Gary

Write about a great bargain you've gotten.

My husband - he helps me cook, he helps me clean, and most of all he is patient with me and trusts me and believes in me.

If only, if only

What trait or feature do you wish you'd inherited from one of your parents (but didn't)?

Brilliant inductive knowledge like my mom.

Exponential?

If you could plant something non-living and make it grow (such as planting a dollar and growing a money tree), what would you plant?

My husband says he would grow his bank account.

I concede to his wishes.

Merci, monsieur

What is the last compliment you remember receiving?

I was going to chill in the hot tub at the YMCA (I know, wrong metaphor) after a nice hard workout. I was chatting with a grandpa who was in there and he told me about his friend from days of yore named Barbara. "You reminded me of her when you got in the pool," he reminisced, "you jogged my memory, she had a body just like yours, real nice and curvy, and real smart like you."

Monster

Write a brief bit of fiction involving a monster.

There once was a little girl who had a bad attitude.

Puddle up

Write about a memory you have that involves swimming.

So many, so many.

Jumping in the pool in the hotel in Portland, OR with all my siblings - Rebecca learned how to swim there; when we got home, we were so swim crazed our parents took us to the lynnwood pool and signed us up for lessons.

I hated getting up "early" (7 am or 6, I forget), for the classes. Our swim instructor always chewed gum and I knew the rules said no gum in the pool, so I was confused.

Kristina and I swimming in the pool in Bothell and bugging the lifeguard for tips!

Trustworthy

Who do you trust?

My husband

I have no fear when he goes out without me, I never even consider fretting on him or wondering if I need to "spy" on him. He is honest and open with me, and always has been. He expects me to reciprocate. He never lies ... well, except when he is hiding my birthday surprise :) I always count on him to be there for me, and he always is - he has never let me down.

Long Time

Someone you haven't seen in ten years has contacted you. Spend just a minute updating that person on your life and its changes over the last ten years.

I was 11 when we last met. Since then I have traveled the world. I've had two jobs, still in the second one - it's great! Gotten my AA, finishing my PM Cert., and just gearing up to go to University for my BA. I've learned about what I am inside and what I am not. I am a little kid that likes to have fun and curious about the world and people especially. I am not an office clerk with a calm temperament or a small timer. I am a woman. I am not a monkey. I just got married. The man who chose me is a leader and a man's man with strong hands and a soft heart. He has a puppy.

Seriously, though.

Forget "The dog ate my homework." Come up with a new excuse for today's schoolchildren to use when they don't get their homework done.

Arrive at my English class. No essay in hand. "Sorry, I was on a long drive and stopped to use a public restroom. There was no toilet paper and really the only thing I had on hand was ..."