Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

Georgia on My Mind (1978)

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

1) This lyrics refer to "an old sweet song." What old sweet song is a favorite of yours?

I've had Ollabelle's "All is Well" running around for weeks now. 

2) Composer Hoagy Carmichael said he was inspired by saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer to write a song about Georgia. In those days, bands traveled by bus and Frankie enjoyed rolling through Georgia. Hoagy recalled that Frankie even volunteered the first two words, "Georgia, Georgia ..." If we were to organize a Saturday 9 bus trip, where would you recommend we go for lovely scenery?

We can head north about 20 minutes to a lovely lake with enormous mansions on the shore and a dedicated walking path that circles the complete lakeshore. 

3) This version of "Georgia on My Mind" was controversial before it was even recorded. Willie Nelson's label, Columbia, didn't see the point of their outlaw country star singing an old standard that was associated with Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald. Willie had the last laugh. This record was a hit and Willie won a Grammy. Tell us about a time when you were a success despite opposition.

This is the regular 'surprise' as the parent of an adult child. The kid has turned out ok despite all their opposition and ridiculous childhood/teen behavior. I'm not taking full credit by any means, but SOMEthing sunk in. 

4) While it's at odds with his "outlaw" image, Willie was a popular and active high school student. He played three sports and was a member of Future Farmers of America. What school activities did you participate in during your teen years?

I'm really struggling to picture Willie Nelson in a letter jacket... Anyway, I was in band and pretty hard-core about it because band at my school WAS hard-core. I also did Spanish Club, and some other random (really very random) things. 

5) Willie once worked as a tree trimmer, so clearly he didn't suffer from acrophobia. How about you? Do you have a fear of heights?

I am absolutely not afraid of heights. I have a healthy respect for them though because I am quite sensibly afraid of falling off things (mountains, ladders, steps...) 

6) He wrote the lyrics to one of his biggest hits, "On the Road Again," during a flight, using the airplane barf bag as scrap paper. That was back in 1980. In 2025, do you handwrite onto note paper, or do you make all your "notes to self" digitally?

I still do mostly hand-written notes, though I have a good collection of things on my phone too including my schedule for planning Thanksgiving Day which I haven't done in years.

7) In 1978, when Willie was singing "Georgia on My Mind," audiences were flocking to see the movie Grease. What's your favorite song from Grease?

I can't think of a song from that movie that I don't know backwards, forwards and upside down. I'm kinda partial to "There are Worse Things I Could Do."

8) Also in 1978, Karina Smirnoff was born. After spending her early years in the Ukraine, she came to America and found success on Dancing with the Stars. Are you a DWTS fan?

Nope. I vaguely know who she is, and I think I've watched the show maybe twice because I was visiting people who are (were) hooked. Meh. 

9) Random question: Do you ever carry a backpack?

I use Beast's computer backpack when I travel. So. Many. Little. Pockets. And it's big enough to fit about 4 summer outfits + jammies and all the rest of my BS. Mind you, I've taken exactly two trips that didn't include sleeping in Sparky's zipcode in the past 8 years.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)

The full spectrum of human experience

A regular feature on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a fun set of questions called the Colbert Questionert, the answers to which, the host claims, reveal who a person truly is. Search YouTube for “colbert questionert” and you’ll find a bunch of fun interviews, like this one with Jennifer Lawrence.

Although many of the questions have appeared multiple times in memes through the years, it’ll be fun to answer them in this arrangement. Conveniently, there are (supposedly) fifteen questions, so they break up evenly for our purposes. Here are the first 5!

1. What is the best sandwich?

I'm very partial to American cheese on white bread with butter on both slices of bread. Add a few potato chips and I'm in heaven. (I'm a very cheap date)

2. What’s the one thing you own that you really should throw out?

Everything in the storage space behind the spare room, barring ... no, just toss it all. It literally hasn't been touched in 5 years.

3. What’s the scariest animal?

For me, that would be a grizzly. I had a spate of reading a bunch of books about bears awhile back and it put the fear of god into me about pissing about in the woods near a grizzly bear, especially a mom or any hungry one. 

4. Apples or oranges?

I prefer fresh apples. If they aren't fresh (like now, for instance) I prefer an orange.

5. What’s your favorite smell?

"Clean." Or baking bread. Or clean babies. Or dogs' paws. I'm just glad to still have a sense of smell that works right.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
AutoComplete
I came up with this week’s questions by typing the 5 Ws, one at a time, into Google and letting it suggest something interesting (or at least not a yes-no question). I’ve put the incomplete part of each query in bold {ed. I turned them red} you so you can see what I had to do to get the question. In four cases I changed the question’s point of view so [you] is the subject and not [I] or [we]. This may be a flop but I thought it was an interesting concept.

1. Who do you look like?

   My father's family has very strong genes: three of the five kids look like his side. The other kids don't, which we've always taken to mean that they resemble Mom's side. Apparently, my brother has turned into the uncle he's named for, so there's that!

2. What bit you?

   Nothing, recently, thank the good Lord!

3. When are you due?

   NEVER, EVER, ASK THIS QUESTION! I have actually been asked this multiple times, often when I was not pregnant.

4. Where have all the flowers gone?

   Young girls have picked them, every one. Also, it's August/September and almost all the blooms are on their way out.

5. Why don’t you?

   Because I'm chicken.

Saturday 9 x 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Absolutely not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I actually never heard it this year.

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

I don't think so.

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

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

+ + + + + + +

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ayup.

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

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

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

Yes. And no.

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ + + + + + +

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Angel (1998)
... because Bev recommended it
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Sarah McLachlan wrote this song about someone she barely knew. She read the obit of Jonathan Melvoin, keyboard player for the Smashing Pumpkins, who died of a heroin overdose. What's the most recent news story that touched you deeply?

I have actively and methodically spent the last 7 months trying to disengage my emotions from the news because otherwise I would be locked in a small padded room screaming. However, Dumpster's pronouncement re transgender people this week got my attention, and I'm so gratified to see so many people telling him to fuck right off about that. 

2) Ms. McLachlan performed this in tribute to Linda McCartney at the 1999 Concert for Linda. She was expressing her hope that, in death, Linda found relief and peace after a long and painful battle with cancer. What do you think happens to us when we die?

I'm pretty sure our souls do whatever souls do and move on and don't care about what stupid things we're up to back here. At least I really hope so. I think after death, we all deserve some fun and joy no matter what our lives were like.

3) Daytime dramas General Hospital and As the World Turns used this song on-air after a major character died. Do you follow any "soap operas?"

I used to watch GH when I was in high school, back just after the whole Luke and Laura storyline. And I worked with some DOOL fans who insisted on watching at lunch in the library workroom back in the 80s/90s. Since then, no.

4) In 2007, Sarah donated her recording of this song to the ASPCA. Do you have a pet? If yes, how did you get it (shelter, pet store, etc.)?

We've gotten all our guinea pigs at a pet store, except the three that were born here after our "two males" turned out to be a boy and a (pregnant) girl.

5) She admits she can't watch those ASPCA commercials, where her recording of "Angel" plays over sad photos of animals. Is there a TV commercial that really gets to you (in either a good or a bad way)?

Yeah, I don't even try to watch those or the "kids need help" ads. I leave the room, fast forward past them, or mute them. I do not need more guilt in my life.

6) In 1994, Sarah was stalked by an obsessed fan. Tell us about a time you were really frightened. In retrospect, was your fear commensurate with the threat?

Usually, I react with a little more drama that necessary. However, sometimes I'm fairly calm in the face of crisis. Fear? I'm usually not afraid till later.

7) Sarah was adopted by Jack and Dorice McLachlan. Though she has a friendly relationship with her birth mother, she always considered Dorice her mother and sees herself behaving with her son the way Dorice did with her. Is there anyone in your family that you feel you resemble, either physically or by behavior?

My mother and I were too similar in personality to ever get along well. I'm trying to develop more of my dad's traits as an adult, although he certainly had plenty of less-than-admirable habits. I got my temper from both of them; this is pretty much awful. I look just like my dad's mom, apparently, whom he also resembled.

8) McLachlan is one of the founders of Lilith Fair, a summer concert series designed to showcase talented female performers. Do/did your summer plans include an outdoor concert?

Nope. I don't do crowds, I rarely do concerts, and I really don't like outdoor concerts like this at all.

9) Random question: Which of these men would you most like to be seated with at dinner -- Clint Eastwood, Prince William or Jimmy Fallon?

Jimmy Fallon. I'd probably not be able to eat a bite from laughing, but what a hoot. Prince William...well, that would be mortifying, thanks! And Clint? Uhm. Maybe 30 or so years ago....

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Greenish Questions

1. What is your current obsession?

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

2. What’s your go-to coffee place?

I don't drink coffee.

3. Who was the last person that you hugged?

Beast.

4. Do you nap a lot?

Heh, yeah. As often as possible.

5. Tonight, what’s for dinner?

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

6. What was the last thing that you bought?

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

7. What is your favorite weather?

Hot and dry, i.e. zero humidity.

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

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

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

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

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

My prescription meds, my glasses, my car.

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

I can't think of a thing.

12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures?

Pottering around mindlessly online.

13. What would you change or eliminate about yourself?

I would learn some self-control over food!

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

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

15. What are you missing right now?

Someone to clean and cook for me.

16. What are you currently reading?

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

17. What do you fear the most?

Pain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Getting to Know You Questions

1. What is your occupation right now? How long have you been there?

I've been a librarian for almost exactly 29 years (I started my first full time job in June of 1988). The job I'm at now is my second full-time gig, second job so to speak.

2. Favorite rock band. Ever.

The one I go back to most often is The Beat--usually The English Beat here. They just make me happy.

3. What are you listening to right now?

We're catching up on last night's SNL. I love Melissa McCarthy so much.

4. Last person you spoke to on the phone. What was it about?

Sparky called me this morning to wish me happy Mom's Day.

5. How old are you today? Or make up a question. This one bites.

I'm 53.5 + two days. Friday was my mother-in-law's birthday.

6. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?

Football. This probably comes as a huge shock to everyone.

7. What is your favorite drink?

This is probably going to be an even bigger shock: diet Dr. Pepper.

8. Have you ever dyed your hair?

I did for about 10 years when it first started to get gray streaks. Once it seemed like it was less streaky, I stopped. I was still in my 40s, but at this point people describe me as "that gray-haired woman at the library"--and I'm not EVEN the oldest person there! I'm considering doing something like green or blue though.

9. Favorite food?

Carbs: sugar, bread, pasta. All the carbs!

10. What is the last movie you watched?

At the theater is was La-La Land. I really want to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2, but I'm not sure how that's going to happen unless I go alone. Beast isn't doing well.

11. Favorite day of the year?

I love days like today: 65-70 degree temps, no humidity, sun. I also really enjoy [School] Project judging day. And Thanksgiving.

12. How do you vent anger?

I talk. It's not the best possible way. I've also been known to shout (ahem) and/or cry, but I do that less these days as, apparently, it scares the shit out of my coworkers and causes me to get bad performance reviews. Now that I have becoming emo-free* at work, I'm back to my usual levels on reviews.

13. What was your favorite toy as a child?

Depends on the age. My jumprope, jacks, toy cars, and various dolls are probably up there, as are the many many library books I read.

14. Living arrangements? (Of course your pets count. Geez!)

I live with Beast and Pintobean. One is a human male, one is a male guinea-pig.

15. What was the last thing that you cried about?

I got a little teary with the African kids that came and sang at our church last week. But see * for why I don't really cry as much as I used to.

16. Who is the friend you have had the longest?

I'm friends with someone who went to the same babysitter after school as I did in the 70s. She's a couple of years older than me, but that matter way more in 1972 than it does now!

17. What did you do last night?

Caught up on DVR'd TV shows and played games on the laptop. And watched a race, including a really fucking scary wreck. By rights, several of the drivers should have been permanently incapacitated. Sounds like they are all walking away, more or less.

18. What are you most afraid of?

Pain.

19. In how many areas of your country have you lived? What's your favorite?

I've lived in the midwest my entire life, either the far Western part or the middle/northern part. I like Colorado best.

20. What is your favorite flower? (Ugh. Quite the note to go out on. But hell, we steal the questions. I guess you get what you pay for.)

Home-grown heirloom roses. But I'm not fussy; just don't bring white lilies!

__________________
*i.e. heavily medicated with psych drugs

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Don't Sleep in the Subway (1967)*
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Subways can be bright and noisy. Do you need it dark and quiet before you can fall asleep?

It helps, but I fell asleep in a doctor's waiting room yesterday waiting with Beast. For, like half an hour.

2) In this song, Petula encourages her lover to talk it out instead of walking out. Do you usually remain reasonable during a disagreement?

Ah, no. I'm quite Mediterranean in that respect.

3) Petula was a child star in England during WWII. Her BBC broadcasts were very popular with the British troops, who nicknamed her The Singing Sweetheart. Soldiers pasted her photo onto their tanks for luck as they went into battle. Do you have any little rituals or good luck charms that calm/comfort you when you're afraid?

In the past year or so, I've developed a tendency to moderate panic attacks. Does that count? They aren't particularly calming. If I'm alone and something scares me, I tend to talk to myself.

4) Now 84, she recently told London's Daily Mail that she's surprised and thrilled to have found love again with a new man. Do you believe you'll ever be too old for romance?

Romance? Maybe. Love? Never.

5) Her family is far flung. She lives in London, her middle daughter is in Paris, her son is in Los Angeles and her oldest daughter lives in New York with Petula's two grandchildren. Who is your nearest friend or relative? Which one is farthest away?

My nearest friend is next door. I'm seriously blessed by GREAT neighbors who are also friends. Farthest away ... oh, yeah: Argentina. Former coworker moved back home a few years ago. My two oldest nephews (James and Don) and my 2nd niece (Katherine) live about equidistant from me: she is southeast, he is northeast about 45 miles. Sparky's about 60 miles more or less straight north. Furthest away is, I guess, Rosellen who just moved to Peterborough in the U.K.

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, Rolling Stone published its first issue. John Lennon was on the cover. Publisher Jann Wenner reports that, either individually or as a group, the members of The Beatles have appeared on the most Rolling Stone covers. What's the first Beatles song that comes to mind?

"Love Me Do"

7) In 1967, Star Trek was in its second season on NBC. Who is your favorite Star Trek character?

In TOS, it's Bones. My all-time favorite, though, is Picard.

8) RANDOM QUESTION: When you slip into jeans or slacks, which foot do you put in first?

Right.

9) As you considered #8, did you mime pulling on your pants?

Nope, but only because I've been asked this question before. I now make a point of trying to start with the other leg first once in awhile.

_____________
*I actually heard this song on the radio this week. How weird.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Cool Guy Questions

1.) When was the first time you ever swore or said something profane?

I was probably 10 or so. I can't remember precisely, though I know it wasn't at home. I'm sure it was showing off for someone at school.

2.) Have you ever had unrequited feelings for someone? Have you ever been friendzoned?

Well of course. And yes. (and in most cases thank God)

3.) What's a false assumption a lot of people have about you?

That I'm quiet. Hah. So MUCH hah!

4.) Have you ever questioned your sexuality?

Not exactly, no.

5.) If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be and why?

Nope. Next....

6.) What did you do on December 12th last year?

I have no idea for sure. Nothing on Facebook or the calendar, so I'm going with "work, meeting chauffeur."

7.) When was the last time you truthfully told someone you hated them?

I don't think I have said that since I was very young. I don't really mean it when I say it, and I only say those words to people I love. ... Yes, I'm weird.

8.) What is your opinion on this song? What about this song?

I can't open the first one, but I generally like Linkin Park.

9.) In less than four sentences, describe the entire plot of the last book you read.

Scottish detective goes to London as an "expert" in serial killers. He has no idea what he's doing really, but ends up solving the case, bedding a comely woman, and breaking up his daughter's budding romance with a crook. Oh and the killer is nuts. Good enough?

10.) Describe the appearance of the most untrustworthy person you can think of (they can be a person you've met or a made up person). Are they male or female or neither? What about their appearance makes them untrustworthy?

Probably nothing about their appearance makes them untrustworthy because they probably look like a perfectly normal person. They are the most scary people out there.

11.) What is the most cringe-worthy thing you've ever seen?

The last week in politics.

12.) What is your biggest regret?

Not one of my big things. It doesn't do any good to regret except to swear not to do it again.

13.) Do you have any cousins? When was the last time you saw them?

I have two on my mom's side and four(?) on my dad's. I haven't seen them in over 30 years.

14.) Describe the worst birthday you've ever had.

Well this last one wasn't great: I worked, came home to an empty house. No card no gift no call.

15.) When was the last time someone provoked you to the point of violence?

I don't hit people, except I suppose in self-defense. And I haven't been violently angry in a physical sense in awhile.

16.) OH NOES!!!! Someone has gotten you to drink a truth potion and now you have to truthfully answer every question you are asked!!! What's the worst possible question someone could ask you?

Like, no. Just no.

17.) Describe, in detail, your first serious relationship. Describe how it ended.

We were in high school, a year apart. I was good friends with his brother. They didn't get along well at all. I realized early on that I wasn't as into him as he was into me. I broke up with him. Twice. Because, yes, we got back together briefly. Then he got angry and started trying to piss me off by attempting to date my friends. smh High school is so much fun.

18.) Introduce your best friend. Tell the story of how you met.

I think it's safe to say in every case it was happenstance.

19.) To the introduced friend, has our interviewee lied in any of these questions? Are you surprised by any of these answers?

I don't lie in my answers to memes. If I feel I might need to do so, I skip the question or otherwise avoid answering. ;-)

20.) To finish up, what is your biggest irrational fear and how did you get it?

I don't like big crowds. I don't think this is irrational at all, honestly, but it does keep me from doing some things, like attending concerts and going to rallies.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Shiver Me Timbers

1. When did you last make what could be described as a wriggling motion?

   With my whole body, that was probably snuggling deep under the covers last night. I wriggled my fingers just before starting typing though. Kind of a habit to pop the finger joints.

2. What never fails to give you the willies?

   This week? Anything to do with our federal leadership, specifically directly around DJT.

3. What’s something you’ve seen on TV or in a movie that made you squirm?

   If y'all remember that scene in "Poltergeist" where the meat on the counter erupts int maggoty movement? Yeah, that one. I'm sure there've been others, but that one still makes me nauseous in memory.

4. What’s something in your life that could be described as serpentine?

   Hmm. I'm drawing a bit of a blank here. All I can picture is Michael Hutchence dancing. That's not really "in" my life, but it's definitely in my memory. Otherwise, all I'm coming up with is some regularly-traveled childhood roads in the mountains of Colorado.

5. Where can you get a really great shake?

   Oberweis, but they've closed. DQ, but they close 'round here over the winter. So, Culvers it is. If were willing to travel a bit, though, KOPPS! To, quite literally, die for. And the butter burgers, too.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
You, Too

1. What are you too short to do?

   Play professional tall-people sports (volleyball, basketball, etc.). I'm pretty tall for a girl, but not tall enough to make it pay. lol

2. What are you too smart to do?

   Believe my own bullshit.

3. What are you too fearful to do?

   Run away.

4. What are you too lazy to do?

   Empty all the storage areas of the house and sort and get rid of a bunch of it.

5. What are you too young to do?

   Retire.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Halloween Meme

1. What is the worst treat to get when trick-or-treating?

Toothpaste, or Jack Chick tracts.

2. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?

I don't really do horror films, so none. Either I'd be saying I want to be a victim or a crazed killer. Neither appeals.

3. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? (why)

In real life or as a costume?? IRL=alien. Costume=zombie.

4. How many Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Nightmare on Elm Street movies combined do you have on dvd?

Not a single one, thanks. Even Beast hasn't bought them, and he will at least sit through them!

5. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?

Psycho is definitely up there. In a different direction entirely, Platoon and Shoah are also terrifying.

6. Lamest costume you have worn on Halloween?

I haven't worn a costume in quite some time, so ... those. We are costuming tomorrow at work though, so I'll be "did up."

7. Favorite Halloween treat?

I liked all the variety of things in the bag, to be honest. Except lollipops--I never really "got" suckers. I mean I got them to eat, but the attraction frankly escapes me.

8. Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one?

Don't really care, but it should have something to do with Halloween, yes? So "Hamilton" pumpkins, "C" (Cubs or Cleveland) pumpkins, random letters on pumpkins....no. They're very artistic and all (sometimes) but NOT Halloween-y.

9. Have you ever had nightmares about a scary movie character chasing you?

I did as a child. I don't have too many "chasing me in terror" dreams anymore. My bad dreams are usually stress, yelling, and falling.

10. Best thing about Halloween?

Are you kidding? The candy of course! For me, I like the kids' costumes as they wander the neighborhood too.

11. Strangest Halloween custom you’ve heard of?

I can't help but feel sorry for countries without pumpkins. England has a lot of carved turnips, and it just doesn't work as well. (Even if that's where the whole tradition started, apparently)

12. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)?

Uhm. I'd say Beast and I are about tied on this. One thing I really hate is having to work till halfway through trick-or-treat hours .... I miss all the little kids.

13. Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours.

I'm not really. I do try hard not to say certain patrons' names out loud at work because even when they've been gone awhile, it seems to bring them back in the building. I'm not kidding, either: Red-Faced Man was gone for easily 3 years, and no sooner did I bring him up than (boom) two weeks later he reappeared. smh

14. What's your best Halloween memory?

I really enjoy handing out candy to kids. There was one year that was so warm that I literally had the screen-door window open like a Dutch door handing candy over it.

15. At what age were you allowed to go trick-or-treating by yourself?

Probably about 10. I don't honestly remember, but I had to be done before it got dark.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Tubular Bells (1973)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) According to Reader's Digest, The Exorcist is the scariest movie of all time. Have you seen it, and if so, did it scare you?

I was not yet 10 when it came out, but my brother went...and had to leave to throw up halfway through. He was more scared than his girlfriend. Anyway, I've read the book. It's scary. Not Stephen-King-scary, but pretty good. I don't "do" horror movies at all.

2) The Exorcist has been made into a TV series on Fox, premiering last month. Have you become a fan of any of the season's new shows?

Nope.

3) "Tubular Bells" is a popular ringtone for both Android and iPhone. What's your ringtone?

My default is a riff on "Who Are You" by The Who. My extended family gets Rachmaninoff, people to whom it applies get "Help Me Rhonda" or "Awesome God" or "Work Work" or "You've Got a Friend." Beast and Sparky share "The Sweetest Thing." All of which goes a long way toward saying I'm that nerdy.

4) As Halloween approaches, do you watch more scary shows and movies?

Nope. Well, I mean, most of what we watch has a Halloween-themed show every year, but no I don't do scary.

5) Do you have any recurring nightmares?

Nothing beyond 'trapped at work' dreams.

6) Have you carved a jack o' lantern this year?

Nope. Doubtful that we will, either. We need to go get a few punkins at least tho.

7) Do you like the taste of pumpkin seeds?

I do, but not enough to make my own.

8) What will the trick or treaters who knock on your door get?

Right now I've got all non-chocolate, non-nut stuff. We're on our way to get those punkins and I'll pick up another bag or two of candy as well.

9) A Halloween "let's pretend:" Back in the 1950s, a home in your neighborhood was the site of a gruesome murder/suicide. Relatives retained ownership of the house but declined to live there. During the ensuing decades, a legend grew: The tragic couple haunts the halls. Generations of schoolchildren insist they heard strange sounds and saw curtains often move mysteriously. Now the house is about to be demolished. A local charity is raising money by sponsoring a Halloween sleepover. Would you be willing to stay in this haunted house over night?

Sure.
Look, the first house we bought was the site of a murder-suicide by the just-previous owners. After moving in, we chose a dog from the pound and brought her home. She was never a fan of our bedroom--where the killing happened--so at first we thought about ghosts and woo-woo and all that. Then we took up the cheap carpet and discovered that the floor had never been properly cleaned underneath it, and the previous carpet pad wasn't replaced either. Once Beast--my hero, seriously--got the pad out and the floor cleaned and then sanded down and stained, our puppy was much happier about being in there with us. She just didn't like the scent of death.
So, no, I don't really believe in ghosts or hauntings, though I do believe that when something like this happens inside a house or other building, it does change the place in a non-physical way. Hard to explain what I mean, but it's not something I'm afraid of, just aware of.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Gongerling Meme

1. You’re building your dream house. What’s the one thing that this house absolutely, positively MUST HAVE? (other than the obvious basics of course)

When we built the house we currently live in, we each had a "want" list. Beast wanted a fireplace in the living room, so we rearranged one wall of windows and stuck in a rock fireplace with built-in cupboards on either side. I wanted the 'pantry' turned into a full-wall bookshelf in the kitchen and the laundry room turned into the pantry. Done. (oh, and a porch) Sparky wanted a hidey hole or "secret clubhouse" space--he was 10 at that point--and we cut a small door into the storage area under the eaves behind his bedroom and presto!

Nowadays, I think my only request would be a shit-ton of storage because we really own way too much stuff. It's ridiculous.

2. What is your dream car?

A chocolate brown soft-top Jeep. I'd settle for yellow. And it has to come with a dog.

3. What is your favorite website that isn’t a blog.

Inoreader because I can read EVERYthing there. This is closely followed by Facebook, which I think I could ALSO read on Inoreader if I set it up that way!

4. iPhone or Droid, which do you want/have?

I have a Samsung Android phone. I do not support Apple.

5. When you’re feeling down or lonely or just generally out of sorts, what do you do to cheer yourself up?

Play a game, read a book, take a nap. Eat. Some of these are more helpful than others, both in the short- and long-term.

6. Tell me about something or someone that you love that most people seem to hate.

Teenagers crack me up. Not in large sheeplike masses, but individually. They are simply so much fun to get to know.

7. What did you want to be when you grew up?

Free. Out of my parents' house. Otherwise, I just wanted to not be bossed around by everyone on such a regular basis. It wasn't always delightful being the youngest kid.

8. Would you go on a reality show if given the chance?

The only one I would have ever considered was The Amazing Race, but I'm way too out of shape to do it now!

9. Who was your favorite teacher when you were growing up? (Grade school, Middle School, Jr. High or High School only.)

In grade school it was Mrs. Morley (her married name--she was Ms. Groff before that) was, in my 10-year-old eyes the living image of Cher. So cool and nice and modern. In middle school...Mr. Gilchrist was a riot, and I learned a lot from Mrs. White. High school...it seems unkind not to say my band director because everyone else would, and I did like him, but I have to go with either Miss Fitz or Ms. Philippe for a number of reasons.

10. You get one pass to do something illegal or immoral. What are you gonna do?

One free pass only means I'm likely to get hooked and want to keep doing it. It wouldn't be awful if I could get away with robbing a bank without injuring anyone, though.

11. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Ten years ago this week was our last vacation with family friends that we'd traveled with for 5-6 years at that point. We got involved in youth group after that and that ate up our vacation time every year. All the grown-ups went to college together and one of their kids is my godson. I've talked about him before--he's an adult now but as a child he was a fucking nightmare (and remember, I like kids!)--and Sparky actually requested that we not go with them anymore because he literally hated this kid. Ironically, I found out last Monday, he and Sparky are now working quite literally yards from each other, not together precisely but in the same place. The dad agreed last night to be Beast's temporary AA sponsor until Beast can get someone who lives closer. Life is weird.

12. By this time next year, I ...

...will be a year older. I am not making any plans beyond the next hour or so. Not today for sure. There's far too much up in the air to even consider what 2017 will look like.

13. What is something that you need to do but you've procrastinated on?

Sort through the aforementioned piles of crap in this house.

14. Which fictional, TV show character you would shag anytime?

Hmmm. Dr. Kovac from ER? Beast would expect me to say Sam from NCIS:LA.

15. What is your greatest pet peeve?

The thing that gets me going the fastest is stupid driving in front of me on the road.

16. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles?

More than 100 miles away from home (rather than more than 100 miles round trip) was our trip to the Caribbean in April. We've been to visit Sparky since then, but that's about 105 miles round-trip, more or less).

17. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

Dictionary, though I do use the online thesaurus regularly when I get tired of using the same word. (you are all thinking, "not enough" now, aren't you?!) I haven't used our paper dictionary here at home for years, though.

18. Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Believe it or not, Cat. is not my real first name!

19. What are you dreading at the moment?

Being The Enforcer. Rather, I'm dreading the thought of perhaps having to do that. I hate being the Bad Cop.

20. Do you have a meme you think we should steal? (Yes, an old trick. But c'mon now. I gotta give it a shot. It's a lot harder to find memes now. But it's ok to answer "You're lazy" an call it a day.)

Here ya go, Bud. I can't guaranteed any of them are GOOD questions, but there's a lot to choose from there.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Sara Smile (1976)
... Because Kwizgiver suggested Hall & Oates. Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This was Hall & Oates' first #1 hit. Can you name another of their popular songs?

"I Can't Go For That" which (today) makes me laugh just typing it. And "Rich Girl" and so many others. These two were really the soundtrack of my formative years.

2) Darryl Hall and Sara Allen were a couple for 30 years, and he wrote this at the beginning of their long relationship. That makes this a very public love letter. Are you good at writing love letters? Would you rather tell the person how you feel, face to face? Or do you let your actions speak louder than your words?

I'm better at communicating "on paper" but I think I'd rather hear this sort of thing F2F, so I go that route most often.

3) In the song, Darryl and Sara are waiting for the sunrise. Did you see the sunrise this morning? Or did you sleep in?

Hah! I was up at 6:45 when Beast got up, and then reset the alarm for 9. No sunrise for me today!

4) Both Hall & Oates hail from the Philadelphia area. Hall is a native of suburban Pottstown, which was a stop on the Reading/Philadelphia rail line made famous in Monopoly. Do you like playing board games?

I *adore* board games! Or actually games of all kinds--except maybe "Candyland" at this point--but rarely have the opportunity to play.

5) John Oates grew up a few miles away from Pottstown in North Wales. Decades ago, North Wales' biggest employer was a cigar factory. Do you like the smell of a cigar?

A good cigar smells delicious. But I loathe the taste of kissing someone who's smoked any cigars at all.

6) Daryl Hall now hosts a music show, Live from Daryl's House, that you catch free online. Do you typically watch shows from your computer, pad, phone or TV set?

Still watching on the TV. Old-school. But this show looks like it might be worth a watch at work.

7) Hall & Oates are currently on tour. Are you seeing/have you seen a concert this summer?

Nope. I'm not a huge fan of crowds, although I do like live music. However, post-Nice, I'm feeling extremely skittish about large crowds.

8) Daryl and John have been friends for 50 years, even living together at the beginning of their careers when money was tight. Another successful duo of the rock era, Simon & Garfunkle, also met as teens but they forever seem to be feuding. What do you think makes for a lasting friendship/partnership?

There is some kind of chemistry that has to stick, but also humility and lack of ego. It's very much like a marriage; you have to keep the long view in mind and stick to taking responsibility for your own shit.

9) Random question: Are you quick to try new things?

Depends on what sort of things we're talking about. Sometimes, yes. Other times, not so much. I honestly can't figure out any pattern: some foods I'll try (hummus), others make me gag at the thought (apples and strawberries and lettuce). Some technology yes (DVR yay); some, no (Instagram? Why?). Some fashion is cool; some of it just makes me laugh, or cry. I try to be open though.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Hotel California (1977)
... Because Country Dew suggested it. Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Composer Don Henley says this song is about the "journey from innocence to experience." Where do find yourself on that journey? Are you more innocent, or experienced?

I'm not innocent, though most of what I know hasn't been from experiencing it myself but from watching, reading, or hearing about it.

2) The lyrics refers to the "warm smell of colitas." Do you know what it is that the Eagles noticed in the air?

I remember having no clue WTF they were saying at this point in the song until at some point I found the song lyrics and looked up "colitas" in the dictionary. Having never seen them, I have no idea what the scent is, still.

3) The girl in the song had her head turned by luxury, including jewelry from Tiffany's and Mercedes Benz autos. Do you consider yourself materialistic?

Not as bad as many, but still I have my "stuff" that is hard to walk away from.

4) This recording has been lauded by music publications for for its long guitar solo. Are you good on the guitar?

Hah! I played for, oh, maybe 4 hours over the course of 3 years in my teens. I listen to guitar pretty well though.... :)

5) There's an error in the lyrics and Don Henley can get a bit testy when interviewers bring it to his attention. Here's the lyric: "So I called up the captain and said, 'Please bring me your wine.' He said, 'We haven't had that spirit here since 1969.'" Do you know what's wrong with it?

I'd guess it's that wine isn't a spirit, because only liquor is spirits. Something to do with distillation. But jeez that is fussy. I never noticed it before. 

6) Known as the Eagles' drummer, Henley now spends less time at his drum kit. Sitting at that angle for an extended period of time hurts his back. Sam believes this proves all those warnings she heard from her parents about good posture are true. Do you pay attention to your posture?

I do. I try to walk like I was taught to march in Band: shoulders straight ("back") and stomach tight with a round, open chest. My dad didn't countenance slouching: "Be PROUD of your height!!" All us girls were tall and he hated tall girls who tried to make themselves shorter. However, most of the time when I'm sitting I'm slouching, and modern technology does nothing but encourage shoulders-forward sitting. Be honest: where are your shoulders when you're typing on a keyboard? My massage therapist yells at me regularly, and now I try to even SLEEP with my shoulders back!

7) Joe Walsh is considered the wild man of the Eagles. Think of your circle of friends. Who is the most unpredictable?

...I think that might be me. Or Beast, but to be fair, that's mostly his addiction being crazy not him. When he's straight, he's perfectly predictable. And that's frankly why I married him!! Among my workplace friends, it's definite Librarian B.

8) In 1977, Star Wars premiered. How many Star Wars movies have you seen?

All. Of. Them. Multiple. Times. Beast is a bit of a fan. /sarcasm

9) Random question: "Nosocomephobia" is the fear of hospitals. Are you nosocomephobic?

Nope. Actually, this is weird: I was visiting a friend in the hospital just before I started this. I've hung out in hospitals since before I can remember because my sister was so ill when I was a tot. While I was too young to visit her on the floor very often, I hung out in public areas a lot, I'm sure, and I was a candy-striper in junior high/high school so I got to see behind the scenes a little. And then my dad ended up in that same hospital after his second heart attack when my mom was out of town and I was in high school, so it paid off knowing how things worked. Nah, hospitals don't scare me, except when the bill comes...

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)

It’s the fourth Friday in June, which means it’s time for our annual Scattergories Five! My favorite Five of the year! (Yes; we’ve done them on the third Friday in June the past few years, but the fourth works better for me).

We first did them in 2009, and revisited them in 2012, in 2013, in 2014, and last year [these are links to my answers, not the original questions]. If you never did those, and if these five questions seem not to be enough, feel free to add those questions to this week’s.

This week’s 5 is inspired by the party game Scattergories, in which players have to think of items, all beginning with the same letter, in several categories. For example, if the die is rolled and shows the letter T, players might have to name a soft drink, a farm animal, a river, and a U.S. President, all beginning with T. Valid answers might be Tab, turkey, Tennessee, and Tyler.

First, go to this nifty online random-letter generator. Set the “number of random letter sequences to generate” to 1. Set the “length of each random letter sequence” to 1. Leave the “letters to choose from” how it is and click the button. You’ll get a rather non-dramatic one letter. Use that letter to begin all your answers to the 5 questions below. If you’d like to avoid difficult letters, feel free to change the “letters to choose from” list. I’ll only judge you a little bit. 🙂

Alternately, if you find that boring, you could set the “length of each random letter sequence” to 5, thereby giving you five letters, a different one for each question.

What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator (this doesn’t really count as one of your five questions)?
I've done this a couple of different ways in the past. In 2009 I just picked one letter. in 2014, I got a series of five letters and answered each question with all five letters. Last year I was back to one letter. I haven't looked at the questions yet. My original one-letter "assignment" this year is "O." The 5-letter sequence I got was "ftran." I'm going with the 5-letters. YAY!!

1. What brand or model of car, whose name begins with the letter, would you like to get?

   F - Ferarri (duh!)
   T - Toyota [I've never had a bad one]
   R - Rolls Royce
   A - Alfa Romeo [yes! please!]
   N - Nissan something-or-other

2. What summer activity, whose name begins with the letter, are you looking forward to?

   F - Frisbee (if I can find someone to play with!)
   T - Travel (except I think it'll be almost fall for me)
   R - Relaxing
   A - Archery is all I can come up with
   N - Noodle ball

3. What’s an item in your desk whose name begins with the letter?

   F - Folders
   T - Tape
   R - Rubber bands
   A - Almonds [yes, a ton of them]
   N - Notebooks

4. What’s something, whose name begins with the letter, that you find frightening?

   F - Flooding
   T - Trump (of course)
   R - Reptiles (some of them; some I like)
   A - Aging
   N - Nuclear war

5. If you had to get a tattoo on your upper arm, what’s something whose name begins with the letter that you could live with?

   F - Freckle
   T - my son's name starts with a T, so ... that
   R - Rabbit
   A - I could see getting an Anarchy symbol--with a slash through it
   N - Going back to the same well: someone's Name

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter Meme

When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

It's been a very long time. I (hand)write notes to Beast fairly often, but I can't tell you the last time I sent a letter--not a store-bought card with my signature--in the mail.

Can you change the oil on a car?

I could if I wanted to, but I'd really rather just pay someone to do it if/when Beast stops taking care of it.

Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

Yup. No clue if I was actually speeding, but since then I am careful to set my cruise control for the exact speed limit on that road.

Run out of gas?

Nope. Not quite, though I've been within a few miles of it more than once.

Favorite kind of sandwich?

Roast beef with horseradish and swiss on wheat bread. Or flat cheese and potato chip on white bread with butter.

Best thing to eat for breakfast?

Donuts.

What is your usual bedtime?

It hovers around 9, but I almost always read or do puzzles for awhile before I sleep.

Are you lazy?

For sure. I'm the queen of this!

When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

I remember a clown costume and a rabbit costume vividly and absolutely nothing else. I know I was costumed every year though.

Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

I do. I still get Ms., Entertainment Weekly, and a Presbyterian Church publication.

Which are better, Legos or Lincoln Logs?

Lincoln Logs, but only if they're wooden!

Are you stubborn?

Oh my God, yes!

Who is better…Leno or Letterman?

Uhm. Aren't they both gone now? I didn't really care for either of their shows.

Ever watch soap operas?

Not for 25 years.

Afraid of heights?

Nope.

Sing in the car?

All the time.

Dance in the shower?

This seems very dangerous. No.

Dance in the car?

Yes. Also dangerous, but I'm careful.

Ever used a gun?

Not a real one.

Do you think musicals are cheesy?

I LOVE musicals!! The cheesier the better.

Is Christmas stressful?

Yes!!

Ever eat a pierogi?

Uh, yeah. I've been to Milwaukee and other places where lots of Polish people settled back in the day.

Major annoyance right now?

Beast's health tops everything. It's like a freaking brush fire: neck fixed, shoulder flares and subsides, week-long flu bug, self-pity, numb fingers, post-nasal drip that never ends, alcohol more or less off the table (he says), depression, soreness from PT or therapeutic massage, achy joints from weather weirdness, sinus problems develop into an endless cough, complete lack of stamina, minor Lyme disease, and now we've spotted another bulging disc in this thoracic region! That doesn't even get into the glucose and blood-sugar issues. So basically, I'm married to an 80-year-old.

Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

Grocery checker, teacher, the usual girl stuff, and writer of course.

Do you believe in ghosts?

I believe in something like ghosts.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
A to Z Meme

A) What does the last text you sent say? And to whom?

Beast and I were texting as I came home tonight. I think my last was "Np" in response to him telling me he was going to bed, which he did before I got home.

B) What does the last text you received say? And from whom?

Oops, see above.

C) What time do you wake up most mornings?

Whenever the alarm goes off. Or, when I need to pee. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays my alarm is set for 7:10. Friday or Saturday (whichever I work), it's set for 6:30. And on Wednesdays it's set at 5:30.

D) Are you afraid of walking alone at night?

Not in my neighborhood. I'm careful in areas I don't know.

E) What do you do to relax at the end of a stressful day?

This. And Facebook. And read. One or more of the above.

F) Where did your last kiss take place and with whom?

Beast, of course. Not sure where. He's been sick all weekend, so before that for sure!

G) Do/did you get into trouble a lot at school?

Nope. I was a chronic Teacher's Pet.

H) Do you enjoy your job? If unemployed, are you content being so?

I love my job. Today, I got to talk to a father and son who have ... some issues but are finally getting things together. And I laughed with another dad when he rolled not just his eyes but his whole head at his two teenagers. I made a homeless woman laugh when I told her she could have a look at the newspaper, but I'd "chase her down" if she didn't bring it back (and then mimed a fast walk)--she told me I was something else. [too true] Another guy, a regular, told me a bunch of random and lengthy stories about trips he's taken. I woke up another regular who was online but asleep. I chased a 2-year-old out of the children's room so his dad and brother could actually leave (and change his diaper--PEEEUWW!). I took photos of a Jedi in her robes with and without her light saber. I got to see a smile on a teen I rarely see smile. It was a great day.

I) Do you often pick up on double entendres and innuendos?

Who, moi? ...uhm, yes, I am a bit of a "That's what s/he said" person.

J) Have you ever been offered drugs but declined?

By someone other than a doctor? Yes.

K) Have you ever met someone who has completely altered your way of thinking?

Yes, I've met quite a few of these people.

L) Have you ever been offered drugs and accepted?

By someone other than a doctor? Yes.

M) Tell us something weird that turns you on.

Nope.

N) When did someone last admit romantic or sexual feelings for you? Was the feeling mutual?

I'm married. We talk about sex all the time! [ha ha ha] But that's the only person I do talk about sex with, so....
And yes, it's mututal.

O) What is something you have given a lot of thought to lately?

I've been trying to figure out my future for awhile. I don't know what the future holds, and generally I'm fine with that, but lately I seem to be getting thrown into choices I've never thought were available and it's confusing and unpleasant.

P) When did you last swallow your beliefs to avoid an argument or confrontation?

Oh, every day. Today, one of our regulars told me all about his feelings on the President and Hillary...and blah blah blah.

Q) Do you usually initiate hugs?

I wouldn't say "usually" but "often" yeah.

R) Are you a very affectionate person?

I can be.

S) Can you roll your own cigarettes?

Can I? Probably, but since I don't smoke it's not something I've considered learning to do.

T) What are you looking forward to?

My great-nephew Jo is being baptized in a couple of weeks. After that, I guess it's Jesse's wedding in September. Well, and summer and warm weather, too.

U) Do you have any tattoos. Do you want any/more?

Nope and nope.

V) Are you mentally strong?

Mostly yes.

W) Are you physically strong?

Nope.

X) Do you think you’re a good person?

Yes. Except when I'm being a total bitchface.

Y) Name one thing you wish you could change about your life right now.

I would like Beast to be healthier.

Z) What do you usually eat for breakfast?

Bagel with two slices of cheese.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Why Do You Want To Know That Meme, part three

50. What do you spend most of your money on?

I'm fairly certain that the biggest single chunk is housing, followed closely by food. I used to be really careful about shopping grocery store sales, and buying generic and waiting for things to go on sale. I sure as hell don't do that anymore, though mostly out of laziness. I do coupon shop with online coupons at the store I intend to shop on a given day, but we are rather brand-loyal on some things (like pop, which is a staple in this house).

51. Would you rather visit the past or the future?

Future! OK, yes, it would be lovely to see my parents pre-wrinkles and white hair. It would be weird to see my grandparents when they were young. But I really do want to know what happens to all these babies in my family in about 40 years!

52. Favorite clothing store?

I don't enjoy clothes shopping anymore. When I was a young, skinny thing, I really did, but now that nothing really fits right...it's depressing. So, I get my clothes in passing when I notice something I like, or when I need something specific, at Kohl's, F&F, Target, WallyWorld...wherever.

53. What is the best advice you can give to those who are feeling down?

Get some sunlight. Eat some veggies and fruit. Sing a silly song. Take a nap. Be gentle with yourself. Cry when necessary. See a doctor if you can't pull it together. Dance like no one is watching. Plan a vacation. Play with a happy child. Pray. Meditate. Do something kind for someone else. Do some writing or drawing or puzzles of some kind. Read a book. Whatever has made your soul sing in the past, try that again. Breathe, just for five minutes. Then another five.

54. How often do you think about your future? Does it scare you?

No. I worry about some stuff in the immediate future, but not about the Big Picture Future. I know I can't force things to be different, so I work on controlling my reaction when things go to hell. For instance, in the past couple of months, two kids I know have been dealing with some terrifying health issues (one had an aneurysm leading to a stroke at age 14, the other is a newborn with (pre-)cancerous tissue and organs that aren't working right as a result). I can't fix either of those issues. I can only do practical things to help support the families and pray (a.k.a. rage at God) like a crazy person, and keep my own footing stable. I suck at that last part especially.

55. What angers you the most?

Sick kids ranks right up there. It's totally NOT OK when kids have horrible medical problems. It's really NOTTTTT.
Also, intentional stupidity and meanness make me pretty unhappy.

56. When was the last time you got majorly angry?

December 23, when I told my idiot brother-in-law that if he EVER touched me again after I asked him to stop, I was going to punch him in the face. Been wanting to say that for about 45 years, so don't feel at all guilty. It will be interesting to see how things go the next time we're in the same room together. [and no, nothing seriously creepy--he was touching my arm last month--has been going on for 45 years, but he just doesn't respect boundaries at all]

57. When was the last time you got really sad?

I try not to go there. I seem to carry "sad" with me; it's always in stock at the der Katzenhaus. If I let myself think about stuff going on, I'd be prostrate in a rubber room. I'm sad about Ben's death. I'm sad that Beast is still having some (minor) recovery issues, I'm sad for Sparky's girlfriend's medical issues, I'm sad about the two kids I mentioned above, I'm sad about the homeless folks in the library all the time now, I'm sad for all the people whose lives are miserable through no direct cause of their own, I'm sad for people who make craptastic choices that ruin their lives....see why I don't dwell. I had a big wave of it threaten to overwhelm me yesterday while reading an email about this sick baby. It's really no fair at all for this family to have to go through this shit; they've already dealt with a ton of health stuff. No fair no fair no fair. ...and now I'm crying. Great.

58. Are you good at lying?

Ironic that I was driving home just about an hour ago thinking how much I miss playing poker because it's really a game of sanctioned lying--and I'm very good at that part. ;-)

59. What foreign language would you like to learn?

Hebrew. Or ancient Greek.

60. How many languages can you speak and what are they?

I got English down, most days. Some Spanish--I understand better than I speak. Pig Latin? Ubbi-Dubbi? Dewey? MARC?

61. How often do you go to parties? If you don’t, what do you do instead?

I loathe parties. I'll go, I'll even end up having a decent time usually, but they exhaust me.

62. What books do you plan to read this year?

My GoodReads goal is set at 100 again. I snuck past that last year, so it's doable. In 2014, somehow I read 126, and in 1996 I hit 173, but that includes what I was reading to Sparky, and it's probably way the hell higher than that for most of his early years. We got 15-20 books at the library every couple of weeks, and figure another 60 (at least) books of my own, that's a LOT of books under my eyeballs, usually more than once through.

63. Do you have breakfast every morning?

I do.

64. Tell us a secret.

It's only a secret because at this point I haven't needed to tell anyone, but I'm done with teaching Sunday School after this year. I started doing this when I was 13ish, so nearly 40 years ago. It hasn't been 40 years straight, but easily 25 years over time. I like kids a ton--duh!--but I'm tired. I'd like to get back to "grown-up" Sunday School, too.

65. How many concerts have you been to?

Honestly? I was in band for 7 years of my educational career. My siblings were involved in music, my parents had Symphony season tickets when I was a kid, we were subscribers to a piano series for a couple of years awhile back....I've probably been to hundreds of concerts over my lifetime. If we're just talking rock music, then less than 15; I'd say less than 10, but that might be a lie.

66. Last hug?

Beast, this morning when he got up.

67. Who knows you better than anyone else?

Beast.

68. Baths or showers?

I love a good soak in the tub, especially a very hot soak on a cold day, when I can drain and refill with more hot water a few times. But showers for everyday.

69. Do you think you’re ambitious?

I am not, nor have I ever been, anything approaching ambitious. I like to work hard, but it's not out of ambition. Just hate being bored.

70. What song is stuck in your head?

None right now, and I'm fighting like hell to get past this question before something jumps in!!!

71. Countries you’ve visited?

Mexico, England, Scotland, Switzerland, USSR, Mongolia, China, Poland, Italy, Canada, Greece, Germany. I think that's all, in chronological order.

72. What do you most value in your friends?

Honesty, wit, and silliness.

73. What helps you to sleep better?

Earplugs. And my CPAP.

74. What is the most money you have ever held in your hand?

Several thousand dollars. This buying and selling of houses causes checks of ridiculous amounts to be flipped back and forth quite regularly. In actual cash-money-bills: maybe $500? I don't know. Back in the old days when you couldn't use credit cards overseas, I had lots of money in traveler's checks for some of those trips overseas.

75. What makes you nervous?

"Do have some time we can talk later?" strikes the very fear of God into my soul. No, no, let's just get this over with NOW!!