Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)

Why deny the obvious?

1. What has you feelin’ groovy? 

Not much. It's raining. I bailed on work partway through the last two days (the floor is tilting, like vertigo) and I'm not enjoying much. 

2. Where do you often stop when you are homeward bound?

Most of the time I just want to be at home ASAP. Sometimes I stop at DQ--it's around the corner at work--but otherwise, I'm full-speed to the house.

3. When were you most recently awake far too late in the evening?

I was awakened Weds or Thurs in the wee hours (1:45) by 20 minutes of fireworks popping off--no bangs, just "pop pop pop" for awhile. I was wide awake before they finally stopped. I hate those people so much.

4. Where might you go to hear the sound of silence?

Space. It sounds lovely. [I spent the morning with about 25 children who were mostly fine but there were definitely chaotic moments.]

5. What proves you are still crazy after all these years?

The fact that I still keep going to work after 37 years (minus a couple I spent with Sparky when she was a baby). I'm tiiiiired.

Chicken Butt

(Found here)

started 8:00 pm 5/9/25

3401. How well can you read between the lines when others are talking?

I do it without being aware of it. Early training on keeping track of the emotional temperature of the room. Then again, I can also be really bloody-stupid and clueless. It's quite weird.

3402. Would you ever speak in front of your peers about peace and social injustice?

Would I? Uhm, yes, and I have done so quite a few times in the past. Usually quite bluntly.

3403. Where does peace begin?

Oh, God, not this shit again. I'm not doing lyric/poetry interpretation tonight!

3404. Does America practice the ideals it preaches?

If yes when and where?

If not, why not?

These days, politically, emphatically NOT! It is heartening to see that personally most people are indeed doing daily kindnesses as usual.

3405. In conversations do you assume that you know what will be said?

If yes, isn't this a form of closing yourself off to new ideas?

I try really REALLY hard not to do this, sometimes even successfully. I love hearing new ideas!

3406. In what ways are you closed minded?/

I don't want to be open-minded about bigotry or meanness.

3407. Do you prefer beans or rice?

Depends on the variety of each of them. I don't like blaring-white rice (like Minute Rice), but I love brown and wild rice. I like refried beans, and pinto beans in general, and green beans are fine. I'll eat others, but they aren't my favorite food.

3408. Who's a better TV dad?--Dr. Huxtable (Bill Cosby) or Danny Tanner?

This certainly hasn't aged at all well. I never watched the second show, not even part of an episode, and I did love Bill Cosby back in the day. But man did he set fire to his reputation over the years.

3409. Detroit or New York?

Can I pick neither? Or Chicago? Or, honestly, almost any other city?

3410. What's your favourite Star Wars movie?

The original, released in 1977.

3411. What's your favourite Star Trek movie?

The one with Kirk and Picard both in it.

3412. How about Batman? I think I've only seen one, the one with Katie Holmes in it. It was ok.

Indiana Jones? Always and forever the first one.

Lord of the Rings? I've only see the first one, was told since I spent most of the last third of it with my face in Beast's shoulder I should DEFinitely NOT see the rest. I'm ok with that. 

Harry Potter? I didn't see the last two, I don't think. Or did I? I think my favorite is the one with the Whomping Willow in it, but they are all banned from my life now because the book author is a horrible, horrible person.

Star Wars? I ... didn't we do this already??

3413. If you could ask one question and one question only to the following people, what would that question be:

Saddam Hussein? Pass.

George W Bush? No interest in speaking to this man. None whatsoever. I would love to ask his wife WTF though.

John Lennon? I think I'd been too afraid of his sharp tongue to ask him anything. Can I just listen to him noodle around on the piano.

an alien? "When do we leave? Soon, I hope!"

God? Oh honey, I have a list of questions!!

Someone you knew who has died? I don't want to ask anything. I just want Beast to talk to me in words I can understand.

Steven Spielberg? No questions, just grateful thanks for all the stories.

JD Salinger? Pass. I don't generally engage in conversations with weird and cranky old men.

3414. Have you seen AI (artificial intelligence)? Nope

If yes, what were the beings at the end of the movie? Not a clue.

Do you see this as a possible future for humanity? Not even a guess.

What'd you think in general? I'm fully sick of hearing about AI of any kind whatsoever.

3415. If a-l-k-a-s-e-l-t-z-e-r spells 'relief' how do you spell:

love?

happiness?

evil?

sexiness?

yummy?

I'm not doing this, although I will say that my feelings about the r-e-p-u-b-l-i-c-a-n-s fit one of these options.

3416. Have you ever been to a Broadway show? Not on Broadway, only touring shows.

What one? Cats, Les Miz, The Lion King. I did see Evita on the West End in London, however, as well as Oliver!, both reboots.

3417. Nighttime shows or matinees? 
I'm in bed by 9 at the very latest these days, so matinees.

3418. How are your family get-togethers, loud and rambunctious or quiet and formal?

My family will never ever be known as quiet OR formal.

3419. Would you be able to survive shipwrecked alone on a desert island?

Nope. I'm assuming I will not be getting regular drops from Walgreen's with my Rx list?

3420. Speaking of islands, does Gilligan EVER get off his?

It seems not. 

3421. What movie has the BEST soundtrack?

Almost all of the soundtracks are better than the movie these days. I've enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy movies in part because of the music.

3422. Do you ever go into chat rooms?

If yes, what ones?

Not anymore. Do they even exist anymore??

3423. Is English your first language?

If not...How you say hello in your language:

another word in your language + english translation:

boob in your language:

Yo hablo inglés, pero puedo leer español un poquito.

(also, "boob"??)

3424. Make up a religion (make it up):

what would it believe:

I think the tendency to create exclusive clubs of this sort has been one of the downfalls of humanity. This view might be reflecting a recent book I read on heresies in the early Christian church and some of the things the soon-to-be-Catholic Church did to take over....

3425. Create your own country-

Name of country:

Ethnic background:

Language (make it up):

Other details:

Again, the creation of countries hasn't been a boundless success for humankind.

stopped 8:28 pm 5/9/25

restarted 7:38 pm 5/29/25

3426. How would you celebrate these holidays?

Dogs in Politics day: I would vote for all the good puppos!

Magic circles day: I would do what the famous (in our family) gal in downtown Milwaukee did and circle everyone's face as I passed them.

Be bald and free day: I would not shave my head. 

National mole day: I would check all visible moles for skin cancer.

Sylvia Plath day: I would not stick my head into any ovens.

Increase your psychic powers day: This seems like a good day to take a long nap.

Waiting for the barbarians day: Oh, you mean, like, EVERY day??

Air day: I would breathe deeply.

3427. Why do you think Steve got kicked off Blue's Clues:
I'm pretty sure he had other things going on and was tired of "being Steve on Blue's Clues."

3428. Hooked on heroin or hooked on phonics?

Actually, can I choose neither? I'm not a fan of heroin or phonics.

3429. Have you ever taken an insanity quiz and said, "Hay, that's a good idea!"

....nooooo...???

3430. - Have you ever covered yourself in blood and laid down on the side of the road to make it look like you were in an accident?

You don't know what you're missing.

Absolutely not. I listen to too many true crime podcasts for this to be even distantly amusing.

3431. Can you flare your nostrils?

Sure. I can't wiggle my nose, though.

3432. Do you want to swim in a vast lake of Gatorade? or, any other beverage for that matter?

It seems like it would be really sticky and gross. I'll stick to splashing around in water.

3433. Have you ever sneezed at the same time everyday, consecutively, for over 3 months?

I'd kill myself if this happened, once I noticed it! OK, no, I wouldn't but it would drive my OCD tendencies nuts.

3434. How did the first person discover that pigs feet would be so good that we call them a delicacy?

It's called "waste nothing edible"--or indeed usable in any way--and it's how most of humanity has lived for most of our time on earth.

3435. Why did the first person to ever eat pigs feet eat them?

See above.

3436. Do you like the idea of 'like father, like son'?

It's not a matter of liking. People who live together for extended periods of time tend to start behaving in similar ways, exponentially more in a parent/child relationship.

3437. Put the following musical acts in order from best to worst by numbering them..(1 for best, 2 for 2nd best, etc... 20 for worst).

Avril:

Ashanti:

Joan Jett:

David Bowie:

the Bee Gees:

The Doors:

Tool:

DMX:

Iggy Pop:

Creed:

Weezer:

Ministry:

Thursday:

Kittie:

Adam Ant:

Rancid:

the Clash:

Led Zeppelin:

Moby:

Tom Waites:

I will pass on this, but just say that Led Zeppelin, Creed, and Rancid can just be vaporized, and several others I have no name recognition whatsoever for.

3438. Would you rather be an evil dictator or a sitcom family member?

I'm really pretty happy being myself, which means neither of the above options appeals at all.

3439. What is the wave of the future?

Probably tidal.

3440. What's your favorite old movie (before 1990)?

And, just like that, I'm officially old. 

3441. When someone tells you that their significant other lives Really Far Away...do you ever suspect that they are single and making someone up?

This is not something people in my demographic spend a lot of time thinking about.

3442. Alaska or Hawaii?

Either, as long as someone else is paying the bills.

3443. Why did Kentucky Fried Chicken change their name to KFC?

It was an idea directly from the geniuses in Marketing at the company.

3444. What is there no place to hide from?

Yourself.

3445. Which makes you happier, giving presents or getting them?

Giving, these days. When I get gifts that are not consumable, I immediately start thinking where I'm going to keep them. I have so much junk!

3446. What can you never have just one of?

Anything small; I'm two-at-a-time eater.

3447. What comes to mind when you think of Hulk Hogan?/

His idiot wife.

3448. What would you be the patron saint of?

Sloth. Which would make me a demon, not an angel. Oh well.

3449. Do you still look at the world with wonder like you did when you were a kid?

I have days when this is possible for me to achieve. There are plenty of other days where I'm far too jaded and cynical to be childlike.

3450. For 5 seconds clear your mind. Good. Now write the first thing that you can think of!:

It is not possible for me to clear my mind for any length of time. Hence, insomnia, among other things.

3451. When was the last time you ate too much?

I ate far too much over the weekend while my brother was in town.

3452. Describe the sexiest person you can imagine:

Nope. Well, they'd be smiling, but otherwise, nope.

3453. What have you seen that's...bizarre?

Honey, I'm 61. I've seen more bizarre things than "normal" things.

3454. Are there any stores or brands or products that you boycott?

What and why?

I don't really boycott anything with intent. I try to avoid being a horrible consumer, but ultimately I'm terribly lazy.

3455. Do you want things to REALLY get out of control?

No, I emphatically do NOT want any more loss of control, tyvm!!

fell asleep at some point before 9 on 5/29

restarted 6:57 on 7/6

3456. Are you too tense?

Not so much anymore. My muscles can't keep up with that.

3457. Where would you be without love and bubblegum?

Dead.

3458. Why aren't comic books popular anymore?

They are called graphic novels and they are VERY POPULAR.

3459. Think of one friend (who?): I'll randomly choose Cindy.

When is the last time you saw each other? I saw her walking her dogs a few weeks ago on my way to work.

Do they smoke? I doubt it.

Do they believe in God?  Yes.

When you first saw this friend what was your impression?  She was quite pregnant with her 3rd (of 4) children, and was very friendly.

Their age? I haven't a clue, but based on her kids' ages, she has to be around 50.

The top five things you think they think about? Her kids, her husband's business (technically it's hers too), what to make for dinner, how to help whoever she's worrying about, and weeds.

3460. Do you say what you mean? Not as often as I'd like. 

Do you mean what you say? I try to only say what I truly mean.

3461. Could you eat meat if you had to hunt it yourself? Presumably I'd be that hungry if I'm killing animals.

3462. Order from greatest to least importance: spirituality, creativity, intellect, great body, open-mindedness, magical-ness, great dancer, interesting dresser, wit and cleverness, niceness, stability

Well, interesting dresser, great dancer, and great body are all at the bottom. Wit and cleverness, niceness (which I'm translating into kindness) and open-mindedness are at the top.

3463. Complete the sentence.

When a problem comes along you must: whip it!

3464. Pick the two most important attributes for food-- fast, cheap, tasty, healthy 
For me, tasty and quick. I should be adding healthy to the mix.

3465. What do you think is the best metaphor for romantic relationships? (e.g. a car wreck, a cruise): It is fully dependent on the specific relationship. I prefer a nice, calm ride in a convertible at night with the stars above and wind blowing everything around.

3466. Kittens or no kittens, that is the question.  Much as I like kittens, I fear that being around them will mess me up for days, so ... no kittens. <sob>

3467. Is gaining 15 lbs. in a night possible? Not for me. Or anyone I know in my friend network.

3468. Do you get emotional watching movies? Yes. I mean, isn't that what they're for??

3469. What makes you feel nostalgic? Specific smells, pictures, some songs, autumn.

3470. Do you feel like you've been misplaced? ...no? I hadn't ever considered it quite that way. For a long LONG time I hated living in this part of the country, but after doing so for 40+ years, it's where I belong.

3471. Have you ever fought someone, just for fun?  For fun? Physically? No to both.

3472. What gives you an adrenaline rush?  Losing my balance, which happens far too often these days. Also, fury at witnessing incompetence and/or meanness.

3473. What would you do if you loved someone more than anything else, and you could never have them? I would hate it, but if it were better for them for me not to be in their life, I'd make do.

3474. Rank these events in order of best/most exciting to boring:

drinking and dancing to your favorite music at a club: NIGHTMARE!

taking a walk in the woods and a bath in a stream: I draw the line at bathing in creekwater, but I'll wade and cool off my feet. This sounds nice.

having great sex: That time in my life has passed.

winning the lottery (one mil): OK, I'd be all right with that, but since I never buy tickets it's unlikely to happen.

getting followed home by a stray animal: A nice one? Lovely. A feral one? Not great. Either way, if it hung around I'd probably call animal control since (again) I'm allergic to anything with fur.

meeting someone interesting to talk to: I love when this happens!

seeing your favorite band in concert: This is another thing that I'm fully done with.

seeing a Broadway show: I'd like to do this, but it involves going to NYC and that's not something I'm crazy about contemplating.

Halloween: I have hidden upstairs away from the front door the last few years. I love the kids, but I just can't manage the dichotomy between that and the fact that I clearly live very much alone and worry about advertising that.

3475. Can you keep a secret? Sometimes. I'm better than I used to be about this.

3476. Where is the tenderness? Usually in the middle of a well-prepared good steak.

3477. What's one song you REALLY like from the:

30's? "In the Mood"

40's? "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"

50's? "All I Have to Do is Dream"

60's? "In the Year 2525"

70's? "Bohemian Rhapsody"

80's? "Everytime You Go Away"

90's? "Wannabe"

00's? "Beautiful Day"

10's? "Raise Your Glass"
20's? (I literally do not know most of the songs listed, and the one I do recognize I don't like)

(pulled from the Google lists for each decade followed by "hit songs")

3478. Would you rather have a video phone, an electric scooter, or a digital camera? These days, electric scooters are the way to go. Also, I have the other two.

3479. If a ban on all violent video games was put into effect, would you be outraged by this decision? It wouldn't directly affect me in any way, but it's also not the answer that people think it is.

3480. In your opinion, is violence in society inescapable? Yup.

Why or why not? People are people, and injustice breeds retaliation.

3481. Have you ever mimicked a violent “action” from a video game you’ve played towards another person, whether it was to harm or just for play? Well, since my video games are usually Sim games or Civ or things like that ... no.

3482. Do you believe the violent content in video games influences aggressive and/or violent behavior in younger children? No, but it's also not something they need to have going into their brains for hours and hours every day.

3483. What makes life a bitter sweet symphony? I believe The Verve would like a word...

3484. Name four things that are AWESOME: 
1. The view from the top of a mountain

2. Seeing a baby's birth

3. Laughing to the point of peeing

4. Waking up fully rested

3485. What's the most creative/funny answer you can come up with for this question: What are you doing? I'm merging into the recliner, putting off the inevitable tramp upstairs to make my bed and go to sleep.

3486. Can you imagine this world going on without you? Yup. Y'all will be fine.

3487. Are you the only person who really exists? Sadly--at least for most people--no.

3488. Is everyone else a figment of your imagination? I can't even with this BS.

3489. Or are YOU a figment of my imagination? Honey, you don't even know I exist, but we both do despite that.

3490. Can you prove you exist? Nope. Nor am I inclined to travel any further down this philosophical rabbit hole.

How?

3491. What do you HAVE to get off your chest? I'm pretty cool right now. Not feeling any strong urgency in any particular area.

3492. If you cheated on someone would you confess to them?  Moot point now, no?

3493. Is it true that at least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you?

Who? I don't think this is true anymore. I will say, though, that there are less than five that I would die for.

3494. Are you in therapy? Yes. And so should everyone be!

3495. Do you go shopping on Black Friday?  No, and not only because I work on Black Friday.

3496. What is the bane of your existence? My klutziness.

3497. Better movie: Weird Science or Caddy Shack? I hate with a burning, smoking, stenchy hate Chevy Chase. I haven't seen Weird Science. My husband loved Caddyshack, but I only watch the Bill Murray parts and try to ignore all the horrible non-PC parts.

3498. Who's the big winner? Whoever it is, they've been successful at keeping it very quiet.

3499. What are the 3 funniest: I can't do this right now, especially videos...

music videos?

Movies?

songs?

3500. Guess what?  Chicken butt!

finished 7:54 p.m.

Sunday Stealing (x4)

(Link in meme-roll)

Complete the Thought (June 15)

1. I wish someone would ...

... empty my house the way I want it emptied without me.

2. When I order Chinese food ...

... I pretty much always get crab rangoon.

3. I know it's not everyone's favorite activity, but I actually enjoy ...

... napping.

5. A major pet peeve of mine is ...

... mispronunciation of common words.

6. I remember when my grandfather ...

(I do not remember either of them: one died 20+ years before I was born, the other I vaguely remember before he died when I was three; I don't remember anything about that)

7. I am not fazed at all by ...

... children trying to con me. Mostly I'm a very soft touch.

8. Long car rides ... 

... put me to sleep. I can't read or do anything but stare out the window, so they're just boring af.

9. I don't understand the fuss over ...

... most of any drama going on in Hollywood/Instagram.

10. When I'm home alone ...

... I'm generally very happy.

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 (x2)

(Link in meme-roll)

10 Questions with Nigel

1. What's your life's motto?

I don't know that I have a motto. The most frequent life advice I give is "Don't be a dick" but I don't know that that's a motto. Lately, it feels like I should be following the "Fight for your own stuff" but I hate that too.

2. Where were you living 13 years ago?

Right here. Different furniture, same house. Apparently, I had just finished entering all my reading history into GoodReads (at least the previous 20 years' worth), and have since added 2500 books. A  LOT of those are from childhood and generally before I started actively keeping track.

3. Is anyone jealous of you?

How in the world would I know? Right now, I very much doubt anyone wants to be in my shoes. I certainly don't.

4. Where were you when you heard about the 9/11 terror attacks?

Beast called me at church where I was doing some volunteer work, alone in the building, to tell me to go home and turn on the news. The first building fell while I was on the way--I had newsradio on--and I nearly got T-boned by someone else racing home. Then our new pastor and wife came over because they didn't have their TV (cable, blah blah) set up and we all gaped, and Pastor's Wife kept saying she needed to go to the grocery store to 'stock up.'

5. Do you consider yourself kind?

I try. Beast told me one time that he thought I was, and I treasure that comment.

6. Can you change your car's oil?

I mean, I probably could, but there's no way I'm starting this project at age 61 when Bob does it just fine and checks out all the other important things while he's in there.

7. What's the last thing you heard about your first love?

My actual IRL "first love" or my first crush? lol David Cassidy has been dead for 8 years, and my first boyfriend ... I haven't checked facebook recently. I'm friends with his brother though, so I presume I'd hear if something happened to 'boyfriend.'

8. Have you ever been burned by love?

Are we comparing scars? I won't win any contests, but I have been in therapy for a decade-and-a-half. 

9. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

What is this 'cash' concept of which you speak?? 
Actually, I always pay the cleaning crew at the house in cash, so Thursday.

10. Do you hug your friends?

If they want me to. I always want to hug people, but one of my coworkers has become EXTREMELY germophobic and touch-phobic, so I try to keep my hands strictly to myself around her. Otherwise, I tend to tap people's shoulders or forearms for their attention if I don't want to verbally interrupt them. So yeah. I got two hugs in 5 minutes from people at work Friday.

Friday 5 (x2)

(Link in meme-roll)

Agitation

1. Whose performance of your nation’s anthem did you find especially stirring?

I prefer the ones where the tempo is moving along and there's no 'showing off.' Just sing the damn song and keep in mind the tune is a drinking song originally, so no funereal vibes.

2. When did you last fold something?

Probably at work yesterday, involving paper. I don't remember, but it's nearly certain. I know I folded up some paper on Friday to scribble on during our meeting.

3. When did you last toss something to someone?

I have no idea, but it's like to have been the last time Sparky was here. I generally toss her the remote upon arrival since I literally never use it.

4. How do you feel about beets?

Meh. I haven't eaten them in decades, at least not cooked, but I never really loved them as a kid. They offend my sensibilities with their pink drainage all around my plate.

5. What do you have mixed feelings about?

Other people's behavior. I've worked hard to be less knee-jerk judgy about choices other people make, but sometimes I just want to crack heads together.

Not your everyday

1. What’s going to be special about this weekend?

Not a helluva lot. I really REALLY hope I can get the stupid Phone Calls I Hate Having to Do accomplished tomorrow.

2. When did you last order the special when dining out?

Hmm. It's not unheard of, but I can't remember the last time. I don't eat at 'nice' places (that have specials) very often. I do usually get something I know the place does well, which makes it special to them, right?

3. What’s especially memorable about this past week?

Aside from the lack of patron zipper + underwear on Monday? And the bat, also on Monday at work? And it being the first week of Summer Reading Prizes? It was a pretty normal week.

4. When did you last consult with a specialist of some kind?

I saw my therapist on Wednesday. I basically only see specialists these days. Oh, I had a bone density exam this week. Woo-hoo!

5. What have you done recently to make someone else feel special?

I hope I do that to someone every day at work (coworkers or patrons). I saw one of Beasty's former caregivers on Friday for the first time since last year sometime and thanked her for all her help. She hadn't heard the news. I got a little weepy.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

American Soldier (2003)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8) Or swam?

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

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

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

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

Mama Liked the Roses (1970)

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

1) In this song, Elvis tells us his mother loved tending the roses in the garden. Do you have a green thumb?

I do not. I have been entrusted with four five thriving containers of plants recently and so far I seem to have only managed to destroy one plant in one of them. There's another that's not looking real healthy but I think that's just temporary. 
My mother, however, could make lumber sprout green shoots just about. We had a jungle of plants in our living room and, yes, dozens of rosebushes in the yard. To this day, the scent of roses reminds me of my childhood yard and Mom (she didn't wear perfume). 

2) Mama would put the roses in a vase in the living room. Do you have cut flowers in your home right now?

Nope. They all got tossed last week. I have a bunch of empty vases I don't know what to do with. I mean, actually, I need to take them back to the florist that's on my way to work, possibly along with several others from previous floral tributes.

3) Elvis sings that he found Mama's rose petals pressed in the family Bible. Have you ever pressed petals in a book? If yes, what occasion were you commemorating?

I have! I pressed my high school graduation corsage in my diary! I should dig that out and see how they're doing 45 years on.

4) OK, so now we know Mama liked roses. What about you? Would you prefer white, pink, yellow or red roses?

I do not care about the color. I do care if they actually smell good. No smell-less roses allowed, so (ergo) none from flower shops. It's hard to find roses with scent these days....

5) Elvis' own mother, Gladys Presley, had a major impact on pop culture. When her son was 11, he asked for either a rifle or a bicycle for his birthday. She deemed the rifle too dangerous and the bike too expensive, and so he chose a guitar instead. The rest is history. Tell us about a special birthday gift from your youth.

I don't remember any specific birthday gift. My parents were ultra-practical, so it was mostly clothes or office supplies (stationery, books, etc.). I think I got a necklace one year?  

6) Abraham Lincoln credited his stepmother, Sarah, for her lasting influence on his life, saying she ignited his love of reading and learning. Tell us about a woman -- mother, stepmother, grandmother, aunt, Godmother, teacher, neighbor -- who changed your life for the better.

Good Lord there are dozens from with to choose! So many good teachers, and so many older-than-me relatives, several younger-than-me relatives, and friends.... I'm going to talk about Venus--yes, her real name--who was in her 60s when I met her and VERY non-Venus-like. She was a smart, no-nonsense, loving Texas native here in the upper Midwest who never met a stranger. I once asked her when she was going to retire from all her post-retirement activities; she basically told me she'd retire when the people she was feeding, helping, "doing for," no longer needed to be fed or helped. Shut me right up. She was fearless, kind, blunt. She always seemed to fill up the room while probably being only about 5'2" tall.

7) Mother's Day is almost upon us. According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on this holiday, with revenue up more than 80% on Mother's Day weekend. When did you last dine at a restaurant? Was it a special occasion?

I eat breakfast at Wendy's fairly often (drive-thru), but the last sit-down place I think I ate was the new tenant in the City's Last Boondoggle--a lengthy story I'll maybe talk about someday--which was delicious. Sparky's feeding me tomorrow too, at a (pseudo) Irish Pub.

8) Candles are a big seller for Mother's Day, too. What's your favorite candle scent?

I like clean smells, less perfume-y. Pine is good. Sandalwood is good. Gardenia is very much not good.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds?

I'm not that fussy, but I really don't care for dark chocolate. Actually, I am a little fussy: I like European chocolate over American. I got a big nasty mouthful of something American recently that really did a strong vomit taste, which kinda killed that brand for me.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

I'll Be Loving You (Forever) – 1989

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

 

1) A Greek philosopher said, "There is nothing permanent except change." The New Kids on the Block sang, "I'll be loving you forever." Who do you think is right? Or can both be right?

Not to be super-deep but the way you love someone changes over time. Or else it dies. The way I love Sparky now, for instance, is entirely different from the semi-panicked tiger-mom style parenting I did when she was a baby-baby.

2) In this week's song, New Kids lead singer Jordan Knight sings that he can't take a broken heart. What advice would you give someone struggling through the end of a romance?

Be sad. But there's no need to wallow. Try to find some kind of silver lining ("hey, at least I don't have to put up with their annoying dog anymore!"), remind yourself that you are enough and there's plenty to do whether or not you have a 'date' for events. Just go on.

3) Jordan was invited to join the New Kids on the Block by his friend, Donnie Wahlberg. Has a friend ever gotten you a job? 

Yes, my current job was 'assigned' to me by a good friend when she retired. She's also the one that 'told' the director at the time to hire me. 😜

4) Donnie began his show business career as a singer/rapper. Now he's probably better known as an actor, appearing for 14 seasons on a popular police show. Can you name it?

Nope. I'm not a fan of his. 

5) Much of the video for this song was filmed in the gymnasium of Xavier High School in New York City. When is the last time you were in a high school gym?

Wow. I think that would be Sparky's high school graduation 13 years ago, and I'm not at all mad about that!

6) The video also shows the boys enjoying pizza. What toppings are on your dream pizza?

Canadian bacon (or regular bacon in a pinch), mushrooms, onions, maybe sausage, with red sauce.
Or chicken and spinach, with white sauce.

7) The band is back together! The New Kids on the Block will be appearing this summer at the Park MGM in Las Vegas. Do you have any concert plans this year?

Absolutely not. My concert-going days are far in the rear-view mirror, except for very small venues. 

8) In 1989, when this song was popular, Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was born. He recently won the prestigious Masters Tournament. Tell us about a competition you won. (Yes, your third grade spelling bee counts.)

I won a poster contest in junior high school that was an opinion cartoon about the American Revolution. I won a 30-cent coupon for the Tastee-Freez across from the school. I never used it.

9) Random question – On which game show would you do better: Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune?

 I would probably WIN more on WoF, but I hate that show so much. I'd like to say I'd do well on Jeopardy but I haven't watched in awhile, so I'm kind of out of the groove.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll) 

January, Part 2 (Misc Questions) 

            

 1. Can you eat with chopsticks? 

I can, but not well and I'd likely starve to death if I tried.

 2. Could you tell real money from counterfeit? 

Probably. I don't see a lot of money anymore. Plastic and EFTs are my best friends.

 3. What do you think about school uniforms? 

I see both sides of the question. I would've hated hated hated them, but I think that's the default student setting.

 4. What ancient civilization would you most like to visit? 

I would like to know about the Incan Empire.

 5. What would make a great new Crayola color? 

There are never enough choices for blue. 💙

 6. If an art project is created with the intent of getting rich and famous, does that cast doubt over its significance as a work of art? 

Nope.

 7. What do you get in trouble for the most? 

Saying things. I have (yet another) post-it reminder on my monitor at work that just says STFU.

 8. Do you blow your nose in public? 

I mean, if necessary. ??  These days, it's a hassle, though so I have to find a closed room.

 9. If all the nations in the world are in debt, where did all the money go? 

Quick note to all: money isn't real. Our imaginations make it worth things.

 10. Is it as easy to make you happy now as it was when you were a child? 

Probably. I don't recall being a particularly "happy" child, although I had a wonderful childhood.

 11. Who knows more ... you, or your parents? 

My parents are dead these many long years hence. So, me, by default, which is frightening.

 12. What instrument would you like to be famous for playing? 

Bagpipes.

 13. Would you have sex with a stranger for one million dollars? 

Nope. Add a B to the amount and I'd totally consider some very vanilla sex. No weird shit.

 14. Are you completely in control of your body? 

Hah! Not even close.

 15. What is the coolest web site you know of?

I'm enjoying Blogger again.

Quality of Humanity

(found here)

[started 8:50 p.m. 1/30/21]

2801. The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. But what was the question? That one you can't put into words but that keeps you from being 100% content.

2802. Suggest three new diary circles that you would find interesting: I have no idea what this question means.

2803. Buttons or Knobs? I'm old-skool: I like knobs. [trying to keep completely deadpan]

2804. What is a juggalo? These days, apparently, it's equivalent to an incel. I'm not at all interested in the anthropology of the situation.

2805. Are you a fan of Crass? Probably not, as I don't know what/who that is. Was?

2806. If you were going to write a short note to yourself and then put it away and read it in ten years, what would it say? I do this periodically. I almost always find myself really puerile when I find it later. I never expect what the future has in store, except that it's not going to be great.

2807. When someone does something that is wrong do you believe that they know in their hearts that they are wrong but they push it down into their subconscious and rationalize away their guilt? When have you done this (if you say never then you are doing it right now)? In my case, yes. I think anyone with a conscience does this, or rethinks decisions and knows the 'rightness' of them afterwards. If you don't do this, I would suggest therapy and anticipate a diagnosis of narcissism and/or sociopathy.

2808. How can a person have sex with someone they don't love? Have YOU ever? I have not, but I can see how it can happen. Ever heard of rape? Coercive control?

2809. What are the paradoxes in your head (that is when you believe two conflicting things to be true)? That I'm a decent person/That I suck donkey balls is probably the biggest one.

2810. What does each set of two words suggest to you? 

 pale gravity: sounds vaguely light a SF book title

 little mornings: this makes me feel like vacation for some reason

 spiritual machines: aren't these Republicans? (mostly kidding)

 eccentric being: Most humans

 pray attention: Sounds like something a megachurch would make into a thing that means Something

 yellow lectures: hot, sweaty, humid, boring college classes

2811. What movie would be AWESOME in 3D? I can't think of anything that's not seriously obvious.

2812. Why is it important to write and think clearly? So you can make decisions on your own without having some cult leader telling you what to do every minute of the day. It's the payoff for freedom.

2813. A girl and her boyfriend are hanging out. It is obvious they are together. Another guy schmoozes between them and starts hitting on the girl. The boyfriend tells this guy to back off. The guy just keeps bothering the girl. Do you think the boyfriend would be justified in hitting this intrusive guy? This is literally the worst time for me to be answering this as I'm dealing with a mental husband who won't stop hitting people in his nursing home. It's not ok to hit people. Period.
A girl and her boyfriend are hanging out. It is obvious they are together. Another GIRL (lesbian) schmoozes between them and starts hitting on the first girl. The boyfriend tells this girl to back off. The girl just keeps bothering the first girl. Do you think the boyfriend would be justified in hitting this intrusive girl? If you answered yes to one situation and no to the other one why the double standard? Still not ok to hit anyone. Period.
Especially, little old crazed ladies in nursing homes.

2814. What do you think of the name Prue? Not a fan at all.

2815. What would you spend your last dollar on? Food, and probably (to be noble) food for someone else.

2816. Have you ever won an ebay auction? If yes for what? Nope. Never played on eBay; seems like I could hurt myself badly there.

2817. Would you like it if Blockbuster had a drive-through?? Show me a Blockbuster that is still functional and we'll discuss the drive-thru option, k?

2819. When was the last time you taught someone something and what was it? I'm currently training another staff member. I have literally trained my entire department at work in the last 5 months. Also, I explain how to do computer things for tech-illiterate people almost every day, because that's my job.

2820. Why do adults and teens not understand each other? Because teens don't understand that adults have been there/done that, and adults don't want to admit they were ever that stupid.

2821. Are you afraid? I mean...yes? But it seems like the right thing to be. I try to keep the anxiety under control, because there's literally not one thing I can do about any of the things I'm afraid of.

2822. Do you trust large drug corporations? Do you trust the Food and Drug Administration? I do NOT trust pharmaceutical companies at all! I don't trust companies trying to Make More Money on much of anything. FDA, I trust more today than I did last month for sure.

2823. If a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound? Do you define sound as sound waves or as the reaction between the soundwaves and your ears? Ooo, this is far too scientific for me at one big Moscow Mule into my evening. Yes, things make sounds whether we're there or not. We do not control the universe, strikingly amazing as that seems.

 2824. Who is full of shit? Who is NOT? 

 2825. Four of the five senses are routed through a special area to the brain. One sense goes right to the brain and so is a powerful sense involved with memory and emotion. Which sense do you feel this is? Smell? I don't know. That's the one that sends me into hyperspace most easily.

 2826. Are you on a ship of fools or a carousel? I'm on a carousel with a bunch of fools. It's ok.

 2827. What is your bathing suit like? This presumes I have one. ... Oddly, I was actually thinking about the last suit I bought earlier today and wondering if it still fits. It's green, one-piece.

 2828. Whose line is it, anyway? It's always Colin M.'s line.

 2829. Are you more likely to answer a signed in note or a nsi note? I don't know what this is, but I suspect it depends more on what is said than who said it.

 2830. To be or not to be. That is the question. What is the answer? Most of the time, most of us answer it "to be." If you're leaning toward "not to be" please call the suicide hotline: 800-273-8255.

 2831. Does beauty exist as a definable standard or is beauty in the eyes of the beholder? Why do you think it is that so many people have the same idea of who and what is beautiful? Where do your standards for judging beauty come from? Oh boy, I could probably write a novel about this. I think beauty is culturally decided and not innate.

 2832. Would a war with Iraq help or harm American economy? War is good for the economy. It's pretty bad for humans, though.

 2833. What is the first thing you would do if you saw a nuclear explosion in the distance? Eat everything I'm not allowed to anymore. I mean, I'm dead. Might as well die happily gorged.

 2834. Would you like to be cryogenically frozen? Nah.

2835. Think of the person you love the most. Would you be willing to murder a stranger in order to save that person's life? Why or why not? Yup.

 2836. Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can? I can. Thanks, John.

 2837. How messed up is: 

 your hair? It's pretty bad.

 your room? The cleaning lady was here yesterday, so it's still ok.

 your car? A disaster, but better than many I've seen.

 your life? On the outside, it looks like Suicide City. Inside, it's not that bad.

 2838. What are you running out of? Money.

 2839. What do you live for? Work, which leads to a paycheck that helps pay for Beast's room & board.

 2840. How did you decide it was worth living for? What are my options.

 2841. Do you consider some people to be too: traditional? conformist? avant-garde? smart? stuck up? modern? beautiful? ugly? obsessed? emotional? petty? sneaky? fat? thin? Yes, though the last two don't really bother me that much, nor their relative beauty. Most people are a delightful mixture of all of the above in varying levels.

 2842. By what criteria do you judge others? How kind they are.

 2843. Do you look at people's words and actions or the underlying reasons for those words and actions? I have to; otherwise, I'd've smacked some people into next year over my life.

 2844. Which would you rather collect: Simpsons action figures? KISS gear? anything with a smiley? horror movies? None of these. Dust works.

 2845. Do you fight for your rights? Only for my right to partay. I fight for other people's rights, though.

 2846. Would you rather be a construction worker or a crossing guard? Crossing guard.

 2847. What is enough to satisfy you in life? A roof over my head and food and interesting things in life. And indoor plumbing.

 2848. Do you think you have more, less, or average life experience for your age? I don't think I can judge that. In some areas I'm pretty broken-in, in other areas I'm totally clueless.

 2849. Why go to college? Have you considered joining a cult instead? I have a Master's degree and I would never join a cult, even at my most gullible and naive. There were a lot of cults in my immediate zeitgeist as a child, so I knew how to ask questions in the most annoying way.

 2850. What's the last lie you told? That I'm fine.

 2851. What celebrity has the sexiest voice of females? males? Kathleen Turner has the best speaking voice of all time. Period.

 2852. You are having a party and can invite three celebrities of your choice. The WILL come. Who do you invite? Lin-Manuel Miranda, Donald Glover, Megan Thee Stallion.

 2853. Where did you come from? Where are you now? Where are you going? I came from my parents, I am here now, and I'm going to bed shortly.

 2854. What would you imagine the Playboy Mansion is like? I've been to a former Playboy Club and it's  just basically a hotel. NBD. I expect the same of the Mansion, but with a lot of weird decor.

 2855. Do you blow your nose loudly in public? Only when I need to.

 2856. Do you help others every day? Yes.

 2857. Bono or Chris Tucker? WTF? Who is Chris Tucker? So I guess Bono. I'd kind of like to meet him.

 2858. Is it lonely being alone in your head? I'd rather be lonely in my head than have any company whatsoever!

 2859. What is the worst poverty you have ever seen? Donald Trump's soul.

 2860. Has anyone ever told you that more than 2 billion people live on less than two dollars a day? What do you think of that? I think economics of scale are fascinating and worth understanding in this situation.

 2861. Add a sentence to the story: Once upon a time there was a man named Arthur and he was brushing his teeth when all of a sudden he saw a bright rainbow outside. So he goes out the back door to take a look and he finds an elf who says that he has froth around his mouth and needs to get away from him (the elf) and runs away.

 2862. Be honest.. do you generally listen or wait for your turn to talk? Yeah, this is a problem sometimes. I'm trying, actively, to work on this and become a better listener.

 2863. How many fingers do you type with? Nine. My left thumb doesn't do a lot.

 2864. What does 'you think you know but you have no idea' mean? Where did it come from as a common phrase?  It's a common phrase? It means what it says: you don't know what you think you know about this situation.

 2865. Do you think it's important to give up liberties in order to protect freedom? It does NOT work like that, no.

 2866. Do you think George Bush was elected in a legal way? No, but jeez this survey is old!!

 2867. Imagine you were dying of a disease...you only had a certain amount of time left with your mate, parents or children. What would you leave behind for them to remember you by?  How would you feel if there were drugs to help you live, only you couldn't afford them? How would you feel if people were trying to sell you the drugs at a lower cost but the drug companies made sure they couldn't because that would cut their profits? This scenario is going on Right Now. The country is Africa. The disease is AIDS. The drug is AZP (and others). The people are Africans who are very poor and have AIDS. The large drug corporations won't sell the drugs at a price they can afford or allow smaller companies to either. Is this acceptable? What are you going to do about it?   This is unacceptable, and I think it needs to stop and I've helped fund organizations that do good work. 

2868. Would you ever BUY a new ring for your cell phone that plays a couple of notes of your favorite song? Buy it, no.

 2869. What has completely moved you? Mayflower.

 2870. If for your next birthday you had a novelty kids birthday party what games would you play at it? Uhm, my next birthday is number 58. I think I'm past game-playing on birthdays, unless someone's up for a Cards Against Humanity round.

 2871. How can you keep open toed sandals from rubbing against your toes and making them blistered and raw? If you don't the answer to this by this point, I can't help you.

 2872. What happens to socks when they disappear in the drier? If I knew this, I'd have a lot less rags in the bin.

[faded out at 9:27 p.m.]

[restarted 6:54 p.m. 1/31]

 2873. What is the quality of humanity all about? Starting the questions with a big one. I think, in some ways, it's a big lie we tell ourselves, but also at best "humanity" is the ability remember that other people are people and should be judged as such, not as Something Other.

 2874. True or false - All homophobes are inherently evil: False, but if they are presented with facts and refuse to rethink their point of view, they aren't doing themselves any favors.

 2875. Is there anything, besides love, that money can't buy? A good reputation.

 2876. How is your soul? It is well.

 2877. What are you committed to? Getting through each day.

 2879. Are you photogenic? I am very much not.

 2880. Can you define these words off the top of your head as if you were talking to someone who didn't know what they were?

 rain: water falling from the sky

 cold: lower than comfortable temperatures in the area your body is

 green: I don't think I can do this without pointing to something

 sand: Tiny pulverized rocks, small like salt.

 2881. Why aren't you naked (or are you)? It's fookin' cold outside and being naked would be foolish.

 2882. Do you think anyone is all good or all evil? Nope. I think we're all on a continuum.

 2883. Go outside a sec. How many animals are in your yard? Did you count yourself? why or why not? Nobody's outside right now including me. Even the neighborhood dogs are all inside.

 2884. What household appliance drags you down? Hmm, I don't ever use the toaster-oven, which is sitting on the counter. I should probably put it away.

 2885. try this..write a list of six possibilities of things you could do after you are off the computer. Make sure that at lease ONE thing is something you would be unlikely to ever do. 

 1. Run screaming down the street in bare feet.

 2. Take a bath.

 3. Make something hot to eat.

 4. Read a book.

 5. Sort laundry for tomorrow.

 6. Start packing for my trip to Sparky's to be his post-surgical caregiver.

 Now grab a dice (if you have none ask someone to pick a number between 1 and 6) and decide what you will do by flipping it. Then do it! I live alone and don't have a die handy. So I'll probably just go with the plan that I'll take a bath, do some desultory planning about what I need to pack, and maybe sort laundry and get it ready to take downstairs in the morning.

 2886. Which of the following doesn't belong with the others and why? 

 a. garden 

 b. love 

 c. magazine 

 d. death I would be willing to bet a decent amount of money that there are no magazines about this topic, only, and I know there are magazines that are basically all about gardens and variations of love.

 2887. How old are you? What age do you feel mentally? emotionally? spiritually? I am 57. I feel about that age, sometimes considerably older.

 2888. Who do you think is more wise: your mailman or a person who has been living on the streets for 12 years? Depends on what kind of wisdom I'm searching for. The person on the streets has the kind of information I will (hopefully) never have.

 2889. Do you kiss on the first date? Depends on the guy. I haven't dated for over 35 years, so who knows.

 2890. Would you ever want to be on: 

 a dating show (which)?  Yeah, no. I canNOT dance in any coordinated way.

 a game show (which)? Oh, I could handle Wheel of Fortune. In my sleep.

 the news (why)? My strongest desire is never to be on the news.

 2891. How much money would it take to get you to: 

 strip to nothing but a bright orange thong (for guys, orange thongs and string bikini top for girls) and wrestle another person of the same sex in a thong in a pool of Jello? 2 billion, minimum

 participate in a contest where you drink alcohol as fast as you can until you puke? ditto

 sit absolutely still for 2 hours, in nothing but a towel, covered in plaster of Paris? I'd do this for minimal payment, it kind of sounds lovely providing the room is warm

 walk around at your school in bondage gear asking people to spank you on the ass with a huge dead octopus tentacle? I don't go to school anymore, but if I did it would be back in the 2 billion range

 pick your nose and eat it? Why would I ever want to do this? Back to 2 billion

 smash potatoes with your head? Nope, sorry: 2 billion

 2892. Who deserves an apology? The American people who believed anything DJT ever has said.

 2893. What wins the award as stupidest lyric you can think of? SmashMouth lyrics are not exactly Mensa-worthy. I still like them.

 2894. Where do you most like to be massaged? My back needs endless attention. I could probably get two massages a day just on my back and still be sore.

 2895. Is your face clear? Mostly.

 2896. Finish this phrase in a humorous way.. Friends don't let friends... suffer alone. Sorry, not funny, but true nevertheless.

 2897. What present would you bring to the birthday party of an acquaintance? Depends entirely on the person.

 2898. Is your game on? Only when I'm out in public, or on the phone with GrownUps, or otherwise faking my way through adulthood. Right now, I'm listening to conspiracy theory podcasts and drinking vodka. Game decidedly NOT on.

 2899. What would a song for the deaf be like? How about a painting for the blind? Feh. Deaf people 'get' music, blind people understand art. 

 2900. What is a sure-fire way to get noticed? Act like a moron, but do it confidently and L O U D L Y.

[finished at 7:15 p.m.]

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll) 

Misc questions 

1. Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand picked as they grew beside the parkway? 

I am far from fussy, especially these days. But I'm less likely to sneeze at greenhouse flowers.

2. Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do? 

Years of therapy have helped with this.

3. Which do you do more often: let movies, songs and books put your feelings into words for you or put your feelings into words by yourself? 

Of late, it's been "feel the feelings all the time." I don't really see too many movies and reading has been hard this year.

4. Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product? 

I don't pay a lot of attention to ads, and I'd like to think the person in the ad means nothing, but I just got stung by ThirdLove so I guess I do sometimes.

5. What kind of movies do you wish were made more often?

Good ones. It would be nice if we (the audience) would refuse to see the crappy ones.

6. Does fashion matter to you? 

Not really.

7. Should politicians be held to the same legal standards as everyone else? 

Of course they should! Some might argue they should be held to a higher standard.

8. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration? 

My go-to would be a classmate of Sparky's who sings at our church. But I have no interest in running for any office whatsoever.

9. Do you try to write/say what you are feeling in a true and simple way? 

Yes.

10. What is your worst daily habit? 

Sleeping. I just got up from an afternoon nap.

11. If you had your choice which one TV show would you have canceled? 

If I never heard another word about the whole "Game of Thrones" debacle, it will be too soon.

12. Do you like the taste of sweet or salt? 

I strongly prefer sweet, but I'm currently eating salted peanuts.

13. Are you very precise about what words you use to describe your feelings and thoughts?

I try to be. They aren't always read or heard precisely, though.

14. What do you feel the most guilty about? 

Presupposing I feel guilty about anything (a pretty solid presupposition in my case, but still....), I had a long moment of "why isn't Beasty living here?" this morning.

15. Do you meditate?

Not as such. I ponder, I pray, I focus on the clock ticking...

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)

A to Z 

Taken from Ned the Duck 

A - Annoyance: Intentionally stupid people being obnoxious on purpose.

B - Bestest Friend[s]: Laura, Gail, Beast ... but honestly it boils down to "no one from work ever again"

C - Car: Ford Edge. I'm going to have to start looking for a replacement in the next couple of years. Wheeeee

D - Day or night: I always like more light, but I'm also perfectly comfortable in darkness..

E- Easiest person to talk to? People I trust. However misguided that would be.

F - Favorite Month: September.

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: I'm not fussy! I love gummy stuff, especially gummies with CBD!

H - Hair Color: Brown at the lowest four inches of hair, white for most of the rest.

I - Ice Cream: Peppermint.

J - Jewelry: I wear my wedding set and that's about all except for whatever earrings I stick in every morning.

K - Kindergarten: ? I went ? I found it really weird.

L - Longest Car Ride: Straight through from my house to Houston, unload the UHaul, turn around, drive straight back home. We had about 6 hours' sleep between arrival and unloading. 2200 miles round trip.

M - Most missed person:  The one I'd most like to talk to: Dad. The one I'd like to understand: Beast.

N - Number of Siblings: There were 5 of us originally. Now there are 3. I lost two sisters before I was 50.

O - One regret: Not staying in my lane more effectively.

P- Part of your appearance you like least? I'm too fat. I need to lose at least 50 lbs. Am I working on it? Nope.

Q- Quote: It is not your job to complete the task of perfecting the world, but neither are you free to desist from it. [Mishnah]

R - Reality TV Show: I used to love Survivor and The Amazing Race. I should check Netflix to see if those are available to (re)watch.

S - Shoe: Bob's. And my collection of short boots.

T - Time you woke up: I seem to be preset for 7 a.m. regardless. Unless, of course I need to be awake then, in which case I sleep till 9.

U - Unpredictable? I don't think so. BUT I don't handle stress or change well at all.

V - Vegetable you hate: Brussels sprouts.

W- Worst Habits: Popping off without thinking. 

X - X-Rays: I've had a lot of scans. More than I've had X-rays, weirdly. Even a couple of bone scans. Welcome to old age. My thyroid area is FAMOUS in all the medical literature! So is my former reproductive system!

Y - Year you were born: I was born 10 days before JFK was shot.

Z - Zoom: I did a zoom meeting today for church. I think I have another one schedule this week--maybe?--for work. And Beast just called via a different app, so there's also that. And GoToMeeting, which I use as well.

Plaid Polka-Dots Stripes Stars

(Found here)
(started 6:45 p.m. 1/14/21)

What is a smell that you absolutely cannot stand? Liver being cooked near me

When is the last time you felt adrenaline moving through your veins? I can't remember. I guess Tuesday a little, but only because I'm permanently frustrated about everything in the world.

When is the last time you bought new shoes? What kind of shoes are they? I bought two pairs of short boots on my birthday in November. 

Do you know anybody who snorts when they laugh? Who? Me, when I'm VERY amused. I think I know a couple of others. I think it's kind of hilarious.

Have you ever been hit on by a stranger? Flattering or creepy? I work in a public sector, so yeah this happens on the reg, even still at my gray-haired age.

Do you remember the first Rated R movie you ever saw? What was it? I was going to say "Saturday Night Fever" but then I realized I saw the PG version in the theater (I'm that old). So I honestly have no idea.

What is something good that happened to you last week? Something bad?  Good: I made some good progress on projects at work for a change. Bad: every goddamn other thing in the country!!

Are you afraid of any animals? I have a legitimate fear of bears, but I love them. Basically, I have a healthy fear of any animal that is likely to kill and eat me.

Do you put your elbows on the table when you eat? Do you think it’s rude? I do, when I rarely eat at a table these days. I don't honestly give two shits about rudeness at this point.

Have you ever gotten into a fight with somebody over the internet? So, basically, have I been on the internet for more than 30 minutes? Yes.

Do you think that you listen to your head or your heart more? I try to listen to my head, but my heart gets in the way every time. I'm such a sap.

If your mom told you she was pregnant today would you freak out? If my mom told me ANYthing today, I'd check myself into a mental hospital. Also, she would be 99 years old if she were speaking to me, so do the math.

You trust all of your friends completely, true or false? I trust no one. Not after this week. Betrayals and fear and grief everywhere.

How many buttons are on the clothes you’re wearing right now? Weirdly, none. I mean, not THAT weird, but this shirt has a pattern on it so buttons on a pullover with a pattern seem superfluous.

If you could re-paint your bedroom, what color would you choose? My bedroom is blue with one sandy/tan wall. I wouldn't change it for less than $5 million.

What has been the best night of your life so far? Why? I can't remember that far back.

Did you learn to read before, during, or after kindergarten? Before.

Has anybody ever thrown you a surprise party?  Yes.

Would you ever even think about taking part in a wet t-shirt contest? Hah! Even when I was young and skinny, I wouldn't have been invited to do so. Nor would I want to. Pretty sure you have to be drunk or a masochist to do so.

What is the last thing you lost? My self-respect.

Have you ever pretended to be sick to get out of something? Yes. There's a voice in my head telling me that's what I'm doing now, but I'm doing it anyway.

Who is somebody you know who is spoiled rotten? People who think I am the scariest person on the planet.

Would you rather visit Poland or Portugal? Portugal. Seems warmer.

Have you ever seen somebody give birth? Besides me? Yes.

You have 10 minutes to make dinner for two people, what do you make?   Whaddaya got in the fridge/pantry? I have to know what I've got to work with. Most likely, soup and sarny. 

Have you ever borrowed something and never gave it back? What was it? I "liberated" a screwdriver set from my parents when I left for college. Still have it. 😀

What is one thing you wish you understood about the opposite sex?  I hate to be flippant but...how it feels to pee standing up? If I have other questions, I just ask one of the many male friends I am somehow fortunate enough to have.

Is you hair color the same as it was when you were a baby? Ironically, it's not real far away. I had very little hair, and it was very pale. Now it's very close to white.

Have you ever been in trouble for being too loud? That is the gist of the trouble I'm in right now.

Honestly, have you ever given somebody a sucky gift? Surely I have. No one has flat out said so.

***

Salt & vinegar, barbecue, sour cream & onion, or cheddar? Sour cream. Or cheddar, a recent discovery.

Bow ties on guys, dorky or adorable? Depends a lot on the guy. 

What are your thoughts on mini-skirts or mini-dresses? I have only ever had one in my life, which was a HEEEYUGGGE bone of contention between me and my mom for my entire childhood.

Have you ever died in one of your dreams? I...don't think so?

Name three things you hate having to buy for yourself: Why? Clothes (I'm fat and nothing fits right), services (plumbers, carpenters, etc.--because if I weren't lazy I would figure it out and do it myself), medication (I take too damn many pills!).

Which is tastier: fruity gum or minty gum? I chew peppermint every night.

Quick! The first professional sports player you can think of: Clay Matthews.

Be honest, have you ever bullied anybody? Who was it? I feel like I was more the bullied than the bullier as a child. I feel now like it's possible I've become an adult bully, or at least that's the impression I've gotten at work of late.

What colors look best with navy blue in your opinion? More blue, white, yellow, bright red.

What is the cutest Halloween costume for a baby to wear?  Anything parents can get the baby to wear.

Is it a turn-off if somebody’s teeth are stained yellow? I'm interested to hear the answer to this, being someone whose teeth are permanently "stained" yellow because of things beyond my control. My dentist refuses to bleach them because of the damage it'll do to them.

Which of your friends is the tallest? Which of them is the shortest? I honestly haven't the foggiest idea. I feel like most people are more-or-less the same height as me.

Plaid, polka-dots, stripes, or stars: pick three. Do I have to wear them all at a time?? Gross. I don't really care for polka-dots; I think I may have had a few too many as a kid.

Do you know any quotes from Forrest Gump? "Run, Forrest, run!"

Do you believe in demonic possession? How about ghosts? Angels? I don't believe in them the way they are superstitiously portrayed in pop culture. I think there are plenty of things science hasn't figured out, and I know I feel the presence of loved ones at times.

When is the last time you ate so much you felt sick afterwards? Anytime I eat, I end up feeling like I should never do it again.

Would you rather judge a singing or dancing competition? Why? I'm more able to judge singing properly, knowing nothing about dance.

What appliance in your kitchen do you use the most often? The fridge.

What cabinet or closet in your house do you rarely open? The ones behind the bedrooms, under the eaves.

What was the mascot at your elementary school? Mustangs, which I had to go look up because I had completely forgotten.

What is the most expensive restaurant you’ve ever been to? Was it good? It was a steak place and the bill was nearly $300 for 4 of us 20 years ago. Yes, it was delicious.

Have you ever fallen down in public? Did anybody see you? More and more often. Last spring was the most recent public display.

Do you scream when you go on rollercoasters? Do you close your eyes? I haven't been on one since Sparky was a kid--so 20 years--and I always took my glasses off so they wouldn't fly off in the middle and get lost, so I was never that scared: I couldn't see a dang thing.

Do you think home-made cards are better than store bought ones? Anytime someone remembers and cares enough to send a card, I'm not going to complain.

What is one romantic movie that you enjoy enough to watch more than once? I've been hankering to watch "You've Got Mail" again because it's so dated (pun intended).

Name three countries you want to visit: Why those three?  Egypt, Spain, Kenya.

***

When was the last time you went to the dentist? Did you have any work done? I saw the dentist last month to make sure I hadn't cracked a tooth. I hadn't. Just pain from clenching them.

Open any social media site. Who's the first person on your feed? Unfortunately, it's from someone at work that I'm ticked at to someone else at work to told me to get my shit together or gtfo today. So, yeah, that helped my mood a lot.

What's the closest store to your house? We call it The Mini-Mart; it's a satellite of a small grocery store in another part of my very small village.

How much sleep per night do you usually get? Plenty, and yet I almost always need more.

Were you born in the state you now live in? No, for my sins.

What's your favorite type of cake? White or yellow plain cake with a lot of frosting.

Do you like to go out to nightclubs? What would you usually wear? I would rather have major dental work done than go to a nightclub ever again.

Have you ever been hit in the face? Yes. Yes I have. 

Do you wear glasses? Yes, except for when they get broken from being hit in the face.

What do you think of the Jonas Brothers? I vaguely know who they are, as a group of guys, but couldn't definitively name any one of them on sight.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? I have ALWAYS been a pie-eyed optimist...until the last four years, which have turned me into a bitter old crone.

Who was the last person you argued or disagreed with? Hah. Last person I argued with was a coworker on Tuesday. I disagree with lots of stuff over the course of any given day. Most of it just sloughs off and I forget immediately.

Do you know how to cook? What's your favorite thing to cook? I don't mind the cooking; it's the shopping that sucks. And it sucks to not have anyone to cook FOR.

Have you ever been on a plane for more than 10 hours? Not quite. Two flights + one completely unmemorable layover = 14 hours. Plus another 2 hours in passport control and then another 2 hours organizing luggage, getting on a coach, getting to the hotel, checking in, learning how to "properly use" a Russian hotel (babushkas of the world...). And that was AFTER a harrowing 2-hour drive in a blizzard to get to the U.S. airport and several flight delays. I've never done this calculation, but by these numbers I was awake (and terrified) for over 30 hours that day. I'm sure I didn't sleep the night before we left either.

What was the last thing you put in the trash? Damp Kleenex.

Are you sitting down right now? Yup.

Have you ever worked night shifts? As in overnight, 10 pm to 6 a.m.? Not exactly, certainly not for pay, but I have worked closing shifts--till 9 pm--at least one day a week for most of my life.

How do you usually style your hair? Brush and a pony.

Do you like to people-watch? I definitely watch people like a hawk these days.

Is your fridge full or empty at the moment? Far too full.

What shoes do you wear to work? Comfortable shoes that aren't hideous.

(Faded completely into blindness 8:55 p.m.)
(back at it 10/15/21 10:17 a.m.)

When was the last time you mopped a floor? Fully? It's the one thing that I hate doing, so I hire someone. Since I live alone, twice a month is plenty for a full mop. I clean up spills as they happen.

What's your favorite type of juice? Cranberry. Or grapefruit, which I can't have anymore because of meds.

What color looks best on you? Honestly, I've no idea. Blue works, and I try to stay away from pinky-reds because my skin is very pinky-red.

Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail? Medicare--which I'm not on--REALLY wants me to have a cancer screening. I've had about 20 calls in the past month about it.

Would you want a Bachelor/Bachelorette party before you get married? I'm not getting married again, and anyway, no.

Do you have a skincare routine? What does it involve? I wash my face in the morning with Olay. If I'm sensing a breakout anywhere, I'll add some Clearasil to the area. At night, the most I do is wipe off my face with witch hazel and rinse with water. I don't wear makeup. And if I plan to be outside more than 10-15 at a time over the course of the day, I'll grab some face sunscreen to have on hand.

Have you ever had a professional massage?  Yup. Need to call for another one.

What was the last thing you baked in an oven? Something while Sparky was home for Xmas. Technically, he made it, not me.

How much cash do you have on your person right now? I'm sitting in my living room in my pajamas and socks. I barely have my person on my person. I probably have about $300 in cash for shoveling and cleaning payments in the house and maybe another $50 in my wallet.

Where do you like to shop for groceries? Instacart

Who do you put down as an emergency contact and why? My son because my husband would literally be the most unhelpful person I know to use.

What did you have for breakfast today? Mini-bagels with pepper jack and havarti cheese, some peanuts, and a Xanax. First Xanax ever.

Do any household chores need to be done right now? Always.

Have you ever played on a poker machine? I love video poker at the bar in Vegas. Great way to waste a ton of time AND money.

What type of gas do you put in your car, if you have one? Whatever's nearby when I'm low, and always the cheap stuff. 

When was the last time you smoked a cigarette, if ever? Never have. At least, none of my own--I used to breath in a LOT of smoky air, but that was in the Olden Days.

Do you know how to roast a turkey? I do, and I do it really well if I may say so.

How do you feel right now? Not great. And cold.

What do you like to put on your sandwiches? Cheese. And potato chips. And butter.

Is there a train station close to where you live? I drive past it on my way to work every day. And on the way home.

Do you check the mail every day? Usually, yes. Right now it's hard to get to in the car (it's on the street) and I will be needing to fix it soon as it was damaged last month.

What was your first crush's name? Maybe David Cassidy? More likely his brother Shawn, which quickly swapped to Andy Gibb.

Can your name be shortened to become a nickname? If you change the last letter it becomes kind of nicknamey; people do it all the time. I HATE IT.

What was the last bill you paid? Service charge on Beast's guardianship paperwork on Wednesday. I have a stack of bills here that I absolutely HAVE to deal with today. Or tomorrow. Been saying that all week.

***

1. Think back to the last time (or a time) when you were in a fight with someone and just blurted out exactly what was on your mind. Did you somewhat regret saying what you said? What happened? I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut and I invariably regret everything. I'll let you know what happens when I get back to work next week and find out if I still have a job.

2. Towards the end of your last relationship, how did you know it was over? How did you and your significant other change towards each other? (ex. not calling each other babe, baby, etc.) Good heavens. I've been married 34.5 years. I can't even go back that far today.

3. Have you ever had a significant other NOT believe you when you said “i love you” to them? Why was that? How did you react? I think sometimes my actions may not say I love you when I said it. It probably led to many arguments. There was probably shouting. ...sigh

4. When was the last time you had a hard time telling someone exactly how you felt? Did they understand where you were coming from? If I'm getting into the deep feels, I always end up crying and then I can't talk properly and everything goes pear-shaped.

5. Do opposites really attract? Have you ever experienced this? Explain: Sometimes. They can often both repel and attract, which is confusing and can feel awfully exciting before you realize how exhausting it is.

6. Has anyone close to you ever drifted away because they started hanging out with a new crowd? Did you try talking to them about it? What eventually happened? Every freaking day.

7. Have you ever found yourself heading on the wrong path? What happened? I'm there now. Wondering what to do, whether it's worth it to fight my way back to a safe path.

8. When did you last not feel accepted? Why did you feel that way? At work. Now. Because my own fucking giant mouthy mouth.

9. When did you last turn to drinking to ‘escape’ from your problems? What caused you to do that? I think I had a drink last weekend, but I'm not sure it was to escape. I'm not drinking this weekend because the option of never stopping is looking attractive.

10. Has anyone had to take your drink from you because you drank too much? How did you react? No, but my college roommate held my glasses while I threw up 15 glasses of champagne that I threw down in an hour once. I still can't even smell cheap champagne without feeling sick. And she's still my friend. How?!?!?

11. What’s your opinion on the world relying on technology too much and not paying enough attention to natural resources? I'm not equipped, today, to answer this. If I didn't have technology, I'd be done.

12. Have you ever felt like it was just pointless to cry? Did you hold yourself back from crying or did you let it out? Over the past 5 years or so, I've gotten much better about controlling tears. Then yesterday happened and my eyes actively HURT from the amount of crying I've done in 24 hours. I also think I'm allergic to my tears.....

13. “Words of wisdom all around but no one ever seems to listen.” What’s your opinion on this? You have to be able to hear them to hear them.

14. Do you prefer the city or country more? Why? I'm essentially a city girl, but I really like living in the country where I can't hear my neighbors' conversations.

15. Have you ever felt like something was so horrible that you just wanted it to be a dream? What was it? Much of the last 4 years.

16. Have you ever had a love/hate relationship with someone? Tell me about it: Welcome to my marriage c. 2012-2017.

17. When did you last turn to God with a problem? What was it? Did it help talking to him? God and I are working on things right now.

18. Has your pride ever gotten in the way of admitting that you felt weak or were in pain? How so? All the time. My pride is a weakness.

[dozed off]

[Back to it 9:58 p.m.]

19. Have you ever wanted something so bad it hurt? What was it? My sanity, this week. Beast, here, this week.
20. Who’s lies had affected you the most? Trump hasn't been great but at least I never believed he might be ok.

***

1. If you married the last person who texted you, what would your last name be? It would be the same, but weird because it was my child.

2. Would you ever get a tattoo?  Unlikely at this point.

3. Have you ever gotten burnt by a cigarette? Not badly enough to scar.

4. So what do you want for your birthday? I have 10 months to come up with this. Leave me alone!

5. Have you ever kissed someone who was over 18? 'Twould be very icky if I answered this "no" at my age.

6. Have you had an argument with anyone in the last 3 days? Tuesday morning. 

7. When you log into Facebook, do you look to see who’s online and message someone to chat, or do you wait to see if someone will message you first? I don't even look at who is online; I have Messenger open in a separate tab.

8. If you are a girl, has anyone ever told you they think you wear too much make-up? Or if you are a guy, do you prefer girls with or without make-up? I don't wear makeup.

9. Do you think the last person you kissed, has kissed anyone else since the last time they kissed you? I don't think I kissed Sparky while he was home, and before that it's been about 6 months since I kissed Beast.

10. Think about the person you currently love/like. Then think about the person you loved/liked 12 months ago. Is this the same person? Yes.

11. If you are a girl, what color is your favorite lipstick? Or if you’re a guy, what color lipstick do you like your girlfriend to wear?  I haven't worn lipstick in decades.

12. Was your last beverage hot or cold?  Cold.

13. Could you date someone who was shorter than you? Who knows? I'm not looking to date anyone at all.

14. Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?  No. I'm picturing one of the thousands of CD at work and grossing myself out now....

15. By what age would you like to be married? Now seems good.

16. What’s the most you have spent for a haircut? Back about 8 years, I used to spent about $80 every appointment because I was coloring my hair. Now, I not only don't color it, I haven't been to a salon and had it cut in almost 3.5 years.

17. Name everyone you kissed this year: Not to be pedantic, but "this year" = 2021? Or in the past year? No one at all in 2021, and probably only Sparky and Beast last year. 

18. Did your last kiss mean anything to you? It meant the world to me.

19. Where did you buy the shirt you’re wearing now?  Since it's an Ohio State hoodie, I'm assuming it was a gift.

20. Ever kissed someone who smokes? I've had family members who smoked and we kissed. Seems to me there might have been one guy I dated who smoked. It was a long time ago.

21. Do you like kissing in public? At this point, I would probably be very shocked that two people were that close together for any reason.

***

BOLD the true statements:

you’re a girl
you’re 18
your birthday is in May
a lot of the time you don’t feel like an adult
you graduated high school
you are a college student
you have brown hair
you have brown eyes
you wear glasses
you have pierced ears
you live in the USA
you live in the state of New York
you go to college in the state of Vermont
you are an only child
you have a dog ...
...it’s a labrador retriever
you have a cat ...

...that’s really annoying sometimes
you love to read
you love the Warriors books
you are addicted to Thai food
you are also addicted to Starbucks
you have been to Starbucks within the past week
it snowed today where you live  
your favorite Warrior cat is Leafpool
you have never read Harry Potter
music is pretty much your life
you sing in choirs
you play piano
you wish you could play the hammer dulcimer
you really miss the choirs you’ve graduated from
you think you’re a pretty good singer
you want to be a music teacher when you grow up ...
...but you don’t think that will happen
you know music by Jim Papoulis
you know music by Stephen Hatfield
you know music by Andrea Ramsey
you don’t really listen to popular music
you are listening to music right now
you like Frozen
your favorite character in it is Olaf
you play 2048 (not often)
but you still haven’t beat it
you usually like school
but you don’t usually like homework
your favorite academic school subject is/was English
your English teacher is/was your favorite teacher ever
you are/were in your school choir
you don’t like sports
you hate/hated PE
you hate/hated math
you are currently listening to a song that brings back memories
you don’t drive
you’ve never been in a romantic relationship
you have an iPhone
you have an iPod ...
...that you hardly ever use
you have a laptop
you like hanging out with little kids
you have an instagram
you have a twitter
you have a facebook
you have a tumblr
you have a pinterest
you have a youtube
you have been in one or more youtube videos
you have met one or more celebrities
you have a lot of friends
you miss someone right now
you are hopefully going to Europe this coming summer  
you wish it was summer
you speak German
you’re really good at solfege (do re mi, etc)
your favorite clothing brand is aero
you really love converse ...
...but you don’t have any
you have a henna tattoo at the moment
you’re bored
you like chai
you’re craving cheesecake
you’re random

BOLD what you've done:
Had beer
Smoked an entire cigarette
Done drugs.
Written on a bathroom wall.
Read a George Orwell book.
Had a physical fight.
Used Twitter.
Listened to Lady Gaga
Been in a car accident.
Gotten suspended.
Gotten expelled.
Been allergic to something.
Got a computer virus.
Touched a real gun.
Had a dog.
Had a cat.
Been pregnant.
Camped out
Swam in the ocean. (well, waded)
Wore a bikini.
Driven a car
Been sent to the principal.
Ever liked someone.
Failed a class.
Failed a test.
Went to summer school.
Got worse than a D
Got A’s and B’s.
Read an entire book.
Recorded my own music.
Had an xbox.
Worn heels more than 3 days in a row.
Wore fishnets.
Wore skinny jeans.
Hated someone.
Been cheated on.
Cheated on someone.
Practiced Christianity/Catholicism.
Worn makeup.
Lied to my parents about where I was going.  
Had surgery.
Had my license.
Been to college.
Graduated high school.
Attempted suicide.
Self harmed.
Worn colored contacts.
Painted my nails black.
Broken someone’s heart. 
Had my heart broken.
Cried for an hour straight. 
Lost something very valuable.
Got separated from one of my parents as a kid.
Broke a bone.
Gotten stung by a bee
Eaten something bad/expired.
Threw up from being so drunk.
Saw someone throw up from being so drunk.
Danced with someone of the same sex.
Owned an ipod
Danced with someone of the opposite sex.
Owned an iphone.
Fell for a best friend.
Stole a friend’s significant other.
Went far away from home for more than a week.
Moved out.
Ran away.
Had a job.
Been fired.
Lied to a friend.
Lied to a family member.
Had a Facebook.
Posted a video on Youtube.
Started a rumor about someone.
Talked bad about someone.
Dropped out of school.  
Deliberately failed a test.
Been skinny dipping.
Counted to a million.
Counted to a thousand.
Ate rabbit meat.
Ate duck meat.
Had fast food.
Been to church.
Been to Canada.
Been married.
Had a divorce.
Broke a glass.
Hugged someone today.
Texted someone today.
Received a phone call today.
Threw something out of the window.
Ignored a text from someone on purpose.
Wished you were somebody else
Had my feelings hurt by a friend and never told them.  
Kissed someone
Been to a concert
Seen your favorite band live 
Met a celebrity
Met your favorite band  
Owned more than 10 CD’s

[finished 10:21 p.m.]