Thursday

Thursday Threesome
::Three Ring Circus::

Onesome : Three- What do you think the T3 should be next week? Just toss three words together; we'll do the rest! *g*
Here's a book sitting on The Beast's desk next to the PC: Against All Enemies. If you wanted to stay out of politics...How about "against all odds"? And following that train of thought, how about "What happens here stays here"?

Twosome : Ring- Are you a jewellery person? Is there any one item you wear every single day? Do you have any piercings? Where are they and did they hurt?
Jewelry: I wear three rings all the time. Over 90% of the time I have one set of earrings in, and that's the only piercings I've got. They didn't hurt much, but that was 25 years ago, so time may be dulling my memory. I have worn my wedding ring/engagement ring every day (except in the hospital) since I got married 18 years ago. Granted, they aren't the same rings as they were 18 years ago, but you get the point.

Threesome : Circus - Do you like the circus? What's your favorite act? Or is your life enough of a circus for you?
I love the circus! The whole thing: animals, clowns, "death-defying feats," etc. Not very PC at all. I think this adoration springs from having only been to the circus once as a child, and just three times in my life. So deprived. heh

On the other hand, my life is a circus [some days]. Maybe that's why I relate to the Big Top...?

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Saturday 6

1. Have you ever been asked to speak in front of an audience? If so, what was the occasion and how do you feel you did?

Yes. I've spoken at church innumerable times, in front of kids and the whole congregation, I teach the occasional class at the library, and I've spoken to a small group at a conference. As long as I have a script, I'm good to go, although extemporaneous spouting is not unknown either. Generally, I do fine, and am doing better as time passes since I am getting better at suppressing emotion in the midst of speaking.

2. If you were asked to appear on David Letterman’s show, do you have a "Stupid Human Trick" you could perform?

Sure. Don't we all? I can stack up to 2 to 3 feet of books of varying shapes on my left hand and arm and carry them around the library as I shelve them. Thankfully, this would bore a national audience, and Dave, so I'm in no danger of having to appear on TV. For which I'm grateful. I'm not a fan of these shows (anymore).

3. If you were asked to be in a circus, would you be more comfortable as a clown, a trapeze artist, a tightrope walker, a juggler, an animal trainer, or the ringmaster?

Ringmaster. I'm not coordinated or physically talented enough for any of the others.

4. Take the quiz: What Circus Act Should You Perform?

When I did this I was supposed to walk on stilts. Hah. Not bloody likely.

5. How old were you the first time you visited a circus? How did you like it?

I think I was 6 or 7, and all I remember is the guy sitting next to us who smoked Marlboros and a very odd right ear.

6. How often would you describe your real job as a "circus"? Do you think it seems to be getting more or less like a circus?

It has it's circus-like moments, but mostly (at its worst) it's closer to a girl's bathroom in junior high school.

Saturday 9 x2

(Link in meme-roll)
Lazy Bones (1975)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a guy who'd rather nap than do his chores. Are there things you should be doing right now, instead of hanging around the blogosphere, answering these questions?

Of course. There's ALWAYS something I should be doing. Today's list includes handwashing some dishes, excavating the counters in the kitchen, general vacuuming (pick a floor, any floor)... So I'm blogging.

2) This song mentions a lazy afternoon of fishing. When did you last go fishing?

Sparky was 8. I know because he and his dad caught a fish (ok, it was a minuscule perch that was too small to keep). That was in 2001, at Moosehead Lake.

3) The lyrics catch our hero sleeping in both the sun and the shade. Do you have a nice, shady place to nap on your front lawn? Or would we catch you lying in the sun?

We have shade in the front yard, but the ground there isn't as comfy as the grass in the backyard, where there are no trees.

4) This week's featured artist, Leon Redbone, is a difficult man to nail down. Over the years he's claimed to be born in Ontario, and Philadelphia, and even Cyprus. Tell us about a time you got caught in a fib.

Well, there was the time I called someone an 'asshole' in an email to a mutual friend...and then, much later in the convo, I sent the whole email string to the first person. He's not an asshole, but there was some stupid behavior on display at the moment...oh boy.

5) Mr. Redbone has said that taking himself too seriously would be "the gentle kiss of death." What's something that you always take seriously and just can't joke about?

I wish I could say that I have never told, or laughed at, an off-color or shady joke, but everything I start to type I think of something ridiculous I've said or heard. Sometimes it's pretty black humor, but that is how I cope with life most of the time. I mean, my topics were Child Abuse, Racism, Sexism, Donald Trump....but every one of those topics I can think of absurdities that are just nuts and laughable. Not, "isn't it funny that we hit this kid" funny, but seriously, you really thought no one would notice your KID had DISAPPEARED* from your house?? WTF you fucking moron.

6) He has retired from public life, and that includes his Facebook page, which is no longer available. What did you last post to your Facebook page?

Just before I started on this.

7) Leon always wore dark glasses when he performed. Do your sunglasses have gray, green, brown or rose colored lenses?

They are black, but they're also the kind the change from regular glasses to dark in the sun.

8) Recently Dick Van Dyke performed this song at a charity benefit, aided by his a capella quartet, The Vantastix. Last year, at age 90, he campaigned for Bernie Sanders. So Mr. Van Dyke is certainly not a "lazy bones." Who's the most active, energetic person in your life?

There's a woman at my church who is coming up on 80 who is more physically vigorous than pretty much anyone I know, of ANY age. She is astounding. I would have guessed she was closer to 60 at most--only because of her gray hair and some general wrinkliness--but in conversation over the winter she mentioned that her husband was turning 80 (which is equally hard to believe) this year and she's not far behind. They own an apple orchard so they work, physically, every day. Amazing.

9) Random question: You're at dinner with friends and someone begins a very long joke with, "Stop me if you've heard this before." You have heard it, many times before. Do you stop him? Or do you just sit through it again?

Depends on the person. And the joke. If it's a rude joke, like beyond the pale for other hearers, I'll stop them. If it's just a tired old stupid story, I'll probably sit through it again. I've been doing that my whole entire life, after all. Sometimes it sucks being the youngest....

_____
*Local dude moved to a new house with his family, minus one pre-teen daughter. Somehow police got involved back in the old neighborhood--not sure if new residents in home called or what--and the authorities found remains in the garage, which had been there at least several weeks (into months' time). Dude's full of excuses about what could have possibly happened. Same dude told people earlier, prior to moving, that he was going to "get rid" of the girl into fostering or adoption or "whatever." Seriously? I have to laugh to think that someone is THIS STUPID! If I don't laugh, I'm going to want to slit my wrists over the fact that I'm breathing the same air as people like this.


C Is for Cookie
Don't blame Sam. Harriet requested Cookie Monster.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's featured artist, Cookie Monster says his favorite TV show is Monsterpiece Theater. What show do you try never to miss?

We DVR Deadliest Catch, all the NCIS shows and a few things that Beast watches without me (Bill Maher, car shows). I may see about getting Graham Norton on the schedule. I need some silliness.

2) Though he goes by Cookie Monster professionally, he is still called Sid by his family. When will you next get together with your relatives?

I have no idea. Thanksgiving for sure. We might see the locals (Katherine, Alan and the boys) this summer. I'm not planning more than about a week at a time--at most!!--these days.

3) Now for the cookie questions! Where do you weigh in on this age-old controversy: Is a brownie a cookie or a cake?

Cake. Never really thought about it, but I make them in a cake pan. On the other hand, given any way of doing so, I make cookies in cake pans too. SO much faster!

4) Fig Newtons contain no cholesterol. Do you read nutrition labels before eating snacks? Or does knowing the truth about your favorite sweets ruin your enjoyment?

Everything I think tastes good is bad for me at this point. Except almonds and walnuts and fruit.

5) Biscotti are designed for dipping into drinks. Do you like to dunk your cookies?

Yuck.

6) Do you prefer cookies made with milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips? Or are you a rebel who prefers butterscotch chips?

I love love love butterscotch cookies! I'm ok with whatever chocolate is used, though I'm not a giant fan of them, though they are yummy right out of the oven.

7) Bill Murray once said, "Raisin cookies that look like chocolate chip cookies are the main reason I have trust issues." Do you like raisin cookies?

I LOVE oatmeal-raisin cookies! My mom's were the best ever. ...sigh

8) Nabisco still sells animal-shaped cookies in a red box that looks like a train car labeled, "Barnum's Animals." However Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus gave their last-ever performance on May 21, 2017. Have you ever been to the circus?

I've been twice to Ringling Brothers, once to the Moscow Circus and I think I was at a couple small traveling circuses in my life. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the American circuses for various reasons, but the bears in Moscow were amazing.

9) Have you ever received a memorable fortune in a fortune cookie?

Not that I recall. I keep some of them for awhile, but they haven't been life-changing. However, in the midst of answering these questions, we were talking about dinner and the subject of Chinese takeout was raised (by Beast). Maybe tonight's the night I'll get that killer fortune, eh?

Monday Meme

(Link at left)
reminded by Kwizgiver, archived
Monday Meme 9 : 2005-07-18 : Sing A Song

1. What is your favorite song of all time? Does is bring back any special memories?

My favorite song changes relatively often, depending on what's going on in my life. I tend to be partial to U2 songs, however, and "The Sweetest Thing" is one of my favorites. It's just a great love song, about what real love feels like to me.

I also like "Amazing Grace" and "A Mighty Fortress" however. Take your pick.

2. What song do you like the best of those released in the past year?

Uhhh....what songs have come out this year? I don't listen to the radio much, but I know Bob Seger has a new album out with songs I've liked. I don't remember any titles, though. Sorry.

3. Have you been to many concerts? What was your first? Which were your favorites?

I've been to Paul Young, The Beach Boys, Boston, Styx (multiple times in multiple incarnations, not by choice!), Elton John & Billy Joel together, and U2. I think that's it. The Beach Boys were first. U2 was far and away my favorite.

4. If you were a musician, what genre of music would you preform? What would your band be called?

I would probably go with classical, since that's what I'm 'trained' to do on the flute, and long ago on the piano. My "band" would be a wind ensemble or circus band. Hey, I wouldn't mind being in a circus band! That would be fun.

5. Recommend 5 songs to your friends:

"Hey Geronimo"--Vinnie James
"Sabumoya"--Mirian Makeba
"We We"--Angelique Kidjo
"Big Mama (Unconditional Love)"--LL Cool J
"Soul Conga"--Africanism All-Stars

I was the 522nd person to take this week's Monday Meme!

Childhood

From the Survey Queen, natch

1. Did you play with Barbies or G.I. Joes: Barbies...and before that, Dawn Dolls.

2. Did you own Treasure Trolls: I think there was a troll in the household when I was a kid. I didn't care about it.

3. Did you watch Beverly Hills 90210: Absolutely never.

4. Did you play Simon Says: Lots.

5. Did you watch Fraggle Rock: Nope.

6. Did you wet the bed: I think I have done this a total of 10 times in my life, at most.

7. Did you believe there were monsters in your closet or under your bed: No, there were enough real monsters in the world to invent them.

8. Did you wear the underwear with the days of the week on them: Yeah, as if I could've convinced my mom to buy those! Not.

9. Were you shy: I was DEADLY shy until I started college!

10. Were you spoiled: My siblings say I was. I beg to differ.

11. Were you abused: I was spanked rather more than people nowadays think is healthy, but substantially less than anyone else in my family.

12. Did you go to the circus: Once as a child, once with Sparky when he was a child. Oh, and once in Moscow, which is a whole OTHER kind of circus!

13. Did you go to the zoo: Lots of times.

14. Were you in a car accident: Just one, a fairly minor one in front of my house (mom was driving).

15. Did you build snowmen: Nope. We rarely had the right sort of snow, and it was a little much for just me. I did mazes instead.

16. Did you cry when you scraped your knee: Yes. Prerogative of being the youngest. ;-)

17. Were your older cousins mean to you: Nope. I only remember hanging out with them about five times (and by the way, they are ALL older than me...MUCH!).

18. Did you think slinkies were cool: I love the metal ones. The plastic ones suck.

19. Did you think the Ninja Turtles really lived in the sewer: I was in college when those appeared and couldn't have cared less.

20. Were you afraid of the dark: Not really. I sort of welcomed it.

21. Did you have slumber parties: Not at my house, and only very occasionally at others'.

22. Did you have New Kids on the Block sheets, pillows, pajamas, sleeping bag? See my response for #19--I wouldn't not have been caught dead with this shit (still wouldn't!).

23. Did you tease your hair out like Tiffany: Uh, no. I'm no Jersey Girl (and I was in college, dude!!).

24. Did you believe in the Easter Bunny and/or Santa Claus and/or the Tooth Fairy: Yes.

W.T.F. Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Getting a little freaky on Friday

1) If your life was a TV game show, what current show or type of show would best reflect the life you've lived?

Jeopardy. Not the word itself, but all the questions about random trivia.

2) We all know the story of "Freaky Friday" (two people change places and live in the other person's body for a day or two). If you could become any member of your family for just one day, who would you become?

I think the best person would be my niece, but it would be a horrendous day because I'd spend the whole time worrying about how she was screwing up MY life.

3) The current issue of Redbook magazine talks about how to handle your children walking in on you having sex. ... Did you ever hear your parents or *shudder* walk in on them having sex? What happened once they found out that you overheard it or saw them? Did they talk to you about it or just pretend it didn't happen?

As far as I'm concerned my parents had sex precisely 5 times. I don't even want to think about this. Moving on...

4) On opposite end of the spectrum, one of my ex-boyfriends once got a gun pulled on him when he was caught having sex with a hunter's teenage daughter. Did anyone ever catch you during a sexual activity?

It sort of depends on your definition of "sexual activity" but in general terms, no.

5) My father, an art teacher and professional artist, always said that the most beautiful people in the world usually have symmetrical faces. If beauty is mostly based on bilateral symmetry, why do you think most hairstyles are asymmetrical?

Most hairstyles are asymmetrical?? Where the heck do you live? Not around here, for sure. Middle part, maybe bangs. Yeah. People whose hair LOOKS asymmetrical probably GROWS that way; mine definitely does, no matter how I try to keep it the same on both sides.

6) Would you eat a bowl of live crickets for $10,000?

Nope. Anything still alive is not (intentionally) going into my stomach.

7) List 5 things that simply bore you to tears.

Discussions of cars and other mechanical things.
Airports.
Mopping/sweeping/dusting.
Other peoples' bragging or repetitive stories.
Star Wars.

8) Tell me about one of your totally useless possessions and how you came to own it, and don't try to tell me you don't have at least one useless item because we all have 'em.

I have a lot of ridiculous souvenirs. Uhm, let's go with the plates and platters that decorate the top of my kitchen cupboards. There are 11, I think, and two pretty bottles. At least 3 of those I purchased specifically to display--they match nothing in my house. Four are from Beast's mom's collection of pewter. Two are part of my mom's china set. Two were gifts from Beast's mom. I do use some of them once in awhile, so they aren't totally useless. Well, except the bottles, of course. ;-)

9) If farting was a career, my younger brother could seriously be a billionaire. What is a "skill" you naturally possess that you wish you could make a living doing?

Sleeping comes to mind. Avoiding work does, as well.

10) If your significant other created a scavenger hunt for your birthday during which you had to drive around town and gather clues to locate your gift, would you find it romantic or annoying?

It would be funny. Maybe I'll do that for Beast one of these days. Or, actually, Sparky would appreciate it more, I think. Beast would probably be towards the "annoyed" end of the continuum.

11) The circus is in my town this weekend. If you joined the circus, what act would you most want to perform?

I would love to trapeze! Heights don't bother me much and I love to swing.

12) What do you think would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs? I know I'd be in heaven if it happened, but what about you?

There'd be a lot of cat and dog corpses around. No thanks.

13) Today (June 24) is “UFO Day.” The first documented UFO sighting was on this day. Do you believe in life on other planets?

I believe there is a statistically significant likelihood of something else being alive somewhere else in the universe. Finding it is pretty unlikely, however.

Circus

You Should Walk on Stilts

Your biggest talent is your ability to make people laugh. And like most comedians, you'll do anything to get a people roaring. You know how to work a crowd. You are witty, but you are also great at physical comedy. But you'll leave the daredevil stunts to other people... you don't need them to get your applause.

What Circus Act Should You Perform?

I dunno about biggest, but I do like to make people laugh. Sad and pathetic. However, I'm SO not getting on stilts, not this week especially! I've injured myself 3 times in as many days.

40 questions

from Lisa

1. Do you still have tonsils?

Yep. In spite of years of strep throat, my doctor never took a knife to me. I suspect my parents had something to say about this...either out of financial necessity or out of knowing from five kids that non-required surgery is bad.

2. Would you bungee jump?

Yup. Thought my desire for doing so is decreasing as the years pass...

3. If You Could Do Anything In The World For A Living What Would It Be?

Why Are All The Words Capitalized? I'd Probably Be a Spelling Superhero.

4. How many tattoos do you have?

Nada.

5. Your favorite fictional animal?

The white rabbit in Alice. I feel like that rabbit many days.

6. One person that never fails to make you laugh?

In person: G (one of the Gs at the consortium).
Celebrity-wise: Bush. Otherwise, I'll cry. And...Robin Williams.

7. Do you consider yourself well organized?

In some areas, but not most of the time.

8. Any Addictions?

Again With The Capitals! Caffeine, blogging, reading, worrying, being annoying... taking things too much to heart.

9. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news?

Beast. The net in general, seriously. Bill Maher. Occasionally CNN. Not the networks, never the networks.

10. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus? Carnies make me nervous, circuses make me nervous because of the animal acts. Still...a good circus over a carnival wins out for me.11. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was 12, I was planning on being a writer.

12. Best Movie You’ve Seen This Year?

Since I Think I've Only Seen One at the Theater This Year, I Guess I Have to Pick "Monster House."

13. Favourite alcoholic drink

LIIT

14. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Put on my glasses.

15. Siblings?

I hate this question. There were 5 of us. Now there are 4...or 3 1/2 on a bad day.

16. What is the best thing about your job?

In the big picture, helping people connect with information and entertainment is cool.

17. Have you ever gone to therapy?

Yup. And I think I'm headed back there soon.

18. If you could have one super power what would it be?

For me, a superpower would be controlling my temper, or seeing past my temper. See #17.

19. Do you own any furniture from Ikea?

I actually don't think I do...not anything you'd call furniture anyway. I have a lot of artwork and gadgets from there, though.

20. Have you ever gone camping?

Yes, and I have not ever found the tent/sleeping bag/pee in the woods thing at all fun.

21. Gas prices! First thought?

Coming down. Now that summer vacation is over. Of course.

22. Your favorite cartoon character?

Opus. No contest. Though I like everyone in Boondocks (when is it coming back?!).

23. What was your first car?

My first car was actually Beast's: a 78-era Pinto. The first one we bought as a couple was a 81-era Chevy Monza. The first NEW vehicle we bought was a Toyota pickup.

24. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?

I know I've answered this recently...No, it's not. But then, I would say that wouldn't I, being married?

25. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?

Again I say {power} OFF.26. Do you go to church?

Too bloody often, I think!

27. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?

I'd love to sit down and talk friend-to-friend with Hillary Clinton. What is she really like when she's not "on." Or, is she even capable of not being "on." Failing that, Gloria Steinem.

28. What errand/chore do you despise?

Shopping, especially grocery shopping, and cleaning floors.

29. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

"...too early..." But I'd already heard Sparky up and about, so I knew I had to get up.

30. Last time you puked from drinking?

This one I know I've done before. It's been a VERY long time since I threw up because of alcohol intake: 20 years or so.

31. What is your heritage?

Pale northern European: British, Irish, Scottish, Dutch, some French...

32. Favorite flower?

Heirloom, garden roses.

33. Disney or Warner Bros? {shrug}Neither. Or, whatever.

34. What is your best childhood memory?

Jumping rope in the driveway.

35. Your favorite potato chip?

I don’t like potato chips much, so they have to be flavored. My nephew turned me on to peppered chips two years ago. They are hard to find around here but oh-so tasty!

36. What is your favorite candy?

Smarties or Sweet-Tarts.

37. Do you burn or tan?

If I'm very careful, I can achieve Freckles instead of a burn.

38. Astrological sign?

I'm a Scorp.

39. Do you own a gun?

Yup. Several water guns.

40. What do you think of hot dogs?

I try not to if at all possible, especially when I'm eating one!

And now I see I've lost my connection to Blogger.com ...sigh...
...and then I forgot to publish when Blogger came back up...

TV Meme

Bold shows you've watched regularly... Add any you find missing from this list. Spotted at Elf M. Sternberg.

It doesn't give a time limit, so I'm including any show I've watched more-or-less regularly, even if I was 5 years old at the time

[$65,000] Pyramid (only when I watched, it was the $10,000 and then the $25,000 Pyramid)
2 Stupid Dogs
20/20
3 2 1 Contact
60 Minutes
Absolutely Fabulous
addition: Alias
Airwolf
Alice
All Creatures Great and Small
All In The Family
Alvin & The Chipmunks
American Bandstand
addition: America's Funniest Home Videos
Animaniacs
addition: Apple's Way
addition:Babylon 5
Bakersfield PD
Banana Splits Show
Barney Miller (man, I loved this show!)
Batman
Battlestar Galactica (Original)
Battlestar Galactica (Remake)
Beakman's World
Beetlejuice
Ben Casey
Best of the West
Bewitched
Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bonanza
Boston Common
Bozo's Circus
Buck Rogers
addition: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Candid Camera
Captain Kangaroo
Carol Burnett Show
Caroline In The City
Casper and Friends
Charlie's Angels
Cheers
addition: CHiPs
Circus 3
City Confidential
Clarissa Explains It All
Columbo
addition: Cops
Courage the Cowardly Dog
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
addition: CSI
addition: CSI: Miami
addition: CSI: New York
Daktari
Dangermouse
Dark Shadows
Dave's World
Davey & Goliath
Designing Women
Dharma and Greg
Diff'rent Strokes
Dilbert
Dinosaurs
Doctor Who
Don Kirschner's Rock Concert
Dragnet
addition: Dukes of Hazzard
Dungeons & Dragons
Eek! The Cat
Eight Is Enough
Electric Company
Emergency
Everybody Loves Raymond
F-Troop
Family Affair
Family Dog
addition: Family Feud (Richard Dawson)
addition: Family Feud (other hosts)
Family Guy
Family Matters
Family Ties
addition: Fantasy Island
Fawlty Towers
Felix The Cat
Flipper
Forever Knight
Frasier
Friends
Frugal Gourmet
Full House
Futurama
Galloping Gourmet
Garfield and Friends
addition: General Hospital
Gentle Ben
Get Smart
Gigantor
GI Joe
Gilligan's Island
Gomer Pyle
Gong Show
Good Times
Grace Under Fire
Grape Ape
Green Acres
H.R. Puffnstuf
Happy Days
Hazel
Here Come The Brides
Hodge Podge Lodge
Hogan's Heroes
Hollywood Squares
Home Improvement
Home movies
Homicide: Life On The Streets
I Dream of Jeannie
I Love Lucy [and the newer shows, minus Desi]
In Living Color
Inspector Gadget
Iron Man
It's Garry Shandling's Show
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
Jem
Jeopardy
Johnny Quest
Julia
Julia Child & Company
Just Shoot Me
Kate and Allie
King of the Hill
Knight Rider
Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp
Lassie
Laugh-In
Laverne & Shirley
Leave It To Beaver
Let's Make A Deal
Little House on the Prairie
Little Rascals
LooneyTunes cartoons (Bugs Bunny, etc.)
Lost In Space
Love, American Style
Love Connection
M*A*S*H
Mad About You (another one I loved!)
Malcom In The Middle
Mama's Family
Marcus Welby, MD
Married...With Children
Match Game
Medical Center
Mighty Mouse (Original)
Mister Ed
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (I miss him)
Mod Squad
Mork and Mindy
Mr. Magoo
Murphy Brown
My Favorite Martian
My Three Sons
NOVA
Name That Tune
National Geographic
New Zoo Revue
Newhart
NewsRadio
Newton's Apple
Night Court (another great show)
One Day at a Time (my husband STILL has a crush on Valerie Bertinelli)
One Life To Live
addition: Oprah
Outer Limits
Password
Patridge Family
Pee-Wee's Playhouse
People's Court
Pepper Ann
Petticoat Junction (ahh, I really loved this one....)
Pinky and the Brain
Police Squad!
Quark
Reading Rainbow
Red Dwarf
Red Skelton Show
Robotech
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Romper Room
Room 222
Roseanne
addition: Rosie O'Donnell
SCTV
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
Samurai Jack
Sanford and Son
Saturday Night Live
Secret Squirrel
Seinfeld
Sesame Street
Shazam!
Sledge Hammer!
South Park
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Space: 1999
Speed Buggy
Speed Racer
Star Trek (original)
Star Trek: Animated series
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: Voyager
Stargate
Stargate SG-1
Strange Luck
Streethawk
addition: Survivor
TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes
TV Nation
Ted Mack's Amateur Hour
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tenspeed and Brownshoe
That 70's Show
That Girl (oy, I loved this show too: "Donald!")
That's Incredible
The A-Team
The Addams Family
The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.
addition: The Amazing Race
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Andy Griffith Show
The Arsenio Hall show
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Bill Cosby Show
The Bob Newhart Show (only when drinking, Bob)
The Brady Bunch
The Cosby Show
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
The Critic
The Daily Show
The Dating Game
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ellen Show
The Flintstones
The Flip Wilson Show
The Flying Nun
The Friendly Giant
The Gumby Show
The Honeymooners
The Jackie Gleason Show
The Jeffersons
The Jetsons
The Jim Hensen Hour
The John Larroquette Show
The Lone Ranger
The Love Boat
The Magilla Gorilla show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mickey Mouse Club (original)
The Midnight Special
The Monkees
The Munsters
The Muppet Show
The New Detectives
The Newlywed Game
The Oblongs
The Odd Couple
The Phil Donahue Show
The Pink Panther
The Price Is Right
The Real Ghostbusters
The Ren and Stimpy Show
The Shari Lewis Show
The Simpsons
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
The Sonny and Cher Show
The Thundercats
The Tick
The Tracey Ullman Show
The Transformers
The Twilight Zone
The Waltons
The Wild Wild West
The Wonder Years
The Wonderful World of Disney
The Woody Woodpecker Show
The Yogi Bear Show
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse
Thicke of the night
Third Rock From The Sun
Three's Company
Tiny Toon Adventures
To Tell The Truth
Tom & Jerry
Underdog
Unsolved Mysteries
WKRP in Cincinnati
Wacky Races
Welcome Back Kotter
What's My Line?
Wheel of Fortune
Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Who's Line Is It Anyway (I prefer the British version)
addition: Wide World of Sports
Wild Kingdom
X-Files
X-Men
Zoom (original)
¡Villa Allegre!

I've spent way too much time in front of the TV

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Hey, Soul Sister
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) The video was shot on a street corner in Echo Park in central Los Angeles. If you saw a film crew making a video in your neighborhood, would you stop to watch? Or would you just keep walking?

I'd probably know ahead of time and avoid the area like the plague. Not my circus.

2) The singer says he remembers his girl in every dream he dreams. Do you remember if you dreamed last night?

I'm pretty sure I did, but 15 hours after waking up I can't remember any shreds of them.

3) The band Train is from San Francisco. Have you ever visited The City by the Bay?

Yes, I've been there twice--once when I was about 17 and once about 18 months ago. I love that city, but it's very touristy.

4) Lead singer Pat Monahan got his start in a Led Zeppelin cover band. Can you name a Led Zeppelin song?

I'm not a fan, but it's hard to avoid "Stairway to Heaven."

5) In doing research for this week's Saturday 9, Crazy Sam discovered a publication called Trains, The Magazine of Railroading. What's the last magazine you flipped through?

hah! Two of my family members subscribe to this magazine! I think the last magazine I touched was Consumer Reports, but whether it was at home or at work, I couldn't tell you.

6) Do you consider yourself a leader or a follower?

A bit of both, really, hopefully at the appropriate times.

7) Scholars tell us that "To be or not to be" is Shakespeare's most quoted line. Give us another one.

"What a piece of work is man, how noble in reason,
how infinite in faculties, in form and moving,
how express and admirable in action, how like an angel in apprehension,
how like a god!"

8) How do you listen to music on the go? Car radio? CD changer? iPod/mp3 player? Your phone?

I don't, really. When I have to listen to music, I turn on Sirius XM, but it isn't that often. I used Spotify at work.

9) Are you a convincing liar?

Apparently so.

Mundane

(Link at left)
So, what are your top 5 shows?
1. CSI
2. Survivor
3. The Amazing Race
4. Dirty Jobs
5. Mythbusters

If we disallow current shows, here's the list:
1. My So-Called Life
2. Monty Python's Flying Circus
3. Hill Street Blues
4. Bewitched
5. MASH

Unconscious Mutterings x3

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Pleasure :: Pain
2. Emoticon :: Emoji
3. Race :: Creed
4. Highlight :: Yellow
5. 56 :: 7x8
6. Error :: Mistake
7. Taken :: Stolen
8. Street food :: Gyros
9. Common sense :: Street wisdom
10. Grace :: Hope

1. Buff :: Nails
2. Spiderwebs :: Abandoned
3. Hostile :: Enemy
4. Viewed :: Seen
5. Cross :: Crabby
6. Load :: Laundry
7. Reboot :: Crash
8. Smell :: Sniff
9. Sniffle :: Allergies
10. Company :: Visitors

1. Deep dive :: Scuba
2. Puppies :: Kittens
3. Bow :: ... tie
4. Clown :: Circus
5. Fresh! :: New!
6. Munch :: .... we used to have a restaurant here by that name--it was delicious, but apparently its business plan sucked, and they closed...
7. Jack :: ... and Jill
8. Boiled :: Cooked
9. Elected :: Chosen
10. Book club :: Reading

Tagged

I was tagged by Kwizgiver for this.

Of course there are rules: answer the questions, tag 5 people and then go off on your travels to their hometowns. The hard part is that you can only give one answer for each of the questions. No ties. This could take awhile.

In fact, I'm stymied on several of them for my "hometown" (where I grew up), so I'm going to go with Milwaukee, which is not where I live, but I know it best. My current locale...I'll put those answers [in brackets], with no links and intentionally unnamed.
{Rules? Make 'em up as you go, in other words!}

Best place to eat. Mama Mia's. It's a local franchise, and they have the best garlic bread E V E R! Huge-ola, Milwaukee-sized servings of pasta. We lived near one restaurant for two years and ate there all the time, and still I never got tired of it. I think I need a road trip.
[The Mill, mostly because of the waitress and the 'decor']

Best shopping mall. Gotta be Grand Avenue. It's just sorta funky, for Milwaukee.
[I'm laughing. Mall? Hah!!! I live in a town that is still mostly rural. There is a new mall near where I go for DbD, so that's good, but I don't know the name of it. It's certainly not in the town where I live, and not where I work either.]

Famous landmark. I'm going with the Allen-Bradley clock because everything else is too hard to explain to non-M'wakeeans. There really isn't much in the way of landmarks; the only other one I thought of is next.
[uh....the stage theater in the center of town, I guess.]

Best tourism attraction. The art museum. The building architecture alone is worth the trip!
[Unfortunately, the only real tourism we get is either people escaping from The City, or people who have something deeply wrong with them who want to visit the site where a cult-movie-favorite was filmed.]

Best place for kids. Well, I was going to say the Circus Parade, but it seems to have been cancelled. So, I'm including this as a bid to bring it back. The Milwaukee County Zoo is one of the best zoos I've ever visited. Never bores me, and brings back loads of fun memories.
[Playing in parks, playing in yards...being a little kid around here is awesome! Not so much for the older kids, though.]

Popular outdoor activity. Summerfest. And all the other "fests" throughout the summer. If you like good music and lots of food, served with an ethnic twist for most of the summer, this is for you!
[Weekly band concerts in the town center in the summer. I think they've done this now for something like 75 years in a row. Pretty awesome. People bring potluck and eat and chat and enjoy the bugs...er, summer evenings.]

Breathtaking view. The Lake Michigan shoreline at night is amazing. Simply wonderful.
[Uh. Cornfields stretching to the horizon....? In my case, in the fall it's literally breathtaking!]

Only found here. Dolly Parton-meets-radiation-poisoning. It's an in-joke, but this photo gives you a sense of why we call it that.
[A parade in honor of a famous dude in a yellow hat.]

As for tagging...if you read this and feel compelled to join in, go nuts! No pressure, no foul, no bad feelings.... Have fun.

Issues

(from here)

FAITH
1. What religion do you follow? Christianity.
2. What religion were you raised as? Christianity.
3. Do you believe that forgiveness is a religious property, or a human property? Huh? Both.
4. Do you believe in magic? No. I believe there are things we don't understand that look pretty amazing and miraculous.
5. What was the last promise you broke? "I'll call you."
6. Have you ever said the words to a prayer and not meant it? Yes.
7. Do you believe that anyone could be perfect? No humans. Not 100% of the time.

HOPE
1. Did you get everything you wanted over the last holiday season? Pretty much.
2. Regarding your future, what is the best thing you could hope for? Contentment. Well, actually, joy.
3. Do you let yourself get your hopes up for something even if you know that there is a large chance of failure? I have become very adept at discouraging myself to avoid disappointment.
4. Have you ever bought a lottery ticket? I went in on one with three other people about 20 years ago.
5. Do you gamble? Very rarely. I'll spend a little in casinos, but it's just not fun for extended periods. For me.
6. Have you ever had something called off on account of bad weather, but then gone ahead and done it anyway? There have been many days when I chose not to go to work because of the weather but then eventually went out in it after all.

CHARITY
1. What causes do you support? Habitat, Heifer Project, and PCUSA stuff. Also, Katrina relief.
2. What causes have you given money or time to? See above. Same things.
3. Have you ever worked in a soup kitchen or done another kind of outreach for the homeless? Yes. We'll be doing that in April and also in June.
4. Would you ever consider joining the Peace Corps, Amnesty International, or another travel-inherent worldwide charity group? My bro-in-law works with AI and doesn't really travel for it. I wouldn't do this at this point in my life. I would have considered it when younger, i.e. before Sparky.
5. Do you give money to the homeless on the street? Nope.
6. Have you ever helped out a friend with basic needs, like rent or food? Kind of.
7. What's the greatest extent you've gone to help a friend in need? I have very Protestant friends: they don't tend to ask for help until conditions are dire.

FORTITUDE
1. What are you most afraid of? Failure and so forth.
2. What did you do today that was really brave? ...don't think today was Bravery Day... I guess the best I can come up with is asking Beast if he'd called in while he was still asleep.
3. Who is your favorite super hero, and why? Wonder Woman.
4. Would you put your life in danger to rescue someone? It could happen.
5. If you were to face the Wizard of Oz, would you want more courage, more brains, or more heart? More courage...and to go home.
6. Have you ever gotten stage fright? Not for a long long time.
7. Do you consider yourself to be a leader or a follower? Both, depending on the situation.

JUSTICE
1. Have you ever been summoned for jury duty? Yup. I've served twice.
2. If they reinstituted the draft (for both genders), would you go, or would find some way out of it? There's no way I'd be drafted at this point in my life (thank God), but I'd move or find a way to keep Sparky from being drafted.
3. Do you support capital punishment (the death penalty)? Nope.
4. Which should be guaranteed legal: If I'm understanding the question, I think we should legalize pot.
5. Do you believe that Dubya is rightfully President of the USA? No.
6. What was your favorite media circus trial? I don't think this is particularly something I would choose as a favorite. I just don't think there needs to be such a nightmare of reportage around a trial.

TEMPERANCE
1. What do you have the hardest time moderating yourself on? Sugar. Food in general.
2. Do you collect anything? S&Ps and books. The latter is more of a case of accruing than collecting, though.
3. Are you addicted to anything? Blogging...well, the internet.
4. Have you ever put anything on layaway or used an installment plan? Never.
5. What's your preferred method of paying for things? Cash.
6. Tell us one thing you wish you hadn't let yourself do: Be talked into wearing a bridesmaid dress at my age!
7. Do you feel that you obsess over things? Sometimes. hah

PRUDENCE
1. Who is the wisest person you know? I know a lot of people who are wise in different ways.
2. Have you ever participated in a vigil? Uh...yeah, I think so.
3. Do you take advice when it's given? Only if I've asked, or if it's pertinent.
4. What area are you wisest in? Parenting...except the stuff that makes me nuts. ;-)
5. Do you drive defensively? Mostly.
6. Have you ever had unprotected sex outside of marriage? Define 'sex.'
7. What did you learn today? That Sparky can register for summer school--Driver's Ed--starting next week.

WRATH
Sworn at your parents? Yes. Got slapped for my trouble.
Hated them? Uh, yeah, but not for decades.
Been furious with a friend? Well, yeah!
Angry at someone for no reason? Nooo, I'd need a reason, I think. It may take some time to uncover....
Hated a friend? Didn't we cover this...?
Held a grudge? Yes. I'm good at this in some areas.
Sought revenge? No. I totally suck at this.
Yelled at a friend? Yes.
Hit a wall in rage? No, I don't crave pain.

GREED
Had desire for excess money? "Excess" no. "More" yes.
Wanted more of something when you had enough? ALL the time!
Kept to yourself instead of sharing? This was a sign that I needed to stop buying sugar cookies a couple of weeks ago.
Wanted more than you have? Sometimes.

PRIDE
Bragged to someone? Yes. Not so much for myself, but I brag a lot on others' accomplishments.
Had an ego trip? Yes.
Felt better than those around you? But I AM!
Felt "too good" to do something? Nope.
Felt like you didn't need offered help? I have, but I'm reaching the age when I consider the concept that it's sometimes a gift to accept help when it is offered.
Talked about yourself too much? Welcome to my blogs.
Basked in your accomplishments? Not often.
Felt like nobody was as good as you? Not often.

ENVY
Wanted something a friend owned? Once in awhile.
Felt jealous of a friend's talents? Yes.
Felt envious of someones accomplishments? Sometimes.
Or of their grades? Not recently. hee
Or their salary and or amount of cash? Sometimes.
What about someone else's clothes? Yeah, once in awhile.
Appearance or looks? REGULARLY.

LUST
Ever liked a friend's bf/gf? Yes.
Had dirty thoughts of someone you weren't dating? Of course, though I wouldn't necessarily describe them as 'dirty.'
Been in a suggestive situation with a friend? Yes.
If so, whom? Beast...and several people I've not mentioned here.
Had dirty thoughts of your bf/gf? Well...DUH!
Been to 1st base? Yes.
2nd? Yes.
3rd? Yes.
4th? Yes.

SLOTH
Put off a huge project till the last day? I do this constantly. I should see a psychologist about why I can't work ahead.
Planned your day but not acted upon it? There's always something I don't get to.
Thought of something but didn't feel like doing it? Well, yeah.
Ignored homework in a class you're failing? I've never come anywhere near failing a class...ever.
Told yourself "I'll do it later"? About 20 times a day.
Slept in past noon? Yes. Not recently.
Sat on the sofa for hours on a beautiful day? Yes. Allergies bite.
Not wanted to do anything physical? Yeah.

GLUTTONY
Pigged out? Regularly.
Till your stomach hurt? I have but not recently.
Blown your paycheck in one day? Kinda.
Wasted your money? Yeah.
Spent a lot on yourself but not others? Once in awhile.
Hogged something? The laptop, regularly.
Kept doing something even though you told yourself to stop? Yes, but not now.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Games :: Fun and...
2. Fame :: Celebrity
3. Construct :: Build
4. Pants :: Trousers
5. Outlier :: Weirdo
6. Column :: Parade
7. Circus :: ...Maximus
8. Remedy :: Cure
9. Other :: Else
10. Outlet :: ...mall

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Nerd Alert Meme

1. Favorite childhood book?

Depends what age we're talking about. I read a lot as a kid, probably 20 picture books a week up to 2-3 novels each week as I got older. Even in high school, I read at least a book a week, speaking conservatively. So...The Little House, the Laura books, and the Narnia books are up there on the list, along with Alice in Wonderland and a bunch of others I'm not remembering right now. Oh! Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and Pippi Longstocking!

2. What are you reading right now?

The Language of Houses, Written in My Own Heart's Blood on CD, Committed to Christ, The Language Hoax, I Am Number Four on ebook, Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006, Things That Go Bump in the Church on ebook, and probably a couple of others I can't remember.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

What We See When We Read, Midnight Crossroad on ebook, The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries, and Night of the White Buffalo. I've got some lists I'm working off of, but that's what's actually on hold tonight.

4. Bad book habit?

I read in the bathroom: in the tub, while brushing my teeth and flossing, whatever. Books tend to get wet in that room. I also dog-ear books, usually just those I own, though.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Everything listed above in #2 except Committed to Christ which we're reading for church/Bible Study. Also checked out currently: Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country, A Fine Romance: Falling in Love With the English Countryside and Case Histories on ebook. And The Bridge, Season 1 (American version) on DVD.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

Yes. I have the newest version of the Nook.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

Uhm, let's see if you can figure that out, yo....

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

Yes, I read a bit less, and my 'reviews' have gotten briefer.

9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far)?

I was disappointed in the biography of Bob Fosse that came out last winter. Boring. How can a book about Fosse be boring?? I didn't get past his college-aged years. And easily the worst book I read--as in finished--was Hometown Revelations which desperately needed an editor, an organized mind, and someone to finish the research.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

The Night Circus was wonderful. Heads in Beds made me laugh, and feel more than vaguely uncomfortable about hotels. The Interestings was almost as good as its word-of-mouth, and so was The Book Thief. I loved The Likeness and Shotgun Lovesongs both for the same reason: the author puts you THERE in the location and mindset of the characters. And that's just the first half of the year!

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

I try to read lots of different kinds of books, but I will admit that hard science and what I call "metal" science fiction (all about machinery and ships and fighting) enthuses me not at all. My comfort zone is pretty wide though: biographies, mysteries, literary fiction, history, teen books, essays, "soft" science, religion, speculative fiction, picture books, suspense, humor, sociology, art history

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

Oops, see above.

13. Can you read on the bus?

I can, but only if I look up often or I'm far away from windows. Reading in the car is absolutely not happening. Motion sickness is me.

14. Favorite place to read?

In bed. But really...anywhere, except inside a moving car.

15. What is your policy on book lending?

I don't really own enough books that people want to borrow, but in general my theory is that books are meant to be read, so I would give the books to people who wanted to read them...without a strong expectation of their return.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

Yes. Often. Sue me, ok?

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

I do. Not as often as I might like, definitely not as often as I used to.

18. Not even with text books?

Oh, those I wrote ALL OVER!

19. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

I can't believe, even 30 years later, how much I enjoyed Crime and Punishment in college!

20. What makes you love a book?

Plot. Characterization. Well-written sentences, paragraphs, chapters. I like when the author doesn't waste my time--Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy, I'm looking at you, you giNORmous wasters of space! (When these two are good, they are very good, but they are often just Wordy McWordsters.) I don't like Hemingway, but I appreciate his pared-down style. What I love about the books I love is that I'm somehow INSIDE the book, making the same discoveries and seeing the same things as the characters, and yet aware of things they aren't because of the skills of the author.

Sunday Stealing x 2

(Link in meme-roll)
Never Have I Ever

1. Have you ever had chicken pox?

I had the chicken pox when I was in Kindergarten during one of the worst snowstorms of my childhood. It was so bad it was literally the only time I ever remember losing power in the house for multiple days. What this meant was being buried in heavy, itchy wool blankets on the couch while being instructed not to scratch the itches.

2. Have you ever shopped in Home Depot?

I have, quite often. I sort of feel like I need to switch loyalties to Lowes now that my brother works there, but HD is much nearer!

3. Have you ever spied on your neighbors?

Only from my front porch or the street. I do enjoy driving around in winter--during Christmas light season--peering in people's windows from my car but I never have felt the urge to peep.

4. Have you ever ridden in a limo?

Yup. I think that time of my life is over now though.

5. Have you ever had a pet fish?

I seem to recall bringing a fish home from a school carnival at some point, though I have no memory whatsoever of what happened afterward if I did.

6. Have you ever lied about your age?

When I was just under the legal age to drink, I did a few times. The "problem" is that when I was 18, the drinking age where I was was 18. They raised it to 19 weeks before I turned 19, and then in two years they raised it to 21 not too long before I turned 21. So, I never really had to lie. I've never been carded and rejected. My life is so hard!

7. Have you ever fired a gun?

Not a real gun. I had a cap-gun as a kid though. Loved that pistol!

8. Have you ever been ice skating?

Yes, once. I do not like falling down and I'm not at all graceful, so it really wasn't much fun.

9. Have you ever played golf?

Yup. I didn't suck.

10. Have you ever hidden on Halloween because you had no candy for trick or treaters?

Of course! When the candy is gone, it's gone.

11. Have you ever made a prank call?

Oh, dear, I spent some quality time doing weird phone tricks and calling people when I was 11 or 12. That was back in the day when you could actually dial your own number, hang up real fast, and the phone would ring and "connect" you with "yourself." And good old running refrigerators. ;-)

12. Have you ever gotten a tattoo?

Nope. Not interested. I tend to appreciate scars more than tats.

13. Have you ever had a massage?

For several years, I was getting a massage every month. That time in my life is probably over as well.

14. Have you ever locked your keys in the car?

All . The . Damned . Time . Seriously, I was never so glad to start driving a car as I was when I got my Ford Edge with the numerical door lock. I have not gone more than 3 months without having to use it to rescue my keys in the past 2-3 years!

15. Have you ever ridden a horse?

Yup. I would like to do it again, though I was fairly terrified.

16. Have you ever been to the circus?

Yes. Twice in America and once in Russia. I preferred the Russian one.

17. Have you ever been to Europe?

A few times. Right now, all other things being equal and assuming I could get a good job, I'd move to England in less than a heartbeat.

18. Have you ever built a fire?

Yes. Not too badly, either.

19. Have you ever been skydiving?

No, and I think it would be silly to start now. I'd probably kill myself. I've always wanted to, though, and one of our regular long-time patrons at the library took herself skydiving for her 70th birthday this summer. I was seriously impressed; she is quite retiring and quiet and sort of nervous. Props to her!

20. Have you ever bought something at a garage sale?

Yes, but not for a VERY long time!

21. Have you ever walked in on someone having sex?

Seems like that should have happened at least once in college, but I must have suppressed the memory.

22. Have you ever faked an injury to get out of something?

Of course. It's really been more of a case of playing up minor injuries/illnesses than total fabrication.

23. Have you ever been to a nude beach?

This is something I fear happening by accident, not something I'd do on purpose!!

24. Have you ever received a speeding ticket?

I have, indeed.

25. Have you ever run a marathon?

I've run INTO a Marathon (gas station), but I can't run from the house to the street so a marathon is not likely anytime soon.

Today is a Fashion Show

1. A way to win your heart

Tell me funny stories about yourself and make faces with/at little kids in public.

2. Something you feel strongly about

Donald Trump is a twat. [be assured that I do not use that last word lightly--I find it extremely offensive, and use it here only because what I want to call him is a word I simply cannot bring myself to type]

3. A book you love

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As an adult, I have found comfort in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

4. Five pet peeves

1. Loud talkers in places that really ought to be quiet (like hospital waiting rooms).
2. Entitled people of any age over about 5; the younger the age, the more forgiving I am.
3. Days when I hit every M-F'in light red, or I'm behind someone who refuses to speed up on a stale green.
4. Pennies.
5. Having to be a grown-up when all I want to do is be age 8 again.

5. What you ate today

Two breakfast burritos from McDonald's and diet coke. A cherry danish. A Quarter-Pounder, fries and another diet coke. A corner piece of day-old birthday cake. Half a can (so far) of diet Dr. Pepper, a hoagie roll with margarine and two Pop-Tarts. Don't judge me.

6. How important do you think education is?

Vital.

7. Five people you find attractive

Mike Tomlin.
Ryan Reynolds.
Sandra Bullock.
Helen Mirren.
Shemar Moore. (I mean, really!)

8. What you wore today

Gray clam-diggers, purple T-shirt, underwear, crocs sandles, and my "Care Team" ID tag.

9. Something you always think “what if” about

I really don't do this; I mean, there's literally nothing I can change about the past, so why worry about it. It can be a fun game, but it can bite you in the ass too.

10. Something you’re proud of

Sparky, though I can only take partial credit there. My career and my serenity; those are ALL on me, with a lot of help from my friends.

11. Something you lust after

Sleep.

12. A word/phrase that makes you laugh

There's a part in our readings at meetings that cracks me up every time we get together: "[12-step program], as such, ought never be organized..." Now THERE is an organization that is perfect for me!!

13. A quote you try to live by

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

14. Something you like and dislike about yourself.

I like that I don't get hysterical very often. I dislike that I feel guilty about everything.

15. A problem that you have had

Making myself do things BEFORE they are due. I hate how much I procrastinate myself into boxes.

Patrick's Place

(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.'

Thursday Thunks

(Link in blogroll)
Dying, Buying, Eating, & More

1. A 90 year old man's dying wish in South Carolina was to be buried in his car. Link If you were told tomorrow you have 3 weeks to live, would you have any dying wishes or something special done before you died?

It would emphatically NOT involve my burial. I'm totally getting cremated. But the last three weeks would involve a lot of phone calls, letter-writing, talking...

2. Do you pay for more stuff using a credit/debit card or cold hard cash?

Cashhhh.

3. What's cuter- a baby lizard or a baby snake?

Lizard.

4. You go out to eat by yourself at a restaurant. While waiting for your food, do you people watch & easedrop [sic] on others conversations, read a book, use a laptop or chat with people around you?

Eavesdrop or read. I don't really take my laptop out that often, and unless I'm here in town I'm unlikely to engage in conversation.

5. If you see someone walking around with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, do you tell them or just laugh?

Tell 'em.

6. You are talking to someone you just met but you can't understand them at all because of their accent. Do you tell them you can't understand them or just smile and nod?

Oh, I tell 'em. Great story there, but suffice to say that I'm no longer shy about saying, "I didn't understand you; can you repeat that please?"

7. Mudfest! Park filled with pools of mud and an obstacle course of mud. Do you go and play in the mud?

Hell no. Yuck. I have a healthy fear of losing or ruining my glasses, which is a major consideration.

8. Have you ever had a headache so bad it eaffected your vision?

Yup. Fairly regularly.

9. Would you fit in more with the circus, Hollywood, Broadway, or comedy circuit types?

Unfortunately, I'm gonna be on the comedy circuit, I think.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
TV Meme, part two

16. Talk Shows. Do you watch daytime talk TV? If so, do you prefer the calm shows like Oprah or the wilder side like Jerry Springer?

I used to watch it. I got hooked with Phil Donahue and transitioned to Oprah. I also watched Sally until she went off the rails. Once it turned into a circus, I stopped watching any of them. I got tired of Oprah preaching and the others showing me all the bad, crazy stuff. I have watched The View occasionally, but they're a little overwhelming, and the young dingbat [I know her name but really don't need her fans finding my blog] needs to have duct tape over her mouth. Hated her on Survivor, and she got worse when she started getting paid to talk.

17. Which daytime talk TV show would you like to be on? What would the topic be?

I would run SCREAMING the other way!

18. Before talk TV took over, game shows ruled the airways during the day; which do you prefer? Or are you a soap opera fan?

I loved Match Game, way before I understood the dirty jokes. I liked Card Sharks, Concentration, The Dating Game, Jeopardy, Jokers Wild, The Newlywed Game...really all of them. Except The Price is Right; I don't understand the attraction of knowing the price of everything. As for soaps, I watched GH for awhile in high school. My roommate was way into DOOL in college, as was everyone else (except me) in the 80s.

19. Is there a game show (past or present) you think you would do really well on, as a contestant?

I'd've done great on Match Game, without knowing why, and I'd probably do ok on Jeopardy. Wheel of Fortune too, but I'd HATE to be seen on that show.

20. Who is your favorite game show host? Who is your least favorite?

I liked them all. They all had perfect hair and smiles. OK, seriously: Chuck Woolery FTW. Or Bill Cullen, because he was so old he clearly didn't care and was mildly demented.

21. Marathons. Have you watched any TV marathons? In part? In whole? Is there a show you’d like to see run an all day marathon? On the flipside is there a show you’d avoid in marathon?

I wouldn't sit down and just watch any show all day straight through; I do have a life, after all. But I've caught parts of many marathons, mostly cop shows. I would avoid most sitcoms, but might actually schedule my life around a full-run M*A*S*H marathon; it would be weird to see everyone 'growing up.'

22. Out of curiosity, what’s the longest you’ve ever watched TV in one stretch?

The TV is always on when Beast is in the house. I "watch" with the laptop on my lap almost exclusively, regardless of what's on TV because I can't stand just staring at the box. So, on days when I'm not feeling great and Beast is home, I "watch" all day, literally from sun-up past sun-down.

23. On the whole do you feel most Special Reports are really that special? Or are they simply annoying? What special report has affected you most? (i.e., 9/11, Reagan being shot…etc.)

There's definitely been some 'creep' of "Special"-ness over the years, but generally I think the networks get it right. Watching the Challenger blow up 6000 times back in the 80s was pretty earth-shattering for me, as was watching the plane fly into the WTC at least that many times. Mind-numbing, and not in a good way. I actually couldn't watch either of those clips the day they happened: my eyes kept shutting. I also don't think I'll ever forget the kid dropping out of Columbine High School's library window into the arms of a couple of Emergency Responders. I didn't see that over and over, but it's etched in my brain.

24. What is the (pick one: stupidest, saddest, silliest, most disgusting..) thing you’ve ever seen on TV?

I think Cops takes the cake in almost all of those categories. Pick an episode, any episode....

25. What’s your fondest memory of something on TV?

I adored Romper Room and the local show, Noell and Andy, that was on in the mornings in Denver. I didn't really like Blinky's Fun Club--Blinky disturbed me a bit--but I like N&A's drawing contest. Scratch that: I loved watching her draw on camera....ANYWAY...I loved getting up to watch Diana & Charles' wedding (and decades later, Kate and William's).

26. What’s the first show you remember watching regularly?

Noell and Andy is now stuck in my head (I couldn't remember the name of it, so I've spent a good half-hour digging around and am now mentally back to being about 7). My brother and I used to watch The Monkees together, too. And Flipper just popped into my head suddenly.

27. What shows would make up a perfect night of TV viewing for you?

A little SVU, a little NCIS and a little Criminal Intent, maybe with some Dr. G. to tie things up.

28. You get to create one show to put on the schedule, with any stars you choose. Who and what would it be?

Y'know, they actually PAY people to do this, and none of those people is me, so...moving on.

29. Canceling or Not. What show(s) would you cancel without a moment’s hesitation? Is there a show (previously canceled or just no longer airing) that you’d bring back, original cast and all?

Virtually every sitcom on network TV should go. So much awfulness. Bringing back Emergency! for a reunion would be fun, if creaky. And half the cast is dead....

30. What’s the best series finale you remember?

Doesn't M*A*S*H have to win this?? I think it's required. Although the later Bob Newhart Show might come in close second.