| You Are 65% Normal |
 Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal You're like most people most of the time But you've got those quirks that make you endearing You're unique, yes... but not frighteningly so! |
When I visited them, about 12. Now they are 16 or 18. For a map, go here.2. What do you always take with you on vacation?
My camera, my journal, my meds.3. Name something you've lost recently:
I have misplaced my "Vertigo" CD. I need to start really looking for it.4. Do you prefer action packed vacations or relaxing ones?
Oh, and my mind and my sanity, but those come and go regularly. They have keys; they can get back in when they decide to come home.
A bit of both is good. Not TOO active, but a healthy hike everyday isn't a bad thing.5. Other people's vacation photographs: do you really want to see them?
If I've been to that place, it's not as torturous. If they tell good stories, and take good pictures, that helps too.
Heirloom roses. The kind that smell nice, have a good blossom, and THORNS!2. If you could have fresh flowers in every room of your house, what would you have and why?
Roses. See above.3. What is your favorite floral scent?
And tiger lilies.
Does vanilla count? I like lily-of-the-valley. Rose doesn't work with me. And not lavender.4. Describe your dream garden!
Lots of rosebushes, like 4 or 5 dozen, of different sizes, varieties, types: floribunda, climbers, minis...
Herbs: mint, chives, chicory, sage (lots of sage).
Cedars. Blue spruces.
And in between everything: columbines of every possible variety.
By the way, I'll also be needing a gardener (or 5), because I really don't like gardens. If I can do that, I'd also like a good hedge maze.
What's a fandom?2.) Do you contribute to it much (write fanfiction, draw fanart, participate in online communities and discussions)?
Having solved that mystery, I guess the most compulsive I am about shows is with Survivor and/or The Amazing Race. Or CSI. And I really don't think I get completely psycho about any of those. I don't belong to any fan sites, for instance.
No. I occasionally read some of the discussions.3.) Do you think that such things are good or harmful to the fandom and why?
...I'm so outta my depth... {shrug}4.) Do you think its good or harmful for the original creator?
When I was heavily involved in ST:TNG stuff, I used to be amused quite regularly by fanfiction writers who got so insanely upset with Paramount for going in a direction diametrically opposed to what the fans have gone with their stories. Guys, it's Paramount's story.5.) Why do you like this fandom in particular?
Not. Yours.
n/a
| Your 2006 Summer Anthem Is |
 Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield "No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins" |
Woohoo! One Hundred Feasts!Probably 8-10. I have no idea. I just know that if someone else yawns--or mentions yawning--I yawn too.Soup
I'm VERY tired tonight--been short of sleep all week while Beast was gone. Hopefully, I can sleep in tomorrow.
Does marching in the Tournament of Roses Parade count as a field trip? Or spending a month in assorted communist countries, followed by a week in Italy?Salad
Otherwise, I don't remember many of them. Maybe the Denver Museum of Natural History/Planetarium (hey! they changed the name!) possibly because a) we went almost every year, and b) my boyfriend and I spent many dates at the Planetarium. Woot: Lazarium! (which doesn't seem to exist anymore--guess the 70s are over...)
Blues, greens, pale yellow...yeah, pale blue.Dessert
This week's questions were suggested by Marie.
| Your Aura is Blue |
 Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor |
We rarely go anywhere just for the 4th, especially when it's the middle of the week. Our 20th anniversary is next week, but we are putting off celebrating it until the week Sparky goes to camp (mid-July).Twosome: are-- What are you reading this Summer? Do you have any recommendations for the gang?
At the end of July we'll be heading to our usual vacation spot with our usual friends. We rent a house every year and it works out well. This year is a new house (for us) so we'll see. Last year was a new-to-us place also, and it sucked. We can do better.
I'm reading Lynne Truss' new book (she wrote "Eats Shoots and Leaves") about rudeness. I've been getting recommendations from Sparky, and of course there's always my enormous list off of which I can draw ideas. And I'm in line for the new Janet Evanovich. I'm just glad to be back to reading....Threesome: free!-- As we do every so often: Have you found any free software or cool extensions lately to share with each other? Fonts? Butterflies?
I ran across this font site yesterday. And I've started cataloging my home library at LibraryThing this week. No butterflies, no free software or extensions. But I still love Launchcast.
| Your Body Image is 8% Unhealthy, 92% Healthy |
 You have a great body image. You know that no one looks perfect, and you're happy the way you are. Also, you don't judge other people on their looks... and it helps them feel better about their own bodies! |
It's the German form of a late Latin name for a plant; the leaves of this plant were used to create garlands. There's a saint, a 9th-century Spanish nun who was thrown into a vat of molten lead by the Moors who shares the Latin version of my name, and a Canadian heroine during the War of 1812 shared that same first name. [among many many others]What does your middle name mean?
It's a Hebrew name which was derived from the Hebrew word meaning "friend". This is the name of the central character a book of the Old Testament. She was a Moabite woman who was the ancestor of King David.What does your last name mean?
I was told many years ago that my hyphenated last name could be translated as "Black Death." I prefer to think it stands for "Black Murderer."So what does your name mean when put together?
A friendly murderer with dark hair who likes to wear plants.What would you have been named if you were the opposite gender?
Hey, what else? Sounds just like me!
First of all, my parents were probably pretty sure I'd be a girl (though my brother wanted a boy, of course).Any other name oddities?
Secondly, my parents didn't name me; my sisters, and I suppose my brother, named me because they felt my parents had had 4 tries naming other kids and had bombed out on each one. Mom & Dad were outvoted. I have no idea what they would have chosen, and it's too late to ask now.
The only decision with my name was, like my siblings', it was difficult to shorten into a nickname. My mom's first and middle name contain 16 letters; her maiden name had 3. I have 21 letters in my name, start to finish.Do you like your name?
My brother was named after Dad's favorite New Testament person. The rest of us have names that couldn't be less Biblical...except my middle name...in spite of my parents' religious beliefs.
I can't think of anything very exciting.
I do now. I didn't when I was growing up.What do you like best about it?
It's short, different. It's kind of entertaining getting mail; and none of the names I use normally in daily life are properly spelled most of the time, even by people who have known me for years.What do you like least about it?
See above: no one spells any of it right. That can be annoying.If you had to change your name (witness protection program, whatever), what would you want it to be?
Sam Jones. Or Cat Stevens. Not sure yet, but I know the latter isn't in use currently...
| 0-15 Golden Child You scored 10. Holy Crap! You're Screwed! |
| Apparently you had the perfect childhood; you may have had a bump or two in the road, but nothing that has really scarred your soul. So be happy, you've had it better than most, wether you believe it or not! Go forth and enjoy the sunshine in your perfect world that resulted from a perfect childhood! Go forth and spread your joy to the world! Actually, is anybody's childhood is this great? Perhaps your family was one of those odd combinations that just works like peas and carrots, like syrup and pancakes, like Elvis songs and Waffle House. Maybe it was that good. I have a hard time believing it, but who knows? Lucky Ass. |
 |
My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Screwed Up Childhood Test written by Mote_already on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
My grandparents are all dead, so I guess I'll be naked in Times Square....lucky world!...eat two entire cans of whipped cream in one go OR one bottle of prune juice?
Oh, whipped cream; no problem....be the world's best golfer OR the world's best defense attorney?
There's no time limit, is there?
Golfer. At least I'd be outside and getting a little exercise....drink water out of a dirty bucket used at a construction site OR eat the leftovers off a stranger's plate at a restaurant?
Leftovers. I know construction sites.
I honestly can't come up with two works, except for words that I refuse to type online, words that "describe" a specific ethnic group. Those piss me off. Otherwise, I tend to listen to the tone of what's said much more than what words are used.2. What two words can make you happy? Explain:
"Sunshine" and "Love." The thought of sitting in the sun always makes me feel better. So does someone telling me they value me. Who doesn't like that?3. Who are two people that can make you angry? Explain:
Beast and Sparky. The people I'm closest to know the buttons to push, and my inhibitions are lower with them.4. Who are two people that can make you happy? Explain:
Beast and Sparky. The button-pushers also do stuff that just makes me happy. Sometimes, they don't even do it on purpose!5. Who is the one person that influences your life the most and why?
My dad. I think of him every day, almost, just as a touchstone of right-and-wrong, love, direction...whatever.
I do recall playing this a couple of times. I don't have any definitive memories of it, but I know it wasn't in a graveyard, there being none anywhere in my hometown suburb.2. Do you know your family background/gene[a]logy?
Which, now that I think of it, is QUITE STRANGE!!
My mom did a lot of work on this for about 15 years, before she was incapacitated. So, I know a lot about her side, a little about my dad's side and all-in-all to know that I'm not likely to related to anyone or anything famous or remotely important.3. Ever visited a real farm?
Uhmmmm, yeah. Stayed on a real farm? Yeah. Drive past farms on my way to work? Uh-huh. Think this question is hysterically funny? Yup. Also realize it's kind of sad? Yes.4. Have you ever been to a family reunion? When was the last time?
My family only does the reunion thing for Rites of Passage: weddings and funerals. Two nieces have been married in the past two years; my brother bagged both weddings. I doubt we'll ever have a proper reunion until my mom or my sister dies, whoever goes first. If my brother bags my sister's funeral, I'll fucking kill him.5. When was the last time, if ever, you went fishing? Do you bait your own hook?
The last time we were in Maine, I cast a few times into the lake, illegally, since I didn't spring for a license. I didn't catch anything, but it was fun flinging the line into the water from the dock a dozen times. Then I got bored and tired of being bitten by mosquitoes (it was dusk). I handed the pole back to Sparky who, fifteen minutes later, produced a respectable-sized catfish.6. Have you ever held a garage sale? How much did you make?
Oh, and, no: it wasn't my hook to bait. Thank goodness.
I think I've done two. I only remember one, so I'm hedging a bit. I hate having them. The only reason to do them is if you have a crapload of stuff to unload, which I rarely do since I regularly donate all our unused stuff either directly to another family (kids' clothes) or to Salvation Army et al.7. How well do you get along with your inlaws (if you are married)? Are you close to any of your exs' families?
I don't have any exes, so that's a moot point. But I get along fabulously with my inlaws. Mostly, I get along better with them than I do with anyone in my own family except my oldest sister (of late) and my oldest niece.8. Circles or drops? (think spinning rides or rollercoasters)
NO SPINNING!!! NO! I'll go as high as anything and/or drop, but I will not spin horizontally. Somehow, spinning vertically isn't bad. There's a carny ride at our county fair that's like a tier of seats that goes up and down in a big circle; that doesn't bother me in the least. Feels good, in fact, on hot days--the only breeze around!9. Do you mind being photographed?
I don't look for opportunities, but I also don't hide behind magazines whenever someone points a camera my direction like some people I've known.10. How well do you get along with your neighbors?
We get along very well with our immediate neighbors. The neighbors who think the Fourth of July commences on the first day of summer and ends on September 5...eh, not so much.
I'm even getting along fairly well with my Terminally Annoying Neighbor. I'm trying very hard to be forbearing; she has no clue how often I want to bite her ankles.
Five. Which is crazy. When we moved into this house we mostly had mobile/cordless phones. Those don't work if the electricity (but not phone service) goes out. And there was an issue about testing our own phone line when we lost phone service, which apparently requires a corded phone as well.Got any really old phones that you still use?
Then, for some reason Beast felt we needed a two-line phone with speakers and all kinds of other whistles and bells for the office, even though we only have one line into the house and it takes a 50-page manual to learn how to do anything at all with this phone; all I can do is answer it. I can't even dial out on it...
...sigh.
The other corded phone, which lives on Beast's nightstand, is also a clock radio. It's not ancient, but it's older than Sparky, who is 13 (if I keep telling people that, eventually I'll believe it!).Are you planning on going completely cellular and ridding yourself of landlines?
Nope. I see the logic, but we have crappy cell service where we live (which tells you just how far out in the boonies we live!). It wouldn't really be sensible. Not yet, at least.
There is a couple at our church: he is one of the assistant principals at the high school and she works for a national magazine. They have a solid, fun marriage.What branch of the armed services would you prefer to join? (you have to pick one)
Another possibility is our church secretary and her husband, who went with us on our trip to Mississippi. They are seamless in their relationship, and so different you'd think there would be great difficulties. But there aren't. They are wonderful together.
I think the best testimony I can give here, though, is to my sister and her husband. They don't always agree 100%, but he is standing right by her side as she descends into the hell of MSA/PD. They are both facing their joint future with full knowledge, together.
In general, I'd pick the Coast Guard, but I can't swim. So probably the Air Force. But, to be honest, right now I'd be more likely to run to Canada than I'd be to sign up with any part of the armed forces.
I keep most photos, if they are objectively good photos, pretty much regardless of the subject matter. "Other things"--kind of depends on whether they are useful. If, every time I put on a piece of jewelry, or use a certain gadget, I'm likely to think about the horrible END of the relationship, I'd probably pitch it. If, however, using the item reminds me of the relationship itself, I'd be more likely to keep it.2. After a horrible break-up, wherein you feel someone's done you wrong, do you tend to let it slide and move on, or search out some revenge? Any stories you'd care to share?
On the other hand, I might temporarily put everything related to that person away for a few weeks as a coping mechanism....
No revenge for me, at least no plotted revenge. I might trash talk for quite some time, however. I just don't have the staying power of deep hatred in most cases.3. Have you ever broken up with someone, only to wind up dating them again, or becoming friends with them again? Did this happen because one of you or something about the relationship changed? Or were you not meant to break-up in the first place?
I've broken up (more or less) with two guys only to end up going out with them again. One time we pretty much just ended up "dating" as friends for awhile a few months down the road. The other one...I can't seem to get rid of: I married him.4. Do you take the time to learn from your mistakes in different relationships and friendships after they end, or do you move on as fast as possible?
Both. I move on, but I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong. Mostly, I worry about what I did wrong. The good news is that this doesn't drive me as nuts as it used to. Things change, and sometimes we just need to go with the flow.5. In your opinion, is trying to stay friends with a former romantic partner after a break-up a good idea or a bad idea?
I definitely don't think this is a one-size-fits-all question. I'd be likely to want to stay on at least cordial terms with people "from my past." Sometimes, however, it just isn't possible. For instance, if the other person was emotionally (or otherwise) abusive, I'd bag the whole thing and call it Lesson Learned.
Yes, I do. Love it.2. What is your camera of choice?
See Q1.3. If you're a digital camera fan, do you print your own photos, or do you send them in to be printed? If you send them in, do you have a favorite place?
Knowing what I know about inks and paper, and the short-life thereof, I almost never print my own photos. I upload them to snapfish and prints are mailed to me. I can do it while I'm watching TV or making dinner. Presto!4. How many pictures do you take a month?
I am very inconsistent in taking pictures. I probably take about 500 pictures a year, a number that I'm sure has at least doubled since the arrival of the digital camera in our household.5. How many of those pictures actually get printed?
I only save (and count) the good pictures. I have prints made of over 90% of them.6. Are you planning on purchasing a new camera in the near future?
No. We have a hard enough time keeping track of the two we own (one digital, one 35mm that mostly Sparky uses now, it being about the same age he is).
I'm using the former site, because I can't access the comments in the other one. Here's my choice:
from justanotherphotoblog
Anything made primarily of processed sugar. I don't very often crave a specific food, but you will find me prowling around my general area looking for sweets. My bad times are about 11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find the most difficult to give up completely for the rest of your life?
Bread, or anything bread-like: rolls, bagels, tortillas, pitas...
Obviously, the low-carb thing didn't/doesn't work for me.
I'm using the criteria of visiting at least twice a month:1. Amazon--#6I"ve used several of the others, probably 50% of them, but not regularly.
2. CNN--#9
3. imDb--#29
4. WebMD --#53
5. Library of Congress--#56 [like, every day I'm at work...!]
6. Dictionary--#79
I kind of like the idea of an asbestos book, but that's not too original. I think I'd like to be a book filled with hidden dynamite so that when burned I catch the damn city on fire.Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
This week?The last book you bought is:
I had a thing going for the Hardy Boys (BEFORE the bad 70s show, mind you). I would do anything, positively ANYthing for Robert Parker's Spenser (not, again, the TV incarnation played by Robert Urich). I sorta like Rochester in Jane Eyre too.
There are so many others....
(was) probably a gift. I don't remember, though I'd bet on it being around Christmas-time. I know I bought a bunch then....The last book you read:
Oooh, I double-bought a book called Walk On (by Steve Stockman) for my nephew for Christmas. I've been reading it all spring. It's sitting next to me now; I'm determined to finish it today, not because it's so bad, but because there's a lot to reflect on.
Does listening to the most recent Harry Potter book on CD count? Because otherwise, it's been a long time. Let me check my reading blog...The Lions of the North (Edward Marston) looks like the last book I finished...six freakin' weeks ago! That's a record for me.What are you currently reading?
As I said above, I've been working on the Stockman book. I'm also plowing through The Brothers K (David James Duncan), The Four Witnesses (Robin Griffith-Jones), and listening to Blood Lure (Nevada Barr). Seems like I've forgotten one other one.Five books you would take on a desert island:
All this after a 3-month desert in which I did only magazine- and blog-reading. It's nice to be back in the traces.
I've answered this so many times, I should compile the answers and see if they're all the same.What book are you ashamed to admit that you haven't read?
First, of course, would be The Message (Eugene Peterson).
Then I think I'd probably pack in a single-volume compilation of all of Shakespeare's works.
How about Dante's Hell/Heaven/Purgatory cycle? That would be sort of apropos, wouldn't it.
Another compilation of all the Stephanie Plum books (Janet Evanovich) would be nice to have for comic relief.
I still think the best book to have would be a "How to Survive on a Deserted Island Until You Are Rescued" type book.
It occurs to me that this question really needs to be rewritten/reimagined in this era of ebooks: there's really no longer a limit of number of books, but ohmy would you want to bring along a TON of batteries!!
People keep trying to make me ashamed of not reading anything by Jane Austen. It has ceased to work. No guilt at all, not a shred left.Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 people) and why?
I've tried multiple times to read Cry, the Beloved Country. I wish I could get past the first 50 pages.
But I guess the one that I'm totally ashamed--really ashamed, not just wishing I could read, or wanting to read, or whatever...ashamed because I know I'll never ever be able to read it--is the book my dad wrote about 15 years ago and asked me and the Fun Sister to copyedit. We both started, she made it further than I did...and it was so awful that I couldn't bear to finish it. Now, I'm not even sure where my copy is.
OK, here's the thing: I don't do this normally, but I am anxious to hear from people who don't generally get all talky about their reading. Then again, I'll read all takers' answers.
"I just saw [sweetmemes.blogspot.com]I'm blushing...but I'm off to get "reviews" for the rest of my blogs. [addenda: none of which were nearly as amusing as this one...oh, well]. The code is very professional. Powerful but elegant. The URL has 30 characters. Just the perfect length. A masterpiece. If only my sister would have a superb page like that. Seeing Sweet Memes, I'm simply out of words. The color scheme is cubist.
It makes sense to me [kimsquit.blogspot.com]put up a link to this page. There are 37,163 characters in the page, which is a great length for most users. The page contains 145 links, a good amount.
(...)
What a superb page! It must have taken a decade to fine-tune the page. Of course, I expected the creator to work within these quality standards. The page proves content is still king."
-- Will Martin, XBBS Newsflash
| You Are A Martini |
 You are the kind of drinker who appreciates a nice hard drink. And for you, only quality alcohol. You don't waste your time on the cheap stuff. Obviously, you're usually found with a martini in your hand. But sometimes you mix it up with a gin and tonic. And you'd never, ever consider one of those flavored martinis. They're hardly a drink! |
I think I'd use pause most. I need to slow down a lot.2. If you could use a "change channel" button to become a totally different person, would you do so?
However, I expect I'd put the fast-forward to good use getting through winters, especially; rewind would be good when I say stupid stuff (all too often).
There are moments when I'd gladly be almost anyone else I know.3. Do you own a gun? If not, what would it take for you to purchase one?
Then again, a lot of those people have so many issues to deal with of their own. At least I know my own problems.
Nope, no guns. Too tempting. I'd want to use it. Which makes sense: why buy something you can't use?4. Take the quiz: What piercing are you?
If we suddenly decided to take up hunting, we'd buy a gun. Otherwise, I just don't see it happening.
I think this link is supposed to be to this one:5. Would you ever get a piercing described in your answer to the previous question?
Tongue Piercing
You scored 65% variable #1!Open up wide and stick it out far, baby! You like to show off, and you're damn proud of it. You're just rebellious enough to show other people that you mean business. You go for it!
My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 55% on variable #1
Link: The What Piercing Are You Test written by sycophantasy on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test
I'm so glad you asked. NO. For a multitude of reasons: tissue damage, dental damage, sheer ugliness, loss of ability to talk properly...6. Do you tend to visit friends and relatives at their homes more or have them visit you in your home more?
Ish.
I'd say it evens out for all of us. I haven't visited my brother at his new (2-year-old) house though. Someday.
| You Are 52% Indie |
 You're pretty indie, but you don't make a fuss letting everyone know. You just do what you like. You enjoy many types of things - from trendy to bizarre. |
I have a couple of shirts of my dad's that almost always make me feel less blue when I put them on. Otherwise, I don't really worry about clothes that much; if they're comfortable (and most of mine are), they're good.2. What do you do to make yourself feel better when you're in a funk?
The short answer is eat. That's a bad thing. Otherwise, I blog, read, or do crosswords. Basically, I don't do much work, which would very sensibly make me feel better about accomplishing something...3. Has anyone ever surprised you in a way that let you know you were special? How?
I was just talking to someone yesterday about having had two surprise baby showers when I was pregnant. Those were fun. I'm sure there are other times, too, but they escape me right now.4. When you are having a "good day," how do you spread the happiness to others?
Smiles and cheerfulness all around; I'm also more willing to listen--up to a point--to other people's issues.5. What is one thing that puts you in a bad mood, no matter how good you were previously feeling?
Having the schedule of my day uprooted and flung in my face is bad. Also, being taken for granted or ignored pushes my buttons (sign of a youngest child, I think), as does someone telling me about some kind of injustice done to them. I tend to get all worked up about that.
Today, I can honestly say it's about a 9. I rarely get below 5 (though earlier this month I was about as low on the scale as I've ever been).Soup
Probably this morning when I asked Sparky if he was watching TV. Stupid: I knew he was.Salad
Or possibly later in the day, something Sparky 'fudged' that I didn't catch.
This has been on my mind today, off and on:Main CourseThe power of love and the power of healing
This life isn't fair
It's gonna get dark, it's gonna get cold
You gotta get tough, but that ain't enough
It's all about soul
There are people who have lost every trace of human kindness
There are many who have fallen, there are some who still survive
Physical pain? If it's not major pain, I mostly whine a lot and take measures to alleviate it. If we're talking major pain, I go to the Lamaze breathing and get to a hospital.Dessert
I'm watching CNN, Anderson Cooper, talk about arrests of "terror suspects" in Florida. Damn. More fuel on the fire of the Patriot Act.
Not anymore, not regularly. We get together when we can, hopefully at least a couple of times a year. Mostly we talk by phone.2. Do you think men & women can truly be just friends? (This one is inspired by something I read in July’s Cosmopolitan!)
When we get together, regardless of location, the main occupation is talking. A lot.
Of course they can, but only if they are mature enough to handle it. Friendships, however, do evolve.3. Do you have a “best friend”?
Yup.4. What are the 3 must have qualities for a friend to possess?
For me, the top 3 are patience, humor, and compassion.5. What are the deal breaker qualities that will cause you to not be friends?
Meanness, lack of honesty, and selfishness.
1. What was the last new song you discovered?
Depends on the work in question and the reasons for reading it. I personally find abridged Latin classics to be the only way I can get the point of the story. "Madame Bovary" abridged is a great thing. "The Grapes of Wrath" abridged, also a great thing. "Jane Eyre" abridged is horrifying.2. If abridgements have their place, what is it?
I hinted at this above: I think if the reader is just trying to get an outline of the story and some sense of the flow, they are fine. If the reader really wants to get to know the author and the story, then they are the wrong way to go.3. Have you read any abridgements, or will you read any? Why or why not?
Some authors really need to have their work tightened up (Tolstoy, anyone?) but don't mess with my favorites!
Oh, and if all you've read is the abridged version of Tom Sawyer, you really shouldn't pretend to be an expert on Mark Twain. Not that I've ever met anyone who has tried to do that...{snort}
Confession time: I haven't read too many, maybe 2 or 3. Reading them feels like cheating. I'd rather read Cliffs Notes. I always wonder what's been left out: the "dirty" bits? the descriptions of a scene I can't quite picture?
| What Your Soul Really Looks Like |
 You are a warm hearted and open minded person. It's easy for you to forgive and forget. You are a grounded person, but you also leave room for imagination and dreams. You feet may be on the ground, but you're head is in the clouds. You see yourself with pretty objective eyes. How you view yourself is almost exactly how other people view you. Your near future is a lot like the present, and as far as you're concerned, that's a very good thing. For you, love is all about caring and comfort. You couldn't fall in love with someone you didn't trust. |
I tend to drive a conservatively safe 3-4 mph over the speed limit wherever I drive, unless everyone else is going too slow for that. If there's no rush, no specific time I need to be somewhere, I don't really worry about the rest of the traffic around me, just go with the flow. If I'm running behind, I do get tense. Beast tends to want to be FIRST regardless; FIRST and IN FRONT of everyone else. I just don't care.Twosome: up- What drives you up a wall when you are driving? If you don't drive, just tell us your biggest pet peeve.
I've been accussed of walking fast, but I've got long legs so that could just be complaints from shorter people. I've slowed down since Sparky's appearance so that he can keep up with me, but I still make people crazy by 'gunning it' and taking off without warning. I emphatically do not like meandering. I'm a point me and push me off kind of person: Point A to Point B to Point C.
People who aren't paying attention to the world while driving make me insane. I've been known to get distracted in the car, so I know how easy it is. But really: just because you're on the phone, listening to a great song, arguing with someone in the car with you....none of that means you need to forget you are mainly trying to control a lethal weapon! Stop with the mascara, look for the quarter you dropped on the floor later, pull over to read the map, PUT DOWN THE PHONE...and drive. Dammit.Threesome: and wait- You rushed to get where you needed to go on time, and now you face a wait. Your date's not ready, your table in the restaurant you booked isn't ready, or the doctor is running behind, whatever it is, you were on time, but they aren't. How do you react? Do you complain, sit and wait, all the while silently fuming, or just settle in and wait, accepting it as part of life?
Don't get me started on doctors.... {hrmph}
Most of the time I don't get too stressed over waiting. I'm aware that I'm not the center of the universe, and stuff happens that I don't know about to cause delays.
However, I do get really annoyed at doctor's offices if I've had an appointment set up way in advance and I have to wait more than a half hour or so. The pediatrician is the WORST: too many emergencies, too much time spent with patients, and not enough consideration taken when scheduling appointments!
If I have something to read, or something with which to write, I'm good for a long wait. Sitting around looking at nothing (examining room, empty rooms at train stations, etc.) are killer, though. I tend to start pacing after 10 minutes.
I've somehow ended up with Mom & Dad's china, which is nice, since we don't have any other china (I didn't register anywhere when I got married--nowhere...oh the trauma!).2. Did you have a childhood hide-out, and if so, describe it:
I've also got 8-plus boxes of (mostly) paper to sort through. Some is valuable (carbons of letters my dad sent, photographs); some is crap (a genealogical map of all the counties in PA--most of my family is from WEST of the Mississippi River!).
And about 10 years ago my mom gave me "back" my salt-and-pepper shaker collection...which I'd never seen before in my life. They were all wrapped up in newspapers dated in the late 50s...years before I was born. I still have all of those, most of them still all wrapped up. And now I actually do, sort of, collect salt and pepper shakers.
For all intents and purposes, I never really needed one: I was a de facto only child from about age 8 onward. I mostly "hid out" in my room. Or wherever the TV was.3. Describe your relationship with your immediate family and how it makes you feel:
My relationship with my family-of-origin: convoluted, complicated, rarely easy, competitive.4. Do you and/or your family do anything for the needy, and if so, explain:
It makes me stressed to think about it, and that's probably why we all live at least 500 miles apart (those of my generation). We get along best when we aren't sharing the same air. I would kill for them...and there are many times when I've wanted to just kill them.
My family-of-choice: inward-focused, somewhat competitive, jokey, intense.
Usually our relationships make me feel loved and cared for. Sometimes tbey make me feel more than just a little claustrophobic.
We just got back from MS, rebuilding houses. We do other stuff in local urban rebuilding programs. Not as much as we could (or should--oh, that hated word!). We also give plenty to church, some of which goes to local ministries: homeless, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project, etc. Every Christmas for th last 7 years or so we've contributed at least one complete Christmas Child box for Samaritan's Purse.
Damn, I feel like I'm writing my c.v.
All of my grandparents were dead by the time I was 10 or so. I don't really remember either of my grandfathers--one died 17 years before I was born--and my grandmothers were in their 80s when I was born.
There are vague memories of Mom's mom because she had ice-cold hands all the time, and lovely long white hair she normally kept in a bun on her neck, except when the grandkids came: we were allowed to brush it out for her. She was in a nursing home all the time I remember her.
I remember being sick once as a child and Dad's mom took care of me (why? was this one the times Fun Sister was in the hospital? hmmm?) and let me lie on her couch and do nothing all day. That's the only 'normal' memory I really have of her: she hit the nursing home when I was 6 or 7 and failed rapidly after that.
ABOUT YOU: You are an AnalystI've marked the bits I think are the closest to the reality of me, and the bits I need to work on.
Your attention to detail, confidence, sense of order, and focus on functionality combine to make you an ANALYST.
You are very curious about how things work, delving into the mechanics behind things.
Along those lines, how well something works is usually more important to you than what it looks like.
You find beauty and wonder mainly in concrete, functional, earthly things.
You are very aware of your own abilities, and you believe that you will find the best way of doing things.
Accordingly, problems do not intimidate you, as you believe in yourself.
You trust yourself to find solutions within the boundaries of your knowledge.
You don't spend a lot of time imagining how things could be different—you're well-grounded in the here-and-now.
It is important for you to follow a routine, and you prefer the familiar to the unknown.
You are balanced in your approach to problem-solving, not letting your emotions hold you up.
You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.
You do your own thing when it comes to clothing, guided more by practical concerns than by other people's notions of style.
Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.
If you want to be different:
Try to embrace the imaginative, creative part of your personality more often.
Try moving beyond the things that you find comfortable—open yourself up to a broader range of experiences.
HOW YOU RELATE TO OTHERS: You are Advocating
Being social, empathic, and understanding makes you ADVOCATING.
Some people find being around others exhausting—but not you! You are energized by spending time with friends, and you are good at meeting new people.
One of the reasons you enjoy conversation as much as you do is that you often learn about yourself while talking things out with a friend; you realize things about your own beliefs while discussing them with others.
You have insight into what others are thinking and feeling. This ability allows you to be happy for others, and to commiserate when something has gone wrong for them.
You are highly compassionate, and being conscious of how things affect those close to you leaves you cautious about trusting others too hastily.
Despite these reservations, you are open-minded when it comes to your worldview; you don't look to impose your ways on others.
Your sensitivity towards others' plights contributes to an understanding—both intellectual and emotional—of many different perspectives.
As someone who understands the complexities of the world around you, you are reluctant to pass judgments.
You are balanced in your approach to problem-solving, not letting your emotions hold you up.
You prefer to have time to plan for things, feeling better with a schedule than with keeping plans up in the air until the last minute.
You do your own thing when it comes to clothing, guided more by practical concerns than by other people's notions of style.
Generally, you believe that you control your life, and that external forces only play a limited role in determining what happens to you.
If you want to be different:
While it's important to think about others, don't forget to take some time for yourself, and occassionally to put yourself first.
Take some time to spend with a few close friends; although it's difficult to find people to trust, it's worth the effort.
When you have great ideas, it can be hard to relinquish control, but it can also feel good to take the pressure off and enjoy someone else leading the way.
This chart shows thirteen personality traits. Each bar indicates the percentage of test takers who entered a lower value for that trait than you did. For example, if Confidence is at 80, that means that 80% of people entered lower values for confidence questions than you did. Based on a sample of 30,000 users.
Confidence -- Low High = 64
Openness -- Low High = 28
Extroversion -- Low High = 48
Empathy -- Low High = 90
Trust in others -- Low High = 40
Agency -- Low High = 70
Masculinity -- Low High = 36
Femininity -- Low High = 16
Spontaneity -- Low High = 18
Attention to style -- Low High = 14
Authoritarianism -- Low High = 30
Earthy/Imaginative -- Imaginative Earthy = 96
Aesthetic/Functional -- Functional Aesthetic = 16
The U.S. predominates, with 84 visits from across the country: Bothell, WA to Carmel, NY, from San Antonio, TX to Aberdeen, SD.
Other North American hits are all from Canada, all 4 of them (and no, they aren't all the same person--two from BC, one from Caribou Island, NS, one from Winnipeg).
The two hits from Brazil are the only South American visitors.
Europe had 6 hits, one each from Russia, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
Two hits from India, including the "astrology" searcher, and two from Japan balance out the last 100.
Beast just sat around most of the day yesterday clicking between golf and NASCAR. The sitting around part is rather unusual for him, so that was special. We also had VERY EXPENSIVE food. (for us)2. Have you ever rented a limo?
We rented one for my mother-in-law's 70th birthday. I can't remember where we went in it, though.3. Fingernails... like long or short?
One of the weird things about living where we live is that it's fairly normal to rent a car to drive you to the airport from where we live (about 90 minutes away). It's cheaper to do that than park at the airport if you'll be gone for more than about 4 days. Sometimes you get a Town Car, sometimes you get an actual limo. When we came back from Europe a few years ago, Beast specified a stretch so we could all sleep on the ride home.
Of course, no one slept.
I'd like them all to be the same length at the same time. I only achieve this by having short nails. Since I tend to chew on my nails, having ANY nails is amazing, but I'm getting better about this. Unfortunately, I have very ugly nailbeds, and not-very-attractive (i.e. not "girlish") hands. Oh, well.4. When was the last time you traveled out of town?
Uhm...last week....?5. What was your favorite thing to do in the car on trips when you were younger?
Sing. When it was more than me and the parents in the car, I was a big "Alphabet Game" player, too.6. Favorite current tv show?
I can't read: motion sickness.
CSI7. On a scale from 1-10, how good a cook are you?
Given time, energy, a good cookbook, and no stress, I hover around 8.8. When was the last time you told someone you loved them?
As a baker, I'd rate myself higher: 9-plus (except I can't get my bread from doing weird stuff lately...grrr).
About half an hour ago when Sparky took off on his bike to a friend's house.9. How good are you with directions?
We're big on the "I love you" thing around here.
I'm not sure if this refers to map-reading or following a recipe or reading an instruction manual. I'd say I'm above average, when I bother to read them.10. What is the most amount of money you have ever lost gambling? Won? (cards, Vegas, bets, pools...)
Lost: in my lifetime, under $200.
Won: in my lifetime, under $200.
that is set to wake me up. Since I wear earplugs, it's turned up fairly loud, but I usually wake up as soon as it goes off.I'd do background checks on everyone to make sure they weren't mass murderers, but I'd also listen to asylum pleas and take them into consideration. Basically, I have to be honest, I'd let anyone in. How the hell else would my ancestors have gotten here? They pretty much snuck in under cover of the dark, I think.Would you vote for a political candidate who was honest, competent, and concurred with your position on most issues if you also knew she was an alcoholic who was promiscuous?
This is a red herring. I'd never vote for a candidate who was a 'practicing' junkie of any kind, whether their addiction was alcohol, wo/men, or illegal drugs. From my experience and understanding, it is simply not possible to be a practicing alcoholic, for example, and be honest or competent long-term.
Having said that, I base my decision more on someone's track record of where they have stood on issues important to me. I don't really care if Candidate Y habituates sex clubs or Wiccan rites (or whatever) if s/he's consistently voted for and spoken out for women's rights or against torture as an approved method of interrogation. If this person has shown the capability and understanding to tell the difference between personal behavior and public policy, I'm good with that.
Which is why I can't get past most of the Republican platform. I resent, and reject all attempts for anyone else to dictate what I can think/do/say about my life. Hey, if I want to attend gay rallies every weekend instead of playing golf...how is that hurting anyone? If my neighbor wants to hit "gentlemen's clubs" every weekend, why would this be something I should ding him for?
I don't feel like I have to LIKE a candidates personal choices; I feel that they are personal choices that are his/hers to make, as long as they don't impact the safety and security of the country or the people.
In other words, props to GWB for being faithful to his religious beliefs; I'm a Christian too. But don't try ramming your brand of Christianity--much of which I don't like--down my throat. I'm ok that he is a recovering alcoholic, but as someone recently said to me, you have to remember that alcohol kills brain cells and factor that into your evaluation. If Clinton wants to boink an intern and they are both ok with it (even though I'm pretty sure this is dangerous ground in terms of sexual harrassment at the workplace), hey--that's between Bill, Hillary and Monica. If I were either of those women I'd've cut off some of his necessary equipment, but it doesn't affect me. At all.
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