Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Wednesday's Random Dozen



If it's Wednesday, then it's Bible Study morning, Youth Group night -- and time to join Lid at 2nd Cup of Coffee for a Random Dozen!

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

Last week almost all of us admitted how excruciatingly painful middle school (or junior high, in my case) was. So of course this week, Lid wants us to peel back our fingernails and SHARE a memory from those blasted blessed days. (I think she just wants to see who her real blog friends are that will keep coming back for more torture!)

Well, this is actually a good memory. And it's the start of my word geekiness. My eighth grade teacher (named Miss Gross, and she was 4'11 in all directions and as sweet as can be!) was huge on grammar. We diagrammed sentences almost the entire year. That was unusual even for my day - no one diagrammed sentences any more. Our final exam was to diagram a 100-word sentence! We turned our paper sideways and had to plan really carefully to get it to fit. I think I got a 98 or something. I loved it, and I learned more in English that year than any other year until 11th grade English when I had a phenomenal teacher who focused on literature and writing.

2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

I'm a nerd, but I just love When I'm Sixty-Four.

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

Denim shorts with some side elastic, a scoop-necked shirt, and flip-flops in the summer. In the winter, jeans, fleece sweatshirt, and slip-on mules.

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

Host. I love it and it gives me something to focus on besides small talk, which I'm not very good at.

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

I don't think so. At least I hope not. There's nothing like the smell and feel of a crisp new book. And the warm look of a bookcase filled with well-loved volumes!

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

Experiencing. In nursing school we could have several lectures and read all sorts of stuff about a certain disease or surgery, and I'd be confused. I'd have one patient with it and it would click.

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

Well, there were obvious requirements like being a believer and having my values. But if we're talking shallow things? Greased hair (either unwashed or from product) or being short. I'm 5' 10" and really wanted someone at least as tall as I was.

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

Salty. I love chocolate, but to eat in large quantities - because isn't that what you do with snacks?! - salty is better. Homemade popcorn (not microwaved) is my favorite.

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

My mom's recipe boxes. They've been sitting here for a year and a week.

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

I'm not a Tom Cruise fan, but I loved A Few Good Men. And Top Gun.

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

Either toss it or give it to my man.

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

I love making this in the fall:
APPLE-WALNUT BUNDT CAKE

3 cups flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. apple juice
2 tsp. vanilla
3 large eggs
3 med. Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, peeled & chopped
1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 c. golden raisins.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease & flour a 10-inch Bundt pan. Place all ingredients except apples, walnuts, & raisins in large bowl. Beat at low speed until well-mixed, constantly scraping bowl with spatula. Increase to medium speed & beat 2 minutes, occasionally scraping bowl. Stir in fruit & nuts. Spoon into pan. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until it tests clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. Remove from pan & cool completely. Sprinkle with pwodered sugar to serve.
[NOTE: Can wrap well & freeze up to 1 month.]

And don't let the long list of ingredients intimidate you. This is really a simple recipe. Almost everything gets dumped into one bowl at the beginning, you mix it a bit, and then you add the rest. I love to take this up to the church for the staff to nibble on throughout the day. It makes a great dessert or even a breakfast cake. Enjoy!



Go see some more random folks over at 2nd Cup of Coffee.

And be sure to enter my giveaway this week for Randy Alcorn's new book If God is Good!


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17 comments:

quilly said...

That cake sounds yummy! I had an 8th grade English teacher who made us diagram sentences forEVER. I can't believe you consider that a really good memory! LOL!

Mel said...

love this!!!!!

sara said...

I wish I'd had an english teacher like that....

the bundt cake looks wonderful. I think I will have to make it Sunday for our coffee shop at church!

CeeCee said...

This was fun, thanks for sharing. If I pursue nursing school, I'll keep that in mind.

Melli said...

Two questions that had the most multitudinous possibility of answers - and you and I chose the same ones! LOL! Come on over... you'll see!

This was a fun read! Loved your answers!

Judy said...

I totally agree on the NOT microwaved popcorn! I don't even like the smell microwaved popcorn! LOVE a brand new book too!

Amy@My Front Porch said...

Popping in from Linda's -- we have the same "superficial" requirements for a member of the opposite sex -- glad to meet a fellow "tall girl" :)

Joyce said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe...sounds wonderful!

Barbara H. said...

That cake sounds wonderful -- except for the raisins. :-)

I agree about books.

Wish I'd thought of When I'm 64. I wonder what those guys think about that song now that they're closer to that age.

I used to like diagramming. A 100-word sentence, though, would definitely be a challenge!

Heidi said...

...and..i'm in...whew! Okay.

Thanks for the recipie I need for dessert tomorrow night. My parents are coming.

Heidi@2 Thinks to Share

Cathy said...

That was fun to read!

Skoots1moM said...

fun list...
thx 4 the recipe

Pam said...

Your comfy clothes sound an awful lot like MY comfy clothes! : )

Thanks for the recipe.. .sounds very yummy. I love stuff with apples in it!

Liz said...

I enjoyed diagramming sentences, but I always did well in English. When I tell people that today, they pretty much scoff at me.

Anonymous said...

Yum, that cake sounds amazing!

Jodie | Velour said...

I LOVED your answers too! But how could I not? You sound alot like me. :)

1. I can't remember what year I learned to diagram but I have loved it with a deep and abiding love ever since. If it was in the 7th or 8th Grade though, that's strong enough to redeem those years that the locust ate almost altogether! :) English is by far my favorite subject. By far.

2. I love that song too! It's so cute!

5. Ditto.

(Thanks for visiting me and taking the time to comment! You made my day!)

Susanne said...

Yes, the peeling back of the fingernail is a good description of junior high/middle school. But we love the Lid and will do whatever for her and her meme! LOL.

I'm so with you on salty snacks.

Thanks for your comment at my site. Made me laugh right out loud!