Some Questions (and Answers)

There's been a meme of questions going around the book blogosphere. It involves questions, answers, rules and tagging. Perhaps you've seen it around? Both Melissa at The Avid Reader's Musings and Emily at The Alcove tagged me. I don't like the traditional rules, so I'm picking and choosing from both of their questions. Feel free to play along!

From Melissa:

How many times have you moved?
A lot. Twenty-one times by my count. Seriously! While I can credit my parents with letting me finish second grade in my third elementary school, most of those are on me. I've moved eight times since I finished college (and yes, I did attend two different colleges and took a year off, so I moved a lot in college too.) Did I mention Mr. Nomadreader and I lived in four states during the first two and a half years we dated? (In order: Georgia, Arizona, Iowa, and New York for those playing along at home.)

What movie should win the Best Picture Oscar this year?
I've only managed to see three of them, but thus far, I'm rooting for The Descendants. It explored the human condition beautifully. It was smart, funny and deeply moving.

Do you have a dream job? What is it?
Short of my fantasy job of getting paid to read, watch movies and travel, I have my dream job in the real world. Life is good:-)

Favorite Girl Scout cookie?
As I love to remind my husband, "I'm not much of a dessert person." But Samoas are delicious.

Guilty pleasure TV show you watch?
Oh so many: Revenge, Ringer, The Lying Game, The Real World/Road Rules Challenge (even though they just call it The Challenge now), Teen Mom (1&2), Big Brother (not every year) and Khloe and Lamar. But I watch a lot of PBS documentaries too!

What question do you hate it when people ask you?
Where do you see yourself in ten years? Seriously, people, has technology not told us we have no idea? My job didn't exist ten years ago. My blog didn't exist ten years ago. Etc.

Your favorite pet you've ever owned?
I had goldfish a few times. I'm not really an animal person.

What's the first book you remember reading?
I have no clear memory, but I do remember reading the first book my mom told me I couldn't (hi, Mom!) I somehow scored a copy of Playing with Fire, the third Sweet Valley High book. I think I was in second grade. I remember being shocked at some things, but I couldn't tell my mom, and I could only read at school when I finished my work early.

What's your favorite drink? 
Just one? If by favorite you mean drink most often, then I'm quite fond of Trader Joe's Vinas Chilenas Sauvignon Blanc Reserva (it's only $3.99!) I tend to go through phases of favorites. In terms of cocktails, I'm a martini drinker, and I love inventing new drinks with fresh ingredients. My usually adventures involve muddling an herb (cilantro, basil, or sage.) with fresh citrus and adding gin. In terms of traditional favorites: a Manhattan on the rocks and a dirty gin martini with Maytag blue cheese stuffed olives always work too.

What's one thing on your Bucket List?
I should write them all down at some point. Most, not surprisingly involve reading and travel. I want to read all of the books longlisted for the Orange Prize. I want to read all of the Pulitzer Prize winners. I want to read the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die. I want to go to Asia. I want to see as much of the world as I can.

From Emily:
Speaking of tag . . . what was your favorite playground game as a child?
I loved this ridiculous version of tag called Television Tag. I don't remember the precise rules, but I know my knowledge of television shows meant I didn't have to run around as much.

Do you reread books? Why or why not?
Not often. I re-read two books last year. Both were by Robert Ellis, and I wanted to re-read the first two in the series before the third one came out. I do plan to re-read  American Wife this year (my review.) I loved it so much when I first read it three years ago, and I call it my favorite book. I want to see if it can withstand a re-read and if my tastes have changed in the last three years!


What’s your favorite place to get books? Second favorite?
Digital review copies from Edelweiss and NetGalley rock my reading world. Second favorite: Kindle loans from my public library. I prefer to read on my Kindle, so anything I can do to make it cheaper to do so is good with me.

What literary character would you like to take out to coffee?
Alice Blackwell from American Wife. I adore her, and I want to meet her in real life. She fascinates me completely.

What’s your favorite odd food combination?

I put anchovies in just about anything. I love them. I love canned anchovies and snack on them straight from the tin. I love the fresh white ones. They are delightful with almost anything.


When you were a kid, you wanted to grow up and be a ____________.
A librarian. Seriously. I don't think I meant an academic librarian at the time, but one old family friend commented on my parents' Christmas letter a few years ago that I always talked about becoming a librarian when I was a kid, and I became one.

Pancakes or waffles?
Pancakes! Honestly, I rarely eat them because I usually fix eggs and bacon or fruit with oatmeal. But when I do eat pancakes...

Share one random fact about yourself we don’t know.
I don't like syrup. Instead, I spread butter, sprinkle fresh sugar, then add heavy whipping cream (not whipped cream; in liquid form.) I've been known to use half and half or soy milk in a pinch too. It's a central Kansas farm tradition (or so my family says.) Regardless, it's delicious!

Have more questions for me? I'll do my best to answer them here next Saturday. Leave them in the comments, email them to me, or tweet me. Now that I'm done. I can make up my own rules, right? If you you'd like to answer any of all of these questions, in the comments or on a blog: consider yourself tagged. 


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