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Thirty-six. THIRTY-SIX!! I’ve been to 72% of the states in this country! I knew I’d visited a lot, but until today’s question, I hadn’t actually counted them. I’m sort of impressed with that tally, if you couldn’t tell. With only 14 left to go, there should be no problem crossing “See all 50 states” off my bucket list. 🙂

Of the states I’ve visited, I’d be hard-pressed to pick just one favorite. Each state is unique, and I could list a favorite quality or two from each one. But if I were to be sentenced to live the rest of my life in just one state, never allowed to cross out of its borders, I’d have to go with North Carolina. The Outer Banks are my absolute favorite beaches, especially in the off-season. I’m equally drawn to the mountains and lakes in the western half of the state…in short, no matter whether I’m in a beach or mountain mood, NC has it covered. Add in the decent climate and the friendly southern charm of native North Carolinians, and it’s a definite winner.

As for the 14 states I’ve not yet visited, I’d say Alaska and Montana are the two at the top of my list. There’s just something about rugged terrain, opportunities to see different wildlife, and low populations scattered across huge areas that I find very appealing.

Judging by the white areas on my map, I think an Alaskan cruise might be in order, followed by a leisurely drive across country from the Washington coast. Even if the hubby and I did nothing more than drive a straight-line course due east until we reached North Dakota, then made a 90º turn to head due south to the middle of Nebraska before heading due east once more to Iowa, I could color in seven more states (eight, including Alaska) on my map. That’d leave just six on my to-do list…

Hmm…

Hey, hon, whatcha doin’ during your furlough time?

Photo by Vassil on Wikimedia Commons

Question 741 (The Complete Book of Questions by Garry Poole)
What brings a tear to your eye?

Oy. What doesn’t? I’ve got to rank in the top 10 of the world’s biggest saps. Happy tears, sad tears, the waterworks seldom stop. The hubby is forever asking, “Why are you crying now?”

Is anyone old enough to remember that Folger’s coffee commercial where Peter comes home for Christmas? Total sob fest.

Other things that make me well up:

• Budweiser Clydesdale commercials
• Hallmark cards
• children singing (especially Christmas carols)
• onions
• the national anthem
• when tribemates’ relatives visit on Survivor
• news stories of children being massacred in their classroom
• when the autistic (parapalegic/blind/insert other physical or mental challenge here) equipment manager is called onto the court in the final minute of the game and sinks a three-pointer
• Glory (seriously, from about minute 15 straight through till the end)
• random acts of kindness
• refugee camps
• gut-bustingly funny stories
• other people crying
• Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes
• good Samaritan stories
• animal cruelty awareness campaigns (“Help a Little Donkey” was especially hard to watch)
• proud parents hugging their contestant offspring on X-Factor/The Voice/American Idol/America’s Got Talent
• a mother screaming, “You’re stupid,” at her child in the supermarket
• flags at half staff
• homecomings
• farewells (and occasional until-we-meet-agains)
• homeless people
• happy endings
• anything and EVERYTHING when I’m excessively tired

Question 259 (The Complete Book of Questions by Garry Poole)
What’s one of your favorite summer activities to do with family or friends?

In the summer, I love going to minor league baseball games with the hubby…it’s the best “summer” activity we do because it stretches from April through September! Great seats for little cash, steaming hot dogs, cold Coca-Cola, peanuts in the shell, better-than-average chances of catching a foul ball–it’s hard to beat minor league baseball for cheap thrills.

Before we moved overseas, we frequently went down to The Diamond to watch the Richmond Braves’ (triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta club) home games. Unfortunately, the Braves left Virginia the same year we did, and I feared that when we finally came back to the States to roost, our summer fun would be over. Luckily, the Flying Squirrels (double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) moved into the vacant stadium for the 2010 season and appear to be making themselves quite at home. There were only two weeks left in the Squirrels’ schedule when we returned to Virginia last month, and with everything else on our agendas, we weren’t able to get to The Diamond for any of their final home games. But it’s only six short months until opening day…and steaming hot dogs and cold Coca-Cola and peanuts in the shell and better-than-average chances of catching a foul ball.