Friday, September 04, 2009

Honest or Just Scrap?

Carol Kilgore of the wonderful blog, Under the Tiki Hut, gave me the Honest Scrap Award. I’ve received this one before, but it’s been awhile. And I’m glad I got it again because it confirms that all my scrap is honest, or at least Carol thinks so. Although I’m not sure how Carol would know since nothing on her blog is scrap.

Another good thing about the Honest Scrap Award is it’s fairly easy to pass along. Here are the rules:
The award rules are simple - pass the award to seven worthy bloggers who post from the heart, and list ten honest things about yourself.
I’m going to make an addendum to the rules:
You don’t have to pass it along, unless you want to, but you do have to list 10 honest things about yourself.
I added the caveat because last week I passed on awards to 17 people and I’m tagging some of the same ones again.

Seven Fabulous Bloggers who Post From the Heart:

Lisa Gurney of My Life As a Daughter

Tabitha Bird of books, bubs and writing blabber

Sylvia Dickey Smith of Lessons to Live By

Karen Walker of Karen…following the whispers

Patricia Stoltey of Patricia Stoltey

Christina Rodriguez of Christiina Rodriguez

Elspeth Antonelli of It’s a Mystery

And now for 10 honest things about me (really, I’m being honest):

1. I’m not nearly as observant as I think I am. I read mysteries. I write mysteries. And yet when the neighborhood burglar apparently knocked on my door this week, I talked to him and paid so little attention to him that the only information I was able to give the police was that he had no license plate on the front of his car.

2. I really hate to shop. I inherited my miserly ways from my dad.

3. I’m more like my dad than my mother which is odd since my parents divorced when I was three and I grew up in a house of all women.

4. The older I get, the more content I am.

5. I have more close women friends now than at any point in my life.

6. I got an email from Bob Phillips recently. He’s famous on TV as the Texas Country Reporter. He may interview me for his documentary on 50 years of Aquarena Springs. (Not my 50 years, mind you. I only swam there three.)

7. I’m not going to be able to compete in next year’s Olympics. My left knee has been bothering me so much I was having trouble going up and down stairs. Physical therapy wasn’t working. So my doctor decided I should go on one round of what he called giant hormones because he felt the knee was inflamed. I’m 7 days into the treatment and just found out “giant hormones” is code for steroids. Now I’ll never pass the pee test for the 1500 meter relay swim. Dang.

8. I’ve discovered I like writing nonfiction. Never would have thunk it. But from the first book I did for TSTC Publishing, TechCareers: Automotive Technicians, to the fourth I’ve been asked to write (although have not been given the topic yet), I’ve enjoyed the interviewing, the researching and the writing.

9. I’m adjusting. To treating my kids as adults, which they now are. To my husband officing out of the house. To sitting at the computer all day.

10. I do not like to argue or debate or get involved in conflict. I have my own political beliefs, but keep them to myself (husband excepted). I usually take on the role of mediator in tense situations. If pushed, I won’t take up the gauntlet. My son, however, loves to argue. Not necessarily with me, just debate in general. Whatever side you take, he’ll take the opposite. And win.

That’s it. Honest. That’s all my scrap. So, please visit the blogs I recommend and find out their Honest Scrap.
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33 comments:

  1. Honestly? More close women friends now than ever? That's pretty neat, Helen. It's difficult, I've found, to develop and maintain real close friendships as life moves on. At least the real, in person, hanging out together kind - no time, like we had in schoolyears.

    But the wonderful internet HAS been a blessing for forging a large number of "e-friends" - like you, for instance. :)

    Enjoyed the 10 things, I also am more content the older I get - pretty cool.

    Marvin D Wilson

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  2. Sorry about those Olympics. Stop if you begin growing facial hair though...

    And I HATE to shop as well! My husband does the grocery shopping and it's rare I go out to shop for clothes or anything.

    L. Diane Wolfe “Spunk On A Stick”
    www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com

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  3. I hate shopping too!

    The neighborhood burglar visited you? Scary!

    Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

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  4. Getting used to treating your children like adults is HARD! At least it was for me. Congratulations on your award!

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  5. Bob Phillips? How cool is that!

    And since this is the second Honest Scrap award I've received, I guess I'm going to have to do it. I'll wait until I finish the 10 Lessons.

    Burglar? Yikes! And you who pay such close attention to every word we write! LOL

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  6. Enjoyed finding out more about you. Hope the knee improves soon. My daughter was like your son - loved to debate any issue from the opposite side - she's now a lawyer!

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  7. Congrats on 're-winning' thin one, Helen...you are most deserving!

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  8. It is difficult to see your kids as adults, isn't it? I still slip now and then, but the good news is I catch myself.

    And I am so thankful for my friends, both my in-person friends and my Internet friends.

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  9. Something told me I should visit your blog early today. How fun! Congratulations on winning yet another award, Helen. I guess that's one of the reasons we like to hang out here. I love Karen's idea of meeting up someday somewhere.

    And thank you for including me in the recipients. I consider that a great honor.

    From your list--I focused on the knee thing because I'm fighting that battle in an effort to postpone knee replacement surgery a few more years. I found that the positions and exercises in Pete Egoscue's Pain Free book very helpful (along with the usual ice packs, elevation). A lot of my knee problems are the result of lousy posture.

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  10. It's great getting to know you better, Helen. Congratulations on your second Honest Scrap. Btw, have you tried taking Osteo Biflex for your knee? I injured both of mine in a serious fall and it stopped the pain within five days. No problems since.

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  11. Thank you for honouring me with this award, Helen although I'm not sure my blog is honest or just scrap!

    I'm like your son with loving to debate. I did debate in high school and was actually on my province's team twice.

    Not a lawyer though. Did do acting for a while so I've played several on stage! And I'd be more of a shopper if it wasn't my money I was spending!

    Elspeth

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  12. I can relate to playing the mediator rather than arguing or debating. Such a waste of time and energy. Congrats on the award. I'll take the idea and use it next week. Have a great weekend.

    Stephen tremp
    http://stephentremp.blogspot.com/

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  13. That stinks about the burglar, but don't be too hard on yourself. Once when I was a teenager, I sunbathed the entire time the house next door was being robbed. I didn't hear or see anything at all but still kicked myself for not just "knowing" that something was amiss. These things happen, though, and since then I've become much more observant.

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  14. If we could all just figure out a central meeting place, it would definitely be fun to sit and yak.

    And thank you all for the knee advice. Jean, Osteo Biflex sounds so familiar. I think I've tried it. Patricia, I'd not heard of Pete Egoscue's Pain Free book, but I will look for it. I need to go to B&N & pick up two of Morgan Mandel's books that I ordered.

    Elspeth, I thought you looked familiar. I think I've seen you on TV - or maybe I've seen you on set. I've been an extra - usually lady in the back of the court.

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  15. Christina, I've replayed the burglar's visit in my head. In my head, I snap his picture with my cell phone. I watch him turn around in the driveway and write down his license plate number (he had no license plate in front). Or I just flat don't open the door.

    Gotta let it go, though!

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  16. I guess it's the 'big city' in me, but I haven't answered the door for 20 years. Scary that you were talking to him, Helen! Glad you're all right. :)

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  17. I love to shop, more often than not. I can't shop if I only have a small amount of time, but I will in a pinch. It's better than nothing. I enjoy the shopping experience and usually come back with lots more than I went for.

    I am very unobservant of what people look like. I can see a person every day and not be able to describe that person very well.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
    http://choiceonepublishing.com

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  18. Here’s the good news about the burglar. He was probably checking to see if anyone was home at your place. Now, he’ll not be back because he knows you’re there. So, there’s some good effect came from all of this.

    Best Regards, Galen
    Imagineering Fiction Blog

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  19. That's pretty much what the police said, Galen. They think he was the scout of the group - checking to see if anyone was at home.

    How do you not answer the door, Laura? I will probably continue to answer the door, but, when home alone, I'll keep the "guard" door closed and locked. Until our bump-in-the-road town decided to build a mall and a huge shopping center and put up stoplights, we had very little crime. Bleh on progress.

    Morgan, I'm going to send you to do all my shopping.

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  20. So great learning all those honest things about you, Helen. I hate shopping, too. My husband always says I'm not observant, but I tell him I notice different things than he does. Scary about the burglar.

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  21. Great getting to know more about you. We have several things in common. I, too, hate to shop, and I grew up in a house of just women. My parents divorced when I was about three.

    Good luck with the knee rehab.

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  22. Maryann, that's the mark of a strong woman. My story, I'm sticking to it.

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  23. Thanks for the award Helen :) Made me smile a big smile :))

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  24. I hate shopping too! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    S

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  25. Lolol! Sorry about the Olympics miss Helen. What a shame. I hate steroids and they like me too much--they always leave me with something extra, weight. So I try to avoid them like the plague.

    I hear you on contentment and girlfriends. I enjoy that aspect of getting older, lolol!

    Hate to argue or battle. Not to say I won't stand my ground, because I will and very emphatically when there is a need. But I tend to pick my battles and win the war. So much in life is just not worth the fuss. the only exceptions to that is seeing someone mistreat a child or an animal and then I'm afraid I just jump in without care or thought and could care less if it's messy or confrontational.

    Be sure to post a link when your interview comes out. :-)

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  26. Congratulations on your award; it certainly is a much deserved homage. I must say, you chose excellent recipients to pass the award on to. I saw a couple I am not familiar with and will definitely check them out - I love blog hopping, lol! Thanks for the links.
    Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

    Nancy, from Realms of Thought…

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  27. Didn't you have a serial killer in your garden the other time? They say we attract things to us..... anyway let's leave that.

    Fun list. I also HATE shopping. But Helen, when you come to visit me in Bots you must be ready - we are all fighters. Both of my children are champion debaters. We will disagree with each other just to get practice . HA!

    Sorry about you knee.

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  28. Didn't you have a serial killer in your garden the other time? They say we attract things to us..... anyway let's leave that.

    Fun list. I also HATE shopping. But Helen, when you come to visit me in Bots you must be ready - we are all fighters. Both of my children are champion debaters. We will disagree with each other just to get practice . HA!

    Sorry about you knee.

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  29. Didn't you have a serial killer in your garden the other time? They say we attract things to us..... anyway let's leave that.

    Fun list. I also HATE shopping. But Helen, when you come to visit me in Bots you must be ready - we are all fighters. Both of my children are champion debaters. We will disagree with each other just to get practice . HA!

    Sorry about you knee.

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  30. Do deserve every award you get Helen. You have a great blog here. I'll be sure to check out those blogs you listed.
    ~jon

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  31. Ah, that was supposed to read, "You do deserve every award you get, Helen." Sometimes my finger thingies and my brain thingy don't talk to each other well. :p
    ~jon

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