Colett tagged (all who read her blog, and I had to try to figure out what being “tagged” meant”) so I assume it means you have to do what she did on her blog? I have yet to post pictures from around my house (another tag), but here are my answers to the 32 questions of “getting to know me better”:
1. Do you like Blue Cheese?
. . . Love, love, love it, but when I was younger, I couldn't stand it. Our tastes change, I guess – literally! You young folk out there, Marry with that in mind so you choose good things for the future (chuckle)!
2. Have you ever smoked?
. . . No, I could never figure that one out as something cool to do, even in my rebellious youth! I have never had an inclination to drink coffee either. I don't like heated drinks much!
3. Do you own a gun?
. . . For 24 years in a law enforcement career, a gun was necessarily glued to me - but not because I like them. But I do know how to use one!
4. What do you think of hot dogs?
. . . I like them wrapped up in cornmeal (yummy corn dogs) and dipped in mustard. However, they don't like me much, so I never eat them.
5. Favorite Christmas movie?
. . . “It's a Wonderful Life” - Hands down!
6. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
. . . Kangen Water – I never drink anything else anymore. I'm totally addicted to it.
go to: http://www.mykangenwateringhole.com/
7. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
. . . My watch – I paid far more for it than any other jewelry item than I have ever had (other than my wedding ring). It's probably not really classified as jewelry (though it looks more like a nice bracelet to me). I paid a lot for it so I could have a sealed “diving watch” that did not look like a diving watch back when I was an avid swimmer.
8. Favorite hobbies:
. . . Writing music, singing, gardening, family history research and hiking. I also like my computer.
9. Do you have A.D.D.?
. . . No, Not at all. Unless daydreaming during a boring class counts. I'd drift off and stay gone 'till class was over. I rarely get bored because I can entertain myself mentally so well. - Should I have admitted that?
10. What's one trait you hate about yourself?
. . . I would like it if I would never let myself get depressed or worry too much about things. I would like to have one of those personalities that is just so joyful and grateful all the time. For instance, two guys end up in a terrible wreck, and their cars roll six times. They are, however, not hurt. One guy says, “Wow! Look at that car. I am the luckiest person alive to get out of than without a scratch”, vs. the other guy who gets out and looks at his car and cries and moans, “Oh No! look at my car, it is ruined! What will I ever do? . . . How will I get to work? . . . what if my insurance doesn't cover this?" etc.
11. Middle Name?
. . . Kay
12. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
1) That they spelled my middle name wrong on my retirement plaque (Kaye),
2) I need to clean my house . . . and
3) I wonder if my check stub will arrive today, as I need to do my budget as soon as possible.
13. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
. . . Kangen Water and occasionally milk, which I still love but drink far less of these days. There just isn't a third anymore. I swore off Dr. Pepper in 2002.
14. Current worry?
. . . Paying my debts, Jim's physical and mental heath, and Jon's life choices at the moment.
15. Current hate right now? Hate? that's pretty strong! However . . .
. . . Spookie, my cat, is getting really old (20) and her hair is matting and falling out. Her poor eyes have cataracts and she is skinny as a rail. Nothing but matted hair and skin on bones but she won't let me brush her as it seems to hurt. Then she stands in front of my computer screen and blocks it. I just look at her and feel so sad for her. (Still, why does she have to stand in front of my computer screen?) Poor Kitty!
16. Favorite place to be?
. . . I love being in the hills hiking; it always feels so good. I also love being at my Mom and Dad's house. I think I love hiking the Pryor Mountains more than any place! I also love being in my garden.
17. How did you bring in the New Year?
. . . Ummmm . . . Did I bring in the new year? I probably stayed home and went to bed since I can't remember it. I used to stay up and celebrate it with my kids with a fun bubbly (non alcoholic) beverage, but my kids were all off celebrating this year without me, since they have all grown up. I no longer have a tradition to celebrate, so I'll have to make a new one somehow!
18. Where would you like to go?
. . . on a Book of Mormon tour in the Latin America's. I'd also love to go to England on a Family History tour.
19. What shirt are you wearing right now?
. . . A black light knit shirt with white buttons on the front and one of Jamie's new “T-Letts” (that she now makes and sells) underneath it (for modesty). I quite like her T-letts . . . they are great! Try one!
20. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
. . . Yes! But I don't like taking care of them, so I have the plain old cotton kind.
21. Can you whistle?
. . . Very, very poorly . . . No, Actually.
22. Favorite Color?
. . . Like my sister Joan and my Grandmother Eyre, red is my favorite color and any of it's variations.
23. Would you be a pirate?
. . . No! That's kind of like asking if I'd like to be a hooker! But I like the 'pretend' pirate fun it seems to be on Halloween.
24. What songs do you sing in the shower?
. . . What songs don't I sing! All the time, everything, anything – it's my OCD.
25. Favorite girl's name?
. . . I love the name “Onna” - and/or “Onya” - but favorites change, I suppose, with the wind! I named myself “Marky Onna” when I was doing undercover work for 9 years. That was fun! I love my Mom's name “Leta” as long as it is pronounced with the “T” and not a “D” and I love the name “Hope”.
26. When is the last time you laughed?
. . . Yesterday. I need a good laugh today, and fortunately for me, the day is not over . . . hoping, hoping, hoping! Sometimes you have to take things into your own hands and find something to laugh about!
27. Worst injury you've ever had?
. . . I have not ever had a really serious injury. I tore my earlobe piercing clean through one time. I had to have a plastic surgeon sew it back together.
28. Do you love where you live?
. . . Yes! I do love it out here in the west desert. I love it that I have a home at all, since there was a time I wondered if I would be driving my kids around in my car. My home is small, but wonderful. I love the hills and mountains right next to me where I hike, and the clear skies at night. The stars are magnificent. I love the lizards, mountain lions, birds of prey, coyotes and foxes. I love my sunflowers, the trees 
I've planted, and the 
wild flowers. I don't like the traffic issues at the moment, but they are fixing that, and one day that will be better.
29. What's your favorite book(s)?
. . . The Hiding Place, and the Harry Potter books. The scriptures too!
30. What is your favorite candy?
Deep, deep, deep, dark chocolate. I also like a good black licorice, but I'm picky. I'm not much of a candy fan, I'm afraid. Give me broccoli!
31. Favorite sports team?
I Don't follow team sports much, but I guess if I had to pick something, it would be the Jazz (because Jon loves them) or BYU (whatever they happen to be doing – gymnastics maybe?) because they represent (I hope) the church I love.
32. What song do you want played at your funeral?
I say, skip the funeral (have a very quick graveside service and bury me in a large but inexpensive ginger jar with a soft blanket). THEN - celebrate my passing with a wonderful formal ball complete with an orchestra (and everybody is required to dance). Play and dance to some of the music I've written (the only place I'll probably ever have a concert of that music), and also include in the mix, one of my favorites: “Black is the Color of my True Love's Hair.” End with gratitude to God, with a sincere prayer and the songs, “If you could Hie to Kolob” and “Come thou Fount” . . . especially the lines:
“Prone to wander Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for thy courts above”
That's what I want! But, alas, I believe whatever works best for those laying my body to rest, (and that which my budget can afford) and makes them feel the most comfort – that's what would be the best!
I just wanted to say goodbye to my sweet cat, Spookie. She was a stray who wandered into our Highland home in 1990 - already an adult cat, she was sick and starving then. I just could not resist keeping her, because when I would pick her up, she would put her arms (do cats have arms?) around my neck and hug me. Her hugs saved her life . . . and some days, mine!
