A couple of days ago I was tagged in Lennon Carlyle’s Blog for the Mystery Blog Award. I normally do not do awards, but since I have enjoyed Lennon’s blog so much I should recognize her efforts to make me famous. Also, her questions are a whole lot of fun so let’s get started
Rules for nominees of the Mystery Blog Award:
Put the award logo/ picture on your blog – Done
List the rules – Done
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog – Thank you, Lennon Carlyle.
Mention the creator of the award and link their blog too. – See below
Tell your readers three things about yourself – See below
You have to nominate 10-20 people – I nominate all my followers. (Now I’m in no trouble with anyone and in trouble with everyone)
Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog – Here is the notification
Ask your nominees any five questions of your choice, weird or funny question (mention)
Share your link to your best post
Thank you to Okoto Enigma for creating this award.
Three Random Facts about me:
1: Writing is my passion, and I do it every day. I have to meter the time I spend writing since my family has hinted at some comparisons to “The Shining.”
2: I enjoy walking on the beach and feel very fortunate that I can do it every day. The time spent there is golden regarding creativity.
3: I hardly ever wear shoes. The only time I’m forced into shoes is when I have to travel or attend a meeting. I try to stick to boat shoes but occasionally I must follow convention and put on shiny black cap-toed oxfords which are just not me anymore.
Here are the questions that Lennon Carlyle has asked.
1.) What’s your favorite concert you’ve ever went to and why is it your favorite? I attended an Elvis Presley concert that proved to be my favorite. He was the Elvis that we came to know toward the end of his life. He was overweight and appeared a little uncomfortable but did he ever sing his heart out. His rendition of “My Way” brought the house down as it was so sincere and from the heart. He died shortly after.
2.) Have you ever done something shameful but don’t regret it? If so, feel like sharing that deep secret with us? It is not such a deep secret but was shameful. I slapped a guy who was hitting his young boy. He was a neighbor, and I could not stand by and witness his so called discipline. I asked him to stop, and when he told me to mind my business, I hit him. This was at a neighborhood function, and I was criticized for interfering. I never regretted it for a moment.
3.) If you won the lottery what would you do? Where would you live? What would you buy? Would you give some to charity and if so, what would that charity be? If I won the lottery, I would donate a fat percentage to Austin Boxer Rescue. They do so much good work on behalf of abused animals that I would like to support further efforts. I think I would establish a legal fund that could be used to prosecute those who believe animals are inferior to humans and therefore okay to mistreat. The rest I would save and spend a little on advertising in the New York Times on behalf of my books. I don’t need to move or buy anything so that would be about it.
4.) Do you cook? If so, what’s the best thing you cook and can you share the recipe with us possibly? Please???? I do cook. I have been told the best thing is Clams Linguini. Here is the recipe.
Although fresh clams and clam juice are the best, this also works with the canned variety. This recipe serves two
Ingredients:
Four cloves of garlic smashed and chopped
Two small cans of Snows clams
About two tablespoons of olive oil (I usually do two turns around the pan
One-half teaspoon salt
One-eighth cup of Kosher salt
Two tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Heat the olive oil on medium high in a ten-inch pan and add the garlic. Keep stirring to make certain the garlic doesn’t burn. Open the cans of clams and add the liquid to the garlic. Reserve the clams for later. Add the teaspoon of salt and reduce the heat to low and cook until thick (About fifteen minutes). Use a small spatula to continually pull the sauce from the sides of the pan. In the meantime get a big ole pot and bring the water (at least two quarts) to a boil. Add the kosher salt and when dissolved the Linguini (enough for two). Cook according to directions on the pasta box. Once your sauce is thickened, add the clams and allow to heat. (Two minutes) Add the chopped parsley and cook one more minute.
Drain and rinse your Linguini, Spoon into two bowls, top with the sauce divided evenly. You can also put parmesan cheese on the side. I would sever with a simple salad and crusty bread. Oh yes, also a terrific bottle of wine. If you use fresh clams buy a bottle of clam juice and make the sauce as above. Steam the clams until opened then chop all but a few. Add the clams to the sauce and serve with the remaining shelled clams.
5.) Do you have any special plans for 2017 or hopes? I am relaunching my first book My GRL in March and then my fourth book titled Circumstances of Childhood assuming it survives the beta readers. My hope for 2017 is that life becomes better for all of us. Although maybe not possible I can hope, can’t I?
Here are my questions for anyone who would like to participate.
- What is the best thing you ever ate and why?
- Who has helped you the most in figuring out life in general or a skill specifically?
- What is your greatest pleasure and why?
- Where do you see yourself in ten years?
- If you could, who would you want to be for a day?
Fiction Favorites 
You’re such a good sport. I look forward to reading your answers. Have a terrific Tuesday. Mega hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thundering Tuesday, to you Teagan. Here is a back to work hug. 😀
LikeLike
Thanks, John — I needed that! 😀
LOL, You were close — so far just a lot of rain, but no thunder. 😉 But I might thunder at somebody yet. More hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to give you the thunder cheer. Hopefully you have a day where you don’t need it. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow, I was intrigued before but now I feel like I really REALLY like you John. Great answers….seeing Elvis had to be tremendously fun. Slapping your neighbor, well, I’m glad you did it and you don’t regret it. Go John! Thank you so much for the recipe, sounds so yummy!!! Love your questions too. Take care and thank you again for participating!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was my pleasure, Lennon. Thank you for thinking of me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing interview! Thank you for stepping into your neighbor’s “business” – I’m sure he learned something that day. And thank you to Lennon, for this clever and memorable project. I’ll re-blog… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. 🙂 You are the best!
LikeLike
Good for you John. Interfering wasn’t shameful at all. I like your idea of protecting the animals too.
Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, David. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m with you on the dress shoes thing. It’s like they’re designed to be uncomfortable for anybody with non-average feet. Very cool that you got to go to an Elvis concert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think my feet are wider now that I have five years of barefootin’. I wore the shoes in September and had a sausage feeling down there. The concert was totally amazing. I still can’t hear that song without thinking of his performance. Thanks, Charles.
LikeLike
I’ve always had wide feet, so shoes are a pain. Most companies that make wide shoes give very few color choices and the prices tend to be higher. As if I can lop off part of my foot to make room for something other than black with a little white or white with a little black. 🙂 I’m sure seeing Elvis in person was a sight to behold. Did people back then ever think he’d still be famous today?
LikeLiked by 1 person
About Elvis. We thought he would live forever. I think we knew he would be an icon. That’s what made his concerts so special. In fact, people would not leave and continue to applaud hoping he would come back. Only when the announcer said, “ladies and gentleman, Elvis has left the building,” would people begin to file out.
LikeLike
Awesome. Got to see an icon in the making and you knew it. Can’t think of anyone like that now. Now I know where that phrase comes from too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is where it came from. Was a practical way to get fold to move. No one wanted to go. It was magical.
LikeLike
As for number two…yay you! I wouldn’t expect any other reaction from you, John. Happy Tuesday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jill. Hadn’t thought of it for years till the question came up. Happy Tuesday to you *sung to the tune of Maybe Baby by Buddy Holly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good answers, John. I don’t blame you for slapping the bully and shame on those who criticized you. My dad had to physically hold my mother back once when she wanted to do something like that to a woman who was hitting her child. Thanks for the recipe. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves. Thanks, Suzanne. 🙂
LikeLike
Great answers, John. I hope you decked the bully.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just a slap but you would have thought I killed him. Thanks, John. 🙂
LikeLike
Definitely trying the clams linguini – and I wouldn’t regret ‘interfering’ either, not for a moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was tense at the time. But now not so much.Thanks, Teri
LikeLike
A barefoot boy with cheeks of tan. Now I’m hungry for clam linguini!
Congrats, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susie. 🙂
LikeLike
I applaud your darkest secret moment. My little sister was abused by a step-mother, terribly so. And when I was recently divorced, I paired off with a fellow in a nearby town. We were getting along grand until his son came to stay with us that next summer. I loved the boy. He was sweet and smart. His dad wanted him to be tough and forced him to spar with him in karate, which he didn’t like to do. One day his father told him to kick him high in the chest and the boy aimed and kicked him much lower. When the father composed himself, he drew back and belted the boy in the face with his fist, knocking him across the living room into the kitchen where he crouched down beside the refrigerator trembling in fear. I left for Florida three days later. I hated to leave the boy, but I made it clear to the man who professed to love me just why I was leaving. If he could hit his own son like that, what could he have done to me? I called the boy’s mother and begged her to come and get him. She did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa! What a story Susan. Glad you got out of there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You invoked some great comments from these questions, John. Well-done. I will think about participating by answering your questions. 🙂 I don’t think I can answer as cleverly as you did. 🙂 Good for you for taking up for the little boy. And shoes? Heck since I’m now officially a senior about all I wear are my tennis shoes with orthotics in them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Orthotics I love it. Thanks, Jan. 😀
LikeLike
Nice job, John. Thanks for nominating me (and the other 50,000 people reading this post) but I’m going to decline. I worry about revealing too much information like this, in case it ultimately turns out to be the security question on my retirement account. I will share the worst thing I’ve ever heard about anyone eating. My best friend tells a story about how, when he was very young, one of he aunts made a meatloaf out of liver. It that doesn’t make you shiver…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw Dan. You caused goose bumps the size of marbles. I made a vow that once I was on my own, zero liver would pass through my lips. I don’t blame you for not doing it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a scary thought, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Urp
LikeLiked by 1 person
The clam linguine recipe made my mouth water… Oh what a time for a New Year’s resolution to lose a couple of extra pounds. 🙂 Happy New Year, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a good one. What I like is it doesn’t take a lot of skill with the canned clams but tastes terrific.
LikeLiked by 1 person
SCORE! Boat shoes, walks on the beach, and clam linguine, and standing up to that bully for the kid just great stuff to know about John. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Deborah. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never tried clam linguini before but I like clams so I’m going to give it a shot sometime in the future. Thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay. Let me know how you like it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dogs, clams and slapping the stupid all good things…
Kinda like gifting you with this award. Congratulations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. As I say I don’t normally do awards but this one struck a chord. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful interview, John! It’s a real joy learning more about you through your posts. You have such a delightful sense of humour. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Natalie. I appreciate your comment about the humor. 🙂
LikeLike
[…] https://johnwhowell.com/2017/01/03/tuesday-anything-possible-mystery-blogger-award/ One recipe to devour and a whole lot of fun questions. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person