Saturday 9

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It All Depends On You (1959)

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

1) In this song, Shirley Bassey sings that she could be happy or sad. As you answer these questions, do lean more toward happy or sad?

I'm ok. I don't feel great today, but mood stabilizers are fully engaged, so no tears and no maniacal laughter or shouting.

2) She tells us that she can save money or spend it. Do you try to stick to a budget?

I pay the bills and buy what I need to get by. Everything else is gravy. I just don't like to spend money.

3) By the time Shirley Bassey recorded "It All Depends on You," it was already an oldie, written back in 1926. Can you think of a song, book, or movie that you enjoy today that you believe audiences will relate to 2125?

Bold of you to expect society not to implode in the next 100 years... 
I'd guess the religious books will continue on: Torah/Talmud, Christian scriptures, Qu'ran, Bhagavad Gita. They've made it this far after all.

4) Though she has risen to the title Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), her childhood allowed her little education. She dropped out at 15 and got a factory job to help her family. How old were you when you got your first full-time job? What was it?

First permanent full-time job was when I was 24. I worked full-time during summers in college, and part-time pretty much starting at 16 till 24. That job was my first job as a librarian. It was 1988 and I was stoked to be earning a cool $20,000/year. 

5) A favorite of the Royal Family, Shirley performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace. How would you like to celebrate your next anniversary or birthday? Are you in the mood for a big blow out, or would you prefer something low key?

Low key. It's going to be a rough one this year. Possibly permanently going forward. No Beasty to celebrate joint Birthday Week for the first time in 40+ years.

6) Madame Tussaud's has two wax figurines of Shirley – one in London and a second in Las Vegas. Do you enjoy wax museums, or do you think they're creepy?

I think they are creepy, thought I've never visited one in person.

7) In 1959, when this song was popular, most women wore nylons on a daily basis and the average price per pair was $1. What socks or leg wear – if any – do you have on right now?

Naked feet! I can't stand stuff on my feet anymore; incipient neuropathy is weird.

8) Also in 1959, Alaska became our 49th state. Today, cruise lines showcase Alaska on 4- or 7-night cruises. What do you consider the perfect length for a vacation trip? Is a 3-day weekend too short? Are two weeks away from home too long? What's your ideal?

It fully depends on how far away I'm going and how much I'm spending on travel. If I'm going to the Big City nearby, a few days is plenty. If I'm going over an ocean, book me for a few weeks please. 

9) Random question: Which cable channel would you watch more often – one that shows nothing but classic sitcoms, or one that shows nothing but new movies? 

Of those two options, I'd rather watch (some) old sitcoms. Movies do not interest me much.

Saturday 9

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Freeway of Love (1985)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. (or trust me when I say "don't do it!*)

1) In this song, Aretha's ideal car is a pink Caddy. What's your dream vehicle?

Well, it's NOT a pink car....shudder.... I'd be happy with a Jeep, or a Range Rover, in chocolate brown.

2) Have you ever owned a convertible?

Nope. Not gonna happen. Too many horror stories about leaks from friends who've had nothing but trouble.

3) Aretha longs to "drop the pedal and go." Are you a careful, conservative driver? Or do you enjoy going fast?

I love going fast, but I do try to keep it under control. I'm a big believer in using cruise control to keep myself ticket-free.

4) Aretha's grandmother Rachel helped raise her. Tell us about one of your grandparents.

I've talked about my dad's parents before--they were homesteading when he was born--so I can talk about my grandma on Mom's side. I don't remember much about her except that she always had cold hands. We visited her at the nursing home on Sundays and I would sit on the embroidered footstool and hold her hand while she talked to Mom & Dad. Mom was born when Grandma (not what we actually called her) was over 40, so Mom's brothers were adults when she was a kid, much like me. So basically, by the time I was born, my grandmother was in her mid-80s. Mom didn't talk about her parents much, but I know she went to WCTU meetings as a young child with her mom. Before getting married, Grandma was a schoolteacher in Montana prior to the turn of the last century. She married late for that era to a guy about 15 years older than she was. Even as a kid I wondered if she was that desperate.

5) Aretha played a waitress in the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers. Have you ever worked in food service?

Yes, briefly. It was long enough, though, to recognize what a hard, unpleasant job waitressing is. And I wasn't even allowed to keep tips!

6) Aretha was a chain smoker for decades and had a terrible time giving up cigarettes. What habit do you wish you could break?

Sugar. I'm solidly addicted. And just generally eating crappy food.

7) A sculpture of Aretha is at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York City. What's the last museum you visited?

Hmmm. Wow. I can't remember! It might have been 4 years ago in Florence!

8) Since Aretha has many honorary degrees, it would be appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you addressed by his or her title (Officer, Father, Pastor, Dr., etc.)?

I tend not to do this very often. Perhaps it was the doctor who did my surgery? I call our pastor by his first name. I did call my boss as "Boss" I'm sure, but I don't think that counts.

9) The daughter of a minister, Aretha enjoys singing "church music" and her 1972 CD Amazing Grace is one of the best sellers in gospel music history. Do you have any gospel music on your phone, iPod or MP3 player?

I don't use any of those for music, but I do like gospel music, and I have a whole channel on Spotify dedicated to "Christian" music that I like. TobyMac is my favorite.

_______
* This is one of those songs that is inextricably tied for me to the video, which was IMHO awful and the song was annoyingly overplayed on the radio. Thirty years later and I still had a visceral reaction to seeing this song title....ick

Curious as a Cat

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1) What do you think of 3D movies?

I have yet to see one of the newer kind. I'm not a fan generally--the glasses give me a horrible case of motion sickness--and I don't see the need for me to be IN the movie. I got to watch, not participate.

2) If you could learn one extreme sport for free, what would it be?

Since there is literally no way this will every happen, I've always thought street luge looked like a complete blast, and dangerous as HELL!

3) What nearby museums, galleries, or theaters are your favorites?

There is a local (live) theater that was built about 125 years ago and has been refurbished and kept fairly current with lights and staging. The theater companies that use it do a nice job, but we haven't been to a show in a long time. Maybe I should see about season tickets this year.... There's a train museum fairly close by, but no actual art galleries of note. However, we're a mere 90-minute train ride from one of the world's biggest cities full of almost all the art, architecture, museums, and theater I could want.

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

I really love butterflies. Just pictures--in real life they sort of scare me, although not as much as moths.

Saturday 9

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Ring of Fire
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) Recorded by Johnny Cash, "Ring of Fire" was written by his wife, June Carter. Johnny's daughter Roseanne says it's about "the transformative power of their love." What's your favorite love song?

"The Sweetest Thing" (U2), and I love the video too. I mean, really...how can you not?

2) Though more than 50 years old, this song is still popular today. Country Music Television named it one of the best and most requested of all time. Are you a country music fan?

"I like both kinds of music: Country and Western!" OK, not really, but I don't mind a short round of country, or country-pop once in awhile.

3) This recording features mariachi horns, inspired by Mexican folk music. Have you ever been to Mexico?

Yes I have, about 33 years ago, when the peso exchange rate was about 25 to a dollar. So, a LOOOOOOONG time ago. I don't think we heard any mariachi music while we were there, but I grew up in the Denver area so I heard it a lot at home. Not in my home, but around. Yknow....

4) Cash's birth certificate said, "J. R. Cash," and "J.R." is what his parents always called him. When he enlisted in the Air Force, Uncle Sam refused to let him simply go by initials, so he chose the name "John." If you could choose a different name for yourself, what would it be?

I'd love to use my mother's middle name. It's a great name, but she always hated it for some reason. It was the name of an aunt of hers, whom she loved, so I've never understood her hate. And it was hate.

5) Cash and his first wife, Vivian, had their first date at a roller skating rink. Tell us about one of your first dates.

My first actual date was to see a movie, but I'm not sure I remember which one. He drove his tiny 70s-era Honda (his was reddish), and a tire went flat on the way to the theater, on a very busy four-lane boulevard in Denver. Although he was always talking about fixing cars, this particular vehicle didn't have a jack (though it did have a spare!), so I had to hold the rear of the car up while he changed out the tire. Yes. I did that. He was mortified and couldn't believe how not-upset I was. I even went out with him again!

6) Cash died in September, 2003, four months after he lost his second wife, and love of his life, June. The cause of death given was complications from diabetes, but his children believe he died of a broken heart. Do you think that's possible?

Of course I think it's possible; it's actually well-documented fact.

7) Cash was known as "The Man in Black." What color do you wear most often?

I wear an awful lot of brown and blue and other earth-ish tones.

8) There's a Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville. What's the last museum you visited?

Wow. Hmm. I can't actually remember! It's been several years, and it might have been the British Museum the last time we were in London several years ago now. No, wait, we met family at a train museum last summer. Didn't really do a lot except chit-chat though; it's mostly outdoors, and since the group included two train buffs and a small child, it was pretty easy.

9) A stretch of Tennessee Highway 31E is known as "Johnny Cash Parkway." What street in your town is named for a famous person?

I don't think anything in the town where I lived is named for anyone in particular (that I'm aware of), but there are the usual "Lincoln", "Jefferson" and "Washington" streets in the town where I work, as well as local city fathers. And one cartoonist. Because that's the way people here roll.

Saturday 9

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You Belong with Me

1) Like the girl in this song, have you ever been in love with someone, but was [sic] afraid to tell them?

Welcome to adolescence!! I had a mad crush on a half-dozen guys a year (at least) every year of school at that age, but since I barely spoke to boys at that stage, there was nothing much passed along to any of them.

2) Taylor Swift has been known to write songs about her real-life lovers. If you were to write a song about the most recent person you were romantically involved with, what would the title be?

I wish I would have written "Sweetest Thing"--it's totally about Beast and me.

3) Ms. Swift recently turned 23 and has already won VMAs and AMAs and Grammys. What were you doing when you were 23? (If you aren't 23 yet, where do you see yourself when you hit it?)

I was going to grad school and trying to figure out marriage and living in a poky apartment with no A/C on a very busy street.

4) When you were a child, did you sleep with a plush toy? (If yes, please include its name in your answer.)

I did. I don't remember the names of the ones I had as a small child, though I think I was more into dolls at that point anyway. I had a Raggedy Ann doll then, I know. However, when I was older I had a 5-foot multicolored snake with obnoxiously long eyelashes. Yes, I am very much aware, now, of how wacko-Freudian that whole thing is. By the way, I think they snake's name was Snake.

5) I'm making a Starbucks run. What can I get you?

Just a croissant if you must. I don't drink coffee. Or chai, whatever-the-fuck that is.

6) It was 60 years ago that Clarence Birdseye first marketed frozen vegetables. Now it's your turn: Share something you learned recently

I learned today that in the 1980s in Oklahoma it was (briefly) legal to put to death someone who commits a crime while a under the age of 16. Yes. Seriously.

7) In junior high, were you class clown, teacher's pet, a geek, a jock ... or did you just melt into the background?

I was emphatically not a jock or a class clown. I was somewhere between a shy-know-it-all-slash-geek and teacher's pet.

8) Was your most recent ticket for parking illegally or was it a moving violation?

The last ticket I got was about two years ago when I drove my mini-truck into my neighbor's work truck which was parked in front of his house. That made the second ticket I was issued in my life.

9) Tell us about the last museum you visited.

Hmmm. I'm not at all sure I've been in a museum since we came back from our European trip a couple of years ago. I don't think we went to any museums in England, so I'll guess that our last museum was L'Accademia in Florence where we saw (among other things) Michelangelo's David.

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Googling how to get away with murder on Wednesday?

1) If you had a mind-reading ability but could only choose three people to read their minds, who would they be?

Ugh, I would hate being able to read people's minds!! But, having said that, I guess it would be a good thing to be able to read my boss's mind since she has trouble making any sense at all some days.

2) Do you listen to music that matches your mood or improves your mood? (Meaning when you're sad, do you listen to sad music that matches the mood or happy music to lift you up? Or, if you're angry, do you listen to angry music or soothing music to calm you down? And so forth...)

I generally listen to upbeat music, but if I'm angry I do listen to loud, angry music. But, it's a bad idea for me to listen to sad music when I'm sad.

3) Boy bands New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys have joined together to form a new band called NKOTBSB. What two musical acts would you like to combine efforts? (The musicians don't have to be currently popular, but they do, of course, need to be alive to be able to record new music.)

It would have been awesome if the Beatles and someone like Chuck Berry or some of the early black rock 'n roll groups had worked together.

4) July 1-7 is "Pleasure Week." What is a hobby that you find to be extremely pleasurable?

Meming. ;-)

5) The second week of July is "Nude Recreation Week." (Seriously. I couldn't make this sh*t up.) If you had the chance to go to a nudist resort for a free vacation, would you go?

Nope. Yuck. I'd have nightmares for months afterwards! Not to mention the months of nightmares I'd have before going!

6) Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murder in the death of her daughter on Tuesday. Do you think she got away with murder, or do you think she was innocent?

I think the jury probably found that the prosecution didn't prove their case, which is slightly different from Casey being 'not guilty.' She was, after all, found guilty of lying to the police. I wish our judicial system actually had a "Not Proven" option.

7) Which of Snow White's seven dwarfs describes you best and why? (Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey)

Bashful. Hard to believe, but it's either him or Dopey.

8) If I Googled your name what would I find?

You would find precisely 84 hits comprising hits from Facebook, Linked In, and assorted randomosity including our church newsletter (which pisses me the fuck off!).

9) What is more difficult for you -- looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling the person how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when they are telling you how they feel?

The former.

10) Have you ever swallowed something really strange? If so, what was it and how did things turn out for you?

Heh. No. One of my best friends swallowed a pin though, and she spent a couple of nights in the hospital just in case.

Rock 'n Roll Fridays

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Aerosmith

1. Dream On “Every time that I look in the mirror, All these lines in my face getting clearer. The past is gone. It went by like dusk to dawn. Isn’t that the way. Everybody’s got their dues in life to pay.” Do you pay dues or something such as a membership in a union, church, civic group, gang, etc.?

Crap, my gang dues were due yesterday! Damn it all... I, like Groucho, wouldn't care to belong to a club that wanted me as a member, and I'm really unlikely to pay for the privilege to be in a group. I don't even donate to my alma mater, the school my son is most likely attending in the fall. I do tithe at church, however. That's not membership, though, not in my way of thinking.

2. Angel “Without your love, I’m nothing but a beggar. Without your love, a dog without a bone…” What is your favorite dog breed?

I do like labs, and greyhounds. But honestly, at this point, I'm not liable to be fussy. Dogs=good fun but they make me sick.

3. Sweet Emotion “You stand in the front just a shakin your ass. I’ll take you backstage you can drink from my glass…” Have you ever been backstage at a concert to meet the band? If not, what band would you like to meet backstage?

No. And...no. 'Twould ruin the whole thing for me, I think.

4. Walk This Way “So I took a big chance at the high school dance with a missy who was ready to play…” What was the first song you ever danced to at a school dance?

Bud will love this: "Seasons in the Sun"

5. Crazy “You’re packin up your stuff and talkin like it’s tough. And tryin to tell me that it’s time to go, yeah. But I know you ain’t wearin nothing underneath that overcoat. And it’s all a show, yeah.” Ever worn your PJs in public?

Hmm, well, not really. I have taken Sparky to school a couple of times in my PJs, but otherwise, no. On the other hand, the youth mission trips involve wandering around in the 'public' areas of our sleep site in my pajamas to some extent.

6. Cryin “I was cryin when I met you. Now I’m tryin to forget you. Your love is sweet misery.” What is the worst film you went to see in the past 5 years?

I wasn't all that enthralled with Speed Racer, to be honest, but it wasn't horrific. I don't spend money on a movie unless I'm pretty damn sure it's got some redeeming characteristics.

7. Draw The Line “Checkmate honey beat you at your own damn game. No dice honey I’m livin on the astral plane. Feet’s on the ground and your head’s goin down the drain. Oh heads I win tails you lose….” What is your favorite board game?

Life. I have no idea why I love it so much, but I do.

8. Big Ten Inch Record “My girl don’t go for smoking, and liquor just makes her flinch. Seems she’ll go for nuthin, ‘cept for my big ten inch… Record of a band that plays the blues…” What was your favorite record (or CD) when you were 18 years old?

Maybe "Paradise Theater" by Styx, or the soundtrack from "Jesus Christ Superstar"--possibly some Billy Joel. I can't remember, to be honest.

9. Janie’s Got A Gun “It’s Janies last IOU She had to take him down easy and put a bullet in his brain…” What was the last IOU written for that you either gave or received?

I don't do IOUs. Ever. Giving or receiving. There's just no point; I either don't borrow or gift the 'loan.'

10. Jaded “My my baby blue. Yeah I’ve been thinkin bout you. My my baby blue, yeah you’re so jaded. And I’m the one that jaded you.” Are you jaded on a subject or issue?

Politics. And a lot of other things.

11. I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing “I don’t wanna close my eyes. I don’t wanna fall asleep cause I’d miss you baby And I don’t wanna miss a thing….” What was the last event that you missed that you regret?

I can't think of a thing. I tend not to spend time regretting this sort of thing.

12. Rag Doll “Yes I’m movin, I’m really movin. Sloe Gin fizzy, do it til you’re dizzy. Give it all you got until your put out of your misery.” What is the most miserable thing that happened to you recently?

Realizing that I'm working for someone very like PsychoBoss again. Sigh.

13. Love In An Elevator “Love in an elevator, lovin it up when I’m goin down. Love in an elevator. Livin it up when I hit the ground…” What is the most unusual place that you have made love?

Right. Nothing doing. That's a completely different blog from this one.

Friday Five

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In the Museum

1. What is the best painting you've ever seen in a museum or art gallery?

I like the local Seurat. And there are a few from the Hermitage that I remember being pretty impressive too, though I don't know the names. I also really like Mary Cassatt's work. And of course all the lovely things at the Vatican and the Uffizzi Galleries. Botticelli: omgwow!

2. What was the most interesting display you've seen in a museum setting?

I like children's museums: they aren't static.

3. Have you ever been to a Children's museum? If so have you been as a child and/or as an adult? If so did you find it more interesting as you were older?

lol I should read ahead, eh? I don't think children's museums existed when I was a kid, but we took Sparky to them lots of times. They are fun, even if you don't speak the language of the country in which the museum is located. In fact, that may be one museum that you don't need to know the language.

4. What is the most important thing you learned in a museum?

How to share space with others. Oh, wait, I probably knew that going in. Uh, maybe how to appreciate stuff that I wouldn't normally look at twice.

5. What is your most memorable trip to a museum?

I was allowed to wander the British Museum all day on my own when I was a teen. My parents went off on their own, and I did whatever I wanted. It was absolutely wonderful!

Sunday Stealing

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The Just Because Meme

1. Make a list of 5 things you can see without getting up.

My laptop, Beast's laptop, Sparky's laptop, the CD tower, and the ceiling fan (out of a possible thousand or so possibilities--this room is CLUTTERED).

2. How do you style your hair? How often do you cut it?

I keep it a little longer than shoulder length on purpose so I'm not locked into one style. Some days it's down, some days it's braided, some days it's knotted, some days it's pony-tailed. I get bored easily with hair. It gets trimmed and colored every 5-6 weeks.

3. What are you wearing now?

My orange pajamas. And a couch throw over my legs, because Beast really does like to set the a/c about 5 degrees cooler than I'm comfortable.

4. What's your occupation? Do you like it?

I love my job. I work in a medium-sized public library and do most of the cataloging and classifying of the new materials. Plus, I get to do reference once in awhile which is rarely boring and frequently VERY entertaining.

5. When was the last time that you took a nap? Was there a special reason?

I tried to take a nap earlier this week and ended up not sleeping. I can sleep all winter, but for some reason in the warmer months, it's harder for me to nap.

6. Who was the last person you hugged romantically?

Uh, well, Beast, since he's pretty much the ONLY person I hug "romantically."

8. What was the last full meal that you ate?

An Italian beef sandwich, pasta salad, and strawberries at Beth's last night.

9. What was the last email that you received?

It's a update from a forum a friend belongs to, which I never read. I should probably just delete the auto-mail.

10. What one website do you always visit when you go online?

Google Reader, Blogger, Gmail and Facebook all open when I click on the browser here at home. At work, Jango, OCLC Connexion, our staff homepage, and our catalog open when I open my browser.

11. What was the last significant thing you bought?

Food for today's meal: brats, buns, potato salad, chips, strawberries, and apple juice.

12. What musical artist did you not get at first, but then became a fan?

I never really got Fleetwood Mac when they were popular in the '70s, but I've come to appreciate them as an adult.

13. What do you think about before you go to bed last night?

A few minutes ago I said to Beast, "I remember going upstairs, and I remember doing a crossword, briefly, before going to sleep. What I don't remember is changing into pajamas and washing my face--the intermediate 'getting ready for bed' stuff." I think I was close to asleep on my feet for the last hour of my day.

14. What was the last CD you bought?

46664, part 3. Eventually, I'd like to have all three parts.

15. What is your favorite weather, and why? What's the weather like today?

Hot and dry and sunny, with no bugs. I think we've got hot today, but it's rarely dry here, and the bugs are starting to appear already. sigh...

16. If you could have a special artistic talent, what would it be?

I just remembered the dream I was having when I woke up this morning: I was in high school, trying to get from class to class and for some reason my second period class was "Painting" and I couldn't figure out WHY I had decided to take an art class instead of a music class.... So, to answer the question, I guess my subconscious wants me to take a painting class.

17. Did you watch the Idol 9 finale? If yes, what are your thoughts?

I have never watched a complete episode of AI. Not my thing. I guess, in a vague sense, I'm glad a "local boy" won, but I really don't care.

18. What's something you'd like to say to someone right now?

"Go.Feed.Your.Pet. NOW!" OK, actually I did just say that.

19. Any special plans for this (holiday in the States) weekend?

FIL is coming over today. We had two graduation parties to attend yesterday. Tomorrow is pretty much Sit Around Day, though Sparky will be marching in the parade with his school band.

20. Besides your current S/O, who was the last person that you loved romantically?

I'm too old to remember stuff like this. Seriously, it's been over 25 years.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) Do you wear fur? Leather?

It's really not worthwhile here to wear fur. If it really got cold and I were outside a lot, you bet I'd wear fur. And I wear leather as often as it's appropriate.

2) What are your favorite museums, galleries, or theaters in your area?

The Art Institute is my favorite. And I love the 0pera House, and the local train museum because of good memories of times spent there.

3) Do you think it’s important to keep traditions?

Only the benign ones.
I think if you have small children, traditions become really critical; kids really thrive on them.

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

It reminds me of the books my father-in-law has for aircraft identification during WWII. He could tell you what kind of plane this was and probably when and where it might have been built. All planes look the same to me, really, though this is clearly a prop job, not a jet. From that standpoint, the picture also kind of reminds me of all the little planes that fly over our house every day.

Rock and ROLL!

You Are Classic Rock

You are a pretty average American guy or gal, even if you don't live in the US. You like music that's basic, honest, and real. The best songs don't have a lot to them. You consider yourself to be pretty normal. You work for a living and put your pants on one leg at a time. You love songs that stand the test of time. You don't fall victim to musical trends.

What Kind of Rock Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Well, sorta, but this is pretty vague, really. And I do like all kinds of rock, except the really hard & heavy stuff.

Manic Monday

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Which household chore do you dislike the most?

I dislike STARTing all of them, but mopping/vacuuming/etc. is particularly loathsome to me. Generally, once I get started on a cleaning project, I don't mind finishing it, unless it's laundry, which just seems to go on forever.

What's the best museum you've ever visited?

The children's museum in Athens was fun, because we speak no Greek, and they spoke almost no English, but Sparky had SUCH a good time in spite of all that.

It's Star Wars Day today. I've never seen any of the Star Wars movies. What "common" movies haven't you seen?

98% of them. ;-) I'll go for "Casablanca" just to have an actual answer. Also "It's a Wonderful Life" just to be sure that I'm firmly in the Philistine group! [Especially those so-called "comedies" starring 20-something males acting like 12-year-olds...I refuse. Who needs a reminder of epic failures like that?]

I am incredibly envious of you for admitting you've never bothered with Star Wars. They are bad. Unfortunately, I live with two people who L-O-V-E them. sigh