March Madness (#wipmadness) Day 10 Check-In

So, I'm combining two things in one. Yes, it is our 10th day of March and the second weekend in which to madly make up for the writing you missed during the week (if you have a day job like me!)

But it's also "I've Been Tagged" day. And these games of tag going round the Internet are kind of fun. And I thought it might be a good way to get to know some of this year's March Madness participants - especially the newbies.  So here's the deal.

I was tagged by Laura Barnes over at her blog, Laura B Writer. She gave me the choice of playing The Lucky 7 Meme, Answering her 10 Questions, or both. I chose both. Because that's how I roll. My job is to post my answers, then pick 7 of you to answer on your own blog.

So: The Lucky 7 Meme goes like this:
1. Go to page 77 of your current MS
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines - sentences or paragraphs - and post them as they're written. No cheating
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let them know


Here's Mine (Please keep in mind this is pulled from a first draft):
“Ms. Vaughn.” 


How can a young teacher without reading glasses still manage to pull off the withering-look-down-the-bridge-of-the-nose? She arches one eyebrow. Perfect. I thought art teachers were supposed to be all laid-back and peace-and-love-baby like Mr. Cottrell. 


“Yes ma’am.” 

Cheerleader Amber doodles circles in the edges of her sketchbook watching us out of the corner of her eye. Kush looks down at the self-portrait they must have started Friday.

“You missed a significant amount of work on drawing facial features Friday. We also did a warm-up you will not receive credit for. Is that clear?”

And here are the ten questions and my answers.

1. What is your dream vacation?  I'm a bit of a pathetic homebody, but if I were fit enough, I read about a horseback safari in Africa where you actually ride with the wildlife. The information said you must be comfortable enough at any gait to ride away from danger should it be necessary.  It would be close to $10,000 with airfare so for now, it's still a dream.

2. Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead? With a farm, I tend to need to be a planner. Same with being a teacher. But I'm not frightened by spontaneity if someone will feed the horses for me!

3. Tell us one thing you want to do but don’t dare to do. See Number 1.

4. What's your biggest phobia? Snakes - yuck. Eek. Shiver.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island – what 3 things would you want with you (not including laptop, or family). Coffee, a sailboat, and a map to the nearest mainland. 

6. Name three blessings in your life.  A happy childhood, parents who believed in education, and my current 2 and 4-legged family.

7. What was your nickname in High School? Whomp. I wish I could explain. But it was my boyfriend and our mutual best guy friend who bestowed it. Perhaps I don't want to know why even now.

8. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?
"Hi, I'm here for my ladies luncheon with the FLOTUS . She's expecting me."

9. If you could be any literary character for a day, who would you be? I'd like to be Bonanza Jellybean from Tom Robbin's Even Cowgirls Get the Blues.  Cutest Cowgirl West of the Pecos.  Or maybe Dumbledore.

Starting young with the cowgirl stuff - Me and my first horse, Josephine.

10. What is your favorite quote? Since I'm assuming I'm in polite company I won't quote my favorite Tom Robbin's line from the above book. But I'll go with a Harold and Maude quote - if you've never seen it, run out and Netflix it, a real gem.

Maude: I should like to change into a sunflower most of all. They're so tall and simple. What flower would you like to be? 
Harold: I don't know. One of these, maybe. 
Maude: Why do you say that? 
Harold: Because they're all alike. 
Maude: Oooh, but they're *not*. Look. See, some are smaller, some are fatter, some grow to the left, some to the right, some even have lost some petals. All *kinds* of observable differences. You see, Harold, I feel that much of the world's sorrow comes from people who are *this*, 
[she points to a daisy] 
Maude: yet allow themselves be treated as *that*. 
[she gestures to a field of daisies] 

And now for the tagging!  And it's hard to choose, so I'm going to pull new Wipsters who posted responses last Saturday and have blogs or websites. And maybe you'll tag some of the others. Or not at all. You may be too busy writing and that's cool, too. But if you decide to play, be sure and leave us a link on the day you post at that day's check-in site!

1. Jennifer Pickrell

2. Candy Lynn Fite

3. Daniel R. Davis

4. Nicole Luiken

5. Jeigh

6. Bethany Smith

7. Linda Jackson

So for the rest of you, leave a favorite quote, answer one of the questions, or tell me about your progress! I want to hear it all, because each of you is a daisy.


And don't forget to pop over tomorrow to Shari Green's blog for Sunday's Day 11 Check-In.