Friday 5 x 2

(Link in meme-roll)
It’s Electric

1. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done with electricity?

   I'm sure it involved something in the bathroom and water. I can't think of anything specifically. However, I've been much more careful since nearly electrocuting myself in England because the current is considerably higher and the plugs considerably heavier.

2. How did you last pass the time when your residence was without power for at least a few hours?

   Reading books. Or possibly sleeping. Those are the general go-tos when we lose power. If it's night-time, I guess I'll have to figure out the generator. Ugh.

3. Around how many AA and AAA batteries do you have on standby?

   Probably 4 or so of each. I should check that; I honestly have no idea.

4. How do you feel about lightning?

   I love watching the show from safely inside or far away.

5. When did you last dance the Electric Slide, and if you’ve never done it, what’s the closest you’ve come to dancing the Electric Slide?

   I think there was some of this going on at my nephew's wedding last year, but I was in charge of the one-year-old at the time so I was dancing with him, which eliminates the Electric Slide.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +

Finding a Way

1. What’s something you’ve been unable to find?

   When my husband fell in September, he was wearing his cross, and possibly his wedding ring. I know they removed the necklace and gave it to me, probably the ring too. I haven't been able to find them since. I have zero memory of what I did when I came home that night. Morning. Whatever. The cross was purchased at St. Paul's in London. The wedding ring is pretty valuable. I've got through sick about losing them all the way into panic, desperation, and depression.

2. How’s your sense of direction?

   If I have a map, I'm good. If I'm in Denver, I know very quickly where the cardinal directions are. Otherwise, I'm fairly hopeless.

3. How good are you at sitting still?

   I can do it. But I hate it.

4. What’s something your parents always said you needed to get better at?

   According to my mom, I was the easiest of the five kids in my family. I got straight As and behaved myself (i.e. never got caught misbehaving). I don't remember anything they complained about. Dad would have like it if I understood math better.

5. In what way are you a better person today than you were ten years ago?

   I'm far more patient than I was. I take things far less personally these days too.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Bearded Questions

What is some of your favorite music?

I'm super-basic. "Good beat, easy to dance too" and it's a huge bonus if there's some lyrical content as well. I like Katy Perry, P!nk, Elvis, Rusted Root, The Police, The Supremes, Bruno Mars, Nina Simone....

List your three favorite scents.

Vanilla, Pine, Sage.

How do you ground yourself or recharge?

This is one way. I also read. And sleep.

Any ways you treat or spoil yourself?

I eat far, far too much sugar.

Besides your blog, do you have a creative past-time?

Yes. Somewhere. Where did I put it....?

Share something difficult you've been through.

Life. Really, it's just life. Mine has been easier than a lot of peoples' in a lot of ways, but there've certainly been bumps. Couple of surgeries, couple of giant roadblocks, multiple family deaths. Lots of drama. Lots of good moments too.

What helps you fall asleep?

Exhaustion. Crosswords and reading and puzzles.

What is one strength and one weakness of yours?

Strength in plowing through whatever fresh hell awaits me. Unwillingness to do anything BUT plow through everything. I'll let you figure out which is a strength and which is a weakness.

Have you ever received a letter or written one to someone else?

How old is the person who wrote this question?? I've gotten dozens of letters, and sent a few too. Lately, in fact.

What makes you feel powerful, what breathes life into you?

Joy. Giggles, mine or others. Sunshine is kind of important too.

What's your favorite thing to do at night?

SLEEP!

If you could go back to any era, what would they it be?

I wouldn't want to stay there, that's for sure! It would be kind of fun to see my grandmothers before they were old and creaky, though, and maybe meet my grandfathers for the first time.

Your favorite things to wear at home?

Pajamas, warm socks, T-shirt or sweatshirt. This time of year, a blanket is not unwelcome.

If you could be immortal or have an extremely long life span which would you pick and why?

I don't want to live forever, OR for an extremely long time. I'd trade it in for something useful.

Tell us about something positive you have done for yourself or someone recently.

I've slept. A lot. And done a lot of reading. Not enough of the right kind probably. And I've just "done" for myself as necessary and let the long-term stuff sit around and wait without worrying. It's been a lovely 5-week stretch.

One thing you like about your appearance?

I like my hair. [she glances at a mirror] ...though perhaps not today.

Something that makes you feel better after a hard day?

Sleep. I seem to be on a roll here.

If you have one, name a favorite book & movie.

My favorite book varies daily. Today, I'll go with The Book of Ruth. Movie? My usual answer is "Heathers."

How do you feel about beards? No bonus points. I'm curious.

I ADORE beards! Not the hipster/Old-Testament-y versions big right now, but a nice, short, generally well-groomed beard is delicious. For the record, I loathe stubble--grow it out or shave it off. :-)

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Press

1. In what way are you pressing your luck?

   I've been pushing the limits on my health of late. I know I need to chill my intake of sugar, but holy cats is it had. Now I'm headed of to "diabetic counseling" next week. Sigh.

2. When did you last wield an iron?

   An iron what? lol
   Sparky got out the ironing board while he was home at Christmas to iron his 'catering shirt' for work. Otherwise, I haven't ironed in months. I've had a crowbar and some other iron tools in hand since I've ironed, in fact.
   Also, my mother did call this chore "pressing" which I'd sort of forgotten. Thanks for that memory.

3. Not counting buttons on your computer, tablet, or phone, what was the result the last time you pressed a button?

   If I extend this to all electronics (printers, etc.) it pretty much has to be the temperature buttons in the car. Otherwise, I don't have a lot of push-buttons in my life.

4. What was the name of your high school newspaper?

   I had to go look at the h.s. website because I honestly have no clear memory of a student paper. It is, of course, The Pirateer.
   [An aside: I'm cracking up that my original last name is quite similar to the name of another place that has The Pirateer as their paper's name.]

5. To “press the flesh” means (usually in the context of politics or public relations) to meet and greet as many people as you can, shaking hands and making personal contact. When were you last called upon to press the flesh, and how were you?

   I am not called upon to do this often at all. I do remember shaking hands with someone new recently, but as a rule I am the last person anyone would ask to do PR as I'm entirely too forthright to be good at it.

Saturday 9

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Viva la Vida (2008)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The song refers to the singing of choirs. Have you ever been in a choir or a vocal group?

I was in choir in junior high for awhile. Not really my thing; I prefer band, or at least instrument. But I have a decent voice, and the director at church keeps harassing me to join the church choir. If only I could tolerate the petty bickering that I know goes on.

2) Chris Martin sings of when he "ruled the world." If you were in charge and had infinite power, what would you change right away?

I'd take care of the kids.

3) Chris used to be married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow. USA Today, The Washington Post and The Daily Telegraph have all run articles about how Gwyneth seems to annoy so very many people. What celebrity gets on your nerves?

Most of them. In fact, ALL of those whose last names start with Kardashian (or are blood relatives).

4) Coldplay's first big hit was, "Yellow." What color are you wearing right now?

Red Ferrari shirt, jeans, gold earrings. Just got home from work. Too tired to go up and change.

5) Sam remembers when she used to hear this song everywhere and can't believe that was 7 years ago! When is the last time you had a similar "my, how time flies!" moment?

I'm having a hard time believing that Hurricane Katrina was 10 years ago.

6) In 2008, when "Viva la Vida" was popular, John Grisham's latest legal thriller, The Appeal, was jumping off bookshelves. What have you read this summer?

My favorite book so far this year has been Pioneer Girl. I'm a huge LIW freak, and so I bought my own copy. But I've read finished about 70 other books so far since January 1, and there have been some other good ones: In Paradise (Matthiessen), Code Name Verity (Wein), Farthing (Walton), Misterioso (Dahl), The Poacher's Son and Trespasser (Doiron), Joseph Anton (Rushdie), Watching the English (Fox)...to name the best of the crop.

7) Thinking of books: Let's say a biographer has taken the task of writing your biography. What would you title your life story?

I'm really hoping I'll be dead when/if this every happens. I'll let them pick. I might suggest I Hate Publishers since I say it at least once a week at work.

8) 2008 is also the year Paul Newman died of cancer. Name a Newman movie.

The Color of Money. Why that one? No clue--I haven't actually watched it.

9) Random question: Do you like garlic?

I do. My mom was not enthralled with it, never really cooked with it, but when I discovered it....wow! What a revelation!

Saturday 9

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

1) This song refers to the summer breezes and winds of mid-July. Now that July is almost over, how would you describe this month's weather where you are?

It has been a lot less awful than the usual summer weather. Cooler, and even some days with low humidity. I hope that continues through August, but I'll take what I can get.

2) The lyrics mention the "perfect plans." Do you have plans for today? Or will you just let this summer Saturday unfold?

I did my errands this morning--toy store for a gift, grocery store for food for tomorrow's birthday party/potluck (because seriously, only my idiot niece would make it a potluck party), and pet store for hay for the guinea pigs. Then home to try to see if Beast's pain level was lower. We just now realized that instead of taking pain meds yesterday, he took sleeping pills. So, yeah. Welcome to the House of Insanity, version 7.26.14.

3) This week's artist, k. d. lang, attended Red Deer Community College in Alberta. Red Deer's school colors are green, black and silver. What were your school colors?

High school was pale blue, white, and silver; college was orange, white, and dark blue.

4) She had a bit part in the 2006 murder mystery The Black Dahlia. Do you enjoy murder mysteries?

I love, L O V E, mysteries, though not James Ellroy's. Easily half of the fiction I read is mysteries, which outnumber every other 'genre' I have listed in GoodReads.

5) Ms. lang is a vegetarian. What's the last beef, chicken, pork or fish you ate?

I just had a cold piece of Papa Murphy's Chicago-Style Stuffed™ pizza left over from last night's aborted dinner--so salami, pepperoni, sausage, ground beef.

6) In 2000, when this song was released, California suffered a series of blackouts. Has your power gone out this summer?

Actually, we've had a good summer that way: a couple of short-lived outages while I was out of the house, but nothing major. Having said that, we'll lose power for the rest of the month now.

7) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire also came out in 2000. Did you read it?

Of course I did, as soon as it was released! And I listened to it on CD too. And I saw the movie. I liked this one a lot.

8) Which would you rather have on your hot dog: sauerkraut, ketchup/mustard/relish or chili?

I'm not from around here, so I'll go with just mustard and ketchup. Or plain.

9) If you had your choice, which would you prefer: new shoes or a new wallet?

I just repaired my Packers wallet with black-with-white-polka-dots duct tape, so I'll have new shoes. Honestly, I haven't bought any new shoes for several months so I'm due, right? I only have about 4 dozen pairs already....

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. P is for PAEDOTROPHY: Do you think your parents did a better or worse job of raising you compared to how well their parents raised them?

Wow, this is a great question! I think my parents changed their parenting styles rather drastically between my sister's childhood and mine; there is, after all, a 20-year span of ages there. I suspect my dad tried to hew his parents' line in the beginning of his fatherhood, but that eased over the years till he was really rather a pushover for me. Mom was stricter, and damaged by having an alcoholic father, so I can't even begin to answer this for her. She definitely and fiercely protected us from experiencing anything to do with alcoholism during our childhoods. Overall, I think my parents did pretty well: none of us in jail (not that my aunts & uncles were!!) and we're all still on speaking terms.

2. P is for PANCAKES: How often do you have pancakes for breakfast, and what’s your favorite flavor of syrup?

I don't make pancakes often at all. No one needs the carbs or the sugar in the syrup. I do occasionally have them if I'm eating breakfast out, with bacon and maple syrup preferably.

3. P is for PARADE: What was the last parade you remember attending?

There is a startling lack of parades in my immediate area. It's probably been a decade since I've been to one. It makes me really sad.

4. P is for PEN: What’s the price of the most expensive pen you’ve ever purchased?

I have no idea, since I don't tend to buy expensive pens. If I did, those would be the first ones I'd lose, or break.

5. P is for PILL: On a normal day, how many pills do you take (including medication, vitamins and supplements)?

I take 5 pills, including a vitamin, every morning, and in the summer I take an supplementary allergy pill in the evening. Pretty sure by the time high summer rolls around I'll have added a cholesterol med to the mix.

6. P is for POWER: Do you have any power backups in your home in case the lights go out?

We bought a generator a couple of years ago after an extended outage that lasted for a few days. Beast sleeps with a BiPAP so without electricity he doesn't sleep. We lose power regularly for more than just a minute or two, probably 12-20 times a year on average, because of the wind taking out power lines on their way to our neighborhood. Our lines are actually buried, but the big ones from the power supply are not.

Late Saturday memes

(Both are linked in the meme-roll)
Patrick's Place -- Saturday Six

1. How many flashlights do you own?

We probably have close to two dozen scattered around the house, in virtually every room. I even have one at work plugged in and charging under my desk. We lose power (at home and at work) often enough that this is important.

2. When did you last use a flashlight?

Last night when I was bringing the laundry up to our room after Beast was asleep. I needed to see where not to swing the basket as I passed his feet.

3. When is the last time you lost power at your home?

Within the last month. Like I said, it happens fairly often. I don't even pay a lot of attention anymore; we have a generator, and even when Beast is out of town, I have directions on how to connect it up to the house electrical panel if we're dark for more than a few hours. I haven't had to do that (yet) this year, though.

4. How many light bulbs do you have installed in various fixtures in your home right now?

In counting them up, I get about 42 on the main floor (and porches and garage) of the house, about 32 upstairs, and I didn't even try to deal with whatever is going on downstairs in the basement! So, yeah, about 100. And why do they seem to all go more or less at the same time? I did not include Christmas tree lights, by the way. lol

5. Of those, how many bulbs are the new "CFL" bulbs?

At least half. Some of our lamps don't accept the shape/size of the CFL bulbs, and several of our fixtures require really odd-shapped (smaller- or larger- than standard) bulbs. Where we can, we use them.

6. If you could eliminate either the old-style Edison bulbs or the new-style CFL bulbs, which would get the axe and why?

I'm not really much of a fan of either. The new ones are dangerous if they get broken, and the older ones are designed to fail. The old original Edison bulbs were much better in terms of conservation. Really hate fluorescents, though, 100%!

Saturday 9 -- Band on the Run

1) This song is about a band of musicians that escapes on an adventure. Do you consider yourself spontaneous and adventurous?

Of the two people currently living in this house, I'm way, way, WAY more spontaneous. But we're both rather adventurous in slightly different ways. We like a good challenge.

2) Paul McCartney and Wings traveled all the way to Lagos, Nigeria, to record Band on the Run. That's a long, long way from London. What's the farthest from home you've ever been?

Beijing.

3) Wings featured Linda McCartney on keyboards. Paul said that when Linda died, after almost 30 years together, he lost the love of his life. Who is the love of your life? Or have you yet to meet him/her?

Well, I've been married 27 years, have known Beast fairly well for three years before that... So I guess that means Beast is the love of my life. In the words of Tevye & Golde: It doesn't change a thing / But even so / After twenty-five years / It's nice to know

4) Paul has said he's very proud of Band on the Run, his most successful post-Beatles album. Brag a little. Tell us something you're proud of.

I'm really proud of my son, for whom I can't completely claim credit, but it is nice to see him getting more mature and dealing with the pitfalls of life with some calm and sensible ways. We talked today for the first time in almost two weeks and he has been dealing with a helluva a lot of not-good-things this past week, without once calling us to whine.

5) Paul's birth certificate reads "James Paul McCartney." He's named for his father, Jim. Are you named after anyone?

I'm, supposedly, named after a friend of one of my sisters. They 'suggested' it to my parents because the girls felt my parents' name-choosing skills had been shown to be lacking in the extreme. I'm not so sure the name I ended up with was any worse than anything my parents would have picked. My dad, after all, had had a sister named "Rowena" which is a delightful name, not that I have any idea that they'd've used it!

6) Paul enjoys oil painting in his spare time. What's one of your hobbies?

Wasting time.

7) 20 Forthlin Road, Paul McCartney's boyhood home, has been turned into a museum by the British government. It's a modest 2 bedroom cottage, with a drainpipe that Paul used to climb to sneak in after curfew. How would you describe your childhood home?

My dad designed and built it--it's one of two in the world with the same floor plan. Two bedrooms on the main floor, a full basement with another (big) bedroom, a playroom and lots of storage (and a second bathroom). When I arrived on the scene rather tardily, Dad added a room above the garage that became the master bedroom (it is a GIANT room: probably something like 12 x 30'). The hallway to the bedrooms on the main floor curves to create enough space; if the corner had been squared, there would be no hallway.

8) Paul is 5'11". How tall are you?

I'm about 3" shorter than he.

9) Actor Christopher Lee is on the album cover. He played Dracula in a series of movies in the 1950s and 1960s. Who is your favorite vampire?

I'm not really much into vampires, having seen 'Salem's Lot at an impressionable age. I find the whole concept way past creepy, medieval in all the bad ways, and kind of nauseating. And that's just the 'traditional' vampires; do NOT get me started on the more modern 'sparkly' variety!!

Saturday 9 Two-Fer

(Link in meme-roll)
Cowboy Casanova

1) The singer tries to warn her friend against a neighborhood Lothario. Do you advise your friends when it comes to love? Or do you stay out of it?

Like most other things, I try (not always successfully) to only share 'advice' if specifically asked, or in dire situations. I have a lot of opinions about the 'romantic' decisions other people make, but since I live in a bit of a glass house, I try to keep my lips zipped. Of course, if they guy is actually dangerous, that's a whole different kettle of fish; I would hope that I would have bopped anyone dating Drew Peterson over her head and dragged her away from him, with the awareness that ultimately people will do what they're going to do.

2) This song is about the hot guy "leaning up against the record machine." Does your favorite restaurant or bar still have a juke box?

One of the places we eat in semi-regularly has a very modern-looking jukebox which always seems to be turned up to 11 in volume. I think there may be a couple of other places that have them too, but I don't pay a lot of attention.

3) Carrie is an American Idol winner. Have you ever gone online or picked up the phone and voted for a contestant on Dancing with the Stars, American Idol or any similar show?

Nope, nope nope nope. I don't even watch these shows. {{shudder}}

4) Carrie graduated magna cum laude and majored in journalism, yet instead of being a reporter, she's a country music superstar. How similar are your life/career today to the way you envisioned them when you were 21?

I also graduated magna cum laude eons ago and had no idea what I was going to do with my life--except get married within 2 months of that. My career didn't take as much of a turn as hers, though.

5) Carrie also competed in beauty pageants and was a runner up for Miss NSU (Northeastern State University). If you were a contestant in a pageant, what would you do for the talent competition?

a) I wouldn't be a contestant in a pageant. The whole concept is vile to me. So b) my talent would probably be Vituperative Bra-Burning or something along those lines.

6) This December, Carrie is scheduled to star in a televised remake of The Sound of Music. Do you have any year-end plans?

Uh, no. Can I get through my birthday in November first? Jeez, I have company here next month and a baptism to get through before the Big Birthday, and frankly I'll be just as happy if we just sit around and stare at each other and play with our new toys on Christmas and New Years.

7) She is married to NHL player Mike Fisher, center for the Nashville Predators. What's your favorite professional sports team?

In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a Packer fan. I also root for the Broncos, the Badgers, and (desultorily) the Browns. I actively cheer against the Patriots, the Bears, and (desultorily) the Raiders.

8) Hockey is a tough game! Do you currently have an owie or an ouchie or a boo-boo that requires a bandaid?

Not really. My cuticles and fingernails are always a little sore, and I just stood on our freshly-blacktopped driveway for about 5 minutes so my feet are a bit crunchy (i.e. burnt), but none of this is a big deal.

9) Summer brings a lot of power outages and brown outs. Do you have a flashlight? If so, have you checked the batteries?

Hah! We have close to a dozen flashlights scattered through the house, but yeah I should probably check batteries. And bulbs. Maybe a culling is in order--some of them are just really in lousy shape, and I'm a bit of a flashlight snob at this point. We lose power fairly often here and it's DARK outside at night with no lights!

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Easy Lover

1) This song is about a heartbreaker who just can't commit. Have you ever fallen for an "easy lover?"

Yeah. But I escaped.

2) This song is one of Crazy Sam's "earwigs." Each time she hears it, it bores in and stays in her head forever! (Hear it here, if you dare!) Do you have a song like that?

I wake up with songs in my head every morning. I should probably write them down; I'm certain there's a meaning there somewhere, since they aren't always songs I've heard recently. This week the ones I remember are P!nk's "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" and "Getting to Know You" (from The King and I). WTF? I haven't listened to that soundtrack in decades!

3) Both Phil Collins and Philip Bailey* have stars on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Have you ever visited Hollywood?

I think so; when I was in California with my high school band, we probably drove through Hollywood at least. I don't remember anything in particular about it.

4) Hollywood is the movie capital of the world. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?

We went to the latest "Star Trek" movie a few weeks ago. Before that ... eons.

5) Phil Collins was a child actor in his native England, appearing onstage in musicals like Oliver! Can you think of another child performer who went on to entertainment industry success as an adult?

Uhm...? Seriously? Britney, Xtina, Justin, Lindsey...to name the top of the current crop. Then there's Patty Duke, Danny Bonaduce, Mickey Rooney ... there are scads.

6) Philip Bailey joined Earth, Wind & Fire while still in college, so he's been a performer throughout his working life, as well. Have you ever been tempted to try your hand at show biz?

Not since I have been old enough to vote. Ugh.

7) Is there a profession that you never, under any circumstances, want to try?

Grave robber? President/Prime Minister/Big Decider? "Famous person"?

8) What are you looking forward to right now?

I really need a bath. I think that's next on my schedule...a long, relaxing soak and then a layer of lotion on all that freshly-scrubbed skin. Yay.

9) Do you suffer from trypanophobia (fear of needles/injections)? Or can you bravely donate blood or get a shot, without freaking out?

I don't fear needles, but watching them go into skin makes me really nauseous. After years of donating blood, getting allergy shots and submitting to assorted IVs and blood draws, I still can't watch. The sight of blood doesn't even gross me out (although it's a bit stressful when it's my own), but watching an injection? No, thanks!!

*Well, Earth Wind & Fire has a star.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

(Link in meme-roll)

1. Share one way you think the world has changed for the better since you were a kid?

My perception is that we're less racist, less homophobic, slightly less sexist, and more open about the existence of bad things (abuse, disease, etc.).

2. How 'bout one way it's changed for the worse?

Two words: "helicopter parents."

3. Starlight, starfish, starling, Starbucks...your favorite 'star'?

"Star light, star bright/First star I see tonight/I wish I may, I wish I might/Have the wish I wish tonight."

4. Name a song that's overplayed, but you love it anyway.

I don't listen to the radio, so if a song is overplayed it would be because I'm listening to it over and over. The one that comes to mind immediately is Pink's "Fuckin' Perfect" (not the edited version).

5. When did you last have home made ice cream? Your latest favorite flavor?

Not since I lived at home in my teens. It's just way too much work when DQ is right around the corner and is actually less horrific from a nutritional standpoint than homemade is.

6. What do you think is the best way to inspire or motivate people?

Encourage them and then let them take ownership. Generally. Of course, there will always be a few who just need to be pushed because they don't really want to work for whatever reason. I find the carrot approach tends to work better than the stick, though the stick is way more tempting to use, and easier in the short run.

7. When was the last time you were without power?

Sometime in the last six weeks. I know we lost power at least briefly overnight once this summer, and we were out for a couple of hours another time. We lose power all the damn time, so it's hardly noteworthy.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I really hate allergy season. I really totally completely loathe corn pollen. And I don't feel good. And my eyes are completely fubar.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. What basic non-food household item do you most hate to run out of?

Well, not having TP in the house pretty much sucks.

2. Which food do you hate to run out of in your pantry?

Bread, or bread products. It's not good when we have none.

3. Which piece of technology in your home do you think you'd have the hardest time living without?

Honestly, it's probably something like lamps. We live in an area without a lot of street-lights, so it's very dark at night. In the winter, too, it tends to be dark around here--between cloud cover and short days--so I literally crave light.

4. What's the longest amount of time you've gone without power?

I think we went 3 days before we broke down and got a generator. When we lose power, we lose water too (we're on a well powered by an electric pump), so it gets ugly fairly quickly. Also, Beast uses a BiPAP so he needs electricity to sleep these days.

5. Would you find it easier to lose your cell phone or your internet service for one year?

I'd quit the phone, or at least the actual calling/texting/messaging parts. I like accessing the internet on the phone though. Actually, being able to do that this a.m. saved me a wasted trip since I assumed the place I was visiting was where it was 3 years ago. It's actually a mile away in a different strip mall.

6. What beverage would you have the hardest time going without for a year?

Water.

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Leaving a legacy of pet costumes and painted canvases

1) What would be the worst thing to find inside a bucket placed on your front porch?

Uh...? I don't leave buckets on my front porch...? There is a wood-lath box, a partial cord of wood, two chairs, a table and a spinny. Finding the bucket, just the bucket, wouldn't be too cool.

2) August is "What Will Be Your Legacy Month." What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

Reading reading reading! Books, books, books! Also, lots of hugs.

3) If inanimate objects came alive when no one is looking, what object would you be most interested in trying to catch walking around in secret?

Wow, I don't think I smoked the right drugs for this meme at all! It'd be interesting watching the silverware, I suppose.

4) I will be getting married next year. What should my friends and I do for a bachelorette party?

Ugh. The mere thought of these gives me a horrible case of nausea. Can't you all just go out and have a nice meal somewhere or hang out at the beach for a day, or something low-key and easy like that?

5) Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting an underage follower he took as a bride. How do you feel about his sentence?

He should definitely be in prison. And I hope he realizes what he did and stops lying to himself about how important he is. He is finding out now just how NOT important he is.

6) Do you stick to the "best if used by" expiration dates on products?

I do. Why make myself sick if it's preventable.

7) Today (Aug. 10) is Spoil Your Dog Day. Does it ever bother you when people dress their pets up in crazy outfits?

I don't worry about it overmuch. I do, sometimes, wonder how stupid dogs must think we are.

8) Speaking of pets, what is your opinion of people who create separate Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. pages for their pets or children?

I find this really weird, though I guess it's one way of taking anonymity just that one step further. Whatever. If it goes in the direction of cutesy-wootsy, I find it icky beyond belief.

9) Your electricity goes out for 24 hours. What do you do to pass the time until the power comes back?

Well, the last time it happened, we ended up buying a generator about 30 hours in. We generally end up sleeping a lot, and doing a lot more reading or puzzles or whatever.

10) If you were given a canvas, a paintbrush and paint right now, what would you paint?

Something non-representational, since I can't draw anything recognizable. Or, maybe I'd do a pseudo-blueprint. I dunno. I'm not hugely creative in that area.

Six Word Saturday

(Link in meme-roll)

Power is back; freezer is empty.

That's the big news: we lost power for two full days and most everything in the freezer started to defrost so I'm throwing a lot of it out. :-( I really feel for people who are still electricity-free, going into day 5. The upside for us is that we now have a generator, so we can plug in next time and have access to everything but A/C. Even the heat will work, since it's gas with an electric fan. And we'll be able to shower and flush toilets--being on a well has its drawbacks for sure.

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Deep-fried randomness

1) What is the grossest thing you've ever done in public?

I have a faint memory of throwing up in a gutter on my way home from school when I was quite young. Maybe I didn't actually do it, just thought I was going to. That's pretty gross. Actually, childbirth was practically public too: all those people surrounding you and peering in a rather private anatomical place while you scream...ugh.

2) Over the weekend, a large amount of people in my area lost electricity for an entire afternoon (with temperatures around 100 degrees). What things do you like to do when your electricity goes out?

Go out to eat (inside, where it's air-conditioned), or just deal. We lose electricity pretty regularly, probably at least once a month, due to storms or heat or cold.

3) Deep-Fried Kool-Aid Balls were recently introduced at the San Diego County Fair. I thought deep-fried Twinkies and Snickers were bad enough, but frying Kool-Aid is just plain insane (in my opinion). What is something you'd like to see deep-fried?

I'm kind of traditional: meat, veggies, yknow, yeah, NORMAL THINGS!

4) If you were asked to house-sit for a really good friend and you found a bloody knife hidden underneath the friend's stairs, what would you do?

What the hell am I doing digging around under the stairs?? This just wouldn't happen, and trust me, if I found a bloody knife in someone's house I would probably pretend I didn't. I read too many crime novels to even think about confronting them! But it isn't going to happen anyway.

5) "Big Brother (U.S.)" premiered Thursday night. Would you ever live in a house that is filmed 24/7 for a television show in order for a chance at winning money?

Nope. Not a chance in the world.

6) If your navel suddenly became a dispenser for some condiment, what condiment would you like to dispense out your belly button? (This was really a question discussed at my office last week.)

You have a very weird workplace. I'll go with...wow, the mere thought of eating ANYthing that came out of my belly button is so gross, I can't do it. Sorry.

7) If you were a professional wrestler, what would your name be?

Conan the Librarian, of course.

8) Finish this sentence: If my life is a TV channel, I'm currently on ...

...the National Anthem. [You youngsters won't even get that one!]

9) Saturday (July 10th) is National Teddy Bear Picnic Day (Seriously. Once again, I can't make this stuff up.) Do you remember any specific stuffed animals from your childhood that you really loved?

I had a 4-foot-long multi-colored snake with spectacular eyelashes which was pretty damn outstanding.

10) What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy? Explain your answer.

I like Mighty Mouse. Not flasky, not overly famous, just REALLY REALLY good at his job.

11) A recent study by the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University shows that contrary to stereotypes, acts of tenderness such as kissing, caressing and cuddling were more important to males than females in predicting relationship happiness. Are you a cuddler or more of a hands-off person?

Cuddly. And this is not news to me, honestly. I have theories on why this is so, but I won't bore you....

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Thunderstorm arrives, power outage! How do you occupy your time?

Read a book by lamp, firelight, or flashlight. Play cards. Go to sleep (under lots of blankets if it's winter). This happens to us about ones a month.

2) Explain why you enjoy one of your hobbies. What do you get out of it?

I like mindless stuff: memes and crosswords do that while still engaging some of my mental skills.

3) Have you planned your funeral?

Yes, I have. Multiple times. Pays to be prepared.

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

It reminds me of Wednesday nights at church: for about half the year, we have a group dinner there. It's lovely and relaxing and social and low-stress.

Public Domain Photo

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) What is one food you will never give up?

Complex carbohydrates. Bread, to be specific.

2) Would you be willing to eat a bowl of live crickets for $40,000?

Nope.

3) You have just been granted the power to make anyone in the world do something each day. Who would you choose, and what would you make him or her do daily?

I would make people do something kind for someone else, something that would not really benefit the person doing it, but would meet a major need of the recipient. The doer could choose anything; I'm not that much of a control freak.

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. 2006

Oh how I wish I could be there now. Summer. In the city.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) If the Pope promised he'd do one thing you asked, what would you ask him to do?

The current Pope: step down/abdicate for someone with a faint clue about the 21st century. Popes in general: unclench. [and, to be clear, the latter refers to virtually ALL religious leaders!]

2) What one experience has strengthened your character the most so far?

Parenthood.
Who knew I could resist the urge to murder so very many times? (Not only my kid, by the way, but people who mess with my kid too.)

3) Of all the people you've ever known, who have you most feared?

There was a very freaky dude who used the library where I worked as a teen--he was terrifying.
Really, though: PsychoBoss.
And Ronald Reagan. W and his cronies are somewhere near the top too.

4) Have you ever stolen anything, and if so what?

Tic-tacs, when I was about 10. The occasional book from the library's book sale. Pens / paper clips / rubber bands from work. Alert the authorities!!

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

Honestly, my first thought is "nice right-edge cropping!" My next thought is "anime convention attendee." Then I worry about how long it takes her to remove all that makeup and what her washcloths (washclothes??) and towels look like. I'm quite pleased that she's taken her fear of being strangled and found a way to deal with it, too.
I think she should stick to one shade of red per head and get some different lipstick.

OK, but if she walked in the library where I worked, I wouldn't even blink.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) If you could teach one person a lesson in humility, who would you choose?

Richard Cheney.

2) Do you prefer silver or gold jewelry?

Silver.

3) Which relative would you gladly never see again?

Tonight, the easy answer is Dean. Overall, though, I'd say Jan.

4) What experience has made you wisest?

The realization that I'm not all that (or even just the bag of chips), and life goes on anyway.

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

This is what I looked at for 8 hours today. Except, add in snow, slush, ice, and lots of semis. And gray skies, and no leaves. I haven't seen stripes on the road this afternoon.
SO glad to be home safe and sound tonight.

Curious as a Cat

(Link at left)

1) What was the most powerful moment of silence you've ever experienced?

That might be the first time Sparky slept through the night, or one of those days when he was cranky and I couldn't get him to stay quiet...and then he crashed into an exhausted sleep suddenly.
In a spiritual sense, it's when I can't hear God. There've been a few of those moments over the years.

2) What are friends for?

To remind ourselves of two things (at least): 1) We are loved; and 2) We must love to be alive.

3) What one school subject has turned out to be the least useful or worthwhile? Is that a surprise?

This is tricky, since I have had occasion to use virtually every subject I've studied at some point at the Reference Desk. In a personal way, I'd say math, specifically algebra. I don't exactly whip out a quadratic equation on a regular basis anymore! Not a surprise, but I enjoyed doing them at the time.

4) What kind of power do you want most?

Self-control and the power to say "NO!"

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
This picture cracks me up. Obviously, someone has interrupted an important moment in these two animals' lives. I suspect that this is a good thing for the big deer-like thing (what is that, anyway??), and if it can get its head together and take off, it might make it home free. They both look annoyed, don't they? This looks like a picture I might have taken in the mountains of Colorado, but then if I had, I'd know what they critter is!

Janet tagged me

Well, actually she tagged the universe....

01. If you could have super powers what would they be and what would you do with them? (Please feel free to be selfish; you do not have to save the world!)

After the past several weeks, I'd be thrilled to have some Super Eyes that didn't ever get sick. I don't need x-ray vision, but distance vision would be excellent. Think Steve Austin. If you don't know who he is, nevermind.

02. Were you to find yourself stranded on an island with a CD player...it could happen...what would your top 10 Blogger's Island discs be?

I'd have a lot of greatest hits multi-disc sets. I tend to get tired of the same music rather quickly. But on the list would be a lot of songs I could sing without accompaniment: hymns, folk songs, Beatles, maybe even some kids songs. I'd also like to have some quiet, wordless stuff, maybe jazz, maybe George Winston. And a HUGE supply of batteries!

03. If you were a smell what would it be?

Cinnamon.

04. What bird would you most like to be?

A heron. A penguin. A robin. Oh, I HATE these questions! OH! The Roadrunner! I wanna be The Roadrunner!!

05. If you were a bird who's head would you poo on?

Not that kind of bird. None of my choices are flyers, or at least not primarily flyers.

06. Are there any foods that your body craves?

Bread. And sugar. (the latter might be more of a mental craving, however.... hah)

07. What's your favourite time of year?

Fall. September through late October. LOVE. IT.

08. What's your favourite time of day?

I like early mornings before other people are up. I like watching the sun rise. And I like the feeling of the day being spread out before me, untouched, like a freshly ironed linen tablecloth.

09. If a rest is as good as a change which would you choose?

I have been sooooo tired lately, I think I have to go with a rest. An old-fashioned rest cure.

10. If you could have a dinner party and invite any 5 people from the past or present who would they be? (Living or deceased.)

Laura Ingalls Wilder, my grandmothers, Jane Addams, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Super Power

Your Superpower Should Be Mind Reading

You are brilliant, insightful, and intuitive. You understand people better than they would like to be understood. Highly sensitive, you are good at putting together seemingly irrelevant details. You figure out what's going on before anyone knows that anything is going on! Why you would be a good superhero: You don't care what people think, and you'd do whatever needed to be done Your biggest problem as a superhero: Feeling even more isolated than you do now

What Should Your Superpower Be?

I'd love to be a mind-reader. That would, truly, be totally wonderful. Where do I sign up for this?

Wait!!!! I already am a mind-reader! In the middle of a phone call today with Sparky, I asked him to please turn off the #*%$!@ TV. Not that he'd told me it was on (muted), or that he'd mentioned what he was watching. I just...knew. Spooky, eh? Parents know exactly why I knew, though, I'll bet.