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November 09, 2006
Jetlagging
Thanks for all your kind words. I'll get around to answering, but wanted to publicly give my appreciation. I know my family read here too, and will be touched by all your kind thoughts.
At the end of the trip we had a couple of days in Toronto, and found time for a few yarn-shop visits, so I'll document the haul, plus other knitting news, in a few days time once the time my body thinks it is and the time the clock says it is have reconciled. At the funeral, someone told me it takes a day to recover from every hour of time difference. My aunt says that the human soul travels only as fast as a camel trotting - my camel is certainly only as yet mid-Atlantic, and I'm feeling her absence.
In the meme-time... (swiped from Vicki (amended questions and all):
1. FIRST NAME? Anna
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My middle name is Catherine, for my great-aunt who died of appendicitis when she was just a child.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Oh, very often. I cried on Monday night at our hotel. Just feeling tired and homesick.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, especially when writing with the beautiful fountain pen which was a gift from my Dad. It (my writing) is flamboyant and energetic without being too flowery. At least, I like to think it is.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Lunchmeat? That sounds a bit yucky. My favourite sandwich filling is cheese and pickle.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I doubt it. I'm rather shy, and I think it comes across as stand-offish. I expect that the shy alternate me would find me aloof and unapproachable and neither would ever get to know the other.
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? This is it.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes I do, but I don't have my wisdom teeth.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Absolutely. I love heights and the urge to jump. We visited Niagara falls again this past week and stood directly level with the edge and watched the water just pour. Mesmerising. I'll have to visit many many more times before I tire of that particular spectacle. Apparently, in mid-winter, the whole area is strung with icicles from all the mist. Unrelated. But yes, I would bungee jump. I would even bungee jump over Niagara Falls.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Undercooked porridge, made with soya milk, with blackberries and a sprinkle of brown sugar.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Only if it's the only way.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I'm skinny, but strong for my size.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? I've rather gone off ice-cream.
14. SHOE SIZE? UK size 6, european 39.
15. RED OR PINK? Red. Pink. Red.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Procrastination. Lack of confidence. Living fearfully.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My friend Lisa who I lost touch with. Theo, who died far too young. I didn't see him all that often but I think about him very often. My uncle John who died earlier this year. Same as with Theo, I think about him a lot. He was a cheerleader for me, and we don't get many cheerleaders in this life.
18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? I would have to be incredibly hungry to get out of bed for food. I much prefer sleep.
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black cashmere sweater, indigo jeans, white converse sneakers, beige argyle socks.
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Special fried rice. I feel like I haven't eaten a vegetable in a week, but I'm too tired to care. Perhaps if I ate a vegetable, I might feel a little more human.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Other people's conversations.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? How can I answer that?
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Basil.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Mum. Making Christmas arrangements. (*heavy sigh*)
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their body language.
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? I do.
27. FAVOURITE DRINK? Cold, plain still tap water. And tea.
28. FAVOURITE SPORT? Riding (dressage, eventing, show-jumping, not racing). I want to learn to play tennis. I'd like to be a better swimmer, too.
29. EYE COLOUR? Brown.
30. HAT SIZE? 6 and 7/8ths.
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Sometimes. I used to wear them every day but they started to make my eyes feel gritty so I bought these fabulous new specs and now I barely wear the contacts at all.
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Roast chicken with roast potatoes and gravy and broccoli and parsnips.
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings. I can't do scary at all.
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Spring. Spring spring spring.
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs. Kisses if they're not sloppy.
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT? Creme brulee.
38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? I sleep on the left, which is non-sensical as it's the side nearest the radiator and I'm the hot person who has nightmares when she overheats. But the other side feels wrong.
39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? Well I didn't start a family yet, but if I hadn't got married I expect I would be doing very similar things today, only without the love and companionship of my very best friend.
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Angel by Elizabeth Taylor which is BRILLIANT, but I think I left it behind at my mother-in-law's house. I Capture the Castle by Dodi Smith, again. The Opinionated Knitted.
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't have/use one.
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Something about women jihadis but I wasn't concentrating as I was ripping and reknitting the button band on a cardigan.
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The dawn chorus. A horse's gentle whicker.
44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? The Beatles,
of course.
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? California.
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I never lose my temper.
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Queen Mary's Hospital, Hampstead, London.
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nobody. I'm 'bringing up the rear'. Seen first (I think) at Kris's.
and from Parikha (she looks fabulous in her Jess)
1. Flip to page 18, paragraph 4 in the book closest to you right now, what does it say?
'The museum was to thrive for only a few years, although from the start it grew fast with donations of dead animals from many people. But space to house the collection quickly became a major problem, with the dead museum specimens vastly outnumbering the living animals.'
(Yuck. The Story of London Zoo, J Barrington-Johnson. It's for work).
2. If you stretch out your left arm - as far as possible, what are you touching?
The window.
3. What’s the last program you watched on tv?
See above
4. Without looking, guess what time it is.
4.30pm. Darn. Only 3.50.
5. Except the computer, what can you hear right now?
I have a sense of déja-vu
6. When was the last time you were outside and what did you do?
Two hours ago, I walked to the haberdashers in Kentish Town and bought buttons for the aforementioned cardigan.
7. What are you wearing?
Again, see above. There is truly nothing new under the sun.
8. Did you dream last night? If you did, what about?
I dreamt I was auditioning for a movie with Tim Robbins. It was going rather badly.
9. When was the last time you laughed?
Oh gosh, I can't remember. Isn't that terrible? It must have been today, or yesterday. I'm really very tired.
10. What’s on the walls, in the room you’re in right now?
A Dilbert cartoon. A water colour of the Royal Academy of Arts. A calendar with a picture of a wolf. A Katherine Hepburn quote "If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun."
11. Have you seen anything strange lately?
I saw a dog and a cat, the former smaller than the latter, at Lettuce Knit.
13. What’s the last film you saw?
Thank You For Smoking, on the flight out.
14. If you became a multimillionaire, what would you do with the money?
A spot of shopping, some philanthropy, never work again. The usual kind of thing.
15. Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.
See item 17.
16. If you could change ONE THING in this world, without regarding politics or bad guilt - what would it be?
I would believe in my own abilities, and not turn positive things into negatives.
17. Do you like dancing?
Yes. I am an excellent dancer, and can perform many dances both serious and comedic. However due to shyness, this is mostly restricted to the privacy of my own home (where the kitchen floor is a truly wonderful dance surface, if slightly small for some of my more dramatic shapes).
18. George Bush?
Why?
19. What do you want your children’s names to be, girl/boy?
I'm too suspicious to name an unconceived child. Also, I suspect that any name I pick would change the instant I meet said offspring.
20. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes. I would certainly consider it. Whether it would get beyond a consideration is a different matter.
21. What do you want God to tell you, when you come to heaven?
"You were right, I really don't exist. This is just death-throes, but well done on not being mean to people while you were alive, anyway."
22. Who should do this meme?
Anyone too tired to think of an original word to say.
Posted by Anna at November 9, 2006 03:47 PM
Comments
Glad to know that you made it in OK and that you are doing things to slowing get back into routine!
I think your aunt is right about the camel.
Eat some veggies and take care, she will catch up with you soon!
Posted by: Leah at November 9, 2006 05:11 PM
luckily i've never had a bit of a problem with jetlag. any bit of exhaustion i have on an overseas trip seems to come from being cooped up and unable to sleep on an overnight flight, but as soon as i have a good nap or one night of sleep on the local schedule, i am good to go. this inspires unending jealousy in my brother, who was wrecked for two full weeks upon moving to edinburgh from kansas city.
Posted by: katie e. at November 9, 2006 05:24 PM
Glad you're back. Welcome home. Rest!
Posted by: Vicki at November 9, 2006 05:58 PM
Jetlag bowls me over. After I came back from Paris to Seattle (in 1999) I dreamed I was still in my hotel and the door was open to the room. I got up, while asleep, and locked my bedroom door. When I woke up, hours later, I realized one cat was on the other side of the door meowing, and one was trapped in the room with me with no food, water or litterbox. (Sandbox? Litter tray?) I could remember the dream and everything.
I'm sorry you lost a cheerleader when your uncle died. All my family cheerleaders are gone. I miss them.
And that photo of Jess makes me want to knit it. It's beautiful.
Posted by: cherylc at November 9, 2006 07:50 PM
I like your answer in re: God.
Welcome back home. It's sort of reassuring to know that you are a shy type, as am I.
Posted by: Daphne at November 9, 2006 08:01 PM
Welcome back. Take some time for yourself to rest and relax.
Posted by: Gina at November 9, 2006 08:14 PM
Ok, I love the sound of undercooked porridge, soya milk, blackberries, and brown sugar. yum
Posted by: Stephanie at November 10, 2006 05:06 AM
Glad you're home, safe and sound. Do tell us about your yarn shop adventures in Toronto...after you're rested up, of course! Take care.
Posted by: Robin at November 10, 2006 07:12 PM
I love basil too. I even found basil perfume last perfume. I put it together with roses (both from my garden) in vases all over the house, in the summer. And when I buy it in the winter I like to bury my face in it. Lovely!
Posted by: Amy at November 11, 2006 12:45 AM
How nice you are, Anna
Posted by: Philippa at November 11, 2006 09:34 AM
Definitely eat veggies and fruit! Get lots of sleep and do a little gentle knitting.
Posted by: Wibbo at November 11, 2006 09:37 AM
Interesting about naming an unconceived child. I think I found your site by seeing who else loved the book _I Capture the Castle_. I read it at age 17 and decided immediately I would name any son I ever had Simon. At 38, I had my second child, first son, and he is a perfect Simon.
I also dance in the privacy of my home floor space, and was once mortified by the smothered guffaws of my family who were hiding behind a door looking through the door jamb at my interpretation of "Ballade pour Adeline" by Richard Clayderman. I don't think my children and husband have ever seen me let go...
Thanks for the meme, sorry about the jetlag effect. I love your designs.
Posted by: Titine24 at November 13, 2006 03:26 AM
#21 on the second meme=funniest line of my day.
Posted by: kristen at November 14, 2006 06:36 PM
Funny your name is Anna Cathrine, mine is Anna Katrine
Posted by: Anna Katrine at November 20, 2006 10:22 PM
Hello,
I accidentally came across your journal when I was having fun doing the meme "Anna needs". I'm new to the blogging world and felt a little guilty reading your blog, but it was really quite interesting. I would like to use your "48 Questions" in my own blog and fill in my own responses (if you don't mind). Your journal is interesting, because I too am somewhat overly cautious and tend to not value my successes, feeling a sense of low confidence at times, whereas I am surrounded by a husband, friends, and family who are all super-confident, fearless, and VERY successful. As I've been sitting here in bed with the flu, I realized your writing style is English, you are in England, and that is where my mother was born. Anyway, I hope it is alright to borrow from a stranger's blog...
Posted by: Anna at November 25, 2006 12:08 AM