Thursday Thirteen # 12 - Linky Love & Tagging Bonanza
I had originally planned to do a Thursday Thirteen list of famous Greek Americans (but the blogging universe has made other plans), you see I was tagged twice today - by Red and Kuanyin, so in the interest of efficiency, I bring you 13 things about me: Eight facts (from Red’s tag) and five answers (from Kuanyin) AND just to make things a little more interesting … 5 people that I visit regularly (for Linky Love) - SURPRISE, they have now been tagged by me.
PART ONE:
1. I shaved off my eye-brows in sixth grade with my dad’s razor. To my astonishment, my parents never said a word about my new look. Neither did any of my elementary school teachers. I’m amazed at their restraint. I know that if my daughter does something similar, I’ll be hard-pressed to not ask why!
2. I became really close friends with a dark, brooding senior when I was in eighth grade. We spent a lot of time in the darkroom (I was a budding photographer and a member of the yearbook club, as was she.) When she graduated, she sent me a beautifully written love letter (that was intercepted by the headmistress). The headmistress wanted to make sure I was OK and that nothing funny had gone on. I had no clue what she meant until I was a senior and a clandestine, dog-eared copy of My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday was being passed around the class.
3. In case you haven’t guessed by now, I attended an all girls private high school. I had my first kiss while away on an overnight debating tournament. The boy’s name was David. I was 16.
4. English isn’t my first language. I learned English by watching Sesame Street. Inside our home, it was Greece.
5. In the second grade, my reading and writing skills were so advanced, my parents were asked to consider placing me in the fourth grade. Afraid that I wouldn’t fit in with the older kids, my parents moved me to a small private Catholic school with extracurricular activities like Friday mass and catechism classes. It’s no wonder I became a writer - all that extra stimulation.
6. My first period arrived when I was 10 and a 1/2. Not fun.
7. My favourite Aunt died of cancer when I was 10 and a 1/2. Not fun.
8. My first short story about a girl walking home from school enjoying the autumn air and sound of the leaves crunching underfoot was published in the school newsletter when I was in the sixth grade. After that, each time I was given a creative writing assignment, I wrote about leaves. Leaves in the spring, in the fall, in the dead of winter.
INTERMISSION - a how to from Rhian - who tagged Red, who tagged me:
Here are the rules according to whomever likes to makeup rules (not me): • Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves. (blah, blah blah) • People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. (Duh.) • At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight (five for me) people to get tagged and list their names. (All’s fair in Lurv and bloggin’) • Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog. (Duh, again)
PART TWO
9. What do you hope to accomplish with your blog?
I started this blog to give voice to my writing that hadn’t yet found a home. In the short time I’ve been blogging, I’ve branched out and discovered a larger, creative community. Writing and publishing online is immediate and mutable. I am currently re-working my novel and love the motivation and inspiration I get from the positive to-ing and fro-ing with other blog authors. I don’t have a definitive answer, I am currently in the exploration phase.
10. Are you a spiritual person?
Yes, spiritual. I love that I grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church. It’s given me a very strong foundation. We are making a conscious effort to expose our little chicken to the same values, language, and traditions.
11. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to have with you?
• An unlimited supply of paper and pens to write, draw, create.
• The Kings James Bible.
• The complete poems of Emily Dickinson.
12. What’s your favorite childhood memory? Travelling with my parents (road trip) to San Fransisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles (Disneyland), San Diego and Tijuana when I was 12.
13. Are these your first (tagging) memes? Yes.
Inside voice: There’s a small part of me that thinks this an online version of a chain letter - I’m hoping the people I tag, will play along - fingers crossed.
PART THREE: THE LINKY LOVE/ TAG YOU’RE IT! 
I’m now tagging the following folks: (I’ll write a postscript in the coming days about why, I promise)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comments
Hi, Christine! I played, and my answers are up, at my blog. That was fun -- thanks for the tag!
I hope you're having a lovely weekend. :)
Posted by: Thomma Lyn | May 12, 2007 12:40 AM
Christine, guess what! You've won a Thinking Blogger Award. :D See my blog for details!
Posted by: Thomma Lyn | May 10, 2007 10:25 PM
O GOSH! You're lucky those eyebrows grew back! I met someone who shaved her eyebrows, and they never grew back! :)
Posted by: Haley-O | May 10, 2007 9:39 PM
Yiasou Christine
Thank you for dropping by. Your list made me laugh at certain points. The shaving of the eyebrows and Greek being the first language of the house. (I can certainly relate to the last one).
It's a great insight. Keep it up. And thanks for putting me on to the Greek chef guy...I've never seen a bilingual blog and it certainly keeps me practising my Greek.
Posted by: Peter G | May 10, 2007 5:46 PM
Wow, this is a terrific list! Love discovering more about you. When I was in the 6th grade I started a "Leaf Club". We would gather and bring a favorite leaf we found that week. We had exactly 2 meetings. Leaf fascination must be a writer thing! LOL Thanks for stopping by my blog, and Happy TTing.
DK
Posted by: DK Raymer | May 10, 2007 5:16 PM
Very creative way to pull all the memes together! I did #1 too, except I shaved off half my eyebrows. I did it in the bathtub without a mirror, trying to avoid a unibrow. What I got was a lot uglier than a unibrow! Thank God it grew out!
Posted by: Mz. Jackson | May 10, 2007 11:34 AM
y'all are totally killing me with laughter! Sharing the "smartassedness". Snicker. This was a great post. Loved the eyebrows story and darkroom story.
Posted by: rhian | May 10, 2007 8:09 AM
Hi Christine! Youre a treasure trove! =) Rhian is having a blast because her "duhs" and "blahs" are pepperring the net all over. LOL! =)
Posted by: Red | May 10, 2007 6:51 AM
13 Thursday AND tagging. Can I handle it? I'm still smiling about the shaved off eyebrows and writing about leaves. I never would have guessed that English wasn't your first language.
I'm confused about which part I'm tagged for...I think it's 8 random things and not the questions. I hope it is because last week I did a batch of interviw questions. It might take me awhile to work in.
I fell off my chair doing mine today.
PS about the island, I was thinking food!
Posted by: colleen | May 10, 2007 6:11 AM
So wait, am I tagged for the first eight, the next five, or all 13? If it's all 13, can I do it next week as my TT?
Posted by: Dew | May 10, 2007 6:01 AM
So glad your blog has helped you work on your novel. You are a great writer.
Posted by: SusieJ | May 10, 2007 6:00 AM
So funny that you shaved off your brows! I'm not sure that I would have noticed either...I'm just not all that observant.
Posted by: Lulu | May 10, 2007 5:02 AM
Oops, I just left a comment with no name or info. I like your desert island things, and I was the last in my class to start my period at age 16.
Posted by: Donna | May 10, 2007 4:58 AM
Number 11... that would work for me too. I love Emily Dickenson and the KJ Bible. I didn't get my first period until I was 16. The last girl in my class. I was so happy to finally be "normal".
Posted by: Anonymous | May 10, 2007 4:56 AM
Last year my daugther started plucking her eyebrows and I was so upset, because it was not even and she was complaining, I can't do anything, I told her it will grow back. . .
Interesting list, can't wait for next week TT....
Posted by: MM del Rosario | May 10, 2007 2:22 AM
Christine, I can remember the teacher wanting me to skip a grade, 4th I think, and Mum saying no. I was already a year younger than my classmates, because here in Oz if you were turning 5 before May 1 you could start school at 4, rather than 5. She was worried about my social skills too. I'm glad she didn't let me skip, as I am still friends with some of those girls from preppies. I too also got my period at 10 1/2 - way before any of my friends
Posted by: Miss Frou Frou | May 10, 2007 2:04 AM
Wonderful TT this week. I'm not as restrained as your parents and teachers. Why DID you shave your eyebrows?
Posted by: she | May 10, 2007 1:29 AM
What a great idea! Happy TT!
Posted by: Xilly | May 9, 2007 11:53 PM
Aww! This was great! I too shaved off my eyebrows....I have no idea why, but lucky for me I had LOOONG bangs to cover up my nude forehead. :) Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Shannon | May 9, 2007 11:51 PM
I'm spiritual also. If I were stranded on a deserted island, I would bring the following three "things."
• An unlimited supply of paper and pens to write, draw, create.
• The Kings James Bible.
• An unlimited supply of toilet paper.
Posted by: Voice on Miscellaneous Matters | May 9, 2007 11:37 PM
great TT13!!
I didn't every shave off my eyebrows, but I'm kinda surprised I never did. I've done some pretty silly things... My daughter will probably pull that one soon. :)
take care!
Posted by: Shelby | May 9, 2007 11:26 PM
Great list, as usual. You know I am a big fan of almost any letters of the alphabet you configure together. You had some really interesting things to share with us about yourself. Thanks for doing so. And I also got my period at 10 and I went to private school. Boarding, co-ed, thank you. And first kiss, 16 summer camp. :P
Posted by: Megan | May 9, 2007 10:49 PM
Thanks for tagging me, Christine! Cool Beans. :-D And oh yes, the complete poems of Emily Dickinson while stranded on a desert island, or anywhere for that matter... ;) sheer delight. I love her work.
I enjoyed reading your list -- interesting that your first published story had autumn leaves in it and that you wrote about them often. Fall is my favorite season. :)
Happy TT, and thanks for visiting my blog!
Posted by: Thomma Lyn | May 9, 2007 10:30 PM