Willow’s Got Questions…

… And I’m sure going to answer them because, as she states, I’m actually to blame for her asking them. Oh, I take this, as I really think this is fun. So what about you? Are you up for answering some more questions? Or do you, just like Willow, have some questions you’d like to ask? Then do it! Don’t be shy!

1. Does jet-lag affect you?
   Good question… I think it does. I try to get back into a rhythm as fast as quickly but eventually it will hit me and I will have a night of almost no sleep… oh and see question #52…
2. Are you afraid to walk alone at night?
   Not really. But I usually not walk around in the night on my own anymore. I try to be as alert as possible if I have to.
3. How did it make you feel the first time you ever held a baby in your arms — yours or someone else’s?
   I think my maternal instincts sort of kicked in. And I was nervous. Nervous that I would do something wrong. The baby survived unharmed, so don’t worry…
4. Do you fold your undergarments and socks?
   Yep, I do. Don’t like folding socks but I do…
5. Is there a specific place where you go to think? where is it and why there?
   If I really need to clear my mind I go for a long walk. Or maybe a run. Definitely aim to go to the beach. When I was younger and still had my horse I went for a ride. Now I take the dogs and go walking.
6. How many houseplants do you have? How are they faring? 
   Dangerous question. I’m not good with plants. Surprisingly our “Lucky Bamboo” (looks a bit unlucky ever since the move…) and my orchid are still alive…
7. Do you have a garden — flower or vegetable? 
   The house we rent currently has some beautiful lemon trees and a low maintenance garden. I like it that way because it’s a rental. But I’d like to have a vegetable garden one day.
8. How many hats do you own? Do you wear them all?
   I own a lot of caps and I have worn them all so far. Two hats (simple) that I have worn and some beanies 🙂
9. Does your best friend call you their best friend?
   Good question, I will ask… Joke aside, yes, my best friend just told me again that I’m the best friend too. Although we hardly ever speak… but the connection is there. And will always be. Through thick and thin, you know…
10. Do you struggle to finish a bad book or do you set it aside forever? 
    Can you believe that I almost threw “The Gone Girl” out? At some points I got so super annoyed with the book that I was close to shred it to pieces. But I’m glad I finished it. It’s a good book with some really sick twists…
11. Have you ever been in a food fight?
    A proper food fight… no. Unless you call feeding a baby a food fight… I mean, it can get close, right? But throwing food at each other as “grown ups”? Nope, I think it’s a waste of food.
12. Have you ever brought a stray animal home?
    Yep, I teamed up with my Mom and stuck to it although my Dad threatened to move out if the cat moves in. The cat moved in, Dad stayed and we all lived happily together until the cat passed away…
13. Can a well-written book make you care about their characters enough to cry for them?
    Most definitely yes…
14. Have you seen Karma at work in your life?
    Yep, and it makes me smile very time I witness it… Like with this one… oh and listen to the truck driver cracking up…
15. How do you deliver bad news?
    I think I never truly had to deliver bad news so far. Only slightly bad news and then I don’t muck around.
16. In general, how do you feel when you come home from a long vacation?
    Happy, full of memories and tired…
17. Are book covers important in getting you to read a book?
    Yes, it’s usually the first thing that catches my attention…
18. How many shoes do you have? Are there any orphan shoes? Why do you keep them?
    I have 5 boots, 5 high heels, 5 runners, 5 flip flops… 5… hey I have 5 shoes… 😉
19. How would you describe your housekeeping strategy?
    Keep it simple, keep it as clean as it needs to be without making a fuss, keep it comfortable, keep it easy to stay on top of…
20. If you could be a superhero, would you take that chance?
    Why not? Sure, it comes with heaps of responsibility but so does parenting. I would like to be able to pick my super powers though… but then… not sure if I can decide. Can I get all of them? But hey, aren’t we moms superheroes anyway?
21. If you had the wherewithal to invent something, anything, what would it be?
    And see this is it! If I would know what I would invent if I could, I would invent it… I would have done it a long time ago…
22. If you had to live for a month on what’s in your refrigerator, would you make it?
    Just me or the entire family? If it’s just me then I would. Probably without struggling. Fridge is full with left overs 😉
23. Name something that seemed inconsequential but had a huge influence on your life (for example, a commercial, a postcard, or something you might have overheard).
    I might have to think about this for a little while…
24. How do you feel about the idea of Artificial Intelligence? Or robots in general?
    It kind of freaks me out… Maybe because “Terminator”…
25. What “redneck” (unsophisticated) activity do you like to do?
    Maybe throwing stones at cans (cleaning up the cans afterwards of course…)?
26. What (if anything) do you think is beyond the stars?
    More stars :-). Beautiful, sparkling stars…
27. What are the most common lies your peer group tells?
    That they are doing okay although they are not feeling well… But it’s kind of a common thing, right. We often say that we are okay although we feel down or have a heavy weight on our shoulders…
28. Are there characteristic about yourself that you find annoying in other people?
    I tend to finish people’s sentences…
29. What do you think of when you think of California?
    San Diego, Roadtrip, Disneyland, LA, San Francisco and earth quakes… oh and strawberries :-)
30. Is there a food that is too much work for you to eat?
    I have not found it yet…
31. What highbrow, cultured activity do you like to participate in?
    Just let me be a redneck, okay…
32. Is there a historical culture that fascinates you?
    Egyptians, the Romans, the Mayas and Incas…
33. What — if any — historical injustice still upsets you?
    What was done to the native Americans and native Australians, the missionaries and of course Holocaust…
34. Are there habits other people have that you find suspicious?
    Pretending that they always have their life sorted and everything under total control…
35. What do you think is a good place to travel but you would not want to live there?
    Maybe one of the Islands of the Maldives? I mean, how beautiful is it, but if you live there, there’s not much to do and if the ocean rises, which it will, everything is gone…
36. Is there a scary scene from a movie (or book) you viewed a child that still haunts you?
    Poltergeist… oh and “Mommy Dearest“. Yep. Every time I see a wire hanger it creeps up on me… Oh, and then there was “Duel“… Really don’t like to have a truck behind me… nope…
37. What is the cheapest price you can ever remember paying for gas?
    Don’t really remember gas being cheap… Somehow my brain must have over-written this memory… too hard to cope otherwise…
38. How far south have you traveled?
    Well, I live in Australia, that’s already very South-ish. Then all the way to South Australia and Tasmania… South end of Tasmania… That’s pretty far South… oh, yes, and I’ve been to New Zealand too… South Island…
39. When did you realize you’d become an adult?
    When I had my first child…
40. What jokes did your grandparents tell you as a child that you remember fondly?
    Honestly, I don’t remember any of them really anymore. But I remember that my Grandpa always told jokes and they were hilarious…
41. Is there a piece of technology that you do not own but would like to?
    A new laptop as mine is slowly giving up…
42. Do you have any secrets for getting better service?
    Being nice and respectful with the other person. Usually, when you have an issue it’s not their fault in the first place so don’t leave your frustration out on them…
43. What slang word or phrase do you love to use?
    Let me think about it…
44. What technology, real or imagined, scares you?
    Cloning…
45. Is there a traditional gender role or stereotype that you agree or disagree with?
    Man flu. It’s real… (I mean, we all know it’s not but let’s just pretend and give the boys the impression we really care…)
46. What type of commercials to you find particularly annoying?
    Commercials about the need of looking younger (with 12 year old models trying to sell an anti-aging cream for 40+ years…). Nothing wrong with a face that tells a story…
47. What was the first thing you learned to cook?
    Spaghetti bolognese (spaghetti with meat balls but not shaped in balls…). And omlette. Or does toast count?
48. What’s the highest above sea level you’ve ever been? How did you get there?
    I’ve been up to 3’400 – 4’000 meters above sea level on different mountains in Switzerland. I got there in either a gondola or a gondola and a little hike.
49. Is there something that you do now, but wouldn’t do if it weren’t for the law (for example carry car insurance or wear your seat belt).
    So you actually mean is there a law I think doesn’t make sense? Well… not sure honestly… I see the point of the seat belt and the helmet. I also see the point of airport security. Although I often wonder how they can still have glass bottles on the plane…
50. Have you ever tried to touch the moon?
    Every single night I can see it…
51. When you have out of town guests, what tourist things do you show them?
    The city and then our favorite Wildlife Park. Then I figure out what they would like to go see and point them in the directions that make sense. If they like me to come along I’m happy to. If not, I’m happy as well…
52. Where is the strangest place you have fallen asleep?
    In a restaurant having lunch with my husband when we traveled to Australia for the first time. I hit the wall. We arrived in the morning and I had not slept for the entire trip. After 24 and something hours of traveling and sight seeing all morning I just simply didn’t manage to stay awake… We still laugh about it…
53. Would you be willing to live off the grid? (follow link for definition)
    I have often thought about it. In a way yes but it would also mean that you are on your own if something happens. No way to call an ambulance or the police. Not sure if I’d like to deal with that…
54. If someone paid you enough money, would you provide them a false alibi?
    If it would be a domestic violence victim yes. In any other case no.
55. Would you volunteer to be one of the first colonists on Mars? 

    
    Oh hell no! No, no, no! This planet here is way to beautiful to leave and live on a planet we have no clue of and also with people I will never be able to get away from… nope, nope, nope. Kudos to the ones that are happy to head up there…