18 posts tagged “qotd”

What would make you question a friendship?
Submitted by stueykins.

When a person is not genuine.  Many years ago I was friends with a woman, a bit older than me, who always seemed to need an audience.  That's okay, every now and then we all need to be in the spotlight.  The problem was she was never around when it was my turn in the spotlight.  She would call, needing things, and if it was something I could help with I would oblige.  But when I needed things, it was a different story.  Suffice it to say that we are no longer friends.  I have even quit organizations where this woman has joined after I did.  I can not take her phonieness.  She changes her name, going from very formal to very informal, changes her life history to suit the situation.  It is very hard to deal with.  Since I know a great of her back story to stand there and watch her lie to people is awkward to say the least.  So, rather than deal with all of that, I quit.  I know that sooner or later, people will see her in the same light that I do.  

What did you learn in kindergarten that you wish you did a better job of applying to the way you live your life today?

The Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. 
I can remember this being posted in our classroom, or words to that effect.  Oh, and don't eat paste.

What was your first car?

Tr3a

My first car.  The first car I bought with my own money is a 1959 US Triumph TR3A that looks a lot like this.  Mine is a left hand drive of course.  I bought it in 1988 for $500.  Yes, you read it right.  It was in pretty bad cosmetic shape, but it  had been used in SCCA racing by the previous owner.  He had stripped every spare ounce off of the car.  Literally.  I restored it, from top to bottom, much to the chagrin of my young daughters.  I think they can appreciate it more now than they did back when they were very young.  I love this car.  It still has many of the racing components.  I don't have wire wheels on it, but the original aluminum wheels that were made for this car for racing.  It has a roll bar (not standard), an over bore on the cylinders (87mm), a street-comp cam (D cam), a Detroit Locker rear-end, recurved leaf springs so that it actually sits a bit lower than original (you can scrape knuckles on the pavement), oil cooler, and a solid walnut dash made by yours truly.  It is still red with black wool carpet and a white top.  It runs like a dream.  It is sooo much fun to drive.  I actually towed my dh's TR3A over Satus Pass (WA state) years ago when he lost a water pump on a Sunday afternoon drive.  I have driven it to shows all over the West Coast, mostly in Portland, but we did drive to Santa Barbara one year.  It was glorious.  Highway One down the California coast with our kids.  Great fun.  Anyway.  My first car.

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Submitted by Maraschino.

I can't recall the last time I laughed so hard I cried, but you can bet it was with my sister Lou Ann or my daughters, or all three.  I don't know how or why, but these 3 ladies make me laugh.  They almost always raise my spirits when I'm down.  When my sister and I were younger we'd start each other laughing and couldn't stop.  One time was at the dinner table.  She was laughing so hard she couldn't eat!  She got up and took her plate to the kitchen.  It can be a little dangerous, especially when we're driving around.  But it's always funny.

What are 10 things you want to say out loud but you can't? 
Submitted by alix.

These are things that I can't even write down.  

Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon or a helicopter?  Where did you go?

We are lucky enough to have a sister (my sister.in.law) that used to be a tour guide in Hawaii.  The last 2 times we visited we took helicopter tours of Hawaii (the big island) and were able to see some 'sky lights', holes broken in the lava tubes that still have lava flowing through them.  It is one of the few times I have seen a most unnatural color in nature.  A glowing orange-hot pink kind of color.  It just didn't look like anything real.  Simply amazing.  and then to follow it down to the edge of the island and see the lava spewing into the sea and the great amounts of steam.  Beautiful.

Are you a registered organ donor?  Why or why not? 
Submitted by jacolily.

I am absolutely an organ donor as is all of my family.  Why?  We have so much.  It seems wrong not to share our good fortune.  I know that dying might not sound fortunate, but if I have to go and some one can use the pieces, what use do I have for them.  As the John Prine song says, "Please don't bury me down in the cold, cold, ground.  I'd rather have them cut me up and pass me all around, throw my brain in a hurricane, the blind can have my eyes, the deaf can have both of my ears if they don't mind the size."

What decision changed the course of your life? 
Submitted by Ally.

  this should be decisions. 

• Dropping French and becoming the Teacher's Asst. in Autoshop my senior year of high school.  Met future husband
• Getting married at the age of 20.  Still married to the same person
• Joining a volunteer fire dept.  Learned I could do things I never even dreamed of doing.
• Having children.  Possibly the single greatest thing I have ever done or will ever do.  Two of the most beautiful and talented ladies you will ever meet.  Plus, they showed me I have more patience than I ever thought I could muster.
  
• Buying my first car at the age of 31.  A 1959 Triumph TR3A roadster for $500.  Restored it myself (well 85% myself) and now it is worth about $15,000
• Deciding I could teach myself to spin fiber.  I did, I have and now I'm pretty damn good.
• Starting this blog.  Soooo many great folks out there.  What a great community.  I am not alone.
  

Do you have a pet? What kind of pet do you own, and why did you choose it? 
Submitted by Brendz.  

Dogs, Big Dogs.  Even though we know many wonderful little dogs (Hiya Ponch!) and medium sized dogs and even large dogs, we are a family that loves the giant breed of dog.  We have had Great Danes and Mastiffs and a mixture of the two (pound puppies).  There is something unique to a giant dog.  We have called them people in dog suits.  They are majestic, friendly, loyal, funny, loving.  They are stubborn, crafty, naive, in short, they are like us.  They are our 'wuubs' and I couldn't imagine life without them.

buddha is BIG

2 comments

When has your first impression of someone turned out to be completely wrong? 
Submitted by Mana'olana.  

A while back, I was a member of our local Hazardous Materials Response Team.  My husband was also a member, but for a different agency.  One call had us going to a local discount department store because some one had put pool cleaner, as well as a truck load of other weird stuff (bowling ball) into the cardboard crusher baler.  Pool cleaner has powdered chlorine as well as other bad nasties.  Anyway, a newish firefighter that works with my husband was on scene when I got there and started giving me a ration of sh*t.  I totally went off on the guy.  Thought he was the world's biggest a$$hole and told him so.  Not a good day.

At the time I had been a firefighter for about 15 years and was really tired of having to prove myself to every new guy that showed up.  Grrrrrrr.  Long story short, after I got to know him better, heard his story etc.  I have changed my opinion of him completely.  A nice guy, loving dad and husband who's life has been a whole lot rougher than I could even imagine.  You'd want this guy with you in a bar fight, fire fight, whatever.  Boy, was I wrong.