Allison Andersen - Plinky Answers

A ghost story

2009-10-29T10:37:20-06:00

When I was a young mother and my husband would go out of town, I would pack up my girls and head to grandmas for a sleepover. I slept in my old room which had now become an office/guest room. The girls camped out in my sister's old room. Now growing up in this 2-story track home, my bedroom was at the top of the stairs and right next to the crawl space to the first floor roof. I was pretty convinced that I would be the first to be murdered or kidnapped because, well let's face it I was right there for the picking and no one else in the house would hear the intruder. Did I mention that we had a second story balcony that anyone could climb in my window at night and not be heard or seen either. Many a night I would lie awake listening to the noises, I swore that someone was coming up the stairs or was under my window, ok I was totally freaked out most of the time. I would always try to get to sleep before my parents went to bed. Now I have set the stage, back to the sleepover. I had tucked the girls in to bed and was settling in myself. The house was quiet and everyone had gone to bed. I heard the door open, I raised up and said, "Heather what do you need Honey?" All I could see was her silhouette,her long hair around her face and her nightgown, the night light in the hall way shined behind her. She didn't say a thing and slowy closed the door and left. I laid back down and then realized there was no way that what I saw was Heather standing there she was only 4 years old and what I saw was standing taller than the file cabinet. I didn't feel scared, it was very calm and quiet in my head, I got up to check on the girls, they were snoozing away. I climbed back into bed and slept very peacfully that night. Ghost? Spirit Guide? Inturder? You decide.

I remember swimming

2009-07-23T10:41:57-06:00

Water anyone?

Swimmers during learn to swim week, at a suburban swimming pool, probably Wellington region, ca 1939

My Grandparents managed an apartment complex for years, it was in the early 60's My grandmother, affectionately known as "Bah" and my grandpa aka "Daddal" had me over almost every weekend from the get go. I am not sure how old I was somewhere between just walking and not yet talking, we were out by the pool, me with my pixie do and striped bathing suit(there are pictures fo me just before I went "swimming"). Lots of neighbors and friends, it was a warm summers day. Now Daddal, he was quite the swimmer, he was always showing off to all the ladies in the complex. I watched him dive into the pool and I decided to follow. I remember looking up through the water while people were running back and forth at the edge of the pool. Under the water it was quite peaceful there, I couldn't here the chaos that was happening above. The next thing I remember is lots of bubbles and there I was safe in Daddal's arms, he was smiling at me and talking to me, although I don't remember what he was saying. My mother and Bah snatchded me up and wrapped me in a towel and I remmember lots of hugs after that. I don't think I was fazed at all by the whole incident, I just wanted to swim with my Daddal and had no idea the scope of what had just happened.

My first job: Brat-sitting

2009-07-09T13:01:14-06:00

Like most kids under the age of 16, you would love to have a little extra pocket change for finer things in life, like a milkshake, a 45 record (like Bobby Sherman or the Monkee's) the candy store for a green apple Jolly Rancher or maybe if you had enough you could go to the local dept store(which for me was a store called Alec--it was one of the first Target like stores in the area) and buy that Elton John poster you have been coveting(have I dated myself yet?)

I babysat, a lot. kids from Church, for church events, or I should say parties that involved adult tasty beverages and people who just all happen to go to church together on Sunday. I made 25 cents an hour, yes you read that right, didn't matter how many kids I had, still 25 cents. Now on New Year's Eve after midnight, which now we are running into my birthday, I was given 50 cents for the holiday.

I don't know how many years I was stuck on my birthday with a house full of crazy kids, some sleeping, some crying and some so outta control that they were peeing out the front door.

What was I thinking?

Making out at Robertson Jr High School Fremont CA

2009-03-24T19:05:56-06:00

1972

Well, I really liked this boy John, he was tall, dark and handsome. I will always remembered how he smelled of clean freshly pressed shirts, you knew his mom took great care of his clothes. It was a the dance, one of the few in Jr. High that I actually danced. My father was waiting for me in the loop, John and I were saying our good-nights when he planted a kiss on me and it completely freaked me out, there was much more than just lip action. To be honest I really didn't know what the heck was going on. I don't think I kissed another boy again till I was a Sophomore in high school. No, It wasn't John.

Love my purses!

2009-02-25T15:05:12-06:00

Well here it is my life in my purse, which by the way are one of my favorite fashion accessories

Wallet
Well you have to have a wallet for your ID, credit cards, Peets Reward cards, note from my late grammy, $2 bill, checkbook, cash, coins, ATM, medical cards, a stray earring and my camera card.

Make-up bag
Mirror of course, assorted lipsticks and glosses, lipbalm (for those chapped days), nail clippers, nail file, safely pin, bandaid, rose quartz stone from my daughter, dental floss and 2 paperclips---I am ready for any emergency!!

Assorted purse pockets
Cell phone, note pad, purple writing pen, my gammy's coin purse with her hair pins and drivers licence, assorted rewards cards, gift cards and coupons and my keys

The Blair and Watts Merger

2009-02-25T14:45:16-06:00

Let's see, I have my mother's hands, which in turn she has her mother's hands and that is a nice thing for me. I do like the finer things, which is a trait both my parents have. My dad never having anything when he grew up and my mom being an only had everything, from the first televison on thier block to new cashmere sweaters pretty much whenever she needed one. I have my dad's height(I am 6' tall), his blue eyes, my mom's smile and sparkle. As far as mood and temperment, we won't go there, let's just say I'm a work in progress.

My trip from Fremont CA to Long Beach WA

2009-02-13T12:56:27-06:00

Every summer for years we would get up at 3:30 am and hit the road at 4am with two sleeping girls in the back of the van, stopping in Redding for breakfast, eat snacks on the road for lunch and Banks OR for dinner at the Brown Derby. The only resturant in a town that consisted of 4 corners, the Brown Derby being one, a post office and a small market, the 4th corner escapes me, then we would pile back in the car and cut over to the coast for the last leg of our journey to Washington, Crossing over the Astoria Bridge was always a thrill because we knew we would be at the cabin in no time flat. I never remember the trip being two painfully long, we had books on tape, the girls had their ow cassette players and every couple of hours I would bring out something new for them to play with. Roger was a trooper and drove the whole time up and back. We couldn't wait till next year to all pile back in the van and do it again.

A day without a cell phone, glorious!

2009-02-12T14:24:01-06:00

I would love to never have to carry one again. I am pretty low tech and don't want to even spend the money for hands-free. Hmmm, our contract is up soon, maybe I could go without.

Hint: A trip to Italy or maybe the Zoo would be nice this Valentine's Day

2009-02-10T14:48:21-06:00

Italy or maybe the Zoo
Italy would be my first choice, Rome, with all it's rich history, Venice with the romantic boat rides, gelato, Versace. Now back to reality the San Francisco Zoo. I think it would be fun to go, walk hand in hand with my only true love, have some lunch, maybe a hot dog and some fries, take pictures of snuggling penguins and lions sleeping in the sun. The most perfect day.

Watch "How to make an American quilt" next time you're home sick

2009-02-10T14:37:53-06:00

It is just s sweet, chick flick about love and life. I really enjoyed it. It was amazing to see al these lives connect and come back around full circle into this quilt.

A real-life Karen Dotrice

2009-02-08T21:27:23-06:00

Karen and I could have been sisters and best friends

She played little Jane Banks, everyone said I looked like her when were children. I wanted to be her and have a nanny like Mary Poppins and talk in proper english, "in the most delightful way." I am showing my age, aren't I?

My nickname is Dallas

2009-02-08T21:13:39-06:00

My girlfriends sent me an e-mail on how to figure out your Stripper name. I think of the 3 of us I got the best name. Now it has kind of stuck, I am a closet cowgirl, always wanted a horse of my own and wear cowboy boots almost every day. What could be better than being called Dallas. Cowgirl Up!!!!

My first job: YCC

2009-02-05T12:13:44-06:00

Besides the child care I did for .50 an hour, my first paycheck was with the forest service, it was a summer program with the Youth Conservation Corps. I was 18. I lived in a large tent with 3 other girls, no doors mind you, course there weren't doors on the bathroom stalls either. The mess hall was a framed building, no walls, but screened in windows to confuse the mosquitos. We worked on trail building, forest fire clean up, mapping trees and whatever random work they could find for us. It was really hard work, I was dirty all the time, hot and sweaty. I am pretty sure it was very minimum wage for 1977 and I loved every minute of it, even with the blisters, the sunburn and the drama of a bunch of teenagers living together. It was a great summer.

If I had easy access to a helicopter, I'd fly to Yosemite this weekend

2009-01-30T18:56:18-06:00

I have never seen Half Dome or the park in the winter, I imagine it would be breathtaking.

I recommend checking out Kites, kites, kites when you're in Long Beach WA

2009-01-26T14:40:12-06:00

Every summer the Kite Festival in Long Beach, is truely a site to behold, thousands of kites in every shape and color flying along this pennisula. You can also go crabbing, deep sea fishing, ice cream at the Gas and Grub--the best! Oh and let's not forget Marsh's Free Museum complete with two headed animals and Jake the alligator man.

If I could tame a wild animal

2009-01-25T20:08:55-06:00

A pair of African penguins, Boulders Beach, South Africa

Besides wishing for a horse at every birthday since I was 6 years old the other animal I have longer for is my very own penquin. I was going to convert my bathroom into her home, complete with ice in the tub, a baby slide and fish in the sink. My mom squashed the whole idea, but I saw how impractical it was, but it was fun to dream about.

Why my hip-hop posse would include Lola

2009-01-23T11:25:53-06:00

Lola
This girl is so fun loving, fantastic energy and beautiful---she would be amazing on stage.