Okay, guys! Um, some of you asked hard questions (Ali & Amy)! I was expecting more along the line of 'What's your favorite color?' (Thank you, Laura and Beki!) but you were all trying to get me to be introspective or something!
Which made choosing 5 questions quite difficult. So, first things first.
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Hooray for Lera, who was my 1000th commenter! I really didn't think it would happen on the last post - but it did! Thanks to all of you who commented. #999 was Mirre, and #1001 was Laeroport. Congrats ladies! Send me your addresses and I will be sending you each a brooch and patch. I wish I could make a brooch for each one of you who has ever commented, but my time, money, energy and patience fall a little short.
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Alright, a few more than five, but I'll try to keep my answers brief so that you actually read this, okay? :)
Favorite color: Purple. Since I was little.
Favorite food: Homemade calzone and Aaron's kidney bean curry on jasmine rice.
Which was first, the flickr or the blog? Blog.
The first thing I sewed was a little orange stocking. I was about 4, I think. It hangs on my Christmas tree - and now that I look at it, I can't believe how tiny those stitches are...here's a photo:
How do you find time to blog/craft? First of all, you have to make time. There are always a million reasons not to, but I really need to create. It doesn't happen every day. Many times I am too tired at night to do anything. Many times during the boys' nap time I nap, too. My projects right now are short and sweet - I have quilts (note the plural) in various stages of being quilted and they've taken YEARS to get where they are. Big projects just aren't happening now, and that's okay. Someday...
That's when most things happen: night or naps. I pretty much can't do anything while the boys are up. Where most people think "Ha, ha, the kids are being quiet, I'd better go check." For me it's like "Oh, NO! They're QUIET! RUN!!!"
I also take things with me. I used to craft during Thomas' dance class. I took his train shirt to book club to finish stitching up while we discussed 'Digging to America'. Oh, and I also craft when I probably should be cleaning... that'll give you a lot of time right there.
How many times a day do you check blogs/email/flickr? Amy, you're a stinker.
The short answer is: too often.
The long answer is: I think it takes me less time to read blogs a few minutes at a time. Curious George is on - cool, I'll go see if anyone posted anything. I read a lot of blogs - but keep in mind that not everyone posts every day, and with a combination of bloglines, multi-tab browser, fast internet connection, and the fact that I don't comment on every blog, it is really easy to keep up. I read blogs while I'm uploading pictures for a new post, too. I don't have hours a day to post/read blogs, but I have 2 minutes here, and 2 minutes there - which also gives me a little breather, a little connection to other cool people during the day, which has been a real blessing and sanity-keeper, I think.
Now as for Ali's comment about Diagnoses of High-functioning Autism/Aspergers, etc (read her comment): In a perfect world, society would be much more accepting of neurological variances, but we're not a perfect society. It will be a while before people are more aware and accepting of people with autism. Also, many people need the services provided for them, and taking away diagnoses would probably take away their services. It also seems like we're finding out more and more about how important services like Early Intervention are and how much of an impact they can have for the rest of people's lives (needing less services later?). And Autism is a spectrum. Where do you draw the line as to what is a 'condition' and what isn't?
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Okay, the drawing took place. I had Princess write out everyone's names (Counts as handwriting practice! Homeschooling rocks.), put them in a hat, and draw one.
The winner of the fourth brooch is Rachael (sorry she spelled your name wrong!) so congrats and I'll need your address as well.
Princess had such a good time with the names on paper that she proceeded to play 'Sorting Hat' and sort them all into proper Hogwarts houses.
I'm sorry to report that the following ladies were sorted into Slytherin:
Beth
Rachelle
Sezz
Ali
Emily
Christina
Megan
Bummer. Apparently we all need to be a bit wary of you. Seeing as how there's a good chance you're evil and all. Sorry about that.