what we have been makes us what we are

(From the Gerbster)

What type of music do you like?

"Good beat, easy to dance to" and something I would rate 70 or above if I were on American Bandstand. If you don't get the reference, it's because you're probably under 30 and not a fan of watching old AB eps.

Have you ever been skinnydipping?

Nope. When I was about 17, I attended my first funeral for a friend, Amy G. She was an athlete, a church pal, and a cool, nice person who made one very bad decision--to go swimming in a tarped pool at night, alone. The theory, one theory, at the time was that her heart gave out due to an issue she wasn't aware she had. Aside from not being able to swim, the experience--sneaking out, doing something randomly silly and potentially dangerous--soured me on silly-dangerous stuff like skinnydipping and playing chicken.

How many pillows do you sleep with?

I sleep with just one, but I have another to prop me up to read before I go to sleep. The downside of bifocals is I can't read lying down so easily.

What position do you often sleep in?

Usually my right side lately, in a modified fetal position. But I flip side to side a couple of times most nights.

What do you wear to bed?

Pajamas, or what I have on if it's relatively comfy: sweats, T-shirt, etc.

Could you ever go out with someone just 'cause they're rich?

I might were the world I live in totally different. That is, I'd 1) have to be single, 2) want to be going on dates, 3) be a completely different age/look than I am now, and 4) need a sugar daddy.

Have you ever contemplated suing someone?

Not me, personally. There's a definite trade-off in time, effort and sticktuitiveness, which has never balanced against whatever wrong has been done to me. However, my parents did participate in a class-action lawsuit back in the '60s when my sister nearly died, on her behalf. The plaintiffs won and the payout covered the down-payment on the house Ellen and Dean bought when they got married.

Do you believe in karma?

I don't think of it as quid pro quo but I definitely do think that you get back what you put out there in the world. If you're negative and paranoid, that's what you'll think the world is about. And if you're optimistic and kind, ditto.

Do you believe in revenge?

I believe that it is a delightful feeling to see someone bad "get theirs" but I wouldn't generally want to think I go out of my way to be vengeful.

Who is the most intelligent person you know?

I know lots of smart people. They aren't all necessarily "book-smart." My friend Annie and my niece Elizabeth are music-smart in a way I'm not able to be; that doesn't mean they didn't struggle with high-level math. I have several friends my age who have had very difficult lives in ways I can't imagine; they are smart about things I hope I never have to know. My nephew James is spatially smart: he can figure out how to take apart and fix anything mechanical; he's a complete idiot about people skills though. My sister Marie is very very smart about a lot of stuff, but her taste in men is horrible. A friend of mine, Lisa, is aMAZing with motivating people and pushing projects along, but she isn't at all academically-minded. Smartest? They're all smart. Most of them are smarter than me in some way, which is part of why I keep them around; theoretically, I might learn something!

What's the craziest thing you've ever done for someone?

If you think too hard about the whole childbirth and parenting process, you would never in a million years do it. The likelihood of pain and suffering on a scale unequaled by most anything else in life is terrifying--and I'm not just talking about physical pain here. The merest though of losing a child, of having to make end-of-life decisions about a child, of having to watch them injure and destroy themselves will (and should!) break the strongest heart. The craziest thing I've ever done is think I could get through parenthood without heartbreak. And we have an easy kid!!

Do you throw bread for the ducks?

Nope. I honestly never think of it, and I really do NOT want them in my yard...or geese. Geese are fucking evil.

Where do you like to go to on a first date?

Somewhere we can talk. So maybe not just a movie or theatrical event.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy

1. When do you feel that you are at your sexiest?

When I'm clean and wearing nice clothes and having fun.

2. What's your favorite magazine? Why?

Probably a toss-up between EW and Bookmarks.

3. What’s something you do more quickly than most people?

Alphabetize. And, lately, fall asleep.

4. When do you first remember using a computer?

I took a programming class in high school c. 1980. The actual computer was in a closet down the hall; we used dumb terminals.

5. Who is the craziest person in your family?

The literal-craziest is definitely Jan, with Katherine in a close second. The fun-craziest is probably Rosellen.

6. What one thing are you craving today?

Sleeeeep, and servants.

7. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?

Food that I don't have to cook.

8. What’s the part of your morning you least look forward to every day?

When applicable, walking into my workplace. It's not good there anymore right now. Otherwise, it's when my brain engages and starts reminding me of all I need to do today.

9. What are some rules you have for yourself that don’t really make much sense?

I have a thing about chewing equal amounts of food on each side of my mouth. It makes zero sense, really, but I've been doing it for 35+ years, so it's hard to change now.

Follow Friday Four Fill-in

(Link in meme-roll)

1. I never eat just one bite of anything.. I need to learn how....

2. I am not a crook. I am also not related to RMN, so you can believe me when I say that.

3. I think most people are really weird. It has been a really bad week in terms of library patrons especially.

4. Sometimes when I go to work I always wonder if people are insane.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Today, whose mouth needs to be covered with duct tape?

This is why I try to do this meme (and others) before reading other people's answers: I don't want to be prompted. But today I ran across Bud's answers before I thought about mine, and now I can't get Michelle Bachman out of my mind for this one. She's kind of been hovering in my forebrain anyway, what with Sparky watching the rerun of SNL this week which led with a MB bit, and shelving the Newsweek with her on the cover at the h.s. this morning, and the fact that she and one of my best friends graduated from the same college (to my friend's undying shame). The woman's both insane and inane, which is rather a good trick.

Otherwise, if we haven't used up all the duct tape on her, it might not be such a bad thing to keep a couple strips handy in my vicinity; I expect this week is going to bring The Mouth out in me a bit.

2) You are a zookeeper, and one day a shady-looking man brings in what he calls an "exotic animal." This animal is in a wooden box with small air holes on the top and the box is stamped DANGEROUS. He throws a picture on your desk and you look at the strangest creature you’ve ever seen. Describe it, and tell what you’re going to do.

I dunno--having watched a lot of National Geographic PBS shows as a kid, and continuing to watch a lot of basic cable shows of that ilk, combined with reading an awful lot of Stephen King and his ilk as a kid...it may be hard to freak me out.

So the first thing I'm going to do is get this guy's ID and then call the USDA, or at least animal control, and report him.

(By the way, I'm picturing something like this but with a beak and a peacock tail.)

3) Share three good things about your life right now.

1. I'm very proud of my son. He leaves for college on Friday, and has proven again this weekend that whatever his weaknesses are, he is very aware of things and is smart as a tack.
2. I have an awesome group of friends on whom I can count to tell me the unvarnished truth, and even hold me and pray for me. I know, that's not the sort of thing you may come here expecting to hear, but oh well.
3. It's summer, but it's not hot-and-nasty like August here usually is. That is priceless and rare.

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

Public Domain Photo

Hey, I'm Jesus-juking you all in a big way this week! It was not intentional when I wrote this, and found the photo. I do have to wonder what exactly this is all about: why is he (or He) looking at the road, what's around that corner that he (or He) is watching, who took this picture, is it doctored or an actual branch/lighting/weirdness combination? Aside from the creepy eyeballs looking down from On High, this is a lovely, peaceful photo.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) If you are trying to do something and it isn't working, do you keep at it or try a different tactic?

Unfortunately, I do some things over and over and over ... knowing that they are stupid. Usually revolves around food. Yes, Mr. Einstein, I'm aware of what that means.

2) Do you ever drive past the houses of people you used to know, just to see if they still live there?

No, I cyberstalk them instead. Yep, that creepy. My résumé just keeps growing on this meme.

3) Have you met anyone new this week?

It's Monday. Jeez. Who wrote this meme? :-) OK, seriously, I met some really nice people last Friday at the oral surgeon's office.

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


Public Domain Photo

No he's not Jewish--my first guess. I'm going with a Civil War Re-enacter, judging by the gold braid on his shoulder. He looks appropriately grim for the period. I used to think people in the old days never laughed because of the pictures. Now I'm pretty sure that it was just those who could afford to have their pictures taken, or who were forced, didn't smile. Everyone else was busy having a good time and didn't want to interrupt the party to be photographed. ;-)