Tuesday, July 31, 2007



I’ve been tagged with the Eight Random Facts Meme several times, most recently by my high school friend, Mielikki.


So, eight random things

1) I dislike Led Zeppelin. I think my Led dislike comes from the hideousness that is “Stairway to Heaven” and “The Immigrant Song”. (h/t to Common Reader) However, I often kick around doing a “Best songs by bands I hate” post, which would feature "Kashmir

2) Even though I can’t sew, I’ve been kicking around buying a sewing machine. I keep thinking, “how hard can it be?” I may have answered it this morning when I moved a button on my skirt the wrong way – twice.

3) Like Deb and her love, Eddie and I share a brain sometimes. Yesterday, I bought a dry mop as we have new bamboo floors in the kitchen. When Eddie came home, he giggled as he also bought a dry mop yesterday. We’ve had the floors about a month. The downside (not that it’s much of one) is that we are pretty evenly matched at Boggle, coming up with the same words.

4) I don’t like mushrooms. I am a vegetarian, not a fungustarian.

5) Despite swearing that I’d never scrapbook when I first heard about the hobby, I have been a scrapbooker for nine years. Never Say Never.

6) My favorite genre is Historical Fiction (I suspect that is not news)

7) My sister, brother and I all have first names that begin with “M”.

8) I’ve been kicking around starting an Orthodox stamp company. If you stamp, would you be interested? If so, what products would you like to see? Let me know.

And, the lovely Janelle participated in a Meme on RedMolly’s blog The rules state that if you comment on the post, you are asked five questions. If you’d like to participate, just say “quiz me” in my comment box. So, here are my answers to Janelle’s questions.


1.a. How did you come to join the Orthodox Church? and b. did you practice any specific faith before that? In college, I took a Slavic and Celtic folklore and the usage of those motifs in art, literature and music course. My professor (and ultimately my Godmother) did a presentation on the difference between Orthodoxy and Western Christianity, and every point she said about the difference, I found myself thinking “huh, I agree with the Orthodox position”. This began a journey that lead me into the church nearly 11 years ago. I was Baptized Catholic, but really raised with a Catholic background instead of being raised Catholic. I wandered a bit through the Episcopalian church, but was pretty unchurched.

2. Who was the person who had the most impact on you as a child, other than your parents? Oh, these kinds of questions always boggle me. While all of my grandparents were very much a part of my life growing up, my Paternal Grandmother lived with us for a while, and there is nothing like unconditional grandparent love.

3. What's your favorite thing to do when you need a little exercise?
I have a treadmill that I try to use at least three times a week – I read while I’m on it, it’s a treat. I like to swim, but getting all the stuff together and going is usually more of a bother than I care to take on.

4. Who's your favorite Harry Potter character, and why? Hermione. Let’s just say we share a lot of characteristics, grin!

5. How long have you been a vegetarian? 15 years.

Art image from Ronald Kurniawan

41 Comments:

At 4:27 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

As always very insightful. You forgot that not only do we all start with M but our middile initals are in alphabetical order as well.(and you got mom's great spelling genes while I got dads bad ones) :)
PSI think the idea of a stamp company is wonderful.

 
At 6:44 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

#1: You don't like "Stairway...." What kind of rock 'n roller are you girl?! LOL! LOL! How many slow dances were done to that song I could never begin to count?

#2: Ummm...Mimi...I would suggest you forgo the sewing machine! LOL!

#3: Bamboo floors? Really? Are they easy to maintain? Would you post a pic? I'd love to see them.

#8: I like the idea of an Orthodox stamp. Wonder how the idea of "icons" would go over? I'd buy some.

 
At 1:50 AM , Blogger @irina_sweet_home said...

God bless you on this feast!

 
At 4:45 AM , Blogger Vintage Papers said...

Mimi
loved learning more about your likes and dislikes - although Stairway is a LZ classic - there are other pieces of their work I enjoy more.
As for the sewing machine - practice makes perfect ;) I vowed to learn when Alli was little (wanted to sew dresses) - my neighbor came over a lot to teach me. Don't give up - buttons and all! :)

 
At 7:33 AM , Blogger Fern @ Life on the Balcony said...

I think you could totally handle sewing, I say buy that machine! Your local craft shop, sewing store or Jo-Ann's has sewing classes. And it's really easy once you understand the basics.

 
At 8:38 AM , Blogger Unknown said...

Great idea about the Stamp company by the way, I find the more unique a product is, the more people like it! And I don't think I have ever heard of bamboo floors...interesting.

 
At 8:58 AM , Blogger Fr. David said...

"Fungustarian." Heh.

I, too, love historical fiction, but your dislike for Zep...sigh...

So, um...quiz me?

 
At 12:22 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

As you know Mimi, Led Zep is one of my all time favorites (them and KISS - how strange am I?!) but I won't hold it against you that you don't like Stairway because you do like Kashmir.

If you sold icon stamps I would buy several of them!

 
At 1:50 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

Ok, David Bryan -

1) What is your favorite Historical Fiction author (subtitled, what should I read next?)

2) Do you use novels in your classroom, and if so, what is your favorite one to teach?

3) What is your favorite made up word that Hope has had, and do you still call the item by that word even if she has corrected the pronunciation?

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

5) What is your favorite song by a band you usually dislike?

 
At 5:26 PM , Blogger mielikki said...

good answers
I was interviewed long ago, and so will pass on that.
I'm with ya on the 'Stairway' thing. . .

 
At 7:30 PM , Blogger Janelle said...

Hermione is my favorite character, too. *smile*

And I'm curious to hear how you like your bamboo floors! I am sick of old crappy ceramic tile!

 
At 8:52 PM , Blogger Fr. David said...

1) For alternative fiction (i.e., "What if...?"), Harry Turtledove is the way to go -- and from him I would recommend Guns of the South (if you can stomach a little sci-fi thrown in, that is). For fiction based on actual historical events, Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead is good, but Michael Shaara's Killer Angels (on which the movie Gettysburg was based) is without par.

2) I teach Spanish 2, so the only novels I use are "novelitas" that are written especially for my methodology (using set vocabulary, etc). Novel novels don't usually come in until maybe the end of third year. Sorry to disappoint! My favorite one that I read whilst in AP Spanish Lit was García Marquez's El Coronel no Tiene Quien le Escriba, and I loved the poetry of Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz and Pablo Neruda during college.

3) The blessing in the name of the "Faahdur, Shun, an' Hody Britches" is by far the best. She's slowly correcting it, but that'll live on forever...

4) Paul. "Blackbird."

5) Oh...sigh...I'm gonna have to fudge on this one, as it's not actually a band..."Maggie May" by Rod Stewart.

 
At 11:12 PM , Blogger Liz in Seattle said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 1:01 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm hoping in the near future to returning to vegetarianism, and possibly going vegan. Hopefully, I can finally stay that way (it'll be my third attempt).

I'll probably hate myself for doing so, but... "interview" me!

 
At 7:00 AM , Blogger Mrs. Jones said...

You should try taking a basic sewing class. I had one in 7th grade (the good old "home ec" class). Once you know the basics, it's not that bad.

 
At 8:35 AM , Blogger Vara said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 12:55 PM , Blogger Kitchen Madonna said...

You can sew! Take it from me, I didn't know I could sew until January. I find it to be very relaxing.

Oh, and I'm dating that Orthodox fella again so maybe I need to find out about the fast before the Feast of the Assump...I mean the Dormition! LOL

This is a great post Mimi!

 
At 2:33 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

As Blog Owner, I deleted two comments that had emails in them, but have posted their comments here as I enjoyed both:

From Vara:
Let's see. If I were to be asked the same five questions as you, well, as John Cleese of Monty Python would say, "Now, for something entirely different"!

Question #1: I was born Russian. Full stop, end of story. A life-long plank-owner. Orthodoxy is a pair of comfy lace-up Oxfords, not a pair of Manolo Blanik "death shoes". To all you canon-quoters out there: lighten up and bask in the sunlight of God's Church.

Question #2: Captain Nicholas Alexander, dean of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville. An ex-officer in the tsarist Navy, a man of impeccable taste and grace. Everyone was in awe of him... except for Fr Kyprian, the iconographer! My Nicky does an accurate and drop-dead funny imitation of Fr Kyprian's "duck-walk" (he has it down pat!). A quote from the good Captain: "You are what you do instinctively. Excellence, therefore, is not an action willed. Rather, it is a disposition of one's soul".

Question #3: I love to walk outdoors. You never know what you are going to see or who you are going to meet.

Question #4: Mea maxima culpa! Forgive me, for I have sinned. I have never opened a Harry Potter book! Not once! Can I still be your friend?

Question #5: Hmm... I can eat anything that shan't eat me, dear (I do draw the line at mountain oysters and eye of newt). I also hold retrograde opinions on gobal warming, the whales, and world peace. I wonder where the yellow went.

BTW, I have seen no action on Mary-Leah's blog. I hope that she is not ill. Perhaps, we should add her to our prayer rule today?

(Edited email info)



As for historical fiction, what about "historical" historical fiction? That is, "Ben Hur" by Lew Wallace, and "Quo Vadis" by Synkiewicz? Over a hundred years old, and still good reads.

Cheers to all,

Vara


And, from Liz in Seattle:

I know three people from up here who would love Orthodox stamps. (They all have way more artistic talent than me).

 
At 2:35 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

Ok, Thor - here are your five questions

1) What made you go back to eating meat after being veggie?

2) Do you pronounce Anastasia's name the traditional Greek/Russian way? What diminuitive do you call her?

3) What Comic Book movie is your favorite? And, which one do you think they botched beyond redemption?

These two are going to be my stocks:

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

5) What is your favorite song by an artist/band you usually don't like?

 
At 4:03 PM , Blogger Belladonna said...

I love Zepplin but hate all things Harry Potter. What can I say? To each their own. But even us non-orthodox might purchase some of those icon stamps - I did buy a copper cookie cutter in the shape of an orthodox cross not long ago...

A group of crafty ladies at my church are working on signs with vinyl lettering - someone has a machine that laser cuts the lettering in whatever script you program into it. I would imagine something like that could also cut icon images in rubber sheets?

 
At 5:19 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

I am not a big fan of Stairway to Heaven either, although I did blog about it once: http://papaherman.wordpress.com/2007/03/25/hello-world/

But I am going to have to disagree regarding The Immigrant Song. The Immigrant Song is great!! The whole thing is great, and The Viking Kitties just make it even better.

Now I used to be able to understand your thots regarding Kashmir... that is until I saw the Plant Page 'No Quarter' version of it with the Middle Eastern orchestra with them ---awesome, just awesome!


I had to google the word "fungustarian" the only thing that came up was a reference to this post (via Orthodox blogs) so I think you have created a new word!!! Congratulations --now we just need to take this word global!!!!

Let it be known that "fungustarian" is officially a Mimi-ism!

 
At 6:10 PM , Blogger elizabeth said...

loved this post! what sort of stamps are you thinking of? i am intersted too :)

blessings on your day!

 
At 6:11 PM , Blogger elizabeth said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 9:28 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mimi: Ok, Thor - here are your five questions:

1) What made you go back to eating meat after being veggie?

Angel was pregnant with Zoe, and I ended up sharing her cravings for dead animal flesh. I just haven't been able to get back into a veggie groove since (aside from this past Great Lent).

2) Do you pronounce Anastasia's name the traditional Greek/Russian way? What diminuitive do you call her?

We pronounce it "aa-nah-stay'-zha," so it's not pronounced the traditional way (although the traditional pronunciation is pretty cool). Her diminuitive has tended to be "Stasia," as that's what she called herself when she first started to say her name. We've had people try to call her "Anna," but I've shut them down.

3) What Comic Book movie is your favorite? And, which one do you think they botched beyond redemption?

For favorite, I'm going to say the 1989 version of Batman, directed by Tim Burton and featuring Jack Nicholson as the Joker (and a great score by Danny Elfman). The third and fourth movies of that run killed the franchise (much like Superman III and IV did its franchise) until Batman Begins breathed new life into it. As far as a single movie royally screwing up a character, that Hulk movie a few years back was pretty wretched.

These two are going to be my stocks:

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

I'll go with Paul McCartney because he was the most normal, and has reinvented himself nicely over the years (even though I still don't listen to him much).

5) What is your favorite song by an artist/band you usually don't like?

The only such band coming to mind is Linkin Park. I like "One Step Closer" (for the lyrics). Their other stuff... not so much.

 
At 11:22 AM , Blogger EC Gefroh said...

No don't like mushrooms??? They are so tasty! I sure learned a lot of interesting things about you.

 
At 2:35 PM , Blogger Lauren S. said...

I don't care fore LZ either. For me, it's his voice. Ick. When I was little, and before I had a clue what LZ was, and their music would come on the radio, I always imagined the singer was a girl.

I love the stamp idea too, btw!

 
At 6:13 AM , Blogger Suzanne said...

Oh, I love to play Boggle!
Love it...good at it. Ha!
I like mushrooms, but you're
so nice I won't fuss at you
about this! LOL! I can't seem
to stick with scrapbooking.
I think I have adult ADD.
I do this about alot of things
and also, looking at old pics
gets me so sentimental sometimes.
I think if someone begged me do
this with them as a hobby..one
of the kids or something. I
always need to be pushed on
some things. OR Sometimes you
start a hobby and someone says
can we go here, take me there,
when is supper, what are we
having? I don't know. If I
was envious about one thing
it would be how people just
let themselves relax with a good
wholesome hobby! Really.
Our parents named all of us
girls with the first letter of "S"
Sandra, Sharon, Shirley, Suzanne!
I can see the "Hermonine" a little! :)

 
At 8:34 AM , Blogger sue @ postcards from paradise falls said...

hmm... i really like the "songs by bands you dislike" concept. that could be fun!!

mushrooms are yummy :)

okay, quiz me! i love answering questions... lol.

 
At 2:12 PM , Blogger Esteban Vázquez said...

Oh, oh, quiz me!!!

 
At 8:42 AM , Blogger DebD said...

I'm here at my sisters and we had a good giggle over your mob experience.

"Fungustarian" giggle. You can send them to me.

 
At 4:53 PM , Blogger Renee said...

Is it too late to quiz me? I would love the opportunity to come up with a post without having to come up with a post.

 
At 2:32 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

KKT -

1) In the last Star Wars movie, were the babies born naturally or by C-section? I was confused

2) Now that we are past the halfway mark of the baseball season, what are your predictions for the Post-Season? And, what players have surprised you (either good or bad)

3) What's one of the funniest questions you've gotten as a teller?

And, my two stock questions -

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

5) What is the best song by a band/artist you usually dislike? (and, yes, I have a lot of fun coming up with entrants for that list)

 
At 2:33 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

Julio -

1) As a multi-talented linguist, do you often find yourself mixing up languages, or grammar rules?

2) What is your favorite Paul Simon song, and Simon and Garfunkel song? And, on the flip side, what is the one you usually hit "forward" on your Mp3 player for?

3) Is it also Serbian to do "Pomuloi" instead of "Pomulu" (forgive the spelling on those)

And, my two stock questions:

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

5) What is your favorite song by a band/artist you usually dislike?

 
At 2:35 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

MPN -

1) Have you always been artistic, or did writing icons pull out a side you didn't know you had?

2) You've mentioned that your parents are tradtional minded Catholics, what do they think of the recent Latin Mass statement from Pope Benedict?

3) Do you speak Romanian? How much is used in your Liturgy?

and, my two stock questions :)

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

5) What is your favorite song by a band/artist you usually dislike?

 
At 11:36 PM , Blogger Helena said...

Fun! Want to ask me anything? :)

(The word verification says "ensewoyo." That sounds like it ought to mean something.)

 
At 2:19 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mimi, I would be very interested in your stamp company as you know I'm a keen crafter and many of my handmade cards contain scriptural messages.

You might just be opening up a whole new world of stamping to me. The lovely stamps you so kindly sent me as a gift take pride of place in my stamp box :-)

Hugs!

DebX

 
At 8:04 AM , Blogger Renee said...

1) Have you always been artistic, or did writing icons pull out a side you didn't know you had?

I always wished I was artistic, but was never pleased with my efforts. Iconography was the first time my results matched my desires.

2) You've mentioned that your parents are traditional minded Catholics, what do they think of the recent Latin Mass statement from Pope Benedict?

They are very pleased, as am I. You cannot expect to stand when the traditions of your church are pushed aside. They feel that now some more foundation can be put back under the church and things should be able to get more stable. Plus, the Traditional Latin mass is beautiful, and it is part of our heritage, and people should not be robbed of their heritage.


3) Do you speak Romanian? How much is used in your Liturgy?

I do not speak Romanian, as I am not a Romanian by ethnicity. Not many of the Romanians speak Romanian any more, for that matter. We use the language in our Liturgy from time to time, and in Communion Hymns, and in a few other prayers (the Paos, or memorial service is partly in Romanian). We are learning Romanian Christmas carols, and so are our children, because we don't want them to disappear. Sadly, many of the children of the founding members of the church do not attend here, and us Western "converts" are picking up the torch.

and, my two stock questions :)

4) Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?

Paul McCartney, because he loved his wife so much (Linda. Heather I am ignoring).

5) What is your favorite song by a band/artist you usually dislike?

Have I Told You Lately, by Rob Stewart. It is the only song I can tolerate by him, and I have to admit it is a good one.

 
At 11:21 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

So, I am very late to this post, but wanted to say two things:

#1 - when I move home, will you scrapbook with me? I've always wanted to (I like the simple ones - not all the stickers and such. I'd like to do a simple photos-on-black paper and classy captions kind of scrapbook). I just don't know where to start, and have a hard time knowing how to print out pictures in different sizes and such.

#2 - want to quiz me? Don't know if the Beatles question quite applies to me....too young :)

 
At 12:59 PM , Blogger Mimi said...

Arielle,

#1 - Absolutely! I'd love to scrapbook with you!

#2 - Ok, your five questions.

1) What languages do you speak?
2) What book do you find yourself reading again and again?
3) What is your favorite bread recipe to cook?

And, my two stock questions (changed up a bit for you

4) Who is your favorite member of N'Sync, and why? (snicker)
5) What is your favorite song by an artist/band you don't usually like?

 
At 7:10 PM , Blogger Esteban Vázquez said...

Pssst... finally answered your questions, over on LJ. :-)

 
At 8:37 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

1) What languages do you speak?

English :) I took French as a child, and in high school, and some has stuck. I basically flunked out of Latin. I studied Hebrew and Arabic pretty intensively, and could hold pretty decent conversations in both, but I've forgotten most of it :( I want to get it back, and I also want my friend to start teaching me Greek!

2) What book do you find yourself reading again and again?

Genesis - I keep trying to read the OT all the way through, and every so often I give up and start over!

3) What is your favorite bread recipe to cook?

Posted on my blog!

4) Who is your favorite member of N'Sync, and why? (snicker)

Is Joey Fatone in N'Sync? 'Cause I love him. But not enough to know which group he's in :) I just think he's funny, he married a really normal girl that he's been with forever, and he was great in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

5) What is your favorite song by an artist/band you don't usually like?

Um. Confession time. I listen to really bad pop and rap in the car sometimes. All by people I think are untalented, sometimes offensive, and none of whose CDs I would by. Bad stuff, like Eminem, Timbaland, and (speaking of boy bands) Justin Timberlake. Shhhh, don't tell!

 

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