Refreshing Saturday

Good morning, dear readers!  I have to tell you: I am luxuriating over this post today.  For the past few weeks, I've been really diligent about planning and writing and scheduling my daily snippets ahead of time.  It makes life easier in the long run, but I've found that I do miss the spontaneity of being in the moment when I blog.  So this post, composed just after 8am on the very same morning, is going to be deeply satisfying, I think, for both me and you.  Long, but satisfying.

(By the way, I know that I promised to tell you my big news soon, but unfortunately it needs a bit more time to percolate.  I haven't forgotten - I'm just waiting until the moment is right for all concerned.)

via

I have a full day of singing tomorrow, but today is blissfully free and I think I'm going to spend it with Jon working on the February Photo a Day challenge.  The idea of the game is to inspire you to just a little bit of creativity throughout the month by giving each date a theme or topic that you can interpret any way you like through the medium of photography.  However, because my camera officially died recently and I prefer Jon's iPhone to my BlackBerry for taking pictures, I'm going to coerce my lovely and understanding boyfriend into hitting the town to seek out opportunities for a whole bunch of the days.  Yes, it's cheating a bit on the point of the challenge - but I'm being honest with you which makes it okay, right?  I'll share what we've snapped at the end of the month, so check back on the 29th!

Since it's still really too early to start the day, I thought I might spend some time playing along with this game of tag that's making the blogging rounds.  I first spotted it over at BeantownPrepster but couldn't participate because I am an extremely vocal commenter; luckily, Karen picked up the game next and has invited everyone to join in - so here goes!

rules:

1. post the rules

2. post 11 facts about yourself

3. answer the tagger's 11 questions and then set a new 11 questions

4. tag 11 bloggers to play along

*****

f1: I have been to almost every city/town in England that has a major cathedral or church because three out of the first four times I visited England were on choir tours.

f2: I don't really like most holiday drinks - you can keep your daiquiris and piña coladas and whatever; I'll stick with the basics, thank you.

f3: I can only spend a maximum of two hours in any museum exhibition regardless of how big or interesting it is - I get bored and/or antsy after that.

f4: As a classically-trained soprano, I'd rather sound like a pre-pubescent boy than a Wagnerian diva - that much vibrato, no matter how appropriate it is, scares me. 

f5: I refuse to use lip balm that comes in tins - there is no reason to get your fingers sticky and oily when you could just buy a tube of chapstick.

f6: There is a tab on my bookmarks bar on my laptop called "TOP SECRET" that includes links to my favorite wedding blogs.

f7: I love scented candles and have quite a few around my flat but I rarely light them - I mostly buy them because they look pretty and have enticing names.

f8:  I believe that there is no recipe that can't be improved by adding cheese.

f9: I love American cop dramas - my favorite is Law and Order: SVU but I'll even stoop to watch CSI: Miami, especially if I'm homesick.

f10: I buy the Sunday Times every weekend and only read the supplements.

f11: When I wake up in the middle of the night and my leg is hanging off the bed, my first thought (still and always) is that it might get bitten off by the monster under the bed.

*****

q1: If you could have a theme song play when you walk down the street, what would it be? 

a1: The Girl from Ipanema

q2: If you could only watch one TV show for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

a2: The West Wing

q3: French fries: skinny and crispy or big and mushy?  

a3: Big and mushy in England, skinny and crispy in France!

q4: What is your guilty pleasure outfit?

a4: A jersey dress no matter what the weather

q5: Soda: fountain, bottle, or can? 

a5: I don't drink soda unless it's in a rum-and-coke.

q6: Favorite thing to do at the gym?

a6: Watch crappy talk shows

q7: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

a7: London - because home is where the heart is!

q8: What is one thing that you carry in your purse that you absolutely cannot live without?

a9: My Oystercard for London's public transport.

q10: What is your most embarrassing habit?

a10: I do this funny thing where I play with my lip in a really awkward way when I'm distracted.

q11: If you could meet and be BFFs with a blogger that you follow, who would it be and why?

a11: Blair's Headband, because her irreverence and down-to-earth reality crack me up; Joelle, because she sees beauty everywhere; and Victoria because she is living her dreams.

*****

1. Why do you blog and/or read blogs?

2. If you could have one celebrity endorse your blog, who would you pick and why?

3. If you could guest-star on any reality show, which would you pick and why?
4. What is your favorite Halloween costume ever from your past?

5. Team Peeta or Team Gale?

6. If you had to be turned into a vampire, would you prefer to be bitten by Bill Compton, Edward Cullen, Lestat, or Bunnicula?

7. Name two foods that you eat together that everyone else thinks is gross.

8. What do you really think about the color combination of pink and green?

9. Which character do you most identify with in Rent?

10. Would you rather be the queen or the power behind the throne?

11. What is the one topic that makes you nervous when you talk about on your blog and why?

*****

Oh my goodness - now you know more about me than you ever wanted to!  And I have come up with such strange questions... sorry, guys.  It's early and the sun is shining and I may have gotten carried away.  You understand, don't you?

I'm going to tag some of my most recent new followers - I'd love to get to know you better, so please do play along!  (Do let us know if you join in even if I haven't tagged you by commenting on this post.)  I can't wait to read what you all come up with!

Sam at Every Shade of Green

Kay at From NJ to the UK

Katie at A Preppy Girl's Guide

Emm at Emm in London

{av} at long distance loving

Okay, dear readers, it's time to start the day.  Well done - if you've made it this far - and have an absolutely lovely weekend wherever you are!