Writing about myself is sometimes harder for me than topics I spend days researching, so I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I am very late to this acceptance party. Either way, I am so pleased and grateful that Michael and Andrew from Maniacs and Monsters nominated me for a Sunshine Blogger award! Thank you, Michael and Andrew! I read that the Sunshine Blogger award is given to those who are creative, positive, and inspiring. I appreciate being thought of as such by two bloggers who I admire and who basically embody this award themselves. They have always been supportive of fellow bloggers, including me, and I really appreciate it – thanks so much Guys!

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Once nominated, if you choose to accept, write a post where you:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award and link back to their blog
  2. Answer the questions from the blogger who nominated you
  3. Nominate up to 11 other blogs (and notify your nominees through social media or commenting on their blog)
  4. Create up to 11 new questions for your nominees to answer
  5. List the rules and display a Sunshine Award logo in your post

 

Michael & Andrew’s Questions:

Do you consider yourself a fan of horror, adverse to horror, or a patron of any genre including horror if it is entertaining?

I’m a fan of horror in certain forms – mostly psychological, less maiming. The sub-genres of horror I will always show up for is anything that includes a bunch of people in a creepy house, zombies, anything that includes a castle, end of the world survival films, and anything that takes on Dissociative Identity Disorder (even though I find that most films get it completely wrong).

What is the first horror film you remember watching and what was your reaction?

Village of the Damned (the Christopher Reeve version) on TV when I was a kid. I also love the original George Sanders version, but there’s something about this one, Kirstie Alley with her throaty voice and cigarettes, the eery score, and especially Maura and the kids that just blow me away.

What is your opinion of real world paranormal activities such as ghosts, spiritualism, UFOs, cryptozoology, or extrasensory perception?

I definitely believe that all of these things are possible. The fact that we exist on a spinning ball in space is weird enough. It’s hard for me to discount anything supernatural.

Have you ever had what you believe to be a paranormal experience or at least an experience you could not explain?

Unfortunately not. My cousin and I were very serious about the Ouija board when we were kids/teens, but alas, no spirits ever came to visit.

If you were cast in a horror movie, which of the following roles would you want and why:

A combo of tortured soul and kick-ass hero: I want to be the brainy, steadfast one who doesn’t survive, but uses their smarts to help the others escape and dies heroically. That character is almost always my favorite in these films.

  • last girl/guy
  • killer/monster
  • fodder for the slaughter
  • evil genius/mad scientist/cult leader
  • tortured soul
  • kick-ass hero/military leader
  • creepy caretaker/gas station attendant/neighbour/sea captain
  • member of the faceless zombie/demon/alien horde
  • wise stranger that warned those reckless kids

Horror films, much like comedies, have been historically ignored by the Oscars. What horror film or horror performance do you feel deserved, but did not receive, recognition by the Academy?

Vincent Price in Dragonwyck because he covers so much territory in this role – dreamy matinee idol to frightful and bearded. I think he’s one of the most underrated actors of all time and this is my favorite of his performances.

Which subgenre of horror is most appealing to you (noting that these subgenres often overlap):

My answers in red. My very favorite horrors are gothic, zombie, survival, ghosts, comedy, and anything that includes a bunch of people in a creepy house. 

    • action horror
    • ‘B’ movies/camp
    • body horror
    • comedy horror
    • disaster/natural horror
    • giallo
    • gothic horror
    • horror thriller
    • kaiju
    • psychological horror
    • science fiction horror
    • slasher
    • splatter
    • supernatural horror

 

Assuming you observe Halloween, describe a favourite costume (scary or otherwise) that you have worn.

Snow White from the Rammstein music video Sonne. I didn’t quite pull it off, but I think my dwarf game was on point.

 

Me
Sonne

 

What is your greatest fear/phobia?

I have too many to count.

You die only to awaken as a ghost, vampire, or zombie. What do you do?

Raid the ‘fridge (growing pains and all). Plus I’d want to see what my dietary restrictions  are now.

Darkness falls across the land. The alien invasion has begun.  Civilization is collapsing.  The dead are returning from the grave.  Cthulhu is rising from his eternal slumber.  The Horsemen of the Apocalypse are on the ride.  It’s the end of the world.  You are among a small group boarding an experimental starship to escape to another galaxy.  You are allowed to bring any three items of your choosing.  What do you bring (and no fair bringing something ‘useful’)?

My skateboard. Who knows what those Saturn roads are like. Plus I need to establish my image early on.

A good book.

A hairbrush. The rest of my life in tangles is just not acceptable.

 

My Nominated Bloggers and Questions for Them:

I split my time between the Hollywood (blogging about film) and the Genes (blogging about genealogy) so I wanted to focus in specifically on my genealogy blog pals this go round. I have nominated genealogy bloggers who I find supportive, positive, and fun to read. I have also tried not to nominate bloggers who I know declined this award in the past due to busy schedules (I totally get it! It took me 3 months to write this acceptance post!). For that same reason, if anyone who I’ve nominated this time decide to opt out, I get it and no hard feelings! 🙂 My list of sunshiny bloggers is as follows:

  1. Chiddicks Family Tree
  2. Allen Rizzi
  3. Eric Christensen
  4. Shaking the Branches
  5. Brumley Family Branches
  6. Baugh, Bass, and Beyond
  7. Dusty Roots & Forgotten Treasures
  8. Applegate Genealogy
  9. Pants Free Genealogy
  10. Generations of Nomads
  11. Caroline’s Chronicles

 

To accept, please answer the following questions in your own blog post (at your own pace), nominate no more than 11 others for the award, and provide them with no more than 11 new questions to answer (all of this per the rules at the beginning of the post). Your questions are:

1). What involvement do your family members have with your blog? (Are they readers and supporters? Are they also genealogy bloggers? Or is it not something you’ve shared with family?)

2). What is the family line you are most fascinated with (at least at the moment) and why this one?

3). Which blog post are you extremely proud of and why? 

4). Name 3 interests/hobbies you have outside of genealogy that you have just as much passion for.  

5). What is the biggest tabloid worthy scandal or incident you have discovered when researching your family history (though it doesn’t have to be about your family)?

6). Why did you decide to start a blog about family history? 

7). Which is stronger: Nature or Nurture? Have you found anything in your own genealogy research that led you towards this opinion?

8). Which ancestor are you most in awe of and why?

Hope you enjoy the questions! I can’t wait to read your answers if and when you choose to accept the award! Happy blogging!