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.

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

Saturday 9 18

(Link in meme-roll)
Cheerleader (2014)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Homecoming and football make this an important time of year for cheerleaders. Were you a cheerleader, or did you date one?

Nope and nope. ...and moving on...

2) Beyond cheerleaders and the big game, homecoming is a time for parades. Have you ever ridden on a float?

Actually, I don't think I have. I was usually in the band. The one time I was in a parade and not marching was when Sparky was in Little League and marched in the local Memorial Day parade.

3) OMI sings that his girl is always there when he needs her. Who do you know you can always count on?

"Always"? No one is "always" reliable or available. Beast is pretty good. I have several friends I can go to with my drama or needs. The only "always" for me is God.

4) This video features a sandy beach, a rocky shore and palm trees. What do you see outside your window right now?

Blue sky, the house next door, part of a tree. The sun is blazing through the front window but I can make out the shadow of our blue spruce in front of the porch and some birds flying around.

5) In the lyrics we hear that his cheerleader girlfriend is "like a genie in a bottle." Who would rather hang around with? Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie or Samantha from Bewitched?

Well, Samantha wasn't a genie, but I'd really rather hang with her. Jeannie was a little flaky, though I did rather like the decor in her bottle.

6) OMI is from Jamaica. Have you ever visited that island country?

Nope. Aside from the music, I've never really wanted to.

7) Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica in 1494. Columbus Day will soon be upon us (October 12). Is it a big deal in your community?

Nope. And I wish it weren't called that. The only reason it's even recognized around here is for the long fall break from school that usually surrounds it.

8) Queen Elizabeth is Jamaica's head of state. Her Majesty is now 89 years old and a great grandmother. Who is the oldest person in your life?

Hmm. I don't know ages for sure, but there are some folks at church in their late 80s and early 90s. And some of our library patrons. One guy who is 82 and looks about 70 and was in a pretty major motorcycle accident recently...and walked away.

9) Her Majesty was named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary after three of her relatives, who also were queens. Were you named after anyone?

My middle name may be. I don't know. My sisters named me, supposedly after a friend of one of theirs. Or anyway they liked that name. Whatever.

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Beyond the Sea (1959)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song mentions golden sands. When do you think you'll next visit the beach?

At this point, it'll be next summer. I don't see much of a reason to go beachside during the winter. Though there is a resort town on a lake not too far from here that we might visit over the winter and our usual haunt is right across from the beach.

2) Shortly after "Beyond the Sea" hit the charts, Bobby Darin met and married movie sweetheart Sandra Dee. Her squeaky-clean image is spoofed in the song, "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee," from Grease. Can you name another song from Grease?

"Hopelessly Devoted to You" is the only one that's coming into focus this morning.

3) Years earlier, Bobby had an ill-fated romance with singer Connie Francis. According to Ms. Francis, Darin wanted to marry her, but her father forbade it. Have you ever had a relationship that your parents disapproved of?

Sure. They weren't enamored with me getting married right out of college, I'm fairly certain, but being the youngest in my family paid off in that they knew better than to forbid anything. It only makes it more attractive.

4) Bobby was a Renaissance man: Grammy-winning singer, Oscar-nominated actor, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and an excellent chess player. Are you good at chess?

No. I've played, but I'm not good at it at all.

5) A car buff, he drove a 1960 custom car that was so unique and spectacular it's now in a Detroit museum. The bright red paint was mixed with ground diamonds to ensure that it sparkled in the sun. Each of the four bucket seats had its own ac/heat control and radio speaker. The steering wheel was slightly squared for easier handling. What features would your dream car have?

Heated seats. 4WD. Big tires. Big engine. Convertible top/sides.

6) Beyond the Sea is also the name of the 2004 screen biography in which Kevin Spacey played Bobby Darin. Who would you choose to play you in the story of your life?

Julia Roberts or Sandra Bullock. They both have the right laugh.

7) When he was just 8 years old, Bobby Darin was stricken with rheumatic fever, and the disease left him with a dangerously weakened heart. Did you spend much time in the hospital when you were a kid?

I spent time visiting my sister Ellen in the hospital when I was very young--she was quite ill and nearly died. As a teenager, I was a candystriper. Otherwise, not so much time in the hospital, definitely not as a patient for which I'm grateful.

8) In 1959, when "Beyond the Sea" was popular, Alaska became our 49th state. What comes to mind when you think of Alaska?

Cold. Dark. Snow. Crazy people. Glaciers. And, naturally, crab fishing.

9) In 1959, Conair introduced the first hair dryer developed for home use. Is there a hair dryer in your bathroom right now?

There is!

Sunday Stealing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God.

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

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

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

The ability to keep my opinions to myself!

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

Nope, not interested.

11. What does friendship mean to you?

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

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

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

13. When did you last laugh?

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

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

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

15. Seen anything weird lately?

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

Friday Five

(Link in meme-roll)
Five Random Questions

1. Would you sell your soul to the devil and what would it take?

It's unlikely, although for my son or an iced sugar cookie...anything's possible.

2. Who do you think will be the first 5 people you meet in heaven?

Ellen, Dad, Nathanael, Mom, and Jean. In that order, and followed quickly by MIL, FIL, and several dear friends.

3. Is life more fair to some then others?

"More fair"? Hmmm, we all deal with shit. Some shit is pretty major and obvious (think Anne Frank level), some is not. It's really how we deal with it all, though. Don't expect fair; nobody promised life would be fair.

4. Do you think some people are just born unhappy?

No. I think that's a function of nurture. But I think some people are more prone to sensitivity to pain, which can lead to unhappiness. But see above: it's about how we deal with it.

5. If you could have a magical power (like the charmed ones), what would it be?

Invisibility is my go-to for this.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Imaginary Meme, Part Three

41. Growing up, who was the easier mark: Mom or Dad?

Dad, totally; his currency was guilt while Mom's was yelling and/or spanking.

42. What is the stupidest pet that you ever saw?

I've never really understood why people want ferrets; they smell weird. And I do NOT get fish as pets. We have had a large fish tank at work for 12 years; I still don't get the attraction.

43. Tell us about a band whose every CD is a "must have."

I don't think there's one that every single person should own but IMHO everyone should have listened to Sgt. Pepper at least once.

44. Where you surprised when Jim Parsons came out?

Who? What? Do I care if/when someone "comes out"? Only if it's someone in my family, and then only because it would be a relief to have it out in the open.

45. Have you ever shoplifted?

They're way too heavy for me....

46. We currently have a person who plays both this meme and Saturday 9 who signs in to Mr. Linky every week. Yet, if you click on that link, you are told that only "members" can read the blog. Why do you think that person even bothers to sign in or for that matter, do the meme? (Don't misunderstand, we have no rules and we aren't angry. But it is damn peculiar, no?)

I'd guess they don't realize they have that setting flipped that way, or they haven't thought it through. I think "peculiar" is being kind though; I'd say that whoever this is is just really fuckin' dumb.

47. Have you ever driven a Ferrari?

No. But I got the shirt anyway, although mine has a zip front rather than buttons.

48. What do you call those little plastic things on the ends of shoelaces?

They're aglets. Never ask a librarian a trivia question....

49. Have you ever walked more than a mile?

Of course. At one time even. I used to hike around the mountains for a full day, for Pete's sake! Even last year in Italy and England, I walked miles every day.

50. Do you believe in magic?

"...in a young girl's heart"?
I believe in magic tricks, but not controlled magical occurrences.

51. Have you ever been arrested?

I've gotten two traffic tickets, so yes.

52. Have you ever skinny dipped?

Nope. Can't swim, so the whole thing seems a bit dubious to me.

53. Explain what you think about hippies.

I don't, if I can help it. Seriously, the only true hippies who are left are somewhere between 60 and 75 years old. That's terrifying.

54. New York or California?

For what? California has better wine, weather, and accents, New York has better Revolutionary War sites and trees.

55. Have you ever been dumped?

Nope. Unless we're talking about friends (not dates).

56. What are you wearing right now?

SoulSeed T (ecru, white and yellow), gray short yoga pants, underwear, rings, earrings, nail polish, and hair gel.

57. John Edwards had a mistrial. How do you think he conducted himself after the verdict?

lol...I thought that said "John Edwards had a minstrel"!! I think I need either a nap or new glasses. John Edwards' life and mine have no lines of intersection, so I don't really much care; he's irrelevant to me.

58. Did you watch the series finale of House?

I have not watched one scene of that show. It just does not appeal.

59. You may need to go back a long way if you are old like Harriet. Who was the last person who asked you out? (Or that asked you out. Same dumb question either way.)

No, a person isn't a "that", so they are different questions. And well, if we're talking dates, that would be Beast. Out shopping or for a platonic day out, probably Amy.

60. Do you have any collections?

Innumerable. We're now naming all our dust-bunnies, for instance.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The 99'er Meme: Part 2

26) Are you happy with the person you've become?

Mostly, when I haven't done something completely idiotic, which is becoming slightly less common.

27) What's a sound you hate; sound you love?

I don't like whining; I love giggling.

28) What's your biggest "what if"?

What if I'd gone to my first-choice college?

29) Do you believe in ghosts? How about aliens?

I believe there are things in the universe we have yet to explain, and it wouldn't be a complete shock to me if spirits and/or aliens were involved. Then again, I wouldn't be overly shocked if they were not involved.

30) Stick your right arm out; what do you touch first? Do the same with your left arm.

I'm sitting on the left end of the couch, so my right hand pretty much touches nothing unless I touch the surface of the couch. Left side, I've got an end-table with all sorts of stuff on it: gum, pop can, germ-x (no clue, actually, why that's here), nail file, CDs, etc., etc.

31) Smell the air. What do you smell?

Mostly I smell the microwave heat pack I have on my shoulder; it's not pleasant. It smells like hot dampness.

32) What's the worst place you have ever been to?

Hmmm. I can't think of any one place where I've spent a long time in hell, but Beast's high school reunion wasn't much fun, and neither were the airports in the former Soviet Union when our flights were delayed. The former was just really uncomfortable because it was abundantly obvious that we were not welcome (especially me). The latter...ugh, I remember a 5-6 hour delay in some airport (Tashkent? Samarkand? Omsk?) that was, essentially, closed: no food (or drink), nothing at all to do, conference chair seating, just enough heat to keep us from freezing, no suitcases....this was before anyone had handheld video game access 24/7, and the only things around to read (in English)were books and papers on how wonderful Soviet culture had been for Russia. And we were the only people around at the point in our trip when we really didn't want to see each other anymore. It was awful.

33) Choose: East Coast or West Coast?

Of North America, West.

34) Most attractive singer of your opposite gender?

Glerg. What a horribly-worded question! I think this depends on individual taste. Pitbull isn't hideous. Bruno Mars is cute. Enrique Iglesias is also not unattractive. I think Cee-Lo Green is cute, for that matter. However, I think I have to give this one to Larry Mullen, in the all-around.

35) To you, what is the meaning of life?

...Do what is right, and love mercy, and walk without pride with God....

36) Define: Art.

The guy hanging on the wall.

37) Do you believe in luck?

How else to explain a whole helluva a lot of my life?

38) Patriots or Giants? Or, who gives a rat's ass?

Choice 3. I really really do not want the Pats to win; I can't stand Belichick, nor Brady.

39) Will you watch the game? If yes, with who?

Yeah, watching it alone with Beast for the first time in a decade or more.

40) Do you drive? If so, have you ever crashed?

I am definitely old enough to drive, and I've been in a couple of accidents and quite a few near-accidents.

41) What was the last book you read?

Finished The Evolution of Faith last week; haven't blogged it yet.

42) Do you like the smell of gasoline?

I do.

43) Do you have any nicknames?

Just "Cat." Well, and "Mom" of course.

44) What was the last movie you saw?

No clue. Not my thing to track this.

45) What's the worst injury you've ever had?

I don't think I've really ever been 'injured' badly, just life and illness.

46) Have you ever caught a butterfly?

Nope.

47) Do you have any obsessions right now?

Yes, but I'm not going into them here. They're a little too close to the surface to deal with right now.

48) What's your sexual orientation?

Straight.

49) Ever had a rumor spread about you?

Yes, remember, I was a teenage girl.

50) Do you believe in magic?

I believe, as mentioned above, that there are things that are unexplained, that I can't explain, but no I do not believe in Harry Potter World.

Friday 5

(Link in blogroll)
Turning

1. To whom do you normally turn when you need to complain about something?

I'm a worldwide complainer who isn't afraid to bitch to anyone. I've learned from the masters, one of whom I work with. Actually, on the big stuff, I mostly just gripe to Beast and God, not necessarily in that order.

2. Which annual season-turning do you enjoy the most?

I love late summer/early fall. All the fresh fruits and veggies you can eat, beautiful colors, and that fall smell in the air.
On the other hand, I'm pretty psyched about spring-into-summer too. That's easily my second favorite. You'll note that winter doesn't appear on this list. Nor is it likely to do so. Ever.

3. Where can you get a really good turnover?

I'm actually not much of a turnover connoisseur. I'm happy with Pillsbury or store-bought, though probably the local bakery makes some good ones. I go for the mega-sugar treats, personally. ;-)

4. What’s employee turnover like where you work?

Huh, normally it's nonexistent, but we are losing two long-term employees within three months of each other this year to retirement. We have been 'allowed' to replace them, but we won't be replacing anyone else who leaves. No pressure!

5. One of the Wonder Twins could turn into any form of water, while the other could turn into any animal. Which of these powers would be more useful to you?

In the winter, I think I'd rather be water--I'm awfully dehydrated that time of year. However, overall, I think turning into random animals would be a lot more fun. I never watched this show; were the animals random? Or were you 'stuck' with one choice?

Two Blogthings

What Your Nose Says About You

It's likely that you'll be lucky with money, though this luck may come later in life. You are straightforward and honest. You sometimes offend people without realizing it. You are a realist. You aren't much of an optimist or a pessimist.

What Does Your Nose Say About You?

Surprisingly accurate. I'm not sure where this sort of stuff comes from, but...kinda fun.

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You Are 25% Witch

It's unlikely that you're a witch. At least, no one thinks you are. You may still be interested in witchcraft, but you're by no means a stereotypical witch. While you don't seem all that witchy, people may think you're a bit weird. You're definitely a little offbeat. No one really knows what to make of you sometimes.

Are You a Witch?

I'm pretty sure most people skip the 'w' in this word and go directly for the 'b' in my case.

Also, I think that any one of the things listed could have put a woman on the list for witch-hood. Kind of like one drop of non-white blood makes you non-white (in the old days, right?).

Monday's a Bitch

(Link in blogroll)
Last But Not Least

1.What is the last rebellious thing you did?

On a very small scale, I called my brother on his bossiness last night on the phone. On a large scale, probably the whole library software database bullshit last year. Frankly, I have a pretty strong rebellious streak and a temper, so rebellion is not uncommon for me.

2.When is the last time you saw a magic show?

Has to be the CSI episode that dealt with a magician's death. I'm just not that into magic anymore.

3.Who is the last person you'd want to go into business with?

J&L. Beast and I have thought about it off and on for years, but the annoyance factor would just not be worth it.

4.When is the last time you injured yourself?

I messed up my wrists Friday or Saturday, but they seem to be recovering all right. Before that was my 'graceful' flight down the back steps a couple of days before Christmas that involved landing on my knees really hard.

5.Where is the last place you would expect to be having dinner tomorrow night?

With my husband and brother in Dallas.