Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Red

1. What is your favorite red food?

Uhmmmm, strawberries? I guess.

2. When were you last caught red-handed?

Last week. And that's all I'm sayin'. (It was not a criminal offense.)

3. What’s your nicest red article of clothing?

I have a couple of nice red shirts, but my favorite is the Ferrari shirt.

4. Who’s got the loveliest red hair?

My SOOOOONNNNNNN!!! :-)

5. What are your thoughts on the 2002 Baz Luhrmann film Moulin Rouge!?

I haven't seen it. It seems rather odd, and I can't convince any of my boring men to rent it and watch it with me.

Food 4 Thought Friday

(Link in meme-roll)

Breakfast What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

A stuffed omelet.

Lunch What is something that you are disappointed about right now.

My work ethic at home.

Dinner What is in your fridge right now?

Not very much: some leftovers, quite a lot (for us) of eggs and milk and some random condiments. Oh, and some wine that should probably be disposed of.

Midnight Snack What are you really anticipating right now?

SUMMER!

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?)

Get back on the wagon and stop vacuuming up everything edible in sight. It's got to stop!

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)


1. I was going to do some weeding last weekend; hopefully I do it this weekend instead.
2. A delay at the doctor's office and I left my book at home.
3. Why ask why.
4. Kay was in my thoughts today.
5. One of my father's favorite sayings was "Oh, for cryin' in the rain!"
6. "Oh, boy, I ate too much"--I know that feeling!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early (in hopes that my stomach settles down), tomorrow my plans include weeding, cleaning bathrooms, and grocery shopping, and Sunday, I want to catch up on a bunch of other things.!

Cinn's Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
conundrum

[01] Should there be age limits on social networking sites such as facebook?

I think parents should make those decisions.

[02] How many servings of vegetables do you eat per day?

Not enough.

[03] When is the last time you ran? How far?

Last week, a quick jog upstairs at work. I was in a hurry!

[04] What do you think is the most important meal of the day? Why?

Lunch, just cuz I like it the most.

[05] Where do you like to drive?

Anywhere unless there are a lot of other cars on the road.

Not exactly shocking news

You Are Sympathetic Toward the World

You are a very kindhearted person, and you are definitely concerned about the world. At times, you feel like you have to take a break from caring... you get overwhelmed by your emotions. You may not do the most charity work, but it doesn't mean you don't notice all of the problems around you. Just continue to do what you can. Our planet needs more people like you - that's for sure.

How Do You Feel About the World?

I'm on the verge of taking One Giant Step backwards from this sort of thing, so this is interesting if not great timing.

The Dating Profile Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunshine of Your Life
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.

1. friends are the sunshine of your life.

Yes. Yes they are. Mmm-hmmm.... Your point?

2. i am an accountant and musician with a wicked sense of humor.

Some of these things are not like the others... C'mon join in: I know you know the lyrics!

3. all i can say is that i am tired of the games.

Well, if you had any sense, you'd leave the arena then. Or turn off the TV. Whatever.

4. I spent the last year focusing on me, which is something I hadn't done in a really long time. It's been a lot of fun!

[Oh, I totally can't wait for Bud's response to this...] My thoughts are definitely running in a NC-17 vein on this one. Just one question: if it's been so damn much fun, why are you looking for company?

5. Am looking for someone that can make me happy and be there for me through thick and thin and that can help me find the treasure that i have lost and will see me through all my ups and down, that is loving caring,understanding,that will respect my opinion and most of all that play the game of love.

You sounded perfect for #3 ... until that last phrase. Oh, by the way, good luck. You're never going to be happy, but good luck anyway.

6. I want love.

Wow, how the mighty have fallen. Can't believe you can't find a date, Sir Elton.

7. Looking for someone to spend quality time with, who respects me for who I am and who is satisfied with the direction that their life is going.

And you should NOT contact #5 because honestly, you're too good for that mess. However, I'm not sure using an online dating site is gonna work for you at all.

8. Something I haven't done yet that I would like to do is deep sea diving.

Something else you haven't done yet is learn tidy sentence construction. But I'm all for deep sea diving. I won't be going with you, mind you, seeing as I can't swim, but I hear it's a lot of fun.

9. The thing I am most grateful for is being alive.

You had the same English grammar instructor as #8; how charming. Anyway... "Being alive" is a "thing"? Really? Wow, well, ok. I really abhor smarm, but it is good to be alive. Except when it is not, of course.

10. need some one to make me hole.

How 'bout just "a" hole, a-hole?

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
Walking in Memphis

1. Robins have red breasts. Why are their eggs blue?

Chickens have red crests, and their eggs are brown or white. Maybe robins just eat a lot of blueberries.

2. The doorbell buzzes at the same moment the phone rings. Who was on the phone?

Must be your doorbell--mine doesn't buzz--but anyway it was the pizza guy on the phone.

3. It seems that there are several very popular memes each day of the week. Which meme did you first become a regular of?

Unconscious Mutterings.

4. It is about time that Berleen and Kimber meet in person. Should we start a collection to fly one of them to the other, or just hope Thom's bus and get from Hawaii to Kimber in Arizona and take her to Berleen in Minnesota?

OK. I want to watch the bus driving from Hawaii to Arizona. The rest is pretty much not of interest to me, since I'm not involved in the travel plans.

5. Tell us about your pets. Do you have one that you wish would run away?

Ruka doesn't run. He scampers in fear whenever we come near him, or make a lot of noise. When we put him outside on the porch, he scuttles under the woodpile and then stays there.

6. What was the last thing colored red that you wore?

Pajama pants. New ones to replace the ones I lost last week...the ones I wore precisely once. Grrrr.....

7. I have a train that runs by where I live several times a day. I actually find it peaceful. What's the longest journey that you have taken by train?

2500 miles one way, Irkutsk - Beijing. And a week later, the reverse trip. In January. Yes, I am fucking stupid as a matter of fact.

8. If Kimber threw a five dollar bill off a building that was five stories high, and Berleen threw a twenty off a build that was six stories high, who do you think would find the money?

Today it would probably end up in a Great Lake the way the wind is whipping around.

9. If reincarnation really happens, whose life would you like to know that you have already led?

I'll stick with a known quantity here and say mine.

10. What are your three favorite possessions?

Laptop, glasses, Mom's Bible.

11. A lot of people still believe that Elvis is alive. Have you ever worn blue suede shoes?

I have. They are upstairs, I think, unless I threw 'em out.

12. Do you have siblings? If yes, are you anything alike?

I look like two of my sisters, and we are from the same family so we have some of the same characteristics, but in many ways I'm very different from them, since I'm 10-20 years younger than all of them.

13. Has anyone ever asked you to strip naked and cluck like a chicken?

Not and lived to tell the tale.

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)

Things I've managed to accomplish this week so far

1. Dental visits for Sparky and me. We both got the floss lecture. Sigh
2. Eye checkup for Sparky. He has inherited my goofy optic nerves. Glaucoma checks will be his new favorite hobby.
3. Wrote a recommendation letter for one of our youth group kids. Easy to write--nothing I said was a stretch.
4. Bell choir practice for the first time in a month. Fortunately, I have the easiest part EVER!
5. I think I've cataloged close to 150 items this week. Tomorrow should bring this up another 30 or so. Our count for the month should be pretty close to 900, which is HUGE.
6. We have a new copier (excuse me: "Multi-Function") at work. It does everything but clean up vomit. I think we should've held out for that feature. But I do know how to make it fax and copy at least.
7. Found my wallet, which wasn't really lost just hiding under the car seat. Still, today was not fun as I obsessed about where I might have left it. [still haven't--and probably won't, now--recovered my overnight bag left on the train last week]
8. Figured out the new, rather confusing, door-to-door local transportation rules for people who use the library as their dayroom.
9. Have raised my blood pressure reading a blog I should delete from the rolls. Some people are such a waste of intelligence.
10. Used RedBox for the first time. Wow. Amazingly simple. But watch for late fees.
11. Watched "Zombieland." Is very funny.
12. Missed all my favorite evening shows so far this week, except "Deadliest Catch" which was terminally annoying.
13. Broke 4 fingernails way down near the quick.

Disgusting

You Are Not Easily Disgusted

Wow, nothing ever not much grosses you out. Have you considered becoming a doctor? You find humans fascinating, and you're way too curious to let yourself feel revolted by anything. You tend to gravitate toward the more eccentric side of life, even if you're fairly straight [sic] laced yourself. It's likely that you occasionally gross other people out with your stories. You forget how queasy the general population is!

Are You Easily Disgusted?

I used to pride myself on sitting through the ookiest parts of the human physiology movies in school, and I was one of the only people in class who could use the lancets when we did blood typing. I'm not a fan of gross stuff, but I can certainly get through most of it. Mike Rowe, I'm not, but watching him is fun.

Wednesday Weirdness Wickedness

(Link in meme-roll)
Each week we will pick a famous person and pick ten of their quotes. Each of our questions will be based on the quotes. Got it? Great! Let's begin this week's meme! Today we picked Brad Pitt.

1. "I've got a hard time with morals. All I know is what feels right, what's more important to me is being honest about who you are. Morals I get a little hung up on.” Do you ever have a hard time with morals?

This is sorta incoherent but I think I generally agree with the sense of what he's saying. Imposed morality is a problem for me. Clearly, my teachers practiced a lot of Values Clarification lessons on my schoolmates and me.

2. “Being married means I can [break wind] and eat ice cream in bed.” Do you eat in bed? If yes, what?

Well, not ice cream! I'll occasionally have a few crackers or cookies, but not under the covers. ["Break wind"? Seriously, "fart" is not a swear word.]

3. “I phoned my grandparents and my grandfather said 'we saw your movie'. 'Which one?' I said. He shouted 'Betty, what was the name of that movie I didn't like?” What was the last movie you hated and why?

I was not in love with "Wayne's World", which Sparky watched over the weekend. In the theater, I can't think of anything, not since "Snow Dogs."

4. “We made a plan at school to meet in her garage and kiss. It was like this little business deal. I kissed her and then I ran home.” Did you make 'a plan' the first time you made love or did it just happen?

lol . Right. Moving on.... [You won't say "fart" but you escalate a quote about kissing to sex?]

5. “You must lose everything in order to gain anything.” Have you ever felt that you lost it all? If yes, explain.

I have indeed felt like the world had fallen completely away from me, right after my sister and then my dad died. It has taken years to bounce back from that.

6. “We did a little training in the beginning, ... But again, these guys aren't supposed to be skilled fighters.” When were you last time that you were in a fight (physical or not)?

I haven't had a physical fight in over 30 years. The last argument I was in--full-on arguing on both sides--was about a month ago. Haven't really had time for that sort of thing this month.

7. “My week consists ... five days out of the seven I've got at least three cars of paparazzi on me that I've got to either lose or whatever.” Have you ever been stalked?

Nope. Not that I'm aware of. Thank God.

8. “I mean, that's the modified self-help version of the psychology, I guess.” Do you believe in 'self help' for problems, or do you prefer therapy?

I tend to be cheap, but I have gone the therapy route a couple of times. Sometimes it just helps to get external input when the voices in my head are all boring the shit out of me and making me nuts. [I don't really understand what Brad is talking about here, to be honest. "Modified self-help version of the psychology" of what?]

9. “Fame is a bitch, man.” Do you agree that fame is lousy or would you love to give it a try? Why?

First of all, no one is forcing you to continue being famous, dude. Yes, I feel for you, but really...you wanted this. I would never in a million years want to be in his shoes because I agree that being famous is the pits. (yes, I did go there!)

10. “I have always been somebody that really wants to be married. And I don't know if that's just so I can do it differently than my parents did and prove marriage does work.” Do you believe in forever, as in 'love forever'?

I believe in marriage forever, if that's really what we're getting at here. However, I do NOT believe that every marriage should last forever. I mean, face it: there are long-term people and short-term people in everyone's life. The trick is to marry one of the long-term people, one that you don't mind having sex with for 50+ years. ;-)

my sister needs to turn down her shitty music

(Found here and remember: I do NOT make up these titles!)
Bold the true statements

My boyfriend/S.O. and I use the same password.
I love making sand castles at the beach.
I'm bad at wrapping presents.
I use MSN.
I use AIM.
I have Google Earth downloaded onto my computer.
I have my belly button pierced.
My dream house has a game room/movie room.
My favorite jello is the red one.
I hate it when people read over my shoulder. [if they don't tell me, yes]
I hate it when people smack their lips while they eat.
My phone is a camera phone.
^ But I hardly use the camera.
I can't sing well.
I like root beer.
I type fast.
I always tend to drive a little over the speed limit.
I've worked in a fast food place before.
^ I absolutely hated it.
I have done volunteer work because I wanted to, not because of school requirements.
I own a stuffed owl.
My nails are currently painted purple. [the top coat is a sheer purple with green highlights...]
If I had enough money, I'd do a lot of traveling.
I love going to Costco and making a meal out of the free samples.
I update my Twitter using lyrics.
I own a rubber ducky. [...or twelve...]
I have a part-time job.
I get paid more than minimum wage.
I love ice cream sandwiches.
My favorite M&Ms are the crispy kinds.
I'm not particularly afraid of death.
I wish that I had a Scottish accent.
I hate the feeling of an ant crawling across my skin.
My mom doesn't like John Lennon. [never discussed this, but I doubt she approved]
I love comedy movies.
I've never dyed my hair.
I'm a Twilight fan but I'm not obsessed.
Horror movies don't scare me.
I have a friend whose [sic] in jail.
I use coupons when I go grocery shopping.
I hate child molesters with a passion.
I'm against abortion.
I prefer earphones to headphones.
I have no desire in learning [sic] how to tap dance.
I love scrapbooking.
I'm a member of the YMCA.
^ I'm an employee of the YMCA.
I have a Nintendo DS.
I want a PSP.
I'm a natural-born citizen of the USA.
The only make up I ever wear is eyeliner.
Roses aren't my favorite flower. [not the store-bought ones, generally]
I read Cosmo magazine.
Google is the only search engine I use. [I occasionally use others, but 98% of my searching is via Google]

******

I don't eat peas, ugh!
I’m the only one in my house awake right now.
It’s before midday.
My room is a total sty.
I ate fast food for dinner last night.
I adore Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream.
I don’t speak to some members of my family.
I’ve bought and wrapped all my Christmas presents already.
I’m not at going home for Christmas.
I’m wearing socks.
I’m barefoot.
I’m going went into town today.
I don’t have many friends.
I have once received over 15 comments on one xanga entry.
I rarely get comments.
God, I’m roasting.
I’m afraid of big dogs!
Pop ups irk the crapola out of me.
I have wireless.
Yes, I can be arrogant sometimes. [but who isn't sometimes, besides Mother Teresa?]
All I care about is happiness.
I have beautiful red hair.
My worst subject in school is Science.
I sleep in a double bed.
I share my bed with somebody else.
Some people should just get a clue.
I’m sick of seeing so many same surveys.
^I want more!
I love these kind of bolding surveys.
I’m listening to music right now.
I’m a closet Cher fan. [nothing closeted about it, though]
Lord of the Rings is or is one of my favourite movies.
I’ve had the same best friend all my life.
It’s actually sunny outside.
The curtains are drawn.
Pepsi is so much more delicious than Coke.
I don’t like the beach. Sand everywhere!
I appreciate pretty scenery.
I couldn’t give a darn about nature.
I watch TV all the time.
Labels are for soup cans, get over it!
What’s all the hype about myspace?
I have so many friends I don’t have time to see them all and I feel bad.
The only person I can trust is myself.
Baked potatoes! YUM!
I’m always down in the dumps, it seems.
I try to smile even when I’m down.
If I’m in a foul mood, I will let you all know!
I have never visited Europe.
I’m tone deaf.
AOL instant messenger is much better than Yahoo.
Sims 2 runs so slow on my computer.
I’ve never had a boyfriend.
I fantasize about becoming a politician.
I refuse to kill a spider if I see one.
My hair is still its natural colour, and I won’t ever dye it.
My room needs dusting.
I refuse to leave the house without wearing make up.
Chinese food… *vomit*
I’m wondering what the time is.
I play Frisbee.
I want to go back to bed and sleep all day.
I’m not sure about my religion
I’m a vegetarian.
I couldn’t live without meat, no way.
I belong to a clique.
I have a calendar this year.
I’ll have one next year, too.
My social life is brimming.
I will stay home for New Years Eve.
I like to read in the bath.

******

I'm blonde.
Not naturally.
I'm an only child.
But I wish I wasn't.
I woke up before 6 AM today.
I loooove sports.
Especially baseball and football.
I count my calories.
I'm not happy with my weight.
I love my teeth.
I wore braces for 4 years.
I wear a retainer every night.
I've never been to Disney Land or World.
I recently applied for a job.
I hate school.
I've failed a class before.
Math confuses me so much.
I love country music.
^But I listen to everything.
I have more than one best friend.
I have a really annoying laugh.
I'm addicted to caffeine.
I have two or more caffeinated beverages everyday.
I love going for walks.
My hair is up right now.
I want my hair to be longer.
I illegally downloaded music today.
I love animals.
Cats are my favorites.
Being tan makes me happy.
I go to the tanning bed.
Summer is my favorite season.
I love shopping.
Forever 21 is my favorite store.
My mom was in her 30s when she had me.
My birthday is in November.
I don't really get excited about my birthday anymore.
All of my grandparents aren't alive.
I love the movie Grease.
I've memorized every line to the movie Mean Girls.
I want a new phone.
^Mine's a ghetto piece of shit.
I love frozen yogurt.
Salads are my favorite food.
I've been to the dentist this month.
Cantalope [sic] is my favorite fruit. [but I do know how to spell it]
^Along with apples.
^And grapes.
I've texted my mom today.
I'm really tired.

******

I love Siberian huskies!
I had/have a chihuahua.
I'm more of a cat person, thank you very much.
Black is my favourite colour.
Uh, black isn't a colour.
I get my icons from Photobucket.
My cell phone needs charging right now.
I've never played a Wii before.
I give my pets pretty names.
I go against my school's workplace dress code all the time regularly.
The last time I went shopping, I spent over $100.
I hate when 13-year-olds try to act sexy in photos.
I love Juicy Couture.
Too bad I can hardly afford anything from there.
I own a pair of pink Nike sneakers.
Jessica Alba and Angelina Jolie are overrated. [most actors are]
I bring a notebook everywhere I go.
Johnny Depp is the hottest actor ever.
I've gone through more than 3 different hair colours in my life so far.
I have Adobe Photoshop on my computer.
I use it to edit my photos all the time before posting them.
I think people who Photoshop their photos are so fake.
I know someone who has posted naked photos on themselves on the internet.
I'd rather be pale than tanned.
I'd never give my daughter the name Mary.
Or my son the name John.
Why are they suddenly so many celebrities named Taylor?
I want to give Russell Brand a comb, and some shampoo.
My dream is to be a contestant on America's Next Top Model.
It's raining really heavily right now.
It's nearly midnight now.
I hate it when people have better stuff than me.
I hate being materialistic, but I can't help it!
I carry a backpack to school.
I carry a handbag to school.
I wonder what Playboy playmates do all day.
^Or I'd rather not think about that.
I hate it when big girls dress like they're skinny.
I've been to China before.
^I liked it there.
If I were to visit any Asian country, I'd go to Japan.
I have relatives who live in another continent.
I'm a member of Xanga blogrings that aren't survey-related too.
My parents swear in front of me all the time.
I'd so totally get blasted if I swore in front of them.

******

1. I love watching BBC America.
2. I love to study anatomy.
3. Artistic nudity doesn't bother me.
4. Cooking shows make me so hungry.
5. I love English accents.
6. My most recent ex thinks we will get back together.
7. I love going fishing, but I hardly ever catch anything.
8. I wouldn't mind learning to play violin.
9. Raccoons always invade our outside pets' food.
10. I don't like learning what some food is really made of; it ruins it for me.
11. I don't really like sushi.
12. ^ And I have tried it.
13. A lot of my pets are really old and kind of senile.
14. My mom gets scared really easily when it comes to movies.
15. I was born in spring.
16. I can't stand waiting around in the cold.
17. I know someone who takes awful care of their CDs and/or DVDs.
18. I could live happily in the city or country.
19. I still live in the same place I was born.
20. I know someone who was born in Scotland.
21. I've seen every Harry Potter movie in the theater.
22. I love touch screen devices.
23. Walking around in the dark isn't something I usually like.
24. My family owns a ton of vinyls.
25. Salvador Dalí is one of my favorite artists.
26. ^ As well as Gustav Klimt.
27. I have read The Hobbit.
28. I listened to audio tapes when I was little.
29. I actually like to clean my room.
30. My dad collected very old cameras.
31. My parents' drivers license pictures look very awkward.
32. I love the show MASH.
33. I want to learn how to make brownies.
34. I love to learn.
35. I saw the original Star Trek before I saw the movie.

******

I'm home alone right now
I love having the house to myself
I've gone to a carnival recently
I miss my best friend
I never know what I want
My first car was brand new, not used
^And expensive
My favorite fast food place is Taco Bell
^Nah, I like Wendy's better
^I like neither
I am seriously sick of winter
^The cold, anyway
I live in Florida, California, Texas or South Carolina
I like watching the food network
Scrubs is really good show
It'd be neat to be an extra in a movie
I hate feeling left out
^I feel it a lot
I used to have a Myspace, but I deleted it
^I haven't deleted it but I rarely use it
I text my mom on a daily basis
I own a pair of UGG's
I love dallas green
I've eaten a brownie in the past week
One of my boyfriends have spent the night at my house
I've gone a whole summer being single [wow, that long!]
And without kissing/doing anything with anyone
Life is life, shit happens
My parents are never home, I basically live on my own
I do live on my own
I just had delicious dinner
I love toaster strudles
I want someone who knows that they want, so I know what to give
I wish I was you
I'm reading a really good book right now [...or three]
I need to get my eyebrows done
I've been hurt recently
You take up so much of my life and I don't even realize it
There is a green object close to me
I scrunch my hair some days
I've never gotten a pedicure
I go out of state often
^Nooo I hardly ever leave my state
I'm bored as fuck
I'm wearing something that has the name of my school on it
I'm in very comfortable clothing
I walk around my house naked when no is home
I really don't see what's so awesome about Twitter
I really need a drink
I'm really creative
I know I'm kinda old for it but I still love DisneyWorld
I use have used the compare people application on Facebook
In the next few hours I'll be sleeping

******

long list of random things
bold if you like.

ocean waves
rain
thunderstorms
texting
brownies
chocolate chip cookies
baking
cooking
music
the radio
your ipod
lyrics that relate to how you feel
pizza
french fries
looking back at old memories
being unique
wearing bright colors
losing weight
bottled water
being able to fall asleep right away
long car rides
blasting music loud
singing
dancing
gymnastics
cheering
football
football games
late nights
being sneaky
blue gatorade
driving
camping
staying at hotels
hoodies
tv
funny people
the little things
change
scary movies
pepperoni
good times
family
siblings
tater tots
smell of sharpies
getting something you wanted for a long time
love
hook-ups
science
the goonies
boy meets world
loving
smiles
those days
making a difference
things that have meaning
finally realizing something
cute puppies
going out
the mall
shopping
proving someone wrong
finally being out of high school
growing up
adrenaline rush
amusement parks
roller coasters
water slides
water parks
cooling off on hot days
cold weather
breezy weather
the fall
winter
christmas
christmas cookies
parties
getting dressed up
seeing someone you haven't in awhile
the 90's
the 80's
butterfinger
reeses
gertruade hawk
snapple
the weekend
hot showers
victoria's secret
forever 21
delia's
zumiez
pac sun
hot topic [makes me laugh, a lot]
h&m
charlotte russe
american eagle
uggs
being warm
feeling secure
ice cream
sub way
massages
saturdays
laughing
good dreams
will smith
hot actors
nintendo 64
sleeping
starbucks
dippin dots
one tree hill
bam margera
johnny knoxville
steve-o
jackass
fresh prince
dane cook
chad michael murray
ashton kutcher
adam sandler
hearing "it's gonna be okay"
beerpong
myspace
facebook
xanga
tumblr
yahoo
google
twitter
red bull
aim
superman
the sky
vitamin water
making new friends
being crazy
looking at the stars
hot tubs
chillin
fairs
the beach
boardwalks
philly
iceluges
getting wasted
happiness
fast food
running
nice houses
privacy
big cities
the country
horses
being in your own world
trying hard and not failing
kicking the shit out of someone who deserves it
being good enough
feeling like you matter
taking chances
karaoke
getting lost
not caring
becoming the person you've always wanted to be
quotes
modesty
when people don't always leave
feeling like life is going somewhere
wishes
wishes that come true
dreams that come true
falling in love
lying in bed listening to the rain
milkshakes
bubble baths
giggles
long convos late at night
running through sprinklers
inside jokes
laughing at yourself
hearing that you're beautiful
good friends
accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you
waking up to realize you still have a few hours yet to sleep
first kisses with someone new
spending time with old friends
hot chocolate
road trips
holding hands with someone you care about
watching the sunrise
watching a sunset
knowing somebody misses you

***

Who was the last person you talked to on the telephone? I think the last person with whom I spoke was the county DOT person in charge of community transit.

What was your worst subject in school? Gym.

Do you like your job? My job is wonderful.

What are your initials? I'm sort of partial to T. Also S.

Are you a good speller? I"m a great speller. Not always good at putting it together.

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? Was it good? Who did you go with? I don't remember

How many and what kind of animals are in your house? Three humans and a guinea pig.

Where did your last hug take place? Upstairs.

Do you shop at Abercrombie & Fitch? Nope.

How much money do you have on you right now? Right now, none. I have a couple hundred dollars in my wallet.

When is the last time you took a nap? Yesterday.

What are you disappointed about right now? The fact that I'm not making any progress at work, at least not that I can tell.

When was the last time something bothered you? Every damn second of every damn day.

What is your current mood? Exasperated. I need to sleep, I think.

What song is stuck in your head right now? For a change, nothing.

Have you ever broken someone's heart? Apparently so.

Have you ever felt an earthquake? Yep. A few times.

Do you believe in karma? Not exactly....

Who is your best friend? Jenny, Beast, Amy...any given day.

Do you gossip? More than I wish I did, more than I should.

Have you ever been stabbed in the back? Oh yeah. And kicked in the gut.

How old are you? 46.

Ever seen the Saw movies? No. Not interested.

Favorite kind of flower? Garden roses, lilacs, daffodils.

What are you doing tonight? This. Going to bed soon, I think.

Do you keep a condom in your purse/wallet? Not likely.

Your parents tell you they're going to split up, how would you react? Uhm, I would check myself into a locked ward, seeing as how they are both DEAD!

The person you're in love with moves across the world, what do you do? Depends on whether he loves me. If it were Beast we'd have discussed this before he moved, and we'd've worked out a solution that works for the situation.

If you could change your eye color, would you? I wouldn't mind a little more green.

Would you ever forgive someone if they cheated on you? It would take a lot of time and screaming.

Do you want someone you can't have? Not exactly.

Do you miss anything or anyone? Do you understand the current Coors ads? No. What does a train have to do with beer, Colorado, drinking...whatever. Stupid.

Who makes you laugh no matter what? No one. Jenny can make me smile, though, in almost any situation.

Have you kissed anyone on the lips within the past five hours? Yup.

Who was the last person you talked to? Beast. "How's it going?" "Gettin' there." "OK."

Do you think it is bad to have sex at your age? Ironically, I had this conversation today. And, no.

Will you get married? "Will" I? Never again. I already am. Once is plenty enough.

Do you lie about your age? No. Never really understood the point of it.

When did you last cry? Yesterday I got a little weepy.

Do you think you were ever in love? Yep.

Have you started a horrible rumor about somebody? Not intentionally, not that I'm aware of.

Have you ever done hallucinogenic drugs? Not street drugs. I've taken some scrips that have caused some mental weirdness.

Do you think your future will be a good one? Sure. No reason to think it won't.

Is there someone you want to fight? No. There are a couple people I want to throw off a pier, but no one I want to fight.

Does anyone like you? Nope. I'm universally hated.

What’s your middle name? Yeah, not.

What were you doing an hour ago? Starting this.

What does your last text message in your inbox say? Something about taking the cover off the casserole when I got into the house so dinner could finish up and we could eat fast.

Do you wear the seatbelt in the car? Yeah. Not wearing one in the cabs last week was really weird.

Where will you be in the next hour? I hope to be in bed, maybe even going to sleep.

Are you taller than your mom? I was.

Are you an emotional person? I tend that way at times.

Who did you last yell at? I was rather annoyed at Sparky this afternoon, but I don't remember yelling.

Are you confused? On a semi-regular basis.

What are you listening to right now? Bill Maher.

Do you crack your knuckles? By accident, sometimes.

What do you want? Weight loss.

What is the background on your cell phone? Red Rocks, near the amphitheatre, taken by me last November.

Describe your phone: Red LG Lotus with clear covers.

If you could trade lives with anyone, who would it be? No thanks. I am at least used to my own problems.

Do you get everything you want? Yeah, not.

Have you ever broken your nose? Nope. Nor has anyone broken it for me.

Has anyone ever spread a rumor about you? I went to public school, yo.

Do you have any trophies? Not of the sporting type, no.

Have you ever punched a hole in the wall? Uh, no, how stupid is that?

What’s on your wish list for birthday? Whirled peas.

Do you think you are a good person? Yes.

Does the future make you more nervous or excited? Both.

You go into Walmart and have $20 to spend, what do you buy? Iced sugar cookies and flowers.

You're sitting at home bored, who do you call? I don't call people when I'm bored.

What woke you up this morning? The alarm clock. Eventually.

Did you kiss or hug anyone today? Already covered this...yes.

What are you doing tomorrow? Work, and then take Sparky to the eye doctor.

Do you lecture people about drugs? Only Sparky, and not for years. He's more likely to lecture ME about drug abuse (of his peers).

Do you delete people off of Myspace? That's rather pointless since I don't ever use it.

When was the last time you saw your father? November 1994.

Do you want to be in a relationship? I'm in several.

Did you do something you kind of regret this week? Of course. Every day.

Personality

You Are the Funny One

You have a flamboyant personality, and part of that is being a natural comic. You are very observant, and you always have a joke ready for every person and occasion. You don't hesitate to point out when a situation is uncomfortable, and you are awesome at breaking the ice. Your sarcasm doesn't play well with every type of person, but your friends get and appreciate you.

What's Your Personality Like?

"Flamboyant"?? Really? OK, I don't think so.

Random Dozen

(Link in meme-roll)
[Inspired by Lost]

1. Have you ever been so lost that you were really afraid?

I can't think of a time like this, certainly not as an adult. I've been so lost that I was really irritated about being late for the meeting I was supposed to be at...but that was 10 years ago, and it turned out to be because Schedule Nazi gave me wrong/unclear directions.

2. Have you ever been to an island?

Yes. Yes, I have. Seems to me that I've been to more than one, in fact, though I'm only coming up with one right now.

3. Are you more of a thinker or feeler?

I lean toward thinking, but I have my feely moments.

4. Do you tend to see issues or situations in life as black and white or shades of gray?

I hope I'm gray--I try hard to be--but I suspect there are some areas in which I'm unable to see beyond the end of my nose.

5. If you were stuck on an island, what book would you hope to have with you (Let's pretend the Bible is already there, so you can't say that.)

A book on surviving on an island, presuming it's one of the proverbial deserted type. If not, I'll have a book of crosswords (and a writing utensil).

6. What are you most afraid of?

It sort of toggles between fear of failure and fear of being found out. Which are really the same thing, no?

7. Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?

I've never really thought about not being able to make new memories ... wow, bummer; sounds a lot like death. But I'd probably sacrifice those so I can keep my dad and mom and Ellen, and Sparky as a baby, in the memory bank.

8. Pretend I'm looking at a scrapbook page about you. There are three spaces for you to drop in individual pictures. What are those pictures of, and why did you select them?

The picture of Beast and me the day before we got married (asleep on my sister's couch), a picture of me the day Sparky was born, and a picture of me at work.

9. If you were re-doing your wedding, what would you do differently? (If you're single, tell me one thing you would do if you were planning a wedding OR huge party.)

I would elope. Fuck all the planning, the drama, the nightmare comments from assorted idiots...er, families members and friends. But, I'd keep the dress.

10. Tell me one thing you know/believe about forgiveness.

I'm not as good as it as I'd like to be.

11. You're waiting in a doctor's office. What is your favorite way to pass that time?

I do not even want to contemplate a doctor's office without reading material! I either have a book or I read the magazines (ugh) in the waiting room. Nothing worse than going to the eye doctor, having my eyes dilated, and not being able to see to read for 15 minutes or more before the exam. Major frustration and boredom.

12. If there were a clone of you in a parallel universe what is one way you hope she/he would be the same as you and one way you hope she/he would be better?

I'd like her to be thinner and less prone to SAD.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
What are your fears

1. What are your fears about waking up in the morning?

   Well, aside from the whole "not waking up at all" thing, I don't think I have any. I worry more about falling out of bed in the middle of the night, or waking up at 2 a.m. and not being to get back to sleep for hours.

2. What are your fears about working?

   Being called on the carpet for something insanely stupid that I didn't realize I was doing. Or, since I'm living it right now, never getting caught up.

3. What are your fears about riding the bus?

   Not having the right fare and not knowing when to get off.

4. What are your fears about driving a car?

   Sliding off the road (in winter). OK, actually, it's really all the other drivers, honestly.

5. What are your fears about riding a bike?

   I'm not even sure I can ride a bike any distance at all anymore....

6. What are your fears about making your own meal?

   ....Uh? The only thing I can think of is not having any food from which to make food.

7. What are your fears about making a meal for others?

   That they won't enjoy it, that it somehow causes them to get sick, or that I ruin it before it gets to the table.

8. What are your fears about romance?

   That I'd ever have to consider this important again.

9. What are your fears about friendship?

   Being dumped is an ever-present fear. Finding out a friend has broken trust is up there, too.

10. What are your fears about entering a public restroom?

    Having to stand in line when I'm in too much of a hurry, or especially needy. Also, Chinese bathrooms are not a great thing.

11. What are your fears about using a public restroom?

    Mostly it's a matter of cleanliness. I should be better about checking for TP ahead of time.

12. What are your fears about being in crowds?

    That they'll all suddenly go mad at once. This is the one question about which I do worry regularly. I do NOT like crowds, not at all!

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
The Gratitude Meme

1. What are you most grateful for when you first wake up in the morning?

Waking up. Though I have to say, most days I'm not overly excited about the alarm going off. I am, however, pretty glad to be around to wake up. Usually.

2. What are you most grateful for when you go to bed at night?

Being able to curl up with a crossword or sudoku. I also appreciate beyond all rationality the existence of earplugs. I should probably see about getting paid for gabbing on and on about them. ;-)

3. Who is the person who has had the most influence on your life?

Probably Sparky, followed closely by Beast. Maybe Dad.

4. Is there someone you'd like to thank for something special they did for you but haven't yet? Take the time to do it in this meme.

I try to say thank you whenever I need to, but I don't always succeed. So right now, right here: THANK YOU to all the meme-writers out there. I am grateful for the work it takes to create these things week after week!

5. Who was your favorite or least favorite teacher? If you could talk to them now, what would you say?

I had so many good teachers, but I would like to find my sophomore high school English teacher and apologize to her.

6. Do you say grace at mealtime?

If we sit down together at the table to eat as a family--it's really very infrequent these days--we say grace. Otherwise, not so much.

7. Name one thing you take for granted everyday.

Air.

8. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise?

All.the.time. Seriously: ALL the time.

9. What are the top five things you are most grateful for in your life?

1. God
2. My family, both household and extended
3. Friends
4. My job
5. My health [yes, you read that right]

Manic Monday

(Link in meme-roll)

If you could write your own bill of rights, what would you include?

I'm pretty good with the U.S. Constitution's with, perhaps, some more definition of terms, in like, footnotes. (And I'm really really tired, so I'm not overly creative right now, either. Could you tell?)

What is going on in the world today that affects you the most?

Allergy season, ahoy! Also, the economy. Last week, I would have said "volcanoes" but that was last week.

What do you think is the secret to a good life?

Getting comfortable with yourself and knowing your limits, your skills, and what works for you. And then stretching a little. ;-)

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) How often do you whisper?

Despite the fact that I work in a library, it's relatively rare for me to whisper. I talk fairly quietly at times, but whispering...not so much. I always hear that old ad in my ear whenever I do whisper: "If you want to capture someone's attention, whisper."

2) When was the last time you called a help hotline? Did it solve the problem?

I guess that would be the Lost and Found about the bag I left on the commuter train last week. It has not been recovered, but "Delores" is a lovely, helpful person.

3) How much time do you spend on yourself daily on average?

I suppose a couple of hours, all told, most days. Except for the past three weeks.

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

Well, speaking of railroads...it reminds me of my lost overnight bag. :-( And Amtrak, which is a mixed memory: I love train travel, but I'm not a fan of being late, which Amtrak usually is (in my experience anyway).

Love, Practically

You Are in Pragmatic Love

For you, love is a lot more rational and realistic than it is romantic. It's likely that you thought long and hard about who you wanted to be with before you chose your partner. You prefer to be with someone you value and respect. You did your best to select the best person possible. Your love is based on compatibility and similar goals. If you were to break up, it would only be for practical reasons.

What Kind of Love Are You In?

ZING! Got it perfectly in one! Love it.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Hell :: ...on Earth
2. Scott :: Trade [sad, but true, but honestly my first reaction was a family member which I don't post]
3. Dominion :: Old...
4. Stunt :: Trick
5. Cougar :: Courtney Cox
6. Columbia :: ...the Gem of the Ocean...
7. Gasp :: Horrors!
8. Cancerous :: Malignant
9. Bitty :: Itty...
10. Quit :: Stop

we all need a little more room to live

(Found here)

Can you answer all of these questions honestly? I can. The question is, will I do so?

Could you handle being married to the last person you messaged/commented? Last text I got was from my son, so...yeah, NO. Last person I on whose blog I commented? No clue who that would be, actually. Probably not. I'm probably past my marriageable age.

Show us the last picture you uploaded. I haven't done anything of the sort for months. Too lazy to go figure it out. Perhaps the one of Sparky on my other blog?

Can you honestly say you're okay right now? I'm fine. Why? What have you heard??

Do you have good vision? I have something like 20/500 vision. But my hindsight is extraordinary!

Do you know anyone with a cute laugh? "Cute"? Really? No.

How do you feel about answering personal and/or intimate questions? How about I answer personal questions about you??

What's your favorite food of your culture? Mac and cheese.

Has a guy ever seriously punched you more than once? Nope. Not even once. I'm very clear on my expectations.

What videos are on your iPod? 1) don't have an iPod. 2) would be unlikely to use it as a video player if I did.

Have you ever doubted that love exists? Nope.

Do you still talk to the person you fell hardest for? He IMs me fairly regularly.

Who do you regret meeting? MAS. Primarily because she didn't really affect my life except to make life pretty close to hell for several months and provide plenty of reasons to laugh at her. I could have easily managed to still be the person I am today without having met her. Not too many people have been so easily disposable.

What fictional character do you wish was real? It would be lovely to live in Thursday Next's reality.

Are you a bad influence? At times.

What were you last late for? I could have been earlier for work yesterday.

Have you ever thrown water at a mirror with the lights off? Uhm? Why? Definitely not intentionally?

If you had to choose someone to sleep next to every night, and wake up to every morning; who would it be? 'Twould not kill me to wake up next to Gibbs every morning...except of course, that would be unlikely for so many reasons it doesn't bear thinking about. So I guess...Beast.

Day been rough? Nope. A perfectly easy day filled with fun things like spending oodles of money and hanging out with two of my favorite people.

What are you majoring did you major in? Double major: Communication + History. Double minor: Spanish + English.

What was the last thing that made you laugh? Graham Norton.

Favorite flavor of jello? Er, well, not strawberry or lemon. Otherwise, I'm pretty easy.

Do you secretly still watch cartoons? If someone else turns them on. I don't usually care, unless it's really lame.

Do you look decent when you wake up? Rarely. Then again, I don't look like hell on a plate either.

Does seeing couples in love make you mad? Only if they are being completely stupid.

What would you do if you found out you had been cheated on? I'd change the locks on the house.

Is anyone falling for you? I hope to hell not.

What is your opinion on sex without emotional commitment? Sounds like a great idea. Let me know when its been achieved consistently.

What can you hear right now? TV ads.

Do you prefer quizzes or surveys? Surveys, but I'm not fussy.

Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school? Nope. Not even close.

Do you feel alone even in crowded rooms? I have. Unpleasant in the extreme.

What is the worst thing a person could do to you and still be forgiven? To me, you could do a lot and I'd eventually forgive you. However, if you fuck with my family, you are dead.

What are you doing tomorrow? Possibly going to church, possibly going to work. Hanging out. Vacuuming. "Encouraging" Sparky to do his chores....

Were you single over the summer? I was home alone with the kid a lot, but ... no.

How late did you stay up last night? Tried to hit the sheets at 10, but was still awake at midnight. Suck.

Can you read other people's expressions? Uh-yeah. I'm quite good at that.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. Hot Coffee or Iced Coffee…and why?

Neither. I don't drink coffee of any kind. I don't even eat coffee-flavored candies. Yuck. Horrible flavor.

2. Front Porch or Rear Patio…and why?

I like front porches, and we finally have one on which to sit. Beast prefers the back patio/deck. I like to watch people walk past--unusual by our house since we are at the back of the subdivision--and generally see the world. The backyard feels a little too enclosed. I know, I know: we don't have a fence. Whatever. There's no direction to be sane in my answers!

3. Dog or Cat…and why?

I'm more allergic to cats, so dogs by default. That's good, since I love dogs. No, actually, I absolutely adore (most) dogs.

4. Blackberry or iPhone…and why?

Blackberry, since I'm boycotting all Apple products until they stop being all exclusive.

5. Morning or Night…and why?

I'm definitely a lark, not an owl: I'd rather get up early after an early night than vice-versa.

6. Beef or Chicken…and why?

Chicken because it doesn't stick in my teeth the way beef does. [see above re sanity]

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 9: I Want to Hold Your Hand

1. What do you notice about other people's hands?

I really only notice their hands if they are very (overly) manicured or wrong for their facial age. So, if they are 50-year-old hands with a face that says 30!!

2. If someone was nosing around your house, what would you hope they wouldn't see?

The usual, I guess. And the fact that I'm really lazy, and I don't have an organizational bone in my body when I'm at home. It's all a facade.

3. Do you think that the more stuff you own enhances your life or adds to your burden?

Adds to the burden! OMG, I have so much shit in this house!

4. What was the last movie you saw in the theatre?

Uh, not exactly. I literally have no memory for movies. Maybe "Star Trek"? And yes, I know that's pathetic.

5. What do you have under your bed?

Just dust. Used to keep sox and sweaters in boxes here, but not anymore.

6. What do you think your s/o or best friend would say about what makes you unique?

In the past, he has said he's amazed at how kind-hearted I am. I think he's fully of shit.

7. What's your current favorite TV commercial?

We've been enjoying the "slug-bug" ads.

8. Who do you owe a phone call to?

Just about everyone in the universe.

9. Do you know about my friend's new meme Wednesday Wickedness? Will you give it a try this week just for me? Please? :)

Of course I will, now that my life is back on the track to normalcy.

Pool Luck

You Are a Somewhat Lucky Person

You are cautious and slow to act. It takes you a long time to get used to ideas. You are happiest when you have an obstacle to overcome. You need to be challenged. You're the first to admit that you're a bit of a slacker. You will let someone else do the work for you if you can get away with it. You are a focused and dedicated person. You are willing to stay on task, even when it's hard.

The Swimming Pool Test

Well, this seems like a bit of a mutually exclusive description, really, which is sorta accurate.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
the only selfless thing he ever did for me was in a dream.

[01] Would you wear your clothes if you knew they were manufactured in a sweat shop?

They probably were. I buy cheap. I also eat food from slaughterhouses. I have different priorities, though I'm not particularly proud of any of this.

[02] Can you write backwards? Upside down? With your other hand?

I can write (slowly) with my left hand, and used to be able to write backwards. This is known as How to Stay Awake in Boring Classes.

[03] Are you most often early, late, or right on time?

I try to be a couple minutes early. In the past year, I've been late more often than any other year of my life, and it doesn't make me happy.

[04] Have you ever participated in a parade?

I was in marching band for 8 years. So...yeah.

[05] Who is the angriest person you know?

Beast.

Four for Friday

(Link in meme-roll)

Q1 - Parents: What's the most important thing you learned from your parents that you hope to pass along to your children or young people you mentor?

Life isn't fair. Most things are out of our control. Get over it and move on.

Q2 - Traffic: Have you ever diverted your route because of something you heard on a radio or television traffic report?

All the time. I live in the exurbs of a Really Big Midwestern City, so we listen to traffic reports somewhat obsessively when we are driving anywhere.

Q3 - Groceries: Do you make a grocery shopping list as you run out of items or notice you're running low, or do you make a list right before leaving to go to the grocery store?

Both. I write down the 'weird stuff' as we get low, but I make a full list just before leaving the house.

Q4 - Dinner: What did you have for dinner last night and was it fulfilling? If not fulfilling did it at least hold some nutritional value?

I had a corned beef panini and chicken/rice soup, I think. I ate with Beast at Six Balls. It was the usual level of yum. Not overly nutritious, but...oh well.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
In honor of William Shakespeare’s birthday, here are this week’s questions!

1. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lysander says,

“Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth…”

How has this proven (or not proven) to be the case in your life?

Life is hard. Love makes life easier, but doesn't take the hard out of it.

2. In Hamlet, the title character says, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” Who in your life has proven this not to be true? And if you’re willing to share, who in your life has proven this to be completely true?

Every woman in my family has disproven this statement. I actually know damn few frail women. Shakespeare was a product of his time. Besides, in his day, the women's parts were played by boys; frailty, thy name is boy?

3. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pistol says,

“Why then the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.”

Ignoring the possible sexual meaning here, how do you feel about oysters?

The only person I've ever known to really enjoy eating oysters was my dad. Otherwise I have no feelings about oysters themselves. I like the mother-of-pearl in the shells, but that's about it.

4. In The Merchant of Venice, Lorenzo says,

“The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.”

Do you agree, and have you known anyone who seemed to be completely unmoved by any kind of music?

I do not associate easily with people who don't care about music. Didn't realize Lorenzo was on my team on this, though, having never read MoV. I tend toward agreeing that people who don't like music seem untrustworthy to me.

5. Is Shakespeare overrated, or is he truly the western world’s greatest writer?

I don't think he's overrated, but I'm not sure he's the greatest writer ever either. He just wrote a LOT, and varied, of stuff.

Friday Five

(Link in meme-roll)
Cooking/Food, again

1. Tea or Coffee or juice in the morning, and why?

None of the above: diet soda. It's all I drink, really. I don't drink coffee. Tea in the morning isn't likely, and we almost never have juice in the house.

2. What's your typical breakfast on workdays, and what on weekends?

Bagel. However, lately, I haven't been eating breakfast at home much.

3. What do you drink through the day?

Diet Dr. Pepper.

4. Best snack?

I'm good with anything unhealthy. Yeah. Or pistachios.

5. Your favourite dinner when you cook for yourself alone?

Sandwich, or cheese and crackers.

Shirty

You Are a Basic T-shirt

You are a very humble, low maintenance person. You find contentment easily. You are easy-going and very [occasionally] social. You like being around other people more than anything else. Some may accuse you of being lazy, but you just don't work any harder than you need to. You are happiest when things are kept casual. You think formality is a lot of unnecessary fuss.

What Kind of Shirt Are You?

Well, there ya go.

And guess what I'm reading right now: a T-shirt. And jeans.

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Where are my brain cells?
2. If wishes were horses I'd probably be allergic to wishing.
3. I'd like to see the inside of my eyelids for about 15 straight hours.
4. When I was a teen, I thought being grown-up was a worthwhile goal.
5. One of my mother's favorite sayings was "Don't slouch."
6. I'd have a hard time doing without my allergy meds.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing some laundry but mostly just sitting around, tomorrow my plans include replacing what I lost on the train the other day and cleaning out the fridge, and Sunday, I want to go to church and then maybe do some weeding in our yard!

The Dating Profile Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Always Up to the Challenge
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.

1. It's hard for me to describe myself, I think I probably see myself much differently than others do, but hey, always up to the challenge.

Way to get right to the "How about sex?" question in one run-on sentence. [Also, perhaps you should work a little more on integrating your view of reality with the world's, hey?]

2. I am shy but outgoing, timid but strong, a loner but loves to be around people.

...a good speller who can't bother to make grammatical sense. I'm thinking bipolarity iz U.

3. I am very educated, not necessarily from a collegiate accomplishment level as I am street wise and in tune with my surroundings, making me more often comfortable than anxious.

Y'know, someone can be anxious while still being smart, street-wise, tuned-in, and accomplished. None of these things are mutually exclusive. Anyway, let me rewrite this as I'm hearing it: "I'm a smart-ass who flunked out of college because I know more shit that those nerdy profs. I smoke a lot of pot and live in my parents' basement."

4. I have spent a lot of time alone for the last few years because I took a good look and did not like who I saw anymore so I took the time out to get to know myself and change those values and attitudes I did not like and made sure the change was what is me.

Convoluted much? I think I'll go with the rewrite again: "I woke up one morning and found 'You ARE [the female] Seth Rogan! Goodbye!' written on the mirror in lipstick. And when I really looked, by golly, that was right! After that, I couldn't get a date, so I spent a lot of time alone. That sucked, but I read a lot of books about How to Deal With People. I figured out that most people don't want to date puppies, so I started acting like a grownup human being. I still can't write very well, but I'm working on it."

5. purify me.

Er, no?
Alternative reply: fuck you.

6. I don't have any tolerance for intolerance so no "isms" or "phobias" allowed.

So you've just said you're intolerant. Way to make me laugh so hard my isms all fell off.

7. Like the mountains, deserts, 'rock collecting" is something my grandfather got me into.

...uh, wow. I'm not sure WHAT is going on here. You like rock collecting, that part I get, but what are those first 4 words doing in this sentence? And the whole mis-matched quote thing is like wearing a silk blouse with overalls. Hey, actually, is your grandfather still around? He sounds cool!

8. The thing that makes me laugh is our annual family reunion.

Oh, dear Lord, me too. Wait! Cousin Pat, is that you?!

9. I'm as natural as country so I do not put up with nonsense. Just enjoy being HAPPY.

Only someone who doesn't actually live in the country thinks "the country" is natural. Dude, pesticides are us! [I do live pretty much in the country, and have a few friends who grew up on farms. Trust me on this.] What if I'm not happy? Should I enjoy being UNhappy? Or just leave until I'm happy? I'm so confused.

10. I hate going to bed n sleeping alone.

I think we'll definitely have to agree to disagree on this one. I love sleeping alone! Doing other things in bed alone sorta sucks though....

I'll always be there when you wake

(Found here)

From this point forward I'm done answering repetitive, childish questions. I'm going to throw in my own when I deem a question too stupid to live. You'll know which ones, I promise.

Friday Night: sneaking in a quick survey while I wait up for the kids' return from a pool party
What was the last thing that made you smile? Beast's return from the Far Western Edge.

If you could fast forward life, would you? Parts of it, certainly. I'd be more than willing to skip December 26 through March 1 every year.

Has there been a day this week you just wanted to say "fuck it"? Has there been a day this week when I haven't wanted to? Perhaps the question might be whether I've verbalized the sentiment, but I have. Actually, verbatim.

Is there someone on your mind? What was the first sound you heard this morning? The shower in the hall bathroom. That was after I took the earplugs out.

If your ex showed up at your front door wanting you back, what would you say? I wouldn't recognize him, and I'd definitely call the police.

Are you a shy person or outgoing? Bit o' the both. I find myself very uncomfortable around people from whom I sense condescension.

What are you listening to? Beast has NASCAR-flipped-with-golf on the TV while he sorts through his dad's bills and prepares to pay them. Welcome to my living room.

Whats your favorite color? Who's your favorite fictional character? Jane Eyre. Or Laura in Plum Creek or Silver Lake (LIW).

Your best friend likes your ex, are you mad? Well, wouldn't that be weird! Only one of my best friends even met my last ex, or would know who he was!

When is the last time you cried and why? Today. Song lyrics. At work, yeah pure awesomeness!

Where is the last person you kissed? Currently feeding Ruka. So much for bill-paying, nu?

Will you kiss the last person you kissed again? I think it's in the contract. Yeah.

Do you like to cuddle gossip? Yup, but I try to do it with people who know the difference between gossip/venting and factual information.

What is your favorite song? What song makes your skin crawl and your teeth itch? 'This is the song that never ends...' I've been singing it all fucking week! Thanks, Dear Darling Son.

How old are you? Officially: 46. Physically: 50. Mentally: 19. Metaphysically: -5.

Where How did you sleep last night? Like a stone dropped in a mineshaft. But I woke up before my alarm, about 5:45, which was annoying as I could actually sleep in a little today.

What time did you get up this morning? I got up at about 6:30. Sigh....

Are you sleeping alone tonight? For the first time since Sunday, I will have to share the sheets.

Relationships or Hook ups? Chocolate bunnies or Cadbury Creme Eggs? Frozen creme eggs.

What's your favorite movie non-Hollywood film? Orlando. Working Girls. Shoah.

Where is the person you like right now? What song do you associate with your first celebrity crush? "I Think I Love You" or possibly "Cherish." Guess who!

Does the person you like, like you back? We're still married, so I guess he at least tolerates me. He keeps coming home from business trips. So far. ;-)

Who are three friends you can always count on? Beast, Jenny, Amy.

Are you excited about the future? Yup. I'm wearing shades. [Except for those stupid winter months...]

Has anyone ever told you they love you and didn't mean it? How the fuckety-fuck would I know?!

Whats [sic] your favorite thing to drink punctuation mark? APOSTROPHES!

Are you happy with the way your life is going right now? My life right now could not be more interesting and fun...and complicated.

Do you miss someone right now? I have very good aim, so...no.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be what would it take to get there? A time machine and amnesia.

If I say "psycho", who is the first person that comes to your mind? Sparky.

Is there a specific moment you can replay in your mind perfectly? Oh yeah. Oddly, I vividly remember accidentally breaking the crystal champagne flute in 1988.

Who was the last person to call you and why? Beast. Which pisses me off, since Sparky was supposed to call when he arrived at tonight's party. He is in SO.MUCH.SHIT when he gets home.

Do you plan on sleeping in tomorrow? That ain't happening in the foreseeable future, at least not in the next week or so.

If you were in the hospital on life support, would the last person you kissed come see you? He'd better be there enforcing my damn DNR order!

Have you ever spent the night with the last person you kissed? I . am . MARRIED . to . him.

So,what are you doing? What color is your front door? Boring beige. White? I'm honestly not sure, except for the boring part.

What was the first thing you thought of this morning?
"Nooooooo....wanna sleep iiinnnnnn...."

Do you think you've ruined your chances with someone? Yup. Feels good, too.

Do you think there are circumstances when it's okay to wait for someone? Only if you're at different doors at the mall.

Would you rather go to California or leave the country? I need a vacation so badly that I'm not about to be fussy about where I go!

Are you legal to drink? Ahhhh-dohhhh? What a weird way to phrase this question. I was going to change it, but it's so weird. And, as I'm drinking Bacardi and DP intermittently as I do this meme, I am drinking so fuckit.

Think back to the last person you kissed, how many times have you cried in front of them? Let's see...known him for 27-ish years...I cry regularly...so 1,327 times? At least.

Have you ever been caught skipping class? I've never really skipped class, except in college on Senior Skip Day (when there weren't classes anyway).

Have your parents ever caught you drinking? Why is Kyle Busch such a dick? Genetics. Drugs? I dunno. But he is.

Do you ever curse in front of your parents? Did/Do your parents curse in front of you. Like, I can count the curse words I heard from them over my entire lifetime on my fingers and toes. With unused digits. Several.

Have you ever cuddled with someone you weren't dating? When was the last time you physically saw red with anger? It has been a very long time. Probably at least a year, probably the last time Sparky and I got into a giant fight. I think it was right about that moment when I threatened to call the police on him.

Do you think the last person you kissed cares for you? Should there be a minimum age or IQ for meme-creation? Yes. And at least half have to be created by men.

Have you ever fallen asleep with the last person you kissed in the middle of sex? Nope. Not...quite.

Six months ago, did you like someone what was the primary concern/worry of your life? Six months ago, Obama had just won the Nobel. And we were in the midst of football season. I think the latter was consuming my time more than the former.

Do you know anyone that smokes weed, or has? I'm about the only person over 30 I know who hasn't (intentionally), and I know at least a few teens/20-somethings who do. Or have.

Made out with a stranger? Pretty much, yeah.

Cried yourself to sleep? Thrown dishes at the wall? No. Seems counterproductive.

Made parents cry? If so why? I took my job very seriously in my teen years, at least the part that involved "being stupid." And then, later, too. My parents were pretty easy criers though, so it wasn't exactly a challenge.

Dated someone more than once? I've heard that leads to marriage....

Have you ever kissed anyone who's name starts with a, j,c,n,d,i or t? Yes. Some of those. Not all of them, but quite a few, now that I really think back.... [and I'm only including "those" kinds of kisses, by the way, which isn't exactly fair since the type of kiss wasn't specified...]

What did you do today? Got up. Took the kids to school. Went to the store and bought a couple of mixes to make for the party tonight. Came home and made the fastest batch of brownies ever, and then took a bath. Took out the brownies. Went and got my hair cut. Came home, made cinnamon swirl cake. Went to work. Came home, made sure the kids headed out more-or-less on time for the pool party. Ate dinner. Welcomed Beast home. Memed.

What do you want for your birthday? Whirled peas.

Is there anyone who doesn't like you? Uhm, virtually certain, yeah.

---

Sunday Evening
Promise not to lie or erase any of these questions? Not erasing, just editing.

Your ex says they never even liked you, you say? I'm unlikely to find out about it.

Does it matter if your bf/gf [or husband/wife even] smokes? I'm not a fan of cigarettes or cigars. I can always tell if he's had a smoke in the past week.

Who was the last person you sat beside at a restaurant? I think that would be Annie about 2 hours ago, if you count the snack bar in the skating rink.

Has the last person that kissed you ever made you cry? I think the last 'person' who kissed me was a dog I just met today. So, no.

What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeeeeeepinnnnnnnnggggg.

Have you accidentally sent a text to the wrong person? Don't think so.

Biggest annoyance in your life right now? I haven't really had a lot of time to be annoyed, however Sparky has been pesky lately.

Are you happy with your life at the moment? Haven't really had time to think about it, but I'm content at least.

If someone liked you would you want them to tell you? What's the last song you heard? "The Living Years" by Mike & the Mechanics.

Are you currently frustrated with someone? Just Sparky, and less so today than yesterday.

Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now? Pizza: better hot or cold? Thin crust, or thick crust? Cold, with thick crust.

Who was the first person you talked to today? Uh...Beast, I guess.

Have you ever kissed anyone whose name started with an C, K ,T, or B? All of the above, actually.

Does the last person that kissed you care for you? The dog only kissed me so I'd put her down.

Do you prefer to shower at night or in the morning? Morning, so my hair can dry.

Who would you be shocked to see call you? My sister (Ellen), either parent, my best friend through high school.

Does the person you like, like you back? If you had to be on a reality show of some kind, which would you choose? The Amazing Race.

What can always put you in a good mood? Happy kids.

What is something you need to go shopping for? Noodles, stamps, TP, probably a few other odds & ends. Not so much other food though.

Have you been hurt by being lied to? Yes.

Do you always answer your phone? Hell no!

Did you ever waste too much time on someone? It's not wasted, exactly, but I spend an awful lot of energy thinking about certain people and situations that are unresolvable.

Is the last person you kissed older than you? I was told the dog is 8.

Will this weekend be a good one? Probably gonna be another busy one.

Are you trying to avoid liking yelling at somebody at the moment? Nope. I'm good. That could change though, if Sparky decides to be a putz when he gets home.

Do you have a best friend? Yes, dear. I do.

What does the song you're listening to remind you of? I'm watching TV: nothing but incidental music.

What do you want right now? I'd like to not be so chilly. It's WARM out for heaven's sake!!

Are you in love? Not really. I think I gave it up for Lent a decade or so ago.

Do you know anyone named Matt? Yes. I'm related to one of them.

Honestly, have you ever eaten raw cookie dough? Yum. Best thing EVAH!

Have you consumed alcohol in the past 24 hours? No. No, I had R&C Friday night, not last night. Had to think pretty hard about that....

Have you met new people in the past week? Yup. Not just at work, either!

Who's texted you in the past 24 hours? Sparky, Beast, Sarah.

What's your favourite dinner? Pretty much anything someone else has made and promises to clean up. On the other hand, I do like Thanksgiving.

What is bothering you? My repeated failure to follow through.

Can you put your legs behind your head? Not if I want to put them back in front of my head in this lifetime.

What about your arms? Can I put my arms behind my head?? Uh, yeah?

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

Are any of your friends taller than you? Most of the men are. Few of the women.

Do you crack your knuckles? Not intentionally, or at least not often.

Spell your name without an L: Cat. Otherwise, it's basically 'mouth'.

Do you like hugs? Yes. Yes, I do.

What were you wearing the last time you kissed some one? Jeans, brown T-shirt, pale green sox.

This time last year can you remember who you liked? What accent in the U.S. annoys you the most? I'm not crazy-happy about Boston or Brooklyn, but the hardest for me to understand is Cajun.

When did you first get Myspace Facebook? Two years ago, maybe a little more.

When was the last time you were told you were cute? Earlier this week.

Does anyone know your password besides you? Beast knows my login for my laptop, but that's all. And I guess the IT guy at work knows my login, or could find it out.

Feel like talking to someone that you haven't in a while? Not really. Kinda tired tonight.

Are you single for the summer? Describe your favorite outfit, ever. I really loved the dark purple dress I wore at Jenny's wedding, but it's certainly not a dress I can wear anywhere particularly.

Do you remember the first time you kissed the last person you kissed? What's the easiest meal you know to make? Homemade macaroni-and-cheese and hot dogs, with salad.

Would you date someone three years older than you? Not as long as Beast is around. He frowns on my dating people other than he.

---

Monday night waiting for the kids to return from movie night
Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? What nervous tic of your own would you like to get rid of immediately? I'd like to stop talking incessantly when I'm nervous.

Could you see yourself dropping out of high school? Seeing as how I graduated almost 30 years (fuck me!) ago, no. And at the time, my parents would have totally killed me.

Have you ever received a myspace message Facebook comment that made you cry? Don't think so. Have received a couple that really pissed me off, though.

Are you a different person now than you were five years ago? Depends on your definition. Skin-wise, yes. Otherwise, I suspect there are differences, but my DNA is the same.

Did you sleep alone last night? The part of the night I slept, Beast was mostly with me. I spent part of the night on the couch doing Sudoku and trying to get back to sleep.

Has anyone ever sang to you? Not seriously, no. Has anyone ever taught you how to conjugate verbs?

Has anybody ever told you that you have pretty eyes? I don't remember anyone saying that, at least not for realz.

Are you a mean person? I have my moments. I try not to be.

Will you be up before 7am tomorrow? I'd better be, as I should try to get to work by 8.

What is something you disliked about your day? Today was a pretty good day; I don't have any big issues with it.

Are you talkative? I can be, especially when nervous (see above). I can also sit quietly and contentedly for hours at a time.

Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell everything to? That's what Beast's job is, yo.

Do you have unlimited texting? Pretty close, considering how much I use it.

Do you have any plans for tomorrow? Work. Make dinner. Find out about how Chicago was for the girls.

Any plans for today? It's 9:40 p.m. so I think I'm pretty much done planning anything but brushing my teeth and going to bed.

Do you listen to music everyday? I try to. If I go without for too long, I tend towards The Cranky.

Do you laugh a lot? Yes.

Do you want your tongue pierced? I think I've outgrown the need to put unnecessary holes in my body.

Are you the type of person who has a new boyfriend/ "girlfriend" every week? Again, Beast frowns on my dating.
I would have fixed or deleted this one if it weren't for the really ...unusual... use of quotation marks in it. What do you suppose is up with that?

Who was the last person to text you? Beast.

Hold hands with anyone in the last 2 days? I probably grabbed Beast's hand at some point over the weekend.

Is there any emotion you're trying to avoid right now? Trying to keep myself from pettiness. Is that an emotion?

Have you ever kissed in the rain? Prolly. Wasn't all that much of an issue, I don't think.

When was the last time you said the word sorry and to who? I apologized to Sparky earlier for being obnoxious to him in front of the girls.

Have you ever walked in on people having sex? Uh...no? Trying to remember college; don't think so.

Are you afraid of falling in love? Not really. I don't think I'm likely to do it anytime soon, however.

Who was the last person you cried in front of? Last Sunday (Easter) at church? I think? It wasn't really 'in front' of anyone, but there were a LOT of people around.

What's more important, first impression or lasting impact? Lasting impact.

Are you worried about your boyfriend/ girlfriend getting back with their ex? Yeah, like that's gonna happen. His exes are in Texas. Pretty cool.

Do looks matter? Philosophically, the correct answer is no, but of course the real world answer is yes.

Do you treat your pets like family members? Considering that our guinea pig is kept in a cage...no.

What does your hair look like right now? Pony. Dirty. Shower. Tomorrow.

Are you dressed up today? Jeans, T, mocs. So, yeah...no.

Do you need a girlfriend/ boyfriend to be happy? Good Lord: that would just make my life way too complicated! I'm not at ALL interested in that.

Is a best friend/ boyfriend/ girlfriend or ex pissing you off at the moment? So, the question is really "Are you pissed off about someone at the moment?" No. I'm mildly irritated by some typically irritating teenage behavior, but that's all. Mostly, I'm just tired.

Is having sex on your mind? Not at this very moment. Or at least, not until the subject was raised.

Have you ever been asked out by someone you didn't want to date? Hell yeah. I had a guy, a senior, all over me freshman year of college who was desperate for his bachelor days to end with the receipt of his bachelor's degree.

How many chances do you tend to give people before enough is enough? Too-fucking-many.

Do you keep in contact with any of your ex- boyfriends/ girlfriends? Why do people feel the need to exaggerate (i.e., lie) so often? I don't know. I do it too at times, but sometimes people do it and it's so ridiculously obvious.

Do you hate the last person you kissed? Which (original) Charlie's Angel was the cutest? Kate Jackson was my favorite by far.

You're insanely drunk stumbling through the streets, slurring songs, who are you with? I don't do this. I have never done this. Now, on the other hand, my brother....

When you sleep in your bed, is stuff usually on it? "Stuff?" Just sheets, blanket, pillows, and bodies.

Do you miss anyone? What would the best way to murder a stupid memer? I say, make them answer the same five lame-ass questions over and over till the end of time.

Next time you will kiss someone? In about ten minutes, when I head up to bed.

Who was the last person you talked to before you went to bed last night? I honestly don't remember if anyone besides Beast was awake. I don't think so. I was TIE-ERRD last night.

Did anyone see you kiss the last person you kissed on the lips? Just Ruka.

Do you like to cuddle? Uhm. Anyone who answers this no is a sociopath. IMHO.

Does anyone have feelings for you? I'm sure everyone I know has feelings of some kind for me.

Are you happy with the choices you've made? Probably close to 80% of them.

What are your plans for tonight? When was the last time you gambled? I messed around with some slots in Vegas in January. Also, driving around here can be somewhat of a gamble.

If the year consisted of only one season, which would you choose? Autumn. Anything eventually happens in fall anyway.

What were you doing last night at midnight? I think that was part of the night when I was asleep.

Do you know anyone who would just drop everything to come see you? Yeah, I guess.

Have you ever done something you told yourself you wouldn't do? On a regular basis. Pretty much daily.

---

Tuesday afternoon waiting for dinner to cook
Do you usually apologize first? Sorry, what? Oh, yeah, I do.

Is anyone else in the room with you? Yes, three people and a guinea pig.

Do you believe what goes around comes around? It's not exact, but quite often you get what you give/gave.

Did you sleep alone last night? Nope.

Was your last kiss drunk or sober? It was 25 minutes ago in the kitchen. Neither of us has started drinking yet.

Be honest, who is the easiest person in your life to talk to? Beast. Usually.

Have you ever taken someone back after they hurt you? Romantically, I've never really been in a situation where I've been hurt so bad I wouldn't take someone back if they showed remorse. I've taken some friends back that I wish later I hadn't.

How did you wake up this morning? I was sort of awake before the radio came on, but I ended up dozing too long.

Are relationships ever really worth it? Nope. Let's all go live in our own caves and never talk again. You first.

When was the last time you were in a very good mood? Right now I'm in a decent mood. Especially after that last question.

Do you like thunderstorms? I do, very muchly.

When was the last time you had a Jolly Rancher? It's been awhile. I don't eat hard candy much anymore because my teeth can't take it.

Do you think that you overuse the word "like"? I do, but not like (ahem) the teenagers I know.

Do carrots remind you of anything? They remind me a LOT of Sparky. He LOVES them!

Do you know anyone whose birthday is in August? Loads. Three family members, two friends, plus three wedding anniversaries.

Have you ever had sushi? Did you love it or did you hate it? I can't really bring myself to eat raw fish...sounds hideous.

Are you procrastinating on anything? Probably. In the big picture yes, absolutely.

---

Tuesday night, I should be going to bed, but I want to finish this thing!
What are your pets' names? Just the Ruk-star.

When was the last time you ate pizza? Was it delicious? Saturday, Beast and I ate at California Pizza Kitchen, and it was fab. We're having German pizza tomorrow night. Should be interesting.

What was the last CD you listened to? The book in the truck on the way home from work.

How many Starbucks can you think of right now, that are in your town? There is one Starbucks in the city where I work (which should give you a clear picture of how big the city is, eh?). But that question is grammatically fubar.

What's the funniest inside joke you have with a friend? I still think the "ruthless" joke 25+ years ago was pretty funny. Not that I remember it, just the 20-minutes of extreme laughter that resulted.

What time is it? 10:04 p.m.

Do you often make typing mistakes? Define "often." I make my share. But not that many.

What condiments do you prefer on your french fries? Burgers? Salt on my fries. The works on my burgers.

Is it hard for you to admit you're wrong? Depends on how committed I am to the subject.

When was your last haircut? Friday.

Harry Potter: do you like it or no? Do I like "it"? Last I checked "it" was a fictional character of the male persuasion. And I like the books, and the movies, but I'm glad most of the hysteria has settled.

Do you like sugar cookies? OMG! They are, or should be, their own food group!

What was the last thing to get on your nerves? Oh, shitloads of stuff gets on my nerves. The full glass of juice one of the girls left on the dining room table after dinner (4 hours ago) is annoying.

Are you hungry? Nah, I just had 4 blonde Oreos. And a BIG dinner!

Does the person you last kissed still like you? What TV show from your childhood should be revamped now? Would love to see what they could do with Gilligan's Island or Bewitched on TV now.

Ever kissed anyone with the name starting with a A? Kissing rocks, doesn't it? Can we talk about ANYthing else now? I can, but clearly the author of this meme cannot.

Are you a shy person? Deep down, yes. I'm a fairly decent actress however.

Ever walked on a rooftop? Ayup.

The last person you kissed, how many times have you cried over them? Do you still have your tonsils, appendix, and gall bladder? I'm missing my appendix, but still have the others.

Have you ever dated the same person twice? I don't think I understand this question. I dated Beast freshman year in college (sorta), and then stopped for awhile sophomore year. And (obviously) we dated again junior and senior years. Is that what this means.

Ever dyed your hair? Every 5-6 weeks for the past 10 years.

Have you held hands with anyone in the past 36 hours? What one thing would you like to never have to do at work again? Have alcohol-breath spewed on me.

What are you most anxious/excited for? Next week's conference.

Met anyone new this year? Dear God. Please help this person get out more. Amen. [Yes]

Have you ever slept on a couch with someone else? Yes. Long ago, when I was MUCH thinner than I am today.