For purposes of distraction

The rules: Post these at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer. Play nice, children.

With thanks to Kathleen for the much-needed distraction!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?Ten years ago would have been 1998 - I was working at my first publishing job (I was there from 5/95-5/00), hating it. G and I had moved in together, and I think right about now we had gotten engaged. No dogs, no kids, just a $700/month mortgage and a few cats. No wonder life seemed so much simpler - it WAS! We were living in Jamaica Plain, outside of Boston. Nothing else springs to mind.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today
Go to a doctor's appointment at 9:30 only for them to tell me, I'm sure, that there's no action going on, blah blah blah see you next week.
Take a walk with the dogs and kid to hopefully get some action going
Errands like getting some things at the grocery store, go to the library (I've stopped buying books in an effort to save money so that requires that I go weekly to the library), go to the bank.
Enjoy life as I know it without a new baby, because he's coming, I'm sure of it!
Perhaps have a baby (am enjoying some raspeberry leaf tea, just in case)

3. Snacks I enjoy
Anything chocolate, for the most part. Homemade baked goods, perfectly ripe fruit, monterey jack cheese and butterfly crackers. Sometimes nuts.


4. Places I've lived
Colchester, VT; Essex, VT; London, England; Ithaca, NY; back to Essex, VT; Atlanta, GA; Burlington, VT; Brighton, MA; Jamaica Plain, MA; Pittsfield, VT; Sudbury, VT (current)

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire
I've always said that my dream job would be as a philanthropist. Here's what I would do philanthropically: call the Vermont Humane Societies and ask them what their annual budget is, and set it up so that I could be their benefactor. I would support the local arts organizations around Vermont. I would help the Planned Parenthood Organization, and the area women's shelters, to educate and empower battered and abused women and help them get a fresh start. I would pay to listen to Public Radio. I would take care of my family - pay off any debt that people have, then give them each a million bucks or something to get them going. Selfishly, I would find a parcel of land on the lake - 100 acres or so - and build my dream house (all green energy, o'course, with reclaimed materials), a dream barn, a dream pool, and have staff to upkeep the things - like the yards and gardens - that I just don't have time or inclination to do. I would want a big vegetable garden to supply us with produce. I would also travel extensively with my family.

6. Peeps I want to know more about
Dearest Cupcake, even though I've known her since we were 4
Michele, my friend who has done an outstanding job of fighting her cancer and I think this would be fun for her.
Shelb because it would be neat to hear from her.
Kristen, who is trying to move back to VT