Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
... because Joy recommended it
[and if you don't know this song, shame on you and Google it yourself!]

1) The Beatles recorded this after they had taken a three-month hiatus from working together as a band. Do you find you're sharp after taking time off? Or does it take you a while to get back into the swing of things in your day-to-day life?

It takes awhile to get in the groove, BUT my mind is sharper. At least briefly. ;-)

2) During those three months off, John Lennon made a movie called How I Won the War. What's the last movie you watched? Did you view it at a theater, on TV, or from a device like a computer or tablet?

I'm trying to remember the last movie we saw at the theater. I remember sitting there, but I really need to write this stuff down. ... Beast saves ticket stubs, and he says it was Wonder Woman. Which was good!! I have some weird brain-thing that just refuses to "save" movie titles.

3) Paul McCartney and George Harrison both used their time off to make new and different music. Paul composed instrumentals for a movie soundtrack while George studied sitar with Ravi Shankar. Ringo Starr spent those three months with his wife and their two little boys. If you had three months to spend doing anything you wanted, and money was no object, would you try something new (like Paul and George) or just kick back and relax (like Ringo)?

I'm revising my opinion of Ringo because of this info. However, for myself, I expect it would be a combination of hanging out with friends and family, and working on something new and different.

4) Paul recalls what fun it was to dress up in Edwardian-era costumes for the album cover. When did you last attend a costume party? What did you wear?

I don't really do costume, or "fancy dress" as it's known in England.

5) Paul says he came up with the name "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" when Beatle friend Mal Evans told him about this great San Francisco band, Big Brother and the Holding Company. Paul hadn't heard their music yet, but he loved the sound of their six-word band name. Soon everyone would hear of Big Brother. Do you know who Big Brother's famous lead singer was?

Yes I do and I listened to some of her tunes yesterday at work. Love her, miss her.

6) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band appeared on the Billboard charts for 175 weeks. Is this album in your collection?

Yup. Of course. I think it's a requirement to own this if you're at all serious about music.

7) The Beatles are among the top-selling artists of all time in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Would you like to visit Africa?

Yes. Perhaps not those two countries, or at least not ONLY those two countries....

8) 50 years ago, when Sgt. Pepper was first released, the average price for gas was 33¢/gallon. When did you last fill up your gas tank? Do you remember how much it cost?

I paid $2.39 last night when I was driving on fumes after work.

9) Random question: Are most of your married friends happily married?

Those who are married...I would say it's probably 70/30 with happiness on the upper end. I mean, I have a lot of friends in support groups whose marriages sound rocky, but I'm only getting a particular slant, but that's balanced by the people at church who have been married since the Mammoth Era and I don't see that changing.

Friday (or Saturday) 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Belly up to the Bar

1. What’s the Good News?

   So, in the church where I grew up, there was a part of the service the bulletin called The Good News of God's Forgiveness. When I grew up and moved on to other churches, they were still calling this, old school, Assurance of Pardon/Forgiveness/Mercy, but for me it will always and forever be the Good News:

   "Hear the good news!
   Who is in a position to condemn?
   Only Christ,
   and Christ died for us,
   Christ rose for us,
   Christ reigns in power for us,
   Christ prays for us."
   [...and cue the Gloria Patri...]

   The interesting thing is back when church was calling it Good News, wasn't really understanding it. Now that I'm older and have some context, hearing those words creates a little burst of relief mixed with gratitude.
   
   And I'm done proselytizing now!

2. When did you last Take 5, and how did you spend it?

   I spent about 15 minutes in bed this morning after I woke up working a Sudoku on my Nook--because I didn't have to get up!! Saturday, the only morning I can say that. Usually.

3. Who’s a Big Hunk?

   In the sense of Big Hunk of Stoopid, there are far too many candidates, but the obvious one for me is Trump. In the sense of adorable gorgeousness, there are also many candidates. I kind of have to go with The Rock. I don't find him sexy, but he is definitely hunkish and quite witty.

4. In what way has this week been a Rocky Road?

   Wednesday night into Thursday noon was not good, for all the usual (home) reasons, including my inability to STFU.

5. What’s something you’re keeping Skor on?

   I've been trying to keep a list of all the food I'm eating for the last week, and also testing my blood glucose. It's a BLAST! /sarcasm

'Splosion

You Are a Purple Smoothie

You are a very deep and even mysterious person. You have so much going on that people can't really figure you out. You live a very full life, but it's still an orderly one. You pull off a very delicate balancing act with grace. You are zanier than you seem, and it's because you dabble in a little of everything. You are someone different to everyone. You are big on nuance, and you don't get caught up in labels. You would always rather dissect than debate.

What Color Smoothie Are You?

Since I'm not sure I've ever had an actual smoothie, I can't speak to the flavor here, but some of this is pretty accurate. And some is not so much.

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

You Are the Optimist

You are a friendly and vivacious person. You know how to turn on the charm and be the life of the party. As an optimist, you're wiling to give most anything and most anyone a shot. You believe that great things are coming your way. You love people, and you make friends easily. You are quick to complement others, and you rarely hold a grudge. You are creative and colorful. You are constantly thinking of new activities and ideas... both at work and play!

The Strengths and Weaknesses Test

I like to be optimistic, and mostly I do feel that way. When I hit bottom though, I'm very much not cheerful and positive. But I do aim toward Pollyanna-ness.

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You Are a Maximizer

When it comes to managing your time, you have it down. You know what you need to get done at any one moment. You are good at breaking your time into chunks. You are good at multitasking and making progress on tedious tasks. At times, you may take on what seems to be too much. However, you are good at getting it all done - even when you are overwhelmed. You are not the type of person who is happy being idle. Even when you're not actively doing anything, your mind is going full speed ahead.

What's Your Productivity Style?

This is pretty much on target, except when I get overwhelmed anymore I go completely mental. So I'm gradually learning to back off before I get there.

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Your Beauty is Classic

You like to enhance your natural beauty - and your look can range from dramatic to fresh faced. When it comes to makeup and style, you know what works for you. Because of this, you let most trends pass you by. You are drawn to glamour, and while you can't always leave the house looking your best, you come close. You may gravitate toward time tested looks, but in this day and age your beauty is original. Your polished look stands out in the crowd.

What's Your Beauty Personality?

100% bullshit.

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You Are a Balanced Pleaser

You know that you can't please everyone all the time, so you try to strike a balance. You know what your limits are. You often try to make sure that your needs are taken care of first. It's not that you're selfish - you just help others more this way. You are compassionate and aware. You monitor your energy levels carefully as well as those around you. You know when you have a lot to give and when you need to rest. And you never demand more of others than what they are capable of.

Are You a People Pleaser?

Again, this is something I'm trying very hard to stop being over-pleasing. It's getting easier.

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You Are Hedonistic

You love to live the good life, and while this means totally indulging sometimes, you enjoy the small things too. You dig treats and little luxuries. You aren't one to deny yourself now, because you're not sure you will have the same opportunity in the future. You love to feel good, and it doesn't take much for you to get there. Just feeling a nice breeze on you skin can be enough. You can turn ordinary things into extraordinary experiences. It's all about what you choose to pay attention to.

The Hammock Test 

What I wouldn't give for a hammock on a beach!! Or, really, almost anywhere.

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You Should Have Macarons

You are a fun, colorful, and whimsical person. You love all the sweetness that each day has to offer. You aren't really one to plan your life - or even the next hour. You're happy to follow your inspiration. You are very far from a perfectionist, but you love to do things well. You turn your mistakes into something beautiful. You are the type of person who really appreciates a classic, but you like a good deal of funkiness as well!

What Parisian Treat Should You Have?

I'm not really so much into Paris, or macarons, but the description is ok-ish.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1950)


1) Which do you prefer: colored hard-boiled eggs, chocolate marshmallow eggs, or plastic eggs with coins inside?

I prefer eating the marshmallow eggs. ;-)

2) What's your favorite color of Peeps (yellow, purple, or pink)?

Oddly--since I love sugar--I find Peeps disgusting in every way (except for these).

3) All this talk of sweets is making Sam hungry. What's for lunch?

I just had a bagel with Swiss and provolone cheese. Had jelly beans for breakfast.

4) This song was introduced by country singer Gene Autry and it's still a favorite. Please share some of the lyrics. (And you're on your own; Sam didn't include a link to the song this week.)

"Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hopping down the bunny trail,
Hippety-hopping,
Easter's on its way..."That's from memory, so I've no clue how accurate it is.

5) Gene Autry was so popular that a town in Oklahoma named itself for him. Have you ever been to Oklahoma?

I have. Well, I've driven through the eastern part of it. Twice.

6) In addition to singing, Mr. Autry made 93 cowboy movies. What's the last movie you saw?

Uh...hmmmm. The Hunger Games (the first one), maybe, on TV? Several months ago?

7) He and his horse Champion also had a TV show. Can you name another famous horse?

Trigger, of course.

8) Gene Autry also recorded "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer," and it was, of course, wildly popular, too. Who is your favorite recording artist?

Melissa Etheridge, I guess. I like her music, and really respect the way she's tried to be famous without being idiotic.

9) Back to the holiday celebration at hand -- Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated?

WARM WEATHER after a perfectly awful winter this year. Also, naps.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Fried Day 5

1. When you come home from a long day of whatever it is you do and your brain is totally fried, what therapy do you normally seek?

Facebook or Internet therapy. Sometimes--on a very bad day--this is applied along with a stiff drink. And if it's horrible, I'll head directly to bed or the bathtub.

2. Of the myriad of desserts made primarily of fried dough, what is your favorite?

Desserts made of fried dough? That's breakfast: donuts! I love donuts.

3. Most fried foods are best right out of the fryer, but what’s a fried food that you enjoy cold?

I love cold fried chicken. And donuts. ;-)

4. What’s the most unusual deep-fried food you've ever tried?

Something weird I had in China. No idea what it was. I ate it to be a good guest.

5. Where can you get really good French fries?

I used to love the Tastee-Freez fries from the place across from my junior high school. It's gone now, torn down to make room for a strip mall. I actually like Burger King fries the best of the Big Name Fries.

Saturday 9

(Link in blogroll)
Time Has Come Today

1. What time of day do you usually play Saturday 9?

Either in the morning, or later in the evening. Depends on whether I have to go to work; if so, it's gonna be later in the day that I have time to meme.

2. At 9AM on a weekday, what are you doing?

It depends on the day (lotsa 'depends' in my life--note the small 'd'!). On Mondays, I'm at Sparky's school. Tuesday through Thursday I'll be at work. Since I work every other Friday, I'd either be at work or lounging around the house in my jammies meming and catching up on things online.

3. At 9PM on any given night, what would you most like to be doing?

Home, vegging out and thinking about getting ready for bed, maybe watching something on TV. I would pretty definitively be online, though. ;-)

4. What is your most frequent activity online?

BubbleTown on Fb. I've just signed up for Twitter and it is now eating a lot of my time. And the ever-present blog-updating and -reading, of course.

5. Is there one day of the week that seems to fly by? If yes, why?

The Saturdays that I don't have to work seem to race by. Witness today: I had Big Plans for today that are not going to happen due to last-minute changes of schedule. That's fine, but it means I'll have to do my planned (and really necessary) stuff another time. Sometime.

6. Do you agree that the older you get, the faster time seems to go by?

Yes. When I was in high school someone tried to explain the "why" of this--all about the time we have left vs. the time we've lived, and the telescoping of our personal history--but it made no sense. Still doesn't for that matter. I just know that when I was 5 summers lasted quite literally forever, and now they're gone before I even warm up completely.

7. What is your favorite thing to do with free time?

In more-or-less order of interest (today): sleep, net-surf, read, crosswords...and some other stuff. ;-)

8. How much time do you spend alone? Would you like it to be more? Less?

I would
LOVE
more alone time. I actually love being alone. This is part of the reason I only wanted one kid. I probably spend an average of 1-2 hours a day alone (not counting the time driving to and from work). It's never enough.

9. If you could spend one hour doing something what would it be?

Oh, yeah, not sayin', yo. :-)

Saturday 9

(Link in blogroll)
At the Beach

1. Do you plan to be at the beach this summer?

No. Ironically, there's a headline in this morning's local paper that several local beaches have been closed because of high bacteria in the water. So. No.

Except I was at the beach last month while on our mission trip, for about 6 hours. Oops, forgot about that....!

2. Do you have a favorite beach?

Not really. I did like the one we were at last month, and I loved the beaches in Puerto Vallarta. I don't like British 'beaches' because they don't really have sand; the base is gravel. Ugh.

3. How old were you on your first beach trip?

I grew up in Colorado, with a family that mostly didn't swim, so work that out. I think I was probably into double digits when my sister Ellen took me to the same beach I noted in question #1, or a nearby one on the same body of water.

4. Did your folks own or rent a cottage at the beach?

We owned a cabin in the mountains. MUCH more fun!

5. Have you or would you bring your kids to the same beaches you went to as a kid?

Sparky was with me last month. He'd been to that beach as a baby and very young toddler, so it was nice for him to be able to go back.

6. What type of bathing suit do you wear at the beach?

At this point in my life, to spare others' eyeballs, I wear Bermuda shorts and tank-tops or T-shirts. ;-) I don't swim, so it's really not that critical that I wear a suit.

7. Do you have favorite food you like to eat at the shore?

Ugh. Food with sand--yuck! No, I don't eat at the beach.

8. Do you have a favorite drink you like at the shore?

Water. I drink lots and lots of water.

9. When is the next time you will be beach bound?

No idea. Not something I spend a lot of time dwelling upon. I prefer to go places that are secluded and hilly, thus eliminating beaches from the list pretty much by definition.

Cheddar X

(Link at left)

1. Where is your favorite place to relax?

Right here on the couch, with the laptop.

2. Where is your favorite place to cut loose and have some fun?

...uh...? The backyard, I guess.

3. Where is your favorite place that reminds you of a special time?

There are WAY too many of these to pick only one!

4. Where is your favorite place to sit and watch the world go by?

My front porch, or the park in the middle of town.

5. Where is your favorite vista point?

I live in the midwest, in a very flat state. We don't really have vistas. Having said that, there is a nice view going out of our subdivision.

6. Where is your favorite place to waste time online?

Blogger/Bloglines, of course!

7. Where is your favorite place to waste time offline?

Inside books.