Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)

This was the week that was, in 1969

1. How do you feel about bowling? (May 9: Billy Hardwick wins the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America all-star bowling tournament)

"Bowling Proprietors"?? 

OK, but yeah, I like bowling once in awhile. I'm not good, but it's fun as long as there's no pressure to actually hit the pins.

2. How do you feel about the comedy of Monty Python, and do you have a favorite bit? (May 11: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin form Monty Python)

I'm a big fan of "Life of Brian." In fact, I will now commence singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" for the entire weekend. 

3. How many Cate Blanchett films have you seen, and do you have a favorite? (May 14: Cate Blanchett is born)

I've only seen three that I can remember, but I have a great deal of respect for her. I'd like to see some of her "out there" roles, because I've only seen her in Big Ticket films.

4. What would you like to get back? (May 14: “Get Back” by the Beatles is the number one song in America)

There's a lot of money gone that would come in handy as I face retirement. There's Beast himself. There's my youthful joints. There are hours (days ... weeks!) of anxiety that were pointless. I'm not sure any of these are worth undoing what's done, though. There's always a trade-off. Would I be better off with any of these outcomes? How much worse would my life be if I got all my wishes?

5.Who’s your favorite Joni, and who’s your favorite Mitchell? Alternate spellings and forms of the name are allowed! (May 17: Joni Mitchell is on the cover of Rolling Stone #33)

Sorry, Ms. Mitchell but my Joni is Joni Eareckson Tada, always and forever. [As a child, I got the two of them confused, which was ... confusing.] As for Mitchell, the name brings to mind the face of a child I must have been in school with, a little tow-headed 8- to 10-year-old, rather Dennis the Menace-like. I know I've know others with that first (or last) name, but that's what I got tonight.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Firsts

First Job:

Babysitting for neighbors.

First Real Job:

Shelving books in my local public library.

First Favorite Politician:

Of all time, U.S. version: John Adams or Abraham Lincoln.
Still living: Jimmy Carter (but Barry's right up there ready to step in).

First Car:

The first car I drove regularly was a 1971 Toyota Corolla passed down from my mom, though I never "owned" it. The first car I ever spent money on was an 1987 Toyota pickup truck.

First Record/CD:

The first one I bought with my own money was a compilation record that had a bunch of songs I mostly didn't know on it. One was Jethro Tull's "Bungle in the Jungle." Another was something by Foghat. Just for clarity's sake, this was definitely aimed at an older, druggier demog than 12-year-old Cat. The first one I bought that I actually played (ENDLESSLY) was, I think, Shawn Cassidy's debut. For my sins.

First Sport Played:

Does Hide and Seek count as a sport? Or jumprope? I didn't do organized sports, except in P.E. class, until junior high (basketball one year, volleyball another year) and I hated it.

First Concert:

First rock(ish) concert was the Beach Boys at the old Denver Bears stadium. But I went to classical concerts from about age 8 on, with my parents. They had season tickets or something for the Denver Orchestra.

First Foreign Country Visited:

England, in 1988. We rented a canal boat for 9 and floated around for a week. It was great!!

First Favorite TV Show:

I used to love Blinky the Clown--how I learned Happy Birthday to You!--and Romper Room when I was wee. Then I eventually aged into Captain Kangaroo and all the PBS stuff.

First Favorite Actor:

I had a little thing for David Cassidy when the Partridge Family was on.

First Favorite Actress:

Marlo Thomas. While I was far to young to understand That Girl!, I loved Marlo's voice and her expressions. Always wondered why she never did another comedy.

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend:

At age 6, I proposed to Chris (Last Name Unknown) across the street. We were going to get married and live in the bush in his front yard where we played (it was a large, branchy bush with a lovely interior "room" that was big enough to sit in on the dirt together). I remember "cleaning up" the "house" like a proper little 60s housewife. And I proposed to him by note, which somehow my mom got ahold of. I wish she'd kept it. Anyway, Chris's family soon moved away--I think they were renters--and I never saw him again. He had a slightly older brother named Tony.

First Encounter with a Famous Person:

I went to a church that was attended by several members of the 1976 Denver Bronco's team. Randy Gradishar--SWOON!!--was there. So was the coach, Red Miller. I was far too shy to speak to them, but I remember being incensed that Gradishar's wife was a cute little thing whose head barely, if at all, reached his chest. Come on, big guys should be with TALL GIRLS. Life is so unfair! (can you tell I was a teen?)

First Brush With Death:

Probably sliding off the road into a median in a blizzard in Wyoming on the way to or from my sister Marie's. Dad somehow slid off, missed the jack-knifed semi that was blocking both lanes of I-25, and slid back onto the road without damaging us or our car at all. A moment that, of course, has gone down in family lore because my sister Ellen immediately told him to "do it again!" Or maybe it was I who said that? I was pretty little.

First House/Condo Owned:

This is the house my dad designed and built in 1946. The room above the garage was built because I showed up and they'd run out of bedrooms. There is one other house with this design in that same town--minus the upstairs room. Mom & Dad lived there, raised all the kids there, and then moved to a condo for retired people in 1994. That tree in front of the living room window in the photo is the one I used to play under. All of the rest of the greenery is new since I left.

First Film Seen:

I don't remember. It involved a married couple in bed together (talking) which was pretty risqué for my family to be seeing. All I remember besides that was a lot of burnt orange decor. No clue what the movie was about.

First Favorite Recording Artist:

As a child? My brother was 10 years older than me, and my sisters even older than that. I grew up listening to Blood, Sweat, and Tears, early Chicago Transit Authority albums, the 5th Dimension, and endless musicals (The Music Man, My Fair Lady, etc. etc.). The outlier, whom I still adore was Sœur Sourire. Jean had her album, which I absconded with while Jean was away and listened to endlessly. I liked "Dominique" of course, but also "Fleur de Cactus" and "Plume de Radis." I have a different copy of the album still. Maybe I should pull it out and listen to it one of these days.

First Favorite Radio Station:

When I was allowed by own radio, I usually chose KHOW (AM). As I got older, I moved to KIMN, KPBI and KAZY (all FM).

First Book I Remember Reading:

ALL . OF . THEM !!! We went to the library pretty much every Saturday afternoon. I got a stack of books while Mom chose something from the New Books. Dad would read to me, lying on the floor with his head against the couch while I sat above him and "played with his hair": bobby-pins, curlers, whatever was in the container from the bathroom, or just combing his hair down over his forehead or making it stand up (he used VO5 gel stuff in it so it was pretty "moldable" for me).

First Meme You Answered on Your Blog:

The first one I did here on this blog in May of 2004 was a writing prompt from a now-defunct site called BlogIdeas about a "family vacation gone wrong." The first question-answer one on this site was from BlogDriveInsanity, which is still up (kind of) though D.O.A. for lo these many years.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll under Mimi Writes)
The Cat Meme
This is going to be weird; buckle up!

1. Do you have a cat?

I don't think one ever "has" a cat. I think it's more likely, just from observation, that a cat "has" (a) human(s). On the other hand, I am allergic to cats so I try to avoid them, which only means I am their favorite person, probably because I won't pet them.
On the third had, I am a Cat.!!

2. What is your cat's name?

This cat is named Cat. My imaginary cats are legion, and nameless, except in their ineffable inscrutability. (see here)

3. What makes you love cats?

It's a self-referential thing, don'tchaknow?As for the furry kind...I don't. I find them rather annoying at best; this is primarily because they literally make me sick. Just thinking about my niece's house--she's "down" to "only" three cats now, from a high of five a couple of years ago--is giving me a headache and making me itch. From a distance, I admire how independent cats are, and how well they are able to train their humans. And they are amusing, whether then intend to be at times or not.

4. If you are not a cat person, why not?

I believe I've gotten there already. I'm not kidding: I'm getting a psychosomatic headache just thinking about this subject....

5. What is the funniest thing your cat has ever done?

I do ridiculous shit practically on an hourly basis. But, like all cats everywhere, I totally MEANT TO DO IT!

6. Do you think you have to have a special gene to be a cat person or can a hooman be trained to love cats?

Oh, I think anyone can learn to love animals, except I suppose sociopaths. Even then ... The mere fact of being an animal lover shouldn't blind us to other negative traits--wasn't Hitler a dog guy? Woops, there's a digression of epic proportions!

7. Do you think cats have feelings and can talk to their owners?

Of course they can! I may not love them, but for crying out loud, of course they have feelings and communicate with others!! What sort of elitist human wouldn't admit this? This reminds me of the Bio prof in college who insisted that animals don't feel pain; all us non-sciencey people in the (Science for Dummies) class just stared at him like he'd just told us the chairs and desks were made of braunsweiger. That was the moment when I realized the door to my potential science career had slammed shut in front of me.

8. (BONUS QUESTION) The Rainbow Bridge is the place where cats go when they pass away. I think it's a lovely idea. If humans could have a bridge of their own in the afterlife, what would you name it?

I thought dogs went there too? Frankly, when I get to the afterlife, it better be RIGHT NEXT DOOR to the Rainbow Bridge, because if there's not dogs (and, ok, cats) in heaven, I don't wanna be there!! Seriously. This is not negotiable. I hope the Big Guy is paying attention.

Blogthings

You Are a Fall Early Morning

You are very energetic, and your passions tend to change with the wind. You love so many things. Your life tends to be a bit cyclical, and you're constantly rediscovering old inspirations and ambitions. Fall is the perfect season for a colorful yet deep person like you. And morning is the best time to get started. You flourish every time of year, but autumn is especially good for you. There's more openness to art, expression, and the spices of life!

What's Your Time of Day and Year?

I like fall a lot. I'm not sure this is totally accurate, but it would be nice if the highlighted parts were.

You Are Friendly

You are an easy person to get along with, even if you aren't always in an outgoing mood. You enjoy being around people. You love good conversation and good company. You're the type to strike up a friendship with a stranger if you are thrown together for a while. You are quite sure of who you are, but it doesn't bother you to have friends from various walks of life. You can appreciate another perspective. You are open to new possibilities, and you don't like too have too much set in stone. With the right group of people, it's fun to see where the day takes you.

The Chinese Takeout Test

Well, as a matter of fact....

You Are 30% Prankster

You aren't a major prankster, but you love a good prank every now and then. And you've pulled a few good ones in your time. When you prank, you tend to think outside the box. If it hasn't been done before, you're that much more likely to go for it.

How Much of a Prankster Are You?

I've been on the receiving end of pranks enough to really enjoy promulgating them.

You Are Politically More American

You tend to value freedom in politics, and you prefer that the government stays as lean as possible. You are attracted to political figures more than actual parties. And you appreciate a politician who doesn't toe the party line.

Are You Politically More European or More American?

Surprised? Not me.

You Should Live in the Pearl District

You love everything the city has to offer - from dining to shopping to entertainment. While you are quite artsy, you have a wide range of tastes. You like everything from indie to mainstream. You love any thing from a good book to a good brew, and you can find them all in this fun part of Portland. You dig eclectic, welcoming environments. Your ideal neighborhood is one you rarely even have to leave!

What Cool Neighborhood Should You Live In?

I am decidedly NOT moving to Portland or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. I need as much sunshine as possible.

You Are Optimistic

You are energetic, fun, and even a little crazy. You don't let yourself get too out of control though. You are open to and curious about the world. You love to connect, learn, travel, and explore. You don't like to plan, and you are delighted by life's little surprises. You like anything out of the ordinary. You are good to people, and it often comes back around to you. You feel like you live a charmed life - and you do!

What Do Your Favorite Eggs Say About You?

OK then. It really depends on the day as far as favorite. I like omelets and scrambled and the occasional hard-boiled.

Friday Five times two

(Link in meme-roll)
Shenanigans

1. What’s a memorable prank you were involved in, either as perpetrator, victim, or witness?

   I'm not all that into pranks, having had a few too many played on me as a child.

2. When did you last fool someone into believing something untrue?

   I convince people at the Reference Desk that I find them amusing all the time.

3. What was a secret you accidentally let slip?

   The last one I feel bad about was announcing someone else's pregnancy before she was able to get to everyone.

4. What’s a memorable thing you did when you should have been at work or school?

   Look, this is no longer the biggest excitement of my life. I didn't skip school when I was as student. I rarely skip work unless I'm sick (physically or otherwise). It is still nice to sneak out in the middle of the day, but I just don't do that without good reason.

5. What’s a nice thing you did anonymously for someone?

   I just finished wrapping socks and underwear for our Giving Tree at work. That's what the teenager in the (anonymous) family asked for. :( I'm throwing a gift card in there too.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Likely Story

1. You are awake at 2:30 in the morning on a work night (or school night). What is the most likely reason?

   Insomnia. I clearly forgot to take the melatonin the night before. Otherwise, I'm up in the bathroom for one reason or another.

2. Time Magazine says you are a candidate for 2014’s Person of the Year. What is the most likely reason?

   They've got me confused with someone else, obviously.

3. Your hometown is naming a geographical or civil landmark after you, as in Mary’s Creek or David’s Corner. What is the most likely name of this spot?

   "Cat's Cradle."

4. Your best friend from high school calls to ask a favor. What is the most likely nature of the favor?

   I can't even imagine. We are Facebook friends, but I can't imagine her asking anything of me. She wouldn't have the nerve, I'd hope, after the fabulous job of fucking me over (twice) she's done to me.

5. Twenty-four hours from now, you’ve got a great smile on your face. What is the most likely reason for this smile?

   Packers WIN!

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Main Event (1979)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This is the theme from a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of boxing. Sam admits she's not crazy about boxing. What about you? Do you enjoy boxing, martial arts or wrestling?

I can't stand boxing, MMA, or popular wrestling. I like sport wrestling though.

2) If you went to a dance club on a Saturday night in 1979 or 1980, you might well have danced to this. What are your plans for this Saturday night?

Well, we just watched a two-week-old NCIS and I think Beast is going to bed fairly shortly. I will be up for awhile yet, maybe working on a mid-season episode of Season 2 of The Bridge. Right now we've got the coverage on for the Big City Holiday Parade, though I have no idea why since we NEVER EVER watch this. Big fun.

3) Gilda Radner was one of the original Saturday Night Live performers and in 1979, she parlayed her TV popularity into her own one-woman show on Broadway. Who is your alltime favorite SNL cast member?

I loved Gilda. I liked Dennis Miller a lot when he was doing Weekend Update. Bill Hader was good--Stefon is one of my very favorite characters. Amy and Tina, of course, because they didn't do degrading stuff. Kristen Wiig. Eddie Murphy, Chevy Chase....so many good ones.

4) Sally Little and Nancy Lopez were at the top of the LPGA in 1979. Do you golf?

Only putt-putt. I've played one round of golf, with the patience of Beast on a VERY quiet day at a local course. I don't really get the attraction, but it was a nice walk.

5) The movie The Main Event co-starred Ryan O'Neal. He is better known for Love Story, and saying the line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." When did you last apologize?

I can't tell you how much I HATE that line!! I apologized today at some point, I'm sure, at work, though I can't think what it was for.

6) O'Neal got his big break on the nighttime soap opera, Peyton Place. He played Rodney Harrington, the handsome golden boy that all the girls dreamed of dating. Tell us about your big high school crush.

I had a lot of crushes in school. The main one, I've been good friends with since school, including his lengthy stint in hospital and rehab after a devastating motorcycle accident when we were 19. He's still a good guy, but not as crushable, especially at 50. ;-)

7) In researching this week's Saturday 9, Sam discovered that The Main Event is a popular name for sports bars all across the country. Do you enjoy sitting at the bar or do you look for a booth or table?

Depends. If I'm alone, I'd rather sit at the bar, all things being equal.

8) The Mane Event was the salon Sam went to for years. She switched when it got too hard to get Saturday appointments. As a consumer, what's more important to you -- convenience or price?

Depends. Probably lean more towards convenience.

9) More than 50 years after her first million-selling album, Streisand recently had a #1 hit with her current CD, Partners. What's the last song you bought/downloaded?

I got the latest U2 album for my birthday last week. I haven't bought music for a long time though.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
My Life
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) This song begins with the story of a man who moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a comic. What comedian always makes you laugh?

Bill Cosby. Richard Pryor. George Carlin. Steven Wright. Emo Phillips. Wanda Sykes.

2) The lyrics say, "You don't need to worry about me 'cause I'm alright." Tell us about a time when you had to reassure your family or friends.

I'm the baby of the family--I've spent my life saying this. Usually the words "leave me alone" are involved as well.

3) This song was the original theme of the Tom Hanks sitcom Bosom Buddies. Tom Hanks is a direct descendant of Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln's mother. Is there anyone noteworthy, celebrated or infamous in your family tree?

My dad always said that if we went back too far we'd find horse thieves and murderers. Otherwise, I don't think I'm related to anyone of import and that's just fine with me.

4) Before going solo, Billy Joel was in bands called The Echoes, The Emeralds, The Hassles and Attila. What do you think would be a good name for a band?

I suck at this sort of thing. Moving along.

5) Billy Joel wrote one of his most famous songs, "Just the Way You Are," for his first wife, Elizabeth. Even though they divorced more than 30 years ago, fans still demand he perform the song in concert. Do you go out of your way to listen to songs that remind you of a long-ago lost love? Or do you avoid them?

Depends on my mood. Mostly I listen to them, unless I'm in a blue mood overall.

6) In 2008 Billy Joel had to return a $3,000,000 advance for his memoirs because he didn't finish them. Have you ever read a celebrity tell-all?

Of course. They are generally disappointing. The worst, by far, was Shirley Jones' book that came out last year. So much there I never, ever needed to know!

j7) Billy Joel was in a motorcycle accident and did irreparable damage to his left thumb. Are you comfortable on a motorcycle?

I can't drive one, but I enjoy riding on them for short trips in warm weather. We own stock in Harley-Davidson, so I'm all about HOGs.

8) In addition to riding cycles, Billy enjoys sailing in Oyster Bay. Do your summer plans include time on a boat?

Nope. I can't swim and (smallish) boats freak me out.

9) Billy Joel is a popular college commencement speaker. If you were asked advice from the Class of 2014, what would you say?

Get a job, any job; you can be picky and get a better job once you have a regular paycheck. Pay off your loans, don't be a jerk, don't do things you know aren't right, and take care of your parents, especially if they helped pay for your education. Be the person you wanted to be when you were ten.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What's the most significant secret you've ever kept? Did the truth ever come out?

I'm a big NON-believer in secrets. I've seen them cause so much damage over the decades in families and people. However, there are a few secrets I have kept. One regards the attraction a friend of mine has (had?) toward one of my relatives. It's a not a "secret" in the sense that it's probably easily visible to anyone with a brain and eyeballs, but since my relatives are often lacking in brain-power.... There are some other more important things that I keep quiet about, just because it's probably none of my business that I even know about it in the first place.

2) Create a new recipe with just five ingredients.

Does it have to be new? I make a mean tuna casserole with whatever's in the pantry (besides noodles and tuna, of course). There's also the famous "leftovers omelet" or "leftovers sandwich", but I'm not sure those count either. One must remember that my sister and her husband once made pizza out of frozen bread dough and several cans from another sister's pantry (corn, mushrooms, etc.). It wasn't awful, but it was definitely weird. So I learned from that: you can make a meal out of an almost infinite variety of "whatever you've got" plus seasonings and spices, and Worcestershire and/or soy sauce. ;-) One recent cooking adventure was frozen chicken strips coated in whole-wheat flour, paprika, parsley and peppercorns [those were the spices I grabbed--could have been lemon-pepper, oregano, and ginger, among other options) with a little olive oil drizzled over the top and baked. Throw a salad together and eat.

3) What's your favorite place in the world?

There's a little crevice in the cliff-side across the highway from the house we used to own in the mountains of Colorado that I used to hike up to with my dog when I was a kid. Two house-sized boulders had rolled together and created a cleft with a perfect little sitting area. Assuming I could get back up the hillside nowadays, sans dog, of course, I think I could pass some great time thinking and reading there....

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

Photo © Cat. 2013

I took this photo last summer while standing in line to scan and pay for groceries at Meijer. The sign cracked me up: "Pet Baby," really? Sparky was rather embarrassed at my photo-snapping, which made it even funnier.

Thursday 13

(Link in meme-roll)
Things Starting with J

1. Journal. I wish I could figure out my antipathy toward daily journaling. I'm just really lousy at it.


2. Jeans. I need to go buy some new ones. Those I own are too small. :(


3. Job. I'm in kind of a drought at work. There's a ton going on, and I feel like I'm going full-speed just trying to keep up, much less get a handle on things.



4. Jackalope. I miss the West. And I think I had this very same picture in my room as a child.


5. Joke. Yes, those are a joke. I believed in them for awhile when I was a kid, because my brother liked teasing me


6. Junk. So much of it in my life. Ugh. Need to clean. Need to purge!


7. Jeep. I have always wanted a Jeep, but I totally live in a stupid place to own one. I don't see that changing. Ever. And that's a drag. Oh, well, another dead childhood dream.


8. Jalapeño. I used to always have poppers when we went to T0mmy's (a local fast food place), but I just recently discovered they also have deep-fried mac-n-cheese! Holy crap...!


9. Jewelry. I think I will have to bite the bullet this summer and take all my rings to get them resized. My fingers are too fat already this spring to get them off (or back on) easily. The losing weight thing...hasn't been happening.


10. Jammies. Still wearing my winter flannels. I've usually started substituting in lighter ones on warmer nights, but we haven't HAD any warm nights. The winds blowing a gale out there right now, in fact.


11. Jonquil. Nor have I seen anything sprouting in my garden yet. At least I can SEE the garden now, though. The only place there's still now is the ditches.


12. Jump. I'm very used to jumping up out of chairs (and plopping into them) rather abruptly, at work and elsewhere. This week, due to a bit of middle-of-the-night acrobatics on the stairs, I'm finding it quite difficult to move much faster than the average tortoise. Hopefully, I'll be able to jump around like a psychotic flea again by Monday or Tuesday.


13. Jerk. There's been a surprising lack of them at the library this week. 'Course, I work this weekend, so there's still hope.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. J is for JAPAN: What do you admire most about Japanese culture?

I love their ability to pull themselves together in community.

2. J is for JELLO: What's your favorite flavor of Jello; do you prefer it with chopped fruit inside or plain?

Orange, and plain.

3. J is for JNANA: Have you ever spent a period of time in meditation or prayer and come out of it feeling that you've genuinely achieved knowledge or a revelation you otherwise wouldn't have achieved?

Yes, I have.

4. J is for JOKE: Are the majority of jokes you laugh at more PG, PG-13, R or X-rated in nature?

They are funny--"maturity" level is immaterial.

5. J is for JUICE: Which fruit juice do you prefer to consume the most?

I like cranberry juice. Not because I "need" it, but because I really like the taste. I also like grapefruit, but I don't drink much of it because I'm afraid of drug interactions.

6. J is for JUNK: Of the things you most refuse to get rid of, what percentage would the average person consider to be "junk?"

There's very little I 'refuse' to get rid of, but I expect much of it would be considered junk. Pictures, old Bibles, letters...

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
I Gotta Feeling
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) What would make tonight a good, good night?

Sleep. Everyone I know who has been sick or struggling this week magically recovering completely. Talking to Sparky.

2) In the song, he sings that he's got money and wants to "spend it up." How much cash is in your wallet right now?

I would guesstimate there's about $200 in there, give or take.

3) The lyrics include "mazel tov," which means good luck or congratulations. What other Hebrew/Yiddish phrases do you know?

"Mensch", "schlemiel" (and of course "schlimazel"), "putz", "yenta", "chutzpah", "goy", "blintz", "daven", "glitch", " meshuga", "bagel", "schlep" and so on...I used to live in a neighborhood where Yiddish words were used quite often. I miss hearing them where I live now. Hebrew, now, I could literally go on for awhile about that, but let's just say I've read a lot about the etymology of lots of Old Testament words

4) The colorfully named Black Eyed Peas include Fergie (born Stacey Ferguson) and will.i.am (William Adams) and Taboo (Jaime Gomez). If you could choose a stage name, what would it be?

I wouldn't since I never intend to be onstage for any reason.

5) This song was crazy popular in Canada, debuting at #2 on the charts. Have you ever visited our neighbor to the north?

I have. Ontario was nice. The wilds of Quebec were...unexpected.

6) When's the last time you laughed really hard?

Yesterday at this photo:

A friend posted it on Facebook and I literally laughed for five minutes.

7) Who received the last text you sent?

Sparky.

8) Which sounds like more fun -- skiing or skating?

Neither, frankly. Too much likelihood for self-injury either way. All us native Coloradoans grew up saying "Skiing is for tourists" because lift tickets were so outrageous even back then. And skating...my ankles....just no.

9) Thinking of sports, are you looking forward to The Super Bowl?

I am, but it's going to be weird. I work till 4, then we have a meeting from 6-8, so we'll see about 15 minutes of the first half and have to watch the rest on DVR when we get home. GO BRONCOS!!!

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What specific thing have you done that impressed yourself?

Well, so far I haven't killed anyone. I am learning patience, which is startling. I've raised a pretty cool son who shows no likelihood towards a life of crime or otherwise doing anything stupid with far-reaching negative consequences. I've been married for 27 years... That enough?

2) Tell about a family saying that no one outside your family knows? Where did it come from?

There is that whole story around the naming of (simplified) our house in the mountains. The whole family was sitting in my parents' living room tossing out ideas. At some point someone got a dictionary and eventually everyone got punchy; someone tossed out "Minotaur: half man, half bull" and the room erupted in laughter. I thought it was awesome that an off-color joke got that kind of reaction in front of my parents (I was 11 or 12), my mom put on her I Very Much Disapprove Face, and the name stuck. You absolutely had to be there to get why this was epic; it sounds ridiculous.
Then there's my nephew's teenaged comment from the back seat of the car a couple of decades ago: "This family is so pathetic." This was said in such a tone of deep dismay and heartfelt disgust that it's still trotted out whenever someone does something really stupid. Pretty sure he still feels this way about his family now at times, too, even when he's participating in the stupid.

3) Is the glass half empty or half full? And by the way, what is in the glass?

Tonight, right now, it's half empty. Generally, however, I'm a half-full kind of person. If there's anything in the glass right now, though, I'm pretty sure it's shit.

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

Photo © Cat. 2012

I took this on Pier 39 in San Francisco last fall. It cracked me up and reminded me of a friend who is an RPG-er.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Tunnel of Love

1) Do you enjoy amusement park rides?

I do not like spinning, so Disney's teacups and that sort of thing is right off any list, but rollercoasters I don't mind much. Water rides are fine, and I love merry-go-rounds and Ferris wheels. Heights don't bother me either.

2) In this song, Bruce likens romance to riding through the tunnel of love. The Red Hot Chili Peppers sing about a "Love Rollercoaster." What amusement park ride reminds you of your relationships?

Let's go with that Ferris wheel concept.

3) Bruce's nickname is The Boss. Who was your best boss? What made him/her a good supervisor?

My best boss was the one who retired about four years ago now. She was far from perfect but the good outweighed the bad in a big way. I always knew she had my back with problem patrons, and she stayed very calm under stress, which was lovely when I was the one stressing her. My current boss is shaping up to be pretty good too. {fingers crossed}

4) Bruce's father was a bus driver and his mother was a legal secretary. What professions did/do your parents work in?

My mom worked as a county court clerk. My dad was a builder, and an architect, and a Realtor, not always at the same time.

5) Bruce met his wife Patti at a bar in Asbury Park. Do you believe you can pick up lasting love in a bar?

Well, obviously, it does happen, yo.

6) Springsteen was unable to work for years because he was embroiled in a lawsuit with his management company. Have you ever been sued, or sued someone else?

Yes.

7) Bruce won an Oscar for writing the title song for the Tom Hanks movie Philadelphia. Do you have a favorite Tom Hanks movie?

I haven't seen most of them, but I'm kinda partial to "Castaway."

8) Bruce's official Twitter account (@springsteen) has more than 389,000 followers. Do you tweet? If so, how many people follow you?

I have a Twitter account that mostly goes unused. It's too distracting.

9) Bruce's drummer, Mighty Max Weinberg, led the band on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Who do you think is funnier -- Conan or Jay Leno? Or are you looking forward to Jimmy Fallon?

I don't watch any of these shows, have not watched them except accidentally since Johnny retired. They are really not funny. To me.

Saturday 9 (x 2)

(Link in meme-roll)
Stormy Weather

1) Do noisy storms scare you?

Thunderstorms don't scare me, assuming I'm inside somewhere. Big, swirling winds, though...yeah, THOSE scare me.

2) Mother Winters tells us Lena Horne was considered one of the great beauties of the 1940s. Whom do you consider one of today's most beautiful women?

Sticking with the musical field only, I'll go with Beyonce, Shakira, and Gwen Stefani because they are gorgeous AND they can sing!

3) Crazy Sam admits it -- there's a big bag of recycling she really should take out to the bin. Yet she's composing this meme. What should you be doing, instead of answering her questions?

I promised myself I'd be going through magazines that have accrued while catching up with Beast's TV viewing for the past three weeks.

4) Sam may be crazy, but she's not stupid and will never waste her money on Cialis, no matter how many unsolicited emails she receives! What's the most recent addition to your spam folder?

"Don’t let these nasty pharmacists take you to the cleaners!" from Expess Pharmacy, with a URL I'm not clicking.

5) What was the last thing you cooked?

I toasted a bagel about half an hour ago and put some American cheese on top of it.

6) Do you remember the lyrics to your either your high school or college fight song? If so, please share a bit.

"Come on, [home town] / Come on, [home town] / Fight right through that line / With your colors flying high / We'll win [sic] them every time / Come on, [home town] / Fight for future fame / Fight, fellas, fight, fight, fight / We'll win this ga-aa-ame" (sung to the tune of "On Wisconsin") I don't remember my college song though, sorry.

7) "Samantha" is the feminine of "Samuel" and means "Listener." What's the derivation of your first name?

It's an alternative spelling for a plant generally used as an award; or perhaps a noisy bird in Spanish-speaking countries. Online, the shortened version of "Cataloger" which used to be my user name.

8) Are you following the NBA or NHL this year? If so, which team are you rooting for?

No, as usual, I couldn't possibly care less than I do right now about either. I did watch part of a b-ball game last week and was astounded (again) by how ugly that game is.

9) Gloves, umbrellas, sunglasses, keys -- which of these do you misplace most often?

Of those, probably gloves. I can only fight two complete pairs.

Aida

1) Have you ever been to the opera?

Yes. In Leningrad. It was an Italian opera translated and sung in Russian. No freakin' clue about the details, but it was fun sitting in a box seat, the only time I'm likely to have that experience for sure.

2) Maria Callas was often called a "diva." Is that a compliment or a criticism?

Nowadays, I'd consider it a criticism, but I think in her time it was less of a slam.

3) Aida was composed by famous Italian Giusseppe Verdi. In addition to opera, what else can the world thank Italy for?

Very attractive people, and a lot of stupendous art. Also, good food.

4) Verdi was Italian and Callas was Greek. Would you rather vacation in Italy or Greece?

I'm not fussed, either will do. I've been both places and essentially I wouldn't mind time on a Greek island or in Florence or Rome.

5) The Marx Bros. starred in A Night at the Opera. What's the funniest movie you have ever seen?

I literally fell off the couch doubled up in laughter pain the first time I saw "Heathers" on TV. Otherwise, I laugh pretty hard at "Home Alone" when I see it.

6) What's for dinner tonight?

Bagel with cheese, and maybe I'll have a bowl of cereal for 'dessert.'

7) Are you wearing any jewelry right now?

Three rings.

8) Sam Winters has a scratchy throat and watery eyes. How do you treat the common cold?

Vitamin C, chicken noodle soup, and SLEEP.

9) Do you need your glasses (or contacts) when you drive?

I don't really drive with my eyes: usually I use a car and my hands and feet. However, if you don't want me to run into things, I'll be needing my glasses on. I can't see clearly five feet in front of me without them.

December Duck

(Swiped this idea from Allison)

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

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. L is for LACTOSE: What’s your favorite dairy product?

That would be cracking cheeeeeeese, Gromit! I love cheese, with a few exceptions--anything runny or mold-filled or really stinky is right out. In fact, I'm happy to have crackers and cheese for multiple meals every week. Throw in some grapes or other fruit and it's actually not completely unhealthy!

2. L is for LANGUAGE: If you could learn any language that you haven’t already studied in any way, which one would you choose?

Ancient Greek, and/or Hebrew.

3. L is for LAUGH: Who is the last comedian to make you literally laugh out loud?

We watched part of a couple of Jeff Dunham specials on Thanksgiving--when my idiot niece had control of the TV and turned off the football game instead of helping clean up after we ate--which made me laugh. Granted, some of my laughter was watching people who hadn't seen the shows before.

4. L is for LEATHER: How many items made of leather do you own?

Quite a few. I do love the smell of leather. One leather Harley jacket (Beast and Sparky have their own, plus one Sparky had when he was about 3), a couple of leather work-bags, gloves...seems like we might have a leather hat around here somewhere....my wallet is leather...that's it off the top of my head. Remember the (brief) fad for leather neckties in the 80s?? lol

5. L is for LEFTOVER: Which specific food leftover from Thanksgiving dinner do you tire of the fastest?

TIRE of?? Are you on crack??  :-D  The turkey lasts the longest, but only because the potatoes and stuffing are way more popular and get eaten first.

6. L is for LIBRARY: How often do you visit your local library?

Uhm, Patrick, REALLY??? I was there yesterday, I'll be there at 7:30 tomorrow...

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Not My Year Meme

1. Are you in a job that you truly enjoy?

I really love my job, though of late there are some aspects of my work environment that annoy the crap out of me. And I seem to have a perpetually bad attitude about dealing with the public, which is a bad sign indeed.

2. If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

If I could have my own office with a lockable door and speakers on my computer (thus eliminating the need for headphones) and do my current job, I'd be pretty damn happy. It's either this or going back to my 19-year-old self's dream of becoming a long-haul trucker.

3. If you could be a character in a novel who would you be?

Recently, I have begun to identify rather strongly with Gregor Samsa. Look it up.

4. When it comes to spending time with those you love, do you think it should be about quality or quantity?

Yes, that is BOTH are important.

We took Sparky back to college yesterday after a very strange spring break. When he arrived at home, his dad was in the hospital, which he chose not to visit much. Beast came home last Sunday, but was wackadoodle from the meds he was taking. On Tuesday, Sparky had to take him to the pain doctor for a cortisone shot to his spine. And the rest of the week, while I worked, I was regularly asking for updates from Sparky about Beast's condition. The only really fun thing Sparky got to do was go to the midnight release party for Mass Effect 3 on Monday with a friend.

In spite of all of this, it was a good week with him, his attitude was absolutely fabulous, and the times we were able to be together were good.

5. Is there a job/career you wanted but realized you couldn’t possibly do for one reason or another?

Well, the long-haul trucking kind of went bust because of my serious lack of skill in the backing-up-vehicles department. I'm much better now with that, but it's taken me over 30 years to achieve that.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world or out of this world where would you live?

I would love to go "weird" on this answer, but all I can think of is that I'd love to have a small home in the San Juans of Colorado.

7. Where would you most like to visit and who with?

I'd love to go bowling in Canada with Amy one of these days.

8. Which skill would you like to learn?

I'm going to find someone to give me bagpipe lessons. I am! Eventually.

9. What made you laugh today?

I've only been out of bed for an hour. Nothing very fun(ny) has happened yet. Yesterday, when I was supposed to be doing this meme, I did laugh at church a few times.

10. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Right now, I'm looking forward to coming home from work tonight and tomorrow night (at 7 and 9 respectively) and not having to worry about Beast being 'broken' again. That's enough for me.

11. What is your sign and do you believe in horoscopes, etc.?

I'm a Scorpio, and while the part of the description that deals with anger and passion seems to be fairly accurate, I don't really 'believe' in the planets telling me anything about myself.

12. If you could change one thing about your life thus far, what would it be?

I probably wouldn't. My life today would be substantially different if I changed much of my past.

13. If there was one charity you could give a huge contribution to, which charity would it be and why?

The ONE Campaign.

14. Should smoking be legal?

Smoking IS legal. It's just not allowed in places where your smoke pollutes my lungs.

15. What are your views on the smoking ban in public places?

Speaking as an asthma sufferer, I'm all for it. Some of my favorite family members smoke(d), and even they did (do) their best to stop because it's a grody, unsafe habit.

16. Why do you blog?

Boredom? Really, it's to use up my daily quota of words, and to answer goofy questions. I haven't had a great deal to say on the other blog for over a year, and that upsets me, but I'm rolling with it for now.

17. Do you have a favorite author?

No, I hate them all.
Of COURSE I do! I'm a book junkie. I just answered this question in the past few days, though so I'll just refer you there.

18. Can you play any musical instruments?

I can figure out one-handed piano, and I played the flute and piccolo in high school/college. Haven't really done much of either in the intervening years.

19. What would your ideal car be?

Functional, high gas-mileage, fun to drive, and NOT gray, white, or black. ;-) I'd love to have a reason to have a chocolate brown Jeep Cherokee, c. 1975.

20. Describe yourself in one short sentence.

"Wow, she's a total train-wreck, isn't she?"

21. What do you look for in a spouse/other half?

At the risk of being trite or soppy, someone who is good at things I'm not good at, and someone for whom I can be the same. Also, humor and intelligence is required.

22. Worst meal you’ve had?

There've been some recipes I've tried over the years that just did not work out right, that neither Beast nor I could choke down. I can't think of one specific one right now, but overall, I'm not really that fussy, so it has to be pretty damn bad to make me stop eating.

23. What do you do to relax in the evening?

This. Or read, do Sudoku, watch TV.... Sometimes I even have time for a long bath.

24. Do you get along with your siblings?

Those who are left, yes. I really enjoyed time spent with the two that are dead, but my oldest sister and I have gotten much closer in the past decade or so. I used to worship my brother, but he has become a thorn in my side as I've gotten older. Still, we get along fine, as long as we all play our roles appropriately.

25. Do you have any regrets?

Is there ANYone over the age of, oh, 3 years, who can answer this honestly in the negative?? Of course I do. Daily. I try not to dwell on them, but there are days when they are all I can think about; yesterday afternoon was like that. I'm not a lot of fun to be around in this mood.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The 31 Meme, Part Two: In Memory to Clyde

16. What's the longest shift that you worked at a job?

I did a couple of overnights shelf-reading at my first full-time job. Yes, I was insane. Also, young. I thought this would make a difference. It didn't.

17. What was the last concert that you attended?

I guess that would be TobyMac and Skillet on my birthday.

18. What the last DVD (or Blu Ray, of course) movie that you watched?

It's been a REALLY long time since I brought home a movie to watch. I guess it was Part One of the last Harry Potter book.

19. How did you like the film?

It was good. I haven't seen the end yet. :-(

20. What comedian do you love?

George Carlin has my heart always and forever.

21. Do you ever sleep in the nude?

Rarely. I get cold.

22. Have you ever had a long distance relationship?

Yup.

23. What do you think of astrology?

I think it's bunkum. Much like Blogthings.

24. What's you're favorite lyric quote from a song?

Depends on the day. Today I've got "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" sorta stuck in my head.

25. Tell us something random about yourself.

My mouth is so small that the orthodontist had to pull four molars so that he could move my teeth back so they fit in my mouth.

26. Have ever attended a theme party? If yes, do tell.

Not that I'm aware of, unless you count those ridiculous demo parties (Tupperware, etc.).

27. What is your favorite thing about winter?

Freshly fallen snow is absolutely lovely. Unless, of course, I have to drive somewhere.

28. What was the name of your first pet?

Peppy (the parakeet).

29. What have you done so far this weekend?

Laundry, shopping, more laundry, visiting with FIL, mopping, more laundry, dishes, emptying my old footlocker so Sparky can pack it up with his college stuff, more laundry, assorted "helping Beast" tasks, napping, more dishes.... So, the usual weekend stuff with "College Packing" stuff added in.

30. Has your humor ever been called “sick”?

Oh, yeah, regularly. I have to watch my mouth--it gets me in trouble. For instance--this isn't 'sick' just inappropriate--when one of the church youth group girls was studying for her driver's exam, she said something about "Unprotected Left Turns" and I without thinking I said those were the kind that didn't use condoms. She still gives me grief about this once in awhile.
Also, my brother was a cop, a firefighter, and an EMT, so I learned a LOT about black humor at a young age (like, 10).

31. If you could have one thing, what would it be?

Oh, I dunno, perpetual health for Beast (and me) sounds really good right now.

The Queen's Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
Random

1. What is your favorite summertime flower?

Garden roses, preferably ones that smell good and are BIG.

2. Are you behind on your blog?

I never really consider blogging to be a time-sensitive thing, so no. Last night, I did boot up several weeks of questions & pictures for the meme I write, so I'm set well into the fall there.

3. What has irritated you the most recently?

Life. Life is VERY FUCKING IRRITATING right now. I would like to petition the Life Gods for a vacation from irritation.

4. What was your last Facebook status post?

"‎If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door." --Paul Beatty

5. When is the last time you laughed?

Laughed hard? I think I about burst last week laughing at something, but I don't remember what. It was totally stress-based laughter, so much so that I had to consciously stop so I wouldn't roll over to full-blown sobbing. Regular polite laughter: did some of that today.

6. What can absolutely ruin your day?

Waking up, some days.

7. What is the one thing that always brightens your day?

Finishing a middling-hard crossword.