Your Power Element is Wood

Your power colors: green and brown Your energy: generative Your season: spring Like a tree, you are always growing and changing. And while your life is dynamic, you are firmly grounded. You have high morals and great confidence in yourself and others. You have a wide set of interests, and you make for intersting company.

Whatever the hell that means.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

He Is So Into You!

Come on, why was there any question in your mind? If he hasn't asked you out yet, he will! All signs point to strong flirtation - And that's always a good thing.

Well, he did marry me, after all!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You Should Own a Beagle

Low maintenance, very friendly, and sturdy .

Given that there was no "non-allergenic" choice, I guess a Beagle would be fine. I especially like "low maintenance."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Your Are a Bold Brunette

Men see you as striking and mysterious - you have a certain allure. Comfortable in your own skin, you know you have a unique beauty. You don't mind attention, but you don't need to seek it out.

Not blonde at all, yep.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You Would Be a Pet Bird

You're intelligent and witty, yet surprisingly low maintenance. You charm people easily, and they usually love you a lot more than you love them. You resent anyone who tries to own or control you. You refuse to be fenced in. Why you would make a great pet: You're very smart and entertaining Why you would make a bad pet: You're not interested in being anyone's pet! What you would love about being a bird: Flying, obviously What you would hate about being a bird: Being caged

Pretty accurate. Yes, I'm NOT interested in being a pet.

Labels: Animals, Blogthings, Hair, Love, People, Personality, Power

(Link at left)
What is your favorite…?

1. Flavor of ice cream?

Banilla

2. Cold beverage?

Dr. Pepper

3. TV show?

CSI

4. Hobby?

Gotta be blogging at this point.

5. Place to visit?

I'm not fussy. I just want a stress-free moment or two.

6. Pizza?

P@^lee's Canadian bacon pan pizza.

7. Online news source?

Google News, and blogs.

8. Online game?

Pogo dominos, but I haven't played in eons.

Labels: Favorites, Friday memes

45 of the most random things you probably never needed to know about someone
whats your name spelt backwards?:	.taC
What did you do last night?:	Memed, took a bath, and slept
The last thing you downloaded onto your computer?:	...haven't for awhile...
Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery?:	I let others do that, and watch.
Last time you swam in a pool?:	I can't swim, but the last time I was in a pool was last summer.
What are you wearing?:	Pajamas and my Wisconsin Rose Bowl T
How many cars have you owned?:	We have bought six. Beast had one when we got married.
Type of music you dislike most?:	Opera.
Are you registered to vote?:	Yes.
Do you have cable?:	No. Satellite.
What kind of computer do you use?:	This is a Gateway. The one at work is a Dell.
Ever made a prank phone call?:	...yeah, but not for 30 years (except in the Sims)
You like anyone right now?:	Yep.
Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?:	Yep.
Furthest place you ever traveled?:	China.
What's your favorite comic strip?:	Unshelved
Do u know all the words to the national anthem?:	Of course. I know part of the second verse, too.
Shower, morning or night?:	Morning. Or whenever I need to. ;-)
Best movie you've seen in the past month?:	er...haven't seen a movie in the past month (I'm not counting those I've seen previously)
Favorite pizza toppings?:	Canadian bacon, cheese, onions...
Chips or popcorn?:	Popcorn.
What cell phone provider do you have?:	Cingular/AT&T or whoever they are today.
Have you ever smoked peanut shells?:	WTF?!?!
Have you ever been in a beauty pageant?:	Nope. I ran light & sound for one, though. OMG--shoot me! Better yet: shoot them!
Orange Juice or apple?:	Apple.
Who were the last people you sat at lunch with?:	...well, here's the deal, I usually eat at my desk at work...
Favorite chocolate bar?:	Heath Bar (which is second favorite because I don't want to hear all the comments about my first choice).
Who is your longest friend and how long?:	My "longest" friend?? ROFLMAO I've known Laura for 37 years, if that's the question.
Last time you ate a homegrown tomato?:	That would be NEVER, certainly not willingly.
Have you ever won a trophy?:	No, I don't think I have. They didn't used to give them out at the drop of a hat like they do now.
Favorite arcade game?:	Pac-Man
Ever ordered from an infomercial?:	Hella no! You mean, people actually do that?!
Sprite or 7-UP?:	Ginger Ale.
Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?:	Not exactly. Not to school, but I do have an assortment of Summer Reading T-shirts from years past.... This year's is the worst EVER; directly to the rag pile after SRC ends.
Last thing you bought at Walgreens?:	Probably a prescription refill.
Ever thrown up in public?:	Unfortunately, yes.
Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?:	Love.
Do you believe in love at first sight?:	No.
SPONGEBOB OR JIMMY NEUTRON?:	Why is this is all-caps? SpongeBob.
Did you have long hair as a young kid?:	Usually my mom made me keep it short. Every girl around my age knows what a Pixie cut was--that's what I had for most of my single-digit years.
What message is on your voicemail machine?:	"Hi, you've reached [Beast, Cat., & Sparky]. We can't pick up the phone right now. Leave a message and we'll call back as soon as we can. Thanks for calling."
Where would you like to go right now?:	Back to sleep.
Whats the name of your pet?:	Buddy, but he's really Sparky's pet not mine.
What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it?:	I don't think I actually have a backpack of my own anymore. Sparky has two or three.
What do you think about most?:	What I need to/should be doing.
Take this survey Find more surveys MySpace Surveys Bzoink - The Original Survey Site

Labels: Miscellany, Surveys

Your Score: Cowpoke, Skis & Duck

You scored 25 Job, 75 Tool, and 37 Sidekick!

You're a Cowpoke with Skis and a Duck for a sidekick. Now how silly is that? Well, let me tell you since you asked.

Yeeha! - Of the silly archetypes, you identify most closely with the Cowpoke. This means you're probably ridiculously honorable. In fact, you're so honorable you'd probably chase down a bank robber to give them the big bag of loot they dropped. Hey, you'd want them to do the same for you. At the end of the day you usually pack it in early because the cattle won't drive themselves, but every so often, you like to go into town and whoop it up.

You're wearing Skis, which is great. You would have a really hard time keeping up with the Joneses without them. Thankfully, there are a lot Joneses out there, and they've created a well worn path. If you can navigate the moguls, you'll make it to the bottom of the mountain in one piece. Sure, you're not going anywhere new, but that's fine. Those who went before you already found the best route to take, and gravity will do most of the work for you.

Your sidekick is a Duck, the most hilarious of all sidekicks. They're always quacking about this duck or that duck, flying in formation, making fun of other kinds of ducks, and going to tropical locations when the going gets tough. They often try to be leaders, but most end up being one of many wingmen in the "V" formation (i.e. slacking off). Ducks bond strongly when they are young but don't be surprised when they find a mate and and decide to settle down, as most of them eventually do.

(All images copyright me, 2005-2006)

Link: The Lifestyles of Silly Persons Test written by jesterketch on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Has to be one of the funnier tests I've done.... DEFINITELY the goofiest! I can't make head nor tail of the result, but I like the mental picture of me flying down a ski slope with my duck and my cowboy hat.

Labels: Funny, Personality, Tests

(Link at left)
::Pimentos in Olives::warning: I don't eat olives....yechhhh

Onesome: Pimentos-- in Olives? Useless decorative effect? ...or something you maybe enjoy? ...and is there something you can only stare at and wonder about at the snack bar?

Well, useless and decorative, yes. I imagine the pimiento can't help but help out the taste of green olives. This is DEFINTELY something I would only think about if bored, or drunk, out of my mind!

Twosome: in Olives though? Who thought of that one? No, that's not your question {g}; rather, what combo of things do you put together in the food arena that's been know to strike others as a bit strange?

Well, I think potato chips in cheese sandwiches is weird. But oh so tasty. Otherwise, I'm not one for weird food combinations. In fact, I'm more one to not let my different foods touch on the plate. Sectioned plates are wonderful things. ;-)

Threesome: Olives-- on fingertips (preferably black olives!). What food do you "play" with when you're feeling a bit silly?

My mom taught me early and often not to play with food. The only thing she relaxed that injunction for was mashed potatoes. You just have to play with them, a little.

Labels: Food, Thursday memes

(Link at left)
Why?

1. Why do you think western medicine sucks so bad? From the insurance companies to mis-diagnosis to being shifted from doctor to doctor until they figure out what's wrong with you? Do you think it might be worse in the US than in other countries? Why/why not?

Uhm, western medicine has saved my ass too many times to agree with the basic sentiment here. I don't think western medicine sucks. I think we westerners (i.e. Americans) expect everything to be a walk in the park, and when it isn't we get all whiny and stupid. Life is hard, people. Illness happens. As Beast frequently says, "Why do you think doctors call what they do 'practice'?" Sometimes they're wrong about things. Sometimes they're stupid, too, and for that they should be held accountable, but accidents happen. Sometimes doctors prescribe something that (nearly) kills you, for no reason other than to see if that med works on a cold. That's stupid, and it pissed off my parents enough to be part of a class action lawsuit on behalf of my sister, but they didn't so much fault the doctor as the pharmaceutical business (ahem--another industry quite capable of wearing both black and white hats). That drug is now used to treat yellow fever, incidentally, and only as a last resort.

Having said all that, I think the health delivery system in the U.S. needs a great deal of fine-tuning. The fact that insurance companies are running treatment- and care-options is ridiculous. However, I have relatives in England who are less than excited about the same thing, except that it's the government not insurance companies making these same decisions. Heard of Medicare? The hoops we are jumping through for my mom are bizarre.

It would just be nice if individuals would belly up to the responsibility bar and realize that they can't have it both ways. Sometimes it's cancer and it's good that they removed all the tissue touching the tumor...and sometimes it was a benign tumor and they didn't need to remove all the surrounding organs after all. Suing won't bring it back.

Rant over.

2. For those of us not growing up in Beaver's house, why do we fear we're going to turn into our parents? How do we not do that?

Hmm, I guess I grew up in Beaver's house. I have gone a long way toward turning into my parents. That's not necessarily a bad thing in my case. I'm more worried about my treatment of, behavior toward, and relationship with my (nearly) grown child at this point.

3. Why do you think we as a civilization can't seem to get along with one another?

Because we talk more than we listen, we lack empathy, and we're way too interested in flashy stuff instead of commonplace courtesy. And a lot of other reasons.

Labels: Cranky, Family, Health, People, Psychology, Thursday memes

(Link at left)
from Lynda

Hypotheticals: If you were nominated for a Nobel prize, what would it be for?

In reality, I'm so totally unlikely to do this that it's hard to come up with anything. So, I'll just say that I won for finally discovering the end of the internet.

Anything Goes: What American city does not deserve a place on the map? Why?

Casper, WY.

No-Brainers: What is your most admired athlete of all time?

Muhammed Ali.

Personals: What is the most common compliment that people give you?

That I'm helpful. urgh...

Labels: Loaded Questions

(Link at left)
The Infamous Proust Questionnaire
You, and I, can find out more about this here. I'll be doing that after I answer the questions.

* Your most marked characteristic?

My verbosity.

* The quality you most like in a man?

A willingness to admit he's wrong and/or he doesn't know the answer.

* The quality you most like in a woman?

Lack of game-playing.

* What do you most value in your friends?

Patience. And a sense of humor.

* What is your principle defect?

Tempermentalness.

* What is your favorite occupation?

Occupation as in job: Cataloger
Occupation as in past-time: Sleeping

* What is your dream of happiness?

Being able to work because and when I want to. Where would be nice as well. I'd love to be able to travel WAAAAAAAY more often than I currently can. Retirement is out, so I'm trying to get as much under my belt now.

* What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?

Being friendless and rootless, and unaware of the fact of how sad that life is.

* What would you like to be?

A travel writer, who catalogs books, too.

* In what country would you like to live?

This one, as my home-home. I wouldn't mind having places in other countries as well, though: Greece, Scotland, Italy....

* What is your favorite color?

Blue.

* What is your favorite flower?

Garden roses, tulips, lilacs, and tigerlilies.

* What is your favorite bird?

{giggle}
No, but really: zebra finches. They look like little clowns (well, the boys do), and sound like Woody Woodpecker. They make me laugh.

* Who are your favorite prose writers?

Kent Haruf, Shakespeare, Robert Parker, Bill Bryson, Molly Ivins, Kate, Chopin, Charlotte Bronte...and others. I can't think of several people I'm sure will come to mind at midnight.

* Who are your favorite poets?

Maya Angelou, Edgar Allan Poe, Ogden Nash, Shakespeare, Seamus Heaney, Nikki Giovanni, Emily Dickinson...and others. See previous answer.

* Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Spenser. The book one, not the TV one.

* Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?

V.I. Warshawski.

* Who are your favorite composers?

Beethoven, K.L. King, and J. Lennon would lead the pack....

* Who are your favorite painters?

Dali, Monet (some days), and Michelangelo, in reverse order.

* Who are your heroes in real life?

My dad, my son, my sister Ellen. I have a great deal of respect for what M.L. King, Jr., tried to do, I really liked what Ann Richards stood for, and I do like Gloria Steinem, even though she can be sort of annoying and duh-like at times.

* Who are your favorite heroines of history?

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and ALL the nameless faceless women who carried on through the bullshit of reality.

* What are your favorite names?

My mom's middle name and my dad's first name.

* What is it you most dislike?

People who disagree with me and get in my way.

* What historical figures do you most despise?

Well, the Big Yuckeroonies: Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin, et al. And anyone who has ever used religion inappropriately for personal--earthly--glory, at the expense at the rest of humanity.

* What event in military history do you most admire?

The skirmishes that were resolved with minimal or no bloodshed, resulting in an OUTSTANDING LACK of military events.

* What reform do you most admire?

For my own personal life-improvement: women's suffrage and the work of women in the 60s and 70s (and onward) to improve my lot in life.
On a much larger scale: mental health treatment in the past century or so.

* What natural gift would you most like to possess?

Kindness.

* How would you like to die?

A long time in the future and very quickly with just enough warning to prepare myself and my loved ones.

* What is your present state of mind?

I have a headache, my vertigo has returned to visit, and at 8:45 it's still 80 degrees and humid out. Otherwise, I'm fine.

* To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

Children's misbehavior in the spirit of group fun (i.e. not meanness).

* What is your motto?

Live long and prosper? May the Force be with you? ehhh.... No, lately it's "Don't let idiots rent space in your head."

No wonder I've never heard of this: I don't read 'Vanity Fair.' I spent too much time reading John Bunyan in my formative years.

Labels: Miscellany, Surveys

Yeah, I meant to post these yesterday, and I was too busy boring myself to tears last night. So here are the answers, with the keywords following:

1. The Piano - Desire, Daughter, Cruelty, Infidelity, 1800s

2. The Matrix - Kung Fu, Cat, Spoon, Prophecy, Mentor

3. Thelma & Louise - Suicide, Gasoline Truck, Buddy, Robbery, Sexism

4. RHPS - Nixon Resignation, Old Dark House, Paraplegic, Saxophone, Swimming Pool

5. Shoah - Holocaust, Poland, WWII, Concentration Camp, Jewish

6. Heathers - Romance, School Life, Father Son Relationship, Eating Disorder, Murder

7. Groundhog Day - Hope, Small Town Life, Humor, Time Travel, Existentialism

8. Risky Business - Satire, Shower, Taxicab, Train, Independent Film

9. Caddyshack - Vomit, Snobbery, Bet, Class Differences, College Bound

10. The Hiding Place - Survival, Concentration Camp, Holland, Face Slap, Netherlands

I've highlighted what I think are the particularly funny or egregiously lame "subjects." The winner is "Face Slap." WTF?? The actual best one is "Gasoline Truck"--if you've seen the movie, it's the part where there are cheers from ALL THE WOMEN in the audience. Yes: including me. What gets me is that there's nothing about "Sexy Cowboy Hat" in the keywords for that one.... ahem

Labels: Movies

(Link at left)
Best Foot Day

1. Football - what's your favorite football team (any level)?

The Pack.

2. Shoes - Describe your favorite pair of shoes.

It varies. I like comfortable shoes, but they have to look good too. I'm not one for frumpy shoes (unless I'm going strictly on comfort--I have two pair of "standing on my feet all day" shoes that aren't pretty, but my feet don't hurt when I wear them). Right now, I'm working through the..uh..5 pairs of sandals that I own...ahem.

3. Dancing - What do you think is the best music to dance to?

Strong beat, and happy-making. I can't dance to depressing music. Not that I dance much in the first place....

Labels: Clothes, Music, Sports, Wednesday memes

(Link at left)

Have you ever had a dream that explained something that happened in your past? Predicted something that happened in the future?

A lot of my dreams explain stuff that happened. Every once in awhile something happens that I know I've 'already done' in a dream, and it's freaky. I can't think of anything specific in either case, but I know I've discussed it on the occasions when it's happened.

What is your favorite candy?

Smarties, or SweetTarts.

If you had to have one, whose autograph would you have tattooed somewhere on your body?

Someone with a VERY SMALL signature! Or, I'd get my own signature on someplace hidden, for identification purposes.

Labels: Dreams, Food, Monday memes, Popular Culture, Tattoo

(Link at left)
Summer…

1. Based on the current weather conditions, do you wish it were warmer or cooler? Why?

The weather right now is just about perfect. It could be slightly less humid, but otherwise I'm quite pleased with it. I like warm weather. I like hot weather. I'm not thrilled about cold weather.

2. What two words best describe summer for you? Why?

Hot and sweaty. Around here, the two go together like peanut butter and jelly. The pits is when it cools off (down to the 70s) but stays humid. Summer also means allergies for me, but that would be three words. ;-)

3. What are the two best reasons to enjoy summer? Why?

Rolled-down car windows, and warmth.

4. What are the two worst reasons to dislike summer? Why?

There is really no such thing as "too hot" (for me), and pollen. I don't blame summer for the pollen, it's just part of the package.

5. Do you plan on going on a vacation this summer, and if so, where?

Yes, we'll be in Minneapolis for a week, and Tennessee for a wedding in July and then we'll drive to some Civil War battlefields from there; gone for about two weeks total on that trip. We also might take a weekend trip somewhere as yet undecided.

Labels: Summer, Travel, Tuesday memes

(Link at left)
Whereabouts

1. On a Tuesday morning, you can be found where?

I'm up around 6, off to work around 7:30. Whee.

2. On Friday evening, where are you and what are you doing?

Probably sitting on the couch blogging and watching TV--chosen by Beast. He is in charge of the remote.

3. What is your Sunday like from the moment you get up to the time you go to bed?

Up by 7, off to church by 8:30 or so, home by 11 (this is the summer schedule, by the way), goofing off the rest of the day. It's really dependent on what we have going on. Sparky might have something for youth group. We might be doing the senior high youth group (my joy is that next year Sparky is in our youth group!), we might be visiting friends or family, we might be watching football (not now, but at the appropriate moment).... Sunday's pretty free. We usually order pizza for dinner, and head to bed as early as possible to get ahead on sleep for the week. Hah!

Labels: Life, Miscellany, Tuesday memes

(Link at left)
10 Greatest Accomplishments in Your Life

1. Marching in the Rose Parade.
2. Graduating magna cum laude from college.
3. Getting my Master's degree in just over 18 months.
4. Sticking it out at my first 'real job.' I did what I promised myself I would and outlasted PsychoBoss (at the cost of a lot of my sanity).
5. Sparky.
6. (Nearly) 21 years of marriage.
7. All the years of teaching Sunday School, both as a teen and as an adult.
8. Learning to control my temper (usually).
9. Acceptance of my relationship with my mother.
10. Keeping in contact, sporadic though it may be, with old friends.

Labels: Pride, Tuesday memes

(Link at left)
Name the 3 Places…

1. ...you would like to live.

The Ozarks
Taos, NM
Durango, CO

2. ...you would definitely not live.

New York City (or any other ginormous downtown, skyscraper-y, polluted place)
Russia
Germany

3. ...that are your dream vacation spots.

Ouray, CO
Ydra, Greece
The Yorkshire Moors

Labels: Life, Monday memes, Travel

(Link at left)

#1} A sibling or closest friend for one reason or another asks you to supply the eggs, or give birth to baby for them. Could you?

Nope. I physically could not.

If I could, I'd do the egg-donation, but not the birth.

#2} Your aging parents who live in another state, have arrived on your door step, and they have declared they are now going to live out the rest of their lives with you. How do you handle that?

Well, first of all, if they both showed up, that would miraculous seeing as how Dad's been dead for over 13 years (and cremated, may I add)!

In reality, this would not work. Our house will not work for anyone with all of my mom's disabilities, and speaking of which, she needs round-the-clock nursing care we cannot provide. Well, I probably could, but then there would be the issue of me killing myself or her at some point due to the stress of all of this. We just don't get along well when we are together for a long time. Reality bites.

Labels: Family, Sunday memes

(Link at left)

1. The Misanthropic: Name something (about humanity) you absolutely hate.

{knock-knock} Hello? {knock-knock} Roll your window down? Thanks. Hey, I'm super-glad you came to the Memorial Day parade today. I'm glad you fitted out your kids with plastic grocery bags so they could beg for candy from the people in the parade; that meant I had virtually no candy thrown at me, and that's nothing but good. But you know what? You parked in the library's employee parking lot. You aren't an employee; I am, but hey, I'm cool with that since the library is closed. It's good that you parked your SUV and walked that block over to J street to sit on someone else's lawn and drop cigarette butts and candy wrappers there. It's a nice day for that sort of thing, if you like that sort of thing.

But here's the thing, yo: the parade that finished passing you over there just now? Yeah, that one. It comes back down Library Street about 20 minutes later to finish up. And, here's the thing: there's only one exit from the lot where you parked. The exit is onto Library Street. Which has Girl Scouts and pony carts and kids playing trombones and flutes in it. You know: in the parade. For another 20 minutes. So, guess what: you can't get out of the parking lot, like, till the parade is, uhm, OVER?! Where exactly do you need to be in Teh Big Hurry? It's a holiday. The race was yesterday.

And, yo, gas? It's $3.65/gallon? So, like, your exhaust--which is blowing the face of that old lady you pulled up next to--is like, GREEN. Money-green. But it still stinks. The weather, yo? It's about 65 and breezy, with low humidity and No Sun, thus negating the necessity of using your AC.

Hello? Are you listening? No, I didn't think so. Is this clearer? TURN OFF YOUR GODDAMN ENGINE!! GET OUT OF YOUR CAR!! MAKE NICE WITH PEOPLE, WAVE AT THE NICE VETERANS (take off your hat, you moron, when the flag passes), AND FUCKING RELAX!!!

Oh, so now I'm the crank? Yeah. OK.

2. The Meretricious: Expose something or someone that’s phony, fraudulent or bogus.

See above.

3. The Malcontent: Name something you’re unhappy with.

See above, yet again.

4. The Meritorious: Give someone credit for something and name it if you can.

The veterans, and the current soldiers serving here and abroad, continuing to stand for ideals we like to give lip-service to. They are serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere helping make it ok for your kids to have 5 pounds of candy thrown to them, and for you to burn up an equivalent weight of oil out of sheer laziness. I think you owe them the courtesy of standing up straight, taking off your absurd hat, and shutting your mouth.

5. The Mirror: See something good about yourself and name it.

I didn't say any of this (out loud) to anyone today.

6. The Make-Believe: Name something you wish for.

A cure for allergies. Not a make-do, but a cure.

Labels: Cranky, Emotions, Holidays, Summer

(Link at left)

What's your favorite food item that is in your refrigerator right now?

Does Dr. Pepper count as a food? OK, seriously, I'd have to say cheese. We're a little low on groceries right now, though, and most of what I eat (unfortunately) doesn't live in the fridge.

Do you enjoying barbecuing on the grill? What's something that you make often?

I don't, but Beast likes--or at least doesn't mind--it. He makes burgers weekly throughout the year, usually just for him and Sparky; I could go the rest of my life without another home-made hamburger.

What one item (kitchen gadget, appliance, food item) in your kitchen best describes your personality? Why?

Crock-pot.
Yep, run with it.

Labels: Food, Miscellany, Monday memes

Link: The Christianity Belief Survey Test written by smeffletop on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

OK, then. Not a big shock there.

Labels: God, Quizzes, Religion

Or yeah, maybe not so much...though I do like Pink (the person, not the color).

Labels: Popular Culture, Quizzes

What Ancient Warrior are you? Cavalry were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. A man fighting from horseback also had the advantages of greater height, speed, and inertial mass over an opponent on foot.

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

Uh...? "...greater...inertial mass..." hmmmm

Labels: Quizzes, War

Not so much, ok?

Labels: Computer, Quizzes

Get yours here.

Labels: Words

(Link at left)

1. Dancer :: Tiny
2. Intellectual :: Poison (a blog on my blogroll)
3. Direct :: ...traffic
4. Tolerate :: Put up with
5. Post :: Mail
6. Instinctive:: Gut reaction
7. Brink :: Kelly... (?? I think I might know/have known someone with this name...)
8. Regain :: Reagan (well, that's what I thought it said, and I can't think of anything else)
9. Repulsed :: Pushed back
10. Distressed :: ...furniture

I'm totally mental this morning....

Labels: Sunday memes, Words

(Link at left)
Summer Love

Have you ever had a summer love? Would you want to?

Not a la "Grease" where I just met someone over the summer and would never (plan to) see him again. There was a guy named Chris in California one summer...well, one two-week stint...but it wasn't a "love" exactly. More like a poignant possibility.

At this point in my life, a summer love sounds like an unnecessary complication more than something to be desired.

Labels: Love, Memory, Sunday memes

(Link at left)
it's relative

1. who's the oldest living member of your family?

That would probably be Mom; she is 85.

2. who's the newest?

Metaphysical question: how does one define this "new" thing...?
Alan is the newest to "officially" join, by marriage.
Nathanael is the newest, by birth, but he's not living.
Sparky is the newest, by birth, and still alive. So far.

3. if you could spend a two-week vacation with one family member, who would it be?

Beast.

4. the old saying goes, "you can pick your friends, but you cannot pick your family." if you could choose one of your friends, who would you 'elect' to become a member of your family?

Jenny IS part of my family, though we share no family between us.

5. who in your family can you just NOT stand?

My brother-in-law, Jan. I've totally had it with him.

6. do you have a member of the family who is currently suffering an illness? (i'm going for physical illness here, but feel free to talk about the batshit-crazy ones, too)

My mom suffers from "old age" (after-effects of several (mostly) mini-strokes over the years, and diabetes). My sister Jean has Parkinson's. Dean's an alcoholic, not exactly recovering, also not drinking the way he used to, but the damage is done. Beast's mom has heart disease, arthritis, needs several joint replacements, and she smokes non-stop (is that a disease?). Beast's dad has early-stage Alzheimer's and diabetes. My brother Del has diabetes. I think that's the whole thing. Oh, wait: my oldest sister Marie needs another knee replaced. Her husband, Jan, just got two hearing aids. That's all.
You asked....

7. do you have a family member that you've lost contact with? who are they, and why do you not currently have contact?

I haven't seen any of my cousins since I was around 16. There are, uhm, 5 of them ranging from age 73 to 45-ish. I doubt I'll ever see Norman (the oldest) again.

8. do you have any famous family members?

Heh. Nope. Best I can do is a nephew-in-law who is very involved in this organization. There's a photo of him here, but you'll have to do some detecting to find it. The rest of 'em...too busy to be famous. [not to say the person mentioned isn't busy...he is VERY busy...oy, foot in mouth disease!]

Labels: Family, Health, Saturday Memes

from Lisa

Pick out 10 favorite movies, then look them up in the Internet Movie Data Base. In the overview at the top of each movie’s page, there are “Plot Keywords” (usually 5 of them). Take the first five and post them. Then the rest of us get to play movie buff and see if we can guess them. (I'm changing it a little, since the first two I looked at TOTALLY gave it away in the first two keywords, and they both only had four listed before I clicked over for the rest. Anyway. I'm picking five, and I'm picking five that are together, but not necessarily the first five. Nyah; it's MY blog, y'know!)

1. Desire Daughter Cruelty Infidelity 1800s



2. Kung Fu Cat Spoon Prophecy Mentor



3. Suicide Gasoline Truck Buddy Robbery Sexism



4. Nixon Resignation Old Dark House Paraplegic Saxophone Swimming Pool



5. Holocaust Poland WWII Concentration Camp Jewish



6. Romance School Life Father Son Relationship Eating Disorder Murder



7. Hope Small Town Life Humor Time Travel Existentialism



8. Satire Shower Taxicab Train Independent Film



9. Vomit Snobbery Bet Class Differences College Bound



10. Survival Concentration Camp Holland Face Slap Netherlands

So, which ten movies are they??

I'll post answers Monday or Tuesday

Labels: Movies

(Link at left)
Saturday 6

1. What color car do you drive?

I drive a forest-green Ford Ranger pick-em-up truck.

2. How many cars have you had in the past of this same color?

Beast's car is green, too. Otherwise, we've been gray and white people, with one burgundy one and one ugly brown one thrown in, but only for a year or so each. We take whatever's on the lot, to be honest.

3. What does this particular color mean to you?

Green? It means...green. I dunno. Car color is rather trivial, since I choose not pay extra to haggle over it.

4. Take the quiz: What color ca[r] should you drive?

When I took this a couple of weeks ago, I was told to look for a blue car. A very NICE blue car, by the way...! Still waiting for it to show up.... The description of my driving habits included in the meme is pretty accurate, too, by the way.

5. Would you ever consider driving a car the color the quiz suggests?

Sure. Why not? I like blue. As I said before, though, I wouldn't pay extra for the privilege.

6. Do you consider yourself the most-aggressive driver on the road, the least-aggressive, or something in between?

Something in between. I live on the outskirts of an area known for its aggressive drivers, and I'm afraid I've picked up several of those kind of habits. But at heart, I'm a big chicken.

Labels: Color, Saturday Memes, Transportation

Your Love Life is Like Pretty Woman

"I want the fairy tale" You believe that love is truly blind, unpredictable, and surprising. Two very different people can easily find true love. At least, that is how it will happen when you marry a gorgeous billionaire someday ;-) Your love style: Sensual and flirty Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Surprisingly happy

So this would make me...a Hollywood hooker??

Ooookaaayyyyy....

This is, uhm, how to say it, let's see......DEAD WRONG in every way. But funny as hell. And Richard Gere is a cutie, but so not my type.

Labels: Blogthings, Movies

You are a Great Girlfriend

When it comes to your guy, you're very thoughtful But you also haven't stopped thinking of yourself You're the perfect blend of independent and caring You're a total catch - make sure your guy knows it too!

Well, yeah. I'm a better wife, though.

Labels: Blogthings, Friends, People

(Link at left)
~Your Brand is Showing!~

1. Food: Do you buy brand names or go for the cheaper store name brand?

Depends on the food in question. I usually go with the brand because the quality and packaging of store/generic items can be so variable. And, frankly, because I can afford to spend the extra 8 cents on the brand. There have been MANY many years where I couldn't justify doing that.

2. Clothes: Wear designer jeans/slacks with a brand name or regular department store jeans/slacks?

There isn't a department store nearby, except Kohl's, and I do like their clothes. Brand name/schmand name. My issue is definitely "do they fit?" Also important, are they priced ridiculously, and is there music playing at 200 decibals in the store: if yes...'bye. Unless it's Hot Topic: that store makes me laugh, rather hyserically, even as horrible music blares through the speakers.

3. Handbags: Buy a designer bag or look for a less expensive copy?

...meh... I don't carry a purse. Haven't for over a year. And when I did, I bought them at K-Mart or Target.

4. Shoes: You got the drift, designer or a cheaper copy?

Famous Footwear or DSW, and the same criteria: do they fit? Are they priced right?

In reading this, I am reminded forcefully of shopping with my mom in my formative years. We shopped at Joslins, Penneys, Bakers, and Thom McAns. Mom looked down her nose at Kinneys, K-Mart and Payless Shoes. Dad wouldn't let us shop at "Monkey Wards" (I swear to God!), or Safeway; The Denver (which was always a little high-falutin' anyway) was off-limits after they cut up mom's store card one day. We walked a fine line between things that cost too much and things that were "junky." And of course there was that small event--when I was around ten years old--of Dad having to declare personal bankruptcy when his business tanked. We ate hamburger a lot those years, and I wore hand-me-downs and home-made clothes. I only minded the bad food, and the ugly stuff my mom made on the sewing machine. She couldn't make shoes, though, and that's probably where my shoe-mania comes from.

All of this probably goes a long way toward explaining my lack of interest in shopping as a hobby. It was so very fraught with potential faux pas that it wasn't really fun. And I totally internalized that.

Labels: Memory, Saturday Memes, Shopping

(Link at left)
THE DEATH EDITION

Q1 - Remembrances: Given the choice, what would your headstone look like and what would it say?

I'm being cremated after all usable body parts are removed. Headstone? It's up to anyone who's left to care, but I swear I will haunt anyone who puts any kind of cheesy or saccharine shit on any kind of memorial to me.

Q2 - Your Call: What do you think would be the best and worst ways to die?

I'm with George Carlin on the best way to go: Get on line at a faith healer and when he's ready to heal me shout, "May God strike me dead if you aren't for real." [paraphrased] As for the worst way, any other way is bad. I'm not ready to go yet.

Q3 - Better off Dead or Alive: Jerry Falwell?

Depends on how strongly you believe in heaven and divine intercession. The rest of us are better off with him dead rather than alive shooting his mouth off. In my opinion.

Q4 - Sphere of Influence: What dead person has influenced your life the most?

My sister Ellen. She nearly died when I was 3. And she did die when I was 30. There is a real sense of gratitude in having the opportunity to know her, and she lived those extra 27 years fully. I don't know why she's so on my mind lately, either.

Labels: Death, Friday memes

(Link at left)
I know you're mad about me

1. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I'm really wishing I could clean the way Sam did on "Bewitched": twitch my nose and have it all cleaned up.

2. Which is more attractive to you: physical appearance or personality?

Personality by a power of 100.

3. Who did you last fight with?

Sparky. Saturday. I think things have been good since then.

4. What did you eat last night?

A chalupa from Taco Bell.

5. Who are you mad about?

Beast and Sparky.

Labels: Emotions, Friday memes, Love

(Link at left)

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear.

Baby giggles. I'm smiling just imagining them.

Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese?

Yes, please. Oh, sorry, what kind! Uhm, anything that isn't smelly or runny (i.e., no limberger or brie). Cheddar, Wensleydale (hee), Gouda, feta, parmesan...I'm good.

Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?

My internal alarm clock (and middle-aged bladder) wakes me up by 7:30 at the latest on the Saturdays I don't have to work. Years of habit run my life, unless I was out REALLY late Friday night.

Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?

I forget things ALL THE TIME!! This question is so hysterical. You're talking to someone who lost her watch for a week because she put it in with the barettes and hair-bands, someone who usually makes at least two aborted attempts to leave the house before remembering to grab everything needed for the day, someone who (as my mom told me frequently) would "forget her head if it wasn't screwed on tight."

Dessert

Fill in the blank: I notice the color of the leaves of the trees when the weather gets hot in the summer.

Labels: Food, Forgetfulness, Friday memes, Miscellany, Senses, Sleep

(Link at left)
Flora

1. Are you a member of the Green Thumb Club, or do you have a black one instead?!

Indoor plants die due to my ministrations. Outdoors I have better luck, especially with plants that don't require a great deal of attention. In other words, I could have a green thumb if I weren't so distracted.

2. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies, or both?

Flowers, primarily. I'm thinking about herbs this year, but so far it's only thought. No action. Probably will be true all summer, too.

3. If not, do you wish you did? What is stopping you? Space, time?

I'm mostly lazy and can't be bothered to weed. I like planting, I like harvesting, I hate the stuff in between. ;-)

4. Do you find gardening a chore, or a pleasure?

I think you've probably figured out that I think it's a chore. Must be all those years of slave labor for my parents as a child... My dad grew into gardening in his (very) later years after a similar childhood experience, so there is hope for me.

5. Are you an admirer of neatly laid out gardens or do you go for the wild look?

I prefer symmetry and linear layouts and designs in terms of viewing. That being really hard to achieve without a ginormous gardening staff on hand, it's quite frustrating for me to have plants growing every which way, and probably part of the reason I don't do more gardening.

6. Themed or not (ie. fairy gardens, hummingbird gardens, butterfly gardens, etc.)?

...gaaaah...scuse me, busy vomiting into the potted palm... I hate themes, of virtually any kind: garden, party, dance, etc. Themes are causing the downfall of Western Civilization! Not that I have strong feelings about this or anything....
Really, it's just that I have perfectionist tendencies and lack the follow-through to make something really work.

7. Lawn ornaments, or not?

Not. I don't even want TREES in my yard, much less lawn ornaments. I'd be happy, really, with a zen rock garden if we didn't have a third of an acre in a climate where things just grow with no real direction or help from me. So, lawn it is. And Beast likes playing with the mower.

Labels: Friday memes, Garden

(Link at left)
Friday Fill-In

1. 10 years at sea; one really bad case of seasick!

2. Why is the sky blue, Mommy?

3. Here there be memes.

4. Ah... the things Sparky does not know about life yet are legion.

5. The people from the media must start paying attention.

6. Of course it makes you want to cry when you read the newspaper. (which is why I pretty much don't...read the newspaper, I mean....)

7. This weekend, I will work, will go to a parade and maybe even sleep in one day! Happy Memorial Day!

Labels: FitB, Friday memes, Miscellany

(Link at left)
Fifteen Things I'm NOT Doing This Weekend

1. Going to a cemetery -- though I wish I could. There's no one around here I'd want to 'visit' except Andrew. And that would be weird if I ran into his family.

2. Going on vacation -- My parents and I always went to Ouray on Memorial Day weekend to unlock and air out (and de-spider) the house for the summer. But Beast and I don't have a house to unlock for the summer.

3. Weeding -- Beast did most of that the last two evenings.

4. Overheating -- Not supposed to be hot enough to bake after tomorrow. That's nice.

5. Entertaining people at my house -- We'll go to our friends' instead.

6. Doing laundry -- Beast will do it while I'm at work on Saturday.

7. Working extra hours -- At least I'm hoping to suppress the urge to go in on Monday while we're closed.

8. Spending all day watching race coverage -- I'll be at work Saturday. I can find something else to do Sunday.

9. Worrying about wedding shoes -- I hope. If I can find a pair tomorrow, I will be ecstatic.

10. Cooking from scratch -- We are freezer-full for the next month of Dinner by Design food, everything from pasta Alfredo to taco pie.

11. Feeling so guilty about my mom -- One of the things I want to get done tomorrow is figuring out direct transfers of money from my bank account to the account we set up for my sister to buy stuff for mom that Medicaid won't cover. {Aw, hell, I'm gonna feel guilty about my mom until the day I die; who am I kidding?}

12. Work on church stuff -- fried/burnt/wigged...can't be bothered.

13. Seeing too many vets at our Memorial Parade -- because the old vets are dying off, and the young ones don't show up. But we have to be at the parade because Sparky is marching in it. Woo. Hoo. Yee. Haw.

14. Polishing my fingernails -- because they are for all intents and purposes MIA. I have destroyed all the nails and am now working on the cuticles as well.

15. Hammering Sparky about homework -- since he is pretty effectively done with the academic part of 8th grade. Yay. Or rather: YAY!!!!!!

Labels: Friday memes, Holidays, Life, Miscellany

(Link at left)
Many Happy Returns

1. What was the last item you returned to a store?

I returned several markers, in their original sealed packaging, to Hobby Lobby last week. We'd bought them for the 8th grade dance and changed our minds.

2. What do you currently have in your possession that you need to return to its owner?

Hmmm...this is why I try not to borrow things: I forget too easily. I don't think there's anything.... Well, except library materials checked out on my card, of course.

3. What’s something you lent to someone that you’d really like back now?

I don't think we ever got back the Stephen King books we loaned Chelsea about 8 years ago....

4. Where’s a place you hope never to see again?

I was not enamored of Germany when we were there 6 years ago. Not any part of it: the airport, the restaurants, the tidy little villages.... The whole place totally creeped me out.

5. What’s your explanation for those wild stories about dogs and cats who get separated from their owners for years and finally make their way home, even at times finding their owners when the families have moved a long way away?

Homing sensors placed under their skin by aliens while they had them in their flying saucers.

Or maybe I'm just tired? I'm definitely snarky.

Honestly, I have no answers for this. Weird. True? Dunno.

Labels: Friday memes, Miscellany

...and too lazy to link...
((huh))

Two names you go by:
1. Cat.
2. Mom

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Striped, knit T
2. Nail polish (on my toes)

Two things you would want (or have) in a relationship:
1. Common goals, morals, interests
2. Fun
(These are wants. There is one need: trust. I couldn't be in a relationship--as in married or the equivalent--without that.)

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Catalog books
2. Blog

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. Sleep
2. To skip the next 6 weeks. I don't know why I'm dreading them so much...but I am.

Two pets you had/have:
1. Tippi (my first dog)
2. MacGyver and Max (our pair of zebra finches who had a kabillion babies over about three years)

Two things you did last night:
1. Simmed on the GameCube
2. Took a bath

Two things you ate today:
1. 1/4 cookie (not that virtuous: the cookies were 4 inches across!)
2. Dr. Pepper

Two people you last talked to:
1. Virgie
2. Lisa (but not fleur-de-Lisa!)

Two things you’re doing tomorrow:
1. Judging projects at the other middle school
2. Wedding shoe shopping

Two longest car rides:
1. (home) to Houston and back in 30 hours in a rental truck
2. (home) to Mississippi in a minivan full of people

Two favorite holidays:
1. Thanksgiving
2. Easter

Two favorite beverages:
1. DP
2. Stoli

Four things About ME!

Things you may not have known about me:
1. I graduated from college magna cum laude.
2. I was co-valedictorian of my high school class with about 6 other girls.
3. I never cheated on a test at any time in school.
4. I read every assigned book for every class...until college American Lit. when I discovered that, with the exception of Mark Twain and E.A. Poe, I hate American writers!

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Receptionist
2. Go-fer on various construction projects
3. Language Lab coordinator
4. Cataloger

Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Heathers
2. RHPS
3. Fiddler on the Roof
4. Shoah

Four places I have lived:
1. The house my dad built for his family in 1946
2. A dorm (same building all four years, two different rooms on the same floor)
3. An upper flat in a house
4. A built-to-order house

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Sugar (preferably IN something...!)
2. Bread
3. Pasta
4. Blood oranges

Four places I’d rather be right now:
1. In bed, asleep
2. Ouray
3. Moosehead Lake (on the shore, not in the water)
4. Ydra

Labels: Miscellany

You Really Know Your State Capitols

You Got 19 State Capitols Correct You're either a geography buff... or you have an excellent memory.

...I'm pretty sure I missed Tennessee. My mind went completely blank.

It's been happening a lot lately.

Labels: Blogthings, Geography

Your Love Song Is

Thankyou by Dido "And I want to thank you for giving me The best day of my life Oh, just to be with you is having The best day of my life." It's all good, as long as you're in love.

Yeah. Though, I have to say, I don't think of this song as a "love song" of the romantic variety. It seems more familial/friend than that. Whatever. I haven't heard it for awhile, so I'm probably off-base.

Labels: Blogthings, Love, Music

(Link at left)
::Somewhere, beyond the Sea...::

Onesome: Somewhere--, anywhere? Vacation season is just ahead (sooner than later for some depending on school schedules); do you have any plans mapped out yet?

We are going to Minnesota in June for a week on a mission trip with our high school youth group. In July, we head to Tennessee for my niece Elizabeth's wedding. We'll wander some Civil War battlefields on our way to Gettysburg, spend a couple of day with Beast's parents, and then head home. We won't do our usual joint vacation with friends this summer for a couple of reasons, so that means from mid-July until Labor Day we'll be able to "do summer" and just relax. Yay.

Twosome: beyond this week? How far ahead do you plan for your days off? ...or do they just show up and you enjoy whatever happens?

I plan them pretty far in advance, though there are occasions when I just need a Mental Health Day.

Threesome: the Sea-- Does that sound like the trip for you? Somewhere beyond the sea to an island for a week or two or twenty?

Yeah, I could do that, provided the island was Ydra, and there were no Greek holidays while I was there. I'd like it to stay quiet.

Labels: Thursday memes, Travel

(Link at left)
Modern Times

1. What do you think of all-time high gas prices? Do you think it's really due to supply & demand, or more towards Big Oil making money as a direct result of what is going on in the Middle East in general? Why/why not?

I think there is a definitely a supply/demand issue compounded by the different state regs on formulation of gas, but I know it's more about Mobil and Exxon making their dime. Or dollar, in this case. I think they're behavior over the past five years has been criminal and I think they should be investigated for SOME kind of price fixing. But I doubt that will happen as long as their buddy George is the president.

2. Do you have a prediction for the outcome of the Iraq War? What is it? Why? If you don't have a prediction, why not?

I don't see a good ending. I see something like what happened at the end of Vietnam, complete with airlift and total mayhem for several years after we leave. Or several decades. We have hashed up this mission badly.

3. Do you think that music has suffered at the hands of technology? How so/how not?

Technology has brought in a new way of creating music. Like any other, however, it has its geniuses and its hacks. Unfortunately, as in many other instances, the hacks tend to make the money, while the true artists work in relative obscurity. Technology has made it easier to disseminate your work to a broad audience; that's a double-edged sword as well.

Labels: Business, Music, Politics, Popular Culture, Thursday memes

from Lynda

Hypotheticals: If you could be an expert in any one subject, what would it be?

Hermeneutics. Cuz then I'd know how to pronounce it. ;-)

Anything Goes: What three words come to your mind when you hear the word 'white'?

Snow, lies, lab-coat.

No-Brainers: What is your average bowling score?

I have probably bowled a total of 30 times in my life. The average can't be more than 140. I haven't been inside a bowling alley in probably 7 years, and I got three (or four?) strikes that night. Weird.

Oh, there was that time in Canada, with Amy....

Personals: How much money would you like to be making in ten years?

OK, if I worked full-time, instead of part-time, now, I'd make between $50,000 and $60,000 (gross, not net). It would be nice to be working FULL-time (with benefits) in 10 years, and I'd be thrilled to get to $70,000 by then. Don't hold your breath, folks.

Labels: Color, Expert, Loaded Questions, Money, Sports

from Kwizgiver

Do you snore while you're sleeping? I don't think I snore, except when I'm tired, and Beast says it's "very ladylike." {snort} I do moan, occasionally talk, and sometimes shout.

How many pillows do you use? I usually only sleep with one. Using two makes my neck get all misaligned. But I have