Getting To Know You was the Top 10 on Tuesday posted by Candace.  Since I’m pretty much always a day late (or more!) and a dollar short, I’m posting mine today. And no, you can’t have my dollar. I’m short, remember?

1. What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name? I’m a big fan of regular names with regular spellings, so nothing funky. I’m also a fan of the expected. So dye my hair red and call me Lucy.
2. What was your worst date? Has to be the one where the guy wouldn’t shut up. Talk talk talk talk talk – that’s all he did was talk – about absolutely nothing that was of any interest to me. It was all I could do to make it past our after-dinner coffees before I was looking for any excuse to get out of there. I guess I’m lucky that I’ve escaped true dating nightmares.
3. If you had to teach one subject in high school or college, what would it be? Hello??? Creative Writing. It would have to be an elective class that the students chose because they wanted to be there, not because they had to be there as a requirement.
4. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? Does it count if I was crying first then started laughing? No? Well then. Now I’m depressed that this hasn’t happened to me in a very long time. And you know what? That has to be one of the best feelings on this earth. Miss it.
5. What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you? “Ever” indicates some grandiose gesture and grandiose doesn’t happen to me. The most recent little thing that comes to mind was when my former sister-in-law brought my favorite Starbucks latte to me at the office. I had joked about it on Facebook earlier that afternoon and about an hour later, she walked in with it. I hadn’t seen her in over a year so it was quite touching.
6. If money or skill-set was no issue, what would you love to do for a living? Bake. I could totally rock the kitchen at a bakery. Don’t make me talk to customers, don’t make me manage anyone, don’t make me clean anything. Just give me some eggs and some flour and get out of my way.
7. What is one thing as an adult/parent/spouse you do that you swore you would never do? Use the phrase, “because I said so,” when giving instruction to my children. I held out for years and years, always careful to give good explanations and justification so they would understand not only “what” but “why” as well. Then I finally woke up from my delusions and realized that I’m Mom and sometimes for whatever reason, they need to do something simply because I’ve asked them, or told them, to do it. Emergency situations included. Just.DO.it.
8. If you could go back to one particular time in your life (not to live, not to change anything, just to visit) when would it be? There are three separate instances, all that occurred in vastly different times in my life, that meld together and make me want to re-experience the way I feltat that time. The central connection: I felt loved. Deeply, unmistakeably, fiercely loved.
9. If your walls could talk, what would they say about you (good & bad)? They would say that I never stop singing – ever – and that my farts smell really bad lately with all the fiber I’ve had in my diet.
10. If you could fix or put an end to one problem in the world what would it be? It’s hard to pick just one – or even the most important one – how do you rank them? Let’s start simple: Rid the world of political correct-ness. Be honest, tell the truth, and if it hurts your feelings – suck it up.

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you.  Sir Isaac Newton.
2. Where was your first kiss?  Seventh grade, on the school bus going home. His name was Eddie.
3. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?  Maybe a playful tap but never in anger.
4. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? When?  I sing in front of a 1000+ congregation at church on a weekly basis.
5. What’s the first thing you notice about your preferred sex?  Their height. I really like to look up into his eyes.
6. What really turns you off?  Arrogance. It really encompasses a lot. (Not to be confused with self-confidence, however thin the dividing line may be.)
7. What is your biggest mistake?  Allowing my then-vulnerable self to be rushed into a marriage that I knew in my heart was all wrong.
8. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?  I think I have let things happen to me that would later become emotionally painful.
9. Say something totally random about yourself.  I have very full lips.
10. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?  I have been compared to Hilary Swank on more than one occassion.
11. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows?  Are you serious? I have 11 & 6 year old children. Kiddie movies & tv shows are ALL we watch. I gave up control of the tv years ago.
12. Are you comfortable with your height?   I wouldn’t mind having longer legs, but overall I’m quite pleased with all 5’6″ of me.
13. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you?  It wasn’t ever any one grandiose gesture but the collection of a thousand little things that I always took for granted.
14. When do you know it’s love?   When it’s too late to stop it from happening.
15. What’s something that really annoys you?   Having to correct myself after a knee-jerk reaction.  I need to slow down and make better decisions the first time around.

Writing Prompts will continue….meh, whenever I feel like it. My blog buddy Restaurant Refugee posted another meme so of course I had to do it. Plus, you really don’t want to know what all is in my pantry right now. If you are so inclined – include your own answers in the comments.  Comments?  What comments?  Click the blue circle below the post and find out.  Comments are always welcomed on any post.

1. If I could get all men & women on the planet to take responsibility for their actions no matter the outcome for just one day, I would be a happy blogtart.
2. If I could make anyone who’s interested in dating me read one blog post, it would be Far From Perfect because it really made me define who I am and who I can be in a relationship.
3. It may no longer be age appropriate, but I wish I could occasionally sleep till noon like I did when I was a kid.
4. I know it has some redemptive qualities; but if I could remove the i-dog from history, I would do it in a second.
5. According to Verve.com, the five best date movies of all time (from 5 to 1) are Barberella, To Have and to Have Not, Say Anything, Casablanca, and Some Like It Hot.  I really think that When Harry Met Sally should have made the list.
6. Speaking of Movies… if a potential suitor didn’t laugh during the movie Anchorman – The Legend of Ron Burgandy, it would be a large red flag.
7. If you want to ask me to do something difficult, asking with a cup of hot, black coffee for me in your hand would be a very good start.
8. I don’t know him in real life, but I have a purely platonic & intellectual crush on him that just won’t quit.
9. Paraphrasing and with apologies to James Lipton, if I wasn’t an investment professional the occupation I would most like to try is bakery owner/operator.
10. If I could direct every new reader of my blog to this post, it would (quickly) go a long way towards explaining my sense of humor.
11. If you would have told me 15 years ago that I would be a twice divorced single mom today, I would have laughed in your face; but I surely am.
12. I love the space after the touch of his hand on my cheek but before he kisses me (and it’s been way too long since I’ve felt this).
13. We all have better angels and lesser demons whispering in our ears.  At the moment, the angels on my left shoulder are saying it may be a hard decision, but you know in the end you must make it, while the lesser demons on my right shoulder are saying it’s not hurting anything so why bother?

1. If I were on a first date with someone and he ordered a dirty martini, I would probably end the date early. It’s like drinking a glass of sea water and it smells worse. No good night kisses for you, mister.
2. When I’m sick, I really want someone to take care of my kids so I can sleep 24/7 till I’ve shaken whatever it is I’m sick with. I’ve had the flu before when they were with me and it was not easy having to deal with the minimum. To know that they are being looked after would allow me to rest properly
3. I know that some people really love playing video games online such as WOW and Age of Conan; but I don’t understand how they spend so much money on it. Or time. Money & time wasted if you ask me. I absolutely despise MMORPGs
4. I know that some people think I’m crazy for spending so much money on my camera; but I really love it. Now then, if I could just carve out more time to spend on the craft…
5. I’m so glad that I’ve outgrown denim jackets since high school. Still not sure what I was thinking then.
6. I am living proof that the stereotype about a Southern Baptist, conservative woman is inaccurate. Pretty certain I’m not a prim, proper, uptight, humorless cold fish.
7. I know that it is a made-up word; but fixin to is a permanent part of my vocabulary. Raised in the Deep South? Hello!!
8. I can’t wait for something to be excited about. Maybe I have finally learned patience. I think of all these different activities and events coming up and I’m really ok with waiting for them to get here. I’m in no rush, just trying to enjoy life as it comes along.
9. The most common misconception about me is that I’m *just* a numbers girl.. There’s more inside this head of mine than tax tables and B-share CDSC schedules. Hopefully, this blog will dispel that myth.
10. I wish I wouldn’t stay up so late on weeknights. Midnight, or nearly so, is the norm these days and too many in a row leaves me dragging.
11. If I never heard the word (or phrase) divorce again, it would still be too soon. Especially where my name is associated with it
12. I have a hidden talent for bakery style cake decorating that no one would ever expect of me. A few know, but not many. I took a few classes about 7 or 8 years ago and the ability came more naturally than I expected.
13. I am not a fan of extraordinary rendition; but if it were to take place for crimes against children, then any man or woman who’ve ever abused a child should be the first person on the plane to Guantanamo. No excuses. Ever.