Weekly Meme (5 Questions!) week commencing 28/5/12

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

I had to have a good think on this, but I have decided that I would love to have a little old wooden house by the coast in Maine. I used to go up there every summer and it's just so beautiful and peaceful.

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

When I was a freshman in high school, there was this senior boy that my friends and I all had a crush on. I never talked to him until a few years later, when I was a senior. He started coming into my coffee shop fairly frequently and asked me my name and would come in an chat with me. I loved it. The only problem was that he kept calling me Chelsea, which isn't my name. Being an awkward 17 year old, I didn't know how to correct him so I just let him keep calling me that since I knew we would never hang out and it didn't really matter.

Well! I am at my friend's house one evening, at a party because her parents were away. Her older sister had some friends over as well. One of those friends happens to be the cutie boy. He's talking to me for a good long while, keeps calling me Chelsea and I'm answering to it. My friend, who knows my situation, comes outside drunk and just belts out "Her name's not Chelsea, you know!" in front of him and a bunch of other people.

I was mortified, and he thought I had told him the wrong name on purpose because I thought it was funny. I was too flustered to explain and it was just...ugh. I only saw him once after that and he didn't say a thing to me.   

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in (or just visit in your time machine) and why?

Sometime during the 18th century in Great Britain. I love the clothing and the art, and all the ideas that were just starting to take shape back then. I think it must have been a very exciting time. I think I would only visit, though, since the food could be a bit heavy, not to mention the hygiene!

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

Well, there are a number of noteworthy gentlemen who give me the vapors, but I think the flavour of the week is Jeff Goldblum. Sure, he's 33 years my senior, but he's very tall and very lean and looks very, very good in a suit. We also have the same middle name, so of course this is an indication that it was meant to be. 

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

Honeysuckles! They just smell divine on warm, humid summer evenings. It reminds me of home and being a kid.

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

Up in the White Mountains of NH somewhere along the Pemigewasset River, with a great big porch over looking the river. House wouldn't need to be big, just set into the woods and a big fireplace for the cold winter nights.

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?
I used to drive a school bus in in the States (I miss it so much). Driving my bus one day, the darn thing broke down...or so I thought. I of course have to call it in over the two way radio. So they send out the mechanic who announces in front of the whole bus full of kids...that I ran out of fuel.    It of course got out to my fellow drivers who didn't let me forget it for quite awhile.

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?
Hmmm, tough one, maybe back in Victorian times. I've always been interested in the history of that time.
 
4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

Hubby Honestly having a hard time with this one. Maybe Daniel Craig?

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

Lavender and Vanilla. I find them both relaxing and comforting.

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

Big Sur-something very modern and zen so as not to distract from the scenery.

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

I can't think of just one. Sometimes I find myself embarrassed for very random reasons.

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?


Gosh I don't know!

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why?  Wink

Johnny Depp


5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

I like warm scents like musk, sandalwood, patchouli etc.

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

A traditional cottage on the west coast of Ireland (County Clare) by the sea.

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

Well, not *the* most embarrassing, but sort of funny:  I had a date with this guy (ages and ages ago), he had two tickets to see R.E.M.  I was supposed to meet him at Tower (meaning Tower Records--where he worked), but I misunderstood and went to the Tower Theater (a venue for band, etc.)  In west Philly.  When I got off the El (elevated train) and walked the few blocks to the venue, I saw it was George Carlin on that night, and not R.E.M. 

I then realized my mistake and got back on the El, changed and got the subway to south Philly and got off at The Spectrum (a much bigger venue than Tower Theater).  Luckily I had my own ticket or I wouldn't have been able to get in and find my friend.  We never went out again after that because he was a bit of a jerk.

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?

I am attracted to a few time periods, but to be honest if I couldn't be rich, I wouldn't want to do it because life was hard and uncomfortable, full of disease and early death in almost any period of time in history. 

On a short-term basis, I'd love to experience Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Late 1700s, early 1800s (for the clothes!), and maybe the 1840s (Bronte sisters' time period).  I am also fascinated by the idea of a very ancient civilization of Atlantis--ancient and futuristic at the same time.

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

Hmm, these days I don't get all swoon-y over celebrities.  I have always had a soft spot for Keanu Reeves though, (we are the same age, and I remember his first film).  I did not see any of the Matrix films though believe it or not.

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

I do love the scent of lilacs, and they remind me of my old manager who always brought bunches into work from her own trees.  The whole place smelled of lilacs for days.

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

I’d want a cottage on Cape Cod.

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

Hmmm. Thankfully, I’ve been spared anything too traumatizing but there is a videotape of me circa 1991 floating around from preschool and everyone in the class was supposed to go up in front of the microphone, wearing their halloween costume and explain it and the footage would appear on the local station. For some reason, I didn’t wear my costume to school (Little Red Riding Hood) and the teachers made me go up anyway and explain what I was going to be. So yeah, I’m basically about to cry and sound like a man because I’m trying to suppress said cry. When they asked what I was going to be I told them “I’m gonna be uh...Red Red Riding Good.”

Later on they were filming the class as the teachers read us a Halloween story. The ending was supposed to be climactic when it is revealed that whatever is happening in the story is done by “A BIG GIANT PUMPKIN!” I had already heard the story, so when the reveal came up, the teacher was saying “A BIG GIANT” and then I stuck my head out from the row of children and looked at the camera and yelled “PPPPPPUUUUUUUUUUUMPKIIIIIIIIINN.”

Anyway, so that’s all caught on tape and basically everyone I graduated high school with has a copy of it and I never lived it down. Even my parents sometimes randomly yell “PPPPPPUUUUUUUUUUUMPKIIIIIIIIINN” at me to this day.

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?

England in the 1960s because of the music and the fashion.

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why?  

Ryan Gosling because *swoon* he’s so dreamy.

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

Lavender and Sandlewood

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!
I am really in love with English cottages, and would love to have one deep in the countryside. My other true love home would be a 'modern kitchen and bathroom, easily heated but still rustic looking' log cabin on a snowy mountain with a gorgeous view.

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?
One that comes to mind is in high school, I was running through the cafeteria (naughty!) to catch up with a friend on the way to a pep session in the gym. Sure as anything, I wiped out and slid about 10 feet after hitting the floor with the hottest guy in the school present, Freshman year.

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?
I'd love to have been in the medieval period, wealthy enough to make it fun. I also think it would be fun to have lived through the roaring 20's.

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why?
Johnny Depp, past and present, for sheer charisma, good looks and no fear of being himself instead of always following the latest trends. Judd Nelson past and someimes present, but I will always swoon over his rebel bad boy image from "The Breakfast Club". Kiefer Sutherland past and sometimes present, just for being hot. However, I am feeling the blues over the fact he is looking more and more like his dad all the time. Sure, his dad is a nice looking older man, but you don't want hot guys to turn into their dads.  Also Keanu Reeves in the past.

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?
At the moment I am sniffing every lilac I walk by, because they remind me of my childhood home. Sage and onion dressing instantly makes me think of Thanksgiving at grandma's. I love Yankee Candle's Hollyberry, because mom had some scented ornaments when I was a kid that smelled like them, so it reminds me of family Christmases past.

4. Forgot to add Shemar Moore from "Criminal Minds" just because he is so purty! 

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

I'm torn.  Scarborough, because I just love it there.  I'd also love a place back home, in my parents neighborhood (Philadelphia suburbs) that I could stay whenever I visited. Not that I "love" the area, but it would be convenient. I'd love both places to be simple, with big overstuffed furniture and big pillows on the floor. A place that screams, "Come in and relax!"

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

At my first "important" job (at a university), I attended a lecture given by the president of the university. I was seated next to my boss (the Dean of Student Affairs), in the middle of the 3rd row. I fell asleep. When I started snoring loudly, my boss elbowed me to wake me up. Startled, I yelled, "What!" and about 20 people stared at me. I was mor-ti-fied!

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?

None in particular. Women had such a hard life in the past. Even the very rich women seemed bored to tears.

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

Nicholas Lea (during his Krycek/X-Files days), and Jeff Fahey (during his "The Marshal" days) OMG those eyes!


5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?


Vanilla. It just smells so warm, fresh and homey.

I was supposed to meet him at Tower (meaning Tower Records--where he worked), but I misunderstood and went to the Tower Theater (a venue for band, etc.)  In west Philly.

Memories! The old Tower Theater!  I actually met Bono there in 1984!

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

I have a twofor here. My first immediate want is a 4 bedroom thatched cottage in the SE area of the Lakes District. East of windermere, over the hill and down in winster valley, with a view of cartmel fell. A bit of land would be great too, so that I could be a part of the local tramping community and still be walking sistance from the Masons Arms, Strawberry Bank for a pint and sticky toffee pudding.

My in laws have started us thinking about France for a group purchase. Maybe around Burgandy or Loire. Maybe Perpignon. At least 3 beds, s'il vous plait!

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

I have to pick just one? I was finishing a job and got a message on my phone from an anonymous guy saying he was going to miss me (I was shortly to be on holiday in the UK). I thought I'd figured out who it was and left a similar message on his phone, pouring of feelings, that sort of thing. Turns out the message was a joke and not from anyone but my roommates' friend. Yeah, the guy never called back. Oops!

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?

When the Tudors were large and in charge. As long as I was invited to court, that is. I can only imagine all the fun we'd have, Anne B and me.

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

I swoon intellectually for Anne Frank. She was so inpiring, brave and real that I feel she's touched and changed lives with her words. That is a true hero.

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

I recently bought some diptyque hand balm and it's smell is of creamy alomonds. It reminds me of Liberty's in London as that is where I first smelled the fragrence but couldn't afford it. It was far cheaper here, but won't stop me visiting Liberty's when I am in town.

1. If you could have one vacation home in any location, no matter the cost, where would it be? Feel free to elaborate on what it would look like, too!

I think I would go with the Dordogne region in South West France... it's my favourite place to go on holiday - absolutely love it there .

2. What is one of the most embarrassing things to happen to you?

The one that immediately comes to mind is something that happened at work the other week:

We had an aircrew flying to the US and on the way they called me from the plane to ask for the forecasts from some of the US airfields (which are written in codes of letters and numbers). I started giving them the forecasts, but I forgot my phonetic alphabet partway through, so I started guessing which words represented which letters (for some reason, all I could think of was the Greek alphabet!).

They seemed understanding about it, but then we got cut off and when they called back, the line didn't connect properly - they couldn't hear me, but I could hear them talking to each other on the other end... and they were talking about me and my poor attempts at the phonetic alphabet - I was mortified  !

Of course it didn't help that another crew had come into the office for a brief at the same time and were listening in on my phone conversation, offering suggestions and corrections for what I was saying . Afterwards, It took me a good few hours to get over the embarrassment.

3. Which historical period would you like to have lived in and why?

I don't really have an particular affinity for any specific historical period, but I find stories of peoples' lives during 1940s and 50s (during and post-war) fascinating, so that would have been an interesting time to experience.

4. Which person of note, past or present, makes you swoon and why? 

I'm currently a little bit obsessed with the TV show, Supernatural, so right now, I would have to say Jensen Ackles (he's both a wonderful actor and easy on the eyes ).

5. What is one scent that you just love? Perhaps it reminds you of something or someone?

The scent of freshly-cut grass in the summer... it just embodies warm, English summer evenings .

Memories! The old Tower Theater!  I actually met Bono there in 1984!

Cool!  I saw Iggy Pop there and also The Cure.  Maybe others, can't remember!