Spotlight of the Week - noni!

It was so much fun answering all your questions, but it's time for me to pass the torch to another TCS member. She's moved us and amused us with her stories of Pengy, Simon, and the rest of her kitty-cat posse, and I think we'd all like to get to know her a bit better! I'm really looking forward to this week's spotlight on

noni!

Okay, here are my questions, Michele:

1. Why did you give your cats their particular names?
2. How did you find Pengy and why does she have an injury? (sorry, if you are repeating yourself here but I didn't get to read the entirety of the thread lost in the TCS crash )
3. What is your favorite book?
4. How did you get into the real estate business?
5. What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

Hello Nony congratulations for the Nomination, I hope you have a really wonderful Week!
Let´s see,
1.- Why mean you nick (Noni) is your real name? or your mommie or your lovely kittie?
2.- How many kitties do you have?
3.- How´s you find TCS?
4.- Do you know MÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]xico?
5.- Can you speak Spanish?
Have a nice weekend!
Cheers!

~1. Why did you give your cats their particular names?
They all have named themselves, in effect. Charlotte was in my arms and tried to help me select a book by the Bronte sisters, Emily and Charlotte. She wasn't an Emily, so she became Charlotte. Esse is short for "Quintessential Cat," because she is everything we know cats are; loving, sweet, and absolutely mysterious. Pie was unnamed for a long time, but was called sweetie pie, pumpkin pie, sugar pie, cutie pie, and so on. Soon, she'd come when called Pie...and thus it stuck. Penguin was named because her entire left side rolls under her when she moves, and she looks like a penguin waddling from behind...and so Penguin was named. Simon...well, he just told me. That was really weird, but then again, it's Simon...so what else should I have expected? LOL!!!

2. How did you find Pengy and why does she have an injury? (sorry, if you are repeating yourself here but I didn't get to read the entirety of the thread lost in the TCS crash )
Pengy found me. There were several strays/ferals in the alley, and I started putting food out. Several of them were caught by my neighbor, but Pengy was not. My neighbor was able to socialize them and place them before she moved away, and so I ended up just getting Pengy food and water. She was doing fine, although she was handicapped, and then one day last year (right about this time) I saw her eating in the pouring rain, shivering, and looking like she'd lost a lot of weight. I decided to try to trap her then. She didn't take to the Hav-A-Hart trap, so I bought a kennel, rigged it so I could close it from inside the house, put food in and around it, and about a month later she had the courage to get all the way in to the kennel to get at the sardines I had there. I was able to close the door from inside my house, and thus she was trapped. I took her into the vet, and she got checked for everything, and also got some x-rays. The x-rays showed healed fractures of both hips, her lower spine, and at least 4 breaks in her left femur. Her tail had also been traumatically amputated. The vet's opinion is that she had been badly abused, and that her tail had actually been severed by a sharp instrument of some kind. Because she was a feral but had already been fixed, the vet believes she had been a housepet at one point (as she was not notched). She's about 5-6 years old.

3. What is your favorite book?
It really depends on my mood. Perhaps it would be easier to give my favorite authors: Stephen King, Marianne Williamson, Patricia Cornwell, Michael Crichton, Frank Herbert, and Shakespeare.

4. How did you get into the real estate business?
I was bored with my life and in a relationship which was abusive. My father suggested I'd be good in it...so I did it for him. Lo and Behold, Father still knew best, and I was in love with it the moment I started. It hasn't been easy, and I am far from "successful" monetarily, but I love what I do, and for me, that's what really counts.

5. What is the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

Two things.
SKydiving. I was planning on only going once...but enjoyed conquering the challenge. It wasn't easy, and was indeed very scary (I had a malfunction and a bad parachute on my 3rd jump), but it became something which was really important for me to overcome. So I managed to corral the fear, and challenge myself, and started having fun 'round about jump 42. I now have 111 jumps, with plans to have another 100 by this time next year.

And the other most adventurous thing I've ever done was submit an article to a magazine. It was so scary to do that...but it was accepted, and published.

Great questions! And thanks, Colleen. This has made my day/week. This will be fun!

Best-
Michele

1.- Why mean you nick (Noni) is your real name? or your mommie or your lovely kittie?
My nephew, on his first sister's birthday, was just about 16 months old. We had all gone to breakfast after her birth, and we were sitting around the table. I asked Jonathan who was that (pointing at Grandpa), and he said "Paw-paw." Again with his Grandma: "Gam" was his response. I pointed at me, and asked "who am I" and he said "Noni." This became my name...Noni. He has three other Aunts, but I am the only Noni. Everyone calls me that at their house, including my brother. LOLOL...

2.- How many kitties do you have?
5. Charlotte, Esse, Pie, Pengy and Simon.

3.- How´s you find TCS?
I was searching for information about how to help Pengy, my feral. One of the search engines (Google, iirc), pointed me at this site. I read a whole bunch, and then made a few posts. I got some great advice about Pengy, and shortly after that, Simon showed up in my life. I needed so much help with him (3ish weeks old) and received it here. This is an amazing place, and thanks everyone for letting me be part of it!

4.- Do you know MÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]xico?
Not really. I was in Mexico city for several weeks in my teen years, and really enjoyed the culture and the people. And we went to the pyramids, too. I remember being so completely amazed that they were built by hand centuries ago, and went to the top of one with my brother. It was such a great thing.

5.- Can you speak Spanish?
Um, it's limited.
Donde esta los banos? Mas cerveza, por favor. Donde esta la playa? And of course, gracias. More than that, no, I don't speak spanish. And that's not really spanish, either. That's survival.

Thanks for the questions! This is going to be an interesting week!

Best-
Michele

Hey, Miichele thanks for replied me so fast! Is great you can to visit our piramids and learn something about our culture!
Congrats, your spanish is soo well,!

1.- What do you think about my english?
2.- Do you speak another languages?
3.- If you can change your place to live ( i mean another country) wich you pick and say why!
4.- Do you have indoor plants? which are your favourites plants?
In advance thank you!

1.- What do you think about my english?
I think your english is brilliant. You have a very good grip on the weirdness of our language, and I am quite impressed.

2.- Do you speak another languages?
The only other language I speak with any sort of fluency is American Sign Language, which is done with your hands. Alas, without someone to practice it with, it's very sloppy now, but if needed, I can get my message across and understand what's being said to me.

I spoke french and flemish when I lived in Belgium, but not anymore.

3.- If you can change your place to live ( i mean another country) wich you pick and say why!
I'm not sure, but if I had to leave my country, I think I'd go to Ireland. The people, culture, and the physical country just seems like somewhere I'd enjoy. Well, either Ireland or Australia (for the same reasons).

4.- Do you have indoor plants? which are your favourites plants?
I keep trying to have indoor plants. They usually die because I forget to water them, so I've come to the conclusion that indoor really isn't good for me.

As for my favorite plant, I love my little garden...full of fragrant roses and lavendar. To snip them and bring them inside in boquets is so nice, and so sweet.

Best-
Michele

Yay Michele - congratulations! By the way, I have to say - the way your cats got their names is my favorite of any other way I've ever heard!

Anyway, my questions... what do you look forward to in 2005 (besides a headbutt from Pengy)? Do you have anything exciting happening this year? Do you have anything that you're NOT looking forward to?

Oh, I knew this would be a great thread! Noni is such an interesting and articulate person! Okay, I have some more questions:

1. When did you live in Belgium? Why were you there?
2. Did you live most of your life in Southern California? If not, why are you there now?
3. What was the article you had published about? (BTW, I'm not at all surprised you had an article published).
4. What is your favorite book (or favorite two books) by Michael Crichton?

Also, I'm very impressed that you've sky-dived 111 times!!!!! Stupefied, actually. You are one adventurous woman.

Just wanted to note that I am SOOO glad you came into Pengy's life. That poor little girl. I hope the people who abused her rot in hell.

what do you look forward to in 2005 (besides a headbutt from Pengy)? Do you have anything exciting happening this year?

Mostly, everything I do is fun and wonderful. There are two things I'm looking forward to this year. The first is completing my book "Sucking Mud," and the second is beginning and maintaining a romatic relationship. I'm finally ready for one, and I know they happen as they happen, but I am looking forward to one nonetheless.

Do you have anything that you're NOT looking forward to?
Hrm....no, not really. I am sure there will be things which occur that will not be fun, 'cause that's the way life goes. But I see nothing looming, so I'll just take it as it comes.

Best-
Michele

1. When did you live in Belgium? Why were you there?
I lived there in the summer of '83 (total of 4 months). I was one of three exchange students from So. CA. One was sent to Turkey, one sent to Italy, and I was sent to Belgium. I was 17, and I learned so very very much about myself, the world, and people.

2. Did you live most of your life in Southern California? If not, why are you there now?
I have never lived elsewhere. I was born here, raised here, and aside from traveling, have been here all my life.

3. What was the article you had published about? (BTW, I'm not at all surprised you had an article published).
I had 4 articles published in "Parachutist" magazine, and have had over a dozen published in 'Netzines. The first one was the hardest...it took so much intention to write it and send it off to "Parachutist."

4. What is your favorite book (or favorite two books) by Michael Crichton?
Sphere. Such an intense study about the mind, and how it can be duped and the behavior which denotes self-preservation. Really, really interesting. I also enjoyed Congo. Both of the movies fell far short of my expectations, as usual for books I enjoy.

Best-
Michele

Oh, goodie! I have two books to add to my reading list!

Okay, I have some more questions:

1. What is "Sucking Mud" about? (great title, by the way)
2. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
3. Do you watch TV? If so, which shows?
4. What is your favorite food and/or type of cuisine?
5. What color(s) are your walls painted/wallpapered?

1. What is "Sucking Mud" about? (great title, by the way)
Sucking mud is my analogy of what it's like to be at the bottom of a significant depressive cycle. The book is about depression; what it is like, what goes on in one's head, how hard it is to really diagnose it, treat it, and then what it's like to be an adult who's finally gotten stable and has no coping skills appropriate for an adult with adult responsibilities. It's style is journal/essays, and it's really not a recipe for people who have depression, but mostly for those who don't have it but have relationships with those who do and who need to understand the abyss. I'm not gonna "fix" anyone, but hopefully I will be able to shed light on the mind of a clinically depressed person.

BW, when I told my father (who is hard of hearing) the title of the book, he told me "I would NEVER buy a book with that title." Once I clarified for him what it was, he apologized...he thought I was titling it "F@&*%g Mud!" LOLOLOLOLLLLLLLLLLLL! Nope, that's not my style, Pop. ROFL...

2. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I was adopted. In my family, I have one older brother who is married and has three children. In my birth family, I have an older brother, older sister, and younger sister. I don't talk to the birth family anymore.

3. Do you watch TV? If so, which shows?
During the day, it's on the news channels. MSNBC mostly, and FOX/CNN, too. In the evening, CourtTV or other forensic shows, or detective stories. I don't watch regular television anymore unless it's really important for some reason.

4. What is your favorite food and/or type of cuisine?
Two. I really love hamburgers...gourmet hamburgers specifically. Ground Angus beef with different toppings and ingredients. Not fast-food ones, gourmet ones.

Other than that, Mexican food is my ultimate fav. Give me a margarita and a good plate of enchiladas, and I am happier than a cat in a catnip field.

5. What color(s) are your walls painted/wallpapered?
I have winter white walls. It's not my place, so I didn't do anything to it. However, Dad gave me carte blanche to re-paint his house, and it's done in light warm colors; melons, corals, taupes, and peaches. If I could paint my own place, I think I'd do it similarly.

This is FUN!

Best-
Michele

Originally Posted by noni

BW, when I told my father (who is hard of hearing) the title of the book, he told me "I would NEVER buy a book with that title." Once I clarified for him what it was, he apologized...he thought I was titling it "F@&*%g Mud!" LOLOLOLOLLLLLLLLLLLL! Nope, that's not my style, Pop. ROFL...

Click to expand...

That's hysterical!! Seriously, though, the book sounds really good. Let me know when it's on the market so I can buy a copy.

Okay, sorry for monopolizing the thread with my questions but I have some more:

1. At what age were you adopted?
2. What is your favorite movie?
3. If you could visit another period in history what would it be? Where would you be? Why?
4. How do you like your margaritas (frozen, not frozen, with or without salt, type of tequila, etc.)?
5. Do you ever get a little scared skydiving -- for example, before the jump
-- even though you've done 111 jumps?
6. Where did you stay in Belgium when you were an exchange student?

1. At what age were you adopted?
I was adopted at 3 1/2 months. I was relinquished at birth, but because I had "failure to thrive" I wasn't put into the system until I was about 1 month old (they weren't sure I'd survive). I stayed in the hospital until I was about 3 months old, and then adopted.

2. What is your favorite movie?
Sound of Music, and Silence of the Lambs. 180 degrees different but such is life.

3. If you could visit another period in history what would it be? Where would you be? Why?
I think, if I could choose, I would like to be in rural England during the 1300's. Lots of challenges staying alive then, and I think I'd be good at it. OTOH, I also think that being Laura Ingalls Wilder would be fun...that was what I wanted when I was 8, and I still want it. Adventure, challenge, exploring new territories...that sort of thing intrigues me. I was very sad when I realized there was nowhere left to explore (I didn't count under the sea or out in space...).

4. How do you like your margaritas (frozen, not frozen, with or without salt, type of tequila, etc.)?
Over ice (On the rocks) with salt, and Jose Cuervo 1800 Reposado. I like the lime ones when they use real lime, and for my birthday last year I was taken for Raspberry margaritas (sugared rim). I had three doubles, and saw double. It's funny, too, because I don't tend to do tequila drinks other than margaritas; no shooters or anything like that.

5. Do you ever get a little scared skydiving -- for example, before the jump
-- even though you've done 111 jumps?
Yes. I am leaving a perfectly good airplane in the middle of the sky +/- 2.5 miles up, and I get scared. For a very long time my nickname at the dropzone was Airweenie. I don't get so bad when I've done a jump that day already, but that first jump - especially after a few weeks on the ground - makes my belly roll. But once I'm in the sky, flying with the birds and smiling at my friends, it's all good.

6. Where did you stay in Belgium when you were an exchange student?
There is a little town called Ramsel, outside of Aarchot, and that's where I stayed. Population 400 people, 400,000 cows. Quite a change from the megalopolis of Los Angeles, and I loved it. I learned how to milk a cow, how to drive a tractor (they replowed the fields after my attempt....), how mean pigs can be, and how to slide my cold hand under a chicken and get the egg without pissing off the hen and getting pecked. I lived in the attic room of the farmhouse, and really, really loved being there. I was homesick, but I got over that fairly quickly.

Here's a map of it:
http://www.maporama.com/affiliates/popup/share/Map.asp


Best-
Michele

I'm trying to think up questions so that Colleen doesn't think this thread has turned into a one-on-one between her and Michele... If any of these have been answered already, ignore them.

What kind of music do you listen to? Any favorite groups or must-own CDs?

What TV shows do you watch? Which ones are can't-misses?

What's your favorite dessert? Favorite sweet? Favorite chocolate?

Okay I'm spent... sorry I'm not more creative!

What kind of music do you listen to? Any favorite groups or must-own CDs?
No must own cds. I listen to a wide variety of music, from classical to rock. Some of my favorites are The Eagles, Don Henley, Bach, Norah Jones, and of course Fleetwood Mac.

What TV shows do you watch? Which ones are can't-misses?
Mostly news. I don't have a "can't miss" show at all (I'm boring...). I love forensics and detective stuff, but only true life stuff like I Detective, The Forensic Files, Cold Case Files, and biographies on serial killers. I know, I'm odd...

What's your favorite dessert? Favorite sweet? Favorite chocolate?

Dessert: A good tiramisu. Favorite sweet? All of them! LOL. Favorite Chocolate? Godiva, and imported Belgium chocolate that I get at Trader Joe's.

Okay I'm spent... sorry I'm not more creative!
Worry not; those were good questions. Thanks!

Best-
Michele

Originally Posted by noni

of course Fleetwood Mac

Click to expand...

Sigh, I love Fleetwood Mac! Yeah, I know... I'm weird. And I have to say... I really did like that book Sphere! And you have a little garden? That sounds so cute! Okay I'm done gushing - I love reading your answers!

Michele, no questions right now but just wanted to congratulate you on being nominated! I'll keep my thinking cap on.

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Sigh, I love Fleetwood Mac! Yeah, I know... I'm weird. And I have to say... I really did like that book Sphere! And you have a little garden? That sounds so cute! Okay I'm done gushing - I love reading your answers!

Click to expand...

I love Fleetwood Mac, too! I remember I took a summer class in weaving when I was 13 years old and the teacher let us play records. Most of the kids wanted to play the contemporary top 40 stuff but I always chose the Fleetwood Mac records to play!