The Game at Hand is Five Questions

My Blogger friend Susie took the time to ask me a few questions, so I'm following up with my answers. If you'd like to meet the auteur of the questions then visit her at http://susiestheboss.blogspot.com/

The Precious Princess and her Parents

1. I know that you are an only child, and as you know, I just have that one little blonde kid. So, I was wondering what your feelings are on the only child thing. Did you enjoy it? Were you lonely? Have I wrecked my child already? Please elaborate!

Being an only child was great. I was my mother’s daughter and my father’s son. I got to learn how to cook in the kitchen with my mom, and my dad taught me the essentials like how to throw a perfect spiral pass, how to change a tire, how to cut the lawn without cutting off your toes (like he almost did as a kid). As an only child, I’ve often been accused of having been spoiled. Yes, I got lots of attention, and I got to go everywhere with my folks – Bears football games, dinner theater, the Art Institute, abroad with my parents when they travelled Europe, etc. No, I don’t think I was spoiled because my parents also taught me to appreciate just how good I had it. My mom was the Kool Aid Mom. All the kids came to play in our yard. Although she didn’t put up with any shennanigans, she pretty much left us alone to do whatever we wanted, and she always provided great snacks and drinks. So no, I wasn’t any lonelier than the average kid that whines, “I’m bored ‘cuz there’s nothing to do,” in the middle of the summer.

I’ve met your bundle of joy. “Wrecked?” On the contrary, she’s delightful! Your combinned influence with Mr. Rathburn has yet to sully her bright disposistion. I think kids thrive on love, and they need to know that when a boundary is breached that there are consequences. The caveat is that the love is never renegged no matter how far the boundary is crossed. My only-child-hood memories are overwhelmingly positive.

2. Please tell us about Helping Hand Worldwide, the non profit that you work for, and what you do there and such.

http://www.thehelpinghandworldwide.org/

HHWw is an Orange County, California organization that is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by addressing hunger, under-employment and illiteracy. It’s a group of volunteers who feed an estimated 10,000 people monthly. They provide clothing, books, baby-must-haves like cribs & strollers, school supplies and much, much more. I serve on the board as the secretary, and I helped develop their website. My Mom, in addition to serving on the board, volunteers 3 days a week picking up and delivering food and other goods to food banks, senior centers and to HUD housing in South Orange County. If you’d like to learn more about HHWw, please use the link provided above. They need much support and would welcome your involvement.

3. Lisa, as you know, I've known your husband, Sideways Sam, for almost 30 years now, and I am quite aware of his unquenchable musical appetite, tastes and obsessions. This is a two part q, first of all, how has living with such a music maniac affected your life, your living space, your hearing? And, two, what are some of your musical interests, that may or may not be completely different from Sams?

First of all, I can honestly say that there is never too much music in our lives. Luckily for us, Sideways Sam and I both have fairly eclectic music tastes. We enjoy rock, country, jazz, classical, world beat, zydeco, blues, gospel, you name it, we’ll listen to it. We have indulged in the America Idol phenomenon, and we were sorry to see Elliot get dropped this year. We look forward to buying his first album.

Because Sam’s vinyl collection contains over 4 thousand albums, we never have to worry about playing music that our guests will enjoy. One may ask, “How do you store 4,000+ albums?” The answer is very carefully. Sam has strict record handling guidelines that are always observed. But don’t fret he’s not Obsessive/Compulsive about it. For fun we often make CD’s together for gifts for family and friends. It's an activity we can partake in together at home and it appeals to my Scottish thrifty nature. Making gifts is both entertaining and cheap!

Secondly, Sam is a devout 70’s rock fan to the core. I enjoy the new music of today as much as I do Elvis from the 50’s and the Eurythmics from the 80’s. I’m enjoying Usher, Alicia Keys and Joss Stone a lot right now. Sam’s current play list includes Led Zeppelin, Todd Rungren & the soundtrack to Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid. We both enjoy live music and are often see musical theater. When last in Las Vegas, we saw the ABBAfest Mamma Mia! And we’d admit to being on our feet, singing and clapping along like the rest of the crowd in attendance.

Lisa & Sam on a bicycle outing last summer

4. What sorts of hobbies and antics interest you enough to keep you out of trouble?

Sideways Sam & I like to ride our bikes, kyack, play tennis, and go to the movies. We camp, travel & party well together. I like to do needle point, sew, and I’ve been known to make the occasional sock monkey. I enjoy cooking and baking – I’m making a peach tart today, for example. When there is nothing in particular on TV, I can be caught watching HGTV or TLC. I enjoy all of the home improvement and gardening show’s. I love to read, and I occilate between fiction and biographies. I’m currently reading Why you crying? By the comedian George Lopez. But none of this keeps me out of trouble. I’m going to traffic school at the end of the month to make amends for my recent lapse in driving skill.

Kyacking on one of our vacations!

5. You said you were originally from Chicago, and I'm not going to go back and check because I'd better have this right! Tell us a bit about what it's really like to live in that mythical Southern California wonderland, how old you were when you moved there, what were your first impressions, and, what's your screenplay all about? ;) (a little Los Angeles humor there!)

My screenplay should be about a midwest farmer’s daughter who is saved from a life of drugs and promisceuity by her families move to sunny Southern California. How’s that for a twist? We moved to O.C. in the winter of 1977. At 15 I found the notion of hanging Christmas wreaths on palm trees appalling. It just didn’t sit right with my Norman Rockwell take on the holiday. The first day I went to my new highschool, the home of the Flying Eagles, everyone was wearing down vests and Ditto’s jeans. I wore shorts and a t-shirt because the weather was so fair compared to the 10 below-zero snowdrift I left behind in Chicago.

Myth: So Cal is all blondes on the beach. Reality: Being a redhead, I wasn’t built for the beach and surfing, but I did learn to play volleyball & tennis.

Myth: There’s a Celebrity on every corner. Reality: Never met a celebrity in 20 years that wasn't at a book signing or a movie premier. However I did know Tom Selleck before he was Magnum PI. He worked at the U Driv’em Boat Rental next to the Balboa Chipyard cookie bakery where I worked one summer.

I’m very grateful that my parents brought me to California. The best part of the deal is that I met my fantastic husband here and we’ve been together for 22 years. We love living in So Cal and hope one day to venture North in the state to a community like Pacific Grove – home of the monarch butterflies.

Thanks Susie for the fun five. Hopefully you know me a bit better than you did before this writing regalia began.

If any of you out there would like me to ask you 5 questions, please let me know ; > )