Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (1984)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song was inspired by a note WHAM! partner Andrew Ridgeley left for his parents. He accidentally wrote "go" twice. What was the last handwritten note you left for someone?

I write notes to people at work all the time. I'm pretty much certain there's no way around a handwritten note once in awhile, even with text and IM and email. Sometimes you need to put something WITH the thing you're talking about -- in my case books than need specific attention.
Also, an aside: back when this song was on the radio all the time, I worked with a dear friend named Ian who was from England and of Portuguese and Irish descent. We always teased him because he really had a whole George Michael vibe going, in looks and general coolness. We all were living in the same house together as workmates, about 10 of us, and one morning he left me a note saying "Wake me up before you go-go, Ian" with musical notes on it. I still have it somewhere. I've, sadly, lost track of Ian himself, however. :'(

2) Born Georgios Panayiotou, George Michael was the son of the Greek restauranteur in East London. When you think of Greek cuisine, what comes to mind?

Light & flaky dough, fish, amazing sauces, street gyros, baklava. I so wish I were in Athens or Ydra right now.......

3) He was a terrible driver and admitted his license was suspended a number of times. Have you ever lost your license?

Nope. I've had precisely 2 traffic tickets in my life.  There have been a lot of other times I skated away with only fear and a guilty conscience to keep me honest, for which I'm very thankful.

4) WHAM! partner Andrew Ridgeley, on the other hand, is a talented driver who got to live his fantasy by racing Formula Three in Monaco. There are companies that sell racetrack driving experiences that allow you to spin around the track at dizzying speeds. Is this something you like to try?

YES!! This sounds absolutely terrifying, and fun.

5) In 1990, Frank Sinatra famously gave George Michael advice. Ol' Blue Eyes told the younger man to enjoy his fame, to remember all those lean nights traveling from gig to gig by bus and, now that he's successful, "loosen up and swing, man." Who last gave you advice? Did you take it?

People give me advice at work all day, every damn day. I don't listen to most of it unless it's just plain weird. I can't think of anything from yesterday beyond the usual demand that I have a good weekend. lol

6) Mr. Michael's neighbors have reported since his passing that he seemed to live rather quietly, and that they usually saw him when he was out walking his three dogs. Tell us about the last time you spoke to one of your neighbors.

It's winter in the Upper Midwest of the U.S. The only reason I know I have neighbors at all is that their cars go in & out of the driveways, and the snow gets shoveled. Oh and the dogs are let out & back in.
Actually, within about six weeks in late fall we got new neighbors, and I haven't even really identified one of the households' people for sure yet. They are literally one house over and across from us, but it's been brutal and there are no reasons to go outside and be social this time of year.

7) Fansites tell us that George Michael's favorite cereal was cornflakes. What breakfast cereals are currently in your kitchen?

Off-brand Froot Loops and Cinnamon Toast thingies and some muesli-ish stuff for my family members when they visit. Technically, only the former is in my kitchen; the others are in the pantry. The muesli probably needs to be pitched.

8) In 1984, when "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" was popular, Murder, She Wrote premiered on CBS. Today it's still seen in reruns all over the world. Are you a fan?

Nope. I mean, really, she lived in a tiny little town and people dropped dead around her for 12 seasons. Wouldn't that be a tad bit suspicious in real life?

9) RANDOM QUESTION: What's your secret to a good night's sleep?

Melatonin, exhaustion, and earplugs.

Sunday Stealing x3

(Link in meme-roll)
The Alice Through the Looking Glass Meme

If your life was a book, what would be its title?

Plot? What Plot? seems about right.

Who is/was the weirdest person in your life?

I see weird people DAILY. You want weird coworkers, weird family members, weird members of the public, weird neighbors? I have someone--at least one person--in each category. Mostly, I enjoy Teh Weeerd. Sometimes, it makes me want to punch walls. Today was about half and half.

What is a special thing that someone once did for you?

I think the trick here is to notice the special things more than it is to expect big gestures of love from people. Possibly the nicest thing someone's done for me this week is driving me from work to pick up Beast after he had a diabetic situation Friday night. But the flight attendants on the plane, the car driver, and others I don't even know about were spectacularly on-point last Monday on our trip home from vacation.

If you could erase someone off the planet, who would it be?

My first reaction was political. Instead I'll just say that I'm not going to be sad when Crazy Cat Woman retires from my workplace in less than a month.

What’s a big goal that you have?

I have never been a Big Goal person. I'd like to retire someday. That's looking more and more like it will be some fairy-tale distance away.

If you could time travel and meet yourself at 16, what would you tell yourself?

Like I would listen to someone my age at 16?? I'd probably just pat myself on the back and suggest being a little more careful around booze and people who love it.

If it were the last day of your life, how would you spend it?

With kids. It would be wonderful to just sit around and play with some toddlers or babies, read them some books, get some sticky hugs and kisses...what a way to go.

If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be and why?

I would kind of like to meet Tammy Duckworth. She seems like the kind of straight shooter in person that I like in public office. I'd like to tell her that not only do I appreciate her service in the military, but I appreciate her service to our country since she came back home.

What is one thing that you would never do that others you know have done?

I'm pretty sure that I'll never drive drunk.

What is one romance depicted in film that you’d love to experience?

Wow. Uhm. I'm not much of a romance-watcher. The Tracy-Hepburn dynamic, though, that is fun.

Describe yourself in just one sentence.

"O.M.G." (and not in any theological sense)

Who is the most beautiful person on earth?

Really, any random newborn is pretty awesome. It may be the last time we are every fully ourselves, right after birth, before we start wearing other peoples' expectations.

What was the best experience in your life?

I've had a lot of good experiences. One of the best was getting my mom giggling during church in the middle of quiet prayer and then both of us giggling through the Lord's Prayer. It was strange, epic, and 100% unlikely.

If you could rule the world, what would you change?

So . Many . Things. Certain famous people who talk bullshit will be wearing a lot of duct tape over their mouths until they learn how to STFU when they have nothing productive to say.

Where were you when you heard the news of 9/11?

At church. Beast called while I was doing some volunteer work. I got in the car and turned on the radio while I headed home, turned on the TV when I got there and got a call from our brand-new pastor who had no TV service. So I watched the second tower fall with him and his wife, who was totes panicking: "I need to go to the grocery store! We need to stock up on food!"

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The Martial Arts Meme

Who was the last person that you held hands with?

Beast. Yesterday, I think.

Are you loud, outgoing or shy?

Yup. All of the above on varying occasions.

Who are you looking forward to see[ing]?

I can't think of anyone I'm desperate to see. I just finally met all but one of my great-nephews and -nieces, so it would be nice to see the only remaining unmet one. I'm not sure about going to Texas anytime soon though, and my understanding is that his parents are perhaps not together anymore. This makes me sad, but I'm treating it as rumor till I hear from someone definitively.

Are you easy to get along with?

Usually. Unless you're an idiot. Then I might be a little hard on you.

Have you ever given up on someone, only to let them back into your lives? Why?

Yes. Once. I shoulda stuck to my guns, but fortunately it wasn't a huge waste of time.

If you were ill, which TV doctor or nurse would you want to take care of you?

Honestly, if I were terrifically and suddenly ill, Johnny Gage's presence at my side in the ambulance could probably manage to put me back on the road to health before even arriving at the ER.

Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable?

Yes, it does. I'm so my parents' kid. Having admitted that, I tried very hard to keep my personal ooshiness out of sight whenever Sparky was in need of straight talk. The need to be honest definitely trumped the prude in me.

Who was the last person that you had serious conversation with?

Beast, after I got home from work today. Life is fraught right now and sometimes emotions boil over.

What was the last text message you received about?

Last Fbook PM: "Fair. :P I've just started throwing 'yins' into casual conversation."
Last text: "Yea. She makes a good date."
Last Google Hangout: "Almost got a ticket for not using hands free"
WhatsApp: "Haha! Guess that's a nice sort of problem to have?"
Not one is from the same person and they are all completely unrelated issues, but there is some sense of continuity there.

Do you believe in luck and/or miracles?

I completely believe in miracles! My life is full of them. Luck too, mostly of the good variety. I have to say, though, that this is another case of seeing what you look for and getting back from life what you put out into the world.

What good thing happened this summer?

Uhm. It was not exactly a stellar summer. I found some serenity and some freedom. Sparky got out of a lousy roommate situation and into a new apartment of his own. And then a EEEUUUGGGE implosion for Beast at the end of summer from which we'll be recovering for quite awhile. We still haven't seen all the final ramifications as yet. So I'm learning some more about patience, too.

Convince us why we should or should not believe in life on other planets?

You can believe whatever you want, as far as I'm concerned. Until we actually find life in space, you have that option. I find it hard to believe that we're alone, as big as the universe is, but I also doubt extraterrestrial life will look anything like us, should we ever run into it.

Who was your first crush on?

David Cassidy. I was 9. Or maybe 8.

Favorite part of daily routine?

Washing my face, brushing my teeth, putting on pajamas, and climbing into bed with my Nook to read or puzzle.

Do you like your neighbors?

Of the ones I know, all but one are good people. We have some new people we haven't met yet. And the neighborhood Dirty Old Man is (YAY!) moving. Or at least the house is for sale.

What’s your worst feature?

My teeth. They are really getting yellow as I age. :(

Have you ever had trust issues?

Huh. Not until the last few years. I'm still horribly gullible, though.

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The "Doing Questions Like It's 2003" Meme

Tell us about your pets. If you don’t have one, share why you don’t.

We have one lazy little guinea pig named Pinto. He's a cutie, but he will be the last. I'm retiring my zoological chores when he dies.

Name three things that are close to you.

Physically close? I'm surrounded by heaps of stuff that have accrued as I unpacked last week. There are three things here I need to mail tomorrow, a book about the discovery of Richard III (brought home from vacation), and a half a liter of Diet Coke that I've been working on all afternoon.

How was the weather for your summer?

It was good. Too muggy here at the end, but I can't complain about the temperatures: they never got wildly out-of-control hot.

What was the last film you saw? Did you like it?

We went and saw the last Star Trek movie when it came out. It was ok. I like the original timeline better.

Tell us about the last trip that you took.

We just got back last Monday from visiting my English family and attending the wedding of my nephew there. He was married in Bristol in probably the weirdest and yet the most fun wedding I've ever attended. Then we spent about a week driving to my nieces' homes in northern and central England and meeting and getting to know their kids. The weather was wonderful, and the kids were great, and it was good to see people I haven't been able to spend time with in 5 years.

Where do you buy groceries? Why?

Meijer, mostly, and increasingly Aldi. And a local standalone grocery. And a local chain that's only in the immediate metropolitan area in which I live. Mostly in that order.

Tell us something that you did today. Or will do if you haven’t had your morning coffee yet.

I worked. Today was Crazy Cat Woman's and Supplies' last Sunday to work before they retire. I'm sad that Supplies is going--in spite of her politics being 180 from mine, I've really come to like and admire her--but CCW can't leave soon enough. Anyway, I found the provenance of an unusual photo of JFK and Jackie for a patron. That was fun.

Have you pulled an all-nighter?

Kinda did that a couple of weeks ago on the flight to England. I might've gotten an hour of sorta-sleep on the plane. Maybe. At most. Before that was probably the last overseas flight, or staying up with family emergencies.

Can you taste the difference between Pepsi & Coke?

Yep.

Tell us about your siblings. How many and what do they do?

Tell ya what. Here's my family. Go read. It's current. This is not a question I love answering.

What’s the oldest thing that you own?

Several pieces of furniture. My grandparents' china (boxed in the basement). Some books that are well over 100 years old--nothing fancy or worth money, I hasten to add!

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Pounding the Pavement

1. What was the occasion for your last going door-to-door?

   I can't even remember doing this in the past 10 years. Seriously, this is so not my thing; its probably been the last time Sparky did trick-or-treating with accompaniment, and he's 23 now....

2. When did you last trip and fall?

   Ten days ago, Beast lost his balance and in the process of trying to keep him upright, we both tipped over in slo-mo and hit the floor. There was a blood (Beast), things falling on top of us (Beast's laptop), and a truly fabulous bruise on my left lower leg.

3. When wandering about, where are you most likely to stop and take a photo of something?

   Depends on where I'm wandering. In cities, it would probably be some sort of architectural doodad, or if I was with someone else, them. Out in nature it would also be people, or close-ups of stuff, or views. Whatever.

4. How safe do you feel walking around your neighborhood at night by yourself?

   Perfectly safe. The only danger is from raccoons or random kids.

5. How do you feel about FitBit and other smart health gadgets?

   They are beyond annoying.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
In and Out

1. When did you last allow someone into your home to fix something or install something?

We had someone come re-do our dining room and living room from where the master bath overflowed--long story--last February. That was the summer project, once the insurance money came through. The plan for the fall was to look at replacing kitchen counter tops, but then Beast's back/shoulder thing started, so we're in a holding pattern on the kitchen. Meanwhile, I think the floor will need replacing in the kitchen too by the time we get around to the project; the seam in one area has split.

2. Not counting holiday parties, when did you last attend a party or gathering with a stated theme, and what was that theme?

Hmm. I don't really "do" theme parties. In fact, I'm not even attending my job's Christmas party this year because it's an Ugly Sweater thing and I'm NOT buying something ugly to wear on purpose.

3. When you were in high school, what were most often your reasons for being on campus after hours?

Band. Of course. Or at least music-related activities.

4. What’s something nobody offers for home delivery but should?

I don't know. Seems to me I can get just about anything delivered to me via Amazon and UPS. And services--yeah. Well, it WOULD be nice if doctors made house-calls these days....

5. In what public space this weekend are you most likely to run into someone you know, not counting the spaces you always see them (at work or at church, for example)

Grocery shopping is the go-to, but I actually ran into 5 people from various parts of my life at Panera on Wednesday, so perhaps there. ;-)

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Let's Not Be Difficult Meme

1. Do you like your movies and books to be more lighthearted or serious?

My first reaction was to say that it depends on the subject of the book. But actually, having a sense of the absurdity and irony about life around us helps no matter what the topic is. I don't tend to like overly earnest or dead-serious books, fiction or not. I also don't like total silliness, though. It's a tough balance.

2. What’s more important, first impressions or lasting impact?

More important is lasting impact. But if you fail at the first impression you don't often get to hang around to have impact later.

3. Order these areas of psychological health from what you need the least improvement into what you need the most improvement in: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, spiritual

Intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, environmental, physical.

4. Do you react appropriately to things and control your feelings?

Oh, who the hell knows? Apparently, I do not have a good grasp of this at work, but I think I'm pretty stable and normal.

5. Do you have stable relationships?

Speaking of which....yes.

6. Do you need to be in a relationship to feel good about yourself?

I need to be in some kind of relationship, yes. Does it have to be love? Not really.

7. Which is the clearest and most concise, your thoughts, your speech or your writing? Which is the least clear and concise?

My writing tends to be most concise when I'm being attentive, because I can edit out egregiously stupid things. Least clear are probably my unfiltered thoughts. I'm definitely a girl this way: I have to verbalize to clarify.

8. Are you always trying to learn new things?

Yes. It can be quite painful, but is almost always rewarding in the end.

9. Do you feel at peace?

In a general sense, yes. There are a few specifics that are far from peaceful, but I'm working on coming to terms with those.

10. Do you have strong morals and ethics that you believe in and adhere to?

Strong ones I believe in. Adhering to them can be a little harder when push comes to shove.

11. Do you think of the needs of all humanity or just the needs of yourself and those you know?

I think about both. I tend to do things more for the people I know than for the good of the universe. Which makes me kind of a jerk, but also pretty normal. It's certainly not something I'm very proud of.

12. Do you recycle?

Yes. As much as possible. It's my saving grace, perhaps, for question 11.

13. Are you active in your community?

Not really. I feel like I do a great deal for my community at work, and I do some volunteering during the school year, so my conscience is clear. However, I've been mulling over getting involved with CASA for awhile. I'm just not sure how much time it would require, and I do hoard my quiet, home times a bit.

14. Are you sensitive to the needs of others?

Yes. To a fault. I'm finding it a little easier lately to set those aside without guilt, but it's hard. I wish I could do more to help people sometimes.

15. Do you dress up to go out?

Five minutes ago, I was standing on my front porch in my nightshirt at 11 a.m. Great timing! I try to dress appropriately for the situation. I'll be at a funeral this afternoon and did check last night to be sure I had something to wear in case I needed to shop this morning. Not only do I have something that will be ok, it's actually more than ok due to the circumstances in play today. I don't, however, make a point of dolling myself up very often. I'm way more casual and more interested in comfort than I am about makeup and what-all.

16. What could make you lose respect for someone?

Lying, hypocrisy, endless (bad) excuses for lousy behavior, and rudeness to others. One of Beast's best friends at work was a super-nice guy named Larry who was as kind and friendly of a guy as anyone we knew. When the two of them ended up spending a lot of time entertaining clients, it turned out that Larry was a complete prick at restaurants: yelling at waitresses, sending his food back for idiotic reasons, tipping poorly, etc. Beast and I both lost a lot of respect for him for that, and it was horribly embarrassing for Beast in front of the clients. He often had to stay after everyone left to increase the tip and/or apologize to the staff, and then make "I'm so sorry" calls the next day to clients.

17. If you won $1,000 every week until you die, would you still go to work?

That would total $52,000 a year, and the government would take some of that in taxes. I can't live here for that, so yes, I'll be heading off to work daily.

18. What trend has been getting on your nerves lately?

Poor cell-phone etiquette drives me nuts. These are not new devices, people. Turn them off when they will disturb others (church, meetings, stage performances, funerals, etc.), or at least set them to vibrate. And don't haul them out to check every time you get a message signal when you're talking F2F with someone. It's really bloody rude, especially if you're talking to an employee who is trying to help you. I do not have time to stand and listen to your husband's difficulties with finding the right kind of yogurt at WalMart, or your wife's complaints about traffic when she should be DRIVING not talking! And for God's sake....WHY do we all SHOUT into our phones??

19. Do you forgive yourself when you make a mistake?

Eventually. Most of the time.

20. Is ignorance really bliss?

Until you realize how stupid you've been and belatedly feel like a tool. Sometimes, in other words, yes. And sometimes ignorance is annoying and/or dangerous.

21. What can be described as ‘even better than the real thing’?

U2 has it pretty much right on.

22. What’s in your wallet right now?

The usual wallet-y stuff: money, license, credit cards, "loyalty" cards up the wazoo, insurance stuff....my CPR card, Sparky's bank account number, a three-year-old Weight Watcher's booklet. I really need to clean the damn thing out. No pictures, because I've known too many people who've lost their wallet and their only/last photo of [important person]. Credit cards, etc., are replaceable; pictures less so. Also, we had a speaker at the library last week who talked about RFID readers and wallets, so I'm considering lining my wallet with tin foil. Yes, I'm aware that this makes me sound like a lunatic, but I'm too cheap to buy a metal wallet.

23. Do you write letters that you never send?

Yes.

24. Do you ever get the feeling people are laughing at you?

Not so much anymore, but only because I really don't fookin' care anymore. When I do stupid things, I fully expect others to laugh. When people are just being mean, that says so much more about them than me that I don't let it bother me, at least not like it did when I was young and trying to impress everyone.

25. Who’s the one person you’d like to drop a house on?

Interestingly, we were talking about the Wicked Witch yesterday at work, and her ruby slippers. The house-dropping didn't come up, but I'd really like to drop a eally Big House on all the politicians who use scare tactics, half-truths and full-blown lies to forward their agenda. Note that I'm not specifying a particular party, because there are connivers everywhere. However, I'm pretty sure if you've read anything else here before you'll know that I feel one U.S. political party especially needs a big-ass 100-story condo building dropped on it.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Mash Up Meme

1. What’s overdue for a good cleaning?

My desk and the immediate area surrounding it. The one at home is always a little untidy at best, and the one at work is a nightmare. I haven't properly cleaned it since my new boss started over 2 years ago. All those bloody slips of paper, notes to myself, tags so I don't forget, projects.... At home it's magazines, mail, and things to file.

2. What’s overdue for some kind of professional examination, service, maintenance, or upkeep?

Sparky's car needs to have new brakes. Beast is getting a new riding mower tomorrow. And we're discussing new kitchen countertops. We also need new flooring out there.

3. Who’s overdue for a phone call or letter to you?

To me? I never expect cards/letters/phone calls. From me? Just about everyone.

4. What’s overdue for an appearance in your neighborhood?

QUIET! It's bloody noisy around here for the weeks leading up to and following Independence Day.

5. Who’s overdue for a good comeuppance?

The entire Bush (II) administration.

6. What’s a gross food you like anyway?

Well, if I thought it was gross, really, would I like it? lol But there was a thing on someone's Facebook wall yesterday about hot dogs being the equivalent of food garbage, and I like them just fine.

7. Who’s an unlikeable person you like anyway?

I find it hard to dislike on a deep level most of the homeless people who use our library. They are, some of them, really fookin' annoying, but they're sort of family at this point.

8. What’s an unpleasant task you enjoy performing anyway?

I don't mind cleaning toilets.

9. What’s a dumb song you enjoy anyway?

Oh, pretty much every pop song I know the lyrics to. Most of the early Jackson 5 oeuvre, for instance.

10. What’s a lousy restaurant you frequent anyway?

McDonalds counts?

11. What's your favourite Sci-fi film/program etc?

Favorite film is probably The Matrix, and TV show has to be Star Trek: The Next Generation.

12. Have you ever had a proper Tarot reading?

No. Nor even an improper one.

13. Have you ever used the phrase "back in my time" to someone younger than you?

Of course I have. It's a prerogative that is required once you hit 50, not to mention for all parents!

14. Have you ever done something really unbelievable, only to have no one around to see it?

All the time. Quiet fist pumps in the air at my desk happen pretty regularly. I don't always feel the need to brag.

15. If you were famous would you want a statue or a building named after you?

Neither really, but if I had to, it would be either modern-art version of me, or a building, like maybe a library? lol

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
American Pie (1971)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In the lyrics, Don McLean refers to having once been a paper boy. When you were a kid, what job or household chores did you do for spending money?

My family didn't work this way. Everyone did chores as requested/assigned because we were part of the household. This meant we always had to ask for money from Mom & Dad. Yes, it pretty much sucked. I started babysitting at 12 for other people's kids for money.

2) Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye. What's the last drink you ordered?

It's been months since I've had a drink of any kind. I would assume the last time I got one at a bar/restaurant was a Stoli tonic, lime twist. It's my usual. I may snag a glass of wine at a meeting this Tuesday night, but it always makes me overheat and turn bright red, and it takes about this much booze to get me tipsy anymore so maybe not.

3) He drove to the levee but it was dry. When is the last time it rained where you are?

Yesterday/overnight. It's "unseasonably cool" today and they can't decide what the weather is going to do for the weekend. Even within the same forecast online there are multiple answers.

4) When McLean was working on the song, he wrote the lyrics out in long hand. It took him 16 pages of lined notebook paper. Today it's a laptop/smartphone/tablet world, and Sam can't remember the last time she hand wrote anything longer than a sign on her front door that read, "Bell broken. Plz knock." What about you? What's the last thing you wrote with pen or pencil?

I take notes regularly at meetings which serves the benefit of keeping my mind occupied so I don't fall asleep AND keeps my mouth shut. I write, in pencil, in books daily at work. I write notes to people on scratch paper, take reserve requests and spell words for people to copy and write people's login information down.... I hand-write a lot. Not in big chunks anymore, but a lot. And still practice my penmanship. I'm such a throwback!

5) McLean's most recent CD is called "Addicted to Black," in reference to Olivia in The Twelfth Night. Quick! Without looking it up, name another character from Shakespeare.

Polonius.

6) Don was born in New Rochelle, New York, which was named one of The Best Walking Cities in America by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). What about your neighborhood? Is it easily walkable?

There are no sidewalks in my neighborhood, but also minimal traffic. We're one of those island subdivisions that you wouldn't drive through unless you're visiting someone or live here. And our house is at the very back, so there's literally NO reason to drive on our street unless you live on it or are visiting (or lost--quite likely). It's walkable. People here walk it, with and without dogs. I've walked it. But it doesn't go anywhere, just circles. On the other hand, we have two parks in the subdivision and people drive kids to them.  smh

7) In 1971, the year this song was popular, Walt Disney World officially opened. Have you ever been to DisneyLand or Disney World?

Been to both. Would like to return to Epcot and Animal Kingdom since the latter was brand-new when we were there and not quite finished, and the day we went to Epcot I felt very ill and we bailed at lunchtime after "Germany." Zero, or less, interest in seeing anything else.

8) Also in 1971, Mattel introduced Malibu Barbie. This doll was a "sun-loving California girl" and had a distinct tan. Have you ever used a tanning bed?

Well that's not where I thought this question would go! I had a Malibu Barbie as a child, but I will never, ever use a tanning bed. I have stark white northern European skin and have done enough damage to it with the, yknow, actual sun.

9) American Pie is also the name of a 1999 movie. Have you seen it?

Yuck. No.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Careless Whisper (1984)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) You can't miss George Michael's gold hoops in the photo above or in the "Careless Whisper" video. Are you wearing any jewelry right now?

I have Fimo clay earrings in. I just took off a couple of necklaces. Oh and my wedding, engagement and anniversary rings, of course.

2) Though the label says this hit is performed by "Wham! featuring George Michael," George Michael is the only member of the pop duo who appears in the video. Do you remember the name of the other guy who was in Wham?

Andrew Ridgeley. Who is still freakin' gorgeous, even almost hairless on top!

3) Much of the video was filmed on Watson Island, a man-made island near South Beach. Have you ever been to Miami?

Nope. I have zero interest in Miami.

4) Born Georgios Panayiotou, George Michael is of Greek descent, the son of the Greek restauranteur in East London. When you think of Greek cuisine, what comes to mind?

Spanikopita, grape leaves, moussaka, ouzo, phyllo dough, gyros, feta cheese, dolmades....

5) Today he lives in a tony suburb called Highgate, and his neighbors are Kate Moss and Sting. Tell us about one of your neighbors.

One of our neighbors, Nancy, just moved out this week. We are getting new neighbors. I hope there are kids.

6) George Michael fans can purchase officially licensed merchandise from his website, including an iPhone cover with his photo and signature. Tell us about your cell phone. Is it Apple or Android? Is it a smartphone?

I have a 2.5-year-old Samsung that I adore. I rarely use it for calls, but I text/IM/PM, take pictures, Facebook, play games, make lists (shopping and otherwise), check weather, listen to music, read books....OMG. How did I live without it?!

7) George Michael sang Stevie Wonder's "You and I" for Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton. What's your favorite love song?

I'm not a huge fan of love songs. I do like "Fuckin' Perfect" and "The Sweetest Thing."

8) In 2014, George had a health scare. He was rushed to the hospital for tests and released the next day. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?

Nope. I suspect most of the time the whole ambulance ride is 'wasted' on the people who need it the most.

9) Known for hard partying in his youth, George is now in his 50s and says he's quite happy to spend his evenings eating takeout and watching DVDs. Are you doing any socializing this weekend?

I had a day-long women's retreat today, which was fun, and the weather was beautiful so being outside was delightful. Tomorrow is Confirmation Sunday, and then there's a party we're invited to for one of the kids afterwards. The first two weeks of May are crazy-busy for us this year.

Blogthings

You Are a Fall Early Morning

You are very energetic, and your passions tend to change with the wind. You love so many things. Your life tends to be a bit cyclical, and you're constantly rediscovering old inspirations and ambitions. Fall is the perfect season for a colorful yet deep person like you. And morning is the best time to get started. You flourish every time of year, but autumn is especially good for you. There's more openness to art, expression, and the spices of life!

What's Your Time of Day and Year?

I like fall a lot. I'm not sure this is totally accurate, but it would be nice if the highlighted parts were.

You Are Friendly

You are an easy person to get along with, even if you aren't always in an outgoing mood. You enjoy being around people. You love good conversation and good company. You're the type to strike up a friendship with a stranger if you are thrown together for a while. You are quite sure of who you are, but it doesn't bother you to have friends from various walks of life. You can appreciate another perspective. You are open to new possibilities, and you don't like too have too much set in stone. With the right group of people, it's fun to see where the day takes you.

The Chinese Takeout Test

Well, as a matter of fact....

You Are 30% Prankster

You aren't a major prankster, but you love a good prank every now and then. And you've pulled a few good ones in your time. When you prank, you tend to think outside the box. If it hasn't been done before, you're that much more likely to go for it.

How Much of a Prankster Are You?

I've been on the receiving end of pranks enough to really enjoy promulgating them.

You Are Politically More American

You tend to value freedom in politics, and you prefer that the government stays as lean as possible. You are attracted to political figures more than actual parties. And you appreciate a politician who doesn't toe the party line.

Are You Politically More European or More American?

Surprised? Not me.

You Should Live in the Pearl District

You love everything the city has to offer - from dining to shopping to entertainment. While you are quite artsy, you have a wide range of tastes. You like everything from indie to mainstream. You love any thing from a good book to a good brew, and you can find them all in this fun part of Portland. You dig eclectic, welcoming environments. Your ideal neighborhood is one you rarely even have to leave!

What Cool Neighborhood Should You Live In?

I am decidedly NOT moving to Portland or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. I need as much sunshine as possible.

You Are Optimistic

You are energetic, fun, and even a little crazy. You don't let yourself get too out of control though. You are open to and curious about the world. You love to connect, learn, travel, and explore. You don't like to plan, and you are delighted by life's little surprises. You like anything out of the ordinary. You are good to people, and it often comes back around to you. You feel like you live a charmed life - and you do!

What Do Your Favorite Eggs Say About You?

OK then. It really depends on the day as far as favorite. I like omelets and scrambled and the occasional hard-boiled.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?

I'm a fan of both "Underdog" and "Mighty Mouse." Perhaps it's because it's harder to find them so I'm not bored with them, but even as a kid I preferred them to the Warner Bros and Disney cartoons.

2) What makes a good neighbor? If you have an exceptional one, give them a shout-out (anonymously or not).

I'm surrounded by really good neighbors, several of whom happen to be named "Cindy" but I'm pretty sure that's not why they're so awesome. The guys are pretty cool too. ;-)

3) If you could live a nomadic life, would you? Where would you go? How would you decide? What would life be like without a "home base"?

I wouldn't mind spending part of the year RVing around, or maybe doing that for a solid block of time till I got sick to death of it. If it were Beast and me, we'd probably do something like take turns, or maybe he'd just let me pick and he'd do all the driving. I would always want to have a home to come back to, though.

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

This is an historical photo of a sharecropper's son in the first half of the 20th century. He's adorable, but very solemn and somewhat anxious-looking. And check those overalls: I think they're leather! I wonder what happened to him later in life....