Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day? I believe that the world has always been a dangerous place. It wasn't the first terrorist attack in America, but it was the first one that caused so many casualties, touched so many lives, and changed the New York skyline. I think that we just became more aware of what other people are capable are of, and realized that we may need to step up security in specific places.

I was young on 9/11, so I can't really say it affected me as much as it has my mum or dad, but it has made me grow up in a society that: was always at war. In fear that something like 9/11 might happen again. And in a society that has more security to get from one place to another. 9/11 hasn't really hit me, until about last year when I watched documentaries on 9/11 and Ground Zero, and that's when it hit me. I know it being the 10 year anniversary it'll be a little harder for me this year, but I know that the New York skyline will no longer have a hole in it since watching The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero.

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight? I'm still growing up, but there are sometimes when my parents can drive me absolutely insane with their strictness. But there are sometimes when it's alright. It really boils down to them loving me, and I guess sometimes I just need to realize that even when they say "no".

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself. I can score 0 in the game snake.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated? I don't have a nearest and dearest, but if I did it would probably be far too complicated :)

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food? Fried dough, from the Durham Fair.

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest? Tornado, June 1st. Hurricane, August 28th. Earthquake, I was at the beach I didn't feel it but my mum and dad did. I would say there's a toss up between the tornado and hurricane. I've never experienced either before this summer, so the tornado was the scariest because I didn't know what to do, and it just came out of no where, and my dad and bro #1 were out at an Eagle Scout Project and weren't picking up their cell and then they decided to drive back home during the tornado! But, the hurricane this past weekend was scary because I didn't know how it would affect us, and I didn't know how badly it would hurt Brimfield, which was hurt in the tornado. So it's kind of equal. I wouldn't want to go through another one.

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not? When I was little, like 5 I would get money if I had a clean room and my bed was made and blah blah blah. But I didn't need the money when I was 5 so why would I do it? Now that I'm a teen, and need the money, and attempt to keep a clean-ish room on top of my other chores like doing the dishes, sweeping, and the kitty litter, I don't get money or even a weekly allowance :( I guess having a job does help with the income, but a little extra money would be nice :)

That last question was inspired by a post Mindee wrote on Monday. Everyone go say hi to Mindee-she blogs at Our Front Door and she's funny.

8. I don't have a random thought. Well at least not right now, I lied. I'm in the middle of reading this amazing book! It's called The Gathering by Kelly Armstong. It's about this teen girl, who lives in this medical research town in Canada and was adopted and has no clue about her background except for the fact that she's a native. She goes to get a tattoo of her paw print birthmark and the tattoo artist's aunt calls the teen a witch and say she isn't part of the tribe that she thinks of. At the same time she's trying to solve her best friends death, an amazing swimmer who drowned in the lake last year.

I'm only half way through it, but it is absolutely amazing :)