Friday 5 x 3

(Link in meme-roll)
How Do You Do That?

1. When you draw a five-pointed star, which point do you begin with, and where do you go from there?

   Bottom left to upper right.

2. On a typical day, in what order do you put your clothes on?

   Underwear, pants, shirt, socks, shoes.

3. When packing for an overnighter, what are you likely to pack too much of?

   This last trip I took FAR too many socks. But usually it's stuff like toothpaste or Q-tips that I go overboard on. And Tylenol.

4. How particular are you with laundry chores?

   I guess I'm fussy about some stuff. Beast does most of our laundry, but I do all the "hand-wash" or "delicate" stuff separately usually. He's fussy about which direction the hangers go, and (mostly) I don't care, and he's positively WEIRD about his collars.

5. How are your bookshelves organized?

   The cookbooks are all together. The "religious books" (i.e., Bibles and hymnals) are all together. Everything else is kind of wherever it landed.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The Middle

1. What’s something you’re in the middle of?

   I seem to be in the middle of losing my mind on a semi-regular basis. The difference right now is that I've given up caring about it.

2. What’s in the middle of you?

   My ... solar plexus ...?

3. What is your residence in the middle of?

   This week it's been in the middle of a dandelion field.

4. What’s a great food that features something in its middle?

   Chicken Cordon Bleu, which sounds really yummy right about now.

5. What’s the nearest you’ve been to the middle of nowhere?

   Almost every place in Wyoming and South Dakota rank right up there, but the absolute true middle of nowhere is the Gobi Desert in January.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Happy Birthday to the Upstart Crow
Tomorrow is the generally assumed birthday of William Shakespeare, based on records of his baptism and the traditions of the time. We celebrated the Bard’s birthday last yearand six years ago, so if you find these questions less than satisfying, try those instead. Links in the questions go to attributions in Barlett’s Familiar Quotations*. Shout-out to Kimberly, who six years ago answered her questions in (rhymed!) iambic pentameter.

1. If brevity is the soul of wit, how witty are you?

   At times, very.

2. When did you last play fast and loose with the truth?

   I promised Beast that he would feel better in the morning when I tucked him into bed an hour ago. I have no idea if it's true.

3. When did the green-eyed monster last rear its head?

   I don't really do jealousy very often, but I do occasionally feel a great deal of envy of other people and have to remind myself that I only know 10% of their life at best.

4. What has often required you to screw your courage to the sticking place?

   Going through with our vacation took a bit of self-conviction after the way it started.

5. What’s a custom that you have found more honor’d in the breach than the observance? **

   Politics and honesty. I'll let you decide which way (or neither or both) I mean that.

Thank you for participating, and may your weekend be as merry as the day is long!

* For those disinclined to link-clicking (I don’t blame you!): Hamlet, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Othello, Macbeth, and Hamlet (questions 1 through 5 in that order). Shout-out to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on question 4!

** This phrase is often misused, according to this enlightening piece in the NYT. Hamlet was saying that it was more honorable to breach (that is, violate) the local custom of carousing than to follow it. It’s usually used to mean “more often broken than followed” or something like that. Answer the question whichever way works for you, but I like Hamlet’s meaning.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The More Or Less Meme

3 (or more, or less!) things...

1. ...you cannot live without.

Air, water, food. Yes I am that literal. If you're looking for "Things I would prefer not to live without" the list would include books/reading material, hugs (OK, it's one of the big reasons I go to church--got a lot of good hugging this morning), and music.

2. ...you CAN live without, but cannot seem to part with.

My grandmother's old wooden knitting needles, dozens of books, and refrigerator magnets.

3. ...you wish to accomplish this COMING week.

Re-certifying my CPR creds, clearing at least a cart's worth of cataloging, and keeping a 'professional' (gawd I loathe that word!) demeanor through the mayhem of new tech system and tax season and roof repairs.

4. ...you have accomplished this PAST week.

Monthly statistics are done, monthly budget is done including the upcoming end-of-year encumbrances--and we're under budget (I think), and buying Dilly Bars only to discover (finally) my boss's Achilles heel is ice cream.

5. ...on your holiday (or non-holiday) 'wish list.'

Sparky's home, we had a relatively painless extended-family meetup yesterday, and I church was lovely this morning.

6. ...you would like to change about yourself.

I'd like to stop feeling like I have to watch my step with my boss ALL THE TIME, I need to lose weight and get some exercise, and I would love to keep better control of my emotions.

7. ...you like about yourself.

I'm forgiving to a fault (in time), I have a decent sense of humor, and I'm smart.

8. ...you should be doing right now instead of what you ARE doing.

cleaning, napping, OR reading.

9. ...in your life that could use a little more organization.

my desk (here and at work lately), the storage areas in the house, and my car.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Home Is Where the Hearth Is

1. What is your approach to dealing with (or preventing) clutter?

Well in theory, I try to get rid of it ASAP. I do fairly well in my closet with that stuff, but paper just seeps to accrete every-damned-where. I need to go through some stuff in the basement that has piled up. And in storage. BUT, we took the Xmas tree down today and in the process unloaded a box of ornaments we haven't used in years.

2. What kinds of (tangible) things do you seem to have an unreasonable time letting go of?

I'm not particularly good about written things: letters, notes, books signed by people I like, that sort of thing. I totally suck about furniture with family history. We have a LOT of hand-me-down furniture, some of which my dad built.

3. If you could start completely over with your existing living space (and money were only a slight limitation), how would you make it more suited to you and your lifestyle?

I just a couple of hours ago said something that I've said often in the past 11 or so years: I love this house! About the only change I'd make is to get better kitchen cabinets and countertops. However, the fact that it's two stories is becoming more and more of an issue. And its location isn't my favorite place, though we have excellent neighbors.

4. How many standalone small kitchen appliances do you own, and how many do you use regularly?

Let's see: two coffee-making devices, two crockpots (one is being saved for Sparky when he moves out), a blender, an electric frying pan, a mixer, a can opener, and a toaster-oven. I think that's all. I almost never use the blender, but there are a couple of things I can't cook without it, so it hangs on even after 28 years.

5. What does your current living space really need more of?

Shelves. We don't have enough bookshelves, and we never really seem to have much wall space for artwork or pictures.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Come to My Window*
Melissa Etheridge is a breast cancer survivor and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please spread the word about early detection.

1) This song is about a woman passionate about love and willing to pursue it, no matter what "they say." Are you fearless when it comes to public opinion? Or do you worry about what "they" think of you?

Depends. If I'm pretty solid in my opinion and feel like I can back it up, I don't care. There are few areas where I don't care that I can't back it up, I'm still pretty firm. And there are some places where I am aware of some shame in having a certain opinion. Mostly, though, the older I get the less I care what "people say."

2) Melissa's father was a high school teacher. Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on you.

So many.... One of my profs in college thumped me on the head freshman year with the Home Truths of feminism. I was already pretty much a feminist without paying a lot of attention to it, but Dr. S (and the class I took with her second semester) made me realize how important it was to stand up for myself and other women, and to try to stop making stupid assumptions about how we interact with men.

3) Melissa won a Grammy for this song. If you won a major award, where would you display it?

It would depend on whether it was something for which I was actually proud. If it were a good thing, the aware would go on my mantle, of course. The chances of this happening are pretty slim. If not something I wanted or felt like I needed to show off, I'd probably do the Gibbs thing and shove it in a drawer.

4) Which TV game show do you think you'd do better on -- The Price Is Right or Wheel of Fortune?

Wheel . Of. Fortune . Hands down. I don't have the slightest interest in pricing things, but I'm aces at Hangman. But I wouldn't try out because the show annoys the living shit out of me.

5) Are you neat and organized?

Ha ha ha ha ha. Come look at my desk area here at home! And (currently) the counter next to the kitchen sink. And the window seat. So many projects, so much distraction....

6) When was the last time you went more than a day without washing your hair?

I do this at least once a week. There's no time on Wednesday mornings to wash, so I shower-cap it and fluff. It's actually good for most people's hair/scalp NOT to wash every day, anyway.

7) When you eat Chinese food, do you use chopsticks or a fork?

Fork. I've given up being elitist and hip. I can use chopsticks, but I feel like a snob when I do.

8) Are you a good cook?

I have a small collection of recipes I can rock pretty well.

9) We're having a party in your honor! Would you prefer a costume party, a bowling party or a pool party?

BOWLING!!

*This is one of my favorite songs off of one of my favorite CDs. I know pretty much the whole disc by heart!

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. Which do you have more of: scars or birthmarks?

I'm aware of more scars, for sure.

2. Other than inside your own home or workplace, where are you most likely to use mobile technology to check your email?

Anyplace I have my Nook, since that's the only mobile technology I use. So, vacations: hotels, airports, libraries, etc. I love it when people assume that EVERYone has certain kinds of technology: "You don't use Twitter??" "You don't have an iPod??" etc.

3. What percentage of appliances and electronics could you find the receipt for quickly if something went wrong and you needed to prove a date of purchase?

They're all on file in the office. Beast is good at that. Me, not so much.

4. When taking a flight, do you prefer a window seat, an aisle seat or a seat in the middle?

Aisle or window. No one wants to be in the middle, I don't think, unless you are sitting between people you know who don't mind you sleeping on their shoulders.

5. How do you order your eggs at a restaurant?

Over easy, with toast. Or in an omelet.

6. What kind of animal (include the breed if possible) was your first pet?

We had a blue parakeet when I was quite small. His name was Peppy, IIRC. When I was 10, we got a mutt terrier from the Dumb Friends League.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Remedy (I Won't Worry)

1. What's the remedy for you to stop worrying?

Prescription medications. No, I am not kidding. I worry pathologically.

2. What is your favorite summertime beverage?

I don't really change much in the summer: still drink DDP. But I like lemonade and iced tea once in awhile too.

3. Do you use any freeware on your computer? If yes, do tell.

I use Chrome as my main browser at home, if you consider that freeware. Honestly, I would use it at work too if OCLC would support it.

4. What is one thing about your home that has to be just so or it drives you crazy when it comes to organization?

ha ha ha This is totally more about Beast than me! [long pause while I consider] The only thing I can come up with is that I hate when the house smells weird, like last night's dinner or whatever. I'm a big believer in air freshener and candles. I know that's not exactly disorganization, but it's all I can come up with. There are so many battles I've simply stopped fighting: coats hanging everywhere, dusty floors, stacks of non-kitchen items on the kitchen counters, etc.

5. Is there a specific subject you're especially curious about? A person? A region of the world? An animal? A field of study?

I read more than my share of books on the history of Christianity as well as interpretation of scripture and stuff. And I'm a big nut about the Russian Revolution and ancient Egypt. And of course there is the whole library jargon thing, which I hate, but use to communicate among peers.

6. What do you consider your most interesting trait?

Uhm? Depends on how you mean the word "interesting" I think. Perhaps my sense of humor would cover all interpretations of it.

7. What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?

I don't like leeches. My brother found one while we were cleaning out the garden one spring and swung it around toward me (to show me, and to freak me out--he is a brother after all! lol). Couple that with the story in On the Banks of Plum Creek about leeches, and it cured me of ever wanting to see one close up. {shudder}

8. Who do you want to yell at to "get a grip!"?

So many people from whom to choose. I'd start with people who bitch because their reserves at the library aren't placed right--like, seriously, can you honestly expect to watch 5 seasons of a TV show in two weeks?? That's why we didn't place holds on all five seasons at once, you moron! And, mind you, THIS is a Board Member. OK, then I'd move on to people like me who get far too upset about things like that. ;-)

9. What do you wear to particularly look great for a party or event?

I don't care how I look for a party, as long as I'm clean and dressed approximately like everyone else. I am one of the apparently rare women in the world who couldn't give a shit about clothes.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Would you describe your desk as generally cluttered or generally neat?

I try for general neatness at work at least. At home, my desk is pretty much always a mess. I just can't get a handle on it for more than a day or two. At work, I have to have some organization in order to get stuff done, but lately I just don't have time to clear things, so my work space gets smaller everyday. It's making me nuts, along with everything else at work.

2. There’s the old saying about one’s clutter being "organized" just where he can find everything: considering the most cluttered part of your workspace, can you really find everything easily?

At work, yes. At home, absolutely NOT. i can't find anything I need on a regular basis anymore.

3. You have an important appointment to remember: where’s the first place you’re likely to make note of it: on a desk calendar, your computer, or your phone?

I put it on my calendar. My paper calendar. I use something similar to this:

Eventually I will transfer it to my Google calendar in most cases.

4. Take the quiz: What Does Your Desk Say About You?

My result was not all that accurate.

5. How many personal photos do you have on your desk, and who are the photos of?

I've got a couple of pictures of Sparky, a couple of pictures of weddings, youth events, and...it just dawns on me...NONE of Beast. Wow, I totally suck!

6. Is your desk too big for you, too little, or just right?

At home, it's clearly way too small. A 10' x 5' table with dozens of file cabinets would be too small, I suspect. At work, it's just perfect. Much like writing, I truly think that the less space you have, the better you flow.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 9: I Want to Hold Your Hand

1. What do you notice about other people's hands?

I really only notice their hands if they are very (overly) manicured or wrong for their facial age. So, if they are 50-year-old hands with a face that says 30!!

2. If someone was nosing around your house, what would you hope they wouldn't see?

The usual, I guess. And the fact that I'm really lazy, and I don't have an organizational bone in my body when I'm at home. It's all a facade.

3. Do you think that the more stuff you own enhances your life or adds to your burden?

Adds to the burden! OMG, I have so much shit in this house!

4. What was the last movie you saw in the theatre?

Uh, not exactly. I literally have no memory for movies. Maybe "Star Trek"? And yes, I know that's pathetic.

5. What do you have under your bed?

Just dust. Used to keep sox and sweaters in boxes here, but not anymore.

6. What do you think your s/o or best friend would say about what makes you unique?

In the past, he has said he's amazed at how kind-hearted I am. I think he's fully of shit.

7. What's your current favorite TV commercial?

We've been enjoying the "slug-bug" ads.

8. Who do you owe a phone call to?

Just about everyone in the universe.

9. Do you know about my friend's new meme Wednesday Wickedness? Will you give it a try this week just for me? Please? :)

Of course I will, now that my life is back on the track to normalcy.

Structure

You Need Some Structure in Your Life

You're the type of person who makes a plan but doesn't necessarily stick to it. You like to have things roughly organized. However, you always are open to new experiences and change. You don't like too much chaos, but you also don't like to be stuck in a rut. You like to strike a happy medium. Whenever things get too routine you like to shake it up a little, even if it means stepping outside of your comfort zone.

How Much Structure Do You Need?

ZING! 100% right!

More quick stuff

You Are "The Way You Make Me Feel"

You are hopeful and romantic. You're always falling for someone, and you can help but tell the world about your latest infatuation. You are the type of person who is easily inspired by love. You have a lot of muses. Even if a relationship doesn't pan out, you don't mind too much. You're much more in love with falling in love than being in love. And while you may be able to commit, it doesn't keep you from looking. Someone is always turning your head.

What Michael Jackson Song Are You?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

OK, this is so weird--totally WRONG. In every way. Too bad....
+ + + + + +

jYou Are Beer

You are a social organizer of sorts. Whether you're at Oktoberfest or watching the big game, you're always ready to crack open a beer with a few friends. You wouldn't say that fall is your favorite season. You tend to love all the seasons equally. You enjoy getting together with your friends for all sorts of occasions, and fall fun is no exception. Whether you're at a wild Halloween party, picking pumpkins, or going for a hayride ... you know how to have a blast during this time of the year.

What Autumn Drink Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

I don't like beer. I think I've mentioned that before. And actually fall is my favorite season.
+ + + + + +

You Are Archive

You are competent, organized, and careful. You know how to stay on task and focus on the most important thing. You like to have everything in its place. Messes and chaos completely stress you out. You have a system for almost everything in your life, and you don't like to deviate from it. Calendars, routines, and having things in a certain order keeps you calm. You don't like to shake things up too much.

What Email Function Are You?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

My life is VERY stressful right now: N O T H I N G is in the place it belongs. Hence the italicized AND red highlight above.
+ + + + + +

Your City is Paris

You are low key and elegant. You secretly believe you're the best, but you don't have to run around proving it to everyone. You live a simple life, but your life is anything but provincial or backwards. You are extremely cosmopolitan. Without trying to, you are always wearing the chicest clothes, reading the most interesting books, and eating the best tasting food. Many people try to imitate your style, but they fail miserably. There's no substitute for you.

What's Your City?

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity

But I don't WANNA be Paris! Yuck. And I'm NOT cosmopolitan. ;-)

Weekly Wrap-Up

(Link in blogroll)
I Forget

Have you forgotten anything in the past week? If so, what? I forget things pretty often, but this week I managed to remember things that needed doing. Let's hope that continues.

Are you usually scatter-brained or more organized? I'm VERY scatter-brained. It takes conscious, slow thought, for me to organize my behavior.

Do you use any sort of planner or agenda for your dates? Does it help to not forget? I use a calendar daybook backed up by a dry-erase refrig scheduler for the family, and the Outlook tasks at work for reminders of regular chores that need doing.

What do you feel about the phrase "forgive and forget?" It reminds me of Mrs. Becker, my early childhood caregiver; she ALWAYS said that. Somewhere along the line, I have gotten the impression that this is really NOT what Jesus was all about, so now I prefer to forgive and make note of, kind of like "trust but verify."

Curious as a Cat

nk in blogroll)

1) Are you a leader or a follower?

Hmmm, mostly a follower, but I don't like to be led by the nose. I would be in big trouble in the armed services or any other place you are supposed to follow orders without question. I prefer to think of myself as a bit of a noisy potential maverick.

2) Who is the person you are most candid with?

Beast. Otherwise, we would never have been married this long!

3) What one thing in your life would be easiest to change, but you’ve never gotten around to it?

The number of books I keep around because I rarely take the time to purge. I could probably unload 25% or more of them at any given time. This actually extends to a lot of other areas: crap in/on my desk, clothes, glassware, etc.

4) If you could convince any single person to change his or her mind about one thing, who would you pick and what topic would you work on?

I'd work on John McCain re his choice of running mate, but it's politically too late for him to change his mind anyway. Just...WHAT was he thinking?!

5) 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

OK, honestly? I think of Harry Potter. I know: lame answer, I sound like a 12-year-old.
I like owls. I have always thought it was cool how far their heads turn, and how fast they can unturn them. Their 'hoo-hoo' isn't the slightest bit scary to me. In fact, I find it comforting to know that something is watching out for me in the dark. And those eyes! I think it's possible that all those people who think they'v been abducted by aliens are actually seeing owls--I mean LOOK at those eyes! :-)

Friday Saturday's Feast

(Link at left)

Appetizer
Using only one word, how does grocery shopping make you feel?

Annoyed.

Soup
What is your favorite part about the season of Autumn?

Football. I like most of the holidays too, and the smell and feel of the air, the colors of the leaves as they change.... It's my favorite season.

Salad
Have you ever had any bad experiences online?

I've been "online" more or less for 17 years. In that amount of time, I've experienced just about everything possible; the good, the bad, and a lot of the ugly. One of the major reasons my blog is anonymous is because of experiences in the early 90s.

Main Course
Name three things that make you happy daily.

Reading my favorite blogs, watching my son grow up (though some days the smile is through gritted teeth!), and music.
This is ones of those questions I should answer every week, especially in the winter!!

Dessert
What one household cleansing or organizing item would you not want to be without?

This is two questions, isn't it?
Cleaning: bleach, as an ingredient in other cleaners or alone.
Organizing: the recycling container, in which to throw 90% of the paper touched on a daily basis.

Thursday Threesome

(Link at left)
::Innate Organizational Skills::
Onesome: Innate-- talents? Do you have any you're willing to share? Maybe perfect pitch? ...or the ability to tie a cherry stem into a knot with your tongue? How about a "sense of direction"? Surely you can toss something out to the gang to to wonder about...

Beast has two of those mentioned. I have none of those mentioned. My skills tend toward spotting typos, coordinating schedules, planning, researching, etc. I'm also quite good at knowing what everyone is doing wrong, though I've learned--the hard way--to keep my opinion to myself! ;-)

Twosome: Organizational-- style? "A place for everything and everything in its place"? ...or maybe, "the bills are somewhere in that stack" and the calendar still says "2006"? What's your system?

I used to be more organized than I am now. I still have difficulty thinking in surroundings that are chaotic, and this is why I don't like household decor that requires a lot of stuff lying around. Feh. However, there are a lot of places in my life that need a great deal of attention in terms of organization. There's still one calendar in the house that says April, for instance.

Threesome: Skills-- How are you about power tools? ...and tools in general? Are you a user or do you call someone to assist?

I grew up with a dad in construction. I know my tools. [ahem] However, I don't use them often, because I have Beast and he tends to be kind of take-charge. [ahem, again]

Friday Fun

(Link at left)
Focus

1. With 4 kids and an always changing life, I find myself sometimes unable to focus! Do you have that problem, too?

Uh, yeah. Only one kid. But distracted, yes. ALWAYS!

2. What do you do to help yourself keep it together?

Lists. I live by the list. If I write it, it will become true. In theory.

3. What is your favorite organizing tool? A PDA? A calendar?

I need paper and a pencil. PDAs don't work for me. There's something about muscle memory that makes it necessary for me to literally write stuff down so I can see it. All the time. I can't use a small calendar either, because I hate when they get overstuffed (as they are wont); it makes me feel even more anxious about getting things done. I have a good one this year with planning on each weekly double-page spread and lots of space to write meetings and notes in.

4. On a scale of 1-10, how organized are you?

From the outside, I probably look like an 8. I feel like a 4 most days though: just loosely wired together and hoping for no wind to blow me apart!