I need to thank Liv at Madness, Madness I say for awarding me this Perfect Post Award. You can see the other winners for February at Petroville and Suburban Turmoil. I’ve coveted this particular award, and am excited and honored that Liv thought this post was was deserving of it. Thank you!

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A while back, CCE at Mad Marriage tagged me for this literature meme. It is one I’m happy to do, though her take on it was so inspired and thorough that I feel I should just wave you on through to her post. The instructions say that I should grab the book nearest to my left elbow and open to page 123. Then, I should find the fifth sentence on the page and copy the next three sentences after the fifth.

Since it’s frowned upon, in the spirit of this meme, to round up one’s favorite books, I’ve left the stack of books on my desk that were there nine days ago when she tagged me. I’ll pick the top three.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I haven’t read this yet–my friend Mrs. B pushed it into my hands and insisted that I read it. Soon. So I will. Soon. Before she loaned it to me, I had resisted reading it because it got so much attention (I can be stubborn sometimes), but I’m looking forward to reading it now. Here’s the excerpt:

I remember turning my face up to the sky, squinting, breathing like the world was running out of air. I lay on the side of thedirt road next to a rocky trench, looked up to the gray morning sky, thankful for air, thankful for light, thankful to be alive.

The Gathering by Anne Enright. I read a few good reviews of this book and am just 36 pages into it. (I tend to have a few books going at once.) What are the odds I would run up against the sentence that mentions…well, you’ll see. Here it is:

So it was an air hostess’s suitcase I carried down the stairs filled, just like an air hostess’s, with dirty clothes and squeezed-out tubes of spermicidal jelly; in the middle of it all, the tiny, smothered sloshing of a mostly empty bottle of gin.

Bump bump bumpetty bump.

Liam was in some other house, like this one or worse, and he wasn’t having a lot of sex, or drugs, or deep and spacey conversations.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac. And there’s this one, which I am embarrassed to admit I’ve never read. I can’t remember why it ended up on my desk so recently, but it was probably a straggler from a box. Who knows. The excerpt:

“…I was broke. I was sitting at the window of my hotel room on North Clark Street and the most delicious smell rose to my nostrils from the bakery downstairs. I didn’t have a dime but I went down and talked to the girl.”

I’m not tagging anyone in particular, but if you would like to take a pass at this meme, please go ahead. And, really, I don’t know why I’m still sitting here–I have some books to finish. Happy reading.

The funny and stylish Tootsie Farklepants at Vintage Thirty was kind enough to run me down and lasso me so she could tag me for this meme. From what I hear, she didn’t even break a nail. She’s that good.

Since I know this is not all y’all’s first time at the rodeo, you can probably just skim these rules and ride on ahead to the saloon and order us a round links below. (Slow Panic, did I get that plural possessive right? Yes, I know you’re a transplant from the North. But if you help me, I won’t tag you.)

Rules: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written.

Link one must be about family
Link two must be about friends
Link three must be about yourself
Link four must be about something you love
Link five can be about anything you choose

Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least two of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better.

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This was a bit difficult, since my archives aren’t as deep as some, but here you go:

1. This tells you a few things I want for my children, wherever we end up. I might even be tempted to climb a tree with them.

2. I haven’t written about my friends (they know too much), but I might make some new, (old?) spooky ones, if I move into the right house.

3. Here is where I show my weakness for an artful, witty, or heartbreaking arrangement of words.

4. I love Mr. H and my children, but I really kinda love looking at cowboys, too.

5. This post was one of my favorites to write, mostly because I didn’t plan it.

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If you’re on this Most Wanted list, you’ve been tagged:

On Dragonfly Wings, Confessions of a (Not So) Domestic Diva, Mad Marriage, June Cleaver Nirvana, and The More, the Messier

(And if you’re Sam Elliott, please for the love of god stop reading my blog, saddle up, and ride on over to my house.)

If you don’t want to do the meme, I get it. My lassoing skills aren’t that great, so you’re safe.

Besides, I think Sam Elliott is on his way over.

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I want to say thank you to everyone for contributing your favorite quotes yesterday. You’ve given me some excellent additions to my collection!

Now on to other business…

The lovely Miss Jane at byJane tagged me for this meme, and in the same spirit I will pass it on. Here’s what to do:

• Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
• Post these instructions on your blog.
• Post 7 random or weird facts about yourself on your blog (the weirder the better, if you ask me).
• Tag 7 people and link to them even if you think they won’t do it.
• Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged and hunt them down if you have to.

The first factoid: I once held the door open for Mike Wallace at Grand Central Station. I’m certain he remembers this.

Unvarnished truth #2: In 2005, I played in the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas, finishing around 700th out of 5600, (unfortunately) just 140 spots out of the money. ESPN showed my face for about 1.9 seconds in their coverage of the event.

Knock your socks off fact #3: I can tie a cherry stem in my mouth.

Undeniable fact #4: When I was 15, I competed in a bicycle race and received a 3rd place trophy. There were three entrants.

I-wish-this-was-made-up fact #5: In 5th grade, everyone had to give a presentation to the class as though he/she was a news anchor. We were to begin by saying, “Good evening,” and stating our name. I was really, really nervous, and when it was my turn, what came out of my mouth was this (I should tell you here that my maiden name was Schmitt): “Good evening, my name is Jennifer Shit.” The class erupted with laughter, and I am certain I had never seen my teacher laugh harder.

Amazing but true fact #6: My desk is always cluttered.

The truest truth #7: After almost 40 years, I still cannot decide which I prefer more–to watch the moon rise, or set.

Tag, you’re it! (but I’m too lazy to run very fast): Slow Panic, flutter, madness, madness I say!, Slouching Mom, Vintage Thirty, Reality Testing, and Marlee’s Rant.

The lovely and kind HRH has tagged me for this meme. Thanks for including me and for mentioning my little blog! In turn, I’m tagging my blogcrack dealer and dear friend. I hope I’m doing this right.

1. Name one thing you do every day: Hug my kids. And on school days we have snuggle time after we get home and run through the best/worst/funniest thing that happened at school.

2. Name two things you wish you could learn: I would like to learn to be comfortable riding horses and would like to learn speak another language, probably Italian.

3. Name three things that remind you of your childhood: Bonne Bell LipSmackers (especially Dr. Pepper flavor); the original Bionic Woman and the Six Million Dollar Man; Chatty Cathy doll.

4. Name four things you love to eat but rarely do: creme brulee, fondue, risotto, pecan pie

5. Name five things or people that make you feel good: my daughter’s enthusiastic hugs and my son’s sweet longer ones; making my kids laugh (live for it); meeting friends for a drink or a movie, eating the four things from #4; winning at poker