So…what is the Monday Poll?
Well, it isn’t exactly a poll. It’s more of a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past 11 (!) years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult?
Definitely hip-hop dance class. Before I moved to Novato I was going two or three times a week pretty consistently. My friend Jackie taught the class at a nearby dance studio, and it was just a bunch of adult ladies who would get their hip-hop on for an hour. It was so much fun! I always felt a little uncomfortable doing ballet and jazz, but hip-hop always felt right.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go?
To be honest, a lot was dictated by distance and finances, and most of the schools I applied to were California public schools because they were in my family’s budget. I went to UC Davis, and let me say first that I’m eternally grateful that I got to go to school at all. Oh, my gosh, so, so thankful. I really wanted to go to UCLA, but my parents felt it as too far away, and they basically sat me down and said Davis was what they’d pay for, and I could take it or leave it. So I took it!
I was so young at the time and didn’t really know how to advocate for myself or explain what I wanted and why, so I did what they wanted me to do. In retrospect, it all worked out. Davis was a good school, and I made some great friends, too.
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no?
YES! Brightly colored pom-poms and tassels in a rainbow of colors. I saw them all over the place at DSW yesterday, and now I want a margarita on the beach somewhere. And a caftan.
4. What’s a rumor you’re inclined to believe?
Please beauty gods, let it be true! Let the Rose Oil Hand Cream come back to TJ’s in time for Mother’s Day. *making a million little prayer hands right now*
5. Last awkward encounter with someone?
I’m inclined to say that all of my encounters are awkward, but the last really awkward one was at the mall last weekend. There was a young woman holding the cutest little baby girl who looked about six or seven months. The baby was wearing a tutu, tights and Mary Janes, and had little pieced ears and a bow in her hair. I saw her and was like, “AHHH! SQUISHY BABY FACE,” and as I was ooh-ing and ah-ing over this adorable little baby, I said, “Oh, your daughter is so cute!” Then the young lady said, “She’s my little sister…” Whoops!
Patience
“Patience is a virtue.” I say this to Tabs and Connor all the time (why are little animals always in a hurry?), but I forget that it also applies to me.
Be extra patient with yourself this week, ‘k? You’ll get where you need to go in due time. đ
Have a wonderful week!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Here are the questions to copy and paste with your answers in a comment:
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult?
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go?
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no?
4. What’s a rumor you’re inclined to believe?
5. Last awkward encounter with someone?
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult?
I have almost 2 Masterâs degrees and take a lot of fitness classes, this is hard to choose. Right now, I love aerial hammock classes.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go?
I was looking for good language programs, initially! EMUâs language programs were good (my brother also has a linguistics degree from there) and was affordable. In terms of my MBA, I was offered a grad assistantship to pay for school there so thatâs where I went!
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no? Yes!
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe?
God I hope that Kushner indictment is coming.
5. Last awkward encounter with someone?
All of them! Maybe at the concert I went to on Friday, there was a really tall dude in front of me and a woman much shorter than me. But I bonded with the woman I didnât know.
You are so accomplished, Chelsea. I love how you’re always learning!
What concert did you go to?
The Darkness! They put on a great show, we saw them 5 years ago too. So much energy.
The opening act was called Diarrhea Planet (ew) and was quite good.
Um, that’s a unique band name. lol
So I’m totally not hip at all and had to google The Darkness. Do you have a fave song? I’m gonna get the baby’s food ready and listen to some of their music.
The one you would probably have heard is âI Believe in a Thing Called Loveâ – it was popular in like 2003 or 2004. Other favorites are Love on the Rocks, Love is Only a Feeling, Solid Gold, Open Fire, One Way Ticket, Friday Night, Everybody Have a Good Time… Iâd listen to Get Your Hands Off of my Woman or Every Inch of You without the baby, LOL!
Connor and I just finished an impromptu dance party to “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.” Tabs was invited but he decided to sleep in instead. Silly kitty!
I remember that song from back in the day, there’s something very Queen about their sound that I like.
So you’re gonna laugh at me but I now only go to concerts where I can have a designated seat. đ
Iâm all about assigned seating now! After the concert zack was complaining about being sore, I had to tell him weâre getting older!
Seriously! In my perfect world the seats would have a reclining option and perhaps a cup holder and maybe even a blanket… I dunno, I kinda want to feel like I’m on my couch, like, all the time. But that could mostly be because I’m exhausted all the time. đ
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult? I took an art class, introduction to drawing, and I learned that Iâm an excellent doodler, rather than a fine artist. And thatâs fine with me! I love the talent that some people have, and I love that I can doodle cartoony pictures and mandalas over every notebook I have.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go? I only went to junior college, and didnât really take it seriously. I went to the school in my town, it just wasnât for me at the time. Thatâs the biggest regret of my adult life, not finishing, but itâll always be there when or if I want to go back.
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no? Heck yeah! Always!
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe? I have no answer to this one. Im sad.
5. Last awkward encounter with someone? Lol! This morning as I was leaving my 6th grade daughterâs classroom, I stay and help kids with their math lessons, I walked out into a line of 4th graders walking to the library. I donât know these kids. So I hop into the back of the line and say, âif I get in line do you think I can pass for a fourth grader?â Three boys in front of me rolled their eyes and ignored me. I thought I was hilarious, I guess I donât play well with a 9 year old crowd.
1. Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey. Mostly my husband learned we were on the right track so that felt good! I love that you took and enjoyed hip hop. I’m hoping to join a class this Fall.
2.My mom and I took a college tour road trip and visited 3-4 colleges in the span of a few days. I fell in love with Texas A&M so that is where I went!
3. Only within the right context. I have some glorious tassel earrings and I don’t mind tassel necklaces (although I don’t think I personally pull them off) and I like tassel and pom pom garlands to decorate and on home items like blankets but that’s it!
4. Although I’m tempted I’ll keep politics out of it and instead say I hope that the rumor that NYX Sunset lipstick is a decent dupe for KVD Lolita OG is true.
5. Oh GURL. So I’m a weight lifter and am often the only woman among the men lifting heavy in the weight room. Last week a woman was squatting in the squat rack next to me. I was really excited and awkwardly side-stepped into her peripheral vision and said something awkward like, “so nice to be squatting next to another lady!” She took out her ear buds when she saw me scoot over to her and was like, “oh, yeah, cool, you too” put them back in and went about her business. đ
Happy Monday!
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult? It’s been so long that I can’t remember. I haven’t taken any classes since 1992. Probably an advanced grammar class I took for my journalism degree. It’s wasn’t the most enjoyable, but I got the most use out of it. I really enjoyed linguistics,too. It was also very useful, and fun.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go? I was poor and couldn’t afford to move far, but fortunately my home town had one of the best journalism schools in the country. Plus, the English and Journalism departments both gave me scholarships.
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no? Yes: They’re fun!
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe? IDK…Soylent green is people? đ
5. Last awkward encounter with someone? My son’s dentist office. We were talking about my son’s love of Krispy Kreme’s plain glazed donuts, and the dentist said he was at a grocery store and saw similar donuts called “yeast rings.”
Without thinking, I said, “That sounds like something I’d go to the gynecologist for.”
Luckily, none of the other patients could hear me, and the staff is pretty laid back and goofy and weren’t offended. I couldn’t believe I’d said that at the dentist’s office, much less one we’d only gone to a couple times before.
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1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult?
Grocery Budget Bookcamp. It wasn’t the most fun, but I’ve cut $150 from my monthly grocery budget and I haven’t even applied all of the things I’ve learned yet.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go?
I did a year of community college. I went there because it was on my way home from work and I could afford it. đ
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no?
Pom-poms, yes; tassels, rarely.
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe?
That Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux aren’t getting back together. I’m guessing that being Mr. Jennifer Aniston didn’t help his career like he thought it would. Seriously, what was she thinking?
5. Last awkward encounter with someone?
When is any encounter not awkward for me, lol?
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult?
I took a great yoga class once, stuck with me. Choclatiering class too!
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go?
I just went to what was close and cheap. I was on Pell Grants and my own funds. Luckily, CA has decent schools.
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no?
Sure, I prefer them on home goods unless it’s like tassel ties on a boho dress.
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe?
Hmmm, that covers a lot. Most recently someone told me MM schemed her way into the royal family and was really a biotch. For some reason that just seemed legit. I know next to nothing about her but she looks crafty and very self serving to me.
5. Last awkward encounter with someone?
Some dude at the grocery store. We were in the same isle trying to get around each other but he kept going the way I was trying to go. I don’t know if it was purposeful or not.
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1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult?
Iâm still taking them! I love my horseback riding lessons! They are both challenging and relaxing. They give me a sense of accomplishment and reward. For me, thereâs something about walking into a barn, hearing the nickers and whinnies and smell of hay (and ya, poop) and Iâm just filled with calm. Iâm currently not just taking lessons, but also helping rehabilitate one of the horses that came to our barn around my birthday. Sheâs a Thoroughbred named Abby and I always feel so proud and accomplished after each lesson, especially since Abby walks into my space and hugs me and kisses (aka slobbers) all over my sweater! I come home filthy! Ha ha ha! But, she only does this with me and thatâs how I know I must be doing something right by her.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go?
I went to community college and it was the only place I could afford to go. I ended up not liking it there because I had tons of issues with a teacher in one of my favorite classes since middle school who broke the actual law but the school would do nothing about it.
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no?
On bags? Yes. On clothes? No, because horses will chew on them and I have be to be horse-proof, okay?
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe?
Kate Middleton having a girl. Two girls and one boy would be nice! There are so few girls in that royal family!
5. Last awkward encounter with someone?
There I was, taking back Abby, and she had to take a poop RIGHT IN FRONT of her stall. Not in her stall. Not in the arena. Not in a place whereâs theres people so I can be embarrassed but Iâd learn a new and valuable skill. Right in front of her stall which is in a quiet place. So, I had to untack her and then seek out help. Imagine that conversation starter. âYea, eh, my horse went poop in front of her stall. What should I do with it?â (No kidding, I knew I should pick it up, but put it where now?!) Much to my embarrassment, the volunteer who knows me well just says leave it and one of the guys will come round and get it. I still wonder how many people stepped in it before it was picked up. đ
1. What was the best class you ever took as an adult? A jewelry fabrication class at the now closed Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. I always regret not finding the time or will do the full Jewelry Technician Intensive course.
2. If you went to college, how did you decide where to go? Since my parents were paying a lot for my Dear Genius brother’s tuition at Northwestern, I went in-state to a state school. I got accepted to all three I applied to. The one that offered me a scholarship meant I would be living at home and I knew I wanted to move away and live without being told what to do and when to do it and how to do it. So I mailed them the “no thank you” before my parents even knew it and went to Michigan instead. Lots of grants, aids and work study.
3. Pom-poms and tassels: yes or no? Together? No way.
4. Whatâs a rumor youâre inclined to believe? I don’t believe rumors. I’m a fact based person. I’m also very skeptical of everything I hear.
5. Last awkward encounter with someone? Can’t remember anything specific. I feel like all social encounters can be somewhat awkward.
How was the rain up your way this morning? It poured so hard last night it woke me up because I thought it was hailing. Of course Dear Husband had the bedroom window open and it came right in.
1. Archeology of the Bay Area, CCSF. We even went on field trips, It was SO cool learning about the history of where I live. Field trips were to Mission Dolores and then Pt. Reyes historical indian site.
2. College was College of Marin in Kentfield because I was living there and then CCSF for paralegal studies, computer networking and then adult interest stuff like anthropology, archeology,
3. Pom Poms and tassels each need their own special space.
4. Don’t believe rumors.
5. Awkward event was this past Saturday night. I was tired and cranky.
Going to work this morning was an adventure. I usually just take a quick cable car ride to the office, but today the cable stopped a few blocks after I got one. Lyft wasn’t lifting, so I had to walk to a bus …. in a downpour. Eventually got to work late, cold and drenched.
HI Karen ,
The best adult class I ever took was a Tap class ! It keeps me focused and my mind off stupidity because I have to remember the steps !
I decided on Fairleigh Dickensin because they partnered w Gloucester co that was near me .
No Pom poms or tassels ; they get stuck in things.
RUMOR : that winter wS over
Awkward moment : a friend wasnât pregnant đ€° just fat
Hi Michele,
Tap is fun! The shoes are the best part. LOL How long did you take your class for?