finding inspiration from charlotte’s web
Everyone have a nice weekend? I spent a lot of mine working, which is fine as I enjoyed the work, but come time to blog and, well, I was in desperate need of inspiration.
Growing up, one of my favorite books was Charlotte’s Web. It is the first full-length book I remember reading, and from that point on, I would scribble stories that happened in my head into my notebook. Not only did E.B. White turn me on to reading, he also turned me on to writing.
And now what a coincidence! One of my favorite blogs is Charlotte’s Web, written by Charlotte, a self-described “transplanted South African living in Germany, land of rules, orange tans and cheesecake.”
Charlotte is a freelance writer and editor and visiting her is always a treat, even when she does memes like this one that I’m borrowing:
1. My uncle once: let me have most of his old photos from his European tour of duty in World War II.
2. Never in my life: have I smoked a cigarette nor would I.
3. When I was five: I was probably being told off for being too sassy.
4. High school was: best experienced in memories.
5. I will never forget: the day I got my acceptance letter to Duke.
6. Once I met: Brian Williams (really we just exchanged smiles).
7. There’s this girl I know: who loves to talk on the phone and say random Italian words to me.
8. Once, at a bar: P and I had our first unofficial date, playing cards and talking.
9. By noon, I’m usually: wondering what happened to the morning.
10. Last night: I slept very well, thank you.
11. If only I had: a free round-trip ticket to the US to see family and friends.
12. Next time I go to church: it will probably be struck down by lightning.
13. What worries me most: is losing people I love.
14. When I turn my head left I see: a blazing fireplace.
15. When I turn my head right I see: P, asking me what I’m looking at.
16. You know I’m lying when: my voice gets a higher pitch.
17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: my innocence about the world and the players in it.
18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: Viola in The Twelfth Night.
19. By this time next year: I’ll be 33 years old. Thanks for bringing that up.
20. A better name for me would be: Michela since people here would know how to spell it.
21. I have a hard time understanding: war, especially “holy” ones.
22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: study Italian literature.
23. You know I like you if: I respond promptly to your emails and phone calls.
24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: Mom and Dad.
25. Take my advice, never: touch the inside of your oven door after it’s been on for an hour; third-degree burns are likely to ensue.
26. My ideal breakfast is: pancakes, bacon, two eggs over-easy, toast, apple juice, and coffee at Perkins Restaurant.
27. A song I love but do not have is: Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel.
28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: plan something else to do with the rest of the day–there are only two streets.
29. Why won’t people: live and let live?
30. If you spend a night at my house: you may have to share your bed with Stella; she’s a cuddler.
31. I’d stop my wedding for: a natural disaster.
32. The world could do without: celebrities.
33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: eat the belly of a cockroach.
34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: my niece and nephew, although he’s less blond by the day.
35. Paper clips are more useful than: safety pins if your goal is to bind papers together.
36. If I do anything well it’s: procrastinate.
37. And by the way: if you do this meme, let me know so I can read your answers!
And be sure to check out Charlotte’s Web !
17 Beans of Wisdom to “finding inspiration from charlotte’s web”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
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I met Dale Earnhardt the way you met Brian Williams! Sounds like you are having fun during this gloomy time of the year.
My dad will be so jealous! And talk about gloomy…I can’t see past my balcony right now through all the fog and rain!
That was a favourite book of mine too. Still lots of snow here, it just won’t melt so I spent my weekend cleaning and doing laundry! Thanks for telling us about Charlotte.
Joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..Anniversary give away winners
Ah if only my laundry would *dry* so I could do another load–I have nowhere else to put all the wet stuff!
Ooh, thanks for the link love! Love your meme answers. And I wish my German home ran to a fireplace – we are fre-eezing here.
Charlotte’s last blog post..Channelling Mrs Prothero
I’m lucky that the main room is so small otherwise the fireplace wouldn’t do anything anyway…but it’d still be pretty 🙂
Always good learning more aboutcha 🙂 I think we are sisters- answers #3, #4 and #12 are pretty much identical to what I would say!!
My Melange’s last blog post..Montreal: Jean-Talon Market
Hah, those are funny ones to have in common…you should do the meme so I’ll believe you 😉
That was fun to read.
Yuck is all I have to say about number 33.
nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Burger + fries + NFL Playoffs should = ?
I’m definitely with you there.
Such a great meme! I introduced myself to Kevin Spacey years ago in LA and told him I thought he was fantastic…I was a bumbling fool and he most likely felt sorry for me. 🙂
I can’t wait for Sofia to read Charlotte’s Web which was also one of my favorite books growing up.
Happy Monday!
Lisa’s last blog post..Cuddle time
I bet Kevin was touched; he seems like a down to earth guy as far as Hollywood types go 🙂 I hope you have your Charlotte’s Web copy ready! Sofia will be reading in no time!
This is a great meme — lots of fun to read! I envy you that blazing fireplace in #14, and I sure am with you on #36… one of my better-developed skills!
anno’s last blog post..Sunday Scribblings: (Organic) Temptation
It really is a skill to be able to procrastinate well…thank goodness for opportunities to practice!
i’m getting a lot of blog-goodies here lately~~ thanks!!
i just might do this one too (after i finish the last one that is sitting in my drafts!)…
btw…love your answer to suggestions on what to do while visiting home 😉
Hah, I know you understand 🙂 Looking forward to your answers!
Good book, that one! I did the meme, will you really come by and see it? Don’t procrastinate!
saretta’s last blog post..Hospital Murales
Hah, interestingly enough, I rarely procrastinate when reading blogs 😉
I did it on my other blog…amid the olive trees…
saretta’s last blog post..Be patient, little blog…
Found it 🙂
Well, I see our taste in children’s books are on the same wave length. A couple things from your meme though -I think you’re safe about if you go to church and the lightning. If it hasn’t struck me yet when I walk through the doors, I doubt if it will bother you either. Holy wars -(any wars, really) the logic of those things totally escapes me. And it’s good to know I’m not the only one who excels at procrastination. I think I have a Phd in that subject.
Have a fun day now -for whatever you have left of it. I’m staring at the 8 plus inches of snow we got on Saturday and just content to realize I DON’T have to go out in the cold today! Yippy skippy!
Thanks for the backup on the lightning/church thing…I feel safer now! And good luck with that snow…melting I mean…I don’t recommend doing *anything* else with it 🙂
I loved that book as a kid!
I am going to do this meme for tomorrow! I am giving credit back to you! I love your answers! Definitely made me think!
Becca’s last blog post..Thought for today…
Looking forward to it Becca!
This is going to spread like wildfire. Blogs are going to be filled with imitations 🙂
Gennaro @ Enduring Wanderlust’s last blog post..Visa-Waiver Travelers To Register Online To Enter U.S.
Hah, it’s a fun meme so I do hope people play along 🙂
I can’t recall ever reading Charlotte’s Web, but of course I know the story. How lame is that? Did I see the movie? LOL
I love memes and I need a filler this week so I’m stealing your meme – stop over to see my answers. Yours are great, AS USUAL!
Looking forward to reading yours, Salena! Both versions of the movie were good too, actually, but I do prefer the original 🙂
Charlotte’s Web was one of my first books, too! It must have been an MCA thing. And to think that I was probably just an hour away on that day you heard from Duke. I would have zoomed to Atlas to share in that great time. Yes, I guess I do have some regrets!
It was such a unique experience! I did stats for the baseball team, and we had an away game so I knew I wouldn’t be home until late but I just had a feeling something arrived that day, so I called my grandmother at home–using the payphone in the school lobby (before cell phones!)…right near where they had put a portrait of Mike Diminick, actually….
She went and checked the mail and said there was a big envelope from Duke…I made her read it out loud (and she started reading something about financial aid, blah blah…no! The main letter!) but I still couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t wait to get home that night just to hold it–and *of course* the game went into extra innings!
I went back to the class I had left (Bio III with Mr Lep, the baseball coach), and of course everyone had known what I had gone to do, and the enormous smile on my face told everything…the class erupted in woohoos and whatnot. Was *so* awesome, and nope, I’ll never forget it.
*le sigh*
The meme was fun but love your telling of your receiving your Duke acceptance even more! Wonderful!
Kim B.’s last blog post..Leavin’ on a Jet Plane
I’ve thought about posting about it but haven’t yet…perhaps someday 🙂
I loved this meme and have full intentions of using it, if that’s okay? Also, now I feel doubly bad about my late response to your quick response as I DO like you – very much! 😉
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..Where Am I?
Hah, visiting blogs is *so* not included in my fast responses these days….