Tag, I’m It! You Could Be Too.

My friend Fiddler at Rockhound Place tagged me to answer five questions in a blog post and then to rope in another set of bloggers with my own questions that I’ve been burning to ask them. Okay, those aren’t the exact words, but close enough.

First, the questions from Fiddler and my answers:

1.   What book from your childhood do you remember the most, and why?

I distinctly remember curling up on my bed one summer morning and reading The Hundred and One Dalmatians, by Dodie Smith.  I was completely enthralled and impressed that there was a book to go with the movie, and that the book was so much better than the movie!  I think I was ten. Sadly, Colin Firth was neither in the movie, nor, to my knowledge, does he own a Dalmatian.

2.   What type of music do you enjoy the most?  Please include examples!

That’s tough because my answer changes with my mood. Some baroque, classical, or operatic pieces can bring alternating tears of joy and sadness to my eyes, (Bach’s Cello Suites, Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings  [modern, but classical in form], and The Flower Duet from DeLibes’ Lakme), then again, some 80s cheesy music can make me want to jump up and down with wild abandon (sometimes also known as dancing) in sheer delight (Come on Eileen springs to mind) as does some 70s rock (Just What I Needed). Celtic music generally makes me smile and tap my toes, and sometimes, just to gross out my children, I like to listen to and sing really loud pop music. Finally, any music video in which Colin Firth appears, let alone dances, is sure to bring a smile to my face.

3.   What subject do you find most challenging (to teach or to learn)?

Languages.  Je ne parle pas les autres langues, donc, je ne suis pas le professeur ou le speaker bonne. But despite my grammatical deficiencies, my accent is, or once was, kick-ass, as evidenced by the fact that I came in second in a French speaking contest in high school; the first place went to a girl who pronounced “frog” correctly (guenouille).  I remember it as if it were yesterday . . .

Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage.
Maître Renard, par l'odeur alléché,
Lui tint à peu près ce langage :

– etc..  

In Love Actually, Colin Firth cannot speak French, either.

4.   What is your favorite hot drink?  Bonus points for including the recipe!

Coffee: ground-up coffee beans, hot, hot water.  How many points do I get for that? How about for hot coffee Colin? Take a vat of coffee and pour it over Colin Firth.

5.   About what new book, movie, or TV series do you want to let others know?

Good thing I got to answer this today – hands down, Sherlock on Masterpiece Mystery. It started here last night and is really, really good.  Set in modern day London, it is fast-paced, and both Holmes and Watson are intriguing characters.  Holmes is simply a master of observation and deduction, while Watson is learning to live again. Their banter does remind me a bit of Lewis and Hathaway, but on speed.   It’s brilliant (if I may channel Colin Firth for a moment)!

Although I very much enjoyed answering these questions, particularly with the added incentive of mentioning Colin Firth at any and all opportunities, I don’t feel like asking others to do silly/fun things by linking to them specifically. Yes, I realize that this may violate the spirit of this fun activity, but tough darts. Instead, I’m going to ask that anyone who wishes to answer any of these questions do so on her own blog, or in the comments section of this blog, or on Facebook, or Twitter (that may prove difficult), or commit her answers to paper and pen and mail them to me.  This last part would take some serious dedication to answering my request.

For any of my blog-reading friends, I would love to know your answers to any and all of these particular questions (Grades will be based on completeness of response, proper use of grammar, and correct spelling – bonus points for making me laugh):

1.   What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever done?

2.   What is the most meaningful thing you’ve ever done?

3.   What is the general activity you enjoy doing most often?

4.   What do you like most and least about blogging, if applicable?

5.   How do you feel about Colin Firth?

Or you can answer Fiddler’s questions to me.

It’s all about making your own choices.