Saturday 9 (x3)

(Link in meme-roll)

June 19

I Fall in Love Too Easily (1945) 

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

1) In this song, Dinah Shore admits that her impetuous romances don't work out. Do you consider yourself impulsive?

I'm very impulsive. I plan and plan and it goes out the window as soon as my feet touch the ground. Used to drive Beasty nuts.

2) The songwriting team of Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne composed this in a single evening. Since the song is rather short Sammy considered adding another verse, but Jule thought better of it, saying, "No. That's it." Are you more like Sammy and keep revising, tinkering and tweaking? Or, like Jule, do you find it easy to leave well enough alone?

I like finishing projects, because I'm very bad at maintaining my focus to actually do so regularly. I just lose interest. I tend to get lost in the details and drift off into chaos.

3) The song was introduced in Anchors Aweigh, a movie about two sailors who find love during a two-day leave in New York. Have you ever enjoyed a romance while on holiday?

If I bring my husband, then yes. Otherwise, no. This is not why I'm on holiday. 

4) Though Frank Sinatra sang the song in the movie, Dinah's version was also popular. Her record sales in the 1940s were boosted by concerts, radio appearances and performances for the troops. What singer who is no longer with us do you wish you could have seen in concert?

I would have like to have seen why people got so freakin' WIRED at "The Rite of Spring" the first time Shostakovich performed it.

5) Dinah was shy with new people, but discovered as a high school cheerleader that she was good in front of a crowd. Give us one of your high school cheers.

"Ice cold beer!
Makes you wanna cheer!
Ice cold Duck!
Makes you wanna ...

Lean to the left, lean to the right, stand up, sit down, fight fight fight!"

6) She loved golf and was so good at it, she became the first woman admitted as a member to the prestigious Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. What's your best sport? 

At this point I am an EXCELLENT spectator of (American) football.

7) Dinah found her greatest success in television. She was so popular for so long that she was able to afford a luxury home, built to her specifications, in Palm Springs. Leonardo DiCaprio now owns it. Do you know who lived in your home before you moved in?

My house was a farm field before it we moved into it. 

8) In 1945, when this song was popular, Abbott and Costello appeared in the movie The Naughty Nineties, which featured their famous "Who's On First" routine. Do you know it?

Never fails to crack me up, even though I can recite most of the beginning with them. 

9) Random question – Fill in the blank: After all these years, I still ____________.

...don't know what to do with myself most of the time.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

I Will See You in C-U-B-A (2010)

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

This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day.

 

1) In this week's song, Lucie Arnaz encourages us to hop a ship and join her in Cuba. Is your passport up to date?

Weirdly, we were talking about this at work on Thursday. I think my passport is due to expire in 2027. Or maybe next year. I should probably check. One of the many things I should do.

2) She sings that Cuba is a great place to enjoy wine and Panatelas. Do you like the smell of a good cigar?

I actually do. A GOOD cigar, outside, or the smell on a winter coat is very homey. A bad cigar is grounds for murder. 

3) Lucie said her Latin Roots CD represents "the rhythms of my soul" and is a tribute to her father, Desi Arnaz. Cuban-born Desi starred on Broadway and in nightclubs but was best known for co-starring in and producing the 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy. When you think of I Love Lucy, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

Lucy's crying -- 'waaaah waaah' -- which is an interesting commentary on what we used to think was funny.

4) While Lucie's parents – Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball – are famous for their TV work, Tony-nominated Lucie has found her greatest success on the stage. She inherited their love of performing, saying, “My parents were always happiest when they were working.” What have you inherited from one or both your parents? (It could be anything from your work ethic to your eye color.)

My dad's side of the family has Very Strong Genes: three of the five kids look just like him physically. Since all three of those kids are/were girls, that's not necessarily great. My brother looks like Mom's side, more and more as he ages. 
To be slightly deeper, we were all instilled with a desire to be the best at whatever we did, which is good...until it becomes neurotic.

5) Though "Ricky Riccardo" often mangled English on I Love Lucy, Desi's English was very good. Lucille Ball admired his facility with languages and encouraged him to speak Spanish to their children so that they would be bilingual. When you were growing up, did your family speak any language other than English?  

Some would argue we barely spoke English! My parents were all about speaking properly (I remember being scolded for saying "liberry" when I was quite young), but their pronunciation was decidedly questionable ("warsh", "piz-za" (z's, no 'ts' sound -- sounds like the city in Italy). 

6) Desi Arnaz often performed "I Will See You in C-U-B-A." Is there a song that reminds you of your father?

There are two: "Mairzy Doats" and "The Hokey-Pokey." I teased my dad whenever he complained about my "loud noise" (i.e. music) by singing "Mairzy Doats" all the way through. He also had a whole routine he did around "Bill Grogan's Goat." 
He's currently furious (I can hear him yelling from heaven!) that I'm not naming any hymns, so I'll throw in "How Great Thou Art" and "Joy to the World." 

7) After Lucie's parents divorced, Lucille Ball remarried and Lucie got a stepfather, Gary Morton. Lucie appreciated how positive Gary always was about Desi. Decades later, when she married a man who already had children, Lucie said she better understood what a tough role stepparent can be. Did you have a stepparent? Are you a stepparent? 

I have no step-parents, nor am I one. I am, however, quite proud of being "Mom #2" for a multitude of kids I knew when I was teaching Sunday School, running Youth Group, babysitting, working with. I love all 'my' kids. As I get a little older, I find it interesting how many of these kids (now adults) have come to me to vent about their 'actual' parents, or at least for advice on how to deal with them. 

8) As a single dad, Desi lived south of Los Angeles in Del Mar. Lucie and her brother, Desi Jr., spent school vacations there, going to the race track, bowling, and fishing with their dad. Share a happy memory from one of your school vacations (Christmas, Spring Break, or Summer).

It's been a long time since my childhood, and while it was not a perfectly, endlessly wonderful one, distance (and comparison) has made it look damn good. I loved jumping rope and playing jacks and creating little neighborhoods for my brother's toy cars to park in; vacations were endless and stressful and occasionally even fun.

9) Father's Day began in Washington state. In the early 1900s, Spokane resident Sonora Smart Dodd listened to her minister deliver a sermon celebrating Mother's Day and devoted herself to similarly honoring fathers. A century later, more money is still spent annually on Mother's Day. Why do you suppose that nationally we still make more of a fuss over Mother's Day than Father's Day?

School is in session for Mother's Day, not so for Father's Day. Also, so many of my peers in school had divorced parents making it harder to get buy-in from both parents to support each other that I think dads have gotten short shrift. I'm not a Man's Rights person, but I do think the patriarchy has a lot to answer for in this area, in the 'erasing' of fathers as important and the glorification (but no support for) mothers.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

American Soldier (2003)

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

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it.

My dad served in WWII stateside. FIL was in the Army during the Korean War (or is it still a "conflict"?) but he was in Germany for the duration. Neither saw combat, for which I remain very grateful. My former lawn-mowing neighbor kid is in the Marines. Otherwise, I don't seem to run the same gang with a lot of soldier/sailor/flyer folks. 

Oh! My sister WORKED on an army base in Germany as the daycare supervisor for several years in the 90s. Not in the army, just at the army. 

2) In this song, Toby Keith reminds us soldiers "work straight through holidays," even this one, and we are grateful for that, too. Have you ever had to work on a federal holiday? If yes, did it make you sad to be on the job when everyone else was celebrating?

I have traditionally worked on a lot of federal holidays. The 'only' official days off we are closed are Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4 and Thanksgiving. All others the library is open for business, although we do occasionally close early on Xmas Eve or NY Eve.

It's not hard or sad to be at work when everyone else is partying anymore. I'm used to it after 35 years and we always adjusted to having whatever party it was on a day when I don't work, or Beast and Sparky went without me, which is  fine with me.

3) The video for this song was filmed at Edwards Air Force Base. This site was chosen to make it easier for off-duty soldiers, reservists and their families to appear. Have you ever visited a military base?

See above re sister working in Germany. That's it. We aren't big Armed Forces folks. My dad was not thrilled about life in the Army, and my brother was 'of age' during Vietnam so he did whatever he could to not be drafted.

4) Toby Keith never served in the military but often performed for the USO. While the USO is best known for providing entertainment to our troops, they also have a "Canine Comfort Crew." Local USO centers make dogs available to troops who long to see a wagging tail. Are you a dog lover?

I love dogs. Almost all my immediate neighbors have dogs, big 'uns, and I know them better than the people living in the houses. I've owned a couple of dogs over the years (one at a time) and would have loved to have more, but it turned out that I'm allergic. And now I'm just too lazy to have a dog; I'd be in better shape if I had to entertain and walk a furball.

5) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? 

Today, I would pretty much murder someone for my mom's potato salad. None better! But I'm also up for whatever you're serving at a picnic.

6) Let's welcome summer with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? Cone or cup?

I do not like chocolate ice cream. Vanilla with some chocolate syrup or sprinkles is fine, but I really prefer peppermint. Or birthday cake. OK, well, honestly, I'd eat any gelato you put in front of me because GELATO! In a cup. Always.

7) This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you applied mosquito repellent?

I simply do not go outside long enough to need this in years. Much as I love summer, I'm allergic to everything else alive out there, so I run from building to building, car to car, etc. with only very occasional forays onto the front porch or middle of the street to chat with a neighbor.

8) Or swam?

I don't can't swim. There is a (man-made) lake for which my town is named, but it is ill-advised to get in the water without a lot of precautions, even if I had access to it, which I don't. 

9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? 

The house fan is on because my brother cleaned out all his water containers from his RV this morning so I'm moving the air around to make sure the smell doesn't permeate. I could turn it off, but I forgot to after he left earlier. Otherwise, it's too cold outside for cooling on the inside. As I sit here, I'm wearing a fleece over a T-shirt, all-weather pants, and my bare feet have lost all feeling in them due to cold (and poor circulation). In fact, I was considering going up to take a shower after I finish this so I can warm up.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

Here Comes Peter Cottontail (from the archives)

1) Which do you prefer: colored hard-boiled eggs, chocolate marshmallow eggs, or plastic eggs with coins inside?

I'd like some of that sweet cash right now. I don't love marshmallow candies.

2) What's your favorite color of Peeps (yellow, purple, or pink)?

See above re marshmallow candies. I have, now, at least tried one, and it was as expected: far too sweet and icky.

3) All this talk of sweets is making Sam hungry. What's for lunch?

I think I had a couple of pretzel sticks to tide me over for the big meal tonight.

4) This song was introduced by country singer Gene Autry and it's still a favorite. Please share some of the lyrics. (And you're on your own; Sam didn't include a link to the song this week.)

This is from memory: "Here comes Peter Cottontail/Hopping down the bunny trail..."

5) Gene Autry was so popular that a town in Oklahoma named itself for him. Have you ever been to Oklahoma?

I have, indeed driven through OK. My main memory is a large lake and the multitudes of signs telling us not to "drive into smoke."

6) He and his horse Champion also had a TV show. Can you name another famous horse?

Seabiscuit. 

7) Gene Autry also recorded "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer," and it was, of course, wildly popular, too. Who is your favorite recording artist?

This changes with the wind. I really like Pink. I love Melissa Etheridge. I like Corinne Bailey Rae. Nina Simone is divine.

8) In 1950, the year Autry recorded this song, Diner's Club issued the first credit card. Think of the last thing you purchased. Did you use cash, a credit card, a debit card, an e-wallet service (Visa Checkout, Paypal, Google Pay, Apple Pay ...) or a check?

I can't remember. I think the last thing I paid for was some prescriptions and they have my credit card (VISA fwiw) on file to use.

9) Easter is recognized as the start of the spring season. What are you looking forward to this spring?

As always this time of year, I'm just glad to have survived the winter. I had to have extra meds on board this year. And this spring has been just a huge bitch so far. Next year during Lent is going to be all the Bad Memories of the stuff happening this year.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Shake It Off (2014)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.

1) This song makes Crazy Sam want to dance. What song inspires you to get on your feet?

There are a lot. Today I was chair dancing with Beast to Chubby Checker's The Twist while he waited for lunch. He was rolling his eyes at me, but he did get into it a little at least; I kept threatening to get him on his feet and do it properly, but he wasn't at all up for that.

2) Paul McCartney met Taylor Swift at the SNL 40 Anniversary special and told her he really enjoys playing and singing this song. What's the last song you sang along with?

This one. I just watched the video; cute. I like the song for all it's fluffiness. Before that, I seem to recall singing along to Nina Simone's version of Mood Indigo in the car earlier today.

3) The lyrics tell us Swift "shakes off" nasty gossip and unfair criticism. What about you? Do you worry about what others think of you?

I don't care at all, with a few exceptions: my boss, my son, and a couple of others.

4) Her parents are big music fans, and were going to name their baby (boy or girl) "Taylor" after their favorite artist, James Taylor. Can you think of a singer that your mom and/or dad really enjoyed?

Heh, I could have been named after Eydie Gorme if my parents had been in the right mood (not at all likely, btw).

5) She grew up on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm. Do you get a fresh tree every year, or do you have an artificial tree, or do you not put up a tree at all?

I have two fake trees (unless Sparky already took one) but I haven't put one up the last two years. Hasn't been very festive.

6) Taylor Swift is 5'10". According to the CDC, the average American woman is 5'4" while men are, on average, 5'9". Are you taller or shorter than average?

I'm closer to Taylor's height than the "average" although this may soon switch as I am shrinking. I am, today, taller than my husband whose head was on my shoulder today as we transferred from chair to bed.

7) She enjoys good, old fashioned mysteries, especially those by Agatha Christie. Are you currently reading a book for pleasure?

I'm reading three, er, four nonfiction books right now. The one I just put down is The Penguin Book of Hell. The others are slightly less intense.

8) Her brother Austin is a freelance photographer who took the official pictures for her 2008 concert tour. Who took the last photo of you?

Good God, I have no idea! Most likely it was a selfie with Beast. Unless you count the video call Sparky and I had on Tuesday.

9) Random question: What's your go-to comfy outfit?

I'm currently in yoga pants and a T (no bra). It's pretty effective as far as comfort.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Year End HodgePodge

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

Friends. People are great.

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

I got to see all my nearby family members, including the kids. No stress, no fuss.

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment) 'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

I'm ok with this. I wish it were more than a pedestal and meant something beyond symbolism, but yeah.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

I spent a lot of time caretaking. I guess I know how to do that. I still don't enjoy it very much, but I'm pretty good at it.

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

Good . Fucking . Riddance ! Don't let the door hit you in the ass.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I finally got my heart's desire this year: lots of alone time and time and reasons to make all my own decisions all the time. Be careful what you wish for, folks.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Happy Holidays! (from the archives)

1. [...] Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?

I only remember visiting Santa one time. I'm sure I was shy and terrified about it, but it was the first year the Big Mall opened, so it was a Big Deal.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?

Everyone thinks I'm on the Nice list. I guess I am, but I'm sure making some questionable decisions on the daily. Oh well. Doing what I can, I guess.

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?

I send my usual packets of Christmas ornaments to the great-nieces and -nephews, including the two sets that go to England.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?

I did. I bought myself a shirt (I think?) with all the other presents, and a new winter coat today.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?

I'm not at all into this tradition. I haven't seen any Christmas shows this year (movies or TV shows), nor have I heard much music except at church. I'm ok with that--this year wasn't one I want to remember or have stand out (more than it's going to).

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?

Yes. I was going to do so again this year, but Sparky and I went on Xmas Eve to see the latest Star Wars movie. Maybe I'll go see something this weekend too, maybe the Hugh Jackman movie. I'm dealing with the beginning of a cold today, so we'll see how I feel over the weekend about going out in Arctic temperatures.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?

I embarrass myself on a pretty regular basis at parties, mostly without having even a whiff of alcohol. And I haven't been to a proper Christmas party in years.

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?

Hot black tea, preferably Earl Grey or English Breakfast.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas.

This is last year's swag. It's currently stacked pretty much in this same order on the dining room table, where it's been sitting for 12 months. Does that explain my life this year? Pretty much.

This year, most of my gifts were food from friends, one shirt and a Not-Yet-Published book from Sparky, and yeah, that's about it.

Sunday Stealing x2

(Link in meme-roll)
Bah Humbug!

TV show I loathe:

Pretty much any current sitcom gets on my nerves.

Movie I loathe:

I cannot get through even the first scene of "A Clockwork Orange." It's horrid.

Music genres I loathe:

I'm not much of an opera fan, and I totally don't understand traditional Asian music.

Magazine which annoys me:

Anything marketed toward women that sells ads

Makes me cranky at restaurant:

Bad food, slow/bad service. I'm really pretty mellow, but jeez, dudes, you have one job.... [I had a bad experience at an old favorite place last night]

Makes me cranky in public:

Mean people being mean.

Makes me impatient at home:

Myself.

Makes me impatient at work:

...so much that I can't even get into it, but it's all around people being horrible.

Celebrity I hate:

This month, that has to be virtually anyone famous who has a penis.

Music artist I hate:

I can't stand Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.

I could care less about:

I've lost track of all the people under 25, the Vanessas and the Chrises--I'm just super-confused by everyone.

Blogger's habit that annoys you:

I admit, I'm a bit snobbish about spelling and grammar. Not the picky stuff, but if you can't get through a sentence without an error, maybe blogging isn't your thing. [Note: I'm not talking about anyone currently involved in this meme in any capacity.]

Feature on your blog you hate:

Why would I keep it on my blog if I hated it?

Politician that you hate:

Every . Single . Republican . in . Washington.

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

It's beginning to look a lot like....

1. What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?

I love the carols on Christmas Eve, and the joy in kids' faces.

2. Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send?

I haven't sent cards in a decade.

3. Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

I find them endlessly amusing.

4. Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

If there are kids or pets, go for it. Otherwise, it's a bit over-the-top IMHO.

5. How soon do you start shopping?

Normally, I shop all year, but I've tailed off in the past few since I only buy for Beast and Sparky (and a few things for kids). This year, I only started the weekend after Thanksgiving.

6. Real or fake tree?

Fake.

7. When do you put up your tree?

Normally, something at the beginning of December. This year, not at all.

8. When do you take down your tree?

Early January.

9. Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type)

Our current fake tree is too small. I'd like one that's another 2-3' tall so I could get all the decorations on again.

10. What do you top your tree with?

A star. Because, among other reasons, I'm in an extended boycott of commercial angels.

11. Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?

Nope.

12. Is there a wreath hanging on your door?

Usually, yes. Not this year.

13. Do you hang up stockings?

Usually yes. Not this year.

14. Your favorite Christmas Movie(s)

This is not my thing. Beast has a whole thing with all the kids' TV shows and a few of the movies. Me, I'd rather skip them all.

15. Be honest: A Christmas movie you don't like

I don't really understand why "The Sound of Music" is a Christmas movie--it's not!--though I love the movie itself.

16. Favorite Christmas Song(s)

"Away in a Manger"

17. Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up

I'm not that sick of anything this year. Yet.

18. Give or Receive?

Give.

19. Eggnog or Mulled Cider?

Eggnog.

20. Ham or Turkey?

Ham.

Saturday 9 x2

(Link in meme-roll)
My Church (2016)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a woman who loves singing along with her car radio. Is that something you enjoy?

Uh, yeah. I'm kind of scary, actually.

2) The video begins with Maren Morris finishing her cigarette before getting behind the wheel. Do you allow smoking in your car?

I'm not sure I know anyone who smokes. Generally, though, no. No smoking in my car.

3) In this song, Maren admits she's lied. What's the last fib you told?

"I'm fine."

4) She mentions having her radio on the FM dial. Are you loyal to a single radio station? Or do you spin the dial?

I'm a spinner, and for at least the end of this cycle, I have access to Sirius XM. More channels; still nothing to listen to.

5) Maren was inspired to write this song while on a long car trip from Nashville to Los Angeles. When do you get your best ideas? (In the shower, behind the wheel, over lunch with friends ...)

When I'm asleep, I guess. Assuming I get good sleep, everything looks more do-able in the morning.

6) She performed this song on Saturday Night Live last year. The host that week was John Cenna Cena. Do you follow professional wrestling?

Oh hell no!

7) In 2016, when this song was popular, Alex Rodriguez played his final Major League Baseball game. He has embarked on a second career as a broadcaster. Would you be comfortable on camera?

Not without a ton of rehearsal. I can barely speak coherently without cameras these days.

8) A 2016 study revealed that 43% of Americans own mutual funds, many in their 401(k)s and IRAs. Are you involved in the stock market?

I'm part of that 43%, and Beast has always taken care of that. Yet another steep learning curve I'm looking at in the next months.

9) Random question: You have something awkward and embarrassing that you simply must tell a pal. You know your friend will not be happy with the news. Would you prefer to deliver it by email, in a phone call, or face to face?

Face to face. I hate stuff like this, but it's better to get it done than let it fester.

+ + + + + + + + + +

Silent Night (1957)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) How well do you know "Silent Night?" Without looking up the lyrics, could you sing along with Elvis?

I know the whole thing pretty much by heart. 54 Christmases of hearing it more than once will do that that.

2) The Christmas with Elvis album hit the stores in October 1957. Were you already preparing for Christmas back in October?

Nope. I'm not really even preparing for Christmas now. There's not really a Christmas for me this year.

3) Clearly Elvis liked a flocked white Christmas tree. Is your tree flocked, aluminum or pine green? Real or artificial? Or do you skip the whole tree thing altogether?

My tree is fake, green, and in its box in the closet.

4) Back in the late 1950s, Elvis left his hair its natural brown color. In the 1960s he began having it dyed black. Do you have a salon appointment scheduled between now and year end?

I haven't had a haircut since sometime in September. I probably should get in and do that. One more thing I "should" do....

5) Have you ever peeked, looking for a Christmas gift you know is hidden for you somewhere in the house?

Nope.

6) Which do you prefer, candy canes or gingerbread?

I can't really eat hard candy anymore--it hurts my teeth--and I'm not a huge fan of gingerbread. Throw me some home-made fudge, though, and I'll love you forever.

7) Is anyone receiving a home made or do-it-yourself gift from you this year?

Hah. No.

8) Do you wrap holiday gifts in paper, or do you take the gift bag route?

There will be a tiny bit of wrapping with paper to do before Christmas Day for my great-nephews nearby, but otherwise, I think Sparky's getting his stuff in the shipping box in which it arrived.

9) This time of year is big for charitable fundraising. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you.

Look, this year I would really like everyone to find someone who needs a hug, a shoulder on which to cry, and ear with which to listen, or something of the sort. Take the time to do that every day till Christmas. It's free, and God knows we all need someone to recognize our hurts and humanity.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Man in Black (1971)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Black is this week's signature color because Friday, November 24, was "Black Friday," when retailers cut their prices and consumers flock to the stores. Did you score any "Black Friday" bargains?

Nope. I worked all day, came home and was in bed by 7.

2) Among the biggest the Black Friday advertisers are Target, Kohl's, Macy's and Best Buy. If you could have a $100 gift card to any one of those stores, which would you choose? What would you buy?

Target, I guess.

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

I did both on Thursday. I watched a little football on Sunday too.

4) Thanksgiving weekend is a major time for travel. How far did you venture from home for the holiday?

I went to my niece's house, about an hour from here.

5) This week's song, "Man in Black," is about a singer who refuses to wear bright colors. What color are you wearing as you answer these questions?

Red, white, and blue Puerto Rico shirt, beige yoga pants, black sox.

6) Johnny Cash first performed this song at Nashville's Vanderbilt University. When were you last on a college campus? What brought you there?

Sparky still works on his college campus (technically, that's my college campus too), so when I visited him at work last month, I guess that was it.

7) The average American man wears a 10.5 size shoe, the average woman wears a 7.5. Johnny Cash wore a size 13. Are your shoes bigger or smaller than the national average?

Bigger. But then I am, overall, bigger than the national average.

8) He preferred his coffee very strong. To make sure what he was drank was to his liking, he carried a jar of instant coffee with him and would ladle it into his cup in restaurants. What about you? What's your standard coffee order?

"Water, please." I don't drink coffee. Long, traumatic childhood story involving my stubbornness.

9) While in the air force, Cash wrote short stories under the pseudonym "Johnny Dollar." Make up a pen name for yourself.

So, I'm assuming you know my legal name has nothing to do with "Cat." right?

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

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (1971)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
In memory of David Cassidy, who died on 11/21/17.

1) This song mentions celebrating the holidays in "the new old-fashioned way." What's a holiday tradition that began with you (or your generation)?

Hmm. Chinese on Christmas Eve (before or after church depending on the timing) and then opening one gift under the tree and going to bed, followed by waking up the next morning and opening the rest while the Christmas Candle burns.

2) The lyrics include dancing, caroling and pumpkin pie. Will you enjoy any of those three between now and year-end?

I loathe pumpkin pie. I will probably whirl around the living room at some point; it's a thing that happens. And I will carol but not until Christmas Eve.

3) David Cassidy and The Partridge Family were intensely popular for a short period of time. For example, this song was from the best-selling Christmas album of the 1971 holiday season. Have you added any holiday music to your collection this year?

I haven't bought new Christmas music for myself in over a decade.

4) In 1971, the official David Cassidy fan club had a membership that exceeded both Elvis' and The Beatles'. Have you ever joined a fan club?

I think I did, briefly. Maybe?

5) David recalled that his first hero growing up was the Yankees' Mickey Mantle. When you were a little kid, what grown-up did you look up to?

Mostly adults I actually knew, hello.

6) David was a notoriously bad driver. In 1990, he was sentenced to traffic school for speeding. He was late for the class because he was stopped for speeding en route. Do you have a "lead foot?"

Nope. I have cruise control and I use it.

7) David's parents divorced when he was only four years old. He and his mom lived with her parents until he was 10. Have you ever lived in an extended, multi-generational household?

Nope. God help Sparky if he has to do this when I get old....

8) In 1971, when David and the Partridge Family were at their height, the US Mint introduced the Eisenhower Silver Dollar. Think of the last thing you bought. Did you pay with cash or plastic or your phone?

I paid cash for breakfast at McDonald's this morning.

9) Random holiday question: Let's talk regifting. Tell us about a time you regifted, or you received a present you suspect was regifted.

Look, if it's something I like, I don't care where it came from. If I hate it, I either pitch it or keep it to regift. So yes, I have a closet of things upstairs of things I can gift in an emergency.

Sunday Stealing x5

(Link in meme-roll)
Sleepy Rambles

Have you ever eaten at restaurant and you realized you forgot your money?

I don't think so. I always have a credit card anyway.

True or false-you can pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time.

Yes, and I can rub my tummy and pat my head too, but less effectively.

Do you prefer to drink out of cans or bottles?

Generally, I don't care, but lean toward bottles because they come with lids in case of spillage.

Do your socks match today?

My socks pretty much always match. It's an OCD thing.

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it?

The last one I finished was Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet which was ok (but you should start with the first book in the series). The last one I actually have read today though is Jim Butcher's Dead Beat which is pretty good (but you should start with the first book in that series as well).

Are you currently borrowing something from someone?

Uh, probably. I've sort of lost track of some things over the last couple of months.

Write an extremely random statement.

23 years ago, on this day and date (Sunday, November 19, 1994) my father died of a massive heart attack. I miss the hell out of him almost every day.

Are there any major holidays you don’t celebrate?

I'm not really heavily invested in Valentine's Day. Or St. Patrick's Day.

What is one thing you will never understand?

How to pee standing up. Which is just fine.

Have you ever stepped on a bee?

I actually have. It stung me on the back of my big toe. I was around 12.

What helps you wake up in the morning?

My phone, and then once all the thoughts start, I'm done.

What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Cherry poptarts. I'm never going to grow up, am I?

What is your favorite thing in your room?

My bed. Though my bathtub is calling loudly. I ignored it last night, but I think it's gonna happen tonight for sure.

Who was your first kiss with?

Ron M. The first serious kiss, with intent, was someone else though.

Do you worry about small things?

I worry about everything.

+ + + + + + + +

Monster Mash

ghost: what would you like on your tombstone?

I intend not to have one, so it's moot.

dracula: are you afraid of aging? or death?

I'm not afraid of aging, or death. I'm afraid of lingering and pain.

nosferatu: what, as a child, did you imagine went bump in the night?

Hmm. I don't remember being afraid of much. There was the usual dark closet, dark ajar thing, but that didn't really last long.

godzilla: what do you do when you are angry? are you ever destructive?

I yell. I say things I should not say. I slam things around, but I don't intentionally break things. My internal cheapness objects to wanton destruction.

the blob: do you collect anything? if so, what & why?

I have a large number of salt-and-pepper sets. And dust bunnies, of course.

zombie: when was the last time you trusted your gut? was it successful?

I trust my gut all the time. It usually works out all right.

mothra: what is something dangerous that attracts or fascinates you?

I've always wanted to parachute, or bungee jump, or fly prop planes. I like heights and edges of cliffs. And true crime is fascinating, though I'm not a groupie by any means. {{shudder}}

king kong: what are some questionable choices you've made lately?

I'm pretty sure I have. I'm trying not to dwell on them.

alien: what is your strangest feature?

My brain...?

cthulhu: do you like the ocean? why or why not?

I do. I mean, I wouldn't say that I can't live without it, but I do enjoy watching the waves.

nessie: have you ever felt invisible to people -- the feeling of not existing?

Only all the time. I am the youngest by far in my family of origin, and relatively able to pass under the radar as an adult as well.

mutant spider: what is one of your biggest fears?

Failing to live up to myself.

werewolf: if you could change into any nonhuman animal and back at will, what animal would you change into and why?

I would love to be a wolf, though not at feeding time. When it comes to food, I'd rather be a giraffe.

golem: if you could make up an imaginary friend, what would they be like and why?

They'd be quite similar to me, except they'd've done all the things I only wish I'd done.

leprechaun: what is your "pot of gold" (or white whale, if you'd rather)

I like to help people, and fix things. This gets me in SO MUCH TROUBLE.

sharktopus: what is something you've done that was ridiculous or a bad decision?

Wasting so much time on computer games like Candy Crush. I really must stop. Again.

robot: what is a habit you do without thinking?

I rub my nose a lot. And laugh mindlessly when I'm not sure WTF is going on.

+ + + + + + + +

First Things First

{1} First thing you would do/buy if you won the lottery:

I'd pay off the house, and I'd feel generally easier about my future.

{2} First person you call when you get amazing news:

Huh. Good question. I don't know anymore.

{3} First thing you do when you've had a bad day:

Depends on what kind of bad. If it was a truly hopeless, I-can't-do-anything, I just sleep a lot. If it's bad because of people being jerks, I cry.

{4} First movie you went to without your parents:

Saturday Night Fever. Though I told my parents it was some random movie about talking donkeys or something.

{5} First sport you played (Little League-style or in school):

I was on the girls' basketball team in 7th grade.

{6} First major injury:

I haven't ever had an injury. Several surgeries, but nothing injurious.

{7} First product I use in the shower:

Water.

{8} First apartment or house on your own (away from you parents!):

If we discount college dorms, or other college housing, it was the first apartment Beast and I lived in after we got married.

{9} First Roommate(s):

When my sister visited, I always had my oldest niece sharing my room. She snored. At a very young age (like 6) and all along. And then after that it was my college roommate at age 18. She also snored. And then I got married, and he snored. FML

{10} First Time Living Away from Home:

College. [why are all the words capitalized?]

{11} First magazine subscription:

Spin. It was sold to me as "like Rolling Stone." It's not.

{12} First real piece of jewelry you owned:

Uhhhh....?? There's a necklace upstairs on it's hanger that I got when I was little. It's a small gold heart. And my charm bracelet from junior high. And a ring from my mom. It sounds like I'm a jewelry hound from a young age, but...well, maybe I actually was! Huh.

{13} First time staying home alone:

I stayed home along regularly from age 10 on. Latchkey kid for the win!

{14} First thing I reach for in the fridge:

Pop.

{15} First car accident or traffic violation:

First ticket was about 10 years ago for going 45 in a 40. First accident I was in was when I was a kid and my mom turned left in front of someone. First one I was a driver? Uh...probably just a fender-bender in a parking lot.

Bonus: Toilet paper, over or under?

Don't care as long as it's there.

+ + + + + + + +

The simple life

What are five things you would like to do more.

Exercise, sleep, not worry, work (I know, sue me, ok?), read.

What is your quote to live by

"La la la la, I'm not listening...."

What was the best thing that happened this week?

Beast walked about 40 yards today by his own choice at speed. Woot!!

What is something you are stressed about?

Oh yeah, that's VERY FUCKING FUNNY.

What book has influenced your life?

All of the "Laura" books. Something from them goes through my mind daily just about. Or The Hiding Place because when Laura isn't haunting me, Corrie is.

Share a childhood memory

Shaking raw chicken in a paper sack with flour for Sunday dinner after returning home from church.

What fictional character would you most like to be?

I feel a great deal of kinship with Alice (in Wonderland) these days.

What is something you are proud of?

My stubbornness.

What was the last thing you celebrated?

Beast's birthday was yesterday. We had a very small celebration.

What are weird things you like?

I don't find them weird: dogs, poptarts, sunshine, sleep. Have I mentioned how much I love sleep??

What is your favorite song to sing?

It all comes back to "Amazing Grace" every time I try to think of a song to sing to Beast.

Name three things you do well.

Give directions, help others, procrastinate.

What are your priorities in life?

Oh hell, I just try not to kill myself or anyone else over the course of the day, really. Now more than ever it's "one day at a time."

What is something that scares you?

Poverty.

Best book you read this year?

The Iceland trilogy by Michael Ridpath. Absolutely fascinating.

+ + + + + + + +

Thanksgiving thoughts

1. What made you feel patriotic this year?

The continued protests in the streets and arenas and everywhere are all I can come up with.

2 . What do you value most about your life?

My friendships.

3. What do you appreciate about your friendships

I really didn't read ahead. I appreciate that people care when they don't have to do so.

4. Name one person who can make you laugh, even months later. Why?

Beast.

5. What is the funniest thing you remember about a Thanksgiving past?

Oh holy crap, there are so many goofy things at Thanksgivings past. We have a tradition of throwing chirping Tribbles at each other after we eat these days.

6. Do you have any unusual traditions, rituals or habits around Thanksgiving?

Other than throwing Tribbles? Of course we do, though I can't think of anything too strange.

7. Name one ancestor that you think about on Thanksgiving and tell us why.

My dad? My mom? I don't know--most of my ancestors were dead before I was 10, aside from my personal generation and my parents.

8. Is there a family heirloom at the Thanksgiving table? What its story?

We usually use my mom's china. Which means we have to hand-wash everything, but that's good bonding time, so....

9. What is your favorite part about Thanksgiving Day?

I really do enjoy all the cooking stuff and getting everything ready for people. I like all the people and silliness and family/friends around the table.

10. What random act of kindness did you perform or that was done to you this year that makes you feel grateful?

I have been held in the hearts of so many people this fall...and I try to pay it forward every day.

11. What do you appreciate about the change of seasons?

I like the pretty leaves, before they all fall. I do like a change in weather, generally, though I'm not a fan of winter.

12. Name five things that make you happy about today.

I had a good childhood, I still love my current house, I have adorable little kids to see this week, Sparky is coming home for a few days, Beast walked.

13. How has the celebration of Thanksgiving today changed from when you were little?

No squash on the table. Otherwise, it's quite similar.

14. If you could share Thanksgiving dinner today with one person in history who would it be? Why? (Note: it can be a relative)

I'd invite the Roanoke settlers and get the freakin' true story from them!!

15. What is one wish you have for the next generation as they begin to establish their own Thanksgiving traditions.

Have fun. Cook some food yourself. Don't obsess.

Saturday 9 x 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Absolutely not.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I actually never heard it this year.

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

I don't think so.

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

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

+ + + + + + +

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ayup.

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

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

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

Yes. And no.

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ + + + + + +

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ + + + + + +

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Nonstrosity
October is my least favorite month. Give me some reasons to like it a bit more!

1. What’s a good movie for October that has nothing to do with monsters or Halloween?

   Infinitely Polar Bear is supposed to be good. Doesn't When Harry Met Sally have an autumnal bit? I know Four Seasons does--I do like that movie.

2. What’s a good couple of songs for October that have nothing to do with monsters or Halloween?

   U2's got a song called "October," and Amy Winehouse did something called "October Song." I don't remember either of them, but I can't think of any songs I know about October.

3. What are some reasons to love October?

   Around here it's generally the last month you can count on any warm temperatures (i.e., not-coat-wearing weather) until late March. The leaves are lovely this month. It's rarely humid. It smells good. [I adore October!!]

4. Radio stations sometimes call this month Rocktober, doing special playlists or giveaways in celebration of rock music. What would be a better rhyming name for this month, and how might it be celebrated?

   Mocktober, when all the jokes make fun of the President.
   
   Oh, wait....

5. What would be a good holiday to establish in October for those U.S. states not commemorating Columbus Day?

   "Sorry We Killed Off 95% of Your Race Day But You NEEDED Those Blankets"

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
9 to 5 (1980)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song begins with the clacking of a typewriter. Did you ever learn to touch type -- beginning with your fingers on "the home row" -- or do you hunt and peck?

Oh, I'm totally schooled in typing. I learned on an IBM Selectric, but I was typing at home on my dad's work typewriter before I properly knew how. I still touch type, rarely look at the keyboard except for numbers...I have finally gotten better at them after 35 years, but I still have to check.

2) Much of the video for this song revolves around the office coffee room. Are you enjoying a beverage as you answer these 9 questions?

I just finished a can of Diet Coke. Yes, life is hard here: I'm drinking Coke instead of Dr. Pepper.

3) This week's artist, Dolly Parton, loves telling the story of how she once lost a Dolly Parton lookalike contest. What contest or sweepstakes have you entered lately?

Not a one. I don't really like this sort of thing, and I guess there's a time element to it as well.

4) Dolly is one smart blonde. Early in her career she set up a company so she could retain the publishing rights for all her songs. Two alone -- "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You" -- made her a multi-millionaire because they have been recorded so many times. Do you have a good head for business?

Well, I'm not an idiot, but I'm no Dolly. She is amazing.

5) Dolly is a crusader for childhood literacy and her organization, Dolly's Imagination Library, has donated more than 10 million books all over the country. What's the last book you read?

I finished The Child Thursday. I'm working on The Painted Queen now, rather slowly since this is the last of the my all-time favorite mystery series. I'm sad.

6) This weekend may offer a golden opportunity for napping and sleeping in. Do you snore?

Apparently, I do. Or, at least, I snort. I have a CPAP.

7) Labor Day was introduced to celebrate the achievements of the American worker. How many different employers have you had?

Well, post-babysitting days, I think at least 10 places have paid me for work. Since one of those was a temp job, there were probably a dozen work locations just for that one job. And of course, this doesn't count all the places I've volunteered over the years. Kind of shocking, really.

8) Will you be attending a Labor Day picnic or barbecue?

Nope. Beast'll probably cook brats one day this weekend, but we're not going anywhere. Our 'going somewhere' time is pretty limited by his various disabilities.

9) Labor Day traditionally marks the beginning of the new school year. When she was a kid, Samantha was crazy for her brand new box of 96 Crayola Crayons. It even had a sharpener in the back! What do you remember about preparing to go back to school? If you're a parent with school-age kids, are they ready?

New clothes! New clothes! New clothes! Man, I missed that when adulthood hit: no pre-selected shopping reasons, no pre-set vacation time, no new supplies every year. Adulthood bites. Sparky buys his own stuff now, for the most part, now that he's (gulp) 24 and no longer in school anyway.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
As Long as We Got Each Other (Theme from Growing Pains)
... because it's Father's Day weekend
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This is the theme from the 1980s sitcom, Growing Pains. Alan Thicke played Dr. Jason Seaver, one of TVs popular dads. Who is your favorite TV dad?

Well, Michael Landon as "Pa" is certainly up there. There was a show in the 70s called Apple's Way that I loved and the dad on it was good. I never liked much liked the shows where the dad was an idiot, although I love Tim Allen and I tried to like his show, I really did!

2) Joanna Kearns, who played Jason's wife, reports that she teased her costar by calling him, "Al," a nickname he hated. Is there someone in your life that you enjoy needling?

Only everyone I know, and occasionally even patrons I know fairly well. But I rarely mess with their names.

3) For most of the series, the Seaver children each represented a "type." The oldest, Mike, was the trouble maker. The daughter, Carol, was the brainiac. Young Ben could be very high maintenance. Which of the Seaver kids were you most like when you were growing up?

Carol, except I was much less of a jerk.

4) In the song, BJ Thomas sings about being "the luckiest dreamer who never quit dreaming." If you could have any dream come true this Saturday, what would you wish for?

Having awakened in the early hours with a headache that has since morphed into head-, upper back- shoulders-, and right wrist-aches, I'd settle for pain relief. I might even be willing to pass it along 100% to Beast if that happened, though to be fair he doesn't seem to be as sore as usual today.

5) When he mans the grill, Sam's father proudly wears the "Kiss the Chef" she gave him for Father's Day years ago. Tell us about a gift you gave someone that was a hit.

The T-shirt quilt Sparky received from us for high-school graduation is probably the one I like the most. He still uses it on his bed 6 years later, and somehow it's practically pristine even after four years in dorms!

6) Sam's dad takes his grilling very seriously and jealously guards his special marinade recipe. Do you have a secret you haven't even shared with family members?

My family-of-origin really knows very little about my life, to be honest. And there are a few things Beast doesn't know, nor Sparky.

7) He recommends using a grill basket when barbecuing vegetables so you don't have to worry about them falling through the grill. Share one of your culinary tips with us.

Add a sploosh of olive oil to the water when you boil pasta and the noodles don't stick together, which means you can make twice what you need for that meal and have leftover noodles for tomorrow. You can even make multiple batches, cool them, put them in freezer bags and have them ready to go for later in the month. (I'm all about saving time.)

8) Sam's father hates it when she swears. What's the last curse word you used?

I don't know for sure, but odds are it was "fuck." It seems to be the word of the year, even bigger than usual. It is awfully enjoyable to say in a lot of circumstances.

9) Sam's father satisfies his afternoon sugar craving with an almost endless stream of Butter Rum Lifesavers. When you crave a snack, do you usually want something sweet or salty?

Sweet. It's SUPER-rare for me to crave salty, but I'll eat almost anything sweet.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Mama Can't Buy You Love (1979)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) This week's artist, Elton John, was made an Office of Arts and Letters -- one of France's highest honors for people who have contributed significantly to the arts. What's the most recent compliment you received?

I can't think of anything. I've been thanked, but I can't think of a compliment. Probably, it's because I am not geared to listen to them?

2) In 2013, Elton had to cancel an international concert tour because he had an appendectomy. Do you still have your appendix?

I do not. It came out "just in case, while [they] were in there anyway" in 1997. The surgeon was absolutely sure that my appendix was the cause of the immense pain I was having; it was not. (It was a baseball-sized tumor, which had burst. I'll spare the details.)

3) In 1979, Elton John was the first Western rock star to tour the Soviet Union. Would you like to visit Russia?

I have. And I'd go back in a heartbeat, though perhaps not right now. I'm sure it's changed a bit (hah) since I was there 30 years ago.

4) Elton and his mother hadn't spoken in years but he reached out to her and healed their b[r]each in honor of her 90th birthday in 2015. Who is the oldest person you know?

Hmm, interesting. I know a LOT of people in their 70s and early 80s. I used to know a lot of folks in their 90s. I can't actually think of who I know that's the "winner" here.

5) Flowers and plants are popular on Mother's Day. How is your yard or garden? Is it green and/or blooming?

It's kind of a mess right now: thousands of dandelion stalks in the yard, weeds in the gardens, unmown this weekend. At some point, Beast is just going to have to face reality and hire a yard service..... But, yeah, it's green under all the dandelions. That's rarely a problem 'round here.

6) Mother's Day is a big holiday for card shops. So are birthdays, weddings, and St. Patrick's Day. Hallmark sells greetings for everything from "Congratulations on Your New Job" to "Happy Retirement." Who received the most recent card you bought?

I'm pretty sure that was Val Day cards for Sparky and Beast.

7) Sam's mother is very careful when she unwraps presents because she likes to save money by to reusing wrapping paper and gift bags. Tell us one way that you economize.

I wash and reuse plastic storage bags (i.e. baggies). Yes, I've been warned multiple times about it. I don't reuse anything that had raw meat in it.

8) Mother Winters used to scold Crazy Sam for leaving her dirty dishes in the sink. Sam admits it: as a grown up, she still leaves dirty dishes in the sink. How about you? Is your sink or dishwasher empty?

I emptied the dishwasher before dinner, then immediately emptied the sink and drainboard into it, so now the counter is clear(er). Honestly? I can't get ahead. I'm so tired of living in untidiness, but I'm so tired, period, that I just don't seem to get things cleaned.

9) RANDOM QUESTION: What size mattress do you sleep on -- twin, full, queen or king?

We have a Sleep Number bed, king-size, with split mattresses so we can adjust head and feet separately. Aside from the hassle of buying sheets and the random separation of mattresses with use, I adore my bed. It is the absolute best investment we've made in furniture.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
This Is the Way the Bunny Hops
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Why do you suppose there are so many songs about Santa Claus, yet very few about the Easter Bunny?

The Easter Bunny is vaguely terrifying. I remember thinking so as a kid, and the sight of a giant rabbit with small children since then has not calmed my childhood anxieties much. In my family's case, part of the issue is that Easter is a serious holiday, about a serious subject. No babies, just death. And resurrection.

2) This song was written by The Kiboomers, two early education teachers who are passionate about the power of music to help kids learn. Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on your life.

Mrs. Ramadan made me cry the first time I met her. That didn't make me more likely to contribute to class in 2nd grade. Hey, not all teachers are great with every kid!

3) Legend has it that the Easter Bunny was introduced to America in the 1700s by German immigrants. These children waited for a magic creature who left colored eggs. Today's kids dye Easter eggs themselves. When did you most recently color eggs?

Good heavens, it's been a decade at least! Sparky's 24 and I'm sure we stopped before high school. I'm the only one who ate them afterwards anyway.

4) The Easter Bunny is usually shown carrying a wicker basket filled with eggs, toys and candy. Is there any wicker in the room you're in right now?

There's a very broken wicker basket on the step. I need to throw it out; finally emptied it today after sticking my foot through it about a month ago.

5) While marshmallow Peeps are manufactured all year around, they are most popular at Easter. Do you prefer the chicks or the bunnies?

I loathe Peeps. Gross. Like those orange "circus peanuts" I simply do not get the attraction at all!

6) A little time in the microwave can do ugly things to a Peep. Have you ever nuked a Peep?

No, but I have enjoyed the videos for over a decade. I do not need to spend money on something like that, but I can certainly enjoy other people wasting their money, right? There was a whole Peeps in the library thing about 2008 that probably is still done every spring. Smells awful.

7) Would you prefer a hollow or a solid chocolate bunny?

Solid. Duh! But hollow is fine too, if it's good chocolate.

8) A traditional American Easter dinner usually includes glazed ham or roast lamb. Which would you rather have as your main course?

I do like lamb, but I don't know how to cook it. We usually have ham if I'm cooking, which I'm not this year. We're meeting family for lunch.

9) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?

Shower/bath. Being around kids. A good nap.

Friday 5 x3

(Link in meme-roll)
Yule Never Be Alone

1. About how many family Christmas photo-cards did you receive this year*?

Maybe 3 or 4. I don't remember, though they are literally scattered everywhere in the house. I need to clean.

2. About how many family Christmas newsletters did you receive this year?

I can only remember two.

3. What do you do with the Christmas photo-cards and newsletters you get each year?

I used to save them, but more recently I just stack them up in assorted places.

4. What’s a good solution for singles who want to participate in this tradition without coming across as a loser?

Single people aren't losers. Talk up all the stuff that married couples would kill for: privacy, quiet, cheaper travel (sometimes), etc. I always loved getting letters from singles when we had a kid. It made me terribly envious.

5. About how many old-school, hand-addressed Christmas cards did you receive this year?

Not more than about 5 that I recall. We stopped sending them about 5 years ago, and we're down to the die-hards, mostly family.

* Yeah, yeah. It was last year, but you know what I mean

Rest

1. When did you last need a few days of complete rest and nothing else?

I took last weekend off completely: left town on my own and spent two full days just hanging out and reading and sleeping.

2. How do you keep yourself occupied when you have to be in bed all day and night?

Reading, puzzles, mindless TV if can stagger to the living room.

3. Who do you most want to hear from when you have to withdraw to your bed for a few days of rest?

If I'm that sick, I really don't want anyone near me. For their sake, but also because I'm so easily annoyed.

4. What adverse effects have you experienced while staying in bed for a few days?

Total loss of stamina and muscle tone.

5. When you first notice a few symptoms, are you more likely to shut everything down right away, or try to power through until you don’t have a choice anymore?

No, I crap out as early as possible and sleep.

Something’s Astir

1. What did you last use a spatula for?

I bought a take 'n bake pizza at Aldi's last night after work. I spatula'd the slices.

2. What did you last use your can opener for?

Hmm. Chili makin's last month. There's still hardened condensed milk on it. I need to figure out how to soak it....

3. What did you last pick up with a pair of tongs?

I can't remember. I remember using them sometime or another fairly recently, but not sure what I was doing.

4. What did you last use a ladle for?

The aforementioned chili, of course!

5. What did you last stir with a wooden spoon?

The last batch of mac'n'cheese required two, per the norm.

Saturday 9:

(Link in meme-roll)
Love Yourself (2015)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Justin sings that he doesn't like to admit he's wrong. When did you most recently cop to a mistake?

Thursday at work comes to mind. I got carpetted for forgetting a doctor's appt. and not telling the scheduling person. I apologized in the email I sent the night before, and I "abjectly" apologized again the next day. I was wrong about a lot of stuff this week. Oh well. I have time to get it right next week, right?

2) He also complains that his girl doesn't like his friends. Who is someone that you've met recently and liked?

Lots of patrons fall in this category. I'm trying to think of a person person...sorry, nothing's coming.

3) Justin first performed this song live on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Who is your favorite talk show host?

Phil Donahue. I miss his show.

4) Young Mr. Bieber recently had his credit card rejected ... at a Subway Sandwich Shop. Think about your last trip to a fast food restaurant. Did you pay with cash or plastic or your phone?

Cash. I never use plastic for fast food.

Even though we're featuring a lack-of-love song, this is the last Saturday 9 before Valentine's Day and so this morning we shall focus on the upcoming holiday.

5) In Victorian England, it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine. Have you ever received an anonymous card from a secret admirer?

Probably. I don't recall anything. I'm kinda hoping I get a card this year from Beast....we'll see.

6) Retailers report that approximately 3% of pet owners buy Valentines for their furry friends. Have you ever purchased a gift for a pet on a special occasion?

Of course I do!! Not that they care.

7) It was once believed that if a maiden ate a heavy meal before bed on February 13, her dreams that night would reveal the identity of the man she would eventually marry. Do you find that eating too close to bedtime disrupts your sleep?

Not particularly, not in terms of dreams. I might have some heartburn.

8) The postmaster in Verona, Italy, reports that Shakespeare's Juliet Capulet still receives love letters. Without looking it up, can you give us a quote from Romeo and Juliet?

"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

9) Necco's Sweethearts -- those little candy hearts that say things like "Be Mine" -- are Valentine Day's top-selling confection. Sam never could stand eating these candies. Do you like them?

I ADORE THEM! I forgot to grab any yesterday, dangit!

Christmas Memes

I put this all together a week ago, and then forgot to come back and answer the damn questions on Christmas.
(Rehash from the past--you'll have to search for "Christmas meme" and possibly page back through the previous posts--except for the first one below which I stole from Kwizgiver last month)

#1
1. What is guaranteed to make you smile over the holidays? Kids: their joy, their wonder, their excitement, their honesty. And singing "Silent Night" followed by "Joy to the World" on Christmas Eve brings back so many good memories.
2. What makes you weepy during the holidays? I'm glad I didn't add this above: I also tend towards weepiness during those two songs at church for the same reason. Also, I miss my mom & dad. Mom's birthday is a couple of days after Christmas and she busted her hump all month to make cookies and candy and everything for Christmas, with the hope that her birthday wouldn't disappear into the busy-ness.  
3. How will you spend Christmas Eve and Day? We usually go eat dinner at a local Chinese place on the Eve, then drive around and look at lights, then go to church, then come home and leave Santa's snacks out. OK, the last thing we don't do so much anymore.
We fill each other's stockings, and I put Jesus in the creche and we go to bed.
In the morning--no getting up before 7!--we open presents, one at a time around the room. Then we veg out.
THIS year, however, church was at 7:30 so we ate much earlier than usual and then did church and came home. We opened all our prezzies once the stockings were filled--and Jesus was in place--and then went to bed so we could sleep in on Christmas. We went to Katherine and Alan's house to have dinner and play with their two toddlers, and to act as buffers between Alan's divorced parents. It was unusual, and not at all horrible.
4. What was your most memorable Christmas and why? I have no memories whatsoever of Christmas 1994 aside from one photo of Sparky inside the box his kid potty came in, smiling up at me. That was a horrible, horrible year: 2 family deaths within 5 weeks of Christmas, lots of traveling, family staying with us, and an almost-two-year-old who had no idea why the emotional landscape was suddenly so spectacularly out of control. 
5. Christmas form letters from friends -- pro or con? I don't do them anymore. I don't mind getting them, though sometimes they are so close to being parodies that I wonder if they're meant to be. My brother-in-law's this year was particularly ... uhm: 3.5 pages of small print. He's single, no kids. In the end it was a good essay, but a weird Xmas letter.
6. In your home is Christmas more of a religious or secular observance? We strive for religious. I don't feel very religious this year, though--we've missed church since Xmas Eve and Sparky has firmly landed in agnosticism at best--so I'm looking forward to getting back to the regular worship schedule this week. 
7. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Those two mentioned above are top of the heep. "O Holy Night" on a violin will also always be special to me. There aren't a lot I don't like, but I could skip "The First Noel" for awhile if that's ok. 
8. What is your deepest prayer for the world this Christmas? Peace, love, and understanding. I join Elvis Costello in asking what's so funny about that.

#2
1. Worst Christmas song?
Don't overreach. Just sing the song and do it well. If you can't sing it, don't. Anything that doesn't fit those parameters qualifies.
2. If you were a Christmas character, who would you be? {from last year} Anna. [Go read the first chapter or two of Luke.]
3. What type of decoration should stop being made?
Guns should not be a thing on Christmas. Period
4. Tastiest holiday treat?
I made two batches of 7-Layer Bars for parties this month. Those things, seriously, are crack. I only make them now if I'm giving most of them away.
5. Favorite pop culture/stereotypical Christmas icon?
Bad time of year to ask. I'm sick of 'em all.
6. Know how to make cookies/brownies/cake from scratch?
{Stock answer for several years} Of course! Do I? Nope, except for the aforementioned 7-Layer Bars, and sometimes fudge.
7. Ever cut your mouth on a candy cane/candy? All the time. I haven't eaten a candy cane in probably 5 years, though.
8. What other culture would you like to experience Christmas with? I'm good with my family's weird blend of "culture" and insanity.
9. What kind of pattern/pictures do you like on your wrapping paper?
This is true year round: nothing so cute or commercialized it makes my brain ache.
10. Will Did you make a Christmas picture for your blog/website/profile?
Not of family or anything. I have some Christmassy things I post on Facebook annually.
11. Three best things about Christmas?
Getting presents, giving presents, naps.

#3
1. Candy cane or peppermint patties?
{same as last year} I prefer Ghirardelli's Peppermint Bark, thanks.
2. Sugar or gingerbread cookies?
{same again} Sugar. Of course. Really, need you EVER ask? :-)
3. Tinsel or beaded strands?
Tinsel. My parents had the beaded strands in the Christmas box but I don't remember ever using them. It was like they weren't even available--we bought tinsel/garland once in awhile to replace the old stuff, but we never used the beads.
4. Multi-colored or same-colored lights?
I prefer multi-color, but the last fake tree we bought came pre-lit with all white, so that's what we have now. At least we got ornaments on this year--last year, the tree went up with just the lights. Actually, that was ok, but weird.
5. Flashing or still lights?
Flashing makes me wobbly, so yeah.....
6. Wreaths or mistletoe/holly?
We got a wreath again for the front door. That's our nod to "outside" decoration. No holly or mistletoe.
7. Rudolph or Frosty?
{Same again} It will ALWAYS be ...: Rudolph.
8. Sledding or snowball fights?
For me, anymore, I think neither. I don't really like snowball fights in actuality or theory, and sledding seems more dangerous every year.
9. Snow or ice/icicles?
Snow, as long as I'm inside and don't have to deal with it in any way.
10. Snow hat or earmuffs?
Mostly I just sling my scarf around my head and run for shelter. I hate hat hair, and I lose earmuffs.
11. Getting or giving?
They both have merit, but I'm never going to say that I'd rather skip getting presents than shop.
12. Snow days or plow trucks?
{Same again} Snow days.
13. Stockings or presents?
I don't care. Either.
14. Cookies & milk or letter to Santa?
We used to do all of this when Sparky was (much) younger. No kids in the house nowadays. I miss that.
15. Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
{same again} I love Christmas Eve service, preferably the later one. But I love sitting around in PJs and playing with my new presents on Christmas Day.
16. Log Burning Channel or real thing?
Real thing or nothing.
17. Cards or emails?
{Same again} Email. I haven't sent cards the last [several] years. Facebook FTW.
18. Shoveling or cleaning off the car?
{Same again} Cleaning off the car. That's nothing. Shoveling is a nightmare.
19. Hot cocoa or eggnog?
{Same again} There's no contest here: EGGNOG!!
20. Jack Frost or Little Drummer Boy?
I don't really have a stake in this.

#4
Have You Ever?
1. Built a snowman?
Of course, but not for a long time. And we don't have enough snow, again, this year.
2. Heard Santa's sleigh?
Nope. Even when I'm driving.
3. Seen Santa & Rudolph in the sky?
Nope.
4. Sat on Santa's lap?
Yep.
5. Shoveled the driveway/sidewalk?
{Same again}vUgh! SO . MANY . TIMES .
6. Made snow angels?
OK, I'm doing this this winter. It's been too long!
7. Built a fort/igloo?
Yup.
8. Written a Christmas list?
{Same again} Yes. Thank you to Amazon for making it relatively easy to do this.
9. Written a letter to Santa?
{Same again} Probably. I wrote more letters from Santa than I ever wrote to him, for sure.
10. Left cookies/milk for Santa & reindeer?
Yes, of course.
11. Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
Yes I have.
12. Gone caroling?
{same again} One of my favorite activities, and I haven't done it in a decade or more.
13. Gotten hurt during the winter season?
Nope. Some illness, and some others with injuries, but not me. So far.
14. Gone ice skating/sledding?
Both. Hated skating. Sledding was fun.
15. Kissed under a mistletoe?
Yes.
16. Get everything you wanted for Christmas?
Who ever gets everything? That should be illegal! I do all right every year.
17. Cooked/baked Christmas goodies?
{same again} I stopped this about a decade ago because I realized I was eating everything that I made. Since I already pound down junk food at an appalling pace, I stopped making my own.

#5
Holiday Yay or.. Ugh
1. Holiday shopping?
Ugh
2. Icy roads?
Ugh
3. Limited driving visibility?
Ugh
4. Christmas carolers?
Yay
5. Mall Santas?
Yay for kids, but I'm sure it's one of the worst jobs out there.
6. Salvation Army Santas?
Yay, though around here it's usually families or regular people. I almost never give these days.
7. Blizzards?
Yay if I'm inside and don't have to go anywhere.
8. 24/7 Holiday radio?
Yay for the first few days.
9. Freezing cold?
{same again} If I'm inside, yay. Unfortunately, freezing cold often happens around the same time as falling snow, requiring shoveling time. That's a definite UGH.
10. Setting up the tree?
{same again} Thinking about it: ugh. Once I get started, it's usually yay.
11. Wrapping presents?
Yay
12. Visiting/seeing family?
Yay, unless it requires airport travel.
13. Ad-Lib on "Rudolph…" (like Monopoly!)
YAY!
14. Free mint red/white candy?
Ugh.
15. Belief in Santa Claus?
Yay.
16. Chocolate countdown calendar?
I can't improve on this one at all: [from KW: Does nobody know the word “advent” anymore? which I second BIG time!] Yay.
17. Peeking at your gifts (or by accident)?
Ugh.
18. Making out with Santa under the mistletoe?
{Same again} Since I know who is Santa in this house...weird beyond belief.
19. Decorated houses?
Yay.
20. Extreme decorated houses?
Not near me: yay.
21. White Christmas morning?
{Same again}As long as it doesn't mean shoveling, yay.
22. Searching for ornaments in the attic?
{Same again} Ours are in our front hall closet, easily accessible, so yay. Now, the wrapping paper? It's buried in storage. Ugh.
23. Santa knowing when you’re sleeping and awake?
{Same again} A little creepy now that Elf of the Shelf has arrived.

#6
One Or the Other
1. Tree is fake/real?
{Same again} All our inside trees are fake.
2. Tree is under/above 4′?
{Same again} One is 6.5 feet, one is about 2 feet. The others are in between those sizes. Beast & I are discussing building a wooden tree on which the geek ornaments can hang. The little one isn't working anymore...hasn't for years: too many ornaments.
3. Open presents Christmas Eve/Day?
{Same again, except this year we did everything on the Eve} We always used to open one gift after church and before putting out cookies & milk for Santa. Beast's family did all their gifts on the Eve. My family did all of ours in the morning. We compromised.  
4. House/entire yard is decorated?
{Same again} HELL no! I get the tree up and some stuff scattered around inside the house, and a wreath on the door. That's it.
5. Amount of presents under the tree?
Only Sparky had under-the-tree prezzies this year.
6. Snowman is a male/female?
Snowman.
7. Go for Santa/Jesus?
{Same again} BOTH. Do people know that "Santa" means "holy" or "sainted"??
8. Homemade/delivered/takeout Christmas dinner?
{Same again except this year we went to relatives for the day} Christmas Eve, Chinese (Beast's family thing again). Day, we usually don't do ANYthing and just snack on leftovers and so forth.
9. Bedtime is before/after midnight?
Before.
10. Wake-up is before/after 7am?
{same again, and this year we just slept in} The rule has ALWAYS been after 7. Al.Ways.
11. Go/don’t go to church on Christmas?
We skipped.
12. Do shopping before/after Thanksgiving?
Most of my shopping, again this year, was done either REALLY early (like June) or in the last week.
13. Low-key/over the top decorations (inside and out)?
{Same again} Nope. Nope nope nope. I like other people's stuff, but I'm far too lazy to do all that work.

#7
First Thought That Comes To Mind When You Hear…
1. Snowflake!
We haven't had a lot of snow, but I think we're in for it this month. I like snowflakes individually.
2. North Pole!
Santa
3. Elves!
Are still kinda creepy.
4. Sleigh!
{Same again} I'd love a sleigh ride. We do get carriage rides around the Square nearby, but it's not the same.
5. Presents!
Yes please
6. Cookies!
I really shouldn't
7. Mistletoe!
{Same again} Haven't seen any in years.
8. Rudolph!
We didn't see it this year. I'm not sad.
9. Blizzard!
{Same again} If it means being stuck at home, I'm all for it.
10. School’s Canceled!
{Same again} I totally follow this maxim these days: No work for me either, then!
11. Ice Skating!
No thank you.
12. Santa’s Lap!
{Same again} Crying kids.
13. Black Friday!
I usually work, so it's just another day.
14. Melting Snow!
Hopefully, that means sunshine!
15. Carols!
I miss singing carols.
16. Lumps of Coal!
I really think everyone involved in national (and international) politics this year should have gotten nothing but this.
17. Nutcracker!
{Same again} Always confused me as a child. I mean, this is what we used to open nuts when I was a kid. It confused me that there would be a ballet about this implement.
18. Ho Ho Ho!
{Same again} I'd love if the original meaning of this came back.

#8
How Does He Do It?
1. Get down the chimney?
How would I know?
2. Deliver presents all over the world?
Time travel.
3. Get so fat and still act so jolly?
{Same again} Xanax and pie.
4. Recruit reindeer for sleigh-pulling lessons?
I would assume this time of year, there's not a lot of other stuff going on in Lappland.
5. Provide compensation for elves making toys?
Don't elves work just for fun? I mean like slaves?
6. Stay unseen from the rest of the world?
We're all invisible to other people.

Would It Still Be Christmas Without…
7. Candy canes?
Works for me.
8. Snow?
Sure.
9. Stores opening at 5am?
Even more so!
10. Winter vacation?
{Same again} No. At least around here, they've rejiggered the school schedule so the semester break happens when they break at Christmas.
11. Visiting family & friends?
Yup
12. Fake Santas?
{Same again} As long as they are appropriately merry and kind.
13. Christmas trees?
{Same again} No. I think I have to insist on a tree.
14. New holiday movies?
{Same again} Ugh, yes: please, no more!!
15. Getting holiday greeting cards/email?
They're getting sparser and sparser, so I guess so.
16. Holiday tunes?
{Same again} I've got to hear at least a few at some point.

#9
True Or False
1. You prefer to stay inside where it’s warm?
True.
2. You’ve given something (or $) to charity?
True.
3. You spent more than what people spent on you?
{Same again} Actually, I think it's starting to even out a little.
4. You like to take your time opening presents?
{Same again} True. Drives people nuts.
5. The thing you want most this year costs $100+?
Not exactly. Nothing I wanted the most this year was for sale; it all requires other input than money.
6. You expect to get got more than 10 presents this year?
I think we all got about 10.
7. You’re a Scrooge/Grinch?
Nope.
8. Christmas = snow?
{Same again} It's definitely more Christmas-like to me with snow, but I don't mind the occasional miss like this year.
9. You know the lyrics to more than 25 Christmas songs?
{Same again} Easily true.