Life Is Good, Stylish and Irresistibly Sweet!

My very dear blogging friend (she's more than just a "buddy!") Candace, of Mi Chiamo Candace, very graciously shared three fabulous and festive awards with me, as seen above. I'm so touched and flattered and honored and giddy ... many, many thanks, Candace!!!

Fortunately, these didn't come with 83 different hoops to jump through, as some awards do. Candace chose to split the difference between two of the awards when they were bestowed upon her, and answered 10 questions; the other option had been to tell 7 things about herself.

Now, I'm not good at making decisions, as the faithful already know. And this is one of those dilemmas worthy of Solomon! Answer 10 really tough questions or try to drudge up 7 things I haven't already shared and/or that anyone might care about ... hmmmmm.

So I'm going to split the difference myself: I'll answer 5 of the questions, and find 3 things to share ... how's that???

If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you aren't anonymous, do you wish you'd started out anonymously so that you could be anonymous now?

I don't give my full name or where I work, but I don't particularly blog anonymously either. I have no reason to seek anonymity, and think I've struck a reasonable balance between letting my cyber-friends get to know me without any stalkers being able to find me!

When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

Ummmm ... what is this odd notion, "time for (my)self"??? I guess when I can grab a few moments in the midst of my frazzled and chaotic life, I'd have to say that I bake, I do my nails, I eat Milk Duds, I watch old movie musicals like "Gigi" ... and sometimes I just sit awhile and think. No spa trips or anything like that.

Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life?

Oh, there are 863 things I want to accomplish!!! I want to go to Morocco and immerse myself in the colors and aromas and bustling of the souks. I want to eat my way through Italy, saving room for dessert in Vienna. I want to refresh my French and learn Italian and Yiddish. I'd like to try the violin again, having taken it in Kindergarten but giving it up because I didn't think I had any talent. I want to be a bubbe ([BUH-bee] = grandmother). I want to make money (dare I say, a living???) writing, particularly about food. And I want to have the surety of knowing that I've found my bashert ([bah-SHAYRT] = "destiny," but intended as the one who is chosen by God just for you).

When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person or always ditching?

Class HYPER-achiever is more accurate. Let me illustrate: In 5th Grade, we read Jane Eyre and had an assortment of projects to choose from, relating to the book. We only had to do one ... I did two. My friend Christina said, "You always have to be better than everyone else, don't you???" Academically? Yup. It was definitely a competition, but one in which I wasn't the only one who expected too much of me. My Algebra teacher told me once that he was disappointed in my performance on one of our tests; I'd received an "A," but this was still less than 100%. An "A" was essentially a failing grade ....

Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog, or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people and events?

I'm pretty much "me" on the blog -- kinda flaky, very chatty. I tend to write as I speak, dropping Yiddishisms and whatnot into the mix. Since my shtick is food, rather than an analysis of my path through life, I don't delve into a lot of deeply personal things unless they are directly relevant to my culinary and eating adventures. So I'm "me," but not necessarily the full "me" in all its gory details.

Now for the 3 tidbits of intrigue!

I am inordinately proud of myself for having figured out how to program a morning alarm on my cell phone. Some of you -- those with iPods and Blackberrys and Droids and whatever new toy is out there now that I won't hear about for 4 years -- may think this is ridiculous. Anyone who genuinely knows me will applaud ... as soon as the smelling salts rouse them from their dead faint on the floor.

I only watch two award shows each year -- the Oscars and the Tonys. I admit I'll check out the fashion extravaganza at other events (and I personally think it's much more fun to see those with some character and individuality than those who are styled to boring perfection); but those are the only two ceremonies I bother with.

Opening Day of baseball season is a day of celebration; frankly, it should be a national holiday. And how great is this, for a native NYC girl who's lived in Michigan for 30+ years??? The Yankees are hosting the Tigers on March 31!!! Hot dogs and Cracker Jacks are mandatory; I may throw in some fabulous Detroit products, too, like Faygo soda or Vernor's ginger ale or Better Made potato chips ....

And now it's time to share some love with:

Carol: the Gardener

Jenn: Jenn's Food Journey

Leanne: From Chaos Comes Happiness

Lindsey: TexaGermaNadian

Michele: Fake It Til You Make It

Mazal Tov to all of you -- enjoy!!!