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.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Monday Morning Meme

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.

I've been able to connect with all kinds of people I would normally never have met. That is the best part of the internet as a whole. And I can choose not to engage with people online who are jerks, unlike real life.

2. How do you deal with negative comments on your blog?

Depends on what kind of negativity. If it's insanity, I just delete it. If it's conversational, I'll conversate.

3. There’s never enough time, is there? What would you do with an extra three hours today?

Sleep. It's always about sleep.

4. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?

Anywhere. Honestly, but I can only be gone for about 12 hours and then I need to get back to work.

5. Who was your "arch enemy" in high school? Do you have any enemies today?

I tried :hard to not be on anyone's radar in high school. To be honest, by the time high school rolled around, I didn't really worry too much. Grade school was a whole different story; there was this kid named Paul who hated me....

6. You’re giving the keynote address to the graduating seniors of a high school today. What’s your advice to them?

Prioritize, and enjoy the ride.

7. Thinking of words of wisdom: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

"Be yourself" when I was young. WTH? I had no idea who I was so this was completely unhelpful!

8. Tell us about the best summer vacation you EVER had.

I spent 5 weeks with my oldest sister Ellen and her family in 1975 while my parents went overseas to visit Jean and Reg for the first time. It was the best 5 weeks of my childhood.

9. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why?

My meds, and about thirty other practical things.

10. Would you accept $1,000,000 tax free, if it meant you had to leave the country and never come back?

Absolutely!

11. Do you believe the world will be a better, or worse, place 100 years from now?

I have to believe that it will be better than it is right now.

12. Do you expect to buy a new winter coat this year?

Nope. No money for that.

13. If you could spend one year in perfect happiness but afterward would remember nothing of the experience, would you do so?

Nope. It's all about the memories for me.

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A Book Meme

1. Do you prefer hardcover, paperback, or Kindle...and why?

Overall, I'd rather read a hardcover, but it's not like I refuse to read ebooks or paperbacks (or audiobooks for that matter). Why? I can block open a hardcover on a counter easier than a paperback or reader.

2. If I were to own a book shop I would call it ...

I wouldn't own a bookstore. I wouldn't be a good seller of anything at all.

3. My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is ...

“Hell is — other people!” ―Jean-Paul Sartre (No Exit)

4. The author (alive or dead) I would love to have lunch with would be ...

Sartre would actually be an interesting choice. He'd probably want to smoke though. Yuck.

5. If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except for the SAS survival guide, it would be ...

I wouldn't be bringing books. I'd be too busy trying to do things like eat and get rescued.

6. I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that ...

... corrected all the typos and grammar issues in books. It's so distracting when an author uses the wrong word.

7. The smell of an old book reminds me of ...

... allergies. Really, I only sniff brand-new books. Old books are full of mold and dust and god-only-knows what else.

8. If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be ...

... Alice in Wonderland. Although I do feel as if I'm there more often than not.

9. The most over-rated book of all time is...

... just about anything by Hemingway. Or Flaubert.

10. I hate it when a book...

... can't get itself started until page 100 or later. Ugh!!

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.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amazon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday 5 x 2

(Link in meme-roll)
What Ails ‘Ya

1. How do you treat a bad case of the Mondays?

   If it's really bad, I stay home in bed. Otherwise, I just suck it up and get on with things.

2. How do you fight off a case of the blahs?

   Recurring theme here: I sleep. This is, of course, the worst case scenario. If it's just a minor blah, I'll listen to music, read something, distract myself till I feel better.

3. How do you deal with a bad hair day?

   Pin it up, pull it off my face with pins and so forth, and forget about it. It's been my look for most of the summer, to be honest.

4. What’s your strategy for FOMO?

   I have, over the last 3-4 years, learned to sit still, bite my tongue and stay out of other people's piles of drama. I don't always succeed in suppressing the FOMO, but I'm much better at it than I ever used to be.

5. How prone are you to Instagram envy?

   Not at all. I don't even have an account. I'm too old for this shit. ;-)

I Don’t Get It Either
Questions inspired by stuff I don’t get.

1. Twitch is an enormously popular livestreaming platform mostly for watching people play video games. It has more than 1.5 million broadcasters and more than one million visitors per month, and Amazon acquired it for nearly a billion dollars in 2014. Which of your computer activities would you livestream if there were a way to make some money doing it?

   None of them. I just don't see the attraction of watching other people do stuff. Maybe it's because a large part of my job is watching people (and helping them) figure out stuff online every day. Watching that on my free time sounds tedious. I know it's me, because my son has a YouTube channel on which he uploads himself and a friend playing various video games and talking. It's a giant yawn for me. I also have a coworker who uses Twitch this same way with games. I don't get it. Not at all.

2. EDM (electronic dance music) is usually performed by DJs on stage in front of audiences, playing tracks they’ve mixed, right off their laptops. If you were a push-button DJ playing your tunes in a club, what would be your opening and closing songs, assuming everyone’s there because they’re into whatever sounds you’re into?

   I used to DJ at my college's radio station. Nothing like this, of course--we were not mixing our own songs because laptops didn't exist (as such) then, but I would think based on that experience that opening and closing with the same thing all the time would be really boring. Then again, I haven't been to a dance club in over 25 years...so what do I know? (I do like listening to EDM though--it's good, mindless stuff to motivate me when I need to get through a particularly dull task.)

3. What’s a good Adele song, and why is Adele so popular?

   I have tried to understand the Adele Phenomenon. Her voice is very good, but not The Best Ever. Her Estuary accent is grating and awful, plus hard to understand for most Americans. I think it's because her voice is perfect for heartbreak songs, and she does a great job at selling them. I can't recommend just one song; pretty much everything knocks you on your ass when you hear it the first time.

4. The Walking Dead?

   I have no idea. Zombies are not interesting to me in the least, except as an occasional plot device. There's some subtext about "why zombies, why now" that sounds very similar to last decade's "why vampires, why now" and all the faddish stuff before that. It'll pass. I hope, soon. Zombies are boring.

5. Every generation seems to arrive at a “They don’t write ’em like that anymore” attitude. Why does it seem like most middle-aged people lose interest in new music?

   Because we do not have the time nor the intense friendships that are required for wanting to be sure we are keeping up with all the pop culture bullshit. Once you have a full-time job (or multiple jobs), kids, sick parents, a late mortgage/rent payment, and IBS, the concept of knowing the favorite condiment of every member of [Insert Pop Band Name Here] becomes a little less "necessary" to know. I mean, it's still perfectly fine to know that stuff--or all the character's names and astrological signs on Doctor Who or Game of Thrones--but not everyone you meet needs proof that you're cool when you're 30+. Because, chances are, you are very much NOT, not to the actual Cool People.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Q & A Questions

1. where is your significant other?

About 10 feet away from me in his recliner eating M&Ms, watching golf, and reading the news. Probably throwing heat into his back as well. He's quite the multitasker, my Beastie.

2. your favorite thing?

WHERE is it? I'm not even sure I HAVE a favorite thing that can be located. OK, I kind of OD'd on my mom's day gift Friday: The Hamilton Mixtape. I've got all the songs buzzing around my head in confusion this weekend. The actual CD is currently in the car.

3. your dream last night?

I don't remember anything from last night. Of late, Beast is the one having all the weird dreams. Mine have been unmemorable, literally.

4. your goal?

I don't "do" goals.

5. your hobby?

Reading. Although of late, I've been doing more napping and noodling on the Internet.

6. where do you want to be in 6 years?

I'd like to be right here. I have a feeling, however, that we'll need to move to a flat house (i.e. a ranch) in that time frame because of Beast's health issues. We'll see. It's not something I want to do, certainly.

7. where were you last night?

I was here on the sofa till about 8:30 when we went to bed.

8. what you're not?

I'm not a lot of things: short, stupid, male, African... In fact, I'm probably more NOT than AM.

9. one of your wish list items?

I had to go look at my wish list on Amazon. I'll go with this: Cartier Zeste de Soleil Eau de Toilette Spray

10. your pet?

Pinto Bean the guinea pig is what we have left. How will I answer this question when he's gone??

11. missing someone?

I was seriously missing Dad this morning at church. We sang a song that never fails to remind me of him.

12. your car?

Is blue.

13. something you're not wearing?

Sox.

14. love someone?

Do I? Yes.

15. when is the last time you laughed?

About 5 minutes ago when our neighbor kid came to the door and peered in. He was finishing up mowing and he'd already come to the door about 4 times today, so I laughed and told him, "Just come in; you basically live here now."

16. last time you cried?

Friday? Definitely Thursday. No Kleenex in the ER, either--I was handed a stack of gauze pads.

17. favorite past time?

Sleep.

18. are you a hater or a lover?

I'm working hard on removing hate from the equation, so the default is lover. Truthfully, I'm aiming more at "don't care, don't matter."

19. any vices?

Yeah, I'm not mastering this "eating healthy" thing at all.

20. favorite questions blog other than Sunday Stealing?

Saturday 9, Friday 5, Unconscious Mutterings. There are some weekday ones I'd like to do, but I just do not have the energy/time for them. Many of my favorites are listed in the Memeroll to the right.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Brokenhearted (2012)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a girl who is eager and anxious for her new lover to call. Do you owe anyone a call? An email? A text?

I owe at least two phone calls. One of those people has probably been expecting a text as well. Emails, though, I'm fairly up-to-date on. ... Nope, just found a 7-week old message I haven't even read much less responded to. Since it's about my sister's death 20 years ago, I haven't been eager to open it.

2) The lyrics are peppered with the informal English exclamation, "cheerio!" What pops into your head when you close your eyes and think of England?

You forgot the "lie back" part. ;-)

I think of my rellies, and lots of green. And non-warmness, even in July.

3) This week's artist, Karmin, is a husband/wife duo who met at college, and that meeting changed the course of their lives and careers. Think of someone who has had a huge impact on your life. Did you know, as soon as you met, that this was going to be a life-changing relationship?

Not exactly. I mean, I've been wrong a lot of times about people I thought would be important long-term. However, I'm also a pretty quick judge of character (when I'm not moony) so real idiots don't last long.

4) Though she sings about consuming tequila, the female side of Karmin, Amy, is a big proponent of healthy eating. She recommends organic foods that are free of pesticides, hormones, food coloring and added sugar. Think about your most recent meal. Was it a good example of "healthy eating?"

Club crackers and sliced cheese (NOT American) washed down by Diet Dr. Pepper. Whadday think?

5) Husband Nick has his own Twitter account (@NickKarmin), but he doesn't use it often. His last tweet was back in August. What's the last thing you posted to social media? (No, your blog doesn't count.)

I RT something @JKRowling tweeted earlier this morning. I haven't been on Twitter for probably two years, but this week I reconfigured my subscriptions and got back into it. I'm following all the "Alt" and "Rogue" accounts.

6) Karmin performed "Brokenhearted" live on Dancing with the Stars. DWTS is very big business for ABC-TV. So many people vote for their favorite couples each week that their phone and text systems often overload. Have you ever voted for a contestant on American Idol, DWTS, The Voice, etc.?

Nope.

7) In 2012, the year"Brokenhearted" was popular, the average cost for a gallon of gas was $3.91. In 2016, it had dropped to $2.40. When it's time to fill up your tank, do you shop around for the lowest price/gal.? Are you brand loyal and always return to the same station, regardless of price? Or do you just buy gas from the nearest station when you're running low?

I do try to hit the low-ballers in the area, but mostly I stop when the light comes on and panic sets in.

8) In 2012, the Space Shuttle Endeavor was retired and placed on permanent display at the California Science Center, a Los Angeles museum dedicated to encouraging excitement and enthusiasm about air and space travel. Let's say you had a long weekend to spend in Los Angeles. Would you go out of your way to see The Endeavor? What else would you like to do during your time in the City of Angels?

If Beast were with me, we'd probably do that. Personally, I'd find a nice hotel near the ocean, find a bench at the water's edge and park there for the duration.

9) While we're thinking about aviation ... Statistics show that it's still a predominantly male field, and less than 10% of commercial pilots are women. Would you be nervous flying with a woman pilot?

Of course not! Actually, I have flown on a commercial flight piloted by a woman. NBD.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Ask, ask, ASK--part 2

26 - Did you have an accident last year?

What sort of accident? I have not been involved in any vehicular accidents, but I've screwed up quite a few things in the past 12 months.

27 - Do you have any famous relatives?

There's a cousin of some kind who used to be a news anchor in Cleveland. ... So, no, not really. ;-)

28 - Did you ever had a kiss under the moonlight?

While I can't think of a specific time, I'm sure in 30 years of marriage (and three years of dating) we've kissed outside at night at least once.

29 - Have you ever been jealous?

Is the sky blue? Is the Pope Catholic? Of course I've been jealous!

30 - How can you prove your love to someone?

Depends entirely upon the person, I suppose, but there's a component of dependability involved. For me, anyway.

31 - What are you thinking right now?

"Why is my stomach SO growly tonight?!"

32 - Have you ever sacrificed something important to you for someone you love?

Head-desk. OF COURSE I HAVE!

33 - Can you live without internet?

I can, but it wouldn't be fun for the first few days.

34 - Have you been so emotional that you can’t find words to explain how you feel?

This is an almost-daily occurrence. I seem to be moving backwards in the vocabulary department.

35 - Did you ever badmouth someone?

hah, this week? Ya think?

36 - What do you prefer, jeans or skirt?

Jeans. I'm completely over skirts. Especially as part of Pantsuit Nation, I'm kinda unlikely to ever wear a skirt or dress again.

37 - Do you have trust issues?

Nope. Well, unless you mean, am I entirely too gullible?

38 - What's something that you made all on your own and are incredibly proud of?

My career. Somehow. OK, I had help from loads of people, but I suspect this would be true of most everything I've accomplished in life.

39 - Who’s the person who first comes to your mind when someone mentions “love”?

Beast.

40 - Who was the last person you hugged?

J.T., who came with me today to see Beast on visitation day.

41 - Do you believe in the phrase “If it’s meant to be, it will be”?

Up to a point. I mean, we are responsible for making sure things happen as they are supposed to, and for keeping things that shouldn't happen from happening.

42 - Do people praise you for your looks?

People rarely notice me except as part of the furniture these days. Which is just fine by me. The things I can eavesdrop on because people don't think I'm there....!

43 - Do you believe in destiny?

No. I really can't even say that word without hearing George McFly proclaiming, "You Are My Density!"

44 - Have you ever thought “I already found my soulmate”?

I don't really believe in soulmates either. Essentially, I don't do much magical thinking.

45 - Do you like nicknames that are from your name?

There really isn't much you can do to shorten my name. And that, my friends, is the reason all of my siblings and I have the names we have. My parents were not into the nickname thing at all!

46 - Could you ever be a vegan?

No way. I like meat too much!

47 - Do you currently have bruises on your body?

I'm sure I do. Where? I'll try to let you know when I discover them. I run into things ALL . THE . TIME.

48 - What should you be doing right now?

Paying bills. Going to bed.

49 - I read in a magazine that shoulder pads are coming back. Are you happy to hear this or do you not find them to be very attractive?

Heh. I don't really care. They're kind of a pain, to be honest, but I like them in jackets sometimes.

50 - Did you ever feel like you’re not good enough?

I gave this up for Lent this year.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Bookish Questions

1. How long did it take you to finish your last book?

The last book I finished was Private Down Under on audio. Now I can say I have read Patterson. It took me 6 days of commuting to work and back to finish this. I'm not impressed.

2. How many times do you stare at your bookshelves each day?

Huh. At home, I rarely look at my books on shelves. What I'm reading isn't on a shelf. At work, I stare at books all day, hoping they'll all get cataloged, magically, without my intervention. Hasn't happened yet.

3. How many GoodReads friends/books do you have?

Friends: I have 78 friends, and I follow 44 people. There are a few that are on both lists.
Books: I've got 3,511 listed. Almost 3,100 of those are books I've read. There are four more I'm currently reading, 351 I'm waiting to read, 46 on the "next" list (absurd to have that many "next" I know), and 13 title I will never (willingly) read. The last category is so GoodReads will stop recommending them to me because I "should" be reading them, I guess. I'm sure I could go through YA and children's sections and easily double the "books read" amount given several hours of free time and nothing better to do.

4. Do you ever quote books in public?

It has been known to happen. Unfortunately, I don't always remember specific quotes well enough to say them at the appropriate time.

5. Do you ever re-read books?

Not too often. A few. And sometimes I find myself partway through a book and realizing that the reason it's so familiar is because I've read it.

6. Do you judge a book by its cover?

I do. Kind of. There is a bit of publisher-coding that goes on with covers. Anything covered in flowers gets passed up by default. Almost anything with horses, ditto. Half-naked people? Nope. Having said that, I can think of at least one title in each of those categories that I've read and loved. It's not foolproof.

7. Do you take pictures of your books before you read them?

Nope. It wouldn't have occurred to me to do this when I start a book. I do, sometimes, take pictures of my To Be Read Pile.

8. What are your biggest distractions from reading?

Facebook, and the internet in general. Sleep. Puzzles and games.

9. Where is your favorite place to buy books?

I rarely buy books, but when I do I prefer to shoot most of my money to my local independent bookstore. I do use Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well.

10. Do you always have a book with you?

I've begun carrying a book with me in the car now that I'm chauffeuring Beast around and having to wait for him on occasion. And I subscribe to BookShout! on my phone so I always have something to read there if things really tank.

11. Do you read during breakfast?

I read whenever, wherever, all the time. During meals, in the car (audiobooks), before sleep, in the middle of the night (hello, insomnia). About the only time I can't read is while the TV is on because I can't concentrate. Oh, and riding in a car is out as well because I get carsick.

12. How many hours a day would you say you read?

If we're straight-up talking about printed material (books, audio, emedia, magazines, journals) probably at least 3-5 hours a day. But really, i spend the whole day reading, and then I come home and read some more. It's just that a lot of that is online stuff: social media, catalog records, web pages for reference questions, etc., etc. If I include that, I'm probably reading, conservatively, 12 hours a day.

13. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?

Feels like slightly less. I've just realized that I never did a year-end summation on my book blog last year as I've done every other year. So, the stats for the previous 15 years are as follows:
number of books read in 2014: 105
number of books read in 2013: 90
number of books read in 2012: 88
number of books read in 2011: 69
number of books read in 2010: 67
number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
I guess I'm reading a little more than I was 10 years ago. I did 110 last year according to GoodReads. I had some slow years there while Sparky was in middle school and high school.

14. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?

I read fast, but I'm not a speed reader. I just spend a lot of time reading.

15. Do you read in bed?

Yes.

16. How old were you when you got your first library card?

I got it, I expect, pretty much as soon as I was allowed. I was 6. I later worked at that library, and they still had my registration card on file then! That was weird.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Wish List Meme, part two

26.) Favorite kids name?

Right outta the gate I go pedantic: the name of my favorite kid? or my favorite name for a person (all of whom start as children)? Where's the apostrophe supposed to be???
So, my favorite name is Josephine.
My favorite kid is (naturally) Sparky, although he's 23 so I'm stretching a bit. If I exclude "former kids" and only go with current ones....seriously this is hard. There are a lot of contenders in my life. I think I have to go with my coworker's son Ian, or maybe play family-favorites and go with my great-nephew J. I've always connected to Ian's thought processes and general persona; J. is just a tough little kid, and while I'm terribly glad I'm not his mom, he totally has my heart because he's a miracle baby with serious spunk.

27.) Do you speak any other languages?

I can make myself understood in Spanish, given a forgiving Spanish-speaker with whom to deal. I can speak some pidgin Italian and Greek, and I used to have some pidgin Russian too. I can read some French and German.

28.) Do you use Twitter?

Not very often.

29.) Do you go onto YouTube?

I watch videos that others tell me about. I don't watch "shows."

30.) Do you play Angry Birds?

Nope.

31.) Do you like Angry Birds?

Well, I don't hate them or anything, but I never really understood the attraction of the whole thing.

32.) Do you like Hello Kitty?

Not particularly, but again, it's not as if I hate them.

33.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

All the damn time!

34.) Who would you like to see in concert?

Do I have to be in the crowd, or can I be in a box? If there's a box available, I'd see almost anyone. Bleacher seats? Nope; I'll stay home.

35.) Can you swim well?

I have come to hate this fucking question. No, goddammit, I can't swim at all!! Stop bloody ASKING!

36.) Ever won a contest?

Yup.

37.) Ever won a giveaway?

Yup. I have a couple of books on the way from GoodReads right now, in fact.

38.) Do you get a full 8 hours of sleep every night?

Only if I stayed in bed for 12 hours would that happen lately. My recent pattern is sleep for an hour, wake up and read for awhile, sleep for another hour or two, wake up and read for awhile, sleep the rest of the night (or repeat the earlier pattern once more at 4). It's ridiculous.

39.) What tea do you like?

Hot, strong, black tea.

40.) What coffee do you like?

I don't like coffee. Blech.

41.) Do you shop at Walmart?

Not very often, not if I have other options.

42.) Do you shop at Target?

I love Target, but there isn't one near us anymore.

43.) What do you order at Second Cup?

Looks like it's a Italian soda for me. However, I don't think we have any nearby; the website is a bit borked right now so I can't tell for sure.

44.)

...is missing

45.) Do you like homemade meals?

Yup. Well, I mean, I like food, and homemade is fine.

46.) Do you like homemade baked goods?

Helz yeah!

47.) Do you shop online?

I do.

48.) Name 3 stores online stores you would like to shop at:

Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and my local indie bookstore.

49.) What holiday don't you like?

I'm not a huge fan of July 4th just because everyone around here goes completely bonkers and buys scads of fireworkswhich are illegal in this state!! For good reason: people are dumb.

50.) What do you eat more of when you're sick?

Soup.

Aesthetics??

(Found God-knows-where on the internet...)
rules: tag 20 followers you want to get to know better
so I'm already breaking the rules: if you want to use this, feel free; just link back

Name/nickname:

Cat.

Height:

I used to be about 176 cm but I'm pretty sure I'm shrinking so, let's call it 175 these days.

Hogwarts house:

According to my results a few years ago, I'm Hufflepuff. Which suits me--I don't want to be any of the others.

Favorite color:

Blue

Time:

4:46 p.m.

Last things I Googled:

"[state] license plates gh"

Fictional character you’d like as a sibling:

Laura Ingalls for sure when I was a kid. Will Riker would be a fun brother, no?

Number of blankets I sleep with:

Just the bedspread. That might be changing fairly soon, however.

Favorite band:

I have so many. Let's go with Billy Joel today.

Dream vacation:

Cruise around the world, first class all the way, with an unlimited budget.

When did I make this blog:

May 2004 ... yikes

How many blogs do I follow:

I've got 150+ RSS feeds that range from blogs to newspaper headlines to email lists.

What do I post about:

Here, it's all the memes. I have a few other blogs dedicated to different aspects of my life. This one and the books list get the most play by far.

Do you get asks on a regular basis:

What's an "ask"? Apparently I don't get any!

Aesthetics:

Clean, clutter-free, wood and leather, simplicity.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
My Life Would Suck Without You (2009)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
This song always cracks me up--it's written so "the way people talk" and it could never have been played on the radio when I was a teen because of That Word! hee hee

1) This video begins with Ms. Clarkson on a swing. When you were young, did you prefer the swings or the slide?

Oh swings! I loved swinging. I still enjoy it, but when I get too high, I now get vertigo which isn't fun. Also, the seats are not made for grown-up hips.

2) The first words are, "Guess this means you're sorry." Who is the last person to apologize to you?

The woman next to me at meeting last night apologized for crying. Oh, and Beast probably apologized a couple of times when I woke him up coming to bed; he does that on auto-pilot. Makes me nuts.

3) One of Kelly's earliest show business jobs was as an extra on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. Do you believe in witches and warlocks?

I believe that people believe in witchcraft. I think there is magic* in the world. I'm not sure anyone can actually control (all the) forces of nature, but I do like stories about witches.

4) Mentioning witches and seeing Kelly with a lollipop reminds Sam ... She needs to pick up a 1 lb. bag of Dum Dums for Trick or Treaters. Have you done anything in preparation for Halloween?

Nope. I usually don't buy candy till a couple of days before. That way I'm less tempted to eat it all before the kids show up.

5) Ms. Clarkson's advice to aspiring young singers is not to listen to advice. "Everyone gives you their 2¢ worth, but you have to follow your gut." Are you good at soliciting and following advice? Or do you tend to follow your gut?

I solicit occasionally, receive (by the bucket-load) constantly, and allow the good stuff to percolate before I make a decision.

6) The year this song was popular, 2009, saw two major newspapers go out of business. Both the Seattle Post Intelligencer and Rocky Mountain News published their last editions. Do you still read a paper copy of your local newspaper?

The local (daily) paper is abysmal and frankly a joke. I read the headlines via RSS to stay abreast of the Big Stuff. I do read the (weekly) paper though. The writing is better and since it's just about my town, it's actually full of stuff I should know.

7) In 2009, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that Facebook tried to buy Twitter, but was rebuffed. Which social media site do you spend the most time on?

Facebook, no contest.

8) In 2009, the Balmain Collection included a pair of jeans that retailed for $2,165. What's the most you would pay for denim pants?

I can get Lee jeans for less than $30 if I watch for sales. I would certainly never pay more than $60 or so. I'm a freakin' cheapskate!

9) Random question: You buy a charity raffle ticket and tuck it into a friend's birthday card. Before you can give the card to her, the numbers are drawn and you realize the ticket is worth $500. Do you keep the ticket or give it to your friend, as planned?

Give it over. I don't really do money raffles, or the lottery--deep-seated training about gambling (even though I play in Vegas ... so I'm a bit contradictory! shrug)--so it would feel really cheaty to cash in someone else's present.

_____________
*By "magic" I really mean both "things we don't fully understand" and "amazing, wonderful, miraculous things."

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Two Thousand Zero Zero Party Over Oops Out of Time

1. What’s your favorite song from 1999?

It's kind of a toss-up between "Unpretty" and "Livin' La Vida Loca." I had no idea it's been 17 years since Ricky-Mania started! I've got the Shania CD too, and it got played A LOT!!

2. What are some of your favorite films from 1999?

I can recall seeing precisely three of the movies on that list: Phantom Menace, Matrix, and Toy Story 2, and I think only one of those in a theater. One was a giant yawn, one was pretty funny, and the third was deeper than I ever thought that kind of movie could be.

3. What’s something interesting that happened on your birthday in 1999?

u>On my birthday, not much. Beast's birthday is soon after mine, and there was all kinds of stuff on his: collapsing people-killing bonfires, non-fatal plane crashes, and an international call for peace in Chechnya. Between our two birthdays, Neopets were introduced!!

4. How did you ring in the new year as 1999 became 2000?

We stayed home, of course, and Sparky tried his hardest to last till midnight. He did ok for an almost-seven-year-old and lasted till about 11 before crashing in the papa-san chair in the living room. I have an awesome photo of him somewhere in his Winnie-the-Pooh slippers and jammies, comatose at the beginning of the new year.

5. What’s something that’s gotten better since 1999?

Internet speed.

I miss Prince so much....sigh....

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Down the Rabbit Hole

1. What was the subject of one of your memorable YouTube holes?

   I don't really hang out on YouTube much. I can't even think of a time when I've gotten lost in watching videos.

2. What was your most recent Wikipedia hole like?

   There was some question yesterday at work of who Lauren Conrad is, which then led me off to figure out what The Hills was, and then somehow I ended up looking at some old MTV info before remembering that I was supposed to be, y'know, working.

3. What’s a recipe you got from the internet and actually prepared? How did it turn out?

   I've gotten a lot of recipes off the net. The last one that failed dramatically is the cornmeal mush one I found after we got back from our cruise. They had the BEST stuff for breakfast-omg so good--and the recipe I found was completely awful. I've found a better one, but I haven't made it yet because wow that last thing was horrible.

4. What apparently little-known website do you enjoy?

   I visit a lot of niche sites. A lot. A long-time favorite is LanguageHat. I've been reading his stuff for a dozen years now. I also really love Separated By a Common Language.

5. What apparently popular website can you just not get into?

   The vast vast majority. I've almost completely given up on Twitter, for instance. I never have understood the attraction of Instagram. Pinterest...haven't been over there in probably 18 months.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Gongerling Meme

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

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

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

2. What is your dream car?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. What were you doing 10 years ago?

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

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

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

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

Sort through the aforementioned piles of crap in this house.

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

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

15. What is your greatest pet peeve?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. What are you dreading at the moment?

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

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

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

Saturday 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
My Friends Call Me Tulip

1. Can you stay inside all day without getting bored?

   Yup. I've had to learn that since I'm basically allergic to the outdoors from early August until a hard frost in the fall.

2. Tell us about a TV show that we should watch.

   As my son says, "you do you" so I try not to tell people what they should do. Having said that, I really like almost everything Mike Rowe is involved in.

3. When was the last time you were at your home computer all day?

   I'm not sure. Maybe last weekend? I don't know; it's not that unusual.

4. What websites other than your own do you visit daily?

   What I have open right now: GoodReader, Inoreader, Gmail, Facebook, and Blogger. I don't go to my site daily, or even Blogger. Facebook is my crack.

5. Do you have a favorite day of the week? Why?

   I used to love Mondays; I still like them, but I work full-time now so it's less exciting. I like Fridays at work too--they just seem way laid-back.

6. Did you ever watch Saturday morning cartoons? What was your favorite?

   Nope. Saturday morning, when I was a child, meant staying in my room and cleaning while Mom cleaned the rest of the house. Once lunchtime passed, I was free to do whatever I wanted, which rarely involved TV.

7. Were you a comic book fan?

   Not so much, no.

8. Did you earn an allowance when you were a kid? How much? Was it tied to chores?

   My parents were never really into this. I got paid a little to take the trash out for awhile, but mostly if I wanted money, I just asked. Which involved explaining what I wanted it for.

9. What is the fanciest type of car you've ridden in? What occasion?

   I was in a Porsche for a day quite some time ago, helping a friend move. She was 24...and owned a Porsche. WTF! And I've ridden in a number of limos over the years. It's an airport thing around here.

10. What's your favorite sport to watch?

    Football. Really, need you ask??

11. Ever tried surfing?

    Nope. I can't swim. Surfing seems like it could be rather dangerous for me.

12. Have you ever been to a live major team sporting game?

    Yeah. Been to a NFL games, a couple of NBA games, lots of MLB games, and some hockey and soccer games. You know what, though: I've never been to a sports event in another country. There's a bucket list thing.

13. From a scale of 1 to 5 how athletic are you (1=nerd, 5=very athletic)?

    I'm probably about -4 these days.

14. What's your favorite horror movie?

    I don't do horror movies.

15. What is your favorite cult classic movie?

    By default, it has to be RHPS.

16. About how many times do you go to the movies a month?

    I think my average for this year is up to .2 times per month. Last few years, it would probably be closer to .02 times per month.

17. Favorite movie, which one came to your head first?

    Shoah

18. What if your life was like a movie? What type of movie would it be?

    Deadly dull with moments of insanity. I'm not sure anyone would watch it.

19. Do you like long series movies, like "Lord of the Rings"?

    Well, I don't like LotR, but I did enjoy the Harry Potter movies and the Matrix movies. Generally, though, I prefer brand-new ideas rather than re-doing the same damn thing over and over. Hello, superheroes, I'm looking SQUARELY at you!

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Don't You Care? (1967)
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) What's something that seems to fascinate everyone else, but you just don't care about?

Instagram. Why?

2) The lyrics refer to "the times we cried and laughed." Which did you do more recently, cry or laugh?

I laugh far far more than I cry, always. But sometimes that laughter is either in spite of tears or to hide the tears.

3) In the song, our hero seems surprised that his girlfriend doesn't believe him. Are you more believing and trusting, or suspicious and skeptical?

I'm a weird blend of naive and skeptical. I don't love being cynical, but I do tend to see through people's BS far more often than not.

4) This song is just over two minutes long, which seems short for a song but awful long when Sam is waiting for her chicken soup to heat in the microwave. What's the last thing you heated in a microwave?

Hmmm. Mashed potatoes Tuesday night? I think?

5) This week's band, The Buckinghams, was one of the first acts to perform at Chicago's premiere summer festival, The Taste of Chicago.* Let's think ahead: Have you made any plans for Summer 2016?

Nope. I'm intent on trying to get a week in March to go visit a friend who just bought a house in Minnesota.

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, Rolling Stone magazine published its first issue. What magazines do you subscribe to? Do they arrive in the mail, or do you read them online?

Entertainment Weekly, Ms., Presbyterian Outlook, and BookMarks. I still read the paper versions most of the time.

7) Country star/American Idol judge Keith Urban was born in 1967. Are you watching the final season of American Idol?

I haven't watched any American Idol, except in clips on other shows or on YouTube.

8) In 1967, the average cost of a movie ticket was $1.25. By 2015, it had risen $8.60. What's the last movie you saw in a theater?

SW:TFA. We're probably going to see it once more this afternoon.

9) Random question: Sam's taking everyone out to dinner and she's buying. Would you prefer the steak or the lobster?

Can't I do surf n turf? Actually, I think I'll go with steak; I usually get about 3 bites of lobster before I feel full and sort of sick. So rich.

__________
*Though back in 1970, it was called ChicagoFest.

Google Says

(Swiped from Kwizgiver)

1. Type in "Cat. needs" in the Google search:
...to lose weight
Reaction: Well, that's rather rude. Also, true, but jeez.
[[real name result: ...a heart transplant // Reaction: Yoicks I hope not!!]]

2. Type in "Cat. wants" in the Google search:
...to be petted
Reaction: No, not really.
[[real name result: ...perfection // Reaction: Really?]]

3. Type in "Cat. is" in the Google search:
...sneezing
Reaction: The next option is "constipated"--I'll stick with sneezing.
[[real name result: ...a resident of [the state I actually live in] // Reaction: WHHHATTTT? Oh, ok, it's the beginning of a story problem. The next sentence is "[Guy's name] is a resident of [a nearby state]..."]]

4. Type in "Cat. looks like" in Google search:
...Hitler.
Reaction: Not very much, thank God!
[[real name result: ...she is about 7' tall here // Reaction: But I'm not.]]

5. Type in "Cat. does" in Google search:
..n't purr.
Reaction: No, I don't. Sorry.
[[real name result: ...math // Reaction: Not bloody likely.]]

6. Type in "Cat. likes" in the Google search:
...water.
Reaction: Bathing, not swimming.
[[real name result: ...Ziam // Reaction: Noooo....?]]

7. Type in "Cat. hates" in Google search:
...me.
Reaction: No. I don't really hate anyone.
[[real name result: ...it when I post these // Reaction: Probably with good reason.]]

8. Type in "Cat. goes" or “..has gone" in Google search:
...crazy
Reaction: Regularly.
[[real name result is boring]]

9. Type in "Cat. loves" in Google search:
...baby
Reaction: Ahhh, sweet.
[[real name result: ...to pop bubbles // Reaction: I do?]]

10. Type in "Cat. says" in the Google search:
...no
Reaction: Not often enough.
[[real name result: ...so (all scrunched together in a URL // Reaction: I'm afraid to click on the link.]]

11. Type in "Cat. eats" in Google search:
...plastic
Reaction: Not very often, and never intentionally.
[[real name result: ...banana for the first time // Reaction: I'm sure that's fun.]]

12. Type in "Cat. has" in Google search:
...a cold
Reaction: Fair's fair. The first answer is actually "diarrhea" but I'd rather have a cold, thanks.
[[real name result is boring]]

13. Type in "Cat. makes" in Google search:
...weird noises
Reaction: LOLOL yes!!
[[real name result: ...early decision // Reaction: That would be unusual.]]

14. Type in "Cat. can" in the Google search:
...cook banana muffins
Reaction: Yes, though not with any regularity.
[[real name result is boring]]

15. Type in "Cat. will" in Google search:
...not eat
Reaction: This is rarely a problem I have.
[[real name result is boring]]

My real name is boring.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Big Bad Meme

Is there anyone else in the room with you atm? What are they doing?

Beast is across the room sorting the week's mail, paying bills, doing some other financial stuff...and watching the Packers play (badly, against Carolina).

Do you show your teeth when you smile, or do you prefer smiling with your lips closed?

I don't really think about my teeth when I'm smiling--I'm pretty sure they show.

Would you rather be told the truth, even if it isn’t what you want to hear?

Yes, ultimately I would.

What is something that you plan to buy, as soon as you’ve saved up the money for it?

We really need a new vacuum. I "donated" our old one to Sparky when he moved out in August. The cleaning ladies do the carpets when they're here, and most of the floors aren't carpeted anyway, but we really need something for cleaning in between their visits.

Do you play Sudoku?

I do. Almost every day.

Have you ever had a migraine?

Yes. They are the pits.

What was the last book you read for pleasure?

I've finally finished Touch by Claire North. Great concept, good story, but the ending was a bit of a letdown....

What was the last item of clothing you purchased for yourself?

I bought a couple of new pairs of shoes for fall/winter last weekend. Before that, it was a T and a zip-hoodie on vacation.

Your first serious relationship, do you still talk to him/her?

Nope. I'm friends with his brother on Facebook though.

Who is the last person you texted?

Beast.

How close is your family?

Geographically, we're very spread out (all over the U.S.--like 5 separate states) and two countries in Europe. But, surprisingly, we're pretty close as family.

Is there anything too serious to be joked about?

It's impossible to laugh at other people's honest grief. There's humor in grief, to be sure, but not directed outwards at someone who is grieving.

Do you like to understand and have good knowledge of things?

Yes.

What is worse? Back pain or shoulder pain?

Well this is eerily timely....Beast has been suffering from both in the past three weeks. We're far more concerned about the pain that is originating in his spine and causing the fingers on his left hand to go numb almost constantly. I think nerve pain is the worst because nothing really 'fixes' it except morphine (which they don't give outside the hospital or directly under a nurse's care, these days). His arm just aches all the time.

Have you ever almost fallen off of something high off the ground?

Nope. I tend to hold on tight when I'm elevated. Probably has something to do with growing up in the mountains.

What’s one fruit you love in drinks?

Lemon.

What is something simple that you’re afraid of?

The bottom falling out. Y'know when this question comes up anymore, I just sit here for 15-20 seconds trying to come up with something scary...and in this case something "simple" that's scary. The stuff that tends to scary me is not simple. Bats, spiders, death, the dark, heights...nope. Maybe large crowds, but especially in the last month I've had to face some serious fears and come to terms with them and stand my ground just to get on with life. Doesn't mean I'm calm and cool all the time, but I've developed a very large capacity for "bring it."

Has this weekend been good?

Yeah, actually, it's been good. I'm going to finish this and publish it and flop over for my mid-afternoon Sunday nap. That's always good.
I'm NOT, however, looking forward to work tomorrow. Friday was a great day for getting stuff done, but a shit day for dealing with coworkers. I really don't want to see them tomorrow.

How much time do you take to get ready in the morning?

I'm usually up and getting ready to leave the house about 90 minutes before I need to leave.

Last movie you watched in theaters and with whom?

"A Walk in the Woods" last month with Beast. I loved the book. The movie was ok--lovely scenery and Nick Nolte and Robert Redford were funny.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
25 Fun Meme

1. If you were trapped in a room with the person who asked this for 24 hours, what would you do? The answer cannot be romantic or sexual.

We'd probably talk about books, laugh, read, eat, listen to music...nap. ;-)

2. If you could learn any language instantly, what would it be?

Ancient Greek. Or Hebrew, ancient or modern because I don't think there's a big difference. But what do I know... lol

3. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Pretty much has to be the Bible. If it's not in there, humankind hasn't thought of it. I would, however, prefer it be Eugene Peterson's translation, or even Rob Lacey's (especially if he decided to do the whole thing ever).

4. Favorite song lyric?

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Amazing Grace, verse 4

5. Favorite album?

Either M.E. (Melissa Etheridge) or Relish (Joan Osborne). Or a big tie between a whole pile of musicals. ;-)

6. Which time of day would you say is best for you work-wise?

9 to 11 or so. Actually, if I could start work at 7, I'd have 4 good hours every day.

7. Favorite city that you’ve visited?

For different reasons: London (SO MUCH to see, and clean and I understand the transit system); Rome (are you kidding me? Food everywhere and history and OMG OMG); Florence (quieter, cleaner, excellent food, Michelangelo); Denver (hello, mountains and home); San Diego (perfect weather always, and the people are chill); St. Petersburg/Leningrad (even the Soviets, and brutal winters, couldn't spoil the beauty and grace of this city, no more than Hitler could manage to conquer it).

One of these times can we do the shittiest places?

8. Favorite city that you haven’t visited?

I would love to visit Barcelona. I think Taos sounds lovely, and Santa Fe. Someday I'd like to see Honolulu. And Sydney.

9. If you could donate $10,000 to charity, what charity would you pick?

I'd probably split it up between some educational charities and some that specifically work with kids. Or UNICEF which does both.

10. What is one book you wish you could get all your friends to read?

Oh, uh-uh, nope. There are a lot of good books out there. You find yours. I'll give you a list of options once I've talked to you, but for every person who loves Jane Eyre there are dozens who hate it, and both can be right. I'm not going to suggest that for Bud, for instance. Maybe for him Old Man and the Sea or some Robert Parker Spenser books (seriously, they're fun, and funny and excellent). But I wouldn't suggest those for someone like my sister Marie. Reader's Advisory is difficult.

11. What is one movie you wish you could get all your friends to watch?

See above. And I don't know films, anyway, so....

12. What do you think people assume about you from first glance?

I don't think most people even SEE me anymore unless I'm causing trouble. I think they assume I'm old, fat and stupid. Some of that may be true.

13. If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?

I would like to be able to play piano. Maybe I'll pick it up again now that Sparky's out of the house.

14. What is your favorite item of clothing?

Pajamas.

15. Who was your first follower on your blog? Do they still follow you?

It was probably Amy, and I think she's still there. Yes?

16. If you could create one thing, what would it be?

I'd like a cure for cancer, and a few other really horrible diseases, please.

17. Favorite superhero?

Wonder Woman. Of course. Unless Mighty Mouse counts....

18. If you were to write an autobiography, what would you title it?

Boring White Bread Life would be, if nothing else, extremely accurate.

19. If you were to have a band, what would you call it?

I'm really not interested in being in a band. ...moving on...

20. What is your favorite card/board game?

Probably "Trivial Pursuit" but I like almost all games: "Sorry," "Apples to Apples," "Clue," "Life," "Parcheesi" ... you name it.

21. What was the first IM service you used? Who was the first person you talked to on it?

"prince" -- WTH?

We used Prodigy back in the early days of pre-internet life, like 1990-ish. Mostly we started there because my parents (IN THEIR 60s!) were already using it and we could 'talk' there. I think our "ID" was something like TWBX54; I was "a" and Beast was "b." The other four personas we were allowed went unused.

22. If you could give a friendly hug to any one person, who would it be? Cannot be your romantic/sexual partner if you have one.

I'm a big hugger. I hug anyone who will have me. Right now, I'd like to get a hug from Sparky.

23. Have you ever won any sort of contests? What kind?

Some academic things. Otherwise, I didn't really do a lot of competing. Still don't.

24. Who was the last person you hugged? Cannot be your romantic/sexual partner if you have one.

That would be Gail, one of my hug-buddies at church. She's been super-supportive this past week or so.

25. If you could be skilled in any one activity, what would it be? Cannot be romantic or sexual.

I would love to LOVE to cook. Or even LIKE it....