Thank you, Ben, for nominating me for the Real Neat Blog Award! Ben’s excellent blog is entitled “In My Not So Humble Opinion.” Please stop by and pay him a visit if you have not already done so.

So, here are the rules of the game, I mean, award:

1.  Post the award logo on your blog.

2.  Answer seven questions asked by the person who nominated you.

3.  Thank the person who nominated you, linking to his/her blog.

4.  Nominate any number of bloggers, linking to their blogs.

5.  Let them know you nominated them by commenting on their blog, etc.

Now onto the questions:

1.  Where do most visits to your blog come from?

They come from a wide spectrum including fellow cat lovers, poets (since I write a bit of poetry) and kindred spirits. When I write about my mom who has Alzheimer’s, I have found other writers / readers who have an ailing parent as well.

2.  What is your favorite sport?

Hmm, I was never big into sports, more into theater and writing, but I’d have to say running and ice skating. I used to be a long distance runner in high school and college and loved ice skating as a kid–Dad took me to Flushing Meadows Skating Rink. I have an autographed photo from Peggy Fleming to prove it!

3.  What has been a special moment for you in 2015 so far?

My friend Susan and I had the chance to meet the founder of the Global Medical Relief Fund (“GMRF”), Elissa Montanti, whose mission is to bring children to the U.S. who are severely injured due to war, natural disasters and other circumstances and provide them with medical assistance and housing during their recovery. Currently there are six children living at the Dare to Dream House on Staten Island, including five albino children from Tanzania. They are staying there while they receive treatment at the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. These children have lost limbs in attacks committed on them due to the belief in their home country that albinos are ghosts, or non-persons, whose limbs will bring good luck and great wealth when sold. Susan and I also met with Monica Watson, the outreach coordinator, the children’s guardian and the children, whom we became quite smitten with.  They range in age from 6 to 18. My husband and I are going to have them to our house for a BBQ in August.

4.  What is your favorite quote?

Ever tried.
Ever failed.
No matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail better.

–Samuel Beckett

5.  What was your favorite class when you were in school?

English and Drama, also Latin (in high school).

6.  Anything you wished to have learned earlier?

Economics! I wish that financial planning had been a prerequisite in high school or college.

7.  What musical instrument have you tried to play?

Guitar, piano, harmonica (didn’t try very hard).  I also played recorder and wasn’t bad either.

Here is my list of nominees.  You can answer the same seven questions that Ben asked me. Please do not feel obliged to accept:

Chronic Conditions and Life Lessons

Baffled Baboon (he is on hiatus, but nevertheless)

Aware & Fair

Humyn

Adventures in Cheeseland

These are some of my favorite blogs, so please stop by and see what they have to say!