Weekly Meme (5 Questions!) week commencing 9/6/12

Thanks for the nomination, Courtney! 


1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?

2). What story does your family always tell about you?

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?

I asked this question because my parents named me Megan in the late 1980’s which was around the same time that everyone else was naming their daughters Megan. So, I’ve always been in the same class as a few other Megans or worked with a few of them or been on the same team as 5 other Megans. I always wished they named me something less common in my age group. I would chosen something like Jane or Elizabeth (Lizzie) because while classic, they weren’t as common with the girls my age (Megan, Caitlin, Jessica, Kristen, Lauren, Samantha, Jenna).



2). What story does your family always tell about you?

When I was 6 years old my dad coached my youth soccer team. I was really fickle about when I actually wanted to play. Some Saturdays I wanted to play soccer, but the next I want to play with the kids on the playground or play with my dolls. So, one week my parents took me to the game, but I didn’t want to play and my dad plopped me on the field and made me anyway. So, when the game started, I stood in the middle of the field with my arms crossed and my nose up in the air and I refused to do anything. This went on for a good 15 minutes and then I heard my dad shout from the sidelines “Megan, if you score a goal, I’ll buy you an ice cream.” It sounded like a good deal to me, so I instantly went into action, stole the ball, dribbled it up the field and scored. I played the rest of the game and got my ice cream.

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon. Mostly because I can’t sing and I feel like he talks more in that song rather than actually singing. Also because I LOVE the song.



4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

 In college, we did a lot of peer revision on papers and I was always amazed at what people thought passed as quality work. People used things like LOL and smiley faces in their drafts. A lot of students didn’t understand how to form a thesis and connect that thesis to the body paragraphs and conclusion. So, I’d like to teach some students how to do that. I’ve always had problems with Math and Science, so I appreciated being tutored.


5). What causes do you strongly believe in?

Organ donation, marriage equality, campaign finance reform and the defeat of Mitt Romney (if that can be considered a cause).

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?
I only knew one other girl in my age group at school with my name (Andrea).  I sort of like my name because the nickname, which I use most (Andee) confuses some people at first since it sounds just like 'Andy' which is a boy's name.  I don't think I'd change it, but if I *had* to I might go with my middle name which is Michelle.  Otherwise, I just wouldn't feel like 'me', if you know what I mean.

2). What story does your family always tell about you?
Well, I don't spend much time around my parents as I've been in the UK 5 years now, and they both moved to Florida ages ago, but they used to tell the story of me at my ballet performance (age 6 or 7).  On stage I kept looking to the side where our teacher was behind the scenes, but going through the moves in our routine so we could check and make sure we did it correctly.  I'm sure it wasn't just me, but my parents sure got a kick out of that.  And then how I'd sniff and wipe my nose on my arm oh-so-delicately between pliets and pirrouttes, or whatever the steps were called.  Heck, I *was* only 6 or 7.

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?
Well, I guess there are a million great songs out there, but I'm not much of a singer.  I'll have to think about this one....

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
I guess I'd teach folk harp, (Irish trad music, by ear) I have done in the past and would like to do again.  I'm certainly not a world class musician or an expert, but I can give lessons up to a certain level.  I try to teach the same way my teacher taught me.  I get so much out of it and have been so proud of the few I have taught in the past.

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?
Being kind to the planet, recycling and trying to reduce waste.  Women's rights.  I'm sure I'd be in favor of most causes, but I can't think of loads at the moment, I'm not really much of an activist.

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?
I have always loved the name Elizabeth. Even as a young girl. I'm Kathleen though and have grown to like my name.

2). What story does your family always tell about you?
I can only come up with one story...concerning a cake I made from scratch when I was 18. I accidentally put in the wrong ingredient (baking powder/baking soda)because my mom used to take things out of their original containers and put them in tupperware. Unfortunately they weren't labeled so I guessed which was which. To this day, they say I should go into business making anchors for the navy.

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?
Probably something country...although I have to drink A LOT of wine first. Last time someone dragged me up to sing, it was Ironic (Alanis Morrisette) and it was scary!

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
Hmmm, the only thing I know how to do that I have taught others to do is crochet...so there you go.

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?
Marriage equality, anything to do with animals and their care/lack of care, elder abuse, and probably too many to list.

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?

Don't think I would change my name. It's as common as muck , but it's my name and I've never wanted to be anything but what I am.  

2). What story does your family always tell about you?  

Oh well- there's so many...  I can't even choose one. If I ever get married, my sisters have a good arsenal to use for speeches....  

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?  

Karaoke is pretty fun, though I'd much rather sing with a live band!  Too many to choose which I have performed and new ones to perform again.

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?  

Primary school art.   Just because it looks fun.

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?

Again too many to list.  Off the top of my head, Finding a Cure for Diabetes, Locally grown and raised food, enivornmental/saving the planet/recyling/reducing carbon foot print.... plus being a woman engineer, I believe in equality in occpuation and opportunity for women.... hmmm...marriage equality for sure!, so many more...

Ha, this was a pretty vague one for me!  

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?
I already changed it .  I was born Sarah and now I'm Saira.  Same pronunciation, but the different spelling made an astonishing impact on my outlook.  I was 16 when I changed it, and within a year I was not a Sarah in any way.  Names are a much bigger deal than we tend to give them credit for. 

2). What story does your family always tell about you?
Mostly ones about things I said as a child, nothing that exciting. 

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?
I have sung karaoke on many tragic occasions (lived in Japan, it's a way of life there) and I think the worst was Dream A Little Dream by the Mamas and the Papas.  I was soooo off key. 

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
I am a teacher.  I teach English as a Foreign Language, as well as French-English translation and academic study skills (similar to what Plain Pearl mentioned).  In the past, I taught French language and history.  I would love to teach a literature class. 

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?
Adequate housing for everyone, fair wages, marriage equality. 

1. Always detested my name but don't know what I would prefer 

2. There was the story of how I wanted something off the top of my chest of drawers so pulled the drawers out to form steps and climbed up. Of course the chest fell over and I would have been crushed only my mother had left a large pillow on top which cushioned the blow. So clever but dumb at the same time!

3. I would never ever do karaoke. 

4. Have taught library skills to primary school kids. So either that or something arty.

5. Cancer research, esp. breast cancer, various animal charities (ASPCA, etc.), International Campaign for Tibet, American Friends Service Committee

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?
I have sung karaoke on many tragic occasions (lived in Japan, it's a way of life there) and I think the worst was Dream A Little Dream by the Mamas and the Papas.  I was soooo off key. 

That's one of my favorite songs. 

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?

I love my name (Delara). Like historyenne it really defines who I am. I hated it when I was younger; I was always the first to be called in attendance and I'd get all sorts of embarrassing mispronunciations. But if I had to change my name, like for witness protection, I'd go with something French. I love the name Solange.

2). What story does your family always tell about you?

When I was 3 we lived in Santa Barbara. Once we went to the beach and I spotted a big shaggy dog in the distance and started chasing after it. My parents were amused and let me go, thinking I'd get bored and come back. I didn't stop, though, and they had to run after me (the story goes that I got about a mile down the beach before they caught up with me). This has become my parents' metaphor for my life - always moving forward and never looking back.

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?

Anything by Kylie Minogue. I do a really great Kylie.

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

I always wanted to be one of those kids who run off to Thailand and teach English as a second language. Now I'm putting that off to retirement

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?

Marriage equality. Health care reform in the US and benefits reform in the UK (they seriously need it). Living as sustainably as possible... one day.

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?
I've always loved the name Zoey; I actually did think about changing my name to it at one point, but decided against it just because it's such a pain to do all the legwork involved in changing a name on all the government forms. I do use it as a pseudonym in some of my writing, though. 

2). What story does your family always tell about you?
I'm a bit a estranged from my family, and have been for a long time, so if there are any, I'm sure they're not the most flattering.

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?
The only times I've ever done the karaoke thing were when my friends kept feeding me drinks. At the point I'm drunk enough to sing in front of people, I'm drunk enough to sing any song someone's foolish enough to want to hear.

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
Probably literary criticism or writing, because I know the subject fairly well. But if I could, I'd love to teach astronomy or physics. I don't understand it entirely yet, but what I do know is so exciting and awe-inspiring, I love sharing it with other people.

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?
Intellectual freedom, marriage equality, voter education. I care about and believe in many, but those are the ones I tend to be most vocal about.

Great questions, by the way!

Late again.

1). If you had to change your first name, what would change it to and why?
I sort of have. I was raised as Tammy, and when I first started giving a name online, I went with Tama, since it was another less formal nickname for Tamara. When I first signed up at Facebook, I never planned to do more than play Scrabble against online friends who knew me as Tama. Somewhere along the way it more or less stuck.

2). What story does your family always tell about you?
One story is from when I was 1 1/2. We had a family get together and made home made ice cream. I was so excited and sang out "Mashed taties!" when they brought my bowl. When I found out it wasn't mashed potatoes I flung the bowl off of my high chair table. The other story - with pictures - is of my first ballet recital, when I was four, and was a kangaroo. 

3). If you had to sing karaoke, what song would you choose to perform?
Although I'd be on the floor in a heap by the time I was drunk enough to be brave enough to sing, and I'm also not really a country fan, I'd probably pick something by Reba McEntire. Although I don't sound like her I can hit a fairly decent harmony.

4). If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
I would love to teach at preschool level. I love how little minds work, and how excited little ones get at every new discovery.

5). What causes do you strongly believe in?
Protecting children, the elderly, anyone disabled in any way,and animals from the evil people in the world. I was also very into Relay For Life while in the States, and look forward to getting back into it. Marriage equality is big on the list too.

Great questions!