Get to Know Me · Tags and Challenges

Strike Out Challenge (+ a teaser!)

Saraina Whitney

I was tagged by Lily at Books By Starlight for this challenge! Warning: there’s a bit of rambling ahead, so prepare yourselves. And stick till the end for a little teaser for a teaser. Yes, you read that right.

Strike Out Challenge!

Kissed someone – *coughs* Not in THAT way. 😉

Gone to a rock concert – I’ve never gone to a concert period. My first one is coming up this month, though! And I’m very excited. (If you’ve read my About Page, you probably can guess how I love watching live singing performances and such. *angelic smile*) But… I’m not one for being really effusive and going crazy with the crowd, so I hope it’s chiller than things I’ve seen in movies and on YouTube ahaha.

Helped someone – Yes. Aren’t you proud of me? If you’re reading this, I DARE YOU TO HELP SOMEONE TODAY. (That’s a quote from Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.)

Gone fishing – Actually, I remember doing it when I was little! But it’s a really vague memory… I think it would be fun to try it again one day.

Watched four movies in one night – Actually, I think I might have. I live with 11 siblings and sometimes – go figure – we don’t all agree on one movie to watch. A few times we’ve made a deal where we watch half of one movie, then half of another. Then sometimes the older ones stay up with our parents after the younger ones go to bed, and we watch a movie by ourselves.

Perks of living in a big family, I guess? 😂

Lied to someone – NO OF COURSE NOT WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT-

Failed a subject – Probably history, or science? (Guys, dates in history are so hard to remember!) I don’t remember. So I’ll just strike it out halfway. 😜

Been in a car accident – Praise God, no! Though a car accident did happen at the edge of our driveway. (It was pretty bad and someone got injured with glass, but thankfully it could have been much worse.)

Been in a tsunami – You really think I’d still be here to tell the tale?

Watched someone die (including pets) – Technically I’ve seen animals die, I guess.

Been to a funeral – Two, I think.

Burned yourself – Yeah.

Run a marathon – YES AND I WON!!!!!!

No. I haven’t. 🤣

Spend over 10,000 bucks in one day – *gulps* The idea!

Flown on an aeroplane – No… it sounds thrilling and scary, though.

Written a 18 page letter (front & back) – I’ve written a 20+ page letter, several times. Front and back. I’m very proud of it. (But my dear friend to whom I send the letters to has exceeded my record.)

Gone skiing – Sadly, no.

Lost someone you loved – Yes. And just read this quote.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

C. S. Lewis

Loving is worth the pain that it brings. Actually, that’s something one of my characters needs to learn.

Got into trouble for something you didn’t do – Did I mention the size of my family? It just happens. (But it usually gets corrected, don’t worry lol.)

Stolen a book from a library – No, and I won’t mention that the thought has crossed my mind because of how attached I get to fictional stories

Gone to a different country – No, though I’d love to visit England and Ireland and Hobbiton! XD

Gambled in a casino – LOL

Been in a school play – Nope.

Taken a lie detector test – No, although I’ve imagined myself taking it, hahaha!

Voted for someone on a reality TV show – YES OKAY I WAS DESPERATE!!!! Guys, this year, American Idol had some absolutely jaw-dropping candidates. My favorite was, hands-down, Nicolina. Her performances were always emotion-full and rich, and always gave me chills. She has such a powerful, soulful voice, with soaring belts that really feel satisfying. Brilliant artistry and stage presence, and such an amazing knowledge of her own voice – the twists she put on songs to make them new and original were so smart and just beautiful. (Just listen to her live cover of She Used to be Mine.) I liked Noah Thompson a lot (let’s be real, who didn’t?), but Nicolina had that extra something, that extra punch. I wish she won. 😭

Okay now that you witnessed my possibly nerdy rant (I warned you I’m obsessed with singing), let’s move onnnnn.

Read more than 20 books a year – Pft. Easy.

Gone to Europe – No, although that would be so cool!

Had a surgery – I was about five, I think, and I still have vague memories of it.

Had stitches – I don’t think so.

Ridden a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) – *blinks* A what? *goes to look it up* Definitely not. I’ve never heard of those lol!

Had more than 5 IM conversations going on at once – *looks IM up and realizes it means instant message* Guys, I’m the worst for this. I’ll start replying to an email, then stop in the middle of that and go to a Goodreads message, then work on blog comments…until I have a hundred half-finished messages. I try to just reply to one at a time, but I have to make myself.

Been in a fist fight – It sounds horrible, but yes. I mean, I guess it was more like wrestling with a sibling. So babyish. I’ve never been punched and I’ve never punched someone – really hard, at least.

Had a pet – Our almost grown-up puppy Picket is kinda a pet who’s supposed to be a guard dog, so I’ll say yes to this!

Petted a wild animal – A snake, I think. (In a museum or something.) Not all as exciting as it sounds, no offense.

Had your own credit card & bought something with it – No.

Dyed your hair – No. Cut it because I was little and panicking after having gotten it stuck in a comb?

Got a tattoo – No.

Had something pierced – Yes, for earrings. (Fun fact: I don’t feel fully dressed without earrings. But trust me, you don’t want me to go into my opinions on style and fashion… cause I’m in the middle of re-figuring out my own style. Which means I’ll go on and on and on about this topic, without end.)

Got a straight A – Yeah.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist!

Taken pictures with a webcam – A webcam… I think I have, actually, a while ago. And then promptly deleted them because of the awful quality!

Gone to sleep with music on – Rarely, but yes, especially during long drives with music in the background. 😉

Nominees

The List

Kissed someone – 

Gone to a rock concert – 

Helped someone –

Gone fishing –

Watched four movies in one night –

Lied to someone –

Failed a subject –

Been in a car accident –

Been in a tsunami – 

Watched someone die (including pets) – 

Been to a funeral – 

Burned yourself –

Run a marathon – 

Spend over 10,000 bucks in one day –

Flown on an aeroplane –

Written a 18 page letter (front & back) – 

Gone skiing –

Lost someone you loved –

Got into trouble for something you didn’t do –

Stolen a book from a library –

Gone to a different country –

Gambled in a casino – 

Been in a school play –

Taken a lie detector test – 

Voted for someone on a reality TV show – 

Read more than 20 books a year –

Gone to Europe –

Had a surgery –

Had stitches – 

Ridden a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) –

Had more than 5 IM conversations going on at once – 

Been in a fist fight – 

Had a pet –

Petted a wild animal –

Had your own credit card & bought something with it – 

Dyed your hair – 

Got a tattoo – 

Had something pierced –

Got a straight A –

Taken pictures with a webcam –

Gone to sleep with music on –

What’s the longest letter you’ve ever written? Ever experienced a tsunami? (Maybe they’re not as, erm, deadly as I assume they are?) How do you manage online messaging? Give me all your tips, PLEASE (your girl needs them). Have you seen any American Idol? (If only it had a less… sacrilegious title. 😬) Have you watched Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2?

ALSO. *clears throat dramatically* ONE MORE THING.

I wrote a very short backstory prequel for To Be Loved and I’ll be posting it on my blog in just a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *squeals* (I actually did it for the ABC tag created by Sisters Three, so yes, it’s just 26 sentences! 🤭 But I’m thrilled to say that my sister didn’t even realize each sentence began with the next letter of the alphabet.)

Just please don’t kill me, because it ends on a huge cliffhanger.

BUT

I can’t wait to share it with you and I hope you’ll like it enough to need the actual story To Be Loved.

(If you didn’t already know, To Be Loved is my short story in Grace A. Johnson’s upcoming – and beautiful – anthology Tell Me You Love Me, and you can read all about it here on her website! And by the way, I’m beta reading it with the rest of the authors, and guys it is literally sooooo good!!! Such beautiful stories!!!)

41 thoughts on “Strike Out Challenge (+ a teaser!)”

  2. I’ve watched both the Paul Blart movies with my sister 😂 The quote that stuck in my mind from Paul Blart is… well… “A milk truck took her to a better place.” 😐😅 That sounds bad but it’s the one that cemented itself in my mind xD

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Ahhhh you have watched it!!! Oh my goodness. That is hilarious XDDD Haha yes, that line is a weirdly easy one to get stuck in your mind!!! 🤭🤣 Poor Grandma.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  4. What prying questions!
    Just kidding.
    Anyway, your life sounds so fun! 😉
    Oh, longest letter ever? Well, how bout 27 pages? My friend did a 40-letter page and…I told her I just couldn’t keep up LOL.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. LOL! *ahem* “Sounds” being the operative word. 😜 It does indeed have its fun moments! Wowwww I definitely haven’t gone as far as 27 pages!! (I can’t even wrap my mind around 40. *blinks helplessly*)

      Like

      Reply

  6. Ack, that was so much fun to read…hahaha….you cracked us up with your answers to some of those questions…lol…Mall Cop 2!!!! Eeee, we watched both Mall Cops last week…lol….
    Oh, getting blamed for something you didn’t do happens so much in big families…haha…so many times!
    This was tons of fun and we may have to *ahem* steal this tag and add it to our pile of tags!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Lol thank you so much!!!!!!!!! YES, go Mall Cop 2!!! You did? Hahaha!! We watched it a few weeks ago ourselves! 😂

      Ah yes, very true!!

      Woohoo!!! Yesss please steal it!!! *begs you* I saw you were already tagged by Lily Yu too (same link I added at the top of the post) so that’s the only reason I didn’t shout out you girls, lol! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Yes! Mall Cop is awesome!

        Haha, we will! Oh, really…need to check that out then….too many notifs…haha….we can’t keep up! We try to check the tag posts but…wow, we’ve been having a hard time keeping up with everything lately…lol…

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  7. THAT WAS HIALRIOUS!!! (Twi and I are going to have so much fun with that, MUAHAHA, *coughs* *clears throat* I mean, we’ll enjoy answering the questions… ;P)
    Have you ever been in a tsunami… XD, oh boy, what a question, I love your response though: You really think I’d be here to tell the tale??
    Amazing job Saraina! And congrats on your short story!!! I can’t wait to read it! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. AAAA THANK YOU!!!! (YES YOU WILL. Oo I can’t wait to see your answers!! XD ;P)

      I know, right?!! Hehe thanks. *muffled laughter*

      Aww, thank you, Louise!! Eee that means so much to me – I can’t wait for you to read it!!! ❤ 😀

      Like

      Reply

  9. Thank you for doing this, Saraina! I was actually scared that no one I tagged would respond, so this was heartwarming! 💕

    I love the dare on the third question! Also. 11 siblings?!?! 🤯🤯🤯 That’s both super cool and super scary!

    Bro. I was going to be, like, “Wow! Saraina won a marathon?! I can’t believe I know someone who ran a marathon now!” But, humph. How you have disappointed me. 😭

    You’ve thought about stealing books before? 😭😂😂 I want to know which one(s)!

    Augh, we’re so similar! I’ve imagined myself taking a lie detector test before, too! 😳 Also. I had to Google what a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) is and what IMs are as well. 😂 I just pretended I knew all along and didn’t mention the Googling like everyone else did. 🤣

    Oh, I’d actually love to hear more on fashion from you!

    I loved your answers! (“Read more than 20 books a year – Pft. Easy.”) Have I mentioned yet how amazing you are? If you haven’t heard that today, I’m saying it now: You’re amazing, Saraina! ❤

    P.S. I CAN'T WAIT to read your story! *jumps up and down in excitement*

    P.P.S. How are you liking The Conflict Thesaurus? It looks fascinating!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Awww Lily!! Absolutely! Thank YOU for tagging me!! (And this wonderfully long comment makes me so happy!!! :D) 💕

      YES! I know, 11 siblings is a lot. 😂

      *gasps and falls on knees, apologizing as effusively as Anne of Green Gables* 😭 POOR YOU. Lol I would be shocked to know someone who ran a marathon too hahahaha!!

      *nervously giggles* XDDD Yeahh, I think it might have been The Green Ember books – when we still didn’t have our own copies! I’d renewed them so many times, I was like, ugh why can’t we just have them for good?!

      Ooh no wayy! I would LOVE to talk about fashion… maybe my “Get To Know Me” category would be a nice excuse for that. 😜

      AWW SO SWEET *blushes* Lily, YOU are amazing. *hugs you*

      P.S. Eeee I’m thrilled you’re so excited!!!!
      P.P.S. It is SO good. I definitely recommend it! 😉

      Like

      Reply

      1. Hehe, I’m (un)fortunately inclined toward long comments! 😂

        What’s it like having so many siblings?! You should do a blog post about that sometime! I bet lots of people would be interested. 💛

        *coolley considers your begging* Hm. Fine. I shall forgive you. 😆

        Aw, that’s kinda funny!! I’m not even sure our library system owns the series! 😭 They’ve become a little mean these past few years…

        Ooooh, yassssss! And I would LOVE to read fashion post(s) from you! 😍

        Lots of love! ❤

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Lol, I love it!! 😉

          BRILLIANT IDEA. I will definitely do a post about that!!!

          *stays on knees, but looks up hopefully* Ohhh Lily, I shall forever think of you as my benefactress. Thank you. 😭 🤣

          Haha yes! WOT? That’s sad!

          *high five and hug* Yay!!!!!! I can’t wait to write it, then!!

          Aww, love you! ❤

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          1. YESS. Success! 😍

            🤣🤣🤣 *stares down my nose at you* Now that’s more like it!!

            Wot, wot? 😂

            Yeah, it is! 😭

            Haha, I stayed up until it was nearly 1 AM this morning writing a blog post. That’s literally how much I love blogging!! 😭😭

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

            1. Wow, girl, you really must love blogging!!!! 🤣 Your poor brain cells!! Although if I could, I’d probably do the same thing – either staying up way too late writing posts or more of my book hahaha!!

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply

  10. Ahh, this was so much fun! And we get a prequel story? Yes! I’m so excited to read it. And I just can’t wait for the anthology. I know there are going to be just so many amazing stories in that book!

    And you’re going to your first concert? That’s so exciting! What type of concert is it?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Ahhhh I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Vanessa!!! YES! 😀 I can’t wait to share it, and yeah, there are so many amazing stories in that book! I think you’ll love it!!

      Haha yesss! It’s a WBGL concert (WBGL is a Christian radio station we listen to a lot), so there’lll be a lot of Christian music featuring Sidewalk Prophets and Colton Dixon. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Ack!! You’ve seen American Idol too???! (okay, it’s possible we might’ve already talked about it, but I suffer from short-term memory loss #dory) XD.

    But I agree! Nicolina was amazing! I kinda wished she did a different song during the Disney night special, but her voice!!! I got chills.
    We started watching the show again over the past couple of years, and there’s so many talented people. Like, where did they all come from?!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. OOHH YES!!!!!! Haha no, we haven’t talked about this yet! (*laughs* #veryrelatable I forget things all. the. time.) Ohh I’m just so excited that you like it too!!! Her voice is amazing!!!! You read my mind – I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the song she did during the Disney night special. But her voice still gave me chills. Yess, where did they all come from?!! Ahh!

      Thank you so much for reading, Lily!! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Oh phew! I’m not crazy XD

        Sure thing! By the way, I just found out you sent me a question on Goodreads several months ago. I’m so sorry for missing it! For some reason, I missed the notification they sent me or something *glares at technology*

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Haha not at all!!! XD

          Oh really? That’s hilarious!! Lol I can’t even remember what I said… 😂 Aww, no worries – I get it! 😉 *glares at technology*

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  12. This was so much fun to read! I loved seeing all your answers to some of those…interesting questions, haha xD And I completely relate to you with the IMs. I’m so horrible at responding promptly to them all! Thank you so much for the tag, I’m looking forward to this one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much!!! 😀 Haha, yes interesting questions indeed… 😉 😂 Lol, yesss, glad you relate!! It gets overwhelming sometimes. XD You’re so welcome, my friend – can’t wait to see your answers!!! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  13. Pingback: Strike Out Challenge – E. G. Bella
  14. Pingback: Strike Out Challenge – Sisters Three
  15. Pingback: 2022 Recap and 2023 Dreams (my first life update!) – Saraina Whitney

Leave a reply to Tauriel Wingfeather Cancel reply