Patrick's Saturday Six -- Chicago Marathon Edition

NOTE:  FIRST DRAFT, FINE TUNING TO FOLLOW

Both my daughters are in town for the marathon. This is only the second time I've mentioned it, okay? My oldest flew in last night from Las Vegas and we got caught up on life in the fast lane teaching school in Sin City.  My younger daughter flew in from London a couple of days ago.  Her boyfriend had just flown home from a long business trip as she was heading out at the crack of dawn.  So they had a ten minute reunion before her ride to the airport came. Wonder what they did?  Mom!! You're so gross!

It's my youngest's tenth Chicago Marathon, my oldest's first. And the first time they've run a race together.  I'll be watching for them about the half way point near one of the Starbuck's hot spots. Hey, I'm a spectator, I don't need Gatorade to watch the race.


1. What's your favorite brand and flavor of ice cream when you go grocery shopping?  Is there any of it in your freezer right now?

Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, na na na na na Remo, or, if they're out, any of their other flavors.  Haagen Daz anything.

But I rarely eat ice cream. So there's never any in the refrigerator. When I get some it's usually because I decided I needed it for dessert and we drive to an ice cream place like 31 flavors or Dairy Queen in town here, or Springer's in Stone Harbor when I'm there, And I can't forget Homer's homemade about ten miles away for fresh peach or pink peppermint. Just put one scoop in a sugar cone, please.

JUST HAD TO SHARE FOR NO REASON MOMENT: When I was young my favorite snack was a chocolate malt from 31 flavors and Mickey D's large fries.  

2. When was the last time you ate a fresh fruit as a snack rather than something not "diet friendly?"

I love fruit for a snack, especially Clementines, those wonderful oranges you peel and eat like candy.  I love kiwi, mango, papaya, grapefruit, and apples in the fall with cheese. Pears with cheese, too. Melons in summer. I could eat cherries and grapes forever. What's not to like about fruit?  And it's not exactly diet friendly -- lots of sugar you know.

3. Take this quiz:  What language should you learn?

Have to take the quiz still. See below. But Spanish or French would help.  You'd never know I took them both along with Latin in high school and continued Spanish in college.  And I can't speak any of them. Latin's a real bitch with a Chicago accent.

You Should Learn Chinese Surprised? You shouldn't be - Chinese is perfect for an ambitious person like you.
You're a natural entrepreneur, and a billion people are waiting to do business with you!

4. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #72 from Cdmmw2:  If you could relive one moment of your life and watch it (like a movie) but not interfere, what would it be?

What's that thing that happens when your whole life flashes before your very eyes?  Oh yeah, your whole life flashes before your very eyes.  I just did that.

I slowed the video down for my first kiss, well the one right after the first kiss because the second one was much better. Also when each of my children was born -- when they were put on my stomach for our first look at each other. I paused at the first moment I was introduced to a guy I still miss and the sparks almost lit the place on fire.

I could relive a million moments when my kids were growing up. And lots and lots of intimate events I would never tell anybody here unless there was a serious sum of money on the table.                                                   

5. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #73 from Debbie: What was something you were afraid of as a child?  Did you overcome the fear?

I was afraid of dogs for a long time as a kid.  I remember a big black dog that frightened me when I was about four. Actually maybe I was two. I think it was a friendly Lab, but his head was at the same level as my face. And I was terrified. I ran into the lobby of our apartment building and started crying. I recall that my mother couldn't console me. Maybe my diaper was wet too.

Then, when I was eight or nine one of my cousins had a big Irish setter that came over and sat next to me at a party.  I was too paralyzed with fear to move so I started petting him and he started licking my hand and I got over being a scaredy cat.

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #74 from Anna:   If someone were to open your refrigerator right now, what item would it embarrass you most for them to find?

The most embarrassing thing is the three secret snack squares of chocolate cake, carrot cake, and banana cake I bought at White Hen Pantry last night to balance off the salad I was going to have.   Everything else is healthy.  Yes, it is, too.