Jul 18, 2008

Friday: You Asked. Now You Shall Receive.

Several months ago I started a grandiose tradition known as "You Asked. Now You Shall Receive" Friday. The premise was that you all would email me questions regarding my truly exciting life and I would answer them.

It's purpose was twofold:
1. To give you a sneak peek into my life. Because clearly, having a BLOG is not "sneak-peak" enough.
2. To make me feel like someone gives a heck about what kind of dryer sheets I use.

Neither of these things have really panned out.

Mainly because, like, three of y'all emailed me questions. And also because I forgot I had even started the tradition. Which I'm not exactly sure even constitutes a "tradition"...but I digress.

So it's Friday, and well, I'm taking full advantage of it. I had just enough questions to scrounge up some material for this week. But you know what that means? (Here we go listing again.) It means two things:

1. Next week there will be no Friday unless you all email me questions. Seriously, Friday's will be cancelled all over the world.
2. This week won't really be that good because let's be honest, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel on these questions.

*Note: Don't be offended if "bottom of the barrel" questions happen to be yours. I just realized how rude that sounded. I do apologize. I don't take it back mind you...but I do apologize.

Jenni asks: I'm curious ... I want to know how you picked Remi's name. And do you mind telling what her middle name is? I lovvvvvvvvvvve different names!

Sure, Jenni. My child's full name is REMI HOPE RADKE. That's right...I'm a Radke. NOT a Lee. (But don't get ahead of yourselves, that one's a comin'.) I named her Remi when my cousin, Meridith, found it on the internet and it sounded good with Radke. It has no special significance, no woman in the Bible was named Remi, and it doesn't belong to a third cousin twice removed who was a war veteran. I just liked it. It means "champagne." Isn't that corny?

Hope is the most special of the two names. I always loved the name Hope but felt it was a little "General Hospital" for a first name. But it was important to me to use it because of the all the power that little name holds. Hope. I needed it, and man, did she ever bring it. I still love it.

Anonymous said: Some may not know this, but I know your last name is Radke. Why Lee?

Well, here's the dealio. For years I have gone by the last name Lee. It's my maiden name and when I moved to Nashville I began doing studio work under the last name Lee and made a lot of connections with that name, and well, it stuck.

In fact, to be honest, only those I go to church with know me as Radke. Everyone I've worked with in this town have always known me as Melissa Lee. When I started my blog and I started traveling and speaking/singing at various churches I asked the AG what I should do...he suggested I stick with Lee. He said it was easier to remember, to pronounce and just rolled off the tongue better. And if he's a Radke and saying that, well, then who am I to disagree?

So Lee it is. It is actually very natural to me. In my heart I'm a Radke - because I'm the AG's and he's a Radke. But in my head and on paper I will always be Lee. So when they sign my big, fat checks, I would prefer they make it out to Melissa Lee. Actually they could make it out to Rosie O'Donnell and I would take it if it was a big, fat check.

Okay, that might be stretching it.

Hannah asked: Melissa, when you are home alone what is your biggest weakness?

Well, Hannah. Believe it or not - it's celery. I love celery. I love the crunch of it and what it does for my body and my health. I love how it makes me feel and ....oh, okay, I can't even finish that with a straight face.

Hannah, I know you are thinking I'm going to say something like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Blue Bell vanilla completely drowned in Hershey's syrup. But I'm not. Although I could.

It's naps. Hannah, I am a napper from waaaaay back. I always took naps. I never complained. I never cried. Heck, mom says I used to suggest them. And still to this day I enjoy turning the ceiling fan on high, spreading out a blanket across the bed and curling up in a fetal position, kind of nap. It's never a long one, only 3 or 4 hours...just kidding...but I still love them to this day.

Except when the AG home. He is a productive kind of guy (which I hate, loathe and despise) and sees them as a waste of time. Except on Sundays. Then you had best not ring our phones between 2 and 4. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

So there's our Friday edition. Wasn't that fun? Now you see a personal side of me that you wouldn't normally see any other time except right here on this blog, Monday through Thursday. See what a rarity that is?

But I need your help. If you have a question - and nothing is off limits - then email me. I would be happy to look your question over, pray about it, decide that it's too embarrassing to answer and pretend I lost it. So send away!!

Until then, remember, I like y'all. I really really like y'all. So have a wonderful weekend and a happy new year. (I'm just sayin' - in case I forget later.)

33 comments:

KWolfAK said...

I am also famous for my naps!!

My2Gs said...

Oh, I love naps too!!! My kids cut into my nap time. I think it should be like a national law that everyone take a nap between noon and one :)
~ Lacie

Colleen said...

I envy your ability to nap. Whenever I nap, I wake up crankier than I was beforehand.

Debz said...

i too like a nap, but mine have to be like 10 or 15 minutes. if its longer, i might as well just stay in the bed.

i have a question (i wont even tell you how many times it took me to spell "question"):

How did Remi get sooooo talented as to be able to have such a working knowledge of computers? She is a gifted one that Remi...

Lula! said...

You want a question, Melissa Lee Radke? You really want one?

Good. I have the perfect question for you.

WHERE'S THE FREAKIN' Julio's?

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Anonymous said...

Will somebody PLEASE send Lula some FREAKIN' Julio's..... and I am with you about those naps.

Connie said...

When you were talking about celery I was thinking, "You too? I love that about celery too!" And then you were kidding. harrumph. I am with the AG on the topic of naps. I'm sorry to say, I think they are a waste of my precious time...but then again you still love the AG...so don't hate me that I don't take naps and I love celery.

I will email you a question. I cannot stand the thought of NO MORE FRIDAYS!!! They are my most productive days.

Deanna said...

Yawn! Just thinking about a nap makes me want to curl up under the warmth of my laptop and catch a quick one.

Amy said...

I hope you know that I CANNOT start my day without reading your blog! It goes right along with my quiet time. Quiet time with the Lord then quiet time with Melissa!

Kimberly said...

I wish I were a napper...I never was very good at it. I'm gonna have to think of something or Fridays, my favorite days, will be gone for good! Yikes!

Kimba said...

Mmmmmmmmm...Naps. Love them, want them, need them.

I was wondering about the Lee thing. Because in my head I call your husband The Attorney General Lee. Not that I think about your husband all the time but whenever I read AG on your blog I start hearning the Dukes of Hazzard theme song. How's this for a random comment?

Kimba said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kimba said...

Don't know why that comment posted twice. That was me deleting the extra.

But here's a bit more ridiculousness form me. When I first started reading your blog I couldn't figure out what AG stood for. Then once I did I thought, "She's married to the Attorney General for Florida? Seriously? This blog can't be good for his political career."

Then I actually googled "Attorney General Florida". His name is Bill McCollum. I now realize that you are not married to him.

I also realize that I'm a complete dork.

Melissa said...

I so feel your pain about hubby seeing no need for the naps. My husband is the worker bee and I'm the Queen bee. I would prefer to just sit on my stinger and bark out orders! Oh and take lots of naps and eat lots of yummy snacks and watch TLC.

Wags said...

You know, when I think of Melissa Radke (yeah, the Lee thing threw me off too) I often remember my very first experience as an almost wife to Reagan when I attended a women's conference out in Linden and got to bunk with y'all. As if marriage was not about to competely strip me of all my naievity as it was...

I had already seen Miss Bonnie prance out in her black lacy lingerie, and seen Melissa Workman dance across the stage and sing about how she just wasn't gonna do it anymore and being all knocked up, and I had been very nearly BEATEN by Terri Stahly for trying to help my fiance recruit VBS leaders, (keep remembering... first experience in women's ministry EVER, and I was about to be a STAFF wife) but I go to my little bunk later that night, and the popular blonde girl across from me shares a story. Do you remember this story? I believed it involved you, the AG, and the back of a truck in college...

I called Reagan the next day and asked him what the heck we were getting ourselves into. :)

That's not even my question- I just thought you'd get a laugh to know what my first thoughts of you were after fives years. :)

My question is- what's up with AG? Why do you called David the Attorney General? I'm a fairly new blogger, so forgive me if this is already common knowledge.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh...I'm a napper too! I LOVE naps. Z better never stop taking his naps so Mommy gets naps on the weekends too!!!

Robin said...

Enjoyed the Friday questions. I didn't learn to nap until college. My roommate was a napper so I became a napper too. Peer pressure, isn't it terrible?

Anonymous said...

Melissa:

I must say you get the Sunday nap (DO NOT DISTURB BETWEEN 2 and 4 P.M. HONESTLY!!! Your Mom is the Queen of Sunday naps, followed closely by Yours Truly. I will occassionally answer the phone during those hours.

Hope all is well with you and the fam and that ya'll have a great weekend.

Take care of yourself and the new little one.

Love and prayers,

Sharon

Unknown said...

Hey, I know some Radke's - they lived in NoDak.

Do you have to EMAIL the questions or can we ask them here?

And no - that's not my official question. That's my pre-questions question.

Anonymous said...

I only got six hours of sleep last night....why are talking about naps!!?? Oh man. Only four more hours to go. I can do it.

Trish said...

naps, schnaps. Those are for wimps. The only time I nap is when i'm in the car and then only if I'm not drivin! oh yeah, I did take a 3 hour nap the day my kids left to go to gramma's for a week, but then i couldn't sleep that night, so i don't really count that as a nap as much as a nights sleep.

Now Miss Melissa Lee Radke whatever, please oh please tell me why you are soliciting for ANY questions when you solidly rebuffed me and my ever serious, super tough question from a few weeks ago? Cuz I now gots myself another one and this one comes from the mouth of the same child that asked me about the impregnation sans male assistance. And that said child is a thinker and wants to know it all. As a matter of a fact, I think there was a mix up at the hospital and he is supoosed to be yours and Remster was supposed to be mine. you know, swapped at birth 6 years apart.
So c'mon, can I pleeeeeze send you another question or am i still banned?

Much love,
your good friend the serial killer
who would much rather be called the cereal killer, cuz she does love herself some frosted flakes and fruit loops.

Lynda said...

Nothing beats a good nap. Zzzzzzz

Breanne said...

I really enjoyed the Friday questions!! I will be thinking of a good one. Hope you are feeling well!

Swirl Girl said...

I love me some celery too! Love the crunchy too! Especially if it is about 1/2 inch long and covered in 'cheese product', salt and fried to a crisp crunch in hydrogenated vegetable oil. Oh wait, those are cheetos.

Ferget it.

Unknown said...

I'm enjoying the comments almost as much as the questions!!

Unknown said...

I love naps as well.

Getting them, is a completely different story!!

Have a great weekend!! :-)

Anonymous said...

I just "met" you and therefore don't know your background. So, what is your writing background? When did you start writing, what do you write, when did you realize you were good at it...?

And please now, play along with my weekly game. Every Thursday I post a picture and ask for a story. It's called Story Time. Original huh.

Sissy said...

I do love a nap, too. But I'd really like to comment on the twitter that says you need a chili cheeseburger. It's 10am and that's what I need right now.

Rhea said...

You're hilarious. You had me goingn with the celery. lol

My son's name is Remy but it's short for Remington. :o) We just liked it too.

I love naps. Love, love, love em.

I'll have to think of some good questions for ya.

Sherri said...

I wish I could nap more!!! My kids both nap and sometimes I try to nap when they are napping but I am just afraid they'll wake me up!!!

I gave you an award on my blog.. Come and get it!!!

angela | the painted house said...

And here I thought that you were a good Southern girl going by your first and middle name: Melissa Lee!

Jenn said...

I'm a napper...on days that I don't sleep until noon! ;)

I also kept my maiden name!

~Sheila~ said...

Wow. you sure do have a lot of comments to Q & A.

My question: How are you coming along in you pregnancy?

I know I read the last blog about everything going well and I am happy about that. I was just checking up to see about recently and now.

Anymore morning sickness?

I have been praying for you (even though I'm not much of a prayer as I have mentioned).