Sweet Memes

Saturday 9 (a day late)

2012-01-29T08:28:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
How Do You Mend a Broken Heart

1. How did you cope with your biggest heartache?

I cried. A lot. Buckets. Endlessly. At the drop of a hat. Eventually, I stopped crying. I got counseling. I managed the fallout the best way I could and distracted myself in ways both appropriate and not-so. And things got better, although there are still times I revert back to the early days and cry, but not as long, or hard.

2. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?

I guess that would be FIL, in September, before he was released to hospice care.

3. How many jobs have you held in your life? How many of those were part of your chosen career field?

Innumerable babysitting jobs aside, and counting all the temping as "one job" since the temp agency paid me, I figure 12, and that includes two volunteer "jobs" that took a great deal of time but were unpaid. As for career-related, I would say five are directly library-related, but a couple of others gave me skills to deal better with the library world.

4. How did you discover Saturday 9?

I'm pretty sure it was through Bud. Or maybe Allison.

5. If you could take the train from anywhere to anywhere, where would 'anywhere' be?

First of all, I'm stipulating it wouldn't be an Amtrak train. I would love to just get a Eurail pass and meander around for a couple of weeks, stopping and starting as I felt like it. Or, ditto, Britrail.

6. When was the first time you cooked for someone else?

My mom wanted me to learn to cook. I remember getting a cookbook for Christmas/birthday when I was fairly young--8 or 10--and proudly making pancakes a couple of times for Sunday breakfast using the recipe in there. Then I got bored with the concept. I regularly helped Mom with Sunday dinner--my job was generally potato-peeling.

7. What is the worst beverage you've ever tasted?

I'm not a fan of beer. Or gin. And some water tastes awful; one example of that is St. Petersburg water, which is orange.

8. Is there anything in life you are "certain" about? Firm in your beliefs? Strong in your convictions?

I'm certain that as soon as I discover a "truth" it will prove itself mutable.
But I'm pretty sure that at least on Earth, gravity sucks.

9. Do you know anyone who has as very unusual pet?

Hmm, a coworker used to own a chinchilla (but she LOST IT--presumably somewhere in her house--and this is why I will NEVER VISIT HER, not wanting to smell the scent of old, dead chinchilla). And another coworker of mine has an unusually high number of critters--dogs, cats, guinea pigs, etc.--in her house. I can't think of anything who has copped to owning a cobra or an African elephant though.

Six Word Saturday

2012-01-28T09:19:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Going to see Amy; Christmas redux

Because of scheduling, illness, general holiday chaos, travel, weather, and probably a few other excuses/reasons, I haven't seen Amy since...Thanksgiving? This is not actually that unusual, but since this time the gap includes Christmas, we have "bidness" to conduct, i.e. prezzies to share! Also, we* haven't seen her house in person (only in pics) since we helped her move in last June, so it probably looks a leeetle different nowadays. And, really, it is our turn to drive; she mostly comes to our place which is lovely for us, but eminently unfair. So, we will Skype with Sparky, and then hit the road. By then, I should have my socks and shoes on, and my teeth brushed.

______
* I think maybe Beast has visited as he passed on his way hither and yon business-tripping.

RevGalsBlogPals

2012-01-27T19:39:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
...even in the busyness of the week what has:

1. Inspired you?

OK, this is going to sound weird, but I was pretty impressed with the attitude of most of the TSA agents I ran into on my trip last weekend. The ones at this end were fun, pleasant, helpful, and laid-back; the ones at the other end were also good, except one woman who was obviously tired and cranky.

2. Challenged you?

Everyone I ran into at ALA. I felt like I was playing with the Philharmonic with a penny whistle, but it was great fun, mostly.

3. Made you smile?

The children's librarian at work never fails to crack me up.

4. Made you cross/made you want to weep?

The thought of defunding school libraries. If you also think this is crazy-talk, go sign the petition. It needs about 6,000 more signatures before next week.

5.Kept you going?

Force of habit, mostly.

Friday Fill-Ins

2012-01-27T19:22:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. It's time to go to bed. Wait. It's not? Sad face....

2. Sparky, can we Skype tomorrow? ... and don't forget ~~the~~ to remind your roomie if you're staying in your room to do it!

3. I'm trying to stay awake and be productive tonight.

4. "Yes, Beth - I AM THE UNICORN!! :D", that was the last funny comment I received. This was on Facebook today; no, my name is NOT Beth, but someone else who commented...and no, I have no idea what this means)

5. Please send caffeine.

6. I can't get as upset with my boss as others cause I'm in it for the long haul. But she is REALLY being psycho again. As usual, really.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to sleep (isn't that obvious??), tomorrow my plans include Skyping with Sparky and then going to see Amy, and Sunday, I want to survive! Sunday School, bell choir performance, work. Long MF day.

Thursday This or That

2012-01-26T18:05:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Orange juice: Pulp or No Pulp? No pulp. As in ZEE-ROW.

Long or Short Nails? My nails are 'default short' since they break when they get too long.

Sunrise or Sunset? I prefer sunrises.

CD's or MP3 Players? CDs. I just can't get into my MP3.

Finding Nemo or Shrek? Shrek. Never seen Nemo (ducking from all the comments I'll get now).

Should Be Reading

2012-01-25T17:23:00.002-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
WWW Wednesday

• What are you currently reading?

From the Kingdom of Memory, by Elie Wiesel; Down These Strange Streets (ed. by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois); An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon; The Evolution of Faith, by Philip Gulley--same books, different week

• What did you recently finish reading?

Cain, by José Saramago

• What do you think you’ll read next?

I think I'd better finish what I've got listed up there before I start ANYthing else!

Blog News

2012-01-19T11:30:00.000-06:00

This blog will be on hiatus until next Tuesday, Jan. 24, as I busy myself with all things Library-related at the ALA Midwinter conference. I'll be back.

Curious as a Cat

2012-01-17T21:13:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Name three songs that remind you of specific people in your life. Explain who each reminds you of and why.

"The Sweetest Thing" (U2) -- Beast, because it's a fairly good description of our relationship
"Morning Has Broken" (the hymn) -- Mom, because as a kid I always thought it was weird that she really liked a pop song [give me a break, I was a kid!]
"Crazy Train" (Ozzy) -- Sparky, because he played it in band at school and on his CD player at home non-stop his sophomore year of high school

2) What one socially-unacceptable behavior do you REALLY wish we could make socially-acceptable?

I grow tired of some bodily noises being frowned upon. I mean, really. Can't we all just grow the fuck up?

3) Have you ever milked a cow? Ever tipped a cow?

I have not ever touched a cow 'below the waist' primarily because I don't want to get kicked. Tipping cows...nah, why pick on poor dumb animals? And besides for some reason, prime cow-tipping temperature seems to run in the low single-digits, which is not a time for me to feel like sneaking around farm fields in the dark to annoy bovines.

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

School uni, ahoy. I'm not sure what school, nor do I really care, but it definitely looks British for some reason. It also looks rather plastic-y.

Should Be Reading

2012-01-16T20:01:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Monday Musings

What devices –if any– do you read books on? Do you find it enjoyable, or still somewhat bothersome? Or: If you only read the print books, why haven’t you chosen to read on any devices?

I have a Nook, and I love it! The only downside is that I spend an awful lot of time futzing with font-size and so forth, and sometimes the book doesn't accept reformatting very well.

I hate waking up to no coffee... Leaves me tired all day.

2012-01-15T20:47:00.000-06:00

(Found here)
always remember: I don't make up these titles!!

Do you have any Pepto-Bismol in your house? Yes. I think? Maybe not; if so, it's the chewable tablets.

Do you have a favorite flavor of vodka? I like plain, straight 80-proof Stoli. Gone are the days when I could down a shot of the 190-proof.

Is your backyard big enough to fit a trampoline? ...and then some.

When was the last time you had eggs? Yesterday morning? No, Friday.

How often do you blow dry your hair, and what color is your blow dryer? I blow-dry about twice a week, and the dryer I use is gray.

Have you ever gone to bed later than three AM? Yes. Sometimes I go to sleep at 10, and then again at about 4. Insomnia bites.

Have you been to a surprise party before? Yes, I have. I've had two thrown for me--both baby showers--and I hope never to have it happen again. Not that they weren't fun, but yeah. Not really a fan.

Would you ever buy someone one of those singing birthday cards? Sure. I've received one or two of them.

Are you good at wrapping presents? I have good moments, and (perhaps more) bad moments in this realm.

What is your least favorite month? April? Or January.

Do you enjoy movies with Seth Rogen, and what is your favorite? None of them. To be fair, I haven't seen any movies with him in them, either.

Have you ever gone to see a movie the day it came out? Nnnoooo? I don't think? Maybe the first HP?

Are you aware that CDs come out on Tuesdays and movies come out on Fridays? They debut, or 'street' those days, generally, yes. Since we're generalizing, books also tend to street on Tuesdays.

Do you know anyone that has not completed high school when they should have? "Should have"? If this means do I know any dropouts, yes, I do. I've run into them regularly at work over the years, too.

Do you think Ed Westwick is good-looking? Now that I've Googled him, yes, he is. A bit on the young side for me, though.

Have you ever listened to The Lonely Island? Nope. Had to Google that one too.

What is the main color of your Xanga? Please! Does Xanga even still exist?? Wow, it does; shocking.

Have you ever painted your nails red, purple, or blue? Yes, yes, and yes. Also, green, black and pink. NOT all at the same time; one color at a time, only.

Do you like movies/books about drugs, and why or why not? Well, if that's the extent of the plot, then no.

Do you have scrap paper by your computer desk? Of course!

Do you make your own money? No, I prefer to use the stuff the government prints.

What is the color of your shampoo bottle? One is periwinkle blue, the other is kind of muddy green.

Have you ever kept a bag from a store because you liked it? Sure. I tend to reuse bags almost as much as Amy.

Have you ever burnt yourself so that it left a scar? Yes; curling irons are dangerous some mornings.

Was the last thing you drank carbonated? Yes. I just finished my drink from lunchtime. It was a HUGE cup, ok?

Do you own any yellow clothing? I just bought a yellow shirt today, as a matter of fact. I don't own much.

How many lamps are in your living room? Five? Six if you count the 'candle-lamp', seven if you could the kerosene lamp. Plus two overhead light systems.

What is the color of the numbers when you dial on your phone? My numbers don't light up. [that sounds...unclean]

What kind of gum did you last have? I'm currently chewing a piece of Eclipse, peppermint, I think.

Who has the longest hair in your family? I do. Sparky's hair was a little longer than mine before he cut it last year, but I think that phase is over for good for him.

Sunday Stealing

2012-01-15T15:41:00.004-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The Never Ending Meme, Part Two

21. Did you go to your high school prom?

Nope. Beast went to three his senior year, so I think this household is covered. Sparky only went as a sophomore.

22. Perfect time to wake up?

When I'm fully rested. Could be 5 a.m., could be noon.

23. Perfect time to go to bed?

When I'm tired. Usually about 10.

24. Do you use your queen right away in chess?

I haven't played chess in probably 10 years, but no I don't think I usually do.

25. Ever been in a car accident?

Sigh. Yes. Two. No injuries, except pride.

26. Closer to mom or dad…or neither?

More like my mom in personality and outlook, but appreciated my dad more as a child, and I suppose as an adult.

27. What age is this exciting life over for you?

Pretty sure that's not for me to determine, at least not now.

28. What decade during the 20th century would you have chosen to be a teenager?

Is there EVER a good time to be a teenager? I dunno, I'd eliminate the 10s, 30s and 40s (war, Depression, war) right off the bat. The 60s were pretty damn exciting, but also rather scary. The 70s were just weird. The 80s brought us AIDS. So, that leaves, what, the 00s, the 20s, the 50s, and the 90s. Of those, the 20s win. For me.

29. Favorite shoes you have EVER owned?

These, though mine were blue. SOOOooooo comfy. Followed by my red pumps--gone but not forgotten--and these* are my current favorites. I walked all over Italy in them and not once did I have sore feet!

30. Do you have an article of clothing you have had since you were in high school?

I have a couple of outfits, but I'll never wear them, since I seriously doubt I'll ever be 110 pounds again. I've saved them because my mom made them and I wore the shit out of them at the time.

31. Were you in track and field?

Nope. No sports. But I used to like to run, before it was cool. So yeah, like almost 40 years ago.

32. Were you ever in a school talent show?

{{{{shudder}}}} Yes. Mortification resurfaces at the mere thought.

33. Have you ever written in a library book?

Every day, baby!! (and yes, even as a patron, but I use(d) pencil and erase(d) before I return)

34. Allergic to?

Let me count: mold, dust, pollen (grass and corn), timothy, dogs, cats...eggs? Not sure about the eggs, but I'm having trouble with SOMEthing breakfasty over the past year or so.

35. Favorite fruit?

Bananas for year-round use, but there is NOTHING like an apple right off the tree, or a peach.

____
*edited to add link

Patrick's Place

2012-01-15T14:59:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7 8 9

Name seven books you’d like to read in 2012.

Chelsea Mansions, by Barry Maitland
Miss Zukas and the Library Murders, by Jo Dereske
The Greatest Prayer, by John Dominic Crossan
Roughing it, by Mark Twain
The History of the World According to Facebook, by Wylie Overstreet
Apricot Jam, and Other Stories, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
The Scottish Prisoner, by Diana Gabaldon
Breakdown, by Sara Paretsky
David, by by Mary Hoffman

Oops, sorry, I got carried away. lol

Those are the books currently on my library record that I either have not started to read or have on hold for the next available copy. I also have several books on my Nook to read, and I have a few ideas for books on CD too. I'm sure there's be another 70+ books over the course of the year, but I can't promise beyond these.

Unconscious Mutterings

2012-01-15T09:02:00.002-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Red tape :: Runaround
Crush :: Smash
Magical :: Trickery
Sticky :: Tacky
Tile :: Ceramic
Doubt :: Sceptical
Inconsistent :: Case-by-case
Kiss :: Smooch
Inspiration :: Idea
Thanks :: Gratefulness

Patrick Place

2012-01-14T15:24:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. Considering your childhood, do you feel you had it easier or tougher than your parents did when they were children?

My childhood, in the 60s through the very early 80s, was 180 degrees from those of my parents, who were 10 and 8 when the Depression hit. My dad was born on a homestead his parents were trying to proof; they lost it, and most everything else including a daughter (to scarlet fever) before my dad was 5. He remembered, as the Depression deepened, pulling his red wagon full of vegetables from his yard 1.5 miles to what was then a tuberculosis sanitarium to sell to them, then walking back home to bring more every weekend. This paid for clothes and some store-bought food for his family. My mom graduated from high school at 16 and went directly to work to support her family because her dad was unable to work due to (sorry, Mom) alcoholism. He had worked as a porter, carrying luggage (i.e. trunks) from Denver's Union Station to assorted hotels, including The Brown Palace, about a mile away, on his back.
You bet my life was easier than my parents! And, in turn, their lives were easier than their parents. I'm hoping to continue that trend with Sparky.

2. Considering your life now, at your current age, how does yours compare to what you know about your parents when they were your age?

When my Dad was 48, one of his daughters was near death, his business (which he owned) was failing, his dad died, and he had his first heart attack. Oh, yeah, and I think that was the summer my brother ran over his foot with a neighbor's lawn mower. It was NOT his best year! Mom's 48th year...I think that was about when she had her (shhh!) hysterectomy, but since we never talked about it afterwards, I could be wrong. In any case, my sister was a little healthier by then, so at least things had stabilized a little in the intervening years. On the other hand, my brother was 16 and a nightmare (as are a lot of teenage boys, ahem).

3. What do you miss today most about your childhood?

The freedom to play and lie in the sun. The health, the sense of discovery in every moment, the possibilities ahead of me. ANYthing was possible, even for a scared little mouse like me.

4. What percentage of the time during your childhood did you get what you asked for (within reason)?

Uh, well, at the time it seemed like about 5%, but of course that's not true. I had everything I needed, which is far more important. And I did get a lot of what I wanted--or thought I wanted--for Christmas and birthdays. Like, for instance, that rock polisher that I used once.

5. What percentage of the time do you end up getting what you want today (within reason)?

Mostly I have learned to wait a bit before I buy anything I'm jonesing for. That way, if I still want whatever it is, I probably will use it.

6. Take the quiz: Are You Spoiled?

You Are 8% Spoiled
You are definitely not spoiled. You've worked hard for what you have.
Down to earth and grounded, you don't need a lot to make you happy.
Are You Spoiled?
Yup. Too right, at least in material terms.

Saturday 9

2012-01-14T12:38:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
I Know I'm Losing You

1. Have you ever still been in a relationship that you knew was ending, but you hung in with it anyway? If yes, why?

There was a guy in high school that I broke up with, and then we dated again later, briefly. Dumb. I've noticed that I tend to hang on to friendships for too long sometimes (no one reading this blog should is involved here, don't worry!), and sometimes things should just be left to die. But it's easier to stay in a dying relationship (or 12) than to cultivate new ones, no?

2. Tell why people around the world should be completely enthralled by you.

They shouldn't. I'm not a fan of enthrallment. But, if people want to like me cuz I'm smart and occasionally funny, that's ok by me.

3. Other than where you live, what's your favorite city and why?

The old standby is, of course, Denver since I know my way around, and the scenery is amazing. But London...oh, London, how I love thee! And San Diego. And Chicago has good points. ... Great, now I want to go on vacation!

4. What is something you are really passionate about?

Let's be honest here: myself and my loved ones. I also get wound up about books and reading, social justice, neglected and abused children and animals, and sleep. And food.

5. What has been your most exciting prize that you've won?

The only thing I've ever 'won' is a Thanksgiving turkey about 35 years ago. However, I've hit the jackpot on people I've known, and that's more important than prizes.

6. Do you think there was there a second gunman behind the grassy knoll?

Don't know, don't care, doesn't matter after 48 years and two months.

7. What was the silliest, most fun, crazy or impractical gift that you received?

Hmm, this year? I got more bird ornaments for the tree. I got a book of library-related quotes. I can't think of anything really stupid that I got this year. It really was a stellar Christmas.

8. What was the most practical gift that you received?

Books? Always practical: hate being without them.

9. What blogger has been in your blogroll the longest? How did you discover them?

I think the one meme that's still around that I was going from the beginning is probably Unconscious Mutterings. Yup, just checked...from May 2004. I have no idea where or hwow I found it.

Six Word Saturday

2012-01-14T12:12:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

It's afternoon and I'm just starting!

If you read my list of chores for the weekend yesterday...this is a bad sign. I was awake at 7 (grrrr!) but then played on my Nook for a couple of hours, got up, Facebooked for a bit, went to get Beast up...and the wheels fell off completely.

No, not that way. :-P

We are ALL having trouble getting moving today: Sparky just crawled out too, though he's been awake for awhile as well. First stop is picking up Beast's car in town, then Sparky and I will head to Stupor Wally for groceries, and so forth. Then...well, there's football this afternoon. While that's on, p'raps I'll work on my insurance stuff. Or something. Sigh.

Follow Friday Four

2012-01-13T18:33:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. I have never eaten dog. Nor do I intend to start. Ever.
2. I like to read in the bathtub. Sue me.
3. If I could go back and change one thing, it would be driving my truck into my neighbor's truck last March.
4. My greatest wish for my son's future is that he stays a good person and appreciates himself.

Should Be Reading

2012-01-13T18:26:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Friday Finds

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week?

I cataloged the new Nevada Barr book called The Rope and put it on hold today. Also ditto, Simply Jesus, by N.T. Wright. I put the holds out not to be filled till February, though, since I'm buried right now.

Cinn's Friday 5

2012-01-13T18:19:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.

[01] What is the greatest distance you have ever moved?

About 1,000 miles, piecemeal, over about four years.

[02] Where would you like to live?

About 1000 miles from here. ;-)

[03] If you were moving, would you rent a U-Haul and do it yourself, or hire movers?

HIRE MOVERS! I will NEVER move again without movers. Ever. The end.

[04] When was the last time you moved?

Eight years ago.

[05] In what residence have you most felt at home?

Wow. Well, it pretty much has to be my childhood home, which I guess means I had a pretty good childhood. Right? But I really, really love this house.

Friday Fill-Ins

2012-01-13T17:59:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. When I looked out the window this morning I was glad to see it hadn't snowed too much more overnight.
2. Criticizing people you don't know anything about doesn't make sense to me.
3. Remind me why I just went into the pantry. ...or the kitchen, or tell me why I just stood up...my brain=fried
4. Travel is something I love to do!
5. TP is a basic necessity of life.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found a lot of food to throw out. As usual.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with Beast and maybe watching some DVR'd NCISes, tomorrow my plans include a whole lot of stuff* that isn't all fun, but that needs doing, and Sunday, I want to enjoy worship and...I dunno... finish the stuff* I didn't get done tomorrow. Oh, and I hear there might be a football game or two to watch!

__________
* A technical term that encompasses laundry, sorting out insurance coverage (new insurance = new doctors??) and prescriptions, figuring out what I'm taking to next weekend's conference, shopping for what I don't have to wear for next week's conference, grocery shopping, reinforcing the directive for Sparky to Clean His Room before heading back to college, figuring out someone to watch the guinea pigs while I'm gone, planning a ride to the airport, saying goodbye to Beast (again), going through the conference schedule and planning my days, updating my reading blog, cleaning the guinea pig cage.... Oh yeah, fun times at Chez Chat this weekend!!

Thursday 13

2012-01-12T19:39:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Things I've Ingested Today

Tap water (enough for a pill)
Diet Pepsi Max (about a cup)
Bacon, egg & cheese bagel
Large fast-food-sized cup of diet Coke
Chicken soft taco
Nachos & cheese
Birthday cake (1 slice)
Large fast-food-sized cup of diet Pepsi
Several handfuls of Munchies
Gum
Cold 5-day-old pizza (3 slices)
Toll-house ice-cream sandwich
Diet Pepsi Max

Thursday This or That

2012-01-12T19:20:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Favorite Character: Mickey Mouse or Goofy? Goofy. Yeah, I know, but I'm just overly-Mickeyed.

Sandwich: Chicken Cordon Bleu or Tuna Salad? Oh, either, depending on my mood. Haven't had either in quite some time, though.

TV Show Re-runs: Cosby Show or Full House? Cosby. Why start watching the other one now?

Sledding or Ice Skating? I can't skate. So, sledding.

Use a recipe or Make one up yourself? Recipe, with elaboration if I've made it before.

Should Be Reading

2012-01-11T17:08:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
WWW Wednesdays

• What are you currently reading?

Nearly done with The Evolution of Faith, by Philip Gulley; about halfway through An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon on CD and Down These Strange Streets, ed. by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois; still stalled out on From the Kingdom of Memory, by Elie Wiesel; and I just started Cain, by José Saramago.

• What did you recently finish reading?

Finished The Secret Life of Cowboys, by Tom Groneberg last week, and read the last story in Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection, by Loren Estleman on my Nook last night.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Chelsea Mansions, by Barry Maitland, and Miss Zukas and the Library Murders, by Jo Dereske, and I started a new Nook book last night but don't remember the name.

Should Be Reading

2012-01-10T21:44:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Teaser Tuesdays

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I've since concluded that for beliefs in divine or heavenly power to be sustained, for them to be comforting, it is imperative that no one call them into question. For too many people, the prospect that God or angels or Jesus or Allah or Elohim doesn't or can't intervene to protect us from suffering and evil is ground shifting and consequently terrifying.

The Evolution of Faith, by Philip Gulley, p. 115

Curious as a Cat

2012-01-09T08:52:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Describe your ideal romantic dinner.

Well, it's really all about the company, right? So, someplace Beast and I can talk and laugh and enjoy good food without worrying about day-to-day things. It's amazing though: some meals that 'look' romantic and fun end up being anything but, while others that seem fraught turn out to be delightful. It's a hard balance to achieve.

2) If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be?

No, this is not my house...sigh...I wish.

3) When was the last time you spotted an unwelcome visitor (i.e., bug, rodent, etc.) in your house?

Aside from the minuscule spider running across the kitchen counter the other day, I haven't seen any vermin of the "freak out and scrub down everything in the house" variety in a very long time. For which I am very thankful. Apparently, we're just untidy, not actually dirty.

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

It reminds me of the dry stone walls in Yorkshire which have stood for centuries and run up and down the dales. Then it reminds me of Robert Frost's poem, Mending Wall:
...Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence....
But this looks more like Germany to me, or anyway someplace greener and more forested. And it's lovely. I wouldn't mind sitting against it and reading for a bit, or maybe just soaking up the sunshine and warmth from the rocks.

Should Be Reading

2012-01-09T08:23:00.003-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Musing Mondays

Are there any "raved reads"–books that everyone seems to be talking about–that you’re hoping to get read this year, yourself? What books are they, and why are you hoping to read them? Is it because you want to say you’ve read it? Or, would you have chosen to read it, even if you’d discovered it yourself, and no one was raving about it?

I have to preface this by saying that, over the years, I have not had good experiences with reading books that "everyone" is reading, or that "everyone" loves. Snow Falling on Cedars? Blergh, read 50 pages, nothing happened except I was bored to death. Cold Mountain, same thing. Twilight, anyone? (shoot me in the eye, please!) I did finish that because I wanted to know how Bella got out of the mess she was in, but the metaphorical/symbolic stuff was like wading through molasses.

However, there are a few books that have been out for awhile that I would like to read, because they sound interesting. Swamplandia! keeps getting mentioned as a fun read, and Bossypants (though the cover is HIDEOUS), and The Swerve. There is a YA book that sounds good too, but I'm drawing a blank on the title; it's about a circus, I think.

Sunday Stealing

2012-01-08T13:03:00.003-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The Never Ending Meme, Part One

1. Song that always makes you sad?

If I listen to the words at all, One by U2 (or Mary J.) tears me up every time.

2. Last thing you bought?

Breakfast. Unless you count the Girl Scout Cookies I ordered but didn't pay for. Yet.

3. Last person you argued with?

I believe that would be Simon at Sunday School this morning; he's 1 and he won.

4. Do you put butter before putting the peanut butter on?

Butter PLUS peanut butter? Ugh, no. One, or the other, not both.

5. One of your stuffed animals’ names as a kid?

I don't remember giving them names; I didn't really have that many.

6. Did you ever at one time own a Barenaked Ladies CD?

Nope. Sparky has one (at least), though.

7. Favorite day of the week?

Monday. Though that may be changing due to my new hours. I like Thursdays a lot too.

8. Favorite sundae topping?

Butterscotch.

9. Did you take piano lessons?

Yup. Can't remember if it was two or three years, but yes.

10. Most frequent song played?

I don't really like a lot of repetition, but since I started my main Jango station with U2, they get a lot of play.

11. T.V. show you secretly enjoy?

Ghost Whisperer. I can't for the life of me figure out why--it's enormously stupid--but I'm addicted.

12. Would you rather play basketball or hockey?

I was awesome as a forward in hockey back in gym class. No one was ever expecting me to mix things up like I did.

13. Date someone older or younger?

Wait, lemme ask Beast. ... He says, "No dating allowed!"

14. One place you could travel right now?

A sunny summer mountain field where I could sleep for the rest of the afternoon.

15. Do you use umbrellas?

Not often. As my mom often pointed out, I'm not so sweet I'll melt in the rain.

16. Do you know all the words to the Canadian national anthem?

I know the first two words only. This is okay, since I'm not Candadian.

17. Favorite cheese?

I'm in a provolone phase right now. But I like almost all hard cheeses, and some of the harder soft cheese. Stinky, runny, moldy cheese? Not even.

18. The Smith's or The Cure?

I know more songs by The Cure.

19. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?

I don't really choose friends by hair color, but most of the guys I find attractive are darker.

20. Best job you ever had?

The one I have now, though I gotta admit that I prefer my previous boss.

Patrick's Place

2012-01-08T12:30:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Seven
Name seven of [the] listed eleven sounds today’s kids have probably never heard that you remember most clearly.

Gas Station Driveway Bell [I didn't even notice this had gone away!]
Film Projector [especially the end of the film--wakka wakka wakka...flippp-ppp-ppp]
Cash Register [cha-CHING!]
Broken Record
Manual Typewriter
TV Channel Selector
Record Changer [gosh, I miss that sound, another one I hadn't thought of for awhile]

Unconscious Mutterings

2012-01-08T12:18:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Compute :: Add up
Irr[es]istable :: Tempting
Unacceptable :: Not okay
Joy :: Happiness
Noisy :: Loud
Paid in full :: Owned
Desire :: Ache
One word :: Monosyllabic
Huge :: Enormous
Motorcycle :: Harley

Six Word Saturday

2012-01-07T19:46:00.002-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Work today sucked giant donkey balls

I haven't come home from work and gone straight up to bed with a headache in years. I did that today.

Let's see: the phones didn't get switched off the night machine till 10:15, then we couldn't get a dial tone to dial out (although we could actually call out so I'm not sure why we needed to hear a dial tone today--wait till Monday to get it sorted? Nope, gotta be done today!!). Of course the person making the most noise about getting it fixed was her usual eminently useless self, and I ended up in the computer room resetting the phones: turn servers off, count to 10, turn them back on. W00t: dial tone.

Meanwhile the boss called to see if the phones were fixed (NOT YET--I'm at Reference and if I could GET to the BASEMENT I'd get it HANDLED, but people keep needing help, and calling with stupid QUESTIONS like this one!) except she started her conversation with me by asking about Spanish language storytimes. Which, hello!, I don't DO, so I actually cut her off and asked her to call back when I wasn't running in 12 directions.

Then, the credit card website we use wouldn't work. Fortunately, I guess, I have intentionally made myself NOT aware of anything to do with it, so I couldn't help. But I also couldn't stop myself from trying a couple of fixes.

And, there was the usual goofiness at the Reference Desk, none of which was as bad as usual, but today ended up being irritating in the extreme anyway. Like, yeah, we use Firefox on our public internet terminals and some websites only work properly with IE...which is SO F'IN DUMB.

Coming home and going to bed wasn't all that helpful, but when I came back downstairs Beast did a quick shoulder rub that was so painfully good that my back finally relaxed enough to let go of my skull muscles and calm the headache pain a little. That, plus two ibuprofen seem to have fixed me up. There will be a long, hot bath in my future, which (I hope) takes care of the remnants.

Patrick's Place

2012-01-07T19:22:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. What are three things you'd like to change about yourself in 2012?

It would be nice if I could manage to stop inhaling food at the rate I have been. I'd also like to get back to reading books--I've really sloughed off the last few years. And, hmm, have better follow-through on some things I have let slide in a major way.

2. Of those three, which do you think would be the easiest to change?

The reading ought to be the easiest, since it's enjoyable. The others mean I have to be "good" and not lazy.

3. Of the three, what's your biggest roadblock to changing the one you think would be the most difficult to change?

The hardest thing is the food thing. I meant, I gotta eat. And the bad stuff just tastes so damn good....

4. Which of the three do you think would be easiest to change if you had someone to help keep you on track to reach a particular goal?

Oh, well, probably all of them. If I were competing on any of them, those would be the ones I'd probably excel at.

5. Have you ever used an "accountability partner," someone who would keep you on track to reach a particular goal?

I tried Weight Watchers for a little over a year. Started great. The people at the meetings were annoying. I need to get over myself before I start that again. Otherwise, no.

6. Who's the first person in your life that you would consider reaching out to for such a partnership and why?

Normally I would say Beast, but realistically he's got just a leetle much on his plate right now, and besides, he's not mean enough (to me) to be The Enforcer.

Saturday 9

2012-01-07T07:21:00.003-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Nobody Told Me

1. When you grew up were you ever told how to deal with problems?

Hmmm. I'm sure I was. I don't remember any direct conversations, and I probably learned more by watching the adults in my life, but I'm sure somewhere along the line my parents told me to plow through them, that there was no avoiding them, but to keep a stiff upper lip and "git 'r done."

2. What was your first apartment like?

Tiny. Well, ok, it wasn't as small as BIL's: it had separate rooms (i.e., it wasn't an efficiency), but the bed barely fit in the bedroom, and the bedroom closet was practically hysterical in size. Good thing we didn't have much stuff, because there wasn't anywhere to put it! We were in a building probably built between WWI and WWII and despite its size, the apartment had a front and a back door--though the latter was totally blocked by the fridge. There was no counter space in the kitchen; we used the stove to stack dirty dishes before washing them. The bathroom had a window in the shower that didn't open anymore, but since it looked out on an airshaft, that was all right. We certainly could have done worse, though; the building was in pretty good repair and the tenants were mostly pretty nice.

3. What was the first car you owned?

Beast brought his 70s-era Ford Pinto in the marriage with him. When it died, we bought a used Chevy Monza and eventually a Toyota pickup. Those were my first experiences in ownership. If the Toyota was a gourmet meal at a 5-star restaurant, the Monza was more like K-rations.

4. Tell us about a crush or relationship that you had at high school.

I had a notebook full of crushes in high school, but I only dated one guy. The unfortunate thing was that I only dated him because he asked me out; I really wanted to date his brother. Fortunately, I never shared that with either of them, and the brother remains a good friend, but L and I haven't spoken in years.

5. Have you ever had an “enemy” in your life?

Besides myself, you mean? I don't know. I don't dwell on enemies, or negative behavior, just one of the many reasons you can't honestly nickname me Tricky Dick.

6. What were you doing the first night that you got drunk?

Heh. The first time I got blotto was on school-sponsored champagne in college. It was a theme weekend, that year's theme being New Year's Eve. The after-dance party included a champagne fountain--like the chocolate fountains so prevalent today, which is part of why I'm not a big fan of chocolate fountains--which I used perhaps 12-13 times in about 45 minutes. Once we left, I didn't make it to the door of the Union, but instead made it to the bathrooms in the basement and spent who-knows-how-long bringing the champagne back up. My roommate stayed with me, eventually calling Security who had to carry me home to the dorm with a garbage pail under my face. SO EMBARRASSING! Still can't drink cheap champagne 29 years later.

7. Ten years ago, what was you job and did you like it?

I think it was about 10 years ago that I started doing the cataloging at my workplace. I love(d) my workplace, love the job, like most of the people. I'm very fortunate.

8. What movie had the biggest impact on you as a child and why?

We didn't go to the movies that often, but I have some very vivid memories of Paint Your Wagon. And, oddly, Tora! Tora! Tora! which I thought was going to be a bullfighting movie, but instead was a deadly dull movie full of people talking. Oh, and Dr. Zhivago...it appeared in my consciousness just at the point when I was ready to fall for the romance of big movies (and stories) like that.

9. What are your plans for this weekend?

I work today--need to hit the road in ten minutes, tops. Tomorrow, I have Sunday School with the kidlets for the first time since before Christmas, and then we're putting away Christmas. :'(

Friday Fill-Ins

2012-01-06T17:08:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Discussions involve listening at least as much as--if not more than--talking.
2. In two weeks, it's going to be hard, again, to say goodbye.
3. I think it's time to break out the shrimp for dinner.
4. Any random happy kid puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime I'll get to Australia.
6. Music gives me strength.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out, maybe working on my reading file-cards for last year, tomorrow my plans include working, and Sunday, I want to see all the Sunday School kids again!

Friday 5

2012-01-06T16:58:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Inventions

1. If they could invent a remote control for something in your house that doesn’t have one, what would you wish it to be?

Laundry. Start-to-finish, sort-to-fold.

2. What could your car really use that they just hasn't invented yet?

Well, other than wings...I can't think of anything. Like a hovercraft thing, to pass the slowpokes.

3. Who among your friends could probably be a great inventor if he or she had enough funding to do it?

My nephew James already does this. He's always been the type to build things out of other things.

4. What invention seems to do its job in a less-satisfying manner than the old-fashioned way?

Virtually anything that was made in the last 40 years and includes plastic parts doesn't work as well as stuff made in the 40s and 50s (or before) with non-plastic parts. Toasters, sewing machines, tools, pens, you-name-it.

5. Lately, vending machines have gone beyond drinks and snacks: you can rent DVDs from them or even purchase iPods from them. What's something your life could be improved by if it were available in vending machines?

Healthy food. More vending machines, available EVERYwhere, and low cost.

Follow Friday Four

2012-01-06T16:33:00.002-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Holding my tongue is not my strongest virtue.

2. Any meal I don't have to plan is my favorite meal of the day.

3. The internet is my crack.

4. Whenever an emergency happens, I always try to stay calm.

Thursday This or That

2012-01-05T21:05:00.002-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

New Year's Resolutions: Yay or Nay? Bolshoi Nyet.

Snail mail or E-mail? Email. I'm hopeless with snail mail anymore.

Rootbeer or Cream soda? Root beer.

American Idol Winners: Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood? I haven't yet actually watched an entire episode of this show. I prefer pop to country, but that's about all I'm going to say.

Chicken Marsala or Vegetable Lasagna? As long as I don't have to cook or clean up and they are equally good, I don't care.

Thursday 13

2012-01-05T20:53:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
~~My To-Do List~~ Things I Did Today

Got up an hour earlier than I really should have
Went to the City Employee Health Fair: BP 120/75 and about a pint of blood drawn. We'll see what that all shows.
Got several questions about my new insurance answered.
Ate breakfast--an apple and a cookie. Yum.
Cataloged a few things: large print books and books on CD.
Updated subject headings.
Ate lunch with Beast--we really have to find a better Chinese place.
Updated death dates.
Talked to the children's librarian about several things.
In fact, I spent a lot of time gabbing today with several people.
Had a massage.
Ran into a friend and chatted with her in the cold. Cuz we're dumb.
Played The Sims on Facebook.

Curious as a Cat

2012-01-04T20:06:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1) You just moved to Sesame Street. Which Muppet is your new roommate? How do you think you two would get along?

Uhm. NOT Oscar! Maybe...Cookie? I wouldn't always be snarfing down cookies, since I'd have to beat him to the punch all the time. I'd, perhaps, lose some weight.

2) Would you be willing to commit perjury in court for a close friend? What if your lie would save his or her life?

There are just too many considerations here. I would probably tell small lies, and I think we all would if we knew we'd get away with it. Would I lie about something important? How close a friend is it, anyway? Beast? Yeah, probably. I'd absolutely lie, in a heartbeat, over and over, for Sparky, especially if it were life and death AND if he were innocent. I'm not sure I'd lie for him, or anyone else, if I was convinced he was guilty.

3) List a few of your favorite ways to bust up cabin fever in the middle of winter.

I try to go away for a weekend at least to someplace warm and sunny, or at least sunny. Being appreciative of any small scrap of sunshine here is also good. I pay attention any time I hear a bird. But really, by March, I'm mostly ready to commit felonies to get winter over with.

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

It reminds me of this song:
I dreamed about Ray Charles last night
He took me flying in the air
Showed my own spider webs
Said, "Honey, you had best take care.
The world is made of spider webs;
The threads are stuck to me and you.
Be careful what you're wishing for
'cause when you gain you just might lose."
You just might lose your...
Spider web

Should Be Reading

2012-01-03T10:20:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Teaser Tuesdays

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I take the pen and write "No saddle" on one line and "No experience" on the next. I could add "No clue," but I am pretty sure the fact that I have no idea why I am here is spelled out in the lines of my face."

The Secret Life of Cowboys, by Tom Groneberg, p. 154

Should Be Reading

2012-01-02T20:56:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Musing Mondays

What is/are the first book(s) you’re reading for the new year?

From the Kingdom of Memory, by Elie Wiesel (essays/memoir)
Down These Strange Streets (ed. by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois) (short stories/fantasy)
An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon (on CD) (historical fiction)
The Secret Life of Cowboys, by Tom Groneberg (memoir)
The Evolution of Faith : How God is Creating a Better Christianity, by Philip Gulley (theology)
Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection, by Loren Estleman (on Nook) (short stories/mystery)

I'm going to try to get back to doing more reading this year, i.e., less internet time. That's not a resolution per se, just a goal. However, much as I'd like to claim that this long-even-for-me list of Books Currently in Progress was planned so that I could prove that I am going to read more in 2012, I didn't have any such sense of organization. No, I'm afraid that I just have at least one book in every room (plus the car), and that includes two books not listed here because I can't remember the titles and I'm too lazy to get up and look. One is a trivia book (hello, bathroom reading) and the other...well, hell, it turns out it's sitting right here:

History's Greatest Lies, by William Weir (uhm, yeah, history)

I got that for Christmas. There's another book I sorta started, but it's totally trivia, so I expect it'll end up in the bathroom eventually.

Now, to be fair, I didn't actually start any of these books in 2012. Technically, I haven't started a book yet this year. I think I should finish a couple of these first. Yes?

New Year's Meme

2012-01-01T20:39:00.000-06:00

(Swiped from Kwizgiver, who reminded me that I've done this one before, here and here)

In 2011, I gained: more skills in controlling my motor-mouth.

I lost: my last (borrowed) parent.

I stopped: being quiet about some really important things. And I stopped being a youth group leader.

I started: being honest with myself. Well, more. I'm far from perfect in this area. And I started teaching Sunday School again. At least the latter is fun!

I was hugely satisfied by: the way I'm learning to coordinate my "department" at work. It's nice to "have people" for things I don't want/need to do.

And frustrated by: my boss.

I am so embarrassed that I: spewed far too much in sometimes-inappropriate places and to poorly-chosen people.

Once again, I: read a lot of books.

Once again, I did not: work on sorting my parents' papers.

The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is: I weigh more.

The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is: I don't care that I weigh more. And I'm sadder, about things that are far more important than what the scale says.

I loved spending time: in Italy.

Why did I spend even two minutes: worrying about going to Ham's wedding in October?? It all turned out that I couldn't have, and shouldn't have, so it was good that I didn't.

I should have spent more time: with FIL.

I regret buying: some items of clothing, and lots of the food I ate.

I will never regret buying tickets to Europe last spring even though with that money I could have hired a cleaning person.

I worry way too much.

I didn’t listen enough.

Redoing the same crazy things over and over drove me crazy.

The most relaxing place I went was the Hotel California in Florence. Yes. Really. Aside from the sandblasting on the front of the building, anyway. I stayed in bed almost 15 hours one night there, and the bar and patio(s) were so excellent.

Why did I go to Taco Bell so many times for lunch?

The best thing I did for someone else was be patient, pray, believe, and tell the truth.

The best thing I did for myself was getting clarity on what I want.

The best thing someone did for me listen to me cry. I have some very awesome friends. Oh, and for some reason, my best friends are now entrusting me with plants. I hope I can live up to their standards.

The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, be somebody's daughter. But I think that's part of my life that's over.

Sunday Stealing

2012-01-01T09:21:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The 2011 Year End Meme

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? Left the country without Sparky. It was the first time we left him. Another possibility is controlling my mouth under extreme duress; many things went unsaid this year, except in my head or on various blogs.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't do these.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No one in the immediate family had kids. My niece miscarried last week though.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Beast's aunt and his dad died this year. And I think we were at a couple of other funerals too.

5. What countries did you visit? Italy, England, and the U.S.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? No funerals.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? December 30 (last day as a part-time employee), September 26 (FIL's death), August 26 (Sparky moves into his dorm), August 1, (Beast in the hospital), Palm Sunday (in Florence, people with palm branches everywhere), April 23 (Rosellen & Tom's wedding)....

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Not killing anyone, not losing my mind (mostly)....

9. What was your biggest failure? Spending too much time with my laptop and not enough time reading or getting things accomplished that needed doing.

10. What was the best thing you bought? Nook.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration? Sparky's.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted? Pick a presidential candidate, any of them. Or Casey Anthony. Or any random Kardashian.

13. What song will always remind you of 2011? Party Rock Anthem.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of? Reading.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of? Computer-game playing

16. Did you fall in love in 2011? I think I fell a little bit more in love with my great-nephew this year. His eyes are killer.

17. What was your favorite new TV program? American Pickers (I think that's from this year), or perhaps L&O:SVU in reruns.

18. What was the best book you read? Mockingjay (Collins) is right up there.

19. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying? Standing up for myself.

20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Jeans, or whatever fits, since I've given up trying to lose weight to fit in my not-fat clothes.

21. What kept you sane? Work.

22. Who did you miss? Damn, this last week has been hard; I've been missing everyone from FIL to Ellen to my dad and mom (!!) to Nathanael...jeez, I've been weeping almost every day.

23. Who was the best new person you met? Aforementioned great-nephew, Justin.

24. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2011? I can't control, change, or fix anything but myself.

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "You think I'd crumble / You think I'd lay down and die / Oh no, not I / I will survive"

Unconscious Mutterings

2012-01-01T08:53:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Resolution :: Non-binding...
Adorable :: Cute
Fractions :: Parts
Intensify :: Deepen
Commute :: Travel
Job :: Work
Advance :: Forward
Audit :: IRS
Highlight :: Sum up
Disallow :: Ban

Saturday 9

2011-12-31T15:18:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Sam's Last Stand: 2011

1. Over all, how do you feel about what happened in your life in 2011?

The first few months weren't horrible, but once we got back from our anniversary trip, everything hit the skids: family funeral, family illness, family hospitalization, family funeral, chaotic work (two employees left, one position was filled...yes the fun continues with New Boss), Sparky at college, and I just found out today that my niece miscarried a baby this week.

2. Do you do New Year's resolutions? If so, what are they this year?

Nope, you won't catch me doing this.

3. In the past 24 hours, I have reconnected with 3 old friends that I've not spoken to in years. If you could reconnect with someone from your past who would it be, and why?

There are some people from college I'd like to chat with. And some of my former teachers, but I'm afraid a few of the latter might be dead.

4. Do you have anything that you would have not done or done differently in 2011 as you look back?

Yeah, but it does bear discussing since nothing can be changed now. I'll do better in the future. I hope.

5. Going back to my ex-friends that I reconnected with, one of them ended over a boyfriend. She called to apologize. Do you have someone that you fell out with you and wonder how they are?

Yup. I've reconnected with my college roommate on Facebook, with whom I stopped communicating because 15 years ago she and her husband had the same email address and he forwarded all kinds of bullshit and when I finally had had enough and told him to stop assuming I agreed with any of his politics...and I stopped hearing anything from them (her) at all, except at Christmas. She used to have a brain, used to be logical and scientific; now she's a dutiful wife who does what her husband says, homeschools their kids, and worships at the sort of church she found hateful as a college student. WTF? Anyway, I'm hoping I can get over all that; it's been nice just talking to HER now on Facebook.

6. If you had a chance to reconnect with an ex (say for coffee), who would it be, and why?

Nope. Sorry. Not at all interested. Not even on Facebook.

7. One of resolutions is about weight-loss. Have you ever struggled with your diet?

For the last 10-15 years. I've kind of given up, to be honest. Other, bigger, priorities.

8. What do you think was the top news story of 2011?

I hope it turns out to be the end of the war in Iraq.

9. What are your plans for (New Year's Eve) tonight?

It looks as though we're going to do our usual fondue thing for dinner. Then, I guess we'll stay up till midnight. Whee, eh?

Six Word Saturday

2011-12-31T14:26:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Thank God 2011 is almost over!!

This has been the capper to a long series of horrible years. Death, dismay, despair. I need a new life.

That's all.

Follow Friday Four *

2011-12-31T10:11:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Lately, I have been feeling a little overwhelmed. For reasons that are unbloggable (here), and because I'm starting to realize that there is an actual difference between being at work ~32 hours/week and 40 hours/week. It doesn't sound like much, but on top of some other stuff...yeah, 'overwhelmed' about covers it.

2. I am usually a bit of a Pollyanna, but I've fallen into some bad habits this year. Maybe that should be my New Year's resolution: stop being bitter and cynical, and be more trusting and optimistic. That's going to take some time to work on.

3. Having gotten everything on the To-Do list done is always the best feeling at the end of the day. It doesn't happen often, which is probably why I appreciate it when it does. (notice the Passive Voice employed throughout this one...lol)

4. Take out my earplugs and put on my glasses is the first thing I do in the morning. Definitely a little Mr. Rogers routine.

*a.k.a. Post #6000 on this blog....holy shit, now I actually know where my time has gone for the past 7 years!

Friday Five

2011-12-30T23:01:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Into 2012

1. Do you make New Year's resolutions? If so, what are yours this year?

I don't do resolutions. I know myself too well and I don't need any more places to be a failure. This year, I guess my resolution is to work 40 hours a week. Mostly because, well, yeah...they're paying me to be there!

2. What are you really looking forward to in 2012?

Aside from the full-time hours...I'm hoping to make it through a year without a family funeral.

3. Did you have any life-changing experiences in 2011? What were they?

Yeah: two family funerals, an awesome trip to Italy and England, living with some intra-family stuff that I couldn't help/fix/handle.

4. What do you plan on waking up to on the 1st?

The only thing I have planned for Sunday is seeing some family: Katherine and Alan, Marie and Jan, and maybe James. We're meeting on neutral turf, so it should go all right. I hope.

5. Do you have any particular traditions for New Year's?

We usually have a (meat, not cheese) fondue meal either on the Eve or the Day. And frequently we bust out a jigsaw to work on for the day, in between parades and football games. Not sure if we'll do the latter this year, since the parade and games are on Monday.

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-30T19:08:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Wait, wait don't tell me! I wish I could schedule that show into my life more consistently.
2. I hope this New Year's Eve is a little different.
3. In addition, I hope I can get in and out of the grocery store tomorrow quickly.
4. I know it's weird, but this is the way we do it here!
5. At the end of the year, I like to say goodbye, don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. The last few years have suuuuuuuuuuuucked.
6. The end of the world (or lack thereof, actually) is one of the things I'm looking forward to in 2012.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed early, tomorrow my plans include the aforementioned grocery shopping, meal-planning, and (sigh) talking to Katherine, and Sunday, I want to try to enjoy seeing my family! We'll see how that last part goes.

Thursday This or That

2011-12-29T20:33:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Big New Year's Eve Bash or intimate party with a few friends?

I'm not a Bash person. Ever. But we mostly just hang out here anyway; I don't like to be out and about with the drunks on NYE.

Cute little black dress or sparkly pant suit?

Neither. Jeans + sweater.

Appetizer: Prosciutto wrapped stuffed dates or stuffed mushrooms?

Stuff mushrooms. Not a big date-eater.

Stay up til midnight or in bed early?

I usually try to make it to midnight.

Champagne or no champagne?

No champagne, thanks.

Curious as a Cat

2011-12-26T21:02:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Would you prefer to have your own swimming pool or your own airplane? Why?

Seeing as how I can't swim, I'll go with airplane. I know someone who's a small-craft pilot--come to think of it, I know several airline pilots as well--so I think I'd be ready to travel in a heartbeat. We're less than 10 minutes from a small airport, too.

2) Which items in your house do you think will bring in the most money at an antique store in a century?

Huh. Assuming they don't get broken, I'd bet on the small Roseville vase of my mom's and perhaps some of the furniture and/or s&p's. Nothing of ours, per se, just the stuff we've inherited. I don't buy stuff as an investment; I buy it cuz I like it. It would be weird if the motley collection of books I have will be worth anything in 100 years, though.

3) Do you shop around when you look for clothes or do you buy the first thing you like?

I hate shopping (have I mentioned that?), so if I find something that's at least in the right ballpark, playing something that looks like the right game, I buy it. This often leads to me buying stuff that I wear once and realize is all wrong, but I rarely pay much for things, so....

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

Lots of good presents yesterday. Great Christmas day in that way, and in every other. Boxing Day...not as great.

Patrick's Place

2011-12-26T10:16:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7

Name seven notable people who died in 2011 who you’d most like to bring back long enough for a conversation over coffee. [The reality of things is that, with one exception, I'd be more likely to sit down in a bar with most of these people, not a Starbucks.]

Geraldine Ferraro--of course; she is sort of my political hero in the vaguest sense possible.
Jack Kevorkian--just to say thanks.
Fred Shuttlesworth--how did you keep your sanity, focus and self-worth throughout the bad times?
Betty Ford--thank you (and yeah, let's hit Starbucks, eh?)
Clarence Clemons--I mostly want a hug from him, an eminently huggable and agreeable man, I think.
Wangari Maathai--tell me about your life...
Svetlana Alliluyeva--so, communism, or not? Love your dad, or not? Russia, or U.S.?

But I'd also love to chat with more than that, so this is my backup list in case some of the first 7 aren't available. ;-)

Bil Keane--yes, I enjoyed his funnies.
Joe Frazier--not that I'm a big boxing fan, but I always respected the man.
Harry Morgan--one of those actors who just seemed approachable and good-hearted.
David "Honeyboy" Edwards--tell me about your early years when you were pigeon-holed a 'race music' performer.
Bubba Smith--gotta have a football player in the mix, and I always liked Bubba.
Vaclav Havel--mostly, I'd just shake his hand and gawp.
Sherwood Schwartz--I love Gilligan's Island. And the stories he could tell about that show + The Brady Bunch...!
Chris Hitchens--uhm, setting myself up here to feel stupid, but the man was brilliant. And when he got things wrong, he REALLY got things wrong, just as brilliantly as when he got them right.
Jeff Conaway--Gibbs' smack and a hug for the wasted (literally and figuratively) years.
Ernesto Sabato--have to have an author, and I picked him because I haven't read much by him, though I want to.

life's like this

2011-12-25T20:13:00.000-06:00

(Found here)
started 12/5/11 8:54 p.m.

Does your best friend approve of the last person you kissed? Well, if not, she's managed to keep it to herself for a VERY long time....

Is there anything bothering you right now? Nothing out of the ordinary. Although I would like to to know if Sparky's feeling better than yesterday.

What color shirt are you wearing? Teal.

Do you care what you look like? What kind of question is that? Of course I care, but it's not the be-all and end-all of my life.

Have you ever skipped school just because you were tired? No, but I have skipped work because of that.

Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone for over an hour? Sparky.

Do you think that you will be in a relationship three months from now? I ... hope so. lol

continued 12/22/11 6:52 p.m.

Are you wearing jeans, shorts, sweatpants or pajama pants? Brown jeans.

Where is the last person you kissed at the moment? Right across the room in his recliner.

Do you think you're wasting your time on the person you have feelings for? I'm married to him, so...probably not.

Do you like flowery scents or more clean scents? Clean. Hate fake flowers.

Do you own a manual or electric toothbrush? I actually have both. Right now I'm just using the manual, till it wears out.

Do you prefer heels or flats? I'm a shoe-whore; I'll wear (almost) anything.

Do you try to eat healthy? Not. Somewhere in the chaos of the last few years, that has slipped to the bottom of the priority pile.

What food could you live off for the rest of your life? Carbs: pasta, bread, cookies....

Do you leave the television on and sleep to it? No. I mean, I can sleep with the TV on, but I don't have a TV in my bedroom.

Do you watch movies on TV? Uhm, yeah. Even I'm not so lame that I don't watch ANY movies ANYwhere (since I almost never go to the theater).

What is your death of choice? Quiet, in my bed, in about 4 decades (as long as I'm still healthy at that point).

What is your name supposed to mean? It means I have to spell it for everyone. Repeatedly.

How many pillows do you sleep with? I use one to sleep, but I have an extra one for reading, etc., beforehand.

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

Name two things that you have on you at all times: My glasses and Chapstick.

What's the color of your bedsheets? Right now they are blue satin-stripe.

How much cash do you have on you right now? None, but there's probably about $120 in my wallet.

What is your favorite town/city? Ouray.

What did you have for dinner last night? P@ul##'s pizza and breadsticks.

What website(s) do you visit the most during the day? Gmail, Facebook, Blogger, HootSuite, GReader...and at work: Connexion, Zimbra, Meebo, my library's catalog, and various other cataloging sites; I usually have at least 8 tabs open at work.

Is anything on your body hurting right now? Not really. My back has stopped hurting, for now, but I am laughing (at a Jeff Dunham DVD) so hard that my stomach hurts and I keep coughing up a lung. "Hello, Fathuh..."

What is your favorite Starbucks drink? Caramel apple cider.

Recent time that you were really upset? Last weekend; no details forthcoming.

What wild animals have you seen outside a zoo? Lions, tigers, bears, ligers, wolf-dog cross-breeds, some wild big cats. Seriously. A few camels, too. I think that's it.

Do you consider yourself to be an "animal person"? Yes.

Are you afraid of any animals? I'm not overly fond of badgers (mean little buggers), or camels (also mean, but bigger), or skunks. Oh, BEARS! Bears terrify me, in the wild.

What is your favorite animal? Wolves. Or dogs, I guess. lol

Are there any animals you wish were extinct? From a selfish perspective, mosquitoes.

What kind of computer do you own? Gateway laptop. And about, oh, five other options around the house.

How old were you when you had your very first computer? It was probably around 1991. I think. Anyway, that would make me 28.

What products do you buy the most? (Clothes, food, etc.) Most of our money, like most people, goes toward paying for shelter and food.

What is your favorite store to shop at? Kohl's. Target.

When was the last time you went shopping? I was at the [grocery] store this afternoon on the way home from work.

Do you even like shopping? Hate. It.

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I have NO CLUE.

How much is a movie ticket where you live? $4 locally, $11 at the bigger theaters further away.

Would you rather watch a movie alone or with someone? With someone.

Would you see a movie just because a favorite actor was in it? I might. Depends on reviews. That wouldn't be my only reason for going.

What movie would you like to watch right now? Still watching Jeff-fuh-fuh. Nothing out right now I'm dying to see.

How often do you watch movies? Not often. Clearly.

Who do you argue with more: Friends, family or significant other? Family.

------------------------
continued 12/25/11 7:30 p.m.

1. Did someone die in that last movie you watched? I can't remember what movie was the last one I watched. If it was Bridesmaids (over Thanksgiving), then no, no death.

2. Are the trees pretty colours outside for you now or at all? 'Tis winter: all but the evergreens look dead. If that's your thing, then you're good, I guess.

3. Do your parents make/made you weed the garden? Yup. I earned money doing that one summer for a neighbor, too.

4. When's the last time you video recorded something on TV? I don't tape anything anymore; I've graduated to DVR, and I'm sure we have stuff from last week to watch.

5. How big is your memory chip? In my computer? In my camera? On the DVR? In any case, I really don't know.

6. What are your views on sunflowers? I don't have a view on sunflowers. This is not the time of year for optimal sunflower viewing. In the summer/fall, I love 'em.

7. What is your favourite incense scent? I'm rarely incensed, and don't smell anything much when I am. Beast can't stand the smell of incense so I never bother with it.

8. Caramel apples or candy apples? Caramel, but I haven't had either kind of these for years. My teeth are not fans.

9. Have you ever tried one of those blue candy apples? I've never seen a blue apple.

10. Would you ever or do you make your dog where [sic] a bandana [sic]? I have, when I had a dog.

11. Do you find dandelions when they're gone all white pretty? Yes. I like dandelions a lot, regardless of their status and age. Then again, I'm not responsible for the lawn, so what do I know?

12. Are you going to apply for a scholarship for post secondary education? I don't think I'll need a scholarship for any further post-secondary classwork I might decide to do. Most of my ongoing education is of the training variety, often covered by work.

13. Do you like to use colours when taking notes in class? If I had gone this way for note-taking, I would not have taken very good notes: I'm way too OCD. As it was, I barely got everything down I needed in plain black (or blue) pen.

14. What kind of blank CDs do you use? Whatever Beast has purchased. I almost never use blank CDs, however.

15. What colour is your doorstep/porch? Porch floor is 'natural wood.' Trim is a dark blue-gray.

16. Do you like the look of lighthouses? I've had a lighthouse calendar in our bedroom for at least 8 or 9 years. So, yeah. It's a theme, as much as I do themes, in the decor.

17. a) When you think of standing and looking at the ocean where do you picture yourself? Puerto Vallarta.

17. b) Why does your mind put you there? Because it's warm and peaceful and non-threatening, with lovely sand beaches.

18. Have you ever found buried treasure from digging in the sand at a random beach? Nope. What a weird question! ;-)

19. Does your calculator work well or do you wish you had a smarter one? I wouldn't want my calculator to be smarter than me, so I'll stick with a basic 4-function one.

20. What colour lipstick would you put on right now? Giant assumption there: that I'm wearing lipstick. I'm not. I wear it about, oh, twice a year.

21. Do you see and cobwebs anywhere? I knocked them all down earlier this month, so no.

22. Is the room you are in dusty? This whole bloody house is dusty! Sigh. I need to call about hiring a cleaning person next month....

23. Have your ever gotten that test done where they prick your back and determine what you're allergic to? Yup. A few times. It's a Buh-LAST!! (not) I've had the forearm test, too a couple of times.

24. Is your doctor Asian or of Asian descent? My doctor's last name is Patel. You work it out.

25. Bobby pins: cute or completely useless? Not cute. Useful, though.

26. Have you ever gotten a wart or any kind? Not exactly. I have a small 'water-filled cyst' on my knee that appeared sometime last year and won't go away. It doesn't hurt so the doctor (Patel) says to leave it unless it starts actively bothering me.

27. When did it last rain for you? Doesn't really rain for me, but it did precipitate generally sometime last week.

28. As you're getting older, do you find that you want to speak and use better grammar in day to day conversations? I grew up speaking well, so if anything I've probably gotten worse. Unless I'm really in a formal situation, of course.

29. Do you still use your original iPod head phones? Again with the assumptions: I don't own an iPod. So, no.

30. Imagine you were in a thrift store with a friend and you find something that you think is actually kind of cool...
a) Would you wear it? Of course. Why else would I even bother buying it?
b) Why? Why not?

31. Does your family ever eat ham for special occasions? ?? We eat ham. Special occasion or not.

32. What language would you rather be fluent in: French or Inuit? Inuit. I'm not a big fan of French, though it would certainly be far more practical. Unless you're in the far northern reaches of North America.

33. Do you like Canada? Yes. Though I'm afraid I don't quite 'get' Tim Hortons.

34. Do you feel that Stephen Harper is like Bush and the both are like the spawn of Hilter [sic] and/or Pinky and the Brain and really just want to take over the world? No. Because I don't want to bother looking up Stephen Harper, but comparing anyone to Hitler is just hyperbole and shows lazy thinking.

35. Do you feel that Yoko Ono was the worst thing that ever happened to The Beatles? No, they were on their way to splitting long before she appeared.

36. Favourite Spice Girl... I prefer them as a single entity, but if I had to pick it would be either Sporty or Scary.

37. a) Did you have weird names for things when you were little? I believe I had some issues with the word 'cinnamon' at one point. Otherwise, all the names I learned for things were not weird (at the time, anyway).
b) Give us an example or two: Well, no.

38. What do you prefer: the smell of really good food or the smell of really good perfumes? Food.

39. Silk or Velvet? Depends on what we're talking about, but I'm generally not much into velvet.

40. What would you do if your boyfriend [imaginary or current] bought you a chair for absolutely no reason at all? If it weren't ugly, and Beast wasn't opposed to keeping a chair purchased by my [imaginary] boyfriend, we'd probably keep it; we keep ALL furniture.

41. Do you like to kick stones while you walk places? Not intentionally, being over the age of 10.

42. a) What's your birthstone? Topaz. Yawn.
b) What do you wish was your birthstone? Sapphire. Or emerald even.

43. Lawn chairs: old school, simpleton, folding ones or the colapsable [sic] that come with a bag and cup holders, etc.? NOT hard plastic, that's my only stipulation. They are really uncomfortable.

44. Is winter usually an enjoyable season for you? I'd rather it didn't last so freakin' long.

45. What's prettier: fall or spring? Fall. Less rain, generally.

46. What to you hate most: mosquitos [sic] or house flies? Skeeters.

47. Dimmer switches or normal lights? Depends. I like dimmers in places where it makes sense to have them.

48. Have you ever found a ring and liked it and wore it for a good while? Well, yeah, as a matter of fact. I have three that I wear daily.

49. Do you wish that disney [sic] was the way it used to be? That would be ... what? Small, and irrelevant?

50. a) What's your favourite Disney Princess of ALL time? Mulan.
b) Was she your favourite back when you were little? When I was little, the only available princesses were Snow White and Cinderella. Oh, I guess Sleeping Beauty was around too, eventually. Not the greatest role models.

Unconscious Mutterings

2011-12-25T14:00:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Elves :: Santa
Holiday :: ...party
Candles :: Christmas... (we have one from Germany we light only while we open our gifts--26 years later, we're about 1/4 down...)
Family :: Cozy
Insight :: Empathy
Sleigh :: Troika
Party :: Fun
Weather :: All wrong for this day, not that I'm complaining!
Presents :: Gifts
Misfit :: Toys

Patrick's Place

2011-12-24T10:59:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. What is your favorite Christmas memory: where did you spend that Christmas and how old were you (or when was it)?

I've had a lot of good Christmases. My favorite funny Christmas memory is that the first year Beast and I were married and living in a tiny apartment I didn't get any reading material as a gift. There was, literally, nothing in the apartment to read except textbooks and boring stuff, so we had to go to Walgreen's--the only store that was open--and buy a cheap paperback for me to read.

2. Of the Christmas decorations you put up each year, which single one means the most to you and why is it so special?

I have a very old elf that was my mom's; it is at least 80 years old and very fragile, but its arms and legs are articulated and nothing is broken.

3. What food or drink that you only really consume during the Christmas season is your favorite and why?

Egg-nog. Mostly because it's only around for a couple of months.

4. If you could bring back any deceased relative to spend one Christmas with, who would you pick and why?

My sister Ellen. I've got Ghost Whisperer on, and I just had a 10-minute sobfest about one of the episodes that reminded me of Ellen. I miss her. How can I miss her so much, still, after 17 years? Damn.

5. What is the greatest single Christmas present you remember receiving and why did it mean so much to you?

The Barbie Dream House, hands-down. Man, I used that thing up!

6. What was the worst Christmas present you ever remember receiving and what was so bad about it?

I've gotten some weird stuff over the years from Sparky as he works out how to give appropriate presents. I can't think of anything particularly specific.

Six Word Saturday

2011-12-24T10:24:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Christmas Eve and living is easy

Here's my list for today:

Make cookies--the dough is chilling in the fridge, and I need to run get a can of condensed milk for 7-Layer Bars, then we can make the sugar cookies and the bars and I'm done.
Wash bedspread--it's just that time.
Wash lingerie--not at the same time as the bedspread!
Finish wrapping presents--just a couple of things for Sparky yet to do.
Christmas cards--we're doing all ecards this year, which we mostly did last night; I have a couple of phone calls to make too, for people who don't use email. Yes. Really.
CLEAN OUR BATHROOM!!--This may take over an hour. It's pretty awful.

I've got the whole day ahead of me to sort out what to do when. Technically, Sparky is doing the sugar cookies, and the wrapping will take half an hour at most. The laundry...psh...not a problem. And the bathroom? Well, I will feel so much better when it's done that it's practically a gift to myself.

Of course, the truly important stuff is later tonight: dinner at our local Chinese place, and then church at 10:30; Sparky is liturgist--with several other youth group grads--and also serving communion for the first time. And all the good hymns. And then home, open a present, put Jesus in the creche, go to bed, maybe by 1 or so.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it.

Follow Friday Four

2011-12-23T20:22:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. I have a love hate relationship with food. I love it. I hate what eating junk does to me.

2. I have been buying a lot of junk food lately

3. If I hear one of my coworkers calling my name hyperactively anymore I swear I will poke her in the eye with a pencil.

4. Whenever I see a Christmas card in the mail, it makes me feel guilty and then I open it and read it anyway.

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-23T07:24:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Fill in the lyrics...with the correct ones or ones of your own :-)

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, "It's bloody cold! Go stand with your mommy!" ["Do you hear what I hear?"]

2. The first Noel, the angel did say, "What's a Noel?" [was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay]

3. Dashing through the snow, in a big freakin' hurry to get in outta the cold. [one-horse open sleigh]

4. It came upon the midnight clear, that I was still up putting things in stockings and writing a letter from Santa. [that glorious song of old]

5. When I was small I believed in Santa Claus, and now that I'm older, I do again. [I don't know this song]

6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing over and over in your head that eventually makes you insane. [right within your heart]

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to ecard-apalooza, tomorrow my plans include the last of the gift-wrapping and Sunday, I want to spend the day in my pajamas!

On a side-note, many years ago in college in the midst of a particularly boring Christmas concert rehearsal, a friend and I realized that almost EVERY Christmas carol's first line could induce giggles if followed immediately by "That's what he said." We ended up, after rehearsal while walking back to the Union, in hysterics having a whole conversation on this principle. No, we were stone-cold (literally) sober.

Thursday This or That

2011-12-22T21:55:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Christmas lights: White or Colored?

I generally prefer colored, but this year we have all white. Yuck.

Real tree or Fake?

Fake.

Themed ornaments or Sentimental ornaments?

Sentimental. Though we have a bunch of themed ornaments too.

Sugar cookies or Gingerbread Men?

Sugar cookies.

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Egg nog.

Thursday 13

2011-12-22T17:30:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Things Starting With E

Ellen (Degeneres is on the TV as I type this, an old repeat special--she is funny...though no one was in the room when I walked in the house)
Eat (having grilled burgers tonight, in spite of the snow flurrying around outside around the grill)
Eve (two more days!!)
Engaged (I'm chuckling at Ellen, and Sparky is ignoring me because he's engaged in watching ALL.OF.YOUTUBE on his Christmas Break)
Echinacea (Sparky should probably have taken some this morning, or whenever he started feeling sick--too late now)
Empty (I need to take the garbage out tonight--tomorrow's trash day--because Sparky doesn't feel good, poor baby {eyeroll})
Eyebrows (I need to reshape them...been lazy)
Errands (hopefully, I don't have too many more of these this week...)
Edgy (I am not)
Easy (wishful thinking--this letter is NOT easy)
Echidna (see? I'm just throwing E-words at the wall now!)
Ezra (does anyone read this book in the Bible? Why is it still there...?)
End (oh thank God)

Christmas Meme 9 8

2011-12-21T19:48:00.001-06:00

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)
True Or False

1. You prefer to stay inside where it’s warm? True.

2. You’ve given something (or $) to charity? Heh, yeah, definitely true.

3. You spent more than what people spent on you? True.

4. You like to take your time opening presents? True. Drives people nuts.

5. The thing you want most this year costs $100+? True. It's actually a bunch of things together, though, not one thing.

6. You expect to get more than 10 presents this year? If we count stocking stuffers, true.

7. You’re a Scrooge/Grinch? False, usually.

8. Christmas = snow? True, but I can live without.

9. You know the lyrics to more than 25 Christmas songs? True, for sure!

Curious as a Cat

2011-12-19T17:27:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What is a good cure for insomnia? What do you usually do when you have insomnia?

Exhaustion can help cure insomnia. When I can't sleep, I don't lie there sweating it, I get up and read or do a crossword till I drop off. If things are really dire, I go sleep (or read, or do crosswords) in the living room, or the spare room. Nothing electronic, no TV, just eyeballs. And if it looks like my own body isn't going to cooperate, I'm not above using Tylenol PM or Benedryl to kick me over.

2) Duct tape: love it or hate it?

Love it. Really. I love it a lot. Not as much as my friend Grace who has grown up making things of duct tape and in fact has a full-on rack of every color duct tape made. She intends to win the duct-tape prom dress competition when she's old enough.

3) List the 5 worst pickup lines you've heard.

They are ALL bad. Just be normal, don't be cute.

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 is our first year with all-white lights on the tree, because we bought a pre-lit tree. I'm hoping we can replace them a bit at a time over the next few years; I miss my colorful lights like those in the picture.

Christmas Meme 8 7

2011-12-19T16:33:00.001-06:00

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)

How Does He Do It?
1. Get down the chimney? Some things it's just better not to question. I have no idea.

2. Deliver presents all over the world? EXTREME organization!

3. Get so fat and still act so jolly? Cookies. And probably a whole lot of coffee.

4. Recruit reindeer for sleigh-pulling lessons? Don't you think, especially in this economy, that they are lining up for jobs?

5. Provide compensation for elves making toys? Cookies. And lots of coffee. And also, where else are they going to get jobs?

6. Stay unseen from the rest of the world? Unseen? Wait, you mean on Xmas Eve? I think kids DO see him, sometimes.

Would It Still Be Christmas Without…
7. Candy canes? Yep.

8. Snow? Oh, yeah, I don't miss the snow.

9. Stores opening at 5am? Stores open at 5 on Xmas? Not around here!

10. Winter vacation? No.

11. Visiting family & friends? Yep.

12. Fake Santas? As long as they aren't pervy, cranky, or otherwise, un-Santa-like.

13. Christmas trees? Nope.

14. New holiday movies? Yep. Not a fan.

15. Getting holiday greeting cards/email? Nope.

16. Holiday tunes? Christmas carols on the Eve: no. Crappy, endless, repetitive stuff on muzak: Yes.

Sunday Stealing

2011-12-18T15:09:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The Com[m]unity Meme

1. As a blogger, what do you draw inspirations from for your posts?

Here, it's obviously the list of memes over there on the sidebar. Elsewhere, I have a book blog where I track what I've read, a work blog (mostly stats nowadays) along with another blog where I refgrunt (this is not my site just the one done by the originator of that term), and a 'life' blog, where I don't post much anymore because, well, life has been sucking lately.

2. If you could swap blogs with another blogger for a post, who would you switch with and why?

I don't think I would. Why subject them to that?

3. If your blog had a theme song, what would it be? Why?

This one would probably be the song from which the title is drawn. The life one would be the song from which its title is drawn. The others...dunno.

4. What is your writing process for a post?

Here, it's whatever people ask; I try to be mildly amusing at some point. Elsewhere, it's pretty cut-and-dried too, except the 'life' one where I just write whatever I'm thinking about. Or rather, whatever I've been thinking about that isn't going to depress me further by posting it.

5. Your blog requires a cute, new, mascot - what would it be?

I don't do "cute." Moving along....

6. Do you feel you express your "true self" on your blog?

Mostly, yes. Hard enough to keep track of all the fake names I use for people in my life, I don't want to make it even harder by LYING about myself!

7. What is your biggest online pet-peeve?

Poor spelling and generally bad writing, random color changes, ad-blogs, anything that blinks or scrolls, over-the-top cutesyness.... I read a lot of blogs in RSS just so I don't have to look at some people's spastic layout. Now, I hasten to add that ONE of the above isn't going to kill something for me, but all of them together...buh-bye.

8. If you could live in a fictional universe, where would you live? Why?

Pretty much every book I enjoy I want to live in--with the exception of the dark noir stuff--and pretty much any TV show I watch I wouldn't mind living in either. Especially the ones with nice-looking men. ...ahem

9. You're having a bad day, you're upset, you're angry, or you're sad - what is your go-to comfort?

Sugar, Facebook, and/or bed.

10. What is your favorite inspirational quote?

There are many. These are two I like:

"It is not your job to complete the task of perfecting the world, but neither are you free to desist from it." -- from the Mishnah

"Confusion is always the most honest response." -- Marty Indik

11. If they were to make a movie based on your life, who would play you, your leading lady/man, your best friend, and your rival?

Let's go with Melissa McCarthy, The Rock, Drew Barrymore, and Meryl Streep. Meryl is specifically chosen because she can impersonate virtually anyone, since I'm not sure who my "rival" is at any given moment.

12. Do you think the world is going to end in 2012?

Depending on their view of the afterlife, it absolutely will end for some people. For me, I'm hoping to squeeze out another couple of decades, though there are certainly days (like today*) when it seems hardly worth the bother.

13. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

I would be less emotionally needy.

14. What is your favorite season and why?

Autumn. Great smells, perfect temperatures, all that fresh produce....

15. You've been bitten by a vampire. Would you fight it with all your undead being or would you embrace it for all it is worth?

I don't believe in vampires, so I would probably continue to do what I need to do to get through the day. If it means I was wrong about the vampires, I'd do some blood-sucking. But I'm not worried; I just hope they are sparkly after all.

16. Have you personally met any of your blogger friends?

A couple. Most don't live around here, and one I knew before we each started blogs.

17. What does your favorite pair of underwear look like?

Big hole at the top, two holes at the bottom for my legs, girly-style (i.e., no fly).

18. Have you ever drank something right from the container in the refrigerator knowing other people will have to drink out of the same container later?

I'm pretty sure I have never done this in my life.

19. What is your favorite word and explain why?

Well, let's go with one I coined a month or so ago, since I know at least one reader digs it: "fuckety-hell." And it is FUN to say, with all those letters crashing around inside your mouth.

20. 2011 is soon coming to a close, is there anything you'd like to do different on your blog in the year 2012?

I would like to post more on my other blogs. I've rebooted the refgrunt, since I will probably actually BE on the Reference Desk more again in 2012. Otherwise, nah. Maybe I'll change background colors or pictures ... nah. Too much work. ;-)

__________
* I feel like toasted shit on a plate today.

Unconscious Mutterings

2011-12-18T08:13:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Sleepy :: Tired
Find :: Locate
Scrutinize :: Pore over
Attempt :: Try
Playing :: Working
Stupendous :: Fantabulous
Charity :: Giving
Frozen :: Icy
Turn around :: Spin
Urge :: Advise

Christmas meme #7 6

2011-12-17T19:51:00.000-06:00

(from Kwizgiver, as usual)
First Thought That Comes To Mind When You Hear…

1. Snowflake! No more for awhile please; we had some overnight. I'm set.

2. North Pole! Santa.

3. Elves! "I want to be a dent-tist!"

4. Sleigh! Troika. Possibly the funnest part of Russia.

5. Presents! Need to be wrapped. Are you offering?

6. Cookies! Sparky wants sugar cookies. Guess what we're doing Monday...

7. Mistletoe! None in the house. Did you know it's a weed, by the way?

8. Rudolph! Haven't watched it in years, but did this year. It was nice. I'm set now for another decade or so.

9. Blizzard! Yuck. Unless I was planning to be at home anyway. ;-)

10. School’s Canceled! No work for me either, then!

11. Ice Skating! Scary as hell.

12. Santa’s Lap! Kids.

13. Black Friday! {shudder} No way I'd shop that day!

14. Melting Snow! Colorado. Snow melts all winter long there.

15. Carols! I miss singing them at church all month.

16. Lumps of Coal! Myth. Never have I seen someone actually get this!

17. Nutcracker! Always confused me as a child. I mean, this is what we used to open nuts when I was a kid. It confused me that there would be a ballet about this implement.

18. Ho Ho Ho! Santa. Or a trio of underdressed women.

Saturday 9

2011-12-17T14:45:00.002-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
I Will Survive

1. What in the 2011 has proved to you that you are a survivor?

The fact that I'm still alive, still married, and not hospitalized counts for something, I think.

2. Have you ever stayed online for a very long time waiting for someone?

A few times. Not recently, though. There's (almost) always tomorrow.

3. Are REALLY ready for the holidays?

Hell, no.

4. Did you have an imaginary friend as a kid?

Yes. And as I got older, I developed more.

5. What niche network do you watch the most?

Cloo? Spike? WE? I dunno, whichever one has the crime show I want to watch at any given time.

6. Have you ever seen the ocean?

Yes. Atlantic (from the east edge) and Pacific (also from the east edge.

7. Have you ever been hospitalized?

Yup. Twice.

8. What do you think of the US Republican candidates for president?

I try very hard not to. Right now it's kind of a three-ring circus as far as I'm concerned; I'll tune in next year August.

9. Could you imagine life without a computer?

Not anymore.

Follow Friday Four Fill-in

2011-12-17T14:36:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. A cold, snowy dark one is my ideal winter night. [assuming I'm inside]

2. I don't remember the last time I slept past 9 a.m. but, I really want to.

3. I will never turn down frosted sugar cookies.

4. To save money I like to not buy things I don't need.

Six Word Saturday

2011-12-17T12:02:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Wedding. Shopping. Wrapping. Laundry. Cleaning. Headache.

Yes, not a sentence, but that seems to be what today consists of. The headache, by the way, is unrelated to the previous five words. It's the weather, I'm pretty sure. Stupid barometric pressure...

Patrick's Place

2011-12-17T11:42:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Follow-up to a question from Episode 37: What is your least favorite Christmas dessert?

Not a fan of mincemeat or Christmas pudding. Or fruitcake. Or most combinations of mint + chocolate.

2. Follow-up to a question from Episode 39: Which cartoon that was popular when you were a child could you just not get into?

Smurfs. Strawberry Shortcake. Actually, I was never into cartoons that much at all.

3. Follow-up to a question from Episode 40: What’s the most embarrassing cell phone ringtone that you've heard someone else’s phone play?

Hmm, there've been so many...circus music, weird songs that people the age of the person owning the phone should know better than to use, guinea-pig meeping (that's not embarrassing, but it makes me and Beast swivel our heads)...anything really LOUD in the library....

4. Follow-up to a question from Episode 44: When you're having a bad day or you're in a bad mood, which song best keeps you in that bad mood or makes it that much worse?

I don't normally listen to music to keep me in a bad mood, but pretty much anything by Rush will cause crankiness. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones can, at times, sustain an angry mood for awhile, and the song "I Hate Everything About You" works as well for that.

5. Follow-up to a question from Episode 48: What was the first time that you remember truly feeling like an adult?

Shopping for boring stuff like furnaces or talking about escrow, much less knowing what escrow actually is. Oh, and when we bought life insurance--at 23--that was pretty adult-y too, but in a good way.

6. Follow-up to a question from Episode 52: When someone first walks into a room, what is the first thing you tend to notice about that person?

Height, which is tied to presence; short people can look big if they have the right personality, and vice-versa. It's really about 'presence.'

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-16T18:39:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Sleigh bells ring somewhere far from here where there is snow on the ground.

2. It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees but not for me; we have a fake tree.

3. You're a mean one Mr. Grinch.

4. Father Christmas is a funny book.

5. Silent night is more likely for me when wearing earplugs.

6. All I want for Christmas is a quiet, boring day on the 25th!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with my boys, tomorrow my plans include wedding shopping, and attending a wedding, and Sunday, I want to have a good time with the youth group grads!

Cinn's Friday 5

2011-12-16T18:27:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
stupid phone

[01] What keeps you awake at night?

Worrying, being cold, and also, occasionally, needing to pee or being hungry.

[02] What object in your sight makes you smile?

Sparky's mostly within sight, so we'll go with that.

[03] What temp is it where you are?

Inside, probably about 70; outside 27.

[04] What is the last word you had to look up to find the spelling?

I struggle with -ants and -ents and their relatives. I'm sure it was one of those. Been awhile though, since I have a spell-check for almost everything I write.

[05] If you could replace one electronic device in your home, what would it be?

With a new electronic device, I presume. Maybe my phone? I dunno.

October Explosion

2011-12-15T20:26:00.000-06:00

You Are a Toaster Oven

You are self-contained and self-sufficient. You know how to take care of yourself.
You are an action-oriented doer. You don't spend too much time in the planning process.
You dislike leadership. You think people should carve their own paths.
You are quite creative and experimental. You are extremely inventive.

What Kitchen Item Are You?

This makes me laugh; I don't like toasters and prefer toaster ovens. Not sure about that planning stuff, though. I'm kinda bad at that.

You Are a White Swan

You are introverted, cultured, and mysterious. People are curious about what makes you tick.
You've got a lot of flair and creativity, but you temper it with moderation and grace.
You can be too conservative at times. You resist acting too boldly. You seem calm and composed.
You are reserved to the point of being self-absorbed. You put yourself first and work hard to achieve your goals.

Are You a Black Swan or a White Swan?

I am NOT cultured! Nor am I mysterious, not particularly. Graceful? Hardly. But I am reserved and somewhat self-absorbed.

You Are Blue Denim

You remind others to have fun. Life should always be celebrated.
You believe in living in the present. There's nothing but the here and now.
You are a very "do it yourself" type of person. You like to dig in and get things done.
You have great people skills. You can find common ground with others well.

What Color Denim Are You?

Yeah, I prefer to do things myself, and I can get along with most people, at least short term. But I don't tolerate idiots too well.

You Struggle With Impatience

You never feel like there is enough time in the day. You are overloaded and overburdened.
You tend to take on more than you can accomplish, and you drop the ball when you're not looking.
Life is short, but you're making it shorter by not giving yourself the rest you need.
If you only slowed down and took your time, you'd actually get more done.

What Do You Struggle With?

AMEN! Though I do get plenty of rest. Just doesn't seem like enough.

You Are a Straight A Student

You are highly observant and mindful. You take in a lot of information, and you're very perceptive.
You are smart, clever, and perceptive. You know how to synthesize and process information.
You have excellent people skills. You can talk to anyone.
You are high achieving without being too competitive about it. You simply like to succeed.

The Classroom Test

I can talk to anyone. I don't always like to, however, and it's really not about succeeding; it's about not failing.

You Fall for the Smart Type

You tend to be full of new ideas and potential - big potential. Ideas like yours could change the world, if you build them.
You are attracted to similarly brilliant people. Brains definitely turn you on.
You love to talk about everything and anything. You appreciate anyone who can keep up with you conversationally.
More than anything, someone who can challenge you intellectually makes your heart melt.

What's Your Type?

I like smart people. Brilliant? Nah.

You Are Strong yet Colorful

You sometimes seem like you're all business, but you have a playful side to you as well.
You tend to formulate ideas and make decisions alone. Once you're done, you're ready to talk to others.
You are a quiet and peaceful person. You have deep inner strength.
You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy, and you are very self sufficient.

The Autumn Test

Yeah, I'm a bit bipolar in some ways.

You Take Excellent Care of Yourself

You live in the present moment. You feel like it's a waste to dwell on the past.
You don't let stress get to you. Life is too short to worry.
You're proud of who you are, and that's all that really matters. You don't worry if others judge you.
You put yourself first, and you are your own best friend. You know that your needs matter.

Are You Good to Yourself?

No, I really don't live in the present and I do stress out about plenty of things.

You Are Jasmine Tea

You are thoughtful, but you also try not to overthink things too much. Sometimes it's important to just be.
You are not very complimentary. You only complement [sic] others when you genuinely, truly mean it.
You do not talk about your feelings. You prefer to keep your emotions private.
You are calm and collected. Even when things are crazy, you keep your cool.

What's Your Tea Type?

I don't always remember to complIment people, and I do talk about myself, probably far too much. And there's no one who knows me who would call me calm and collected.

Dreams Light Up Your Life

You don't mind reality, but your fantasy life is so much better. You are an expert daydreamer.
You let yourself escape whenever you need to. You don't think there's anything wrong with a little daydreaming.
You are helpful and inclined to comfort those in need. You like to make a difference.
No matter how many times you've been hurt or disappointed, you remain hopeful. You are resilient.

What Lights Up Your Life?

I am a good daydreamer but I'm pretty grounded. Otherwise: home-run!

You Are Apple Cider

You are affirming and supporting. You accept people where they are, imperfections and all.
You often give too much of yourself, and you rarely put your own needs first.
You are tender and compassionate. You wear your heart on your sleeve.
You are capable of great love, but it's hard for you to focus your love on one person or relationship.

What Apple Treat Are You?

I'm NOT tender and I do put myself first sometimes, and the last couple of sentences is dead wrong.

You Should Pierce Your Nose

You turn heads and intrigue minds everywhere you go. People are dying to know more about you.
Your confidence has taken you further in life than your actual skills. You fake it until you make it. Imaginative and unique, you have a natural creative talent in the arts.
You are a flamboyant person. You don't try to hog all the attention; you just do!

Where Should You Get Pierced?

Oh, phooey. This is pretty wrong, though I am a big believer in "fake it till you make it" most days. I am, however, not arty.

You Are Handy

You are a generalist who does everything well. You find [almost] every subject and skill to be interesting.
You are practical and productive. You continually figure out a way to get things done.
You take on huge projects and see them through. You lead the way when it comes to success.
You like to have a little excitement in your life, but you don't go overboard. You stay grounded.

The Wood Test

I'm not a good finisher, but otherwise this is dead on.

You Lead Through Working Together

You don't mind being a leader, but it's not a position you seek out. You rather be part of a team.
You lead by rolling up your sleeves and pitching in. You think a good leader leads by example.
People gravitate toward you. You are seen as a unifying force.
You deflect drama. You can get everyone laughing and smiling again.

How Do You Lead?

People don't gravitate anywhere in my vicinity and I do my best to deflect drama, but it manages to break in all too often. I do like to make people laugh, though.

You Are a Spending Saver

You know how to save money, and you love seeing your bank account build up.
You also believe that too much saving can be awfully dull. You do a fair amount of spending as well.
You strike the perfect balance between saving and spending. You enjoy the money you make, and you have it make you more secure.
You may not be able to spend as freely as you'd like, but you sleep well at night knowing that you're spending responsibly.

Are You a Spender or a Saver?

I love money. I don't mind spending it, but I do worry, a lot about running out. This is stupid. Oh well.

Christmas Meme 6 5

2011-12-15T18:29:00.001-06:00

(swiped from Kwizgiver)
Christmas At My House…~~(one or the other)~~

1. Tree is fake/real? Fake. Both ... well, all.

2. Tree is under/above 4′? One is 6.5 feet, one is about 2 feet. The others are in between those sizes.

3. Open presents Christmas Eve/Day? Sorry...both. We open one (or two) on the Eve, because that's how Beast's family did it. Then we open the rest, including Santa's--in the morning.

4. House/entire yard is decorated? HELL no! I get the tree up and some stuff scattered around inside the house, and a wreath on the door. That's it.

5. Amount of presents under the tree? Right now, none. Usually, too many.

6. Snowman is a male/female? On those rare occasions I make one, it's a snowman. Self-explanatory, no?

7. Go for Santa/Jesus? BOTH. Do people know that "Santa" means "holy" or "sainted"??

8. Homemade/delivered/takeout Christmas dinner? Christmas Eve, Chinese (Beast's family thing again). Day, we usually don't do ANYthing and just snack on leftovers and so forth.

9. Bedtime is before/after midnight? Church is at 10:30, so we are usually just getting out of coats and stuff at midnight.

10. Wake-up is before/after 7am? The rule has ALWAYS been after 7. Al.Ways.

11. Go/don’t go to church on Christmas? I don't think we'll go this year. We will go on the Eve. Normally there's no service on the Day--we're Presbyterian, not Catholic.

12. Do shopping before/after Thanksgiving? Whenever I see stuff, but mostly after Thanksgiving.

13. Low-key/over the top decorations (inside and out)? Low-key and/or non-existent. Didn't we cover this in #4?

Thursday 13

2011-12-15T18:10:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Subjects of the Last 13 Emails I've Sent at Work

H.R.F. Keating
Fwd: VSL // A thrilling, heartbreaking rock-and-roll documentary returns to DVD
Ref meeting minutes
Fwd: Harry Potter ....Hallows pt. 2
Agenda (x2)
Fwd: Harry Potter ....Hallows pt. 2
Fiction ORder
Re: Question about Books on CD & Purchasing & Processing
Re: Harry Potter ....Hallows pt. 2 (x2)
Fwd: Harry Potter ....Hallows pt. 2 (x2)
Re: Harry Potter ....Hallows pt. 2
Re: Staff meeting (x3)
Checking in withdrawn items

And yes, there's a lot of repetition because of harangues on a couple of topics (ahem) and movie studios.

Christmas Meme 5 4

2011-12-13T11:02:00.000-06:00

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)
Holiday Yay or.. Ugh

1. Holiday shopping? Ugh

2. Icy roads? Ugh

3. Limited driving visibility? Scary ugh

4. Christmas carolers? If they're good, yay.

5. Mall Santas? Yay, especially if I don't have to be involved in any way at all.

6. Salvation Army Santas? We rarely get ringers in costume, and it would probably freak me out.

7. Blizzards? If I'm inside, yay.

8. 24/7 Holiday radio? Ugh

9. Freezing cold? If I'm inside, yay.

10. Setting up the tree? Thinking about it: ugh. Once I get started, it's usually yay.

11. Wrapping presents? Yay

12. Visiting/seeing family? Ugh.

13. Ad-Lib on "Rudolph…" (like Monopoly!) YAY!

14. Free mint red/white candy? Ugh.

15. Belief in Santa Claus? Yay.

16. Chocolate countdown calendar? [from KW: Does nobody know the word “advent” anymore? which I second BIG time!] Yay.

17. Peeking at your gifts (or by accident)? Ugh.

18. Making out with Santa under the mistletoe? Since I know who is Santa in this house...weird beyond belief.

19. Decorated houses? Yay.

20. Extreme decorated houses? Not near me: yay.

21. White Christmas morning? Yay. [see #12]

22. Searching for ornaments in the attic? Ours are in our front hall closet, easily accessible. Now, the wrapping paper? It's buried in storage. Ugh.

23. Santa knowing when you’re sleeping and awake? See #18.

The Queen's Meme

2011-12-13T10:50:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The How Many Christmas Meme

1. How many Wisemen were there?

Traditionally, there were three. However, Matthew doesn't actually give a number. Our Christmas program at church has had anywhere from one to five over the years. And this year we aren't actually DOING the Christmas story itself.

2. How many reindeer pull Santa's sleigh?

Again, according to the traditional Clement Moore poem, the answer would be eight. But Rudolph makes nine.

3. How many gifts are under your tree?

Right now, zero.

4. How many classic holiday movies can you name?

"Classic" according to whom? I don't particularly care for "Christmas movies" though, except for Home Alone.

5. How many stockings are hanging from your mantel?

Three. For real.

6. How many Christmas trees do you have?

Two in the house, one at church.

7. How many days are in the twelve days of Christmas?

Er? Yeah. OK, twelve. I can't find a loophole on this one. ;-)

Curious as a Cat

2011-12-12T11:20:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What do you usually want to know about someone when meeting them for the first time? Why is this information intriguing to you?

I would love to know if they have a sense of humor, and what kind it is. Then I know whether to keep a lid on the expletives or not, for instance. I'd also like to know if they like where they are in life emotionally, but that's not something that's likely to come up in conversation.

2) What season causes you the most health problems?

Fall. Allergies. Ugh.

3) Do you still own any articles of clothing from your school years? Do you ever wear it/them?

I do own quite a few things from high school and before, but I am no longer a size 0 (hah) or even smaller.

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

You know, when I first saw this, I thought it was some sort of doorknob on speed. OK, then, as a light fixture, it's everything I don't like about light fixtures. This is my style:
It's the fixture over our dining room table.

Sunday Stealing

2011-12-11T14:43:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The Blue Memory Meme, Part Two

26) Are you happy with the person you've become? Hmm. I've never thought about it. I guess, in general, yes, though there is plenty of room still for growth!

27) What's a sound you hate; sound you love? Hate: "I'm fine" when clearly it's a lie. Love: happy babies.

28) What's your biggest "what if"? I don't really dwell on these sorts of things. I mean, there's nothing to be done for it now, right?

29) Do you believe in ghosts? In a way. Not the Hollywood, or the horror movie version of ghosts, but I do thing there might be some essential 'something' that hangs around once in awhile.

30) How about aliens? I think there are some living next door. They're super nice.

31) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? Going far away from home to college.

32) What's the worst place you have ever been to? Wow. Well...Rock Springs, WY, isn't great; in fact, much of WY isn't my favorite place. I didn't much like Houston. Parts of Mexico City were dicey.
OH! West York, PA, was not particularly fun to drive through...kind of reminded me of the bombed-out part of the south side of Chicago we drove through by accident many years ago.

33) Can insanity bring on more creativity? No, I think insanity is insanity. However, insanity, like everything else, has lots of different expressions, some of which are prettier than others.

34) Most attractive actor of your opposite gender? From a purely physical point of view, I think Brad Pitt is pretty close to perfect.

35) To you, what is the meaning of life? "You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life." (Albert Camus) or perhaps "Life has meaning only if one barters it day by day for something other than itself." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

36) Define "Art." Art? He owes me money!
Or, a guy with no arms and no legs hanging on a wall.
OK, in all seriousness, for me, art is something created by humans that speaks to the souls of the viewers. 'Course, it may speak of anything, not just beauty.

37) Do you believe in luck? I believe in provident occurrences.

38) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship? Honesty, patience, forgiveness, and laughter.

39) What's a song that always makes you happy when you hear it? Great, now I have "If you're happy and you know it..." stuck in my head! Thanks for that.
"Grace Kelly" by Mika makes me smile.

40) Where were you yesterday? Mostly, here. I went in to work for a few hours to make up for some time I missed on Friday, but otherwise I was here.

41) What's the worst injury you've ever had? I don't think I've ever been seriously injured--broken bones, accidents, falls, etc.--but I've had a couple of memorable ER visits caused by illness or my body fuh-LIPping out.

42) Do you have any obsessions right now? Getting the Christmas shopping done, I guess.

43) What's up? Ceiling. Light fixture/fan. Our bedroom. Another light fixture/fan. ~~Attic~~. Roof. Sky.

44) Ever had a rumor spread about you? Probably. I suspect in high school, the only actual rumors about me were about how much of a grind I was. Since then, I haven't spent a lot of energy worrying about rumors. This is why I will never run for any political office.

45) Do you believe in real magic? I only believe in fake magic.

46) Do you ever hold grudges against people who have done you wrong? I find it hard to forgive sometimes, yes. And it's the most RANDOM stuff that trips me up. I'm still pissed off, for instance, about stuff other kids did to Sparky in 5th grade, for heaven's sake; that's 8 years ago.

47) What's your favorite (non-pet) animal? Wolf.

48) What is your secret weapon to get people to like you? It's probably got something to do with being secure enough to allow people NOT to like me. Plus, I'm occasionally pretty funny.

49) Where is your best friend? I would presume to suggest that they are all watching football in some way or another this very moment.

50) What do you think is Satan's last name? If you know anything about Hebrew, you would know that this is a bit like asking what the last name of "chair" is.

Patrick's Place

2011-12-11T13:48:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7

Name seven of Time’s 100 All-Time Gadgets that you’ve either owned or used.

Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones (at work)
Mattel Electronics Football (sitting on our file drawers right now!)
Credit Card (who hasn't used one?)
Flip [camera]
iRobot Roomba
Power Strip (I'm not sure we could live our lives without these...)
Digital Thermometer (ours never works right)

Several others, including ballpoint pens, smoke detectors, and velcro (which, oddly, is not in spell-check). I also had a calculator similar to the RS and TI ones on the list, and a much smaller Instamatic camera than the one here. And some of the other stuff I've used over the years. Sad.

Unconscious Mutterings

2011-12-11T07:17:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Dedication :: ...devotion
Dream destination :: Expensive
Games :: Video...
Hard as :: ...a rock
Convict :: Jailbird
Submit :: Give in
Alcohol :: ...abuse
Clippers :: Nail...
Hormonal :: Teenaged
Diet :: Food

Christmas Meme #3

2011-12-10T18:32:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Have You Ever?

1. Built a snowman? Yes, but not for a long time. This isn't my favorite activity.

2. Heard Santa's sleigh? I don't remember ever even trying to listen.

3. Seen Santa & Rudolph in the sky? Nope. Then again, I was actually looking for Santa and 8 reindeer, not just one.

4. Sat on Santa's lap? Yes.

5. Shoveled the driveway/sidewalk? Uhm, yeah. I'd rather build a snowman.

6. Made snow angels? Yes. P'raps I'll make one again this year; it's been awhile.

7. Built a fort/igloo? Not till I had a son.

8. Written a Christmas list? Of course. Who among us who celebrates Christmas has NOT done this??

9. Written a letter to Santa? I'm not sure. I've answered a few from Sparky, though.

10. Left cookies/milk for Santa & reindeer? As a child, yes. Sparky has always added a few carrots for the deer.

11. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yep.

12. Gone caroling? Yes, I enjoy this. And I'd like to go again.

13. Gotten hurt during the winter season? I had the flu one year when I was in high school, and I'm sure at some point I've had a cold, but that's it. Thank God!

14. Gone ice skating/sledding? Used to go sledding. I only ice-skated about twice and hated it.

15. Kissed under a mistletoe? I stopped by mistletoe about 10 years ago because it embarrassed Sparky too much. ;-) So, yes, I have.

16. Get everything you wanted for Christmas? Some years, yes.

17. Cooked/baked Christmas goodies? I have. I don't, much, anymore. Who is supposed to eat 'em all??

Saturday 9

2011-12-10T18:10:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Drift Away (RIP Dobie Gray)

1. Who or what bores you enough to mentally drift away?

Any discussion about corporate life in America, the ins and outs of business, whether in theory or practice, economics...and also esoteric hobbies that I'm not into. Like birdwatching.

2. How many members of your family not living with you do you see on during the holidays?

I try for zero, but I just got a message from my niece (Katherine) and I guess we'll have to figure something out for a meet-up with them since it's been almost 6 months since we last saw them.

3. When spending time with family, how long after you arrive do you begin to feel "antsy" about being there too long?

I can't be in Katherine and Alan's house more than about an hour before I actually do need to start leaving--four cats, yo. If I'm visiting out of town--as in "can't get home tonight"--I usually spend at least part of the day holed up in whatever sleeping area I've been assigned. My family does tend to make me a little crazy.

4. Does your family more generally get along at a holiday gathering or are there generally arguments?

My family is quite stereotypically Italian...without any of the actual Mediterranean genetics.

5. Are you ever embarrassed by your family around friends?

Fuck yeah. One member in particular. I'm talking to you, Jan! I grew up embarrassed by others in my family, but I'm trying like hell to overcome that at this point.

6. Of the celebrities that died in 2011, who will you miss the most?

In my day-to-day life, none of them, but I will miss FIL. And I didn't remember that Clarence Clemons had died this year. :-(

7. When you watch a movie in a movie theater, do you like the theater filled to capacity, halfway full, or nearly empty? Does your answer change depending on the type of movie you're seeing or do you feel the same way regardless of the movie or genre?

Not packed. Not empty. Maybe 1/4 full?

8. What’s one really cool/useful/nice thing you purchased for yourself this year?

Most recently: new vacuum attachments to replace the ones that have disappeared or been ruined. Shoulda got new extenders too.

9. Are you in the holiday spirit yet?

I have been, but right now this very second, I'm not feeling it. Last night's party was fun, though.

Patrick's Place

2011-12-10T17:28:00.000-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. While going through old boxes, you find an old library book of which you are very fond, but you realize that it was a library book. You assume that the library has long-since written the book off as a loss because it has been boxes away for 20 years or more, and the book carries a great deal of sentimental value for you. Would you return the book or keep it?

Really, Patrick?
I'd probably keep it at this point, but I would call the library and see if it's still on my record there. The reality is that when people DO this with any regularity, their credit rating goes in the dumper and it may mean stopping in the middle of buying a house to run to the owning library to make restitution for the materials they've STOLEN. This happened to someone I know while buying a house in California. Moral: don't steal.

2. You visit one of your closest friends who is battling a terminal illness. It's clear he or she will not survive, but is in a lot of pain. Your friend begs you to briefly disconnect life support long enough for death to come. If there is no way your intervention could be discovered and no way you could face any kind of prosecution, would you grant your friend's request?

I would call hospice, and an attorney, and in the meantime ask why my friend hadn't gotten around to creating a Medical Power of Attorney, a DNR order at the hospital, and/or a Living Will . Had s/he done this, s/he would not have been connected to any intrusive live-saving equipment in the first place.

3. You have the chance to be in a parade and ride on a float supporting a cause you believe in, but you can't appear in any kind of disguise or costume: which cause's float would you most likely be comfortable selecting?

Look, if I believed in something enough to appear in a float in a parade, I wouldn't bother with a disguise in the first place. That goes for the parades I have marched in with Little League and Girl Scouts and my church, and Bigger Issues like Feminism, Peace, LGBT, etc.

4. Your company's top executive team arrives for a surprise visit, and selects you and a handful of other employees to meet with one-on-one in an attempt to get the pulse of their employees and to uncover any problems within the organization. How honest are you likely to be about your answers when they ask about specific problems you know exist, even if it means that friends you work with could lose their jobs over what you say?

I wouldn't be dishonest in that case, but I also would choose not to answer directly. If the big guys are in town on a fact-finding mission in this economy, they are looking for which heads to chop off, so I'm just keeping mine down.
IRL, this wouldn't happen because a) I work for municipal government, so there IS no "out-of-town" big shots, and b) they've already sliced well into the bone in terms of cutting so I'm saying nothing about anyone who is left!

5. You find yourself slated to be a guest on a talk show: which host, living or dead, would you most like to be interviewed by, and why would you choose that host?

I loved Phil Donahue; he was serious, honest, passionate and smart.

6. Your church decides to take part in a political protest, and it seems that nearly everyone feels the same way about the issue. You, however, do not share their view. At the risk of being ostracized, would you deny to participate, or would you search for a way to quietly assist, without being out in front?

Count me out. I'm not gonna conform, ESPECIALLY in church, if I feel something is wrong. If I'm ostracized, AT CHURCH, for refusing to participate in something morally repugnant to me, then I'm changing churches. Why the HELL did I stay in this church in the first place?!

Six Word Saturday

2011-12-10T14:28:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Holiday busy-ness has arrived in earnest

Last night was my workplace's holiday party, here. (Some) people stayed till nearly midnight, and we did have a good time. Today, Beast was at church by 8:15 to set up for the rehearsal of tomorrow's Messiah performance, and I was headed to work to make up some of the hours I took off yesterday to set up for the party.

Tomorrow is the Messiah performance, so we'll be at church from 8ish till well-after noon.

Monday afternoon/evening is the retirement party of one of Beast's friends and coworkers.

Tuesday...seems vaguely boring aside from work.

Wednesday I have a haircut. After that, at some point, we'll be on our way to pick up Sparky for winter break from college. It's also the first evening for our local community Christmas charity.

Thursday, there is a farewell party for the head of the HR department of the city, who has been extraordinarily helpful to me over the last couple of months. Then, night #2 of packing for the Christmas charity.

Friday, boring: I work.

Saturday, Christmas charity deliveries 8 to noon.

Sunday, I will be shepherding small children for the Christmas Pageant service at church, after which Beast and I will be meeting all the former youth group members who can make it for an extended lunch.

Then...I think we're sorted till Christmas Eve.

Whew.

Friday Five

2011-12-10T14:19:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Dreams!

1) Do you remember your dreams?

Sometimes. Usually, first thing in the morning, I have some vague sense of what might have been going on, but it fades quickly unless I intentionally hang on to it.

2) Do you dream in color or black and white?

Either, both, depends.

3) What is the scariest dream you have had?

Probably involved floating, perfectly shaped circles. I know, weird.

4) What is the weirdest dream you have had?

Well, I think #3's answer may qualify, no?

5) Have you ever had a dream come true?

Sort of. I'm not going into detail, but yeah. Kinda freaky when that happens.

Follow Friday Four Fill-in

2011-12-09T08:55:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. When I have people over for a big meal or a party, I feel that all the work cleaning the house beforehand paid off

2. I just realized that I'm totally not stressed about tonight's party.

3. My books mostly come from the public library. [and then are returned to it, as well, of course]

4. If I had a hammer, I would hammer in the morning. :-)

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-09T08:44:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. As I neared the Reference Desk, I began to smell the distinct odor of B.O. wafting from the nonfiction area. [or so one of my coworkers said yesterday--not me by the way, the guy in the 200s beyond the desk.]

2. Don't Shoot is what I'm reading right now. It's stunningly positive, in spite of the topic, but a bit heavy.

3. I didn't start out this way, but I've become much less 'blurty' about certain things.

4. However, some of the stuff I'm not 'blurty' about probably needs to be said, to tell the truth.

5. The best way to learn something is to do it.

6. This is the reason I am always trying new techy things! [a continuation of #5]

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hosting my workplace's Christmas party, tomorrow my plans include cleaning up and wrapping presents and making a list of what I still need to buy, and Sunday, I want to enjoy the Messiah at church and then watch football!

Thursday 13

2011-12-08T18:59:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Books I Currently Have on My Library Card

Finished:
Currently reading:
Currently reading:
Sitting on my desk at home:
Sitting on my desk at home:
Sitting on my desk at home:
On CD (listening in the car):
Not yet checked out:
Not yet checked out:
Not arrived (on reserve):
Not arrived (on reserve):
Not arrived (on reserve):
Not arrived (on reserve):

Christmas Meme #2

2011-12-04T22:38:00.001-06:00

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)
This or That

1. Candy cane or peppermint patties? Ir's the only time I'll eat peppermint patties. They have to be GOOD ones, though.

2. Sugar or gingerbread cookies? Sugar. Of course. Really, need you EVER ask? :-)

3. Tinsel or beaded strands? Uhm, well, here's the thing: growing up we'd've called it tinsel. Where I've done Christmases since 1986, it's called garland. We use white. Not aluminum.

4. Multi-colored or same-colored lights? I really prefer multi-colored, but the pre-lit trees apparently only come in white. So we have all white.

5. Flashing or still lights? I do not like flashing lights. At all.

6. Wreaths or mistletoe/holly? Wreaths.

7. Rudolph or Frosty? Rudolph.

8. Sledding or snowball fights? Nowadays, neither. As a kid, sledding and tubing. Not really a fan of snowballs, but I'm not against throwing snow at each other.

9. Snow or ice/icicles? Snow. Ice is evil.

10. Snow hat or earmuffs? Depends on the temperature and my activities. If I'm running in and out of buildings, earmuffs are the best.

11. Getting or giving? I like giving; I just don't like shopping.

12. Snow days or plow trucks? Plow trucks. Snow days next year mean I will have to take a personal day or make up the time, because I can't get to work if the plow trucks don't come through.

13. Stockings or presents? Even after 18 years, I still love filling Sparky's stocking better than anything else. And I always get goofy, fun stuff in the sock.

14. Cookies & milk or letter to Santa? We always did both with Sparky, along with carrots for the reindeer. And Santa always (ALWAYS) wrote back, in handwriting that eerily resembles the Tooth Fairy's.

15. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Eve for church, Day for lounging.

16. Log Burning Channel or real thing? Real thing. And, while we're opening presents, we burn the Christmas Candle.

17. Cards or emails? I think we're sending ecards for the first time this year.

18. Shoveling or cleaning off the car? Cleaning off the car. That's nothing. Shoveling is a nightmare.

19. Hot cocoa or eggnog? EGGNOG!!

20. Jack Frost or Little Drummer Boy? The old Jack Frost, pre-commercialization. Though the kids' program this year is based on The Little Drummer Boy, so I dunno.

Sunday Stealing

2011-12-04T14:05:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
The Blue Memory Meme, Part One

1) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?

"All of you: shut up, sit down, stop fighting, and hands off everyone elses' stuff!"

2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

It would be interesting to meet and talk to librarians from all over the world, specifically those in parts of the world that may not have as much access to libraries as we do here.

3) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?

Alone? Seriously, I'm very much leaning toward Tierra del Fuego. I hear it's about as nice as it gets there about now.

4) What do you think about most?

I try hard not to think about anything much. I'm getting very good at it, too.

5) You have the opportunity to spend a romantic night with the music celebrity of your choice. Who would it be?

Yuck. I can't think of any musicians I'd want to spend any romantic time with any musicians, since most of those I like are either married or emotionally fucked.

6) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

I'd like to have NOT wrecked my truck last spring.

7) What's your strangest talent?

Judging by how much I've been doing it lately, maybe French-braiding my hair in under 5 minutes.

8) What would be a question you'd be afraid to tell the truth on?

"Does this dress make my ass look big?"

9) Ever had a poem or song written about you?

Not that I'm aware of.

10) When is the last time you played the air guitar?

Uhm? Probably within a month or so, but certainly not in any grandiose way; probably at my desk at work. I'm more likely to air-drum or air-piano, to be honest.

11) Do you have any strange phobias?

I have answered this the same way 4 times in the past on this meme. Feel free to search the site--I've even provided a search box for you in the right-hand column. Go on. I'll wait.

12) What's your religion?

Christian. Or if you want to be sectarian about it, Presbyterian.

13) What is your current desktop picture?

Mighty Mouse in a sea of orange.

14) When you are outside, what are you most likely doing?

Getting in or out of a car.

15) What's the last song you listened to?

...I know the radio was on in the car on the way home from church, but I can't remember a single song. Probably for the best. And all the songs at church today were ones I participated in, so I have no good answer for this.

16) Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band?

U2.

17) What was the last lie you told?

"I'll wait." I didn't.

18) Do you believe in karma?

My answer is buried in this post.

19) What is a saying you say a lot?

You mean, aside from short-and-sweet ones like "SHIT!"? So, then, yeah... ;-)

20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?

Weakness: laziness. Strength: I'm going with Kiril's answer in Sunday School this morning, which was "I'm pretty smart."

21) Who is your celebrity crush?

I guess Mark Harmon. Though I do like the way Brad Pitt looks most of the time.

22) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: heart.

A Valentine's Day heart.

23) How do you vent your anger?

Yell, scream, pout, growl.... Or, mostly, put on headphones and hope the music washes it away. It didn't work so well yesterday at work.

24) Do you have a collection of anything?

LOTS of things, right now. Our house is fairly bursting with stuff we've accidentally collected. I do have a collection of S&Ps, but ... mostly I collect dust.

25) What is your favorite word?

See #19: I'd say I'm in a running tie between "shit" and "crap" depending on locale. Sorry, Mom.

Patrick's Place

2011-12-04T13:40:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Sunday 7

Name your seven favorite characters from M*A*S*H.

Gotta be Radar at #1, of course.
Sid Freedman
BJ Hunnicut
Col. (Henry) Blake
Father Mulcahy
Col. Flagg
OK, OK: Pierce

I never ever liked Trapper John, and it took a very long time for Col. Potter to grow on me. Frank and Margaret PISSED ME OFF, though I like her when he wasn't around (finally!). And Winchester was a pain as well; I couldn't ever get past that when the actor went off and did other things, unfortunately.

Christmas Meme #1

2011-12-04T07:25:00.001-06:00

(Swiped, as usual, from Kwizgiver)

1. Worst Christmas song? The 12 Days of Christmas. I can hear it once and that's it for the entire month.

2. If you were a Christmas character, who would you be? I'll go with the donkey. If you mean Pop Culture Christmas, I would love to be Santa.

3. What type of decoration should stop being made? Can we just stop with ALL holiday clothing? Not just Christmas but 4th of July and Thanksgiving, too.

4. Tastiest holiday treat? Seven-Layer Bars. They are evil. I can make one pan and eat them ALL over the course of the next few days. Which is why I only make them at Christmas.

5. Favorite pop culture/stereotypical Christmas icon? Scrooge. There is something so real about him; it hits close to home.

6. Know how to make cookies/brownies/cake from scratch? Of course! Do I? Nope, except for the aforementioned Evil Ones, and sometimes fudge.

7. Ever cut your mouth on a candy cane/candy? Yes. And eventually, after doing it a couple hundred times, I stopped eating them. I like peppermint, but I do NOT like peppermint+blood.

8. What other culture would you like to experience Christmas with? It would be interesting to go back to Russia now that Christmas is 'legal.' When I was there over 25 years ago, the big celebration was New Year's Eve, and I wonder if that has been overtaken by religiosity now.

9. What kind of pattern/pictures do you like on your wrapping paper? I'm not overly fussy.

10. Will you make a Christmas picture for your blog/website/profile? Not as such. I may post some pictures and I may change my Facebook pic to something festive. And then again, maybe I won't.

11. Three best things about Christmas?The look on people's faces when you hit a home-run with a gift. The lights inside people's houses, particularly on cold and/or snowy nights. Anticipation.

Unconscious Mutterings

2011-12-04T07:20:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Flannel :: Washcloth
Chairs :: Seats
Sporadic :: Occasional
Difficult :: Hard
Amusing :: Funny
Collapse :: Fall down
Hurtful:: Mean
Thump :: Bump
Frugal :: Cheap
Collectibles :: Dusty

Patrick's Place

2011-12-03T18:46:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6 (in the Way-Back Machine)

1. Follow-up to a question from Episode 1: If you could spend one day as a member of the opposite sex and a different race, would you stay closer to the places you currently frequent, or would you try to spend your time in a place where more people like your current form would go?

Hmm, I'd probably hang around here. It would be an interesting sociological experiment to see how things look from the viewpoint of someone completely different from me.

2. Follow-up to a question from Episode 4: Of the following three types of presidential candidates, which type would you be most likely to vote for in 2012:
A) Someone who supported all of your concerns and got every bill you supported passed …but was unscrupulous and often lied to get where he is.
B) Someone whose political views were nearly the opposite of yours, who was only able to pass a handful of bills you didn't want passed…but who was completely honest and ethical all the time.
C) Someone who was middle of the road, passed bills that tended to favor compromise more than any one side of the issue, and was usually (but not always) ethical and honest.

I'm almost always on the side of compromise and working together--so long as we're not stupid--and I recognize that people aren't always perfect. Even choice B can't be honest and ethical ALL the time; it's just not humanly possible.

3. Follow-up to a question from Episode 12: You learn that your best friend's spouse is carrying on an affair, and that person realizes that you know the secret. He or she begs for time, promising that he (or she) will reveal all to your best friend. How long are you willing to give the cheater to confess before you will step in and let your friend know yourself?

I'll give him (or her) a ten-minute headstart....

4. Follow-up to a question from Episode 15: If you had to give up one of your five senses, which one would you be most unwilling to live without?

I could probably lose anything but my eyes. Not by choice, of course.
Or, wait, am I supposed to pick "the one" I would give up first? In that case, taste.

5. Follow-up to a question from Episode 27: What would you say is your biggest character strength?

Bluntness. No one in my gene pool bothered to stand in line for tact.

6. Follow-up to a question from Episode 33: Which seasonal or holiday movie do you least look forward to this time of year?

All. Of. Them. I'm not a re-watcher. I can make it through "Scrooged" and some other versions of "A Christmas Carol." That's it.

Saturday 9

2011-12-03T18:23:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Lies

1. "Everybody lies. But it's alright because nobody listens." is one of Bud's Law's. What do you lie about?

Absolutely nothing. I'm always honest. <--thus proving Bud's point

2. When you purchase a DVD, what besides the the movie itself, what do you enjoy the most? Is it the director's commentary, the deleted scenes, the bloopers or the behind-the-scenes documentary?

I like the deleted scenes and I also appreciate commentary from the cast and/or crew. In fact, sometimes, the 'extras' are better than the actual movie or show.

3. What would you most like to accomplish before the year is over?

I'd like to get my Christmas shopping done....

4. What is your current percentage of online shopping? Is it going to be more this year than last?

What I've done so far has been 80% online. I will need to do some store shopping though, for a couple of things I need to look at before I bring it home.

5. What's left to do at your place (or where you are going)? Is the tree up? ...or maybe you're just happy you found that fave Christmas coffee mug and are calling that good?

The tree is up, but not decorated. We have 5.5 days to get the whole place in order because I'm hosting the library's Christmas party on Friday. I have to figure out Christmas cards. And presents.

6. If you could get worry-free, cost-free plastic surgery, would you? If yes, where?

I would only do this if I were seriously disfigured (car accident, mauled by a neighbor's chimpanzee, etc.).

7. Do you think the child you were growing up, would like the adult you've become?

Depends on the age. I would probably like me as a very young child and an older teen. Not so much the middle ages.

8. What will you miss about 2011?

The first half was ok, and I loved our trip to Italy and England. The second half of the year was abysmally bad. I hope to never go through anything like it again.

9. What is something you'd love to see invented?

Beast and I were talking today...isn't it about time we have some cures for some major diseases--Parkinson's, cancer, AIDS? I know that's not an invention per se but it's the best thing I can come up with today.

Six-Word Saturday

2011-12-03T18:05:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

Please. Please...just stop talking already!

When I got to work this morning, an hour before we open so I can get a start on work before people arrive, one of my favorite coworkers was there. And she never stopped talking. For the whole hour. And for the next half hour. And then periodically whenever she was in the workroom in my vicinity. Even my headphones didn't deter her from needing my attention. By 11, I was ready to punch her in the head.

It never stopped. OMG--she needs to take her anti-manic meds or something* because I can't do this again when I see her next week. I will hit her. It's like working for the world's most codependent mom: bossy, pushy, loud, opinionated, and moving at light speed.

Shoot. Me.

*she doesn't actually take meds for this, to the best of my knowledge, but she does get wound up and crazy like this about every 4-6 weeks.

Friday Five

2011-12-02T21:06:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Zobmondo
These are "choice" questions. The rules of Zobmondo are that you have to choose one answer - you can't say "neither." You must also take the question as it is - no changing the questions!

1. Would you rather have to suck all the ink out of a ballpoint pen or paint your tongue with Wite-Out?

Having done the ink thing (by accident), and survived, I'll go with a replay of that. Nothing on my tongue.

2. Would you rather drink a gallon of used hot dog water or a shot glass of someone else's foot sweat?

Hot dog water. No question at all! Kinda hoping I get a few hours to finish it though.

3. Would you rather always wear shoes that are a half size too small or always have your underwear creeping up your butt?

Underwear. That isn't likely to cause long-term damage to my body like wearing bad shoes will.

4. Would you rather always be nauseated or always have a headache?

For the rest of my life? If it were just for a few months, I'll go with nausea; I need to lose weight!

5. Would you rather have to always eat standing up or always enter your car from the passenger door?

Eating standing up isn't that difficult for me....and again, it does burn more calories.

Friday 5

2011-12-02T13:16:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
Brrrr!

1. What's your favorite thing about cold weather?

Warming up in bed at night. I do like snuggling under the covers.

2. Soups and hot beverages seem to be everyone's favorite cold-weather culinary combatant, but what's another food that seems to take the bite out of the cold?

Anything carb-y: bread, candy, cookies...y'know, my usual diet. ;-)

3. When the weather is just starting to turn cold but is not yet in full frigidity, what do you add to your bed until it’s time to break out the heavy artillery? (I said what, not whom!)

I just wear heavier pajamas; honestly, we never change the amount of blankets on the bed, we just dress warmer and I turn on the mattress pad to warm me up.

4. What household chore seems especially unkind in these colder months?

Well, going out in the morning to get the paper from the driveway pretty much sucks for me (Beast doesn't seem to mind). And I'm not a big fan of snow-shoveling. Otherwise, I can't think of anything.

5. Among people you know, who seems most oblivious to cold weather?

Beast. He revels in it. Weirdo. ;-)

Very timely--there was snow on the grass when I got up this morning. :-(

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-02T12:56:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)

1. One of my favorite things about December is church services. This is the month for good ones.

2. I have way too many ornament(s)! (or too small of a tree...)

3. This is what I'm hoping for today/tonight: relaxation and rest.

4. Can you believe I slept through that noise?

5. Ooh, a Mark Harmon is adorable.

6. Bells are ringing!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Beast's safe return, tomorrow my plans include working all day (whee), and Sunday, I want to not embarrass myself playing bells at church!

Thursday 13

2011-12-01T17:27:00.001-06:00

(Link in meme-roll)
13 Time-Wasters Employed This Week

The Sims Social (on Facebook)
Memes (ahem)
Reading
Crosswords
Bubble Shooter (thanks, Amy)
Catching up on RSS feeds
Watching silly movies
Watch taped TV shows
Chatting with friends (not that this is really wasted time, but neither is reading)
Downloading free books to my Nook
Cheering for the Packer
Sitting in assorted drive-thru lanes
Watching lame-ass commercials on TV (WHY don't I just mute them?)