Sunday Stealing

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Time Travel

What were you doing ...

1. Twenty years ago?

Judging by my ancient blog--yes, I was blogging 20 years ago!--things were interesting. Lots of library gossip, feelings about work (the concept of being behind at that point is very quaint these days), shopping with my only Shopping Friend (miss those days--this was a Restoration Hardware trip), and Words of the Day. 

2. Ten years ago? 

Again, going by what the blog (different one) says, we were heading into Empty-Nesthood. Sparky had just graduated from college and was headed off to his first (ill-fated) job and middle-school projects' judging was going on. I really miss those. Sparky is currently desperate to have ANY other job than the one she currently has, so that hasn't changed as much as I would hope. My job had started to implode due to my new (then) boss listening to people bitching about me, and others. Beast was about a year out from losing his job, and about 3/5s of the way into moving into a vodka bottle.

3. Five years ago?

Beast was at the Bad Place, we were in mid-lockdown, he was on the verge of his hunger strike leading to Round One with hospice (also, first local hospice--they were great), and I was not blogging. I was using a different site for medical updates on Beast. It took another 10 months to get him out of that horrible place, but he at least did start eating once hospice got me into the building for the first time in 3 months. I was getting through the workdays trying my best to put on my Game Face at work and repressing the urge to punch people on a daily basis--not all of whom were patrons.

4. One year ago?

We were living the dream at the Good Place: Beast was in another (mid-cratering into volcanic chaos) hospice program, working on jigsaws puzzles, eating everything on his plate, drinking diet Pepsi and eating Oreos as much as possible. Sparky hated her job. I hated my boss. Same boss the past 10 years, still throwing out my 'sharp tongue' as a complaint.

5. Yesterday? 

Beast has been dead for 37 days, the funeral flowers are mostly dead (the plants are hanging in), Sparky is still working the same place she was 9 years ago and hating it, I'm still working at the same place for the same boss and not particularly happy about it. In fact, I left work 90 minutes early, again, yesterday because I can't deal with people at all. Even the cute little kids were not ameliorating the direness--and I was scheduled in the children's room 5 hours (made it through 4). A coworker suggested I look into FMLA for a few weeks. I'm considering it. We meet with the attorney to get the estate stuff sorted next Monday. Happy Mother's Day!

Bonus! What will you do tomorrow?

I would really like to take a nap on the front porch. And get the last two weeks' worth of laundry folded up. I'm completely out of work trousers, which these days are nurses' scrubs because holyshitPOCKETS!! I will also probably listen to the rest of Sinisterhood catchup eps (currently listening to April 11), and/or some of the months and months of Patreon updates for other pods I support. Maybe I'll even shower and get dressed: it's currently 2:15 and I haven't done either today.

Sunday Stealing

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January, Part 2 (Misc Questions) 

            

 1. Can you eat with chopsticks? 

I can, but not well and I'd likely starve to death if I tried.

 2. Could you tell real money from counterfeit? 

Probably. I don't see a lot of money anymore. Plastic and EFTs are my best friends.

 3. What do you think about school uniforms? 

I see both sides of the question. I would've hated hated hated them, but I think that's the default student setting.

 4. What ancient civilization would you most like to visit? 

I would like to know about the Incan Empire.

 5. What would make a great new Crayola color? 

There are never enough choices for blue. 💙

 6. If an art project is created with the intent of getting rich and famous, does that cast doubt over its significance as a work of art? 

Nope.

 7. What do you get in trouble for the most? 

Saying things. I have (yet another) post-it reminder on my monitor at work that just says STFU.

 8. Do you blow your nose in public? 

I mean, if necessary. ??  These days, it's a hassle, though so I have to find a closed room.

 9. If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go? 

Quick note to all: money isn't real. Our imaginations make it worth things.

 10. Is it as easy to make you happy now as it was when you were a child? 

Probably. I don't recall being a particularly "happy" child, although I had a wonderful childhood.

 11. Who knows more ... you, or your parents? 

My parents are dead these many long years hence. So, me, by default, which is frightening.

 12. What instrument would you like to be famous for playing? 

Bagpipes.

 13. Would you have sex with a stranger for one million dollars? 

Nope. Add a B to the amount and I'd totally consider some very vanilla sex. No weird shit.

 14. Are you completely in control of your body? 

Hah! Not even close.

 15. What is the coolest web site you know of?

I'm enjoying Blogger again.

Sunday Stealing

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Monday Morning Meme

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.

I've been able to connect with all kinds of people I would normally never have met. That is the best part of the internet as a whole. And I can choose not to engage with people online who are jerks, unlike real life.

2. How do you deal with negative comments on your blog?

Depends on what kind of negativity. If it's insanity, I just delete it. If it's conversational, I'll conversate.

3. There’s never enough time, is there? What would you do with an extra three hours today?

Sleep. It's always about sleep.

4. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?

Anywhere. Honestly, but I can only be gone for about 12 hours and then I need to get back to work.

5. Who was your "arch enemy" in high school? Do you have any enemies today?

I tried :hard to not be on anyone's radar in high school. To be honest, by the time high school rolled around, I didn't really worry too much. Grade school was a whole different story; there was this kid named Paul who hated me....

6. You’re giving the keynote address to the graduating seniors of a high school today. What’s your advice to them?

Prioritize, and enjoy the ride.

7. Thinking of words of wisdom: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

"Be yourself" when I was young. WTH? I had no idea who I was so this was completely unhelpful!

8. Tell us about the best summer vacation you EVER had.

I spent 5 weeks with my oldest sister Ellen and her family in 1975 while my parents went overseas to visit Jean and Reg for the first time. It was the best 5 weeks of my childhood.

9. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why?

My meds, and about thirty other practical things.

10. Would you accept $1,000,000 tax free, if it meant you had to leave the country and never come back?

Absolutely!

11. Do you believe the world will be a better, or worse, place 100 years from now?

I have to believe that it will be better than it is right now.

12. Do you expect to buy a new winter coat this year?

Nope. No money for that.

13. If you could spend one year in perfect happiness but afterward would remember nothing of the experience, would you do so?

Nope. It's all about the memories for me.

+ + + + + + + + +

A Book Meme

1. Do you prefer hardcover, paperback, or Kindle...and why?

Overall, I'd rather read a hardcover, but it's not like I refuse to read ebooks or paperbacks (or audiobooks for that matter). Why? I can block open a hardcover on a counter easier than a paperback or reader.

2. If I were to own a book shop I would call it ...

I wouldn't own a bookstore. I wouldn't be a good seller of anything at all.

3. My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is ...

“Hell is — other people!” ―Jean-Paul Sartre (No Exit)

4. The author (alive or dead) I would love to have lunch with would be ...

Sartre would actually be an interesting choice. He'd probably want to smoke though. Yuck.

5. If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except for the SAS survival guide, it would be ...

I wouldn't be bringing books. I'd be too busy trying to do things like eat and get rescued.

6. I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that ...

... corrected all the typos and grammar issues in books. It's so distracting when an author uses the wrong word.

7. The smell of an old book reminds me of ...

... allergies. Really, I only sniff brand-new books. Old books are full of mold and dust and god-only-knows what else.

8. If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be ...

... Alice in Wonderland. Although I do feel as if I'm there more often than not.

9. The most over-rated book of all time is...

... just about anything by Hemingway. Or Flaubert.

10. I hate it when a book...

... can't get itself started until page 100 or later. Ugh!!

Moratorium

I'm putting this blog on hold for the time being. Life is very complicated right now between figuring out finances, reconfiguring my work schedule, driving back and forth to the hospital several times a week to check on Beast, and generally trying to keep my head together.

If I knew what the future was going to bring, I'd deadline the break, but I honestly have no idea.

Sunday Stealing

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Firsts

First Job:

Babysitting for neighbors.

First Real Job:

Shelving books in my local public library.

First Favorite Politician:

Of all time, U.S. version: John Adams or Abraham Lincoln.
Still living: Jimmy Carter (but Barry's right up there ready to step in).

First Car:

The first car I drove regularly was a 1971 Toyota Corolla passed down from my mom, though I never "owned" it. The first car I ever spent money on was an 1987 Toyota pickup truck.

First Record/CD:

The first one I bought with my own money was a compilation record that had a bunch of songs I mostly didn't know on it. One was Jethro Tull's "Bungle in the Jungle." Another was something by Foghat. Just for clarity's sake, this was definitely aimed at an older, druggier demog than 12-year-old Cat. The first one I bought that I actually played (ENDLESSLY) was, I think, Shawn Cassidy's debut. For my sins.

First Sport Played:

Does Hide and Seek count as a sport? Or jumprope? I didn't do organized sports, except in P.E. class, until junior high (basketball one year, volleyball another year) and I hated it.

First Concert:

First rock(ish) concert was the Beach Boys at the old Denver Bears stadium. But I went to classical concerts from about age 8 on, with my parents. They had season tickets or something for the Denver Orchestra.

First Foreign Country Visited:

England, in 1988. We rented a canal boat for 9 and floated around for a week. It was great!!

First Favorite TV Show:

I used to love Blinky the Clown--how I learned Happy Birthday to You!--and Romper Room when I was wee. Then I eventually aged into Captain Kangaroo and all the PBS stuff.

First Favorite Actor:

I had a little thing for David Cassidy when the Partridge Family was on.

First Favorite Actress:

Marlo Thomas. While I was far to young to understand That Girl!, I loved Marlo's voice and her expressions. Always wondered why she never did another comedy.

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend:

At age 6, I proposed to Chris (Last Name Unknown) across the street. We were going to get married and live in the bush in his front yard where we played (it was a large, branchy bush with a lovely interior "room" that was big enough to sit in on the dirt together). I remember "cleaning up" the "house" like a proper little 60s housewife. And I proposed to him by note, which somehow my mom got ahold of. I wish she'd kept it. Anyway, Chris's family soon moved away--I think they were renters--and I never saw him again. He had a slightly older brother named Tony.

First Encounter with a Famous Person:

I went to a church that was attended by several members of the 1976 Denver Bronco's team. Randy Gradishar--SWOON!!--was there. So was the coach, Red Miller. I was far too shy to speak to them, but I remember being incensed that Gradishar's wife was a cute little thing whose head barely, if at all, reached his chest. Come on, big guys should be with TALL GIRLS. Life is so unfair! (can you tell I was a teen?)

First Brush With Death:

Probably sliding off the road into a median in a blizzard in Wyoming on the way to or from my sister Marie's. Dad somehow slid off, missed the jack-knifed semi that was blocking both lanes of I-25, and slid back onto the road without damaging us or our car at all. A moment that, of course, has gone down in family lore because my sister Ellen immediately told him to "do it again!" Or maybe it was I who said that? I was pretty little.

First House/Condo Owned:

This is the house my dad designed and built in 1946. The room above the garage was built because I showed up and they'd run out of bedrooms. There is one other house with this design in that same town--minus the upstairs room. Mom & Dad lived there, raised all the kids there, and then moved to a condo for retired people in 1994. That tree in front of the living room window in the photo is the one I used to play under. All of the rest of the greenery is new since I left.

First Film Seen:

I don't remember. It involved a married couple in bed together (talking) which was pretty risqué for my family to be seeing. All I remember besides that was a lot of burnt orange decor. No clue what the movie was about.

First Favorite Recording Artist:

As a child? My brother was 10 years older than me, and my sisters even older than that. I grew up listening to Blood, Sweat, and Tears, early Chicago Transit Authority albums, the 5th Dimension, and endless musicals (The Music Man, My Fair Lady, etc. etc.). The outlier, whom I still adore was Sœur Sourire. Jean had her album, which I absconded with while Jean was away and listened to endlessly. I liked "Dominique" of course, but also "Fleur de Cactus" and "Plume de Radis." I have a different copy of the album still. Maybe I should pull it out and listen to it one of these days.

First Favorite Radio Station:

When I was allowed by own radio, I usually chose KHOW (AM). As I got older, I moved to KIMN, KPBI and KAZY (all FM).

First Book I Remember Reading:

ALL . OF . THEM !!! We went to the library pretty much every Saturday afternoon. I got a stack of books while Mom chose something from the New Books. Dad would read to me, lying on the floor with his head against the couch while I sat above him and "played with his hair": bobby-pins, curlers, whatever was in the container from the bathroom, or just combing his hair down over his forehead or making it stand up (he used VO5 gel stuff in it so it was pretty "moldable" for me).

First Meme You Answered on Your Blog:

The first one I did here on this blog in May of 2004 was a writing prompt from a now-defunct site called BlogIdeas about a "family vacation gone wrong." The first question-answer one on this site was from BlogDriveInsanity, which is still up (kind of) though D.O.A. for lo these many years.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
 I Will Never Let You Down (2017)
... because Smellyann recommended Fastball
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Fastball is a trio from Austin, Texas. Austin is the capital of Texas. When you were in school, did you have to memorize the state capitals?

I didn't have to, but I did have them memorized by the time I was in 2nd grade. I still know most of 'em. It comes in handy periodically.

2) Have you ever visited your state's capital?

Yep. I was there in town about 18 months ago, and I saw the Capitol itself 19 years ago. I'm not going back till there are some grownups running the state. We've had nothing but NOTHING since our current governor was elected. The state is in SERIOUS financial trouble, and they are just diddling around, but getting paid. That needs to stop.

3) Fastball played dates throughout Canada this past spring. When did you last leave the US of A?

Last September we were in the U.K. for a family wedding.

4) Tony Scalzo is a founding member of Fastball. He's the singer in the video for this song, and that's his wife, Jennifer, playing the organizer of the speed-dating event. Have you ever gotten a job because you knew somebody?

That's kind of how I got the job I have now. Ah, the good old days of not posting jobs....never gonna happen nowadays. [insert current workplace griping and gossip here]

5) In this pitch to a perspective lover, he admits he doesn't have much money. Last time you went to the ATM, how much did you withdraw?

I always get $300. I use cash at Aldi's and most fast-food places, as well as haircuts and Walgreen's, etc., so I go through it in a couple of weeks.

6) He sings that at times, his mind is hazy. Do you have a good memory for names?

I'm great with names! I totally SUCK at faces and at matching names with the right faces. It's pathetic.

7) Fastball guitarist Miles Zuniga admits that he once had a crush on Carrie Fisher (aka Princess Leia). Tell us about one of your one-sided love affairs, either with a celebrity or someone you knew in real life.

Oh, I had it BAD for Andy Gibb back in the day (c. 1978). Giant poster of him shirtless on my wall. Remember this was the era of super-tight pants, too, so I'm actually surprised in hindsight at my parents' forbearance. It really was heartbreaking when he died, less than 10 years later.

8) Fastball's drummer Joey Shuffield is partial to drums from Pork Pie Percussion. This company was started by Bill Detamore, who began making drums as a hobby. Do you have any hobbies that, under the right circumstances, could make you money?

Nope. Well, I mean, I suppose if I was really motivated and needy, I could make money blogging or Facebooking, or reading (?), but then I'm not sure it would be fun anymore at that point.

9) The fast ball is the most common pitch in major league baseball. Now that the MLB season is past the halfway mark, how is your baseball team doing?

I don't have "a team." And shouldn't baseball season end (and start, for that matter), in warm temperatures by the way?? OK, that's just a tiny chip from the iceberg of disdain I feel about baseball. (Sorry, Gal--but fans are not part of the disdain, so ...)

Sunday Stealing

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The Greenish Questions

1. What is your current obsession?

Skittles. I've been pigging out on them for a couple of weeks, much to my scale's regret.

2. What’s your go-to coffee place?

I don't drink coffee.

3. Who was the last person that you hugged?

Beast.

4. Do you nap a lot?

Heh, yeah. As often as possible.

5. Tonight, what’s for dinner?

I hate you. This is what I'm trying to avoid thinking about right now. We may be looking at grilled cheese or waffles at this point.

6. What was the last thing that you bought?

Garage light bulbs, propane for the grill, and a toilet seat. Living the big life, eh?

7. What is your favorite weather?

Hot and dry, i.e. zero humidity.

8. Tell us something about one blogger who you think will play this week?

There are days, reading her blog, when I'm fairy certain that Kwizgiver and I are living alternate versions of each other's lives. If we looked more like each other, it would be fun to do twin-switch thing for a few days. :D

9. If you were given a free house that was full furnished, where in the world would you like it to be?

Normally, I would say Ouray, but with the health care situation in my family and this country, I'm going to say Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh/English border.

10. Name three things that you could not live without.

My prescription meds, my glasses, my car.

11. What would you like in your hands right now?

I can't think of a thing.

12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures?

Pottering around mindlessly online.

13. What would you change or eliminate about yourself?

I would learn some self-control over food!

14. As a child, what type of career did you want?

I wanted to be a grocery store checker because of the old cash register buttons ... Clearly, I didn't really get out much.

15. What are you missing right now?

Someone to clean and cook for me.

16. What are you currently reading?

Burley Cross Postbox Theft, by Nicola Barker and Christmas Days, by Jeanette Winterson, the latter on my Nook. That's rather a low count for me.

17. What do you fear the most?

Pain.

18. What’s the best movie that you’ve seen recently?

We saw Wonder Woman last week. It was pretty good (to be read deadpan).

19. What’s your favorite book from the past year?

The Home for Wayward Clocks, by Kathie Giorgio and All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai were each good for very different reasons.

20. Is there a comfort food from your childhood that you still enjoy?

White bread and Smarties. Not together (yuck) but individually. I don't buy either very often. Oh, and Mom's oatmeal cookies, but I don't have her recipe, so finding cookies that live up to this is difficult.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Q & A Questions

1. where is your significant other?

About 10 feet away from me in his recliner eating M&Ms, watching golf, and reading the news. Probably throwing heat into his back as well. He's quite the multitasker, my Beastie.

2. your favorite thing?

WHERE is it? I'm not even sure I HAVE a favorite thing that can be located. OK, I kind of OD'd on my mom's day gift Friday: The Hamilton Mixtape. I've got all the songs buzzing around my head in confusion this weekend. The actual CD is currently in the car.

3. your dream last night?

I don't remember anything from last night. Of late, Beast is the one having all the weird dreams. Mine have been unmemorable, literally.

4. your goal?

I don't "do" goals.

5. your hobby?

Reading. Although of late, I've been doing more napping and noodling on the Internet.

6. where do you want to be in 6 years?

I'd like to be right here. I have a feeling, however, that we'll need to move to a flat house (i.e. a ranch) in that time frame because of Beast's health issues. We'll see. It's not something I want to do, certainly.

7. where were you last night?

I was here on the sofa till about 8:30 when we went to bed.

8. what you're not?

I'm not a lot of things: short, stupid, male, African... In fact, I'm probably more NOT than AM.

9. one of your wish list items?

I had to go look at my wish list on Amazon. I'll go with this: Cartier Zeste de Soleil Eau de Toilette Spray

10. your pet?

Pinto Bean the guinea pig is what we have left. How will I answer this question when he's gone??

11. missing someone?

I was seriously missing Dad this morning at church. We sang a song that never fails to remind me of him.

12. your car?

Is blue.

13. something you're not wearing?

Sox.

14. love someone?

Do I? Yes.

15. when is the last time you laughed?

About 5 minutes ago when our neighbor kid came to the door and peered in. He was finishing up mowing and he'd already come to the door about 4 times today, so I laughed and told him, "Just come in; you basically live here now."

16. last time you cried?

Friday? Definitely Thursday. No Kleenex in the ER, either--I was handed a stack of gauze pads.

17. favorite past time?

Sleep.

18. are you a hater or a lover?

I'm working hard on removing hate from the equation, so the default is lover. Truthfully, I'm aiming more at "don't care, don't matter."

19. any vices?

Yeah, I'm not mastering this "eating healthy" thing at all.

20. favorite questions blog other than Sunday Stealing?

Saturday 9, Friday 5, Unconscious Mutterings. There are some weekday ones I'd like to do, but I just do not have the energy/time for them. Many of my favorites are listed in the Memeroll to the right.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Kathy Aay Questions

1. What is the meaning of your blog’s name?

I've answered that before. Here's one of the times (scroll down to "Rumpelstiltskin"--that was a fun meme!).

2. Why did you start your blogging?

Because in 2004, everyone was doing it. To be honest, I was only going to track my reading. Things rapidly got out of control.

3. What’s your usual bedtime?

I'll be sacking out as soon as the race starts. Oh, you mean at night? I'm usually lights-out by 10.

4. Are you lazy?

Eminently so!

5. Do you miss anyone right now?

I've weirdly been missing my sister Jean and my mom both this week. They are sort of linked in my head anyway--LONG story--but usually I don't get the waa-waas at the same time.

6. How would you describe your fashion sense?

Nonexistent. I'm all about jeans and T-shirts.

7. What are your nicknames?

"Miss", "Ma'am", "Excuse me" seem to be the big ones.

8. Are you a patient person?

I'm so much better than I used to be at this! Only knowing where I came from would you ever think today that I'm at all patient.

9. Are you tight-fisted or frivolous?

Of late, VERY tight-fisted.

10. What magazines do you read?

Entertainment Weekly, Ms., Bookmarks and I page through a couple of others when I have time.

11. Are you stubborn?

Er, yeah. For sure.

12. When is your birthday?

About 7.5 months from now.

13. What book are you currently reading?

Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders, by Joshua Foer

14. What phone do you have?

It's a Samsung, about 2 years old.

15. Do you have any pets?

PintoBean is still hanging on, currently noshing on lettuce and living the wild life.

16. Do you have siblings?

I do.

17. Any children or grandchildren?

Just Sparky. He assures me that he'll start having kids by the time he's 30. I'm not sure what the plan is, but as Mom, I'm used to being the last to know.

18. What do you order at Starbucks?

Nothing. Or black tea if it's cold outside.

19. What did you do for your last birthday?

Not . A . Damn . Thing.

20. What’s your occupation?

I'm a librarian, specifically, a cataloger.

21. Do you live in the country or the city?

I live on what someone once called a "house farm" in that we'rd kind of in the country, and this whole development used to be a farm field about 20 years ago. I drive through the country to get anywhere, though.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Ask, ask, ASK

1 - Who was the last person you texted?

I responded to a (small) group Facebook PM this morning; this and my phone messaging are now linked so it's ridiculously easy to text the wrong person by accident from my phone now! However, this one was legit. My reply: "I'll defer to Leslie on this , but I will campaign for you guys too. And as long as it's not on a Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll totally be there." This in response to an out-of-state friend whose husband has just written a book and is looking to do a bookstore visit at our local indie to publicize it. I know the owner. And "Leslie" works there.

2 - When is your birthday?

In 6 days.

3 - Who do you want to be with right now?

No one. I will have the house to myself for a couple of weeks starting tomorrow for the first time in MONTHS! I can't wait!

4 - What sports do you play?

I don't.

5 - Who is the first person in your blogroll?

"First"? It's alphabetized, and I can't even remember who got added when. A couple of those listed are mine, so I guess those would be the oldest.

6 - What is your favorite song at the moment?

I woke up with P!nk's "OMG" on repeat play in my head this morning. While I did hear it (in headphones) at work this week, it isn't the song one would expect me to be humming, not of late. Disclaimer: do NOT click on that link if you are in a PG-rated location!!

7 - If you were stranded on an island, who do you wish to be with?

MacGyver, preferably the old one, not the current one. But he doesn't need to RUSH getting us rescued, just that he's able to do it eventually.

8 - What do you feel right now?

The of-late ever-present sinus headache. Slightly chilly feet (it's 64 degrees and the front door is open ON NOVEMBER 6!! Crazy weather!). And the laptop keys. Because yes I am that literal.

9 - What chocolate is your favorite?

Cadbury. Which is now owned by Kraft, so it's going to get crappy. After that, I'll be heading to Germany for my choco fix.

10 - How many boyfriends/girlfriends did you have?

Cue massive increase in headache pain. Jeez, I'm nearly 53; when will this question just stop!?

11 - Why did you create a blog account?

Because I'm a huge copycat and all the Kool Kids were doing it!

12 - Who is your favorite blogger?

Amy. I never know what I'm going to get when she posts, but it's always ALWAYS interesting.

13 - Where do you want to be right now?

As always, I would love to be in the Colorado mountains somewhere in a cabin with a very comfy bed, snuggling in for a mid-afternoon nap next to a cuddly puppy.

14 - What do you want to be in the future?

Alive. One of the kids in Sunday School today said that her plan for adulthood is to "live until [she] die[s]." I call that a pretty good life plan.

15 - When was the last time you cried? Why?

Friday at my meeting because I was having a mini-pity-party for myself.

16 - Are you happy?

Driving home from Sparky's yesterday, I found myself thinking that life is Pretty Damn Good right now (then): between the weather, the beautiful skies and trees, Beast snoring next to me in the passenger seat, knowing Sparky's doing all right, on a good road with sensible drivers, the smell of burning leaves around us......

17 - Who do you miss?

This weekend, it's my dad. Yesterday would have been his 97th birthday. He died when he was (just barely) 75. I miss him.

18 - If you were given a chance, would you like to have a different life?

There've been a lot of books of late that talk about being reborn in the same body over and over and what you could change and what you would change once you know what those changes do to the rest of your life. I'd love to do that. Except for having to suffer the loss of good people over and over again....

19 - What was the best thing you were given?

Overall, it has to be a stock of strength: physical, emotional, spiritual.

20 - Who was the last person who called you?

Looks like the last incoming call was a reminder on Wednesday about an appointment on Thursday.

21 - What is your favorite dish?

I'm making homemade mac n cheese tonight with hot dogs for Beast as a bye-bye meal. It is my favorite, hands down, too. My favorite LITERAL dish is perhaps the one I make that meal in. :-)

22 - Who is your best friend?

I have a lot of superb friends, and I feel blessed for every one of them and for every single thing I receive from them not to mention the minimal things I'm able to do for them.

23 - What is your biggest regret?

How much I've let fear rule my decisions.

24 - Have you ever avoided your partner?

Well of course!

25 - Who do you spend crazy moments with?

Anyone willing to put up with me!

Aesthetics??

(Found God-knows-where on the internet...)
rules: tag 20 followers you want to get to know better
so I'm already breaking the rules: if you want to use this, feel free; just link back

Name/nickname:

Cat.

Height:

I used to be about 176 cm but I'm pretty sure I'm shrinking so, let's call it 175 these days.

Hogwarts house:

According to my results a few years ago, I'm Hufflepuff. Which suits me--I don't want to be any of the others.

Favorite color:

Blue

Time:

4:46 p.m.

Last things I Googled:

"[state] license plates gh"

Fictional character you’d like as a sibling:

Laura Ingalls for sure when I was a kid. Will Riker would be a fun brother, no?

Number of blankets I sleep with:

Just the bedspread. That might be changing fairly soon, however.

Favorite band:

I have so many. Let's go with Billy Joel today.

Dream vacation:

Cruise around the world, first class all the way, with an unlimited budget.

When did I make this blog:

May 2004 ... yikes

How many blogs do I follow:

I've got 150+ RSS feeds that range from blogs to newspaper headlines to email lists.

What do I post about:

Here, it's all the memes. I have a few other blogs dedicated to different aspects of my life. This one and the books list get the most play by far.

Do you get asks on a regular basis:

What's an "ask"? Apparently I don't get any!

Aesthetics:

Clean, clutter-free, wood and leather, simplicity.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Musical Perceptions Meme

1. Where did you grow up?

I was born and lived my first 18 years happily in suburban Denver.

2. Where do you live now?

Via the shortest route on Google Maps, I currently live 999 miles from the home in which I grew up. 😢

3. What do you think about religion?

I think it's between me and whatever god(s) I do or do not believe in. Especially if nothing I'm doing has any impact whatsoever on you.

4. When did you start using online social media?

Way back in about 1991, I was on the Prodigy boards (BBS) especially active in Ten Forward, where we discussed, in intense detail, EVERY WORD of EVERY EPISODE of ST:TNG. Among other silliness.

5. What did you study to be?

Educated.

6. How are you at this point of your career?

Still educated, but losing brain cells daily. And I love my work.

7. Do you use your real name on a blog?

Hell no!

8. Do people you work with read your blog?

Hell no!

9. Are you on the job market?

I'm not but my husband is. Anyone know about any sales jobs in niche chemistry and construction markets?

10. If you could go back in time to meet someone famous but now deceased, who would it be?

After today's Sunday School lesson, I'm really feeling the need to check in with Mary about the deets around her alleged virginity. This is not something I'm really comfortable talking to anyone about, but the kids at church...they have questions!!

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Mad Hatter's Meme

What’s the meaning or inspiration of your blog’s title?

My first blog was called Sweet Dreams. It wasn't a big stretch that when I created a blog just for memes to make the rhyme thing happen.

What do you consider your biggest strength?

I generally can think clearly in emergencies. My auto-pilot mode is solid.

What do you consider your biggest weakness?

I chatter too much and I'm far too opinionated.

Tell us why we should like your favorite band.

You can like whoever you want. I like a lot of different bands for many different reasons. But U2 is one of those "good band for many reasons" bands.

Who is your favorite model of all-time? Why?

Uhh? That one guy... OK, no really, I don't even.

Does it bother you when people talk about their pets? Why?

Not really. I mean, if they're way too gooshy-smooshy about them, it gets old. But I'm not likely to get irritated at people talking about their kids, so pets are fair game too.

Tell us about your favorite holiday.

I love Thanksgiving. It's really all about family and gratitude and food. I can get behind all of those things! It only lasts one day, there's no ridiculous month-long decor that needs doing. It's just perfect.

What was the last fabulous meal that you ate? Where were you?

I haven't had "fabulous" for awhile, but yesterday's impromptu stop at Applebee's was good. Haven't been there in a very long time. In fact, maybe I'll have the leftovers for lunch.

What’s your lucky number and why?

I pretty much don't believe in lucky numbers. I do return to 3, 8, and 16 often though. Wish I knew why the latter two were involved; I totes get 3.

What are five things you hate?

The smell/taste of liver; mean/catty behavior; selfishness; nails on a chalkboard; endless gray wintry days.

What are five things you love?

The sound of kids unselfconsciously giggling; reading; the smell of cooking food; the taste of sugar; sunny autumn afternoons.

Tell us a secret you can because other than us, who’ll read this anyway?

I really do only watch car races for the wrecks. (OK, it's truck racing this afternoon--same thing)

What is the favorite body feature of yourself?

I like my hands and feet and hair.

Is there a tattoo that you want? If you don’t have one, gun-to-your-head so you have to get one, what would it be?

I'm not much interested in tattoos. If I had to get something, it would probably be my son's initials somewhere bony: ankle or hand.

What do you love about yourself?

I love that I'm tough and stubborn and willing to stick the hard stuff out.

What do you hate about yourself?

I hate that I have a hard time making decisions so often.

Who is someone you miss?

My dad, my sister Ellen, MIL and FIL and Mom. Lately it's been my sister Jean, since I'm going to her son's wedding this week and she often despaired that he would ever have enough sense to make it to adulthood. We are harrrd on our men in my family!

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Jackals Meme

Question 1: Who is your favorite Musical Artist?

My regular go-tos include Melissa Etheridge, Billy Joel, Tobymac, U2, and musicals. However, I listen to lots of different stuff because I'm very easily bored.

Question 2: What is your favorite album by that Artist?

Uh, woops. I don't really have a favorite album. I've been jonesing for a little Chorus Line lately, so I should probably go dig that out.

Question 3: Who is your Favorite Blogger?

I subscribe to close to 150 feeds; of those, there are maybe 6 that I visit literally every time they post: Kwizgiver, WTIT, Amy, Gal, local news headlines, and Awful Library Books. There are others who are close to making the cut, but right now I have 363 articles to catch up on, so...yeah. I'm a nerd.

Question 4: If you could meet anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what is interesting about them?

I can't pick one person. Mostly, today, I'd like to go back a few decades and hang out with my dad when he was young.

Question 5: What did you want to be when you grew up?

Adult. Seriously, I didn't have big plans; I just wanted to stop having my parents boss me around. Silly me--I had no idea how dull adulthood is for very long stretches at a time!

Question 6: What is the most interesting piece of Trivia that you know?

This, you're asking a librarian?? I know so much trivia I can't even pick a direction in which to start. If we want random library stuff..., 641.5 is the Dewey Number for cookbooks, 796.357 is the number for baseball, and Melvil Dui (a.k.a Melville Dewey) was very interested in spelling reform.

Question 7: If you could live in any point of history when would it be and why?

Now. I wouldn't like to have been a woman at any other point in history.

Question 8: What do you think of the election in the U.S. so far?

I try very hard not to. I mean, my (British) niece Facebook-messaged all of us in the family the day Ted Cruz dropped out: ""Wait, so Trump really COULD BE PRESIDENT?!" Yes, we've all been told we could be president when we grew up, but none of us wanted the dumbass throwing spitwads from the back row to be in charge, did we?? [Disclaimer: I might or might not have been that dumbass at some point in my educational career....]

Question 9: What is your favorite TV drama? What do you like about it?

Favorite is probably "Criminal Minds" in reruns. Why? One word: Shemar. OK, and a photo, so you know what I mean:

Question 10: What is the most interesting job you've ever had?

I love my job now. It's rarely truly boring, there's always some kind of drama going on, the vast majority of my coworkers are outstanding people working their asses off, and I get to answer random questions all day (some days) and see all the new materials first (most days). What's not to like?

The past is what makes up who we are. Don't let it become your burden

(Swiped from Amy, the Source of All Goodness)

How tall are you?

171 cm or so.

Do you have a hidden talent and if so, what?

The speed at which I can alphabetize paper slips is astounding. Then there's my rapid-fire updating of OCLC records. But my best talent is sleeping, even when in a situation that would find most people with eyes uncloseable.

What is your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

I guess it's those people who think that because they can post something up on a website it endows them with the same skills as someone who has studied journalism and made a career of it. I have a specific site in mind (they call themselves "County Watchdogs" but really they're just mean-spirited gossips), but I'm not limiting myself to them. "Citizen Journalism" is unreliable at best.

What is your biggest non-blog-related pet peeve?

Meanness. Why we gotta be so bloody MEAN to each other all the time??

What’s your favorite song?

Depends on the day. Of late, "St. Teresa" (Joan Osborne) has been popping up with some regularity.

What’s your favorite Etsy shop?

I don't think I've ever bought anything from anyone on Etsy, but I follow the Tumblr of the woman who does this shop and she (and her work) cracks me up.

What’s your favorite way to spend your free time when you’re alone?

Reading, puzzling (as in Sudoku and crosswords), Facebooking. Mostly in that order.

What’s your favorite junk food?

Those damned Lofthouse iced sugar cookies.

Do you have a pet or pets?

We are down to just Pintobean the guinea pig. Unless you count the dust dinosaurs....

What are your number one favorite non-fiction and fiction books?

Overall, the Kent Haruf novels are my favorites. I mean as the story of the town of Holt. Nonfiction....hmmm, the one that's keeping my sanity the best is probably someone Al-Anon related. A lot of the stuff is inane and insipid, but there's almost always a little nugget of thought-provoking stuff to chew on.

What’s your favorite beauty product?

Burt's Bees lip balm. Not the mango, but the peppermint stuff is wonderful!

When were you last embarrassed and what happened?

I'm mortified that I've been incredibly credible. Again. Why do I believe what people tell me rather than believing the evidence my senses are screaming at me?!

If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Diet Dr. Pepper.

What’s your favorite movie?

The ones that make me laugh the hardest--for obviously different reasons--are Paint Your Wagon, RHPS, and Heathers. The best one EVER is Shoah, but you best bring a truck of Kleenex, some ulcer meds, and something to chew on to keep from screaming, and do NOT watch it if at all depressed.

What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep etc.?

I was co-valedictorian--six of us were within 1/100th in GPA so they weenied out and refused to pick one (I was probably 3 or 4 out of about 300 in my class)--and a huge band-nerd-slash-brainiac.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Right now, that house on Tierra del Fuego, or in the middle of the Mojave, sounds fabulous.

PC or Mac?

PC, because I haven't use an Apple product since approximately 1987. I don't hate them, but it's just easier to use the same basic product at home and at work. This minimizes the hassle in sending files back and forth--though I think nowadays that's less of a problem. It used to be a huge hassle.

Last romantic gesture from a crush, date, boyfriend/girlfriend?

Hah! First of all, I'm married, nearly 30 years in at this point. Secondly, Beast is not exactly Mr. Romantic. However, he did surprise me with those damned sugar cookies recently. ;-)

Favorite celeb?

I don't really like "celebs." There are a lot of famous people that I like because they are doing good and admirable things: Jimmy Carter, Meredith Vieiera, Michelle Obama, even Prince Charles. I don't tend to care too much about people who are famous for being famous (I'm looking at you, Housewives and Kardashians and Survivor has-beens, et al.).

Which blogger do you secretly want to be best friends with?

I am friends with several of the bloggers I follow. One of my besties IRL and several who've crossed into Facebook-friendships. Now that is some weird shit there. If we're talking Big Famous People....Lynne Murphy from this blog is my idol. Funny and smart, and clever, and real.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
25 Fun Meme

1. If you were trapped in a room with the person who asked this for 24 hours, what would you do? The answer cannot be romantic or sexual.

We'd probably talk about books, laugh, read, eat, listen to music...nap. ;-)

2. If you could learn any language instantly, what would it be?

Ancient Greek. Or Hebrew, ancient or modern because I don't think there's a big difference. But what do I know... lol

3. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pretty much has to be the Bible. If it's not in there, humankind hasn't thought of it. I would, however, prefer it be Eugene Peterson's translation, or even Rob Lacey's (especially if he decided to do the whole thing ever).

4. Favorite song lyric?

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Amazing Grace, verse 4

5. Favorite album?

Either M.E. (Melissa Etheridge) or Relish (Joan Osborne). Or a big tie between a whole pile of musicals. ;-)

6. Which time of day would you say is best for you work-wise?

9 to 11 or so. Actually, if I could start work at 7, I'd have 4 good hours every day.

7. Favorite city that you’ve visited?

For different reasons: London (SO MUCH to see, and clean and I understand the transit system); Rome (are you kidding me? Food everywhere and history and OMG OMG); Florence (quieter, cleaner, excellent food, Michelangelo); Denver (hello, mountains and home); San Diego (perfect weather always, and the people are chill); St. Petersburg/Leningrad (even the Soviets, and brutal winters, couldn't spoil the beauty and grace of this city, no more than Hitler could manage to conquer it).

One of these times can we do the shittiest places?

8. Favorite city that you haven’t visited?

I would love to visit Barcelona. I think Taos sounds lovely, and Santa Fe. Someday I'd like to see Honolulu. And Sydney.

9. If you could donate $10,000 to charity, what charity would you pick?

I'd probably split it up between some educational charities and some that specifically work with kids. Or UNICEF which does both.

10. What is one book you wish you could get all your friends to read?

Oh, uh-uh, nope. There are a lot of good books out there. You find yours. I'll give you a list of options once I've talked to you, but for every person who loves Jane Eyre there are dozens who hate it, and both can be right. I'm not going to suggest that for Bud, for instance. Maybe for him Old Man and the Sea or some Robert Parker Spenser books (seriously, they're fun, and funny and excellent). But I wouldn't suggest those for someone like my sister Marie. Reader's Advisory is difficult.

11. What is one movie you wish you could get all your friends to watch?

See above. And I don't know films, anyway, so....

12. What do you think people assume about you from first glance?

I don't think most people even SEE me anymore unless I'm causing trouble. I think they assume I'm old, fat and stupid. Some of that may be true.

13. If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?

I would like to be able to play piano. Maybe I'll pick it up again now that Sparky's out of the house.

14. What is your favorite item of clothing?

Pajamas.

15. Who was your first follower on your blog? Do they still follow you?

It was probably Amy, and I think she's still there. Yes?

16. If you could create one thing, what would it be?

I'd like a cure for cancer, and a few other really horrible diseases, please.

17. Favorite superhero?

Wonder Woman. Of course. Unless Mighty Mouse counts....

18. If you were to write an autobiography, what would you title it?

Boring White Bread Life would be, if nothing else, extremely accurate.

19. If you were to have a band, what would you call it?

I'm really not interested in being in a band. ...moving on...

20. What is your favorite card/board game?

Probably "Trivial Pursuit" but I like almost all games: "Sorry," "Apples to Apples," "Clue," "Life," "Parcheesi" ... you name it.

21. What was the first IM service you used? Who was the first person you talked to on it?

"prince" -- WTH?

We used Prodigy back in the early days of pre-internet life, like 1990-ish. Mostly we started there because my parents (IN THEIR 60s!) were already using it and we could 'talk' there. I think our "ID" was something like TWBX54; I was "a" and Beast was "b." The other four personas we were allowed went unused.

22. If you could give a friendly hug to any one person, who would it be? Cannot be your romantic/sexual partner if you have one.

I'm a big hugger. I hug anyone who will have me. Right now, I'd like to get a hug from Sparky.

23. Have you ever won any sort of contests? What kind?

Some academic things. Otherwise, I didn't really do a lot of competing. Still don't.

24. Who was the last person you hugged? Cannot be your romantic/sexual partner if you have one.

That would be Gail, one of my hug-buddies at church. She's been super-supportive this past week or so.

25. If you could be skilled in any one activity, what would it be? Cannot be romantic or sexual.

I would love to LOVE to cook. Or even LIKE it....

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Gag Me Meme

Do you have a sensitive gag reflex?

Not particularly, definitely not as bad as people who can't help clean up a "situation" because they're afraid they'll contribute more vomit. I once worked with someone with nearly-grown children who told me she couldn't handle when the kids got sick because then she would too. WTF? It's not fun, but really?

Where are you the most ticklish?

Like I'm gonna TELL you? Hah! I learned young that you don't give that kind of info to your older brot.... uhm, enemies!

What was the last situation to upset you?

Sparky made a comment on Facebook yesterday upon which one of his friends commented. I responded and was let us just say underwhelmed by his attitude toward my response, education, my job, and me. I left quickly thereafter; Beast continued the conversation private, but about 45 minutes ago he finally threw in the towel. There is no one so ignorant as a know-it-all recent college grad.

Have you ever had an online argument?

Oops, well, yes. This was only the most recent. I am, actually, much quicker to call myself out when things devolve. I also am VERY unafraid of the Block function on Facebook. Some people are just irritating on purpose, and whether they mean to be or not, I don't need more hassle than I've already got.

Do you like to listen to music while filling out surveys (memes)?

Nope, usually it's TV. Right now it's my Howie (Long) and crew on FOX NFL. I love Howie...sigh

How long do you spend on the phone each day, on average?

Talking on the phone? Less than 1. I don't like talking on the phone, but I use my phone for a lot of other things besides phone calls.

Is anything in your hair right now, like gel, hairspray, etc.?

Nope. It's still too humid for product. Once winter really arrives, I'll start using gel again.

When was the last time you were up before the sun? Do you like wearing sunglasses? Why or why not?

What do these questions have to do with each other, really? I'm up before sunrise about 50% of the time overall. Unless you count insomnia in which case, I'm up before the sun every night. My sunglasses are my glasses--they have magic lenses that darken in sunlight. I haven't ever worn sunglasses in my life, except Rx ones.

Last show you watched?

We're watching foo'baw now, just switched to the Cowboys-Eagles game. Hi, CC! [she and my bro live in Dallas; she's originally from Philly]

Next vacation you’re going on?

We're doing a run through the Ozarks next month. I'm going to Mansfield, MO. If you need to ask why there, you're clearly not addicted to the childhood books I am.

Do you regret doing anything you’ve done this week?

How about just today?? I regret stuff almost hourly. Nothing major today, to be fair, but there are some things I wish I'd've done yesterday that are still looming. And some other stuff that I missed the boat.

Last night you felt?

Yes. I did. { snerk }

What are you wearing right now?

Gray cotton capris, gray T-shirt that says "Born Free" on it, underwear, jewelry and a hair clip to keep my bangs off my face.

Have you ever kissed underneath the stars?

Yup. In fact, that's where most of my early kisses happened.

What are you doing now?

Watching TV and answering circular questions.

What plans do you have for tonight?

The Pack plays tonight!! We'll probably order a 'za to eat while we watch. And we need to tidy up the house for the cleaning ladies this week.

What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up, other than breathe?

Look at the clock and figure out if I need to get up or if this is one of the usual many false-alarms: 12:28, 3:12, 5:01...

Do you like reading?

Huh. Yeah. It's ok.

Do you ever think about stuff and start crying?

I occasionally think about people and cry. Things? Not so much.

Have you ever kicked a vending machine?

Uh, no. That would be counterproductive. Remember, I grew up in the era of "TILT" on pinball machines....

Do people consider you smart?

Probably. Except people who think they're smarter than me. ;-)

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

This sounds like some sort of existential question that I'm not really equipped to answer today. Anyway, I think Beckett died before the Internet Age was upon us.

Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?

Very much so. While I wouldn't say I'm hyper-aware, I am usually pretty clear on where people are and what's going on in a broad sense.

How much money did you spend yesterday?

Not a thin dime. I didn't leave my yard, and I didn't shop online.

Is there anything in your past that you’d like to try again?

Sure. Lots of things. I've a long and storied past, some events of which would be a blast to relive.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene:

Living room. Overcast outside, dim inside except for the blazing light over my shoulder. It's a sunlamp, so it's meant to be bright. Seems a little extra-super-shiny today.

Today's Plan:

Church, then breakfast. Beast has mowing. I need to catch up my reading on GoodReads, and probably do some laundry. Also, the cleaning crew is coming on Tuesday, so I should tidy things up. The guinea pigs need attention as usual. And maybe a nap?

Drinking:

The dregs of last night's DDP.

Listening to:

The clock ticking, my fingers tippy-tapping on the keyboard, and the computer fan. It's very very quiet. Even the fridge isn't running. Beast left early to run the sound booth at church.

Participating in:

Life. I have (grand) jury duty this week. It's scheduled twice a week all month, but they've already told me it'll probably be only one day a week. Also, our database at work will be down tomorrow and Tuesday, which means there is practically nothing I can do in terms of my usual job. Maybe I'll write a procedure manual finally! Actually, my plan is to work on my weeding. It's that time of year: time to clear the shelves of the dreck.

Blogging about:

Just memes lately. I'm so tired all the time that I just don't have the push to be particularly creative. I was set to pick up my CPAP Friday and then ... balls were dropped, insurance was unclear on coverage, etc. The end result is that I might be sorted by mid-September.

Giving thanks for:

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity. That's supposed to revert this week so I'm grateful for a break today. Glad our pastor is back from sabbatical today.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene:

The usual: living room, Beast and I sitting here, both trying to wake up.

Today's Plan:

I will be sorting soap into small baggies. When he travels Beast empties his hotel room of all the 'free' stuff that he doesn't use during his stay. We give the non-liquid soap, etc., to our church for Operation Christmas Child. The liquids--shampoos, lotions, etc.--go to the local homeless organization and women's shelter. That plus the ~100 pairs of white sox I paired off this week while watching TV needs to get delivered to church and shelters soon as the need kicks up starting in the fall.
And I need to clean the guinea pig cage, of course.

Drinking:

....need you ask ??

Listening to:

The clock ticking. The laptop fans humming, and the keys and mouses tappy-tapping. It's quiet.

Participating in:

Absolutely-bloody-nothing today. I'm not leaving the house. It's supposed to hit 92 with something like 80% humidity today and I'm just not interested in melting in that. Yes, I know all you people living south of me are laughing your asses off; I've been to southern MS in the summer. I'm just not built for humidity.

Blogging about:

Well, this. Coupla other memes on the usual rotation coming up. Was noodling a family blog around this morning to get Sparky to keep us posted on his doin's, but I doubt that would help in real life.

Giving thanks for:

Sunshine. Water. Out-of-state birds who have chosen our yard to nest and raise their brand-new-yesterday babies. Allergy meds.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene: Living room. 8:23 a.m. Beast is upstairs showering. We've checked in our sleep overnight and recovery from yesterday's moving day. Looks like a cloudy, potentially-rainy day outside.

Today's Plan: We're off to church in 20 minutes. Then home where I will rearrange what's left in Sparky's room, sort and start laundry, and clean the guinea pig cage. Beast needs to do the bills. We'll probably watch a race.

Drinking: I should just skip this one: the answer is always the same. Diet Dr. Pepper straight from the can.

Listening to: It's very quiet in the house: clock ticking, laptop keys tick-tacking as I type, and the laptop fan. I love living where it's quiet. I can hear Beast getting ready and feeding the piggies. He's got his usual "drainage cough" which he refuses to see a doctor about....

Participating in: The usual. I got a jury duty summons this week for the entire month of September; it's for grand-jury, rather than petit, which explains the longer time for service. Also, kinda more fun from my perspective.

Blogging about: The usual. Spending more time on Facebook and reading other people's stuff than writing my own. I did finish a couple of books this week, so I need to update the reviews on GoodReads and transfer them to the book blog.

Giving thanks for: I'm really pleased at the place Sparky moved into yesterday. It's very small but adorable and full of character. We got to meet one of his longest-term college friends--but not his roommate, weirdly, even though he was supposed to have been there "all day"--and I snuck in some religious quotes by lining his dresser drawers with wrapping paper with Bible verses. God's got his back, even though he doesn't seem to "need" God right now. So today is my first official full day as an Empty Nester.