Before I Turn 50... Update

I've made a start on two of my objectives!

7. Get curtains on all the windows and recover the sofa.

I've gotten the rings sewn on the curtains for the office AND I've gotten them up.

8. Learn to knit and make myself a sweater.

I haven't started the sweater yet, but I have learned to knit, I've finished a (very small) baby blanket and I've got a good start on a scarf. And I have a dozen or so little swatches where I've been trying out different patterns.

Advice for a Younger Me

Hey, High Schooler! Learn to flirt - Mom can do it, Kelly could do it since she was in a stroller, you can do it too! And that means talking to boys occasionally. Now is an excellent time to start dating - now, when everyone is new at it too.

High School Senior? You want to apply to colleges that have a history dept that specializes in British History. No, they don't all have that! And transfer into the AP English class now - Mr. Daniels' class will drive you mad, even if your best friend is in the class too.

Wherever you decide to go to school, live on campus as long as you can. Maybe even try out for Resident Assistant. Moving off-campus is distracting. Oh, and take a computer course or two and buy a Mac. Macs are lots of fun, and you'll absolutely adore being able to revise your essays right up until you print them. Bonus: they'll give you something to talk to guys about!{g}

30 Questions

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
Nope. Pulled over for expired tags, and once for speeding, but that's it.

2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster?
Oh, no! I need to see where we're going.

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
Oh, good heavens. High school?

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
I'm far more accustomed to sleeping alone...

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes. *I* haven't felt them, but I have friends who have.

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
I do. Not wildly creative, but definitely creative.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
I don't know.

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now")
Who? Why?

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
More than I did a few years ago - I've done a lot of website/blog reading since then.

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Sort of - I understand the hands but can't wrap my mind around the betting strategies.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?!
36 hours, definitely. 48? Probably. I'm liable to read all night, then if I have to be somewhere...

12. What's your favorite commercial?
Hmm - any of the "Great Cheese comes from Happy Cows. Happy Cows come from California" ads.

13. Who was your first love?
Matt - I had a crush on him for most of school.

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
Nope.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Of course.

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
Wrong coast.

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
I'm not at all good at it, but I have tried it. Just not recently.

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
Several times a month. In particular, when I've woken up in the morning and then gone back to sleep.

19. What's the one thing on your mind?
Generally, books.

20. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Oh, yes! Dad made a habit of bringing home accident reports (he worked for an insurance co.) I don't take those kinds of risks.

21. What talent do you wish you had?
Music. I can twiddle with a tune on the piano or recorder, and I have a decent singing voice. But I greatly admire and envy those with a gift for music.

22. Do you like Sushi?
No. Very un-Californian of me, but there it is.

23. What do you wear to bed?
Nightgowns or pajamas.

24. Do you truly hate anyone?
No.

25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
No, thank you.

26. Do you know anyone in jail?
Someone who was in jail, yes.

27. What food do you find disgusting?
See #22.

28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
A little. But generally no more than we do as teasing face to face.

29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
No.

30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
I'm not sure.

Grandma Chatham's Sugared Walnuts

Favorite family recipes for Christmas? There are so many to choose from! Especially since Dad & Mom's birthdays are the 23rd and 24th and we celebrate with traditional dinners both nights.

But the recipe I'm sharing is a revival. Grandma Chatham would bring a mincemeat pie (Mom's favorite - actually made with meat! - in Grandma's case, neck of venison) and sugared walnuts. I was never interested in the pie (they made pumpkin for us kids) but I loved the walnuts. The combination of the flavored sugar over the sharp bite of the walnut is wonderful.

I've had the recipe for years and years, but was afraid to play with boiling sugar. Then I started experimenting with different recipes for the Faire, and discovered hot sugar wasn't that scary after all. And so I dug out Grandma's recipe and was amazed and delighted with how easy it was! She flavored hers with cinnamon, or with orange juice and zest, or lemon juice and zest. Since I make these for the Dickens Christmas Fair and Kathleen is allergic to cinnamon, I use allspice.

Martha Chatham's Sugared Walnuts
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons honey
4 cups walnuts
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Bring sugar, water and honey to a boil. Cook 10-12 minutes until sugar sheets between the tines of the fork.
2. Remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon. Cool 1-2 minutes, then add walnuts. Spread on parchment and separate nuts.

Notes: The first time I made these, I dipped the fork in the mix as soon as I started, so I could see the difference between "not done" and "done". I've also eliminated the honey on occasion (I don't always have it in the house) and the recipe works fine.

Historical Reality Shows

I don't have cable at home, so I've only caught snippets of Survivor and other reality shows over the years. But I've had friends and family describe one particular variety - the historically-based ones - The 1900 House, Frontier House (set in 1880s Montana), and Colonial House (set in the 1620s). Since we spend a lot of our free time researching, discussing (and actually doing!) Living History, these shows caught the attention of those of us with cable. The general consensus has been "Man, that looks like fun!" followed by "Good grief, don't these people know anything?" The conclusion was that the producers prefer the totally clueless for the "entertainment" value.

I have no doubt that I could handle the historical challenges - cooking over an open fire or a wood stove, dealing with long skirts and corsets, housework, etc. I certainly have a better grasp of the mind-set of the period than most of the contestants. Of course, getting up so early would be a trial, and the loss of chocolate and books (in most cases) would be unpleasant.

What I don't have is the competitive edge, or the exhibitional bent suitable for confrontational tv. I just wouldn't create the sort of situation that anyone would want to watch!

Good Advice

Hmm - advice. I either don't remember it, or no one offers it much!{g}

When I went off to college, Dad gave me several bits of advice. About the only one I remember - or listened to! - was, "Memorize your numbers." Now, that definitely doesn't qualify as earth-shattering - but after 20 years I can still remember my student ID number. And my SSN. And my current library card number! Made it easy to keep track of various passwords and IDs for various bosses over the years, too.

Another good bit of advice from the parents was, "Move back to Northern California." Very glad I followed that. It got me out of a nothing job and back into school (Round 2 - Sonoma State.) AND back to the end of the state where my family is. Being able to spend the evening with Mom (Dad goes to bed much earlier than she & I do.) Being able to drop in on Kai & Chad for an evening of gaming. Being able to go spend the weekend with Kelly & her crew. All priceless, and only possible because I'm not a 10-12 hour drive away.

I try to follow Grandma Chatham's advice. She'd tell me not to worry, that some day I'd meet the right man, and that I'd know it when I did. I take comfort in the fact that Cousin Marilyn was older than I am now when she finally got married.

Provisional Proposal

I've gotten a few propositions over the years, but only one that came close to a proposal. A college friend once told me that if he had to get married, I'd be one of three women he'd consider asking. I was as much flattered as amused - Aaron's mind just worked that way.

I read a lot of romance novels, so I've read a lot of proposal scenes. Then again, friends and family have set a high standard as well. Two of my brothers-in-law made courting gifts: Mike wrote Kelly short stories, the other Mike made Kai a dagger (to wear with her Renn Faire costume.) Giova gave Shannon a box of letters, she could read all of them but one. We were working the Dickens Fair the weekend he let her read the last one which was his proposal, so Kathleen had the pleasure of presenting her newly-betrothed "daughter" to "Queen Victoria"!

My ideal proposal would be along these lines - something theatrical, extravagant. In the company of friends and family, so we could share the joy immediately.