Sweet Memes

Onesome: Hot Dogs--Spring picnics and cookouts are coming! Is it hot dogs or hamburgers you want to have on your plate as you head back to the table?
Hot dogs. I’m really tired of hamburgers…never really liked the homemade kind ever. We eat them a lot. Yuck. Frankly, I’d rather have cold fried chicken than either of the other choices. But we usually get the usual, plus the addition of beer-boiled brats or Italians.
Twosome: and -- ...and what else is on that plate that you just cannot be without as you work your way through the crowd? Potato salad? One of those huge pickles? Come on, there has to be something !
Yeah, big sour pickles. Mom’s potato salad. Doritos. Fruit salad. Cookies for dessert.
Threesome: French Fries-- ...and the real toughie: do you have to have "fries with that'? ...or will chips do well enough for you. Just curious...Neither. Not a big “fries” person, and plain potato chips don’t do it for me. Unless there’s dip. Then I’ll eat some ridgey chips with dip.

I’m really not much of a cookout queen.

You Are A Chestnut Tree

You are a born diplomat with a well developed sense of justice. And even though you're impressive and intimidating, you're also fun to be around. You can be irritated easily, and you sometimes act superior. Nevertheless, you are sensitive of others feelings and very loyal. Sometimes you feel misunderstood and are fiercely close to those who know you best.

Oh.

Really. "Irritated easily?" Um, YEAH! The rest, {shrug} dunno.

Thanks to Christopher...

This description is a generalisation.

You would be very happy in a career that utilised your people skills. You want a career that allows you to stimulate your senses and your mind. Some careers that would be perfect for you are:

Actor
Recruitment Consultant
Politician
Marketing
Psychologist
Religious Minister
Teacher
Social Worker
Human Resources Manager
Sales
Lawyer
Advertising

You are a great leader. You genuinely enjoy being around other people. Your relationships with others are very important to you. You love talking and meeting new people. You are very enthusiastic about work and about all that you do and have in your life. You love being the focus of attention. You enjoy a fast pace. You are very socially oriented. Therefore, you are much happier being with others than you are alone. You crave interaction with others.

You are very spontaneous and often act before you think. You are always quick to answer when you are asked a question, even if you aren’t sure of the answer. It is easier for you to improvise as you go along. You enjoy thinking out loud, and are most creative when brainstorming with friends or colleagues. You enjoy being involved in many activities.

You are very easy to read, and often wear your heart on your sleeve. You are never afraid to tell people what you think. You are very empathetic and genuine. You can sometimes be seen as over-emotional or too involved by others. But that is only because you tend to get so involved in the things you do that they become personal.

You want to be adored, loved and appreciated. You like to please others and to make sure people are happy.

You trust what is certain. You only like new ideas if they can be practically applied to the situation. You value what is real. You use your common sense. You like to utilise the skills you have instead of learning new ones. You are very specific and detailed when writing or talking to others. You follow directions well. You like things to be laid out for you to do instead of working them out for yourself. You like decisions to be made. You don’t like leaving things in limbo. You like to know what you are getting into before you commit to something.

You like to focus on the here and now. You enjoy completing projects. It is important for you to achieve and succeed. Therefore, you believe in working hard and playing later. You like to set goals and work towards them.

I'm so cracking up!! But then again, maybe I'm not the best barometer of myself in this area.

from Barb, via Annie

You have the Vermeer girl look. A Vermeer girl appealed mostly to the old masters of the Dutch school, who painted pictures of everyday life as they knew it. With her fine, fair skin, she suited a light, natural, dewy make-up. The Vermeer Girl loved homely things, such as homemade soaps and candles. The following artists would have liked to paint you; Pieter de Hooch and Jan Vermeer.


'Pretty As A Picture' - Which Artist Would Paint You?
brought to you by Quizilla
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You Are Artemis! Brave, and a natural born leader. You're willing to fight for what you believe in... And willing to make tough decisions. Don't forget - the people around you have ideas too! What Goddess Are You? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Lovely. Lovelylovelylovely.

from Shelly


1. Thanksgiving is more fun to celebrate than any other holiday.

2. The last vacation I took was to England for my niece's wedding. [I'm not counting my trip to Colorado to pack out my mom's apartment as a vacation.]

3. The next vacation I plan to take will be to Lake Geneva, this weekend, for scrapbooking fun.

4. I'd really like to be more patient.

5. I can't remember the last time I wasn't worrying about something or other.

6. The book I last read (or am currently reading) are The Unending Mystery: A Journey Through Labyrinths and Mazes AND The Stories of English AND A Swiftly Tilting Planet (with Sparky).

7. The last program I installed on my computer was I have no idea...probably an anti-spam or anti-virus program, but really The Beast did that.

8. When it comes to food, my weakness is processed sugar.

9. I really look forward to spending time quietly reading.

The last one is not a fill-in-the-blank, but a challenge........(completely optional, my friends!)

10. Choose a person's blog in the comment section, and welcome others to visit it, by leaving a link to their blog in your entry today. My choice is Tash's, primarily because it's so PURPLE!! Interesting, too: she lives near Stonehenge.

You scored as Remus Lupin. You are a wise and caring wizard and a good, loyal friend to boot. However sometimes in an effort to be liked by others you can let things slide by, which ordinarily you would protest about. Remus Lupin 75% Hermione Granger 70% Harry Potter 70% Ginny Weasley 60% Severus Snape 55% Draco Malfoy 50% Ron Weasley 50% Sirius Black 40% Albus Dumbledore 40% Lord Voldemort 15% Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...? created with QuizFarm.com

Well, that totally rocks!

In your eyes, people see brightness in everything.... and I mean... EVERYTHING! You're so optimistic and think of everything as just a new adverture! You're very energetic, happy, fun, and loving. Everyone seems to want to be just like you because you're a great example of people who live life to its fullest! You don't really have a sanctuary... That is... Besides the whole world. You love to have a good time and enjoy yourself among your friends, family, even strangers or by yourself!
However, being so happy and energetic can also be your downfall.... Some people might see you as a crazy person who doesn't take anything seriously, but that's so not true! Just because you see life better than them doesn't give them the right to act crabby. Keep living life to its fullest and hopefully you can drag some other people along with you ^-^


What Lies Behind Your Eyes?
brought to you by Quizilla

O-Kay. Energetic, not really, and awfully positive-sounding for me lately....

The Goddess of Water and Anger. You are a reclusive loner . Always wary and deliberate, once you've got a friendship, its for life and you are
exceptionally considerate. You are a serene beauty.


Which gorgeous goddess are you? For girls!

brought to you by Quizilla
I guess it's better than a Domestic Goddess, eh?

You Scored 60% Correct

You are a solid child of the 80s You'd never confuse Tiffany from Debbie And while you may not know Prince's first #1 hit You know every word to Little Red Corvette

Yes, I do.

I just don't know that much about the weird shit on this quiz. Oh, well.

Your Love Style is Storge

For you, love and friendship are almost the same thing And your love tends to be the enduring, long lasting kind (You've been known to still have connections with exes) But sometimes your love is not the most passionate Leap before you look, and you'll find that fire you crave

OK, another eerily prescient quiz....

You Are 15% Redneck

I'll slap you so hard, your clothes will be outta style. You ain't no redneck - you're all Yankee!

I was worried for a second or two while taking this test.... ;-)

Bourbon
Congratulations! You're 123 proof, with specific scores in beer (100) , wine (133), and liquor (69).

Screw all that namby-pamby chick stuff, you're going straight for the bottle and a shot glass! It'll take more than a few shots of Wild Turkey or 99 Bananas before you start seeing pink elephants. You know how to handle your alcohol, and yourself at parties.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 72% on proof

You scored higher than 97% on beer index

You scored higher than 97% on wine index

You scored higher than 90% on liquor index

Thanks WDL!

You are 'growing one's own food'.

You are guided by two words: 'Live simply.' You value quality over quantity in most things, and you have little use for the materialism and consumerism of modern culture. You know the value of hard work and try to be self-sufficient as much as possible, and what you do you do well. Unfortunately, no man is an island, and you cannot do everything yourself. Your puritanical work ethic makes makes people think that you are weird, and not much fun. Your problem is that growing one's own food has been obsolete for a long time.

What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

As Jeffrey says: "eerily accurate." Even if I don't like to garden that much, I tend to be like this description overall. And so does The Beast. Which makes us nearly survivalists??

Uh, no!

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Thanks Jenica!

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	The Cataloger
Birthday:	A Tuesday in November awhile back
Birthplace:	Denver, CO
Current Location:	Midwest USA
Eye Color:	Hazel
Hair Color:	Brown (gray underneath, henna-ish overtop)
Height:	5'8" and shrinking
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Right
Your Heritage:	Northern European mongrel
The Shoes You Wore Today:	pseudo-Earth Shoes
Your Weakness:	Trusting people
Your Fears:	Hurting people
Your Perfect Pizza:	Canadian bacon, onions, sausage, mushroom
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Catch up on scrapbooking
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	--don't use it--sorry
Thoughts First Waking Up:	"My back hurts."
Your Best Physical Feature:	My brain
Your Bedtime:	Last night it was 9:15. Usually 11ish
Your Most Missed Memory:	Jumping rope in the driveway for hours as a kid
Pepsi or Coke:	Dr. Pepper
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Burger King
Single or Group Dates:	--married-- ...so single dates
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Ick, neither!! Brew the real stuff and pour over ice.
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Ick, neither!
Do you Smoke:	No.
Do you Swear:	Yep.
Do you Sing:	Yes.
Do you Shower Daily:	Shower or bath, one or the other daily.
Have you Been in Love:	Yep.
Do you want to go to College:	Did it. Twice.
Do you want to get Married:	Did it. Once.
Do you belive in yourself:	Yes. When I pinch me it hurts, so I'm here.
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Oh, yeah!
Do you think you are Attractive:	I guess.
Are you a Health Freak:	Not likely.
Do you get along with your Parents:	Not right now.
Do you like Thunderstorms:	As long as I'm inside.
Do you play an Instrument:	Yep: flute and some piano. And handbells.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	Yes (poor grammar there, folks!)
In the past month have you Smoked:	Nope.
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	I take Rx meds, that's it. Oh, and the occasional Tylenol or Sudafed.
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	No, I don't think so.
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes, unfortunately.
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	I ate a lot of those blond oreos last week.
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	Nope.
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No.
In the past month have you been Dumped:	No.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	No. Brrrr.....
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	No.
Ever been Drunk:	Ever ever? In my life?? Yes, of course!
Ever been called a Tease:	Uh, no.
Ever been Beaten up:	Kind of.
Ever Shoplifted:	Yes.
How do you want to Die:	Quickly.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	A cataloger.
What country would you most like to Visit:	Kenya.
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Brown/Hazel
Favourite Hair Color:	Dark brown/black
Short or Long Hair:	middle, not too long
Height:	5'10" or taller
Weight:	200 lbs.
Best Clothing Style:	Whatever is comfortable.
Number of Drugs I have taken:	n/a
Number of CDs I own:	Around 75 I guess.
Number of Piercings:	One in each earlobe.
Number of Tattoos:	None.
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	Wow, this is hard. Lots. Lots and lots. Although I don't dwell on them usually.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

from Jenica

***
This post created by Cat. @ 11:32 AM

Jolly good, wot! Anyone for tennis? That'll be ten ponies, guv. You're the epitome of everything that is english. Yey :) Hoist that Union Jack!

How British are you?

this quiz was made by alanna

Umm, no, but close.

Which flock do you follow?
You are a -
Geek Sheep!
you're one l33t g33

this quiz was made by alanna


Sadly enough, I'm so geeky, I don't understand what that says....

Thanks to CatalogueAnnie.

The title of this reminds me of Whose Line is It Anyway? But it's s good 'un anyway from the Pariah. Except for one detail, which I'll address in my answer.

If you’ve been in the labor force for a few years, you have had the misfortune of working for a bad boss at one time or another. What was he like? What made him a bad boss? Was he the egotist who could never be wrong? Was he infallable despite the fact that his unchallengeable ideas often failed? Was he the micro-manager who scrutinized employees’ every activity and logged frequency of bathroom breaks? Did he harrass you or other employees? Did your worst boss demand more and more effort from his subordiantes without so much as a thank you?

In your career, who was your worst boss? What was s/he like? What did he do (or not do) that earns him your nomination for World’s Worst Boss? Don’t name him—we wouldn’t want it coming back on you, especially if he’s still your current boss!

First of all, I have, indeed had a couple of memorable bad bosses. I've also had a couple of bosses that I don't even remember, so I'm wondering if that makes them worse bosses than the "bad bosses." Or better than a good boss? Hmmm.

Secondly, working as I do in the library field I guess I would notice that the question refers to these bad bosses as 'he' exclusively. Well my nightmare boss happens to be a woman, but the Beast's bad bosses have been all men: the women bosses he's had for have been great!

OK, now that I've cleared the air...here's my answer:

Psycho-Boss from Hell, hereafter referred to as PBH, was literally nuts. Six months after she hired me, she was in the locked ward of a mental hospital, on suicide watch. Now, that fact in and of itself would normally (and in fact DID) encourage me to feel sorry for her and give her a break. I mean, jeez, who wouldn't assume that she's just having a rough patch? Well, there was the library board meeting I attended just after her return to work where she brushed off the previous year's budget overage as "the staff spent too much while I was in the hospital." Not likely. That was my first clue that things were not...right.

I lasted 6 years at the job, only leaving after PBH pulled up stakes and headed west. She was still seeing her psychiatrist almost daily. She was still getting by on four or fewer hours of sleep per night. She was still anorexic. She still ran every morning at least a few miles before coming to work at 6 a.m. Unfortunately, she didn't move very far west; she was still near enough to come back and pay bills until the board hired a new director.

Yes, you read that right: she paid the bills for almost three months after she quit and started her new job.

In between the first clue and my last day there were days when the staff came to work to find notes saying, "I'm down but not out--you won't get rid of me this easily" [that's a quote: I photocopied and saved it] pinned to the employee board. We went through at least three cleaning services because the desks were never wiped off to her satisfaction. The library had to have all the shelves faced and all returned books back on the shelves every night, along with all current magazines on the shelves in order. We "ran out of money" to purchase books two months into every budget year. I was told at one annual review that I was like a terrier with things, I never let them go; I vividly remember walking out of her office in confusion after that because I got a 15% raise and couldn't figure out why a reference librarian like a terrier (in that context) would be a bad thing.

Those are just the memorable highlights.

After she left, while she was still paying the bills, the atmosphere was the worst of my employment anywhere ever: I remember calling one of the board members from the reference desk and sobbing (the only time I called for help from them, or cried like that in public) that the being at work was impossible. She was appalled that I was so upset, never having seen me (or anyone else) freak out to that extent. The staff was completely divided: the tech group was following PBH's directions from her new workplace and the reference staff was trying to behave sensibly and follow the interim director's directions. PBH eventually hired two or three of our circ staff out from under us.

Several years later--after I'd been gone for a couple of years--I heard that the board had the books audited and found out that the whole money situation was completely whacked. PBH had been cooking the books the whole time she worked there. No kidding. Unfortunately, the statute of limitations had run out, and the board continued to have no spine anyway. No charges were filed.

Yes, she's still employed, still at the same place. I check up on that library periodically; they are in the process of building a new building. I have no doubt she's still nuts, still criminal, still a horrible person. I'm just so glad I don't have to deal with her in any way, even on a state or national level (why I'm not involved in and don't attend ALA conferences). She is probably the worst overall person, boss or otherwise, I've ever ever met.

You Are 60% Normal (Really Normal)

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal You're like most people most of the time But you've got those quirks that make you endearing You're unique, yes... but not frighteningly so!

Oh, but of course I am!
My ribs hurt from laughing...

Can you all hear me laughing? I'm about to give myself a broken rib!

I think it's time to quit. No more memes.

Your Scent is Lemon Vivacious, tangy, and lively You are one gigantic ball of energy! What Scent Are You? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

OK, I'll accept that. Right now, having had about 2 liters of diet Pepsi today, I'm feeling VERY energetic!

20 Questions, quiz-style! Gold With the chemical abbreviation of ‘Au’ (originating from the Latin ‘aureum’), you are the most ductile and malleable metal. You are found mainly in South Africa, and have been utilized in jewelry-making since ancient times.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Actually, I was thinking of a piano. Hmmm, something went very very wrong here....

Which Famous Revolutionary Are You? Witless Consumer I like my world just as it is, thank you. Ummm, beer gives me gas. Can't I have some cherries?"

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

I love when I take these stupid things and they answer is completely accurate!!
(OK, I putzed with the code a little....)

...from the left column.
Four for Friday

Q1: Which do you use the most... microwave oven, toaster oven, or conventional oven? Which do you prefer to use?
I use the toaster oven every morning for my bagel, so I guess that wins the "oftenest" prize. I prefer the microwave (but not for bread products) just because of all the buttons and its speed.

Q2: If the NCAA Men's or Women's Final Four basketball tournament was played in your hometown arena or within easy driving distance from where you live, would you try to attend one the three games?
NO. I hate basketball.
If it was local, I'd probably get season tickets to the WNBA just on principle, however. Don't know if I'd actually attend the games, but I'd buy the tickies.

Q3: Of all the clothes you own, what do you feel most comfortable wearing, and why?
Lee or Old Navy jeans and a T-shirt. Unless I've been eating too much, then sweats and a T-shirt. The T is interchangeable, and in the winter it becomes either a turtleneck or a sweatshirt.

Q4: On what television show—either past or present—would you like to make to make a guest appearance, and what role would you play?
"Bewitched." I always wanted to be Sam's pal; she never had a friend, because of her husband's control issues and her family's insanity. Poor Sam, surrounded by crazy people, including Gladys Kravitz. Maybe she'd teach me the nose-wiggle thingy.

How Would YOU Take Over the World?

Thanks Shelly!

Your Irish Name Is...

Shauna O'Donovan

Monkey!
You are a cheeky Monkey.
We find you funny.


Monkey, Ninja, Pirate, Robot?
brought to you by Quizilla

Heh heh heh. I knew it.

Thursday Threesome

Onesome: Happy-- No matter what's going on in your life, what always makes you smile?

My son, when he's being particularly goofy, or when he is unaware of how gorgeous he is to me.
And Robin Williams....

Twosome: St. Patrick's-- St. Patrick's Day is March 17th (tomorrow). Do you celebrate and wear green? Drink Green Beer? Ignore it?

Proof that I'm a day late... Having a few drops of Irish in me, I do try to wear green on St. Pat's. I used to wear orange too, but I don't anymore, because I don't want to associate with the Orangemen. They're nuts, and dangerous to boot.
I don't drink beer, so no green beer for me. We had corned beef and cabbage last night (at church), and I usually cook it at home, too, but not this year.

Threesome: Day-- What day of the week is your busiest? Tell us about your schedule...

At work, it's the Fridays that I work because I'm never at my desk doing my job. I get the most done on Thursdays as a rule--I'm not on the public schedule at all (usually).
I'm usually very busy on Mondays doing errands and volunteer stuff.
All this is subject to the world-at-large cooperating with me. Lately, it's been pretty much anyone's guess what's going to happen on any given day.

You Are A Good Friend

You're always willing to listen Or lend a shoulder to cry on You're there through thick and thin Many people consider you their "best friend"!

I almost didn't post this; it's a little "pat-on-the-back-ish" but then again, I've always been a good tester. Doesn't mean I actually believe this shit. hee hee hee

You are a Dreamer!
(Submissive Introverted Abstract Feeler)

...reserved and imaginative. You are basically the shy, silent type. You don't have much interest in facts and figures or most of what's going on around you, but the internal worlds you build for yourself are rich and complex. Luckily, your creativity and strong heart mean you have a deep personality evident to anyone who gets to know you. It's just that not many people do. Talk to yourself less, other people more.

Compared to 14,603,688 other test takers...

43% are more Submissive than you.
36% are more Dominant than you.
21% are just as Submissive as you.
18% are more Introverted than you.
67% are more Extroverted than you.
15% are just as Introverted as you.
15% are more Abstract than you.
68% are more Concrete than you.
17% are just as Abstract as you.
87% are more Thinking than you.
6% are more Feeling than you.
7% are just as Feeling as you.

Some interesting facts about The Personality Test...

14,603,688 people have taken the test.
Of those, 63% were female and 37% were male.
The most common personality type is Dreamer at 12% of test takers.
The least common is Administrator at only 3%.
Women prefer Einstein. Men do, too.
Women would rather sell their bodies. Men would, too.

from Christopher via Spark where there are loads more tests...

List 10 things that people are always surprised to learn about you.

1. I have a sister 20 years older than me.
2. I have a niece 5-1/2 years younger than me.
3. I swear (if they know I go to church).
4. I go to church (if they know I bash religiosity).
5. I wish Bush wasn't our president (if they know I'm Christian).
6. I spent a month in the Soviet Union.
7. I'm terribly disorganized, especially at home.
8. I'm shy.
9. I get very depressed in the winter. (No one here is surprised by that, though, I suspect!)
10. I don't read stuff that makes me think very hard (very often).

This was hard!

01. Tomorrow is St. Patricks Day. If a leprechaun told you that you could have any amount of money from his pot of gold but it had to be a specified amount for a specified item, how much would you ask for and what would it be for?

I'd ask for $10,000 a day to give to our church so we could get the new building up, to end when the building is finished.

02. One of the symbols of St. Patrick's Day is the leprechaun. Name a celebrity that you think would look good as a leprechaun. Name a celebrity that would look ridiculous as a leprechaun. Is there any one celebrity that would make a really scary leprechaun?

Well, obviously, Elijah Wood would be a good leprechaun. Arnold Schwarzenegger...not so much.
I've always thought Robin Williams might actually be a leprechaun

03. For a prize of $1,000,000,000 you are challenged to make yourself a costume for a St. Patricks Day party. The ONLY rules are that you aren't allow to use clothing and it has to be green. Using anything other than clothing, describe your costume to us using ANYTHING else in the house.

I so suck at this sort of thing...
I guess I could buy a green swimsuit/leotard, spray-dye my hair green, and use a green magic marker to color my skin. For a billion dollars, I'd be willing to stay green for awhile.

from the usual suspects...

You Are Best Described By...

Under the Wave Off Kanagawa By Katsushika Hokusai

Really? I wonder...

What Pattern Are You?

Heeh!!

from Shelly again.

from Shelly

1. Which household chore do you really hate?
Floors. Anything about cleaning floors: mopping, vacuuming...the whole deal.

2. Which chore do you like doing?
Bathrooms don't bother me.

3. What is the worst job you've ever done?
Receptionist sub. BOR-RING.

4. What would be your dream job?
I like cataloging books. I like everything about it except the people.

5. What's the worst job you can imagine?
Restaurant kitchen work.

6. What is the happiest event you've experienced?
My wedding.

7. What is the saddest thing you've experienced?
My sister's death.

8. Have you experienced true love?
Yes.

9. Is there anyone you hate? Why?
No. There is something positive in everyone (although, frankly, I'm usually not bothered to look that hard; I just run the other way).

10. How many countries have you visited?
11 (or 14 depending on how you count): the U.K. (England and Scotland), Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Poland (v. briefly), the former Soviet Union (Russian, Azerbaijain, Kazhakstan), Outer Mongolia, China, Mexico, Canada.

11. How many houses have you lived in?
Not counting college (although I lived all four years in the same dorm), I count 6 addresses: two apartments, four houses.

12. How many towns have you lived in?
Counting college, six.

13. How many schools/colleges have you attended?
Elementary school, junior high school, high school, college (4 years), university (18 months): 5

14. How many cars have you had?
It has come to my attention lately that I've never owned my own car, alone. When we got married, the Beast had a Pinto (horrors!). Since then we've had a Toyota pickup, a Monza (horrors again!), a Dodge Horizon, a Chrysler Voyager, a Honda Accord and a Ford Ranger. The last two are our current vehicles.

15. How many people live in your house?
Three, plus two cavies.

16. How many pets have you had?
2 dogs, several birds (a parakeet when I was little, and finches), 2 cavies.

17. How many siblings do you have?
When I was born, 3 sisters, 1 brother. Now down one sister. I have 4 nieces and nephews, ranging from age 36 to nearly 20.

18. How many drinks make you drunk?
Nowadays, only one strong one gets be tipsy. Two would probably make me sleep. I used to be able to drink more. [who didn't?]

19. How many websites do you have?
Too-freakin'-many blogs! I have access to about 8 of them.

20. How many hours a day are you online?
On workdays, 8-10. When I'm at home, usually not more than 2...we have a modem and it's SLOW!

Get Over It (The Eagles)
Amazing Grace
The Sweetest Thing (U2)
The One Thing (Rich Mullins)

You Are Very Honest

You tell it like it is, no matter what. Even if the truth hurts, you'll dish it out. And while some may get hurt by your honesty... At least everyone knows where you stand!

Yeah, ok. Right. huh

She asked; I'll answer.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Probably only once or twice a year. I think my first crush may have been the Hardy Boys; as I recall, I liked Joe better.In the past year or so, I can’t think of a crush per se, but Jamie Fraser in Diana Gabaldon’s books is awfully hard to resist.

The last book you bought is:

...probably a gift for someone. I can’t remember. I bought about 20 books at Christmas, but nothing since then.

Oh, ok: The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom. Four copies for friends, and one for me.

The last book you read:

See left column. Presumably this means the last book I finished? That would be Wicked Loving Murder, by Orania Papazoglou.

What are you currently reading?

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Interesting.

Five books you would take to a deserted island.

The Bible
A compilation of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets.
A blank journal (and some pens).
Alice in Wonderland
Jane Eyre

Who are you going to pass this stick to and why?

Well, I was going to say Johnnie. Not sure if he’s still around. But also Annie and Shelly would have good answers

from Anne

I think I did this awhile back, but not at home. Plus it’s one of those low-thought days.

1) Grab the nearest book.
2) Open the book to page 123.
3) Find the fifth sentence.
4) Post the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5) Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you're thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.

I’m reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke today, trying to get through it. Which is worse than it sounds, because it’s quite a well-written book; I’m just having concentration issues.

So, page 123, fifth sentence, and GO!

“Why not pigs in the sty? Or stray dogs, I wonder? This is not the sort of magic which civilized men wish to see practised in England nowadays!”

It makes slightly more sense if one has read the book. Just slightly, though.

You Are Pretty Logical

(You got 63% of the questions right) You're a bit of a wizard when it comes to logic While you don't have perfect logic, you logic is pretty darn good Keep at it - you've got a lot of natural talent in this area!

Somehow, this seems high.

Y...Yttrium
You scored

• 43 Mass,
• 27 Electronegativity,
• 71 Metal, and
• 0 Radioactivity!

Yttrium? Yttrium??? You're messing with me, right? That's not a real element. Really? If you say so. Okay... how about: You are really a solitary creature, and you're somewhat set in your ways. You work, consciously or subconsciously, towards the betterment of society, but I guess you do this by befriending its strangest elements. You're kind of a spaceman/woman, but in the end you're all right. You should try to be with the benign weirdos of the world because, by goodness, no one else will. Oh, it says here that you are abundant on the moon. Interpret as you will.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 57% on Mass
You scored higher than 42% on Electroneg
You scored higher than 71% on Metal
You scored higher than 1% on Radioactivity

The Which Chemical Element Am I Test

HEE HEE HEE

English Genius
You scored

• 100% Beginner
• 100% Intermediate
• 87% Advanced
• 77% Expert

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog.

My test tracked 4 variables. How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 60% on Beginner
You scored higher than 72% on Intermediate
You scored higher than 16% on Advanced
You scored higher than 72% on Expert

The Commonly Confused Words Test

found at Anne's place

You're a Narrative writer!


What kind of writer are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I only wish I could write as well as some of the choices in the quiz! Thanks, Annie!

-- let's play a numbers game

Mambo, step one ....
Since we Mambo on Mondays, can you name four songs with "Monday" in the title? If you can't think of four, list whatever comes to mind.

"Monday, Monday" (Mamas and the Papas)
"I Don't Like Mondays" (Boomtown Rats)

Mambo, step two ...
Can you name four songs (of any genre -- pop, rock, Christmas, Juvenile, etc.) with ...
... the number "one" in the title? ... the number "two" in the title? ... the number "three" in the title? ... the number "four" in the title? If you can't think of four, list whatever comes to mind.

"One" (from A Chorus Line)
"One is the Loneliest Number" (??)
"One" (U2)

"Two by Two" (The King's Singers)

"Knock Three Times" (??)
theme from "Three's Company"

{can't think of any for Four}

Mambo, step three ...
Let's get crazy! List four songs with the word, "crazy" in the title. If you can't think of four, list whatever comes to mind.

"Crazy" (Patsy Cline)
"I Go Crazy" (Bread??)

Mambo, step four ...
Since the Mambo is a dance and it takes "two to Tango" (so to speak), let's entice other mamboers to dance with us.
Think of four of your favorite songs. From each song list the fourth lyric line. Other mamboers will visit your blog and try to guess the name of the song and/or the artist. Don't post the answers until your Mambo has been up at least for a full day to give other Mamboers a chance to come dance with you.

1. "Spend all their time feeling sorry for themselves"
2. "Was blind but now I see"
3. "You know she likes a dry kind of love"
4. "And everybody seems to think they've got it coming"

These are in no particular order, by the way.

It's all about the kitchen today...

1. What's on your refrigerator? (Please feel free to use a picture to answer.) Too damn much crap.
Front, freezer: prayer chain list, 4 magnets and a political cartoon
Front, fridge: Sparky art, Gaya art, school lunch calendar, bus information, a political cartoon, dry erase calendar/notepad, the non-emergency police number, "legal" food for the guinea pigs, all held on by 15 magnets
Side: dry erase board (Job Jar) and pen, pre-printed shopping list in plastic sleeve with pen, pencil with magnet attached, bottle opener on a magnet, paper for lists, 2 school district calendars, cooking equivalency magnet, remote for under-counter radio/CD player, 9 magnets

2. What color is your refrigerator? White

3. Is the freezer on the top, bottom or side? Side-by-side

4. How old is your fridge? Does it match your stove? Yes, they were purchased as a set in October 2003. The fridge is a Maytag and the stove is a Frigidaire (which has never made sense to me: Frigid-aire? A stove??).

5. How regularly do you clean the inside of your fridge? Not often enough: either when it stinks, when something spills, or when I find something completely unidentifiable. (Hey, I'm honest, what can I say!)

I say ... and you think ... ?

Usher::the singer of course. If I were to go outside of the obvious, I'd say "church."
Cherish::"...is the word I'd use to descri-ibe..." The Partridge Family
Mistreat::ASPCA
Forum:: Roman ("A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the...")
Systematic::The Beast. Not me.
Warning::Railroad crossing
Wash::Clothes (Laundry)
I wish:: pointless
Candles::Must go light them! Thanks for the reminder!
Metallic:: I thought that said "Metallica," which would be different answer. My actual answer is Shiny.

Your Kitchen
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." -Harry Vaughan

1) What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
The one I use daily is the toaster oven. It's a Black & Decker and it has worked faithfully for almost 10 years, even after I set taco shells on fire in it. Flames and everything.
2) What kind of cookware do you have?
Revereware. My husband insists the copper bottoms be kept shiny even though they are stored in a cupboard. I don't care, but they do look nice when they are polished.
3) What color are your countertops and cabinets?
Countertops: pale beige, almost white, with flecks. Basic, cheap. I wish I'd gotten a Corian knockoff....
Cupboards: the basic (stock) oak, the kind that are in every new home today.
4) Name one kitchen appliance or gadget that you wish you had.
I used to really want a food processor, but now I think I'd prefer a new electric frying pan to replace my 19-year-old one. Otherwise, I don't like appliances; I never used them enough to warrant having them.
5) Describe your dream kitchen.
I really love my kitchen. The only things I'd change would be the countertops (see above), and I could easily be talked into different cabinets. I'd also like some handles on them, but that's a battle for another day. Oh, and I'd rather have soffits that have to clean the tops of the cupboards. Can you say dust magnet? Ick. And I'd rethink the sink we have too; it shows every scratch and dirty spot. It's all surface stuff: the bones are perfect.

You Will Die at Age 82

82 Congratulations! You take good care of yourself. You're poised to live a long, healthy life.

Which means my mom will have lived longer than me. Ugh. Guess I should eat my veggies and get a less stressful life!

The Best Decision I Ever Made Was…

What? Choosing to marry your someone special? Having a child? Making a career change? Divorcing that someone who wasn’t as special as s/he used to be? Going back to school?

Of all thousands of decisions you make daily, which stands out to you today as the best decision you ever made? Tell your readers what it was, the circumstances surrounding the decision, and how it has come to present to you the best decision you ever made.

The one decision that led to all the other good decisions: going far away from home for college. Which led to me meeting The Beast. Which led to us getting married, and to choosing to have a kid (who is quite cool). All good decisions, but ones that couldn't have happened if I hadn't gotten away from home in the first place.

You Have Good Karma

In general, you like to do the right thing when it comes to others. Your caring personality really shines through. Sure, you have your moments of weakness - and occasionally act out. But, all in all, you're karma is good... even with those few dark spots.

What a relief. My karma is in good shape (and its oil has been changed!).

from Friday Fiver

1. Do you tend to exaggerate or underestimate?
I tend to exaggerate. Although I frequently underestimate myself. It makes a nice guilt-complex.

2. What is the last "white" lie that you told?
I don't really remember. Probably something to do with how I'm feeling: "Fine." Or, when asked to add something to my full schedule: "No problem."

3. Can you forgive a liar?
Depends entirely on what the context of the lie is/was. And there is a time factor involved. I probably would forgive eventually. But 'eventually' can be long time coming!

4. Do you hold a grudge?
I had a babysitter growing up who always said "Forgive and forget." It bothered me that I could never do the 'forget' part. I do remember being slighted, but I'm not sure that's a grudge unless I react negatively in response. And again, it depends on the context of the situation.

5. What's the biggest lie you've ever told?
The first one that springs to mind is when I was in college, I told my folks that I was going to Italy for 10 days with another girl instead of a guy. I suspect now that they knew. Or at least they figured it out later. I'm sure there've been some doozies since them, but I'd prefer not to go there this morning.

You Are 60% Extrovert, 40% Introvert

You are quite outgoing You are a social connector - you know a ton of people While you aren't a wild extrovert, you are a great talker A fantastic storyteller, you keep everyone laughing

Never thought I'd live to see the day when this passed for accuracy....!

Onesome: Routine-- Tell us about your morning routine. Do you get up at the same time every day, or do you sometimes hit the snooze button on your alarm clock more often than you should? Do you head straight for the coffee or into the shower?

I usually get up around 6 on weekdays, usually after whacking "snooze" at least once. This morning I didn't because...well, because I got the giggles. There was a song from the 70s on the radio... Nevermind.
Normally, once I'm up, I either get right in the shower to beat The Beast or I head downstairs for a bagel while he showers and then I get the bathroom. Depends on which of us is more desperately in need of a shower, and who needs to get to work first.

Twosome: Scheduled-- What’s on your schedule for the day? Do you schedule every minute or go with the flow?

Unfortunately, I'd rather plan my day a little bit, but that doesn't pan out very well at work. I like lists, and that works fine when I'm home, but at work.... Stuff interferes with accomplishing lists. I do have a mighty large TASK list in Office (at work), though!

Threesome: Maintenance-- What do you do to maintain your sanity each day in this hectic world? Do you find a little time to yourself each day and meditate, or wait until everyone’s tucked in for the night and log on to the computer or settle down with a book? Or do you run off to the gym and maintain your body while maintaining your mind?

Sanity? What's that??
I think my best sanity-preserver is blogging. Beyond that, I read or do crosswords--I looked over about 10 clues last night before the clipboard hit me in the face because I dozed off in bed--or listen to music, or talk to The Beast, or watch mindless TV (like poker).
Bible study helps, too.

Speaking of routine maintenance, the oil in my car is being changed this weekend, and I'll actually be home to "maintain" some organization into my house, for a change. Do you believe how excited I am about that!?

You Are As Cool As They Come

(You are more dramatic than 20% of the population.) Rational and relaxed, no one could accuse you of being dramatic. You roll with the punches, and nothing ever gets you too worked up. You are able to maintain perspective and see the big picture. And even if you're emotional inside, you don't let it show. You're great at keeping it together, and you're rewarded for that. People see you as an ideal friend, employee, and partner.

Hah! Hah, I say. This could be a little on the low side. ;-)

from Cheddar-X

1. What word or words do you just love? I like to say "love" "mama" "precocious" "smooth" and "hug."
2. What word or words make you want to tear your hair and run up and down the street with your fingers in your ears going "Lalalalalalalala"? "like" when used, like, all the, like, time, y'know?
3. What words do people commonly misuse that make you mad/crazy? See here.
4. What's the prettiest word you know? "sleep"
5. What word sounds like what it means? "jazz"--it's those z's
6. What word or words just make no sense? (I.e., a word like "whatsoever" is a pretty bizarre word when you look at it). "vacuum"--I can never write it (cursive) correctly
7. What words soothe you? My first, snarky, answer was "Crosswords soothe me." But the non-snarky answers include "smile" "lullaby" "quiet" and "read."

No brain, just follow the rest of the pack. I first did this July 2, before I had permalinks figured out. [*indicates a cut/paste from last time]

Starting time: 11:17 a.m. (in the kids' dept., where it's quiet, at least right now)
Full name: My full legal name is comprised of 4 words. There are 21 letters: no 'a' or 'e', 2 'a's, 3 'r's, and 4 't's. Vowels: 6. Consonants: 15
Nicknames: My parents purposely chose names that are hard to shorten into nicknames. Mine is just pronounced wrong all the time. It is NOT Marian, al