eleven

I tried to post Blaire's 8 month update (only two weeks late) but Blogger is being a pain in my arse and won't let me upload pictures. While I was trying to edit the post, I noticed there were about 12 half-written posts in my queue. I found one from February (February!) that I'd nearly finished and thought I'd finish it up and post it because...well...why the hell not.

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I haven't been blogging lately but I've been trying to keep up with reading my favorite blogs. I've noticed a questionnaire making the rounds and two of my blog friends have tagged me to join in. (My sister likes to use air quotes when she talks about my "blog friends" as if they're imaginary.) Thanks to Natasha and Kelly for providing me with blogging material that practically writes itself.

 I'm supposed to share the rules, which are to post 11 fun facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you and then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged. Tag 11 people and link them in your post. (Spoiler alert: I'm not playing by the rules.)

I'm not sure my 11 facts are fun, but they sure are random. Here it goes:

1. I have a dimple in each shoulder.
2. West Wing is my favorite television show. I have the series on DVD and have watched it more times than you would believe. So have my brother and sister. We like to randomly recite lines from the show. We also try to stump one another on obscure bits of West Wing trivia we make up ourselves. Clearly, we're an awesome bunch. I'm glad we have each other. No one else would want us.
3. I pride myself on my parallel parking skills.
4. I love TV theme songs.
5. I gained 55 pounds while I was pregnant. (!) Since Blaire was born, I've lost 73 pounds. Thank you, breastfeeding!
6. Boxed brownies are one of my very favorite things. Homemade just can't compare.
7. I've never had a speeding ticket. Parking tickets are another story.
8. My husband and I have been together for almost 11 years. That makes me feel OLD.
9. I hate massages and facials.
10. I don't have wisdom teeth. They were never removed - just never came in.
11. I hate meatloaf.

Here are the questions Natasha posted:

1. What is your profession? Lawyer lady extraordinaire. Doesn't that sound better than attorney?  Too bad I can't get that on my business cards.

2. How would you describe your style? I guess we're talking about clothing here. I think comfortable and casual sum it up best. Jeans, t's, sweaters and flats in the Florida "winter" and sundresses and sandals the other 9 months of the year. I have a weakness for shoes and handbags. Unfortunately, we're tight on closet space so I have a rule about shoes. If I buy a new pair, an old pair has to go. I break this rule regularly.

3. What one make-up product can you not live without? Eeek, just one is hard. I'm by no means a product junkie but I don't like going out without make-up.  (I've got dark circles under my eyes and tend to look tired and sick without makeup.) If forced to choose just one product, probably my Nars blush. A little color on the cheeks makes you look healthy & happy.

4. If you could be besties with one celebrity, who would it be?  Tina Fey. She's smart, funny, and if I wasn't stuttering and drooling on myself in embarrassment, I'm sure we'd have plenty to talk about.

5. What is your dream vacation? Oh so many places. Spain & Portugal are at the top of my list. Greece. Paris. Hawaii. Amsterdam. Italy. Napa would be heavenly. A comfortable lounge chair by a pool and in proximity of a bar would be just perfect. I'm easy to please. (Okay, that's a lie. I am a travel snob. I love a luxury resort. And I'm pretty picky about restaurants too. Okay, I'm hard to please. I like nice things. Sorry for partying.)

6. What magazines do you subscribe to? Southern Living, Cooking Light, Food Network Magazine, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, and Parents. Sheesh, that's a lot. I thought I'd whittled it down more than that. (Confession: I hardly ever read Parents. It's soooo boring.)

7. If you could have a special talent {that you don't currently have}, what would it be? I'd love to have a photographic memory. I had a law professor with a photographic memory. The man could lecture on the minutiae of 20-something cases in under 50 minutes without once consulting a book or notes. It was amazing.

8. What is your favorite breakfast food? Pancakes. No, Eggs Benedict. No, pancakes. Definitely pancakes. Wait...bacon. It's like Sophie's choice. (Who's seen that movie? I haven't...I think she has to choose between her children?)

9. If you could do anything, what is your dream job? Lady who lunches. It's a real job, I promise. Okay, kidding. I'd love to write a column reviewing books or restaurants. Being paid to read or eat and then write about it? Heaven.

10. What is your guilty pleasure? Eating. Makes me happy, makes me feel guilty.

11. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you? Pretty much everything my dad has ever told me. Lose the battle, win the war. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. No one will buy the cow if they get the milk for free. A good education is priceless. Red wine is best slightly chilled. There's nothing more important than family. I could go on but really, you probably stopped reading at the one about the cow. What can I say?  Dad tells it like it is. Pete is full of good advice.

Kelly asked:

1. Valentine's Day: Love it or Hate it? The movie? Hate it. The holiday? I love it. Candy, good. Love, good. Wearing pink and red? Good. An excuse to go out to dinner (but NEVER on the actual day)? Good. It's all good. 
2. Favorite place to shop?  Online. My usual suspects are Gap, Banana Republic, J. Crew, and Target. Lately, it's mostly Baby Gap.
3. Social media outlet of choice: Twitter or Facebook or Other? Twitter. I swear that 75% of my Facebook friends are friggin' morons.  
4. iPhone, Blackberry, Driod, or Other? I got my first iPhone for Christmas! LOVE! Thanks Mom & Dad.
5. Biggest fear: Sinking on a cruise ship or airplane crashing?  Airplane crashing. I don't do cruises. (See #5 above, re: travel snob.)
6. Did you go to public school or private school growing up?    Public, from kindergarten through law school.
7. Coffee, tea, red bull, none of the above?  Coffee. So much coffee.
8. Best Spring Break trip?   Key West, my sophomore year of college. I miss the days when it was (semi) appropriate to funnel beers on the pool deck before noon. (Though Junior year when we stayed at the clothing-optional/nudist resort was special too. We opted for clothes. Too bad the old geezers at the pool didn't. 'Tis the price you pay for booking your hotel for spring break late. Oh, Key West!)
9. General bathing/showering: at night or morning or choose to go the dirty hippie route? What's the dirty hippie route? I shower at night.
10. Favorite boy band? NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC or one of the others that don't matter?  NKOTB was my first concert. Can I claim ignorance of youth?
11. Dogs or cats? I'm sure I'll get hate mail for this... Neither. I'm fine with both so long as they aren't living in my house but I'm not an animal person. I'm sure the day will come when Blaire begs for a pet. I already hate that day.

Okay, so there it is. Posting a meme three months late. I've set the floor for shitty blogging. Apologies to all.