Versatile? Me?

Really, "versatile" is not the first word that comes to mind when describing myself. My husband almost choked on his waffles when I told him my new blogging pal, Laurita over at Calling Shotgun, gave me The Versatile Blogger Award. I explained how it wasn't about me having a versatile personality but more about my versatile blogging nature. That's my story, anyway.

So, since no one seems to remember what the original rules and such were for this award, I'm just going to go ahead and answer the same six questions Laurita did . . .

    
1. What's the last sentence (from any of your work) that made you feel pride in writing? 

The boy bends toward her, nudging down her arm. His shoulder blades — fragile as moth wings — twitch under his t-shirt. I want to touch them, feel the bones knit beneath his skin. My own stick out just like his, yet I’m on my way out of this world and he’s on his way in. 

These are from "Back Roads" and something about them stays with me. They're the first ones I thought of when reading this question.

2. What’s the last work of fiction that left you envying the creator? In what way did you envy he/she/it/them?

Instead of naming a specific title, I'm going with all of my favorite books, the ones that live on my bookshelves. They moved me - made me laugh, cry, want to throw the book across the room because I hated the villain so much, etc.- and that's what I want to do with my writing. I'm envious that they're all already doing that . . . .

3. In your entire life, what have you most catastrophically failed at cooking or baking?

Baking. It was the first time I made ricotta pie for my husband to bring to an office party. We were young and newly married and it was a big deal. To me, anyway. I felt all housewife-y. I got the two pack of frozen pie crusts (all you bakers out there can just shush - don't judge me) and I made my mix, poured it into the crusts, etc. My husband comes home the next day and tells me as gently as possible - good and smart man that he is - that I had forgotten to take the paper separating one tin from the other, so one of the pies basically had a paper film between the filling and the crust. I. Was. Mortified. (Everyone at the office was very nice about it but even now, as I'm typing it, I. Am. Mortified.)

4. What field of science most frequently inspires you?

Marine biology. Sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, and all the mysteries in the dark depths of the world's seas. I get chills just thinking about it.

5. What task most recently frightened, grossed you out or otherwise intimidated you, such that you got someone else to do it?

The first time we had a rat in the attic of our old house. Ugh. I still can't talk about it. I'd rather talk about the ricotta pie incident (see Questions #3.)
 

6. Who is your favorite dead author? Or, if there is no single such person, name six of your beloved dead authors (in no necessary order).

Two off the top of my head - Betty Smith and Laura Ingalls Wilder. I don't like to think about the fact that at some point, my favorite living authors won't be around any longer either. Then what will I read?! 

*****

I'm not going to pass this award on to anyone specific - if you'd like to answer any of the questions, go ahead and do so in the comments. Or just consider yourself awarded and answer them in your own post. Either way. We are awfully versatile, aren't we?