Five Question Friday

1. Do you and your spouse go to bed at the same time?
Yes. Even though he doesn’t get home from work until 11-11:30 and a smart(er) person would be in bed, I am almost always awake and downstairs when Simon gets home. I’m a night owl by nature whereas Simon is more of a freakish morning person. If the shoe were on the other foot and I worked second shift, rest assured, Simon would be long-asleep when I got home. But I would also be long-asleep in the mornings if I didn’t have to get up and go to work. Before he worked second shift, we typically did go to bed at the same time – because he would fall asleep on the couch and I would wake him up to go to bed when I was done watching a 10 o’clock drama. I like that we end our days together, usually watching the questionable but hilarious Chelsea Handler on E!

2. A question for the ladies…What kind of facial hair do you like on your man?
Clean shaven. While he may not appreciate my revealing this, Simon’s hair-growing abilities are a little spotty, as in he literally has spots on his face that do not grow hair. Ironic, considering he has the thickest hair I’ve ever seen on top of his head. So I prefer that he shave because the alternative is a bit special looking.

3. What’s the worst vacation you’ve ever taken?
I don’t know that I’ve ever had a vacation I’d call bad, though I’ve certainly had parts of vacations that I’d rather not relive.
Witness:

• When I was between 3-4 years old my parents took me to Florida – super fun vacation but I had to sleep on the floor in our beach-side motel and I woke up one night with my head stuck under the bed. I still recall how petrified I was, convinced my dad was not going to free me from the underside of the bed. On the way home from the same trip, we stayed in a motel called Big Louie’s, and Louie was indeed rather large, at least his enormous undergarments hanging on the line outside would have indicated as much (I kid you not). We still talk about Big Louie’s as it by far is the worst place my parents have ever stayed in (I’m surprised my mom didn’t need to seek counseling, or perhaps that is what sparked her desire to own every vacuum my father will tolerate).
• My brother, Marty, got married when I was 13. I spent the day before his wedding getting a spectacular sunburn and having a seagull poop on me while getting that spectacular sunburn. My skin crawled and my lips blistered; I was also a bridesmaid in his wedding – awesome photographs were taken.
• In college I went along as a leader for a youth group trip sponsored by the church I grew up at (that detail really has nothing to do with the story) but on our way from Michigan to Colorado we had a hard time finding a hotel to accommodate the large group of us. We ended up staying in a rather seedy motel with no screens in some of the windows and a buzzing bathroom light that stayed on all night (attracting a multitude of bugs) because one of the high school girls had a unfortuneate case of carsickness that did not leave her once we were out of the car (yuck and yuck). And then I left my pillow in said motel and had to go without one the entire week as we were staying at an adventure camp in the mountains. I still miss that pillow.

4. What’s the first-ever blog you followed?
Dooce, she hooked me good and well. Followed soon after by Mighty Girl, Suburban Bliss, Amalah and Julia. Then came All & Sundry, Design Mom, Notes from the Trenches, Dutch Blitz and Not That You Asked… After that it was 100+ blogs in my feed reader, most of which I still keep up with for laughs, great writing or inspiration. I love reading people’s stories, especially when they are well-told.

5. Do you enjoy amusement parks?
I don’t not enjoy them but given the chance, I’d much rather spend the day in Chicago, at an IKEA or on a road trip. My husband LOVES roller coasters, I’m hoping this can be something he does as a bonding trip with our boys, leaving me home, alone. Now there’s something I’d enjoy way more than amusement parks.