During NaBloPoMo in November, I asked you guys to send me questions to answer. Annnd… I answered just a handful of questions and promptly forget to answer the rest. My bad! Today, I’m answering the questions that Engie submitted to my form.
Which cat is your favorite?
I refuse to answer this question! Both cats are my favorites for very different reasons. Eloise is my Velcro Kitty who never leaves my side, sleeps in between my legs (or on top of me) at night, and will let me pick her up and kiss her face. She’s also much easier to get into a carrier! But damn, sometimes I’m like, “Girl, can you not sit right in front of my keyboard all day long? Can I have some SPACE?!” (But then when she does give me space, I miss her.)
I feel so honored to be chosen by Lila. She does not give her love easily or freely (it’s only in the last few months that she’s even allowed my mom to pet her). She does not let me pick her up and is a straight-up menace to get into a carrier. But when she wants to give me love, oh boy, is it the absolute sweetest thing in the world. I will literally drop everything I’m doing when she jumps up on the couch and shows me her belly or head-butts my hand when I’m trying to work.
They are both my favorites because they are two very different cats with their own personalities, and I am obsessively in love with them.
Are you going to stay in Florida (after the hurricanes, election, etc.)?
I have no plans to leave Florida. It’s not exactly easy to uproot one’s entire life and move to an entirely different state, and I have no desire to do so. My family is here, my friends are here, my community is here. I love Florida, even though our politics suck (I am grateful to live in a blue area of a red state, though!). And while last year’s hurricane season was a difficult one, it was the first time in the 37 years I’ve lived in Florida that we’ve really had to contend with hurricane damage and loss. And even though my car flooded and I had to go through the rigamarole of the insurance process, it wasn’t nearly as terrible as the loss other people are experiencing. Will my tune change if our hurricane seasons get worse? For sure. But for now, I’m staying put in Florida.
What are you looking for in a life partner?
I want someone who is kind and will go out of their way to treat people well. I want someone who will do little things to make my life better, whether that’s picking up a treat for me because they know I’ll love it or making a call that I don’t want to make. I want someone who is liberal and happy to discuss politics with me. I want someone who is ambitious in whatever way that looks like for them, whether that’s ambitious with their career or their personal goals or their relationships. I want someone who has hobbies and invests time in the things they like to do. They don’t have to be a reader, but that would be a bonus. I want someone who feels like home, who pushes me to be better, and who is willing to have deep conversations about personality types.
What’s a dealbreaker in your dating life?
Trump supporters. Republicans in general. Smokers. People with kids. People who are allergic to cats. Apolitical people.
I have more than a few, it seems.
What book do you recommend to non-readers to get them to like reading?
Hmm, this is hard. Can I tell you something? I don’t believe that everyone needs to be a reader. While it’s my favorite hobby, I’m A-OK with people finding other ways to fill their time. However, I do think that, many times, people who think they don’t like reading just haven’t found the right book. And for those people who may want to dip their toes into the reading waters, I might recommend:
- A great romance that’s not too spicy and has some depth, like one of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s earlier novels (I’m partial to One True Loves personally)
- A propulsive thriller they can’t put down, like maybe one of TJ Newman’s books (her debut, Falling, is excellent) or Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
- A fascinating memoir like Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad or The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
- Or maybe I’d just shove Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi in their hands since it’s one of my all-time favorite books
What’s your go-to book recommendation? If you have burning questions for me, fill out my form!
Great questions & even better answers! The thing about leaving FL is that you can find the same disadvantages everywhere else. Sure you get the brunt of the hurricanes but you don’t have earthquakes and winter storms. Politics that you don’t agree with is an everywhere thing. On the flip side, you’ve got awesome weather (yeah sometimes too much of a good thing with the heat), lots of gorgeous beaches, and no state income tax.
It’s a huge responsibility to pick a book for a non-reader. TJR and a surefire thriller are both great choices!