02 « April « 2012 « The Bibliotaphe Closet

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Based on the original Meet Me on Monday hosted by Java at Never Growing Old, Acting Balanced will ask five questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for participants to post answers!

Here are today’s questions (and my answers):

1. Did you prank, get pranked or ignore April Fool’s Day?

No! I was actually looking forward to some savvy tricks, but I couldn’t be fooled yesterday! Nor did I bother to trick anyone else. I was really busty participating in this year’s Bloggiesta ¡Olé! Blogathon Event. No, foolin’!

But, I’m glad it’s April, which is also Poetry Month!

So, why not share one of my favourite famous poems:

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The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

***

2. What is the most unusual thing you have in your pantry or refrigerator right now?

I actually don’t consider any type of food unusual since I’m a big fan of eating and “tasting” foods from different cultures. I think the most exotic food in my fridge right now is a tub of my favourite side dish: Korean kimchi. It’s spicy and oh-so-good!

Korean kimchi. Made with nappa cabbage.

***

3. If you were in the “Miss America” (or another) talent competition, what would your talent be?

My performing talent for something like a Miss Canada pageant would most likely be singing. I love it and have always remembered doing it since I was a young child. The first time I realized I could sing was when I walked home when I was nine-years-old from school singing a song to myself, not realizing D.D. was behind me listening. He caught up to me and said,

“Wow, Zara! I didn’t know you could sing…”

I didn’t know either until he told me! Since then I joined choir all the way into university and was a member of choirs at church. I don’t consider myself Canadian Idol material, but I can hold a note…or two.

Simon Cowell.

4. What is one thing you miss about being a kid?

I really miss my body of youth! I didn’t realize it at the time, but my body was in great condition and I had this reservoir of energy. I also miss the innocence and optimism that goes along with being a kid. The perspective of a child is unfiltered, honest, and usually innocent. With age, I find, that I’m more self-conscious than I was as a child and also burdened by the disappointment I sometimes find in the capacity and nature of the human spirit to do more harm than good. I think the most I miss from being a child is being one who is unmarred by the existence of “evil.”

(Oh, and my Big Wheel. I loved my Big Wheel!)

My Big Wheel. I rode this EVERY DAY. Oh, yes I did!

5. If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to?

I would hate to sound vain, but I love my name and have identified with it well. It is, after all, mine! But, if given an opportunity to choose one other than the one I already have, I think I’d name myself:

Umeko (pure blossom child) Yana (kindness)

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Thanks for meeting up with me again this Monday!

Thank you to Heather Smith of Acting Balanced for her continual hosting of this creative and fun meme. To see who else is participating, please visit here.

***

Zara Alexis

By Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez

Bloggiesta Olé Taco Wrap Up

It was a fiesta of a weekend for me and more than 100 participants of the Bloggiesta Olé Blogathon event!

I was able to complete a number of tasks that I’ve meaning to do to give my blog, The Bibliotaphe’s Closet a little extra love and attention—Spanish style!

Here’s a recap of what was on my spicy to-do list and my progress:

Create a Facebook page for The Bibliotaphe’s Closet because it’s getting stuffed with a lot of book goodness. – COMPLETED
Work on an update for my site on Book Blog.
Include the Networked Blog widgets to provide users with more access to moi and the closet. - COMPLETED
Finally finish rating and “Z-ringing” my book reviews (I don’t use stars. I use Z-rings.)
Re-vamp the look of the blog because, like me, no one should have to wear the same dress twice…in the same week…er…I mean, month. - COMPLETED
Drink up some of that HTML stuff people keep talking about. I’ll HTML this and HTML that. - COMPLETED
I might even give myself a practice run with that Copter guy. You know the one, the “random picking” Rafflecopter who rarely picks me when I enter a book giveaway contest. (Grrr…) - COMPLETED
And of course, work on some content especially for my Ink Blot page that’s intended to host my creative writing work!
And also stuff my Tote Bag page with more book goodies.It needs to be filled. It’s empty and it knows it. – COMPLETED
Add smaller social icon buttons to side bar. – COMPLETED
Add headings to widgets in sidebar. – COMPLETED
Nestle Weekly Thematic pages under a parent page. –COMPLETED
Learn how to embed video from YouTube into post. – COMPLETED
Learn how to embed videos from YouTube side-by-side in post. – COMPLETED
Add a blog event/review calendar widget in sidebar. –COMPLETED
Create & add reader feedback poll.
Change post layout from standard to gallery. - COMPLETED
Add a blog roll list of favourite blogs?
Create a To Be Reviewed (TBR) widget.
Create a Wish List. - COMPLETED
Create review policy. - COMPLETED
Create giveaway contest policy. - COMPLETED
Participate in a Blog Hop. – COMPLETED
Host a giveaway. – COMPLETED
Complete as many Mini Challenges as possible. - COMPLETED
Participate in Bloggiesta Twitter Party Chat. – COMPLETED
Follow new bloggers participating in Bloggiesta.
Find new book blogs. - COMPLETED

Highlights of the fiesta for me included:

Learning some basic HTML, which really helped me learn how to better manipulate the look and functionality of my text.
Embedding YouTube videos into my posts.
Placing videos side by side on my posts.
Cleaning up my sidebar with key widgets.
Nestling pages under a parent page.
Formatting posts in gallery mode.
Discovering dlvr.it and Windows Live Writer
Backing up my blog
Hanging out with new blogger friends!

And I wanted to also give a special thanks to the bloggers who hosted Mini Challenges for the Bloggiesta! Thank you for sharing your expertise about blogs, blogging, and technical design. You’re the reason I know just a little more than I did prior to this event! And thanks, too, for being readily available for questions and for all your help and encouragement. Could not have succeeded in completing tasks if it weren’t for your great ideas and direction. ¡Olé!

And of course, a HUGE thank you to the hosts of Bloggiesta! You’re leadership, administrations skills, and cheerleading kept me and the rest of the participants going all weekend long! Your creativity and genuine help really made Bloggiesta a success.

And then there are all the wonderful, fellow bloggers that kept me in virtual company throughout the blogathon. If I didn’t get to chat with you, your presence still encouraged me to know and feel that I was part of a large blogging, blogathon community. And for that, I’m extremely grateful. Thanks and a warm welcome to new-made blogging friends!