Friday Fiver

Perfect

1. Name one of your flaws:
Just one?
I'm easily distractible

2. Have you ever won first place?
Yup.

3. Who is the last person to make you smile?
Beast.

4. Describe a time when you should have tried harder:
I wish I would have known what to do when my sister's family imploded after she died. I still don't know what I should have done, though.

5. What are you good at?
Grammar and punctuation. Seeing patterns. Falling down.

Friday Five

The Boob Tube, The Silver Screen, & You

1) When you were little what was your favorite TV show?
The only show I remember from when I was really little is "The Monkees." Later on, my favorite was (naturally) "Little House on the Prairie." I liked "The Partridge Family" and "The Brady Bunch" too.

2) What was your favorite movie?
"Herbie the Love Bug" or "The Apple Dumpling Gang."

3) What is your favorite TV show currently?
Scripted: CSI
Unscripted: The Amazing Race

4) What is the best movie you have seen so far this year?
I don't think I've seen any in 2006 yet. The last one I remember is Narnia. Which was very good.

5) If someone was going to make a movie or TV show about your life, who would play you and why?
Shirley Jones (inside joke). I'm not sure who should play me. Edie Falco, maybe.

European City

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

O-kay. Pub crawls don't interest me, except as a reason to meet a lot of drunk people (singing, no doubt, since it's Ireland). Don't think I'd be riding a bike through town either; maybe in the countryside.

In any case, since my Inner European is Italian, this is just weird!

Shakespeare (sorta)

	Thee	Summer Day	Score
Name	Cat. (24)	Monday 16th October (49)	0 : 1
Loveliness	Lovely	Lovelier	0 : 2
Temperature	98.6° F	60° F	1 : 2
Lease	36.27 years	0.59 years	2 : 2
Complexion			3 : 2
Cat. is more lovely, and probably more temperate, than a summers day
Compare Me To A Summers Day

Five on Friday

Opening Day
[by rights I shouldn't be doing this one...you'll see why...]

1. Who is your favorite Major League Baseball team? How about your favorite player?
I kind of have a minor, VERY minor, thing for the Diamondbacks. I don't currently think there's really anybody in baseball to emulate. Cal Ripken is the only "old-timer" who comes to mind. I like his work ethic.

2. Describe your first trip to see a baseball game.
Dad took me to see the Denver Bears (they were a minor league team for...someone...before the Rockies appeared on the scene) when I was around 10. They played in the same stadium as the Broncos played in, which was cool, but of course there were only about 5,000 fans there, so you could actually move! I have no memory of how the game actually went, just of being there with Dad. He taught me to keep score.

3. Do you plan to watch their season/home opener?
Nope. ["Their" who?]

4. Who do you think will be in the World Series this year?
I couldn't possibly care less.

5. What is your favorite baseball-related movie?
I like Field of Dreams (having seen where it was filmed). And Bull Durham makes me giggle. But I sorta like them in spite of the subject, not because of it. Oh, but I do like A League of Their Own....

Friday's Feast

Feast Eighty-Seven

Appetizer
Name 3 things that you think are strange.
People. ["People are strange..." : name that tune]
Bad cartoons (which are on TV, managed by Sparky, as I speak), specifically anime.
Women.

Soup
What was the last ceremony you attended?
Church is sort of ceremonial. But I guess if you want to be specific, my ordination as elder in January.

Salad
What is one lesson you have learned in the past year?
You can't change the decisions people make; it's rare to even be able to influence them. It's a lesson I keep having to learn.

Main Course
Tell us about one of your childhood memories.
I used to dig in our side yard, under a flowering bush, with spoons from the kitchen. I believe there is still one buried there. At least one.

Dessert
If you could extend any of the four seasons to be twice as long as normal, which season would you want to lengthen?
Late summer/early fall. So, like, September through mid-October.

Envy

People Envy Your Compassion

You have a kind heart and an unusual empathy for all living creatures. You tend to absorb others' happiness and pain. People envy your compassion, and more importantly, the connections it helps you build. And compassionate as you are, you feel for them.

What Do People Envy About You?

Just call me Deanna Troi. Except when it comes to large bugs and stinging/creepy-crawly things.

Thursday Threesome

::External Hard Drive::

Onesome: External-- What sorts of gadgets do having hanging off your computer? We'll spot you that printer, but how about other goodies like scanners, card readers, cameras, MP3 players and such?
Here at home: I do have a camera cable (the camera's not attached) and a cable for Beast's PDA. Let's see, there's an antenna for the wireless hookup and for the wireless printer hookup. Uhm. There's probably more. I try to stay out of it. The "too many cooks" theory at work.
At work: just my headphones cord for music. Oh, and a barcode scanner. The post-its on the monitor don't count, right?

Twosome: Hard-- What part of working with computers is hard for you? ...working with one particular piece of software? Getting that camera to connect? ...or dealing with the family members who don't understand what the deal is ?
The hardest part is stopping. I'm truly a computer junkie.
I'm not a huge fan of Connexion browser. If you know what that means, you are clearly a cataloger. In any case, I really need to learn how to use the client instead of the broswer. Yeah. In my spare time.

Threesome: Drive-- What drives you to the computer? Is it friends? Work? News? Recipes? The weather radar?
Not recipes.
Friends. Blogging. News. Weather. Movie times. Cheat codes (for Sparky, though he's doing a lot of that himself now). Sudoku.

3x Thursday

A Cross In The Road

1. What do you do when you have a worldly (politics, war, etc) problem and you can't solve it or do anything about it? How do you react? What do you do?
One of my profs in college said something that sticks with me in moments like this: you always have choices. In this case, I'd say the main choice is in how you react to the problem. Rather than seeing it as insurmountable, see it as something that you can respond to in small ways. For instance, although I support (most of) our troops in Iraq, I refuse to plaster my car with magnetic plastic "ribbons." I can send money, or spend time, to help people in places where bad things have happened (Darfur, the Gulf Coast). I can find out as much as possible about the situation and work for or support organizations that I feel are doing the right thing to resolve the situation.

2. What happens when you have a problem in your personal life that you can't solve? Or you can, but the outcome sucks. What do you do? How do you go about resolving issues like this?
Some things can't be avoided. Sometimes you just have to put your head down and bull through the shit. It's better to slog through and get out the other side as quickly as possible than dancing about the edges making noise and failing to act. Yeah, it sucks. But it sucks less if you face reality squarely than if you spend extra time and energy thinking about how much it sucks. Get it over with and move on.

3. How do you handle sticky situations? Do you have a method? If so, what is it?
Oh, dear, I was so NOT raised to be tactful. I'm afraid I mostly do what I said in #2, which sometimes means it's a bit of a bull in a china shop atmosphere. Generally, if possible, I do try to find some humor in the situation, hopefully at my expense rather than other people's.

Bonus Question: Has there ever been a problem that you can't solve? Only every day. I think this is part of being alive and part of the world. Some current ones: figuring out what to do with a spastic guinea pig, deciding what my part is in the country's political future...and the big one: how to deal with obnoxiously difficult people at work.

I should mention that in all of these cases, the best answer for me is to stop and pray about it. I don't always do that, and that's when things tend to go wrong. Sometimes, praying is all you can do in the moment. And sometimes that's more than you'd think.

Me me me meme

From Shelly

1. How many keys are on your keychain?
Uhm, 7, on the home one, 2 for the one at work.

2. What curse word do you use the most?
Crap. Followed closely by f*ck.

3. Do you own an iPod?
No.

4. Who on your Myspace "Top 8" do you talk to most?
I don't use Myspace.

5. What time is your alarm clock set for?
On work days, the alarm goes off at 6, which is actually 5:50. I've gotten into the bad habit of snoozing, but I'm usually up after one snooze. That's the days I work. If I'm not working I "sleep in" till 6:45 or so. (I copied this from the last time I answered this question.)

6. How many suitcases do you own?
Two big ones, two or three small (carry on) bags. And a couple of duffles.

7. Do you wear flip-flops even when it's cold outside?
Oh dear Lord, absolutely not! Cold weather mean socks. Two pair if necessary.

8. Where do you buy your groceries from?
Sam's Club for bulk-buying. Meijer's or Cub for smaller purchases, and for fresh foods.

9. Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture?
Much rather take the photo.

10. What was the last movie you watched?
"Scooby Doo 2" I'm sorry to say.

11. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes, of course. A better question for me is "Do any of my friends NOT have kids?" Yes. That's not really a criteria for making friends. For me, anyway.

12. If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would buy?
My house, i.e. the mortgage.

13. Has anyone ever called you lazy?
No one but my mom, and myself.

14. Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep faster?
Tylenol PM is my friend.

15. What CD is currently in your CD player?
I checked out "Hogfather" on CD this afternoon. I'm on Disc 1.

16. Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk?
Regular. Not really into chocolate stuff.

17. Has anyone told you a secret this week?
Someone told me a secret last Monday, 10 days ago. Does that count? I've only told Beast and Sparky, since it doesn't affect them at all. It's a good secret too, and it's killing me.

18. When was the last time someone hit on you?
Last time I was at the Ref Desk and a nutcase came in....probably within the last month. How pathetic is that??

19. What did you have for dinner?
Broccoli-cheese soup and a small salad with blue cheese dressing.

20. Do you wear hoodies often?
Nope. Hate em. Not sure why. I think I'm just too long-waisted or something.

21. Can you whistle?
Yup. Not that noisy kind, but I can carry a tune.

22. Have you ever participated in a protest?
Not yet.

23. Who was the last person to call you?
At home, it was a survey thing. At work, it was Beast.

24. What is your favorite ride at an amusement park?
Ferris wheel. I don't mind a straightforward rollercoaster, but I can't ride anything spinning. I will throw up.

25. Do you think people talk about you behind your back?
Of course they do; I work mostly with women. Let's be real about stuff. The real question is whether it bothers me. It only bothers me if the gossip involves my boss.

26. What area code are you in right now?
Starts with 8, ends with 5.

27. Did you watch cartoons as a child?
Nope. Saturday morning was room-cleaning time. Every week. No cartoons till after lunch (when there were no cartoons on).

28. How big is your local mall?
I live in a giant cornfield. The nearest mall is 30 minutes away. It's mall-sized: 5 anchor stores, I think. I don't go there often, kind of overdid mall-shopping when I was a kid.

29. How many siblings do you have?
Three. Now. Used to be four.

30. Are you shy around the opposite sex?
Used to be morbidly shy. Not so much now. Unless they are gorgeous. ;-)

31. What is your biggest regret?
Oddly, I was thinking about this recently. I wish I could have taken dance lessons as a kid.

32. Have you ever had Jamba Juice?
No. Sounds way too healthy for me!

33.When was the last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt?
Within the last month or so, probably something Sparky did. Or something on TV. I don't remember. I do this fairly often. I used to laugh so hard I'd start crying, which scared Beast (and me).

34. What movie do you know every line to?
Monty Python and the Holy Grail. And RHPS. Hey, maybe those should be combined.

35. Do you own any band t-shirts?
Just the ones from last spring's U2 concert.

36. When was your last plane ride?
Oh, a really easy one: last Saturday afternoon.

37. How many chairs are at your dining room table?
Four.

38. What is your favorite salad dressing?
Blue cheese.

39. Do you read for fun?
Reading IS fun. Unless we're discussing the 250 listserve messages I'm attempting to ignore in my work email...

40. Can you speak any languages other than English?
I understand some Spanish, and can speak it s-l-o-w-l-y.

41. Do you do your own dishes?
The general rule is whoever cooks doesn't have to clean up. We have a dishwasher for most of the dishes, so it's just pots & pans.

42. What color is your bedroom painted?
Still builder-white. Working on a color scheme for it, probably blues.

43. Have you ever cried in public?
Yes. Not this week, though. I cry all the freakin' time.

44. Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
Yes. I mostly just use the laptop anymore, though.

45. Which do you make: wishes or plans?
Depends. I plan for vacations. I vaguely wish for some vague things. And I pray a lot too.

46. Are you always trying to learn new things?
I learn something every day. When I stop doing that, shoot me.

47. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?
No, I'm good. Thanks for the offer, though.

48. Do you believe that the guy should pay on the first date?
I think whoever instigated the date should pay, or both should pay.

49. Can you skip rocks?
On occasion, if the stars are aligned just right.

50. Have you ever been to Jamaica?
I like Shelly's answer ("Sure, Jamaica, Queens.") I can't use it, but it's funny. And I haven't been to the Caribbean at all.

51. If you could be anyone in the world, who would you be?
Permanently? Me.

52. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
According to Beast, "too many!!" Probably less than 35. I'm not sure.

53. Do you love your job?
"Love"? I like it an awful lot... hee

54. Has someone you loved died in the last year?
Someone I really thought an awful lot of did. No one in my immediate family or circle of friends, however. {{Knock wood}}

55. What to snack on at the movie theatres?
Sweet-Tarts.

56. Who was your favorite teacher?
Ms. Phillipi. Miss Fitzgerald. Miss Arraj. Mr. Huff. Mrs. Grubenhoff. Mr. Gilchrist. Mrs. Morley. Paul, Jack, Becky, Pete, Joe. Stevens. I was lucky to have a lot of 'em.

57. Have you ever dated someone out of your race?
Depends on what you consider a date. College was ... very experimental. I'd say yes.

58. What is the weather like?
Right now it's dark. Er, wait, weather: chilly and clear. Early spring-like.

59. Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos?
Covered? You know, I'm not actually sure I could do it. A couple of 'em, sure.

60. Do you have an online journal?
Whaddaya call this??

61. What was your favorite class in high school?
See Question 56...I liked everything, up till Geometry and Physiology in high school. After than I stuck to non-math and -science classes. I didn't like Soph. English (high school), or Freshman English in college. Oddly, my favorite class in college was called "Jesus of Nazareth" which I took pass/fail.

62. Does your closest Starbucks have a drive-thru?
Nope. But it does have a bookstore right next door. I don't drink coffee.

63. Do you eat breakfast daily?
Yep. Bagel mit schmear.

64. What was the last thing to scare you?
Probably someone coming up behind me without my notice.

65. What is your favorite fruit?
Apples.

66. Do you pay attention to calories on the back of packages?
Only on those rare occasions when I'm dieting, or when there's nothing else to read.

67. Are you picky about spelling and grammar?
Yes.

68. What was the last thing you ate?
Dinner. I have a piece of gum in my mouth now, if that counts. I have to have a three-hour 'no-food' window to take a pill in the evening. It sucks.

69. Do you get along better with the same or opposite sex?
Depends, but normally girls. On the other hand, girls can be awfully stupid sometimes.

70. What did you dress up as for your first Halloween?
The earliest Halloween I remember was the one when my mom made a clown costume.

71. Do you like mustard?
Yup.

72. Would you ever sky dive?
In a heartbeat.

73 Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back?
90% side, 5% back, 5% stomach. I usually don't move at all overnight.

74. What character from a movie most reminds you of yourself?
I'm tempted to say Scarlett O'Hara...but I'd be lying. Actually, pick any 80s or early 90s Meg Ryan character and that'd be close.

75. Do you enjoy giving hugs?
Yeah. I'm probably more touchy-feely than anyone in my family (except, oddly, with my family members) and I need to watch it sometimes.

76. Would you consider yourself to be fashionable?
{{I'm laughin too hard to answer this properly...}}

77. Do you own a digital camera?
Yes.

78. What celebrities have you been compared to?
None, thank God! I do, however, have several unfamous doppelgangers.

79. Does it annoy you when someone says they'll call but never do?
I'm usually the one saying this. So, no.

80. Are you a jealous person?
Not usually.

81. Do you ever feel guilty after eating meat?
Only if I've eaten too much.

82. If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name have been?
You know, that's a really good question! I've never asked. Maybe I'd've been named after my dad? Whatever, it definitely wouldn't have been something that could be shortened easily. All of our names were specifically chosen for that reason. No nicknames. Think names like Sarah, Todd, Ann, Ruth, Marie, Oscar (none of which are names my parents actually gave any of us).

Ten on Tuesday

10 Things That People Do That Annoy You

1. Whining (it's happening right now, too).
2. Arguing about stupid shit.
3. Interrupting me when I have my headphones on at work.
4. Being ignored.
5. Poor service in stores.
6. Doctors who make me wait when I'm sick.
7. People who mistreat or neglect their children.
8. People who insist that the world revolves around them.
9. Wilfully ignorant people
10. People with no sense of humor

That sort of evolved from action words to specific people.

Quirky

Your Quirk Factor: 38%

You have a few little quirks, but you generally blend in well with society. Only those who know you well know how weird you can be.

How Quirky Are You?

Exactly right!

Hump Day

Finish Your Veggies

1. What is your favorite veggie? Corn.

2. Are there any veggies you don't eat? Tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflower...I'm thinking there are more but I can't think of them.

3. Which veggie do you think has the funniest name? Broccoli

4. If you're a vegetarian, why are you and do you like it? If you're not a vegetarian, would you ever want to become one? I'd survive just fine, I guess, if I could have fish, eggs and cheese.

Scratching

Are you more...

01) Fast-paced big-city life or slower-paced small-town life? My daily life is pretty small town {begin humming Mellencamp's "Small Town" now}. I like visiting big cities, and it's nice to live somewhat close to a Very Big City.
02) A location chooser based on your job(s) or a location chooser based on proximity to friends and family? I don't understand this question. I have to live near my husband, and I'd prefer to not have to make a passle o' new friends while trying to organize new livin arrangements. If that makes sense.
03) Fan of the allen key (hexagon-head) or hater of the allen key? I like allen wrenches. No clue, why, I just do.
04) Someone who loves futons or someone who prefers more traditional couches and beds? Personally, I have no problem with futons, but they don't work for Beast. And the older I get, I suspect the less I'll like them.
05) Grateful that winter is gone or anxious for summer to hurry up and get here? Anxious for summer. Always.
06) Grilled cheese sandwich with ham and tomato or just a grilled cheese sandwich? Yaack, tomatoes. Just plain g.c. for me.
07) Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul? No. Just...no.
08) A tiger or a bear? Being one? Meeting one? Seeing one in a zoo? Generally I like bears better, but I'd prefer never to meet either one in the wild.
09) Believing that politicians make the world a better place or believing that the common man makes the world a better place? Neither. People mostly screw things up, except when they're not trying to.
10) Driven by your loins or driven by your stomach? How 'bout my brain? If not, of the choices given, I'd have to say my stomach.

True Love

Your True Love Is a Gemini

Why you'll love a Gemini: Witty and sharp, a Gemini can keep up with your fast (and ever changing) mind. You're both fun loving and free spirits. You and a Gemini can enjoy each other without expectations. Why a Gemini will love you: Not only can you keep up with a Gemini's sharp tongue, you can introduce a challenge or two... Your appetite for fun and novelty will keep a Gemini interested - at least for a bit longer than usual!

What Sign Is Your True Love?

Great.

Except I married a Scorp.

Happy

You Are 64% Happy

You are a very happy person. Generally, you feel content and that all is right with the world. Occasionally, you have a down day - but you have the ability to pick yourself right back up.

How Happy Are You?

I'd say this is about right, over the course of the year.

Curious

Question Number Eleven:

What is the most difficult subject for you to talk about?
Hmmm, this gets a little surreal. If it's difficult to talk about, why would I talk about it here? So I'll just say there are several, which I'm not going to talk about. If you read my blog(s) at all, it should be pretty obvious what I don't talk about. hee

Monday...

...Madness

1. Do you use a bag/sachel/wallet?
Yes. I carry only a wallet, in a soft-side bag. Which I came very near to destroying at PLA, so now I'm hunting for a new one.

2. Do you use the same bag/sachel/wallet everyday or change depending on your outfit?
Gack. One is confusing enough for me!

3. What do you carry in your bag/sachel/wallet?
In the bag is my wallet, my calendar and whatever books I'm reading/returning to the library. Also: kleenex, nail file, comb, pens, notebook, Tylenol, gum, chapstick, inhaler and other stuff I can't think of.
In the wallet I carry cash (duh!), license, one credit card, debit card, insurance card, misc. store rebate cards, and several business cards. No photos. No crap. If I don't use it, I don't carry it.

4. Do you check and change the contents of your bag/sachel/wallet before you go anywhere specific or do you take everything everywhere?
In the main, I take everything everywhere. However, if I'm shopping, I just take the wallet out. On trips, I rearrange some of the stuff, too.

5. How often do you have a good clean out of your bag/sachel/wallet?
It generally stays pretty clean. I tend to reorganize when things get out of hand, maybe twice a month, but not on a schedule. Really, the bag gets emptied every night, and I don't keep shit in my wallet.

Unconscious Mutterings

Two weeks' worth

1. Sugar rush:: Hyper
2. Chemical:: Better living through chemistry
3. Suspension:: ...of disbelief
4. Defending:: Castles
5. Conference:: PLA
6. Dance:: Safety...
7. Weather:: Spring
8. Fuel:: ...the fires
9. Heartbreak:: Pain
10. Insult:: Injury

1. Glass castle:: Fairy tale
2. Preserved:: Mummies
3. Jealousy:: Waste of time
4. Territory:: Northwest ...
5. Coffee:: ...and donuts
6. Stephen:: ...Ministries
7. Slut:: Sloven
8. Dynamic:: ...tension
9. Daybreak:: ...Bookstore [which closed a couple of years ago: boo hoo]
10. Dew:: Mountain ...

Catching up, Part II

You Are Bobby Brainy

Ultra competitive, you will do almost anything to win. From pull ups to pool sharking, you're very talented. And while everyone is aware of your victories, they still (affectionately) consider you to be a little brat!

What Brady Are You?

The last sentence is so COMPLETELY true in my family.
Heh, pretty funny.

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Friday Five

1) Of the various cultures, ethnicities or nationalities you belong to, which most strongly do you consider yourself?
I only really belong to one ethnicity. Within that ethnicity, I'm such a mutt I can't really declare myself anything much: Scots-Irish, Dutch, German, French-Canadian, English...take your pick. I'm American.

2) Is there a culture you cannot claim heritage from but which you feel quite close to?
Nope. Probably the closest is Greek. Or Jewish.

3) What's one language you wish you knew fluently?
Russian. And Greek. And Hebrew.

4) If you could move anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a job, etc., where would you go?
Greece. Italy. Scotland.

5) If you had a time machine, and could witness any one event without altering or disturbing it, what would you want to see?
Jesus' resurrection.

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Friday Fiver

1. When is the last time you became unraveled?
Uhhh, actually, I haven't since I left town last weekend. Maybe this means that winter is over and I can stop taking anti-depressants...

2. What's the longest trip you've taken?
Five-plus weeks: Moscow, Omsk, Irkutsk, Ulan Bator, Beijing, Samarkand, Tashkent, Leningrad (well, it was then), Warsaw, Zurich, Rome, Florence.

3. Who is the biggest distraction in your life?
Hel-lo! Blogging.

4. Do people notice you when you walk into a room?
Only went I fall in. {sigh}

5. Describe the last time you disappointed someone:
Oh dear Lord. Probably sometime this week with my colleague, or my boss. Or today while Beast painted and I sat here on the computer (6 hours and counting). There are so many options, possibilities, and opportunities. This is one of my biggest nightmares: disappointing people. My dad castigated me once by saying, "I'm very disappointed in you." It killed me.

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Friday's Feast

Appetizer
How would you describe your personal comfort zone?
I'm not sure what this means. If we're talking about space, I guess I'm pretty comfortable until people get within 18 inches of me.

Soup
What is your favorite tree?
I like evergreens, outside of cedars. No leaves to rake.

Salad
List 3 foods you'd like to include in your dinner plans for tonight.
Pizza dough, pizza sauce, Canadian bacon.

Main Course
What is the best advice you've ever been given, but didn't heed?
Relax. Don't worry. Things will be fine.

Dessert
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest), how much attention do you feel comfortable receiving from others?
In person, probably 7, unless I'm speaking, then I'd prefer people listen.

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Saturday Six

1. How confrontational are you in real life, and how does your real-life persona compare with your blogging persona?
I'm more confrontational in my blog, I think. In real life, however, I can be very much in your face if you step on my pride. Blog stuff is more impersonal stuff, most of the time. I dunno. I don't roll over as much as I used to.

2. Other than the food itself, what makes your favorite restaurant your favorite?
It's comfortable and has fast service.

3. You buy an iPod: what's the first tune you're likely to put on it?
Wow. Probably something from U2, I guess. Or whatever is on top of my CD pile at the moment.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What's the most important quality of your (ideal) significant other?

Kindness Kindness is most important in a boyfriend/girlfriend. You want someone who will go through everything with you - the best moments and the worst, and all of those other moments in between. You love to be able to say anything to your partner, and have them say anything to you. You are able to be extremely close with your partner for that reason. Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

[peeve: GWTW is in COLOR, moron!]
However, this is a pretty accurate result.

5. If you had to choose one or the other, which would you rather do: hear gossip or be the first to reveal some juicy piece of gossip?
Ick. Of those two choices, I'd rather hear it than pass it. But I'd really like to not be involved in gossip at all.

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #85: If you had a magic feather (my Daddy Do carries several in his pocket) and this magic feather could make you unbelievably attractive OR unbelievably intelligent, which would you choose, and why?
Intelligent. I don't tend to trust attractive people.

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Ten on Tuesday
Ten Things You Worry About
1. What I've said to piss people off
2. What I've forgotten to do
3. Not writing or calling my mom often enough
4. Hurting Sparky
5. Hurting Beast
6. What to make for dinner
7. How I'm going to get all my work done
8. When I'm going on a trip, I worry about the plane, what to pack, what I forgot, the hotel, getting sick....
9. Missing an appointment
10. Getting sick

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Whinge and Whine


What Is The No. 1 Thing That You Hate About Your Partner?
He doesn't take advice and is bull-headed and defensive. Wait, that's three things. hee

Quizzes

from Sarcasmo

The Avoidant You scored 47% Security, 64% Avoidance, and 23% Anxiousness!

I think there might be some kind of conspiracy about twins and being separated at birth going on here. You're the Avoidant (not unlike me, go you.) When it comes to relationships, too much just plain bothers you. Cuddling is out, you want to get on with life, you don't have time for that, and you don't necessarily want to be with someone who even wants to call you regularly. Because that's annoying too. The mushiness of romance tends to bother you on some level that you just haven't figure out yet. No worries, I did. Avoidants crave me-time, they want to work and they want to make the most of themselves outside of relationships. You may be bad at formulating friendships or relationships, not because you're genuinely terrible and use stupid pick-up lines, but you kind of WANT to sabotage the stupid thing, whether you know it or not. You'll put up with physical intimacy to get off, but when it comes to spooning or asking each other "Do you think we knew each other in a past life?" you want to squash that shit as quickly as possible. If you want a long-term commitment, and you don't want to change, pick another Avoidant, just like you. Will it be a healthy relationship, well probably not. Did you ever watch The Oblongs? (You should have, there were only a few episodes and you have to support Will Ferrell in these sorts of things, even if they aren't as good as some other cartoons, whatever man.) If you did, you'll get it when I talk about the Hill People, and that couple who used to talk over their cellphones and say things like: "Love to our child." and "You mean both of them?" "Yeah. Right there's a boy...and another one." Like them, you're going to want to spend less time with each other and in your "together" life and more time working or fulfilling your potential, because maybe it is just me, but Avoidants tend to be intellectuals. NEVER try to go in with an Anxious/Ambivalent type, because they are going to want so much intimacy, it will make you sick. If they try to get in with you, you'll know, and you won't like it. Don't pick them out of a crowd and don't put up with them if you get one by mistake, not that they are bad people on their own, but together? Oh you are realllllly bad for each other. They'll want to cling and you will want to shake them loose and there's no middle ground. If you want to get away from your avoidance, pick a Secure style lover, who is usually just happy the way that they are, and wants more from you than an Avoidant would, but not as much as the Anxious. They're the warm little center, the place everyone secretly wants to be, and usually? They'll do right by you and make you come out of your avoidant little funk.

This test tracked 3 variables. How the score compared to the other people's: Higher than 28% on Security Higher than 94% on Avoidance Higher than 5% on Anxiousness

Link: The Sullivan Attachment Style Test written by pretentiaahoy on Ok Cupid

I'd say this is pretty accurate. And that's all I'm-a-gonna say.

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According to the Death Psychic, I will die from complications of liver failure caused by years of heavy drinking.

Or, well, NOT.

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You scored as Natural Causes. Your death will be by natural causes, though not by any disease, because that is another option on this test. You will probably just silently pass away in the night from old age, and people you love won't realize until the next morning, when you are all purple and cold and icky. So be happy, you won't be murdered. Stabbed 73% Natural Causes 73% Poison 60% Bomb 60% Suicide 53% Accident 40% Drowning 40% Cut Throat 33% Disease 33% Suffocated 33% Gunshot 33% Eaten 27% Disappear 20% How Will You Die?? created with QuizFarm.com

Dang. I kinda wanted to disappear. Or be eaten. On the other hand, I'm glad I won't be murdered.

?otd

...in multiples, all from this week. I didn't do all of the ones on the ?otd site, but then I never do...

What do you collect that other people might find to be odd?
To some extent, I think collecting anything is odd. Nevertheless, I seem to be fated to collect salt-and-pepper equipment. Shakers, but also salt dishes and spoons, etc. Long story.
I also collect dust. I'm much better at that.

If you could live safely with any of the animals at the zoo (in the exhibit with them), which animals would you choose to live?
"Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo..."
I'd live with the chimps. Or the wolves.

How long will you wait for an elevator before you give up and take the stairs instead?
Totally dependent on how many floors I'm going up, and whether I can find the stairs. If I'm just going up one floor, I usually walk anyway. If it's more than 3 floors, I'd probably wait 5 minutes or so. More than that, I'd wait 5 minutes and then go and complain to the building manager. ;-)

Have you read The Da Vinci Code? Are you looking forward to the movie coming out?
I read the book before the craze began. It was an OK puzzle book.
I'd like to see the movie; I like Tom Hanks. But I can't figure out the hair-thing he's doing in this role. He looks bloodyawful.

What is something, or somewhere, that you think is completely overrated?
Going for the obvious here: Disney-related shit.
Close behind: nouvelle cuisine.

What name do people mistake your name for the most?
Written: they usually change the last letter to an 'i'. Or they spell it the "right" way.
Spoken: I've been called Linda, Luce, Laura, Lisa, and Leanne. Those are just the ones that start with the same letter. I've been called lots of other things, too. ;-)

Lists

I am a huge list-maker (no shock there), so this meme falls right into the concept of "fun" for me. I found it awhile ago on K.'s blog.

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
We have to assume that the house I currently live in is the first house, eh? OK, then, my second house would be near Ouray, Colorado. It would be a small house, near the cliffs, with a great view (well, that wouldn't be hard). Actually, it might just be the house my family used to own there....

2. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?
Anything jeans-y. I'm kind of partial to T-shirts, too. Or comfy cotton or light-knit sweaters. On the other hand, I bought a lovely new jacket (mine is olive green) at the Gap this week...

3. THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT?
Tobymac, I think it's called Momentum, but I'm too lazy to go out to the truck and check for sure. Great disc: Christian rap/rock.

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
The alarm is set for 6, which is actually 5:50. I've gotten into the bad habit of snoozing, but I'm usually up after one snooze. That's the days I work. If I'm not working I "sleep in" till 6:45 or so.

5. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Heathers, RHPS, the Matrix movies, Sound of Music, Sliding Doors, Monty Python and Holy Grail, Life of Brian, anything funny with some substance.

6. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'd like to play guitar, or trumpet, or cello.

7. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?
Blue. Almost any shade.

8. WHICH DO YOU PREFER: SPORTS CAR OR SUV?
A jeep. NOT an SUV...a real jeep.

9. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE?
Yup.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOK?
The Laura books. And "Blueberries for Sal."

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Autumn.

12. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Invisibility. Or flying.

13. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
No tattoos for me. I've seen them on older people and they look...well, they don't look good. I wouldn't want to go through the hassle of having them removed when my skin starts to sag.

14. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
I'm great with two rolled up socks. hee
My niece juggles while riding a unicycle. On the other hand, she's a physicist. Don't think we're swimmin' in the same gene pool.

15. THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO?
My dad. Or possibly one of my grandparents, maybe my mom's dad. I'd like to know if he really was an alcoholic, or rather, how much of one and what kind he was.

16. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
Favorite day of the week? Monday. It just feels like a new start every week. It's possible I like it so much because I don't have to go to work that day...
Favorite day of the year is probably a tie between the day after Christmas and New Year's Day. No pressure, nothing scheduled, just jammie time and sort of a vacation at home.

17. WHAT’S IN THE BACK OF YOUR TRUNK?
Hmmm, I'm assuming this refers to a car trunk (boot). I drive a truck. So, N/A.
But, behind the seats I have jumper cables, short bungee cords, a couple of window scrapers/brushes, a first-aid kit...and possibly some other stuff I can't remember.

18. SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
Cheeseburger.

19. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?
Garden-grown roses, preferably not red or sappy pink. I like tiger lilies too.

20. DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
I'm not sure. My sister did. I believe her, but I don't think I work the same way.

21. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM JOB?
Just what I'm doing: cataloging books. Organizing things. Preferably other people's things, since I suck at organizing my own life...

22. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?
Homemade macaroni and cheese with good-quality (i.e. not Oscar Meyer) hot dogs, a big green salad with real blue cheese dressing on the side, and a small slice of good cheesecake for dessert. Or, maybe a slice of good fruit pie. I can manage all of that myself, too. No pressure, no hassle, no fancy prep....

Catching up, Part I

I've got a ton of these in my Bloglines feeds from this week while I was at a conference. I'm doing them in alpha order, rather than by date, since that's how they've appeared in the feeds.

Deep breath.

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Thursday Threesome

::New Car Smell::

Onesome- New: What's new in your life? New car, new house, new job or new person, or even just a new toy you bought for yourself?

New T-shirts, new books, new carrier bags, new outlook on work...all courtesy of the conference I was at this week.

Twosome- Car: What kind of car do you drive? What kind of car would you like to drive if you could?

I have a green Ford Ranger pick-em-up-truck. I'd love a Jeep, preferably black or yellow, with a good roll bar and a mountain to climb it in.

Threesome- Scent: Scents are great at bringing back memories. Is there a scent that any time you smell it you flash back to something in your past

Cheap champagne. It makes me want to vomit immediately.

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Hump Day
1. What's your favorite way to goof off?
Blogging. Reading. Crosswords. Sudoku. In that order (at least tonight).

2. How much goofing off do you do on an average day?
Far too much. Probably a couple hours a day at least.

3. If you got paid to blog, how would you goof off and not do your job?
I'd probably just surf and play games. Or turn (gasp!) read a book.

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You Should Be a Joke Writer

You're totally hilarious, and you can find the humor in any situation. Whether you're spouting off zingers, comebacks, or jokes about life... You usually can keep a crowd laughing, and you have plenty of material. You have the makings of a great comedian - or comedic writer.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Some might say that this would be redundant. Just please, can I not be a sitcom writer??

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Booking Through Thursday

Today's questions were suggested by Christine.

1. How do you decide to read a book by an author you haven't read before? Good reviews are key. Recommendations from certain people are important. Knowing the author's work is also pretty important.


2. What sort of recommendations count most highly in making that decision? Oops. See above. I also read the blurbs inside the books as I catalog them, and pick up a lot that way.

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Five on Friday

1. What is your favorite time of year?
My favorite season overall is autumn. But I love hot, nonhumid summer days, days when you can stand outside and watch the heat shimmer from the pavement and sweat and watch the leaves on the trees wither.

2. What is it about your favorite season that, well, make it your favorite season?
Autumn is nice because it smells good. It also sounds good: crunch crunch swish as you walk through leaves. Apples, pumpkins...texture, color, light.

3. What is your least favorite time of year?
February is suicide-watch month.

4. Do you do anything to celebrate or recognize the changing of the seasons?
I'm very happy at the beginning of March most years. Otherwise, I don't really do anything to celebrate.

5. What's your favorite thing to do outside?
Sit in the sun and try to absorb heat for the winter. Walk...ditto ditto ditto.

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3x Thursday

1. Do you like to garden? Why/why not? If you do, what type of gardening do you do?
I like the concept, so every spring I make plans for the garden. Then I wimp out by mid-June and everything dies by mid-July. Sigh. Good thing I'm married to someone with some stick-tuitivism otherwise our yard would be a mess.

2. Do you have plants at home/at your office? Are you able to keep them alive?
I have two plants in my house, but I need to throw one away: it's getting really nasty-looking. The other one I got from my brother and his wife when I had surgery 9 years ago. Haven't killed it yet, but that's because it's hardy and seems to thrive on being ignored. I am a great success at killing aloe plants, and cacti.

3. Are you the kind of person who needs live things around (plants, flowers, etc) or does it not matter to you? Why/why not?
I like 'em, but mostly can't be bothered.

Bonus Question: What's your favorite type of plant/flower? Why?
I love home-grown roses (NOT florist roses!), the ones with an actual scent, not the ones that have been hybridized into blah-dom. I also like lilacs and snowballs.

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Monday Madness

1. When driving in my car, my radio station is usually tuned to NPR, but I usually try to have CDs with me since most of the time I hate whatever is on radio stations.
2. When I turn my television on, even if I'm not really paying close attention to it, it's usually on channel Beast. He does most of the choosing. Otherwise, I find an XM station I can listen to instead (on TV).
3. If I owned a pet, I would own a dog , because they're loyal and snuggly. But I'm allergic to them, so it would be stupid of me to get them. We have guinea pigs, and guess what: I'm developing allergies to them now as well.
4. I own an HP printer. I bought it because we saw it at Sam's Club and bought it on a whim, and because we needed a decent one.
5. You can find all kinds of books in my bookshelves, but mostly this type: library books and reference materials. A few paperbacks, several Bibles...lots of weird shit.
6. I take about 5-10 pictures every month. But only if you average the vacation pictures out over the whole year.
7. I blog about 50 times a month. Realisitcally, it's more, because I have so bloody many blogs now!
8. I've been really busy walking a conference center and taking notes lately.

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So. That's it. I'm tired from doing that last bit I mentioned (walking and thinking), so I'm going to run a bath and then go directly to bed. More tomorrow, perhaps, or whenever I can find time for this.

High School

Since I'm on the school kick, here's another one, this time in proper questionnaire format. I found it here.

1. Who was your best friend(s)? Laura, Beth, Teri, Annie
2. What sports did you play? None, not popular enough, nor did I have the appropriate killer instinct.
3. What kind of car did you drive? One of my parents': a Toyota Corolla, or a Chevy Malibu station wagon. Oh, yeah, I was so cool. Or not.
4. It’s Friday night, where are you at? I like the previous answer: "Behind the preposition." At home, watching "Dukes of Hazzard" and/or reading a book.
5. Were you a party animal? Bet you'd never guess the answer to this one: no.
6. Were you in the “In Crowd”? Oh so very completely NOT.
7. Ever skip school? Nope. Too afraid the cops would call my mom. Well, except for the day my dad went into the hospital while my mom was out of town. I was told to go make sure he was ok, he sent me home with the car. No one said to come back....so I didn't. I had pizza for lunch with Laura, and then we went to the mall.
8. Ever smoke a cigarette? Yech. No.
9. Were you a nerd? See #6. Yes, yes, emphatically yes.
10. Did you ever get suspended/expelled? No, cuz, see, I'd've gotten killed at home if that would have happened. No chance, uh-uh.
11. Can you sing the Alma Mater? "Come on Englewood,
Come on Englewood
Fight right through that line.
With your colors flying high
We'll win them every time (rah rah rah)
Come on Englewood
Come on Englewood
Fight for future fame..." and then I don't remember. Sung to the tune of "On Wisconsin." How I can remember the words is a mystery, since I was in band and PLAYED the damn song. Hard to sing when you're tootling away on a flute.
12. Who was your favorite teacher? Miss Fitzgerald, Dr. Gerardi (when he wasn't being icky), Mr. Huff, Ms. Phillipi.
13. Favorite class? Senior English class, Spanish, Band, Wind Ensemble, Computer Programming, and student assistant period.
14. What was your school’s name? Englewood High School
15. School mascot? We are the Pirates, the mighty mighty Pirates (in Colorado, a land-locked state--how dumb is that?). But oh so fierce.
16. Did you go to Prom? Nope.
17. Would you go back again and do it over? If I could transport my current brain into my 16-year-old body, yeah. Otherwise, no way.
18. What do you remember most about graduation? We had six co-valedictorians and a saluditorian. No speeches.
19. Favorite memory of senior year? Senior prank, although I wasn't involved. It was funny, however.
20. Were you ever posted on the senior wall? Since I don't know what this is....no.
21. Did you have a job your senior year? No, I think I'd left the library page job by then. Probably doing some babysitting, and definitely helping out my dad...for free.
22. Who did you date? Lewis Funk.
23. Have you gained weight since then? Oh, yeah. I weighed about 119 at graduation.
24. What did you do after graduation? Started packing for college.

My Education

I came across this meme here. I think the idea is to compile memorable thoughts on the impact over the year of the schools and teachers. Anyway, that's what I'm doing.

Kindergarten: The kindergarten at my grade school was it's own separate building next to the main school building. [It's not in this photo.] My main memories of the year consist of a luau (fresh coconut! fresh pineapple! lovely warm spring weather!), tripping over a door latch and skinning hands, knees, elbows...and my pride, reading to the class, getting my tongue frozen to an orange-creamsicle (still can't eat those things!), and picking "Indian" names when we did that unit. Mrs. Morton was my teacher, and Laura D#v0re was my best friend.

Elementary School: I was a problem: always at least a year ahead of the kids in terms of academics, always behind on the socio-emotional scale. I was a terrified child, afraid of everything, nervous, shy, and picked on unmercifully. Still, I had good friends in elementary school, lots of them from the grade above me: M@ry C@h!ll, K@thy B0n0m!. I also hung out with L@ur@ M00re, and K!rst!e B0ne. I don't remember all the teachers' names, but I do remember Mrs. R@m@d@n for the clear reason that she made me cry in front of a whole class of second graders when I was in first grade.

Junior High: Not my favorite time of my life. I started playing the flute here, and consolidated a tight group of friends, primarily 'band friends.' I never recognized it for cool, but my father went to high school in the same building 45 years before I went to junior high school there. I looked out the same windows in boredom in the '70s that he stared out of in the '30s. Good teachers: Mr. G!lchr!st, Ms. Arr@j, Mr. C0dy, Mrs. Sch#llnut, Mrs. Wh!te, Mr. Shup#. Some of them remembered my brother, fewer remembered my sisters. Even at the worst moments, I felt at home here, without knowing it. Best friends: L@ur@ M00re, T#r! Wh!te, @nn!e W@kimur@, Al!c!a Br0wn.

High School: I loved high school. The learning, the teachers, the fact that I was carrying on a tradition, number 6 in the line of EHS graduates in my family. On the other hand, I didn't like a lot of the kids, and I was anxious to move on to college and get out of my house where I felt my parents were axphysiating me. Band was the center of my universe, and AP-level courses. Best teachers: Ms. Ph!llip!, Dr. G#r@rd!, Mr. Gr@#bn#r, Miss F!tzg#r@ld, Mr. H^ff. Best friends: L@ur@ M00re, T#r! Wh!te, B#th B#nn#tt, M!ch#ll# Gy^ure, Ann B#nn#tt. And yes, the hallway looked just like this when I was there! I think the names were painted on sometime during my tenure. That hallway was always hotter'n hell since it faced south and was all windows. The sun shines a lot in Colorado.

College: I went, intentionally, as far away from home as I could for college. Not being entirely stupid, I also picked a place where I'd have a soft landing: one of my sisters was 45 minutes away from my campus. But I was 1000 miles from home. It sounded great till the month before classes started: then I got terrified. After that first semester, though, college completely and totally rocked! I was a DJ at the radio station, I got to go to Russia/China/Europe for 5 weeks, I found out I didn't have to be shy and retiring and everyone's little sister, and I found out that vomiting up alcohol is not very fun. Neither is blacking out. Most importantly, I found my Beast. Best teachers: J@ck D^kes, P@ul R#mp#, B#cky Sh#rr!ck, and Dr. St#v#ns. Best friends: J#nny, Sh#rr!, M!ch#ll#, and Kr!s.

Grad School: The summer after graduating with my bachelor's degree, I got married. We moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment about 7 blocks from the nearest university with a Library & Information Science school and I commenced graduate school. After 4 years at a private college, 3 semesters of grad work at a public university was pretty much a slam dunk. That's not to say there wasn't plenty of work, but my most memorable moment there was Beast rocketing into the study room in the department and telling me my dad was in the hospital and we needed to get there NOW! There were some interesting "characters" who taught, and I made a few friends--M@rth@, @nne--and somehow coerced my college roommate to follow in my footsteps (she's now a children's librarian in Texas, and loves it!).

So there you have it. My educational memories, at least those that floated to the surface tonight. Had I done this another day, I'm sure the take would have been entirely different. Oh, well.

Saturday 6

Episode 101

1. How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Sparky had a sleepover, so Beast and I went to our little grownup "fancy
restaurant" place. Then we rented "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" on the way home and watched it. Pretty exciting, eh? We're having corned beef tonight.

2. What is your favorite green food?

A big salad.

3. Other than Christmas or Thanksgiving, what holiday do you generally spend the most for when you celebrate it?

Let's see: not much on Val. Day, not much on St. Pat's. Easter we usually get new clothes for, if there's time. We have a cookout for neighbors and friends at some point over the summer, sometimes tied to a holiday (Memorial Day/Fourth of July/Labor Day) but not always. Candy for Halloween...

Probably Easter, I guess.

4. It probably seems like winter may have already disappeared from this year based on the warm weather much of the country experienced this season, but if you had to eliminate one season entirely, which one would you choose and why?

Winter. I hate cold weather.

5. If you then had to replace the season you eliminated with one of the three remaining ones, meaning that we'd have six months of one season, which would you choose and why?

Autumn. It's dryer than spring and it smells nice.

6. How many of your old school yearbooks (or annuals) do you have today? If you let someone read the messages people wrote in them, would they think you were popular, not popular, or somewhere in between?

I have 'em all, 7th grade through senior year of college. We also have Beast's annuals for high school and college. People would think I was beyond dorky if they read the comments.

Reading list

Look at the list of books below. Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you might read, cross out the ones you won’t, underline the ones on your book shelf, and place parentheses around the ones you’ve never even heard of. From The Bookish Knitster.
And asterisk those you've read more than once.

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams
The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
(Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J. K. Rowling)
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell
(Catch-22 - Joseph Heller)
(The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
1984 - George Orwell
(Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling) *
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Cryptonomicon - Neal Stephenson
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte *
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis *
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
(Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell)
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte *
Good Omens - Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
Atonement - Ian McEwan
(The Shadow Of The Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon)
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemmingiway
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Dune - Frank Herbert

Sevens

A collection from Pomgirl.

Seven Things to Do Before I Die:

1. Write a book
2. Visit every continent except Antarctica
3. Lives in a foreign country for a year or more
4. Have grandchildren, and enjoy them thoroughly
5. Try marijuana
6. Get my motorcycle license
7. Try parachuting out of a plane

Seven Things I Cannot Do:

1. Shoot a gun
2. Speak Chinese
3. Enjoy shopping as a pasttime
4. Tolerate hypocrites
5. Stop being allergic to dogs
6. Sleep less
7. Love Sparky more

Seven Things that Attract Me To Blogging:

1. I like to talk
2. I like to read about people's lives
3. It's the only way I've ever been able to keep a diary over time
4. I like computers
5. The quizzes and memes
6. Eventually, perhaps, it will get me to the point where I can publish something
7. I can vent without pissing the people off about whom I'm venting

Seven Things I Say Most Often:

1. Shit
2. Crap
3. Where are my keys/my wallet/etc. etc.?
4. What's for dinner?
5. Can we eat out tonight?
6. I'll never catch up.
7. You're weird.

Seven Books I Love:

1. Jane Eyre -- Charlotte Bronte
2. A Tale of Two Cities -- Charles Dickens
3. The Book of Ruth -- Jane Hamilton
4. All the Little House books -- Laura Ingalls Wilder
5. The Message
6. Alice in Wonderland -- Lewis Carroll
7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban -- J.K. Rowling

Seven Movies/DVDs That I Watch Over and Over and Over Again:

1. Heathers
2. RHPS
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
4. Any of the Wallace & Gromit movies
5. Young Frankenstein
6. Shoah
7. Matrix

Seven celebs who I would be friends with:

1. Melissa Etheridge
2. George Clooney
3. Matthew McCaughnehey (or however you spell it)
4. Stephen King
5. Robert Duvall
6. Sandra Bullock
7. Tina Fey

Seven People I Want To Join In:

Feel free...

Ten Books

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what ten books would you want along? [reworded slightly...]
1. The Message
2. A really good book on how to survive on a deserted island, including a chapter on being rescued.
3. A compendium of Danielle Steel's works. All of 'em in one volume. For firestarter.
4. A crossword puzzle book.
5. Anna Karenina or War & Peace. This is the only way I'll ever get through one of them.
6. Something by Kafka. It would be fitting.
7. Oh the Places You'll Go
8. A complete edition of all the Dead Sea Scrolls.
9. Ogden Nash's complete poems.
10. The Long Winter.

Muppet

Big Bird You scored 85% Organization, 55% abstract, and 74% extroverted!/TD>

This test measured 3 variables. First, this test measured how organized you are. Some muppets like Cookie Monster make big messes, while others like Bert are quite anal about things being clean. Second, this test measured if you prefer a concrete or an abstract viewpoint. For the purposes of this test, concrete people are considered to gravitate more to mathematical and logical approaches, whereas abstract people are more the dreamers and artistic type. Third, this test measured if you are more of an introvert or an extrovert. By definition, an introvert concentrates more on herself and an extrovert focuses more on others. In this test an introvert was somebody that either tends to spend more time alone or thinks more about herself. You are very organized, both concrete and abstract, and more extroverted. Here is why are you Big Bird. You are both very organized. You almost always know where your belongings are and you prefer things neat. You may even enjoy cleaning and find it therapeutic. Big Bird is never sloppy and always under control... pretty good for a 6 year old bird living without a family. You both are sometimes concrete and sometimes abstract thinkers. Big Bird can be quite dreamy at times and has no problem using his imagination. At the same time he is also practical and can be methodical in his search for answers to questions. You have a good balance in your life. You know when to be logical at times, but you also aren't afraid to explore your dreams and desires... within limits of course. You are both extroverts. Big Bird gets along with everyone. He makes friends easily and always has a positive attitude. You definitely enjoy the company of others, and you don't have problems meeting new people... in fact you probably look forward to it. You are willing to take charge when necessary or work as part of a team. The other possible characters are Oscar the Grouch Bert Snuffleupagus Ernie Elmo Kermit the Frog Grover Cookie Monster Guy Smiley The Count If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also if you want to tell me your favorite Sesame Street character, I can total them up and post them here. Perhaps your choice will win!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 95% on Organization You scored higher than 42% on concrete-abstra You scored higher than 80% on intro-extrovert

Link: The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test written by greencowsgomoo on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Hey, who can argue with this? I'm one of the few muppets with legs! Not sure about all of the descriptions, but I do like the Bird.

Friday's Feast

Feast Eighty-Five *This week's Feast is an oldie but goodie.*

Appetizer
What job would you definitely not want to have?
Anything in food service, from waitressing to dishwashing, but especially food prep. It's hard work with little reward.

Soup
Oprah calls and wants you to appear on her show. What would that day's show be about?
Realistically, it would have to be something about libraries. In my fantasy-world, she'd give me big stacks of cash.

Salad
Name 3 vegetables that you eat on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, the big one is potatoes. Then I'd say onions and lettuce.

Main Course
If you were commissioned to rename your hometown, what would you call it?
I like it's current name just fine--Englewood. If I were being forced to change it...wow, that would be hard. We could name it after my grandfather--Groverville. hee hee hee I think I'd lose my job as Renamer if I suggested that.

Dessert
If you had a personal assistant, what kind of tasks would you have them to do?
Clean my house and keep it tidy. Hands-down, without a pause to think.

Friday Fiver

Five Yous

1. Which movie character is most like you?
I haven't seen any that are like me (hello, Hollywood), although many of Meg Ryan's roles come close. Maybe a Katherine Hepburn (Philadelphia Story) movie, but I haven't seen many. Or possibly Winona Ryder in "Heathers."

2. Which TV character is most like you?
I really only watch one scripted show now. On CSI, I'd say Sarah is closest (watch how she handles power tools!). On old shows...{hee} Mary Anne from Gilligan's Island.

3. Which literary character is most like you?
The title character in Father Melancholy's Daughter by Gail Godwin. That's the first thing that popped into my head. Possibly Kinsey Millhone (Sue Grafton's detective) without all the drama.

4. Which song describes you?
A lot of U2 songs: "One" for instance.

5. Which animal is most like you?
A Rottweiler, especially when I'm annoyed, or when I have something I need to do. Sometimes I can be a bit of a monkey, too.

Friday Five

Lights, Camera Action

1) If you were to star in a movie, who would you want to be cast as your love interest?
This is surprisingly difficult. Uhm... OK, William Petersen. Or Howie Long (except I'm not sure he can act).

2) What genre of movie would you most like to star in?
Comedy, not slapstick, but something slightly intelligent. Possibly a rom-com.

3) What song would you insist be on the soundtrack?
Dolly Parton's version of "I Will Always Love You" if it's a rom-com. It would be interesting to see how "A Mighty Fortress" could be fit into a Hollywood movie appropriately.

4) What would you wear to the premiere of your movie?
Jeans and a comfy T-shirt. And cowboy boots.

5) Who would you thank in your Oscar acceptance speech?
Beast, Sparky, my parents, the cast and crew. And, by the way, I wouldn't leave the stage till I was finished, mike or no mike.

Five on Friday

Luck of the Irish

1. Are you Irish?
I am today. Isn't everyone?

2. Are you by any chance wearing green today?
Still in my pjs, but they have little green snowmen all over them (fortunately).

3. What kinds of special things do you do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
We'll have corned beef and potatoes for dinner, and I have an appointment for Dinner by Design this morning to try it out. Big thrills, eh?

4. Do you believe in luck? How about fate?
Do I believe in luck? Luck is random chance, so yes, I do. Fate, however, sounds an awful lot like predestination, a cornerstone of Presbyterianism. Guess I believe it that, too.

5. What would you do if you found a pot of gold?
Having just reread The Goblet of Fire, the first thing I'd do is make sure it's not leprechaun gold (which disappears). Then I'd put it in the bank and try to figure out which charity gets it.

Thursday Threesome

::Erin go Braugh!::

Onesome: Erin-- Quick, toss out two names that sound the same yet are spelled differently! We'll spot you "Erin" and "Aaron" to get you going...

Toni/Tony
Marion/Marian
Katherine/Catherine/Katharine/Catharine
my name {hee}

Twosome: go-- ...going to do anything special this Friday? Green pancakes for breakfast perhaps? (Seriously, I know someone who does that...)

Corned beef and mashed potatoes for dinner. That's it. Big thrill.

Threesome: Braugh-- Erin go Braugh! There are many sayings for St. Patrick's Day. What is one you've heard and liked? We'll give you one in closing...
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

May there always be work for your hands to do ..
May your purse always hold a coin or two...
May the sun always shine on your window pane..
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain...
May the hand of a friend always be near you...
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you...
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

And I mean it. There are a bunch more here if you're in the mood.

Booking through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

This week's questions about self-help books are from Nicki.

1. Have you ever read a self-help book? A-yup. Not recently, but, yes, I'll cop to a few.


2. What do you think about self-help books in general? In general, I think they're a crock of shit. There are occasional good ones, but I've sort of given up on improving myself. It's hopeless.


3. Would you ever recommend a self-help book? I could think of a couple of books that I'd recommend, if asked, outside of work. Otherwise, I keep myself opinion-free as much as possible at work.

Not that I don't have opinions.
Obviously.

3x Thursday

Weekends (and days off)

1. How do you feel about weekends? Do you look forward to them, or do you loath them? Why/why not?
Weekends are weird when one works them. So my "weekend" is really Sunday/Monday (except when I work Sundays). Generally, when I have a real weekend, I find myself busy doing something non-work-related, which is fine, but I also like weekends where I just hang out doing the odd chore, reading, and napping.

2. What do you like to do on the weekends? What don't you like to do?
See above. There's not really anything I don't like to do specifically on the weekend. Except maybe have work meetings.

3. Do you ever leave town on the weekends? If so, where do you go? What do you do?
We don't take weekend trips very often, because I work Saturdays a lot. On those rare occasions when we do leave town, we usually go to visit friends.

Bonus Question for Comments: What do you dowhen you have the occasional odd-day (3 day weekends, vacation day, etc)off?
When Sparky was younger, I'd try to play a trip to a museum/aquarium/planetarium...but now that he's a teen, I think I'll let him take the lead. Maybe an arcade or a movie. Nothing very exciting, really.

Personality Type

When I toook this last May, I was a Nurturer. They seem to have a new version out there. Here's what I seem to be today:

The Sonnet Deliberate Gentle Love Dreamer (DGLDf) Romantic, hopeful, and composed. You are the Sonnet. Get it? Composed? Sonnets want Love and have high ideals about it. They're conscientious people, caring & careful. You yourself have deep convictions, and you devote a lot of thought to romance and what it should be. This will frighten away most potential mates, but that's okay, because you're very choosy with your affections anyway. You'd absolutely refuse to date someone dumber than you, for instance. Your exact opposite: Genghis Khunt Random Brutal Sex Master Lovers who share your idealized perspective, or who are at least willing to totally throw themselves into a relationship, will be very, very happy with you. And you with them. You're already selfless and compassionate, and with the right partner, there's no doubt you can be sensual, even adventurously so. You probably have lots of female friends, and they have a special soft spot for you. Babies do, too, at the tippy-top of their baby skulls. ALWAYS AVOID: The 5-Night Stand, The False Messiah, The Hornivore, The Last Man on Earth CONSIDER: The Loverboy Link: The 32-Type Dating Test by OkCupid - Free Online Dating. My profile name: Cataloger

I've italicized the parts I tend to agree with, with the caveat that I don't care for absolutes. ;-)

Tarot

The Hierophant You scored 43 change, 76 wellbeing, 69 wisdom, and 53 truth

The Hierophant represents our inner being, the teacher, and intuition. Intuition is a collection of all of the facts from the conscious mind, sent to the subconscious which in turn looks at the information and acts upon it sending it back to the conscious. True intuition is based upon reason and a collection of the facts. The crown at the top of the head has 5 points representing the 5 senses. Likewise it has 3 levels representing the 3 levels of mind, conscious, subconscious and super conscious. The grey background is symbolic of wisdom, for grey is a mixture of black and white and is the balance of the 2 forces. The keys at the feet are representing the key to super conscious, for in the union of the conscious and subconscious, enlightenment is achieved. This card falls under the vibration of the number 5. some extra words: getting an education pursuing knowledge becoming informed increasing understanding studying and learning seeking a deeper meaning finding out more having a belief system sharing a cultural heritage learning a religious tradition honoring ritual and ceremony identifying a world view following a discipline knowing where to put your faith conforming following the rules taking an orthodox approach staying within conventional bounds adapting to the system fitting in going along with the program doing what's expected being part of the Establishment identifying with a group being committed to a cause devoting energy to a group joining an organization working as part of a team feeling loyal to others being in an institutionalized setting

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 11% on change You scored higher than 79% on wellbeing You scored higher than 56% on wisdom You scored higher than 27% on truth

Link: The What tarot card resembles you Test written by KamikazeParrot on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

I've italicized the bits that seem most pertinent to me.