Facing my "Demon"

Our blog project group has once again changed by one member, but I'm still calling it Blog Project 3.0. The newest member is Darwin Shrugged, a friend of Froggie's. I recently got to know her better through "52 Stories" and I look forward to what she has to say on the upcoming topics.

This week is Darwin Shrugged's first topic for our group: Slightly in honor of Halloween, I'd like us to write about facing a fear -- one we've faced, one we've yet to faced, etc.

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

When I was a kid, I was terrified of roller coasters. The only ones I could handle were the kid-friendly ones, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disney World. Anything that had a chance of going upside down or even downhill too fast was just not an option for me. Therefore, it was hard to find much to do at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. I would go there on field trips from camp or school and there were only a small amount of things I could do. Mostly it was the kiddie rides and watching shows. When I went from camp, they split us into roller coaster and non-roller coaster groups, which was nice. However, when I went on the eighth grade field trip from junior high, it wasn't so easy. The two girls I was hanging out with at the time (I've since reunited with one of them and we've become closer as a result) wanted to go on the roller coasters. I ended up spending a lot of time sitting on benches, waiting for them to get off the roller coasters. I only went on the Whizzer, which was tame, mostly geared toward kids or people, like me, who were scared of a real roller coaster. Needless to say, I should have brought a book with.

The summer before junior year of high school, I went to Great America again for a synagogue youth group event. My BFF came with, as her goal was to get me to ride roller coasters. We also met up with my close friend from Madison and some of her friends. I think my BFF started me off slowly, on somewhat tame but somewhat wild roller coasters. The whole day is a blur, but I know I rode a lot of the scary ones, including Iron Wolf (the one you stand up on) and Batman (where there is nothing under your feet). She wanted me to go on Shock Wave, but that was pressing her luck. I'm pretty sure I rode the Demon, which was another scary-looking ride. All I know is that I had a blast and got over my fear rather quickly. It was exhiliarating going around loops and speeding down hills without any control on my part. I just had to enjoy the ride (and scream...a LOT). It became a natural high for me. This also helped my social life at the next trip to Great America, which was on Physics Day during senior year of high school. I was able to ride all the roller coasters without a problem that time too, thus getting to hang out with other people from my class who liked roller coasters (one was a girl I reconnected with because of "Rocky Horror"). It was exhilarating to scream expletives while going in upside down loops. I went there a few more times after that trip.

Sadly, my roller coaster euphoria ended in 2001. I went there over Memorial Day weekend with "Will" and he even managed to get me on Shock Wave (he had to go to "Rocky Horror" with me in exchange). I felt like my earrings were going to pierce another hole through my head from that ride! In any case, it wasn't that I didn't have fun on the roller coasters. I always have fun with "Will." It was more that I had motion sickness from that trip. I even took Dramamine to ease the effects. By the end of the day, I just wanted to crawl into bed and never come out. I went to sleep at an unreasonably early hour for a holiday weekend. I went to a local carnival a few months later and felt the same way after some of the rides there. I think the only rides I can go on these days without becoming incredibly nauseated are carousels and ferris wheels. Thankfully, my husband doesn't do roller coasters either, so we have no reason to spend a fortune at amusement parks geared toward thrill rides.

In any case, I'm glad I braved the roller coasters and have my BFF to thank. If she ever wants me to return the favor (even though she's braver than I am...and probably less motion-sick too, when it comes to stuff like this), I'd be glad to help her get over a fear.

Other stuff I still will NOT do (mostly out of fear):

• Ice skate...it's more about the fact that my ankles don't want to cooperate with my feet, but the balance issue also freaks me out. I commend my kids for being able to do it and especially my younger son, who just picks himself up each time he falls. 
• Ski....my husband can go on the hills and I'll stay inside by a fire with hot cocoa and a good book. 
• Dive into any body of water. Don't tell my freshman year HS P.E. teacher, but I snuck out of the diving test and she never noticed and it didn't even affect my grade! That's how terrified I am to even get near a diving board. I also won't do deep sea diving, as the idea of a fish coming near me freaks me out.
• Anything involving heights (bungee jumping, skydiving, etc.)...my BFF has skydived and there's no WAY she's getting me to do that. 
• Get my wisdom teeth removed (not like I really need to, but it's still something I fear anyway)

Other fears I've conquered:

• Driving on highways/expressways
• Driving in the city...mainly Chicago (The first time I drove on Lake Shore Drive was a huge accomplishment). I still refuse to drive anywhere in NYC and drove to DC once but am not sure I'd want to do that again (more that people drive like idiots and directions are confusing).
• Haunted houses (I managed to psyche out a scary clown)
• Getting an epidural (thanks to labor being so painful the first time around)

52 Stories: Independent woman

Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.

This week's storyteller is another frequent visitor to Chick Lit Central. I love her enthusiasm for books and have enjoyed learning more about her through this project. 

Side note: I am getting so close to my 52 story goal, but the months of November and December are still waiting for stories. If you would like to participate or know someone else who might be interested, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!

Name: Hailey Fish
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Location: Pawcatuck, CT

The experience that is legendary is when I flew to Australia and lived there for three months with my older sister and her husband. It was legendary because it was the first time I've ever been out of the country by myself. It was awesome to spend time with just my sister and Paul. It was a chance for me to be independent.

My guilty pleasure is books and magazines. Even though magazines are ridiculously priced, I still want to buy one or two. I enjoy doing the celebrity crossword puzzles they have at the end. Even though I end up throwing them out, I just have to buy them. Whenever I go on vacation, I buy all the trashy ones like National Enquirer for example. Books are also a guilty pleasure because even though I can get the same books from the library, I get impatient because sometimes it's months before it's my turn.

The one thing I've never done but would love to do is learn how to drive. It would be so much easier on my parents if I had my license and my own vehicle to get where I need to go. It's also a sign of independence because then I'd be careful about driving and I'd pay for my own car insurance. It's just the matter of time to actually sit down, read the manual and then take the permit test and then actually learn how to drive.

One gift I'd love to give to someone that is a favorite of mine would be my love of books. It makes me sad when I hear that some people don't like to read. What's not to love? You get drawn into a world not your own, meet characters that you feel as if you've known forever. I wouldn't be the woman I was if it weren't for reading. For every book you read, you get to visit a different world. I think the more people who read, the better off we all are.

How I've changed someone's life: I honestly think just being me, a sweet, kind-hearted, compassionate woman who would do anything for anyone. Even if I get hurt, I make sure everyone I come across is taken care of. I would say my best friend Allie because I've stuck by her side when not even her own family did. I was there for her through our entire six-year friendship.

The one part of my personality I think is extinct would probably be the feeling of being afraid to do things. Growing up, I was always afraid to do things because I thought people would laugh at me and say I can't or I shouldn't. I'm a lot more confident in myself ever since I kicked my ex-fiancé to the curb. I'm so much happier with myself and know I deserve a man who will support me through the good and bad, not bring me down for things I have no control over.

The one thing I find funny is when I say something funny that makes my close family and friends laugh.

The one thing I love about myself is that I'm such a good person.

I don't think there is a tv show or movie that is most like my life.

Something not many people know about me: I'm on the high-functioning side of autism. You never notice until you get to know me because some things I do, other people might not do. I'm very obsessed with reading and I never like to get rid of books even of I don't read them anymore.

Still hangin' around

Our blog project group has once again changed by one member, but I'm still calling it Blog Project 3.0. The newest member is Darwin Shrugged, a friend of Froggie's. I recently got to know her better through "52 Stories" and I look forward to what she has to say on the upcoming topics.

This week, Froggie gave us a fun challenge: Find an outfit in your closet that you've had for a long time and write about it.

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

June, 1998

Shortly before college let out for summer break, I had a Saturday afternoon free (a long time before I decided to become Shomer Shabbos) and decided to go dress shopping. I didn't really own any cute sundresses at the time and wanted something to wear to parties, as I knew a few friends were graduating that summer. I also planned to get a summer job and would need something to wear for that, as well.

I had the hardest time finding a dress that day! You'd think Eastland Mall in Normal, Illinois would carry dresses that catered to college-aged women. I must have gone into every single store that carried any type of casual dresswear and just kept coming up empty-handed. Then I ended up in JC Penney and finally found what I was looking for. It was a blueish-gray dress with blue and purple flowers on it. It was light and flowy and could be worn almost anywhere.


That summer, I wore it to my friend's graduation party, as shown in the picture above, as well as numerous other occasions. It was the summer of 1998 and I was almost 22 at the time. I still have this dress and have worn it on many occasions since then. I don't wear it as much nowadays, but I've been known to pair it with a blue denim-like shirt or a cream colored crocheted top in the summer. I don't wear it in the winter since it doesn't work well over long-sleeved shirts.

I will admit that I'm terrible at hanging up my clothes and usually end up folding them and piling them on the floor of my closet. So this one was buried under a bunch of shirts and skirts, thus explaining all the wrinkles. (See below.) Apparently, it's one of those outfits that doesn't respond to my favorite product.

No worse for the wear, but a little wrinkled.
October, 2013

52 Stories: Serenity now

Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.

I recently met this week's storyteller through my BFF. She's also going to be part of our blog project group, starting this week. I look forward to getting to know her better, and her participation in "52 Stories" is a good start! I already know the first place we'd go if she ever came to visit...

Side note: I am getting so close to my 52 story goal, but the months of November and December are still waiting for stories. If you would like to participate or know someone else who might be interested, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!

Name: Denise K.
Gender: Female
Age: 45
Location: Chicagoland (the north half)

Experience that is legendary for me:
When I was 24, I moved to Los Angeles and spent two and a half years hanging out with my best friend, Michelle, and a whole bunch of long-haired boys in bands. I wasn’t a groupie by any stretch of the imagination, but my California world was a complete 180 from the uniformed, Catholic school girl, straight-A lifestyle I’d been living in Chicago. I spent my 25th birthday celebrating at a rock club on Hollywood Boulevard. I wore a tiara and I got to pick the bands that played that night. Nowadays, when I tell people about that time in my life, they look quite bemused, probably because I’m an attorney mom of three who lives in jeans and North Face gear and drives a mini-van.

Guilty pleasure:
Edible: peanut butter M&Ms.
Pop culture: Amish Mafia and Dr. Drew.
Auditory: Slipknot.
Time-wise: thrift stores and flea markets.

Something I’ve never done but would like to do:
Karaoke. I love to sing but have never done so in public. In my car, I belt out Pat Benetar and Sheryl Crow and k.d. lang – anyone with a low-ish pitch. Karaoke never really appealed to me until I read “Turn Around Bright Eyes” by Rob Sheffield and decided I HAVE to do it. I would probably choose to sing “Midnight Train to Georgia” so long as I had the right Pips to back me up. That, or “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” but I’d need a solid Meatloaf.

If I could give someone one of my favorite things as a gift, what I would give and why:
Last summer, on a business trip, my husband bought me a little angel statue. She is made of wood and is sitting down with her head resting on her hands and her elbows on her knees. I’m not religious by any stretch of the imagination, but I was going through a really rough time and he thought I could use a little someone to watch over me. I keep it on the windowsill in the kitchen, and it always makes me happy. It was the perfect gift, full of love. I would pass it on to someone else who needed an angel on his or her shoulder.

Something I did that changed someone’s life:
In my senior year of high school, a friend told me she wanted to be a nurse but didn’t think she could do it. Her parents weren’t encouraging her to try. I told her that she had to try, that I knew she could do it and that she would always regret not trying. She said, “Huh, maybe you’re right.” She went on to nursing school and has happily practiced nursing for twenty-five years.

Part of my personality that is now extinct:
I am much less of a control freak than I used to be. The past few years I experienced quite a lot of loss, and I’ve come to understand that there is much I cannot control; I can merely react and manage and support. My own variation of the Serenity Prayer, I suppose.

One thing I find really funny:
Anything stupid funny. Like when people fall down. Or the entire film, Zoolander. I think you have to be really smart to fully embrace stupid funny (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).

One thing I love about myself:
Generally, I am able to get along with just about anyone. I pride myself on being polite and kind to anyone I meet – unless they give me reason to act otherwise.

TV show, book or movie most like my life:
 It’s Hard Not to Hate You by Valerie Frankel. I’m at that mid-life point where I’m grappling between accepting who I am – warts and all – and making some changes in how I see the world and how I deal with people. The tone of the book is maybe a touch more bitter than I’d like to think I am, but maybe I just need to accept that part of me, too.

One thing most people don’t know about me:
Although I’m friendly and easily make small talk, I am actually pretty introverted and prefer to keep to myself.

Age appropriate

As for right now, it's the three of us...Froggie, Moma Rock and myself. We may have someone else join us in the future, but for now we're just going to write to our hearts' content.

This week, I chose the topic: Do you act your age? How do you act younger and/or older than you are?

Before reading ahead, first see what Froggie and Moma Rock had to say on this topic.

This topic was inspired by some books I've been reading where there were older adults and people in their 20s or 30s. There would be all these contrasts between the generations in how they viewed friendships, relationships, careers, life, etc. And then I found an article in my Facebook newsfeed about some "truths" on turning 40. Oddly enough, with about three years to go, I can already relate to a lot of the items on the list.

I don't know if I act my age. Does 37 even have a feel? It's like this abyss between 35 and 40. Don't laugh, but I actually am looking forward to turning 40. It's the new 30, from what I've heard. And I like milestone birthdays. In regards to my topic, I'm going to share a few lists.

How I act my age (some of these items are from the aforementioned article about turning 40, oddly enough):

• "At the doctor's office, I bypass Cosmopolitan and reach for Redbook. I'll even read Family Circle. There are some great recipes in there." I admit that I'll sometimes read Cosmopolitan for the "confessions" section, but most of it seems too "young" for me. Same goes for Glamour. I feel like I'm exploring some guilty pleasure when I am caught reading either. I do have an extensive Family Circle collection and I will recycle most of them once I get the recipes I want from each one.

• "Even if I finally get a full night's sleep, I still look like I was up all night. But not up all night doing something cool." Enough said! I stay up past midnight on Saturday but mostly to do online stuff.

• "If I strolled across a college campus, people would assume teacher, not student." Honestly, I haven't felt like I fit in on a college campus since I graduated.

• "Most days, I choose comfort over style." Give me pajamas over party dresses! (See my post from a few weeks ago.)

• "I say things like, 'What's the name of that actor, you know, he was in that thing?'" Yes, I am losing my "Pop Culture Queen" mojo. I can't even remember the names of people I know in real life. And I mix up the names of everyone in my house. (My husband has been called by both my sons' names. Wait till I call him by my daughter's name...)

• I can't go on carnival rides aside from carousels, as I get motion sickness otherwise.

How I act older than my age:

• I actually say "When I was your age...."

• I have a hard time getting up to date with technology. Of course, once I do, I act like it's the greatest invention in the world. Still, I use a cassette player and wouldn't mind having a VCR again.

• I listen to the Rat Pack and other singers from that time period.

• I complain about aches and pains.

• I prefer to stay closer to home whenever possible and go to the same familiar places all the time.

• If I'm not already one of those people who will steal kids' balls when they get thrown in my yard, I will be eventually. There are very few kids outside my own that I have any patience for (the kids I like, aside from my own, should/will know who they are).

How I act younger than my age:

• I like teen shows...well, the one teen show I loved is no longer on.

• My iPhone cover is very cutesy, with owls that have little jewels in their eyes. 

• I laugh about really immature stuff, like fart jokes. 

• I will go to a Disney (or other animated) movie without my kids, even though they would not be happy about that arrangement...it's more that I don't need them as my excuse for seeing the movie.

• I still am fond of "Babysitter's Club" and "Sweet Valley High" books and would happily spend a day having a Full House marathon.

• I talk like a teenager on social media sometimes.

52 Stories: This is *really* 40

Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.

One of the many joys of owning a book blog is connecting with authors I might not have met otherwise. One of these authors is today's storyteller. I met her back in May of 2012, when her debut novel, Finding Lucas, first became published. We soon found ourselves talking about anything and everything. She's so kind-hearted and down-to-earth. I didn't review her book for my blog because I knew I'd come off as biased, as I adored her too much by the time I would have the opportunity to read it. So I held off on even reading it for a while, putting focus on books I intended to review for my blog. Then I decided to finally check out her novel for the fun of it. I still think of it and laugh because it is so clever and funny. I'd love it even if we weren't friends and I'd have no problem giving constructive criticism if I found flaws. However, it is flawless. If you're looking for a fun, humorous and sweet chick lit novel, look no further than Finding Lucas. While she's not writing novels, our storyteller still has other stories to share, which is why I invited her to participate in this project!

Name you'd like to go by: Samantha Stroh Bailey
Age: 40 (gulp)
Gender: Female
Location: Toronto

What is an experience that is legendary for you?
The day I published my first novel, Finding Lucas, is something I will never forget. I have been writing since I was ten years old, and though a published journalist, my greatest dream was to see my novel online and in paperback. I must admit I shed more than a few tears because how often do we get to experience the dream of a lifetime actually happen? And it not only taught me that we have to believe in our talent and go after what we want, but also that this dream has only begun. I have always loved writing, but knowing that readers have loved my book and have been so kind as to leave reviews and reach out to me has made writing even more of a passion. I am so lucky.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Chips and TV, preferably eating chips while watching TV.

What is something you've never done but you would like to do?
I have a lot of fear when it comes to dangerous activities so there are a lot of things I’ve never done. But something I love is traveling. I saw quite a bit of the world in my younger years, and that is definitely a plan I have for in the future. This is terrible, but I’ve never seen Western Canada. The cost is quite high to fly there so I’ve always spent that money on going to Europe instead. But is such a gorgeous part of our country, and I would love to experience it.

If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why?
One of my favorite things is books so I would absolutely give a book. Reading is such a wonderful escape, an opportunity to learn and grow and often gives us exactly what we are looking for at any given time. And there are so, so many books I’ve read that have stayed with me years later. Those are the ones I would give as a gift.

What is something you did that changed someone's life?
Wow, that’s a hard question. I don’t know that I’ve ever changed someone’s life, but on a small scale, I think my business helps a lot of people. I’m a professional writer/editor and every day, I get to work with the most incredible clients. I never write academic papers, but I edit them and love that aspect of my job so much. Helping someone get into their dream Masters program by editing their personal statement or working with them on their PhD dissertation is wonderful. A lot of people are scared to write and need the confidence to know they can and to find out what they need to do to improve. Knowing how amazing it is to publish a book, some of my favorite clients are aspiring and published authors. I get enormous pleasure from editing manuscripts and love when I see the finished product. So, I guess helping people make their dreams come true is changing their lives in some way. But it also changes mine.

What part of your personality is now extinct?
Shyness! People are amazed that I was very shy when I was younger because I am now usually the most talkative person in a room. I’ve always been very small, and when I was little, I wanted to hide in the shadows rather than shine. But, as I got older, I realized that though I am small, I am mighty, and it gave me confidence to put myself out there.

What is one thing that you find really funny?
I like irreverent, smart humor. A movie like, This is 40, makes me howl. Or books that don’t shy away from spicy language and flawed characters.

Tell me one thing you love about yourself (or a gift you'd like to get yourself, where money is not an issue):
I love that I enjoy simple pleasures and am very positive. I think life is so short and it’s about following your passion, filling your life with good, kind people and enjoying the small things. Money keeps us going, for sure, but for me, joy comes from a great conversation, laughter and being with the people I love. I love this about myself because I don’t need a lot to make me happy.

What TV show, book or movie is most like your life?
I’m going to date myself here and say Friends. Now, I don’t live in New York City or hang around in coffee shops, but I have a very close group of friends, and we have known each other for almost twenty years. We met in Montreal, and at one point, many of us lived in the same duplex on St. Urbain. Not together, but that place had a revolving door. Life has changed a lot in the past twenty years: we have kids, we live in different cities and we’re all so busy. But when we see each other, it’s like no time has passed, and we’re back to being those fresh-faced (yet drunk) 20 year-olds who had their whole lives ahead of them.

What is something that not many people know about you?
I was a competitive dancer for many years when I was younger and actually thought I’d end up at Juilliard. But, when my friends and fun seemed better than constant practices, rehearsals and shows, I quit. To this day, I regret not going on with my dancing because I loved it so much. But, I now get my groove on when my friends and I go dancing (on a rare Saturday night), and one day, I want to take hip hop classes so I can actually do that twerking thing that everyone is talking about.

"And that would be a shutdown!"

As for right now, it's the three of us...Froggie, Moma Rock and myself. We may have someone else join us in the future, but for now we're just going to write to our hearts' content.

This week, Moma Rock chose the topic: What are your thoughts on the government shutdown?

Before reading ahead, first see what Froggie and Moma Rock had to say on this topic.

My subject line is from an episode of Friends where Monica is playing foosball and kicking butt. However, she gets the terminology wrong and the guys yell "Shutout!" after she delivers this line. I think of it every time I hear the word "shutdown," which is often lately, and not because I'm turning off my computer.

Given the political climate online, I have decided to decline from sharing my thoughts on this situation. I have thoughts and opinions, but I'm also confused as to what is going on and things change from day to day. So sharing my opinion would mean something uninformed that is possibly going to piss someone off. Not worth the agony. I learned my lesson about sticking my hand close to the flame when I posted about the election results on my Facebook page. I think someone defriended me too. Just know that I agree with a lot of what has been said in regards to the shutdown and leave it at that. I know a lot of people close to home whose lives are being affected as a result of this shutdown and I don't want to even pretend to understand how they're feeling or somehow upset them because I got the facts wrong and just went spouting off on my little soapbox.

However, I will share some fun and crazy stuff I've come across since this shutdown started:

Ferris Bueller explains the government shutdown

20 Awesomest Government Shutdown memes

Student government shutdown (posted 2 1/2 years ago on CollegeHumor)

Political cartoons about the shutdown

An article in support of Washington DC as a city

A video that made me think of my Apple addict BFF...very clever!

A parody of "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus from Saturday Night Live

Something crazy in the works

Funny picture from a couple forced to reschedule their wedding due to the shutdown

Moma Rock and Froggie will NOT be pleased by this!

Five crazy side effects from the shutdown

Lawnmower man

52 Stories: Butterfly kisses (and hugs)

Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.

I connected with this storyteller through my book blog and other similar groups we're in on Facebook. We also have some online friends in common. She's really nice and I enjoyed reading her answers to my questions...especially the last two.

Name you’d like to go by: I answer to Kimberly or Kim, my close relatives and friends will also call me Kimmy. I like to use the name Kimberlyindy when I review books.
Age: 40+
Gender: Female
Location: Southern California

What is your guilty pleasure? 
 I have a couple of guilty pleasures. I love to be able to stay in my pajamas all day and alternate watching movies and reading. Some of my favorite movies are A Walk in the Clouds, Serendipity, Sabrina and almost all Christmas movies (which I have been known to watch in July.) I generally read Romance and Chick Lit. Some of my favorite authors are Jane Porter, Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews, Debra Kahn, Melissa Cutler, Anita Hughes Jude Deveraux, Susan Mallery and Jill Shalvis. If I can afford to indulge myself, I love to go stay in a hotel and go to their spa. I have learned that you can get a day pass and enjoy the experience of the spa without spending a fortune. =)

What is something you’ve never done but would like to do? 
I have always wanted to try zip lining, riding in a hot air balloon, and scuba diving. I would also like to travel all over. My bucket list includes Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Australia.

What is one thing that you find really funny? 
I love to watch Comedian Jeff Dunham

What is one thing you love about yourself? 
 People tell me that I am able to adapt to most situations and I can find something to talk about with everyone. I love people and I find every person interesting in their own way. I have always been able to make friends easy.

What is something you did that changed someone’s life? 
This is a hard question to answer, because I try to perform random acts of kindness almost daily, and I always hope that I somehow make their life a little better. I definitely believe in the philosophy of pay it forward.

What is something that not many people know about you? 
 Well I have a couple of things, not sure which would be the most surprising. I was in a nationally televised commercial when I was in High School that was shown at all of the Indianapolis Colts games. I was in a type of plane crash in 1991 in Colorado. I lived on my own my senior year of High School. Feel free to ask me to elaborate on any of those.

What part of your personality is extinct? 
I hope you don’t mind but I took a little liberty with this question and changed it a little bit.

If something is was a good part of your personality and it ceases to exist that isn’t a good thing. I prefer to think of it as hibernating. For me this was my creativity. This was something I definitely thought was extinct, but recently has found a spark and has comes back to life. Throughout my life, I had done different things to feed this side of my personality. I actively participated in the theatre in different capacities, and I enjoyed writing and was on the journalism staff and did speech and debate where I wrote originally oratories and poetry for competition. Then several years ago a few things happened to put my creativity in hibernation, one I got very busy with life and working way too many jobs, and going to school, etc. But probably one of the greatest factors was an English professor I had. For whatever reason, she did not like me, and after having her for a semester I no longer had any desire to write. She accused me of plagiarism, which I had to fight and was able to prove that I had not done that. And she was constantly putting comments on my works like “congratulations on changing a fiasco of a paper to a mediocre paper.” It is amazing how powerful words and actions can be……..Fast forward 20 years and I can honestly say that two things/people have really influenced me and help reignite my creative side. About rwo years ago my work sent me to a motivational event, and one of the presenters was a man named Erik Wahl. He is an artist that creates incredible paintings with his hands, timed to music. If you have never heard of him, I encourage you to check him out. He talked to us about a teacher when he was in elementary school telling him that he had no talent and he didn’t so much as pick up a crayon for over 20 years because of this. It brought back the memory of that English professor and really got me thinking about what I had given up. I honestly don’t remember what he said what motivated him to try art again, probably because my own brain was on overdrive thinking about the past and what I used to love to do. Just a little side fact about him, he no longer sells his art work, he donates it to charity auctions or gives it away through what he calls art drops (he hides the paintings and leaves clues on social media and the first person to find it, gets to keep it). The second influence has been my friend Jane Porter. I met Jane purely by accident about three years ago at a local Barnes and Noble. I had never read any of her books before, but became a fan that day. I got to know her through her blog and Facebook page. After going to few different events, where she talked about all things writing, the good, the bad, and even some of the ugly; it made me want to try writing again. I took a summer writing class and with Jane’s encouragement I went to a Romance Writer’s Conference this past spring. For now, I am only writing for me, but who knows what may happen in the future. I have made a promise to myself so that I never let my creative side become extinct again. I try to do something creative every day. I have been taking painting lessons and making home-made cards, and yes sometimes I do have to push myself out of my comfort zone to try something new and creative; but I am okay with that.

If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why? 
I often give butterflies as gifts. They hold a very special place in my heart. While I have always loved butterflies, about 15 years ago, they became very significant part of my life. When my grandfather passed away, my grandmother told me that he came to visit her that night as a beautiful monarch butterfly and stayed beside her all night. My grandmother and I started giving each other butterflies back and forth after that day, so we would always have grandpa with us. Even though my grandma has Alzheimer’s and is in a facility, we still keep her surrounded by butterflies. When she was able to walk, we posted a large purple butterfly outside her room and that was how she knew which room was hers. I swear, if I am having a bad day or feeling a little lonely, a butterfly always crosses my path. Just the other day, a butterfly actually flittered all around me like it was hugging me before taking off. It brought a smile to my face and made me laugh out loud. It felt magical and I could almost see a little sparkly trail it was leaving behind. I enjoy giving butterflies to people, and some I tell the significance of them to me and others, it just feels right. If I know someone is struggling, I think a butterfly is the perfect gift to give them, because butterflies show us that is not easy to make it in this world, but that we are beautiful and we can take flight.

Comfy and cozy

As for right now, it's the three of us...Froggie, Moma Rock and myself. We may have someone else join us in the future, but for now we're just going to write to our hearts' content.

This week, Froggie chose the topic: Choose your happy.

Before reading ahead, first see what Froggie and Moma Rock had to say on this topic.

For someone who thrives on happiness, I will admit that I had trouble thinking of what to say here. And then, thanks to PureWow, I had an epiphany! They sent me an article about finding the comfier things in life and getting all cozy. I realized that my "happy" comes from being comfortable, both physically and emotionally. They touched on some of the things that I look to for comfort....namely food, books and movies/TV. Of course, there are other things, as well. I figured I'd make my own list of things (aside from people) that make me super comfy (or warm and fuzzy), which makes me really happy.

• The couch in our living room. It's old and not all that pretty with all the stains that come from having children in the house. However, I have spent hours reading on there and it's my go-to spot for sleeping before bedtime on Shabbat. 

• This big purple wraparound sweater that a friend gave to me back in 2007. It's meant to be a maternity sweater, but I just wear it around the house on chilly days. 

• Wearing pajamas, which usually consist of pajama pants and an old T-shirt. Sometimes I'll even wear slippers or my big, fluffy, red robe that my sister got me prior to my wedding. 

• Comfort foods for me are pasta (especially with cheese on it), chocolate (duh!), popcorn, and matzo ball soup (with homemade matzo balls)...just to name a few. 

• Comfort beverages for me are hot cocoa (especially with whipped cream on top) and iced tea. 

• My comfort TV shows are Full House, Saved by the Bell, How I Met Your Mother, and Friends.

• My comfort movies are Where the Heart Is and Legally Blonde.

• I have too many comfort books to choose from, given that reading is always a comfort to me. I especially enjoy a book that can take me on an armchair adventure. 

• My comfort music is either country or contemporary jazz (not sure if that's the right name for it). I could listen to Jamie Cullum sing for hours. 

Have you chosen your happy?

52 Stories: Something to sink your teeth into

Inspired by One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, I've decided to ask people some thought provoking questions about themselves, as I feel that everyone has a story to tell. If you're just joining me on this journey today, please check out the previous posts from this series, as well.

I don't personally know this week's storyteller. A friend of mine passed the questions along to her as she felt she'd be someone interesting to read about. My friend was right about that!

Name you'd like to go by: Katie Lee
Age (or age range): 40’s
Gender: Female
Location: Maryland

What is an experience that is legendary for you? 
I just published my first book, What Endures. That was pretty epic because this was a dream that I’ve had since I was 15 years old. I still have a “whoa!” moment when I go to Amazon.com and see my book listed there.

What is your guilty pleasure? 
I like vampire shows. I watch The Vampire Diaries and True Blood faithfully. I’m looking forward to the Dracula show with Jonathan Rhys-Myers this fall. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was one of my favorite shows ever.

What is something you've never done but you would like to do? 
There are SO MANY things which I think is a sign that I still love this crazy little journey called “life.” Just some things off the top of my head are – be an extra in a movie, scuba dive, live in France for a few months, ride a motorcycle.

If you could give someone one of your favorite things as a gift, what would it be and why? 
It’d probably be a book. . .or chocolates. Heck, why not both? Books and chocolates!

What is something you did that changed someone's life? 
Gosh this is tough. I honestly don’t know. I hope if I have changed someone’s life, it’s for the better. I try and subscribe to the “pebble in a pond” rule. . .that you never know the real impact of your actions because something small could have far reaching consequences, just like the waves that radiate outwards when you drop a pebble in a pond, so make sure your actions are as well-intentioned as possible.

What part of your personality is now extinct? 
I don’t know that it’s extinct but it’s getting to be less and less of a factor which is my tendency to worry. I used to worry all the time about the ‘what-if’s’ and I started to realize that it was letting fear be the driver of my life choices. So in the last few years I’ve taken the approach that I should just jump in and see what happens and it’s been a pretty incredible ride. I mean there have been some bumps and bruises but no regrets.

What is one thing that you find really funny? 
I feel mean for saying this but people falling down. I used to laugh uproariously at America’s Funniest Home Videos – still do when I catch a re-run. I am klutzy myself so believe me when I bump into the things, I’m the first one cracking up!

Tell me one thing you love about yourself (or a gift you'd like to get yourself, where money is not an issue): 
I like my resiliency and persistence. Once I’ve made up my mind about something, I don’t let anything stop me. I’ve faced a lot of obstacles in life and I’m proud to say I’ve overcome a lot too. Losing my hearing at 17 should have derailed me from my dream of becoming an attorney, but it didn’t. Similarly, having my manuscript stuck in limbo with an agent that couldn’t get it unstuck should have derailed my dreams of becoming a published author but it didn’t. I don’t see obstacles, I see challenges and I love challenges (as long as there are cupcakes and chocolates along the way!)

What TV show, book or movie is most like your life? 
I wish it was like Veronica Mars where I’m kicking ass left and right, but it’s probably more When Harry Met Sally with the neurotic over-thinking and kvetching with good friends.

What is something that not many people know about you? 
I get hurt easily but don’t necessarily show it. I think years of having to be strong have given me a tough exterior – that’s probably one of the things people will tell you about me – that I’m strong or “feisty” but my feelings do get hurt and only those really close to me ever know it or see it.