Answer Me This. . . Volume 2

To read other bloggers answers to the "Answer Me This" post, you can find them here at Catholic All Year



1. What’s something you intended to do today, but didn't?


Hmm, nearly everything.   I spent most of the day on the phone and on Facebook.  Somehow having a lot of friends and posting a photo like this with the caption "The answer was yes" results in a lot of time on Facebook reading lots of congratulations.  :)

In addition, I was engaged at a Catholic youth camp.  The priest from that parish was in our home this week, and he had to return early for a meeting.  He missed our engagement but called to extend his congratulations.  Just lots of wonderful things today and meant I only did dishes, went to Mass, and social media-ed.  lol

2. What's your favorite grilling recipe?

We just got a grill.  Hot dogs were made on it yesterday.  Despite what 50 kids from a parish in Pittsburgh may think, I am not a great cook.  I just made my best dishes for them.   My boyfriend My fiance, is the cook, and he often just throws stuff together, although recently he has been writing down his recipes and entering them in recipe contests.  (We are keeping our fingers crossed.  Weddings are expensive and hopefully he can win with some of his recipes.)

3. What movie did you see most recently?

Madea's Witness Protection Program.  Before last summer, it was 1999 since I had seen a movie in a theater.  I'm not much of a movie watcher.  I do like documentaries.  I have one here of the rise and fall of the VHS tape called Rewind This! but I can't talk my boyfriend my fiance into watching it!

4. Would you say your tendency is to over or under react to medical situations?

Probably under react.  I don't have insurance (not even after it was made "affordable" because someone else's idea of "affordable" and mine differ.  I suffered through a 2 hour long asthma attack recently because I didn't want to pay the fee at a hospital to go and a breathing treatment.  Thankfully my doctor has now prescribed an inhaler (I need to check around for prices on that and try to find it cheaper somewhere.)  

5. Do you squeeze the toothpaste tube or roll it?

I squeeze, but my boyfriend my fiance is very picky about rolling his toothpaste.  In fact, he uses a binder clip to help keep it rolled up neatly.  

6. What are you doing for Father's Day?

My boyfriend My fiance works.  (My dad died in 2006 and we are visiting my boyfriend's fiance's dad soon.)  I will likely be working on a blog post I need to get written, cleaning house, reading, and likely spending more time on Facebook than I should.  (See question one.)

Answer Me This. . . Volume 1

This is my first time participating in the link up Answer Me This from Catholic All Year but the questions looked fun, and I thought I'd jump in.  After all I hear the water is fine!  (ha ha!)

1. Do you have a land line?

No.  My mother loved a land line, but when she passed away in February, her funeral was on a Friday.  The next week I cancelled things that would cost us that we no longer needed.   This included her cell phone, the land lane, and cable TV.

2.  What is your least favorite food?

Do I have to pick one?   I hate chocolate.  I also hate ham.  Okay, how about ham dipped in chocolate.   Most people are horrified to learn that I hate chocolate.  I used to love it.  In fact, I can look at something chocolatey and know how good it would taste to others.  But in 2012 I was in the hospital for 8 days with a bone infection.  I was on IV antibiotics for that entire time and was on oral antibiotics for 9 months.  The antibiotics changed some of my tastes, and chocolate was one of the casualties.  Of course, it's not something I need to be healthy (well, I do choke down some dark chocolate almost daily because of the health benefits.)

3.  What's on your summer reading list?

I need to finish a couple books for reviews.  I have a stack of books on my night stand.

 There's one about the history of the Sheetz gas station / convenience store that I bought months ago.
Made to Order: The Sheetz Story

There are two my priest gave me in September.  (He's moving next week and I still haven't finished them.  Thankfully he gave them to me and I don't have to return them.)

I have also purchased several from thrift stores that look great.  I haven't had a lot of time to read lately.

4.  Is there something that people constantly ask your advice on?  What is it?

Yes!  Being frugal.  Saving money, especially with coupons.  And for some reason friends think that because I shop at a grocery store and can save significantly on a cart of essentials that I have some magic wand I can wave and get them a Disney vacation much cheaper.  (That's actually the #1 question I get -- How can I save on a Disney vacation? I want to laugh in people's faces when they ask that.  Seriously?  You're asking someone without children, who is not a huge Disney Fan about saving on a place she's never been?  My advice is learn to save money elsewhere and earmark that savings for the Magic Kingdom.  Somehow it seems that the people who ask that aren't very appreciative when I say I honestly have no idea and then point them to resources like this:

Save the Big Bucks at Walt Disney World: Discounts, Deals, and Freebies 2014

and this:

How I earn Money and Gift Cards Online


Somehow I think the "try and save on your necessities and pay only 25 cents for your toothbrushes after coupon" isn't the savings they want.  I might write a blog post on this sometime on how to save on everyday purchases so you can afford some bigger things (If you have the money, sometimes savings are just needed to survive.)

5.  What's the most physically demanding thing you've ever done?  

I went to fat camp.  I mean Faith and Fitness Week sponsored by RetroFit Ministries.

This photo is of me receiving my Dare to Soar Award.  Also pictured with me are Austin (left) and Ken (right) Andrews, a father/son team who were former contestants on Biggest Loser.

During this week we worked out about 4 hours a day, heard a weight loss testimony in the morning, nutrion class in the afternoon, evening praise and worship, small group after worship, we'd fall into bed, and up for the same thing the next day.  It was so hard, but it was wonderful.  I got to work with some of the best trainers in the country including Mr. Natural America, John Heart,  Laurie Graves, author of Fit for Freedom, and Charline Bucher.  It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but also one of the most rewarding.  My only regret is I was not able to continue to take care of myself when my mother got sick and had to focus all my attention and energy to her.  I would love to go back to another Faith and Fitness week.  There were Christians from every denomination there -- Pentecostals, Catholics, Mennonite, Seventh Day Adventist.  It was worth every penny!

6.  How do you feel about massages?

Add this to the list of things I've never had.  (Also, pedicure, manicure, etc.)  I'm not a prissy girl.  I'd rather have the money for a book, gas money to find another geocache, or even a gift card for groceries.  I'm usually practical (except when it comes to travel.  I have a passport and I know how to use it!)