50 Questions

50 Questions You May Have Never Been Asked:


1. First thing you wash in the shower?

Hair.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?

I don't have any hoodies. My favorite house sweater is a black and light gray checked blanket sweater.

3. Do you plan outfits?

I do for church on Sundays. I pick them out the night before so I don't have to take the time to do it in the morning.

4. How are you feeling right now?

Fine.

5. What's the closest thing to you that's red?

My phone.

6. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?

I dreamed that Tom Hiddleston had shown up for fans dressed as Loki. Everyone wanted to greet him after his performance and get autographs. I could tell he was tired, so I didn't approach him and hoped that he could leave soon and rest.

7. Did someone disappoint you today?

No.

8. What are you craving right now?

Nothing.

9. What comes to mind when you think of cabbage?

Yuck.

10. Have you ever counted to 1,000?

I don't think so.

11. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick?

I bite it if it's on a cone, but I usually eat ice cream in a cup or bowl.

12. Do you like your hair?

No.

13. Do you like yourself?

I reckon.

14. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?

No. I have no reason to and I don't like eating around people who aren't family.

15. What are you listening to right now?

Nothing.

16. Were your parents strict?

Not really.

17. Would you go sky diving?

No.

18. Do you like cottage cheese?

No.

19. Have you ever met a celebrity?

Yes. Richard Simmons back in about 1989 at a mall in Ohio.

20. Do you rent movies often?

No. Maybe a few times a year.

21. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?

I have a "gold" Loki Pop, but it's more shiny than sparkly.

22. Have you made a prank phone call?

Maybe when I was a teenager.

23. Ever been on a train?

Yes. Tweetsie Railroad a couple times and a small train in Ohio.

24. Brown or white eggs?

White.

25. Do you use chap stick?

No. I use Vaseline lip therapy.

26. Can you use chop sticks?

No.

27. Are you too forgiving?

I don't believe in being too forgiving. God commands us to forgive.

28. Ever been in love?

Yes.

29. Last time you cried?

At church this past Sunday.

30. What was the last question you asked?

I don't remember.

31. Favorite time of the year?

Spring and fall.

32. Do you have any tattoos?

No.

33. Are you sarcastic?

Once in a while.

34. Ever walked into a wall?

Yes.

35. Favorite color?

Green.

36. Have you ever slapped someone?

Yes.

37. Is your hair curly?

No.

38. What physical characteristics do you first notice about someone?

Eyes and teeth.

39. What was your first vehicle?

White 1989 Honda Accord DX.

40. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

Red 2007 Honda CRV.

41. Do you sleep with the TV on?

I've often napped on the couch with the TV on.

42. Can you handle the truth?

Depends on what it's about and how it's said.

43. Do you have good vision?

Thanks to Lasik eye surgery in 2007, but I'll probably need reading glasses someday soon.

44. What is your favorite vacation destination?

Southport and Cape Lookout.

45. Do you have any pets?

Yes. One cat and two dogs.

46. How many pillows do you sleep with?

One.

47. Do you enjoy roller coasters?

No.

48. Do you believe in miracles?

Yes.

49. What is your favorite drink?

Ice water.

50. What color is the shirt you are wearing?

Black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Upcoming Wedding, Books, and Time With my Daughter

Sean and Ashley have been together for several years. They've been engaged for the last couple years. This past fall, they set the date for March 21st of this year. So, it looks like they will be getting married in two months. (But didn't announce it until last week.)

While they are old enough (Sean will be 23 in April and Ashley will be 24 in July), they're not ready financially. *sigh* Neither of them has a car and Sean only works part time. He says he'll look for a full time job after the wedding because if he were to start a full time job before that, he probably couldn't get time off for the wedding and honeymoon so soon after starting a new job.

They will live with my mom. Which means my brother (who moved in with her two years ago for a good reason, but should've moved out after no more than a year) will have to move out.

I'm not ready for my son to move out. Mostly because I know he's not ready. But he won't be far away. My mom only lives a mile or two from me.

I'm praying that God will help Sean get a good job and a car and help him and Ashley make good decisions about their future.

Can't believe I'm going to be a mother-in-law. I hope I'll be a good one. lol

Oh, and Kelly will be a bridesmaid. Ashley is still trying to choose a dress for the bridesmaids. Hopefully that happens soon. Two months isn't much time to get a wedding planned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've gotten a few more songs since the last time I posted about that.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I ordered a new denim skirt from Cato. I had seen it online a couple months ago I guess, but didn't see it at the store when I went. I finally decided to order it and it was on sale for $11.99. Originally $24.99. I really like it.

There's another denim skirt from Cato I'd like to get, but I didn't see it at their store when Kelly and I went on Saturday. I'm thinking about ordering it.

 Price: $24.99. The belt comes with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finally finished reading The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth yesterday morning. I had started it in October and then put it aside so I could read The Toll (3rd book in the Scythe trilogy) by Neal Shusterman. Both books were disappointing. LBW was the third 2-star book in a row. *sigh* It's really too much to get into, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. To try to be brief, there was almost no fantasy in this supposed fantasy book, too much was unexplained or didn't make sense, and the character Evelyn really needed to get a grip.

I started reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens a few hours after finishing LBW. It actually doesn't seem to be the kind of book I would normally read, but it's getting rave reviews (though I've been disappointed by popular books a time or two) and after three disappointing books in a row, I'm hoping I'll love this one. Or at least like it. lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I mentioned above, Kelly and I went out Saturday, despite the cold rain. We first went to Cato. I tried on a couple skirts and Kelly tried on a top, but they didn't work for us. Then we went to Food Lion (not the one I usually go to) to get a few things I couldn't find when I'd gone grocery shopping the day before.

We were pretty hungry, so we went to Red Robin after that. It was surprisingly not that busy when we got there. I thought for sure we'd have to wait about 30 minutes for a table. We both got burgers (cheese for me, bacon cheese for her) and fries. It was really yummy. Kelly also got a root beer float.

There's a Target near Red Robin, so we went there next. (It was around 7 PM by that point.) We took our time walking around, looking at stuff, trying on sunglasses, talking and laughing and pointing out things we thought were cute or weird or whatever, smelling candles, etc. When we got in the car some time later, we both said that we really enjoyed just casually strolling around Target. It was nice.

We both got a pair of sunglasses, I got Sean a really soft, round Panthers throw pillow (on sale for about $14), and Kelly got a few other things (small storage basket for her room, face mask, a pair of socks).

After leaving Target, we went to the church to vacuum the sanctuary (and pick up trash, straighten chairs, set the thermostats, etc.), which didn't take long, and then came home some time between 9:30 and 9:45.

As much as I hate being out in the cold, especially when it's raining, we had fun together. :-)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

20 Questions

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?

I normally get groceries and vacuum the church on Saturdays, but my favorite thing to do on Saturdays is either walking/hiking at the park or some place like Hanging Rock or Pilot Mountain, or relaxing at home.

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.

The Mandalorian
Call the Midwife
The Last Kingdom

It was hard to narrow it down to three.

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?

Take them. I don't look good in pictures.

4) Why do you blog?

To have a journal of my life that I can look back on. I've been rereading some of my old entries lately.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly.

Facebook
My blog
Instagram
GoodReads
YouTube

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be?

I don't use Twitter.

7) List a few of your favorite snacks.

Cherry cordials (good quality), Goobers, Goldfish crackers, popcorn.

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?

A toy poodle named Pippin (cream colored; he'll be 15 in March), a Jack Russell named Milo (age 9), and a gray tabby named Loki (age 3).

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?

My Bible, cell phone, and clothes. I have to add a fourth - appliances. Oh, and a fifth - my car.

10) What’s your favorite drink?

Ice water.

11) Do you enjoy cooking?

Yes.

12) Do you have children?

Yes. A son named Sean and a daughter named Kelly.

13) What are your favorite hobbies?

Reading
Working on the family tree.
Photography

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?

Kind of in between, I think. But probably lean more towards being shy.

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

My body. PCOS would be gone, if I could change that, my hair and body would be back to its normal condition, and my health would be better.

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?

Actor: Tom Hiddleston
Actresses: Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett.

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?

Went to church. :-D

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?

My mom and brother live less than 2 miles from me. The rest of my family (in-laws, cousins, aunts, and uncles) live in other NC cities and other states.

19) List three of your talents.

I don't consider myself talented really. I'm a pretty good cook and I sing okay sometimes. I think I have a pretty good eye for home decor and fashion most of the time.

20) What is your greatest attribute?

I'm forgiving and loyal.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Eight Things

Eight TV Shows I Love to Watch:

1. The Mandalorian
2. Call the Midwife
3. The Umbrella Academy
4. The Last Kingdom
5. Stranger Things
6. Outlander
7. Finding Your Roots
8. Victoria

Eight Favorite Places to Eat:

1. Home
2. Cugino Forno (THE best pizza!)
3. Salvino Cucina Italiana
4. La Hacienda
5. Lucky 32
6. Locals (Southport)
7. Famous Subs and Pizza (Southport)
8. Fishy Fishy Cafe (Southport)

Eight Things I'm Looking Forward To:

1. Selling our house someday and buying a place in the country.
2. Spring
3. The revival and growth that is coming to our church.
4. Summer
5. Paying off the truck Charlie bought last spring. It's going to be several years, but I look forward to someday not having that payment.
6. Church this Sunday.
7. Having a room just for my library. Someday.
8. Getting my living room back in order. The Christmas tree is still up. :-/

Eight Things I Want:

1. A house in the country with land and no neighbors.
2. A room just for my library.
3. A Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Black or gray with big tires (not tall like a monster truck lol), bars, and all tricked out.
4. Visit New Zealand. I want to do the Lord of the Rings tour.
5. Visit Europe.
6. Visit Yosemite and northern California. And a few other states.
7. A mild winter with no horribly cold temperatures (nothing below 45° for highs) and no ice.
8. For our church to need to expand and even buy more land because of all the people that will be coming.

Eight Places I've Been To:

1. Cape Lookout
2. Outer Banks
3. Blue Ridge Parkway
4. New York City
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Galveston
7. Biltmore Estate
8. Amish country in Ohio

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meme for 2019

1. What did you do in 2019 that you’d never done before?

Nothing comes to mind.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't make new year's resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes. My uncle Bill and my uncle Dusty.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. :-/

6. What would you like to have in 2020 that you lacked in 2019?

A bigger home so that I can have a room just for my library. And a death-free year in my home and family. Though I'll be surprised if Pippin is still alive by the end of the year.

7. What date from 2019 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

None.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I finally learned how to make really good biscuits. I hadn't made them in many years. And while they weren't bad before, they're really good now. :-)

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not reading my Bible enough or praying enough.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Books and food. And gifts for my husband and children.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

None that I can think of.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

None that I can think of.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills and groceries.

15. What did you get excited about?

Church and going to the mountains in October.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2019?

So Will I (by Cross Worship),  No Reason to Fear (by J. J. Hairston), I Feel Your Spirit (by Hezekiah Walker), I Am Miracle (by Anthony Brown), Throne Room Song (as sung by The Pentecostals of Alexandria), and Eddie James' Jesus album.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder?

Same.

ii. richer or poorer?

A little poorer thanks to the payment for the truck Charlie bought in the spring.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Pray, read my Bible, travel.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Nothing comes to mind.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

I spent it with my husband and my kids. My brother came by for a few hours. My mom came by for a few minutes after work. Sean's girlfriend Ashley was also here for several hours.

21. What was your favorite TV program?

The Mandalorian, Call the Midwife, The Umbrella Academy, Stranger Things, Game of Thrones.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don't hate anyone.

23. What was the best book you read?

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Not sure.

25. What did you want and get?

Books, a few clothing and shoe items (my favorite shoes probably being the beautiful hot pink Jessica Simpson heels I got at Stein Mart).

26. What was your favorite film of this year?

Tolkien.

27. What did you do on your birthday?

Nothing. My daughter Kelly's birthday is the day after mine, so we focus on her.

28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2019?

Classic, feminine, lady-like in the spring and summer. Still feminine, but with some touches of leather (vest), denim (skirts), military-style jackets (a couple green ones, a black one, and a camo one), and biker-type boots in the fall and winter. And, of course, beautiful dresses and tops and skirts with heels for church on Sundays.

29. What kept you sane?

Prayer and faith in God.

30. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Tom Hiddleston

31. What political issue stirred you the most?

None really. I'm not into politics. Though I do vote.

32. Who did you miss?

Our kitties who have passed in recent years.

33. Who was the best new person you met?

My pastor's daughter's husband. We met him after they were engaged. He moved here from Arkansas around the time of their wedding. Sweet guy.

34. Tell a valuable life lesson you learned in 2019.

Nothing comes to mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Books and Movies of 2019

Here is my ranking of the books I read in 2019. I wanted to read more, but very few kept my interest enough for me to read more than a few pages at a time. And it doesn't help that I fall asleep when I read. :-/

1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
2. Unearthed, by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
3. Undying, by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
4. Days of Panic, by Jack Hunt
5. The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black
6. The Baker's Secret, by Stephen P. Kiernan
7. Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House, by Elizabeth Keckley
8. The Living, by Isaac Marion
9. Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, by Diana Gabaldon
10. A Thousand Boy Kisses, by Tillie Cole
11. The Song of the Lark, by Willa Cather
12. The Toll, by Neal Shusterman

Books 1-3 were quite good. Book 4 was good, despite its flaws (appears self-published and like it needed a better editor). Book 5 was good, but not as good as I was expecting. Still, I have the other two books in the trilogy and plan to read them this year.

Books six and seven were okay. Book 8 seemed to have too much going on. The author should've focused on one or two story lines/journeys and left out the mystic, otherworldly library (whatever that was about), the people trying to control and use zombies, and the crazy religious group.

Book 9 (a collection of novellas) had a couple good stories, but most of it was boring.

Book 10 started off good, but then got ridiculous - over the top, mushy, melodramatic, no one in the world loves as much as these two teenagers do, teen angst out the wazoo. It's supposed to be sad, but I didn't cry. I rolled my eyes. And I did something I never do - I skipped parts of it in about the last fourth of the book. I couldn't take another declaration of love or emotional breakdown by these characters.

Book 11 was so boring and I didn't like the main character.

Book 12 was a huge disappointment. It's the third book in a trilogy that up to this book I was loving. I think I read somewhere that they're going to make a movie out of the first one (Scythe). If it's successful and they make movies for the other two books, I hope they leave out the Tonists - a ridiculous "religious" group - and bring the focus back to the two main characters. They were barely in the third book. I almost DNF'd this book a few times when I was more than halfway through. The first two books were great, but now I can't recommend them because the third one isn't worth reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I only watched seven movies for the first time last year. Probably the least amount of movies I've ever watched in a year. Of those seven, the only one I kind of enjoyed was Tolkien.

The King (on Netflix) and IO (Netflix) were okay in parts, but mostly boring. Falling Inn Love (Netflix), Mary Poppins Returns (maybe Netflix), Welcome to Marwen (rented), and Crazy Rich Asians (watched on HBO Now, I think) were lame.

The TV shows I watched were much better than these movies. The Mandalorian, The Umbrella Academy, Lost in Space, Stranger Things, Victoria, Call the Midwife, a re-watch of the three seasons of The Last Kingdom (season 4 should come out sometime this year), etc.



Here's hoping for better books and better movies this year.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~