"Shut up, Grandpa!"

(Found here)
[I have no idea what the title means...]

Q: WHAT MADE YOU SMILE YESTERDAY?
A: ....yesterday....hmm....I'm sure there was something at church, but I laughed a lot at the party in the afternoon.

Q: WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT 8 THIS MORNING?
A: Calling in sick to my volunteer job.


Q: WHAT WERE YOU DOING 15 MINUTES AGO?
A: Putting away the ironing board et al. and the freshly flattened clothes.


Q: LAST THING YOU SAID ALOUD?
A: It was repeating Sparky's homework status to Beast.


Q: HOW MANY DIFFERENT THINGS DID YOU DRINK TODAY?
A: Two, unless two varieties of Dr. Pepper count as two drinks, in which case...3.

Q: WHERE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND RIGHT NOW?
A: I'd bet on home on all of them. One has a small child, one I know is home, and one is home cuz Minnesota football is on TV.

Q: HAVE YOU EVER MADE UP YOUR OWN LANGUAGE?
A: Yup.

Q: ARE YOU A STRIPPER?
A: I change clothes, which involves stripping. But only for my own enjoyment. (ha ha ha)

Q: DO YOU CALL PEOPLE MONKEYS?
A: Only children.

Q: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR TOOTHBRUSH?
A: White and ?purple.


Q: WHAT IS OUT YOUR BACK DOOR?
A: ...the backyard?


Q: LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?
A: Nachos at the football game.

Q: LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
A: That was almost 10 months ago. I have no idea, though I'm sure I got at least one gift card.

Q: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR FRONT DOOR?
A: Tan.

Q: WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR CHANGE?
A: My wallet.

Q: WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE TODAY?
A: It's been sunny for the last couple of days, YAY!

Q: BEST ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
A: Peppermint.

Q: LAST RAINBOW YOU SAW?
A: Haven't seen one in awhile.

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY SISTER(S)?
A: There were 4 girls and 1 boy in my generation.

Q: ARE YOU OVER THE AGE OF 25?
A: Ayup. In fact, it's vaguely possible that I could have had a kid over 25.

Q: DO YOU TALK A LOT?
A: Probably.

Q: DO YOU WATCH THE OC?
A: Like I'd admit it! :-) And, no, anyway.

Q: DO YOU KNOW ANYONE CALLED VALDO?
A: Hmmm, no.

Q: ARE YOU TICKLISH?
A: Sometimes.

Q: ARE YOU TYPICALLY A JEALOUS PERSON?
A: Not particularly.

Q: NAME SOMEBODY YOU KNOW WHOSE NAME STARTS WITH THE LETTER A:
A: I know 4 Annes.

Q: DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?
A: No.

Q: WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
A: Tuna melt. It may have been an error in judgment; my stomach is cranky again.

Q: DO YOU WATCH TV?
A: Yup.

Q: HAVE YOU SEEN THE TV SHOW EVERYONE LOVES VALDO?
A: No.

Q: DO YOU HAVE WORK TOMORROW?
A: Yup.

Q: EVER BEEN HUNTING?
A: No. I would suck at it.

Q: IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?
A: Wellllll....it's definitely in my present....so probably.


Q: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID "I LOVE YOU" AND MEANT IT?
A: About an hour ago when Sparky first went up to work on homework and then to bed.

Q: DO YOU THINK THE PERSON WHO SAID IT TO YOU OR BACK TO YOU MEANT IT?
A: Somewhere deep inside, I'm positive that he does.

Q: YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?
A: Not IRL. Unless you seriously count "Mom."

Q: DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
A: I believe it happens, yes.

Q: ARE YOU A HEAVY SLEEPER?
A: Not since February 1993.

Q: ARE YOU CURRENTLY DEPRESSED?
A: Not as much as I was last week with the clouds and the meh.

Q: DO YOU THINK ANYONE MISSES YOU RIGHT NOW?
A: Mostly, no.

+++++++++++++++++++++++
What was your love life like a year ago?
I'm married 23 years this summer. You figure it out.

Have you ever had a serious conversation with your dad?
Regularly.

Hook-up or the whole relationship thing?
The older I get, the more I understand the attraction (no pun intended) of hooking up.

Who is your closest friend of the opposite sex?
My husband, sort of by default.

Last person to make you smile?
Beast.

Who can you blame for your bad mood today?
Myself, for eating too much yesterday.

What was the last song you listened to?
No clue whatsoever: Beast picks the radio stations in his car and I mostly try to ignore it.

Name one person who is the most like you?
My oldest sister?

What would you do if your best friend moved?
Most of my best friends don't live real close by anyway, but I'd be sad if they moved further away.

What is something you really want right now?
Pleasant, uncranky people in my house.

What are you doing this coming weekend?
Working two days, going to two high school football games (alone?) and maybe shopping or at least spending some time with Amy?

Do you have any fun plans for today?
I'm going to sleep pretty soon; that'll be lovely at this point. CrankyButt across the room is pissing me off.

Is there anyone that you care more about than yourself?
Well, yeahhhh!

Last person who held your hand?
Sparky, at church yesterday. He hated it.

What are you listening to at the moment?
Preseason football.

Do you like to have long hair or short hair?
Longer is better.

Do you want to cut your hair?
No, I hire it out.

Are you in a good mood? If yes, Why?
I would be in a decent mood if I were alone in the house.

When was the last time you wanted to punch someone in their face?
Right now.
OK, seriously, I really wouldn't punch anyone, but I talk about it on a regular basis.

Do you think your ex still likes you?
I'm sure he never thinks about me.

What is wrong with you right now?
My G.I. tract is fubar.

Did you ever waste too much time on a certain boy or girl?
...probably NOT the best question to ask me right now...

Are you slowly drifting away from someone?
...plead the 5th.

Would you kiss an ugly person for $1,000?
Well, not if they knew the only reason I was kissing them was for the money. I'm really not heartless.

Has someone close to you passed away this year?
At least two someones. It's been a rough summer.

Do you watch "The Hills"?
I'd rather watch professional basketball. And, trust me, I never watch basketball!

Last CD you played?
A Melissa Etheridge disc in the car yesterday.

What are you thinking about right now?
Wishing I could go on vacation.

Wearing any bracelets?
No. I don't even think I own any.

What were you doing at midnight last night?
I think I was asleep.

Have you ever gone to a beach?
Yup.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Still peppermint.

How long does it take you to get ready?
For what? In the morning, anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes.

What are you wearing?
Sparky's school booster T and jeans.

When was the last time you smiled?
Well over half an hour ago.

What's one thing you wish you could do but can't?
Be less empathetic.

What is your ideal marriage location?
Marriage? Or do you mean wedding? Marriage should be a mutually agreed-upon location. Wedding should be church/synagogue/mosque/someplace meaningful.

Which musical instrument do you wish you could play?
I'd like to relearn piano.

Something you love and hate?
My dear, wonderful, asshatted husband.

What kind of soap do you use?
Dial. Or Dove.

Do you tell your friends about your sex life?
Not.

What's the one language you want to learn?
Classical Greek.

What do you order at a bar?
Something involving Stoli.

Do you have tattoos?
Nope, just scars.

Do you drive stick?
I do.

What's one trait you hate in a person?
Willful ignorance.

What do you cook the best?
Mac 'n cheese.

Do you prefer to stand out or blend in?
Blending in is so much easier.

Do you have anything monogrammed?
Nope.

Have you ever done drugs?
Only those prescribed for whatever conditions I was treating.

If you won the lottery, what would you do first?
Make sure they called the right house.

Burial or cremation?
Cremation.

What's one thing you're a sore loser at?
Political discussions.

If you don't like a person, how do you show it?
I just try not to talk to people who annoy the shit out of me.

How many drinks before you're tipsy?
One.
I don't drink much, or often, anymore....

Favorite kind of porn?
My imagination. I don't really care for other people's fantasies.

Do you have problems changing clothes in front of friends?
Uhhh....it's not something I generally do, so....

What kind of first impression do you think you give to people?
Oh, hell, I dunno!

What's one thing you like to do alone?
EVERYTHING! Well, ok, not really, but most things. I have a bit of an independent streak.

What's the worst thing you ever said to someone?
I'm refusing to incriminate myself here!

Are you a giver or a taker?
More of a giver, but I can be randomly selfish and takey too.

Favorite communication method?
Written.

What is one thing you don't leave home without?
Clothes.

Are you good at Sudoku?
Yes.

What's your favorite kind of popcorn: caramel, cheese, or regular?
Don't like sweet, but do like regular and cheesy.

If you have a cell phone, do you still have the instruction manual to it?
Seeing as how I got it less than 3 weeks ago, yes.

Do you believe truly that blood is thicker than water?
Not in my experience, except in very literal terms.

Do you think that somebody can be too young to be in love?
Nope.

Are there any events in your past that you are uncomfortable talking about?
Yes. I really don't want to meet anyone who answers this "no."

Do you think true love has anything to do with gender?
Do I think men can love men and women love women? Yes.

Name one person you would die for no matter what?
Sparky.

Your ex said they dislike you, what would you say?
Glad I made enough of an impression on you that you still remember me!

Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell everything to?
Normally, I'd say Beast, but not today.

Do you curse in front of your parents?
I tried not to when they were alive.

Are you happy with life?
Some days it's wonderful.

Do you know anyone with the same name as you?
Nope. I'm original.

Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Abso-rute-ly

Was this weekend a good one?
It was ok.

Have you ever worn the opposite sex's clothing?
Of course.

Who's the last person you rode in a car with that was under 21 and driving?
Sparky.

Are you a heavy sleeper?
Still not.

Is there someone you wanna date right now?
Yup.

If you could go back in time, how far back would you go?
My childhood. If we're talking time-machine travel then I'd want to visit my grandparents when they were first married.

You're stuck on an elevator with the person you fell the hardest for, what happens?
....hmmm....if we met up now, probably nothing at all.

Does it matter if your boyfriend/girlfriend smokes?
Yes.

Do you enjoy piercings & tattoos?
I can appreciate some tattoos if they are artfully done, and I don't mind piercings up to a point. The point itself varies.

You're a sharpie marker, what color are you?
Only black sharpies count.

Would you ever date your number 2?
I don't use MySpace.

Do you remember your first real relationship?
I'm not yet in my dotage, so yeah.

Is there a difference between the word 'best friend' and 'friend'?
Yes.

Do you miss anyone?
Yes.

Can you recall the last time you sincerely liked someone?
Yes.

Do you take walks often?
Not often enough.

Would you call yourself smart?
I am smart, though sometimes it's hard to see through the dense goofiness.

Do you like to read?
...er, yeah...

What did you do for your last birthday?
I have no memory of last year's birthday.

What's your favorite season?
Early- to mid-autumn.

Looking forward to something this weekend?
Yes.

Is good grammar attractive?
Let's put it this way: bad grammar is NOT attractive.

Are you jealous of one or more of your friends?
I'm a little envious of some aspects of their lives at times.

Have you known any of your friends your whole life?
I've known Laura since we were about 6.

Are any of your friends taller than you?
Yup.

Do you think abortions are horrible?
I think there are worse choices.

Who was the last person that said "I love you" to you?
Still Sparky when he went upstairs.

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Monday's Morals

You see a co-worker out partying one evening and it is clear that this person is intoxicated well beyond any reasonable limit. You know that there is a designated driver who actually gets the person home. The next day, you have an opportunity to be alone with the person who was drunk. Would you say something about their drunkenness, even if you suspected that he or she would laugh off your concerns? Why or why not?

College taught me very well how to introduce this topic into conversation, so of course I would, but not while lots of other people are around. If there were others around, I'd confine it to, "Hey, I saw you last night, I think." Alone, I'd probably ask how much of last night s/he remembered and whether s/he slept well. I might also mention that no amount of cologne is going to cover up the smell of Hangover Sweat.

Here's what I don't bring up, unless asked by the other person: the fact that s/he was draped all over someone who is NOT his/her significant other, the suggestion that I saw white powder (or a bong, or a joint), or detailed descriptions of anatomy on display at any given time.

I actually work with someone who tipples a bit at parties. We kid her ALL THE TIME about the amount of wine available when she hosts a party, but she's rarely out of control, just way tipsy. Still, it's a little disturbing to me to see her consistently getting goofy.

[Disclaimer: there are alcoholics in my family, so perhaps I'm rather more willing to bring up the subject than I might otherwise be. It certainly can be an unpleasant conversation at times, though.]

Life pace

You Run Through Life

Your journey through life [is] energetic, fast paced, and spontaneous. You like to live for the moment, and you always prefer taking action to sitting still. You crave a lot of freedom in your life. You can feel burdened by too make [sic; many?] rules and responsibilities. If you can do things your own way, you're really are able to shine. You are very good at understanding the world.

How Do You Travel Through Life?

Well, not really. I definitely feel like I'm running most of the time lately (how do single parents with full-time jobs and more than one kid cope with the scheduling??), but I'm not particularly fond of this feeling, and I really DO like sitting still much better!

Give Me 5 Monday

(Link in blogroll)
Give Me Five places in the world you'd like to live for a year.

1. Ouray
2. Ydra
3. London
4. Ensenada
5. Sydney

Manic Monday

(Link in blogroll)

Are you usually late, early or right on time? Early.

What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or to tell them that you do not love them back? The latter, by far.

Which would you rather have: a high salary or job satisfaction? I'd rather love my job, but don't tell the city in which I work because right now they seem intent on making budget cuts and I already don't make much! :-)

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) Have you ever broken something intentionally?

Yes. It's very therapeutic, but only if/when used on an occasional basis.

2) Do you ever read poetry?

I do, but not as much as I should. Maybe that should be my New Year's resolution for 2010: read a poetry book a month, at least.

3) Have you ever played hooky from school or work? Have you ever been caught playing hooky?

Don't remember ever buggering off from school, but I've definitely played hooky from work (I call those days Mental Health Days), and I usually stay home so getting caught is sort of a non-issue. I have gotten caught playing hooky from church when people who were there have found me checking out at the grocery store as they walk in. Oops. ;-)

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

My first reaction is that it reminds me of a wedding I was at a couple of years ago. Secondly, these two look really happy. And then my mom genes kick in and I start freaking about about falling and how they're going to get down, and so forth. I always wanted a climbing tree when I was growing up, but we didn't have the right kind in our neighborhood or yard. Pines, firs and a small crabapple tree don't really work, and the neighbors' big trees were too big for little me to get to the first big limb. Poor me. ;-)

Sunday Stealing

(Link in blogroll)
The Ellie Bellie Meme

what are your most common nicknames? In order of usage: Mom, Mrs. [husband's last name], Cat., Ma'am, Miss (this one makes me either laugh--when a small child uses it--or grimace--when anyone over age 12 uses it)

what is today's weather? At this moment it's sunny. We'll see if that lasts today. It's supposed to get all the way up to room temperature outside by 3.

where did go on vacation this year? What is this "vacation" of which you speak?? We were in Vegas for three days in January. That's all.

what did you do there? Hmmm, what did I do in Vegas....? I wonder....? [my son and husband were there, so factor that in to your imagination--it wasn't very exciting]

where did you stay? The Luxor.

what job do you do? I get paid to be a cataloger at our local library, but I do PLENTY of other jobs for free.

describe where you live. Flatland, Cornbelt, USA.

what do you usually do on weekends? Not much. I work about half of the Saturdays each year, and occasional Sundays. Otherwise, I clean up the house, hang out, relax...yeah. Not much.

what food hits your 'bliss spot'? Sweeeeets.

what drink really does it for you? Diet Dr. Pepper. Or vodka/lemonade.

describe the first friend that comes to your head. {I'm snortling at this phrasing...} She's adorable. {more snortling} Seriously, I love her to death. That's all that's important.

what was the last restaurant you went to? Yay, gas station McDonalds. ...sigh The schedule got all balled up; we were going to have a sort-of nice dinner on the way to the football game Friday night.

where would you like to live if you had unlimited moneys and nothing stopping your dreams? I'd like small houses in Maine, on Ydra, and in Ouray. Realistically, I want to live near my son, but not too near. In any case, that should cover all the seasons.

what is the likeliness of you achieving this dream home? I think the latter--near Sparky--is potentially gonna happen. The others--not.

what do you like to do in your spare time? This. And Facebook. And read.

what's your favorite genre for TV programs? Crime dramas, reality shows (Survivor, TAR and the Discovery channel).

what's your favorite genre for music? Tuneful, lyrical, danceable.

what's your favorite song that's sad? I like an awful lot of sad songs.... Lately, it's been "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan that's breaks me in half when I hear it.

what's your favorite soppy film? I don't really 'do' soppy films. Life's too short to use my Escape Time being sad.

how about your favorite chick flick? I've a soft spot for "Two Weeks' Notice."

what are you looking forward to at the moment? Today's bridal shower. It's weird to call it that...but anyway, my gift is a wheelbarrow. heh [it's a garden shower--the couple has been living together for awhile, so household stuff is sorta beside the point, but they just bought a house...and yard]

what are you dreading at the moment? ...so many things...

how would you describe your personality? "Perky." {snort} OK, I'm being obnoxious. Really, I'd go with the ever-reliable "goofy."

if you had a personality eraser, what part of yours might you erase? My short temper and tendency to fly off the handle with people when I'm stressed.

you are given $5000 to spend in 1 day, what do you do with it? remember, no limitations! OK, I'm admitting that today, it would go to clothes for myself.

what is your biggest fear? That this will be a question on every meme I do for the rest of my life. [and the real answer is in yesterday's posts]

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in blogroll)

1. Spinning :: ...Wheel ("...got to go round, ride a painted pony let the spinning wheel spin...")
2. Impasse :: Block
3. Gravy :: Good ...!
4. You are :: ...here
5. September :: Green Day (...you can blame my son for this one)
6. Divulge :: Tell
7. Training :: Practice
8. Crap! :: Shit!
9. Results :: Answers
10. Shutting down :: Logging off

Fives

(Swiped from my usual supplier)

I can't...
*swim
*pee standing up (without making a mess)
*have any more kids of my own
*believe I'm almost 46
*stop myself from reading anything printed

but I can...
*climb a mine dump
*iron a man's shirt in 3 minutes flat (ha ha ha)
*make a mean macaroni and cheese from scratch with no written recipe
*tell you how to get to heaven on Earth
*hug you

I won't...
*lie to you if you ask me a direct question about something important
*ever be a size 2 again...while alive
*stop loving the important people in my life
*eat liver
*fit in just to fit in

but I will...
*be more tactful than most of my family of birth
*keep on forgiving what I can and leave the rest to God
*believe that all things are possible
*stop tolerating doctors who don't remember that they work for me
*always be annoyed by teh stoopud

I shouldn't...
*be so quick to get upset
*worry so much about things out of my control
*be so lazy
*skip church so much
*count my chickens before they are hatched

and I should...
*trust (but verify)
*always remember that love comes first!
*trust my gut
*be here now
*buy myself flowers more often

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Saturday 6

1. What single thing were you most afraid of as a child?

The universe and everything in it. I really was a terrified child: everything scared me, from people to unusual (or very pungent) food, from loud noises to darkness, from rejection to aquarium fish, from changes in routine to perfectly round circles. I still fight some of these, but I'm very much aware of WHY I was the way I was, and I consciously work to overcome them. The only things on that list above that I'm still a little woo-woo about are (some) other people and perfect circles.

2. Do you feel like you’ve been able to overcome this fear or does it still bother you?

Oops, once again, I didn't read ahead. As I said, I'm working on them.

3. If you’re alone in the house on a "dark and stormy night," and there’s a scary movie on TV, are you likely to watch or avoid it?

I NEVER
EVER
EVERwatch scary movies.
Having said that, I rarely change my viewing habits based on being alone and "potentially easily frightened.' However, within the last couple of months, I have turned off several shows that were on about 10 or 11 p.m. that I was watching alone. They didn't scare me, particularly, but I could see bad dreams arising from them, and one actually made me feel like I was going to throw up from the stress and ickiness of it.

4. If you were to watch it, would it make you have any trouble at all in getting to sleep?

I'd probably get to sleep ok, but I'd have hideous dreams. I no longer have nightmares very often, just unsettling and upsetting ones.

5. Take the quiz: Do You Have the Fears of a Child or an Adult?

In between. It's possible the youth group-ers are causing me to react differently than I would if I wasn't around teenagers so much. ;-)

6. What is your biggest fear now that you’re an adult?

I've answered this question before with variations like "Failure" or "Being found out", but it all boils down to the fear of not acquitting myself well under duress and then having to live with that fact.

Alternate Saturday 6

(Link in blogroll)
[List] Six Different Names for Lavatories

1. Bathroom
2. Restroom
3. Loo
4. Head
5. John
6. "Little Girls' Room" (extremely rarely "Little Boys' Room")--used by overly precious people who need more hobbies than they currently have

I could go on...but I won't.

ROFL

Saturday 9

(Link in blogroll)
The Waiting

1. Have you ever stayed online for a very long time waiting for someone?

Ayup. Timing of IMs has become rather an issue.

2. How do you eat oreos?

In public, I generally just eat them like any other food. At home, I unscrew them and eat the inside first. That's actually all I like anyway.

3. Are you cocky?

Nope.

4. Did you have an imaginary friend as a kid?

Oh yeah. B.B. Among many others, B.B. was the first.

5. What t.v. station do you watch the most?

The Discovery Channel, I think. Maybe Spike.

6. Have you ever seen the ocean?

I've seen the Pacific from California and Mexico. I've seen the Atlantic from Devon, and from above MANY times.

7. Have you ever been hospitalized?

Twice.

8. What's your favorite brand of rootbeer?

From the tap, A&W will always be my favorite, but in cans/bottles, I like IBC. Root beer always reminds me of my dad, and my Brit rellies, who suck down gallons whenever they visit.

9. Could you live without a computer?

In the broad sense, our current society would collapse without computers. In a personal sense--as in, having one or two in the house--I could survive, but it would cause some major upheaval!

Love signs

Your Love Sign is Cancer

You are a sensitive, romantic soul. You are classically romantic. When you fall in love, you take it very seriously. You want to be bonded to your soulmate. You tend to hold on to relationships way past their expiration date. It's hard for you to let go. You are the most loving of all types. You will go to great lengths to make your partner feel adored.

What's Your Love Sign?

Not much accuracy here, I think. In fact, whoever this does describe sounds a little co-depenedent. I try hard NOT to be that (admittedly, I'm not always successful).

If I were...

(swiped from Kwizgiver)

If I were a direction I’d be… west
If I were furniture I’d be… a sideboard.
If I were a liquid I’d be… wine.
If I were a sin I’d be… sloth.
If I were a gem/stone I’d be… turquoise.
If I were a metal I’d be… bismuth.
If I were a tree I’d be… a Douglas fir.
If I were a fruit I’d be… an apple.
If I were a flower I’d be… a hosta lily.
If I were weather I’d be… warm and breezy.
If I were a musical instrument I’d be… a flute.
If I were an element I’d be… air.
If I were a color I’d be… blue.
If I were an animal I’d be… a Siamese.
If I were a sound I’d be… clicking.
If I were a lyric I’d be… "I do wish you joy / And I wish you happiness / But above all this / I wish you love..."
If I were a song I’d be… "On the Greener Side"
If I were a music type I’d be… pop.
If I were a perfume/cologne I’d be… Charlie (bwah ha ha).
If I were a feeling I’d be… confusion.
If I were a book I’d be… Kafka-esque.
If I were food I’d be… carbs.
If I were a city I’d be… the quietest city ever!
If I were a taste I’d be… lemony.
If I were a scent I’d be… a faint mix of vanilla and light florals.
If I were a word I’d be… "itchy" (or maybe "scratchy").
If I were a verb I’d be… "read."
If I were an object I’d be… a griddle.
If I were a piece of clothing I’d be… Levis.
If I were a body part I’d be… toes.
If I were an facial expression I’d be… puzzled-but-cheerful.
If I were a cartoon character I’d be… Mighty Mouse (or Opus, in my dreams).
If I were a movie I’d be… subtitled.
If I were a geometrical figure I’d be… a triangle.
If I were one of the 4 seasons I’d be… autumn.
If I were a sentence I’d be… "Walk, don't run."

Lovin'

Your Love is Yellow

When you love someone, your world is a sunnier, brighter, and happier place. Love is what you live for. You believe in true love, and you remain optimistic, no matter what romantic problems you have in your life. You are light-hearted and happy-go-lucky. You don't really have to look for love - it always seems to find you. You have a big heart and are very compassionate. You have a lot of love, affection, and empathy to give.

What Color Is Your Love?

Right.
This could be wrong-er. Could be righter, too.

Friday 5

(Link in blogroll)
Tolerance

1. How’s your tolerance for alcohol?

Fairly low since I almost never drink anymore. Plus, my face turns bright red with incredibly low levels of alcohol.

2. How’s your tolerance for noisy neighbors?

Low. I don't like living in apartments: I like quiet. Intense quiet.

3. How’s your tolerance for physical pain?

Pretty high, actually. Not as high as Beast's, but different: he tolerates long-term pain better than me, while I deal with immediate pain better.

4. How’s your tolerance for intolerant people?

Heh. Not very high. In fact, I spent last night IMing about a friend I dropped earlier this year because of this issue who is continuing to mess up her life (which I'm sanguine about) as well as the lives of those close to her (which pisses me off).

5. How’s your tolerance for bad music?

If I'm in control of the choices, I'll switch it if I hate the music, but only if no one is loving it. I can get through 3 minutes of crap, but a whole evening...not so much.

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in blogroll)

1. He was a stand-up guy.

2. SUNSHINE (which we haven't been having and there is a riot squad forming about the whole issue) is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend is very very patient .

4. I am not really looking forward to most of the day today, to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be accurate if read very carefully.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was Sparky.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Sparky's football game, tomorrow my plans include working, and Sunday, I want to survive!

Thursday Thunks

(Link in blogroll)
BS, Dog Kisses, Memories And You Guessed It...More!

1. Have you ever played Bullshit?

I have, oddly, with my son when he was younger. It would be a game I'd excel at were I not playing with an 8-year-old. I think he brought it home from daycare, by the way. I played something called "I Doubt It" as a kid, but it was WAY different than anything the link explains.

2. A dog licks you on your face. Are you disgusted or thinking it was sweet?

I *heart* doggie kisses.

3. Tell us about a fun/special memory you have of a grandparent.

My mom's dad died 22 years before I was born. My dad's dad died when I was about 3. My grandmas we're in nursing homes from my preschool age until they died when I was 8 or 9. The only halfway normal grandma memory I have is lying on dad's mom's couch when I was sick once and having her take care of me. She had a bag of marbles--the only toys in the house--in the linen closet.

4. Have you ever pet a rat?

Alive or dead?

5. If I walked into your kitchen, where are the cups?

To the right of the sink. Except liquor glasses: beer stuff is right by the fridge, wine glasses are on the wine rack in the dining room.

6. Since you already let me in your home, I found the cup and had water, now where's the bathroom from the kitchen?

If you're standing at the kitchen sink, turn left and walk about 6 feet. Turn left again and walk about 12 feet and you're in the bathroom.

7. Have you ever pet a turtle or tortoise?

Nope.

Down in my heart*

You Are Very Joyful

You may not be happy all of the time, but you experience frequent moments of joy in your life. There are moments so perfect that time has stood still and you wish you could freeze it forever. You are so joyful because you appreciate the small things in life. You know joy is more about who you are than what you have. You are thankful to be alive, and you know that things could be a lot worse. You are content with your life.

Are You Joyful?

OK, then. I will have to remember this one and redo it reguarly to remind me.

____________
* If you went to Sunday School prior to about 1980 in any Protestant church in America, I'm pretty sure you'll get the reference. If not...oh, well. What can I say?

Greetings!

You Are "Hi"

You are laid back, happy, and cheerful. You are casual, and you stay away from stuffy environments. You tend to be witty and sharp. You keep other people on their toes. Energetic and hyper, you tend to be a person of action not of words. Whenever you have something to say, you communicate it quickly and clearly.

What Greeting Are You?

OK, then. I do say "Hi" often, but I'm not sure if this is wholly accurate.

Monday Crazy Questions

(Link in blogroll)
Love or Hate it

1. The new sports season is about to begin...do you love it or hate it?

I love football! Love. It.

2. What's your favorite of the sports and what team?

Packers, baby.

3. Do you get snow where you live? Do you love it or hate it?

Oh, yeah, it snows here. I like it for about 3 weeks, unfortunately it snows for 3+ months.

4. You got stopped by a cop who tells you were speeding. Do you explain some made up story as to why you were speeding or deny it and try to get out of it?

I shut up, hand over the paperwork, try to smile or at least not be pissy with the officer, and take whatever I get. If I wasn't speeding, I'll go to court and duke it out.

5. You just had a fight with the person you are closest to. Do you not speak to them until they apologize...or do you apologize first.

I almost always apologize first, and I hate that fact.

6. What do you love about this time of year?

I love hot weather. I'd like to SEE some, actually--it has been f'ing cold here, for August. I do not love humidity, which we DO have. It's the worst of both worlds.

7. Your doctors says you need more exercise....what do you take up for exercise?

Walking. Maybe stretching.

8. If you could travel in time...where in time would you go? Why?

I'd like to go back and briefly visit my grandparents on their homestead. It'd be cool to see my dad. I'd also like to stop in and visit my mom's parents when they first met.

Planet Name

My real name:

Your Name Comes From the Sun

You are fiery, intense, and passionate. You never do anything halfway. You are a natural leader, and you often find yourself ruling over others. Ever since you were very young, you've always had a clear idea of your life's purpose. You know that you will leave a strong mark on the world and greatly influence the lives of others.

What Planet Does Your Name Come From?

My blog name:

Your Name Comes From Venus

You truly appreciate beauty in all its forms. You easily see the beauty in everything. You are an admirer of art, nature, and even people. Grace and style appeal to you. You are naturally attractive and alluring. You often have a strong mutual attraction going on with people. And while you prize beauty, you are not a snob. You see what is unique and special about each person.

What Planet Does Your Name Come From?

I'd say my fake name is closer than my real name to reality.

Morning Survey

(Found here)

Who's the last guy you spoke to? If my son counts, Sparky.

Has anyone ever called you a bad influence? Just me.

What was the last thing you cried about? The last ep of NCIS we watched.

Do you like the song "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry? I like our church youth group's version better. It involves bus theft.

Who's the last person you wrestled with? Myself, metaphorically. God, metaphorically. Beast.

Do you listen to your friends' advice when they give it to you? I listen to some of it, from some friends. I don't always follow it. I no longer do the "do as I'm told" thing.

Could you eat nothing but grilled cheese for a week straight? Yup. No problem. May I please also have a package of Metamucil.

Do you have a friend you can tell stuff to and your sure they won't tell anyone? Yup. Couple of them.

Are you a good driver? About 70% of the time, I'm an excellent driver. About 25% of the time, I'm a fairly good driver. About 5% of the time, I shouldn't be behind the wheel.

What are you wearing? Black fleece shorts, Luxor T, and a blanket over my feet.

Do you get sea sick? I don't know; I've never been on the sea. But I do get motion sickness fairly easily.

When is the next time you will see your number 2 on your top friends? I don't have a Top Friends list.

What's the wallpaper to your cellphone? Green leaves.

Is there anyone you really want to see right now? Nope.

If all your friends went on a road trip would you go to[o]? Uh...maybe?

Do you think that someone is thinking about you right now? Possibly. {shrug} If they're reading this, then yeah.

What were you doing 2 hours ago? This.

How did you spend the beginning of your summer? On a mission trip with some of the best people in the world.

Do you tend to give in or stand strong? Depends. I have a stubborn streak, but I also don't like to make waves.

Are you mad at the last person who called you? Not sure who that would be, but probably not.

Listening to? We're watching NCIS.

If you could move out of the house right now would you? I...no.

Last time you took a picture of something other than yourself? Saturday.

How did you feel when you woke up today? Lazy.

What time did you go to sleep last night? I dropped off about 11:45. But I didn't really sleep hard till 2 or so.

Did you sing at all today? Yes, actually, I sang my good mornings to Sparky when I came downstairs. He's such the lucky kid, eh?

Do you believe in a thing called love? Yes.

Are you too forgiving? Yes, but I'm recovering.

Ever have a sleepover with the opposite sex? Der, guys: I'm married.

Have you been to Las Vegas? Two times.

Do you ever wanna know who you're going to marry? Too late...

Would you rather live in Alaska, or Texas? Uh...neither? Alaska in August, and Texas in January.

Did you mean it when you said "I love you" last? Mostly likely.

Do you crack your knuckles? Sometimes. Rarely.

Can you determine the difference between a ball and a strike? Yes, though my determination may be different than any random umpire's.

Do you use T9, or ABC? ABC, tho I have a keyboard now anyway.

Are you good at giving directions? After 20+ years of working in a library, I should think so!

Ever licked some one's cheek? This has been asked elsehwere recently, I think. And, yes.

What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter? Honey. And bread.

Have you ever made someone so mad that they broke something? Yup.

How do you feel when someone kisses you on the forehead? Not sure I have, but depending on the person doing it, I imagine I would either feel like a child, or very comforted.

Do you think your last ex deserves to die? Nope. Though we're all headed that way, so...

Do you think you can last in a relationship for 3 months? I could probably try.

Are you happy? I am content.

Do you like scary movies? Me and Woody Harrelson, peas in a pod: no.

Would you rather stay home all day, or be out and about? Home.

What are you looking forward to in the next 4 days? Watching NCIS. Finishing this @*&!(#ing spreadsheet for work! Uh, not much, basically. Oh, and the first day of Sparky's junior year of high school.

Manic Monday

(Link in blogroll)

What is the first thing you notice about people?

Their presence. ;-)

OK, seriously, their expression.

What song always makes you happy when you hear it?

"Walking on Sunshine" is the first one to pop into my head. But "Grace Kelly" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Great DJ" also popped in pretty quick.

What fashion trend do you just not get?

Whale tails. Thank GOD, I think that has ended.

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Monday's Morals

A wealthy friend approaches you with a serious offer: he needs a kidney transplant, but doesn’t want to wait his turn on a long donor list with a long period of painful dialysis. He offers to pay you ten times the total of every dollar you currently owe if you’ll give him your kidney, and promises that no one will ever know about your transaction, because buying organs is illegal. Assuming that he is a close friend and that his offer is genuine, would you give him the kidney, and would you take his money for doing so?

No.
Had this wealthy friend approached me as a friend and without mentioning money, I probably would have, though.

Give Me 5 Monday

(Link in blogroll)
Give Me Five back to school memories.

1. New clothes!!! Woo-hoo! That was SUCH a huge downer when I realized that this was not a normal event when one grows up.


2. New school supplies. I love new pens and paper.


3. Getting to see friends again. The first day was almost always awesome; I never saw my friends over the summer for some reason... (the exception to this was 6th grade when I was terrified the first day)


4. New teachers. That was always nerve-wracking, but in a generally good way. Teachers liked me: I was quiet and smart.


5. On the other hand, I never really liked seeing the other kids. Mostly. I was terminally shy in grade school...well, even into high school.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) How do you go about making a sandcastle?

My sandcastles are pretty babyish. I use water, sand and buckets. Frankly, I don't make too many sandcastles, not being the beach type.

2) Are you a tidy person?

I'm fairly tidy, maybe a 7 on a 10-point scale. It seems to be sporadic though. I can't work well at a messy desk, and at home that means, generally, that I don't do much work at my desk. ;-) My work desk is DRIVING ME NUTS because it's so messy. Must clean it this week....

3) How is the traffic where you live?

Where I live it's lovely--we're at the back of the subdivision. The traffic within 10 miles is pretty decent, to be honest. Once you get to the Big City, it's ridiculously stupid.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one. Public Domain Photo

He's very cute, isn't he? Sorta looks like he's flirting...hey, maybe it's a girl! I like the little crest on his/her head.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in blogroll)
Jodi's Meme : My Life According to Billy Joel

INSTRUCTIONS: Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Post as "Jodi's Meme: My Life According to (BAND/ARTIST NAME)" The great thing is that if you have already done this meme, you can do it again with a different artist! Please do!

-Are you a male or female? Modern Woman

-Describe yourself I Go To Extremes

-How do you feel right now? Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

-If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Leningrad

-Your favorite form of transportation Motorcycle Song

-Describe Your Morning Routine The Next Dream

-Your best friend is... In A Sentimental Mood

-What's the weather like Scandinavian Skies

-Pet Peeve? Only the Good Die Young

-If your life was a TV show, what would it be called The Stranger

-Your relationship You're My Home

-Your Fear Close To The Borderline

-What is the best advice you have to give? Say Goodbye to Hollywood

-If you could change your name, you would change it to Flip-Flop Girl

-What do you say when you are frustrated? Don't Ask Me Why

-Thought for the day River of Dreams

-How you would like to die Famous Last Words

-Your soul's present condition Shades of Grey

-Your motto Keeping the Faith

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in blogroll)

1. Disguised :: Hidden
2. Big wheel :: Trike
3. Irritating :: Annoying
4. Care :: Concern
5. Grandpa :: Grandma
6. Shooting :: Killing
7. Sunglasses :: Shades
8. Stampede :: Run amok
9. Painstakingly :: Carefully
10. Terrible position :: Very uncomfortable

Convenient answer

Your Soul Is Connected to the Fall

You are a somewhat sensitive soul with a tough exterior. You are street smart and wise about the world. You have the heart of a poet, but you're not too eager to let anyone else see it. You are very creative and deeply talented. You are still looking for the perfect outlet for your expression. You embrace change and think the cycles of life are beautiful. You don't shrink away from the darker elements of life.

What Season is Your Soul Connected To?

Since I loveLOVELOVE fall, this is a perfect result!

Saturday 9

(Link in blogroll)
I Ran

1. When's the last time you ran?

Flat-out ran? I think, on the mission trip in June I had to race after someone briefly. Jogged? More recently, and also briefly. I don't do teh runnin' t'ing.

2. Do your jeans have rips, tears, and holes in them?

One of my favorite pairs does through extreme use. Unfortunately, I don't fit in that pair anymore... :-(

3. What are you dreading right now?

A Serious Discussion I see looming. I hate those, especially those (like this one) that I have to instigate.

4. Do you like Mexican food?

Absolutamente. Prefiero los cocinos de Sonora.

5. Favorite ice cream?

Vanilla. But if Peppermint is around, I'll usually have that.

6. When was your last doctor's visit?

Eye dr.: last week. Regular dr.: last winter sometime.

7. Do you get the full 8 hours of sleep a night?

A ha ha ha ha ha ha {snort}. My total for the past week hovers around 35. There was a string of less-than-5-hour nights. I gave up on 8/night about a decade ago after years of practically killing myself over the worry that I wasn't getting enough sleep. I can function on 2 hours, though it's VERY unpretty.

8. How many pets do you have?

We have a guinea pig, and I live with two male humans, one of whom is a junior in high school. You do the math.

9. "First Loves Are Never Over;" is this true for you?

I'm WAAAAAY over the first guy I dated. My first real-life crush? Over (though I'd love to see what he looks like now, 30 years later!). My first pop-star crush? Still got a little thing in my heart for him. ;-)

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Saturday 6

1. Which social networking site do you feel the most comfortable with?

I still like basic blogging the best. But of the three Big Guys in social networking, I'll stick with Facebook.

2. How much do you treat your blog like you’d treat a social network?

I am anonymous (more or less) on my blog(s). On Facebook, I jumped in as 'myself' which makes it difficult sometimes because I don't always remember that my high school youth group kids or other church members can see me when I swear or that my non-Democrat friends get annoyed when I post "I hate Bush" stuff. In fact, I just realized yesterday that a local parent I really like unfriended me at some point, and I suspect it was over politics. Whatever. Some friend, eh? On my blogs, I wouldn't give a shit, because only a few IRL friends know about the blogs. It's odd, the closer (geographically) you are to me, the less likely you are to know about my blog. huh

3. Whether you actually use it or not, do you feel like you "get" Twitter?

I get it. I don't have time for the number of people I follow, which is a problem because I don't know the protocol for reading back over the past few days' updates. The only real Twitterer I actually make time to do that with is Brent Spiner. His tweets crack me UP.

4. Some people use software to mirror their status messages so that the current status on Facebook and Myspace is identical to their latest tweet on Twitter. Good idea or bad, and why?

Works great unless you are replying to a Tweet, in which case it just looks retarded on Fb: "@blerg: right but see http://tr.im/732ai and @blarg too" [made up names and URL]

5. Take the quiz: What Does Your Favorite Social Networking Site Say About You?

You Are a Family and Friends Centric Facebook User

As far as you're concerned, Facebook has almost everything you need. When it comes to social networking, you demand the best. You love to connect with friends and family members online. Staying in touch is important to you. You are likely to be more educated and more affluent than the average internet user. You are picky about advertising, spam, and aesthetics. You are likely to use the Internet for everything, including leisure and business. Except that for you, Facebook pretty much is the Internet.

What Does Your Favorite Social Networking Site Say About You?

As always, I have italicized the parts I agree with. I don't necessarily disagree with un-ital'd bits, but I am very much aware that Facebook is not the whole internet! Duh.

6. Which website has singlehandedly helped you reconnect with the most people you’d lost contact with?

DEFinitely Facebook! I am now in contact with high school and college friends, as well as people on whom I had crushes in high school and before and they are all in the wonderful mix of people I have known since then. It's fun to look at all the people I know. The only thing I wish is that I could secretly rank their updates by importance to me. I know you can create lists of friends, but the way I want to do it isn't available. Yet. ;-)

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in blogroll)

1. I remember, I remember ... but I can't quite pull up the file.

2. Dear Mr. President I want you to know that I think you're doing just fine.

3. Is that my schedule for the weekend. Holy cats!!???

4. I'm trying to resist the temptation of iced sugar cookies.

5. I'm saving a whole day just for you!

6. If I made a birthday list more time would definitely be on it!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to football scrimmages (woo hoo), tomorrow my plans include shopping and hosting a party, and Sunday, I want to DO NOTHING (except watch football games)!

Counting down and halfway back up

(Found here)

100. WHAT’S YOUR PROFILE SONG AND WHY? I am basically a shallow person who likes a good tune. Lyrics help, of course, but nothing too obscure, ok?
99. DO YOU HAVE A JOB, IF SO WHAT IS IT? I get paid to do stuff I love to do.
98. MIDDLE NAME? I have one, yes.
97. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON SOMEONE? Uhm, yes. Couple of someones, in fact.
96. LIED TO ANYONE IN THE PAST 24 HOURS? Mostly by not spelling out the truth.
95. BEST BREAK UP SONG? What constitutes "Best"?
94. WHERE WAS THE LAST PLACE YOU TOOK A PLANE TO? To 'here' from Colorado.
93. WHAT IS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Saw the latest Harry Potter on Sunday.
92. WHAT MAKES YOU MAD? Meanness.
91. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? I think I'm on the shrinking end of life, frankly.
90. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I'm a Scorpio; let's just roll with that.
88. DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND OF THE OPPOSITE SEX YOU CAN TALK TO? Yes.
89. DO YOU HAVE ANY SIBLINGS? Yes.
86. WHERE ARE YOU NOW? On the sofa in the living room.
87. FAVORITE COLORS? Blue.
84. WHAT DOES THE 7TH MESSAGE IN YOUR INBOX SAY ON YOUR PHONE? I'm too lazy to go get it.
82. WHAT IS SITTING TO THE LEFT OF YOU? The end table.
81. WHERE IS YOUR DAD RIGHT NOW? Same place he's been since November 1994.
80. DO YOU HAVE ANY KIDS? Yes.
79. WHO IS THE 5TH PERSON YOU GOT A MISSED CALL FROM? ...still too lazy...
77. CLOSEST SILVER OBJECT? My watch on the table. Actually, part of a Poptarts wrapper on the table. ;-)
75. DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? No.
74. DO YOU OWN ANY PETS? Ruka is technically Sparky's.
72. LAST TIME YOU LISTENED TO COUNTRY MUSIC? If Cowboy Troy counts as country, today.
69. WHAT ARE YOUR FEARS? Tonight, it's the fear that I'll never sleep soundly again.
68. WHAT CAN YOU HEAR NOW? Beast typing. Me typing. Ruka chewing on his hut.
67. HOW MANY DRUGS ARE IN YOUR SYSTEM NOW? Zyrtec, Nasocort, Levoxyl, eyedrops, rosacea gel...caffeine.
65. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? Dark brown linen pants, yellow nearly-tank, and off-white camp shirt + underwear, a necklace, rings, and earrings.
64. LAST PERSON TO MESSAGE YOU? Sparky texted me this afternoon a couple of times. If you mean IM...no idea. Anne, maybe?
63. DO YOU SING? With the radio and at church.
62. SCREAMO OR COUNTRY? Depends. I have been known to listen to both of these.
61. ROCK OR RAP? More rock, but I've got a soft spot in my soul for Kanye.
59. WHO DID YOU LAST CALL? Can't remember.
58. WHO LAST CALLED YOU? Telemarketer.
57. WHAT JEWELERY DO YOU WEAR DAILY? Wedding+engagement rings, and a sort-of anniversary ring.
56. WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? Falling asleep, mostly.
55. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU HUGGED? Sparky, sorta.
54. WOULD YOU DIE FOR SOMEONE? Sparky.
53. LATEST THING YOU’VE RECENTLY LEARNED? I can survive on under 20 hours' sleep over the course of 5 days.
52. ARE YOU COLD NOW? No.
51. WHAT DO YOU SMELL? The house smell, I guess.
50. IS ANYTHING BOTHERING YOU RIGHT NOW? Aside from tiredness?
48. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TOMORROW? I work, then I go to a parent meeting, then I sit through two h.s. football scrimmages.
44. BED SHEET COLOR? Pale blue.
43. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE NOW? Yes.
42. CAN YOU SWIM? No. But I'm awesome at drowning.
37. FAVORITE SMELL? "Clean." Also, pine, and vanilla, but not together.
38. EVER GONE A WHOLE DAY WITHOUT EATING? Yup. Surgery BITES!!
35. United States OR CANADA? United States.
33. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? I'd have to convert, or something.
32. JEANS OR SWEATPANTS? For what purpose? Overall (ha ha), jeans.
30. DO YOU OWN BIG SUNGLASSES? No.
27. HAVE YOU CRIED SO HARD YOU MADE YOURSELF SICK? Yup.
19. FAVORITE TV SHOW? CSI.
18. DO YOU LIKE ‘80S MOVIES? Some. The good ones.
15. WHAT KINDA MUSIC DO YOU LIKE? ...this horse has already been beaten to death, no?
13. BEST CITY YOU’VE VISTED? I *love* London.
10. FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? History.
9. BEEN TO COLLEGE? Yep.
7. FAVORITE TIME OF DAY? Early morning before anyone else is up.
6. EVER LICKED SOMEONE'S CHEEK? Yes. And, why? Why do we do these things?
5. SEEN ALL THE SPIDERMAN MOVIES? Maybe? Don't know. Don't care.
4. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? Saturday afternoon/evening.
3. EVER GOTTEN LOST IN THE DARK? Not on foot, no.
2. DO YOU SNORE/TALK/WALK IN YOUR SLEEP? I've been told I do all of the above, not at once, and not often.
1. ARE YOU AFRAID WHEN YOU'RE HOME ALONE? I adore being alone.


******


1.Did you cry today? Not...quite.
2. What were you doing at 8:00 this morning? Eating my 'breakfast' as the staff meeting started (buttered whole wheat bread)
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? A meme.
4. What was something that happened to you in 1992? I got pregnant.
5. What is your mom's mom's name? She went by Ella.
6. Three words to explain why you last threw up: Food poisoning sux.
7. What color is your hairbrush? The more usual one is gray/black. The other is just black. The one at work is...uh, red?
8. What was the last thing you bought? Poptarts, 2 liters of Pepsi 0, and three Rx.
11. Where do you keep your money? 90% of it's in banks or whatever.
12. What was the weather like today? Rainy, humid, warm....generally, it was May 30th outside today.
13. Where did your last hug take place? Here in the living room.
18. Are you very random? This week I certainly have been.
19. Do you want to cut your hair? Yes, but I also want to grow it a little longer.
20. Are you over the age of 25? Um, yeah.
22. Do you watch WRESTLING? Never ever ever. Why is it CAPITALIZED?
23. Does your screen name have an "x" in it? No.
24. Do you know anyone named Daisy? I do: a friend of Sparky's.
25. Do you make up your own words? On occasional (snort).
26. Are you ticklish? I can be.
27. Are you typically a jealous person? Nope. When I do feel that way, I know there is something seriously wrong about a situation (which may mean something seriously wrong about ME!).
28. Favorite animal? Canines.
30. Who's the last person to call you? Telemarketer.
32. Do you chew on your straws? Not anymore.
33. Do you have curly hair? When it's humid out, my hair is out of control.
34. What is the next concert you're going to? U2.
35. Where did you go today? Work. Walgreens.
37. What is something you say a lot? "Sure."
39. Have you seen the movie 'Donnie Darko'? Nope. I don't believe I'm the target audience.
40. Do you have to work tomorrow? I do. {{sigh}}
42. Who was the last person you said "I love you" to? Beast. Or Sparky.
43. What should you be doing right now? Getting ready for bed.
44. Do you have a nickname? Not for realz. Unless you count "Mom."
45. Are you a heavy sleeper? Usually. This week, NOT.
46. What are you listening to? Beast panting in the chair across the room--he just ran downstairs and out to the car.
47. What was the best movie you've seen in the past two weeks? I've only seen Harry Potter.
48. Do you like anyone right now? P L O C K
49. When was the last time you did the dishes? Last night.
50. Name someone who made you smile today: Beast, Sparky, Erin...

Dare to Tell

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)

What type of day are you having? It's good. Not fab, but good.

Was there anyone who "made your day"? Beast came home. Sparky made me laugh. Erin made me smile.

Are you liking how you look today? Yes.

Do you have anyone crushing on you? Very doubtful.

Have you ever eaten a bug? Previous person's answer: "not intentionally." I agree, but unfortunately, I've had a couple fly into my mouth over the years. Which says...uh...something.

Are you vegeterian? Nope.

When was the last time you kissed someone? Within the last hour or so.

Have you ever had something stuck between your teeth, but no one decided to tell you? Hasn't everyone?

Are you a mother or a father? I'm a mother. I decided to hold off on fatherhood in this particular incarnation.

When was your last paycheck? Yesterday.

How many pets do you have? Just Ruka.

What kind of toothpaste do you use? Plain ol' blue Crest.

Are you closer to being rich or poor? I never forget that in the worldwide scheme, I am rich beyond most people's imagining.

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal? Only when life has completely spiraled into a blackened pit.

What was the last gift someone gave you? Letting me borrow her NCIS discs.

Do you appreciate that person? Oh, HELL yes!

Are you on any type of drugs? Just the Rx...though I totally feel liek I'm mainlining Oxy or something this week for some reason.

Are you in love? Yup.

Have you ever been in love? Yup.

Do you even believe in love? I would kill myself if I stopped believing in love.

How many things are you really thinking about right now? 87. This may explain the loose-brainedness of the evening/day/week.

Did you talk to anyone you didn't like today? Uhm, well, yeah, sorta.

Do you like picnics? Yes. I love picnics.

What kind of mood are you in? I'm very very tired.

Are you waiting for anything? The other shoe to drop.

Are you going to bed after this? ...eventually.

Have you ever watched Fahrenheit 9/11? Yes.

What book are you currently reading? Do Hard Things, and I'm listening to School Days in the truck.

What song did you last listen to? "Crosstown Traffic" (Living Colour), about 4.5 hours ago.

What movie is in your DVD player? No movie. NCIS, Season 4.

How many windows are open in your computer? Two windows, 5 tabs in the IE window.

Are you a very stressed out person? I stress myself out.

Are you single? Not so much.

Do you have a beach house? No.

Where do you live? Rah-cheer.

Do you sometimes watch the news? Very damn rarely.

Have you ever seen a UFO? Nope.

Do you believe in aliens? I believe in them in theory.

What is your favorite magazine? EW

How many times have you gone to a foreign country? How many trips? 7 How many countries? About 12, I think.

When will you next go on a plane? November, for my mom's memorial service.

When did you last go on a plane? July 1, coming home after Mom died.

Do you watch football Sundays? Oh...yeah...yowza!

Do you read Perez Hilton? I have. I try not to. Doing so makes my spleen itch.

Do you like Dr. Phil? I tend to agree with him, though I don't like his tactics. And frankly, he annoys the SHIT outta me.

Do you like Oprah? Yup.

Do you ever want to get married? Already am.

What is your favorite country? This one.

Do you like animals? The cute ones, yes.

Do you have an ipod? I have a Creative Zen.

Do you watch TV alot? Previous person's answer: "too much." Yeah, me too.

Are you afraid of the dark? I love the dark!

Movie

You Should Watch a Fantasy Movie

You are highly creative and brilliant. You have a million thoughts flowing at once. In your mind, anything is possible. And you like your movies to be that way as well. You like to be taken away on an incredible journey. You like to see things you've never dreamed of seeing. In some ways, you never grew up. You're still fascinated by make believe... only the stories are much more complex now.

What Kind of Movie Should You Watch Tonight?

...except, I basically can't stand Lord of the Rings....

Thursday Thunks

(Link in blogroll)

1. Your thoughts on hunting?

I think if you're going to do it, it should be done right: kill discriminately, learn to dress what you kill, use what you kill, be grateful to God/nature for providing it. I do NOT think that hunting for "fun"--killing and leaving the kills behind--should go unpunished.

2. Swine Flu vaccine... will you get it?

Probably, though I wouldn't want to be first in line; I think others.

3. What is one job/profession that you think there are just too many of?

Politicians.

4. I want to go on a diet, what advice will you offer me?

"Don't ask me for advice. Get someone who knows and ask them."

5. You are going out on a date with someone for the very first time. When you get into their car, you see a box of condoms on the floor. What do you do?

Hmmm...subtle. I think this is likely to be a short date, and also the only date with this guy. Then again, I'm married; what do I know.

6. Name something in your bathroom that shouldn't be there.

Other people would say the book on the counter. I would say the fact that there is only one book.

7. What was your Kindergarten teacher like?

Her name was Mrs. Morton. She was probably about 50, and rather serious, but I loved her. The other Kindergarten teacher was young and pretty. Everyone wanted her, but I like Mrs. Morton ok.

8. What kind of oil do you use when you cook?

Depends on what I'm cooking. Olive oil for meats and so forth. Vegetable oil for baking, etc.

9. If someone takes an unflattering picture of you and posts it online, do you beg them to take it down or do you laugh at yourself with everyone else?

I'd ignore it. Seriously, why keep bringing it up so other people will continue to notice it. I have to say, this is one of the behaviors of teenage girls that annoys me the most.

10. What brand of dishwashing soap do you use?

Dawn. I think?

Monday Crazy Questions

(Link in blogroll)
Crazy is right

1. Last Tuesday which was Good Friday we came to tell you something we know nothing about. You were asked to pull up a chair and sit on the floor. What do you make of this?

I've just entered a 3rd grade classroom, haven't I? Because, yeah, I remember going through this with Sparky and a few of his friends about this point.

2. The answer is YES...what is the question?

"Are you sure this is your lottery ticket that is worth $100 billion??"

3. The cops are banging on your door late at night. What are you thinking they are there for?

Wrong house. The only alternative is that something has happened to Sparky.

4. Children learn what they live....so they say.. what would a child learn in your household??

How to cook for himself. Which he has.

5. Tell us about 1 family ritual your family does every year.

We go to late Christmas Eve service every year after eating at the local Chinese place.

6. What is the favorite food that you would eat everyday 3 times a day if you could?

Iced sugar cookies and Diet Dr. Pepper.

7. Tell us about your fantasy.

The one that involves a household chef and housekeeper? Yeah, that about sums it up.

Or the one involving Mark Harmon? Nope, you're on your own at this point.

8. You are stranded on a deserted island. You have plenty of food, a person to keep you company, shelter, and life seems stress free. What do you tell the rescue ship when it arrives??

"Books. I need books. Oh and some music. And then...bye."

Give Me 5 Monday

(Link in blogroll)

Give Me Five memorable things you have done before.

1. Had a baby (although I remember very little of the birth itself).
2. Gave up on a toxic relationship.
3. Helped insert a catheter.
4. Helped dig a septic tank and lay out a septic field.
5. Not read someone the riot act when I wanted to very badly.

Book me

You Are Fantasy / Sci Fi

You have an amazing imagination, and in your mind, all things are possible. You are open minded, and you find the future exciting. You crave novelty and progress. Compared to most people, you are quirky and even a bit eccentric. You have some wacky ideas. And while you may be a bit off the wall, there's no denying how insightful and creative you are.

What Kind of Book Are You?

OK then. More likely to be anything else, actually.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten?

There were some things in China and Russia that I'm sure I'm better off not knowing about in terms of provenence. The weirdest tasting thing was probably the sweet mac-n-cheese-type casserole dish my Spanish prof brought to meetings and parties. It was very weird.

2) Where is your favorite place to shop for clothes?

Kohl's. Old Navy. DSW. VS. Depends on what kind of clothes, of course.

3) Describe your perfect day?

Right now, it would involve sleep and some other activities best omitted from a generally PG-rated blog.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one. Public Domain Photo

This bug is sorta cute. I like green bugs MUCH more than dark-colored bugs. He looks very alert. Kinda spiny. I think this guy would make a great pet.

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Monday's Morals

You discover by accident that your boss has a toupee. It apparently is so convincing that no one else in your office knows, and your boss has no idea that you now know. Would you tell any of your co-workers about your discovery? Why or why not?

I would hope that I could pretend I never noticed. If it's that good, it wouldn't be an issue.

However, since virtually all of my bosses have been women, the situation is interesting. I actually know someone (female) who wears a wig. My grandmother was a cue-ball when she was old. The difference between the wigs of those two women prooved to me that paying for quality is critical. No one know's Jen wears a wig, except those she's told. Grandma's situation was obvious to everyone.

So I could actually spot fake hair. And I'd say nothing, especially if it were a woman.

QOTW

(Link in blogroll)

Is there a Universal Truth that you have learned that you’d like to share with us?

You have to be REAL coordinated to fall off the floor, hence it is always the safest place to sit. [This is actual outright theft: it's my brother's Universal Truth, but it has served me well for over 20 years.]

Sunday Stealing

(Link in blogroll)
The Blame Tara Meme

Question 1: Who do you think is the hottest movie star? Hottest in terms of overall, long-term good looks: Michelle Pfeiffer, tie between George Clooney and Johnny Depp. Hottest in terms of marketability right now: Emma Watson, Robert Pattinson.

Question 2: Apart from your house and your car, what is the most expensive thing you have ever bought? Vacation: plane tickets, hotels, etc. Maybe a computer (back in the days when they cost a couple thousand dollars).

Question 3: What is your most treasured memory? This morning I would say it's when Sparky was born. Sometimes it's other things.

Question 4: What is the best gift you’ve ever received as a child? Maybe the Barbie Dream House? Or the Instamatic camera (hello, I'm old, how are you?).

Question 5: What is the biggest mistake you’ve ever made? And I make it over and over: not listening to my gut.

Question 6: Give four words to describe yourself. Conscientious. Worry-wart. Goofy. Intelligent.

Question 7: What was your highlight or lowlight of 2008? The lowlight was definitely my mother-in-law's death.

Question 8: What was your most embarrassing moment? Ever? Well, let's see...there are several from which to choose... Let's go with the extreme jet-lagged conversation with a British woman I'd just met during which I said to her, "I'm so sorry. I can't understand you, can you just please speak English?" She, of course, was speaking English.

Question 9: Tell something not generally known about yourself. I harbor grave doubts about my church.

Question 10: If you were a comic strip/cartoon character, who would you be? A feminist Olive Oyl.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in blogroll)

1. Delayed :: ...development
2. Irresponsible :: "Call me... [for all you non-Sinata fans, it's a song]
3. Stupendous :: Magnificent
4. Barcelona :: Freddy Mercury [it's another song]
5. Solution :: "Seven Percent..."
6. Simplify :: Thoreau
7. Crumble :: Cookie
8. Podcast :: Pondcast [inside joke from last summer]
9. Conversation :: Elvis [yet another song thing]
10. Homepage :: Website

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Saturday 6

1. Which single artist would you have the most songs from?

Probably a tie between U2 and Billy Joel. Which says...something.

2. What are your three favorite songs from this particular artist?

U2: The Sweetest Thing, One, Walk On
Billy Joel: Leningrad, You're My Home, I've Loved These Days

3. For someone who knows you well who checks through your playlist, what song would most likely be the biggest surprise?

None of them. Maybe Leningrad comes closest. They'd probably be more surprised at what was missing.

4. You have to sing a karaoke song: which one do you choose to sing?

"Trouble" from The Music Man. Or "Just You Wait" from My Fair Lady.

5. Take the quiz: What Kind of Rocker Are You?

I was, somehow and for no good reason, a Glam Rocker. which is not right to say the least.

6. Lyrics aside, which melody on your playlist do you think is the most "hummable?"

Definitely one of the Billy Joel ones: I've Loved These Days, I guess.

Friday 5

(Link in blogroll)
... a day late
Ugly

1. What’s so ugly it’s kind of cute?

Boxer puppies.

2. What’s the ugliest article of clothing in your wardrobe?

An old flannel shirt of my dad's with the sleeves cut off above the elbow. It's at least 20 years old.

3. What’s the ugliest car on the streets today?

I'm not really enjoying the Hummer still. Yet. Keep hoping they'll go completely out of business.

4. Under what circumstances are you most likely to whip out your ugliest behavior?

When other people whip out ugly behavior. Yes, I'm reactive. Deal.

5. Which of the United States of America has the ugliest shape?

Wow, uh...Georgia? Minnesota? I dunno. There are more shapes that I like, though. I really like Idaho, and New Mexico.

Brainy Love

You Are Left Brained in Love

When it comes to love, you try to be as rational as possible. Your head doesn't lead you astray. You believe that love should never be blind, and you're not the type to get swept away easily. You are a cool customer when you fall for someone. You are able to look at things directly. You believe the honesty is key to a good relationship. You also try to be dependable and trustworthy.

Are You Right Brained or Left Brained in Love?

ALERT THE MEDIA!

Not. This isn't news, at least not to me.

Twilight choice

Your Dream Guy is Jacob

You are a warm, friendly, loving person ... and you're attracted to the same qualities in a guy. For you, love is an organic process. It happens naturally, and it sometimes takes years. You love being with a guy who has a wild streak like Jacob, even if he's a little unpredictable at times. You love fun and adventure. You're likely to fall in love with a young soul.

Who's Your Dream Guy: Jacob or Edward?

Well, yeah. Moreso than Edward, who is a lovely person (er, vampire?) but not at all my type. I swore off ochre eyes several decades ago.