Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
A Quiz for Grown-Ups

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?

Here are the ones that are currently on the chopping block: part of DirecTV (the premium channels), SiriusXM, some subscriptions on Beast's Nook, and I just need to renegotiate our cell plan.

2. What do you really want to be doing right now?

WANT: napping. NEED: gathering paperwork for taxes, financial purposes, and Medicaid application.

3. Why did you choose the shirt you have on now?

It was on the top of the pile in the closet.

4. Thoughts on gas prices?

This is something I just don't dwell on. I'm glad I'm buying less than I was for most of September-December.

5. First thought when the alarm goes off in the morning

".....nooooooooo..."

6. Last thought you have before you go to sleep?

I have no idea, I'm usually asleep by then.

7. Do you miss being a child?

I miss it pretty much daily at this point.

8. What errand/chore do you despise the most?

See #2 under NEED. Man, my relationship with money is pretty much totally fucked up.

9. Up early or sleep in?

I love sunrises, but seeing them means going to be before I leave work in parts of the year. Which isn't practical, right? So I'll sleep in when I can.

10. Favorite lunch meat?

Bologna. I'm low-rent.

11. What do you get every time at Trader Joe’s?

I've never been in a Trader Joe's. See answer just above.

12. Beach or lake?

Don't, uh, lakes have beaches? Because...well, yeah. I'd rather be in the mountains, all the same.

13. Ever crashed your vehicle?

Yup. I strongly recommend against it.

14. Strangest place you've brushed your teeth?

I seem to remember brushing in a lake or river as a kid once. Also, with fizzy bottled water in St. Petersburg, because the water there is beyond scary.

15. Somewhere you've never been but want to go?

Africa, specifically Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Namibia.

16. At this point in your life would you want to start a new career?

Hell no! That doesn't mean I won't be, but I'm not in for anymore giant changes.

17. Do you own your own house?

Well, I pay on the mortgage every month, so not really.

18. Do you have a go-to person?

Not so much, not anymore.

19. Are you where you want to be in life?

Oh, you crack me up. ... Not.

20. Growing up, what were your favorite cartoons?

I didn't watch cartoons much, and when I did it was mostly the Warner Bros. or Hanna-Barbera shorts.

21. What has changed since you were a child?

Almost everything.

22. Looking back at high school, were they the best years of your life?

Absolutely not! Hell to the no, no way, uh-uh.

23. Are there times you still feel like a kid?

I feel ignorant fairly often, but rarely in a childlike way.

24. Did you have a pager?

I didn't. Beast did.

25. Were you the type of kid you want your kids to hang out with?

Hah. Yeah, actually, I was. So was Sparky.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Snowbird (1971)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Elvis wants the snowbird to fly away and take the snow back with her. Have you seen a measurable snowfall yet this season?

Ayup. Last weekend. We're due for another storm tonight / tomorrow / Monday / Tuesday. Whee! I'm doing a great deal of driving tomorrow and Wednesday, so I'm hoping the road crews are on point.

2) Drivers in snowy climes are encouraged to keep salt, sand or kitty litter in the trunk because those items can help a car regain traction in the snow. Do you have an emergency kit in your car right now? If so, what's in it?

Well, actually, no I don't. I should at least put a shovel in, and some snacks. I do try to keep my gas tank at least half-full during the winter. I've gotta get some salt in the car. ...adding to list of Things To Do...

3) Back in 2007, North Dakota set the world record for the most snow angels made at one time (8,910). Do you enjoy playing in the snow?

Not so much. I get cold, and my glasses fog up and I'm just too old. The snow we usually get isn't really snow-angel-y either. Too much usually at once time.

4) Chionophobia is the fear of snow. Astraphobia is the fear of thunder and lightening. Lilapsophobia is the fear of tornadoes and hurricanes. Do you have to cope with any of these fears?

I'm not a fan of tornadoes. I live in a tornado-prone area and I have spent some quality time in basements in the spring / summer / fall, and one memorable day in January 2005. The best reason for having a pool table is it makes a great place to hide from tornadoes. I don't think I have a phobia though; I think I have a healthy respect for wind.

5) Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie split her childhood between Memphis and Los Angeles, so she seldom saw snow. When she was a little girl, she was whisked her off to Denver in her father's private plane so the two of them could spend an afternoon playing in the snow. If you could take off and spend the afternoon anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I'm cool with a weekend in Denver. Preferably with no snow. You might want to warn Tattered Cover I'll be dropping by.

6) At home and onstage, Elvis refused to wear jeans and only wore denim if a film role demanded it. This is because when he was young, classmates teased him for "dressing poor" in jeans and coveralls. What did you wear to class when you were in grammar school?

I would have KILLED to wear jeans. I had to wear skirts and dresses, usually. Occasionally, long pants, but NOT jeans. Jeans were for play, and only cheap-ass home-made jeans to boot.

7) Elvis and President Jimmy Carter are distant relatives (the President is the sixth cousin of the King's great grandfather). Your turn: Tell us about one of your more interesting relatives.

I ain't got any. At least that I'm aware of, and that's just fine by me.

8) In 1971, when Elvis released his recording of "Snowbird," You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown was a hit on Broadway. Who is your favorite Peanuts character?

Oh, it has to be Snoopy, I think.

9) Random question: You receive a gift certificate from a gourmet food company that can be redeemed for one of these three things: 1 lb. of caviar, 5 lbs. of steak or a 10 lb., live lobster. Which would you choose?

Steak. Caviar is gross, and for multiple reasons I would be unwilling to deal with 10 lb. of lobster unless I also get a chef.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
My Friends Call Me Tulip

1. Can you stay inside all day without getting bored?

   Yup. I've had to learn that since I'm basically allergic to the outdoors from early August until a hard frost in the fall.

2. Tell us about a TV show that we should watch.

   As my son says, "you do you" so I try not to tell people what they should do. Having said that, I really like almost everything Mike Rowe is involved in.

3. When was the last time you were at your home computer all day?

   I'm not sure. Maybe last weekend? I don't know; it's not that unusual.

4. What websites other than your own do you visit daily?

   What I have open right now: GoodReader, Inoreader, Gmail, Facebook, and Blogger. I don't go to my site daily, or even Blogger. Facebook is my crack.

5. Do you have a favorite day of the week? Why?

   I used to love Mondays; I still like them, but I work full-time now so it's less exciting. I like Fridays at work too--they just seem way laid-back.

6. Did you ever watch Saturday morning cartoons? What was your favorite?

   Nope. Saturday morning, when I was a child, meant staying in my room and cleaning while Mom cleaned the rest of the house. Once lunchtime passed, I was free to do whatever I wanted, which rarely involved TV.

7. Were you a comic book fan?

   Not so much, no.

8. Did you earn an allowance when you were a kid? How much? Was it tied to chores?

   My parents were never really into this. I got paid a little to take the trash out for awhile, but mostly if I wanted money, I just asked. Which involved explaining what I wanted it for.

9. What is the fanciest type of car you've ridden in? What occasion?

   I was in a Porsche for a day quite some time ago, helping a friend move. She was 24...and owned a Porsche. WTF! And I've ridden in a number of limos over the years. It's an airport thing around here.

10. What's your favorite sport to watch?

    Football. Really, need you ask??

11. Ever tried surfing?

    Nope. I can't swim. Surfing seems like it could be rather dangerous for me.

12. Have you ever been to a live major team sporting game?

    Yeah. Been to a NFL games, a couple of NBA games, lots of MLB games, and some hockey and soccer games. You know what, though: I've never been to a sports event in another country. There's a bucket list thing.

13. From a scale of 1 to 5 how athletic are you (1=nerd, 5=very athletic)?

    I'm probably about -4 these days.

14. What's your favorite horror movie?

    I don't do horror movies.

15. What is your favorite cult classic movie?

    By default, it has to be RHPS.

16. About how many times do you go to the movies a month?

    I think my average for this year is up to .2 times per month. Last few years, it would probably be closer to .02 times per month.

17. Favorite movie, which one came to your head first?

    Shoah

18. What if your life was like a movie? What type of movie would it be?

    Deadly dull with moments of insanity. I'm not sure anyone would watch it.

19. Do you like long series movies, like "Lord of the Rings"?

    Well, I don't like LotR, but I did enjoy the Harry Potter movies and the Matrix movies. Generally, though, I prefer brand-new ideas rather than re-doing the same damn thing over and over. Hello, superheroes, I'm looking SQUARELY at you!

Hodgepodge Questions

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Did you watch The Charlie Brown Christmas special Monday night? Who's your favorite Peanuts character and why?

We didn't watch it (I pretty much never do anymore), but I love Linus deeply and truly, but and Schroeder is just adorable. [ETA: too many buts]

"Most psychiatrists agree that sitting in a pumpkin patch is excellent therapy for a troubled mind." ~ Linus Would you agree?

Yes. Today I need a big pumpkin patch with absolutely no people in it, just dogs, a blanket, and a box of Kleenex.

2. Describe a sound from your childhood. What does this sound bring to mind?

There are times when I really wish we had a piano. The sound of noodling around on a slightly out-of-tune piano ... I miss that. Electronic keyboards are not the same.

3. You've won a trip to a winter wonderland...would that excite you? Which one of the following would you most want to experience (or which one would you dislike the least) - see the Aurora Borealis in Norway, stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel, go dogsledding in Lapland Finland, take a winter wildlife safari in Yellowstone or celebrate Winter Carnival in Quebec?

I would love to see the Ice Hotel, and going dogsledding sounds fun (for about 10 minutes). I'd love to go for another troika ride too; scroll down to Lake Baikal for the one I've been on. It was delightful and having latkes and vodka and doing the Chicken Dance around a blazing fire with Russians was surreal and hilarious.

4. Who or what keeps you humble?

I'm pretty capable of humiliating myself myself, but should I need help my family and friends stand ready to burst my balloon of self-importance.

5. What part of preparing for Christmas do you like the most? Explain.

I do like decorating the tree, now that we have a pre-lit one, but I have a hard time motivating myself to get started.

6. Gingerbread - yay or nay? Is making a gingerbread house part of your family holiday tradition?

Nope. Not a fan. Not at all. I mean, I'll eat some if its offered but I can totally live without it.

7. What's one thing you want to start, do, or complete before the calendar rolls into a new year?

Well, shopping and wrapping needs doing, eh? And it would be nice if Beast could get through a day without crying in pain a few times before 2016 commences.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am sick unto illness over the latest mass shooting. What the hell? Today is the first day I really feel like I live in Israel, in a police state, in a place where I am eminently unsafe in the world, since 9/11 and that was just flat-out panic and hysteria. I'm not panicking--this happened thousands of miles from me today--but there are far FAR too many ARMED nutjobs out there in the world. I realize that others in this country are in more danger on a moment-by-moment basis than me, but who the HELL shoots up and tries to bomb a disabled adult work-site?! Or, an elementary school? Or a health clinic (oh, wait that's been going on for multiple decades, no news there, really--pay attention people).....or a post office (oh wait...), or a fucking SPA?! Jesus God the world has lost its mind!
Also, hey, all you CC-licensed people: you are not living up to your promises of keeping the rest of us safe. Get with it or turn in your fucking guns, morons*.

__________
*if you choose to engage in pushing a pro-gun agenda in the comments just a reminder that I do delete crazy talk without prejudice

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love (1980)
... because Diana suggested Queen
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this video, Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury is wearing a leather jacket. Do you have a leather jacket?

I do, but it doesn't fit anymore. It's a real Harley jacket from the mid-80s. I love it, but it's very form-fitting for a form that's half my current size.

2) There's a statue of Freddie in Switzerland. There's another statue of him above the Dominion Theater in London. Tell us about a statue or memorial in your town.

We only have war-memorial statuary. Oh, yeah, there's a little statue of a mom and her kid(s?) sitting on a bench. It's about 3/4 real-life and right outside our City Hall. Not a big arts place, unfortunately. In fact, there's a free-form one on someone's personal property that was installed about 12 years ago that raised a huge fuss at the time.

3) Mercury said this song was inspired by Elvis Presley. What's your favorite Elvis song?

I like "Love Me Tender", "Jailhouse Rock" and "Hound Dog."

4) This song was covered by the animated Alvin and the Chipmunks. Do you still watch cartoons?

Nope.

5) The members of Queen met while attending Ealing Art College in London. Are you still in touch with the friends you had in your late teens and early 20s?

Some of them, yes. I've connected with about 15 high school (and prior schools) friends, and probably 10 college friends. My first job(s)....not so much (at all), though I do Facebook stalk one person regularly to make sure she's far away from me.

6) During Queen's hey day in the 1980s, Mercury stayed in shape with tennis and swimming. Are you more accomplished on the court or in the pool?

Tennis. I used to play--badly--semi-regularly. But I couldn't do it now, not anymore.

7) In 1980, when this song was popular, Brooke Shields made a jeans commercial where she said, "Nothing comes between me and Calvins." It actually only aired for a short time because so many viewers called and complained about it. Have you ever called or emailed to protest something you saw on TV?

I don't think so. Not anytime recently. I'm unlikely to bother--there's a mute button and I use it regularly.

8) 1980 is also the year the Post-It note was introduced. What's the last Post-It you wrote?

I use them every day at work. I think the last one I used was to let me know what grade level the kids' books were. The last one I wrote was probably something along the lines of "new spine pls--fixed in [catalog]" or something thrilling like that.

9) Random question: Do you blush easily?

Yes, very much so. I have pale skin that flushes easily. I can't drink without it 'showing' either.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
California Nights (1967)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Lesley Gore premiered this song on an episode of Batman. She played Pussycat, the protegee of Catwoman. (That explains her outfit in the video.) How many of Batman's nemeses can you name?

Joker, Penguin....several others. I don't really follow comics. Not my geekdom of choice.

2) At least five actors have played The Caped Crusader already (Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale) and Ben Affleck will play him in 2016's Batman vs. Superman. Who is your favorite Batman? (If any Batmen were inadvertently omitted, Sam apologizes.)

The Batman movies I've seen I've enjoyed just fine. Michael Keaton and Christian Bale were especially good, but Adam West will always be my nostalgic favorite.

3) Unlike most superheroes, Batman doesn't have any superpowers. This Saturday, you're more fortunate. We're bestowing any superpower on you that you want. Which would you like?

Invisibility.

4) Though she's singing of warm California nights, Lesley Gore was a New Yorker, born in Brooklyn and, in February of this year, dying in Manhattan. Which coast have you spent more time on, the West Coast or the East Coast?

West by far. I've never 'touched' the Atlantic from this side, though I've seen it at the airport in Boston.

5) Not many people know that while she was making records, Lesley was also a student at Sarah Lawrence and graduated with her BA in 1968. What's something we would be surprised to know about you?

People IRL would be surprised at how much time I've spent blogging in the past 12 years.

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, the best selling new camera in the United States was the new Polaroid Swinger. Think about the most recent photo you took. Did you use a camera, a tablet, or a phone?

Phone. I take phone photos almost every day.

7) The big fashion trend of 1967 was bright tights, in shades like Hot Pink, Shock Orange and Grass Green. Tell us about something you wore when it was trendy but now you look back and think, "Oh, God, that was awful!"

I've never been that trendy, or changed what I like to follow the crowed, but the recent trend in short shirts (that don't cover my butt) has been a very bad idea for me..

8) In 1967, drivers complained about "gas wars." The price was unpredictable and would rise and fall, day by day, as much as 30¢ per gallon. How much does it cost you to fill up your tank today?

Hah! The price of gas went from $2.79 to $3.09 for us last weekend. Summer prices have arrived, I guess. And I've finally gotten myself into a habit of filling my tank every Wednesday morning so I don't run myself down to panic-empty. As a consequence, I'm almost never filling the tank completely anymore. I usually run $20-30.

9) Random question: Are there dishes in your kitchen sink right now?

Yes, thanks to Sparky. Though, since he is also filling the dishwasher and running it regularly, I'm not really complaining.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
No Myth (1989)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The girl in this song is "just looking for someone to dance with." Who was your most recent dance partner?

I mostly dance by myself these days, in the kitchen. OK, occasionally with a wooden spoon or a dishcloth in my hands.

2) Michael Penn wonders if he'd do better with the ladies if he was Romeo or Heathcliff. What fictional character represents your romantic ideal?

Dear God, WHY would anyone think Heathcliff was a role model? Dude was a sociopath! Now, Mr. Rochester is at least semi-normal. ;-) But of course the ideal man is Jamie Fraser.

3) The lyrics refer to "knots I have yet to untie." Do the shoes you're wearing have laces?

Ha ha ha, you assume I'm wearing shoes! I'm barefoot considering my next nail color, after I do the much-needed pedicure in a few minutes.

4) Name a character from mythology.

Aphrodite. Also involved in pop music.

5) Michael Penn is the brother of Oscar winner Sean Penn. Give us the title of a Sean Penn movie.

"Fast Times" of course. He will never, ever live that down.

6) Their father, Leo Penn, was a busy TV director from the 1960s through the 1990s. He specialized in detective shows (Magnum PI and Cannon) and medical shows (Trapper John and Marcus Welby, MD). Are you more likely to watch a program with lots of car chases, or one that's set in a hospital?

Of those two options, probably the hospital. I tend to watch crime shows, which occasionally involve stunt driving, but more often include interviewing the victims in the hospital.

7) 1989, the year "No Myth" was popular, is the year of the first HDTV broadcast. Do you watch many shows in "high def?"

Yup. Whenever DirecTV has a lot of them, but it's not the reason I watch a show.

8) 1989 was also the year The Simpsons premiered. Who is your all-time favorite animated character?

Snoopy. Or perhaps the Roadrunner.

9) Random fill-in the blank: If I never had to ______________ again, it would be too soon.

...deal with a drunk....

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?

I'm a fan of both "Underdog" and "Mighty Mouse." Perhaps it's because it's harder to find them so I'm not bored with them, but even as a kid I preferred them to the Warner Bros and Disney cartoons.

2) What makes a good neighbor? If you have an exceptional one, give them a shout-out (anonymously or not).

I'm surrounded by really good neighbors, several of whom happen to be named "Cindy" but I'm pretty sure that's not why they're so awesome. The guys are pretty cool too. ;-)

3) If you could live a nomadic life, would you? Where would you go? How would you decide? What would life be like without a "home base"?

I wouldn't mind spending part of the year RVing around, or maybe doing that for a solid block of time till I got sick to death of it. If it were Beast and me, we'd probably do something like take turns, or maybe he'd just let me pick and he'd do all the driving. I would always want to have a home to come back to, though.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

This is an historical photo of a sharecropper's son in the first half of the 20th century. He's adorable, but very solemn and somewhat anxious-looking. And check those overalls: I think they're leather! I wonder what happened to him later in life....

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. Which is your favorite rock band?

U2.

2. Which rock other than the one that is your real birthstone do you wish was your birthstone?

I've always wanted to be Opal (October). Don't ask me why: there's no deep meaning, beyond knowing someone with that name once, and liking opals.

3. How many pieces of jewelry do you own with your actual birthstone in it?

I have one necklace, which I rarely wear because it's topaz set in gold. I don't like gold, and you can barely see the topaz against the gold.

4. Which sketch, if any, do you most remember from ABC’s Saturday morning "Schoolhouse Rock" series?

I was never allowed to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, so I never got to see "Schoolhouse Rock" except as an adult. My mother has a lot to answer for!

5. Do you own a rocking chair?

Yes. And I used it today, too, but not while I was holding the baby.

6. Someone who can be strong in the face of adversity is often described as a "rock." Who in your life is that rock for you?

God.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Waking Up in Vegas
Thanks to Cat. [me!] for recommending Katy Perry

1) As she sings about her night in Las Vegas, Katy wonders if she "got hitched last night dressed up like Elvis." Tell us about the last wedding you attended.

I... think it was a couple of years ago: our church secretary's youngest daughter--who was in our youth group the first year we were leading--got married. After the vows were said, the groom surprised her by singing a really lovely song to her. I didn't even know he was such a good singer!

2) Whenever Crazy Sam visits Las Vegas, she stays at the Paris Hotel and Casino. Have you ever been to Las Vegas, Nevada? What about Paris, France?

I have been to Vegas several times, and actually the last time I was there we stayed at Paris the first night. It was a very nice room, although the public areas are a bit ... rococo. Good crepes for breakfast, though! I haven't been to France. It's the one [western] European country I've zero interest in visiting.

3) Do you enjoy gambling? Have you had any success at it?

I lose with appalling regularity, but it's only money, and I only play (video poker) in Vegas.

4) Las Vegas is served by the RTC Bus Service and the Vegas Monorail System connects many of casinos on The Strip. When was the last time you rode a bus or a train?

We took the CTA bus in July when we were doing our anniversary getaway. While riding, we ended up chatting with the people next to us who were from Sheffield. England, that is. Turns out, the wife went to uni in the town where my sister Jean is buried. That was a weird moment....

5) It's not unusual for the mercury to hit 100º in Vegas in August. Which are you more comfortable in -- extreme heat or bone-chilling cold?

I don't mind Las Vegas-type heat (though 100 is getting close to unpleasant) since at least you sweat. However, it's much easier to deal with cold since you can at least put on more clothes. Still, given the option of freezing or baking, I'd pretty much rather bake.

6) As a little girl, Katy Perry sang nothing but gospel. Do you remember any church songs from your childhood?

Remember two things: 1) I went to Sunday School/Bible School from birth through high school, and then worked as the Christian Education intern two summers in college (so I taught Sunday School to all the kids all summer); and 2) You asked:

"This Little Light of Mine", "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" (omg, I just "listened" to the lyrics--how cloying!), "Sunshine Mountain" (what is with sun?), "Jesus Loves Me", "Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise Ye the Lord", "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart" (WHERE?),  "Deep and Wide", "Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See" (easily the one I hate most now), "Stand Up, Stand Up, for Jesus", "Rise and Shine", "Children, Go Where I Send Thee", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Father Abraham", "Jacob's Ladder", "Jesus Loves the Little Children", "Give Me Oil in My Lamp", "If You're Happy and You Know It", "The B I B L E", "Rejoice in the Lord Always", "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock" (my favorite, I think), "Zaccheus", "Rejoice in the Lord Always", "Praise Him, Praise Him, All the Little Children", "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", and of course the songs we learned the books of the Bible to.

7) [Katy] made her film debut as the voice of Smurfette in The Smurfs (2011). Who is your all-time favorite cartoon character?

Mighty Mouse is pretty high on the list. So is Underdog. And my favorite paper cartoon character is Opus by quite a long margin.

8) Do you consider yourself a picky eater?

Not really, though if I really don't like something, I simply won't eat it. I'd rather go hungry, which is just fine with me (and for me, probably!)

9) You receive an invitation to a party that starts at 7:00 PM. When will you arrive?

Somewhere between 6:50 and 7:10. I live in the midwest where "7:00 Start" means just that. If you're late, you lose.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Basically Obscure Meme-Part 2

21: Would you swear in front of your parents?

I pretty much do it daily these days. I'm sure they're spinning. I tried hard not to do it when they were alive though.

22: Which continents have you been on?

Asia, Europe, North America.

23: Do you get motion sickness? Any horror stories?

I do get motion sick. Many's the time we had to pull off the road when I was a child so I could walk around and potentially throw up (never did). I can't read or knit or do anything but stare at the road or sleep in the car. Trains and planes don't bother me, but buses--Very Bad.

24: Why did you name your blog whatever you named your blog?

Puns R Me.

25: Would you wear a rainbow jacket? A neon yellow sweater? Checkered pants?

I've worn checked pants -- I am that old, that they were 'in' (more or less) at the time. Actually, I wear plaid pajamas sometimes nowadays. I had a neon yellow madras shirt in the 80s that I absolutely adored and wore to death. And I had a rainbow sweater my mom made for me as a child. So, yeah, I guess I am a fashion nightmare.

26: What was your favorite cartoon growing up? Post a picture if you can.

I tended (and tend) to like the "off-brand" cartoons:

27: In a past life I must have been a...

...microbe in something other than me. I don't really believe in reincarnation, and I can't really get my mind there jokingly right now. Grammys are sucking my brainpower right now.

28: If you had to look at one city skyline [to look at} for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Denver. Not even a contest here.

29: Longest plane ride you've ever been on?

Chicago-to-Zurich or Chicago-to-Frankfort. Not sure which is technically longer. Neither of them were recent trips.

30: The longest you've ever slept?

Probably about 18 hours when I had pneumonia as a child. Or possibly the night I had surgery, but I don't remember precisely when I went into surgery or what time I woke up.

31: Would you buy a sweater covered in kitten pictures? Would you wear it if someone gave it you for free?

I wouldn't wear this in public, but if it were warm, I'd probably wear it around the house to hang out. I'm not proud. ;-)

32: Do you pluck your eyebrows?

Yes. It's becoming an exercise in Stupid, though, now that so many of the hairs are white.

33: Favorite kind of bean? Kidney? Black? Pinto?

JELLY! [I like garbanzos best, if you require a serious answer....]

34: How far can you throw a baseball?

Not very. But I'm better with a football.

35: If you had to move to another country, where would you move?

Scotland in the summer, Mexico in the winter.

36: Have you ever eaten Ethiopian food? Vietnamese? Korean? Nepalese? How was it?

I've not had any of the above that I know of.

37: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

More than I can, for sure!!

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Cold Turkey

1) Are you still feasting on cold turkey, or any other leftovers, from your Thanksgiving meal?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Actually, the mashed potatoes are gone: I made about 12 lbs. for 7 people...yes, they're gone. Beast can't stay away from them. lol I think I'll have some reheated stuffing with turkey again for dinner tonight.

2) AAA says Thanksgiving is a big travel weekend. Did you venture far from home for your holiday dinner?

I made the meal, so... no. We don't actually go anywhere very often for holidays.

3) Is this weekend the official start of the Christmas season for you?

Nope. I did most of my shopping about 10 days ago. We didn't even put the tree up on Friday, even though I meant to get that done. Oh well.

4) Which couple would you rather hang out with -- Fred and Wilma Flintstone or George and Jane Jetson?

Please, neither. Fred was a fucktard, and the whole Jetson family (except, maybe, the dog and the maid) annoyed the shit out of me as a child.

5) Have you/would you ever get your teeth whitened?

I've used the Crest (et al.) products a couple of times. No more; I like my enamel enough that I'll keep it intact, thanks. Sparky's greeting to me when he arrived home last Wednesday was, "Wow Mom, your teeth are REALLY yellow!!" Nice.

6) Do you still have your high school class ring?

Nope. Beast lost it while we were dating, about 27 years ago. I should've had it remade, but we were too broke at that point and for a decade afterwards, and now I doubt they'd make it correctly.

7) Here's $50. You must spend it all in one place. What are you going to do with it?

Tra-la: I'm off to pick up the books I ordered on Small Business Saturday from my local indy bookstore. Or I can put a down-payment on new glasses with it, after I see the eye doc tomorrow.

8) Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right about now?

Always. I never get it there in timely fashion.

9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning?

I...don't think so? I had to get up and MOVE to get to Sunday School on time, and even then I was a little late AND I forgot to bring the printed out lesson. Fail.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. When you're getting dressed, which shoe goes on first?

I think ... the right one.

2. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it with your fork?

Yes. Both: I cut it first, and then twirl any leftover long pieces.

3. Which single piece of jewelry do you wear most often?

I've been wearing the same wedding ring for 26+ straight years now, minus hospitalizations and times (like right now) when my hands are too swollen and hot to wear rings.

4. How many different cereals are in your pantry right now?

Three? Four? I almost never eat cereal, so those should probably get tossed. Like jelly/jam, I only buy it for "company."

5. How often do you swear?

Every damn day. Believe me, THAT was nothing!

6. Which cartoon do you recall most fondly from your childhood?

I loved Mighty Mouse and Underdog.

Saturday 9 18

(Link in meme-roll)
My Generation

1. What do you think is the most unique thing about your generation?

Wow, this question is a doozy! First of all, I have trouble with this because I was born right on the cusp of End-of-Baby-Boom and Whatever-Came-Next. Three siblings are/were squarely baby-boomers, and my older sister is pre-boom. If "My Generation" means people born in the 60s, then I'd say we're a fuckin' mess: our kids are still living at home, we're going to be paying into Social Security with probably no chance of seeing a payback, and we may be the first generation in awhile to live shorter lives than our parents. Yippee.

2. Do you speak out as often as you should?

Up until recently, I would say I speak up MORE often than I should, but I'm getting better, though still pretty mouthy.

3. How often are you tough and unreasonable?

I think there are those who would say that I'm not enough tough, but plenty unreasonable.

4. Do you believe that sometimes you learn more from a failure than a success?

Hell yeah! Not only, and not necessarily, my own.

5. Do you feel that you always have to win?

I really like to win. I'm not always a very good loser. But I know that I don't always win, so I'm better than when I was younger.

6. Do you think tradition matters?

Yes. But tradition mired in the past is useless if not translated and integrated into the present.

7. Do you tend to root for the underdog?

Almost always. Unless they are playing against the Packers. ;-)

8. Have you ever felt that you want to exceed your parents’ successes?

From a material standpoint, I have. From a 'life' standpoint, I'm not sure that's possible.

9. Of all the cartoon characters that you know of, which is most like you?

The teachers in the Peanuts cartoons (on TV)? Pogo? Wile E. Coyote?

I'm So Excited

10. What was the last event or situation that got you really excited?

I'm pretty excited about the fact that my boss is leaving, in less than a week now!!

11. How old were you when you started working and what was your first job?

From before I can remember, it was my job to clean my room up every Saturday morning while Mom did the rest of the house. Of course, that wasn't a paid job! I started babysitting at about age 11 or 12. My first applied-for job was working as a shelver at the local library at age 16. I was working before I had a driver's license, even.

12. Tell us about your grandparents.

All of my grandparents were born in or before the 1880s. My dad's parents were homesteaders (you know: 5 acres to prove in 5 years) in western Colorado when my dad was born. My mom's dad worked for the railroad in southwestern Colorado after immigrating from Canada; he left home in his early teens and married my grandmother, who was a schoolteacher in Montana, when she was in her early 20s and he was in his 40s. I never met him; he died in 1941, weeks after my parents were married. The other three surviving grandparents were all gone before I turned 12; I really don't remember much about any of them except that mom's mom had cold hands and beautiful long white hair, and dad's mom was deaf as a post.

13. Do you procrastinate or are you usually on top of situations?

I'm a great procrastinator, unless it's something I enjoy doing.

14. What would others say about you?

Ask them. (Let me know what they say?)

15. Do you believe in life on other planets?

I believe it's possible, even likely, but I'm not sure we'd recognize it as such necessarily, nor is it likely to look anything like us.

16. When was the last time that you were called too thin?

My parents were actually concerned about my weight as a kid, but while I was pregnant, that all ended. When I was in my 20s, one of my coworkers' husband called me "Skinny" whenever he saw me...creepy old fart.

17. Do you work out? Have you ever joined a gym and quit almost immediately?

I don't work out. I should, but I'm lazy. And I have indeed joined gyms and lasted just a few weeks or months.

18. Do you feel that you utilize all your intelligence in every situation?

Nope. That sounds very exhausting. I use a LOT of my intelligence in a LOT of situations, though. And then there's the majority of my time, when I'm on autopilot.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Imaginary Meme, Parts Four & Five

61. Ocean or pool?

I can't swim, so if there's a big deal to be made over the presence of water, I'd prefer it be 'natural' water.

62. Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays?

The nearest Ruby's is easily 35-40 minutes away; Fridays is "merely" 25 minutes from us. However, we are getting a Panera in town; w00t!!

63. Did you want to go to college?

I could not wait to get to college! I started planning on it seriously in 7th grade. "Get me the fuck OUTTA here!!"

64. What did you [do] last time at a mall?

I'm not sure how to answer this. I haven't been to a mall in well over a year, as far as I can remember. That was probably with Amy, which meant talking, wandering, ignoring the guys who wanted us to try out their massage chairs or hyperbaric chambers or whatever, giggling, and yeah, I guess we bought some stuff too.

65. Which close friend have you known the longest?

L. (since I was 5), though she's in Colorado and I'm ... not anymore. B. since freshman year in high school. J. & S. since the first week of freshman year of college. Beast from later that year. And Amy since 2003ish. There are others, but those are the biggest guns.

66. Why do you like the music you do?

"Good beat, easy to dance to." Lyrics? Meh, they're overrated.

67. Do you read much?

Not as much as I should.

68. Favorite country?

I love the U.S. But visiting Canada, the U.K., Italy, Greece, Mexico, and parts of Russia...sigh. I sorta do get homesick for those places I've visited and loved.

69. What is something you wish you were better at?

Remembering things.

70. What’s your favorite album/CD?

There are several of Melissa Etheridge's that I could listen to on repeat most of a day.

71. What's a good dinner order?

I suspect that if you order ANYthing from me, you'll be liable to get egged in a very non-edible sense.

72. Planes or boats?

Automobiles? I think the answer to this question is wholly dependent on where/how far I'm going.

73. One rumor that’s been spread about you:

"Don't make her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry." This is not an untrue rumor....

74. Who is your newest friend?

Hmmm, I'm not sure. On Facebook, I think it's the oldest son of our current pastor, whom I don't actually know very well. IRL, I guess maybe Sue at church, the 'newest' Sue. Church seems to be filled with Sues, so it matters which one. ;-)

75. Have you ever sat on a rooftop?

Yes. Yes I have. Not for MANY years now, but I have done so.

76. Was your last text useful?

Probably not. I haven't texted today, since I never picked up my phone off the nightstand after getting up this morning. Probably yesterday's last text was something like, "On my way home; cya soon."

77. Favorite soda?

Diet Dr. Pepper, though I call it "pop." Speaking of which, can someone just try to explain this whole "Dr. Pepper Ten" thing to me? Diet Dr. Pepper with 10 calories added back in, and marketed just to men? WTF??!

78. Do you like yourself?

There are days...and then there are other days....

79. The worst weather: Hot or cold?

I'm coming around to preferring cooler weather. I just cannot sleep in warm weather and I generally feel sort of sticky/dirty all the time when it's hot out. As my sister told me nearly 40 years ago, at least when it's cold you can add another layer....

80. Do you play an instrument?

We've covered this elsewhere: flute, some piano, handbells. Kazoo. Owl-hooting hands. I think that's probably all I'm willing to admit to.

81. What’s your favorite action movie?

I do like the Lethal Weapon movies. Die Hard 1 and 2 were good. And the Matrix trilogy.

82. Have (or are) you ever been involved someone much older than you?

Well, only to the extent that they're part of my family. Beast is actually (very) slightly younger than me.

83. Do you believe in lust at first sight?

Of course I do.

84. Favorite type of venomous snake?

OK, props for a brand-new question!! But, "favorite" venomous snake?? I don't really like any venomous snakes on principle.

85. Do you drink alcohol?

Only ethanol, and only good stuff. I sneer at the cheap shit, in general, at this point. If I'm going to drink, which I do rarely, I'm drinking quality.

86. If you wanted to talk to someone who'd lift your spirits, who'd you call?

Rachel. Or Liz. Or Beth. All three work with me.

87. What do you wear to feel sexy?

This is not a feeling I find myself looking for regularly. At all, in fact. So...I probably don't.

88. Do you like to learn?

It's my most favorite thing!!

89. Have you ever been hit on by someone who really overestimated their attractiveness?

Most men seem to be entirely clueless about their overall lack of good points in this area. I have no idea what the deal is here, but yeah, guys, you're just not all that and a bag of chips. [I'd probably go for the chips.]

90. Where did you last go on vacation?

Hmm. I guess the last vacation was our trip to Colorado last July while Sparky was in Germany.

91. Dallas (as in J.R. & Bobby) returns this week. What film or TV series would you loved to be resurrected?

It would be quite weird to see someone try Gilligan's Island, but I wouldn't watch it. My sitcom days are behind me.

92. Explain your karma beliefs.

Don't really believe in karma as such, but I do believe that what you get out of life is in pretty close approximation to what you put into it. If you are a sinkhole of negativity, chances are good that you're going to get handed a lot of that back, or at least you're going to perceive that's what life is about. Doesn't mean that I think bad things ONLY happen to bad people--that's just not true--but it does mean that one's ability to handle bad things is part of knowing how to deal with whatever life throws at you. ... And I think I just completely confused myself!

93. When do you think that you have a hard life?

I don't. Not very often. I try very hard not to dwell on the depressing things that have happened, because really, what's the point of doing that?

94. Favorite comic strip?

Still "Bloom County."

95. Have you ever broken a heart?

I've torn a few, by accident, no doubt.

96. Should pot be legalized?

Yes. YES! A thousand-million times YES!

97. Have you ever gone skinny dipping with someone that you shouldn't have?

I've never gone skinny dipping PERIOD.

98. What do you do when you're down?

Work on my bouncing skills. [actually, I do a lot of crying and beating myself up over things]

99. Last time you were really angry?

Just about exactly 8 days ago I was as angry as I've been in the past, oh, 2-3 years, if not longer. I could say as angry as I've EVER been, but that seems to be a stretch, but I was well past annoyed for sure!

100. What is your favorite flavor in general?

Mint. Plain mint; no chocolate, no vanilla, nothing cute, just mint.

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Smurfs wearing ripped jeans

1) One of my favorite TV shows recently changed the actors who played two characters. Have you ever been bothered by a TV show or movie series changing actors who play a character you love?

Yeah, it's dumb, and usually a deal-breaker for me. It all started with "Bewitched" and the Great Darrin Swap...and I've never really gotten over it. Is it really that hard to just create a new character??

2) Who do you feel is the most influential person of your generation in terms of music?

"Of my generation"?? So, of all the 45-50 year olds out there? Sadly, it's probably someone like Jon Bon Jovi or Tommy Lee or something....

3) A coworker recently shared a link to a blog listing the "five things you should know before dating a journalist." As a journalist, I can honestly say the writer was spot-on. What are some things people should know before spending time with you?

I read a lot, I'm picky about details, I don't like to leave questions unanswered, and you won't want to play trivia games with me.

4) What is your opinion of denim jeans that are sold with pre-made rips and fading?

Ridiculous. Just...wow, stupid upon stupid. Jeez, go to Goodwill and save your money, people!

5) The United States Postal Service has announced a proposal to close many of its rural post offices. Are you someone who still goes to a post office? Would it upset you if your post office closed?

I do go to the post office: we have a p.o. box in town because our rural post office is incompetent and can't deliver mail on time. And I go in and buy stamps and ship assorted things too. We even have pretty friendly employees at our (town) p.o.!

6) What is something you often do without realizing that you're doing it?

Bite my nails. Roll my eyes. Drift off while listening to something boring (like my boss's speeches).

7) Go to Urban Dictionary (click here), type in your first name, and paste one or two of your favorite definitions. The funnier the better.

I quite like this one:

cat
A quite pleasant furry creature that vaguely resembles a meatloaf. Cats are the most intellectually superior creature on Earth. They are particularly adept at training human beings to do their bidding, and spend 18 hours a day on average apparently sleeping. What they are really doing is coming up with ways to take over the Earth while still retaining humans to make that yummy cat food for them. If cats had opposable thumbs, they, not us, would be the dominant force on this planet.

I don't agree with a lot of it, but I like the meatloaf part a lot.

8) The "Smurfs" movie hits U.S. theaters tomorrow, and I want to know ... if you were a Smurf, what would your name be?

I would kill myself if I were a Smurf. I hate the Smurfs. I hate the ads for the movie. I really really really don't get why we need to revisit this particular horror of 70s pop culture.

9) With temperatures running above 100 degrees every day in my area, this topic has come up several times for me lately. Would you consider getting Botox injections to your armpits to decrease sweating?

Uhm, really? I think I'd rather be a Smurf....

10) I spent a couple hours Wednesday night hiccuping. What is your remedy to cure the hiccups? Everyone always has a different solution and none of them work for me.

Fill a big glass with water. Hold your breath while leaning over the glass and drink out of the opposite side of the glass as much as you can before you run out of air. It does work, but I think the key here is to distract yourself from the hiccuping.

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Ehh, what's up with you?

1) CBS debuted a show titled "Same Name" over the weekend which has famous people (including David Hasselhoff, Kathy Griffin, and Reggie Bush) switch places with everyday people with the same name. Do you share the same name with some famous person?

I am a singularity. And I thank God for that every day that I think about it!

2) If you do have (or theoretically if you did have) the same name as a celebrity, would you trade places with the celebrity for a while for a television show?

Nope. I have no interest in being famous. In fact, I would probably change my name if this were to occur. Yuck.

3) Today (July 27) is Bugs Bunny's 71st birthday. What should he do to celebrate his birthday?

Have some carrot cake and ponder.

4) What has been your favorite movie so far this year?

Uhm, haven't seen a movie (in a theater) in well over a year. We borrowed Part 1 of the Harry Potter finale about a month ago, and I caught part of Catch Me If You Can recently. They were good.

5) If you were a tour guide for your city, what three places would you take visitors to see?

The "fleabag hotel" (which isn't either of those things), the famous puddle, and the "bed and breakfast" (which actually IS one now). It's the standard tour.

6) How often do you screen your phone calls?

Always. I never don't screen them!

7) 27-year-old Amy Winehouse died over the weekend. Were you a fan of hers, or were you like me and barely knew anything about her until after she died?

I thought she had an amazing voice and an albatross around her neck. I felt sorry for her, and wished that she'd sort her life out. I guess that didn't work out.

8) Who is another celebrity you feel died too young?

Heath Ledger springs to mind rather quickly.

9) If you had the power to decide people's fates, would you consider it a blessing or a curse and why?

Oh, hell, what a horrible job!! I don't want to have to judge people; I'm way to swayable and emotional about things.

10) Wanting to go to a taxidermist to get your dead dog/cat stuffed -- normal or creepy?

Well, by definition, not normal. I would be creeped out by it, but as long as I'm not having to see it every day, I'd be fine with it. Actually, even if I did, I probably would get used to it fairly easily, but I would also try hard not to touch it. {shudder}

Super Power

Your Superpower Should Be Mind Reading

You are brilliant, insightful, and intuitive. You understand people better than they would like to be understood. Highly sensitive, you are good at putting together seemingly irrelevant details. You figure out what's going on before anyone knows that anything is going on! Why you would be a good superhero: You don't care what people think, and you'd do whatever needed to be done Your biggest problem as a superhero: Feeling even more isolated than you do now

What Should Your Superpower Be?

I'd love to be a mind-reader. That would, truly, be totally wonderful. Where do I sign up for this?

Wait!!!! I already am a mind-reader! In the middle of a phone call today with Sparky, I asked him to please turn off the #*%$!@ TV. Not that he'd told me it was on (muted), or that he'd mentioned what he was watching. I just...knew. Spooky, eh? Parents know exactly why I knew, though, I'll bet.

Manic Monday

(Link at left)
2 weeks' worth

June 11
What celebrity crushes did you have when you were growing up?

Oh, my, I had a whole spiral notebook with a chart that I checked every month (are you sensing early cataloging skills at the fore here??). Let's see: Larry Wilcox from "CHiPs", Tom Wopat from "Dukes of Hazzard", Greg...uh, something from that trucker show with the monkey ("BJ & the Bear"?), Rick Springfield (that hasn't changed much), Billy Joel (ditto), Barry, Andy, and Maurice Gibb (NOT Robin--eeeuuwwww!!), John Travolta for about ten minutes, Parker Stevenson...and manymanymany more.

What cartoon character best describes you?

I think I pretty much have to go with Daffy Duck.

Complete this statement “I recommend…” (it can be a TV show, book, movie, website, activity, restaurant, etc.)

"...watching RHPS at least once or twice every few years and doing all the audience participation possible without trashing your house (or the theater)."

June 18
Do you listen to music regularly? What's your favorite way to listen-- radio, CD, iPod...?

My favorite way of listening to music is Launchcast, though I really enjoyed having satellite radio in the van we rented last week. The common denominator: NO ADS! I don't mind Jack FM, though I get 80's-ed out pretty quick. I like CDs, but I get tired of the ones I listen to most (another sign that I'm not a teen anymore). One of these days I'll actually use my MP3 player and then I'll probably be addicted to it. Probably why I haven't used it yet, actually. Too easy to fall for something new.

When listening to music do you tend to focus more on the lyrics or the melody?

"Good beat, easy to dance to: I give it 91." I do listen primarily for melody or beat or production, but if the lyrics suck, I can do without. Frankly, this is a big reason why I'm not fond of rap: the 'songs' all seem to be stuck in one or two basic ruts, neither of which I can relate to. In other words, grow up!!

If you had to pick a theme song to sum up your life right now, what would it be?

"Every Move I Make" by David Ruis.

Scattergories

from ICL

Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following…They must be REAL places, names, things…NOTHING made up! If you can’t think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your name: Cat. (hah)

1. Famous Athlete: Jimmy Connors, tennis player in the 70s and 80s. I always liked him. In honor Amy, I'll also mention Olympic swimmer Tracy Caulkins.
2. 4 letter word: Crap
3. Street name: Cherokee St., the street on which I grew up.
4. Color: Cerise
5. Gifts/presents: Cowboy boots, Candles....
6. Vehicles: Cherokee (Jeep), Cadillac
7. Tropical Locations: Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba
8. College Majors: Chemistry
9. Dairy Products: Cheese
10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Candy
11. Boy Name: Caleb
12. Girl Name: Catherine
13. Movie Titles: Casablanca
14. Alcohol: Captain Morgan Rum
15. Occupations: Cataloger...(duh)
16. Flowers: Chrysanthemum
17. Celebrities: Charlotte Church and Jim Carrey
18. Magazines: Cat Fancy
19. U.S. Cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Chicago, Charlotte
20. Pro Sports Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers
21. Something Found in a Kitchen: Cake Pan
22. Reason for Being Late: Car broke down
23. Something You Throw Away: Clamshells
24. Things You Shout: Come ON!
25. Cartoon Character: Charlie Brown