Monday Morning Meme

1. What book is on your nightstand right now? What was the last book you read? How many books do you think you read in 2008?

Right now, I am reading “A Bend in the Road” by Nicholas Sparks.  Up next is “The Dead Don’t Dance” by Charles Martin.  Thanks to our road trip at Christmas, I was able to finish “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult and completely read “Where the River Ends”, another Charles Martin book.

I was actually a little surprised with the number of books I was able to get in last year.  I didn’t read nearly as much as I thought I had in years past, but I ended up getting 17 books in in 2008.  I was pretty happy with that.  I have a page dedicated to what I read in years past so check out the tab on the top of the page.

2. Name three blogfriends that have inspired you. Now please tell us how these blogfriends have inspired you.

Well, the first is actually a community site.  It’s a lot of women that get together and encourage each other on their weight loss journey.  I would be nowhere without the wonderful women at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. They are a constant reminder that none of us are alone in our struggle to be healthier.

Secondly, I’d have to go with Sandee at Comedy Plus. With her hilarious posts and encouraging comments, Sandee reminds that every once in a while I need to take myself a little less seriously.

Last but not least, I’m going to go with Beth from I Should Be Folding Laundry.  She and her family have had and incredibly hard year and she writes about it from the heart.  She’s not afraid to share her own personal grief and through all of it inspires people to hug their kids a little tighter and not take life for granted.

3. How far do you live from the place where you grew up as a kid? Tell us about the place you grew up – would you choose to go back there and raise your own family (if you have one)? Why or why not?

Up until about 4 months ago, I could say that I lived about 20 minutes away from the house I grew up in.  Now I live 7 hours away.

Where I grew up has changed a lot.  Businesses are closing down and the place I used to work is now considered when of the more dangerous stores in the chain.  We lived on a really busy street that saw it’s fair share of accidents…we lost a tree, a brick sign and a fence in our yard in three separate accidents.

Now, if I could move the actual house to a different area, I would do that in a heartbeat.  I really liked the house we grew up in.  My mom and dad raised 6 kids in it and is fairly small.  It’s a reminder that we don’t need as much as we think we do.

4. Finish this line: Absence makes the heart……
(please do not say “grow fonder”.) How long do you think is ‘too long’ to be away from your loved ones?

Absence makes the heart realize that things aren’t as bad as they seem.

Oooh.  Too long.  Well, I’ve never been away from the kids for more than a week.  Dave has been gone for 2 week stretches at a time, though, for business.  I would have to say that when I’m by myself with the kids, that 3 or 4 days is about what I can handle before I really, REALLY want Dave to come home.  In a vacation type situation, after about a week I’m ready to come home!

For more answers, check out Write From Karen!