Monday 12 November 2007

passions and fears

Passed to me From Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

8 things I’m passionate about

1- my child
2- separation of church and state/freedom of religion
3- child abuse of any ilk/secular education for all children
4- books, art, music, writing, beauty in all its forms
5- the necessity for us ALL to THINK, in relation to religion, politics, bigotry, culture, et al.
6- freedom of self-determination and respect for ALL persons/the present downward spiral of civil liberties in the West
7- good shoes
8- good manners

8 things to do before I die
1- get as close as I can to a state of spiritual self determinism
2- make the New York Times Best Seller List (more than once)
3- do as much good as I can (whatever monies I can give, whatever kindnesses I can bestow)
4- put my opinion out in the world and hope it has a positive affect on people and how they treat those they love, those they hate, and those they do not know
5- go back to New Zealand
6- Take Q to Machu Picchu, and take my grandchildren climbing in the Himalayas
7- never stop learning; never stop flirting; never stop appreciating
8- find some physical proof of a fantastic truth I have told Q, but that she must take for true solely on my word – to give her that piece of mind.

8 things I say often
1- “Bloody hell !” (since Q’s departure has replaced, “Sit up straight dearest.”)
2- “Thank you.” (in several languages)
3- “Let’s move it people.” Or “Make a hole.”
4- “I do NOT speak French, but I DO speak Spanish, English, Tibetan, some Hindi, some Chinese, and Pashto!” (said with a tinge of defensiveness it’s true, as in – because I do not speak French does not mean I am a dunce, but I am learning the language out of politeness)
5- “Bonjour.”
6- bad word that begins with an ‘f’, in several variations
7- “May I help you?”
8- brilliant

8 books I’ve read recently

1- Infidel by Ali
2- All the Shah’s Men by Kinzer
3- White Gold by Milton
4- (re-read) Inner Revolution by Thurman
5- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
6- Inside Terrorism by Hoffman
7- Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud by Navarro (reading)
8- At Home in Milford by Karon (reading)

8 songs I could listen to over and over

1- the arias from La Traviata (all of them) (Callas and Domingo)
2- Scottish songs: Amazing Grace, Bonnie Dundee, Ye Jacobites by Name, … (The Corries)
3- Someone to Watch Over Me (Sinatra)
4- Lhasa Pumo (Yungchen Lhamo)
5- La Vie En Rose (Edith Piaf) and La Marseillaise
6- This Time Around (Linda Eder) (makes me cry)
7- Chain of Fools (Aretha Franklin) (makes me dance)
8- Candy (Big Maybelle)
(and Pretty Woman (Orbison), Folsom Prison (Cash), and Great Balls of Fire (Lewis) my list, my rules ☺

8 qualities I look for in a best friend

1- loyalty
2- loyalty
3- an appreciation of my dry/warped sense of humor
4- compassion
5- loyalty
6- has to love my child
7- a similar, but not necessarily identical, worldview
8- must love animals and children

8 people I’m passing this on to

1 – jmb
2 – welshcakes
3 – kaycle
4 – annie
5 – debiO
6 – omega mum
7 – mountain mama
8 – mama zen

Now that was fun, while this is too frightening for words. The slow but sure loss of civil liberties across not only America, but in Britain as well, is in danger of becoming permanent, something I don’t think we can permit. We need some of those radical hippie people from the 1960’s (I was not one, I missed the sixties – I was reading – in India). If not that, we need to do some severe speaking out in print, and with our votes.

24 comments:

debio said...

There now - such a great list, and a nomination at the end; so my guilt runneth over as I've already been nominated by wuastc and have only just begun thinking about it....

Kim said...

Wonderful list. Mine is already up -- I was tagged by Ann as well and had it up before I read your post. Thanks for thinking of me.

Sparx said...

OK, I love your list... but that article is terrifying. And, I googled 'waterboarding' because I didn't know what it is. And now I wish I hadn't. Enlightening as always... please someone tuck me in to bed now...

Sparx said...

PS, I have just caught up with your blog from the date I disappeared off the map with flu (and then went to Canada and then got buried catching up) and thank you SO much for the I love your blog' award! In the 'what do you think of that' stakes, DJ Kirkby gave it to me last week and I gave it to you two days ago... so thank you - and right back atcha!

jenny said...

I enjoyed reading your list! Seeing your reading list though, puts me to shame! I havent done any serious reading in a while and I have half a mind to postpone doing my list so I can cram some reading time in!! :o) But not to worry, I'll do my list and you'll see what I've come up with! Thanks for the tag!

jmb said...

Well I enjoyed reading these interesting things about you but I would have to think about this one so I'll put it on the back burner for now if you don't mind. Second tag today!

I Beatrice said...

Fascinating list Lady M! Some of the things you love I'd have expected of you - others came as a surprise. That you have visited (and wish to re-visit) New Zealand, for example.......

My own homeland of course - now that did come as a surprise!

At the top of any list of mine would come freedom I think. For myself of course, since without it I would die. But also for all the enslaved peoples of the world. For their freedom I ache and ache...

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

So glad to have you back. I love your list, particularly your passions. And going back a few posts, I'll remember the chocolates idea, though I'm surprised some idiotic American security official didn't have dogs sniff them to make sure they weren't explosives (such is the way of the world now -- SIGH!)

Anonymous said...

I think we have a lot in common as I also swear a lot am obsessed with neatness, and I am frankly a bit of a snob as well!!

Ellee Seymour said...

"7- never stop learning; never stop flirting; never stop appreciating"

I totally agree with that, plus "loyalty, loyalty,loyalty"!.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Lovely list, Lady M. I like no 1 on the "things you say a lot" and may you achieve all your worthy ambitions. I will try and do this meme tomorrow.
The loss of civil liberties is truly terrifying.

dulwichmum said...

These are indeed frightening times.

I agree with your choice of music, and your wish to make it into that acoladed hall of fame twice? OHMYGOD, what have I missed???

lady macleod said...

debio

No guilt! Such a waste of time and energy. We'll wait.... (humming a dirge)

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

kaycle

See, everyone wants to know what you think!

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

sparx

Just grab Spud and hug tightly.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

jenny

Fortunately for me, one of the main occupations of a writer must be reading! How fabulous is that? Looking forward to your list.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

jmb

Yes, I know, you are so very popular you have to line us up! I'll keep checking.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

i beatrice

Oh I love New Zealand, it's so beautiful.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

WUASTC

Oh but one chap said, "Oh no we can't take this [looking at the young woman sitting at the desk], it's against the rules."

She said, rolling her eyes, "Oh don't be an idiot it's chocolate."

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

mutleythedog

I've always felt simpatico with you dear. Snob? I'm not a snob! Just a bit particular...

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

ellee

Indeed!

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

welshcakes

I look forward to your list!

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

dulwichmum

You miss nothing that I can note love.

thank you for coming by.

Maude Lynn said...

I'm on it!