Monday, January 30, 2006
Manic Monday
Lots and lots of things. I tend to get, uhm, passionate about several things every week. Probably the one that sets me off fastest with the biggest growth potential (all the way to "seeing red") is being ignored/patronized/condescended to/disrespected.
I understand why it sets me off: as the youngest of 5 kids, I'm used to getting treated like an infant. Being female tends to bring out the condescension from some men. Having a kid the age of mine also means he can be extraordinarily rude and pissy which sets me off.
Then again, I know I have a predisposition toward anger. Early teaching, family background, etc.
Curious
What one thing always speaks deeply to you, to your spirit, no matter your mood or what else is going on in your life?
The mountains, especially if I'm alone hiking or climbing in a light breeze. Even being the presence of mountains eases my soul. It's wrenching to come back to Flatland after a visit.
Unconscious Mutterings
Sunday Seven
List up to seven sounds that make you happy or relax you.
1. Rain (no wind, just rain)
2. Happy kids, especially mine (giggles destroy me)
3. Guinea pig chitters
4. Family talk around the dinner table (like at Thanksgiving)
5. Gospel music
6. Pencil scratching on paper
7. Silence
(Sparky says, "Moo?" when I asked him for ideas.)
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Saturday 6
1. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
I had to think about this...duh...that would be Beast, last September. And last July.
2. How many jobs have you held in your life? How many of those were part of your chosen career field?
I'm counting all the babysitting I did as one job, as well as my work with the temp agency; it's too complicated otherwise. Total jobs, then: 9, I think. If you count the time as a shelver at my library when I was a teen, then four of them were career-related.
3. Of those, how many did you leave voluntarily?
Uhm, two. One I'm still working at, the other was a "mutually-agreed-upon" departure.
4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What animal were you in a past life?
| You Were A Lion |
You have a lethal combination of strength and energy. You have strong family ties, and close friends are like family to you. |
Oddly enough, I got a different answer the last time I took this quiz.
5. What animal were you expecting you'd be?
Certainly not this! Not feeling strong or energetic right now. The rest is pretty accurate, though.
Tarot
| You Are The High Priestess |
You represent mystery - secrets that are yet to be revealed. You find yourself sitting between two worlds: one dark, one light. You tend to hold these two worlds in balance, reconciling the two. Open and welcoming, you invite others to learn your secrets. Your fortune: Something hidden, or latent, in your life is about to come forward. You need to pay more attention to your dreams, thoughts, intuition, and imagination. And if that involves tapping into your dark side, it will all balance out in the end. You have a lot of potential dying to be unleashed, so let those gates open! |
Oy, so totally bogus.
Architecture
Your house tells the world that you ought to be a leader. You are a freedom lover and a strong person. You are shy and reserved. If you've drawn a cross on each of windows, you always want to live alone. You are very tidy person. There's nothing wrong with that because you're pretty popular among friends. Your life is always full of changes.Like Shelly, I think they're reading a little much into the fact that I can't draw online worth a flip.
You will avoid being alone and seek the company of others whenever possible. You love excitement and create it wherever you go. You have a strong personality and you like to command, influence and control people.
You are not a romantic person by nature. It also safe to say that others don't see you as a flirt. You don't think much about yourself.
Friday Fiver
1. Age?
42
2. Sex?
Yes.
I mean, female.
3. Location?
Midwestern United States
4. Single?
Married
5. How long have you been doing the fridayfiver?
Looks like the first time I did it was March 4, 2005. Consistently, though, only since about October.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Portrait
| Who Should Paint You: Salvador Dali |
You're a complex, intense creature who displays many layers. There's no way a traditional portrait could ever capture you! |
Oh, perfect. I actually LOVE Dali, but ... well, jeez. I could be pictured as a melting clock!
?otd
What is underneath your bed?
Socks. Lots and lots of sox. That's where I keep them (in a plastic bin). Have done for years, since I ran out of room in my dresser. There are also probably a couple of loose pages of crosswords and some cough drop wrappers. And dust.
If you could take the train from anywhere to anywhere, where would 'anywhere' be?
There is a college-age joke there, but I'm taking the high road (for a change).
Uhm, I like train rides, but not so much on Amtrak. I think I'd probably take a European train, the kind with compartments and berths. Perhaps Florence to Zurich, since the last time I did that route, I had to sit on the floor of the area just inside the outside steps...in January. I was tired, hungry, cold, homesick, thirsty. And the restroom was right there too, so it wasn't smelling too nice.
Yeah, I'd like to do this route properly, with a berth. Maybe continue the trip through Paris and up to Amsterdam, too.
If I have to stay state-side, I'd do Amtrak from Denver to San Francisco.
Friday's Feast
Appetizer
Choose one: Popcorn, Pizza, Pretzels, Peanuts, or Pasta.
I like them all about evenly. I guess, uhm, I'd choose, er, not pretzels....ok, Pasta.
Soup
Describe your personality in terms of a particular vehicle.
Wow. Uhm, I guess I'm like a 15-year-old Jeep: a little rusty around the edges, battered, muddy and tired, but still ready for a good steep climb up to Camp Bird and beyond.
Salad
If you won a shopping spree, from which store would you want it to be?
I'm not that fussy. Kohl's, or Target, or Ikea, or (hey!) a furniture store!
Main Course
Which television show re-runs do you enjoy watching?
I used to love "Gilligan's Island" and "Bewitched" but now I'm sort of hooked on "CSI" on SpikeTV.
Dessert
If you could look into the future, how far down the road would you like to see? 10 years? 100 years? A million?
I probably wouldn't look. If I had to look, I guess I'd pick at least 100 years so I wouldn't know anyone.
Friday Five
1. First time you cooked for someone else?
Outside of immediate family: I made mac n cheese for Beast in the basement of his dorm (that's where the kitchen was) our senior year.
2. First time you threw up in someone else's toilet?
I threw up at school once when I was about 10. Does that count? There were innumberable sessions in the bathroom in college.
3. First time you did anything illegal?
Hmmm, anything?? I stole some Tic-Tacs when I was around 12, I guess.
4. First time you saw snow/the ocean (whichever is more exotic)?
I grew up in Colorado. I think the first time I saw the ocean was in San Diego when I was about 13. As far as I was concerned it was pretty boring. I still haven't seen the Atlantic, from this side anyway (I saw it in England at about 18).
5. First thought when I say "crumple-horned snorcack"?
WTF? Followed by, "Must be something out of a fantasy novel."
Five on Friday
1. What is your favorite beverage? Why?
Diet Dr. Pepper. It tastes good.
2. Your preference: Tea, coffee, or hot cocoa?
Tea.
3. Favorite thing to drink in the heat of summer?
If I'm really overheated, water. Otherwise, DP.
4. Worst beverage you've ever tasted?
Beer. Any kind.
5. How do you take your water: flavored, bottled, carbonated, or straight from the tap?
Generally out of the tap, or in a bottle if I'm in public.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Thursday Threesome
Onesome: eBay-- Is eBay your first stop when looking for something? ...or your last place to go when you cannot find it anywhere else? Do you even use it? ...and hey, have you scored anything choice there lately?
I don't think I've ever actually bought anything on eBay. I've browsed there on occasion, but I'm so not a collector. And it's just so much easier to hit the store than screw around looking for something that may not be there on eBay.Twosome: and-- while we're at it: if you did your shopping online for Christmas, how did it go? Did things come in on time? Any significant failures? ...and if you didn't, will you consider trying online shopping sometime this year?
I've had other Christmases where I did most of my shopping online. This year I shopped at my local bookstore primarily, and other in-town shops. Never had much trouble getting things on time, but this year I did (because I put off ordering special stuff till w-a-a-y too late).Threesome: PayPal-- Online shopping and services can be somewhat of an adventure; is PayPal your choice as a payment option or do you prefer another method. ...or do you shop locally or not at all?
See above about shopping locally. I've never used PayPal. My credit card is all I use, because I can put a stop on payment easier there than with my bank. And most places take credit cards over checks where I shop online.
Onesome: "Certainly-- is there anything in life you are "certain" about? Firm in your beliefs? Strong in your convictions? Tell us...
Pretty certain about my marriage, the existence of God, and mountains.Twosome: Worth-- what do you value? What people or projects are "worth your time"?
I value time. I value my family. I value intelligence. I value history. I value health.Threesome: the Drive-- and from where you live, can you "get" to places easily? Is it an event to drive to the store? Do you live in a metropolis where everything is close?
Everything is at least a 15 minute drive from the house. We live in a 'village' with one small grocery store about 3 blocks from us, and a small bank. That's the Business District. The nearest towns have a slightly higher level of service, but they aren't "metropolises." We can get to a Really Big City on in about 2 hours' time. Or a Pretty Big City in about an hour.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Weather
| You Are Sunshine |
Soothing and calm You are often held up by others as the ideal But too much of you, and they'll get burned You are best known for: your warmth Your dominant state: connecting |
I like sunshine. I'm not sure I am sunshine, except for the italicized bit.
I think I'd rather be "Wind." Or maybe "Lightning." ;-)
Hump Day
1. How many pets do you have? What species? Ages?For the folks without pets . . .
We have two guinea pigs of the short-hair variety, both boys. One is just about two-and-a-half, the other is just under two. They are father and son: Buddy and Cinnamon.
2. Do you know anyone who has a creepy/odd pet, like a spider or a hog?
Nothing that weird, but I do work with someone who owns a chinchilla.
3. What do pets mean to you?
This is a hard question. The best I can come up with is "comfort." The pets I like are the kind that you can hold, pet, and make funny faces at without fear of being snubbed or laughed at. And sometimes they make funny faces back at you....
4. Forget dressing your pets, let's talk about dressing yourself! What are your favorite items of clothing in your closet? What do you just HAVE to be wearing when you leave the house?
Jeans and sweatshirts are my favorite clothes. I always have earrings and underwear on before I leave the house (usually I have on outerwear as well!).
5. Think back when you were in high school. Are you proud of the way you dressed, or do you wish you could go back and change it all?
My mother would never let me wear jeans to school. I don't really remember what I wore in high school, but maybe by then the Jeans Ban had been lifted. I was in high school at the end of the 70s/beginning of the 80s, so I don't think "pride" enters into what I was wearing: wide-collar shirts and polyester? Nope. Really, I was just trying to fit in and not be noticed by anyone mean.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Smurf
| Slouchy Smurfling You are 38% Action Driven, 53% Interpersonal, 46% Street Smart, and 32% Artistic |
| This test measured 4 variables. First, this test measured if you place a higher value on words or actions. Both have their own advantages. For instance a skilled negotiator and a skilled firefighter both save lives. Second, this test compared your intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences. Simply put intrapersonal intelligence means you understand yourself, while interpersonal intelligence means you understand others. Third, this test measured if you are more book smart or street smart. Book smart people may be more interested in a variety of topics, while street smart people focus on the most relevant information. Smurfette is very street smart, while Poet Smurf is not. Fourth, this test measured if you prefer an artistic or functional approach to life. Artistic people may concentrate more on details and ambiance, while functional people focus on if it works. In this case Vanity Smurf would be considered Artistic while Hefty Smurf just wants to lift stuff up. You are less action driven, more interpersonal, more book smart, and less artistic. You may not actually act slouchy, so let's find out why Slouchy Smurfling is still the right one for you! Slouchy Smurfling is not a big fan of action. That might be surprising for a young smurf, but he used to be old (his aging process was reversed). I'm sure you aren't as indifferent as he is, but you understand that words can often be more effective than force. Your high interpersonal intelligence suggests you know other people pretty well. Slouchy also gets along well with others, and plays in the Smurf band. He just likes to take it easy too. You probably are more comfortable learning about something new instead of jumping right into it. You differ a bit from Slouchy Smurfling, in that you do enjoy the process of learning it. Still, while you both may appreciate art, you aren't going to go along with something that doesn't make sense to you. The 16 possible smurf categories are... Lazy Smurf, Slouchy Smurfling, Hefty Smurf, Papa Smurf, Jokey Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, Sassette Smurfling, Grandpa Smurf, Handy Smurf, Dreamy Smurf, Painter Smurf, Poet Smurf, Baker Smurf, Vanity Smurf, Smurfette, Tailor Smurf Well we can't all be Papa Smurf or Smurfette, but I hope you enjoyed this test. Positive feedback is always appreciated. Thanks! |
| Link: The Smurf Personality Test written by greencowsgomoo on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
Would now be a good time to mention that I've never actually watched an episode of the Smurfs? Still, the description seems pretty on-target.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
?otd
1. Lee jeans, with disintegrating hems in the legs
2. My blue Minnetonka mocs
3. The grey sweater I wore today
College
You scored as English. You should be an English major! Your passion lies in writing and expressing yourself creatively, and you hate it when you are inhibited from doing so. Pursue that interest of yours!
What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3) created with QuizFarm.com |
I minored in English.
My majors (Communications and History) aren't even on the list. Neither is my other minor (Spanish). Neither is my other degree (library stuff).
Would I major in English? Not if it meant reading much "classic" American literature!
Saturday Six
1. Do any of your friends, family or co-workers know about your blogs? For those that do, did you tell them or have they stumbled upon it by themselves?
Several of my friends know about my "main" blog. Two "voices from the past" have discovered my blog because I mentioned them by first-and-last-name. I don't do that anymore. (hah!) It was good to hear from them, though.
Some people know about all my blogs, some know about just the one, some know about a few of them and not the others. I don't think anyone has found me besides those two guys from high school...at least they haven't contacted me!
2. How did you come up with the title of your blogs?
My first blog was just something about books; I can't remember what it was. My second (main) blog was to separate the books from the rest of my life, and it began as "Sweet Dreams." Then I started this blog, so "Sweet Memes" was a play on the other title. Since then, I've retitled the Dreams blog, and the others have just mutated from there.
3. Do you prefer to have many projects going on at once or do you prefer multitasking?
Isn't this the same thing?? Multitasking is doing a bunch of projects at once. And yes, I prefer that. Sometimes. Except when I don't.
4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What high school stereotype are you?
I'm dying with laughter--One of the questions is this:
It's finally Sunday. I'm...
a) role-playing.
b) in my room. Alone. With a sharp object.
c) watching football with my friends.
d) wait.. I know this one... forty-two!
e) plotting the destruction of the human race.
f) with my newest boyfriend/girlfriend.
g) at church, of course.
The answer, of course, is D!
But, my answer for the quiz as a whole (as I was in high school) is:
Take the What High School Stereotype Are You? quiz.
Hello Sherri. And Adam Ant. This is about 90% right, especially about the college stuff.
My answer for me now is:
...which is about 100% wrong.
5. What was the hardest thing to master when you were learning to drive?
The only thing I got dinged for on my driving test was speeding up to get through a stale green light. The instructor had to explain what a "stale green light" was...
I never did figure out parallel parking.
6. How well did you do with that one thing on your very first driver's exam?
Didn't have to do it. Haven't really needed to until about 10 years ago when I moved to a small town that still has places to parallel park!
Unconscious
I say ... and you think ... ?
- Alone:: Quiet
- Science:: Thomas Dolby
- Deposit:: No deposit, no return.
- Faithful:: Marianne...
- Tender:: "...is the Night"
- Chocolate:: Shelly
- Homework:: A paper to write
- Tamper:: Tylenol scare (1982)
- Friend:: /Enemy
- Wire:: "Bird on a ...."
Soul
| You Are a Seeker Soul |
You are on a quest for knowledge and life challenges. You love to be curious and ask a ton of questions. Since you know so much, you make for an interesting conversationalist. Mentally alert, you can outwit almost anyone (and have fun doing it!). Very introspective, you can be silently critical of others. Your quiet nature makes it difficult for people to get to know you. You see yourself as a philosopher, and you take everything philosophically. Your main talent is expressing and communicating ideas. Souls you are most compatible with: Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul |
I don't know how accurate this is at all. The "Mentally alert..." thing: I want to highlight that, but I don't think I go around trying to outwit people, although I do enjoy my own 'brand' of wit which is pretty out there sometimes. And I haven't felt mentally alert in awhile, to be honest.
I'm definitely not philosophical, and I don't always express ideas very clearly. Oh, well.
Abby?
| You Are 28% Abnormal |
You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at medium risk for having a borderline personality. It is somewhat likely that you are a chaotic mess. [only somewhat??] You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at medium risk for having a social phobia. It is somewhat likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. [except my mom lives in a basementless building....] You are at medium risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is somewhat likely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer. [or something else...] |
WHEW!!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Friday Fiver
1. What do you normally eat for breakfast?
Bagel mit shmear (I stopped with the "flat cheese" about 4 months ago. Life is too short.). Dr. Pepper. Vitamins, calcium, and in allergy season, Allegra.
2. Are you more likely to drink coffee or tea?
Given those two choices, tea wins hands down. I do like me some good strong Earl Grey.
3. Would you consider yourself a good cook?
I would consider myself a functional cook. I would consider myself a good baker, though.
4. What is your favorite meal?
Yes. [translation: all of them]
5. Green eggs and ham: would you eat it?
Why not? But the green eggs had better be REALLY green; none of this wishy-washy greenish stuff. That's just gross.
?otd
The first house we purchased was bargain-priced with absolutely no problems. We couldn't believe our luck when we toured it the first time. Before we signed anything, the real estate agent told us that the previous owners had died in the house. It was a pretty sordid story: the husband found out the wife was thinking about leaving him. They argued, he shot her in their bedroom and then killed himself there. Their very-young children were in another bedroom in cribs, at the time.
The seller assured us that the room had been cleaned professionally. The wall damage had been patched and the room was repainted and there was an ugly carpet remnant instead of proper wall-to-wall carpeting (it did cover the whole floor). We spent the first several months using another bedroom as our room while we painted (it was summer) and picking out new carpet for the whole house. Oh, and unpacking and buying a dog and working full time, etc. Oddly, our new and nervous dog didn't like the master bedroom much, but she also didn't like Beast so we just chalked it up to her temperament.
A few nights before the carpet-layers arrived, Beast went to remove the carpet remnant and sweep up the floor so they could just walk in and get to work. He found a large stain on the top of the carpet pad. When he pulled it up, he realized that it was the original carpet pad, which had not been replaced--or moved--after the shootings.
Proof that he is a saint: I cowered with the dog in our temporary bedroom crying while he took a bucket and towels in and scrubbed the floor as clean as he could get it. He also called the seller's attorneys and screamed at them, to no avail.
Otherwise, living in a "notorious" house was not a big deal. No hauntings, no evil spirit sightings, and the dog was fine in the bedroom once the new carpet was installed.
I wonder about those kids, though, to this day.
Friday's Feast
Appetizer
About how many times per day do you check your email?
Depends on which account you mean. My "home" email I only check 3 or 4 times a week. My gmail and my work mail are always "open" when I'm at work, so when something comes in and I'm at my desk, I see it immediately. At home I probably check my work email once a weekend at most (and usually not at all). I'm kind of obsessive about my gmail accounts, though....
Soup
If you had the money to collect something really valuable, what would it be?
I don't collect anything except dust. So...gold dust.
Salad
Write a sentence using the letters of your favorite beverage. (Example: The egret admires.)
Dan regretted promising Estelle pepperoni pizza except radicchio. [the best I could do]
Main Course
If you could be on a game show, which one would you want it to be?
Jeopardy.
Dessert
Name 3 computer programs or web sites you would hate to be without.
Word (the main reason being that we just got it at home so we could open attachments in email!)
Explorer/Firefox (or Netscape in a pinch)
Blogger
Friday...
1. What is your preferred trusted news source?
NPR. For reading, CNN and BBC.
2. What is a news source that you will never trust?
I'm leery of anything on networks, especially FOX. Don't much like Matt Drudge either. And of course anything sold in the supermarket checkout lanes.
3. What is the news topic during the last calendar year that you feel got the worst coverage?
"Why the hell are we still in Iraq?" And "Why the hell has Bush not been impeached?"
4. What news item do you feel got too much coverage in the last calendar year?
"How wonderful that we're in Iraq!" and "Katrina in New Orleans" but ONLY BECAUSE other places were also damaged and haven't received as much attention.
5. If you had complete control of your favored news source(s) (answer to question 1), what would you do with it that is not already being done?
I'd hand over the reins to the people who know what they're doing and let them keep doing it.
Five on Friday
1. What is the wallpaper on your computer?
The background is XP blue, with something from this site centered. Right now it's this (I rotate them):
This is new to the website....
I may be switching to it soonish.
2. What color are the walls in the room you're in right now?
I'm at work: builder-beige. My cube walls are light gray.
3. Describe some of the wallpapers you have lived with.
We had grass-paper in one house we lived in; the main reason was that we needed something textured because the wall was so completely uneven.
In our last house, we had crayon-scribbles on a border around the middle of the walls.
Sparky currently has Green Bay Packers border around the top of his room.
I'm thinking about wallpaper for the bathrooms in our house. Not sure what to do, though.... Interior decor isn't my strongest suit (or interest).
4. Would you ever consider using wallpaper to decorate? What would it look like?
See #3, with the addition that I LOATHE splotchy paper. Big or small patterns just don't do it for me.
5. If you could use anything not specifically intended for walls (no paint, wallpaper, etc) to spruce up your walls, without any nasty consequences, what would you use?
Fabric. Softens the room. We're thinking about fabric for the "ceiling" in the basement as well.
Canadian
| Pretty Canadian You scored 57 Canada speak and 57 Canadianess! |
| You may be one of us. You were probably able to still drink while a teenager, and don't use the terms 'freshman' and 'sophomore'. |
My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Ultimate Canadian Test written by echox2 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
Always such the good test-taker; I can work out answers even when I don't have a faint clue what the question means! :-) [Sorry, Chris!]
Face
| What Your Face Says |
At first glance, people see you as down to earth and reliable. Overall, your true self is moody and dynamic. With friends, you seem dramatic, lively, and quick to react. In love, you seem mysterious and interesting. NOT In stressful situations, you seem sad and helpless. [definitely how I feel] |
Scholasticism
| Your Scholastic Strength Is Evaluating |
You are talented at detecting subtle trends, accuracy, and managing change. this is FUNNY right now, in a very ironic way You should major in: Statistics hah! HAH! Speech Conflict studies not-bloodyfeckinglikely! Communication I did, actually Finance Medicine |
Incidentally...
Looters. And pirates.
What kind of looter am I? You decide!
You can also view a breakdown of results or put one of these on your own page!
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey
Or, if you prefer:
What kind of pirate am I? You decide!
You can also view a breakdown of results or put one of these on your own page!
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey
Monday, January 16, 2006
Sunday Seven
You can have fifteen minutes each with up to seven past presidents of the United States. You can ask them anything you like, and they are required to be honest in their answers. Which former presidents would you choose?
1. John Adams
2. Thomas Jefferson
3. U.S. Grant
4. FDR
5. Nixon
6. Reagan
7. Bush I
I'm letting Lincoln rest. I'd love to talk to him, but this group is invited because I really have some very serious questions to ask them about their motives and reasoning (or lack of). Plus, I think they'd make for some interesting table talk among themselves. I'll hide the knives first, else Mr. Adams might be tempted to commit murder.
Monday...
1. Before I walk out the door, I always check to make sure I know where my wallet and keys are.
2. I can't seem to catch up on my scrapbooking.
3. The one surface in my house that always seems to get cluttered fast is the top of my desk. [ONE surface....??]
4. If I sleep past 8:00, I feel that I've slept in too late. [seeing as how I got up at 8:15 this morning]
5. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to call the dentist. [We're all over 2 months overdue]
6. I hope to have my income taxes done by the Beast, very soon.
7. This year I'd like to make more time for scrapbooking.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Signs?
| You Should Be A Virgo |
What's good about you: you have a quiet determination and aren't swayed by emotions What's bad about you: you are an insane perfectionist and easily find faults in others In love: you are obsessed with making your partner happy In friendship, you're: helpful and giving - eager to be a true friend Your ideal job: poet, flight attendant, or natural healer Your sense of fashion: casual, upscale, revealing, conservative - you look good in all of it You like to pig out on: a well prepared five course meal |
Uhm, not such a great match. So NOT a Virgo.
Round Two:
| You Should Be A Sagittarius |
What's good about you: bold and adventure loving, life is one big party for you What's bad about you: you don't think before speaking - and you often regret it! In love: you're flirtatiously playful, but you never play games In friendship, you're: the one who keeps everyone laughing Your ideal job: fortune teller, philosopher, or athlete Your sense of fashion: your own mix of vintage and new pieces You like to pig out on: anything you haven't tried before |
Closer, but still not great.
Round Three:
| You Should Be A Cancer |
What's good about you: you're incredibly kind, caring, and generous What's bad about you: you can be too moody and impossible to understand In love: you enjoy wining and dining the object of your affection In friendship, you're: likely to depend on other friends for emotional support Your ideal job: historian, marine biologist, or religious figure Your sense of fashion: you dress to match your mood You like to pig out on: classic home cooked meals, like mac and cheese |
OK, that's the best I'm going to do.
But I'm actually a Scorpio, for all that means.
Saturday
1. Do you generally tend to be early, late or right on time?
I aim for early or right on time. I used to be terrified of being late, but I seem to constantly be late for a lot of things over the last few years.
2. Did you belong to any clubs in high school? If so, which did you value the most?
I didn't join too many clubs. What I did value most is quite different from what I'd say I value most now. I was a classroom geek overall.
3. Where was your favorite place to hang out when you were in high school? How often were you there and were you usually with friends or alone?
There was only one place to hang out--the mall. I occasionally went with friends, but mostly I did stuff on my own.
4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What chess piece are you? (Thanks to Charles.)
| The Black Queen You scored 3 Power-Finesse, 3 Leader-Follower, 2 Unique-Ordinary, and 0 Offense-Defense! |
| You are devoted to the cause, and you protect the interests of the Black team. You will often be working behind the scenes, protecting even the lowliest pawn. However, you are impossible to ignore, since at any moment you could strike like the black widow. It is more in your nature to allow your opponent to make a foolish mistake that you exploit, than it is for you to try and force an aggressive victory for your team. |
| Link: The What Chess Piece Are You Test written by Gundark27 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
Yeah, pretty much got that right. hee
5. When is the last time you played a board game and what game did you play? Did you win?
Trivial Pursuit with Sparky. When we play, he plays by "normal" rules, and I have to answer land on a wedge question and get it right TWICE to get a wedge. I probably won anyway, but Sparky's getting harder to beat.
6. You're called to serve on a jury. Would you rather sit on a capital murder case, a personal injury case, a wrongful death suit or a drunk driving case, and why?
None. I would find it hard to separate the crime from the person and impossible to judge value of crime versus punishment. Serving on a jury is no joke.
Unconscious Mutterings
Paralyzed:: Brian
Bossy:: ...the cow
Worth:: value
Breathing:: alive
Uneventful:: boring
Return:: ...to sender
Splint:: cast
Notice:: posting
Hero:: firefighter
Vulnerable:: babies
Friday, January 13, 2006
Ghost Works
- Do you walk under or around ladders? I walk wherever I need to walk, generally around them. Listen, I grew up with an older brother; I learned not to walk under ladders where he could drop shit on my head.
- Do you avoid black cats? I avoid all cats because of allergies. But I admire black cats; they look sleek and smart.
- Do you whistle when you pass a cemetery? Never understood this one...no. Actually, my inlaws wave whenever they pass one, just in case they know someone.
- If you spill salt, do you throw a pinch of it over your left shoulder? No. More to clean up.
- Do you avoid opening an umbrella indoors? No. How else do you get it dry and keep it from mildewing?
- Do you knock on wood to bring good luck? I do it without thinking. Yeah. I don't really believe it. I think.
- If you’re given a horseshoe, would you hang it with with the curved side down or up? For traditional reasons, I'd hang it with prongs up. But it makes more sense--only one nail needed--to hang it prongs down.
- You see a pin on the floor. Do you pick it up? Of course! Don't want to step on it barefooted.
- Do you cross your fingers for luck? Jokingly only.
- Would you display peacock feathers in your house? WTF--never heard of this. Why not?
Hope you all survived today just fine.
Donuts
| You Are a Boston Creme Donut |
You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out. |
Very apt quiz, since the Dunkin Donuts guy died (of diabetes) recently.
But anyway, if I ate a donut every morning, I wouldn't be able to walk--you'd have to wheel me into an early grave. I do love them though: sugar bombs.
Friday Five
1. What is the most adventurous food you've ever tried?
At home, I finally tried asparagus last year. It's good! I can't think of anything weirder. Maybe some weird shit in college that looked like macaroni and cheese but was SWEET! echhhhhh....
Overseas, too many weird things to pick one. My general m.o. in "foreign" countries is to use the sniff test and then don't ask any questions.
2. What is the most adventurous food you'd be willing to try?
I generally don't want to know what I'm eating if it's 'unusual.' Beast tried duck tongue in China a few years ago; I'd do that, or chicken feet.
3. Would you have a problem eating dog meat and why or why not?
I seem to be repeating myself....I'd have no problem here if I didn't know it was dog until an hour or two after eating it. Knowing before digging in would make it impossible.
Of course, it would also depend on how hungry I was.
4. For the most part, do you consider your diet to be balanced?
I had "Low-Fat" chocolate Pop-Tarts for breakfast, with Diet Dr. Pepper.
What do you think?
5. Which is more appealing- being a vegetarian for the rest of your life or being a strict carnivore for the rest of your life?
I need some definitions here. I'd rather eat nothing but non-meat than only meat, all the time. But I eat meat (i.e. "formerly alive animals") just about every day for at least one meal. If I had to continue doing that, but not eating ONLY meat, I'd be perfectly happy. If was "all-meat" or "all-veg" I'd definitely do the latter.
Friday's Feast
Appetizer
Name one chore you don't really mind doing.
I don't mind cleaning the bathroom. Not that I've done it lately...
Soup
How many times have you moved homes in your life?
1982: to college dorms (and then back and forth, in and out of different dorm rooms for four years).
1986: to apartment in S---wood.
1988: to flat in G---dale.
1990: to purchased house in G---dale.
1994: to another state.
2004: to new house.
That makes 6 times.
Salad
How old were you when you had your very first kiss?
From a boy I liked a lot, about 14, but not a 'serious' kiss.
The first 'serious' kiss was at about, uhm, maybe 16? I don't remember. I didn't like him much.
The first kiss where my brain melted was probably at about 18.
Main Course
What time of day do you usually feel your best?
Most of the time I would say first thing in the morning. Not lately, however. I've been having a terrible time waking up in the mornings for the past few weeks; I think it's because of some meds I started taking about that time.
Dessert
Using three words or less, describe your current local weather
Gray/white, dull, horrid.
Friday...the 13th
A black cat would cross your path and you wouldn't bat an eyelash. When it comes to superstitions, you are a hard-core realist. You doubt that the number 13 has any influence on whether the world has a good day, and simply don't want to waste time thinking about such silliness. You still may have a good luck charm or avoid certain carriers of "bad luck" (i.e. spilling salt)... but even if you do you probably know deep down that it's completely psychological. A lucky pen, for example, may help bring good fortune simply because you believe it will. In a nutshell, superstition is not your thing. You'd rather live in the real world.
Yup, that's about right. Though I, like Chris (from whom I 'stole' this), I do knock wood when available.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Geographic Personality
Emotional Stability 23%
Orderliness 63%
Accommodation 60%
Inquisitiveness 46%
Your sloan type is SLOAN*
Your primary type is Limbic~
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| You are social, moody, organized, accommodating, and moderately non-intellecutal, and may prefer a city which matches those traits. |
The largest representation of your personality type can be found in the these U.S. cities: Charlotte, Harrisburg, Cleveland, Memphis, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Richmond, Philadelphia Area, Greenville/Spartanburg, Reno, Indianapolis and these international countries/regions Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, Taiwan, Iceland, Hong Kong, South Korea, Portugal, Philippines, India, Guam, Canada, England, Indonesia, Japan |
City Reviews at CityCulture.org
*SLOAN : makes plans and sticks to them, easily moved to tears, prefers organized to unpredictable, easy to get to know, clean, orderly, easily frustrated, heart over mind, prefers to finish things ahead of schedule, always on the go, organized, tense, easily hurt, prone to panic, religious tendencies, gregarious, open, punctual, perfectionist, realist, narcissistic, worrying, values rules and regulations, uninterested in science, competitive, interested in others, always prepared, aggressive, fears doing the wrong thing, generous, helpful, hard working, productive, socially skilled, ambivalent about theoretical discussions, strong sense of purpose, likes to lead, apologetic, finishes most things they start, not scientific, dislikes science fiction, spends more time in group activities than solitary activities, not mystical, not manipulative, traditional, emotional, fits in most places, feels best when romantically involved, prefers the familiar to the unfamiliar, motivated, prefers to do things with others
~LIMBIC : easily hurt, does not keep emotions under control, envious, quick tempered, can't do anything when they don't feel good, emotional, bitter, attracted to things associated with sadness, has love/hate relationships with most things, sabotages self, more doubt than belief, thinks the world is a dangerous place, searches for identity, fears having no identity, suspicious of others, more past than future, desires security and support, fears being without guidance, familiar with the role of victim, hypersensitive, defensive, dependent on the support and nurturance of others, more feeling than doing, dislikes change, more likely to want a tattoo, can be hurtful, prefers to stick with things they know, wants to feel loved, fears being unwanted or unworthy of love, wants to enhance their self esteem, more likely to have taken anti depressants, prefers instant gratification, has trouble speaking when emotional
I'd say, overall, most of this is eerily accurate although not very complementary in some spots. I'm especially partial to the low score on Emotional Stability, the comment that I'm not an intellectual, and the suggestion I should live in Reno or Bulgaria. We have a standing family joke about "Bulgaria" so that actually just made me smile real big.
Brains
Brain Lateralization Test Results |
| Right Brain (32%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (60%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain |
personality tests by similarminds.com
Left brain dominant individuals are more orderly, literal, articulate, and to the point. They are good at understanding directions and anything that is explicit and logical. They can have trouble comprehending emotions and abstract concepts, they can feel lost when things are not clear, doubting anything that is not stated and proven.
Right brain dominant individuals are more visual and intuitive. They are better at summarizing multiple points, picking up on what's not said, visualizing things, and making things up. They can lack attention to detail, directness, organization, and the ability to explain their ideas verbally, leaving them unable to communicate effectively.
Overall you appear to be Left Brain Dominant
-----------------------------------------
According to Darwinian theory, optimal evolution takes place with random variation and selective retention. The evolution savvy individual will try many different approaches when faced with a problem and select the best of those approaches. Many historical intellectuals have confessed their advantage was simply considering/exploring/trying more approaches than others. The left brain dominant type suffers from limited approaches, narrow-mindedness. The right brain dominant type suffers from too many approaches, scatterbrained. To maintain balanced hemispheres, you need to exercise both variability and selection. Just as a company will have more chance of finding a great candidate by increasing their applicant pool, an individual who considers a wider set of options is more likely to make quality decisions.
Well, there ya go.
Car
| You Should Drive a Toyota FJ Cruiser |
A true adventurer, you're always up for trying the latest new thing. And you need a car that will take you anywhere, because there are no roads where you're going! |
I dunno about the "latest thing" business, but I do like off-roading in the mountains. If I lived near mountains, I'd buy a Wrangler, though. Or a recon'd Cherokee.
Monday, January 9, 2006
Life Path Number
| Your Life Path Number is 6 |
Your purpose in life is to help others You are very compassionate, and you offer comfort to those around you. It pains you to see other people hurting, and you do all in your power to help them. You take on responsibility, and don't mind personal sacrifice. You are the ultimate giver. In love, you offer warmth and protection to your partner. You often give too much of yourself, and you rarely put your own needs first. Emotions tend to rule your decisions too much, especially when it comes to love. And while taking care of people is great, make sure to give them room to grow on their own. |
Well.
Er, uh, wouldn't it be nice to believe this was true about yourself?
Monday
1. Name 1 type of supplement that you take.
Vitamins, plus extra calcium. Because bone loss is no joke.
2. List 2 books that you would like to read in 2006.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
"The Historian" and "S is for Silence" and about 100 others.
3. List 3 hobbies that you have.
Blogging, Reading, Scrapbooking
4. List 4 gifts that you have received.
Sticking with the most recent things: love, Sourpatch Kids (this is a very weird site), Frank Lloyd Wright candle-holders, The Sims2
5. Share 5 (instant & inexpensive) ways to spruce up a room.
Fresh flowers
Friends
Fresh paint
Get rid of 5 objects in the room (clutter clearing)
Rearrange the furniture
Sunday, January 8, 2006
Saturday 6
1. What is your most successful "home remedy" and how did you first hear about or discover it?
Sleep.
But, really, at the first sign of a sore throat or stuffy nose I take 2000 mg of Vitamin C. Sometimes it even helps!
2. Do you ever use substitutes for food ingredients, like sugar or salt substitutes? If so, which do you use?
Nope. I have some Equal around here for people who want it, but I don't really use sugar except to bake and I rarely use salt on food, except to when actually cooking.
3. How often do you go to a mall or shopping center just to window shop, with no intention of actually buying anything?
Well, gee, this sounds like hell on earth to me....
4. How often in those trips do you actually end up buying something anyway?
N/A
5. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What is your biggest social dysfunction?
| Your Social Dysfunction: Schizotypal You display social deficits and oddities of thinking. Your perception and communication are similar to those of a schizophrenic. | ||||
| Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com Please note that we aren't, nor do we claim to be, psychologists. This quiz is for fun and entertainment only. Try not to freak out about your results. |
6. What possession would you most like to have by the end of 2006 that you did without in 2005?
After those quiz results, I think I should be trying for possession of my faculties!!
Unconscious
- Better off:: ...dead
- Girls:: ...girls girls
- Uniform:: Football
- Classified:: ...chat (heh heh)
- Hard:: ...headed
- Kitty:: ...litter
- Team:: Football
- Massive:: defensive linemen
- Depressed:: Sad
- Award:: Academy...
Betcha can't guess what's on the TV as I did this?
Saturday, January 7, 2006
Blood Type
| Your Inner Blood Type is Type B |
You follow your own rules in life, even if you change the rules every day. Sure, you tend to be off the wall and unpredictable, but that's what makes you lovable. And even though you're a wild child, you have the tools to be a great success. You are able to concentrate intently - and make the impossible possible. You are most compatible with: B and AB Famous Type B's: Leonardo Di Caprio and |
I'm actually O-Pos. Boring.
Geology
In case you hadn't noticed....
Layer One
Name: Cat. Otherwise known as a lot of names. Including "bitch" and "mom." Not from the same mouth, however....
Birthdate: Just before midnight ten days before Kennedy was shot. Work it out.
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
Current Location: I work in a small city far to the north and east of the geographic center of the United States. I live 20 minutes north of that in a former resort-y kind of town that has gone to hell. My neighborhood excluded. Ahem.
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: What you see: reddish-brown. What Shantell sees: brownish-gray.
Righty or Lefty: Righty. My left arm is useless.
Sun Sign: Scorp
Innie or Outtie: Innie. What a weird question.
Layer Two
Your heritage: American mutt, with parts made up of the British Isles (all of them), France, Dutch, maybe some German.
The shoes you wore today: My comfy velcro ones.
Your hair: Didn't we do this? Oh, well, it's the classic midwestern page-boy thing, about shoulder-length, now with bangs (or a fringe, depending on where you are).
Your eyes: The original equipment are very sore today. They are smallish and a bit bloodshot usually in the winter. The purchased equipment are thin silver frames, fairly round, and fabulously dirty right now.
Your weakness: Sugar. Sad stories. Cute furry things: dogs, cats, guinea pigs....
Your fears: Failure. Crowds of people
Your perfect pizza: Canadian bacon, onion and lots of mozzarella
One thing you'd like to achieve: Knowing my son is happy and relatively well-adjusted.
Layer Three
Your most overused phrase: "I should be doing something."
Your first waking thoughts: "Gaaaah" [actually, I usually start thinking about what needs to be done that day, but the first-first though is incoherent]
The first feature you notice in the opposite sex: Overall face shape, hairline, eyes, build, and most importantly, SMILE.
Your best physical feature: Er, nose? Uhm, legs? I don't know. I like my feet, actually.
Your bedtime: The plan is to be asleep by 11 at the latest most nights. Before the arrival of the Laptop, I usually achieved that.
Your greatest fear: Being wrong about something important.
Your greatest accomplishment: Not killing my first boss. On a more positive note, being married for almost 20 years.
Your most missed memory: Helping my dad with construction projects around the house.
Layer Four
Pepsi or Coke: Neither: Dr. Pepper
McDonald's or Burger King: McD's for the fries. Otherwise, BK.
Single or group dates: Pretty sure I only date my husband, so singles. If I were single, I'd probably prefer group dates unless I knew the guy pretty well.
Adidas or Nike: What's on sale?
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Yick. Real tea, please.
Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla with caramel topping. Or a malt.
Cappuccino or coffee: Ick. I like the smell of coffee, though.
Layer Five
Smoke: Only from the ears and nose when irate. Never picked up a lighted weed of any kind, which is a good thing because I expect I'd find it impossible to quit.
Cuss: Uh, well, yeah.
Sing: Yes. Generally I can carry a tune.
Take a shower everyday: Shower or bath. I try not to do both in the same 24-hour period; my baths use so much water I feel guilty enough.
Have a crush(es): Not right now. I've had them, but not lately. Too busy. And most of the guys I see at work are...uh...not crushable.
Who are they: See above
Do you think you've been in love: Yes. I think so. {snort}
Want to go to college: Yes. I love learning, but I sure don't know if I could put up with some of the BS that goes along with college.
Like high school: I like looking back at it more than I enjoyed it at the time.
Want to get married: Not again. That would be bigamy (or is there another word for having two husbands?). In any case, I already am.
Believe in yourself: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Depends on the subject at hand.
Type with your fingers on the right keys: Yes. I had a very good typing teacher in high school. She taught my sisters as well, so she was probably 60 when I appeared.
Think you're attractive: I don't think about it. I don't think I'm frighteningly ugly.
Think you're a health freak: God, no. No one could accuse me of that!
Get along with your parents: I always got along well with my dad. I don't remember too many times when he yelled at me. My relationship with my mother, however, has long been fraught. I love her to death, but I figured out when I was quite young that we're too much alike. That fact now scares the shit outta me.
Play an instrument: I took piano lessons for about three years when I was young. I also play flute, but I haven't really done much with it for over a decade.
Layer Six
In the past month, did you...
Drink alcohol: Yes. Eggnog with rum.
Smoke: No
Do a drug: Only legal ones.
Make Out: I'm married. This is a weird question. Yes. I think so, but can married people actually make out?
Go on a date: Beast and I haven't gone out alone in a long time. At least, not that I remember.
Eat an entire box of Oreos: Eeeeuuuwww. Absolutely not!
Eat sushi: I prefer my former animals cooked before I eat them. So, no. Never have had it. Don't plan on trying it, either.
Been on stage: No
Been dumped: No
Gone skating: No. I fall down too often to consider this fun.
Made homemade cookies: No Christmas cookies at our house this year.
Been in love: Yes
Gone skinny dipping: It's winter. I don't think so.
Dyed your hair: Yes
Stolen anything: No -- well, maybe some extra sleep in the mornings....
Layer Seven
Have you ever...
Played a game that required removal of clothing: No--I'm assuming a heated game of Twister doesn't really count?
If so, was it mixed company: n/a
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Not for a very long time...Thank God!
Been caught "doing something": Does this mean "been caught having sex"? If so, no.
Been called a tease: Not in a sexual sense. At least, not that I remember.
Gotten beaten up: Yes, but not for 30-odd years. Playground fight. Not so much beaten up as bitch-slapped damn hard.
Shoplifted: Yes
If so, did you get caught: No
Changed who you were to fit in: Of course. Name someone who says they haven't done this and I'll show you a blatant liar.
Layer Eight
Age you hope to be married: I hope I'm still married for a lot of years yet. I got married at 22.
Numbers and Names of Children: I have one nearly-13-year-old named after both of his grandfathers (and his dad). I always wanted a girl so I could name her after my mother; ironically, my mother hates her middle name, the one I was going to use.
Describe your Dream Wedding: Now? If I had to do it again, I'd elope and then have a big party after we returned.
How do you want to die: Like George Carlin, I want to be blown up. Or just go to sleep.
What do you want to be when you grow up: Coherent
What countr(ies) would you most like to visit: Ones I haven't been to: Egypt, Peru, Ireland, Kenya
Ones I'd like to revisit: Italy, Greece, Russia
Layer Nine
Number of men you have kissed: Really kissed? Probably 7 or 8 that I can recall right now.
Number of boyfriends you've had: Like Robert, that depends on your definition. Probably 3 or 4.
Number of drugs taken illegally: I'm equivocating again. I haven't taken any drugs that are banned, but I have taken other people's meds, not intended for me.
Number of people I could trust with my life: Two
Number of CDs that I own: Possibly around 50, plus all the mix-CDs
Number of piercings: One in each earlobe
Number of tattoos: None
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: Nothing for anything fun or interesting. Occasional stories about church or work, nothing else.
Number of scars on my body: Most of my scars, like everyone else's are internal. I have one "zipper" on my abdomen from surgery 8 years ago, and some miscellaneous small nicks on my hands. Oh, and a dime-sized chunk on my right knee where I fell down on a metal thing as a kid.
Number of things in my past that I regret: I regret not saying goodbye properly to my sister and father. Otherwise, there's not a thing I'd change, although I'd prefer not to go through a lot of it again.
Friday, January 6, 2006
Friday's Feast
Appetizer
Have you ever seen a ghost or an angel?
Nope.
Soup
What is your favorite board game?
Trivial Pursuit. And Life.
Salad
What was the last movie you saw that made you cry?
I cry in almost every movie. Probably Harry Potter.
Main Course
What would you do if you had 3 months off from your job?
I think it would be cool to travel, maybe do some kind of "Elder-Hostel" kind of work.
But what I probably would do is stay home and try to get some projects around the house finished.
Dessert
What kind of shoes are you wearing today?
Right now my feet are naked. I'll wear my usual flat black velcro-closing shoes when I head out in an hour.
Friday Fiver
1. Have you broken any New Year's resolutions yet?
Nope. Haven't made any yet, either.
2. Broken any bones?
Not this year.
Not ever, in fact, unless you count my 'bent' middle fingers, both of which lean toward the ring finger a bit.
3. When is the last time someone else broke your heart?
Oh, with a middle-school student in the house, this is a weekly occurrence.
4. What is the most expensive item you've ever broken?
I broke my parents stereo when I was a kid. And did some damage to Mom's car when I was 16. Let's see...the one thing that stands out is a crystal champagne flute we got as a wedding gift. Still have the second one, though.
5. What phrase are your tired of hearing over and over again?
At work: "Can you help me find a book?"
At home: "I forgot...." (Sparky)