|Mr. Blundering Discoverer (Travis W Inman) has tagged me with the Honest Scrap Award. Thanks, Will! So, I’d say it’s finally time for a new post. Thanks to all of you who hang in there with me on this blog. Here’s the deal…
The Honest Scrap award:
A) First list 10 honest things about yourself – and make it honest (hence, the award ‘Honest Scrap’), even if you have to dig deep!
B) Pass the award on to 8 bloggers that you feel embody the role of the Honest Scrap. (This is an award only to display on your blog that everything you write on it is in truth, sincerity, and integrity.)
So I can honestly say that:
1. I love surprises. I just spent time with a couple of close friends, and we got to talking about how David proposed to me. Since we knew a year and half before then that we wanted to get married, I’m sure it was a challenge to surprise me with the actual proposal. He did an amazing job. I love telling the story.
2. A certain, random something feels to me like fingernails on a chalkboard. I don’t reveal this to many people in case they ever want to use it against me. Most of you I know just through cyberspace, so maybe I’m safe! =) My Achilles’ heel is this: I can’t stand to hear or watch someone rub their hands across fabric, like jeans or bedsheets or furniture. I know, I know…odd. What’s your quirky thing?
3. I love being an aunt. Speaking of that, I have to wish my nephew, Jacob, a very happy 14th birthday! I can’t believe he’s this old. His Uncle Dave and I are so proud of who he is and wish we could see him and his sister more often. I’m also the worst aunt; I still have his Christmas and birthday presents sitting here at home! (Sorry, Jacob!)
4. This is hard for me. While I strive for honesty and sincerity with everyone, I’m comfortable revealing my innermost thoughts and feelings with very few people. Usually I’d much rather talk about you. =)
5. Speaking of secrets, I’d love to be the next Sydney Bristow (“Alias”). I relish the thought of working as a super spy with wicked kickboxing moves! Hmm…maybe I could use that in my current anti-drug coalition job…the Drug Vigilante of Southeast New Mexico…What should my spy name be?
6. Sometimes I psych myself out, letting myself be intimidated by others’ writing ability. I’m coming to terms with this, recognizing that God gave me (and all writers) a unique writing voice that is a gift from Him. Now it’s my job to hone that and write solely for His glory. I love catching glimpses of Him and His creativity by reading other writers; I’m challenged and inspired. I love the adventure of it all.
7. Often I’m a smart-alecky prankster at heart. I usually mean no harm, but so often I have to bite my lip to keep from hurling snarky, funny comments at inappropriate times. People who think I’m only “quiet and sweet” might be surprised about this. I’m not proud about it. (Though I might be funnier than some people realize.) Rosslyn, this is where knowing you did a study on this convicted me!
College was a goldmine time to unleash the prankster part of me.
8. I’m both a homebody and a travel-loving woman. When I’m in town home is where I want to park it, but after a couple of weeks, that travel itch creeps back. My curiosity is almost insatiable. I could spend hours pouring over maps.
9. I didn’t grow up wishing to be a minister’s wife. In fact, I wasn’t sure what to think when I realized that David I would get married, and that he was called to be a minister. I was ecstatic looking forward to having David as my husband, but I wasn’t so sure about the church staff lifestyle part of it. Since then, though, I’ve come to love it. No, it’s not always easy, but it’s such a privilege to encourage my husband in ministry (I’m so proud of him) and to have a unique ministry role myself. I’ve grown comfortable in my own skin with God’s and David’s help. And people are so funny…this life is a never-ending bonanza of story inspiration.
10. I didn’t always like the unusual spelling of my name. …especially when I was younger. I longed to find one those little personalized souvenirs with my name spelled right. Now I like it. I like that it’s different, and it makes me notice unique things about other people.
So, now it’s time to tag others. Instead of eight, I’ll keep in in the family and tag David (Reflections of Creation) and Christi (Altered Ambitions).
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February 11th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Oh, thanks for the tag…said with much sarcasm as I have about 20 different tags that I need to do on FB.
But, with that being said, I really enjoyed reading your list! smiles…
February 11th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Thanks, Alison, for sharing your “honest” things with us! (And, I, too, never find souvenirs/pencils with my name spelled correctly on them.)
February 11th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Sydney Bristo? I’d have never thought!
“Sometimes I psych myself out, letting myself be intimidated by others’ writing ability.”
Something else that truly surprises me!
I loved this. A little more about Alison!
(now I’m going to be looking all over for key rings and magnets that say: Alison.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Natasha Fleming (paying respects to Ian Fleming) if you work for British SIS and
Rachael Hastings if you want a more anonymous name that sounds “mysterious” without giving away your cover. Or Alison Bryant sounds pretty good too.
February 12th, 2009 at 7:27 am
GREAT LIST!! I love Alias. I didn’t get to watch it much, but when I did, it was great. I love she could kick some serious butt, yet still be sensitive while searching for answers. I love characters like that.
Press on, sister.
February 12th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I can sympathize with number five, though with me it would be the guy on Burn Notice.
And it’s nice to see I’m not the only one struggling with number six.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Well, Christi, I didn’t mean to add to your burden. =) Purely optional. Glad you came by.
Jacque, I’ve always imagined that it was even more difficult for you to find personalized things than me. I’ve also always loved the spelling of your name. What did you think of it when you were growing up?
KM, you always make me smile; I hope we can meet in person some day.
Lynn, maybe we should start an aspiring Sydney Bristows group! And I agree with you about her character’s contrast; her relationship with her dad was neat to watch.
I haven’t seen much of Burn Notice, Billy, but do you ever watch Monk? The Burn Notice guy was in an episode a couple of years ago and played an astronaut. Maybe I should watch more…I think Bruce Campbell is hilarious.
And while I’m not happy that anyone else struggles with #6, it sure makes me feel more at ease. =)
February 12th, 2009 at 9:45 am
My mother always told me the spelling of my name was the way girls spelled it (of course, not always true). I, too, like the spelling of it, but am just now finally getting where I like my entire name of Jacquelyn — may start using it, since it’s my legal name on everything (driver’s license, etc.).
February 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Oh, and Daniel: the name Natasha is catching my fancy.
Or maybe I could be one of those kid actors from the 90s who had 50 names…Natasha Rachel Sydney Jenny Matilda Jones. Whaddya think?
February 12th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I think Pickles would be a good spy name. Or at least an alias of some kind — maybe a good pen name.
February 12th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I think you and I may be long-lost twins, Alison!
I definitely want in on the Sydney Bristow Wannabe club- I LOVED that show!
Billy- I just watched the first season of Burn Notice on DVD and LOVED it, so I can relate with you on that one, too!
I totally have a somewhat-hidden prankster side. It comes out more in my blog than in real life.
And I LOVE surprises– very similar situation when my hubby proposed to me! I’ll get to that in a few weeks on my Saturday Story, “How I Met Your Father” on my blog.
Thanks for sharing!
I have been having a really hard time lately with comparing myself to others’ writing skills. Mostly with my “writer friends” it’s ok, but I recently had a “non-writer-friend” try her hand at writing, and it made me really insecure, because I’ve been trying SOOO hard to work on my craft, and it seemed like she didn’t even have to try!
February 14th, 2009 at 12:25 am
I did not know your dear hubby is a minister! Great list, Alison. You really nailed the writerly dichotomy of being introverted, yet curious. That’s a lot of writers to a tee (perhaps if we weren’t so curious, we’d never go out. Heh!)
And, I could never find “Gwen” or even “Gwendolyn” on a pencil either, especially considering I was born in the era of Heathers and Jennifers. *sigh* (Does that age me? Shall I claim Caitlin and Megan instead?)
I totally agree with you too on the intimidation factor when I compare myself with other writers. Sometimes I want to crawl in a hole. Scratch that: a LOT of times. Heh. But I just remind myself that, like you said, God gave us each our own voice, ability, and gift. Not many people can write entire books (many think they can, but fizzle out before page 100. There’s stats on that, I believe). So I have to believe that no matter the size of my natural talent, God has used my writing to draw me closer to Him. And that’s a pretty great use of time no matter what.
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for sharing these wonderfully-written thoughts.
God bless you!