#blogjune 2013 Day 12: In which I bare my insecurities.

The following may indicate my ignorance but I always say, if you don't ask the question you just remain ignorant...

A while back I did a "self-awareness" course which was about becoming self-aware.  (As you might imagine).

For me, it is an uncomfortable and confronting thing to realise how my behaviour affects others' perception of myself.  One of the things the course looked at was "transactional analysis" and the kinds of states one goes to during interactions.  Based on the observations he made of me during the 3 hour course, the facilitator told me I move into the "free child" state a lot.

"The Natural Child is largely un-self aware and is characterized by the non-speech noises they make (yahoo, whee, etc.). They like playing and are open and vulnerable.
The ... Little Professor is the curious and exploring Child who is always trying out new stuff (often much to their Controlling Parent's annoyance). Together with the Natural Child they make up the Free Child." ~ from Transactional Analysis [my emboldening]

I took from his [the facilitator] attitude that this state is not the one to be in if you want to be a leader or considered a rational adult member of staff.  In my defence, I would like to add that on that particular day I was emotionally vulnerable owing to a number of things happening both at work and home.

The questions I find myself asking are these.  In an environment where we are exhorted to be creative, innovative and disruptive in our approach to librarianship, what is the role of the free child?  What is the role of Adult in this environment?

"the Adult in us is the 'grown up' rational person who talks reasonably and assertively, neither trying to control nor reacting aggressively towards others. The Adult is comfortable with themself and is, for many of us, our 'ideal self'." ~ from Transactional Analysis

Or am I reading too much into this?  Are these things unrelated? Have I taken it out of context?

Yesterday someone tweeted this blog entry:

"The antidote to consumption is play: physically and mentally. We have stripped many of our institutions of play as we became heavier with the burden of information to pass on. It is inevitable. But play is not what happens at ‘recess’ or ‘lunch’. Play is not mindless, in the same way not all information is mindless. Compelling information coupled with playful experimentation, helps us create meaning and improve processes." - Consumption Mentality

 While coming from a different perspective, the part about play not being a mindless activity but rather helping us build meaning and improve processes intrigued me.

There is a part of me that wants to justify allowing the creative side of myself to appear in the work environment - this I freely admit. But I do wonder if I'm shooting myself in the foot to let it do so if I wish to be seen as "professional" and having worthy leadership qualities.

On the other hand, I see a real risk of librarians stagnating into starchy, un-interesting creatures with no flexibility if we do not provide a space for playfulness.  Or perhaps I'm just equating "professional" as boring... certainly the times I've been accused of being "not very professional" is when I have been expressing humour or playfulness.

This is very deep. I am interested in your opinion.

School Holidays

So far I have

1. Managed to twist my ankle and nearly faint in the car as a result. It's getting better.  Compression bandages are my friend.

2. Spent far too much at Spotlight. Now have even more fabric to Make Stuff. No really!

3. Took the kids to Greedy Cat at the Pumphouse.  They thought it was great. :-)  Miss 3 was really cute calling out "There!  There!" when they were looking for Greedy Cat.  She then went up to the actor after the play and was patting her like a real cat. Bless.

4. Have not found any shop that sells pool noodles.  "It's the wrong season" is the answer I get.  I need one for my felting class.  Hmmmm.

5. Discovered that there is a dearth of borax in West Auckland.  Well, you can get it with a script from the doctor. I'm not sure why... I checked the uses of it on Wikipedia, and while one of the uses was "to clean the brain cavity of a skull for mounting" I can't see why that should require a script. I'm not going to pay $12.00 for a script for 1/2 cup borax so I'm making washing gloop without it.

Melting the soap.  I managed to find some pure olive oil soap from the craft shop place at Westgate.  NZD$7.50 per 110g bar.  It wasn't cheap!  Then you add the washing soda crystals (and borax if you find some).

Mixing it all up in the bucket with all the water.

Put it in some bottles.

Looking forward to trying it out!

6. Ran various errands, visited dr for check up, set traps for cockroaches *disgusted shudder x 20*
7. Have not even attempted any crafting so far. Meh. Hope that will happen soon.

Day 21: ShoutLaughLove

I'm participating in Suzannah's blogfest ShoutLaughLove.

Sometime back I posted on Facebook a little conversation I overheard in the car while taking Miss3 to daycare.  Mr6 had some wise words for her on the subject of making friends.

"When you see a friend you don't know, you tell them your name and then you play with them all day."

There are things I love about his advice.
1. His willingness to view everyone as a potential friend.
2. The apparent freedom he feels about introducing himself to that person he wants to be friends with.
3. His suggestion on how to grow that friendship.

I'm a shy person and find it difficult to make new friends.  I'm not a natural socialite.  As an adult I've lost that innocence that everyone is a potential friend. There needs to be some kind of connection or commonality before I will reach out and introduce myself. But the funny thing about blogging, Twitter and other social networking venues is that once I've made an online connection I feel more confident about meeting that person in real life.  I'm still a bit shy about it but it's easier for me because the ice has been broken.



If a friendship is to grow it needs to be nurtured and Mr6 is right - you need to spend time with that person.  There are some kinds of friendships that seem to be able to stand up to periods of disconnection, to pick up from where they left off and grow some more.  Others, like marriage, require constant input in order to grow.

This little incident gave me some thoughts to meditate on in terms of my faith, my relationship with God, His graciousness towards me etc.  I don't feel completely comfortable sharing them here, but those of you who are thus minded could probably suss them out.

Day 10: Personal or professional blogging

Sue asks on her blog

Those of us participating in this challenge are not necessarily blogging on professional topics. Of those that aren’t – do you feel constrained in anyway not to speak out on professional topics? I am not saying that you should professionally blog- just wondering if perceptions of risk to career colour that choice. Of those that do post on professional topics- have you ever felt it threatened your career? And even when it’s posts about topics of general interest to the larger profession?

This blog began when I went to a course run at work.  I wanted to find out about blogging and podcasting since "podcast" was the word of the year and I had no idea what it meant! So this space began as a place for me.  I did occasionally post stuff about librarianship but mostly, this blog is a personal one.  Where I brag about my crafts, kids and cooking.

When I went on maternity leave, my blog became my connection with a bunch of scrapbookers and as such was a kind of sanity saving community for me.  Since I returned to work it has been a struggle for me to maintain the momentum for a variety of reasons.  I no longer have as much time to do crafts. The scrapbooking community has moved more to Facebook. Blogs in general seem to be winding down in favour of micro-blogging.

So to answer Sue's question, no I'm not constrained about posting on professional topics on this blog but it isn't a topic that many of my previous readers would want to hear about continually.  I've since joined a professional blog The Diligent Room, and that is where I post about professional stuff.  Sometimes.  Which brings me to my next point.

I don't feel constrained when I post on Diligent Room.  When I began there I informed my boss that I'd be doing this and asked him to let me know if there was a problem with this.  I don't blog about the sticky stuff - I'm no good at controversial or pot-stirring type posts. 

So far, my posts there have been about what we're doing at MPOW because I figure if I like to hear about other libraries activities then other librarians will like to hear about it too.  I tend to blog about what I know and what I feel I am qualified to speak on.  In fact I struggle with think posts.  I do think about things, but I tend to observe and keep my thoughts to myself.  I think I'm afraid of being shot down.

For me, Twitter has become a place for interaction with other librarians.  For me, Facebook is more about family and friends.  Different tools for different communities.  At least, that is how it has evolved for me.

What do you think?

Do they look like my husband more than me? I can vouch that I gave birth to them! But sometimes (like when I'm scanning DH's photos) I think they look more like him.

DH @4yrs

DH @9-10months

DD @ 1yr DS @4yr

Me @ 1yr

Flaunt it Friday:own your dream | 1 Word

themommykelly's FIF theme combines nicely with some other themes about on the "internets". The thing to do instead of making resolutions for the New Year is to concentrate on a word.

I see Ali Edwards is promoting it and I've noticed other places where it has been mentioned - like this thread at SBO's forum.

It is good to have a purpose each day, a sincere desire to achieve something or focus on something. I do have a number of purposes. Some are related to my spiritual life - something I don't talk much about here but which is of primary importance to me. Some are related to my roles as a wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.

The difficulty I find, is remembering these things when the pressure goes on. When the kids are pulling my skirt for attention, DH is ratttling around trying to find his keys/phone/glasses/wallet and I've got to make lunches or stop something from burning - that is the time when I need to remember the most but it's also the time when I don't!

My friend Amy (Crunchy Domestic Goddess) has decided on an approach to get her through the day:

I wrote some motivational phrases to myself and secured them with a magnet in a stack on the refrigerator. For the past two mornings, I’ve gone through the stack to find a phrase that I wanted to apply for the day and moved it to the top of the stack.

I'm going to combine Amy, Ali's, themommykelly's ideas and make myself a word/phrase stack for my fridge. Here are some of the words I'm going to include:

• Love (probably the most important, and one that encompasses a whole range of possibilities).
• Balance
• Prayer
• Faith
• Grace
• Mercy
• Acceptance
• Thankfulness
• Peace
• Joy
• Temperance
• Live mindfully
• Forgiveness
• Today
• Patience
• Kindness
• Gentleness
• Endure
• Choose to be happy
• Little things

Watch this space! I shall post some pics once they are made. Need to get some magnetic stuff...

Peace

I read this blog called No Impact Man - it's a guy and his family who is trying to live in New York City with as little environmental impact as possible. It certainly makes my efforts to reduce my ecological footprint look puny.

However, I noticed this post today and it resonated with me. Particularly this statement.

When I have less internal conflict, I cause less external conflict. When I cause less external conflict, there is less conflict in the world.

You can read his post but basically he comments about an incident at home that could have easily happened in my house and his reaction was one that I recognised.

I need to work on this.

A tisket a tagit

I've been tagged by Ruth! :-) These tag thingies remind me of the stuff we used to do at school with our friends.

My roommate and I once: ate a "midnight feast" which consisted on pickled onions, chips and licorice bullet lollies. eeeuw!

Never in my life have I: been to a tropical island.

High school was : a mixture of great times and some big time cringe factor moments! LOL!

When I’m nervous : bite nails, jiggle my legs, pee a lot

My hair : is getting darker as I get older. I used to be much blonder.

When I was 5 : I was living in England and went to Primrose Hill Primary School. I had a friend called Anunga who was from Africa - we used to feel each other's hair. Mine was long and blonde, his was tight black curls.

When I turn my head left : I see the laundry on the clothes horse and a pile of scrapbooks.

I should be : doing housework or scrapbooking or sewing

By this time next year : I'll be another year older.

My favorite aunt is : is not really my aunt but a close family friend.

I have a hard time understanding : some maths concepts

You know I like you if : I tease you

My ideal breakfast is : Hmmm.... that depends. Yoghurt and muesli is good. Can't go past Toast and Vegemite either. Porridge is good especially with naughty cream and brown sugar. But I wouldn't say no to bacon, egg and pancakes either.

If you visit my home town : you won't find it hard to get a decent coffee

If you spend the night at my house: Small boy might get into bed with you

My Favorite blonde is : my family

My favorite brunette is : my family

The animal I would like to see flying besides birds : pigs? Nah... imagine the mess on your windscreen.

I shouldn’t have been : spending money

Last night I: Went to bed round about 10ish and Small Girl woke me at 1am for a feed.

A better name for me would be : Hey! Small Boy called me a Good Mummy today.

I’ve been told I look like : Brooke Shields - it's the wide mouth ;-)

If I could have any car, it would:be so much better than the one I drive now!!!!

loser

I am now 1 kg under my pre-pregnancy weight! YAY! Last time I got this far I managed to get pregnant again mostly by surprise rather than intention.

Now I need to lose about 7 kgs to get into my BMI range (my goal).

Pity about the saggy baby tummy still but I'm pretty happy about the progress. I think breastfeeding is helping me this time (it didn't last time).

Note to self: Do not get preggers.

Attitude

Ali E had this on her blog recently. I needed the reminder.

A quote by Charles Swindoll:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.

My italics...

Some things I have difficulty dealing with are entirely because I need an attitude adjustment. As someone said, opportunities are often disguised as inconveniences and so if I have the right attitude I can take advantage of them in a positive way. It doesn't have to be in a looking-on-the-bright-side-Pollyanna type of way (because some things are just not happy situations). But as a maturing adult I can change my attitude towards some situations to improve how I cope.

It's done

I posted off my resignation letter this morning. Shed a few tears about it. It's a bit of a step into the dark for me but I hope it will work out for the best. DH and I have discussed it ad nauseum and we think it is the best option for now.

There were so many different factors to consider and this seemed the simplest option. MPOW has been very flexible in the past but their situation and management has changed and I don't think they have the ability to do it this time. To be honest, I don't want to go back into the position I was in anyway. Then there is the child care issue and the logistics of two.

Anyone want to hire a librarian to work from home? Have a broad subject knowledge including natural sciences, health and alternate health science, and engineering. Highly web literate. Could do cataloguing at a pinch....

*sigh*

Swap Pins

I'm hoping to get to SENZ07 next week (probably on Friday). Can't do any classes because of DD but I still like to go along.

So I've made some swap pins on the off chance there is somebody who will want to swap with me! Apparently the recommended amount is 50 but there is no way I could imagine needing so many so I've made 10. I figure I'm not a famous scrapper or blogger so there won't be that many people who'll recognise me or want mine. Just being realistic.

If you're going to SENZ and see me there please do say hello (and you can have one). I'm not an extrovert person despite how I appear on this blog; I'm actually pretty shy but if I recognise you I will make an effort to say hello.

I'm having a mediocre day today. Feeling like I don't excel in anything. An average scrapper, a good-enough mum/wife, average crafter. I probably was a good reference librarian but only an okay web librarian. Just one of those days I suppose. Need a hug from hubby or something.

Thoughts about ANZAC Day

The past week has just been insane so I didn't post this on the day, but in the spirit of Amy's honest blogging I wanted to write a little about my ANZAC Day thoughts even though the 25th April has gone.

That's DH's grandad in the picture. He was a rifleman in WWI. He and his brother came back. He was fine but his brother suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder for the rest of his life and spent some time in Carrington Hospital.

My grandfathers were considered "vital to the war effort" because they were farmers and therefore didn't go to war. My great-uncle did and was a POW who had to work on the Burma Railway. Regrettably, his experience coloured my grandparent's views of Japanese people to this day.

I struggle with ANZAC Day because I'm of two minds about it. On one hand I feel a great thankfulness for people who were willing to fight for the freedom and peace we know today in this country. I don't wish to belittle the efforts made by those who died. Many who went did so because of their strong belief in the "rightness" of their calling. They shouldn't be forgotten, and I believe that's what ANZAC Day is about. That and Never Again.

On the other hand, I know that if war should occur again I would feel uncomfortable with the idea of going to fight because of my personal beliefs. I've actually known some men who were willing to be despised and rejected by society because they stood up for those same beliefs. They have no memorial day and their sacrifice is more poignant to me because it isn't recognised by most. True, those in NZ didn't die (AFAIK) because they were conscientious objectors. (Those in Germany were sent to Dachau and most didn't survive). They suffered a loss of freedom, loss of community status and some I know suffered physically (healthwise) and mentally.

I think it is part of becoming an adult that one can have this friction of feelings about some things. When you're a child, things tend to be black and white. As a teenager, you feel things passionately and can argue either side with conviction. As an adult, the areas of "grey" become evident to you.

tagged... twice!!

OK - Ruth & Lucy both tagged me so I'd better do this! 7 random facts about me.
1. I am 33% geek according to a geek survey I did.
2. I love gardening but am terrible at weeding.
3. I would like to take up painting (as in art) one day.
4. I wanted to be a surgeon when I grew up but changed my mind when I didn't get into med school, (thank goodness). Then I wanted to be a marine biologist for a while but I get seasick while snorkeling. So I am one of the few librarians with a science degree.
5. I am a New Zealander but also have citizenship in Australia -my folks came to NZ to live and I was born here, but my Dad registered me in Oz too. I have had an Ozzie passport as well as an NZ one though I've let it lapse at present.
6. I started school at Primrose Hill Primary School in London. My Dad had a sabbatical there when we were little. I came home with a British accent. People tell me I still don't have a strong NZ accent.
7. I want to travel some more around the world but get air sick really easily. I've tried so many remedies!

Easter is finished

This time last year I discovered I was expecting DD. I suppose it's appropriate given Easter originally is a fertility festival. Personally I blame those pagan fertility buns (hee hee!). Well, some folks claim they pre-date Christianity. I don't really care either way and would eat them throughout the year! Bron Marshall has some nice recipes for them.

The E-bunny only visited DS this year. I am helping to prevent child obesity by filching his mini-eggs.

5 Quirks

I've been tagged by Mel... to share 5 quirks or eccentricities of mine.

1. I hate leaving dishes to be done later after a meal... they HAVE to be done as soon as we have finished eating and cleared the table.

2. I have this thing about flies. I stalk them with the fly spray. I know, I know... terribly bad chemicals etc but I just can't bear having them around.

3. My day doesn't feel properly started unless I can have a shower. And the shower has to be HOT. Like nearly stinging hot. If I don't have a shower I feel gross for the whole day.

4. I always eat my meat last at mealtimes. This stems from my mum telling me to eat my veges first.

5. I like to squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom up. DH and DS squeeze in the middle. Ack!

Hmmm - not that interesting really!
I tag Amy and Heather if they have time and feel like doing this.

Conundrums

Why is it that...

• despite there being 24 nursing pads in a box, and only 2 boobies to apply them to I always end up with one extra one left over?
• the sock demon who lives in my washing machine only takes socks belonging to DS?

Preparation

• Christmas puddings. Check. Yum, yum, wanted to eat them as soon as they were cooked!
  
• Christmas cake. Check. Feeding it with rum now... hick.
  
• Sew some breastfeeding tops. Check.
• Take up second hand maternity skirts so they aren't around my ankles. Check.
  
• Bassinette set up. Check. *sentimental sweet moment*
  
• Drawers in spare room cleaned out. Check - 2 bags of rubbish removed! But what do I do with all this writing paper I never use anymore?
• Baby clothes in cleaned out drawers. Check. *another sentimental sweet moment*
  
• DS clothes weeded so the too small stuff is now in storage. Check.
• Tidy up garage shelves. Check.
  
• Clean out cupboard in spare room and store stuff on the garage shelves. Check.
  
• Scrapbooking & sewing stuff packed away neatly in cupboard. Check. Boo hoo! But at least I can get it out easily enough.
• Make extra at dinner time so I have some meals to freeze. Check. Should do some more though.
  

Stuff still to do

• Christmas shopping - this week and next
• Pack labour bag and DS's "going to Nan's house" bag
• Clean kitchen cupboards and venetian blinds (ick ick ick)
• Weed garden, plant more lettuce and radishes, stake tomatoes and get more netting for beans to climb on. Plant more veges.
• Clean windows.
• Wash baby clothes, sling and baby gym stuff.
• Sterilise breast pump and accessories.
• Take DS's kindy enrolment form in

Haven't been blogging much because of all this stuff to do.

Thoughts on finishing work

Tomorrow is my last day at work... paid work that is. It's a bitter-sweet moment.

Sweet

• I'm proud of what I've achieved while I've been working here. There's been a number of projects I have either been asked to run or have initiated.
• I've developed as a librarian professionally and also in terms of my personal development.
• I have enjoyed working with a variety of hard-working, friendly colleagues.
• The tertiary institute who employs me has been a mostly benign and sometimes even generous employer for whom I would gladly work for again.

Bitter

• I won't miss the various frustrating issues that have had me despairing of ever bringing this library into the Web 2.0 era
• I won't miss the awful coffee in the staff room and the ludicrously priced food there. ($2.00 for a small pot of yoghurt? I don't think so!)
• I will miss my pay packet and am not looking forward to having to live on one income
• I will miss the interaction and intellectual stimulation from working with my colleagues and our clients.
• I will miss the opportunities for career advancement and professional development
• I will miss the validation and affirmation that paid employment brings to my sense of well-being

Sweet

• I can look forward to meeting my new baby
• My week will not be so stressful because I won't have just 2 days to run errands! Well, that's the theory.
• I will be able to do stuff with my other SAHM friends that I've had to decline in the past

These last few days have been tricky. On one hand I've been a little bored because things are quiet. Obviously starting a new project is not really worth it because I can't follow it through and my replacement won't start immediately. At the same time, there are a few projects that will continue without me and I won't be around to see them come to fruition which makes me sad.

People mean well when they say, "Oh well, you won't have to worry about that" but I'm afraid I am a bit over sensitive about such comments. My brain doesn't just switch off. I am still a person capable of intellectual thought and reasoning. My focus and priorities are going to change, it is true, but I retain an interest in my profession.

On the whole I feel positive about the next 12 months. I don't think I'll be returning to work (it's not financially viable to work part time with 2 kids in daycare), but if necessary I could. In the meantime, I'm going to focus on my family, friends and try and enjoy the challenges life throws up!

A meme for fun

Feel free to do this meme I found ...

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
It wasn't a concious thought but would have been something like:"Get comb ... comb out wet hair".

2. Favorite planet?
Earth - never been anywhere else!

3. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
My Mum/Dad's number.

4. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
It's not a phone with fancy rings so I have it on a plain one.

5. Do you “label” yourself?
umm.. I s'pose I do. I stick myself in several boxes.

6. What does your watch look like?
Silvery. It was my engagement present from DH. It is at the jewellers getting a new brain right now.

7. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Possibly sleeping, possibly visiting the smallest room.

8. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
"Hi - just wondering how u r & how your day. Love N." From SIL.

9. What's a word that you say a lot?
Indeed.

10. Last furry thing you touched?
*snicker*

11. Favorite age you have been so far?
26 maybe. But I don't feel too much different from then so get surprised when I think about how old I am.

12. Your worst enemy?
Oh - me for sure.

13. What is your current desktop picture?
An old layout I did of DS.

14. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"Where?" *trying to see some suspected thieves in our library*

15. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
Give me ze money. Then I can fly whereever I like! LOL!

16. Do you like someone?
Well duh! yes!

17. The last song you listened to?
Something they were playing at daycare - probably something like Bob the builder.

18. What time of day were you born?
Around 3pm I think.

19. What's your favorite number?
Don't really have one - maybe 7.

20. Where did you live in 1987?
At the beginning of the year we were in Germany and then England, and then we came home to NZ.

21. Are you jealous of anyone?
Sometimes. It's usually a temporary thing. I have a pretty good life! LOL!

22. Is anyone jealous of you?
Dunno. I'd hardly think so.

23. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Asleep. I heard about it on the radio going to work and we spent the a lot of the day at work glued to the TV and internet. After a while it just got too much and we turned the TV off. Everyone was subdued.

24. Do you consider yourself kind?
On the whole yes.

25. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
Somewhere where it could be covered like my butt. I'm not into tatts.

26. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
French/German/Chinese

27. Would you move for the person you loved?
Of course!

28. What's your life motto?
Not sure I have a permanent one. "It won't matter in 100 years" is sometimes helpful. "Do unto others etc" is a good 'un.

29. What's your favorite town/city?
I'm a homebod. I like Auckland. But I liked Wellington when I lived there for a while. I think I could be happy enough in most places in NZ. Indigenous people don't have a monopoly on "connection to the land". I've noticed that when I've been overseas and come back to NZ I always have this big feeling of relief to be back on NZ soil. However interesting the other country may have been, I feel displaced until I'm back. Another funny thing is I feel odd when I'm in a landlocked place... somehow the coastal areas always seem so much more comfortable.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
Do Christmas cards count? I sent a bunch on Friday last week. I used to write a lot of letters but now my communication medium of choice is email/IM/Txt etc.

31. Can you change the oil on a car?
Nup. I can change a tire though. And put petrol in the car. And drive it.

32. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
He got stranded hang gliding off some cliff.

33. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
Um - Mum's been doing some stuff on this and I think she's got back (so far) to the early 1800's. Not sure about the dates on Dad's side but we know where they came from in England so that would make it mid-1800's anyway. It's neat looking at the old photos - I have an interest in genetics, so I'm always comparing them with me.

34. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
Fancy? Depends on what you mean by fancy. I get dressed up for church on Sunday so if you count that it would be a maternity skirt I made plus a plain white maternity blouse. If you mean fancy/schmancy then it would be at my wedding in 1999! LOL!

35. Have you been burned by love?
Oh yes. Got to kiss a few frogs before getting the right one ;)