The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
The Freedom Meme
I hold these truths to be self-blevident! (That’s blog + evident for all you non-blog speakers)

I declare myself to be free from the need to work on work stuff at home (for awhile).

I wish I could free myself of feeling guilty about just about everything.

I am thankful that Sparky freed me from trying to be everyone's best friend.

I don't mind paying for better seats on airplnes but checked luggage should be free.

I am free to make poor food choices over and over again. In fact, I look forward to it!

If I could choose one freedom I don’t have today it would be freedom from guilt, in case you missed it before.

In a free and perfect world there would be no poverty.

I am going to write my Declaration of Independence on a piece of tin foil. Why? I have no idea.

I wouldn’t mind being taxed on what I wear but I highly resent being taxed on what I eat.

When I was younger I was free to run around in the sun all summer but now that I’m older I prefer to limit my chances for skin cancer by staying inside.

I declare myself free from the destructive habit of gossiping.

I declare myself joyfully addicted to books!!!

I don’t think the world will ever be totally free of Teh Stoopud.

With complete abandon, I free fall into sleeping.

In a hypothetical Superman existence, I would use my power to do good doing cleanup on the Gulf Coast.

I wickedly use my my power to do evil doing absolutely nothing. As in, being lazy.

If I weren’t so dependent on security I could be truly independent about travel.

When I need to free my thoughts from stress and worry, I get on the internet.

I would like to freely kick 90% of the media in the seat of his/her their hypothetical pants.

I want to be (legally) allowed to smoke a wee bit of pot every single day and pay no consequences.

I want the freedom to let my silliness run amok also and enjoy double Dutch every single day.

If I could re-write the Freedom of Information Act I would remove ......... from the public record. [That is NOT what the FOIA is for!! And, as a matter of fact, it was just recently rewritten. Wow, I'm stunned by this question!]

I daily need the freedom to create order in my part of the world and I don't give a damn what anybody else thinks about it.

If I had the power to throw one person in jail it would be Fred Phelps.

If I had the power to free one person from bondage of any kind it would be Aung San Suu Kyi.

If I could "speak truth to power," I would say to the world that we should trust women.

The 3 most important freedoms I have in my life are: speech, religion, and assembly.

My favorite freedom song is Nicole C. Mullen's "Freedom."

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
The "F" Words Meme
For each answer, see how many words that start with "F" that you can use (without having to use THE F-word). You can use other words but, make sure at least one word in each answer starts with the letter "F".

1. What's your favorite kind of pizza? (not a single ingredient that I like has any F's in them, and the names of the pizza places nearby are F-free as well, so)....FRESH

2. What is the best day of the week and why? Obviously you want me to say FRIDAY, but I like Mondays better because I'm FREE!! (no work)

3. If you were to go to McDonald's for lunch, what would you order? FRIED FOOD. It's all they have.

4. The phone rings and you're in a bad mood. You answer it and it's a telemarketer. What do you say? FUGEDABOUDIT (and put me on your Do-Not-Call list).

5. You're driving down the street, attempting to keep a safe distance between you and the person in front of you, some loud little car cuts in front of you. What do you do? Mutter "FOR shame!" a few times and back off.

6. It's 95 degrees (35c) and the humidity makes it intolerable. Your friend who is vacationing for the month at a beach side home calls and asks you what your weather is like. What do you say? "It's totally FROSTY!" She'd know I was being sarcastic.

7. What happened to you or what have you done in the past week, that you would never want anyone else to have to go through? FERGLING after a good meal last Monday night.

8. What would have rather been doing this past weekend? Not FREEZING in the shower in Ogallala. (no hot water at the hotel)

9. What visions (as in people) would you rather not have to look at in the summer? Drunken sports FANS.

10. the bonus question
This is the socialite better known as "The Cat Lady." She found her millionaire hubby cheating on her and divorced him in 1999. They say that since then she has reportedly spent $4 million on plastic surgery.

In 20 words or more, using as many "F" words as possible, write a short paragraph on the above. FREAKY FANATICAL FREAKAZOID FLAMING out in FRONT of the rest of the FREE world. Imagine what she'll look like in the FUTURE, when she's actually old....FEH!

Okay...so Einstein wants to know, as do we, how many "F" words did you use without have to use "The F-word"? I used 19 F-words, but there were at least 7 questions that I had to do extensive editing to avoid FUCK.
This was pretty fun, actually.

Manic Monday

(Link in meme-roll)

If you could only see black and white except for one color, what color would you choose to see?

Blue. Gotta have blue skies.

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?

Friends.

Imagine you could go back to the age of five and relive the rest of your life, knowing everything that you know now. You will reexperience your entire adolescence with both the cognitive ability of an adult and the memories of everything you’ve learned form having lived your life previously. Would you lose your virginity earlier or later than you did the first time around (and by how many years)?

I think I'd keep things just the way they were, but I'd definitely be less stupid about the whole subject.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Would you want to be able to see what happened at your own funeral?

It would be interesting to see who showed up, and whether Beast was able to find a good bagpiper.

2) Do you ride public transportation? If you've done so in different cities, which one stood out to you?

I do not use it here because it's pretty much not available between work and home for me. There is a bus that runs from near our house to near my workplace, but I'd have to arrive at work at 7 and leave at 3 and I'm pretty sure that's not workable.
I do love riding the bus, and we occasionally take the commuter train into the Big City, which I also enjoy. This area has really excellent public transpo. I love London--the tube is my favorite part of visiting there in some ways--and I've ridden public transpo in DC, Moscow, Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, and the perimeter of Frankfurt. And trains from Zurich to Rome and all around England.

3) What's the last thing you broke? How did it happen?

The last thing I can remember is a fingernail last week. It's been a pretty successful run lately. (Now, you know I'll break something major this afternoon...)

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, of course it reminds me of Beast when he hasn't shaved in a day or two, but this is NOT a photo of him! Actually, I have to be honest, this is way too well-groomed and short to be Beast's facial hair. It does worry me that someone took this picture, presumably of himself, and published it on the web; it's not an overly-impressive crop of hair. <--snobby me

Leave of absence

Posting here will be sporadic at best for the next week, because...

...I'm on vacation!

See you June 28 or so, unless I find a way to blog from the car.
Not.

Assertion

You Are a Delight

You are easy to get along with and easy to be with, but you're definitely not a doormat. You'll cheerfully ask for what you want, and you're almost always ready to compromise. You are comfortable speaking your mind, and you're also willing to admit you may not be right. You know how to work well with others. You can bend in the wind, but you don't break.

Are You Dominant or a Doormat?

OK then. There ya go.

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
Random Things I Need to Do Before Saturday at 11 a.m.

1. Take nail polish off toes and redo pedicure.
2. Figure out ILL logins at work.
3. Clean Ruka's cage.
4. Update book blog.
5. Pack.
6. Empty dishwasher, and reload.
7. Close curtains throughout house.
8. Make sure I have my sister's phone numbers.
9. Call for Senior Picture appointment for Sparky.
10. Email Sparky with travel info.
11. Take back finished books.
12. Tidy up house.
13. Stop and see FIL.

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
Snakes, Hiking, And Shirt Colors
...brought to you by Kimber, the color of success and the number 1567.

1. Have you ever wondered why snakes can't slither backwards?

They can't? Are you sure? I mean, not directly backwards, but some can DEFINITELY go sideways-back. In any case, I'm pretty sure I can go backwards Pretty Damn Fast if necessary.

2. Is divorce contagious?

No. Being around a divorce does tend to make you rethink your own relationship, though, doesn't it?

3. Do you enjoy hiking?

I used to, back when I was in shape. Maybe I'll do a little next week... some very s l o w  hiking.

4. Is there a color of a shirt a man should just never wear?

Any color he doesn't like or can't be comfortable in. If that's black, pink, or polka-dotted, whatever.

5. Have you read a news story this week that just made your blood boil?

Nope. I don't read the news if I can help it at all. The only thing that comes to mind is the ridiculous lack of progress on the oil leaking into the Gulf.

6. Do you keep old business cards or name tags from companies you have worked for?

Hmm, I wonder if I have my old NS name tag somewhere? I know I threw away the business cards. I may have some others, I guess, but I don't have a shrine or anything. God forbid.

7. If you could save an endangered species, which one would it be?

Humans.

8. When is it warm enough outside for you to start wearing shorts?

Me? I don't wear shorts outside very often anymore. It has to be well into the 90s and 100% humidity for me. But I wear shorts inside as soon as it gets warmish--70s or so.

9. Have you ever broken a window?

Yup. I was trying to wake my dad up once. Breaking the window didn't do it, but I did get into the (locked) house.

10. Do dogs in your neighborhood howl when they hear sirens from police cars or fire trucks?

Nope. We live three blocks from the fire station, so it's way too common; the dogs are used to it.

11. Have you tried doing something as an adult that you used to be able to do as a kid?

Yes, all the time. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Occasionally, I end up in extreme pain.

Driven

You Are Driven By Self-Improvement

You believe that if you're too satisfied in your life, you're doing something wrong. You are always trying to better yourself, and that means putting in a lot of hard work. You want to be the best you can be, and you hardly ever rest. You are a type A person for sure. You are always trying to make your strengths more robust and your weaknesses disappear.

What Drives You?

I don't like this, but I fear it may be fairly accurate.

Wednesday 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. Today we picked Bruce Springsteen.

1. “When it comes to luck, you make your own.” Do you believe you have that type of control over your luck?

Up to a point, yes. About the only things in live we really have control over is our reactions/responses to the world, and if we respond in positive ways, there's just less general negativity around. Now, if only I could practice this more consistently...

2. “You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above.” What is something you have had difficulty rising above?

Irritation with others.

3. “Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings, and a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything.” Would you want to be rich?

Nope. I totally agree that we always want more than we have, though.

4. “The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with.” Tell us about a song that helps you "face the world."

Oh, so many! In fact, most music helps me face the world.

5. “In America everything's about who's number one today.” Have you ever been a fan of someone you thought would last but turned out to be a flash in the pan?

Of course. Don't all teenagers have this experience?? It's part of growing up.

6. “Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse?” Has any dream of yours come true?

Yup. There's the fact of Sparky. And there's the person Sparky has become.

7. “Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.” What would you change if you became the president?

My job.

8. "Yeah, I had gay friends. The first thing I realized was that everybody's different, and it becomes obvious that all of the gay stereotypes are ridiculous." How do you feel about gay rights?

I think it's ridiculous that ANYone cares what people are doing in their bedrooms, and with whom. I mean, really, don't we have bigger issues to deal with? Surely we can agree that gazillions of gallons of oil flooding the Gulf, the economy in general, nuclear warheads, cancer...ANY ONE OF THESE alone is a slightly bigger issue than whose anatomy is inside someone else's anatomy, and the specifics thereof.

9. "It's a sad man my friend who's living in his own skin and can't stand the company."Have you ever been disappointed in yourself?

"Ever"? Uh, yeah, a few (million) times.

10. "The best music is essentially there to provide you something to face the world with." What's your favorite type of music? What's your favorite band?

Bruce, this seems a little repetitive. lol
I like all kinds of music, from all kinds of bands and musicians. Favorite band award usually goes to U2.

I can't seem to make you mine, through the long & the lonely nights

(Found here)

Is love really worth fighting for? People are worth fighting for. Love is a construct.

Your phone is ringing, it's your ex. What do you say? "Who?"

Is there someone you want to see? Naah, I'm good.

Whose clothes are you wearing? ...er, mine?

When was the last time a member of the opposite sex hugged you? This afternoon. ...I think?

If your boyfriend or girlfriend smoked pot, would you care? He'd freakin'-well better be sharing!

Which co-worker knows the most about you? Hmm, I try to spread that around, so it's a toss-up between T., M., or A.

When's your birthday? On my MIL's half-birthday.

Are you happier single or in a relationship? I wouldn't know if I remember how to be happy single at this point. Unless you count the weeks and weeks that Beast is out of town for work.

Do you think the last person you kissed cares for you? He's my husband. You work it out.

Look to the right, what do you see? I messy pile of shit belonging to me and Sparky.

Where were you at 2 this morning? Finally asleep!

Next time you will kiss someone? Before bed, in the next couple of hours.

What are you doing today? It's 8:20 p.m. I'm winding down after a very weird day.

What if the last person you kissed said that you were the only one they wanted? Believe it or not, he has. Ergo the wedding ring.

The boy/girl you truly care about needs you at 3 AM, would you go? Yup. Have done.

What are you looking forward to in the next 3 to 4 months? Vacation next week, Triennium next month....not sure what else.

Have you broken the law in the last 3 days? If you count going over the speed limit, then yes.

What would you think if your boyfriend/ ​girlfriend still kept pictures of their ex? Do yearbooks count? Seriously, I don't think it's worth worrying about at this point.

Have you ever kissed anyone who's name started with a P,B,K,or D? K, P, D, can't think of any B though.

Do you know anyone that smokes weed? I specifically ask people who I suspect of it not to tell me if they do.

What if your boyfriend/ ​girlfriend went through your phone? Have fun. Don't you have, oh, 8 billion other more important things to do??

What are you doing tomorrow? Stupid city meeting (2 hours, waste of my time), work, uh...that's it I guess.

Recently kissed anyone with the name starting with a C? Don't think so, no.

What's something you really want right now, be honest! I want the humidity to go away.

What's your biggest complaint about today? Stupid people involving themselves in things they don't need to be in, as a justification for being lazy about their own work.

Have any of your friends dropped out of school? Not..exactly.

Do you ever have dreams where you're alone, or are you always with people? Hmm, I don't know. I guess I'm usually with people.

Bottles or cans? I'm far from fussy about this.

Does your home feel like home to you, or do you think you're yet to find a place to call home? I love my house.

What's the best kind of fruit juice? I like cranberry.

When was the last time you cried in the shower? Been awhile. God, I love Zoloft.

What's your favorite kind of fish? Cooked.

Do you prefer french tip or colored nails? I actually prefer naked nails, on my hands. I usually have polish on my toes in the summer.

When was the last time you felt rushed? Every damn day, almost from the time I wake up until bedtime.

Mitchell Davis or Shane Dawson? Had to Google them, so...yeah....

If you needed glasses, what kind would you get? If you have glasses, what do they look like? They are rectangular with dark top frames and earpieces. I'm not sold on them.

Does/did your school have a big football field? About standard, I guess.

Have you ever known someone that ate their school lunches in the bathroom? Nope.

Do you have any cousins that you can't stand? I haven't seen any of my cousins since I was a pre-teen. Not my choice.

Is your voice unique? Probably. I'm pretty sure I don't sound like anyone else in my family anymore.

Are you modest? Depending on your definition, yes.

Jacob Black or Edward Cullen? Head in a bucket of ice.

What's your zodiac sign? Scorp.

How many piercings do you have? One in each earlobe.

Would you ever consider getting a tattoo? I'd consider it, I have considered it, but it's pretty unlikely.

Do you believe in God? Yup.

Can you burp your ABC's? No, this is not a skill I've worked on.

Who was the last boy you talked to? Beast.

Who was the last person you texted? Beast (about 4 hours ago).

Where did your last kiss take place? The office (in our house).

--------

Right Now
[GASPsurveys]

What time is it? 8:39 p.m.

How has your day been so far? As good as a day that includes a visit at the dentist.

What are your plans for the rest of the day/night? Finish Deadliest Catch, take a bath, go to bed.

What are you wearing? Shorts, T-shirt, underwear....

Are you talking to anyone (in person, phone, text, im, etc.) Just Beast on the other side of the room, and the TV sometimes.

Did you talk to the person you currently like today? ...sigh... Dude, I'm married. I don't "like" anyone.

Are you drinking/eating anything? Just finished, thx.

Are you listening to anything? What? Deadliest Catch. Technically, commercials right now.

What did you last watch on television? Stupid esurance ad.

Are you doing anything other than this? Just.Fucking.Watching.TV. Jeez.

How many windows are open on your computer right now? Two Chrome windows, 6 tabs total, plus Skype.

Are you wearing glasses/contacts? Without them it's a little hard to see.

Are you hungry? Nope. Cuz I just finished eating dude!

Are you singing? Screaming? Yes. Singing, no.

What room are you in? Living room.

Have you showered yet today? I showered 15 hours ago.

All in all, are you happy right now? Sure.

---------

The Today Survey

I woke up past noon today.
I was woken up unwillingly.
I got less than eight hours of sleep.
I felt sick when I woke up.
I was with friends first thing.
We recorded a video with the webcam & posted it on someone's wall.
It was a close friend's birthday today!
I took a really funny picture with my cell phone.
 ^And uploaded it via Facebook Mobile.
I wore a bathing suit today.
I tanned outside.
 ^But I didn't go in the pool.
I was offered to smoke up, but I didn't.
I was in the car with my dad.
One of my parents was in a really pissy mood.
I had to clean up some area of my house.
I listened to my iPod on full blast.
I was in a really bad mood.
My phone died on me.
I took a shower.
 ^It was pretty long.
I used shampoo & conditioner.
 ^And bodywash, which smelled reaaally good.
I drew a heart in the steamed up window.
I didn't brush my hair when I got out.
So my hair got all crazy and wavy when it dried.
I made plans with my boyfriend.
I counted down the days until something happened.
I had family coming over for dinner.
 ^But I didn't see them, because I went out.
I put on makeup.
 ^But not as much as I normally wear.
I also didn't do anything with my hair.
I felt really ugly today.
I got whistled at by people.
 ^Probably because my shirt was pretty low-cut.
I went out to get food with my friends.
The food wasn't too healthy, but it was good anyways.
I went to the park.
I smoked weed.
 ^I smoked out of a pipe.
I actually had a cigerette today.
I watched a movie.
I didn't really like the movie I watched, it was stupid.
I gave my boyfriend head.
I had pizza.
I ate food that I didn't even know what it was.
I had a pillow fight.
I was complimented by a random person.
I did more than 10 surveys.
I stayed up late.

---

Which do you prefer?
made by INFINITEmadesurveys - please keep the tag on!

1. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mountain Dew, or Dr. Pepper? Dr. Pepper, Diet.
2. Cats, dogs, horses, lizards, or hamsters? Dogs.
3. Television, movie theater, computer, MP3 player, or gaming console? . Computer, or television.
4. Rock, rap, pop, metal, or punk? All of the above, plus.
5. Black, white, blue, red, or green? Blue.
6. Salad, hamburger, ice cream, chips, or fruit? Salad.
7. Kindergarten, elementary, junior high, high school, or college? College.
8. United States, Canada, Australia, England, or Ireland? I'm partial to the States, but would like to see all of them eventually.
9. Swimming, fishing, tanning, theme parks, or camping? Sitting on a rock in a lake, or on the top of a mountain.
10. Snowball fights, snow forts, snowmen, snow angels, or sledding? Snow angels.
11. English, math, science, history, or art? History, or English.
12. Jelly beans, gummy worms, lollipops, chocolate bars, or cotton candy? Gummy worms.
13. Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Gamecube, Super Nintendo, or Handheld? Wii.
14. Facebook, Xanga, MySpace, YouTube, or Google? Facebook, Google, YouTube (in that order, and neither of the others)
15. Cute guys, tough guys, smart guys, sexy guys, or romantic guys? Amusing guys.
16. Flats, heels, Uggs, flip flops, or skater shoes? Sandals.
17. Early morning, late morning, early afternoon, late afternoon, or evening? Early morning.
18. Bathroom, living room, bedroom, kitchen, or attic? Living room.
19. Face-to-face, home phone, instant messenger, cell phone, or chat site? Email, IM or Fb PM.
20. Skinny jeans, flared jeans, capris, shorts, or skirts? I'm kinda floating between capris and jeans right now.
21. T-shirt, hoodie, tank top, tube top, or halter top? T-shirt.
22. McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, Burger King, or Dairy Queen? McDonald's, honestly.
23. Car, airplane, train, boat, or walking? Car.
24. Coffee, tea, water, milk, or soda? Soda.
25. Drama, comedy, horror, action/adventure, or thriller? Comedy.

Summer sense

Your Summer Sense is Smell

You are a very sensitive person, and you are especially tuned into your sense of smell. You pick up on subtleties that others seem to miss. You can sense summer coming on before anyone else can. For you, there's nothing like the smell of a hot grill or freshly mowed grass - preferably at the same time. And the ultimate summer smell experience has got to be the beach. There's something intoxicating about the smell of the ocean!

What's Your Summer Sense?

Not so much. The description is wrong, and summer smells make me sneeze for the most part.

Brag, Gratitude, Desire

(swiped from Alison, who swiped it from here)

1. How have you totally impressed yourself, turned yourself on, pleased yourself, or otherwise created magic lately? That’s a BRAG.

I remained very calm all day yesterday in spite of not hearing from Sparky all day. And I caught up at work last week, from 5 weeks of total hellishness.

2. For what are you thankful? What blessings are right here? What blessings are on their way and you want to give thanks in advance? And what currently-challenging situations in your life are you going to affirm as blessings in shit-brown wrappers? Those are GRATITUDES, or "grats" for short.

I'm grateful for most people doing the best job they can at work, for pilots who fly safely, drivers who are attentive, and for professionals for making things work for their clients.

3. And what are you craving? Yearning for? Realizing the world needs? What marching orders from the universe are written on your heart in the form of desires? From wanting "this headache to go away" to yearning "to know my divinity" to realizing "I want to be a mother," no DESIRE is too big, too small, too "selfish" or too far-reaching.

I want to learn to ride a motorcycle.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
The Nosy News Meme

1. What would you do about the BP oil spill? Give us your suggestions.

I'm no engineer, but I would certainly explain very firmly (ahem) to BP that they'd better get their shit together yesterday and fix this damn thing once and for all. They also need to apply some speed on a cleanup plan and implement it, also yesterday.

2. Tipper and Al Gore are calling it quits.

And I care...why? None of my business.

3. It’s hot! The heat index topped 104 degrees today in some parts of the United States. How is the weather in your part of the world?

Chilly, humid and rainy. But, y'know, it strikes me that June tends to bring with it warm temperatures. So why are we surprised that it's hot somewhere?

4. Do you think smoking should be banned in public places?

Depends on what you mean by public. I'm allergic to smoke, but I don't get all worked up about people smoking in the great outdoors. I do get upset about the butts I see all over the place. Why are people so creepy?

5. Unemployment from the top down: Do you think President Obama has a good chance or no chance of being re-elected in the next US election?

Wait, really? We are 2.5 years out from the election. Can we just cool our jets for another fucking year? Really? I hate politics...and this is a major reason why. Most career politicians spend more time campaigning for the next election than they do actually running the country. It's all a scam.

6. What??! Actor Gary Coleman’s wife reportedly sold private pictures of the deceased actor on his deathbed.

See #2. I don't need to see 'em, I don't know why anyone else does, I don't know why people would pay money for those...people are so creepy!

7. Texting while driving. Do you? Don't you? Will you? Won't you?

I have, I shouldn't, I try not to.

8. Lindsay Lohan. Has she been treated fairly or unfairly by the legal system?

Dear Lord, if that girl were a poor black teenage boy, she'd be in prison, probably for another ten years.

9. The Sarah Palin rumor mill caught wind of her recent decision to have breast implants….so said the reporters-who-need-to-get-a-job-and-stop-making-up-news. She has denied the earthshaking allegations. Was this really news?

Much as I hate her and love to laugh at her idiotic life and comments, this is back to #2 and #6. Why do I need to know? Who cares what her tits look like, or what she's had done surgically. Jeez.

10. An asteroid is supposed to hit Earth this Friday. Are you prepared?

Yup. Always prepared. I learned it from my brother when he was a Boy Scout.

I prefer the kid free environment

(Found here)
ironic title for this one, since Sparky is 4500 miles away right now

Are you good at doing other people's hair? Though my son wouldn't agree, I suspect, I think I'm ok at it.

Do you ever hold your phone up in the air to get service? Yup. If it were to stop working, I'd stop doing that.

Are your lips currently chapped? Nope. According to my wonderful husband, I'm a Chapstick addict.

Do you text fast? Compared to whom? Slower than most teens, faster than most people my age.

Do you have a playlist on your myspace? I don't use MySpace.

Have you ever lost a best friend, and then got them back? Yes.

Do you sometimes feel awkward around people you don't know so well? Of course. I feel awkward sometimes around people I know very well. I feel awkward often, actually.

What'd you do today? Played on Facebook, waited (in vain) for a call from Sparky's teacher, had a massage, ate lunch at Six Balls, took a nap, cleaned our bathroom for the first time in months, and spent a LOT of time online doing non-Facebook stuff like this.

What'd you do last night? Drove my baby boy to the airport and said goodbye to him for three weeks. :-\

What are you doing tomorrow? Work and then I get to go to the dentist again. Fourth time since January for me.

Do you bite your nails? I'm trying to stop. My nails are the longest they've been in quite awhile right now.

What's the last smiley faced you used? That would be the one three questions up.

What's the last place on your body that you itched? Uh? Now that you've mentioned it, my ear and my leg started to itch. Probably, it was my left elbow; I've got something allergy-related going on there.

Do you get dry skin? In the winter, yes.

Do you often feel alone? Nope. Except when I am alone. Which I rarely am.

Do you only charge your phone when needed? Nope. I charge it most nights.

How many rings do you wear, if any? I'm back down to just two.

Meet anyone new today? I don't think I even spoke to anyone new today....let's see, the massage, picking up Beast (he was waiting outside), lunch (we've had that waitress before there), hostess (owner of the place, so not new), home...nope.

What's the last picture message you received on your phone? I don't accept picture messages.

Do you enjoy the "family friendly" environment? I like kids, if that's the question. I also appreciate good parenting.

How do you feel about not having any "smut" related questions on here? Considering the source, it's a welcome change!

Is there anything in particular you'd like the readers to know about you? Don't believe everydamnthing I say on this blog!

Is there anything you regret? Oh yeah, like any sane person could seriously answer this any way besides yes!

Do you like roller coasters? They're ok. I don't live and die by them.

How do you feel about abortion? It is sometimes medically necessary, and sometimes emotionally and socially necessary, and really can't we just trust women to make good choices? How much more could we fuck up than, oh, say BP has?!

What are your thoughts on "butter and goblin jumper cables"? I had to Google it, so that should get you close to my answer.

Do you snore? I've been told I do sometimes.

If you could re-live one moment in your life..what would it be? The moment Len picked up the phone the Day After. (Blind pick--there are some others)

Do you enjoy bowling? Sure.

Do you like to golf? Sure. I suck at it though, so be warned.

Hot or cold when it comes to the weather? Hot. And not humid.

What is your favorite time of year? Mid-autumn, but really any time from August through most of October.

What do you like best about...camping? Coming home. Or not going at all!

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? I'd give myself a better starter motor.

Have you ever been in love? Uhm, yeah? A few times.

What color are your eyes? Hazel, usually brownish.

What is the last thing you did last night? Probably falling asleep counts, eh?

What is the first thing you did this morning? Tried to go back to sleep.

Would you ever relocate for a job or family? Have done. Next time I'm scoping the area WAY more carefully! It's taken almost exactly 16 years to feel like I belong here.

Do you like candles? Sure. I prefer the less stinky ones as a rule, though I have a couple really noxious ones that I like.

Are you close with your family? I'm close with the three Ts and my nephews. This is quite a change from even 5 or 6 years ago when I would have said, unequivocally, yes.

Do you like going to parks? Sure. I sit in the park some days and each lunch, even in the winter (ok, I'm in my car, ok?).

What kind of shampoo do you use? Back to Basics.

What kind of cologne do you use, if any? I don't use cologne. I do use perfume: Gossip or VS.

How long have you been at your job? Which one? Mom: 17.5-ish years. Wife: 24-ish years. Librarian: 22-ish years (over the past 23.5). Cataloger: 8? years. Church volunteer: 20 of the past 33 years, off and on. Blogger: 6.5-ish years.

Would you ever want to have kids? I do. One by birth and a dozen or so by pseudo-adoption.

What do your parents think of your musical tastes? My parents no longer give even the slightest shit about my musical tastes.

How much do you care what they think of your music? I'm 46. Really? Do I have to answer this?

Do you go to church with your family or friends? Yup.

When you go to church, do you go to the early A.M. service? Nope. And anyway, in the summer there's only one service from which to choose.

What do you like most about going to church? The routines. Being part of something huge and moving. The music. The people. (most of them)

What do you hate most about going to church, if anything? The guilt (self-imposed, I realize, but still). The politics. The people. (some of them)

Is there anything you couldn't forgive someone for? Yup. Don't you touch my kid. I'm still pissed at kids in his class who messed with him 8 years ago.

What would be an ideal first date? For me? For you? I'd like to just sit in the park and talk. A good music date is ok too, though it does NOT have to be an expensive concert.

What was the last thing you thought about before going to sleep last night? Good Lord, I have no idea! I was asleep before I rolled over.

What color are the sheets on your bed? Light tan.

What size bed do you have? Queen (for the queen, por supuesto).

What super power would you like? Invisibility. I'm virtually there at this point in my life.

Did this get annoying at all? Not as much as some others I've done. At least it wasn't 4000 questions long!!

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Are to trying to keep your age from showing? Do you care if you look your age as you get older?

I color my hair, mostly because I hate that in-between "dirty" look when dark hair goes gray. Once I'm mostly gray, I'm done coloring my hair. Otherwise, I don't really care what age I look. I know what age I am.

2) What do you hold on to when life gets hard?

God. Or, if you prefer, a general sense that life goes on and I'm not the center of the universe.

3) Do you feel that you've wasted time in your life?

Only when I look at the number of memes I've done in the past 6 years. lol

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 had a lovely short nap today, though my bed looks very little like this one. I'm not one for small printed patterns: we have a blue-and-white-checked quilt (3" squares) and--randomly--light tan sheets and pillowcases. I hate those sheets (Martha Stewart, are you listening? They are designed to need ironing--WTF is that about?!?) but I'm too cheap to go buy more, so when I just can't deal anymore, I switch to the light blue ones, but they are aging.
We do have throw pillows, too, but I always forget to 'throw' them on the bed, so they mostly sit on the chair on my side of the room. Two of them have covers with Greek dolphins on them, and the other matches the quilt.

Me??

You Are Popular

For as long as you can remember, you've always made friends easily. {insert massive guffaws here!} You are spontaneous and adventurous. You're happy to go with the flow or shake things up a little bit. You are charming and smooth. You can make the best of a boring or awkward moment. You are hilarious and eager to make others laugh. Things can only be so bad when you are around.

Who Are You?

OK, this is so far from my take on my place in the world that I pretty much had to post it. I'm ROFLing still.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
The News Headline
For every prompt, news headline, share your once sentence synopsis of what the story is about.*

1. Estimated size of oil spill doubles

We are engineers who can't do math. And also, we've never had an oil spill, so we don't need to worry about how to fix it in the eventuality of one occurring. Exxon Valdez? That's an American company; we Brits know how to do thing properly. ... Wait, what?

2. 200+ graves mishandled at Arlington

Cannon Fodder Is Us.

3. Trapped man tries to sever his own arm

Mr. McGyver rues the day he went on vacation with nothing in his pockets besides lint. Dentures just don't cut the mustard. Or tendons and bone for that matter.

4. Lady Gaga's foul play at Mets game

Apparently, she didn't understand that "pop fly" has nothing to do with fashion.

5. 'Housewife' loses 29 lbs. in 3 wks

The triplets are doing just fine, too.

6. Topless pinatas distracting drivers

Those NASCAR guys just can't get enough candy!

7. Salma Hayek's snake freak out

"Caterpillars on my forehead are one thing, but a cobra around my chest is a whole other matter!"

8. Nominate a 2010 CNN Hero

Vote early, vote often! After all it's already JUNE so we need 'em NOW.

9. Drug companies share data to speed brain research

They've been watching Sesame Street lately and there was this whole amazing thing about cooperation that they took to heart.

10. Delta apologizes for putting kids on wrong flights

Parents say thanks, "but y'know the house is actually so much calmer without them in it." They are now wondering if Delta will ship those kids back to the "wrong" destinations.

11. Letters to the Editor

Cranks with way too much time on their hands and no connection to the real world.

12. College men need to recognize the macho culture for what it really is: insecurity

College "men" need to act like men instead of overgrown 8-year-olds. Like that's ever gonna happen....

*Keep in mind that these answer are meant wholly in jest and they don't necessarily portray my actual, full feelings about the stories themselves (some of which I have no information about aside from the headline as given.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7
Name the seven awesome fictional cars you’d most like to take for a spin.

1. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is pretty much the only fictional car I care about (and I want Truly's hat, as well), but in the interest of the meme....
   
   
2. The General (Lee).
3. The DeLorean.
4. Any of James Bond's cars. I don't want him or any of the silliness in the movies, just the cars and the buttons
5. The Batmobile, and Batman in it. 
6. Kitt.
7. Herbie.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Dark Side Meme

1. You’re building your dream house. What’s the one thing that this house absolutely, positively MUST HAVE? (other than the obvious basics of course)

A hot tub or a spa or something like that. Damn. We had it all figured out in our basement until the space got taken up by family heirlooms. Boooooooo!

2. What is your dream car?

One that runs forever with no babying. Or a chocolate brown vintage (mint condition) Jeep Cherokee soft-top.

3. What is your favorite website that isn’t a blog?

I use Google a lot, and Facebook. Amazon. Worldcat. Wikipedia. They're all in my top 10.

4. iPhone 4 or Droid, which do you want?

Neither. I really am just fine with a phone that makes and takes calls, and sends and receives texts, though I appreciate the camera on mine too.

5. When you’re feeling down or lonely or just generally out of sorts, what do you do to cheer yourself up?

Read, play computer games, or take a nap.

6. Tell me about something or someone that you love that most people seem to hate.

Good spelling. Fuck, coherent writing in general!

7. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Childlike. Which could be construed to mean anything from naive to extremely (brutally?) honest to selfish as hell.

8. Would you go on a reality show if given the chance?

Not bloody likely! I've no aspirations of being anywhere on that side of a camera.

9. Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up. (Grade school, Middle School, Jr. High or High School only.)

I liked our music teacher in grade school, until I found out how thoroughly Uncool that was. The gym teacher was good too. Mr. Gilchrist in Junior High science was super. Doc G in high school band, of course, was outstanding, and I loved Ms. Philippe, my English teacher senior year. It'd actually be easier to list those I couldn't stand.

10. You get one pass to do something illegal or immoral. What are you gonna do?

Would it be immoral to rid the earth of all child abusers?

11. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Let's see...Sparky was 7. I was working 20 hours/week, mostly nights, at the same library and living in a house I pretty much hated. Hanging out. Reading (more than I do now), organizing random projects. Volunteering a LOT at church; I think I was Sunday School Superintendent then, in fact, as well as teaching Sunday School.

12. By this time next year, I ...

...will be the parent of a high school graduate, will be planning my 25th wedding anniversary, and will still be addicted to the internet.

13. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing?

Sure, and of course, if it's not anyone with any resemblance to Sarah Palin beyond anatomy.

14. Which fictional, TV show character you would shag anytime?

Easiest question of all: Gibbs. I would also destroy that hideous attorney he seems to have the hots for, before any shagging occurred. I certainly wouldn't turn Nick Stokes away either.

15. What is your greatest pet peeve?

Intentional stupidity.

16. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles?

We went to Vegas in January. It was awesome, but cold. Really. And rainy. Gah.... On the bright side, in two weeks I'll be able to say that I have put almost 2500 miles away over the course of the previous 8 days or so.

17. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

Thesaurus. Online, of course. Unless you count UrbanDictionary....

18. Do you have a nickname? What is it?

My blog sig IS my nickname at this point. I even have a shirt to prove it now.

19. What are you dreading at the moment?

Sparky's departure tonight. He'll be gone for 22 days. Aaaargh.....

20. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

Nope. Judge me, don't judge me, I don't give a rat's ass.

21. In two words, explain what ended your last relationship.

My last "relationship" of what sort? I have been married--did you notice this?--for nearly 24 years, so anything of that sort is misted over in nostalgia and probably some alcohol fumes. Friendships, though, have come and gone, and occasionally come back.

22. What were you doing this morning at 8am?

Checking my games on Facebook, and thinking about what to wear to church.

23. Do you have any famous relatives?

One of my mom's distant cousins (or something) was a well-known newscaster in Cleveland for many many years. Woo. Hoo.

24. How many different beverages have you drank [sic] today?

{oy} Just two: water and DDP.

25. What is something you are excited about?

Driving for 2500 across country with my sweetie, and having the footstool and cedar chest (both made by my Dad) back home. No clue what I'm going to do with them, but....

26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group?

I spoke at the staff meeting last week. Before that...uh, youth group, church congregation, class...whatever. This sort of thing doesn't worry me that much.

27. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

I'm not sure I thought anything beyond "wash face, brush teeth, pull hair back, curl bangs, put in earrings and find a necklace: GO!"

28. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Sleeeeeepingggggg.

29. What’s a word that you say a lot?

"Really" and "actually" are fairly common. Unless you count "the", "a" and things like that. :-P

30. Who is your worst enemy?

I am.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Offense :: Defense
2. Bench :: Seat
3. Kissing :: ...cousins
4. Timely :: Serendipitous
5. Yellow :: Chicken
6. Get up and go :: ...done got up and left
7. Beer :: Ale
8. Calories :: Diet
9. Blast :: Explosion
10. Window :: Open...

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Goodbye to You

1. Have you had to say goodbye to a good friend or lover because they were moving?

Yes. Or because I was moving. And because the eddies of life are that way. It sucks.

2. Have you ever wanted to use personal information about someone to sort of "blackmail" them? If yes, tell us about it.

Nope. Creepy.

3. What two things influenced the choice of your present job or to stay at home?

Lack of other ideas, and the fact that I love doing research and have a picky-detail sort of mind.

4. Do you like warm weather? How warm does it get where you live? What is the best way to spend a hot, summer day?

I love hot weather, but hate humidity. Unfortunately, where I live now it does both in the summer, though not Deep South kind of hot and humid. I like a nice 90-degree day with no bugs and no humidity. Is that too much to ask? Around here, yes.

5. What do you find "hot" in a man/woman? What is the first thing you notice about someone who is hot? Do you ever think of yourself as hot?

I'm a sucker for a good voice. And being easy on the eyes doesn't hurt either.

6. Are you quick to anger? How do you react when you are angry or frustrated? What do you do to cool down?

I tend to pop off at the mouth. Walking away, or not rising to the bait keeps the lid on, but I pretty much have to go talk to someone, or at least find something completely different to do for awhile to really settle down.

7. In your family, who is the least like the rest of you?

Uh, I'm assuming this is my extended family, and I'd have to go with one of my brothers-in-law, since one is a mental nightmare to be around and the other is an end-stage alcoholic. We are all adults, so we've all managed to make our own lives that don't really resemble each others'.

8. What are a few great books that you've taken along to the beach or on vacation in years past? If you aren't a big reader, what do you do to while away the lazy hours?

Uh, I read non-stop. There is virtually no way to remember what I've read on vacation over the 40 years I've been reading. I do remember taking The President's House on two subsequent trips to Maine over a decade ago, and reading loads and loads about furnishings and rehabs during various administrations. Usually I just take cheap paperbacks from the library booksale these days.

9. Do you like going outside during a thunderstorm and watching the lightening [sic]?

I can watch from inside too, but I don't mind sitting on the porch in the rain. It's very calming.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. If you had to go back to school this fall, what degree would you pursue?

I'd probably do something to do with the history of Christianity, possibly even head toward a B.Div.

2. Would you be more likely to choose a degree that would complement your current one, or go in a completely different direction?

There is very little that doesn't complement a History or Communication degree with a chaser of LIS. :-) But in this case, I'd say it matches up fairly well.

3. Did you or would you have lived on campus for college, or stayed at home if that had been an option?

I stayed on campus, and I would NEVER.EVER have lived at home unless it was the only way to get a degree. And even then.... Nowadays, of course, I'd commute. No more dorm life for me!

4. If you had to live on campus, and you found yourself in a dorm with mostly college-age young people who liked to party, how much of an impact would their rowdiness have on your ability to study?

None, or not much. I have discovered earplugs, and I'd spend a lot of time in the library.

5. Take the quiz: What College Are You?

You Are Harvard

You are smart, ambitious, and hard working. Academic success has always come easily for you. You are responsible and conscientious. You don't mind hard work and never cut corners. You are very competitive and driven. You like to be the best at everything you do. And you also expect the best from any school you attend. You want to go to a top institution.

What College Are You?

6. Is this a college you could see yourself attending if money were no object?

Yeah...NO! No way. I would fit in there about as a well as an octopus on Wall Street.

Shiny

You Shine at Midday and Midnight

You're the type of person who has trouble waking up in the morning, but you're good to go after a while. And just when everyone else is going to bed, you make a comeback late at night. You have a lot of energy, and you tend to go at full speed. You thrive during the summer when the world is alive at almost any hour.

When Do You Shine?

Well, actually, I love mornings. And while I do get a second wind at night eventually, I rarely stay up late enough to get there.

Friday Food Fun

(Link in meme-roll)
Fruits

1. What is your favorite fruit?

Strawberries. Or, no: blood oranges!! Mmm, love those...

2. If you like fruit salad, what is your favorite combination of fruits to use.

Apples, mandarin oranges, bananas, strawberries, and a little fresh coconut.

3. Do you have a fruit theme in any of your non-edible items (like clothing, jewelry, handbags, towels, wallpaper, etc.)

Ugh, no. I grew up in the 70s and we had fruit-themed wallpaper in the house and on some of the dishtowels. It was hideous.

4. What is your favorite fruit juice?

Grapefruit.

5. What is your favorite fruit-flavored ice cream?

I like sherbet if there is fruit involved.

6. What is your favorite fruit recipe?

I think I gave it to you in #2. Unless you mean apple crisp or apple pie? If you want either of the latter two, well, it's basically peel/cut/core a kabillion tart apples and then either put them in a crust or a pan. If the crust, sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg and a bit of sugar, cover with second crust, cut slits in crust and bake. If the crisp, once they're in the pan mix sugar, cinnamon and a little flour and sprinkle over the top and bake. Either way, the hard part is the first step.

7. Are there any fruits you don't like?

Not a huge fan of pomegranates or plantains.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Gestures

1. What are your thoughts on “air quotes?”

I rarely use them, and I don't think I've seen anyone else do them for awhile. How odd that something like that became a fad for awhile.

2. If you are the sort to flip someone the bird, what were the circumstances surrounding your most recent flip? If you’re not that type, have you ever, ever used that gestue?

I flipped off my brother in absentia yesterday while discussing him.

3. What’s a gesture you’ve made up, or what’s a gesture made up by (and shared with) your friends or family?

I can't think of any specific gestures we make that aren't fairly universal. Maybe the "across-the-room-high-five."

4. Are there any gestures that have specific, unique meanings in your workplace?

I was telling Beast today about the hand-waving we do when discussion audiobooks: do you want them to read (point to eyes) or to hear (point to ears)?

5. Have you ever received an anonymous gesture of kindness or affection?

It happens periodically at work that someone says a totally unexpected nice think about the staff/building. It's always nice.

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Being caught up feels great.
2. The solution is imminent.
3. I can't wait to fall asleep.
4. How about a nice Hawaiian punch.
5. Taking a personal day once in awhile to just veg out is something I highly recommend!
6. Imagine is one of my favorite songs.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing nothing, tomorrow my plans include meeting up with D and getting started on packing, and Sunday, I want to maintain some dignity at the airport while saying goodbye to Sparky!

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
Never Agree in the First Place
The TT questions are brought to you by Berleen, the color of my rocking tan I've got going and the number 45.

1. Driver's Ed. Demon #1 is taking it right now. Did you pass your driver's test the first time you took it?

Both the written and the road test...yep. My sister Jean, on the other hand, has taken the road test at least 10 times over the course of her life, failing most of those times. It's ok--she's overseas. ;-) And she doesn't drive anymore anyway.

2. You are sitting outside on your deck in your comfy lawn chair, feet are up and the temp outside is perfect. There are no bugs to bite you and ruin the night... it's peaceful and all you can hear is the birds singing and an occasional cricket. What's in your hand?

Probably a book. Possibly a glass of wine. Maybe nothing; maybe I'm jes' settin'.

3. How many graduation parties and weddings do you have to attend this summer? Ok.. how many are you invited to?

Been to two graduation parties, briefly, and I think that's it. No weddings. Maybe next spring.

4. There is no other choice in the matter - you must transform into a different race, but the catch is that you get to pick which race. What will you now be?

Uhh...I'll go with Pacific Islander, I guess. Especially if I can be a native! Warm, islands, yay!

5. Someone once said that the grass isn't greener on the other side... are you jealous of your neighbor's lawn?

Nope. Lawns do not ring my bell at all.

6. Bud is walking along a beach barefooted and steps on a piece of glass buried deep in the sand. His foot is bleeding... does he cry, swear or stomp around on his other foot?

Yes. Followed by wrapping the foot up in any material he can and hobbling to the car. But, watching him stomp on one foot is worth it. ;-) 

7. I'm gonna take you fishing... are you going to be a whiney baby and not bait your own hook and when you catch a fish am I gonna have to take it off the hook for you?

Fuck it--I'll bait my damn hook! And take out the hook. Who, exactly, is the whiner here??

8. From a Facebook friend: When asked what would you bring with you to a deserted island, why doesn't anyone answer "a boat"?

Good question. What's the answer to it?

9. Hamburger buns - sesame seeds or not?

I don't mind the seeds. I don't have to have them either. Whatever.

10. From Demon #1: What's your favorite flavor of water?

Clean. (I don't drink flavored water.)

11. Eclipse is coming out this month... are you going to see it?

Are you on crack? I'm not a teeny, I didn't care for the first book (painfully horrendous writing!), I didn't bother with the first movie, and I'm not really on board the whole vampire bandwagon.

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
What Needs Doing Before Sunday

1. Laundry
2. ACT test
3. Weeding, working, etc.
4. Figure out Visa Buxx access
5. Pack
6. Roomba most of the house
7. Mop same
8. Go to church
9. Develop phone tree
10. Buy more Zyrtec-D
11. Buy larger memory card for camera
12. Buy other incidentals as they come up
13. Sleep (insert major laughing fit here: at least two of us will be too keyed up to sleep, especially Saturday night)

The Dating Profile Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Not Getting Physical

1. My most relevant life goals are spiritual and emotional - not physical or financial.

I'm sensing that you are pretty comfortable in that double-wide in the middle of the Mojave. Good for you! But we are never going to be on the same wavelength on this one, so enjoy your life.

2. I love learning new things & am an adventerous person.

How about taking up Spelling as Something to Learn?!

3. My children are grown and I have no responsibilities, other than my work I suppose.

"I suppose"???? Hope your boss isn't reading this... And, trust me, you are not EVER done being responsible for your kids. Never. Not according to my mom, anyway. Even when you really aren't responsible, the residual angst lingers.

4. Do I need to send smoke signals?

Smoking is illegal in most public spaces, so I'd really prefer you didn't.

5. I have 3 grown children & 1 dog, so I'm Italian/French.

Wow. This made my eyes roll, and a really ugly snorting sound emanate from my larynx. The good news: I think you don't even need to mention that English is not your primary (or secondary) (or tertiary) language.

6. I appreciate if your opening shot/photo is your most current.

The most current photo I took was of the shirt I was wearing yesterday. Pretty sure you don't want that one. Or even the one before that, since it's a pic of my son. Not likely to be very useful for the purposes you want to put it. {{shudder}}

7. Tell me a joke, I love to laugh, it is the best medicine.

A priest, a rabbi and a Baptist minister walk into a bar... Stop me if you've heard this one, or even if you haven't.

8. I'd love to get back into real estate someday, maybe own and run a motel or bed and breakfast.

Running a motel/B&B is not real estate, it's hospitality. Dude you are seriously confused. Aside: why does EVERYONE seem to want to have a toe in the real estate pool??

9. Hello, I am so not good at this.

Trust me: you canNOT do any worse than #5! In fact, I might consider speaking to you further.

10. Get creative. Drop a contact and let me know if you participate regularly in hiking, golf, kayaking, relax with a book, dvd, music, music, music & oh, and did I say TRAVEL?

ALL AT ONCE? Damn, I'm exhausted and I only got about halfway through this list!

Dream On

You Are a Down to Earth Dreamer

Just because you're practical, it doesn't mean you don't dream. You just like to put your dreams into action more than most people. At first you dream big, but then you stop and think... Can your dream actually be achieved? You're willing to rethink and refine your dream until it is possible. And then you go act on it!

What Kind of Dreamer Are You?

OK then. Though I'd've worded this a little differently.

Wednesday Wickedness

(Link in meme-roll)
Our little "twist" is that each week we will pick a famous person and pick ten of their quotes.
Today we picked Frank Sinatra. ...oh goodie...not a Frank fan

1. "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." How often do you drink alcohol?

I probably have an average of one or two drinks per week over the course of a year, but not always that evenly spaced.

2. "The best revenge is massive success." Have you ever gloated or wanted to over success?

Nope. Karma bites.

3. "You gotta love livin', baby, 'cause dyin' is a pain in the [butt]." What do enjoy most about your life?

Not being a pain in the ass. (or maybe not).

4. "I'm not one of those complicated, mixed-up cats. I'm not looking for the secret to life.... I just go on from day to day, taking what comes." Do you ever overthink a situation in your life?

I am Empress of Overthink! It is my major talent.

5. "I would like to be remembered as a man who had a wonderful time living life, a man who had good friends, fine family - and I don't think I could ask for anything more than that, actually." Tell us about your best friend.

Nope. I'd rather talk about how very cliched this quote is. And how much BS it is for him to say. I'll give him Ballsy Liar Credit however.

6. "I like intelligent women. When you go out, it shouldn't be a staring contest." How important is intelligence when picking (or having picked) a s/o to you?

FINALLY! Something I agree with him about! He's 100% correct. Intelligence is critically important to me.

7. "I drink to the confusion of our enemies." What's the closest situation that you've had to dealing with an enemy?

I am fortunate enough not to have any enemies per se, just people who push my buttons.

8. "Orange is the happiest color." What's your favorite color?

... to be sung to the tune of "One is the loneliest number," right? My favorite is blue.

9. "Dare to wear the foolish clown face." Are you ever a clown?

Most of the time. Have you not noticed?

10. "Don't get even, get mad." Have you ever tried getting even?

Nope. See above, re Karma. The universe takes care of herself without much intervention on my part.

Vegas baby

You Are the Venetian

You are a true romantic, and you are enchanted with the idea of small European towns. You [would love to] live life at a slower pace than most people. You savor every moment. You fall in love easily - whether it's with the same person or different people every time. More than anything else, you love life. Your spirits can be lifted just by talking a stroll.

What Las Vegas Casino Are You?

Yeah, well, it's a thought. I do love the Venetian, but I haven't ever stayed there. Much cooler than the Bellagio, in my book, but just as pricey. Someday. Maybe.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
#40 The Weekend Meme

1. What is your typical weekend like?

There hasn't been a typical weekend for me in...well, ever. For 20 years of my life, I worked every other Saturday and every 6th (or so) Sunday. Only recently have I gone down to only working one Saturday a month, plus every 4th (or so) Sunday. Beast generally does laundry on Friday or Saturday. Sometimes we have a youth group meeting on Sunday night. Sometimes we go to church Sunday morning. See what I mean? Nothing very typical about any of that.

2. Are you a party animal or a couch potato on the weekends?

Given those two choices, I guess I'm a couch potato. I'm certainly NOT a party animal.

3. It wasn’t until 1940 that the two-day weekend became nationwide. I say it’s time for three-day weekend across the whole world! Wouldn’t you love to work 4 days and off 3 all the time? Do you think this is a good idea?

I do that already, but then again, I'm not full-time at work. Yet. And, did you notice, not everyone gets weekends off. No one in retail takes weekends for granted, either. Could we maybe work on having a universal 6-day work-week first? And, if we are only working 4 days, do we only get PAID for 4 days??

4. Do you consider Sunday as a traditional day of rest?

It's frequently the busiest day of the week for me in terms of time spent running hither and yon, so no. However, my dad came from a tradition of really doing the Sabbath; by the time I was around he had mellowed considerably, but there were some things he had trouble with, like playing cards on Sunday. Even solitaire.

5. What are your around-the-house weekend chores?

Yard-work, laundry, sometimes grocery shopping. It sorta depends on the weekend.

6. If you have a significant other in your life or are dating, what is your favorite indoor and outdoor activity?

Uhm. Yeah.
Moving on. lol

7. Where would go for a romantic weekend getaway?

North to the nearest big lake, or west to (almost) the Big River. Both are cheaper than going east to the Big City.

8. Do you have any special weekend traditions, quirks or rituals?

I am NEVER quirky! [hah] In football season, thanks to Sunday Ticket we watch games all afternoon on Sunday (and some college games on Saturday), and Beast loves his NASCAR. We do frequently order pizza for dinner on Sunday night, especially during football season.

9. What is your weekend blogging routine?

After Friday's massive meme-gorge, I try to get stuff like that done early on Saturday and Sunday so I can walk away from the computer and accomplish something over the rest of the day. It doesn't always work that way, but I try.

10. Tell us about your favorite weekend memories as a child?

After church we usually came home to a hot dinner at "lunchtime"; I remember peeling a LOT of potatoes on Sundays. Then, once we cleaned up afterwards, I was free for the rest of the day. Dad usually took a nap. I always read the comics, especially Prince Valiant. "60 Minutes" was a given in the evenings. Football during the season, but only the Bronco games. Mom usually ironed during the games. I supposed she ironed every Sunday, but I only remember it during the football games. Sundays were pretty lazy once church was over.

Christopher Cross is not my friend

You Are Having a Good Day

You feel a bit overwhelmed by the changes doing on in your life right now. You don't have a good anchor. You are a peaceful person. You have the ability to deal with life's problems as they unfold. You are prioritizing love right now. Whether you've just fallen for someone or are renewing a spark, you are all about the romance. Deep down you crave comfort. You want what's familiar and guaranteed to sooth you.

The Sailboat Test

Well, not too far off, but the whole "looking for love" business--not so much.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
The Awards

The Super Comments Award
If you could interview anyone in the world for your blog, who would you choose and why?

I wouldn't want to interview anyone. Don't really care about being a journalist, and definitely not on a blog anyway.

Can you remember your last dream? What was it?

The only part of any of last night's dreams involved my suitcase, the one I took overseas in college. Which was stolen from our apartment storage locker 23 years ago, something I only just now remembered.

Name 3 places you’d like to go on vacation too [sic].

Kenya, Australia, and Egypt. NOT on the same trip.

What scares you the most?

Something I'm way too superstitious to ever post.

What is your favorite book of all time?

These Happy Golden Years or maybe Alice in Wonderland .

What’s the funniest movie that you’ve seen?

"Heathers."

Where are your kids right now?

He's about 4 feet away, at the other end of the sofa on his own laptop.

What was the last thing you ate?

Fries.

Are you usually late, early or right on time?

Late. I used to pride myself on being on time or (better) early. That was years ago.

What is your favorite band or singer?

U2.

+ + + + + + +
The Creative Blogger Award
Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth – or – switch it around and tell six outrageous truths and one outrageous lie.

I have traveled to the following countries: Austria, China, Greece, Mexico, Mongolia, Poland, and Scotland. You pick which one or ones are not true.

+ + + + + + + The Versatile Blogger -
Share 7 things about yourself.

1. I'm the youngest of five children, with 20 years between my oldest sister and me.
2. There are 24 years between my son's age and my oldest niece's.
3. I'm allergic to dogs and cats, among several other things.
4. My son's hair is the same color as my dad's, which I never saw because Dad's was all gray before I was born. I think Sparky's hair is a little gift from God to brighten my days.
5. I used to be an overachiever, but I seem to have recovered from that disease.
6. My garden desperately needs weeding.
7. I do my own pedicures because I do a better job that the people who I've hired to do it in the past.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Do you know how to diagram a sentence?

I do not. I didn't have much grammar instruction until I was about 12. Sad. I would love to be able to do this; it seems like a relaxing past-time, but not if you have to learn it at age 46!

2) How close are you to your parents?

Well, they are both dead now, but I always felt closer to Dad when he was alive. I have some serious unresolved Mom Issues.

3) Have you ever tried to put out a fire?

Yes, I have. And I was successful. Baking soda is my friend.

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

Looks like Colorado...except for that bridge. Rivers should have rocks in them, like this one. Smooth, rock-free rivers are weird-looking to me.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Another Question Meme

1. It's 2AM and you are not home. You are more than likely: in the E.R. I don't stay out that late anymore.

2. What's the last thing you spent more than $100 on? Groceries. Yeah, me=thrilling. Before that, it was shoes. Not that this is a shock, of course; I am my mother's daughter.

3. What do your bank checks look like? They have rainbows on them. Not stupid cartoon rainbows, but actual photos.

4. Where did the shirt you are currently wearing come from? I'm in my pajamas, which I think I bought at Meijer's. Or Target. Anyway, they are 4-5 years old.

5. Name something that will be on your Christmas wish list: I haven't made a list in years. I guess I wouldn't mind having an Amazon gift card for uploading some tunes into my MP3 player.

6. What color is your toothbrush? White and red.

7. Name something you collect and tell us about it. S&Ps, by default.

8. Last restaurant you ate at. Who were you with? How was it? PJ's with Beast, Sparky, and Amy. It was outstanding, as was the company.

9. Who was the last person you bought a birthday card for? I guess FIL; his was the most recent birthday.

10. What is your worst bad habit? Procrastinating. As I'm doing right now.

11. Name a magazine you subscribe to? Ms.

12. Your favorite pizza toppings? Canadian bacon, red onions and mushrooms.

13. Whose number were you looking up the last time you used a phone book? It was probably something for someone at work.

14. Other than family, who is the person that you love most? I can't quantify and rank how much I love my friends.

15. What is the last thing you cooked? Uh...I haven't cooked this week much at all. Wow. I do totally suck.

16. Name something you wouldn't want to buy used? Underwear.

17. Which shoe do you put on first? Right, though I make a point of switching it up sometimes, just to stay alert. Ditto with pantlegs.

18. What is the last thing you remember losing? "Remember losing" sounds funny. I've misplaced a library book, which is bad, eh? It's on my card and I swear I returned it--don't they all!?--but it's not at work, and it's not here. So annoying.

19. What is the ugliest piece of furniture in your house? Really? Why would I keep ugly furniture around? We have so freakin' much stored in our basement that I could easily swap. So I'll go with the two dressers my dad made; they both desperately need to be refinished (Mom kept plants on them, with no coasters).

20. Last thing you bought and ended up returning? Food for an event at church. I won't do that again--Walmart throws returned food away, or composts it. Hugely wasteful (though to an extent I get why they have to do that).

21. What perfume/cologne do you wear? If none, why? VS or Gossip.

22. Your favorite board game? Life.

23. What was the last board game you played? I can't remember the last time we had a game out. We mostly play card games.

24. Where did your vehicle come from? Detroit. lol It's a Ford, and I bought it used about 10 years ago.

25. If a movie was made about your life what would the theme song be? "So Bizarre"

26. You're sad, who can cheer you up easily? I'm not sad! But happy babies are good for cheering me up.

27. What was the color of the bridesmaid dresses of the last wedding you went to? Dark lavender, and I was wearing one of those dresses.

28. What house cleaning chore do you hate to do the most? Floors. Anything: mopping, vacuuming, whatever.

29. What is your favorite way to eat chicken? I prefer it to be fully cooked. Family joke.

30. It is your birthday. You hope the cake is? White or lemon and heavily frosted with vanilla buttercream.

Cocktail Hour

You Are Intense

You're so energetic and passionate it's intoxicating. You are fired up! You're the type of person that has many things going on at once. And you refuse to pick just one. You are [almost] always up for an adventure, and you are likely to turn a boring day into something amazing. You crave new and mind blowing experiences. If you feel nervous, you're doing something right.

The Cocktail Test

This really doesn't describe me that well, except those parts I highlighted, but I have my moments of "intense" believe me.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Group :: ...project (man, I really hated those in school!)
2. Pollution :: Oil Spill
3. Getaway :: Vacation
4. Mail :: Bills
5. Believe :: ...it or not
6. Chimney :: Fireplace
7. Curses :: "Foiled again!!"
8. Contrite :: Remorseful
9. Eyelash :: ...curler (but I really had to think for awhile on this one!)
10. Jobs :: Employment

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Name the seven Kraft Foods brands (or products) [use left column alphabetical listing] you’re most likely to find in your home.

1. Kraft (the 'flat cheese' (Singles) and probably very little other)
2. Wheat Thins
3. Philly cream cheese
4. Honey Maid
5. Velveeta (shells & cheese, not the block cheese)
6. Deli Creations
7. Ritz Crackers

We use a lot of crackers, yo. :-)

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
If I Had a Hammer

1. Are you handy with tools?

Let's back up a few years here: my dad was in construction for over 50 years, he owned his own businesses from age 25 on, he had two sisters and four daughters, he had high expectations of everyone, and he hated to pay others to do what he knew how to do. I had no choice but to learn how to use tools; I was handing him appropriate screwdrivers and wrenches at age 4, burning oil off a concrete floor with a torch at 11, and hanging upside-down over a leaky hot-water heater uncoupling a connection at age 17.
Yeah, I can use tools. It was quite shocking to go to college and find out that a lot of people don't know which end of a hammer to hold.

2. What was the best thing that happened to you this week?

Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It may be a train, but at least the tunnel's not so dark.

3. What was the worst thing that happened to you this week?

My complete lack of application in one specific area of my life. I just don't care, either...except that I do.

4. Do you think you act your age?

Mostly. I was thinking today at work about my musical taste being a little on the young side, considering.

5. Describe an item of clothing that has definitely seen better days but that you refuse to dispose of and still wear. Why won't you toss it?

I have three shirts (well, ok, two shirts and a sweater) that belonged to my dad. I wear one of them whenever I need a little boost, but the flannel shirt is really just a rag--the elbows blew out a decade ago, so I just cut off the sleeves above the torn bits and wear it that way. Li'l Abner iz mee.

6. What is your favorite summertime beverage?

Same as the winter-time one: Diet Dr. Pepper. I will have an occasional glass of unsweet iced suntea, too.

7. Have you ever lied about your age?

Never needed to. I will cop to occasionally telling people I'm the age I'll be by the end of the year around August, just because it's so annoying to have to do the math all weird. Mom called me on that once: "You aren't 35, YET! Not till November!"

8. What was the most memorable birthday party you've attended?

My 8th birthday party was weird. I can only be sure about one person who came--although there were about 10 of us there--because she was a year older than everyone and it was a Big Freakin' Deal, that one year. ;-)

9. What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?

I am not a fan of tornadoes, and that has gotten worse in the past few years based on 1) the microburst over our house about six years ago, 2) Sparky's school bus being diverted on the way home from school in January four years ago because of a tornado that touched down about five miles from here, and 3) the hardwood tree that was ripped out of the ground in my sister's yard about 20 years ago. I will hit the basement with no qualms if I even suspect the weather may go in the dumper. But I don't flutter around being annoying; I just go quietly and sit with the weather radio and a book.