Where did the word "meme" come from, anyway. It makes me uncomfortable in a way that I can't really explain.

I've never been one to follow or participate in memes, even when tagged. I always want to, I just never do. But today I'm breaking with tradition due to the spectacularly unique nature of this day (and that's also the excuse I'm using to explain away the fact that I was not actually tagged in this meme, I just stumbled upon it and decided to post it here.)

The reason why this day is so spectacularly unique is because it is the second weekend day in the history of my relationship with Ken (2.5 years) that I have had entirely to myself. Due to the horrible ice storm that appears to have affected every New England town except ours (seriously, we got a bit of rain) Ken's mom and my mom have both experienced horrible trees-falling-down-and-taking-out-their-phones/cable/internet (Ken's mom) -or-the-above-plus-electricity-and-heat (my mom) situations at their houses. As such, dear Ken, the man who I love so much for his sense of duty, honor and responsibility, got up at the ungodly hour of 8 this morning to drive to his mom's house to take care of all the downed branches (and one vacated eagle's nest!) for her. My mother actually hired this kid she knows to come over yesterday and deal with everything before I even knew anything had happened, so now all she has to deal with is just a lack of electricity and heat for several days (oh, is that all!) so she will be coming over later today to take a shower and fill about 30 gallon jugs of water for her horse, and pay some bills online.

Aside from that visit, to which I am certainly looking forward, I have had THIS ENTIRE MORNING TO MYSELF! Now, I work from home half the time, so having the house to myself is no special thing, however I AM NOT WORKING. So I made myself some coffee and toast, put on some really excellent music, and have spent the morning updating some Rav projects, and just in general surfing around on knitterly sites, reading updates and whatnot that I never ever ever get to do.

Which is how I found this little game a blogger named Not An Artist had posted. (I'm sure that's not her real name- I found her because I plan to knit her adorable infant mittens from Knitty, her name is Michelle Hotchin.) Anyway, she posted this and I'm stealing it from her.

The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was 19, midway through my Sophomore year of college at UNH, about to move from the dreaded Stoke Hall into the lovely and wonderful Fairchild where my friends were. I was thinking about running for Musical Director of my a cappella group next year (a position that was one of the greatest things I've ever done and also led to one of the worst nights of my life, but crap happens and I don't regret a minute of it.) I had not quite yet fallen madly in love with The Boy To Whom I Would Give My Precious Flower (and who, as friendly as we are today, seriously makes me wonder what I was thinking!) I was about to, though. Fall in love. That was a good and deliciously dramatic time with a very specific soundtrack (Indigo Girls, Jump Little Children, the Beatles, Kenny Rogers, and Sarah McLaughlin)... I was just about to start smoking (also a good time, GOD I miss smoking!), I had short hair and my friends and I spent a lot of time quoting the Spice Girls movie (in an ironic way, of course- but we still genuinely loved the ridiculousness of it all.) I was 2 months from entering my 20's which would prove to be an extremely difficult decade for me.

College was an amazing time filled with wonder and possibility. I was very, very happy then and haven't been nearly as happy since until recently, and I feel I am on a Happiness UpSwing. Finally.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

• Go to Trader Joe's and buy a shitload of white and dark chocolate chips
  
• Make a shitload of white and dark chocolate peppermint bark for a party and workplace cookie swap
  
• Clean the bathroom before my mom gets here
  
• Spin and knit (that's two! I'm a cheater!)
  
• Turn the music up in the kitchen and dance around, singing at the top of my lungs, totally relishing being alone! As Sark would say, YES!

3) Snacks I enjoy:

• Crackers & Cheese, in many variations
  
• Chips & Salsa (or nachos, which in my mind actually belong to the Crackers & Cheese category)
  
• Edamame
  
• Veggies & Dip made from Lipton Veggie Soup mix and sour cream, which we only really make on special occasions.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I'd give my mom, family, Ken's family and friends LOTS of money. I'd pay off this house and either expand onto it, or buy another one in another town. I'd break Ken down to tell me whatever it was he wanted, and I'd make it happen for him. Even if that meant Thanksgiving every day. I'd get a small apartment in the Back Bay and buy a lakehouse somewhere in NH or Vermont, and I'd get my furniture at Mohr & McPherson, C&B and places I've still never heard of. Just really excellent furniture. With character. I'd have a whole staff of people to clean the homes I'd have and I'd pay them extraordinarily well out of a deep sense of guilt. I'd go on an EXTENSIVE traveling tour through Europe and Asia. I'd do whatever it takes to allow my dear cousin the trip to Italy she so desperately wants to take with her mother. I'd visit that cousin a hell of a lot more often in Seattle, along with my sister in Los Angeles and the Bio-Dad in Ireland. I'd gather a big wishlist of charities and give a lot of money and time to them. Um, I'd totally quit my job (obvi) and get a big isolated, soundproof studio with wheels, dyeing supplies, a pottery wheel and kiln and any crafty supply that struck my fancy. Part of this studio would be a yarn/fiber shop with too many awesome details to go into right now. I'd go back and work at Camp Huckins for another summer or two as the Craft Shop Director. I'd hire a personal trainer and top notch chiropractor to force me to do whatever it takes to make my back better. I'd finally get my big boobies reducted. I'd go back to school and finally get my degree, but probably in something totally frivolous and fun. And I'd get an English Bulldog. And a Boston Terrier. And a Boxer. And an English Mastiff.

5) Places I have lived:

Beverly Hills, CA
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Pelham, NH
Durham, NH
Newmarket, NH
Boulder, CO
Missoula, MT
Wakefield, NH
Freedom, NH
Brookline, MA
Wilmington, MA

7) 5 peeps I wanna know more about:

Ariel
Susie
Kat
Sarah
Jenny (the other one)