An Aspirational Meme

I don't do memes very often because I'm too busy babbling to join in; but, I really liked this one, found at Bookgirl's Nightstand. Photo is from www.northernstarpress.com. Note that I have trouble limiting myself to one item per question. Kinda flighty, I admit, but that's me.

What part of the past would you bring back if you possibly could?
All of 1989. It was the last year I had with my dad, the year we lived in Ann Arbor. We had a great visit from my parents, loved everything about Michigan, met a lot of wonderful people from all over the world, and enjoyed a terrific Christmas together in Oklahoma. Nobody could have possibly known it would be the last time we'd all be together.

What character trait would you alter if you could?
I'd be more independent (and sociable, which kind of goes along with independence as I just don't go out much at all without my husband and he's seldom here).

Which skill would you like to have the time and energy to really work on?
I'd love to have the time to work on my education so I wouldn't feel quite so tied to the house.

Are you money poor, love poor, time poor or freedom poor?
Time and freedom. It's really difficult to find the time and freedom to be myself. Having to drop off and pick up, haul and fetch the child and nudge him all evening on homework is extremely time-consuming and having a traveling husband who can't do any of those things is very confining.

What element of your partner's character would you alter if you could?
This one's so funny. I read it last night and then told my husband I'd seen this question and could think of absolutely nothing!!! Not a thing! Not one thing!! Hahaha. He was just about doubled over and he doesn't laugh much. There's so darn much I'd like to change about him, but I'd particularly like to make him empathic (he's so short on empathy, it's a wonder he's such a nice guy considering he actually doesn't give a flip what anyone thinks about . . . well, anything) and it would be really, really nice if he wasn't a slob.

What three things are you going to do next year that you've been meaning to do for ages but never got around to?
I'm not sure next year will be the year (I'm waiting for kiddo to get a license and drive for a while, first - we're slow to let our kids drive independently), but I want to go back to school. I'd also like to figure out how to use those little portable memory thingies, so that I can easily have photos printed out. I want to make some scrapbooks (when I figure out how to get the photos printed) and I'd like to take some art or literature courses.

If your fairy godmother gave you three wishes, what would you wish for?
Health, happiness, wisdom

What one thing would you change about your living conditions?
More space and light. Our house is just crammed full of stuff and because we're shaded by two gigantic oak trees we get very little light inside the house.

How could the quality of your free time be improved?
I'd get out more, see movies, go places with friends. Actually, I'd have to find some friends. Everyone moves out of Vicksburg, eventually, and I got tired of saying "goodbye"; that's how I became a bit of a hermit.

What change have you made to your life recently that you're most proud of?
I've gotten back into photography after 16 years of slowly letting it go. Photography was a joy my dad and I shared.

The latest . . .

Nano update: Stalled at 28K, hoping to write 3-4,000 words, tomorrow. I slept way too late and then had a plethora of errands to run. Pooh. And, tonight I've got to help the kiddo finish a major project, darn it. Silly me for sleeping through the good writing hours.

Reading update: Almost finished with Your Planet or Mine? Resisted buying anything at Barnes & Noble while in Jackson for kiddo's orthodontist appointment. Am proud of self as several books were singing, calling, begging, screaming, pleading for me to take them home. I politely told them, "Not today, dearies."

Best news of the day: Still have good reflexes, thank goodness. While waiting at a stop sign, the driver in front of me --who had stopped her car at a ridiculous leftward angle, effectively blocking anyone from going past in the opposite direction-- suddenly threw her car into reverse to allow a truck to go by. She didn't bother to look behind her and there was . . . I'd say maybe three feet between us. I shifted into reverse as fast as possible and gunned it. Oh, my gosh, that's the closest I've come to getting smashed in a long time. And, that driver never even realized she came within inches of hitting me. So, while it sent my heartbeat to the moon and back, the fact that I reacted quickly and avoided a collision is very, very positive. I wish my insurance agent had been there.

Currently drinking: Pumpkin Spice Coffee in a mug from Tattered Cover, a Denver bookstore worth hyperventilating over.

Weirdest thing happening in my life: Our hallway is currently down to concrete because the carpet got wet and we're going to put down tile. You should see the hallway, seriously. It looks like the Baghdad Hotel in 2002.

Stupidest thing I've done, lately: Recorded a goofy message on my answering machine (after a power outage erased the regular one) and then forgot to erase it and change back to a normal message. What would you have heard if you'd called me, today? "Nyeh, go away." Hubby thinks that's a riot.

Feel free to share the weirdness in your life.