Friday 5

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Looking for Treble

1. What’s something you recently fiddled with?

   My new laptop. I'm still trying to figure out how to set it up to work the way I want it.

2. When did you last drum up support for a cause?

   Uhm? I can't think of anything. Not my wheelhouse, for sure. I guess maybe telling a coworker about the Al-Anon hotline earlier this week.

3. What’s something today you can trumpet the arrival of?

   NEW BABIES!! My niece had her twins on the 30th. They are, of course, gorgeous! I'll get a picture posted on the site some time this weekend.

4. What’s the most memorable event you had to orchestrate?

   Probably my wedding, though I don't remember much about it. Or maybe Beast's grad school graduation (surprise) party.

5. In what way have you got all your bases covered this week?

   Oh, I do not ever want to claim that. I do have a haircut scheduled, a CPAP checkup appointment, and house cleaners coming, all in the next 5 days. Plus I work tomorrow. Whee.

Saturday 9

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Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart (1939)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about love at first sight. Do you believe that immediate attraction lasts?

It can. I know people who claim they "knew" immediately when they saw their loved one. It takes work to keep it going, though, I don't care what ANYone says.

2) The lyrics mention "a breath of spring" and robins singing. Now that we're deep into winter, what do you miss about spring?

Green things growing, and the smell of fresh earth; warmer temps, with no bite of cold wind. I do not miss spring rain, however!

3) Though the world knew her as Judy Garland, this week's featured artist was born Frances Gumm and her family called her "Baby." Does your family have any pet names for you?

My family--my parents--were emphatically anti-nickname. It's the reason we all have the names we have. They are, supposedly, unshortenable.

4) Because she was petite -- just 4'11 -- it was obvious when Garland gained even a few pounds and consequently she battled her weight her whole life. Now that we're in the new year, have you made any resolutions about your own diet?

I don't make resolutions, but once my endocrine system is back on to regular functionality after next month's surgery, I really have to address my weight situation.

5) The year this song came out, 1939, was the year Garland's most famous movie, The Wizard of Oz, was released. Which of her three traveling companions is your favorite: Scarecrow, Tin Man or Cowardly Lion?

Scarecrow. He's funniest, funnest, and, ultimately, smartest.

6) Barry Manilow enjoyed Judy's performance of this song so much he did a "dream duet" with her and included it in his recent CD. What performer who is no longer with us do you wish you could have seen in concert?

Nina Simone or Ella Fitzgerald.

7) Judy had a terrible problem with tardiness. Are you usually prompt?

I used to be sort of OCD about this. Over the past decade I've gotten really lazy. I'm usually close to on time, at least. ;-)

8) During World War II, Judy worked tirelessly to entertain the troops. Tell us about a cause that's near and dear to your heart.

Finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease and MSA; the latter killed my sister. They are often related, and they SUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKK.
Alternative, literacy for all, everywhere.

9) The American Film Institute lists Garland as the 8th greatest movie star of all time. Who is your all time favorite actor or actress?

Oh, hell, I don't know. I liked Gene Kelly. Meryl Streep is wonderful. Marlon Brando was gorgeous in his prime.

Friday 5

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I.D.

1. What was the last t-shirt you acquired because it identified you as a member of a specific group? (you know, like a faculty t-shirt if you're a teacher, or a class t-shirt if you're a student, or a volunteer t-shirt for some event you helped with…)

Well, I bought a Packer training season polo last month...does that count? Otherwise, I guess it was the shirt similar to this I bought at a library conference exhibit.

2. What was the last event for which you filled out a HELLO MY NAME IS nametag?

All of us at work wore our Pirate Names on these things on Talk Like a Pirate Day last month.

3. Besides websites and personal computers, how many things do you have passwords or combinations for in order to prove you're authorized?

Our garage door, our safe, phones (home, work, cell), the bank, a couple of rewards cards I use when I'm shopping... I think that's it. Or all I can remember right now.

4. What was the last thing you wrote your name on so that people would know it belonged to you?

Oh, hell, I don't know. Something at work, probably, a form or God knows....

5. What was the last thing you put your name on so people would know you supported a cause, or were a member of a side?

Hmmm, not sure.

Give Me 5 Monday

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Give Me Five things you would do, if money were no object.

1. Pay off the mortgage and buy some land or a house near a lake in the mountains somewhere.
2. Fund a college scholarship for minority girls.
3. Get involved in funding reproductive rights in this country and abroad.
4. Give a big pot of money to the PCUSA.
5. ...and another big pot of money to ONE.

Patrick's Place

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Monday's Morals

A friend of yours has a child fighting a life-threatening illness and the friend is selling silicon wristbands to raise money for treatment. The child loves rainbows, so the wristband is rainbow-colored. You buy a wristband, but knowing this same design is also symbolic of gay and lesbian rights movements, and assuming that you are not homosexual, would you actually wear the wristband? Why or why not?

Sure.

There are several points here. First of all, if it were a child in my community everyone would know what it signified; we're not a very big town.

Secondly, even if it were outside the community, I'd wear it because what would be the point in buying it otherwise?

Thirdly, in this specific instance, it would make me laugh. I don't really care if people think I'm gay. People who know me know I'm not, and those who don't...well, so what? If anyone mentioned the subject, I'd show them the name on the wristband to clear it up. People who assumed I was wearing it for Gay Pride purposes, and therefore it identifies me as a lesbian, shouldn't assume. Frankly, I'd wear a Gay Pride wristband/bumper sticker/T-shirt that wasn't a 'mistaken identity' thing like this. I do support the cause after all. And I'm not a lesbian, not even after 23 years of marriage (to a man). ;-)

It would make me laugh considerably harder if I had an inkling that the people selling the wristbands didn't know the rainbow symbol had other meanings.

In truth, however, things around my wrists annoy the crap outta me, so I'm more likely to request a T-shirt or something along those lines.