1. What’s something you might say runs in your family?

Hmm, tough one here. Impulsiveness? (In some of us like my sister, dad, oldest son.) Collecting? Yes, that’s definitely a thing both my husband and I possess. We love collections and my oldest son has also got that inclination. If you want something more genetic, my grandfather, uncle, dad, me and two of my cousins have a mole on our right legs. Some are in slightly different spots on the thigh but it’s very similar. Weird, right??

2. I read here a list of ten things you should do before 2017 arrives (in less than six weeks!)…which tasks on the list might you do? What would you add to your own ‘before the year ends’ list?

(1.Visit doctor or dentist; 2. Deep clean your home; 3. donate unwanted things to charity; 4. look someone in the eye and tell them you love them; 5. Write an honest letter to yourself; 6. Clean up your inbox/desktop/photos; 7. Travel somewhere you’ve never been; 8. Compliment a stranger; 9. Watch a sunrise; 10. Think ahead to your goals/plans for the new year.)

Deep cleaning is a possibility since with the handy man working in our closets, we have pulled everything out. I’ll be going through bins later today and getting rid of things I’ve held onto for far too long. And as he finished certain rooms, I am hardcore cleaning each one. I think a lot of these are doable like the letter, cleaning up inbox, donating and the sunrise. I’m actually watching it right now because I’m off today and it comes through all pink and orangey over the trees behind my home.

3. What’s something other generations (not your own) misunderstand about your generation?

That we think it was the Baby Boomers who screwed stuff up. I don’t think that is true at all; I feel like it’s a whole-world/U.S. effort to get to the state we’re in. I don’t blame anyone for that. I technically fall into the “Gen-X” category and they get a bad rep of being “lazy” and, well, I feel anything but.

4. Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing-which would you miss the most if it weren’t on the holiday dinner menu?

Definitely mashed potatoes. I put them very high on the comfort food list and they are a necessity on any of my holiday menus.

5. What are you overthinking right now?

The state of my home AND the impending five days of solo parenting. I know the house will be in disarray while the guy is remodeling. And I know I will be alright while Ash is at yet another tech conference. He kind of has to go since he moved into a new position at work. BUT, I am dreading the week with him gone. It’s a busy time of year! It’ll be ok if I take it one day at a time.

6. Your favorite slang word lately?

I saw an article about the viral slang of 2016 you need to know and “ship” and “trash” were on it. I’ve been using these for a long time, usually together. I am shipping trash. As in, I ship two characters and I’m trash because I do it hopelessly and shamelessly.  Another word that I just now use even though it is SO last year is “bae”. I know it means Before Anyone Else but I use it because there’s a wrestler named Bray Wyatt and we in the fandom call him Bae Wyatt. LOL.

7. Write an acrostic for the word grateful.

Good beer

Rare moments of silence

Apples

Taking walks with my kids

Evening relaxation

Family

Unexepcted happiness

Leaves on trees turning color

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Today is going to be quite busy. I have all the kids home with me and the handy man gets here around nine. We have to go to the store to get the final few items to make tomorrow’s meal. I have to purge some junk as mentioned above and cleaning might make it in there as well. I figure I may even work on getting some wallpaper down so long as I have the time. I love having the time off work but it’s a different kind of work here. However, the weather is nice – if not a little cool – and I am generally happy. I cannot complain!