30 Qs

(Found here)

1. Do you own a yardstick? Yes. Uhm, not sure where it is though.

2. Do you hate goosebumps on your skin? Doesn't it look so weird and almost gross? I care a lot more about how it feels that what it looks like. But it is pretty odd-looking, yes.

3. Have you ever had all of your fingers tingling-numb? Yes. Not often, but it has happened.

4. Have you ever flew [sic] to a different state/country by yourself? Did you have one of those attendants assist you? When I was about 10, I flew to visit my sister and her family for a couple of weeks, alone. It was less than an hour on the plane, but yeah, I did have a 'minder' on the plane and upon arrival.

5. Did you ever take drawing/art lessons before? No. No hope for me.

6. Do you believe that college is not for everyone? ABsoLUTEly!!

7. Are you afraid that you'll forget to lock the door in the bathroom stall and have someone open it? It's happened. A couple of times even when I made sure the door was locked. I don't fear it, but I do keep an eye on the door when I hear people looking for an empty stall.

8. Have you played with dry ice before? I honestly don't remember doing so myself, just watching others.

9. Do you cover your mouth with your hand when you yawn? Yup. Well, sometimes, if I'm not alone.

10. Do you have a desk in your room? I have three desks in my office, plus one in Sparky's room, and a tiny desk in the spare room.

11. Do you prefer turkey jerky as opposed to beef jerky? I'm not that fussy. Haven't had jerky in awhile; now I'm hungry.

12. Have you read the book 1984? Hmm, no. Or, if I did, I've forgotten it. I lived through the actual 1984 though, if that counts? Clearly, the author of the meme didn't.

13. Do you listen to Aerosmith? Yup. Or, rather, I don't run screaming from the room or demand Sparky change CDs in the car when they kick on.

14. Has your cell phone ever gone off during class? Was it an embarrasing ringtone? It's gone off in Sunday School/Bible Study and at conferences.... And, yeah, I have odd ringtones.

15. What are you planning do to this weekend? Next weekend is pretty open until Sunday evening.

16. Have you seen Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and/or Pirates of the Caribbean 3? I've definitely seen Pirate, may have seen Spidey, and have not seen Shrek.

17. What's your bullshit line for cutting class? As a student, the only day I cut class was on Senior Prank Day, but everyone else cut too. Cutting class was not an option for me. I do it all the time now, though. I'm not paying for it after all. Not work: classes.

18. When was the last time you "read" an I Spy book? How about Where's Waldo? I absolutely HATE the these books: they make me feel idiotic because I can't ever find what I'm looking for. I have a Waldo book on my cataloging cart though. I keep ignoring it.

19. Do you take pictures during class? Nope.

20. How many days 'til school ends? Are you excited or somewhat dreading it because you know you'll be bored over the summer? Wow, I should have read ahead. Sparky graduates in about 6.7 months. Gonna been a big year. "Bored"?? Yeah, not.

21. What's your biggest worry right now? I have no idea. They're all about even par.

22. Are there a lot of Punjabi/Indian people around your community? Not "a lot" but a few. I mean, one of my doctors is named Patel, so....

23. When was the last time you bought a treat from the ice cream man? Years. In fact, at least 8 years.

24. Do you "fake it til you make it"? One of my (many) mantras.

25. Do you like being home alone or do you feel lonely and awkward and bored? I adore being home--or anywhere else--alone.

26. Any hot guys live in your neighborhood? Hah. No. OK, OK, there are a couple of rather attractive guys, all of whom are married, as am I, and I'm not interested in becoming a Wisteria Lane. Most of the neighbors are pretty nice guys, though, with a few outstanding examples of the opposite; I care more about that anyway.

27. Do you play games on your graphing calculator? I don't touch Sparky's. No clue how it operates. But I can use a slide rule, rudimentarily; can you?

30. Do you like fruit by the foot and fruit roll up snacks? Gah. I'd rather eat cottage cheese! Yuck.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Meme About Me, Myself and I

1. What inspires you to blog?

My scattered brain. I like memes. I like to talk about myself, though that is posted mostly in memes of late. I don't seem to have anything to say on my other blog. It's rather weird.

2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you?

Getting my writing ya-yas out. Some light conversation. The opportunity to meet new people in surprising ways.

3. What is your favourite book of all time?

Of all time makes it various parts of the Bible. I especially like Mark, Philemon, the letters to the Hebrews and the Corinthians, James, Genesis/Exodus, and the Psalms.

4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up?

There are SO MANY leftovers in my house right now, there's virtually no way I'd be hungry for long. Not to mention the leftover Halloween candy, though we did have to go buy more candy when we ran out with 2+ hours of T-o-T left.

5. Who are three of your style icons?

Uh. Yeah. Now that I've stopped chuckling.... Queen Latifah. The What Not to Wear Twins. And, naturally, Ziva David. (I'd say Abby Sciuto, but I think I'm a bit old for that sort of thing...)

6. What’s your current favourite song/piece of music?

Right this very second, it's probably "So Long, Farewell" because I'm really tired and want to go to sleep.

7. What is the last book you read?

The last one I finished was Grave Sight, by Charlaine Harris, on CD. I'm currently working on Sara Paretsky's latest (in print) and Grave Surprise on CD.

8. What is your current favourite recipe?

1-800-Paul##'s P!izza. [not a real phone number]

9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog?

Amy and "the Babyeater."

10. What object could you not live without?

My glasses.

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Probably right here.

12. Who or what made you into the person you are today?

ALL of the people and places I've known.

13. What have your learned from blogging?

How to hide out in plain sight.

14. Knowing what you know now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self?

STFU and listen for a change!!

15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal?

Dinner. Usually about 1 p.m.

16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far?

Meeting a couple of bloggers in person, one in London and one a library conference. Quite cool.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Adhesive :: Glue
2. Bill :: Coin
3. Swing :: Slides
4. Counter :: Shelf
5. Fluid :: Liquid
6. Investigate :: Look into
7. Chit chat :: Gossip
8. Humane :: ...Society
9. Boss :: Chief
10. Furniture :: Belongings

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. While the [C]at's away no cataloging gets done and she gets even further behind.

2. Esposo fabuloso!

3. Children are noisy. This is a blessing and a curse.

4. I have to tidy up the house when I get home from work or shopping or what have you.

5. This may seem odd, but I'm more excited about Sparky's college transition than he is (I think).

6. Beast said he'd like to sleep all weekend and that seems like a fine idea to me!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to finding the horizontal surfaces in the house, tomorrow my plans include hanging out with the Aimster, and Sunday, I want to find out what Sparky's 'assignment' is for worship!

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
Hootin'Anni Style

1] We all love snuggly things, right? In your own words, explain how the "X" and "O" became symbols for kisses and hugs!

I always figured the O was arms circling me in a hug and X was vaguely symbolic of pursed lips. At least, that's how I keep them straight in my own head.

2] Besides eliminating sticks, what would you put in a non-stick pan?

BROWNIES! Seriously. I would pretty much kill for some right now.

3] x=y over pi squared. What are your thoughts on crematoriums having discounts on those that die in fires?

Don't think so. Both my parents were cremated, and there are no discounts regardless of the circumstances of death. The funeral business wouldn't do that to themselves.

4] Tongue twisters are fun...but, it's torture to try to say lisp with that "s" in the word. What is your favorite tongue twister? Risque answers get extra credit!

I canNOT say "The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" to save my live. Sorry: not risqué.

5] Cold weather is coming up. If it's zero degrees Fahrenheit, and tomorrow night it's predicted to be twice as cold, what temperature will it be?

About -30. You asked a Reference Librarian this question and expected something different??

6] Your significant other is upset with you, would you rather be skating on thin ice or be in hot water? Why?

Honestly, lately, skating on thin ice would be a nice change from the hot water.

7] What's worse, expecting the unexpected or being a wise guy?

I'd rather do the former, but fear I'm more likely to be [perceived as] the latter.

8] What brand of vacuum cleaner sucks the best? Mine really sucks!!!

I'm partial to Roomba though perhaps not for the sucking reason explicitly.

9] How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? Do you like playing with fire?

I do like fire. Candles fascinate me endlessly. And I'm pretty sure that, given the right materials, I could get a campfire started with just a couple of matches. Beast is a good teacher.

10] Toys R us...what was your favorite toy?

My brother's toy cars, and my jumprope and jacks.

11] Halloween is near...let's go grave robbing....what would you like to find?

{{shudder}} Just had a very horrible visual of a certain recent grave in England.

12] Do you wake up or open your eyes first?

Totally depends on the day, but I would say normally I'm awake before my eyes are open.

13] What mask would you wear to a Halloween Party?

This one:

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
Memorable Book Titles I've Seen This Week at Work

1. What's That Job and How the Hell Do I Get It? (David J. Rosen)
2. In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite (Melissa Clark)  
3. Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me (Kristen Chandler)
4. Bury My Heart at Conference Room B (Stan Slap)
5. Heidegger and a Hippo Walk Through Those Pearly Gates : Using Philosophy (And Jokes!) to Explore Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Everything in Between (Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein)
6. The Atrocity Archives (Charles Stross)
7. 5 Keys to High Performance : Juggle Your Way to Success (Michael J. Gelb)
8. Bedeviled Eggs (Laura Childs)
9. Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat (Hal Herzog)
10. Bad Science : Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks (Ben Goldacre)
11. Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials (Rosalind Wiseman)
12. Be Careful What You Pray For (Kimberla Lawson Roby)
13. The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman (Timothy Ferriss)

Wednesday Wickedness

(Link in meme-roll)
Stephen King

1. “I tend to scare myself…”
When was the last time you scared yourself?

I'm not as attentive to driving as I should be sometimes, and I can catch myself in the midst of doing something really stupid every once in awhile. Otherwise, I can't think of anything I've scared myself about. I'm inured to a lot of anxiety-producers at this point.

2. “Time heals all wounds…”
What was the longest it took you to recover from an illness, injury or surgery?

When I was about 10, I got 'walking pneumonia' and that seemed to last for-bloody-ever! I was on some serious wack-a-doodle drugs, too, so the whole experience was just odd.

3. “Your first impulse is to share good news. Your second is to club someone over the head with it…”
What was the last good news you had to share?

Sparky's ACT score was unbelievable. The results of that score are going to show up in the amount of scholarship money that's going to be available next spring. Hurrah.

4. “When it comes to the past, we all stack the deck…”
Is there something in your past you speak highly of that was not so great while you were going through it?

The moments in while I've learned the most have usually been the most painful, so I have a lot of these times.

5. “Do you drink? Of course! I just said I was a writer!..”
What do you need to drink to do?

Not kill stupid people. Having said that, I do not drink every day.

6. “If you liked being a teenager, then there’s something really wrong with you…”
What did you like about being a teenager?

At the time? I agree with King: not a hell of a lot. Looking back, I would love to have the freedom and health now that I had then.

7. “Nobody likes a clown at midnight…”
What do you like at midnight?

Sleep. Deep, uncomplicated sleep.

8. “It is the tale, not he who told it…”
Who is your favorite teller of tales or jokes?

I kinda like King, to be honest--his columns in "Entertainment Weekly" are usually really good. I have several other authors I like, and a few comedians, but George Carlin was tops. Sigh.

9. “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool…”
Were you ever conned or fooled into a scam?

I have an older brother; do I really have to say more??

10. “If fear cannot be articulated, then it can’t be conquered…”
What do you fear?

Being found out. That's as articulated as I can get.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
What's In a Name?

1. Your Superhero Name (2nd fave color + fave drink): Red Stoli

2. Your Peace Name (Zen + your last peace globe #) OH! Don't have one yet? Go here. Zen 0 [took me awhile to find the appropriate post...I think I have it linked there, but I'm not joining for oh-so-many reasons...sorry...not that I don't think it's a worthy cause...]

3. Your American Idol Name (fav car and seafood) Jeep Scallop

4. If you could pick another name for yourself, what would it be? Cat Loger, middle initial A.

5. Your Twitter Name (Chirpie + your favorite bird) Chirpie Finch

6. Name 1 thing you wish you'd said today that would have made your day go better? "I'm going up to take a quick nap."

7. Go HERE to find your Royal Name and reveal it to us. The Pretty Lady Annete [oh vomit--I suppose I have to wear pink, too?!]

...suspect I'll spend the week in the dungeon due to lousy attitude issues.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
Are ya ticked off?

1. What ticked you off last week while you were on your way somewhere?

I seem to have discovered ALL the slow drivers on my way to work last week. Hopefully they have made it out of the county by the time I go to work tomorrow.

2. Who in your house really ticked you off and how did they do it?

I was unhappy with Beast on Saturday for sleeping late. Not because he slept late per se but because I didn't want to heat the oil in the truck up by doing my errands and mess up his oil-changing plan.

3. What politician or political event really ticked you off last week?

Honestly? I'm more annoyed with NON-politicians right now, though the paid pols are pretty irritating in and of themselves of course. To pick one person, I'll go with Virginia Thomas. WTF, woman, WTF??

4. Tell us what ticked you off on TV last week.

Cris Collinsworth was FUCKING ANNOYING last night during the football game. Could he BE more up Favre's butt?

5. What ticked you off online last week?

One of our local candidates for sheriff and his absolute moronic take on "police business" kinda make me want him to win just so all the officers have the opportunity to walk out on him.

6. What celebrity ticked you off last week and how?

Don't believe I've been that pissed off at any celebrities lately. They're mostly just totally pathetic.

7. Tell us something food related that really ticked you off.

Can't think of anything, except that I can't seem to stop eating unhealthy food. But that's not the food's fault.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)

If you could go back in time what would your current day self tell your 18-year-old self?

Have a blast in college and join everything!

Name one thing you could do to improve any important relationship in your life.

I could go visit by brother and explain to him that he has really pissed me off and try to work out our relationship. Or we can agree to go our separate ways. But at least we'd have some clarity.

If you were guaranteed honest responses to any three questions, whom would you question, and what would you ask?

Building on #2, I'd ask my brother what gives. I guess I'd reserve the other two: I can't think of anything to ask anyone else right now.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) How far back can you trace your family tree?

My mom got back to the 18th century with her side. My dad...only back to about 1850.

2) What's your favorite comfort food, and why?

Bread bread bread, sugar sugar sugar....

3) Does listening to people with different accents than yours bother you? Is it hard, or fun?

It bothers me when I'm tired, but usually I really enjoy them, trying to figure out where they might be from and so forth.

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

For some reason, it reminds me of England, even though I've never been on any part of the coast that looks like this. Looks lovely though, doesn't it?

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7
Name seven TV dads you’re glad you didn’t have as your real father.

1. Archie Bunker
2. Ozzie Nelson
3. Fred Sanford
4. Homer Simpson
5. Darrin Stephens
6. Al Bundy
7. George Jefferson

This was harder than it looked.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Sarcasm :: Snideness
2. Coke :: "No Coke. Pepsi."
3. Frank :: ...Burns
4. Party :: ...Like a Rock Star
5. Witches :: ...of Eastwick
6. Intentional :: Purposeful
7. Crisp :: Crunchy
8. Lockers :: Gym...
9. Walking :: Ambulatory
10. Fundraiser :: Bake Sale

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
I'm So Proud

1. What are you proud of?

My son, my husband, the work I do, even myself sometimes.

2. What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize? How did you win it?

The only thing I've ever won, that I remember, is a Thanksgiving turkey when I was about 13. It was sheer luck; I don't even remember entering the contest.

3. Tell us about something you've done that in retrospect was a waste of time.

There are some people that I should have been much more forthright with from the git-go.

4. How old were you when life changed the most for you? How did it change?

It just keeps happening. It changed when my brother went to college, when I was 8. It changed when I decided to go to college 1000 miles away from my parents. It changed when I met Beast (though I barely noticed). It changed when my dad died.... In fact, the rate of change seems to be increasing, which I'm not thrilled with.

5. Tell us about a place you that you've been that you considered to be very tranquil.

Moosehead Lake, Maine, is absolutely the quietest place ever. I miss it.

6. Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

I don't watch the news, because they never tell me anything I want to hear or care about. Except the weather. And emergencies.

7. If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it? Why?

I would love to rename the town in which I live, though my choice for a name would definitely be considered insulting by all, but at least it would be an HONEST-TO-GOD full-fledged community at least.

8. What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

Why are we so much meaner to people we are close to than strangers?

9. When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

I move to a different venue and read or do crosswords for as long as it takes.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Who was most likely to have told you stories when you were a child?

I had four older siblings and two parents. I heard stories ALL my life. However, when it comes to books, there were lots of those as well. The quantity award goes to Dad who read to me every night, lying on the floor with his head against the couch so I could comb and style his rapid-thinning hair. The quality award goes to Jean who read "above my reading level" including Winnie-the-Pooh and Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.

2. Did the stories more often come from a book or were they just told from memory?

Oops, pays to read ahead, doesn't it? ...sorry. I had both. I remember the book-stories more, I think, though because as a kid the family stuff was just boring to me.

3. What book did you most enjoy being read from as a child?

All of them. I really wasn't fussy about books, don't remember EVER turning one down.

4. What specific story did you most enjoy hearing?

I have clear memories of "The Little House" (Virginia Burton) and "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang (Ian Fleming).

5. Take the quiz: Which Winnie the Pooh Character Are You?

OWL!

The wise sage of the Hundred Acre Wood (or wherever you happen to live). You like to talk and read, and people probably come to you looking for advice. You always help them out.

OK, so that's a huge surprise, isn't it?

6. If you were babysitting a child who asked you to tell a story, which one would you most likely tell?

I would allow them to choose their favorite book, or tell them a made-up story of my own depending on the child in question.

Fun

You Are Crazy Fun

Wherever the fun is, you'll find it. You're always looking to have a good time! You're especially fond of adventures - the wilder the better. You are quite the daredevil. You don't have many inhibitions, and you're trying to shed those that you have left. You love to get your heart racing. You think danger can be a thrill, and you've been known to behave recklessly.

What Kind of Fun Are You?

This is an ... interesting ... result. Not sure there's a lot of accuracy here; I'm certainly not a physical daredevil most of the time.

Rock 'n Roll Fridays

(Link in meme-roll)
Hits of the 50s

1. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
“Put your glad rags on and join me hon' / We'll have some fun when the clock strikes one. / We're gonna rock around the clock tonight / We're gonna rock, rock, rock till broad daylight.”
What artist was the last live concert you went to see?

Any kind of concert: Sparky's final band concert last year. And he's not doing band this year. ...sigh. Last rock concert was U2. We are going to see TobyMac/Skillet/Shonlock in about 3 weeks. Stoked for that.

2. Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
“Got a girl named Sue. / She knows just what to do. / She rocks to the East, she rocks to the West / But she’s the girl that I know best!”
If you had to live on the East Coast or the West Coast, which would you choose?

West. Not even a contest on this. The Pacific is warmer (where I'd want to live anyway), and I'm a Western kinda gal.

3. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
“I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations / Well I called my congressman and he said / Quote: "I'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote"”
Have you decided who to elect for the Senate in your local elections?

My real response is "None of the above"--most of them are proven crooks and liars (or nuttier than a Snickers bar), though so far none of them have caught the attention of the national press (so, clearly, I'm not in Delaware, right?). Once again, I'm back to voting against the worse choice, not for my first choice. 

4. Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
“I chew my nails and then I twiddle my thumbs / I'm real nervous, but it sure is fun / C´mon baby, you're drivin' my crazy”
When was the last time you chewed your nails and twiddled your thumbs?

I bite my nails regularly--it's a bad habit I've had for over 30 years at this point. Twiddling doesn't happen very often, mostly in the car to calm me down. As a passenger. ;-)

5. Earth Angel – Penguins
“I fell for you and I knew / The vision of your loveliness / I hope and pray / I'll be the vision of your happiness”
Did you fall in love quickly with your significant other?

Hah! Not. He annoyed the shit outta me at first. Rather like he does sometimes now. lol

6. Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
“Hey diddle diddle, I am playin' my fiddle / ain't got nothin' to lose / Roll Over Beethoven and tell Tschaikowsky the news”
What is your favorite classical music selection?

For nostalgia and other reasons, I like the "1812 Overture." But I also like most of what Bach and Beethoven wrote, and as a flutist Vivaldi seemed to come around fairly often in my playlist.

7. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
“I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill”
Where did you find YOUR thrill?

This song NEVER fails to remind me of Richie Cunningham. I don't think I heard it in its original form until years after "Happy Days" was off the air. To answer the question, I'm afraid that's classified information and I'd have to kill you if I told you.

8. The Great Pretender – Platters
“Oh yes, I'm the great pretender / Pretending I'm doing well / My need is such / I pretend too much / I'm lonely but no one can tell”
Do you pretend that everything is fine when on the phone with your family/friends so not to reveal your true situation if it is not so rosy?

[And this song reminds me of the Freddie Mercury cover...so sad...] I don't talk to my family on the phone very often; they don't ask, I don't tell for the most part. Seriously, the only person who semi-regularly asks how things are going is my oldest sister, so she's the only one I tell. My brother's a class-A jerk, and everyone else is a niece or nephew and we rarely talk. Sucks to get old(er). Poor me. /pity-party Close friends know the scoop, and I frequently vent about stuff on my blog(s), though I haven't posted in so long on my other blog that I might as well cancel it....

9. Charlie Brown – Coasters
“Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown / He's a clown, that Charlie Brown”
Who is your favorite PEANUTS character and why?

The older I get, the more I relate to Charlie Brown. Snoopy used to be my favorite, and Linus is hard not to love. But I think today I'm going for Schroeder: all he wants to do is what he wants to do and people just keep getting in his way!

10. Poison Ivy – Coasters
“Measles make you bumpy and mumps’ll make you lumpy / And chicken pox’ll make you jump and twitch / A common cold’ll cool you but whooping cough’ll fool you / But poison ivy’s gonna make you itch”
Do you have any allergies? If not, did you get a Flu shot this year?

I am allergic to cats, dogs, mold, various pollens (the major problem due to my location is corn), some trees and grasses, dust, massive applications of scent, and God-only-knows what else; I think I'm developing a little corn-as-food intolerance, too. Can't have morphine, either, though that's not an allergy; it's more of a "my body doesn't process it well plus it doesn't work" thing. The only time I'm unmedicated for allergies is January and February, and even then I have to be careful. I did get a flu shot, Beast got one as well, and am debating whether I should have Sparky get one too.

11. Love Potion No. 9 – Clovers
“ She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink / She said "I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink" / It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink / I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink”
What is the worst thing you ever drank?

My mom had some weird, old-fashioned formulae for illnesses when I was a kid. I don't remember any of them being particularly good-tasting, but the worst thing I return to is Nyquil, but ONLY when I'm really at my wits' end with a cold. I'm also not a fan of drinking coffee.

12. Get A Job – Silhouettes
“After breakfast, everyday / she throws the want ads right my way / And never fails to say / Get a job / Sha na na na, sha na na na na”
Have you ever been unemployed? If so, how did you find a job?

I have been VERY lucky in my employment in my life, at least in this way. The only time I was unemployed was by choice after Sparky was born. I shudder to think about searching for a new job. It would be so much easier to be a bitch and sabotage the boss. Not that I'm likely to do that--things aren't quite to that level yet, nor will they be any time soon--because I would like to NOT HATE MYSELF for the rest of my life.

13. Sixteen Candles – Crests
“You're only sixteen (sixteen) / But you're my teenage queen (you're my queen) / You're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen”
How did you celebrate your 16th birthday?

It was very 50s, actually: my parents drove me and 3 friends to a movie ("Time After Time"), picked us all up and we went back to my house for cake and ice cream. Don't think there was a sleepover, don't remember any gifts from anyone, just the movie and sitting around the dining room table gossiping about classmates.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Holy Moly

1. What gives you the heebie-jeebies?

Tea-Baggers, and willfully ignorant people in general.

2. When were you most recently in double trouble?

I dreamed last night that I was walking a fine line at work, which is only an inflated view of reality; I don't think my boss would appreciate most of the thoughts I've been having about her this month.

3. What puts you in the mood for some hanky-panky?

Nowadays, it's any extended absence of teenagers in the vicinity combined with any extended presence of Beast in the vicinity. Those are not always easy to coordinate.

4. What easy-breezy task is still a pain in the neck to accomplish?

Mopping. Doing it isn't that big of a hassle, but vacuuming the floors ahead of time, moving furniture around, etc., just make it a big YUCK.

5. What area in your life seems especially rife with mumbo-jumbo?

See #2. Yesterday's 3-hour staff meeting wasn't too awful because The Boss only spoke for about 45 minutes total. But every time she opened her mouth I wanted to either throw up, hit her, or take a nap. She is the Department of Euphemisms and Repetitive Redundancy.

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
Irritant les Choses de Cette Semaine

1. My boss is making me nuts. Scratch that: I'm allowing my boss to make me nuts. This must stop. The things she's been doing this week could fill have this list...but I'll refrain from enumerating them.
2. Seeing Psycho Boss's name in my emailbox this morning, thanks to Linked In. No, I didn't add her to my list. Tempting as it was. Not.
3. Beast is determined to kill himself with stress. There are numerous things I could do to relieve a great deal of that stress. But he's unwilling to a) ask for help, and/or b) let someone else do anything that he can do [better] himself.
4. My brother. I wrote a question on his Facebook wall a couple of days ago. No answer yet. But he has commented on our nephew's "relationship news" on Facebook.
5. Impatient people who email and then IM me, within 5 minutes. *
6. Beast insists on texting me from the road with EVERY single thing that's going on with him: "Going into my meeting." "Stopped for gas." "Going to lunch." "There are a bunch of pigeons on the roof of the hotel." While I'm at work. Trying to, y'know, work. Really. SHUT.IT.dude.
7. Politicians. Too much of Teh Stoopud, though fortunately no local candidates have made national news. Still, we have no choice whatsoever in our senatorial candidates, and one of the guys running for county sheriff is a complete asshole who outed an undercover car this week on his private blog, and refuses to understand how dangerous that is.
8. Health management companies whose websites are misleading with basic information (like phone numbers, hello?), byzantine in their answering machine situation when you do get the right number, and staffed by people who "don't know" but will check. +
9. Myself for things left undone. Most of which I can finagle, but some of which have sailed without me.
10. Sparky for having to be reminded every day to feed his pet. So freakin' annoying. #
11. My state. It has no money. It owes the cities, schools, social service agencies, libraries, and probably the king of Tongo millions of dollars in funding to keep things running. Mostly, I just try not to think about this, but when I can't avoid it, it wigs me out a bit.
12. I've gained back all the weight I lost last year.
13. Some (new) chick at Walgreen's doesn't know how to use the computer to look up names. Even when I spelled the first part of my last name she couldn't find me. Because I "didn't say there's a hyphen. I need to know it's hyphenated." First time in ten years someone hasn't been able to find it. She then asked me if I wanted her to CHANGE MY NAME in the computer in order to match my name. Uh, no, because that IS my name, and YOU shouldn't be authorized to change names in any case! O . M . G . Stupid dingbat.

________
* This was a very good friend, but it happened when I was right in the middle of something that required concentration, and between idiotic texts from Beast. Camel + last straw = you know the rest.
+ The actual people I spoke to were doing the best they could, and in most cases were brilliantly helpful, but the non-human parts of the interaction were ridiculous, especially being directed to call another number to make an appointment...the number I was given was for the County Health Department.
# In most other respects, Sparky has been fabu this week. He even made 6 dozen cookies on Tuesday pretty much without any input from me.

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
I See Dead People

1. Berleen is sending you away again. You can travel anywhere in the world; one destination per day from Friday through Monday. Where do you go and why?

I'm going to posit Star-Trek-style transporter technology, ok? So, starting with Friday: Puerto Vallarta; Saturday: Sydney; Sunday: Nairobi; Monday: Venice. Why? Because I want to.

2. Would you keep a secret from the closest person to you if you thought it was in their best interest?

Of course. Have done and am currently doing, in fact, in multiple cases. No, I'm not going to spill any of that here, either. lol

3. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you that you have not revealed in some other crazy meme.

I don't know if I've never 'revealed' this, but I can sing the alphabet backwards at the same speed as I can forwards.

4. You can have three wishes (for yourself, so forget all the 'world peace etc' BS) - what are they?

1. Enough money to pay off the mortgage and buy a new car outright; 2. All my component body parts--those remaining today--renewed to their 16-year-old age, except my brain; 3. The ability to really properly help Beast, who is drowning in stress and on the fast track to imploding. This is not selflessness (only) on my part: I don't want to have to pick up the pieces when the inevitable happens.

5. If you could change anything about your living situation, would you?

I'd probably buy a new bed, but otherwise, I'm good.

6. Who is your favorite character from a comic strip? Please post one strip for us to laugh at.

I don't really read the comics anymore.

7. Now we have found you dead. What five people do you want to MEET in Heaven?

All four of my grandparents, and Uncle Del.

8. So since you are dead, what will the title of your life story be?

"Good Enough"

9. Word association time! What's the first thing that comes to mind when you see the word pleasure?

Principle.

10. Kimber is by the Arizona ocean. She finds a message in a bottle. What does it say?

"You don't know much about geography, Kimber."

Wednesday Wickedness

(Link in meme-roll)
Christine O'Donnell

1. On why she's anti masturbation: "If he already knows what pleases him and he can please himself, then why am I in the picture?"
Have you ever heard a stupider statement? If yes, when?

Oh, yeah, I have. This is just juvenile, pretty much 13-year-old reasoning at its shiny-best. Unfortunately, a lot of people stop thinking around that age, and their next coherent thought is "Hey, I wanna run for political office!"

2. “Physics put people in spiritual harm the way pimps put people in physical harm.”
Do you believe that prostitution should be legalized?

Actually, this statement is waaaayyy stupider than the first one. Unless that first word is mean to be "Psychics" in which case the statement is stupid but at least makes sense grammatically that way. Should prostitution be legalized? Uhm, well, I wouldn't be against it, I guess. I definitely think if it remains illegal, instead of (or along with) arresting the hookers, we should be printing their clients' pictures in the paper.

3. “We took the Bible out of public schools. Now we're having weekly shootings. We had the 60s sexual revolution and now people are dying from aids.”
What benefits do you think the 60s' sexual revolution has given us?

Civil rights, birth control, rights for women, discussion of sex instead of keeping everything hidden and putrid. [We're having weekly school shootings? Really? Oh, wait, those were going on in the 70s, as well, but we blamed desegregation back then....]

4. “The Bible says that lust in your heart in committing adultery.”
Do you think having a sexual fantasy when you're married or part of a couple is wrong?

I don't really care what other people are doing in their sex lives, nor do I feel the need to tell y'all what is going on in mine. If a fantasy life makes a couple enjoy each other more, hey...whatever keeps the ball rolling. So to speak. Ahem.

5. On co-ed dorms: “What's next? Orgy rooms? Menage-trois rooms? Coedness is like a radical agenda forced on college students.”
Have you ever been asked to participate in other than a one on one sexual experience?

Oh.Dear.God. I lived in a single-sex dorm, but most of the dorms at my CHRISTIAN- (i.e. Presbyterian-)sponsored college were and are co-ed. And what, perchance, is a "menage-trois" room? A three-person room? Those aren't uncommon at many, many colleges. This dingbat is really way, way, way, WAY hung up on sex. Moreso that Bud is.

6. “Creationism, in essence, is believing that the world began as the Bible in Genesis says, that God created the earth in six days, six 24 hour periods. And there is just as much, if not more, evidence supporting that.”
What is your favorite dinosaur? Why?

Has she bothered to read Genesis 2:4-25? Yeah, didn't think so. My favorite dinosaur is Cera, even if she is a little bossy, or maybe Ducky.

7. “I dabbled in witchcraft. I hung around people who were doing these things. I'm not making this stuff up."
What's the strangest thing that you “dabbled” in?

I charted several people's astrological info about 20 years ago. Very time-consuming. Kinda retarded. Fun in a classically OCD way. By the way, hanging around people who are "doing things" does NOT make you a dabbler; it makes you a spectator.

8. "I am not a clone of Sarah Palin. I have my own thoughts."
How different is Sarah Palin's political agenda from your own?

Night and day. The sad thing about this particular asshat is that she makes Palin look like Einstein.

9. "American scientific companies are cross-breeding humans and animals and coming up with mice with fully functioning human brains."
What animal would you like your brain cross breed [sic] with?

That is so totally NOT how cloning works. I'm not even a scientist and I know this. She absolutely has to stop watching CSI:NY. I think my brain would do well in a bird, especially lately.

10. "[H]omosexuals [are] getting away with nudity! They're getting away with lasciviousness! They're getting away with perversion!"
Have nude homosexuals ever interfered with your day?

No. Damn. Well, except on the cover of the occasional DVD we've bought. Honestly, though I wouldn't know if the random nude I ran across was gay or not just by looking unless s/he was actively engaged in sexual behavior. Has Asshat noticed how much lascivious and perverse HETEROsexual behavior is going on?? Oh, wait, yeah, that would be those quotes up above. ...sigh. This country is fuckin' going to hell.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
The Threes Meme

3. Where were you 3 hours ago?

Right here, reading the most idiotic blog ever, written by a local crank who is running for sheriff, and who 'outed' an undercover vehicle for no good reason today. Moron.

3. Is there anything pink within 3 feet of you?

The handle of the nail file on the table next to me is pink, unfortunately.

3. Name the 3 scariest places in the world.

Top of my desk here at home, any random middle school, and (scariest) inside my boss's brain.

3. Name the 3 loveliest sights you've seen lately.

My son making cookies by himself this evening, the ugly water tower across the way being disassembled, and the completed slate of Elders for next year.

3. Name the top 3 Bands in the year you were born.

The Beatles, Lesley Gore, and The Kingsmen.

3. Walk to your front door. Go outside and get in your car. Drive 3 miles East. Describe 3 things you saw on your way.

If I did that right now, all I'd see would be dark roads. If I did it in the daytime, I'd see the notice of a new baby born (apparently) to a family of one of the firefighters, about 7 Road Construction Ahead signs for one small bridge that's out near our house, and lots of dried-out cornstalks.

3. I, Queen Mimi, have sentenced you to a 3-day diet of your most sinful cravings. [In w]hat will you be partaking?

Lots and lots and lots of sugar and carbs: sugar cookies, pop-tarts, and ... well, uh, Stoli, I guess.

3. Go back to question #3. Change the first word to "travel" and let me know if you survived. I'll hold a room for you in the dungeon in the meantime.

I think I'll just head directly to the dungeon. I need a nap.

nothing to do meme...

(Another swipe from Kwizgiver)

1. What is the closest item near you that is blue? If you don't count my blue jeans, then it would be the Sam's Club cup on the table next to me.

2. What is your favorite color? Blue.

3. When is your birthday? In about 25 days.

4. When did you last go to the mall? Probably been about 3 months, unless you count the strip mall where we went to got our rings checked in August.

5. When was the last time you bought a pair of pants? TODAY!! I bought, uh, 4 pair, in fact. Yee-haw!

6. What do you want for your birthday? I dunno. Some of the stuff I bought today might as well be birthday stuff. I also need an earring tree since I broke mine a couple of months ago.

7. Who will be your next kiss? I'll probably get a bedtime kiss from Sparky. Unless I really piss him off in the next hour or so.

8. What was the last candy you ate? Uhm? Mini Snickers a couple of days ago.

9. Are you wearing socks right now? Nope, but I do have a blanket over my feet.

10. When was the last time you went out of the state? Last weekend I was in two states outside of the one in which I live.

11. Have you been to the movies in the last 5 days? Nope. Some things don't change.

12. What was the last thing you had to drink? I'm drinking my 87-cent Diet Coke from Sam's.

13. What are you wearing right now? Dow black long-sleeved T, blue jeans (mentioned above), underwear, rings, hairband....

14. What was your last purchase? A hot dog at Sam's right after I dropped $180 on groceries, etc., there.

15. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Beast, about 10 minutes ago.

16. Have you bought any clothing items in the last week? $200 worth, today.

17. Do you have a pet? Sparky has a guinea pig. I may have mentioned that.

18. What's the last sporting event you watched? Hm, actually it was a race yesterday. Somehow, I missed football all day yesterday. Hmmmm....

19. What's the most played song on your iTunes? I have iTunes issues, ergo, n/a.

20. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be? Here. Now.

21. What is the last thing you purchased online? Baby shower gift, and books.

22. One thing you hate about yourself? My apparent inability to take proper care of myself.

23. What's your favorite soup? Chicken tortilla.

24. Do you miss anyone? Every second.

25. Last play you saw? Been awhile...maybe uh...ok, I don't know.

26. What are your plans for the day? At this point, continue to catch up on DVR'd shows and then go to bed.

27. Last person you msg'd? Beast & I texted a few times before he called.

28. What do you know about the future? It can't be stopped, and it will be unexpected.

29. Are you wearing any perfume or cologne? Just stinky body lotion and some body spray in my hair with the same stink (to cover up the smoke smell from last night).

30. Where are your best friends located? All over. Somehow, I've ended up with best friends who aren't very nearby. Poor planning on my part.

31. How old do you want to be when you have kids? Maybe about 30? lol

32. Who was the last person who made you cry? Myself.

33. Do you have any tattoos or piercings? The same two earlobe holes and no ink.

34. How do you like your soda? Fizzy and cold, though not necessarily icy.

35. Do you like hot sauce? I do, though I'm not sure if it likes me much anymore.

36. Next time you'll take a shower? In about 10 hours. I promise.

37. What was the last movie you watched at home? Uhm...don't really know. Been awhile. I'm kinda stuck on the TV shows.

38. What is your mood? OK. Wish I felt better.

39. What kind of car do you drive? Ford Ranger. Jonesing for a Jeep, though.

40. Have you ever been to Virginia? Yes, about three years ago.

41. What are you doing right now? Watching CSI:NY from a couple of weeks ago.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
The Tag and the Tagee

1. Are you living the dream??

Yup. Sho'nuf am.

2. Is this what you imagined your life would be like?

Well, not exactly. But in a way it's pretty damn close.

3. I'm coming for dinner, what will you make for me??

Dinner reservations.

4. What's your favorite cuss word?

Fuck.

5. Tell me one thing you would change about anyone's blog and why?

I would take access away from one very hurtful, self-involved, narcissistic woman who burned one bridge too many.

6. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?

Incoherence. I can even handle weird grammar and random typos, but jeez, make some sense, yo?

7. What's your favorite tv show this season? I need a new show! :)

Hawaii Five-0 is turning out to be fun.

8. What's your favorite 'down' time {nothing computer related}?

Reading. Doing crosswords or Sudoku. Soaking in the bathtub.

Manic Monday

(Link in meme-roll)

What work of art best describes your personality?

This one works....

What was the high point of last month?

I don't remember last month. That's a bit sad, eh? Time is passing in a not-very-enjoyable fog lately. The only fun thing I can remember from September is that Amy visited.

What do you think is the single best decision you've made in your life so far?

Hanging in there in spite of massive homesickness during my freshman year of college.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Are you brand conscious about toilet paper, or is whatever’s on sale good enough?

I used to always buy Scott. I was asked a few years ago to switch to Charmin, and we now buy the giant rolls of Charmin Strong. Whee.

2) When was the last time you washed all the windows in your home inside and out?

Ironically, Beast washed the all the outside yesterday, and all the inside upstairs windows. We need to finish the insides this week. Before this, it's been a couple of years. Bad us, eh?

3) What's the funniest movie you've ever seen?

"Heathers" made me fall off the couch and stop breathing due to laughter.

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

Public Domain Photo

This looks to me like a Persian rug with a very intricate pattern. But it's not. But if anyone has seen this pattern in a rug, please let me know.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7
Name seven TV moms you’re glad you didn’t have as your real mom.

1. Ironically, the lead is the reason for the question: June Cleaver (Leave It to Beaver)
2. Harriet Nelson (Ozzie & Harriet)
3. Margaret Anderson (Father Knows Best)
4. Donna Reed
5. Jane Jetson
6. Edith Bunker
7. Peg Bundy (Married With Children)

All absolutely HORRIBLE role models for daughters! Who the hell vacuums in heels and pearls?! Thank you God for not cursing me with a spineless, cookie-baking, living-through-her-offspring mother!!

My choices for Super Moms (or at least Realistic Moms):

1. Lucy Ricardo (and all her other iterations)
2. Samantha Stevens
3. Morticia Addams
4. Shirley Patridge
5. Carolyn Ingalls
6. Ann Romano
7. Marge Simpson

I should add that, for the most part, I only chose moms in shows I've actually watched.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Another 50 Questions Meme, Part Two Indeed!

26. Do you like someone?

I.HATE.THIS.QUESTION. Who can't answer this question yes? Who would admit there is NO ONE they like. For GOD'S SAKE, people....
Yes, I'm a little cranky. Who told you?

27. The last song you listened to?

Probably "Taste and See" at church.

28. What time of day were you born?

Late at night, I think. I don't remember.

29. What’s your favorite number?

Varies between 16 and 3, and also 8.

30. Where did you live in 1987?

Sh0rew00d, WI.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

Not particularly. No energy for it right now.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

Should probably ask them rather than me. I wouldn't know.

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

At church, then at home for the rest of the morning.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Swear. Find another machine or go hungry/thirsty.

35. Do you consider yourself kind?

In spite of the tone of this blog sometimes, yes.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

If I "had" to, I would be very unlikely to be allowed to pick, would I??

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

Latin. I mean, who'd know if I were fluent or not anyway. ;-)

38. Would you move for the person you loved?

Have done. It's Beast's turn to move for me.

39. Are you touchy feely?

I have tendencies that way, yes.

40. What’s your life motto?

Get r done. Keep the whining to a minimum. Forgive myself and others.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

Hair, finger- /toenails, skin.

42. What’s your favourite town/city?

Since we're spelling it British, I'll go with London.

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

Breakfast on Friday, I guess.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

Years and years ago.

45. Can you change the oil on a car?

Nope. To be fair, I could be taught, so give me half an hour with Beast and I'd be able to.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

I haven't been able to track him down; he's got one of those very common names and he left our school district before graduating from high school. Oh well.

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?

My mom was able to trace her side back about 200 years and then got stuck. Dad...not so much, just his grandparents.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

Gotta be Mom's memorial service last fall. Yes, my once-a-year skirt-wearing.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

Ha ha ha ha. Lots of things hurt. My muscles seem to be in full-scale rebellion, from scalp to ankles.

50. Have you been burned by love?

Of course.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Freak :: Chic (few people under 40 will get this I suspect, hence the link)
2. Homework :: Studying
3. Favor :: Request
4. Encounter :: Meet
5. Shake it :: Metro Station
6. Felony :: Misdemeanor
7. Loops :: Hoops
8. Groove :: Record...
9. Funding :: Financing
10. Plot :: Gunpowder...

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. If you had to choose between being married to someone you no longer loved with no chance for divorce or separation, or being single forever, which would you choose?

Why do I no longer love this guy? Is he abusive, or do I still like him but don't want to be married? I mean, there is a lot going on here that is unexplained in the question, so I'll stick with him for the time being. Marriages have a way of cycling through some weird periods and I'd rather stay the course than jump out of some sense of needing more drama. Having said that, if he was hitting me (or hitting on other women), I'm gone.

2. If you had to give up either the use of your arms or legs, which would you choose and why?

Tempting to immediately say legs because there are always wheelchairs, and no longer being able to type OR write would suck. Can lose one of each?? Like, my left arm and left leg? That might not be so bad.

3. Which annoys you more: poor grammar or poor spelling?

I tend to notice poor spelling much more quickly. For instance, an admin on a Facebook page just posted something about "sewing and reaping" and I had to restrain myself from screaming at them in a comment. It also depends on the context: public information should be RIGHT, but if you text me something like "i cant go bc im 2 busy 2nite txtme tmrw 4 u cal" I'm not going to flip out.

4. Which would you enjoy more in an arcade: a video game or a pinball machine?

Pinball.

5. You have the chance to spend time with a close friend: would you prefer to spend time one-on-one over a homemade meal or in a nice, quiet restaurant?

I don't really care, honestly, but if there is cooking involved it's going to go better if s/he cooks. ;-)

6. For one month, you can only communicate with those around you electronically: would you choose email or texting, and why?

Email. Though this week we haven't had net access at home because of some work on the wireless tower antenna we use. We are/have been poaching a signal off a neighbor. That's my next task: checking to see if our signal is back yet. We'd better get a discount on our bill this month!

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Spooky

1. Does anything about Halloween “spook” you?

Nope. I'm not wild about kids stealing jack-o-lanterns from porches and busting them up, but it doesn't spook me.

2. What is the favorite costume you have ever worn for Halloween?

Probably the zombie. I went all out that year at work: bought a second-hand dress to destroy, wore loads of fake blood and gray-green make-up all over. Awesome. Much better than the lame M&Ms that two coworkers chose.

3. What is your favorite thing about Halloween?

Seeing the little kids on our porch.

4. What one topic is (or was) the most painful to discuss with your parents? Why?

With Dad, it was politics; he was liable to get emotionally torn up about raising 5 left-wingers. With Mom, it was how I lived my life. I never felt like I was good enough; she was always finding something to be critical about.

5. What was the happiest day of your life? Do you think you'll ever top it?

College graduation, wedding day, several days with Sparky as a child, many of our vacations ... I can't find One Perfect Day that stands out, but I've been fortunate enough to have had many. And I hope to have many more.

6. What animal would you like to be able to communicate with?

Birds. I would love to know what they talk about. About five minutes ago, one flew into the glass on a window, then perched on the sash and looked in at us for a good ten seconds. Why?

7. In what way do you come nearest to perfection (as you define it)?

When I'm not thinking about being perfect, just trying to improve on past performance.

8. Do you have any recurring nightmares?

Not anymore.

9. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be and why?

See question #4. As a parent now, I understand what Mom was about, but OMG...just once I would have appreciated an unqualified "attagirl" from her. What is the most frustrating is that I keep doing the same thing to Sparky and seeing the hurt and frustration on his face that I experienced.

Fall Meme

(swiped from Kwizgiver, who swiped it herself...and so it goes)

Have you turned the heat on in your house yet this fall?

My understanding is that Beast turned it on yesterday to burn off the dust while all the windows were open. We haven't needed to use it for heat yet, though.

Do you allow your pets on the furniture?

When we had a dog, and when she was allowed in the house, she was hard to keep off the furniture! Ruka occasionally runs the couch, but not very often; he gets too excited and poos. However, nowadays, it would be silly for me to allow most other animals on our furniture since I'm pretty much allergic to all of them.

What were your final words for September?

I tend not to talk to manmade time constructs (heh), but I was glad, as always, to see October arrive. Last Facebook post was

...so freakin' behind at work.....

What are your first words for October?

OK, clearly I'm two weeks late on this meme.... My first Facebook post of the month was‎

"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindness there is at last one which makes the heart run over." --Dr Samuel Johnson

Do you think you’ve ever seen a ghost?

Nope. No floaty white things drifting past. Perhaps some personification of memory in other forms, but no ghosts.

What is the one color that represents this time of year?

I can't choose one color. One of the reasons I like fall is the different colors of leaves: dark green, brown, yellow, light green, red, orange...all along the roads and paths.

Which of your senses do you think is most sensitive this time of year?

Touch. Less humidity + more temperature changes=more feeling.

What is your favorite thing to do at the county fair?

Ours happens in early August, and my favorite is the 4H exhibits and the animals. I also like the races and demo derby kinds of things, and the funnel cakes. We haven't gone in a few years though. Maybe next year.

What do you like when you have a cold?

Sleep, soft kleenex, and Sudafed.

Are you willing to spend over $100 for a piece of winter clothing, like boots or a coat?

I don't think I ever have, not quite, but if I loved it and it would last till I was 90, I might.

What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

Clutter. It never really goes away, even when I clean.

What gripes do you have about this time of year?

I'm going with Kwizgiver's answer: it doesn't last long enough! This year has been exceptional, however.

Other than yourself, are you responsible for getting anyone ready in the morning?

Not anymore. Sparky gets himself ready. Frankly, he's always gotten up with the sun, so it hasn't been an issue for years. Sometimes I have to remind him to do some basic morning stuff, but he's usually pretty reliable nowadays.

When was the last time you cleaned your gutters?

Our trees are nowhere near tall enough around here to be messing with our gutters. I think Beast looked at 'em last year, though. He's OCD about some stuff.

So, it’s after Labor Day. Will you still be wearing white?

I've never really paid a lot of attention to this, but I don't own a lot of white clothes in any case.

What shows are you most looking forward to this Fall?

The NCISes, CSI, CSI:NY, Survivor, TAR...and Hawaii Five-O. Do you see a theme? I'm really mostly excited about football season, to be honest.

What three things have you just not gotten around to from the summer, but probably should do before snow flies?

All our windows need washing, inside and out. It would be lovely to have the gardens tidied up, but they sorta fell by the wayside this year in a HUGE way. I'd like to have my truck looked at: I think the clutch may be dying, or at least slipping.

Why I haven't been here much lately:

You Are Driven Stressed

You have a lot of stress in your life, but a lot of it is your own doing. You put a lot of pressure on yourself. You have high standards, and you won't stop until you meet them. You can become work and goal obsessed. You sometimes suffer from too much micromanagement. Slow down and give yourself a break. When it comes to stress, you are your own worst enemy.

What Kind of Stressed Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist [how ironic is this?]

And there you have it...

...but now I'm going to go ahead and do some Saturday memes....

Random Dozen

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Is there a word which you initially mispronounced? Were the circumstances in which you made the faux pas embarrassing? By the way, that's not "foax pass." (I know you know that. Just jokin' with ya.)

I took a long time to 'unlearn' "mis-cheev-ee-us." The longest I've gone speaking wrong is the word "epitome" which I read as "ep-i-toam" until about 15 years ago even though I had heard, and used, the word "ep-it-oh-mee" prior to that.

2. How do you feel about the use of texting shortcuts and trends? (ex: "I've got ur notes. Get them 2 u 2morow.")

I use them all the time, when I'm texting. Like tweeting, there is a limit in length of each text message. So I shorten things to fit more into one text rather than pay for two. The above could be rewritten as: I use em a lot wn I'm txtg. Like twtg, thr is a lngth lmt f ea txt msg. So I shrtn2 fit me in 1 txt rthr thn py 4 2. OK?

3. Tell me about your high school senior picture. Please feel free to post.

I don't have it scanned in anywhere, so you'll have to believe that I had a Princess Die haircut and was standing at a fence looking over my right shoulder in 3/4 view. Not smiling. Looking more or less as if I knew what shocking thing you'd just lied to your mom about.

5. Share a high school or college homecoming memory.

I only went to a homecoming dance once, in college. It wasn't all that, not even a bag of chips. In high school, I marched in the parade, and attended and marched for the halftime show of the game.

6. Linda at Mocha with Linda wants to know: "Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?"

I prefer sunrises.

7. Lea at Cici's Corner asks, "What is something you have not done that you desire to do?"

Go to the gun range with my nephew and fire a few guns with his supervision.

8. Carol at Wanderings of an Elusive Mind ponders, "If you could come back [in another life] as an animal, which would it be?"

Wolf.

9. Joyce from The Other Side of the Pond is curious: "Where were you 10 years ago?" Please feel free to elaborate more than just your physical location.

I was working at my current POW but doing entirely different work: delivering to shut-ins, acting as the YA librarian, working mostly evenings. Sparky was in 2nd grade, the Year from Hell.

10. When you are proven to be correct in any contentious discussion, do you gloat?

No. I probably have a smug expression, but I've tried really hard to excise "I told you so" from my vocabulary. Except with my son. He NEEDS to be reminded that I'm right once in awhile.

11. What is your favorite food which includes the ingredient "caramel?"

I like caramel candies, but I like caramel apple pie, caramel topping on ice cream, and GS Caramel Delights cookies.

12. From my 17 year-old daughter to you: "If you could be part of any fictional family, which family would you choose and why?" (She's so cute. And clever.)

I think I'd have to go with Tim the Toolman's family. It would absolutely be normal: the boys annoy the shit out of me, just like brothers should, Dad is sort of annoying, and Mom is awesome.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
It's a Numbers Game

1. Do you ever play the lottery? If so, what are your lucky numbers? Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.

I don't play the lottery. I've bought exactly 1/2 ticket in the past 25 years; yes, I went in with someone else and we lost. I don't really believe in lucky numbers, anyway.

2. Did you do something special on 10/10/10 yesterday? I heard that lots of people got married. Are all of you still the same status as of today?

Same status. I did all kinds of fun stuff: church, football, baby shower, sleep.

3. "I've got your number!" Who would you like to say that to or who is the last person you said that to?

Sparky, yesterday. Pretty weird: I don't say it very often!

4. How many sheep do you count before you fall asleep?

This has never worked for me; I get way too involved in counting. Normally, I do crosswords or Sudoku till I'm dozing, then I drop it quickly, hit the lights and zonk out.

5. It's almost birthday time for the Queen. Do you believe that age is "just a number"....or is it something else more insidious and frightening???!!! **I am suddenly having a panic attack**

The alternative to getting older isn't great. I'm going with the lesser of two evils on this one for as long as is feasible.

6. How many zeros are in a trillion?

12

7. How many sixteenth notes does it take to equal a whole note?

16

8. (because I can) How many 8 balls are on a pool table?

1

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
The 6 best pieces of advice

1. Someone playing this meme has music playing on their site and it is disrupting what you have playing on your computer while you play this wonderful meme. What's your best advice to people who auto-play music on their site?

OMG, I loathe all sites with auto-play music! Not just blogs; I'm talking about any site--excluding obvious music sites, of course. My advice: Turn.It.Off.

2. What is your best advice to someone thinking about getting married?

Spend time with the other person under adverse conditions. Talk about the big stuff: kids, religion, politics, etc. Be honest with yourself. Don't settle. If you promise something, follow through. Otherwise, as my dad put it, "You made your bed, you'd better be ready to lie in it."

3. What's your best advice for someone wanting to purchase a new phone?

Consumer Reports. Talk to friends. Don't let the salespeople schmooze you.

4. What's your best advice to offer to the younger generation?

Do hard stuff, think outside yourself, and get over yourself as soon as possible.

5. What's your best advice for anyone wanting to buy a car?

Same as the phone: research, and talk to friends. Don't be bullied.

6.What's the best advice to give to everyone?

Trust yourself, and laugh often.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What would you say to your 16-year-old self, and why?

Shuddup and listen!

2) What scent (candle, soap, perfume) do you think should be banned because it’s just so annoying?

Axe, and generally [men's] cologne. Or, alternatively, remind men (people) that ONE SQUIRT is MORE THAN ENOUGH!

3) Who do you hope remembers you fondly?

The youth group kids. Although, perhaps not "fondly" precisely. It's more like I hope I've been a decent role model.

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 totally love fall, and the best part of this season is the crunchy leaves.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7
Name seven of the 25 Diet-Busting Foods you’d have the most time giving up permanently.

1. Bread--sorry, it's just not gonna happen
2. Cinnabon--though there aren't any sold nearby so it's a treat to have them nowadays
3. Flavored chicken bits--if you peel or scrape off the caloric covering, these aren't bad for you at all. Not that I actually do the peeling or scraping consistently of course
4. Fettuccine Alfredo--it's a must, ok maybe not daily, but at least a couple of times a year
5. Calzones and their ilk (hello, Panza Rotta)--again, I can't eat these daily, but it's not a visit to our college town without a stop for a 'ponz'
6. Chips--they cite flavored potato chips, but I'm a huge sucker for Cheetos. Sigh...yum
7. Pop-Tarts--ironically, I just came back from a run to buy ribbon for a gift during which I grabbed a box of pop-tarts. This household is totally addicted

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)
Another 50 Questions Meme, Part One (perhaps)

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

The first time I saw myself in the mirror, I didn't really look. The first time I registered myself in the mirror was after my shower and I was just thinking about the drops I was putting in my eyes.

2. How much cash do you have on you?

Right now, none. There's about $150 in my wallet, give or take.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

'Floor' was the first one that popped into my head, followed quickly by 'more.'

4. Favorite planet?

I'm sorta-kinda partial to Earth.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

No clue; my phone is charging in the other room. It's probably Beast, though.

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

"Sweetest Thing" is for Beast and Sparky. "Get This Party Started" is for all the other tight friends. Rachmaninoff for my family. "Catchafire (Whoopsie-Daisy)" for the youth groupers.

7. What shirt are you wearing?

"Feed Your Need to Read" polo.

8. Do you label yourself?

I try not to, but it is sometimes rather unavoidable.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?

I'm barefoot. It's 80 outside.

10. Bright or dark room?

I prefer lots of light, as much as possible in fact.

11. Did you do anything to celebrate John Lennon's 70th yesterday?

I drove 5 hours round trip to a Jesuit university for a 90-minute tour; the school is 45 miles from my house. Lennon didn't even cross my mind, not once, pretty much guaranteed.

12. What does your watch look like?

Uhhh, it's round...I haven't really paid much attention to it for over 2 years because I rely on my cell and computers for time/date. It's a man's watch (women's watches SUCK--way too small!).

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Snoring gently.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

I have no idea. It was probably from Sparky saying he was on his way home from the football game Friday night.

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?

About 20 miles away. The nearest store like a 7-11 is 3 blocks away, but I have to drive a mile to get there. Can we please go back to a grid street system in this country?? PLEASE??

16. What’s a word that you say a lot?

"The", "a", "to"....

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?

Without using those words, our pastor's wife. Specifically, probably Sparky when we left for church.

18. Last furry thing you touched?

Does my hair, or that of my family, count? Otherwise, probably Ruka a few days ago.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?

I take a multivitamin and two (different) Z pills daily. I've also had some Tylenol and aspirin I think.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?

What is this "rolls of film" of which you speak? We just developed two last month, though, from old cameras. (also, "need developed"?? really?)

21. Favorite age you have been so far?

Either two years older or two years younger than I currently am. Regardless of what age I was, I have never been comfortable there. When I was 12, I wanted to be 14 and now I'd like to be 45.

22. Your worst enemy?

P L O C K

23. What is your current desktop picture (extra points if you post it)?

Out our back door about 18 months ago at sunset:

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?

The last meaningful thing I recall is "Dibs on the bathroom" because Sparky seemed to be headed (pun intended) in there in front of me. We have three. He can climb the stairs if he needs to!

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

Fly.

Unconscious Mutterings

Link in meme-roll)

1. Intruder :: ...alert! (ty ST)
2. Repelled :: Answered
3. Trench coat :: ...mafia (hello, media overkill)
4. Lipstick :: ...lesbian
5. Humongous :: Ginormous
6. Oven mitts :: Hot pads
7. Case :: ...by case
8. Daughter :: Son
9. Attorney :: Lawyer
10. Shaken :: ...not stirred

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Hush

1. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?

I can do either. Whatever the situation calls for.

2. Do you take compliments well?

I'm better at it than I used to be, but it's an effort.

3. Are you judgmental?

Of course. Name one person who isn't. I try hard to be aware of my more obnoxious tendencies in this area and keep them under control.

4. Do you think more about the past, present or future?

Probably future. I am slowly learning how to be comfortable in the present.

5. What do you hate?

Mean-spiritedness.

6. Use three words to describe yourself.

Tired, bossy, impatient.

7. Do you celebrate Halloween? Explain:

Occasionally, we haul out some decorations. We hand out candy. It's not my favorite holiday to participate in, but I guess I'm dressing up in costume this year because I work that day. ...sigh...NOT my idea!

8. If you were mixing up a witches brew, what would be in it?

Stoli. Frozen.

9. If you're in a room with two beds, which one do you sleep on?

The most comfortable one. lol OK seriously, I need to be next to a table, so beyond that I'm not too fussy.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. You order takeout from a favorite restaurant. You’re at the counter paying for your dinner by credit card and the host hands you the charge slip that includes a blank for a tip. Do you leave one for takeout?

Nope. Why should I? They did nothing but box it instead of plating it (requiring a lot less hassle) and bring it to the cash register.

2. You’re having dinner at a restaurant you’ve never visited before and you receive poor service, a wrong item on your plate and you have an inattentive waitor [sic]. Do you leave a tip anyway, or would you leave nothing?

I would leave the minimum tip, and ask to speak to the manager. If I had time. In my experience, this sort of thing tends to happen when I don't have time to mess around.

3. You’re under the weather and you decide to make a doctor’s appointment: how likely are you to search the web for your symptoms and walk in with your own diagnosis already in hand (or in mind)?

100% likely. I diagnosed my own thyroid condition, several of my allergies, and more than one instance of strep throat--though the latter was experience not internet investigation.

4. You see a drug ad on television promoting a “miracle cure” for a condition you know you have. How likely are you to contact your doctor and ask about that specific medication?

Not. Ever. I'd prefer to avoid meds advertised on TV. I take one that is regularly mentioned, but not because of anything I saw on TV.

5. A cell phone company sells you a phone that fails to do something you feel is basic. They advertise a money-back guarantee, but the fine print says there’s a $35 “restocking fee” for returning the phone. How much are you likely to fight that charge because of the phone’s inability to do what you need it to do?

Naah, I'd just deal. My current phone doesn't have speaker-phone capabilities, which is annoying at times, but...it'll break eventually and I'll ask about that next time.

6. You decide to buy a new computer, and there are two computer stores in town: one has low prices and an almost-absent sales floor staff, and the other has higher prices but very friendly, helpful staffers. You decide to get information from the well-informed staff at the more expensive store. If you knew you could save 25% or so by going to the cheaper store, how likely would you be to buy from the more expensive store that gives you better service?

I live in the middle of nowhere. I will be buying online or driving 15 miles to the nearest Best Buy. And I will be happy to save money on something I know how to fix, but I'll buy local, and small, on things I can't fix myself.

Rock 'n Roll Fridays

(Link in meme-roll)
U2
My favorite band. And my favorite song is included in the list. :-)

1. ANGEL OF HARLEM “Blue light on the avenue, God knows they got to you. Empty glass, the lady sings, eyes swollen like a bee sting. Blinded, you lost your way.”
What were you drinking the last time you got drunk?

I'm sure it was Stoli. It usually is. Maybe LIIT, but my tolerance for that is fairly low: too sweet.

2. BEAUTIFUL DAY “You love this town even if it doesn’t ring true, you’ve been all over and it’s been all over you.”
What do you like about your favorite town/city?

The people, the scenery, the sense of action and activity, the millions of things to do and see every day, the transit system, the food....

3. DESIRE “Desire. She’s the candle burnin’ in my room, yeah I’m like the needle, the needle and the spoon. Over the counter, with a shotgun pretty soon, everybody’s got one, I’m in a fever when I’m beside her.”
What do YOU desire right now?

Peace and quiet, no walking for a day or so, and a break in the schedule for Beast.

4. I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR “I have climbed the highest mountains, I have run thru the fields, Only to be with you, I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls, only to be with you.”
How do you exercise?

Walking. Pretty much that's it. Some stairs. Mostly walking. And more walking.

5. NEW YEAR’S DAY “All is quiet on New Year’s Day. A world in white gets underway. I want to be with you be with you night and day. Nothing changes on New Year’s Day.”
What was your most eventful New Year’s Day? Did anything change?

I marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade decades ago. That was pretty momentous. Not sure anything changed except the sense of accomplishment.

6. ONE “Did I disappoint you or leave a bad taste in your mouth? You act like you nevr had love and you want me to go without. Well, it’s too late tonight to drag the past out into the light. We’re one but we’re not the same.”
What has left a bad taste in YOUR mouth lately?

Stupid drivers.

7. PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) “Early morning April 4, shot rings out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life. They could not take your pride. In the name of love.”
This song was about Martin Luther King Jr. Who is YOUR inspiration?

It's also about Jesus. Ahem. Need I say more?

8. SECONDS “In an apartment in Times Square you can assemble them anywhere. Held to ransom, hell to pay, a revolution every day.”
What was the last club, group or gang you joined?

I'm so much NOT a joiner. The last "official" joining I did was my church 16 years ago. Unless you count professional organizations, which I mostly join to save money at conferences.

9. SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY “And it’s true we are immune when fact is fiction and TV reality. And today the millions cry. We eat and drink while tomorrow we die.”
What is your favorite “Reality” TV Show?

I like Survivor and The Amazing Race. That's about it. Used to love Real World and Road Rules until it turned into a show about who can scudge up the hot tub more times and share the most diseases.

10. SURRENDER “She tried to be a good girl and a good wife, raise a good family, lead a good life. It’s not good enough. She got herself up on the 48th floor. Gotta find outfind out what she’s living for.”
What are/were the 3 best qualities of your mother?

Stubbornness, pride, work ethic. Although nowadays...God knows. Literally.

11. THE SWEETEST THING “My love, she throws me like a rubber ball. Oh the sweetest thing. But she won’t catch me or break my fall. Oh the sweetest thing. Baby’s got blue skies up ahead, but in this, I’m a raincloud.”
What is the coldest, harshest thing you ever did to a significant other/partner/husband/wife?

Told him the unvarnished truth.

12. THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE “These city lights, they shine as silver and gold. Dug from the night, your eyes as black as coal. Walk on by, walk on through, walk till you run and don’t look back.”
What was the last night time activity YOU participated in?

I expect that would be sleep, no?

13. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU See the stone set in your eyes, see the thorn twist in your side. I wait for you. Sleight of hand and twist of fate, On a bed of nails she makes me wait, and I wait without you.”
What is your favorite magic trick?

I like the sawing people in half thing. Gory, corny, confusing.