1. Travel to Greece and Italy and Australia and Ireland and all those places I've longed to visit.
#2. Purchase a sports team, preferably the Atlanta Braves. How much are they going for these days?
#3. Have Lasik eye surgery. Contacts are a pain.
#4. Get some land where I can have peace and quiet, a real garden, and all the pets my heart desires.
#5. Buy the Mamominator a new car.

Where have you lived?
#1. Conception to age 18--Floyd, VA, a small town occupying a huge portion of my heart.
#2. 18-21--Salem, VA, for college.
#3. 21-23--Blacksburg, VA, for more college.
#4. 24--Johnstown, NY, for a scary three-day stint in a hotel with most of my worldly possessions stored in my car while I looked for an apartment.
#5. 24-present--Amsterdam, NY.

What jobs have you had?
#1. Recreational basketball referee. I learned that parents of athletes (no matter how young) can take things way too seriously and take out their frustrations on strangers (i.e. completely undeserving teenagers like me).
#2. Basketball videographer. I learned that most camcorders do indeed record sound and that I should keep my opinions of the members of the men's basketball team to myself.
#3. Donation solicitor. I learned that people who call and ask for donations to a college must be extremely bold and brave and that you should always be nice to them--they're just doing what they're paid to do!
#4. Barista. I learned that most people are pretty particular about how their coffee beverages are made and can get downright rude at the slightest imperfection. It's a hectic job, folks--cut 'em some slack next time!
#5. Winery lab technician. I learned that yeast wrangling is a fun pastime, Concord and Niagara grapes are a pain to juice but a delight to eat, and the wine-making process is much more involved than you can ever imagine.

I'd like to know some more about these folks, if they're willing and haven't already participated:

Sharon of Culinary Adventures of a New Wife
Leslie of The Hungry Housewife
Erinn of Sunday Dish
Vera of Baking Obsession

A merry Tuesday to you! (And yes, I finally made it home, safe and sound.)