Nicole's Bernard Pivot Blogfest

Thanks to Nicole at One Significant Moment for having this blogfest. I've been looking at the entries and it is fascinating how much you can learn from ten simple answers.

And don't forget to go check out the others here.

1.What is your favorite word?
     Peace. Makes me calm just thinking it.
2.What is your least favorite word?
     Maw...gaping, dripping, foul...just, yuck.
3.What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
     Creatively, someone's superior efforts. Inspires me to try harder
4.What turns you off?
     A 'victim' attitude.
5.What is your favorite curse word?
     For Fuck's Sake, said with a Scottish accent
6.What sound or noise do you love?
     The sound of a creek
7.What sound or noise do you hate?
     The squealing of guinea pigs
8.What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
     Teaching writing at college level
9.What profession would you not like to do?
     Dentist (maybe it has something to do with the maw thing)
10.If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
     They're waiting for you over there....

Fun!!! What a great blogfest. It really made me think about things. I'll be making the rounds of the other entries of the next couple of days.

(And if you have a moment, I'd be really grateful if you could go vote for my story "Intent and Intensity" (#74) at the Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest. Thanks!)

Five Questions, Five answers

Laurel at Laurel's Leaves tagged me to give Five Answers to Five Questions. I've seen this meme around a lot recently and I'm glad Laurel tagged me because I'd already been thinking how I would answer. The 'five years from now' question really has me wondering because I never end up where I thinking I'm going to.

What were you doing five years ago?

• Settling into our new house in Leeds, England
• Watching both my stepmother and my mother-in-law battle breast cancer (and win)
• Trying to convince the paediatrician that my son’s food aversions were not ‘just a phase’
• Writing The Shadow Scribe with some purpose for the first time
• Setting up a music program at a Mommy and Me-type group

 Where would you like to be five years from now?

• Writing for a living, whether as a published author or a freelancer, so that I can be there for my children when needed and still contribute financially to my family’s future. And of course, do what I love.
• Taking a family trip of a lifetime to Africa
• Supporting my children as they move into middle school and high school
• Traveling to Japan for several weeks on my own
• Getting a higher writing degree (MFA, MA, PhD?) so I can teach writing

 What's on your To-Do list today?

• Pilates
• Work on part two of my serial
• Make an appointment at the spa to finally use my gift certificates from November
• Take my daughter for testing to see if she skips kindergarten
• Water the flower beds

 What snacks do you enjoy?

• Guacamole and chips
• Nutty chewy granola bars
• Life cereal
• Popcorn
• Frozen raw cookie dough chunks

 What five things would you do if you were a billionaire? (I'd actually do these if I were a millionaire)

• Fly first class. I’ve had enough of international flights in coach with two kids.
• Buy up land in cities and suburbs and put it in trust so we have green spaces, not half-empty strip malls.
• Have homes near all of family members (UK and US) so that visiting becomes easier
• Give vast amounts of money to research into Autism, mesothelioma, and breast cancer
• Set up/donate to existing foundations for bringing the arts (music, art, theatre, and of course, writing) back into schools.

I suppose I should tag others now. I personally like tags and awards, but worry that if I tag or award others, they'll be all like "I don't have time for this stuff!" So let me know in the comments -- how do you feel about tags and awards? Do they make blogging fun or is it just one more thing you don't have time for?