Questions for Kimberly

A new week, a new set of answers.  This time we hear from Kimberly, a fellow blogger who started me on my 11 questions/ 11 answers quest.  Kimberly's blog, www.kimberlyemerson.com, proclaims that reading is dangerous--it leads to thinking.  Oh yes, she has something interesting to say.

1. Favorite book from childhood?

So many to choose from! When I was little, The Monster at the End of This Book. (Grover kicks Elmo's furry red butt). When I got to chapter books, Mystery of the Musical Umbrella by Friedrick Feld. After I got a little older, most anything by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (The Egypt Game, The Famous Stanley Kidnapping Case, and especially Black and Blue Magic). Oh, and ESPECIALLY The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. I just read that one over again, and I'm glad to say I enjoyed it just as much as an adult.


2. TV show you're embarrassed to admit you watch?

I haven't watched it lately, but probably King of the Hill. I'm drawn to it with a mix of fascination and horror.


3. What are you reading now?

Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie. I love mysteries, and sometimes I feel the need to go back to the classics.


4. Favorite subject in school?

Drama. I love acting, and it was fun to pretend to be someone whose personality was totally different from mine (or was what I secretly wanted mine to be). Of the core classes, English. I was good at math, but it was boring.

5. Most interesting trip?

Probably my first trip to New Orleans, in my early twenties. I had no idea of all the history there. With the different food, accent, and sometimes even language, it comes the closest to being another world, while still inside my own country.

6. If you had to save one thing from a house fire, what would it be and why?

I'd save my cat first, but she's not really a thing, so I'll say my photo albums. Cliche, yes, but they are reminders of really good memories....unless of course I had some really GOOD chocolate in the house. Then I might have to re-prioritize. Good chocolate should never be wasted. (Kidding - sort of.)

7. If you could have any job, without constrictions of education or salary, what would it be?

In a perfect world, I'd get paid to do my writing. If it has to be a job that I get a salary for, I pick chocolate taster for Moonstruck Chocolates. That way, I wouldn't have to take out a third mortgage in order to buy some.

8. Weirdest memory from childhood?

I guess there was no large-item-trash pick-up in our neighborhood, because when we wanted to get rid of a lot of stuff or a big thing, we drove it to the dump. There was a Foster Freeze right near it. We didn't eat out a whole lot when I was a kid because money was tight (my parents were teachers), but we usually stopped at the Foster Freeze on the way to or coming back from the dump. So we were the only kids in town who said, "Hooray, we're going to the dump!"

9. One thing most people don't know about you?

For some reason, the sight of barnacles, on a boat or anything else, makes me nauseous. I loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean, but I could barely keep my popcorn down through 2 & 3.

For the record, I did send Kimberly 11 questions, but she only answered 9.  What, no nick name?  Kimmy or Kimber, maybe?  I do hereby christen you K-Em.  And as for how Kimberly knows me, we found each other's blogs through our mutual friend, Angela (who has yet to answer my questions and better get on it lickety-split young lady, or I'll make something up).

Thank you, Kimberly!