Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7

Name the seven recurring nightmares you have most often.

I really only have had one recurring nightmare. It is always about closing time at work, and I'm trying to get people to leave and get the building cleaned up for the night. People keep coming in and the high school kids need to leave and ...

I had that dream on a regular basis at my former PoW. Haven't had it for years though. Thank God.

Addendum:

When I was a kid, I had the weirdest dreams about floating geometric shapes. Perfect squares and circles. The more perfect, the more freaked out I got. When I hit puberty, these faded away and I haven't had one like that in decades. They actually caused vertigo in my sleep. Yuck.

Back in Texas

(Found here)

1. I use Banana Boat sunscreen lotion.
2. My dream job is to be a news anchorman/woman.
3. I know how to handle both Windows and Mac computers quite well.
4. I have older half-siblings.
5. Say what you want, I think Zac Efron is hot.
6. The last item I purchased cost no more than $5.
7. I love Johnny Depp because he's such a versatile actor. (among other reasons, of course)
8. My first kiss happened at school.
9. I keep silent whenever my parents lecture me. (well, there's the upside, I guess--no more lectures, except in my head)
10. I love The Veronicas.
11. The keyboard I'm using now is missing some letters.
12. I have never known my father.
13. I've been sober my whole life so far.
14. Kim Kardashian is such a skank.
15. I can't stand talentless fame whores.
16. I knew of Youtube before it became so famous.
17. I've only had my Facebook/Myspace for less than a year.
18. Megan Fox is just another pretty face.
19. I've bought a Playboy magazine before.
20. I've been in a Chanel store before.
21. One of my favourite movies is Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. (good book, though)
22. I probably used up an entire box of tissues watching P.S I Love You.
23. I think boys with curly hair are extremely cute.
24. No way am I gonna watch the Hannah Montana movie.
25. Although I do find the Hannah Montana series funny at times.
26. I'm the only one in my family who has a laptop.
27. I'm trying to change my accent.
28. I don't think I look very good without makeup.
29. Chinese seems like a very hard language to learn.
30. If I could speak any other language fluently, it would be Italian.
31. I know someone who dressed up as Ronald McDonald for Halloween.
32. I know about most of my parents' past relationships. (I have no idea...too late now to ask)
33. I use Google more than Yahoo! search.
34. People usually assume that I'm quite well-off.
35. My significant other was born before 1985. (but then, so was I)
36. A younger sibling has had their first kiss before me.
37. I doubt I could survive a long-distance relationship.
38. I think it's kinda dumb to have a favourite number.
39. Isabella is a very pretty name.
40. The last movie I watched stars my favourite actor/actress.
***
[Movies Starting With K--bold what you've seen]

K-19: The Windowmaker
K-9 (1989)
Kaaterskill Falls
Kadhalan
Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)
Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost (2006)
Kamran and Hooman
Kangaroo Jack
Kansas City
Kansas City Confidential (1952)
Kansas Pacific
Karate Dog, The
Karate Kid
Karate Kid 2 (some of one of them?)
Karen Carpenter Story, The
Kate and Leopold
Kaw
Keeper of Time, The
Keeping Up With the Steins
Key Largo
Kheel
Khubilai Khan - Fall of the Mogol Hordes
Kick Axe
Kick the Moon
Kickin It Old Skool
Kicking and Screaming
Kid, The
Kid Ego
Kidnapped in Paradise
Kids
Kids Who Saved Summer, The
Kidulthood
Kiki's Delivery Service
Kill Them All
Kill Zone
Killa Season
Killer Barbies
Killer Dwarfs
Killer Elite, The
Killer Instinct
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Killer Pad
Killer: A Journal of Murder
Killers 2: The Beast
Killers from Space
Killing Fields, The
Killing Me Softly
Killing Moon
Killing Mr. Griffin
Killing, The
Kindred, The
King and I, The
King Arthur (2004)
King Cobra
King Is Alive, The
King Kong (2005)
King Maker, The
King of California
King of New York
King of Sorrow
King of the Jungle
King, The
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom of Heaven
Kirby: Fright to the Finish
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Kiss of Death
Kiss Of the Dragon
Kiss of the Vampire, The
Kiss Toledo Goodbye
Kissing a Fool
Kissing Jessica Stein
Kite
Kite Runner, The
Knight Rider (1982)
King Rider (2008)
Knocked Up
Kooks, The
Kool and the Gang
Kozara
Kuffs
Kung Fu
[k, yes, I don't see too many movies, yo]

***
100 Well-Known Websites in the USA
Bold the ones that you have visited.

Google
Yahoo
Facebook
Youtube
Myspace [to my everlasting shame]
Windows Live (www.live.com)
Postsecret
Urbandictionary
MSN
Wikipedia
EBay
Craigslist.org
AOL
Blogger.com
Amazon
Go [maybe?]
CNN
Microsoft.com
Photobucket
Flickr
Double Click
IMDB.com
Comcast.net
WordPress.com
ESPN Sportszone
Weather.com
Ask.com
NYtimes.com
About.com
Verizon.net
Apple.com
Pornhub.com
Pogo.com
Netflix
Aim.com
Vmn.net
Fastclick.com
Mapquest.com
Att.net
Hulu.com
Road Runner (www.rr.com)
RapidShare.com
Adobe.com
Foxnews.com [yak]
Linkedin.com
Walmart.com
Redtube.com
Youporn.com
Adultfriendfinder.com
Reference.com
Dictionary.com
Target.com
Bbc.co.uk
Answers.com
Bestbuy.com
Disney.go.com
CareerBuilder.com
Tagged.com
CNET.com
Dell.com
Att.com
Tribalfusion.com
Ning.com
LiveJournal.com
Bp.blogspot.com
Bankofamerica.com
USPS.com
Irs.gov
Tube8.com
ZEDO.com
Megavideo.com
DeviantART.com
Thepiratebay.com
Foxsports.com
Typepad.com
Tinypic.com
EzineArticles.com
Sparknotes.com
NBA.com
ImageShack.us
MegaUpload.com
Xvideos.com
UPS.com
IGN.com
Twitter.com
NewEgg.com
Msplinks.com
Quizyou.net
AWeber.com
Megaporn.com
Expedia.com
XNXX.com
Monster.com
WashingtonPost.com
Yelp.com
Download.com
Verizonwireless.com
Huffingtonpost.com
Cox.net
Hi5.com
TMZ.com
Pandora.com
EHow.com
People.com

***

I have a cat
My name is Kelly
I live in California
I’m on the phone at least 3 hours everyday
I can't live without my cell phone [I can, but I don't wanna]
I watch TRL
I like Hilary Duff
I can sing well [I think so anyway...]
I have been to New York
I know how to play chess
I watch too much TV
I have an older brother
Paris Hilton is my idol
I shop at Old Navy
I have a designer purse
I’ve seen all the Desperate Housewives episodes
I know a guy named Joe
I’ve been to all my friend’s houses
I am a redhead [not really, it's all fake]
I have blonde friends
I’ve been on a boat
I like iced tea
My cell phone is Sprint
I like to tell jokes
I have a job
I like to gossip
I just like to listen to gossip
I’ve watched The Notebook more than once
Jessie McCartney is cute
I’ve been on TRL
I get my shoes at Journeys
Shake it Off is a good song
I own more than 4 tank tops [scary thought, eh?]
I live at the beach
I have more than 10 pairs of shoes [I'm female, so...yeah]
I have 2 sisters [...left]
I go to church
I listen to music like 24/7 [I wish]
I like my life
I play the piano [poorly]
I speak Spanish, as well as English
I like to dance
I have been to a concert
I still watch the Disney Channel
I love pink
I have tons of skirts
Abercrombie is too expensive [not that they carry my size anyway]
I’m not rich
I’ve been to London
I love polka dots
I own 3 bathing suits
I have a pool
Soccer is my sport
I’m a Green Day fan
I have been a Green Day fan for a long time
Ashlee Simpson is cool
I like Glamour magazine
I wear makeup
People talk about me a lot [how would I know?]
I hate being the center of attention
Guys always follow me
I adore chocolate

***

What color is your computer keyboard? Black.
Would you prefer laptops or desktops? And why? Lappies at home, desktops for work--I need the number pad.
McDonalds. Nasty or Delicious? These are not mutually exclusive terms. Both are true.
Do you have any guilty pleasures? Of course. Who doesn't? Well, outside of sociopaths, I guess.
Have you ever had dental floss that was not white? If so, what color? Green. Yucky mint-flavored.
Where is your favorite place to order pizza from? P@^lee's
What's the background on your cell phone, if you have one? A pic I took at Red Rocks in June, similar to this.
Nirvana. Legends or garbage? Legends, whether you like 'em or not.
Do you know what a spork is? Yes, I'll cop to having eaten at Taco Bell.
Do you eat your soup with a fork or a spoon? A spoon.
Do you save up old newspapers? Only until we have a good-sized bundle and then we recycle them.
What are you allergic to? Life, anything with dander, grass...the planet.
What color is your favorite blanket? Blue corduroy down-filled.
Have you ever watched the sun come up? Yes. Not for awhile.
Have you been Featured Member yet? Whatever that means. So, I guess no.
How old are you? 46
Have you ever had a pipe leak or bust in your house/garage/basement? Yes. I do not recommend it.
Do you like rocking or rolley or spinny chairs best? I do NOT love spinning. I do like rocking. Always have.
What's your favorite television show? CSI, NCIS, Survivor, TAR.
Do you have a basement? Yes. Well, sorta--it's almost unusable.
If so, what color are the walls? Pale blue.
Do you write with pens or pencils? More with pens than pencils, though I like pencils better.
If you said pencils, regular or mechanical? I'm so glad mechanical pencils are back in vogue.
Do you hang up wreaths at Christmas time? Just one, on the front door.
Do you put a star at the top of the tree, or an angel? Star. I'm traditional, and I have issues with angel "chic."
Is there carpet in your house, or hardwood floor? About half & half.
Sum up your day for me. Showered, memed, went to church (organized the youth group thing, read, played bells), came home, ate, Fbooked, napped, memed, watched the beginning of the Pro Bowl, now watching the Grammeys.
Do you buy any certain magazines? I subscribe to EW, Ms., Presbyterians Today, and Real Simple. On vacation, I usually purchase a bunch of junk like OK!
Did you steal the cookies from the cookie jar? Yup.
Do you have a favorite movie? Yes.
What level are you on, on Guitar Hero? Whatever negative numbers exist. I think I tried playing once.
Do you like instant messaging programs? I use 'em.
Do you eat dinner at a certain time, the same time, everyday? Nope. Not anymore.
Your cell phone. Slider, flip, or old style? Fancy flip, with a keyboard.
Do you prefer texting or just picking up the phone and calling? I usually text, given the choice, but sometimes a call is just easier.
Is your house a one story, or 2+? 2-story
Have you ever seen Reba? I've seen her sing on TV, but not the TV show she starred in.
Does music play a significant role in your life? Oh yeah.
What are your favorite bands/singers? U2, Melissa Etheridge, Paul Simon, BEP, and a zillion or so others.
Did you ever have a Gameboy Color? Sparky does. I don't.
What's your favorite type of survey to take? Whatever, as long as there is some thought behind it.
Do you have a laser mouse or ball mouse? At work, it's a laser. At home, it's a touchpad.
Do you think pick-up lines are annoying and cheesy, or cute and funny? Where is the "stupid" choice?
Do you prefer drinking out of mugs or regular cups? Cups. I don't drink warm beverages.
Have you ever ridden a horse? Yup. Scared the crap outta me.

Snow Way

You Are a Snow Kitten

You like snow in small doses. You find snow to be comforting, and you love to snuggle up under a blanket of snow. You're not a big fan of the hassles of snow. You're happy to see it come, but you're also happy to see it go. Go ahead and venture out in the snow from time to time! Throw a snowball or make a snow angel. You have an inner snow bunny inside you, and it's time to let that bunny play.

Are You a Snow Bunny?

I do like snow. It's primarily the length of winter here, and the lack of sunshine that kills me.

Meow.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Without looking it up, how many of the following could you correctly name off the top of your head: your state slogan, your state tree, your state flower, your state bird, your state dog, your state song, your state dance, and your state beverage?

I stand a very good chance of being right about the bird (almost half the states have chosen the cardinal), but otherwise I have no idea. I can tell you most of those for Colorado, though, since that's where I lived when I had to memorize all of these for school.
Aside: when did we start with "state beverages" anyway? And "state dogs"? Are "state foods" and "state rodents" next?

2. Suppose you started your own state: based on your personality, what would you want for your new state's slogan?

Worry, be cranky!

3. If you had to choose one kind of animal to represent your state — mammal, fish, reptile, insect…but just one — which would you choose and which specific breed would you select?

If you mean the one in which I currently live, it's definitely a cuckoo. Too bad ours aren't extinct.
For my own state, I think I'll have either a mouse or a terrier.

4. What would be the pick for your state's official drink?

Where I live: corn syrup.
My state: Stoli, tonic, lime twist.

5. Take the quiz: What State Are You?

I was California when I took this. As if, much as I like California, that will happen in my lifetime.

6. Go to Wikipedia and look up that state: what is its slogan and how good of a fit would it be for your new state?

It's "Eureka" which does seem fitting considering how often I misplace (and forget) things.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Pretentious Blogging Meme

1. How long have you been blogging? Just about exactly 6 years.

2. What made you start? A couple of friends were doing it, and I thought it would be a really good way to track my reading. And then I had stuff to say, so I started a regular blog fairly quickly. And then by May I had started this site for all the memes I was doing.

3. Who inspired you? All the people I've read over the years, on- and off-line.

4. About how many hours a week would you estimate you spend on your blog? Nowadays, probably less than 10. Used to be LOTS more.

5. What kind of experience or background do you have with writing? I love to write, but I'm very undisciplined about it, so I don't get things accomplished very well. I'm the sort of author who would have to be chained to her desk to write for a living.

6. Talk about how you come up with blog topics. Where do you get your ideas? Here, it's all external. Hence, this meme. I need prompts. On the regular blog, it's pretty much whatever is going on in my life. Which, right now, is so chaotic I've chosen not to post because it's too confusing.

7. What or who inspires you and your blog? Uh. I'm not feeling too inspired.

8. Where and/or how do your brainstorming for your blog? Life. It happens. If it's interesting, I post it.

9. Do you have any blogging rules or guidelines you follow? Nah. Rules are for schmucks. lol I do have some general layout parameters I try to follow. Otherwise, not so much.

10. Is there anything you will not blog about? Other people's personal shit.

11. Do you have any sort of a publishing schedule in terms of day of week or topic? Nope. I follow the memes (here), I note what I've read (on the book blog), and post (on the regular blog) when the spirit moves me otherwise.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Furniture :: ...movers
2. Beauty :: ...and the Beast [lol]
3. Sip :: Taste
4. Block :: ...and tackle (to be honest, my first reaction was someone I know with that last name, but I'm not posting that for people to find)
5. Forehead :: Bangs
6. Championship :: ...Ring
7. Hurl :: Ralph
8. Whip :: Devo
9. Destruction :: Sledgehammer
10. Leather :: Harleys

Books Books Books Meme

(Finally swiped from Kwizgiver who did this months ago)

1) What author do you own the most books by? I think probably Laura Ingalls Wilder. I don't buy books by their authors; I tend not to buy books, to be honest.

2) What book do you own the most copies of? The Bible. We probably have close to two dozen in the house.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? The first one did. "Of" doesn't usually bother me, thanks to Churchill.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life? Dr. Seuss' Alphabet Book: "Aunt Annie's Alligator...A A A..." out loud, to Sparky. Oh, wait, no: it's the Thomas the Tank Engine Says Goodnight cloth book that we read every night to Sparky at bedtime and naptime! For 5 years.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old? I have to say, it was probably The Secret of the Old Clock.

7) What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? Ishmael by Daniel Quinn [I am VERY freaked out that my answer matches Kwizgiver's--how the heck did we end up reading such an awful, and old, book the same year??!] Technically, I didn't finish it, though.

8 ) What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? Columbine, by Dave Cullen

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be? I haven't tagged anyone, but I think everyone should read whatever suits them best.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie? I'm actually quite happy that none of the books I love the most have been made into movies.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie? Anything else by Dan Brown or Nicholas Sparks.

13) What is the most lowbrow book you’ve read as an adult? People, I read EVERYdamnthing! Lowbrow, highbrow, Mad magazine, and books on esoteric cataloging strategies, not to mention picture books and early Church history books. I have major issues with the whole concept of "lowbrow."

14) What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? The Bible. Moby Dick. The Leatherstocking Tales. Everything by Jane Austen. Haven't finished any of them.

15) Do you prefer the French or the Russians? I suppose I should ask what part of French or Russian life we are discussing, but my answer would almost always be Russian, unless the subject is food.

16) Roth or Updike? Updike, but only barely.

17) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers? Dave Eggers, by a nose.

18) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer? Shakespeare. But I adore Chaucer, too.

19) Austen or Eliot? Eliot, and No-Doz.

20) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? I don't read much true scifi or romance fiction. I don't read much 'literary' fiction. I don't read ANY political stuff. I'm not particularly embarrassed about any of that, but those are the big gaps.

21) What is your favorite novel? The Book of Ruth, by Jane Hamilton

22) Essay? What the Dog Saw, by Malcolm Gladwell

23) Work of nonfiction? Anything by John Sutherland always cheers me.

24) Who is your favorite writer? Stephen King, Robert Parker, Lawrence Block, Nevada Barr, Emily Bronte, John Steinbeck, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dr. Seuss, Sara Paretsky...probably easier to peruse this list.

25) What is your desert island book? The Bible. I'd probably finish it.

26) What are you reading right now? By Blood We Live (edited by John Joseph Adams) -- short stories about vampires
Blaze, by Richard Bachman -- similar in tone to Of Mice and Men
Blood Trail, by C.J. Box (on CD) -- typical suspense novel, by first by this author

27) What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Spenser. And Mr. Rochester.

28 ) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature? Who cares? Certainly not me.

29) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character. Can't think of anything.

30) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you’ve seen? I don't think I've seen any of the obscure ones.

31) Favorite Poem? Custard the Dragon. Or, really, almost anything else by Ogden Nash.

32) Favorite short story? I've a soft spot for "The Lottery" but I really adore short stories and there is no way I could pick just one.

33) Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Well, I guess now that Salinger's dead... There are lots of others to take his place. I can't think of anyone specific, though.

Baaa!

You Are Not a Sheep

You don't follow the crowd. In fact, whenever it's possible, you try to avoid the crowd. You don't like blending in, and you are a complete rebel. Being like everyone else is boring. You are a distinct individual, and you're definitely on[e] of a kind. People probably consider you to be quite quirky. If anything, the herd ends up following you. And you find that to be highly annoying!

Are You a Sheep?

Generally I agree with the concept, even if this doesn't seem very highlighted. I tend to avoid crowds.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Everybody is a Star

1. Did you ever think that you'd be a star? If yes, doing what?

Not really. This has not been an aspiration of mine at least in terms of fame. I like being very good at what I do, however, so if that makes me a star ....

2. Tell us about the last time you had a romantic dinner.

Uhm. Maybe at the Mill? A few months ago? The one meal I had alone with Beast in Vegas wasn't all that romantic.

3. Tell us about your worst job interview.

I didn't get the job. I knew I was WAY underqualified within about three questions, but they were very pleasant and finished the interview and I got a tour of the facility at the end. OK, so maybe that wasn't the worst. Maybe it was the group interview at another place where I was qualified, but felt completely cowed by having three people firing questions at me from a rubric they were using. Really freakin' uncomfortable. Didn't get that job either. lol

4. Tell us about your stupidest date.

I'm still--25 years later--not sure this was a date, but I went over to a guy's apartment to listen to import records. That's all we did. It was...random.

5. How much in common do you think you should have with a romantic partner?

More than Hollywood thinks, but less than what your parents would probably say.

6. Tell us about a favorite meme that you loved but no longer posts.

I loved Friday's Feast. I miss it a lot. It was just a very clever concept.

7. How did you get into blogging?

It's all Amy's fault.

8. Do you share all your fantasies with a significant other?

Yeah, not.

9. What change in your life would you like to happen this year?

I'd like to magically lose a great deal of weight (without being sick, by the way--I'm not a moron).

Faygolicious

(Found here)
Remember: I don't come up with the titles for these things. They come that way.

1/29/10 10 p.m.
When is sex appropriate? As in, what age? or ... what? I think it's a pretty personal decision, but everyone should be very clear on the physical and emotional fallout.

Has someone ever told you they want to be with you forever? Yep. Once for real, and once in high school. Different people.

Did you get a full 8 hours of sleep last night? Yes, and then two more this afternoon. This medication snafu is kicking my ass.

Have you ever gotten alcohol poisoning? Not diagnosed, no. I've been completely fucked up twice, but my physiology came through for me and took care of the problem the old-fashioned way.

Any plans for tomorrow? My current list is: update book blog, update EW list, enter receipts into Quicken, make shopping list and go to grocery store. I'm also planning to sleep as late as possible.

Do you find the opposite sex confusing? Gotta go with the previous person's answer here: "Nope. Men are pretty simple." Infuriating, though.

What do you want most right now? SUN. And warmth.

How long does it take for you to take a shower? Honestly, I've never timed myself. I'd guess about 5 minutes. That doesn't include anything but time under the water, of course.

When is your birthday? I'm a Scorp.

Is tomorrow going to be a good day? Yes.

Ever thrown up in public? Ayup. See that top question.

What's on your mind RIGHT NOW? Why did I start this? I should be going to bed.

Do you miss anything/anyone? No, we're all good (right now).

Can you imagine yourself living in a cardboard box? All too clearly.

Who was the last person you talked to? Beast. I think I told him I was going upstairs to take a bath...20 minutes ago.

Have you seen anyone lately that you don't get along with? I can get along with anyone for a short period of time. How long ago is "lately"?

What is your favorite color shirt to wear? "Clean."

Where would you like to be right now? Anywhere the temperature is over 50 and the sun is shining.

What do you hear? Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. Mike is swearing a lot tonight; clearly, he's not a fan of heights.

Is anything bugging you right now? Nope.

What's the best feeling in the world? Doing the right thing at the right time.

How is life going for you right now? I'm not about to start complaining. But it's freakin' busy.

Do you hate being alone? Like the previous responder, I love being alone. I really, really do.

The last person you kissed needs you at 3AM, would you go? Didn't I just do this the other day? Cuz, yeah. Though this time, it would be Sparky, and duh, yeah.

When was the last time you talked to your number 2? Fuck. I hate MySpace.

What is your current mood? Is "tipsy" a mood?

How's your day going so far? It's nearly 11 p.m. So, ok, I guess.

What's your most memorable time at 7/11? Gosh, well, so many memories...sad, eh?

Are you waiting for something? Not per se.

Would you kiss an ugly person for $1,000? Do I know them? And what kind of kiss are we discussing.

Do you get distracted easily? Oh, hell to the ... SQUIRREL!!!!

Did your last kiss take place on a bed? Nope.

Do you sleep with the door open or closed? Open. And I'm not a fan of it.

Are you good at hiding your feelings? Better than I was 10 years ago, but still not great.

Have you ever cried from being so mad? Huh. Yes. Which just makes me so much angrier.

Who did you last see in person? Well, let's see, Beast is definitely across the room from me. For a change.

Are you listening to music right now? Nope.

What is something you currently want right now? Sleep.

How are you feeling? Loopy.

When was your last phone call? I think I talked to Beast last.

Do you drink tea? Not very often. Unless I'm in England.

Will your next kiss be a mistake? No.

What woke you up today? @*(!ing alarm clock.

Was it a boy or girl that text you last? Boy.

What is the last thing you said out loud? "Wood elf?"

Can you whistle? Yup.

Do you sleep on your stomach? Not as often as I used to.

Are you ticklish? Sometimes.

1/30/10 8:45 a.m.
Are you missing someone? Of course. It's apparently illegal to make a survey that does NOT include this question.

Are you a morning person, or night person? Generally, morning.

Do you wear the hood on your hoodie? Only if I'm outside in windy conditions with no hat.

What is the biggest secret you know about your 2nd Top Friend? See previous comment re MySpace.

It's 4 in the morning, your phone rings, what do you do?
House phone: let it ring and check the message. Cell: probably wouldn't hear it as it's normally plugged into the wall in the kitchen.

Are you waiting for something? Aren't we all?

Have you ever been awake for more than 2 nights straight? Not for a very long time, and not really fully awake both nights.

Is there someone you will never forget? {{sigh}} Of course, you dipwad.

At the end of the summer, who were you in a relationship with? I *absolutely* *LOATHE* questions with the word 'relationship' in them. I may start deleting them wholesale rather than answer them. I have dozens of relationships, everything from the grocery checker to my husband, from the homeless dude who nips into the restroom for a slug or a smoke to my pastor.

How was last night? Heh. 'Twas good. Very good.

Ever kissed someone and never saw them again? Not romantically, no. Cheek kisses, yes.

Are you wearing socks? No, but I have a blanket over my feet.

Have you ever walked on the beach at night? Yes. Yes I have.

When is your birthday? K, I was noodly last night, but I know I've answered this already in this survey....

If someone liked you, would you want them to tell you? No, if we're talking about the version of "like" that really means "lust." It will only complicate things.

Do you regret anything you did in the past three days? No. I really only regret those things NOT done.

Do you have a best friend you can tell stuff to and you're sure they won't tell? I have a few awesome friends of this sort for which I say a "Yay God" regularly.

Honestly, has anyone seen you in your underwear? Hello? Married? And a few others as well.

Is there anyone who doesn't like you? Oh yeah. You can't go through 46 years and not accrue some of this.

Are you anything like you were at this point last year? I'm approximately the same height, same hairstyle, mostly the same clothes, same general beliefs.... But there are some changes too. So yes. And no.

Have you kissed anyone whose name starts with an S? Of course. Romantically? Not sure. Too many years ago.

What are you doing right now? Waking up. And, well, this, obviously.

Have you spoken to your mother today? That's tricky: she's dead.

Do you drink water? On occasion. I had a great deal of it last night.

When things get bad, are you most likely to blame yourself or the other person? In the heat of things, the other person. Once I've calmed down a bit, both of us...or just me.

Wow. What a thrilling end.

Car-car

You Are Totally Whimsical

If you were a car, you'd be a sweet ride. You like to cruise through life in style. When it comes to the road of life, you slow down and enjoy the scenery. You don't want anything to pass you by. You love to drive, as long as you aren't in a hurry to go anywhere. You always prefer to take the more interesting route. You never like it when driving is a chore. Driving should be fun, not stressful!

The Old Car Test

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

So much subtext here....

The Dating Profile Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
This is a bit different than an "answer this question" meme. Either you have used sites such as Match.com or Yahoo Personals or you’ve read them. Weekly, we scour those on-line dating sites to respond either a person's profile or often their headlines as most of us would really like to do.
Dancing in the Rain

1. Ever dance in the rain? Only in lightning storms.

2. Just Do It! This is one of those extraordinarily rare times when the only person I want to quote is Nancy Reagan: Just Say No!

3. I am honest and I hope that you are too. I've been accused of being brutally honest. Can you handle that?

4. When it comes to the someone I'm attracted to, I haven't had much luck. Wow, boy is that an awkward sentence. You've never had luck being attracted to anyone? Or, well, what?

5. I have an intellectual/cultural side and hope you do too. I'm really more worried about your other sides.

6. I love being active yet I can be a couch potato. So, sometimes you bounce up and down on the couch? Yay.

7. Is there really such a thing as 'single by choice'? And that's the choice you just made. Bye.

8. Well I am a open, honest, strong, eager, happy, fun, intelligent, hardworking, dedicated, kind hearted and GODfearing person. Will.i.am? Cool.

9. Easy going is my life, Classy is my style. I fear you are far too classy for me. Enjoy going along with your easy life.

10. Take naps and drink plenty of water. Hey, thanks! Have you printed up your medical degree yet?

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Wouldn't it be easy to hibernate all winter, or at least during January.
2. Overall, life is better than ever!
3. I love the taste of food cooked with love.
4. Tonight, we'll have a fire in the fireplace in the living room.
5. The first thing we're going to do is go back to bed.
6. "Woops." Drip, drip, drip; I guess this cup has a hole in it.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing Beast, and that fire, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping and keeping warm here at home, maybe doing some cleaning, and Sunday, I want to not think about yet!

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Hoops

1. When did you last feel you were required to jump through meaningless hoops to get something you wanted?

Every time I go shopping, it seems like there's more 'script' for the staff to throw at me. No, I don't want to be on your mailing list, no I don't need 5 of whatever-it-is so I can save $3, yes I found everything I needed. It gets annoying.

2. What kinds of hula hoop memories do you have?

There is an infamous reel of Super8 film somewhere of me hula-hooping my brains out, showing off for my 'new' brother-in-law, when I was 8 or so. Sigh. I'm not sure I could keep the hoop in the air nowadays.

3. How do you feel about basketball?

Not good.

4. What do you think of hoop earrings?

I like them up to a point, but they definitely screen HOOKER to me on some level. Early training, I guess. But yeah, I own some, and occasionally wear them (mine are ALL less than an inch in diameter though--I'm just a mini-hooker...lol).

5. What’s your favorite Whoopi Goldberg movie?

Well, hmmm, I think I've only seen her act in the Star Trek monolith and "Ghost." Of those, I kind of have to go with Trek; she played such an unusual character, very against her 'real' personality.

Passion

Your True Passion is Art

You feel most alive when you are creating or appreciating art. Art truly feeds your soul. You love expressing yourself artistically, and it's likely that you dabble in many creative activities. Even when you aren't channeling your inner artist, you enjoy brainstorming and collaborating with others. You believe the world is what you make of it, and you want to make it as beautiful and interesting as possible.

What's Your True Passion?

Dead wrong. Clearly I was born in the wrong month!

:]

(Found here)

Bold the true statements....

I live on the east coast (of anywhere).
I can spell definitely the correct way, thank you.
I have spellcheck enabled on my IE/firefox. [I mostly use Chrome at home, anyway...]
And right now it's telling me that spellcheck isn't a word.
I do a sport that isn't a team sport. [I don't like to do team sports]
I'm right-brained.
I'm left-brained.
I'm split-brained.
I can read sheet music.
Horror movies are usually just funny.
I'm in serious kiss withdrawal.
A lot of people call me by my last name or my initials.
I have two middle names.
I enjoy sporks and other pointless things. [but sporks are actually pointy aren't they?]
I am/want to be an organ donor. [I'm on the registry for that and for bone marrow.]
I don't subscribe to any political party.
I'd like to/I do go to college in a city. [I went to grad school in a city; undergrad was small town-ier.]
Whatever happened to green ketchup?
Drugs are lame. [medication is not, however]
^ You're lame.
^^Thanks.
Stephen King was right about Stephenie Meyer.
The universe tends to unfold as it should.
I can't stand cough drops with menthol in them.
I can name at least 35 U.S. presidents off the top of my head.
^And at least 40 state capitals.
I can hardly name any of either.
^But that's because I'm not from the states.
I find it hilarious that Miley Cyrus thinks she could win an Oscar for her movie.
Why the hell would Britney Spears (or anyone) make a song out of "If you seek amy"?
I get frustrated when someone cries during a movie when an animal dies, but then doesn't when a person does.
I wonder why the band "The Devil Wears Prada" named their band that. [not enough to go wiki it, though--and I wonder if this is a copyright issue?]
Frankenstein is NOT the name of the monster.
I pronounce "route" like "root". [but not where I currently live--it's "rowt" 'round here]
I say car-muhl, not car-a-mell.
I hate talking on the phone.
What the fuck is up with everyone wearing Uggs?
I've used a Wii Fit.
Angelina Jolie's lips distract me. [But she's stunning]
^But she was AMAZING in The Changeling.
I've never seen any of the High School Musical movies. And I don't care to.
Costco/BJ's/Sam's Club would be the perfect place to go in case of a zombie apocalypse. [I wouldn't know--I'm sure I'll be dead before I get to a warehouse club store in any event.]
I spell my name a way other than the most common.



---
Have you ever had the desire to paint your nails an obnoxious color of pink? I'm not into the pinks, no.

Do you keep track of your pet's birthdays? Sorta. Though, honestly, I can't remember when we bought Ruka.

Do you ever walk up to random people and act like you know them? What? No. Yuck. I would only do this if I felt like someone was following me in a creepy way.

Is there any drink that is addictive to you? Diet DP, yo.

Do you ever purposefully ignore phone calls? As often as I can get away with it, to be honest.

Does your phone get signal easily or do you have to keep it in a window? The only places I really have trouble are work and Sparky's school.

Is there anything you're extremely OCD about? Most things. Like, right now, series fields and typos in OCLC records. Putting the family calendar together every week. That sort of thing.

Are you obsessed with a specific person? I prefer to rotate my obsessions. See OCD above.

Do you sleep in your day clothes? If I sleep during the day--as I did today--I do.

What kind of music do you listen to? Jango.

Do you offer to do chores when you don't have to? Yup. Well, I mean really, that's what keeps a household going. I'm not a teenager, after all.

What is your favorite type of muffin? Blueberry-lemon

Do you cuss around your parents? Depending on your point of view, I either do it all the time, or no. They are both dead.

When was the last time you got grounded or was sent to your room? I ground myself regularly, though probably the last time I sent myself to my room when there were people around was before Christmas.

Do you hate when surveys ask you about relationships? Yes. If you aren't in a relationship, you must be living on a deserted island.

If someone asked you to, could you sing the national anthem by heart? Well, of course!

What kind of mp3 player do you have? Zen something-or-other.

Is there an emoticon you use too often? If so, what? :-)

Have you heard about how bad Mountain Dew is for your teeth? I don't think that's true of diet, which is the only the kind of pop I drink.

Do you drink it anyway? Occasionally. It's really more Sparky's drink of choice than mine.

Have you ever dreamt about a celebrity? Yep.

Have you ever dreamt of someone you had no romantic interest in? This is akin to the relationship question. I have the most random dreams about the most random people, everyone from the woman at the drycleaners to Brad Pitt to Pink to blog friends I've never even seen, all stirred together in the craziest possible way. I frequently fear for my mental health.

Do you ever get butterflies around the person you're attracted to? Not so much any more.

Do you get hyper pretty often? A few times a month...ish.

Do you pay attention the previews before movies? Yep.

Do you own anything fancy but never wear it? Can you say "bridesmaid dresses"...?

Do you like "little kid" movies? They are NOT my first choice.

Are you currently instant messaging or texting anyone? I've marked myself 'offline' on Fb, as usual.

Have you ever swallowed a whole Dorito without chewing? Ouch! That sounds painful and dangerous. No.

If you had to move out today, would you be able to make it on your own? I suspect I would. {eyeroll}

Do you watch any movies that are considered nerdy? Undoubtedly. I do like musicals, after all.

Do you watch people's homemade youtube videos? Only if someone else has vetted them beforehand and recommended them.

---

Let's start off. Are you available?
"Start off"?? Wow, that's disheartening. And, no, unless you're talking about something I know you aren't.

Have you ever slept on a couch with someone else? Yes. And there are pictures.

Have you ever thought about how you were going to die?
Look, at this point, I think about it weekly. Most of my family members' health issues commenced between the ages of 46 and 50.

The last person you kissed needs you at 3am. Do you go? Fuck yeah. I've driven him to the hospital twice at about that time, actually.

Are you easily scared by horror or thriller films? Yes. Hence, my avoidance thereof.

Are you taller than your Mom? Huh. Yes.

When is the next time you will kiss someone?
I may get a "goodnight Mom" kiss tonight. Otherwise, Friday.

Have you ever kissed someone who's name started with a J? Yep.

Have you ever liked someone and never told them? Have I ever been in middle school? Well, then....

Would you ever dye your hair blonde? Not very likely.

Do you like your life right now? In a very general sense, yes. I'd like it not to be winter, and not to feel so much like roadkill, but otherwise, things are good.

Did anyone see you kiss the last person you kissed? The people in Jimmy John's and the people driving past might have.

What is the latest you've stayed up in the past week? Midnight?

Have you held hands with anyone today? Nope. Skipped right to the kissing. lol

Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone for over an hour? Pretty much has to be one of these three people: Jenny, Linda, or Amy.

Have you kissed anyone in the past month? Does today count?

What would happen if you had a child with the last person you kissed? I did. The child is turning out pretty well, actually. Somehow.

Do you know a secret about your last ex that would embarrass them? Doubtful, not after 24 years.

Are you getting engaged anytime soon? Were he here, my husband would respond with a raised eyebrow and "wellll.....?" No.

How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Almost 8

Do you wake up cranky? No, I usually let him sleep.

Do you currently have a hickey on your neck? Can't even tell you for sure when the last time I did was. Yuck.

Do you ever watch the Disney Channel? No. Even when I am in charge of the remote.

Have you ever been called heartless? Not to my face. And I doubt it.

Do you have deja vu often? Not as often as I wish I did. I like that feeling.

Did you wake up before 8am this morning? I was out of the house by 6:05. I think I was awake by 8 or so, yeah.

Do you wear eyeliner? Not anymore. Not for 15 years or so.

Were you smiling in the last picture taken of you? Probably. Instinctive reaction.

What is something you really want right now? Be honest: Summer.

Did you sleep in past noon today? Haven't done that in a VERY long time.

How many different colors are you wearing right now? Two shades of brown, dark blue, gray & red sox (with some yellow on), and whatever my hair clip looks like. You count; I'm too tired.

Do you want someone back in your life? No, I want them all to go away! Duh. I'd give almost anything for a day with my dad.

What made you happy today?
The five minutes of sun and blue sky I was awake for.

Does the last person you texted hate you? Well, he kissed me today, so I hope not.

Do you like techno music? It's not the worst thing ever.

What are you looking forward to? Summer.

Do you have a reason to smile right now? Sure!!

Do you like fruity or minty gum? Minty.

Do you look people in the eye when you talk to them? I glance at them and then away and back.

Are you attracted to the last person you kissed? He's my husband. You figure it out.

Is there someone you can't stop thinking about? Always. Different people, though.

Have you seen the last person you texted naked? He's my husband. You figure it out.

Do you honestly believe that god things come to those who wait? Uh, no. I do, however, believe that generally it is goOd to wait patiently.

Are your lips chapped? Extremely rarely.

Are you bipolar? Do you believe you're bipolar? Nope. And, well, no.

Is there anyone you care about more than yourself? Yes.

Are you afraid of change? Not usually.

Are you on any medication for anything?
Zyrtec, Restasis, Zoloft...and I'm waiting impatiently for my thyroid refill which ran out last Saturday. Am not feeling great. There are a couple of other things for occasional use, too.

Oh, REALLY?

You Are Colorful Because You Are Optimistic

You insist on prefer seeing the bright side, even when the world seems gloomy and dreary. You may not be naturally optimistic, but you believe that staying positive is an important part of happiness. You may be bright and constructive, but you're also a realist. You know when things need to be fixed. And because you stay so positive, you are able to fix any problems that come your way. You have a lot of strength.

The Colors Test

These are close to the colors in my bedroom--and that's why I chose this set--so I find the description kind of interesting. Fairly accurate, I guess.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Come On Baby, Light My Fire!

1. Which historical figure do you admire the most? Why?

Well, Jesus comes to mind, for obvious (I think?) reasons.

2. Name the band or artist you'd like to see live in concert before you leave the planet or tell us about a concert or album that has already rocked your world.

U2 gives good rock. I'd love to see Prince or Melissa Etheridge in concert, too.

3. What's your favorite television show or series of all time? Why should I care?

Oh, hell, I dunno. I do love Bewitched, though. I have no idea why you'd care.

4. Movies! I am so behind on the movie scene. What should I watch this weekend? Should I watch it alone or with someone?

If you think you're behind, you should be living my life! I haven't seen a movie in a theater since Star Trek last summer. Before that I think it was Speed Racer in the spring of '08. You are totally on your own here.

5. You are hopping on a plane tomorrow morning. Where did you choose to go and why?

Mexico. It's warm, it's affordable, the sun shines there in January, and I'm not coming home till spring. January is kicking my butt.

6. Who is your favorite author? What about their writing inspires you or simply entertains you? Recommend at least one book that you feel I must read.

I love Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series. It's manic and mind-bending word- and book-play. What should you read? What kind of books do you like? What was the last good book you read? This is my job, after all, so I'm not likely to just randomly thrust a book at you with the vague threat that "YOU'LL LOVE IT!"

7. Hobbies and passions. What brings you joy in your spare time? How did you get into it?

Well, this. I used to scrapbook, but then I got so overwhelmed that I gave up. I also read, do some needlework of various kinds, and do puzzles.

Talky Talking

You Love to Talk About Relationships

You love to talk about people you know. You're not exactly a gossip - you just think a lot about your friends and family. You're likely to be completely up to date on what's going on in everyone's life. And when someone has good news, you make sure and share it. You also spend a fair amount of time dissecting relationships and analyzing people. You are always trying to better understand the people you're closest to. Of all the types, you are the most social. You have a lot of people to talk to and to talk about!

What Do You Love to Talk About?

Uh, yeah. NOT!

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Do you have a short fuse?

I do, at times. It's getting longer, but I definitely have a temper, and I don't always have a tight rein on it.

2) Where is the most beautiful spot on earth that you've ever seen?

Ouray. If I were smarter, I wouldn't broadcast that, but the cat's outta the bag, I think.

3) How old do you want to live to be?

I want to go before I get horrifically sick in either mind or body. Realistically, that seems to be be between 80 and 85.

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

I've got no story, but this looks like a roller-coaster. I have no idea what it actually is. Hmmm....

Manic Monday

(Link in meme-roll)

If you could only have one section of the bookstore to visit, which section would it be?

Probably the games section (crosswords, etc.). Everything else I pretty much get through my workplace.

If you could only subscribe to one publication for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Again, mostly I could make do with stuff borrowed from the library, but I'd hate to give up Ms.

What activity always makes you lose track of time?

Playing games online.

Cloudy

You Are a Cirrus Cloud

You're a bit mysterious and reserved. You mostly keep to yourself and do your own thing. Some people may even consider you allusive [sic]. You're hard to track down at times. People who know you find you to be very transparent. It's always easy to tell what you're thinking about. You tend to drift more than most people. You're always trying out new ideas, friends, and even personalities.

What Kind of Cloud Are You?

How, precisely, does one "try out" new friends? Is it like trying on shoes? Actually, this doesn't work as well as the italics may indicate.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Negativity Meme

Foods which disgust the crap out of me: liver is the big winner here for me. Also on the list: anything still alive when it's being eaten, kimchi, ultra-hot sauces, sweet-and-sour. And I'm sure there are other things, but I don't want to think about this too long.

TV show I loathe: 95% of talk shows. I know, not fair, but that's the truth.

Movie I loathe: Anything involved men acting like 12-year-olds. So, yeah: like most movies.

Music genres I loathe: Not a fan of most opera.

Magazine which annoys me: Cosmo.

Makes me cranky at restaurant: Slow service. On the other hand, I'm not thrilled with constant attentiveness either.

Makes me cranky in public: Other people's issues.

Makes me cranky in general: Days where nothing seems to be going my way.

Pisses me off at home: Feeling like I have to nag to get others to listen.

Pisses me off at work: Negativity. Ironic, no?

Pisses me off in general: People "helping" without checking to be sure the help is wanted.

Makes me impatient at home: Living with a martyr.

Makes me impatient at work: Technology issues.

Makes me impatient in public: People acting stupidly.

Celebrity I hate: Ann Coulter

Music artist I hate: R. Kelly

I could care less about: almost everything evangelical Christians get upset about.

Annoys the crap out of me weekdays: People driving way under the speed limit on my way home from work.

Annoys the crap out of me weekends: Not having any down time.

Blogger's habit that annoys you: The site or general habits of bloggers? The former: lately, commenting isn't working well. Generally, lack of writing ability.

Feature on your blog you hate: Well, jeez, if I hated it, I'd remove it! There are some things I'd like to change, but I don't have enough energy to dig through code to find out where to do it.

Movie star you despise: I don't think I despise any of them. For the most part, I find them irrelevant.

Politician that you hate: Cheney.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7

Name the top seven things from the list of 25 ... that you’d miss the most if they did disappear completely.

1. Yellow Pages (I have a horrible time finding stuff in the online pages sometimes; and what are little kids going to sit on at Grandma's house at the dinner table?!)
2. Ash trees (This just makes me sad.)
3. Hand-written letters (I don't even send email anymore...sigh.)
4. Drive-in theaters (Every summer we say we're going to go to the local drive-in and every summer slips by without a visit.)
5. Honey bees (But I love honey! Fortunately, one of my coworkers' husband has started keeping bees in their yard so I've got a local connection.)
6. News magazines and TV news (Well, here's the deal: if the evening news actually covered the news, rather than "Dramatic Events" ad nauseum it would help. Losing Time/Newsweek would be awful; we need thoughtful writers to explain current events after the fact.)
7. The family farm (I live in an area with a lot of farms, many of them family-owned. I don't know how they do it.)

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Food :: Drink
2. Death :: ...Throes
3. Cafeteria :: Lunchroom
4. Need :: Requirement
5. Born :: Died
6. Stitch :: Sew
7. Badly :: Poorly
8. Blocks :: Stackable
9. Chuck :: ...Steak
10. Spiral :: Spirograph (I loved that thing...)

Wool Mittens...in California?

You Are Wool

You are down to earth, practical, and no nonsense. You need a fabric that's durable and hearty. You don't mind if wool is itchy... at least it keeps you warm! And you're responsible enough to take care of wool properly. You aren't [too] superficial or frivolous. You value substance over style and function over form. You are humble and thoughtful. You are happy with who you are, and you don't like [let?] vanity get the best of you.

What Kind of Fabric Are You?

I do NOT like itchy wool! And I do notice the way things look as well as how (and how well) they work. But otherwise...yeah, I have been baaing a lot lately.
+ + + + + + + + +

You Are Mittens

You seek comfort in your life. You want to feel as warm and cozy as possible. You are naturally nurturing and caring. And you always make sure to take care of yourself! Winter is your time to hibernate. You love to curl up on a cold night, even if everyone else is going out. And when you do venture out of the house, you bundle up. You want to feel as warm as possible.

Are You Gloves or Mittens?

I don't like being overly warm though. There was a point this morning while grocery shopping that I thought I was going to pass out due to overheating. I wasn't even wearing my winter coat!
+ + + + + + + + +

You Are California

You are cutting edge and diverse. People may call you flaky, but you can't help that you have a lot going on. In general, you are friendly and laid back. There's nothing you like better than a quiet afternoon at the beach. You are socially progressive and open minded. Anyone is welcome into your circle of friends. You may be a bit image conscious, but you understand that appearances matter!

What US State Are You?

I don't mind the beach, but I burn easily. I do like California, generally.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
I Think We're Alone Now

1. What celebrity in a fantasy would you like to be alone with?

I think Julia Roberts and I should hang out together some time. She looks like a lot of fun and very sensible.

2. Have ever dated a good friend?

Yup. Well, technically, I dated him kind of before he was a 'good friend' and then we got to be very good friends and stopped dating...and then we got married.

3. What is the most embarrassing song that you like?

There are some Backstreet Boys songs I really love. Also, Andy Gibb songs, and Shaun Cassidy songs. Lame.

4. What is your favorite tear jerker movie?

Hands-down winner: Dr. Zhivago, with Omar Sharif and Alec Guinness. OMG, the beginning of my love/hate relationship with Russia.

5. What about yourself makes you least secure?

Up until recently, I would have immediately responded "everything." Nowadays, I think sideways looks from close friends are what does it for me. I no longer give one little shit for other people's opinions for the most part. FINALLY!

6. Do you believe in destiny?

Nope. Or rather, not as such. I've blathered on and on about this before.

7. What 'issue' do you think your opinion is so right about that you end up trying to sway others to your point of view?

I don't. I wouldn't like it if (when) someone started (starts) doing that to me, so I just don't. I state my opinion if asked, but trying to convince someone about the benefits of abortion or universal health care or the existence of God (or the opposite points of view) is useless unless it's a legitimate discussion not a diatribe.

8. What are 5 things you don't care about?

--Fancy clothes
--Golf (which is on the TV right now--the things I will tolerate for Beast!)
--Parental oneupmanship in schools
--Physics
--Proving/disproving the existence of anything remotely supernatural (see previous question)

9. Have you ever been in a situation where you weren't sure if you were seducing or being seduced?

lol Not for awhile, but yeah. That's part of the fun of flirting, no?

RevGals Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Trains, Planes and Automobiles

1) What was the mode of transit for your last trip?

Car to airport parking garage, people-mover, airplane, tram, people-mover, taxi. Then reverse it for the return.

2) Have you ever traveled by train?

Yes. Would like to do it again, when there is time for a slow trip somewhere. I do like trains.

3) Do you live in a place with public transit, and if so, do you use it?

There is one bus twice a day back and forth around the county. We are on one of the commuter rail lines into the City. I use the latter a few times a year. I've never ridden the bus because it makes one stop in each town and it's not convenient either in that way or in terms of time. If we were in a city, I probably would use the bus (and other transit) more often; I did in the past.

4) What's the most unusual vehicle in which you've ever traveled?

Probably has to be a troika.

5) What's the next trip you're planning to take?

I want to go to Tennessee in the spring to see my grand-nephew. (Great-nephew? I really need to figure that out...) We'll see if that will work.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. You’re offered your own late night talk show. If it were completely up to you, what would you the name of the show to be?

I'd probably go with something obnoxious like "Don't Watch!"

2. Which actor or actress would you want as your first guest?

I would love to bring on Brent Spiner and just let him riff with the audience the way he does with his Twitter followers.

3. Which comedian would you want as your first comedy performer?

Since this is so totally not-reality...George Carlin. Again, just have him on and let him loose to do whatever he wanted.

4. Which musician or group would you want to be the first musical performer on your show?

U2. Not even a hard choice here. Would like to hear someone besides Bono speak, too. (though I love Bono to the ends of the earth)

5. Which existing song or melody would you select for your theme song if writing something specifically for your show wasn’t an option?

I think it would change pretty regularly. I dunno. I get sick of the same music played over and over, so the whole concept of one song EVERY SINGLE DAY is pretty much hell on earth to me.

6. Suppose you could magically go back in time and bring back any performer of any kind, living or dead, to be your first guest: who would you select?

Mozart would be hysterical to have on, I suspect. I'd have him along with Jim Morrison, and Marilyn Monroe. Then I'd bring on Jack Hanna and his animals and sit back and watch.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Personal Adds

1. What's your favorite "just add water!" food?

Ramen.

2. What's your favorite thing to add vinegar to?

Uh? I don't like vinegar, excep in pickles and sauerkraut. So...I'll say hot water for cleaning.

3. What's something weird you've added to normal food?

I used to put Ruffles on American cheese sandwiches. OK, sometimes I still do that....

4. What's your favorite thing to add whipped cream to?

Pie, of course.

5. What's something you refuse to add anything to, even though most people add something?

Cereal. I don't really care for milk with most kinds. Or fruit. {shudder}

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. You have a chance to do whatever you want today; what will you choose?
2. Right here, right now!
3. There is a way to change the future.
4. With many credit cards, it's pay now AND and pay later.
5. It's time to check our egos.
6. A lot of things are up in the air but one thing I know: I have good friends and family around me.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the Hope for Haiti concert, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping and going to the county Honor Band concert, and Sunday, I want to stay in bed all day! [but I won't because I have places to go and people to see all day, as usual]

Blogthings Explosion

You Are Fabulously Friendly

You're nice to everyone you come across, even if they aren't being particularly nice to you. You genuinely like others. You love your friends, and you're happiest when you're a social butterfly. You always have a smile, joke, or kind word for someone. You're kind to everyone, even if they aren't very friendly back. You are simply a people person. You naturally make friends with almost everyone you meet.

What Makes You Fabulous?

Well, I was going along with this fairly agreeably till the very last sentence. Honestly, I'm not that nicey-nice ALL the time.+ + + + + + + +

You are a Dreamer

You tend to have your head in the clouds. You love to be drawn in to a whole other world. You are a rational person. You like to think through ideas, and you like the thoughts that books spark. You are a person with many different interests. You are fascinated by everything in the world. You are a person who values your possessions. You tend to have fewer things but of higher quality.

The Book Test

Nope. Not a dreamer. The rest is somewhat accurate, except that bit about high quality possessions...usually. + + + + + + + +

You Are Acrophobia

You are the fear of heights. It's likely that you expect bad things to happen to you. You often feel unlucky. It would be just your luck to fall from a high spot... and you're not going to chance it. You tend to be pretty risk adverse. You rather be safe than sorry.

What Phobia Are You?

Dead wrong. I am absolutely not afraid of heights. Just ask Beast; he IS.+ + + + + + + +

You Are Unique Because You're Curious

Unlike most people, you are truly interested in and open to the world around you. You don't judge anything until you know it well. You are happy to step outside your comfort zone to try something new. You are rare in your ability to take in many new sites [sic], sounds, and ideas at once. You don't get overwhelmed. Like a snowflake, you believe life is more about the journey than the final destination.

The Snowflake Test

OK. Sorta. I spell better than the average snowflake, I think.+ + + + + + + +

You Are a Giraffe

You are down to earth and realistic. You are able to see far off into the horizon. You bring a lot of perspective to other's lives. You are never too myopic. You are honest to a fault. You tend to tell it how it is, even if someone isn't ready to hear it. You are very down to earth and practical. You prioritize what matters in your life, and you don't waste your time.

What African Animal Are You?

If the last phrase were true, I wouldn't have a memes blog and I wouldn't obsessively take every Blogthings quiz I see...would I?+ + + + + + + +

Your Winter Sense is Taste

You love wonderful tastes, so how could you resist the delicious food of winter. And between Christmas and Valentine's Day, you're covered for tasty sweet treats. You've also got a fondness for seasonal beverages of all sorts? Peppermint hot chocolate or gingerbread latte anyone? And who could forget Christmas dinner? No matter what can be said about winter, it's a good season for eating.

What's Your Winter Sense?

My only 'seasonal beverage' is eggnog, but I do love to eat. So, ok, I guess.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Misses

1. What’s something you frequently misplace?

Nowadays, my mind. Less frequently than before, my temper.

2. For whom are you often mistaken?

Some random person, a sister of a friend, an employee at a former workplace, etc. No one exciting, that's for sure.

3. When were you last misinformed about something important?

Uhm, Tuesday. At work, though I suppose it was more "uninformed" rather than "misinformed."

4. Where in your home do you have a seemingly random collection of miscellanea?

{guffaw} Every-damn-where! My bookshelves are a nightmare, for instance, and the top of my dresser.

5. Upon meeting someone for the first time, what qualities in the other person are likely to cause you to misjudge him or her?

Tone of voice, relative cleanliness, emotions on display, age and clothes (to a certain extent), gender.

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. The lesson I learned yesterday was my son is growing up and he's a good person.
2. My house, on Thanksgiving, where friends and family meet.
3. All these years and I still don't handle stress too well.
4. The party started when I arrived. [HAH!]
5. The truth is I don't know the answers a lot of the time.
6. Noise is what I remember most from that day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to packing and then hitting the sack early, tomorrow my plans include getting up at o'dark-hundred and flying to Vegas and Sunday, I want to relax and soak up some sun!

The Dating Profile Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Walking in the Moonlight
This is a bit different than an "answer this question" meme. Either you have used sites such as Match.com or Yahoo Personals or you’ve read them. Weekly, we scour those on-line dating sites to respond either a person's profile or often their headlines as most of us would really like to do. We use only "lines" that are gender-neutral. So, your mission is to respond to ten we choose each week. Seriously or with humor is your choice! [what are the odds, really, that I'm likely to EVER be serious on this meme?]

1. I love walks in the moonlight without ever having to say a word. In my world, walks never talk. This sentence would be more sensible if you rearranged the clauses so that YOU weren't saying any words. In fact, you should probably never speak again. kthxbai

2. I intend to go to my destiny instead of waiting on it to find me. Wait! Stop! That's MY destiny you're headed toward, not yours!

3. First off, I have 20 cats which I'm sure won't be a problem. [shit, it figures, as soon as I say I won't be serious on this meme...] Well, despite my nom de blog, cats are not my thing since I'm DEATHLY ALLERGIC TO THEM, ya crazy cat creep.

4. I've been called the 8th Wonder of the World. You're that old? And you're advertising that fact?

5. A nice thunderstorm with me and you will be wishing for rain. Er??? I don't get the reference. Nor do I want to. Yuck. Bye.

6. I've never been married, but don't let that scare you, it just happens to some of us. Shudder. Marriage is not chicken pox. Or amputation. Or...whatever.

7. The way I see it, life is a one-act play so am looking for someone who wants to make the best of every day. If you're going to use a metaphor, would you mind at least making a logical attempt to work it all the way out? And, frankly, most of us have more than one act in us. Thank GOD! I mean, high school alone ... gah ...

8. Jack, my border collie/lab, and I are often out walking or if we are lucky, playing in the mountains. "often out walking or [comma] if we are lucky [comma]..." or "often out walking or if we are lucky [no comma]" Take your pick. I like dogs. They don't fuck up grammar and punctuation. Can I take your dog and leave you home?

9. I would like to wake up in the morning to a loving warm smile and sexy eyes. Maybe you should date that Geico ad? I don't have sexy eyes, and my smile isn't particularly warm in the morning. Not till I've had 8-10 oz. of caffeine poured past it.

10. Hi! This is fun, no? No.

[actually, this is quickly becoming my favorite meme]

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Kimber, the color of a clear blue sky and the number 1142010.

1. Build It Yourself Coffin Kits.Creepy, interesting, cost effective, your new hobby?

Wow. Kinda awesome. Might bookmark this site, when I have space in my basement for storing the completed boxes. I wonder if they're legal....

2. Can you blow up a balloon under water?

I can barely blow one up in the air, so it's doubtful. I'm not sure anyone else can either, not with their lungs.

3. Why do you think when naming citrus fruit they simply named an orange the color it is?

OK, I think the name of the fruit came first, then the name for the color. According to Wikipedia, the etymologies of the word for the fruit and the color are the same, and I suspect that oranges were hard enough to grow outside of the Mediterranean area and the color was so specific that it didn't make sense for England--where oranges were generally not grown until fairly recently--to bother coming up with another word.

Aren't you glad you asked?

4. Insanity Cafe's topic of the day on Tuesday was this article. Have you ever known someone to do something embarrassingly stupid like that?

Not quite this stupid, thank God. My brother ran over his foot with a mower, though, if that qualifies. And my dad almost lost his eyesight doing a safety demonstration on a table saw. So, yeah, my gene pool has some shallow spots.

5. If you got stranded high on a mountain in the snow, how many snowmen would you make? Would you name them and talk to them?

The very last thing I'd do if I were stranded in snow would be to get all wet and waste energy!

6. Have you ever tripped and fell while walking up the stairs?

On a semi-regular basis. I actually get confused sometimes while walking upstairs and have to stop and concentrate. Shallow gene pool.

7. If you were to make your own currency what would it look like, what would you call it and would you give some to your fellow Thursday Thunkers?

Meh, I'd just go with the Euro. Why reinvent the wheel? And I'd absolutely share any fake money--which would be marked as fake--with all and sundry.

8. Have you ever made a Mr. Potato Head from a real potato?

I think I did as a kid once or twice perhaps.

Blogthings Explosion

You Should Stay Warm by Bundling Up

You are a rational and logical person. You are good at solving problems. So if you're cold, it makes sense to just put another layer on. You are very practical that way. You are rarely unprepared in life. You would never forget your gloves and hat on a cold day. You're ready for anything that comes your way. By being responsible, you find it easy to relax and enjoy life.

How Should You Stay Warm?

Sort of right, sometimes, I guess. + + + + + + +

You Are Amaretto Hot Chocolate

You are a person with well developed tastes. You are adventurous in all aspects of your life. You tend to gravitate toward the unusual or undiscovered. You get bored very easily. You're the type most likely to never have the same hot chocolate twice. You like to mix it up. In fact, you've been known to go a little crazy with the condiments at the coffee shop. Cinnamon and honey in hot chocolate? Why not?

What Flavor Hot Chocolate Are You?

I don't buy hot chocolate in a coffee shop; it always tastes too much like coffee, and it's WAY too expensive. I don't like hot chocolate that much.+ + + + + + +

You Are More Like Audrey Hepburn

You are classy, stylish, and charming. You are the true definition of grace. Some people may think you're a pushover, but they have no idea how tough you can be. You tend to draw people in with your mind. You are an intelligent and witty flirt. You are effortlessly gorgeous and naturally appealing. No one would accuse you of trying too hard.

Are You More Marilyn or Audrey?

RE the last line: yeah, yeah, they could easily do that. I'm actually neither of these 'types.'+ + + + + + +

You Are Flamboyant and Funky

You are a total extrovert, and you feed off of attention. You love to be noticed. You are very dramatic in every aspect of your life. No one ever forgets about you. You enjoy having an audience, and you are a natural performer. You know how to work a crowd. Sometimes you do or say things only for shock value. You like to get a rise out of people.

The Orchid Test

It pains me to think any of this is accurate, but I guess it is.

Yesterday all my troubles seem [sic] so far away

(Found here)

Do you think before you speak? More than I used to, less than I probably ought to.

Do you make the wrong choices often? Not really.

Does it make you mad when people stare at you? It's a little paranoia-inducing. I don't get mad.

Do you feel awkward when strangers say hi to you? I live in a relatively small town, plus I grew up in the West. {shrug} I'm used to it.

Are you listening to music right now? Just the background music on NCIS: LA.

How many cell phones have you had in your life so far? I think I've had three. Maybe four. Can't remember for sure. Beast has had about ten, I think...

Did your parents spoil you as a child? According to some of my siblings, yes. According to me, not so much.

Will this weekend be a good one? Fucking well BETTER be!

What are you craving right now? Sleep, sun, sugar.

Have you cried today at all? Nope.

Would you rather get up early or sleep in? Early is fine if I'm alone.

Do you use chapstick? All the time.

Are you wearing shorts at the moment? Are you kidding? It's the middle of winter!

What is your favorite thing to shop for? Food, of course.

What are you listening to at the moment? Didn't we cover this? I'm watching TV.

What is the nearest green object to you? The blanket wrapped around my legs and feet.

Is your phone right beside you? It's on the table next to me.

Has anything weird happened in the past week? Every day is weird.

What was the last thing you put in your mouth? The last of the can of DDP from this morning.

What was the last picture you took of? A playing card wrapped around a spoon.

What is the connection between you and the last person you texted? We're married. To each other.

Would you kill someone for a million dollars? Not just for the money.

Do you like yourself? Yup.

Does your password have to do with a boy? No.

Are you a girly girl? Heh. Rarely.

Big or small purses? No purse.

Who was the last person that you cried in front of? Probably Beast.

Have you ever crawled through a window? Yup. And within the last couple of years even.

Look behind you, what do you see? The back of the couch, miniblinds, and the front window.

Have you ever worked in a food place? Yes. Not for a long time, but I worked at two very different "food places."

Do you wear your seat belt in the car? Yup.

Are you happy right now? Pretty much. A little overwhelmed, but not unhappy.

Do you hurt anywhere? My shoulders are not happy. They'd be much happier if I weren't on the computer so much, though, so it's my own fault.

Do you think you're wasting time with the person you have feelings for? ...plock...

Have you ever told someone you loved them when you didn't mean it? I've said it when I wasn't feeling very loving.

Did you have feelings for anyone last Summer? Why is the season capitalized? And ...plock.

When was the last time you kissed someone and regretted it? Years and years and years.

Have you smiled today? Yup.

Have you ever had Mike's Hard Lemonade? I believe I've tasted it. Was not impressed.

Do you have any candles in your bedroom? Yup.

Do you have an iPhone? The previous responder's answer works for me: "Fuck Apple."

What are you listening to right now? OK, enuf. I am hereby boycotting this question because of this meme forever (or until I forget).

Have you ever tried a meatball sub? Uh, yeah, on Beast's recommendation. Was not overly thrilled.

Do you like the smell of gasoline? I don't mind the fumes, but I don't like the smell. Yeah, I know: weird.

How old will you be in four years? Four years from today, I will be 50.16666666667.

How old do people normally guess you are? People don't tell me. Which is probably just as well.

Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? Yes, the top.

How many windows are open on your computer? One window, five tabs.

Is there any jewelery [sic] you always wear? Three rings. I usually have on earrings as well.

Are you a mean person? Sometimes.

Have you ever felt like you were being replaced? Yup.

Would you rather have ice cream or cake for dessert? CAKE, no contest!

Are you wearing make up at the moment? Not unless you count lip balm.

How many dogs do you have? None. {sniff} :'/

This time last year, do you remember who you were dating? Yeah, ok--NOT!