I'm in the hot seat just like Frank Langella...I mean Richard Nixon.
You guys asked some deep questions, I am here to answer them. I promised I would answer honestly. If you come away from this exercise realizing that I am really REALLY boring, I am truly sorry.
In hopes that it won't happen, I grabbed some beer. A tipsy Becky is always much more fun.
So, let me reach into the mailbag and we can get started.
Heathersister from Tales from the Lunchroom would like to know: Where did you and Matt meet? Just wondering because I think you guys are a great couple!
Well, Matt and I met in High School. He was a Senior and I was a Freshman. We were introduced by a guy in my Drama class, Bill...something or other. It was Halloween and Matt was dressed in a grass skirt and a coconut bra, I should have known then. He wasn't interested at the time because he was a Senior. He had one girlfriend already, and was currently wooing another. He was in a school production of "The Foreigner", I had to see the play as an assignment for Drama class and I can honestly say he is the only thing I remember from it.
The next year, I was in Drama II with a girl names Gayle. I was now a Sophomore and she was a Senior. The class was our last class of the day and we had lockers in the same wing. One day I walked with her to her locker and there he was standing there. Gayle was his girlfriend. We all got to be good friends and we even double to Senior Prom. (I went with a guy named Mark, but really only to go.)
My Junior year, we found out that Matt and Gayle broke up and he was hanging around my friend Jane. She really liked him and I did too, but I stood back. One day he called me and asked me to a movie, I thought it was a group thing, so I said yes. When he showed up at my house it was only him. We went and saw "Fletch Lives" and had grilled cheeses at Denny's afterwards. Then he "asked me out" which at the time meant going steady. I was 16 years old and he was 20. And the rest is history.
Sorry it's so long, but you asked. Moving on!
Merc3069 at BookBitten would like to know; If you had to decide on a last meal, what would it be?
That would really depend on how long I had to decide. If I was on death row and had a few months between appeals, my answer would change hourly. But gun to my head, have to decide this minute, I would have to say Carson's Ribs.
Mmmm..... Carson's Ribs!! Their ribs, are delectable. They are not "fall of the bone" type of ribs, and they are not completely smothered in sauce. They are more of a St. Louis style rib but still baby back. And don't even get me started on the au gratin potatoes!! Heaven!!!
If you consider yourself a rib connoisseur, you must try. Being one of those "Chicago foods" they will deliver anywhere in the US for all of those transplanted Chicagoans http://www.ribs.com/ or 888-999-RIBS. (Maybe they'll read this and give me free ribs for the advertisement.)
Thanks for the question Merc!
Tori Z over at Torizworld asked: How did you pick the girls' names, and why?
Ahhh....A question that I have answered many times.
When I was pregnant with Emerson, I knew I wanted a unique name but not weird. People magazine came out with a huge article about all these stars' babies. Reading the article I came across Teri Hatcher, her then husband, and her daughter Emerson Rose. I thought it was a beautiful name. I also thought that of Shawn Colvin's daughter's name, Caldonia, but Matt said no.
We had no idea whether she was a boy or girl, we pick Emerson Erin for a girl (Erin after my sister) and Griffin Robert for a boy (Robert for Matt's dad). She was a girl.
We always intended on calling her Sunny (for the son part of Emerson) but it never stuck. We just call her Emerson, or Em and Vivi calls her Emmy. Matt even has a tattoo of a sun for her.
When I got pregnant with Vivi, I really wanted to name her Vivienne because I LOVED the book "Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" The character Vivi was so full of life, so incredible, that it was the only name I wanted. Matt said no. I begged, he said no. I cried, he softened, but said no. One day we were at his mother's house, and she asked what we were going to name the baby, he told her if it was a boy we were going to name him Cooper Matthew and if it's a girl we would name her Vivienne. I was so happy, and now I didn't have to go ahead with my plan of secretly changing the birth certificate.
For a middle name, we let Emerson name her. I,of course, had full veto power. Imagine my surprise when she came up with Elizabeth. That's how we named Vivienne Elizabeth. Incidentally, my sister Erin's middle name is Elizabeth too. So, both my kids are named after her, and I was a little mad when Gage came out and she didn't name him Rebecca.
I'm also really ticked off at Angelina, she named one of those twins Vivienne (same spelling) and the hussy had them on my birthday. So, SUCK IT ANGELINA!!!
I don't really blame Brad, he has no power in that relationship, more just a sperm donor.
Thanks for asking Tori! On to the next question!
LadyStyx over at LadyStyx Place asked: Describe the worst trip you've ever been on.
This one stumped me. I went over and over all the trips Matt and I took and I couldn't think of anything. Then it hit me, it doesn't have to be a trip that I took with him, I went plenty of places BM (Before Matt). I went back into the archives and I think I came up with the worst trip imaginable. This took a little meditation, some hypnosis to recover the memory, and eventually shock therapy treatment.
My parents divorced when I was 13, my mother remarried when I was 14. My father, didn't remarry until I was 18, but he was with my Stepmother, who was a previous friend of the family, for quite a few years before they married.
When I was growing up, we owned a camper up in South Wisconsin where we spent weekends in the summer. After the divorce, we rarely saw my father, even though we lived in the same town, and we hardly ever went to the camper anymore.
One summer, my mother and stepfather went on a trip of their own and my father was going to take Erin and me up to the camper. My stepmother had a camper as well that she shared with her ex-husband. A few days before the weekend trip, we found out that Donny (my stepmother's ex) was killed in a drunk driving accident not to far from where the camper is located.
For some reason, we decided to continue with the trip. I was 15 at the time. On our way up there, we stopped at the place where Donny's car crashed into the tree. We all had to get out and look at it.
Over the weekend, my father and future stepmother drank A LOT!!! Erin and I were left on our own for most of the weekend. When we did see them, we were told we weren't mourning enough, so we preferred to be alone.
There was another family who had a camper right next to ours. The Meyers, and we have been very close since I was a year old.
On Sunday, Auntie Carole (Meyer) saw what was going on and offered to take us out on their boat so we could go swimming in the middle of the lake. (Always a HUGE treat) Just as we were getting our suits on, my father walked into the camper and told us that we couldn't go because we were going home.
On the way home, we had to stop at the place where Donny's car was being held. We all got out to look at it, including the blood soaked seat where he died. The first time the dangers of drunk driving ever hit home. (Which is a good thing)
And that my friends, was the worst trip I have ever been on. Man, that was painful, I need another beer!
IB from IdiotStew would like to know: Would you consider erotic chat with someone (other than Matt) cheating?
Let me start out by saying that I am different than some other wives. I have no problem with porn (As long as it is adults). Want to go to the strip club? Go ahead, have a lap dance on me. You want me to dress up as a french maid or dirty stewardess, I'm game. I draw the line at prostitutes. And as far as a three-way goes, I would have to be the guest star to even consider it.
Now what kind of erotic chat are we talking? Are we talking about erotic things or are we engaging in cybersex?
If I was involved in erotic talk with someone other than my husband, I would not consider it cheating. But, my definition of cheating would not apply in this situation, Matt's definition would. If he considered anything that I did to be cheating, then it would be. And the same goes for me, my definition of cheating is the only thing that he needs to worry about.
For example. Let's say Matt has lunch with the same woman everyday. (he doesn't) They have a friendship and they share personal stuff with each other. Things start getting a little heated and you could cut the sexual tension with a knife, but they don't do anything. Matt decides he is going to tell me but says that he didn't cheat because they didn't have sex. I say he did cheat because he trusted and confided in another woman. He basically fell in love with her.
So you see, it doesn't matter what "I" would consider cheating, it's what Matt does and vise verse.
But I'll ask if erotic talk is on the table. LOL!
Iggy over at Intense Guy has 3 questions: Which of the questions that Matt asked you do you think is the "stupidest" and why?
Here's how the conversation went the night that Matt decided to "interview" me.
Matt: "OK, I've got my questions."
Me: "OK, shoot!"
Matt: "Question 1: What don't you like about me?"
Me: "What kind of question is that?" "You're just trying to make me look bad!"
Matt: "No I'm not, just answer the question."
Me: "I am so not answering that question!" "You are trying to make me look like a tyrant wife!" "Move on to the next one...and by the way, there are way to many things to list."
Matt: "Nice." "Question 2: Why did you tell me that you were going to give Vivi a bath tonight and then you didn't?"
Me: "What is the matter with you?" "That's not an interview question!" "If you wanted to know why Vivi didn't get a bath tonight you could have just asked instead of doing this." "By the way, she fell asleep before I got a chance, happy? Move on to the next question."
Matt: "OK, Question 3: Why do you get mad when I work too much and then you get mad when I don't work?"
Me: "What do you want me to say? Because I'm mentally ill? This interview is over!"
There you have it Iggy, that's what happened.
What would you give to bowl a 300 game and when (what occasion) would you want to bowl it? I would never want to bowl a 300 game because then I would have to quit bowling. If there is no room to improve than there is no point. And I could say that I would want to bowl it on my last day on earth, but what if they have bowling in heaven? Then I'm stuck and I can't make thunder like the other angels.
In your opinion, is picking your nose in public ever acceptable behavior? Only with your elbow.
Ms. Tori has another question: Assuming your family (pets included) was already safe, what would you try to save in the event of a disaster (like a fire or flood) that meant you had to evacuate your home and may never be able to return?
Hmmmm.....As I look around here, there is nothing that can't be replace. All sentimental things are kept off the compound. Off the top of my head, I would say, my Lladro that I got from Kendra, my Johnny Depp movies and my 42" TV (I fought too hard for it to let it go)
Blue Ridge Gal would like to ask: Why were you so mean to Matt and refused to answer his questions like a sweet little wife would have done? Are you not sweet? LOL
My only response to that is: What are you, new? LOL!!!
Heather over at "This is the day..."PS118:24 would like to know: What is your dream vacation with your whole family (you, Matt and the kids)? What is your dream vacation for just you and Matt? What is your dream "girls-only" vacation? And are Michelle and I invited? When are we going?
Matt and I have talked about our "dream vacation" with the girls. We would really love to rent an RV and drive the entire Route 66. All the way from Chicago to LA. We have already done all of Illinois and we had the best times on those trips. We would love to go the rest of the way. The only problem is that we better do it pretty soon. The last thing I want is to go on a huge road trip with a snotty teenager.
My dream vacation with just Matt? Fiji, one of those resorts that have the little cabanas out on the water. Just sitting in the sun and swimming. We are trying to plan a trip for just the 2 of us, we would love to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We are trying for spring when his work is a little slower.
Our girls vacation? Let me see...Let's just go to a cabin with a bunch of wine, do some laughing, and some scrapbooking. I think we would have the best time, and Becky has to come with us.
Hello Mary Lou from Buttercream Cottage asks: What is your favorite part of blogging?
Wow! I have so many favorite parts, it hard to decide. I guess I have to say that I love learning something new from every one's blog. Whether it be a recipe or a computer secret or a way to deal with a child. I also love laughing with all of you.
R Susanna at Sticky Stuff on the Floor asks: What is your favorite part of your daily routine and why? And if you won the lottery tomorrow, what would be the first thing you would do, besides quit your job?
This isn't going to sound really good, but my favorite part of the day is after I get everyone ready for school and work, after I drop Vivi off at daycare and I drive to work. If everything goes smoothly, I feel accomplished, like I ran a marathon. I get to spend 25 minutes in the car, listening to the radio and thinking about what I want to accomplish the rest of the day. Sometimes, I talk to my sister on that trip too.
Assuming that I have already quit my job, not to mention ran around the neighborhood naked, I would start construction on the gorgeous house somewhere secluded, hire the best tutors, grab the family and go on a trip around the world while the house is being completed.
And Finally ChicagoLady asks: If you could have any career you wanted, what would it be?
I don't know, Lottery winner sounds pretty good. Seriously, I have always wanted to start my own business. For a while I wanted to do children's birthday parties. I would create a birthday party to the child's specifications. I came up with a bunch of ideas, but mostly I just did my own kid's parties. Now, I would like to sell stuff that I make in the etsy store, but I can't come up with anything to make.
There you have it, you asked I told. I hope you weren't too bored.
There was just no way I was going to be able to face the rest of my day without some sort of caffeine fix. Our, that is Em and my favorite is Caribou Coffee. I get the Campfire Mocha which tastes like a smore, and Em loves their kid's hot cocoa, they make it just the right temperature so she can drink it right away.
This Christmas she got her own ball and she likes to use my bowling bag. Matt drew a skull and bowling pin crossbones on it for me. I usually keep my ball in a locker at the alley so I don't use it too often.
I got the shot in the ass this time because I still have a bruise in my arm from 2 weeks ago.
It comes with a set of rules, and I suspect she might have given me this award so I would have to do the first one. LOL!!!!
1) 
From midnight tonight and noon tomorrow.
