Random Friday

I got these questions here. Mental Floss is a cool little site.

1. Did you or your child ever skip a grade? Get held back? What impact did that have on you? Would you do it again?

I did not skip a grade or get held back. My husband went to summer school to finish high school early. He graduated high school at age 16, then went to the University of South Carolina. There he took all the required classes he needed to enter optometry school; he was accepted at Southern College of Optometry in 1991. While studying to be an optometrist he also finished his BS degree in biology and physics via correspondence courses through the University of Tennessee. So, when he graduated optometry school in 1995 at the ripe old age of 23 (he turned 24 17 days later) he received his OD and BS degrees. I am so proud of him. He is one of the smartest and funniest people I know.

2. What’s the longest relationship you’ve had with a pet? Probably Beeson, our cat that my husband adopted in 1995. We were engaged and he wanted a couple of cats to keep him company, so he adopted Molly and Beeson from one of his mom's friends who found a litter near her house. Beeson had to be put to sleep on December 28, 2009.

3. What’s a store or restaurant currently only in your area that you think should be a nationwide chain?

Either Mythos (Greek and Italian) or DellaVentura's (though the food is good, it's expensive for what you get. We have stopped eating there because our bill is always $70 or more!)

4. With Borders closing stores, a lot of people might need good bookstore suggestions. What’s your favorite independent bookseller?

Honestly, I love half.com. I can buy a book, read it, then resell it and make back almost all of my money. I love the library, too! If I just must have a book, I usually buy from Amazon or BN.com, depending on who has the best price. I'm kind of bummed that a Barnes & Noble membership no longer gets you a discount online. All I get from them now is free shipping.