Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Thought Provoking Questions
These are questions suggested by Markandangel

If you could instill one piece of advice in a newborn baby’s mind, what advice would you give?

Hell no! I'll be taking advice from this source, not polluting it with my stupidity!

What is the most desirable trait another person can possess?

Self-awareness.

What are you most grateful for?

Small moments of joy and painlessness.

Is stealing to feed a starving child wrong?

Nope.

What do you want most?

Peace.

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

I tend toward doing things right as often as possible; I need to pay more attention to doing the right things regardless of perfectibility.

What has life taught you recently?

Just cutting back on food intake or eating healthier food doesn't cause weight loss. So frustrating.

What is the one thing you would most like to change about the world?

I would really like people to spend more time listening with an open mind.

Where do you find inspiration?

Kids and animals, some weather (e.g. thunderstorms) and sleep.

Can you describe your life in a six word sentence?

"Just take it as it comes."

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

Because pride. Ego, if you prefer.

What impact do you want to leave on the world?

Aside from kindness, I'd actually like to leave as little impact as possible. Call me nuts.

What is the most defining moment of your life thus far?

Life continues after tragedy, and there are ALWAYS things to be learned, often from surprising people and events.

In the haste of your daily life, what are you not seeing?

Realistically, if I'm not seeing it, I'm, uh, ... not seeing it.
To answer the implicit question, I'm often very unaware of how set in my ways I am.

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

"I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to—what I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking. But I can’t help myself because I’m no longer doing it.... When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway." (Romans 7:15-17a, 19 (NLB))

Paul had one answer for that. I tend to agree with him in the abstract sense: because it feels better to do the wrong thing often. Or it is or seems easier.

What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?

Music. Sleep. Venting to a trusted person.

Have you ever regretted something you did not say or do?

Only every motherlovin' day! Good God, this is my life. "Regrets, I have a few..."

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

Ayup. Usually with a twist because God's a funny guy.

Why do we think of others the most when they’re gone?

I don't really think I do; I am fairly certain I think about my Mom now as often as I did when she was still around. However, I think we all like to think about past times of our lives that seem much easier than today. I also strong distrust this rosy view of the past. My life wasn't appreciably "better" in my 20s, though some things were easier. Other things were pretty awful and I'd never want to do it again.

What is your most beloved childhood memory?

I've been thinking a lot lately about playing jacks (metal ones!) on the sidewalk in front on my house. We had a driveway pad that was very smooth so my hand didn't get all torn up scooping. I loved jacks....

Saturday 9 x 2

(Link in meme-roll)
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 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Korea Guidance

1. What would be a better name for the color of goldenrod-colored paper?

   How about just gold? That's what I call it.

2. Where did you get your silverware?

   I think I got it at an outlet store, or with coupons or something. I hated the stuff we started our marriage with. And we still have. Somewhere.

3. It is a weird tradition in America (and possibly elsewhere) for parents to have their children’s baby shoes bronzed. What artifact from this past week would you have bronzed as a keepsake and heirloom?

   Great timing for this: I spent the last week getting rid of stuff, either via taking stuff to resale shops or straight up garbaging it. My family never did the bronze shoes thing, and I don't really understand the concept of bronzing things. Seems like just one more thing to dust. So to answer the question: I'll just take the bronze and make some jewelry out of it.

4. What was the most recent ceremony you attended?

   I can't think of anything beyond worship at church or something like that. Unless visiting Beast has become something of a ritual at this point.

5. What east Asian cuisine is good for your Seoul?

   ...oh the PUNS! 😲 I live in Nowhere; we have Chinese. Within 45 minutes, I might be able to find Thai or Japanese, but I'm relatively certain Korean or Vietnamese is going to be a trek.

... it stays with you

(from the Aimster)

Have you ever been to Legoland®?

Perish the thought! We have a Lego (technically, Duplo) table at work, and I think I've developed a strong repulsion toward the firm because of all the cleanup I've had to do around it over the years. Not to mention the zillions of pieces I've picked up at home. And at other kids' houses when I've babysat. ...I used to like Legos, too.

Have you ever done something heroic?

Nothing I would consider heroic. I suppose the definition of heroic is rather malleable though, so what I would call heroic might not fit your concept of it. And vice versa.

Have you ever built a snowman?

Considering I've lived in snowy climates my entire life, I've created surprisingly few of these. Like, maybe two?

Do you have any lucky items, objects or traditions?

I keep my one-year coin in my wallet and take it out occasionally to ponder. I should get a two-year coin next month. I always have Chapstick (or something like it) in my right front pants pocket. I actually feel a little freaked out if it's not there--this is a 25-year or more habit. I think I may have some other tics that I'm totally unaware of.

Do you have any superstitions?

There is a patron whose name NO ONE is allowed to speak at work! Somehow, whenever we mention that "E.E." hasn't been seen in awhile ... she shows up within the next 48 hours. There are some other work things that we all subscribe to. I do touch wood when I say something that might bring bad luck.

What's your favourite Movie quote?

" I don't patronize bunny rabbits." (Heathers)

Do you wear sunglasses indoors to look cool or stylish?

Nope. I don't actually own sunglasses per se.

Are you a hat person?

I like hats, but I really hate hat-hair, so I don't wear them very often at all.

Do you prefer digital or rotary/analogue clocks?

I'm not fussy. I do, however, like clocks to either match exactly with the rest of those in the building, or be set differently ON PURPOSE. For instance, the clock on my nightstand is set, intentionally, 10 minutes ahead of 'real time.' All the clocks at work say something different. It makes me nuts.

Have you ever been to a gym?

WTF? What planet did you grow up on that you didn't have to take gym class every goddamn year of your educational career?!
Of course. I've also been to a YMCA and a couple of workout centers. I am so very worldly.

Have you ever been wolf-whistled in public?

Yes. Ugh. The first time was when I was, like, 11 and sitting in my front yard. {{shudder}}

Have you ever been approached by someone who knew you but you couldn't remember them for the life of you?

Yes. Well, technically, no. Lots of people recognize me, some of them legitimately know me from work. I'm horrible at faces and names though so that does happen. And then there are the people who ask me if I used to live in [town I've never heard of] because I look just like the [grocery store clerk, school principal, librarian, whatever] there. It freakin' happened at the DOCTOR last week for cryin' out loud!

What do you do to keep fit?

I don't.

How often do you wash your ears?

Every time I wash my hair.

Could you go out with someone who had a child from a previous relationship?

As I've said before, I'm sure Beast would frown upon this arrangement. If there were no Beast in my life, I would think it would be pretty much impossible for me to date someone suitable who didn't have kids. At this point, said kids would likely be adults. It would be interesting.

How much would it cost to buy your love?

Depends on the day. Today, 50 cents and my phone number might do it.

What's the scariest thing you've ever done?

Hospitalizations count, right? Also, dealing with some of the bullshit Beast has pulled over the last 5 years has been ... harder than anything I could've imagined.

...a long distance out of the way...

(Swiped from Amy)

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

A version of "not my circus, not my monkeys" that involved snakes about 10 years ago. I have to re-hear it regularly as I'm prone in sticking my nose into things it would be better off out of. [Grammar is my friend...]

If a loved one was to serenade you, what song would you most like them to sing?

Whatever song they'd like. However, I must stipulate that they can at least bring a bucket in which to carry a tune in. Beast can't sing at all, and Sparky isn't quite there yet either.

Would you ever let your parents pick out a partner for you?

Nope, and it's too late now. And they wouldn't've anyway. I'm more likely to listen to their advice as I get older, however, which is somewhat ironic now that I can't.

Michelangelo's David...masterpiece or filth?

"Filth" because he's naked? Please, get over your penis-phobia! And it's an amazing work of art. I will never forget my first sight of it in the Accademia in 1985. Astounding, jaw-dropping, un-fucking-believable.

Do you like other people buying you clothes?

Depends on the article of clothing. Sometimes its spot on, something I love and will wear. More often it's weird or the wrong size. My mom, funnily enough, chose good things for me even after multiple strokes until she stopped shopping because ... stuff got hard. No one else has matched her prowess. :'(

What one device would you want to see added to a mobile phone?

I just got a new phone and I can't think of a thing it doesn't have, except a "louder" (i.e., more noticeable) vibrate feature. I guess I'll just have to turn up the volume and annoy my coworkers with sounds.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?

I'll be nearly 62. Probably still at least 5 years from full-benefits retirement, as they've raised the age for state employment vestment to 67. I hope I can make it that long. Honestly, I don't know what I'll do if/when I retire. Maybe I'll have grandkids, or at least a daughter-in-law, by then? I'm not holding my break. I love Sparky to death, but right now he's a bit of a know-it-all/spaz.

Do your dreams ever tell you to do anything?

Not really in the sense of ordering me around. My dreams often 'reinterpret' what's been going on in my waking life and help me sort out the important stuff. Or just point out the Tragically Weird. And often I wake up thinking, "Why in hell was I obsessing all night about (this week) making sure Sparky gets a checking account??" Which we did this morning.

Have you ever been to an Art gallery?

Uhm, yes. Of course. There was one on my college campus, right by the dining room. Many libraries I've been in have had small galleries attached. Mine does, now, for instance. Starbucks even has gallery space to rent! And of course museums too. Endless hallways inside the Vatican come to mind, full of so much art it seems almost obscene that what we're seeing is "just the good stuff." And some Native galleries in various locales...Vegas, Arizona, Minnesota.

Do you shout out the answers at the TV whilst watching quiz shows?

I've been known to mutter. And occasionally, when contestants are ridiculously dumb, I have shouted. I don't watch too many of them anymore, though.

Are you a valuable asset on a Pub Quiz team?

Probably, but since I don't hang out in pubs, or anyplace where there's regular trivia contests it's not been a thing. No one I know is willing to play Trivial Pursuit with me anymore, though, even the smarty-smart people of my acquaintance. Sad face.

If you could bankrupt one person or company who would it be?

Weapons manufacturers and dealers. This song is a bit extreme, but the gist of it works for me.

If you could steal one thing without consequence what would it be?

Babies for snuggles. Until they start doing the stinky-screamy thing and then they go right back to their parents.
Something I'd steal and keep? Maybe all the handguns in the world...and throw them into an active volcano.

Lazy Easter Sunday

(Swiped from Amy)

Have you ever had a dream that you chased only to be let down when you achieved it?

Not "let down" per se but this whole Being An Adult thing is not as advertised when I was younger. I don't really have high expectations anymore for most things--I tend toward realistic. Maybe cynical? Nah, not really. Just unwilling to live with massive, preventable disappointment.

Is there anything about the opposite sex you just don't understand or comprehend?

Well, the whole peeing standing up thing is complicated as far as I can tell, seeing as how it seems far more difficult than it sounds to hit a fairly good-sized target with any degree of regularity. Otherwise, men aren't any weirder than women, except for their general lack of a clue about women. ;-)

Who was your favourite teacher at school and why?

I struggle with this question because I had pretty excellent teachers throughout my educational career; it would be MUCH easier to list the crappy ones! I even had good Sunday School teachers. It's been fun, thanks to Facebook, to get to know some of these folks as people now that we're all adults. Supposedly.

What's your favourite party game?

Depends on the party. I love Sheepshead, but it isn't something most people can deal with. Poker is fun. Apples to Apples is fun. Whatever. I will play almost any game.

Is it acceptable or unacceptable to smack a child as form of discipline?

Sure. Punching is not ok. Slapping isn't even ok. But the occasional butt-swat is called for, as an attention-getting device. Note that word "occasional"--if you're doing it more than 5 times a week--depending a little on age and the personality of the child--you aren't doing it right.

Can a heterosexual male ever wear pink?

Sure. My dad wore pink. He was definitely hetero. How can I be sure? He wore a pink shirt with an orange-and-green plaid sport coat. {kidding}

Is it criminal to wear socks with sandals?

It's rather silly-looking, but some feet are not ready for public viewing. On the other hand, being comfortable around those you love gives people a bit of a free pass on Ugly Feet Syndrome.

If you were captain of a ship, what would you call it?

Lollipop. Question back though: since when do captains get to name their own ships?

If you were to join an emergency service which would it be?

Probably EMT. I would suck at fire/rescue, and being a cop doesn't really work for me either.

If you were to join one of the armed forced which would it be?

At this point, none of them would have me. However, back in the day, the only one I would have seriously considered was the Air Force.

What's the worst thing about being your gender?

The bleeding every month thing, when it was a thing for me, really just sucked. Not just the hassle, but the hormonal stuff and generally feeling like shit on a plate at least 2-3 days every month.

What's the best thing about being your gender?

Being pregnant.

If you swapped genders for a day how would you spend it?

Working out the Pee Mystery--though surely that wouldn't take all day. Would it? So I'd just spend my day as usual, otherwise. I mean, being male wouldn't change my ability to do my job. I'm not a pregnancy surrogate or anything.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Rubber Ducky (1970)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is sung by Muppet Ernie. Who's your favorite Muppet?

Cookie Monster, or maybe Grover. I'm old-school.

2) Ernie became famous on PBS's Sesame Street. What public television shows do you watch?

I don't. Sorry--I'm very uncultured.

3) When you were a little kid, what was your favorite TV show?

I grew up before children's TV programming was really much of a thing. I liked the cartoon shows on weekday mornings when I was very little. After that...lots of other things grabbed my attention.

4) On Sesame Street, Ernie frequently teases his best friend Bert by stealing his nose. Do you enjoy practical jokes?

I'm not a huge fan, no.

5) Sesame Street creators developed carefree Ernie and serious Bert to show children that different types of people can be good friends. Think about your closest friend. Tell us how you two differ.

I'm picking one person. She's fairly quiet, except for the occasional inadvertent body sounds out of her control. She's very creative with crafts and good with numbers and likes to cook and bake. She's the only girl out of five kids in her family.

6) Bert and Ernie share a basement apartment on Sesame Street. Tell us about the basement of the building you're in right now.

That would be my house, which is currently full of a lot of random stuff, and the pool table is covered with folded and clean clothes that need to be brought upstairs.

7) Ernie and Bert were created by Jim Henson. In addition to being an accomplished puppeteer, Mr. Henson was also a talented cartoonist. Can you draw?

Very basic stick figures, and doodles.

8) Jim Henson made his first puppets himself using felt, foam rubber, string and rods -- all items that can be purchased at an arts and crafts store. When is the last time you shopped in an arts and crafts store?

Decades. Literally, decades. There really isn't one nearby, though I suppose in a pinch Michael's would qualify in which case about 2 years.

9) When is the last time you took a bath (as opposed to a shower)?

Earlier this week, actually. Before that, probably a month.

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....

Saturday 9 Two-Fer

(Link in meme-roll)
Cowboy Casanova

1) The singer tries to warn her friend against a neighborhood Lothario. Do you advise your friends when it comes to love? Or do you stay out of it?

Like most other things, I try (not always successfully) to only share 'advice' if specifically asked, or in dire situations. I have a lot of opinions about the 'romantic' decisions other people make, but since I live in a bit of a glass house, I try to keep my lips zipped. Of course, if they guy is actually dangerous, that's a whole different kettle of fish; I would hope that I would have bopped anyone dating Drew Peterson over her head and dragged her away from him, with the awareness that ultimately people will do what they're going to do.

2) This song is about the hot guy "leaning up against the record machine." Does your favorite restaurant or bar still have a juke box?

One of the places we eat in semi-regularly has a very modern-looking jukebox which always seems to be turned up to 11 in volume. I think there may be a couple of other places that have them too, but I don't pay a lot of attention.

3) Carrie is an American Idol winner. Have you ever gone online or picked up the phone and voted for a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, American Idol or any similar show?

Nope, nope nope nope. I don't even watch these shows. {{shudder}}

4) Carrie graduated magna cum laude and majored in journalism, yet instead of being a reporter, she's a country music superstar. How similar are your life/career today to the way you envisioned them when you were 21?

I also graduated magna cum laude eons ago and had no idea what I was going to do with my life--except get married within 2 months of that. My career didn't take as much of a turn as hers, though.

5) Carrie also competed in beauty pageants and was a runner up for Miss NSU (Northeastern State University). If you were a contestant in a pageant, what would you do for the talent competition?

a) I wouldn't be a contestant in a pageant. The whole concept is vile to me. So b) my talent would probably be Vituperative Bra-Burning or something along those lines.

6) This December, Carrie is scheduled to star in a televised remake of The Sound of Music. Do you have any year-end plans?

Uh, no. Can I get through my birthday in November first? Jeez, I have company here next month and a baptism to get through before the Big Birthday, and frankly I'll be just as happy if we just sit around and stare at each other and play with our new toys on Christmas and New Years.

7) She is married to NHL player Mike Fisher, center for the Nashville Predators. What's your favorite professional sports team?

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a Packer fan. I also root for the Broncos, the Badgers, and (desultorily) the Browns. I actively cheer against the Patriots, the Bears, and (desultorily) the Raiders.

8) Hockey is a tough game! Do you currently have an owie or an ouchie or a boo-boo that requires a bandaid?

Not really. My cuticles and fingernails are always a little sore, and I just stood on our freshly-blacktopped driveway for about 5 minutes so my feet are a bit crunchy (i.e. burnt), but none of this is a big deal.

9) Summer brings a lot of power outages and brown outs. Do you have a flashlight? If so, have you checked the batteries?

Hah! We have close to a dozen flashlights scattered through the house, but yeah I should probably check batteries. And bulbs. Maybe a culling is in order--some of them are just really in lousy shape, and I'm a bit of a flashlight snob at this point. We lose power fairly often here and it's DARK outside at night with no lights!

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Easy Lover

1) This song is about a heartbreaker who just can't commit. Have you ever fallen for an "easy lover?"

Yeah. But I escaped.

2) This song is one of Crazy Sam's "earwigs." Each time she hears it, it bores in and stays in her head forever! (Hear it here, if you dare!) Do you have a song like that?

I wake up with songs in my head every morning. I should probably write them down; I'm certain there's a meaning there somewhere, since they aren't always songs I've heard recently. This week the ones I remember are P!nk's "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" and "Getting to Know You" (from The King and I). WTF? I haven't listened to that soundtrack in decades!

3) Both Phil Collins and Philip Bailey* have stars on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Have you ever visited Hollywood?

I think so; when I was in California with my high school band, we probably drove through Hollywood at least. I don't remember anything in particular about it.

4) Hollywood is the movie capital of the world. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?

We went to the latest "Star Trek" movie a few weeks ago. Before that ... eons.

5) Phil Collins was a child actor in his native England, appearing onstage in musicals like Oliver! Can you think of another child performer who went on to entertainment industry success as an adult?

Uhm...? Seriously? Britney, Xtina, Justin, Lindsey...to name the top of the current crop. Then there's Patty Duke, Danny Bonaduce, Mickey Rooney ... there are scads.

6) Philip Bailey joined Earth, Wind & Fire while still in college, so he's been a performer throughout his working life, as well. Have you ever been tempted to try your hand at show biz?

Not since I have been old enough to vote. Ugh.

7) Is there a profession that you never, under any circumstances, want to try?

Grave robber? President/Prime Minister/Big Decider? "Famous person"?

8) What are you looking forward to right now?

I really need a bath. I think that's next on my schedule...a long, relaxing soak and then a layer of lotion on all that freshly-scrubbed skin. Yay.

9) Do you suffer from trypanophobia (fear of needles/injections)? Or can you bravely donate blood or get a shot, without freaking out?

I don't fear needles, but watching them go into skin makes me really nauseous. After years of donating blood, getting allergy shots and submitting to assorted IVs and blood draws, I still can't watch. The sight of blood doesn't even gross me out (although it's a bit stressful when it's my own), but watching an injection? No, thanks!!

*Well, Earth Wind & Fire has a star.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Wackadoo Meme part 2

30.] What brand of batteries do you usually get?

Energizer? I think? However, we go through plenty of Duracells too. It's more a matter of which I see first and which are on sale.

31.] Are any of your friends pregnant or have kids?

I will be 50 years old in a few short months. Some of my friends have grandkids!! One of my nieces will be delivering a little boy this month, and one of my nephews is expecting (technically, yes, it is his wife who is expecting) later this year. My oldest niece has an almost-four-year-old, and another niece has an eight-month-old. There will be loads of second-cousins running around very shortly.

32.] What is in your medicine cabinet?

I have a GIANT cupboard I use for medical stuff because our actual medicine cabinets are too small to be functional. The cabinet in my bathroom has deodorant, perfume, face soap on my shelf, and Beast's shelf has a razor, shaving stuff, and cologne. Sparky's has an old toothbrush, some hair gel, and...maybe something else, I can't remember.

33.] What's your favorite aspect of the natural world?

The mutability of it. It's never the same from minute to minute.

34.] What's your favorite man made thing?

Medical science, followed fairly closely by electronics.

35.] Can you whistle properly?

I can whistle a tune. I can't do the piercing attention-getting whistle, though, more's the pity.

36.] What song do you think is the most widely heard in the world?

"Happy Birthday" has to be up there somewhere near the top.

37.] Where's the strangest place a fast food restaurant was located?

Uhm...in the sense that it is no longer there, or just a strange place for a fast-food place? To be honest, this question has caught me completely off-guard and I can't think of anything at all.

38.] What states surround your state? Or are you not land locked?

There is water on parts of two sides of my state, and it's in the middle of the country. If you're a regular reader, you probably have a general idea of where I am, and that's about as much as I'm willing to share.

39.] Do you own binoculars or monoculars? What do you use them for?

We have binoculars somewhere. I can't use them: they make me nauseous because of my glasses.

40.] Do you ever wish you had a telescope on the roof or attic to stargaze?

Nope. Not my thing, not at all. See above re binoculars.

41.] What's your favorite chocolate bar?

I like Butterfingers and Heath/Skor bars.

42.] Do you fall asleep easy in cars? How about planes, trains and boats?

I do. I can crash for an hour in the passenger seat five minutes into the trip. Aside from the fact that planes don't make it easy to get comfortable, I have no problem sleeping at any time while traveling, which is a lovely gift primarily because it keeps me from getting motion sick.

43.] Would you rather live a year of your life in every major country or stay in the same place you live forever without vacations?

Choice one. I like travel. I'm also becoming massively tired of being here where I live. I have now lived in this area longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life. This makes me incredibly sad.

44.] What will you not tolerate in a person?

I'm generally pretty forgiving, but I don't put up with delusion or meanness.

45.] Do you forgive others easier or yourself? Why is this?

Depends on the 'sin' I"m forgiving. Usually I'm harder on myself, but there are certain people and certain issues that are hard to get past.

46.] How was God made, if [H]e exists?

Admittedly I'm not young, but I was NOT here when God "was made" for cryin' out loud! Ask Him, or Her, why dontcha? And if you get an answer, let me know what it is.

47.] Have you ever done aqua aerobics or polo?

I did water aerobics when I was pregnant.

48.] What age were you when you learned how to swim?

Fifty-plus. As in, it hasn't happened yet.

49.] What shows or characters scared you as a child?

EVERY-damn-thing scared me as a child: Mr Bumble in "Oliver" (the movie and the play), loud noises, people who looked different from my family, darkness, dreams.... Then again, when I was a toddler, there was a lot of justified fear in my family's life.

50.] Do you stay up all night on New Years Eve/Day or go to bed after 12am?

I try to make it till midnight, or I hit the sheets by ten so I'm solidly out of it when the fireworks start around here. If I'm up though, there's no sleeping till closer to 1. Mostly I go to bed early so I can watch the Tournament of Roses parade in the morning.

51.] What's something unusual currently in your fridge?

Leftover garlic chicken--mostly the broccoli bits since Beast didn't want them. I have to take it to the garbage this afternoon. Too old to (safely) eat.

52.] How about your freezer?

I've got a rice-filled sock in there, I think. For muscle aches and pains and injuries.

53.] What could you be doing now that is more productive?

Emptying out the old food, cleaning the guinea pig cage, taking a nap, working on the project "assigned" at today's after-church meeting (Beast and I are splitting it up), reading, tidying my desk....

54.] Give me some lyrics from the song that's stuck in your head?

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match/Find me a find, catch me a catch.../...For Papa, make him a scholar/For Mama, make him rich as a king/For me, well, I wouldn't holler if he were as handsome as anything!"

55.] What's your favorite type of firework?

I like the ones that drizzle down like weeping willows.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. V is for VACCINE: Do you believe children should be required to be vaccinated before they’re allowed to attend public schools? Why or why not?

Yes. The number of people who have been proven to have had reactions from vaccinations is remarkably small, the study that caused the uproar saying that vaccinations were dangerous has been repeatedly discounted by further studies, and the diseases being vaccinated against are killers. If you don't want to vaccinate your kids, then home-school them far away from the rest of the kids in the world. Having ranted, however, I do think there must be a way to figure which small percentage of children react badly to the shots before they are vaccinated.

2. V is for VALOR: Whom do you know personally that you consider to be particularly courageous?

Lots of people: my brother was a firefighter (and before that, and EMT and a cop). Several people at my church get up to face the day in spite of multitudes of reasons they could easily just ... not.

3. V is for VALUE: Which store do you feel generally offers the best deals on things you want?

Ultimately, the small stores. Yes, you can get whatever more cheaply at Wal-Mart, but you're paying through the nose in other ways: lack of backup if something goes wrong, lack of training for staff if you have questions, and the fact that almost everyone that works there is barely being paid enough to live on.

4. V is for VEGETABLE: Which single vegetable do you tend to use most when you cook?

Corn, I guess.

5. V is for VERTIGO: What’s the tallest building you’ve been inside?

I've been in the two big ones in the City of Big Shoulders. Once each; I resent having to PAY to ride an elevator, at least I resent paying $15+ for that privilege.

6. V is for VULCAN: Who is your favorite Star Trek character?

Picard. Of course. DUU-UUH! lol

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
more of an update for me, as I've answered all these questions previously ...
POST #6300!!!

1. Where was your profile picture taken?

The one at the top of this blog is a stock photo that came with the template. I love it. The one I use for my Blogger profile is the same one I've used since I started blogging almost 9 years ago: it shows Mt. Abrams (another stock pic), a view that means everything good in the world to me. My Facebook profile pic is currently a bizarre boombox I saw in a shop while on vacation last year; my cover photo there is a roadside photo taken 5 years ago in Duluth while on a mission trip with the high school kids from our church. I think that's all my profile pics. [sorry, if you aren't a Facebook friend, you'll have to trust me...*]

2. Name someone who made you laugh today.

The Sunday School kids were totally wild today. I'm giving the edge to Martha (age 3) and Peyton (age 8, I think) for being 100% honest and 100% on-task-without-knowing-it.

3. Do you believe exes can be friends?

Sure. Maybe not besties, but there is always room for civility. 'Course, it depends on everyone putting away their egos and defensiveness, so it's rare.

4. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?

I drink about 25 oz. minimum per day of the diet variety. I love Dr. P with every fiber in my tastebuds.

5. Who was the last person you took a picture of?

The most recent picture in my phone that has people in it is Beast and me in Cali a couple of weeks ago. Unless you count the uncooked turkey on Thursday, of course.

6. Are you upset about anything?

Nope. If I should be, I'd prefer if you didn't tell me till tomorrow, at this point, ok?

7. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?

Nope. Not with an attitude like that. Go on with you, go live on a pillar in the desert.

8. Are you a bad influence?

I have been accused of that on occasion. It seems to come as a surprise to people, somehow.

9. Night out or night in?

In. I don't like the decibel level that is usually involved in nights out.

10. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?

Heh. Perfectly wrong or a perfect bitch, maybe....

11. What song is stuck in your head?

None. Thank God; I'm watching football intently now in order to NOT think of any earworms!!!

12. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?

My bedroom window, where I am most likely to be, would require the use of a ladder visible from the street, and the windows are locked, always, so...that would freak me out so completely that I'd probably hurt myself racing to the back of the house! Downstairs, whoever it is is out of luck; I'm unlikely to hear you. So, basically, leave me alone at 2 a.m. unless you call first.

13. Do you smile a lot?

Yes. I've got the wrinkles to prove it.

_____________
* I took pity on you (lol):

Weird boombox

Duluth Roadsigns

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Oh, that dream was just as weird as the others I've had this week.

2. It's a sure sign of trouble when you can't hear the kids.

3. Are we having leftovers again??!

4. My heart has had a rough week (in a metaphorical sense).

5. Do you believe in ghosts? I'm not sure, but I have personally never seen any visual evidence of them!

6. I'm a Packer fan.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching up on some shows I missed this week, tomorrow my plans include working (Day 1 of 7 straight), and Sunday, I want to watch football, but I'll be at work. Joy of joys!

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)
Yeah...my own meme...doing five weeks at a time today:

1) Share what you enjoy most about today's technology.

I love the connectivity, being able to communicate with people instantaneously, and keep track of old friends, with very little effort. It's also nice to be able to instantaneously answer random trivia questions.

2) Describe what you'd do with an extra four hours today.

Some of those hours would be spent sleeping. Maybe I'll actually use the rest to clean the stacks of paper off my desk here at home, or other projects. Actually, at this point in the day, I'm pretty sure I'll just sleep, but tomorrow I'd still have 4 extra hours, right?

3) Bedspread or comforter?

Right now, for the first time in my married life, we have a bedspread. It's quite odd. Having it not the bedspread itself.

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

Ah, Denver!! I wish I could say I'd taken this photo, but I had to find it online. That building in the middle has always been called the Mailbox by everyone in my family and most of my friends in school. But the background...mountains!! Miss them.

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1) Describe what you're looking forward to doing this autumn.

We went to our college Homecoming game, even though Sparky was too sick to come with us. We will also be attending Family Weekend festivities. And just enjoying the autumn weather. We should probably clean up the gardens too, I suppose. OH! Halloween. I do love Halloween!

2) Given the option of watching a sitcom or watching a crime drama on TV, which would you prefer?

I never . ever . watch sitcoms anymore. Or, to be specific, I don't watch anything made after about 1990. They seem to all be well past stupid, which I can tolerate in Gilligan's Island but not people wearing modern clothes.

3) What is your life motto, or words you live by?

"Remember, everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load."

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 picture makes me smile. I hope these guys (they don't look like girls to me) are literally jumping for joy.

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1) Curtains or blinds?

Curtains tend to be dustcatchers, so I generally prefer blinds. However, they ALSO catch dust, so I'm about to go do the British thing and get some net curtains for my front windows, and some (washable) drapes.

2) If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

I would totally be in charge of deciding NOT to implement RDA in this country. In a heartbeat.

3) Describe your personality in five words or less.

Flaky, serious, detail-oriented, middle-aged, addictive.

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

Seahorses are so awesome. I don't dwell on them, but they seem serene and (not that animals can BE this) progressive thinkers.

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1) If you could eat only one meal the rest of your life, what would it be?

Probably pizza. Or pasta with assorted sauces. And fresh salad.

2) Name one thing you wish you could go back and change about your education.

I wish I would have taken more Spanish language courses and fewer lit classes.

3 Do you or did you ever smoke?

Nope.

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

Left behind friend. You wouldn't believe how many of these we find at work. And of course this also reminds me of the Velveteen Rabbit.

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1) Who is your celebrity crush? Why?

Once I realized what a total dickbrain Tom Cruise is, I pretty much swore off crushing on famous people. On the other hand, I really do like Bono. But not in a crushy/lovey way exactly.

2) Have you ever been the victim of a crime?

Not in the immediate and personal sense. Our cabin was broken into when I was a kid, but not while we were around. I can't think of anything specific otherwise. I do wonder if I've blanked stuff out...?

3) Who is your greatest hero of all time?

Well, "all time" would pretty have to be Jesus, then.

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

Oh thank God I didn't have to put this puzzle together! What a nightmare. In general, I do like jigsaws. We usually take over the dining room table at New Year's and do one. I have no idea where that came from, but it's family tradition now. Weird how these sorts of things just sort of blossom. Last year we spent about a week trying to put a a picture of potato chips--this very one, in fact!--together, and got the frame done and that's about it. Nightmare! I have since donated that puzzle to the library at the local high school for kids to 'relax' with during finals week. Yes, I am mean.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Our Players' Meme

1. You have been awarded the time off from work and an all-expenses paid week anywhere in the United States. The catch is that it must be somewhere you have not been before. Where do you choose to visit?

If it's now (i.e., August), I'll be headed to Alaska. If I can pick the time, I'd say the Ozarks in October.

2. Name three of your guilty pleasures.

Sugar, memes, and picture books.

3. The best kind of Girl Scout Cookie is:

Samoas (which are called Caramel deLites around here, which is LAME-O!).

4. What do you value most in other people?

Honesty.

5. Be honest. Do you sneak some raw cookie dough when you’re baking cookies?

I just skip the baking part completely.

6. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise?!

Yes, yes indeed I have.

7. What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited?

I'm a little partial to the Rockies, especially in Colorado. But the Alps are amazing as is the Angara River in January (it doesn't freeze and so is warmer than the air around it), and the Yorkshire Dales. And the Smokey Mountains. And Harper's Ferry. And the countryside around Florence.

8. Are you more of a thinker or a feeler?

Yes. I think I'm fairly close to the center on this continuum.

9. Name three things you are thankful for right now.

Sparky. Friends. Allergy meds.

10. Have you ever participated in a three-legged race?

Yes, about 36 years ago. Someone with a very twisted sense of humor invented that.

11. When you are at an event that plays the National Anthem, do you place your hand over your heart?

Yup. And sign along, with gusto.

Second meme:

12. What kind of work do you do?

I get paid to catalog books and answer random questions in a library. I shelve books for fun at the nearby high school library. I play bells in our church bell choir for (more) fun. I teach Sunday School to very small people for the most (unpaid) fun.

13. During the course of your lifetime, which job or career has been your favorite or most fulfilling?

I do like working with kids. I also like books and reading.

14. Do you think it’s necessary in your life to have a day-to-day "career" that is meaningful and service-oriented or do you function better in “just a job” with a steady paycheck?

Nope, I need a purpose, a reason to get up in the morning. I've had periods of my career being "just a job" and it S U C K E D.

15. Was there ever a time in your life when you wanted to stay home with your children instead of working, even if it meant less money in the household?

I did that for approximately 18 months when Sparky was between 1 and 3. It was the most horrendously boring period of my life. I nearly lost my mind.

16. Tell us your worst boss story.

Yeah, someday I'll do that. But for now I'll just repost something I discussed elsewhere, something that happened about 3 weeks ago:

According to public meeting laws, we are required to post library board meetings publicly (i.e., in the papers) no less than 48 hours prior to a meeting. The notice the DIRECTOR sent out at the beginning of the week contained the following information: ...Library Board [meeting will be held] on Thursday, July 25, 2008, at [the address for the (newish) parking lot across the street from the library]. To be clear, July 25 was a WEDNESDAY. So, she literally hit the trifecta of incorrect information in one sentence, which means if someone wanted to cause trouble, we could get nailed for breaking the law.

17. Have your ever been the boss?

I was "Acting Director" for PsychoBoss 6 months into my career as a librarian (jumping two seasoned librarians who wanted nothing to do with the title or position) when PB went into a locked mental ward for a week. Or two. Or three. I've been in charge of assorted other way-more-minor things over the years too, but that first experience killed any urge to be a director before it even had a chance to poke its little head out.

18. What is your dream occupation?

I'm in it.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Her Head Is Part Missing Meme

1. What is your most annoying habit?

The one that annoys me the most is biting my nails and cuticles. Other people probably would have different answers, including barking at them when I'm stressed out.

2. What habit would you change of your partners? (come on no-one is perfect!) [Editor's note: Not only does it assume you have A partner, but it is written as though you have multiple ones. If you do not currently have a partner or many partners, simply tell us about your last one. BW]

Of ALL my partners (ha ha ha) I would probably change their communication habits. Of my current partner, I would change his back. He needs a brand-new one.

3. Horrors or Chick Flicks?

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of either, but since I haven't made it through a horror movie in decades, we'll go with chick flicks. I'm more inclined to like action flicks or historical documentaries.

4. What is the most outrageous thing you have done in the back row of the movies?

I'm pretty sure I've never sat in the back row at a movie. [thus avoiding the meat--ahem--of the question]

5. When have you lied to get a job?

I haven't. I'm not such a great liar in these circumstances.

6. What one thing is on your list to do before you hit 30, 40, 50 or whatever significant birthday is next?

This presumes I have a List somewhere of Things To Do. I would love to get my photos sorted out, and I would love to get my parents files organized, and I would LOVE for my brother to give me Dad's slides so I could organize and digitize those.

7. Classic or modern films and why?

More important to me that they be GOOD films.

8. If you were a vampire who would be the first person you would bite?

The first person I'd probably drain (and kill) would be...hmmmm, the people I want dead are not people I'd want to bite. Yuck.

9. If you had the power to make one thing better, what would it be?

I would fix the way magazines are currently doing their digital download editions. Some of them are doing fairly well, but the ones I prefer to read are NOT. I'd add to all of them the ability to "tear out a page" for later use.

10. What makes a great blog?

Humor, decent spelling and grammar, limited obsessive navel-gazing, and honesty.

11. What was the inspiration that brought your blog to the blogosphere?

My first "a-ha" was that it was a great way to track my reading. I'd been doing that in paper format for over a decade (I think) before the blog. Now I have an easy way of keeping a formatted list that I can print off--after some horking around to make it pretty on paper--and go back and review at any time.

12. What easily ticks you off (puts you in a bad mood) quickly?

People with shitty attitudes about every-damn-thing. I'm thinking of you, CT.

13. How many children do you have?

I have personally given birth once to a boy. On Fb, I have a son and a daughter--her request. After 6 years of leading our church youth group, and multiple other years of teaching Sunday School, I feel like I have rooms-full of kids.

14. Is there anything you have ever regretted writing on your blog?

Yup. And for the most part I have deleted, rewritten or hidden those things.

15. What’s your favorite blog post you have written this year so far?

I've done 119 posts on this blog this year. I've done approximately 70 posts in other venues. Having now spent 15 minutes grazing through the past three months, I somewhat randomly will assign "favorite" to this post for no reason other than because it's a good snapshot of Life as a Librarian.

16. Do you ever enter other bloggers' competitions, and have you ever been lucky?

Nope.

17. If you could be anyone else for the day, who would you choose and why?

I wouldn't mind a day as Beast since I could probably dispense with one of his problem customers and figure out what the hell he does all day.

18. If you could time travel to any period of history what era would you visit?

Now and here. I certainly would not want to be a woman before about 1960 in any culture.

19. If you had to be genetically modified, would you rather have a third arm, a third leg, a second head or some other modification???

I'd just like to be cloned so I could do two things at once, and do them both well.

20. Which Disney character can you most relate to?

Jiminy Cricket.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
It's the Oh Baby Meme!
Answer these questions about babies. Don't whine. I'm all out of pacifiers.

1. When your kids were babies, did you ever use cloth diapers?

Yep, for 6-8 months. Then it just got too complicated with the daycare and other things, so we went over to plastic.

2. Are you guilty of spoiling your children or grandchildren?

Oh, hell no! My child isn't spoiled (at least I don't think so, and he'd probably agree!). But when/if there are grandchildren: I'm all about spoiling them.

3. If you could give one piece of advice to your own children about how to raise their children, what would you say?

"Trust your gut."

4. Do you believe in spanking?

Yes. I've only done it a couple of times, but they were doozies.

5. Babies need pacifiers! They cry and carry on sometimes. Can you think of one adult person in your life who could also use a pacifier?

Most people have them, though they are called "food," "drink," or any other of the many addictions we have created to soothe our souls. My boss needs an actual adult-sized pacifier, if only to keep her from sticking her foot in her mouth with her staff over and over.

6. Have you ever been present for the birth of a child other than your own pregnancy and delivery?

Nope. I wasn't even really present for Sparky's birth, not really. I was pretty out-of-it. I'm not sure I would handle being present for someone else's, either.

7. Why are boy things blue and girl things pink?

Because people are fuckin' stupid! I hate pink, I hate this whole stupid color-scheme thing, and the only reason I can think of to continue it is to differentiate genders between one bald baby and the next. [True confession: I had a pink bedroom when I was very young, but by age 7 or so, I was SO over pink.]

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Last DJ

1. Who was [your] favorite DJ and what radio station did you listen to as a kid?

I listened mostly to KHOW and KIMN, with forays into heavier rock on KBPI as I got older. The only DJ I remember by name was Steve Kelley (though, yeah, I had to go here to find his last name) because of his stunts. Unless Dr. Demento counts?

2. What has been the weirdest thing you have worn in public?

Uhm? "Weird" is not really a look I'm going for in public (or, really, anywhere else). I guess it would be the Halloween costume I wore all day at work c. 1990: torn up (flea market) dress, leggings, fake blood, dirt, makeup, and leaves in my hair. I was a zombie.

3. What was the best part of last weekend?

The fact that the funerals were over. And Sparky was home for 4 days.

4. What was the most effective punishment for you as a kid?

Threatening to spank me usually worked. At school, being called out in front of people was the one thing I feared; I craved lack of attention from my peers.

5. Would you lie to your significant other to not hurt their feelings?

Depends on the topic. I probably have done so over minor things like whether they look "fine" or not, but not over anything like "Do you think I have a drug problem?" If asked (IF) I would be honest.

6. We're taking you order for breakfast. What would you like?

Bagel with cream cheese and a couple of slices of bacon.

7. Do you celebrate Halloween? If yes, do tell. If no, why not?

We pass out candy during Trick or Treat hours. Maybe this year we'll actually have jack-o-lanterns again (last year we had a massive fail). And p'raps we'll have The Aimster over for the weekend?

8. Do you hand out candy to the neighborhood kids?

Uhm, yeah. No tracts, no "health food"--just handfuls of candy. Yup yup yup.

9. What's the favorite age you've been, so far?

I am partial to 8. I don't remember being a neurotic mess at that age. Yet.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Questions Galore Meme, Part 2
[oops, looks like I missed Part 1 last week...oh well....]

21. What was the last song you listened to that wasn’t sung in English?

I had to go look at Friday's work playlist, but it seems to have been "Imithi Gobakahle (Children Come Home)" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

22. One of our SS players generally leaves a critical comment on our memes. Which is fine. All's fair. Do you let meme authors know when you hate their memes?

Not usually in the comments. I occasionally get VERY snarky about questions, but then again, I'm sitting here answering them all. If I really don't like a meme, I just don't do it. No harm, no foul, no need to be Nelly Negative.

23. What TV show would you like to be on?

NCIS. Just a bit part, in the background. I'd even do scene setting if it meant I could hang around Mark Harmon.

24. What was the last video game you played?

Uhm. Yeah. Probably Wii Fit, about a year ago.

25. Have you ever been in a musical? If yes, do tell.

I was a rat in a musical version of the Pied Piper of Hamelin when I was 10. Hated it. And I was in the pit orchestra for the high school musical for three years: Bye Bye Birdie, The Sound of Music, and...wow, I have no memory of the one we did junior year!

26. Do you follow your own style or everyone else’s?

Style? What is this "style" of which you speak? Do you mean "stiles" like to get over fences?

27. What’s the last store you bought from?

I bought gas Friday night, along with a bag o' chips and some pop. I guess that's it.

28. In retrospect, have you ever let a person use you a lot?

Welcome to parenthood!! Otherwise, no.

29. What are you doing two days from now?

Hmm, well, I might be driving Sparky back to school. Or I might be sitting on the couch getting ready to watch the NCISes. I have no idea.

30. Did you ever believe there were monsters in your closet?

Oh, yeah! Not for 42 years, mind you, but when I was 4 or 5, they were VERY real.

31. When you graduated high school, did you let random people sign your yearbook or just close friends?

Mostly people I knew, though that could be rather random.

32. Would you consider adopting a child that had a mental illness?

Wow. Uhm, probably not at this point in my life, unless there were extenuating circumstances (like the child was related to me). And a great deal would depend on the age of the child, and what sort of diagnosis we were looking at. I say this because we have friends with a child with "issues" and I've said for years that I'd take him in a heartbeat because the family situation in that household is actually making him worse.

33. Does thinking about death scare you?

Not particularly, and I have been doing so a LOT lately. It makes me sad though.

34. If you died, do you believe that you go to Heaven or Hell and where would your spirit go?

What a strange way to phrase this. I do believe there is an afterlife. I don't think it's an either/or situation; I think there's a heaven that our souls go to. Pretty sure our physical bodies aren't coming with.

35. Who did you last write a snail mail letter to and why?

I haven't sent an actual letter in eons. I have two sympathy cards and a legal document that need to go in the mail tomorrow, though.

36. Do you care what people say or think about you?

Not nearly as much as I did 20+ years ago! For the most part, I only care about the opinions of people I like, whose judgment I trust.

37. Have you ever been threatened?

Of course. Anyone working with the public gets threatened, or at least feels threatened, occasionally. I don't spend hours agonizing about any follow-up, but I do take it seriously in the sense that I don't really make my personal life very public. As you can probably see by the fact that I don't use anyone's real names or locations in this blog.

38. Which side of your family do you get most of your qualities from?

I look like my dad's side, completely. This is not a great thing, to be honest, but dude's gene pool was SERIOUSLY tough--of 5 kids, 3 of us are carbons of my dad. Aside from that, I'd say I'm probably about half and half; I figured out quite young that a major reason my mom and I fought so much was because we were too much alike.

39. What was the last thing with alcohol that you drank?

I had a schlook of wine at FIL's servicemen's club memorial, since everyone else was.

40. Have you ever kept a relationship a secret?

The less my parents knew about my relationships in college, the better, as far as I was concerned!

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
A black cat crosses the path of a feather-clad Betty White

1) (Since Bud keeps saying I need a sexier opening question ...) You decide to change doctors, and your new doctor turns out to be one of the sexiest people you've ever met. Does his/her extreme attractiveness make you feel awkward when you talk about very personal, intimate health details?

As a matter of fact, my doctor is a hottie. He's also super nice and doesn't act like I'm a moron. Unfortunately, his office is now 15 minutes further away than everyone else I would normally see; I keep saying I should switch doctors, but...yeah, not gonna happen. ;-) It's kind of odd: Beast is now seeing a woman doctor whom he really likes. I love the present-day, when the gender of a doctor isn't really the biggest issue!

2) Today (August 24) is International Strange Music Day. What is a type of music or a specific song some people would consider strange but you really love?

I love C.W. McCall. Part of the reason is because he lived in the town where my profile pic was taken when we had a cabin there. But OMG, I love "Columbine" and "Wolf Creek Pass."

3) If someone mailed you a care package, what items would you hope were included?

Cookies. Games. Memorabilia that means something to me. Silly stuff. Actually, Silly String would be awesome! I'll have to remember that when it comes time to send off a package to Sparky.

4) Are you ever concerned when a black cat walks in front of your car?

Nope. Unless, of course, it's a skunk.

5) UCLA student Kjerstin Gruys has vowed to go an entire year without looking into a mirror, including six months leading up to her wedding. Do you think you could go even a month without looking in a mirror?

Sure. Well, ok, I would want to be sure I didn't have embarrassing clothing or hair issues or something, so maybe not.

6) Fashion-forward people seem to be flocking to feathers lately to accent their outfits. Feathers are being used in jewelry, being braided into hair, and designed right into dresses. Will feathers be weaved into your wardrobe?

Nope. I'm probably allergic to them. I'm allergic to every-damn-thing else. And besides...just, no. The only way I'd wear a feather is if a Native American gave me one as part of a hair ornament; I used to have one that I used to death.

7) What are your thoughts on arranged marriages?

I don't have a lot of thoughts about them. I'm not much of a fan, but I can see the logic of them in some circumstances.

8) According to a Reuters/Ipsos study released last week, "Golden Girls" actress Betty White is the most popular and most trusted celebrity in America. What celebrity would you consider to be the most trustworthy?

I dunno, I can get behind that result. I can't think of anyone else, though I do kind of adore Robert Redford. I would, commie pinko that I am.

9) On the other hand, who do you feel is the least trustworthy celebrity?

All of them, really. There is a basic level of distrust I have of anyone who chooses to be famous for fame's sake.

10) (Question courtesy of an old episode of the TV show "Scrubs") If you or your significant other were pregnant and if there was a test to see if your future baby would turn out gay, would you have the test done out of curiosity?

I didn't even want to know if I was having a boy or a girl, so yeah, I wouldn't be likely to want to know anything else, would I?