Ach, du Liebster!

I would like to thank Jill Haugh at I Had a Little Nut Tree for being  generous enough to award me the  Liebster Award.  I'm happy to post the image here (look below) and answer her questions.

But first something about Jill.  I came across her blog when I followed her from a comment on one of mine - it was one of the 'Small Celebrations' posts, my first, I think, which made me very much aware of the enjoyment, talent and sheer amazingness (coining words) that I have encountered among bloggers.  Her writing is most enjoyable, her blog posts almost always make me think and smile (and, often laugh).  Thank you, Jill!

 
Here are my answers to her eleven questions:

1.      What was your favorite book when you were eleven?

     The Boy's King Arthur, adapted by Sidney Lanier.  It was a nicely illustrated edition, had the archaic language that Lanier kept in from Thomas Mallory's work (Thou stinkest all of the kitchen!)  I had no trouble with the language, by the way, and it has served me as a good example of why we really don't have to 'dumb down' books for youngsters.  I also liked Albert Payson Terhune's collie stories.

2.      What did you want to be when you grew up?

A knight.  Riding a big dapple gray horse.  Imagine my disappointment when I learned that (a) there are no knights now, and (b) girls weren't supposed to be knights.  At which point I mentioned Joan of Arc.  There was talk of my wanting a pony.  I rejected that with scorn.  If I couldn't have that dapple gray charger I wanted a big chestnut stallion:  Man o' War, to be exact.

3.      What was your first Barbie? (or Ken/ GI Joe as the case may be.)

      She had a blonde ponytail and plastic eyelashes.  I learned quickly that messing with dolls' hair gave them messy hair.  She never looked right after that.

4.      What was your favorite TV. show from when you were a kid?

      Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.  My parents would set up a card table in front of the TV and we children would sit there of a Sunday night, eat our dinner and watch.  I also liked Fury, Lassie and Mighty Mouse.

5.      How old were you at the time of your first (real) kiss?

      I was seventeen years old.

6.      Where was it?

In my dorm room.  I was sitting on my bed, chatting.  I learned what you do with your noses.

7.      What was your most embarrassing grammar school moment?

      The day I showed up in school without my underpants.  I was in kindergarten at the time. 

8.      What was the first album (or CD) you ever bought with your own money?

      I *think* it was Teaser and the Fire Cat by Cat Stevens. 

9.      When did you first learn about sex?

      After learning about eins, zwei, drei, vier, and fünf. 

10.  Did you ever walk in on Mummy and Daddy doing it?

      I sure did.  I couldn’t' sleep, and I walked into the living room at nine years of age to find Mom and Dad setting up the Christmas Tree and putting gifts under it, all of them from Santa!  I was utterly stunned and it took me a long time to get over it.  It still makes me tear up. 

11.  What was your proudest childhood achievement?

Performing in my dance recital in a tutu.  I was taken to an Ice Cream Parlour (yes, they had a 'u' there) and treated to a hot fudge sundae to commemorate it!

     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  

I am expected to tap bloggers and present my questions.  Before I do so, allow me to post a disclaimer.  I will still follow your blog and like you if you can't respond.  I certainly won't tell anyone.

My nominees have been notified and we'll see if they respond.

My questions for the Nominees have to do with the things we always dream about:

 

1.         Quickly: you have twenty-four hours to set up the itinerary of the dream trip of your life.  Where would you go?  (Details of flights and such can be handled later)

 

2.         What is the one little luxury you can't live without?

 

3.         What little luxury would you love to add to your daily routine?

 

4.         You have just come into a lot of money.  Now you can buy a really special gift for someone who has meant very much to you.  Who is he/she, and what would the gift be?

 
5.         A floor-to-ceiling library crammed with every book you have ever loved; a home on the shore of a splendid lake with mountains around it; a 1930 Deusenberg roadster; an emerald necklace or a top-notch computer/internet/word processing system.  Which? 

6.         See question #5.  Why did you choose what you did?

7.         Would you rather be poked in the eye with a stick in your own back yard or choke on your Chateauneuf du Pape and splatter it all over your table mates at a state dinner?

7.         Do you remember your own most embarrassing moment (hint: the answer is 'yes' or 'no'.  Elaboration though nice, is not necessary.)

8.         Tell us about the moment in the past year that made you the happiest.

9.         Would you prefer to be a monarch or the power behind the throne?

10.       What would you do if you learned that with a wave of your hand you could disable all spam senders?

11.       Quote your favorite line from a book.  Any book.  (Poems work fine, too).  You are allowed to quote yourself, but if you do so, you must post a link to the work.