Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)

Spill It!

This week is less a steal than a cheat. These are AI-generated responses to the request: "What should I ask to get a stranger to open up?"

1. If money wasn't an issue, would you move to a new home?

If money weren't an issue, I'd pay to move my house and (some of) its contents to another location.

2. Do you listen to different music when you're happy than when you're sad?

Oh, for sure. Driving to and from the nursing home in March after The Call, I instinctively turned Spotify to some Old Timey hymns and sang along to a few. Nothing else would have worked, and silence would not have been good. My usual fare of podcasts was right out of the running.

3. What's your favorite way to unwind after a tough day?

Jigsaws online, reading, CBD, and perhaps a hot bath.

4. What's the first book you remember from childhood?

There was this big (14" or so square-ish) book shaped like a barn that when you opened it had a half-dozen or so little books inside the "stable doors" behind which I could read about the animals in that pen, so a pig story, a horse story, etc. I loved that book so much.

5. What made you smile today?

My kid playing her stupid Stardew on Twitch. And also some memories while catching up on these memes, as well as some other people's answers to said memes.

Sunday Stealing (x2)

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10 Questions with Nigel

1. What's your life's motto?

I don't know that I have a motto. The most frequent life advice I give is "Don't be a dick" but I don't know that that's a motto. Lately, it feels like I should be following the "Fight for your own stuff" but I hate that too.

2. Where were you living 13 years ago?

Right here. Different furniture, same house. Apparently, I had just finished entering all my reading history into GoodReads (at least the previous 20 years' worth), and have since added 2500 books. A  LOT of those are from childhood and generally before I started actively keeping track.

3. Is anyone jealous of you?

How in the world would I know? Right now, I very much doubt anyone wants to be in my shoes. I certainly don't.

4. Where were you when you heard about the 9/11 terror attacks?

Beast called me at church where I was doing some volunteer work, alone in the building, to tell me to go home and turn on the news. The first building fell while I was on the way--I had newsradio on--and I nearly got T-boned by someone else racing home. Then our new pastor and wife came over because they didn't have their TV (cable, blah blah) set up and we all gaped, and Pastor's Wife kept saying she needed to go to the grocery store to 'stock up.'

5. Do you consider yourself kind?

I try. Beast told me one time that he thought I was, and I treasure that comment.

6. Can you change your car's oil?

I mean, I probably could, but there's no way I'm starting this project at age 61 when Bob does it just fine and checks out all the other important things while he's in there.

7. What's the last thing you heard about your first love?

My actual IRL "first love" or my first crush? lol David Cassidy has been dead for 8 years, and my first boyfriend ... I haven't checked facebook recently. I'm friends with his brother though, so I presume I'd hear if something happened to 'boyfriend.'

8. Have you ever been burned by love?

Are we comparing scars? I won't win any contests, but I have been in therapy for a decade-and-a-half. 

9. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

What is this 'cash' concept of which you speak?? 
Actually, I always pay the cleaning crew at the house in cash, so Thursday.

10. Do you hug your friends?

If they want me to. I always want to hug people, but one of my coworkers has become EXTREMELY germophobic and touch-phobic, so I try to keep my hands strictly to myself around her. Otherwise, I tend to tap people's shoulders or forearms for their attention if I don't want to verbally interrupt them. So yeah. I got two hugs in 5 minutes from people at work Friday.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

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1. Let's compare this May to last May. What's changed? What remains very much the same? 

Well, I don't remember anything specific about last May beyond being happy to have survived another winter and planning my first summer vacation in 6+ years. I'm currently planning a trip for September to scatter Beast's ashes and I'm very glad to have survived this most recent winter. It was a rough one, emotionally, not weather-wise. 

2. What's something you may do this month? 

I have an appointment for a follow-up EKG later on, my brother's coming for a visit around that time, and Sparky and I are meeting Larry the Lawyer next week to start getting this estate stuff figured out. While Del is here, we'll probably go try to visit my nephews about an hour northeast of here. Oh, and Mother's Day. I also need to get my new glasses made.

3. Mother's Day is approaching (in the US of A)...in what way(s) are you like your mother? 

In far too many ways, which was problematic when I was a kid. Luckily, I figured this out fairly young and came to terms with it years ago. We are both stubborn, prone to arguing, with a lot of suppressed anger. I like to think these days that I've mellowed. I know she did, but it took several strokes which I'd prefer to skip if possible.

4. Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why was it a favorite. 

I read and reread the Little House books like my personal Bible. I also loved Encyclopedia Brown. My favorite early childhood book was shaped like a barn and had a half dozen mini-books inside about the animals that live in barns, all with covers shaped like stall or pen doors. It would be weird to see that again.

5. Are you more of a tortoise or a hare? Explain. 

These days I'm full-tilt tortoise physically. Emotionally, I'm still pretty much haring around though.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had raccoons, or maybe baby skunks, on my porch roof this morning around 2:30 a.m. They woke me up banging around playing about 4 feet from my head. I eventually opened a window and one of them came over, spotted me, froze, and then I saw that one and one other scootle past the window and back down the tree they climbed to get up there. I wasn't mad, but I also wanted to go back to sleep. 

New Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)

My 'Next' 13 Books, According to GoodReads

1. Wrecked (IQ, #3), by Joe Ide
2. God's Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible, by Candida Moss
3. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line, by Deepa Anappara
4. All Rivers Run to the Sea, by Elie Wiesel
5. Looking for History on Highway 14, by John E. Miller
6. Open and Shut (Andy Carpenter, #1), by David Rosenfelt
7. The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians, by N.T. Wright
8. The Last Survivor: Legacies of Dachau, by Timothy W. Ryback
9. The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis
10. Evil: A Primer: A History of a Bad Idea from Beelzebub to Bin Laden, by William Hart
11. Damn Near Dead: An Anthology of Geezer Noir (edited by Duane Swierczynski)
12. The Polysyllabic Spree, by Nick Hornby
13. القرآن الكريم (the Qur'an)

The key for colors: 

• Black font means it'll probably get bumped down so I don't drown in Sad or Heavy. Keep in mind I have approximately 430 titles on my next/TBR lists, and those titles do not include the piles of books in the house that I need to slot in
• Tan font means those will probably make the cut on the Actual IRL Next List
• Green font is the Maybe, We'll See pair. I've been moving the Qur'an down the list for literally years. Maybe I'll just buckle down and do it this spring/summer 

I just finished a (very good) book about early Christianity so I need a break from that for awhile. I'm sure there will be a Michael Connelly that finds its way into the mix--I've been plowing through his backlist for eons, reading them in order with lots of breaks because they are often really dire; the most recently finished one came out in 2011.

Saturday 9

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All of Me (1932) 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 

1) In this song, Louis Armstrong calls his girl "baby." What's the last endearment someone used when speaking to you? 

Uhm. It was probably one of Beast's caregivers calling me "hon" or "sweetie." Or Beast, but I can't understand his words most of the time. Does Sparky calling me mom count?

2) He sings that losing his love made him cry. Do you cry easily? 

Not as much as I used to, but still more than "normal people" do apparently.

3) Louis was born in New Orleans, a city famous for music and cuisine. What's something you love about your home town? 

The town in which I was born is full of good history that I've only really learned once I moved far away. My current town (where I live) has a award-winning water-ski team. I mean, I really don't care, but we don't got much. Maybe the fact that Capone used to hang out here?

4) At age 11, Louis unwisely fired a pistol during a New Year's Eve celebration and was sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile detention facility. It was there that he met music teacher Peter Davis, who believed in Louis and taught him to play cornet and bugle. Tell us about someone who believed in you and made your life better. 

Ironically, this sounds like the sort of behavior that would fit right into my current town... Anyway, I have been blessed to be white in the U.S. and raised by and around people who thought I was amazing. My parents went without a lot of 'things' to make their kids' lives full of possibility. [I simply cannot imagine ANYONE in my pretty-much white town getting arrested for shooting a gun off]

5) Louis would say that arrest changed his life for the better because it was at the detention center that "me and music got married." After his release, he began playing on street corners, or in honkytonks ... any place he could hone his skills. What is something you have worked hard to be better at? 

I have been working hard all my adult life to be a better person, to be understanding and kind and useful. Often Sometimes it feels wholly futile, but I at least know I'm a better-rounded person than I was 25 years ago even if no one else agrees.

6) In the late 1920s, Louis led a jazz band called The Hot Five. His wife, Lil, believed he was too talented not to receive star billing. He just didn't feel ready. She went behind his back and convinced the management at Chicago's Dreamland Cafe to advertise: "The Hot Five, featuring Louis Armstrong: The World's Greatest Trumpet Player." It worked! At the end of the gig, Okeh Records signed him to a recording contract. Can you think of a time when, like Lil, you were glad you asked for forgiveness rather than permission? 

I have 100% started living this lately, mostly because I've learned not to worry so much about what others (those I don't care about) think. Do the thing, apologize later.

7) In 1932, the year this record was popular, the son of aviator Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped and killed. This famous case inspired Agatha Christie to write Murder on the Orient Express. Have you read the book? Seen the movie, the remake or the miniseries? 

I have read the book a few times. I think I've seen the movie? The old one, nothing made in the last 4 decades. 

8) Another aviator was in the news in 1932. Amelia Earhart flew 14 hours from Newfoundland to Londonderry. What is the longest flight you've ever taken? 

The longest single stint on an airplane were the trips to Germany, about 8 hours-ish. Mostly we were not staying in Germany, just changing planes to go on to somewhere else. Once to Rome. Once to Moscow. Once to Athens. Maybe elsewhere, I don't remember anymore.

9) Random question: You have the opportunity to travel safely in a time machine. Would you go back to the past, into the future, or say, "no thanks, I'll stay in 2022?"

What a quandary! Probably past, my my OWN past, just to visit, and only back to about 1980.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll) 

Thank U, Next (2018) 

 Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 

1) In this song, Ariana Grande thanks her former boyfriends for what they taught her about love, life, patience and pain. Do you believe you have learned more from your successes, or your mistakes? 

Sadly, I seem to only learn from hard times, i.e. mistakes. Right now I'm facing a complete personality overhaul so I don't lose my job.

2) One of the young men mentioned in the song is Pete Davidson, a cast member of Saturday Night Live. SNL has been on for more than 45 years now. Who is your all-time favorite cast member? 

Gilda. Though Kate McKinnon is pretty amazing.

3) Thinking of funny people ... As you can see from the video, Ariana performed "Thank U, Next" on Ellen Degeneres' talk show. Ellen makes people laugh every afternoon. Who in your life can you always count on to make you laugh or smile? 

I got a call Thursday from a friend/acquaintance who knew I needed to buck up. He almost always makes me smile and he did it again on one of my worst days in awhile. I am so fortunate to have so many friends like this. If it's not an actual person, "The Dollop" podcast often makes me cry with hilarity.

4) It looks like Ariana Grande's personal romantic saga will have a happy ending because at Christmastime, she announced her engagement. Do you know anyone who is getting married in 2021? 

Nope. That is, I don't know if I know anyone getting married this year.

5) Ariana loves Harry Potter and named her dogs Snape, Lily and Sirius Black after characters in the J.K. Rowling books. Are you a Harry Potter fan? 

I like the stories.

6) She loves board games, especially Monopoly. Sam isn't crazy about Monopoly because it takes so long. How about you? Are you a Monopoly fan? 

Not really, and for the same reason as Sam.

7) In 2018, the year this song was released, Toys R Us closed all its stores and went out of business. Who received the last toy you purchased? What was it? 

Beast got a mini-sock-monkey for Christmas from me. Oh, and a light/memory game, which I haven't actually seen in his hands yet.

8) Also in 2018, Aretha Franklin died. What's your favorite Aretha song? 

Any song Aretha sang was tremendous. "Chain of Fools" is a favorite, but honestly...ANYthing.

 9) Random question: Are you more likely to shed a tear at a wedding or during a movie?

Both? The vows always make me mushy inside, and there is almost always some pathos that forces me to cry in a movie.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Art Historic

Classical: If you were an Olympian god, what would you be known for?

Laughter in the face of Tragedy.

Byzantine: Do you prefer gold or silver accessories?

Silver.

Medieval: Are you religious?

Yes, as a matter of fact.

Gothic: What is your favourite historic building?

I absolutely adore Durham Cathedral. It's just ... comforting? Calming? Homey? It's also, somewhat unintentionally ironically, very Gothic in a particularly medieval way.

Renaissance: Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt enlightened or changed?

The day after Sparky was born, I remember the clear thought that "life will never be the same."

Baroque: Do you enjoy the finer things in life?

Some of them. I like food. I'm not so much about other so-called "fine things."

Rococo: Is your bedroom full of trinkets and pictures? If so, which pictures adorn your walls?

It's definitely not FULL of them! I have the print we got from my parents for a wedding present (in the frame Dad made), a painting by Beast's grandma, a photo of Copenhagen that my brother-in-law took, and some other odds and ends. Not a lot of decor, just dust and things that don't have 'real homes.'

Neoclassicism: If something came back into fashion, what do you hope it would be?

I would like to see more round-toed dressy shoes. I hate pointy toes on shoes.

Romanticism: Do you often see things in a positive light?

I try very hard to do that so I don't spiral into catatonia.

Pre-Raphaelite: Which book would you like to see turned into a film?

I'd prefer if movies would find their own writers for awhile, ones that don't need super-heroes or war.

Impressionism: Do you look for details or take everything in at once?

I think I'm more of a Big Picture person right now.

Art Nouveau: When were you last at the theatre?

Live theatre has been a very long time. Movie theater...coupla months.

Surrealism: Why does the porcupine think it's a duck?

Because it's delusional.

Pop Art: Do you enjoy pop culture?

I do, to a point. I find people endlessly interesting and weird.

Contemporary: What did you do today?

Got up (trust me, it was not easy today), got dressed, went to see Beast, came home, cried, ate lunch, took a nap, avoided thinking about the 7 million things I need to do, this, read out of a couple of books....

Saturday 9 x 2

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Baby Love (1964)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elaborate hairstyles, make up and full-length gowns. When was the last time you got dressed up?

A VERY long time. Over a year, probably. I wasn't even really all that dressed up for the wedding I went to, as I recall, but it wasn't a super-fancy wedding with required formal wear anyway.

2) "The girls," as they were known to the engineers and executives at Motown Records, were Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross. They began singing together when they were high school classmates. Are you still in touch with any friends from your high school days?

I am. I have probably a dozen from my high school that I'm friends with. Some of them were not friends per se at the time, but are wonderful to know now.

3) Mary Wilson was born in Mississippi and her family moved a great deal before settling in Detroit, where she fatefully met Florence and Diana. Were you uprooted often when you were a child? Or did you spend your school years in the same neighborhood?

My parents lived in the same house from 1946ish until 1994. The only one of us who ever lived anywhere else was my oldest sister who was born in 1943 and with my mom followed my dad around the U.S. a bit during WWII.

4) The Supremes began as a quartet called the Primettes. In addition to Mary, Flo and Diana, there was Betty McGlown. In 1960, Betty left the group to get married and was replaced by Barbara Martin. In 1962, Barbara left the group to have a baby. They quit trying to replace the fourth voice, soldiered on as a trio, and made pop history. Have you ever found yourself in a position similar to Betty's or Barbara's, where you had to make a difficult decision and choose between your personal life and your career?

Of course. I was a mom in late-20th-century America.

5) Thinking of babies and "baby love," is anyone in your life expecting a baby in 2018?

Not that I'm aware of at this point. Actually, someone at church just had her second child last week. I don't think I know anyone else who is currently pregnant, however.

6) With twelve #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, The Supremes remain America's most commercially successfully recording group, and this song (along with "Stop! In the Name of Love") is one of the most popular karaoke songs. If we handed you the mic this morning and absolutely insisted you perform, what song would you choose (any song, any genre)?

I can rock out to any mid-century Sunday School song you name.

7) Original group member Florence Ballard left the group in 1967. She died of cardiac arrest in 1976 at the age of 32. Since February is National Heart Month, it seems appropriate to ask: Is anyone in your life battling heart disease?

Yes. My sister has some heart issues, and one of my favorite people at work had a heart attack last year, out of nowhere. She's over 70, though. Thirty-two? That's really young. I'm waiting for my turn, since I'm sure I'm headed that way.

8) Florence Ballard's brother, Hank, wrote Chubby Checker's famous dance song, "The Twist." When did you last dance?

I dance around sometimes while I'm cleaning or cooking, and I car-dance semi-regularly. Really dance? A long time. OK, I "danced" with my baby-nephew at that wedding mentioned above, mostly to keep him from screaming and generally happy.

9) Random question: Close your eyes and visualize the most beautiful place you've ever been. Now describe it to us.

I've been to loads of different places that I found beautiful. My favorite is a certain little town in Colorado:

Obv not my photo

The Love Club (2013)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.

1) Lorde has said this song is about a time when she fell into "a bad crowd." Her high-maintenance new friends were all about their romantic dramas and it overwhelmed her. Have you ever had a friend who was just too much work?

Yes, though once I got done with education, I became a lot more discerning in my selection of friends.

2) She sings that she longs to be alone. Where do you go when you want peace and quiet?

My corner of the couch. Or bed.

3) Lorde credits her mother for encouraging her verbal skills. "Mum" let her join a theater class when she was just 5 and was always giving her books. Tell us about an encouraging, understanding adult who assisted you when you were growing up.

I had good teachers all over the place and a couple of my sisters were good cheerleaders for me.

4) Lorde is not the only celebrity from her class at Belmont School in Auckland, New Zealand. Olympian Eliza McCartney was a classmate who went on to win a bronze medal in Rio for the pole vault. Did you participate in any sports in high school?

I did not.

6) Lorde wrote music for one of the Hunger Games soundtracks. Have you seen any of the Hunger Games movies, or read any of the books?

I've seen the first two. I didn't like the last book in the series, so I just bailed on the movie.

7) Her favorite candy is Peanut M&Ms. Do you prefer Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Almond, Mint or Cripsy M&Ms?

Plain or Crispy. I'm not a fan of chocolate with nuts, and I loathe chocolate mint.

8) When Lorde was on stage at Lollapalooza, a sudden storm interrupted her set. The music festival was evacuated and her performance was cancelled. Can you think of a time when the weather had a major impact on your plans?

I'm a bit British this way, in that sometimes it doesn't matter what the weather is doing; life goes on. However, there've been some storms in my life that have caused everything to come to a halt.

9) Random question: Please complete this sentence -- Before I leave the house, I always _________________.

...check to be sure I have a way to get back inside.

Friday 56

(Link in meme-roll)
Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It's that simple.

"And I guess it's true that he's awfully well fed these days," I went on. "And that he won't tell me how." We went a few more steps. "And that he thinks of himself as a monster. And that he got sick and tired of trying to be human."
We crossed the street in silence.
When I got to the other side, I stopped at looked at Murphy. "Shit."

Technically, I've finished this book, but it's sitting here waiting to go back to the library and I'm lazy. 😏

Friday 56

(Link in meme-roll)
Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post [on Freda's page] in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url.
*It's that simple.

"Born August 3, 1870, Carrie would always be slight and frail, perhaps due to her mother's exposure to malaria, associated with material anemia and low birth weight."

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
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.

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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!!

Saturday 9 x 4

(Link in meme-roll)
Monster Mash (1962)
Unfamiliar with this week's featured song? Hear it here.

1) In your younger days, did you ever trick or treat while dressed as a monster or ghoul?

I don't think so. I don't remember most of my costumes, but I can't see my parents doing anything scarier with me than basic black-hatted witch.

2) Do you enjoy being frightened by celluloid boys-gone-bad, like Michael Myers (Halloween) or Jason (Friday the 13th)?

Not at all. Have not seen any of these movies, ever.

3) When you were a kid, did you ever TP a neighbor's house or indulge in any other Halloween acts of vandalism? (Don't worry, the statute of limitations is up.)

Absolutely not.

4) Will you be attending any Halloween parties this year? If so, will you dress up?

Oops, uh, no. I wasn't home at all on Halloween: worked 7 a.m to 6 p.m., met my sponsor for dinner, then went to a meeting, arrived back home around 9:30.

5) Can you see any Halloween decorations as you answer these 9 questions?

Nope. Then again, next week is Thanksgiving, so I wouldn't be likely to see much at this point, even if I could see outside.

6) While Halloween is most popular in the United States and Canada, and isn't really celebrated at all in Japan or South Korea. How would you explain our Halloween customs to a visitor from another land?

Kids run around in costume begging for candy. It's a bit weird.

7) "Monster Mash" is one of Halloween's most played songs. Are you happy to hear it every year? Or does it set your teeth on edge?

I actually never heard it this year.

8) This week's featured artist, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, started as a stand-up comedian who incorporated his imitations of Boris Karlof and Bela Lugosi into his act. Can you impersonate anyone?

I don't think so.

9) Dick Clark was an impossibly young looking 33 in this week's featured clip. Are you often told you look good for your age?

Well, last week someone asked if Beast is my son. He's literally 6 days younger than me. Yeah, that was a suuuper-good day.

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Suddenly I See (2005)Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is a tribute to Patti Smith, the rocker who inspired KT Tunstall. What woman who has inspired you?

My mom and grandmothers. Gloria Steinem. Margaret Sanger. Sandra Day O'Connor. People from my church(es).

2) In this video, you can see a turntable and an LP. When is the last time you played a record?

Oh boy. Decades. I mean, our stereo is set up and ready to go, but it's too much hassle to get out the records themselves. Oh. Wait. I played a 78 on our Crosley to put it onto a CD for work last year.

3) Growing up, Ms. Tunstall seldom sang at home because her father is severely hearing impaired and music interfered with his sensitive hearing aid. Do you, or does anyone in your family, wear a hearing aid?

My dad did. No one here does now though. The day is probably coming.

4) In high school, she got experience performing on street corners. Have you ever tipped a street musician?

Ayup.

5) When this song was popular, Microsoft introduced the Xbox 360 to North America. Are you into gaming?

Not really. Sparky very happily presented something on our Skype call today, "See what I just got?!" It's a game. "It's the NEW Pokemon game; it just came out." Oh.

6) In 2005, Prince Charles married his long-time love, Camilla Parker Bowles. At the time of their wedding, 73% of Brits said they disapproved of her. Today, her popularity has increased somewhat and her disapproval has dropped to 55%. Do you know anyone who married someone you didn't like? Did their spouse grow on you with time?

Yes. And no.

7) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was popular in theaters. Who is your favorite "Harry Potter" character?

Hermione of course!! ...though I have a soft spot for Ron, too.

8) In 2005, YouTube was introduced by three young men who met while working at PayPal. What's the last thing you paid for using PayPal?

I have never used PayPal. That's rather shocking, I guess.

9) Random Question: After a long, exhausting day of travel, you check into a motel. The room is not at all to your liking. It's next to the ice machine, so you can hear cubes dropping noisily into metal buckets. Your view is of the parking lot. The bathtowels and thin and tiny. In short, you feel like you're being ripped off. Do you grab your bag, turn on your heel and check out, hoping there are better accommodations nearby? Or do you say, "What the hell, it's only one night," and climb into bed?

Depends on how tired I am and if the bathroom is clean. If I'm beat...I'll probably just crash and then leave a rude note online. If the bathroom is scummy though, I'm definitely out. Dirty bathroom, buggy bed, bye-bye.

+ + + + + + +

Get Down Tonight (1975)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Tonight, KC has three things on his "to-do" list: do a little dance, make a little love and get down. Tell us three things you'd like to accomplish this weekend.

Update the checkbook and balance it. Take a bath. Make a list of all the calls and errands I need to do Monday.

2) This week's song is considered emblematic of disco, a genre that had as many detractors as fans. Is there a kind of music you simply cannot stand?

I don't like experimental weirdness that is clearly just pompous self-aggrandizement.

3) Before becoming a musician, KC, aka Harry Casey, worked in a record store. In those days, record stores were very popular. Peaches, Coconuts, Sam Goody and Tower Records are four store chains that once dotted the landscape but now are gone. Today, if you wanted to purchase a CD, where would you turn?

Amazon.

4) One of his duties at the record store was unloading the big corrugated shippers filled with LPs. What's the heaviest thing you've lifted lately?

I've been humping stuff in and out of various medical facilities pretty much daily--this last one, I'm bringing in clothes and schlepping them back home to wash every day. Thank God our water is free.

5) KC is proud that he's lived his entire life in Miami-Dade County. Do you expect to change your address in the next year or so?

It is eminently possible if Beast can't figure out stairs but is otherwise able to come home.

6) In 1975, the year this song was popular, former Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, never to be seen again. Many theories flourish about what may have happened to him. Is there a famous criminal case that has a hold on your attention?

I've been addicted to Jack the Ripper since sophomore/junior year of high school. I've done two term papers on him and that era/place in history.

7) Jaws was the most popular movie of 1975. Are you afraid of sharks?

Not particularly. I can't swim, so....

8) Actress Angelina Jolie was born in 1975. People magazine once named her "most beautiful." Who is the most beautiful woman you can think of?

That I know personally? I work with a couple of striking women. I can't think of anyone I think who stops traffic or anything...

9) Random question: A wizard offers you a choice -- would you like your life to stay as it is right now (in terms of your health, your career, your relationships and your finances) for the next 5 years, or would you like to take a chance that the future will be brighter?

Oh, hell, the future has to be better than the present! Right?

+ + + + + + +

Son of a Preacher Man (1968)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song was originally offered to Aretha Franklin, who turned it down. What's the most recent thing that you said "no" to?

Helping Beast in the bathroom this afternoon. This is what the nurses are paid for. Most of the rest of the stuff that goes on there, I'm willing to help with. Not that, though.

2) Two years later, Aretha recorded "Son of a Preacher Man." What's something you changed your mind about?

I've been doing a lot of back-and-forth about Beast coming home.

3) This song tells the tale of Billy Ray, a young man who could be very persuasive. If we wanted to change your mind about something, would you be more easily swayed by an emotional argument, or with verifiable facts?

I would be unlikely to be swayed by someone trying to change my mind at all. I don't do well with being told what to do.

4) If you ordered a "Son of a Preacher Man" in a bar, you'd get a cocktail made with peppermint schnapps, gin and lemonade. When did you last have lemonade? Was it just lemonade, or was it spiked with alcohol?

Good gawd that sounds AWFUL! I can't even think of a time I've had lemonade in the past 6 months. It's not really my thing, but it would have been just lemonade.

5) Dusty had a thing for maps. She admired them artistically and enjoyed using them to take long car trips. Do you use printed maps? Or do you rely on technology, like GPS or Google Maps?

I almost exclusively use the GPS in my car, and look at Google Maps ahead of time.

6) As a girl, she attended convent school. There, one of the nuns discouraged Dusty from performing, telling her that if she would do better to be a mother or a librarian. When you were growing up, did the adults in your world encourage your dreams?

Nope. Which is ridiculous, actually, considering that I come from a long line of women who worked for pay.

7) That nun inspired Dusty's first major act of rebellion. In an attempt to make herself look less like a future librarian or housewife, she bleached her hair platinum blonde. In school, were you much of a rebel? Or did you conform to the expectations adults had of you?

Oh, I was quiet and relatively well-behaved in school. But remember those striking-looking women? One of them has several tats, wears 6" heels and short skirts, dyes her hair in random colorful streaks....and is a librarian. So, hey nun, fuck right off.

8) Early in her career, Dusty provided the entertainment at a family summer camp. She appeared on the bill with a clown, a fire-eater and a hypnotist. Have you ever been hypnotized?

Nope. Hell to the no, not in public for sure!!

9) Random question: Have you ever played matchmaker to your friends? If yes, did your efforts lead to romance?

I have, to spectacularly zero effect. Setting up two non-communicative people is just stupid.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Getting to Know You*

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Sleep. Seriously, why would you NOT sleep? I love sleep! It's 8:45 am and I'm ready for my first nap of the day!

What’s your favorite piece of clothing you own / owned?

I loved my Levi's 501s back in the day. They don't make 'em my size anymore, but they were super-comfy. And my crocs sandals are pretty stellar shoes, and apparently super-cute.

What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?

Is sleeping a hobby?

What would your perfect room look like?

Comfy, full of books, a chaise or daybed, good lighting, and lots of windows.

How often do you play sports?

I haven't played any sports--unless you count tossing around a frisbee--in decades.

What fictional place would you most like to go?

Narnia when the Four Kings and Queens were on the thrones.

What job would you be terrible at?

Sales. I really REALLY suck at sales.

When was the last time you climbed a tree?

The last time I tried, which is all I ever really did, was over 4 decades ago.

If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would you have a good chance at winning medal for?

Sleep.

What skill would you like to master?

I wish I could play piano two-handed again.

What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?

The one I'm on currently is pretty amazing. Fun? No. The most fun vacation would be with a group of like-minded friends. I don't really care where we go as long as the food is good, the accommodations are bearable, and the scenery is amazing.

If you had unlimited funds to build a house that you would live in for the rest of your life, what would the finished house be like?

I don't want to ever move out of the house in which I'm currently living. It really is pretty close to what I picture as a perfect house for me. However, the time may be coming that it no longer suits my life......

What state or country do you never want to go back to?

Pretty much anywhere in Wyoming except for the Tetons and Yellowstone. Also, I wasn't much of a fan of Germany, or rather the people in Germany. I would go back on a tour, so I wouldn't really have to interact with any actual Germans.

What songs have you completely memorized?

Aside from the one this meme is named after? Throw me a Rogers & Hammerstein musical, and I'll throw you back most of the lyrics to most of the songs. "Amazing Grace" and a few more hymns. Most of the old Christmas carols from church. ... I memorize a lot of songs.

What do you consider to be your best find?

Generally, it's been Beast. However, if we aren't talking about people, then that path up the rockslide outside of Ouray that led to (barely) a road that led to an old mine in a meadow. What a view!

Are you usually early or late?

I used to always be early in a decidedly OCD kind of way. These days, it's a wash.

What pets did you have while you were growing up?

When I was very young, we had a parakeet named Peppy. When I was ten, we got a dog.

When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

Often it's with information--where do I find? Who wrote? Where do we keep the?

What takes up too much of your time?

These days, driving. Good think I like driving, but it does get old.

What do you wish you knew more about?

Ancient Greek.

What would be your first question after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for 100 years?

"Where's the bathroom?"

*great, now I have that song stuck in my head....!

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Turn Me Loose (1959)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Fabian sings he has change in his pocket. Every evening, Sam puts her change in the piggy bank on her kitchen counter. Do you do anything special with your coins? Or do they just jingle/jangle in your wallet or pocket until you spend them?

Pennies either go in my cup-holder in the car or into a penny jar by the register if there is one. Everything else just lives in my wallet till it's spent.

2) Fabian got his start because his neighbor in Philadelphia owned a record label and thought 14-year-old Fabian had the looks to be a teen idol. Tell us about a time recently when you were in the right place at the right time.

The last few weeks have seen that happen a few times, though not necessarily ME being in the right place. Certain others have been though.

3) His record label paid Fabian $30 week to study singing after school. What jobs/chores did you have when you were in high school? Did they prepare you for your eventual career?

I worked for about a year and a half at my local public library shelving books, and since you can still occasionally find me shelving books in a library, I'd say it totally did prepare me. Chores? Nothing much, just keeping out of trouble.

4) In 1959 he appeared on the cover of now-defunct magazines like Teen Screen and Dig. Who and what did you read about when you were a teenager?

I read Tiger Beat and Teen Beat. Still have a ton of those photos in a scrapbook too!

5) In the 1960s he moved from singing to acting. In 1965 he appeared in Ten Little Indians, a screen adaptation of an Agatha Christie mystery. Have you ever read an Agatha Christie book?

I'm pretty sure I've read ALL of her books, most of them more than once.

6) In 1973, in an attempt to jumpstart his career, he appeared nude in Playgirl magazine. By the time it hit the newsstands, he regretted it. Tell us about a time you were very embarrassed.

I think I gave up embarrassment for Lent a decade or so back.

7) In 1959, when this song was popular, most women wore nylons on a daily basis and the average price per pair was $1. What socks or leg wear -- if any -- do you have on right now?

Naked feet, naked feet! :) And my toesies are a little chilly, but I'm not a big fan of sox. And I'm wearing roll-up trousers that aren't rolled up on my legs.

8) 1959 also saw the premiere of The Twilight Zone on CBS. 58 years later, you can still see the show in reruns. Are you a fan?

I mean, I'll watch it if it's on, but I don't seek it out.

9) Random Question: While we're talking about TV ... Sam finds it disturbing that her brother claims he's seen every episode of Bad Blood, a show devoted to family members who have murdered their relatives. Do you enjoy "true crime" reality shows?

I like some of them. Some of them I like despite the wooden voice-overs and bad acting, but some of them are good. This one sounds a little exploitative.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Little Woman (1969)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song contains many weather references (clouds, rainbows, sunshine, rain). How's the sky where you are today?

Absolutely gorgeous! Blue sky, low humidity, slightly cooler. Perfect fall day. I spent almost 4 hours in the car, so I'm glad it was a good day.

2) Bobby Sherman sings that when he's alone, he imagines his "Little Woman" is right there beside him. Do you often daydream?

Yeah. All the time.

3) Bobby had a very bright smile. Do you ever use whiteners on your teeth?

I did for a short period a few years ago, until I decided I'd rather have enamel than white teeth.

4) He was beloved for his shiny hair. If we were to peek in your bathroom, how many haircare products would we find?

Far too many! I only have my shampoo & conditioner in the shower, but Beast's is there too. And I've got stuff stashed in the cupboard that will probably last me until I die.

5) After high school, Bobby attended Pierce, a community college in the west San Fernando Valley. For culinary students, Pierce offers courses in canning -- specifically apples and peaches. If we were to peek into your pantry, would we find canned fruits?

Yup. Not home-canned, mind you, but some Dole, etc.

6) As an actor, one of Bobby's earliest performances was on the TV show Honey West. That series revolved around a female "private eye" adept at martial arts. Do you have any self-defense moves (that don't involve a weapon)?

My glare stops most people in their tracks. My boss literally stepped-off when I leveled it at him (by accident) one time. Also, I've literally never heard of this show!

7) In 1966, Bobby did this rather energetic commercial for milk. Do you often enjoy a glass of milk?

I rarely enjoy milk--in fact there is rarely ever milk in my fridge. I gave up a few months ago and bought a container of powdered milk to use in cooking because otherwise I just throw out container after container of expired milk.

8) When his show business career waned, he became a paramedic. Have you ever called 911?

Me and the locals are on practically on a first-name basis. Last time I called was 9/15 at about 9:30 p.m.

9) Random Question: Which book do you think you could learn more from -- The Joy of Sex or The Joy of Cooking?

I own one of them (and I use it) and I'm not all that interested in learning anything from the other.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Sandwich or Nah?

1. Why is or isn’t a hot dog a sandwich?

   Well, it really IS a sandwich, though it's not what I think of when I think of "sandwich." It's a little too round to be a sandwich, the definition of a sandwich in my worldview. It's just semantics, though, in the end.

2. Why is or isn’t a hamburger a sandwich?

   My dad often called them "hamburger sandwiches" so I have no problem with calling a burger that.

3. Why is or isn’t a wrap a sandwich?

   Again, it's that non-flatness that makes me pause, but I call it a sandwich when I eat one anyway.

4. Why are or aren’t Oreos and ice cream sandwiches sandwiches?

   But they are! They are sandwiches from heaven!!

5. Why does or doesn’t listening to an audio book count as reading the book?

   Speaking as a librarian, and an audiobook reader, I have to tsk tsk you and say "Of course they are both books!" You get the story in slightly different ways, but it's still literature. Like myths are literature, right? Besides, audiobooks are the reason I have managed to finish a lot of books I hated in high school!!

The whole time I was answering the sandwich questions, I could hear my mom's voice going on about sandwiches in my head. Man, she was T I R E D of sandwiches by the time she hit 50! I'm not even sure what her beef (ha ha ha) was with them, only that she complained about them being immensely boring. Funny that I'd forgotten all about that till just now.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
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 Unknown Author Questions

1. if someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

You'd have to read a lot of history, mysteries (everything but cozies) and "good" lit. You'd have to watch lots of (true and fictional) crime shows, and medical docs. I listen to almost everything. That one's pretty easy.

2. have you ever found a blogger who thinks just like you? if so, who?

Kwizgiver and I seem to be on the same wavelength fairly often. Except on football teams and coffee. ;-)

3. list your fandoms and one character from each that you identify with.

I don't really do fandoms. I like ST and my favorite characters of those series I've seriously watched are Bones, Picard, Kira, and Janeway.

4. do you like your name? is there another name you think would fit you better?

My name is good. At this point, having to switch to listening for another one would be difficult.

5. do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? do you identify yourself by the things you do?

Hah. I'm a human. I don't worry about doing and being unless it's a Frank Sinatra tune (do-be-do-be-do).

6. are you religious/spiritual?

I'm churchy. I think we're all spiritual beings, but not everyone connects with that part of them often.

7. do you care about your ethnicity?

Do I care?? I'm aware of it. I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on changing it.

8. what musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

U2, Melissa Etheridge, Howard Jones, Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet....

9. are you an artist?

I can do a mean stick figure, and lots of abstract stuff. I don't think I'm overly artistic in the traditional sense, however.

10. do you have a creed?

Lately, it's "don't be a dick."

11. describe your ideal day.

I started to write some stuff, but really I've found that good days are what you make of them, and being open to surprises is key.

12. dog person or cat person?

I'm definitely a dog person. But since I'm allergic to both cats and dogs, it's not in the cards.

13. inside or outdoors?

I've become mostly an indoor person. Allergies.

14. are you a musician?

Amateur only.

15. five most influential books over your lifetime.

In no particular order: The Bible. Traveling Mercies (Anne Lamott). A Marginal Jew, v. 1 (John Meier). The Laura books. Nicholas & Alexandra (Robert Massie). There are dozens of others.

16. if you’d grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?

No I do not think so. Everything that has happened in my life has made me who I am. Change one thing and the whole Jenga collapses.

17. would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

I don't do Tumblr--though, come to think of it, I guess I have one that I seriously have never used--but this blog gives you a decent idea of what goes on in my head.

18. what’s your patronus?

I think J.K. Rowling's site told me it was a rodent of some kind. Squirrel maybe? Or ferret? Seems fitting.

19. which Harry Potter house would you be in? or are you a muggle?

Being an American, I'd be a no-maj not a muggle, but I'm more or less solidly Hufflepuff.

20. would you rather be in Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, or somewhere else?

It would be fun to visit Hogwarts, but overall, I like here best.

21. do you love easily?

I don't even know for sure what this means. I probably do, but it doesn't seem "easy" to me. Or hard. It just seems like me.

22. list the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

Sleeping. Worrying/Feeling guilty. Working. Doing online stuff (Facebook, this, email, etc.). Reading.

23. how often would you want to see your family every year?

I see some family member or other 4-6 times a year, usually in packs, like coyotes. LOL There have been years of my life when no one lived nearby when I only saw family once or twice a year. It's not that I don't like them, but short visits go a long way for me. And there isn't anyone less than an hour away, and some are an 8-hour plane trip and 4-hour drive away.

24. have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

Beast and I occasionally feel that way. We've known each other for 35 years, so we have but to look at each other sometimes to know what the other person is thinking.

25. could you live as a hermit?

Not permanently. There are days, even a few weeks, when it sounds positively heavenly, but I need people to talk to at some point.

26. how would you describe your gender/sexuality?

I'm cis-gendered female.

27. do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the “real you”?

Nope. I'm absolutely not this old, nor is the real me this fat.

28. on a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it for someone to get under your skin?

Depends on who and what they're trying on. I'm probably an 8 in public/with the public, and maybe a 5 with people I know and care about.

29. three songs that you connect with right now.

These are the three that popped into my mind first: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)--no clue why, today, when it's cold, windy and cloudy outside. "Short People" (Randy Newman)--because one of the drivers in the race is named Newman. "Amazing Grace"--because it's always floating near the top.

30. pick one of your favorite quotes.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” ―James Baldwin

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.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Count All the Bees in the Hive

1. Which of the Winnie-the-Pooh characters do you most relate to?

I tend to vacillate a little among Eeyore, Rabbit, and Owl. I also have some Kanga in me.

2. Which of the Winnie-the-Pooh characters has qualities you’d find most attractive in a romantic partner?

Piglet. Of course.

3. In what way have you “wandered much further” today than you should?

I haven't gotten a damned thing done today except a quick grocery-shopping trip. I really should start some laundry or something. I'm way off-schedule. OTOH, we had a good time at mini-golf--all three of us--at the library today.

4. Of Winnie-the-Pooh stories you can remember (from the books, Disney cartoons, or other sources), which is your favorite?

I hate the Disney-fied versions. I literally grew up reading Pooh--I still have the copies of the books my sister Jean gave me when I turned 6--and the stories and poems are delightful and nothing like the Disney crap. My favorite off-the-top-of-my-head is probably the Heffalump story.

5. Which quote* from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories would be good for the epigraph in the book about your life?

One from the Wiki page that my sister wrote a little note next to in my book (because of "Nanny"--family story):

And Nanny let my beetle out
Yes, Nanny let my beetle out
She went and let my beetle out-
And beetle ran away.

6. Thanks for participating, and have a Cottleston Pie weekend!

* Here are a few sources for quotes. I like Wikiquote because it’s sourced, but it can be a bit of a slog to search sometimes. There’s some nicely curated stuff here, but I can’t vouch for its legitimacy. And then there’s always Google Images, which gives pretty results but is the Wild West when it comes to accuracy.