Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Shake It Off (2014)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.

1) This song makes Crazy Sam want to dance. What song inspires you to get on your feet?

There are a lot. Today I was chair dancing with Beast to Chubby Checker's The Twist while he waited for lunch. He was rolling his eyes at me, but he did get into it a little at least; I kept threatening to get him on his feet and do it properly, but he wasn't at all up for that.

2) Paul McCartney met Taylor Swift at the SNL 40 Anniversary special and told her he really enjoys playing and singing this song. What's the last song you sang along with?

This one. I just watched the video; cute. I like the song for all it's fluffiness. Before that, I seem to recall singing along to Nina Simone's version of Mood Indigo in the car earlier today.

3) The lyrics tell us Swift "shakes off" nasty gossip and unfair criticism. What about you? Do you worry about what others think of you?

I don't care at all, with a few exceptions: my boss, my son, and a couple of others.

4) Her parents are big music fans, and were going to name their baby (boy or girl) "Taylor" after their favorite artist, James Taylor. Can you think of a singer that your mom and/or dad really enjoyed?

Heh, I could have been named after Eydie Gorme if my parents had been in the right mood (not at all likely, btw).

5) She grew up on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm. Do you get a fresh tree every year, or do you have an artificial tree, or do you not put up a tree at all?

I have two fake trees (unless Sparky already took one) but I haven't put one up the last two years. Hasn't been very festive.

6) Taylor Swift is 5'10". According to the CDC, the average American woman is 5'4" while men are, on average, 5'9". Are you taller or shorter than average?

I'm closer to Taylor's height than the "average" although this may soon switch as I am shrinking. I am, today, taller than my husband whose head was on my shoulder today as we transferred from chair to bed.

7) She enjoys good, old fashioned mysteries, especially those by Agatha Christie. Are you currently reading a book for pleasure?

I'm reading three, er, four nonfiction books right now. The one I just put down is The Penguin Book of Hell. The others are slightly less intense.

8) Her brother Austin is a freelance photographer who took the official pictures for her 2008 concert tour. Who took the last photo of you?

Good God, I have no idea! Most likely it was a selfie with Beast. Unless you count the video call Sparky and I had on Tuesday.

9) Random question: What's your go-to comfy outfit?

I'm currently in yoga pants and a T (no bra). It's pretty effective as far as comfort.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The King of the Beasts Meme

1. Would you post a picture of you for us?

Probably not. I'm pretty incognito here. Oh, all right. If you insist.

2. Would you date an 18-year-old at the age you are now?

Hell no! Just the mere thought of dealing with 18-year-old...ugh.

3. Do you prefer to work with women or men? Why?

I have spent my career working mostly with women. I often think a superfluity of men might be a nice change.

4. Do you have any opposite sex friends?

Yes I do. I even have an intersex friend. [I'm not a fan of this question]

5. Can you commit to one person?

I've been married for 29 years and 355 days. Any guesses?

6. If you’re married or in a relationship have you ever been tempted to cheat?

Not seriously. Nope.

7. Do you think your life will change dramatically before 2018?

Probably not. Maybe? Who knows, really?

8. If the person you are interested in says they like someone else, what would try to sway them?

I'd be pissed. Forget "sway"--I'd be busy throwing his ass to the curb.

9. Are you good at hiding your feelings?

Better than I used to be, but I also care less than I did when I was younger. Mostly I'm in hiding at work every day all day, and let it all out everywhere else.

11. When was the last time you cried?

This past week, I think? I don't remember. It happens so often it's a bit hard to track.

12. Have you ever fell for someone you didn’t expect to?

Oh, the grammar! Ack. And yes. Bigtime. Quote from me in high school: "I'd never date a football player!!" Hah.

13. What is something you have to do tomorrow?

Get up and go to work. Call Angela to make an appointment to talk about wills. That's two things.

14. Name something you dislike about the day you’re having.

I'm not getting a great deal accomplished. And I feel a little guilty about bailing on a social commitment that starts in half an hour.

15. Have you ever wanted more from one of your best friends of the opposite sex?

....plock

16. Have you ever wanted someone you couldn’t have?

Of course.
...so basically the person who wrote this basically WAS 18, which makes that first question a lot less icky....

17. Who was the last person you talked to before you went to bed last night?

Beast of course.

18. Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell everything to?

Yup.

19. When was the last time that you were jealous in a romance situation?

Eons.

20. If you had to delete one year of your life completely, which would it be?

It would have been nice if 1994 hadn't rolled out the way it did. But it did, and I survived somehow.

21. Did you have a good day yesterday? What did you do?

Beast and I spent Friday night in the town where Sparky lives, which is also where we went to college. Yesterday we helped him move The Big Stuff--furniture, bed, TV--out of his old apartment and into his new place. The apartment he's leaving is adorable and cool, but his roommate has been a nightmare. I hadn't visited while he lived there, and OMG the kitchen! OMG OMG OMG. I'm not a clean-freak at all, but eew the smell alone was unreal. His new one smells strongly of smoke, and looks like 1977 never really went away. But he's his own boss now--so maybe the kitchen won't stink when I see him next.

22. If a person you had wished you could have a relationship with for a long time and you suddenly found yourself together alone, what would you be doing right now?

Correcting the wording of this question because it will take that long to figure out....

23. Do you replay things that have happened in your head?

I can be a bit obsessive, yes.

24. Don’t tell me lies, is the last person you texted attractive?

It was Beast, so.

25. Is your life anything like it was two years ago? Is it a good or bad thing?

It's better. Mostly. Not always, not permanently, but overall better.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Fool on the Hill (1967)
Unfamiliar with today's song? We can't help you. The YouTube copyright police have removed the Beatles' version. [But I found a tribute video with the original song here today. Who knows if it'll still be available later.]

1) Friday was April Fool's Day. Did you pull any pranks? Did anyone put anything over on you?

I shared a post on Facebook about football that was a prank--and 'got' Beast with it, and I think a church friend who didn't bother to click through--but otherwise I did my usual play-it-cool-and-stay-out-of-the-crossfire. I'm not a huge fan of pranks.

2) The practice of playing tricks on one another on April 1 dates back at least to the 14th century and Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales includes a mention of it. Geoffrey Chaucer has been called England's greatest poet. Quote a bit of poetry for us. (It doesn't have to be English, or great.)

This one's for my Dad:

A wonderful bird is a pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belican.
He keeps fish for the week
Inside of his beak,
But I don't know how the helican. (Dixon Lanier Merritt)

It was, invariably, quoted with punctuation from Mom: "[DAD'S FIRST NAME!]"

3) Beatle Paul is a huge Elvis fan and is happy to own the bass that was played on Elvis' 1954 recording of "That's All Right, Mama." Tell us about one of your prized possessions.

Since all of our kitchen cupboards had to be emptied yesterday* and the contents are mostly still sitting in the dining room patiently waiting for re-stowage....I'll go with my Sunbeam stand mixer. I grew up with my mom's 1950s-era version and when we got married young and poor I bought a cheap lightweight mixer for kitchen tasks. What a cheap piece of crap: plastic, impossible for mashing potatoes, and just junk. So somewhere along the line when we had money to blow, Beast bought me a Sunbeam for Christmas. And it was a very good gift--still works beautifully and is heavy enough to take care of just about anything, even bread dough (I have bread hook attachments).

4) In contrast to his easygoing persona, Sir Paul has been described by former band mate Ringo Starr as strong willed and "determined to get his own way." Do you consider yourself strong willed and determined? Or are you more easy going?

Yes. I'm mostly very easygoing, but I have a temper and a tendency to lose it over the most ridiculous stuff. And I do like to get my own way, in true Youngest Child fashion; my choice of profession didn't help either as I also like to be "right" about answers.

5) The Beatles once bought a Greek island, planning to live and record there, but sold it after a few months because it started to seem like a bad, expensive idea. Tell us about a purchase that gave you buyer's remorse.

We once had a Plymouth Voyager. From the standpoint of having room to cart Sparky's baby equipment around on vacation, it was great. Otherwise...man, I really hated that car....!

6) Legend has it that the Beatles officially broke up in Disney World. John Lennon was staying at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort when he received and signed the court papers that dissolved the group. Have you ever conducted business while on vacation?

Huh. Of course. In this day of smart phones and 24-hour internet email checking? Beast actually has a job for which he's "on call" whenever customers need him, so he's always doing stuff on vacations. This upcoming vacation will be interesting in that we are limited to one device to check all our accounts, which means sharing, which means potential problems. So I've pretty much decided I'm going dark for the duration. Hurrah.

7) George Harrison loved puttering around in the garden and dedicated his autobiography to "gardeners everywhere." Do you have a green thumb?

I do not. I have, somehow, managed to keep a lovely little cactus-y thing and its offshoots (all gifts) alive for about 5 years now. And some other really easy plants are still alive through no 'fault' of my own. I have killed more houseplants in my lifetime than anyone I know.

8) Ringo regrets not having saved more Beatles memorabilia, which he realizes now would be worth a fortune. Are you a pack rat?

We have a great deal of shit in storage in this house. (She says, looking at the dining room and all the collected crap sitting there. Why do we need four (FOUR!) different sets of wine-glasses??). I will be winnowing while putting things away.)

9) Random question: Which do you prefer, Girl Scout cookies or Boy Scout popcorn?

Nothing against popcorn, but cookies FTW!!

*We had new countertops installed so all the lower cupboards needed to be cleared for access and so things didn't get broken. I posted the before photo on Facebook about how the old counters were going away hurrah hurray, and got immediately guilt-tripped by two nieces to the effect that our old stuff is better than their current counters. Gotta love family.

BEFORE

AFTER

CLOSE-UP and blurry

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Into the Lens

1. What was your first camera like?

My first camera--received at about age 12 or 13--was an Instamatic similar to this one. It used 110 cartridges, which I



believe had either 12 or 24 pictures each. Ridiculously awful pictures by today's standards, but cheap and simple. It had a spot for a flash cube, which could go right on top, or on a little pedestal that attached, like the one at the right*. I got it prior to my first trip to visit my sister Jean in England when I was 14, and I kept a little notebook to write down what each picture I took was. I think I used, maybe 4 rolls of film in three weeks? I still have the scrapbook I made with those photos.....

2. What kinds of accessories have you purchased for a camera?

Unless a carrying case or that flash attachment and flashbulbs (hundreds of those!) counts, none.

3. When did you last shoot photos on film, and how many rolls of unshot film do you have in your house?

I haven't used film in close to a decade if not more. We still have a film camera, but we took the last roll in for development ages ago.

4. Digital photography has all kinds of advantages over film photography, but what’s better about shooting on film and having to get it developed and printed?

My brother-in-law Jan, who is annoying as hell and a photography fanatic, is STILL sure that "this digital thing" is just a fad, much like he thinks color photography isn't quite legit. He used to have a darkroom, so I think he enjoyed putzing with the chemicals and doing his own matting and framing. Whatever. It's increasingly hard for him to find his favorite film, which he moans about regularly. He thinks film produces a 'more realistic' image--I think he's stupid. But I'm not a "photographer" so what do I know? In fact, his insanity about his hobbies (don't even mention Amtrak to him!!) makes me all but hurl everytime someone (anyone) brings them up, whether he's part of the conversation or not. My dad was a bit of a camera nerd, and I always wanted to be like him, but Jan has ruined the whole thing for me with 50 years of smug condescension and fussiness. /rant (sorry)

5. How do you manage your digital photos?

Very very poorly. One day, I am going to wade through Dropbox and name and date everything and create folders and so forth. Really, I am.

*The more I look at the photo with the flash pedestal, the more sure I am that this was the model I had, with the little flag sticker over the lens. Jeez. I wonder what happened to that camera....?

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Times of Your Life (1976)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is all about memories. How far back can you remember? What's your earliest memory?

I can remember bits and pieces back to age 3 or so. I have a very very vivid memory of a dream I had before I turned 5. I know it was then because we got new living room furniture when I was just about 5 and the dream took place amid OLD living room furniture. I remembered the dream after I had it but couldn't figure it out until a few years later looking at old photos and recognizing the furniture from my dream!

2) The first line is "Good morning, yesterday." What do you remember about yesterday morning?

Fridays I need to be at work by 8, so I'm up an hour earlier than usual and I'd had two short nights in a row. I'm still tired. Otherwise, it was a normal morning for all intents and purposes.

3) This song was originally a 60-second jingle, featured in a commercial for Kodak film. Do you ever use film? Or are all your pictures digital?

Never use it anymore. Still have lots and lots of non-digital photos though.

4) Who took the most recent photo of you?

I have no idea. Probably Beast, unless it was at work.

5) This week's featured artist, Paul Anka, was born in Canada and enjoyed appearing in a made-for-TV Perry Mason movie with fellow Canadian, Raymond Burr. Do you enjoy courtroom dramas?

I like Law & Order in various incarnations, yes.

6) At 15, Anka won a supermarket contest by collecting the most Campbell soup can wrappers. The prize was a trip to New York. Do you enter contests and sweepstakes? Play the lottery?

I do not. I consider it a giant waste of my time. Note that I said "my" time. What others do with their time doesn't have to make sense to me.

7) This year Paul Anka performed throughout Florida (Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Clearwater and Fort Myers). The Sunshine State is a popular vacation destination. Do you have a favorite spot in Florida?

I do not. I've been there once--when Sparky was three, to Orlando, guess why--and was not enthralled. Laura Ingalls Wilder was not a fan, however, and that's good enough for me. I'm not a waterbug, so the ocean doesn't hold a lot of attraction to me.

8) In 1976, the year this song was on the charts, an earthquake hit China. Have you ever experienced an earthquake?

Yes I have. I grew up in Colorado, and there are occasional temblors there, though nothing very major at all. There've been a few here where I live now, but again, nothing worth getting worked up about. It's a a very strange feeling: either you don't feel anything but may notice things moving around the room, or you feel/hear some weird noises and bumping, like a car wreck outside.

9) Random question: Do you know CPR?

I just got recertified last summer. Never had to use it. Hope I never do. I pretty much get certified as insurance so I don't need it. They do a quick re-education on AEDs now with CPR classes, and I am much more likely to use that, to be honest.

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.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?

Both Beast and I have birthdays this month. Mine is next week, and his is the following week. Hopefully we'll be able to do something fun to celebrate them. We'll each achieve a full deck of years this time 'round.

2. If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?

The people at work who have been more than understanding about my recent adventures in medical hassle with Beast.

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?

Oh, dear.... I'm a real bread-aholic. I'm not a fan of cinnamon bread and banana bread doesn't do much for me, but I with stuff my face FULL of any of the other options.

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?

I have S&Ps in abundance. There are currently two shelving units that Beast has purchased in the past year that he needs to refinish and then I can fill them with currently-packed-away S&Ps. yay

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?

h.s. physics with Jesus-freak hair

My son has the same color hair as my dad did. By the time I was born, however, Dad's auburn had turned white, so I have to rely on others' memories. Sparky's hair is to die for (it's also MUCH shorter now!).
My sister Ellen had red hair too. Same shade.

6. The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.

Are you kidding me?! Both my home state and my current state are baseball stadiums! FFS, that's just sad. Flat and dull as this place is, there's definitely more to see here that *@!)#ing baseball. And in Colorado, you take pictures of baseball? Really? I don't think so. And no, I haven't ever been to either stadium.

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question: What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?

I now know that I should have more faith in my skills than I currently have. I had no intention to drive the RV we rented last month, but I ended up driving it 400 miles home, driving it in city traffic and through a major construction zone, and setting it up alone.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It's very sad when you've lived in an area long enough, and visited the hospital so many times that you know EXACTLY where the best parking spots are, where the cafeteria is, where the restrooms are in radiology, and how to get out of the hospital (legally) without going all the way back to the front door.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Making A List Meme

1. Do you like making lists?

I LOVE making lists!

2. Do/did you play sports with your siblings?

Hah. No. When I wanted to, they were all too much bigger and more skilled than me so it was no fun. And we never lived in the same town once they all grew up and left home.

3. Would you rather go to a University or a community college?

Nowadays, I'd be most likely to take community college classes because the nearest 4-year college is 45 minutes away. To be honest, I'm most likely to take a MOOC at an even further-away institution.

4. What’s your favorite kind of bread?

Yes.
I like all bread. I'm not fussy.

5. What toppings do you like on your pizza?

Canadian bacon, chicken, mushroom, spinach, sausage. Though perhaps not all at once.

6. What color or design does your shower curtain have?

The "outside" one is cloth with a beach scene with a lighthouse; the inner one is a cheap clear plastic one that I change every couple of years.

7. What kind of car does/did your mom drive?

When I was wee, she had a red Rambler. She got a Toyota Corolla in 1971 that she drove for the next 15 years till she got a little Subaru hatchback. Then she and Dad consolidated into one car, which was an unfortunate Dodge something-or-other. That car was cheaper than dirt and embarrassing to drive, even when I was old enough to not care what I was driving. Just a junk piece.

8. What’s on your cell phone’s home screen?

The table-top of a restaurant we ate at in Johnson City, TN 18 months ago.My lock screen photo is below, at the end of the questions.

9. Do you like to watch the National Geographic channel?

Not particularly. I kinda got my fill of that as a child, at home and at school. I like live animals, and scenery, but not hours and hours of it on TV with droning voiceover.

10. Are you the type of person to correct a survey maker’s grammar and/or spelling?

Yes. Well, if it's egregious, yes. If it's the whole sentence-ending-preposition type thing, not so much.

11. What color is your microwave?

White. And currently pretty clean, even.

12. Do you have a fan in your bedroom?

Yes.

13. Mountain Dew or Sprite?

Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of either of them, but in a pinch, I'll grab a diet Dew for the caffeine. When I've got a stomach bug, I have to have warm, flat Sprite/7-Up to settle my stomach; that means the taste of those always makes me a little queasy.

14. Does it rain a lot where you live?

This summer it did! It was basically Seattle for several weeks.

15. Do you shop at Walmart regularly?

Nope. I mean, I shop there once in awhile, maybe monthly at most.

16. Does it bother you when animals lick themselves?

Only if it becomes compulsive and hurts them. I had a dog lick a paw so much we had to take him to the vet because he'd licked the skin off the pads on that foot. Not cool, dude.

17. Have you ever been to a Trader Joe’s?

Nope. I do, actually, live in the middle of nowhere.

18. What’s the longest time you’ve ever been stuck in traffic?

...but close enough to a Very Big City to be able to say that I've sat for a couple of hours creeping along at 5 mph there. I hate HATE HATE it! Give me a train or a bus, or some other commute option and I'm there!

19. Do you wear black a lot?

Nope.

20. Are there stairs in your house?

Yes. Two flights: front and back. And steps up to the front porch, too. God forbid if we ever both need wheelchairs!

21. Have you ever held $500 in cash?

I have that much in my wallet occasionally because I still pay cash for a lot of things.

22. Do you like onions on your burger?

Not as much as I used to. They do seem to come back on me more often than they used to. Also, only if I'm not working after I eat. No point in being stinky around other people.

23. Could you ever give yourself a shot?

If it was a matter of life or death, of course. But I really am rather squeamish about needles. Less than I used to be, but still....a little.

24. Do you wear shoes in the house?

NEVER!

25. Have you ever worked as a cashier?

Not per se. I've worked retail, and used a cash register in various jobs. But I've never worked at just cashing out, exclusively.

Hello, Tournament of Roses butterfly!

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Cure for What Ails ‘Ya
Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick!

1. What’s the greatest lovesong of all time?

I'm pretty sure my choice wouldn't be the same as anyone else's. I think the best love song for each person is the sound of their loved ones' laughter.

2. What’s in the background of the most recent two pictures of you?

Uhm...probably someone's house? I don't remember the last time I had a picture taken. Maybe it was at Sparky's graduation, so that would be the campus in the background.

3. What was the primary cause of your most recent mishap?

I can't figure out exactly how I did it, but I pulled some muscles in my lower left back ribcage the other day. It was weird, very painful, and then (pfft) gone.

4. Why can’t I be you?

Aside from the fact that I like being me? And I don't really want to be you? 

5. What did you do on the 13th?

I was at work all day. Whee.

Mosaic

(swiped from Kwizgiver)
Yourself as a mosaic…

The concept:

1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.

The questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?  
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name? (I don't have a flickr name so I used my 'real' name and my blog name together)

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
California Nights (1967)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Lesley Gore premiered this song on an episode of Batman. She played Pussycat, the protegee of Catwoman. (That explains her outfit in the video.) How many of Batman's nemeses can you name?

Joker, Penguin....several others. I don't really follow comics. Not my geekdom of choice.

2) At least five actors have played The Caped Crusader already (Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale) and Ben Affleck will play him in 2016's Batman vs. Superman. Who is your favorite Batman? (If any Batmen were inadvertently omitted, Sam apologizes.)

The Batman movies I've seen I've enjoyed just fine. Michael Keaton and Christian Bale were especially good, but Adam West will always be my nostalgic favorite.

3) Unlike most superheroes, Batman doesn't have any superpowers. This Saturday, you're more fortunate. We're bestowing any superpower on you that you want. Which would you like?

Invisibility.

4) Though she's singing of warm California nights, Lesley Gore was a New Yorker, born in Brooklyn and, in February of this year, dying in Manhattan. Which coast have you spent more time on, the West Coast or the East Coast?

West by far. I've never 'touched' the Atlantic from this side, though I've seen it at the airport in Boston.

5) Not many people know that while she was making records, Lesley was also a student at Sarah Lawrence and graduated with her BA in 1968. What's something we would be surprised to know about you?

People IRL would be surprised at how much time I've spent blogging in the past 12 years.

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, the best selling new camera in the United States was the new Polaroid Swinger. Think about the most recent photo you took. Did you use a camera, a tablet, or a phone?

Phone. I take phone photos almost every day.

7) The big fashion trend of 1967 was bright tights, in shades like Hot Pink, Shock Orange and Grass Green. Tell us about something you wore when it was trendy but now you look back and think, "Oh, God, that was awful!"

I've never been that trendy, or changed what I like to follow the crowed, but the recent trend in short shirts (that don't cover my butt) has been a very bad idea for me..

8) In 1967, drivers complained about "gas wars." The price was unpredictable and would rise and fall, day by day, as much as 30¢ per gallon. How much does it cost you to fill up your tank today?

Hah! The price of gas went from $2.79 to $3.09 for us last weekend. Summer prices have arrived, I guess. And I've finally gotten myself into a habit of filling my tank every Wednesday morning so I don't run myself down to panic-empty. As a consequence, I'm almost never filling the tank completely anymore. I usually run $20-30.

9) Random question: Are there dishes in your kitchen sink right now?

Yes, thanks to Sparky. Though, since he is also filling the dishwasher and running it regularly, I'm not really complaining.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Web = Good

1. What’s a recipe you found on the Web and actually prepared?

I've used a bunch. The one I always look up because I keep losing it is the precise measurements for Bisquick pancakes and/or waffles because I forget and I don't have a box anymore (it's in a plastic container to keep the bugs out).

2. How has a photograph you saw on the Web influenced the way you shot a photograph of your own?

Hmm. I don't think I've consciously copied anything specific.

3. What’s a cool trick you learned on the Web that has made your life easier?

There's the T-shirt-folding video. And lots of uses for various household products (olive oil, baking soda, vinegar, bleach, etc.).

4. What’s the most useless thing you’ve ever seen on the Web?

Most everything else on YouTube.

5. What’s a totally silly but endlessly amusing thing you’ve discovered on the Web?

I do love Happy Place. And of course, Facebook.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Roar
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) The lyrics begin with Katy singing about when she used to "hold her tongue." Tell us about a time when you didn't speak up, but wish you had.

Most of high school was like this. I still find myself tongue-tied when one of my family members (usually my brother) says hurtful things. I have a hard time standing up for myself with siblings, an outgrowth of being the youngest of the crew.

2) The lyrics mention both lions and tigers. In addition to the big cats, the video shows a monkey and an elephant. If we were going to the zoo today, which animal would you want to see first?

The wolves and the penguins. I also love watching the seals swim around; they're so flirty.

3) Lions and tigers are carnivores. If we were having steak for dinner, would you order it rare, medium or well done?

I'm a firm medium girl: a little pink is fine, and definitely not burnt at all.

4) Lots of photos are snapped at the zoo. Did you take your last picture with a camera or with your phone?

To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where my camera is. I pretty much only use my phone.

5) The "Roar" video takes place in the jungle. The average temperature all year around in the rainforest is a humid 80º. The typical September day in Juneau is 49º, dry and sunny. Which sounds more comfortable?

Juneau. No contest. I absolutely LOATHE humidity.

6) In her youth, Katy took dance lessons at the local recreation hall in Santa Barbara. Crazy Sam took tap dance lessons as a girl, too. What about you? Were you sent off to dance class? Music lessons? Art class?

I wish. My parents didn't have the money, or, really, the inclination to do this sort of thing. OK, I did have piano lessons for a year or so as a child, and then when I took up flute they paid for lessons on that. Otherwise, nope. I'd've killed for dance lessons.

7) Katy recently passed Justin Bieber as the most followed person on Twitter. What's the last message you re-tweeted?

I haven't used Twitter regularly in almost 2 years, although it might have been a reply-retweet asking why these French people keep sending me shit. My Twitter handle must mean something in France...

8) Congratulations! You just won the lottery! Do you want it in a lump sum, or would you prefer payments over the next 25 years?

Lump sum, then I'd set up a trust or something to "pay" me in installments. I want to get the taxes on it paid now.

9) Did you get 8 hours sleep last night?

Probably the closest I've been to 8 hours in over two weeks, but no. I was in bed before 10, read for awhile, checked to see if Beast was coming up to bed--"in a couple minutes"--and decided to wait for him, waited for over an hour before he finally came up, and then was pissed off and couldn't get into deep sleep till 2 or 3. Yes, I know this defines all kinds of pathology. ...sigh... I woke up from my not-very-deep doze at about 9. What I wouldn't give for 8 full hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Which quality best describes your life--exciting, organized, dull--and why?

Dull, at best. I do not like drama, and there has been FAR FAR TOO MUCH of it in the past year. My life is also fairly tightly scheduled between work and volunteer and various meetings, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it organized!

2) What book quote, film quote, or song lyric has been sticking with you this weekend? Why?

Having said that about drama above, these lyrics started chasing around:

It feel so good
When you let go
Of all the drama in your life
Now you're free from all the pain
Free from all the game
Free from all the stress
So find your happiness

(Mary J. Blige, "No More Drama")

Prior to that it was this:

Me an' RJ an' the kids was on a camp-out in the mountains, and we had us one'a them U-Drive-'Em Army Jeep cars which we rented from a fella by the name of Kubozke for thirty bucks a day, buy your gas along the way, take a rabbit's foot and leave a pint of blood for a dee-posit...

(C.W. McCall, "Black Bear Road")

I could go on, if you'd like. Got the whole thing memorized.

3) Paper, plastic, or your own?

Plastic or my own. Depends on where I'm shopping, and for how much. Big days are my own bags, but if I'm stopping for bananas, cheese, and bread, I'll just take a plastic bag. I take them to work to use when people need a bag on rainy days.

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

Photo © Cat. 2014

Yes. Yes, I do occasionally take pictures in bathrooms, but NEVER of people. This TP dispenser just cracked me up. We stopped at a mini-mart/souvenir stand while driving through the mountains near Mountain City, TN, earlier this year and this is what I discovered while using the necessary. It wasn't nearly as bad as advertised, incidentally.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
13 Things

1. Outside my window… the sun is going down and the mist is rolling in.

2. I am thankful… for the cooler-than-usual temperatures this summer. That makes the humidity a little easier to deal with.

3. In the kitchen… sits a plate with the pork chops Beast grilled about 4 hours ago. I think there are 8, so I'm set for dinner all week while he's gone.

4. I am wearing… green jeans and a tourist T-shirt I got last summer when I took the photo to the right.

5. I am creating… a new me.

6. I am going… to go eat shortly. I'm hungry.

7. I am reading… at least 5 books.

8. I am learning… to keep my mouth shut.

9. I am pondering… when to clean the guinea pig cage and make up our bed.

10. A favorite quote… I think tonight's closing Facebook quote from me will be this one: “May you get exactly what you want and live long enough to regret it.” ―Sherrilyn Kenyon (Born of Shadows)

11. One of my favorite things… is baby giggles.

12. A few plans for the rest of the week… I'm filling in a lot at the Reference Desk at work while one of the other reference staff is on vacation. Beast is gone (nothing new here), I have to hit the Tuesday meeting, and I get to spend 3 or so hours having my parathyroid glands scanned on Friday.

13. A peek into my day… horrible NASCAR news first thing, laundry, church, Packer game on DVR, NASCAR race (in three shifts!), SimCity, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, memes.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. How old were you the first time you ever snapped a photo, even if using someone else’s camera?

I think I snagged someone's small camera after the Christmas of Cameras (all the kids got instamatics), but I mostly knew better than to touch "real" cameras (Dad's, Jan's, etc.). I had a mini-instamatic for our trip to England when I was 14. So stylin'!

2. Have you ever owned a film camera or developed your own photos?

Well, yeah, see above re instamatics. I still have a 35 mm AF sitting in plain sight on the bookshelf in the upstairs hall, but I haven't used it, or our digital camera, in years. Camera phone FTW. Jan used to have a darkroom and developed all his own (black-and-white) film; he's a dinosaur who categorically refuses to use digital media, still.

3. Who was the first person you remember taking a photo of?

I'm sure it was a family member, probably Dad.

4. Describe a photo from your childhood that means a great deal to you and why it does.

Here's the thing: Dad took dozens of photos a month, developed them onto slides, and all of those slides are at my brother's house where he said he'd organize them. I doubt he's done jack-shit, though, and there are at least two pictures I want. One is of me and my mom's brother Del, and another is of my brother sitting on the edge of a drop-off overlooking Dallas Divide* calmly taking a picture, holding his sunglasses in his teeth. When Dad took that picture, Mom was having "ten cat fits" about my brother being about a foot from the edge of a thousand-foot fall.

5. How many photo albums (or scrapbooks) do you have of old family photos?

My family was a big scrapbook-keeping family, but I have several from when I was addicted to Creative Memories in the 90s and early 00s; since then I've been very bad about keeping things in order....

6. How many photos (in total) do you have hanging on your walls in your home?

We FINALLY hung the photos that had been sitting on the front stairs for about 8 months. There are probably about 20 in the whole house, and 95% are on the wall of the stairway.

The view bro was going for, minus the trees in front.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Stuck on You (2012)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This upbeat song is from a CD called The Bright Side. What is brightening your world this fine Saturday?

The warm, spring temperatures and sunshine. Yay, winter is dead!

2) Our featured artist Meiko sings, "You are the one I can see having fun with ...". When is the last time you laughed hard? Who were you with?

It's been a little while, maybe a couple of weeks. Pretty sure I was here at home with my boys. I don't remember the subject.

3) She also sings, "I must confess when I wear this dress I feel like dancing ...". Does your mood have an impact on what you wear?

Yes. And sometimes I wear certain things in hopes that it will help my mood improve. Today's attempt at the latter pretty much fell flat.

4) In this video, she accidentally drops one of her meatballs on the floor. Do you believe in "the five second rule," which states that if food has been on the floor less than five seconds it's still OK to eat? Or, after it hits the floor, is the next stop always the garbage?

In our house, it's a three-second rule, and it depends on the food. Anything damp goes into the trash. Solids get checked for "add ons." At least I do that. No clue what Beast's routine is.

5) Despite her exotic-sounding name, Meiko was born in Atlanta, home of the Braves. Do you plan on going to the ballpark this season?

Nope. I suppose it's possible we'll meet up with my nephews again--it was fun last summer--but there are no plans to go for the game itself.

6) Meiko recently posted a photo of herself in DisneyLand posing with Goofy. Who took the most recent photo of you? What were you doing?

I did: I took a picture of my turquoise toes after I did them last night:

7) Are you stubborn?

Hell to the yeah.

8) Let's visit your bathroom: What color is your toothbrush?

Rather forward, aren't you? Actually, I don't know the answer to this question. I know it from the bristles, which are less destroyed than Beast's.

9) Which would we find: bar soap or liquid soap?

In the powder room, you have a choice. Otherwise, it's all liquid.

Blogthings

You Take Silly Selfies

Your selfies are goofy and often hilarious. You don't take yourself too seriously - and you would never take a selfie too seriously! You love to laugh, and you often have a great idea for an over-the-top selfie. Maybe even with props. You don't care if your selfies don't show you in the best light. You rather be real and make others smile. Of all the types, you are the most likely to crack up over your own selfies. They are often private jokes to amuse you.

What's Your Selfie Personality?

I think I've taken about 20 selfies in my entire life, and I'm far from clever about them.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. Who is the last person whose photo you took?

I'm sure it was Beast. We spent last weekend together on a getaway in downtown Chicago and took lots of pictures.

2. Who most recently took a photo of you?

Ditto.

3. When you take a photo, what camera or device do you prefer to use?

I always use my phone these days.

4. Do you have any social media accounts on which you share your photography?

Facebook. And all my phone pics upload immediately to Dropbox so I can share them if wanted.

5. Do you ever browse someone else's photography for creative inspiration?

Nope. I do sometimes look at photography to relax and also to select photos for my meme-blog.

6. When was the last time you had a roll of film developed?

Last year, I think, or earlier this year: we had found a roll in Beast's dad's stuff and had it developed finally. Turned out it was either so old it had all gone bad, or was never actually used. So, that was a huge drag.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
more of an update for me, as I've answered all these questions previously ...
POST #6300!!!

1. Where was your profile picture taken?

The one at the top of this blog is a stock photo that came with the template. I love it. The one I use for my Blogger profile is the same one I've used since I started blogging almost 9 years ago: it shows Mt. Abrams (another stock pic), a view that means everything good in the world to me. My Facebook profile pic is currently a bizarre boombox I saw in a shop while on vacation last year; my cover photo there is a roadside photo taken 5 years ago in Duluth while on a mission trip with the high school kids from our church. I think that's all my profile pics. [sorry, if you aren't a Facebook friend, you'll have to trust me...*]

2. Name someone who made you laugh today.

The Sunday School kids were totally wild today. I'm giving the edge to Martha (age 3) and Peyton (age 8, I think) for being 100% honest and 100% on-task-without-knowing-it.

3. Do you believe exes can be friends?

Sure. Maybe not besties, but there is always room for civility. 'Course, it depends on everyone putting away their egos and defensiveness, so it's rare.

4. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?

I drink about 25 oz. minimum per day of the diet variety. I love Dr. P with every fiber in my tastebuds.

5. Who was the last person you took a picture of?

The most recent picture in my phone that has people in it is Beast and me in Cali a couple of weeks ago. Unless you count the uncooked turkey on Thursday, of course.

6. Are you upset about anything?

Nope. If I should be, I'd prefer if you didn't tell me till tomorrow, at this point, ok?

7. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?

Nope. Not with an attitude like that. Go on with you, go live on a pillar in the desert.

8. Are you a bad influence?

I have been accused of that on occasion. It seems to come as a surprise to people, somehow.

9. Night out or night in?

In. I don't like the decibel level that is usually involved in nights out.

10. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?

Heh. Perfectly wrong or a perfect bitch, maybe....

11. What song is stuck in your head?

None. Thank God; I'm watching football intently now in order to NOT think of any earworms!!!

12. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?

My bedroom window, where I am most likely to be, would require the use of a ladder visible from the street, and the windows are locked, always, so...that would freak me out so completely that I'd probably hurt myself racing to the back of the house! Downstairs, whoever it is is out of luck; I'm unlikely to hear you. So, basically, leave me alone at 2 a.m. unless you call first.

13. Do you smile a lot?

Yes. I've got the wrinkles to prove it.

_____________
* I took pity on you (lol):

Weird boombox

Duluth Roadsigns