Thursday, January 31, 2008

Suddenly the Internet Feels Like Summer Camp

Time for a break in our less-than-regularly-scheduled programming. I have a list of blogs I really enjoy reading -- a very long list. I couldn't possibly read them every day, although there are a few, like Mary's blog, that I check almost daily. However, I do eventually visit them all. Imagine my surprise to visit DaMomma's blog today and see my name! Seems my cousin Susie posted a meme on her blog, and tagged me...and tagged DaMomma, too.

The Internet is beginning to feel a little like summer camp. Here I am in Japan, and I discover from my friend in Massachusetts (who I've never met in person, but for whom I designed and typeset
DaBook) that my cousin in Wisconsin tagged me for a meme. Suddenly, we're not thousands of miles away from each other...it's as if we're all in the same cabin, whispering and giggling after lights out.

So, without further ado (or any more parenthetical remarks), here's the meme, via Susie and DaMomma.

The Rules:
  • Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
  • Share five random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
    Share the five top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list.
  • Tag a minimum of five random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment in their blog.
The Meme:

  • I was tagged by SusieQ.
  • Five Random/Weird Facts About Me:
    • I was the wardrobe mistress for the Big Apple Circus and shared one of six "bunk rooms" in a semi-truck's trailer with a roommate. When one of us was standing, the other had to stay on her own bunk, as there wasn't room for two of us to stand at the same time.
    • I have really surprisingly straight teeth naturally, no braces. For most of my life, dentists and hygenists have assumed I had braces and have been very surprised when I've told them I haven't. Of course, now, at almost 42 years old, it seems that one of my front teeth has decided to turn sideways just in the past year or so, and I may have to get braces after all!
    • I don't particularly care for cake, just the frosting. If I could get away with it, I'd lick all the icing from cupcakes and leave the cake part.
    • The best New Year's Eve I've ever spent was the year I was part of the overnight team for Room in the Inn. Area churches take turns providing meals and shelter for the homeless during the colder months, and teams of volunteers work the various shifts (set-up, cooking, clean-up, laundry, spending the night with the guests, etc.) That evening, I was one of the two "spend-the-night" crew for our downtown church. I escorted three of our guests to the front lawn of the church for a cigarette break and to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks. We watched the fireworks and the passing revelers, and talked for over an hour. I learned more that night about humanity, compassion, loss and grief than I'd ever known, just from talking to those three men. It was life changing.
    • When I was in first grade, our school was still being constructed. A group of us went to the newest girls' lavatory. Before we left, we knew we were supposed to wash our hands, but there was no soap dispenser. I saw a large tin of soft, gooey, brown stuff. "It's soft soap!" I told the other little girls. "Just like Laura Ingalls Wilder used in the little house on the prairie!" They all nodded, impressed with my knowledge, and we all lathered up. It wasn't soft soap -- it was that disgusting waterproof stuff used to make a water-tight seal when installing a toilet. Getting the gunk off was a nightmare, and to this day, if my family thinks I am making something up or guessing with no real knowledge, they'll roll their eyes and say "yeah, soft soap!"
  • Top five places I want to visit or visit again:
    • Greece
    • Prague
    • Peru
    • India
    • Space
  • Tag at least five friends:

Now I have an inexplicable desire to make a lanyard, or sing a song with hand gestures while sitting on a log by a campfire...

11 comments:

Mary Witzl said...

Tell me how I'm supposed to top wardrobe mistress for the Big Apple Circus -- it can't be done!

Those are some great random facts, Carolie, and when I post mine, I think you will find some interesting parallels. I want to eat cake with you sometime: you can have the icing and I can have the cake. I've been feeling guilty about throwing out 85% of the icing on my cakes all my life. Sometimes I even recycle leftover icing into bread dough: what else can I do with it?

I've never been to summer camp (I think we must have been too poor), but I am told it is a lot like vacation bible school, only with tents, meals, sleeping bags, and more secular activities. And now I feel like singing John Jacob Jingelmeyer Schmidt...

Ei said...

I'm a lover of frosting my own self...but alas I'm doing weight watchers-I'm in the frosting free zone.

I did my meme, but I don't feel like it is very interesting

Carolie said...

Thanks so much for participating, Ei! Mary, I'm watching and waiting for yours!

Ei, yours isn't just interesting, it's fascinating! Now, of course, I want to know MORE!

Anonymous said...

Hey Carolie,
Thanks for the blog plug...but yikes..now people might read it! Hope the hubby's bday was nice, sorry you weren't together. I heard Gma Betty's surgery went well and Laura's enjoying her time there. We should hear in a few days if Gma can come home or if she needs to stay somewhere (nursing home?) for a few days until she's able to get along with someone helping her at home. Sounds like a long recovery and then the other shoulder will need replaced. Yikes. On a side note...think you'll be able to make Luke's wedding? It would be so great to see you there. Aug. 16. Have a great day, we miss you!

Mary Witzl said...

Hello, Carolie! I've done this finally -- and posted it -- and it was great fun!

Anonymous said...

Hello Carolie,
I recently moved to Sasebo with my husband (actually, he's been her for 4 months already.) I found your blog while I was still in the states, and your information helped me acclimate better than anything else I've found anywhere. Thank you!!
Now for my question... On Wednesday, Jan 30th, my husband and I went to the sushi go round for dinner. We were sitting at the end of the counter on the side away from the door. While we were there, three women and a young boy came in and sat at the booth against the wall (with one booth between us and them.) I couldn't help nearly staring at the woman with her back to the wall and furthest from the shushi. Was that you??? It was weird if it was you. I felt like someone imaginary suddenly came to life.
If you're interested in yet another blog, you can find me at http://eeep97.vox.com.

Thanks!
Kristina

Carolie said...

Yes, Kristina, that was me! I was the one with my back to the wall, furthest from the sushi conveyor belt. And although sometimes I feel not so in touch with reality, I assure you, I'm real! Hee hee hee! I left you a comment on your blog...hope you get in touch!

the planet of janet said...

hey.... email me direct ok? i cant find your addy on your blog anywhere!!

jsongbird4 (at) aol (dot) com....

Ei said...

Sorry Carolie...I didn't have the website yet when I first posted it, but it is up now. www.EmilyRoseBare.com

Namito said...

Ok Carolie...I've toasted about fifteen layers on my marshmallow, and managed to think up some random weirdness in the meantime. It was fun...thanks!

And yeah...I know. The Impling agrees. It's ALL about the icing.

Michelle said...

I'm slowly catching up on my blogging and wanted to thank you for the comment/congrats on the birth of Lucas!

The internet sure can make it feel like a small world!