Tag- I'm It!!!

A curious thing happened to me this week; I was tagged.  No, no gang symbols were spray painted on me and I wasn’t playing with my kids.  I got tagged by another blogger.  Wow!  Who knew such a thing happens? Clearly, not me.  Actually, I am quite excited.  I had just written a blog on the community and positive aspects of the Internet (click here to read it) and this was a prime example of the same.
Thank you to my friend, Wind Up My Skirt, for throwing me into the game.
By the way, Wind Up My Skirt writes a killer blog.  The things that get her skirt all up and twisted are some of my pet peeves, too, so we’re simpatica that way.  You need to read her blog. Yes, click there.
The game, as I understand it, is simple.  You are tagged. Then you answer eleven questions.  Next you tag eleven other bloggers and ask them eleven new questions.
Here are the eleven questions Wind Up My Skirt asked the people she tagged:
1. Why did you start your blog?
I finished my first fantasy novel, but I have no published work.  The general consensus seemed to be that it would be good for my writing career to begin a blog and hopefully, develop a following (which is why you need to tell your friends, err, no pressure, guys).  It has the added benefit of giving me another form of writing.  That’s the best thing for a writer, just keep writing.
2. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
That’s hard… how about crushes? Oded Fehr, Michal Biehn, Judson Scott and Robert Taylor
3. Name your favorite band/musician?
Easy, the late, great, Ronnie James Dio
4. What is your favorite TV Show?
It fluctuates, however, at the present I’m following (more or less): Doctor Who, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Top Chef, Fringe and Once Upon A Time
5. Who is your favorite scientist?
Jane Goodall
6. Name your favorite author?
Are you flipping kidding me?  Talk about your Herculean task!  Off the top of my head I’d say: David Eddings, Jim Butcher, J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Jane Austin, Katherine Kurtz, Barbara Hambly and Geraldine Brooks.  That’s just the tip of the iceberg though.
7. What do you do with your free time when you are not online?
I like running, spending time with friends and family, cooking, writing and crafting.  I also love to garden and a hot bubble bath is a rare, but beloved, indulgence.
8. If you had to live in another country, which country would you choose and why?
I haven’t traveled as much as I would like to, but I could be very happy in Italy, specifically Florence.  The food is amazing, the people are adorable, the weather is very similar to California, you are surrounded by art and history.  What’s not to love?
9. What three words best describe you?
Inquisitive, friendly and loud…ish
10. What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
I usually try to eat healthy, but oh man, I sure love some loaded potato skins with ranch dressing to dip.  YUM!
11. If you were throwing a dinner party, and could invite any 10 people (living or dead) who would you invite?
Okay, let’s see, obviously, I’d want all my friends and family, but if we’re just talking personalities I’d love to meet:
Ronnie James Dio
Richard III
Ellen DeGeneres
Madeline L’Engle
Priscilla “Petie” Snow (A dear friend of mine, though thirty years older than me.  She passed away four years ago and I miss her so.  She was lovely in all types of company.)
Walter Cronkite
Jacques Cousteau
Chief Joseph (Nez Perce Nation)
Pat Benatar
Boudica (She’d have to check her sword at the door, of course.)
Okay, so if I’m doing this right I need to come up with eleven questions of my own for my tag-ees.  (I think that’s a word.)  Here’s what I’m asking them:
1.)  What is your favorite quote?
2.)  What is your first memory?
3.)  If you could have any dish cooked by anyone in the world (living or dead), what would you have and who would prepare it for you?
4.)  What languages do you speak?  What language would you most like to learn?
5.)  Do you have any pet peeves?  What are they?
6.)  Name one thing you like about yourself.
7.)  If I handed you $1000 (American) right now, how would you spend it? No fair saving it!
8.)  What is your favorite song?
9.)  Do you play any musical instruments?
10.)  What is your favorite piece of poetry?
11.)  Name your favorite season and why.
Now it’s my turn to pass the fun on to eleven lucky bloggers!  Here is who I chose (be sure to check out their blogs!):
Journey of Two
Sunny Spells
Cadmefoghlamthainniu
The Many Facets of Laura
Wendy Spinale
Happiness Stan Lives Here
ByKimberlyEmerson
Talinorfali
CandidlySpeaking
Northierthanthou
Vikram Roy
Tag, Ladies and Gents!  You’re it!