Sunday Stealing

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

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

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

What is the most desirable trait another person can possess?

Self-awareness.

What are you most grateful for?

Small moments of joy and painlessness.

Is stealing to feed a starving child wrong?

Nope.

What do you want most?

Peace.

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

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

What has life taught you recently?

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

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

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

Where do you find inspiration?

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

Can you describe your life in a six word sentence?

"Just take it as it comes."

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

Because pride. Ego, if you prefer.

What impact do you want to leave on the world?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?

Music. Sleep. Venting to a trusted person.

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

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

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

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

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

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

What is your most beloved childhood memory?

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

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Thanks a LOT

1. What would you sarcastically like to thank your local government for?

   "Thank you for not giving me access to the lake I pay taxes to take care of."

2. What would you sarcastically like to thank your body for?

   "Thanks for falling apart right on schedule."

3. What would you sarcastically like to thank your neighbors for?

   "Thanks for the fireworks at random times ALL THE DAMNED YEAR!"

4. What would you sarcastically like to thank the internet for?

   "Thanks for keeping me informed of all the truthiness."

5. What would you sarcastically like to thank November for?

   "Thanks for the truly miserable weather."

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

Lady Bird
Five questions inspired by the new Greta Gerwig film Lady Bird, which I recommend.

1. What was moving out of your parents’ home like?

   After I graduated from college, I went home for about three weeks, packed up my life (??) and when I left in June it was to get married. It was weird, looking back from here.

2. What makes popular kids in high school popular, and how were you like or unlike them?

   I don't have a clue where the "popular" comes from. It seems to be some combination of looks, smarts (not necessarily academics), and protection of some kind. I was not in the cool crowd.

3. When you were in high school, where in the neighborhood did schoolmates hang out?

   In my neighborhood, there were no other kids. Seriously, two blocks in either direction there were a grand total of 10 people under 20. However, we had a local mall that was at that time the biggest in the world (yay us) and most kids hung out there.

4. What was learning to drive like?

   My dad was pretty good about it. Mom was psycho. My driver's ed teacher was creepy and useless. I didn't get my license till about 6 months after I turned 16.

5. What were your most difficult and least difficult subjects in high school?

   I intentionally didn't take hard science classes, because those would have been hard. Otherwise, gym was probably my worst class. I was good in literally every other class, really enjoyed myself.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Make a difference today

1. What is the favorite piece of art you own.

My favorite is the watercolor of Canyon de Chelly that my dad's cousin painted for my wedding gift. Beast likes his Terry Redlin print best, but we still need to get it hung on the freakin' wall. It's only been a year!

2. The most expensive bill you paid last month.

Probably either a medical bill or the mortgage. Or, I suppose, credit card, which we pay off monthly.

3. What’s the last thing you apologized for?

Leaving today's baseball game early, I think.

4. If you could do today over, would you change anything?

I would definitely NOT have had the spicy dish at brunch. It was yummy, but omg heartburn sux!

5. What is the largest TV screen in your house?

It's the Sony in the living room. I think it's 48". Or 52". Sparky told us his roomie wants to get a 70" for their apartment. smh

6. What did you buy today?

Baseball tickets, pop, candy, nachos, brunch. I think that's it. We broke $100 easily.

7. I wish I had ____

...another day of weekend tomorrow.

8. How many photos did you take today?

I only took one. I think Beast took a dozen or so.

9. Last thing you wanted and didn’t get.

More energy.

10. What was the last new thing you tried?

Today's Chilaquiles, similar to these. Super-good!

11. Who is your hero?

My hero (foreground)

12. Today I feel really secure knowing ____

...that I have no impact on the world stage.

13. Whose life did you make a difference in today?

Probably my niece and nephew whose kids I wandered around the ballpark with.

14. What would have made today perfect?

No allergies, fewer people, and seats right behind home plate.

15. Did you thank anybody today?

I thanked my nephew Don who took care of getting tickets. And I thanked E for dancing the polka with me at the 7th inning stretch.

Bonus: If you were a Muppet, which would you be?

Gonzo.

Thanksgiving Blogthings

You Are a Modern Cook

You are quite the expert when it comes to food, and your cooking is influenced by many sources. You do your best to cook with high quality, locally grown ingredients. However, you also have a flair for international flavors and spices. You love to experiment in the kitchen, and you don't like to make a dish the same way twice. Your cooking is constantly evolving. Your signature dish: A pear tart ... with your own secret spice blend. And merengue topping!

The Apron Test

ahHAHAHAHAHA! Pear tart--that's funny! I like to experiment, i.e. not measure everything precisely, but I'm not exactly a gourmand. Not even.

You Should Go to Someone's House

You are relaxed and grateful on this holiday. You are truly thankful and have no expectations for each Thanksgiving. You are happy to share the holiday and pitch in. You're the type to bring something delicious to any dinner you're invited to. You love to have this quiet time with family and friends. In your opinion, the holidays should be more about togetherness. You may be one of the only people who feels like Thanksgiving ends too soon. You never look forward to the hustle and bustle of the holidays beginning.

Where Should You Spend Thanksgiving?

Oh, well, we had everyone here as usual. I definitely prefer relaxation and fun. It's rarely quiet in a house with my family members, but I really enjoy just hanging out and being silly with them. And we will remember this year as The Year James Drove Into The Ditch While Pulling Out Of The Driveway. The last half hour of people packing up and leaving was mayhem, with the winching and jacking going on at the same time outside.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Black Is Black (1966)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Black is this week's signature color because Friday, November 27, was "Black Friday," when retailers cut their prices and consumers flock to the stores. Did you score any "Black Friday" bargains?

I don't 'do' Black Friday. I work almost every year on that day, and even when/if I don't, I loathe crowds, so the whole Black Friday thing just sounds like hell on earth. I thank God every year that I'm not in retail.

2) WalMart, Best Buy, Toys R Us and Target have all heavily advertised their "Black Friday" sales. If you could have a $50 gift card to one of those stores, which would choose? What would you spend the $50 on?

I would spend it online at Target.com.

3) Star Wars items are predicted to be big sellers this Black Friday. Are you a big sci-fi fan? Are there any sci-fi fans on your holiday gift list?

Yeah, there'll be some SW items under the tree for sure this year. To be fair, there usually is something SW-based under our tree.

4) Feasting and football are also popular Thanksgiving weekend pastimes. Do your Thursday-Sunday plans include pigging out or watching a game?

Duh. Really, despite the best efforts of my lunatic niece Katherine, we watch football all day Thursday, much of Saturday and all Sunday afternoon.

5) At Thanksgiving dinners, Crazy Sam's homemade gravy is always a hit. (Probably because she's so generous with the cognac, which gives the gravy a nutty taste.) Do you have a signature dish?

I'm going to have to try the cognac.... My signature dish is the turkey. This year was a little weird: the skin was overcooked, and I used so many lemons to stuff it that it was basically turkey soup by the time it needed to come out of the oven. We had to ladle out about 6 cups of liquid before we could lift it out of the oven. One project for the weekend is to clean the oven. And the floor around the oven. The whole kitchen floor, really.

6) What did you give thanks for on Thanksgiving 2015?

By the time I sit down, I'm just grateful no one is injured, the food is all on the table, and the fact that I can sit! OK, and for the faces around me. I actually did say grace this year.

7) Monday is Cyber Monday, when shoppers can save big online. Do you shop confidently over the Internet, or do you worry about security breaches and identity theft?

I don't worry about security online. At least, I don't worry about it anymore than I worry about my credit card in person. Restaurants...seriously, think about it: your card is out of sight for how long while they do who knows what? Yeah. And I've only ever been hacked in person, probably overseas. So I really do not worry about online shopping.

8) This week's featured band, Los Bravos, was international. Their members came from both Germany and Spain. If you could travel to any foreign country in the world, which would you choose?

I would love to visit several Middle Eastern countries--Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Iran, Iraq--but I'm not confident enough to do so without a tour group of some kind. And body armor.

9) The band's name, Los Bravos, can be translated to mean, "The Brave." Do you consider yourself gutsy?

I do. "Foolhardy" is another word that might fit at times.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?

Both Beast and I have birthdays this month. Mine is next week, and his is the following week. Hopefully we'll be able to do something fun to celebrate them. We'll each achieve a full deck of years this time 'round.

2. If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?

The people at work who have been more than understanding about my recent adventures in medical hassle with Beast.

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?

Oh, dear.... I'm a real bread-aholic. I'm not a fan of cinnamon bread and banana bread doesn't do much for me, but I with stuff my face FULL of any of the other options.

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?

I have S&Ps in abundance. There are currently two shelving units that Beast has purchased in the past year that he needs to refinish and then I can fill them with currently-packed-away S&Ps. yay

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?

h.s. physics with Jesus-freak hair

My son has the same color hair as my dad did. By the time I was born, however, Dad's auburn had turned white, so I have to rely on others' memories. Sparky's hair is to die for (it's also MUCH shorter now!).
My sister Ellen had red hair too. Same shade.

6. The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.

Are you kidding me?! Both my home state and my current state are baseball stadiums! FFS, that's just sad. Flat and dull as this place is, there's definitely more to see here that *@!)#ing baseball. And in Colorado, you take pictures of baseball? Really? I don't think so. And no, I haven't ever been to either stadium.

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question: What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?

I now know that I should have more faith in my skills than I currently have. I had no intention to drive the RV we rented last month, but I ended up driving it 400 miles home, driving it in city traffic and through a major construction zone, and setting it up alone.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It's very sad when you've lived in an area long enough, and visited the hospital so many times that you know EXACTLY where the best parking spots are, where the cafeteria is, where the restrooms are in radiology, and how to get out of the hospital (legally) without going all the way back to the front door.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Q & A Meme

1. What would you pick as a major, if you could go back to college and do it again?

I'd probably take more religion classes and fewer communication courses.

2. Who is the one celebrity with whom you would most like to have an indepth conversation?

Are the President or the First Lady celebrities? If not then I guess I'll go with Bono or Rachel Maddow.

3. If you could make a living doing ANYthing, what would that be?

Sitting in my living room, desultorily scanning the internet, reading books, and eating sugar cookies. Maybe doing some authority control work or cataloging. Nothing that involves a lot of people F2F most of the time, that's for sure!

4. What’s your all-time very favorite dessert?

Tiramisu.

5. How many pairs of jeans do you own?

I only 3 pairs of blue jeans but only one pair fits me. I have three pairs of non-blue jeans that I wear for work.

6. What is your favorite flower, and why?

Heirloom roses, the big floribunda type. With scent.

7. What book has most changed your life?

I don't remember life before the Bible or the Little House series, so I don't know if it changed my life. The books that have changed my worldview are legion though: The Book of Ruth, Atticus, Plainsong, From Here to Eternity, The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, Nicholas & Alexandra. Actually, perhaps that last one is the most telling, as it really ignited my interest in Russian history 30 years ago, which I still enjoy today.

8. What is your least favorite vegetable? Is there any way you can be persuaded to eat it?

I do not like raw (or plain stewed) tomatoes alone. I will eat them in salsa because they're unrecognizable, but I really can't stand the taste, the scent, or the texture of them. {{shudder}}

9. If you could take a nonstop first class flight to any destination, where would you pick to land?

It would be whatever the longest flight from the west coast towards Australia/New Zealand would be....

10. If your 15 minutes of fame included a stint on American Idol, what song would be your trademark solo?

Hell. No. It's not happening.

11. If you could pick one former friend (who has remained elusive in this wild Facebook world) to reunite with, who would you unearth?

I'd love to know where Gloria (college) ended up, and Teri (high school).

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

Taos.

13. Name three of your guilty pleasures.

Sugar cookies, blogging, naps.

14. The best kind of cookie is:

Heh. Lofthouse iced sugar cookies. And my mom's oatmeal raisin cookies from when I was a child.

15. What do you value most in other people?

Tactful honesty.

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

Most everything in my life has had a silver lining. I'm still trying to figure out how the death of my niece's first baby (and her near-death) can be a positive though. Everything else....I wouldn't be who I am now without those things happening.

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

Ouray. Ydra. Moosehead.

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

I think I'm a good mixture of both, but I'm virtually certain that most people think I'm more of a feeler.

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

Football (though not the game we're slogging through now--Jets v. Dolphins at Wembley), autumn weather, diet Dr. Pepper.

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

....wowwwWWWW! Yes, about 40 years ago!

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

I think so? I know I always sing along if they aren't trying to be all cute with the tune.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene:

Living room. Overcast outside, dim inside except for the blazing light over my shoulder. It's a sunlamp, so it's meant to be bright. Seems a little extra-super-shiny today.

Today's Plan:

Church, then breakfast. Beast has mowing. I need to catch up my reading on GoodReads, and probably do some laundry. Also, the cleaning crew is coming on Tuesday, so I should tidy things up. The guinea pigs need attention as usual. And maybe a nap?

Drinking:

The dregs of last night's DDP.

Listening to:

The clock ticking, my fingers tippy-tapping on the keyboard, and the computer fan. It's very very quiet. Even the fridge isn't running. Beast left early to run the sound booth at church.

Participating in:

Life. I have (grand) jury duty this week. It's scheduled twice a week all month, but they've already told me it'll probably be only one day a week. Also, our database at work will be down tomorrow and Tuesday, which means there is practically nothing I can do in terms of my usual job. Maybe I'll write a procedure manual finally! Actually, my plan is to work on my weeding. It's that time of year: time to clear the shelves of the dreck.

Blogging about:

Just memes lately. I'm so tired all the time that I just don't have the push to be particularly creative. I was set to pick up my CPAP Friday and then ... balls were dropped, insurance was unclear on coverage, etc. The end result is that I might be sorted by mid-September.

Giving thanks for:

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity. That's supposed to revert this week so I'm grateful for a break today. Glad our pastor is back from sabbatical today.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene:

The usual: living room, Beast and I sitting here, both trying to wake up.

Today's Plan:

I will be sorting soap into small baggies. When he travels Beast empties his hotel room of all the 'free' stuff that he doesn't use during his stay. We give the non-liquid soap, etc., to our church for Operation Christmas Child. The liquids--shampoos, lotions, etc.--go to the local homeless organization and women's shelter. That plus the ~100 pairs of white sox I paired off this week while watching TV needs to get delivered to church and shelters soon as the need kicks up starting in the fall.
And I need to clean the guinea pig cage, of course.

Drinking:

....need you ask ??

Listening to:

The clock ticking. The laptop fans humming, and the keys and mouses tappy-tapping. It's quiet.

Participating in:

Absolutely-bloody-nothing today. I'm not leaving the house. It's supposed to hit 92 with something like 80% humidity today and I'm just not interested in melting in that. Yes, I know all you people living south of me are laughing your asses off; I've been to southern MS in the summer. I'm just not built for humidity.

Blogging about:

Well, this. Coupla other memes on the usual rotation coming up. Was noodling a family blog around this morning to get Sparky to keep us posted on his doin's, but I doubt that would help in real life.

Giving thanks for:

Sunshine. Water. Out-of-state birds who have chosen our yard to nest and raise their brand-new-yesterday babies. Allergy meds.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene: Living room. 8:23 a.m. Beast is upstairs showering. We've checked in our sleep overnight and recovery from yesterday's moving day. Looks like a cloudy, potentially-rainy day outside.

Today's Plan: We're off to church in 20 minutes. Then home where I will rearrange what's left in Sparky's room, sort and start laundry, and clean the guinea pig cage. Beast needs to do the bills. We'll probably watch a race.

Drinking: I should just skip this one: the answer is always the same. Diet Dr. Pepper straight from the can.

Listening to: It's very quiet in the house: clock ticking, laptop keys tick-tacking as I type, and the laptop fan. I love living where it's quiet. I can hear Beast getting ready and feeding the piggies. He's got his usual "drainage cough" which he refuses to see a doctor about....

Participating in: The usual. I got a jury duty summons this week for the entire month of September; it's for grand-jury, rather than petit, which explains the longer time for service. Also, kinda more fun from my perspective.

Blogging about: The usual. Spending more time on Facebook and reading other people's stuff than writing my own. I did finish a couple of books this week, so I need to update the reviews on GoodReads and transfer them to the book blog.

Giving thanks for: I'm really pleased at the place Sparky moved into yesterday. It's very small but adorable and full of character. We got to meet one of his longest-term college friends--but not his roommate, weirdly, even though he was supposed to have been there "all day"--and I snuck in some religious quotes by lining his dresser drawers with wrapping paper with Bible verses. God's got his back, even though he doesn't seem to "need" God right now. So today is my first official full day as an Empty Nester.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene

Living room. Watching Ghost Whisperer. Enjoying the relative silence of morning. Beast just got out of bed.

He looks SO much like his mommy,
Katherine, at the same age!

Today's plan:

I need to figure out how to wrap a bulky present, and I need to make a fruit salad in something transportable. We're going to a birthday party for my (almost) two-year-old great-nephew this afternoon!

Listening to:

I've just muted GW so Beast and I can talk while he wakes up all the way. So, mostly, I hear him talking and walking around, and the clock ticking.

Drinking:

Finishing last night's leftover DDP and Beast just brought me a new can when that's gone.

Thinking about:

I'm not really thinking yet. Just some general thoughts about what needs doing this morning, allergies (outdoor party today means I'll probably be feeling like crap the next two days), and timing of my shower.

Giving thanks for:

birthdays, babies (Katherine's pregnant too), cake, warm weather, and a healthy husband and son.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
I Want To Be Famous Meme

1. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I'd like to be famous for being the least famous person ever. In other words, I have no interest at all in ever being "known."

2. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?

I do, whenever I'm calling a business I've never called. Also whenever I call the insurance company, or to ask a favor. I don't want to sound like an idiot, and I want to make sure I cover all the points needed.

3. What would constitute a "perfect" day for you?

A sunny warm day in the mountains of Colorado, just looking at scenery, listening to wind and animals, and soaking it up.

4. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

I sing to myself regularly. If I were at work listening to music without headphones, it would be a daily occurrence. I believe I probably warbled at a coworker Friday, believe it or not; I remember because she commented on it. Really singing? Probably something with Sparky or Beast, though I don't remember anything specific.

5. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

Mind, with some stipulations. I don't want to go down the road my sister traveled with MSA. I'd prefer to keep mind AND body at a similar status level throughout my life.

6. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

No clue. Hopefully fast and relatively painlessly, since I'm allergic to morphine.

7. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

God.

8. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I would have a better personal relationship with my mom. I wish we'd sorted out our differences.

9. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

The ability to keep my opinions to myself!

10. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

Nope, not interested.

11. What does friendship mean to you?

Give and take. Compromise. Loyalty. Laughter. Shared history.

12. What roles do love and affection play in your life?

I'm not sure I even understand that question. It's important for me to feel safe and loved and I like people who aren't afraid to let those feelings show. Is that what we're looking for here?

13. When did you last laugh?

I've been laughing at the post-match coverage of Wimbledon pretty regularly. If I were Djokovic's wife, I'd be pretty jealous of that trophy!

14. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning. Although with my current psycho sleep schedule, mornings pretty much suck. I'm usually awake between 1 and 3 a.m., so I guess that's still morning though, right?

15. Seen anything weird lately?

Every day at work, yes. Actually, yesterday Beast found all his mom's parent's jewelry--in a paper bag in a drawer, so secure--and went through it. One ring is quite odd. It's an asymmetrical circle, looks like a crystal made of silver, is studded with small diamonds, and is probably 3/4" around. So weird. I did snag a hematite ring from the stash that I actually like, by most of the rest is way too showy and huge for my taste.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Time:

15:40

Scene:

The living room. Sunny skies and humid outside where Beast is changing oil and checking brakes, etc. on Sparky's and my cars. Sparky, meanwhile, is upstairs in his room Skyping in with his D& D group and making weird random sounds. I'm compiling a Chinese order for dinner when Beast gets done; he'll go get gas and pick it up. No TV. It's delightful. Now, if only I didn't have low-level nausea, life would be perfect.

Today's Plan:

Sparky and I hit Meijer for $168 worth of food. Beast has been working on laundry, and lawn-mowing (and car repair). I thought about going in to work to make up some of my time missed this week due to illness. I guess I still could do that. Maybe while Beast is on his meeting....

Listening to:

Random noise from Sparkyland. The A/C blower. My laptop fan. The wall clock ticking.

Drinking:

Diet Coke.

Thought for today:

One of the people on Facebook that I've known the longest posted this earlier today. It's one of my favorite quotes.

Giving thanks for:

the good, kind, big-hearted people I know. And frankly, those I don't know and will never meet, but who change the world one small act at a time.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Scene:

Surprisingly sunny. It rained like nuts last night and was generally overcast. I thought today would be rainy again. I'm sure it's close to 80% humidity, but at least the sunj is shining.

Today's plan:

I did a sleep study last night, so I came home today at 6 a.m., left Beast's Father's Day present and a card on his living room chair, and went up to read in bed. We were without power part of the night, so the generator was running and the battery back-up in the office was beeping so staying near that, i.e. in the living room, wasn't happening. And then I fell asleep after Sparky left for work at 7:15. Now we're watching the delayed NASCAR race, then I'm sure there will be golf. I'm reading all the Facebook updates--found out a kid Sparky went to school with died in a car wreck last night--and my reading stuff on GoodReads. Dinner was promised as mac n cheese, maybe with grilled cheddar brats. Whee.

Drinking:

Just finished the Diet Coke I bought at McD's on the way home from the hospital.

Listening to:

NASCAR.

Blogging about:

I'm just catching up with all the memes.

Giving thanks for:

Peace, calm, family, loved ones, a new baby* in the (extended) family this week.... There is much for which I'm properly grateful.

*I have four nieces/nephews who've started having babies in the past 6 years; they've had a total of 6 babies with one more on the way. They are ALL boys. What in the world? Good thing I really don't care!

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Time:

11:21 a.m.

Scene:

Living room, alone, feet under the green plaid throw, watching Deadliest Catch on DVR. Waiting for Beast to return from his unexpected church duty this morning with Munchkins. I can hear the guinea piggies banging around, reminding me that I need to clean their cage today.

Today's plan:

Well, there's the cleaning mentioned above. There's probably a race on this afternoon. I need to do some work on the cataloging procedure manual I'm working on for our library consortium. Catch up on the local paper--I'm three weeks behind! Oh, and the paperwork for next week's sleep study. Essentially, it's all odds and ends.

Listening to:

The aforementioned Deadliest Catch and guinea pigs. And my fingers tippy-tapping.

Drinking:

Diet Dr. Pepper.

Blogging about:

Just this.

Reading:

• The Bone Clocks (David Mitchell); audiobook, just started Friday on the drive home from work.
• The Ice Queen (Nele Neuhaus); German mystery. I'm struggling a little with the huge cast of characters.
• Back on Murder (J. Mark Bertrand); ebook, been reading it for free on my phone from Bookshout since December. Mystery. Not bad, but rather diffuse.
• The Bible's Cutting Room Floor (Joel M. Hoffman); reading it at work, and haven't gotten too far into it yet.
• The Magician's Land (Lev Grossman); ebook, third in a trilogy and a bit heavy but interesting concepts
• Jesus (James Martin); I own this and have set it aside to work on books from the library. Haven't gotten too far into it.

Giving thanks for:

Sparky's presence and attitude, Beast's continuing recovery, the new baby in the family....so many blessings.

Thursday Thirteen

(Link in meme-roll)
Reasons I Like My Job*

1. First and foremost, the people. I know it's easier to whine about the idiots, but there are way more interesting and fun people. I learn something from the patron almost every day. Some days it's behavioral, some days it's factual stuff.


2. Solving a weird question. Yesterday I found a request for a CD that someone else had worked on without success. It turns out the patron had the [Spanish] title slightly wrong, and the "band" name meant "recorded live" (more or less) in Spanish. I found two or three possible recordings that might be the right one and I left it for someone to catch the patron--he's in the library almost every day--and ask him what he actually wanted.


3. I get to help people who, in many cases, really need a kind and helpful person to get them through the day. Every librarian has stories about this. Yesterday, a woman came in to register for a rewards program for a local theater online. No computer skills. As it developed, that program requires an email address, which she didn't have. So we went to yahoo and signed her up as firstname.lastname @ yah00.c0m (i.e. jane.smith @ yah00.c0m). She had to get her ID out to enter the "last name" field correctly. I knew she'd never remember her email password so I wrote it on a slip of paper: "first.last @ yah00.c0m -- password" (not the actual one of course). When she went to fill out the theater form, she typed her email addy as "firstlast @ yah00.c0m" so I had to explain again that she needed to use HER first and last name with the dot. Of course, she'll be back and not know how to log in, so I told her to be sure to hang on to that piece of paper. She was really a nice person, just not very smart.


4. Most of the people I work with are wonderful. Almost all of them are dedicated to making the library better and helping people. We get along pretty well together generally and, having worked together for a long time, we understand each other's foibles and tics. Like Maniac's regular swings from hyperactivity to relative normalcy.


5. Kids. I get to see and talk to kids of all ages regularly. I like kids. A lot. But not in a creepy way. They just inspire the hell out of me without even trying at all. Like the dude who comes in often with his dad asking for books well above his age-level on various topics (dinosaurs, chemistry, rockets...) who has a trach tube and is occasionally hard to understand because his breathing is tricky.


6. I like books. A lot.


7. The hours are somewhat flexible. I get Wednesday mornings off, for instance. Then again, I work till 9 on Wednesdays, so there's that. But if I need time for a doctor's appointment or haircut, it's not (usually) a hassle.


8. It's comfortable. Indoor plumbing, HVAC that (mostly) works. Some light lifting and carrying, but not the sort of thing that is generally dangerous or difficult.


9. Every day is different. Right now I may be cleaning up vomit, but in ten minutes I may get to give a kid her first library card, and later on I may be having a good conversation about the local conservation area with someone who is thrilled to find out about it, and then talk to an older person about finding out where her grandfather's store was in town 80 years ago.


10. I get to be smart for pay. But I don't have to learn DEEP details about too many things, which is good because I find trivia far more fun than study. ;-) Like how a siphon works: I don't care about the reason it works, but I can find you information how water is moved from one side of a mountain range to another.


11. Cataloging, how I love thee! I love sorting out where to 'store' an item, how to make it findable in the catalog or the building, how to describe it so people can find it when they want/need it. I like the freedom within the rules that librarians have developed over time--and continue develop--even when I don't agree with them.


12. I love the technical, repetitive, somewhat boring but also rhythmic tempo of moving newly-purchased items from delivery box through preparing them for patrons to use. The minutiae, the process, the organization....all that stuff is like air and food to me.


13. I love the fact that at MPOW at least, we're fairly free in what we wear to work, what we can keep on and around our desks, and how we arrange the time we spend on projects. Of course, there's always the bigger schedule to keep in mind--who is at which service desk at what time--but in terms of overall time management, we get to decide if today is the day to order books or a day to cut buttons out for storytime or a day to create an Excel file for budgeting...or a day to post on Facebook (work-related stuff!!).

*I chose this topic because right now I'm so hacked off about work I actually took a sick day rather than plow through another day of being sick at work. There are some personality issues among the staff right now that I'm not enjoying. In fact, when I called the scheduling person to tell her I wouldn't be there today because of illness, she gave me a hard time. WhatEVer--that's WHY I'm not at work, because she's being a total bitch about stuff.

Sunday Salon

(Link in meme-roll)

Time:

8:20 p.m.

Scene:

Sitting in the newly-rearranged living room surrounded by three men I love: husband, son and brother. All of us are online--Beast has two computers in front of him--and the Cavs-Warriors game is on TV, muted. The sky is finally blue for the first time today.

Today's plan:

We didn't do anything much today. I slept in, and then we all sat around and talked. Sparky went back up to the city where he went to college and played D&D with some friends. We talked to my sister and her husband, and then my other brother-in-law called so we had a three-way chat briefly. It was good. Pizza from P@ul##s for dinner.

Listening to:

Desultory conversation and the A/C just turned on. Oh, and the hum of electronics' fans.

Drinking:

Just switched over to plain ol' water for pre-bedtime to take my allergy meds with. Not that they're helping. I feel like death.

Blogging about:

Well, this.

Reading:

A Pleasure and a Calling (Phil Hogan)--cuhreeeepeeee, in a way only the Brits can be; The Sixty-Eight Rooms (Marianne Malone)--fun little elementary-age book; The Magician's Land (Lev Grossman)--just as I finally got into it, the ebook expired, so now I have to wait for three people to read it before I get it back....sigh; Alphabetical (Michael Rosen)--interesting book about the, uhm, alphabet; The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)--I love the author's reading voice, but I'm not wild about the story; Back on Murder (J. Mark Bertrand)--ebook, slow, gotta know how it turns out, not a good book, but compelling; Jesus (James Martin)--haven't actually picked this up for a month or so, but I will eventually.

Yes, "all at once": three ebooks, one audiobook, and three four* old-fashioned paper books. Because that's how I roll. One book in the bathroom, one in the bedroom, one at work, and one backup in the bedroom. One in the car, one on my phone, and two on my Nook. They're all different enough that I'm not confused.

Giving thanks for:

Peace and family and not having to be 'fancy.'

* Oh, and there is another one I haven't added to GoodReads yet. I started The Bible's Cutting Room Floor (Joel Hoffman) on Friday at work.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Sizzle Says Meme

1. If money were no object, what would you be doing with your life?

I would love to travel for months at a time, all over the place by train, by mobile home, by plane, by car. I'm not fussy. But I want to be able to stay for awhile in one place and really dig deep in local stuff.

2. Money is just that - an object, so why aren’t you doing it?

That is an excellent question...

3. What’s better: horses or cows?

Depends: better for what? Horses to ride and as companions. Cows for milk and dinner and heavy labor.

4. What do you think the secret to happiness is?

Being confident in and true to yourself and having good friends who will be honest and have fun with you.

5. When was the last time you had a dream that you either remember well or did not want to awake from? Can you share a bit?

I've had some weirdly realistic stress dreams about work and my boss lately. It's not always easy to separate the dream from reality, which makes work a little weird till I do a quite double-check.

6. When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Alive. [I've answered this a million times on this blog. Feel free to search.]

7. Complete this statement: Love is…

...ALWAYS having to say you're sorry! (and meaning it)

8. Can you tell a good story?

I can. And do.

9. Can you remember your last daydream? What was it about?

I don't daydream, unless you mean dreams-during-naps. Which I'm hoping for once this meme is done. I hear a pillow calling my name.....

10. If you were to thank someone today, who would you thank?

I thank people every day. Don't you? I thanks the kids in Sunday School this morning, and the waitress at breakfast, and Beast for paying for breakfast... But realistically: thank you to my friends, those of you I know without a doubt have got my back, no matter what. I need that solid foundation right now.

11. If you could be anyone's mojo, whose would you want to be, and why? (For those you do not know what mojo is, it's personal magnetism; charm.)

Wait, am I "being" the mojo or the person? If it's the person, it's my nephew James since he seems fairly indestructible.

Blogthings a.k.a. Too Tired to Think up Real Answers

And yes, I am way behind...oh well....

You Are Blintzes

You are fun-loving and even a little decadent at times. You love to indulge! You are curious about the world and quite adventurous. You almost always [would] rather go with the unknown than the known. You are easygoing, but you also always appreciate a job well done. A little extra effort goes a long way with you. You don't expect much from this world, so you're constantly finding sweet surprises every day. You are easily delighted.

What Traditionally Jewish Food Are You?

This works for me. I love blintzes!

You Should Adopt Dasher

You are an easygoing and friendly person, and you get along well with other genuine types. Dasher is both quick on his feet and reliable. You appreciate a pal who is as dependable as you are. Dasher is steady and responsible, but never ambitious. In him, you'll find an efficient sidekick. And if you ever get into holiday trouble, Dasher would get you out of there in a flash.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Should You Adopt?

OK, then. I just like his name; it makes him sound speedy and reliable, and fun.

You Are Caroling

You are an emotional, giving, and caring person. You can't help but express yourself, sometimes even through song. You like being part of a group, and you don't need to stand out. Communing with others is often enough for you. You rarely think of yourself; you're just the type to spread joy and peace to everyone around you. You have fun in life, especially when you're around good people. It doesn't take much to lift your spirits.

What Holiday Tradition Are You?

I do love caroling. We haven't done it for years, and I missed the reboot last month. I hope we do it again next Christmas.

You Should Spend Christmas Eve in Amsterdam

You're looking for a varied experience on Christmas Eve, and no city like Amsterdam can deliver. You enjoy a lot of traditional holiday activities, but you also walk the line between the naughty and nice list. You love to wander around a both vibrant and quiet city for Christmas Eve, and Amsterdam's dark nights are perfect for you. And if you have some last minute shopping to do, you'll find something cool at Amsterdam's funky outdoor markets.

What City Should You Spend Christmas Eve In?

A bit unexpected, but I wouldn't mind going to Amsterdam. Maybe, just, not at Christmas. ;-)

You Are Thoughtful

You are a pensive and even philosophical person. You think about the meaning of everything. You're likely to be happy to spend New Year's Eve alone or mostly alone. You have your books and thoughts to keep you company. Your attitude for the new year is one of quiet reflection. Your new year will bring a lot of personal growth in your life, even without any resolutions!

What Do Your New Year's Plans Say About You?

I do hope that last line is true, and in good and not painful ways.

You Should Toast to Friends

You feel like your life would be empty without the cool people in it, and you are thankful for your friends every day of the year. You love to have solid people that you can rely on, and you enjoy being there for them in their best, worst, and most ordinary moments. You may not have a ton of friends, but the ones you have are near and dear to you. It's all about quality. You'll raise a glass of any drink you have on hand to toast to your friends. You're always ready to toast to them.

What Should You Toast To?

I would totally toast my friends!! They are the best.
But this question reminded me of Andie McDowell in That One Movie: "I always drink to world peace."

Your Introvert Strength: Patience

You value your time, but you usually don't mind waiting for something or someone important. You know that everything unfolds at its own pace, and you can keep productive and busy until the time is right. You are rarely bored, even if you have nothing to do. You can always daydream or relax while you're waiting. You are empathetic and kind to the world. You know that you aren't perfect, and you don't expect anyone else to be either.

What's Your Introvert Strength?

I do get bored, but lately, it's perfectly acceptable to nap when I don't have anything with me to read. I am a LOT more patient than I ever used to be, that's for damn sure!

Your Gratitude Makes You Resilient

You may or may not have a lot to be thankful for in life at any given time, but that's not really the point. For you, gratitude is a practice... not an evaluation. You can always find someone and something to be grateful for. Life is about what you have and how others have helped you. You never let a good deed or good moment go unnoticed. You are resilient because you count your blessings. You trust that you can get through anything.

What Makes You Resilient?

Well, yes.

Your Winter Scent is Orange

You are bright, optimistic, and vibrant. You try not to let winter get you down, but it's not exactly your favorite season. You like to be wherever the sun is shining. If you could swing it, you wouldn't mind spending winter on a balmy island. You do your best to bring some color to a dreary winter day. You'll do whatever it takes to get until [sic] spring. You like sights, tastes, and scents of a warmer place. You can dream of sunnier days if you can't get away to them.

What's Your Winter Scent?

I do like orange. In fact, I have some orange-scented bath stuff, and it's calling to me for right now.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Thanksgiving Meme

1. Are you celebrating Thanksgiving at home or elsewhere this year? With whom will you spend Thanksgiving Day?

I do the meal every year because we're sort of in the middle of the three households who attend. My local niece and her husband and small child and my oldest nephew (from a different branch) will be here with the three of us. My other nephew is a commercial truck driver and on the road this week. I just invited a young friend on the outs with her (ridiculously bigoted) family, but I don't think she'll be coming. We'll see. If I were a better person, I'd invite my niece's in-laws, but I can't stand them, so....

2. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?

Nosh. As usual. ;-)

3. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?

We watch the NYC thing because Beast always has. I think it's a stupid parade, but I'm not really paying attention most of the time either.

4. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day?

I've ordered a deli tray at the grocery store, and I'll grab some veggies when I go pick it up. No lunch per se.

5. What do you wear on Thanksgiving?

Comfy clothes: jeans, T-shirt, sox. No stretchy pants. :-)

6. What's your Thanksgiving table like -- do you use special plates/silver/glasses, etc? Do you have a centerpiece? A color scheme? Candles?

I use my parents' china: dishes, serving platters and bowls. Our table isn't really big enough for much of a centerpiece, but I bought some stuff to mess with. Maybe candles. We'll see. I need to swap out tableclothes, too. The one on the table now has been on it all year, I think. We don't use the table for meals very often anymore.

7. Do you serve buffet-style or family-style? What do you have to drink?

Family-style. I am not a fan of the buffet, and we've never had so many we couldn't all cram around the table--our biggest year was 11 people. I have had wine available in the past, but there's enough issues around booze now that I'm not sure what we're doing this year. A couple of years ago was a no-beer year (a nephew went off alcohol that year--and has stayed off). I need to ask Beast what he thinks. We'll have pop, water, milk, juice, and coffee and tea.

8. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?

We say grace. I'd like to do the 'round the table' thing, but family dynamics being what they are...I'm not sure how it would go.

9. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?

Later! After the dishes are washed, often at halftime during the second game of the day.

10. What do you do with your leftovers?

Box/bag them up, try to send some home with others, though the nephew always refuses because "they'll just go to waste" at his place. Boys! And he's 41! smh And then we have turkey sandwiches, turkey casserole, meals of dressing and mashed potatoes, etc. for several days.