My first meme!

A meme is: "A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another." In the blogger world, a meme is like a theme passed from blog to blog. In this one, I am being interviewed by the Library Lady.

1)Most Jennifers seem to know lots of OTHER Jennifers. Were you the only Jennifer in your classes at school?

Ha! Every class I can remember had other Jennifers in it. More than one teacher wanted to call one of us "Jenny," and another "Jennifer," but fortunately my parents had impressed upon me that my name was JENNIFER, not Jenny, so it was probably the only time in my elementary life I didn't cave to authority. Most teachers called me "Jennifer D." to differentiate me from all the other Jennifers.

Interestingly, there were no other girls called Jennifer in my vet school class. One girl named Jennifer went by her middle name Jill, and the other was called Jenny. So, I was the only one (hurrah!). There were 3 girls named REGINA in my class, and they all went by REGINA (quite unusual, eh?), and no one ever thought to try to shorten or change their names.

2)You mention moving around a lot. Where besides Texas have you lived?

I was actually born in Queens, New York, then we lived in Dallas, then Cincinnati, OH, then St Louis, MO, then Coppell, TX. My high school years were spent in Midland, Texas, and I was actually there at the same time as W. when he was failing in the awl bidness (oil). Then I spent 7 years in College Station, TX getting my degree. That was actually the longest stretch I lived anywhere until now. After graduation and the wedding, we lived in Copperas Cove, TX for 3 very long years, until we finally broke away and moved to Austin. People in other Texan urban areas are annoyed that Austinites are so proud of our fair city, but it really is the only civilized place to live in, in the state of Texas!

I also spent a month every summer during high school in England. I spent 6 weeks there "seeing practice" as a senior veterinary student. Its enough to keep me from donating blood (due to the Mad Cow scare). There is a part of me that will always be English. Hail Brittania!

3)Do you think sons or daughters are easier to deal with?

It depends...I think when you are talking about small children behaving in public situations, the girls have it down. Little boys love to run and jump and be loud! But, I think as we approach the teenage years, the complicated emotions of girls will prove to be quite difficult. Ask me again in 10 years!

Coming from a family of 3 girls, I was thrilled when my first baby was a girl. My son has totally surprised me -- I didn't know you could love a little boy so much. I could stare at both of them for hours, amazed and analyzing them.

4)What is your favorite thing to cook?

Italian food, without a doubt. I was so nervous the first time I had my Italian friend, Romina, over for a meal, and she asked me to make risotto. Apparently, I did alright. She since has taught me a lot about Italian cooking - use good, fresh ingredients, keep it simple, with a balance of good flavor. I wish she hadn't moved back to Milan so we could still cook together.

I also love to cook on the grill, because of the easy clean up! Also, that smoky flavor can't be beat.

5)Have you ever read a book to one of your kids and then regretted it because they want it read over. And over and over....?

Oh my goodness, yes. Can you say, "Pat the Bunny?" You know its bad when they accidentally turn extra pages unknowingly and you don't care! There was also the "Gnome" book - my sisters and I had it growing up. Its actually a charming little Dutch "textbook" about gnomes, as if they were really living under the tree outside your window and your just too unobservant (or stupid) to notice them. I had to read it to Anna every night last winter. Well, at least my abbreviated version, which included a synopsis of every cute watercolor picture but did not include the scary stories about naughty trolls holding gnome's bottoms to grinding sharpening stones at the end.

Right now I'm reading a chapter of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books to Anna every night, partly inspired by the Library Lady and partly by Catherine Newman. I am absolutely loving this: I remember just enough to love all the characters like I grew up next to them, but I don't remember all the specific details. So almost every night, I'm just like Anna -- I can't wait to read the next chapter the next night. Now, as a parent, I am totally terrified by the constant danger of pioneer life. And, as a 21st century parent, I can only imagine the drudgery and solitude that Caroline must've faced. And, I wonder, did Laura really remember all her childhood in such detail because she wasn't corrupted by television and constant mass marketing? Or did she make a good deal of the details up?




Like this meme? Want an interview of your own? Instructions:

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying “Interview me.” You must leave your blog address so I can think of good questions for you! Caveat: Offer is limited to the first 5 responders with a blog.

2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person’s will be different. I’ll post the questions in the comments section of this post.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.