*Did anyone tell MLB that it's just mean to start the Cubs season on April Fool's Day?

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Nope. I'm way to average-looking, and I don't break the law, or do anything else that would bring me to the attention of a cop.

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters? Nope. Can't see anyway: I take my glasses off.

3. When’s the last time you’ve been sledding? Years and years ago. No more of that for me.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? Depends. There are up- and down-sides to both choices.

5. Do you believe in ghosts? Nice timing in view of the Thursday Thunks this week. No.

6. Do you consider yourself creative? Not visually creative, no. Creative in other ways, like problem-solving, yes.

7. Do you stay friends with your exes? 25 years and counting with my husband. What exes?

8. Do you know how to play poker? Yes. And I'm pretty good at it. Apparently I fake stupid well.

9. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? Not...quite.

10. What’s your favorite commercial? I like the gecko ads.

11. What are you allergic to? Cats, dogs, pollen, grass, dust, mold, smoke...sigh.

12. If you’re driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around do you run red lights? See #1. No.

13. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? More than one. Who doesn't?

14. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? A mallet to the back of my head for the entire MLB season.

15. Have you ever been ice skating? Yup. I suck at it.

16. How often do you remember your dreams? At least 3-4 times a week.

17. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? Within the last couple of weeks. Actually, we saw Ben Bailey--the Cash Cab guy--live recently, and yeah, some good laughing there.

18. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles? Of course. Way more than five. And like Kwizgiver, I can sing 'em too.

19. What’s the one thing on your mind now? This stupid headache that I've had all day. It's not BAD, just neverending.

20. Do you know who Ghetto-ass barbie is? No, nor do I want to.

21. Do you always wear your seat belt? Yes.

22. What cell service do you use? Spring.

23. Do you like sushi? Feh! NO!

24. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident? Yes. A few times.

25. What do you wear to bed? Pajamas. The ones I'm wearing now, in fact.

26. Been caught stealing? Nope. Haven't done it enough.

27. What shoe size do you have? 9.5 or 10.

28. Do you truly hate anyone? Nah, way too much energy use for me.

29. Classic Rock or Rap? I'll listen to either, if it's good stuff, but I really like Pop.

30. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? Nope. I have NO, zero, ningún, interest in becoming a target for paparazzi.

31. Favorite Song? A Mighty Fortress.

32. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror? Of course.

33. What food do you find disgusting? Raw meat of any kind.

34. Do you sing in the shower? No. Do people actually do this? I don't know anyone who does.

35. Did you ever play, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours"? Not in the "doctor" sense of this, no.

36. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? 'Tis the thing to do. I'm not proud of it.

37. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew? Yup. I tend to do it regularly at work.

38. Have you ever been punched in the face? Nope. Slapped, hard, no closed-fist action though. Thank God.

*post title quoted from Murphy a.k.a. @thatbillygoat on Twitter

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
What I Did Today

1. Update catalog stats report for Library Board
2. Update blog with stats
3. Create new counting sheets for T. and me + new withdrawal counting sheet for V.
4. Update list of new OCLC/barcode #s
5. Delete expired order records and forward list to section CollDev people
6. Run NEW THIS MONTH lists in Millennium
7. Run list of ITEMS IN PROCESSING BY DATE
8. Run DUPLICATE ORDER/ITEMS list (Bib list, order 19 = w AND item 79 HAS [us]; use current On Order list)
9. Clean up On Order Spread Sheet—delete all ‘red’ items
10. Compile numbers for collection development budget spreadsheet—copy into Excel budget worksheet for the month, then sort by cart name (and mat type for media) (don’t forget to check for multiple copies!!!)
11. Check subject headings list
12. Check closed death dates
13. Check Names/Dewey/LC/Typos/Series listserves

See why I love Stats Day?!

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)

1. If all the world is a stage, where are the audience sitting?

God's the audience. And us. It's kind of theater-in-the-round.

2. Taken from InsanityCafe Forums: If ghosts exist and are around us now, what happens if all life on Earth is destroyed? Would ghosts remain or also be destroyed? If ghosts are energy and energy on the planet is destroyed, wouldn't it destroy ghosts?

There are lots of different forms of energy even on a 'dead' planet. Without energy matter wouldn't exist. I don't really get how it all works, but then again I don't really believe in ghosts, either.

3. How do you know you live in the real world?

I don't. Know, I mean. I live in my real world, most of the time, though.

4. What the best/worst April Fools Day joke that has ever been played on you? Same question for one that you have played on someone else.

I don't really care for April Fool's Day. Clearly I'm boring and tedious. Move on....

5. If you could pick the last year of your life, which would you pick and why?

What? Are you asking at what age I want to die? How about...uh, 92.3 years old. Actually, I really just want to be really alive all the way to the end.

6. April showers bring May flowers. Have you ever been stuck in a rainstorm? Of course.

Even in Colorado, it rains occasionally. Around here, it rains virtually every day in the spring.

7. Grapes. Green or red/purple? Seeded or seedless?

Seedless. I kind of like red ones. Not purple; red.

8. Someone knocks at your door asking where your neighbor lives, calling your neighbor by name, do you point them in the right direction?

I ask if they have the neighbor's address. If so, I point. If not, I would probably say I don't know.

9. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, What can you touch?

The edge of the end table.

10. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

I came home from work about 3 hours ago. Had to walk outside to the car. And, I guess, I had to walk sorta-outdoors to get into the house, if you count the garage with the door up "outdoors."

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Who is your best friend, and why?

Gotta be Beast. We have been through so much together, and we have put each other through so much, that we are in this marriage thing for the long run. Better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness, health...yup.

2) What was the last good book you read?

Full Dark, No Stars (by Stephen King). I just like the way he writes.

3) Do you know how to tell the difference between edible mushrooms and poisonous ones?

Nope. I'm not much of a fan of them. But I'm pretty sure the ones that sprout in my yard are not safe for me to eat.

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 love this photo; the spider is so delicate and beautiful and graceful. I live in the nort-lands so spiders are not that fearful here; I refuse to kill them when I see them because they eat mosquitoes. As do bats. My goal is to have a bathouse somewhere in our yard, maybe two, and have the least skeetery yard in the area.

Quickie FitB

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)

Outside my window... it's dark and cold.

I am thinking... about nothing; still fuzzy-headed from the nap.

I am thankful for... small (and large) favors.

From the kitchen... to the living room, the floors in this house need to be swept and mopped.

I am wearing... red shirt, brown pants, tie-dyed sox and the usual accoutrement.

I am creating... a list of things we need to drop big money on. It's not pretty: living room furniture, car, washing machine, hotel rooms/souvenirs/meals on vacation, wedding gift...

I am going... to smack my smart-mouthed son this week at some point. It's a foregone conclusion.

I am reading... two books. No, three. Well, four if you count the one on the Nook.

I am hoping... that everything goes swimmingly on our trip, and FIL doesn't get sick.

I am hearing... Ruka squealing because Beast just opened the fridge and crinkled something plastic.

Around the house... are lots of bushes that need trimming.

One of my favorite things... is leftover cold pizza. Guess what's for dinner tonight!

I don't understand... how teenage boys think.

I wish... the next few days were over. Nothing like dropping $20,000 in one fell swoop to make employment look like a gift.

A few plans for the rest of the week... paying my ticket, retrieving my license, buying a car, worrying about Sparky while he's on his college overnight "tryout," covering for people on vacation at work, looking over financial aid packages....

A picture to share... of my childhood house (thank you, GoogleMaps):

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The 5000 Question Meme, Part Two

26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?

Beast took me car-shopping (looking, really, but wevs) and bought me lunch.

27. Do you have a lot to learn?

Well, yeah, isn't that the definition of life?

28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?

Keep my weight and health at their optimum, weeding the yard, and keeping the house clean and tidy.

29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do, or how other people make you feel?

Realistically, I think it's how I feel around people that sticks with me, but I usually point to actions or words that solidify the first impression.

30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?

Forgiveness, laughter, and passion. Perhaps even in that order.

31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?

See my grandbabies, fly a plane, and be less lazy.

32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?

A long life filled with nothing but pain, seeing my son seriously and hopelessly injured or ill, and surviving a nuclear bomb.

33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?

I believe that women should be treated legally the same as men. Or rather, I believe it would be instructive to everyone if men were universally treated like women under the law.

34. What does each decade make you think of?

Are we talking age or calendar? I have no idea what this is about, but I probably enjoyed myself the most in my late 30s/early 40s, but my heart belongs to the '80s.

35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?

Again, age or calendar? The last ten years have been great, but my teens were pretty special.

36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?

Rock: "Spinning Wheel" (BS&T). Pop: "Georgy Girl"

37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?

U.S. Barack Obama.

If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?

Hold the line. Just hold the line.

38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?

I never turn on the TV in the middle of the night. Yes, seriously.

39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?

Jafar? I certainly have his laugh. Maybe combine that with the Evil Stepmother/Queen in Snow White; my cooking is sometimes about that good.

40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?

I was a Girl Scout for all of about 18 months. I think I spent more time at my brother's Boy Scout events when I was tiny.

41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?

Fly. I don't have time for a ship. Unless it's a cruise.

42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?

Refraction, reflection and shadow. Go read wikipedia and stop bugging me.

43. What does your name mean?

Just checked my given names. In total my name means something like Black Flowery Death Companion.

44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?

Outer space. Can't swim.

45. Word association
What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:

Air: Breathe
Meat: Steak
Different: Same
Pink: "Dear Mr. President"
Deserve: Earn
White: ...Flag
Elvis: Old School
Magic: ...Wand
Heart: Soul
Clash: Casbah
Pulp: Orange...

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?

I'd love to ask the apostle Paul what in the world he was on about.

47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?

Most of the people I meet ARE alive, so... pretty much the same as ever.

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?

Nope. Yuck. Sounds like hell to me.

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?

A pillow and blanket, my Nook, some Dr. Pepper, food, a LARGE bucket with a lid, my MP3 player a pen or two, empty notebook... Nothing very surprising.

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?

Nothing dramatic, just the usual sense of "there but for the grace of God" stuff.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Recommendation :: Suggestion
2. Toilet paper :: TP
3. Scissors :: Shears
4. Blaze :: Fire
5. Frame :: Picture...
6. Process :: Manufacture
7. Flight :: Airline
8. Irish :: Scottish
9. Glasses :: Contacts
10. Campaign :: Political...

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
 A Long December

1. Looking back at it now, how were your holidays and your time on New Year's Eve?

I think they were super-fab and awesome. Don't remember any drama at the time. I like drama-free, probably because any get-together with my nearest relatives tends to be VERY fucking DRAMATIC.

2. Do you have any unusual collections?

I have a LOT of S&Ps and even more dust.

3. If you could train a machine to do one thing for you whenever you wanted, what would you have it do?

Worry. Wouldn't it be wonderful to just dump all those things that keep you awake at night into a machine just before climbing into bed?

4. What is one thing that makes you cry?

Children who are hurt.

5. What do you love to do on the weekend?

S L E E P in past 7.

6. Do you and your family get along?

My household gets along fine. I get along great with my British rellies, and my oldest sister. My brother is a pain, one of my nieces is a fucking nightmare (see #1 above) as is her father, but everyone else is great.

7. Have you ever gotten kicked out somewhere? If yes, do tell.

I once was not allowed into a seedy bar in a working-class neighborhood in Milwaukee because I was wearing Harley-Davidson leather. In Milwaukee. Where they build Harley engines. And I looked TOTALLY like a biker in my jacket, of course. [not]

8. Who do you normally turn to when you need to complain about something?

Beast. Isn't that part of the marriage contract: "...love, honor and listen to incessant whining..."?

9. What is the last thing you ordered on-line?

Wow ... uhm ... thinking.... Oh, duh, ebooks for my Nook, on Wednesday.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Some people believe in making grand plans for their own future. Some have a 10-year plan, others have a 5-year plan, and some have only a 1 or 2-year plan. What kind of plan do you have, if any?

I have never had a plan. I suck, big-time, at this sort of planning. I think my problem is that once I have a plan, I want to get started and finish the program in one big push, which (I know) doesn't work with long-term planning. And it frustrates me not to finish things, so I don't even start things if I'm just going to get frustrated.
That's my excuse anyway. And I'm absolutely AWESOME at organizing, so that makes up for the planning thing, right?

2. Are your closest friends more likely to within your gender or the opposite?

Within, though I have several close male friends. It's odd; there was a period a few years ago when lots of my close friends were guys. Me, the girl in school who could barely speak audibly to guys. That guys-club period of life was an odd one.

3. What is the last printed periodical — newspaper or magazine — that you read on paper?

I was reading last week's Entertainment Weekly about 20 minutes ago.

4. Of the last ten times you communicated with your phone, which of the following types of communication did you use the most: phone call, text message, tweet or Facebook posting?

I don't have a data package on my phone, so no tweeting or Facebooking for me. I think I run about 90% texts on average.

5. You decide to make Jell-O for dessert: which flavor is your favorite?

Hmmm, lime? I go more by color than flavor. Green and orange are favorites, though I like red just fine as well. My dad couldn't stand jello; my husband hates it too. Who says we don't marry our parents?

6. If you could arrange a private showing of any classic film at a big theater to experience it the way theater-goers did when it was actually on the big screen, which film would you choose?

Do we have to dress up the way they would've in those days? Yuck.
Uhm, how about The Wizard of Oz. Everyone could bring the whole family. If it's adult-only, I'd go with Nosferatu or Psycho.

Rock 'n Roll Fridays

(Link in meme-roll)
John Lennon

1. Gimme Some Truth “I'm sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight, shortsighted, narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth”
What is one undeniable truth in your life?

I'm going to be dead someday, and that day is getting closer and closer.

2. Instant Karma “Why in the world are we here?
Surely not to live in pain and fear
Why on Earth are you there
When you're everywhere
Gonna get your share”
Why in the world do you think you are here?

This week my purpose seemed to be to make money for other people.

3. Out of the Blue “Out the blue you came to me
And blew away life's misery”
Has anyone ever came out of the blue for you?

Oh yeah. It's amazing who comes out of the woodwork when I'm in dire straits.

4. Jealous Guy “I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy”
Tell us about a time when you were jealous.

I...uh...can't remember a time when I was really jealous. I was slightly annoyed at a long phone call Beast had with a coworker MANY MANY years ago (like 20).

5. Mind Games “We're playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth”
When was the last time someone played mind games with you?

Shit, feels like every day someone at work is messing with me. Usually the same person, too. Since I don't play games, I find this really frustrating.

6. Imagine “Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger a brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing for the world”
What's your favorite possession?

My house. My truck used to be up near the top. Not no more. :-(

7. Working Class Hero “They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be”
How did you get along in high school?

I got along just fine. School was my forte. Still is, for that matter.

8. I'm Stepping Out “Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta get out
I'm stepping out, babe
Just a while
Ain't been out for days”
When was the last time you went out on the town? What did you do?

We went out tonight as a matter of fact, and saw a semi-famous game-show host-slash-comedian.

9. Steel and Glass “Well, your mouthpiece squawks as he spreads your lies
But you can't pull strings if your hands are tied, hey, hey”
Who was the last person who spread lies about you?

Don't know, don't care. See mind games, above.

10. God “God is a concept
By which we measure
Our pain”
How do you conceive “god”?

Depends on the day, really. Sometimes, as George Carlin said, God is a lift in my shoe. Sometimes, God is not something I'm sure I believe in. I do believe in God, but sometimes I don't. I think Lennon has a point; God is an exacerbation and/or an amelioration of the human condition.

11. I'm Losing You “Here in some stranger's room,
Late in the afternoon,
What am I doing here at all?”
Have you ever cheated on a lover or been cheated on?

Nope. Life's complicated enough; why make it even messier?

12. Whatever Gets You Through the Night “Whatever gets you through your life 'salright, 'salright
Do it wrong or do it right 'salright, 'salright
Don't need a watch to waste your time oh no, oh no”
What gets you through the night?

Sleep, with assistance of earplugs and a comfy bed.

13. Give Peace a Chance “Everybody's talkin' 'bout ministers, sinisters
Banisters and canisters, bishops and fishops
Rabbis and pop eyes, bye bye, bye byes”
What's everyone talking about where you live?

The fuckin' weather. Ugh. I mean, really people? It's spring; the weather is iffy and usually cloudy and miserable. This is NOT a surprise.

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Would you try a dog food flavored jelly bean? What about skunk spray or vomit flavored?

No. Way. Who needs that kind of shit?

2. Are any keys on your keyboard worn off?

The curl on the J is on its way out, but that's it, aside from a bad case of shininess on some of the keys.

3. Why are the lids on coffins nailed/locked/sealed? Are we afraid they are going to get out?

Well, sorta. Bodies do sometimes bloat. The real question is why so many people spend so much money on coffins that never decay. What a waste of space and money.

4. True love. Define it.

Caring deeply for someone else in a way that doesn't diminish yourself.

5. Where is the strangest place you are ever fallen asleep?

I can't think of anywhere particularly strange. The older I get, however, the easier it is to drop out in seconds.

6. A doctor walks up to you and says "I will change anything you want ... big or small... doesn't matter how much it costs, I'll do it for free!". What do you have him fix or change on your body?

Let's get those allergies fixed up, but the key here is my immune system, so start there.

7. The last picture you took - share it. Well, if it's not something we would probably find in Bud's recent photos.

It's on my phone, and believe me I am no in the mood to deal with downloading it and posting it here.

8. Blue or black ink. Your preference?

Black. But really, I prefer pencil.

9. You are walking down the sidewalk on a city street and you see a little girl, about 3 or 4 years old, she asks you if you can tie her shoe for her. What do you do?

Nope. I would not touch her, but I would call 911 and stay with her if her minder wasn't evidently present.

10. What channel numbers are ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX for you?

Uh...well, I can access ABC on channels 7, 12, 17, or 27; NBC on channels 4, 5, 13, or 15; CBS on 2, 3, 23, or 58. I don't watch FOX. Ever.

11. Did/do you have any marriage deal breakers?

Abuse or jail time = goodbye.

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
Leçons de la semaine

1. Pay attention while driving. Two seconds' distraction is enough to cause all kinds of havoc.
2. Be careful what you wish for. I was vaguely wishing for a new (i.e., different) car. Well, looks like I'll be getting one.
3. Don't take ANYthing for granted. It's a hard way to live, but everything can, and sometimes does, change in a heartbeat.
4. Good neighbors and friends are worth gold and diamonds.
5. The house phone ringing at 10 p.m. is almost never good news.
6. When someone you love asks you to keep a secret from someone else you love, it's a terrible situation to be put into.
7. Don't wait till a month before a big vacation to book hotels if you want to have a decent choice. Unless you don't mind paying a fortune.
8. I should definitely NOT consider a career as a bookkeeper or accountant. All those numbers in a spreadsheet, while manageable, give me a giant headache AND make me anxious.
9. Quick-prep foods are REALLY FREAKIN' SALTY! Holy cats, I could've drunk a gallon or more of water yesterday afternoon after heating up and eating one of those Marie Callendar's things!
10. I like "Bones." I like bones, too, but I'm talking about the TV show.
11. Not having my own wheels has some benefits: I got some good fellowship time in the church kitchen yesterday, and I'm eating less crap (#9 notwithstanding).
12. Some weeks, I just need to not worry about not being able to get traction at work. Getting nowhere SUX, but it's part of life.
13. I need to clean this house. Soon. And well.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
The Mimi Moon Meme

1. Did you take a picture of the moon SuperMoon Saturday evening? If so, please post it. If not, steal one and post it.

Nope. And nope.

2. Have you ever howled at the moon?

Nope.

3. Do you believe that feelings and emotions are affected by the changes in lunar phases? (i.e., children misbehave, lovers misbehave, tempers fly)

According to every study I've read, there's no proof, but it sure FEELS like the full moon bring out the crazies.

4. In the language of astronomy, the two extremes of the moon are called "apogee" (far away) and "perigee" (nearby). Who or what would you like to be apogee and who/what perigee? (Crikey! I can now talk moon talk!)

Apogee: People who don't think about politics, just spout their favorite talking head's blather. Perigee: Beast.

5. Name a famous moon walker.

Uh, Michael Jackson?

6. Scientists claim there is no relation whatsoever between a Supermoon and natural disasters. Yet we have experienced tsunamis and earthquakes in the last 7 days on Earth. Do you believe them?

Nope.

7. Creedence Clearwater Revival sang about the evil of the moon. Is there a Bad Moon Rising in your life?

Seems there may be. Crap. Not a great prospect.

Feelin' ill

(Found here)
60 Things You Can't Possibly Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? Not much--we emptied it this afternoon while we were waiting for the tow truck to arrive.

2. When was the last time you threw up? I believe it was December. Maybe January. And before that, July last year. Not fair, twice in one year.

3. What's your favorite word or phrase? "I don't care, what you do want?"

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today? Sparky, Pam, Lisa.

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? I was running around trying to get ready to leave.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Talking to Beast on the phone.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club? Uhm, no? If so, it made no impression on me, and I suspect it would have done.

9. What is the last thing you said aloud? Uh...wow. No clue. Something to Sparky about the show we're watching.

10. What is the best ice cream flavor? Peppermint.

11. What was the last thing you had to drink? Working on a diet Dr. Pepper.

12. What are you wearing right now? White sox, jeans, Triennium T-shirt.

13. What was the last thing you ate? Jelly beans.

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Nope. Well, yeah, but not for myself--Sparky's shoes fell apart so he now has new shoes.

15. When was the last time you ran? I trotted through the library on Saturday at one point.

16. What's the last sporting event you watched? NASCAR, yesterday, briefly. Wait, no--the satellite was crap so we listened. So, I guess NASCAR on Saturday maybe. Obviously nothing I was really invested in.

17. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Somewhere I could be someone else for awhile.

19. Ever go camping? Yes. Yuck. NOT a fan!

20. Have you ever lost anything down a toilet? I can't think of anything.

22. What is your guilty pleasure? Guilt being the operative word ... everything.

23. Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot? When I feel they are necessary.

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw? Sometimes.

25. What did your last text message say? Me to Beast: "No cuz then Harry's Law starts. Call now - we r just veggin."

26. Are you someone's best friend? I think so. I try to be.

27. What are you doing tomorrow? I am supposed to go to work. If I still feel like shit, I might not go, or I might not stay the whole day. We'll see.

28. Where is your mom right now? In the wind.

29. Look to your left, what do you see? My phone, lots of paper, and some other random stuff.

30. What color is your watch? What is this 'watch' of which you speak?

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia? Warmth. Both temperature and personal.

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster? Well, yeah, of course.

33. Birthstone? Topaz.

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive through? Drive thru.

35. Do you have any friends on facebook that you actually hate? Nope. There is one that I added strictly because he is, more or less, my boss but I don't hate him. I'm just careful what I say!

36. Do you have a dog? No. {{sniffle}}

37. Last person you talked to on the phone? Beast.

38. Have you met anyone famous? Yes. Well, sorta famous.

39. Any plans today? It's 10 p.m. My plans for "today" are over. And thank God for that.

40. From whom did you get this? Please see the link at the top.

41. Are you happy? Oh, that's pretty hysterical, today. No.

42. Where are you right now? On the couch in my living room.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Myself.

44. Last song listened to? No clue whatsoever.

45. Last movie you saw? Even less of a clue than the previous one.

46. Are you allergic to anything? The world.

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? I have several. I love shoes.

48. Are you jealous of anyone? Not really.

49. Are you married? Yup.

50. Is anyone jealous of you? Oh, hell, who knows. Probably.

51. What time is it? 10:02 p.m. according to the clock on my computer.

52. Do any of your friends have children? Of course.

53. Do you eat healthy? Hah. Not even close.

54. What do you usually do during the day? Get things accomplished.

55. Do you hate anyone right now? Only one person. And hate is a pretty strong term: I'm 'very disappointed.'

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Yup.

57. How many kids do you want when you're older? One seems like the answer I have been given.

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 48.

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags? A few times. {eyeroll}

60. How did you get one of your scars? It's a good bet that most of the small ones are due to lack of coordination, i.e., falling down.

Shocking, truly shocking

You Are a Book

You are a[n] very intellectual and logical person. You like to think, and a lot of your thinking is quite deep. You are both philosophical and idealistic. You think it's interesting to imagine how the world could be. You enjoy spending a good deal of time alone. In fact, you tend to go sort of crazy if you don't get your space. While you may seem distant, you care very deeply for humanity. You're trying to figure out how to save the world.

Are You a Book, Magazine, or Newspaper?

Seriously, who is surprised by this result?

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
....more random questions

1. Are you concerned at all with the possibility that radiation leaks could head your way?

From Japan? Not so much; I'm pretty sure it will dissipate before it makes it to the mainland US. Mostly. Honestly, we live within 100 miles of at least 2 reactors. I worry more about those.

2. What is the one thing that you will always go cheap on?

Gas. As if "cheap" applies....

3. What would you buy that price would have no limit?

Medical care for my son, should he ever need it (God forbid).

4. Name a TV show that could be about the stupidest thing ever.

Anything with a laugh-track. Well, almost anything. M*A*S*H was ok.

5. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten?

Uh, well, yeah. Some of the food I ate in Greece was nameless, so who knows what it actually was. It was tasty, though. Same goes for Russia and China.

6. If it were really hot out and you were at the beach, would you go in the water even if it was dirty or full of jellyfish?

No. No no nononono. Probably wouldn't even be at the beach if it were this bad.

7. Can you teach old dogs new tricks or is it just not worth the effort?

Of course you can, if you're a good teacher.

8.What makes comfort foods taste so good?

Fat. And salt. Or sugar.

9. How do you like your steak cooked?

Medium rare.

10. Have you ever stepped on something and had it stuck in your foot?

Yep. A bee. Glass. Thorns. Beast fell off a step in a production facility 20 years ago and impaled his foot (in a shoe) on a 1/2" bolt in the floor. That was awesome.

11. We're looking for viral video theme ideas. What's your best idea for a viral video day?

I don't really know. What I find funny is unexpected and unusual, so I wouldn't be all that excited about something I scripted.

12. What is your twitter handle? Can we follow you?

If I told you, I might as well tell you my name and address. And that ain't hapnin.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Brainstorm the plot for a novel.

If I could do that, I'd be writing the damn book to go with it!

2) How long would it take you to get to your best friend’s house on foot right now?

Well, conveniently enough, my husband is really my best friend, so I'm already there. Outside-the-house-best-fried...we're talking 15-20 hours, according to GoogleMaps.

3) Which of your relatives would you have liked to have met when they were your age now?

My dad's mom. For multiple reasons.

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

She looks very converned. I wonder why? Is she crying? Worried? Terrified? Something bad just happened.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The 5000 Question Meme, Part One

1. Who are you? I am Cat.

2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you? I'm fairly boring, fairly intense, and fairly literate.

3. When you aren't memes like this one what are you doing? Memes like those other kind. Or sleeping. Sometimes I work for pay, but really that's just more meming.

4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time). Really? I graduated with a Master's Degree 24 years ago, and with all that education I'm suppose to list all my classes over time and rate them all? Yeah, no. I liked history, English, Spanish, and art history; science and math were not favorites though I did all right in them. Hated gym. Wasn't fond of management/business/"information science" type crap.

5. What is your biggest goal for this year? To survive it. Actually, in all seriousness, this year my goal is to get Sparky off to college safely and get him rolling in the right direction.

6. Where do you want to be in 5 years? Right here. Maybe about 25 pounds lighter, and with no dye in my hair. We'll see.

7. What stage of life are you in right now? Middle middle-age.

8. Are you more child-like or childish? I am occasionally child-like, but try REALLY HARD not to be childish.

9. What is the last thing you said out loud? "Bath." Question from Beast about whether I'm going to bed or taking a bath first.

10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now? "Punky's Dilemma." It's been running through my head since my niece quoted from it on Facebook earlier this week.

11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes? No. I sat through a few of my son's tae kwon do classes, but I doubt that counts.

12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same? Yes.

13. Does time really heal all wounds? Only if they are properly treated to start with.

14. How do you handle a rainy day? Well, today we stayed inside until mid-afternoon when we went to run errands and ended up in the middle of a hailstorm, whereupon we ducked into a drive-thru lane at a bank. Isn't that the norm?

15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights? The former is horrendous. Really fucking annoying, start to finish. Our holiday lights are never tangled, because I live with an OCD person who carefully replaces them in their original packaging every January.

16. How is (or was) your relationship with your parents? I always got along very well with my dad--honestly, I don't remember ever getting verbally bashed by him (and he wasn't a hitter, not with me anyway). Mom--not so much. We went at it hammer and tongs for a good ten years, and I never, ever felt like I could really talk to her.

17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you? Oh yeah, I am, unless I am extremely comfortable in my surroundings. Like right now, I'm not paying much attention to anything but this, but if I were using my laptop in public somewhere, I'd be hyper-aware of where people were and what was going on.

18. What is the truest thing that you know? The situation around you will change.

19. What did you want to be when you grew up? Grown up was pretty much sufficient for me. Independent, far away from bossy family members, free.

20. Have you ever been given a second chance? Over and over and bloody-over! I'm very lucky that way.

21. Are you more of a giver or a taker? Depends on the circumstances and the subject.

22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind? Well, I try to. Doesn't always happen.

23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you? Childbirth was out of this world. I was basically awake but passed-out for about 4 hours that day. The pain was so intense that I have no memory of those specific 4 hours beyond endless pain and panting and weeping and whining at Beast.

24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you? The three years from June 1994 to June 1997 were absolutely horrendous: we moved out of state, I quit working and stayed home with Sparky (and delivered newspapers for pin money), I developed serious allergic issues, my sister Ellen died, my father died, I nearly died, we were on an incredibly tight budget, Dean (Ellen's husband) was involuntarily hospitalized from alcohol poisoning, my sister Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and I started a new part-time job. I ended up in therapy, cried constantly for much of that time, had no clear idea of where my future lay, and generally got very lost. It was the worst period of my life, but fortunately I had a wonderfully supporting husband and an adorable little boy to keep going for, not to mention great friends and in-laws. I would not be here if not for them.

25. Who have you hugged today? Beast and Sparky, Sarah, Jess, Annie, Anne (I think) and Grace (I think).

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Jacob :: John ... Jingleheimer Schmidt
2. Green :: Grass
3. Cupcake :: Frosting
4. Acts :: ...Romans ...
5. Thunderous :: LOUD!
6. President :: Obama
7. Anxiety :: Worry
8. Matter :: Anti-matter
9. Diner :: Dive
10. Absence :: ... (doesn't always) make the heart grow fonder

Bathroom

Your Toilet Personality is Relaxed

While your bathroom may not be a spa, you find it pretty darn relaxing. You like to take your time in there... maybe read a chapter of a novel or write out your to-do list. You don't understand why people get so hung up about going to the bathroom. Everybody does it! You are easygoing and curious about the world. In general, you tend to think taboos are silly.

What's Your Toilet Personality?

Cracking fit, Gromit!!

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Did you remember to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day?

Barely--I grabbed some green sox. I also had on orange without really planning it.

2. Have you ever pinched someone or been pinched for not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day?

It was the thing to do when I was a kid. I occasionally pinch Beast, since he's about as Irish as borscht and forgets.

3. Do you ever wear specific colors to make a stand for certain illnesses or issues, such as wearing pink to support breast cancer victims and research?

Not very often. I never wear pink, though it has absolutely nothing to do with support or lack thereof. If I were going to go with colors, I'd be mostly likely to follow the liturgical calendar.

4. Have you ever worn any sort of ribbon to commemorate someone who sufffered from an illness or condition? If so, what did the last one you remember wearing signify?

Nope. Look, I am related to several alcoholics (dead and not-), my sister died of leukemia, another sister died of Parkinson's/MSA, my dad died after a heart attack, my mom died of injuries caused by a car accident (among other things), MIL died of pancreatic cancer, and I've had several friends die of or suffer from various other major diseases. If I wore ribbons for all of them, I wouldn't have to buy clothes. I gave up this fight eons ago.

5. Do you wear or have you ever worn a colored wristband to raise awarness about an issue or illness? If so, which one(s) do you or have you worn?

I had one, I think it was a LiveStrong one, but I've never really been a fan of bracelets, and this is now rotting on my dresser. I doubt it's still stretchy even.

6. Take the quiz: What Color Day Are You Having?

Yes, yes, I do believe in irony...

You Are Having a Pink Day

Today you are focused on other people. You are needed, and you are happy to help. You are willing to be nurturing, even when it's a bit draining. Right now, you can't say no to family and friends [or coworkers]. You are bringing tranquility and hope to those around you. Just make sure to take care of yourself as well. If you become too worn out, you will be unable to be truly helpful. As hard as it may be, you need to put yourself first today.

What Color Day Are You Having?

There were some questions that didn't have an appropriate answer for my day, and I'm sure that's how I ended up pink.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
You Were Meant For Me

1. Have you ever felt that you were “made” for someone or some purpose?

There are those moments in life that feel as if you were in the precise right place, or precisely the perfect person, to handle something unusual. Sometimes it feels like God (or whatever your 'thing' is) plucked you out of Real Life and plopped you in front of something that was created just to show you how important you are. Sometimes you don't see how perfect a set-up things were until later. I don't really believe in "soulmates." I do think it's pretty obvious that I was made to be Sparky's mom in all the non-physical and obvious ways. He has taught me so much; I hope I've done half as well by him.

2. What do you do when you have a problem that you can't do anything about it?

My life is full of unsolvable problems; whose isn't? If it is minutiae, I just vent to good friends. If it's important, I ponder (otherwise known as 'stewing'). I try to hand all the situations over to God, though I find this difficult and despair of myself sometimes.

3. If marijuana were to be legalized, do you think it should be taxed?

Well, wouldn't that be the whole POINT of legalization at this stage? I mean, it's fairly readily available already. Not that I currently use it; just sayin'.

4. What is one thing you should never do on a first date?

Order spaghetti or ribs at the restaurant.

5. If someone (at gunpoint) forced you to receive a portrait tattoo of someone, who would it be?

Assuming I have one handy, I'd go with the photo of my son at 2 years old. He was fuckin' adorable!

6. Is tomorrow going to be a good day?

Gonna be a busy day. And I expect I'm going to be a wreck because of today's busy-ness. This weekend is not looking at ALL relaxing. Fun, though.

7. Anything fabulous happen to you last night?

"Fabulous"? Nnnnooooo...? Beast and I had a nice dinner out, talked about everything under the sun, watched Bill Maher... I don't think I obsessed about work too much--nice change, that--and...oh yeah, my sister called, by accident, on Skype. We had a good chat. That was nice. I told her about The Guide to Sleeping at Airports. It was germane.

8. For a few years in a row, you receive a nice tax refund: do you make an adjustment with your payroll deduction so they’ll take less, or do you leave it that way so that you can continue to receive the big check every spring?

I sorta like the big payout at the end, but financially it makes more sense to adjust things. In fact, this is one of last night's topics; I do need to ask my employer to take a little more out of my check.

9. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

I was pretty nervous all week about whether Sparky's cartooning club would get their act together in time to create something for today's event at the library. We (Beast & I--well, ok, just me, really) sponsored them @ $100 to create a 'hole' on the miniature golf course at my library. They did an outstanding job!

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. I love to go to bed because that's where my Nook is.

2. It's not the quantity, it’s the quality!

3. The last thing I had to eat was Sweetarts jelly beans.

4. Card-stock plane tickets is are no longer essential.

5. Please take a moment to say a prayer for the people in Japan.

6. God have has brought you this far.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed (soon!), tomorrow my plans include miniature golf, at the library, woo hoo, and Sunday, I want to have a plan for youth group before 5 p.m.!

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Unreasonable

1. What’s something you have an unreasonable fear of?

ALL of my fears are perfectly reasonable, except the ones that occur to me in the middle of the night, ones like death and dismemberment of myself and/or my loved ones, not having money when I need it, that sort of thing.

2. What’s something you have an unreasonable fondness for?

Sugar. Truly, I'm addicted.

3. What’s something you have an unreasonable disliking for?

I get very irritated with whining and/or whiners.

4. Who’s most likely to bring out the unreasonable in you?

C.T. at work. Or Sparky. The latter primarily when he does his best teenager impression. He's getting over it, but...still a teen. C.T. is just a complete pain.

5. Who’s the least unreasonable person you know?

FIL. Oh My God, he is so laid back!

Thursday Thunks

(Link in meme-roll)
Pass the paste, please

1. There is a song out there about you... it's on the radio, the video is on tv (just not MTV) and everybody in the world knows this song is about you. Who sings it?

My luck? Weird Al.

4. Have you ever sneaked..snuck...snucked...what is the right word? into a movie?

Sneaked. Yes. Indiana Jones #2.

3. Déjà vu; meaning "already seen", is the experience of feeling sure that one has already witnessed or experienced a current situation, even though the exact circumstances of the previous encounter are uncertain and were perhaps imagined. Thoughts on what it is? Have you experienced it?

The older I get the more often this turns out to be not déjà vu, just faulty memory.

2. Stick it to me, baby. What is the last bumper sticker you saw and why do you remember it?

I don't remember most of them after the car is out of sight. Can't think of any I've seen lately.

10. Ever wonder what fish think about?

Uh. No? I think fish can't possibly think.

8. If you could paint President Obama's fingernails any color, what would it be?

I would NOT do anything of the sort.

7. Do you have seat covers on your car seats? What do they look like?

I don't. Waste of time/money/energy. I'm not that messy.

6. For the rest of your life you can eat one spice and one spice only (on whatever food you want, of course), what spice do you choose?

Cinnamon. Because pepper is an herb, and salt is a mineral.

9. If you could slide down a rainbow, which side would you slide down?

The blue side.

5. So a mom is suing her kids' preschool because it failed to prepare the child for the kindergarten entrance exam... did you eat paste in preschool?

There are kindergarten entrance exams? WTF? Parents are morons. And I only ate flour-water paste.

Monday Mayhem

(Link in meme-roll)
Spring Ahead Meme

1. What time zone do you live in?

Central U.S.

2. Does your time zone change the clocks?

Yup.

3. What is the worst part about pushing your clock ahead an hour?

I hate getting up in the dark.

4. What is the best part about pushing your clock ahead an hour?

It's nice to have the sun shining when I leave work.

5. What is the best excuse to use when you are not on time to get somewhere thanks to the time change?

That simply hasn't ever happened. I bailed on church Sunday so I could go to work and catch up.

6. Do you think we really need to change our clocks or is this practice not a good one?

I think it's beyond lame. Can't we pick the half-hour between and leave our clocks alone.

7.Tell us a good story or memory about clocks, time change or anything else.

I got nothing, except that I used to lie in bed in the morning while I waited for the alarm to go off and watch the numbers flip on my 'digital' clock, the kind that had numbers that clicked around a cog-wheel.

8. Do have any ideas about Monday Mayhem going to an all Viral Video Monday?

Well, since I have no idea what that entails, no.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Burnt Toast Meme, Part Two

17. Who would you like to show up at your door to say they love you?

Ugh. Creepy.

18. Last furry thing you touched?

LMAO...oh, seriously now, Ruka.

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

Only my usual Rx meds, though I also just took a benadryl, since I think I've figured out that my lip-issue is allergies.

20. Do you miss film or does digital work for you?

Digital works just fine for me.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?

21-25 was pretty good.

22. Your worst enemy?

Me, myself, and I.

23. What is your current desktop picture?

It was taken from our back porch at sunset a couple of years ago.

24. What was the last thing you said that was funny?

We're watching coverage of the tsunami on CNN right now--nothing much to laugh at, or talk about. Closest I can come is me saying "OMIGOSH!" and Sparky saying, "Holy crap!" at the same time a few minutes ago.

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

SHOW . ME . THE . MONEY!

26. Who can't you say “no” to?

Oh, this is not an issue for me. It's a skill moms (and dads) learn (or fail). OK, well, actually, little babies are hard to say no to.

27. The last song you bought or downloaded?

No clue. I bought Sparky some CDs for Christmas. Nothing since then.

28. What time of day were you born?

Late in the evening, I think.

29. What’s your favorite number? Why?

I've always been partial to 16. And 3.

30. Where did you live in 1987?

In a suburb north of Milwaukee.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

Not right now. I'm extremely grateful for my life.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

I'd bet on it, at least in a general way.

33. It's been almost a decade. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

I was at church doing some volunteer stuff when Beast called and told me I should go home and watch CNN. On the way home I had the radio on, and I listened as the first tower fell. I had to pull over I was so shocked.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Judge :: Jury
2. Safe :: ...and Sound
3. Boulevard :: ...of Broken Dreams
4. 27 :: 3 x 9
5. Next :: Last
6. Ma’am :: Sir
7. Desktop :: Messy
8. Club :: Disco
9. Violet :: Purple
10. Enamel :: Nail...

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
St. Patrick's Day

1. St. Patrick's Day is March 17th (Thursday). Do you celebrate and wear green? Drink Green Beer? Ignore it?

I don't drink beer when it isn't green, so yeah...not. As for wearing green, someone pointed out to me that she's wearing orange since she's a Protestant. I've watched the Orangemen march and they disgust me, but the opposing side isn't much better, so I'm thinking I'll wear blue. Or red. Or black and white.

2. If a leprechaun told you that you could have any amount of money from his pot of gold but it had to be a specified amount for a specified item, how much would you ask for and what would it be for?

I'd request several billion dollars specifically to help Japan rebuild.

3. One of the symbols of St. Patrick's Day is the leprechaun. Name a celebrity that you think would look good as a leprechaun. Name a celebrity that would look ridiculous as a leprechaun. Is there any one celebrity that would make a really scary leprechaun?

Good: Elijah Wood (of course). Bad: Uma Thurman or Magic Johnson. Scary: Jim Carrey. He's a scary anything.

4. For a prize of $1,000,000,000 you are challenged to make yourself a costume for a St. Patricks Day party. The ONLY rules are that you aren't allow to use clothing and it has to be green. Using anything other than clothing, describe your costume to us using ANYTHING else in the house.

Duct tape. And I'm having Grace make it; she's made numerous articles of clothing and other things out of duct tape for years.

5. What day of the week is your busiest? Tell us about your schedule.

Wednesdays, I'm up at 5:30 a.m., out of the house at 6:10 for Bible Study, to work by 7:45 or 8, work till 5, head to church for dinner at 5:30, and bell choir at 6:30 rounds out the activities. I'm usually home by 7:45 or 8.

6. No matter what's going on in your life, what always makes you smile?

Baby giggles.

7. Of all the clothes you own, what do you feel most comfortable wearing, and why?

Pajamas. Or jeans and a T-shirt if I'm leaving the house.

8. On what television show—-either past or present—-would you like to make to make a guest appearance, and what role would you play?

I would have loved to have been on Gilligan's Island as Mary Ann's cousin or something like that.

9. What else is on your mind? Go ahead and rant.

This has been a horrible Lent so far: the collective-bargaining bill in Wisconsin, the NFL talks backfiring, and topping it all is the horrendous news out of Japan yesterday and today. I totally want a do-over. Feels like I didn't get a choice on what to give up this year; I'm giving up my peace of mind by default.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1.Which do you have more of in your home: windows or mirrors?

Windows. Not even a contest, unless you count 'generic reflective surfaces' (like TV screens) as mirrors.

2. From where you are sitting right now, what’s closer to you: a mirror or a window?

My head is about a foot from window. Nearest mirror is in the bathroom.

3. Take the quiz: Are You a Mirror or a Window?

You Are a Mirror

You are a very private person. You need your alone time to introspect and recharge. You don't mind being around others, but you prefer to spend the bulk of your time by yourself. You are a slow and critical thinker. You need to mull things over for a long time. You hold yourself accountable for your actions. You are constantly evaluating your life and trying to improve.

Are You a Mirror or a Window?

OK, semi-accurate. But I'm NOT a deliberate thinker. I'm actually kind of a grasshopper inside my head--all over the place. Maybe more like a hummingbird, or a bumblebee.

4. If you could change the view from your window to something else, what would you choose?

Well, now that the ugly water tower has been torn down (last summer), I guess I wouldn't mind more trees between us and the Annoying Neighbors.

5. If you could change the view in your mirror to someone else, who would you wish you looked more like?

I'd just like to lose some weight. Don't really care what I look like otherwise.

6. If you had to choose between changing the view out of your window or your appearance reflected back in your mirror, which ONE would you choose?

View. See question #5.

Rock 'n Roll Fridays

(Link in meme-roll)
Talking Heads

1. Psycho Killer “I can’t seem to face up to the facts, I’m tense and nervous and I can’t relax. I can’t sleep cuz my bed’s on fire. Don’t touch me I’m a real live wire…”
What has kept you from a restful night’s sleep recently?

Worrying about Beast. He is so overwhelmed with work and life stuff. And worrying about my work stuff.

2. Life During Wartime “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco…this ain’t no foolin around. No time for dancing or lovey dovey. I ain’t got time for that now…”
Where was the last nightclub or disco you went to?

Uhm. Uh ... uhm ... yeah ... thinking.... Let me get back to you on that, 'k?

3. Take Me To The River “Take me to the river. Dip me in the ocean. Take me to the river washing me down…”
When was the last time you took a dip in the water?

I took a bath last night. Swear to GOD, I did!

4. Found A Job “Their show gets high ratings, they think they have a hit. There might be a spin off, but they’re not sure ‘bout that”
What is your favorite TV spin off show of all time?

Laverne & Shirley.

5. Once In A Lifetime “And you may ask yourself How do I work this? And you may ask yourself Where is that large automobile? And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful house! And you may tell yourself This is not my beautiful wife!”
Are you happy with your choices of car, house and spouse/no spouse?

Meh, YES!, and yes. I like my baby truck, but it's getting old and crotchety.

6. This Must Be The Place “Out of all those kinds of people, you got a face with a view. I’m just an animal looking for a home, share the same space for a minute or two…”
Who has a face with a view?

Seems to be the king of this would be Donald Trump.

7. Girlfriend Is Better “I got a girlfriend that’s better than this, and you don’t remember at all. As we get older and stop making sense, You won’t find her waiting long…”
What is the shortest date or relationship you have ever had?

One night. ...moving on...lol

8. Swamp “Everyone wants to explode. And when your hands get dirty, nobody knows you at all. Don’t have a window to slip out of . Lights on, nobody home”
Where was the last homeless person you saw and what was he/she doing?

Saw lots of people on TV tonight in Japan who probably have no homes left. They were waving at the helicopter with the camera, hoping for rescue.

9. Road To Nowhere “We’re on the road to paradise. Here we go. We’re on a road to nowhere, come on inside. Takin that ride to nowhere, we’ll take that ride”
When was the last time you took a day trip or a road trip?

Not since winter started. Maybe we'll head to The Packer Shrine this spring at some point.

10. And She Was "The word was movin and she was right there with it and she was”
Are you keeping up with the world? What piece of modern technology do you still need to own/use?

Probably the only thing I might be interested in is a smart phone, with internet access.

11. Wild Wild Life Sleepin on the interstate oh oh oh…getting wild wild life. Checkin in and checkin out oh oh oh, I got a wild wild life”
When was the last time you stayed at a motel/hotel and what town were you in?

I was in Des Moines last July. Sad, eh?

12. Nothing But Flowers “Once there were parking lots, now it’s a peaceful oasis, you got it you got it. Once it was a pizza Hut, now it’s all covered with daisies. I miss the honky tonks, Dairy Queens and 7-11 s…”
What would you miss if nature grew back over malls and concrete?

I'd miss being able to find my car in the parking lot.

13. Building On Fire “When my love stands next to your love, I can’t define love, when it’s not love…”
Define love.

I'll go with the old standby: Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.

Friday Five

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Memories

1. What is your earliest memory?

First vivid memory is one I've discussed before, multiple times. Go. Look. First impressionistic memory involved the furniture we had in the living room when I was VERY little, in a dream I had when I was 4 or 5.

2. What is your most vivid memory?

The terror I felt upon entering the house with Sparky after he was born. They sent a brand-new baby HOME with ME?!

3. What do you remember best about the year you turned 10?

I don't remember much about that year. I think my parents bought the mountain house that year?

4. What memory do you wish you could erase forever?

Screaming like a fishwife at my child because I was exhausted and he just.wouldn't.nap.

5. What do your parents(or other close relatives) remember about you that you have forgotten?

My parents are both dead, along with two siblings, but I'm the youngest and I've heard a kabillion stories about my babyhood over the years. I'm almost unable to distinguish their stories from my memories.

Friday Fill-Ins

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1. Oh gross! I thought it was spring already, but it's clearly not.

2. Five years of mission trips with teenagers; well THAT's off my bucket list!

3. No, I'd rather stay home tonight and go to bed early.

4. I love my son, heart and soul. But he annoys the SHIT out of me daily.

5. And then, THEN I have to Gibbsmack him.

6. I can't forget that I work on Sunday. That would be bad.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early and sleeping hard all night, tomorrow my plans include working (pah!), and Sunday, I want to go in early and get some extra cataloging done!

Thursday Thunks

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1. Charlie Sheen is an idiot and will probably end up with his own stupid reality show that will get 40 million viewers the first day and then people will fall asleep and quit watching. What person, celebrity or not, would you watch every eppy of a reality show if they were the center of it all?

The only people I'd want to watch are those who wouldn't in a million years do a reality show. Which is why I'd wanna watch them; they'd be busy doing important stuff...not discussing tuna or doing pilates.

2. We all pay bills and wish we didn't have to. We all work and wish we could just lay around all day doing nothing. We all have those grown up responsibilities that we wish we could give to an African Elephant. Besides all the things the African Elephant got from you for the day, what is something from your high school years that you miss most of all?

Not being tired all the damn time. I think I felt tired sometimes then, but I'm practically exhausted ALL the time now.

3. Sometimes we want to grow wings and fly. What's the furthest you've fallen?

I have been fortunate never to have fallen further than a couple of steps up or down.

4. There is square bread, wheat bread, circle shaped bread, bread with nuts in it, funny named bread. When you open a bread bag, do you twist it when you are done or put the metal tie thingie back on? (And did you know that if you look at that metal tie thingie, it has a day of the week printed on it?)

Twist the plastic around, unless the bag is still pretty full. I do know that there is info written on them, but bread doesn't last long around here.

5. Some spoiled little brat (hey.. my opinion) called 911 on her teacher because he shook his own desk to get the students attention in the class. (I know, right?) Think back... what clever ways did a teacher of yours use to get the attention of the class or a particular student?

My high school history teacher threw eraser at idiots almost every day. Usually the same 2-3 people. Mostly he missed (on purpose); he connected just often enough to keep those guys on their good behavior.

6. Artwork, pictures, notes, appointments. How many magnets are on your refrigerator?7. Cats are fluffy, dogs are soft, snakes are leathery, fish are wet. What is an animal that you have held or petted that you don't think many people have had the chance?

I got about THIS close to a dog-wolf hybrid. And a liger. They weren't together, but they shared a zipcode, for sure.

8. I'm coming to your house to paint your kitchen. I'm bringing the paint. What color should I not have with me?

Pink. Leave the pink far away from me. Don't even think pink.

9. Snow falls down, sometimes sideways. It still ends up on the ground. If snowflakes came in all different colors, which color snowflake would fall the fastest?

Around here, a lot of snow actually doesn't end up on the ground--it blows elsewhere. I think black snowflakes would fall fastest, due to their extra weight.

10. We caved... well at least I did. Are you glad Thursday Thunks is back?

Yes. I am. I missed my good Thursday meme! Thanks, you guys.

Thursday 13

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13 WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WHO SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES:
(in no particular order, and chosen fairly randomly)

1. Robin Vos
2. John Nygren
3. John Murtha
4. Joel Kleefisch
5. Scott Suder
6. Jeff Fitzgerald
7. Ed Brooks
8. Michelle Litjens
9. Amy Loudenbeck
10. Dan Meyer
11. Tyler August
12. Mike Endsley
13. Chris Kapenga

And, FOUR I APPRECIATE AND HONOR:

1. Travis Tranel
2. Lee Nerison
3. Dean Kaufert
4. Richard Spanbauer

Nylons

You Are Opaque Pantyhose

You are a practical person. You don't have any room for fluff in your life. You are a creative problem solver. You've figured out what works for you, and you just go with that. You are original and independent without trying to be. You just seem to pick paths that are less traveled. You are brainy and you love difficult intellectual challenges. You don't have patience for your time being wasted.

What Kind of Panty Hose Are You?

I haven't called them pantyhose in decades. And opaque are called tights in my vocab. But the description is eerily accurate.

from the makers of breath free, makers of air for eternity

(Found here)

What was the last Disney movie you watched? I have no idea. I sorta gave up animated stuff when Sparky grew out of them.

When was the last time you danced with someone? The last time we were at a wedding, I probably danced with Beast.

How did you get rid of your hiccups the last time you had them? I think I held my breath.

Was your last missed call because you were ignoring the person? No. I was asleep.

Do you find the lead singer of your favorite band attractive? Well, yeah, isn't that part of the point?

Have you ever been to the sand dunes? I've been in sand dunes; I'm not sure if they were THE sand dunes.

Do you like the Halloweentown movies? Nope.

What are you best at cooking or baking? Pasta.

Does anyone in your favorite band have a side project? Yup, just found out Bono has recorded some songs on his own.

Have you ever worn a cloak? Yes. I think....

How about a trenchcoat? Yup.

Do you enjoy reading Shakespeare? I do. I love Shakespeare.

Have you ever worn a fake mustache? Only attached to Groucho glasses.

Tell me a story of you being strange as a child. We had stepping stones along the driveway, and I would drive my brother's toy cars from "town" (stone) to "town" making up stories about what was going on as I went. I don't think I ever got past the 4th stone.

Have you ever wished that you were a witch or a warlock? Sure. I watched a LOT of Bewitched as a child. REALLY wanted to make the magic happen.

What is your favorite thing to learn about? Techy stuff. I'm actually just a trivia sponge.

Are you like me and wish your life was more exciting? No. I want my life to be as boring as it can be. Yes, I'm dead serious.

Did you read The Magic Schoolbus books when you were little? Uh...I'm 47. You figure out the answer to this.

How often do you clean your cellphone? CLEAN it? It doesn't really ever get dirty, though I do wipe the screen and mouthpiece once in awhile.

Do you and your siblings get along well? I get along great with my oldest sister. Not so much with my brother. The other two...yeah, well...hard to argue with dead people.

You are given a free trip to either SeaWorld or Disneyland. Which do you choose? SeaWorld.

--------------------------

What is/was your high school mascot? We were the Pirates. Which is insane, considering the biggest body of water nearby was a reservoir smaller than most retention ponds.

How long was your longest relationship in high school? Wellll...the first round was probably 6 months, and then we got back together for about 3 months.

Do you know who Philip DeFranco is? No, but you can bet I just Googled him.

What's the biggest age difference you've ever had in a relationship? If we're talking about dating, real honest-to-god dating, it's about a year. If we're talking about all relationships...well, yeah, my grandmother was almost 90 years older than me.

Did you hear about that guy who glued a kitty to a highway?! Ugh. What? No, I am NOT Googling that!

Does your cell phone have different vibrate intensities? Nope, purely binary: on/off.

Do you have any allergies? Shitloads of em.

Don't you just love NigaHiga? Never heard of it, Googled it, don't care about it.

What's the most illegal thing you've EVER done? Speeding. REALLY speeding. Stupidly.

Where did/do you want to get married? I got married in the town in which Beast and I went to college.

What's the highest level of education you've reached? I have a Master's degree, and am still doing continuing education in the School of Hard Knocks.

Is your last name extremely common, like Gonzalez? Heh, no. Not.At.All. I'm quite singular.

Ever notice how most flags are red, white, and blue? Yeah, like that German flag...oh, no, I mean the Japanese...uh, the Ital... Nevermind. Whoever wrote this question is an idiot.

Have you ever had a crush on a family member? There was an uncomfortable period of time when I sorta was crushing on a couple of my brothers-in-law.

In 2012, will you vote for Obama's re-election? Yes. Or, well, whoever's the least likely to be a complete asshat.

How old is your YOUNGEST friend? Charlie and Ian are 4. I think. Maybe Ian's 3.

How old is your OLDEST friend? Fran is 90.

How long should people be together before they propose? Propose to do what? OK, seriously, this is totally an individual thing. No way I'm gonna try to legislate that.

Have you had your first touch screen phone yet? Nope.

Don't you hate when parents divorce but then still argue regularly? Well, I do think it's ridiculous when adults can't let go of petty shit, yeah.

Out of all your friends, who has the prettiest eyes? Amy and Jenny both have lovely eyes.

Out of all your girl friends, who has the biggest boobs? Wow, yeah, moving right on....

Out of all your guy friends, who has the most body hair? Like I would know?!

What is the dumbest internet sensation you've heard of? I'm pretty unclear on why people are into the whole LOLZ thing.

Would you ever join the military? I doubt very much that they'd have me. When they would've, I wouldn't've.

When did you first see snow? At what AGE?! Probably within weeks, or days, of my birth.

When you are typing, do the words ever come out in the wrong place? Today was a bad day for this very thing.

If you could have any dog, what dog would you have? A mutt from the pound.

Would you ever kill a bunny and make soup out of it? If I needed to eat, absolutely.

Do any of your friends own a ferret? I don't think so.

What is the most overplayed song on the radio? I wouldn't know--I don't listen to the radio anymore.

What would you do if that song played during your "first time?" {eyeroll}--grow up.

What are we going to do about all these muffin tops? Put them on diets. Or, better, take their picture from the rear and show them what they look like.

Do you believe that Christians are better than non-Christians? Nope.

Do boys really rock pink more than girls do? What? I feel like I just went down the rabbit hole.

Do you own a pair of skinny jeans? Yeah, NO!

Are you aware that tight shirts only make your fat more obvious? Yes, dear, I am very aware of that. Point?

What's your view on the Islam culture? The same as pretty much any other culture: interesting, worthwhile, not something I'm willing to adopt wholesale.

What's your favorite thing to have for breakfast? Pancakes.

Do you ever say, "evidently?" I do.

Do you know what, "C'est la vie" means? I do. Without Googling, even. Do you know what reductio ad absurdum means?

Did you hear that Obama authorized the CIA to kill Americans out of the US? Shut it. Damn, I hate stupid people.

Do balloons make you have a better birthday? Not particularly, no. I haven't had balloons in years, and that's ok with me.

Krispy kreme donuts aren't as good as Dunkin Donuts, are they? I'm not that fussy.

What is the most romantic thing YOU have ever done? Oh hell, I don't know.

What is your favorite song from "Aventura?" Whoops, down the rabbit hole again.

If you could legally assassinate any celebrity, who would it be? I wouldn't assassinate anyone, but I'd sure like it if Sarah Palin would just fucking GO to Russia and annoy Putin for the rest of my life.

Do you use Twitter or Formspring? Never heard of Formspring, but I do tweet.

Why did you last cry? I was laughing VERY HARD at Date Night earlier tonight.

If you had to lose 5 lbs, how would you do it? Stop eating.

Is there anyone who seems to think that you are a pillow? Not anymore; Sparky used to.

Tell me about your WORST Valentine's day ever. I don't have any memory of this at all. I suppose it might be the year I had surgery the weekend of Val Day in '97.

Tell me about your BEST New Year's Eve ever. We have an adorable picture of Sparky on New Year's Eve 1999, taken at 11:40 p.m. sound asleep in the papa-san chair.

If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to? I'd probably go back to my maiden name, alone.

Do you need love in your life? Of course. Don't we all?

Lunapic editor is amazing, no? Rabbit hole.

How do YOU write "Okay?" OK. ok. Ok.

What was your favorite Judy Blume book? Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

The Queen's Meme

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The Green Meme

1. Do you recycle?

Yes, we do. Not to the degree that we probably could, but we've got extra buckets. I keep saying I'm going to start a compost pile, but I haven't yet.

2. Have you ever hung clothes on a line instead of using the clothes dryer?

That's mostly how my mom dried clothes when I was a kid. We have never lived in a house with a clothesline, and I'm pretty sure they're illegal in our subdivision. And anyway, I'm allergic to grass, so hanging out my clothes would be stupid.

3. Do you walk or bike to work to save energy?

I work 9 miles from work and right now the high daily temps are in the upper 30s. So no. In the summer, I wouldn't because of the country roads I'd have to deal with.

4. Do you use a water filter for your tap water or do you buy bottled water?

We have a well. And a water softener. And a filter in the fridge for the water in the door. But I drink tap water daily.

5. How many trees do you kill each year buying new books?

Not many. I use library books almost exclusively. Doesn't everyone?

6. Have you ever considered recycling your cellphone?

Yup. We mostly do, but at the phone store, not in public.

7. All you need are a few simple non-toxic ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap to clean your home. Are you willing to throw away the bottled chemicals?

You left out one ingredient: elbow grease. Lots and lots of elbow grease. And for that reason, I tend to only use green products on lightweight dirt.