Friday 5 (x3)

(Link in meme-roll)

What color is your parachute? (June 20)

1. Which job on a film crew would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?

None of the jobs sounds like anything much I'd like to do, but the closest are in the post-production areas or something like negative cutter or compositor.     

2. Which job on a hotel staff would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for? 

I wouldn't mind working the front desk, but I would absolutely not do well with asshole guests. Everything else sounds like hell on earth.

3. Which job in a hospital would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?

  Probably pharmacist or some sort of tech.

4. Which job on a cruise ship would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for? 

I don't see a single thing. Maybe purser. I would NOT want to deal with members of the public on one of these and I don't have any interest in programming.

5. Which job on a fashion magazine would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?

Sub-editor. Otherwise, I'd be drunk and angry all the time. Most of these jobs sound simply awful.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Thought Provoking Questions
These are questions suggested by Markandangel

If you could instill one piece of advice in a newborn baby’s mind, what advice would you give?

Hell no! I'll be taking advice from this source, not polluting it with my stupidity!

What is the most desirable trait another person can possess?

Self-awareness.

What are you most grateful for?

Small moments of joy and painlessness.

Is stealing to feed a starving child wrong?

Nope.

What do you want most?

Peace.

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

I tend toward doing things right as often as possible; I need to pay more attention to doing the right things regardless of perfectibility.

What has life taught you recently?

Just cutting back on food intake or eating healthier food doesn't cause weight loss. So frustrating.

What is the one thing you would most like to change about the world?

I would really like people to spend more time listening with an open mind.

Where do you find inspiration?

Kids and animals, some weather (e.g. thunderstorms) and sleep.

Can you describe your life in a six word sentence?

"Just take it as it comes."

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

Because pride. Ego, if you prefer.

What impact do you want to leave on the world?

Aside from kindness, I'd actually like to leave as little impact as possible. Call me nuts.

What is the most defining moment of your life thus far?

Life continues after tragedy, and there are ALWAYS things to be learned, often from surprising people and events.

In the haste of your daily life, what are you not seeing?

Realistically, if I'm not seeing it, I'm, uh, ... not seeing it.
To answer the implicit question, I'm often very unaware of how set in my ways I am.

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

"I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to—what I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience proves that I agree with these laws I am breaking. But I can’t help myself because I’m no longer doing it.... When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway." (Romans 7:15-17a, 19 (NLB))

Paul had one answer for that. I tend to agree with him in the abstract sense: because it feels better to do the wrong thing often. Or it is or seems easier.

What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?

Music. Sleep. Venting to a trusted person.

Have you ever regretted something you did not say or do?

Only every motherlovin' day! Good God, this is my life. "Regrets, I have a few..."

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

Ayup. Usually with a twist because God's a funny guy.

Why do we think of others the most when they’re gone?

I don't really think I do; I am fairly certain I think about my Mom now as often as I did when she was still around. However, I think we all like to think about past times of our lives that seem much easier than today. I also strong distrust this rosy view of the past. My life wasn't appreciably "better" in my 20s, though some things were easier. Other things were pretty awful and I'd never want to do it again.

What is your most beloved childhood memory?

I've been thinking a lot lately about playing jacks (metal ones!) on the sidewalk in front on my house. We had a driveway pad that was very smooth so my hand didn't get all torn up scooping. I loved jacks....

Sunday Stealing x 2

(Link in meme-roll)
Never Have I Ever

1. Have you ever had chicken pox?

I had the chicken pox when I was in Kindergarten during one of the worst snowstorms of my childhood. It was so bad it was literally the only time I ever remember losing power in the house for multiple days. What this meant was being buried in heavy, itchy wool blankets on the couch while being instructed not to scratch the itches.

2. Have you ever shopped in Home Depot?

I have, quite often. I sort of feel like I need to switch loyalties to Lowes now that my brother works there, but HD is much nearer!

3. Have you ever spied on your neighbors?

Only from my front porch or the street. I do enjoy driving around in winter--during Christmas light season--peering in people's windows from my car but I never have felt the urge to peep.

4. Have you ever ridden in a limo?

Yup. I think that time of my life is over now though.

5. Have you ever had a pet fish?

I seem to recall bringing a fish home from a school carnival at some point, though I have no memory whatsoever of what happened afterward if I did.

6. Have you ever lied about your age?

When I was just under the legal age to drink, I did a few times. The "problem" is that when I was 18, the drinking age where I was was 18. They raised it to 19 weeks before I turned 19, and then in two years they raised it to 21 not too long before I turned 21. So, I never really had to lie. I've never been carded and rejected. My life is so hard!

7. Have you ever fired a gun?

Not a real gun. I had a cap-gun as a kid though. Loved that pistol!

8. Have you ever been ice skating?

Yes, once. I do not like falling down and I'm not at all graceful, so it really wasn't much fun.

9. Have you ever played golf?

Yup. I didn't suck.

10. Have you ever hidden on Halloween because you had no candy for trick or treaters?

Of course! When the candy is gone, it's gone.

11. Have you ever made a prank call?

Oh, dear, I spent some quality time doing weird phone tricks and calling people when I was 11 or 12. That was back in the day when you could actually dial your own number, hang up real fast, and the phone would ring and "connect" you with "yourself." And good old running refrigerators. ;-)

12. Have you ever gotten a tattoo?

Nope. Not interested. I tend to appreciate scars more than tats.

13. Have you ever had a massage?

For several years, I was getting a massage every month. That time in my life is probably over as well.

14. Have you ever locked your keys in the car?

All . The . Damned . Time . Seriously, I was never so glad to start driving a car as I was when I got my Ford Edge with the numerical door lock. I have not gone more than 3 months without having to use it to rescue my keys in the past 2-3 years!

15. Have you ever ridden a horse?

Yup. I would like to do it again, though I was fairly terrified.

16. Have you ever been to the circus?

Yes. Twice in America and once in Russia. I preferred the Russian one.

17. Have you ever been to Europe?

A few times. Right now, all other things being equal and assuming I could get a good job, I'd move to England in less than a heartbeat.

18. Have you ever built a fire?

Yes. Not too badly, either.

19. Have you ever been skydiving?

No, and I think it would be silly to start now. I'd probably kill myself. I've always wanted to, though, and one of our regular long-time patrons at the library took herself skydiving for her 70th birthday this summer. I was seriously impressed; she is quite retiring and quiet and sort of nervous. Props to her!

20. Have you ever bought something at a garage sale?

Yes, but not for a VERY long time!

21. Have you ever walked in on someone having sex?

Seems like that should have happened at least once in college, but I must have suppressed the memory.

22. Have you ever faked an injury to get out of something?

Of course. It's really been more of a case of playing up minor injuries/illnesses than total fabrication.

23. Have you ever been to a nude beach?

This is something I fear happening by accident, not something I'd do on purpose!!

24. Have you ever received a speeding ticket?

I have, indeed.

25. Have you ever run a marathon?

I've run INTO a Marathon (gas station), but I can't run from the house to the street so a marathon is not likely anytime soon.

Today is a Fashion Show

1. A way to win your heart

Tell me funny stories about yourself and make faces with/at little kids in public.

2. Something you feel strongly about

Donald Trump is a twat. [be assured that I do not use that last word lightly--I find it extremely offensive, and use it here only because what I want to call him is a word I simply cannot bring myself to type]

3. A book you love

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. As an adult, I have found comfort in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

4. Five pet peeves

1. Loud talkers in places that really ought to be quiet (like hospital waiting rooms).
2. Entitled people of any age over about 5; the younger the age, the more forgiving I am.
3. Days when I hit every M-F'in light red, or I'm behind someone who refuses to speed up on a stale green.
4. Pennies.
5. Having to be a grown-up when all I want to do is be age 8 again.

5. What you ate today

Two breakfast burritos from McDonald's and diet coke. A cherry danish. A Quarter-Pounder, fries and another diet coke. A corner piece of day-old birthday cake. Half a can (so far) of diet Dr. Pepper, a hoagie roll with margarine and two Pop-Tarts. Don't judge me.

6. How important do you think education is?

Vital.

7. Five people you find attractive

Mike Tomlin.
Ryan Reynolds.
Sandra Bullock.
Helen Mirren.
Shemar Moore. (I mean, really!)

8. What you wore today

Gray clam-diggers, purple T-shirt, underwear, crocs sandles, and my "Care Team" ID tag.

9. Something you always think “what if” about

I really don't do this; I mean, there's literally nothing I can change about the past, so why worry about it. It can be a fun game, but it can bite you in the ass too.

10. Something you’re proud of

Sparky, though I can only take partial credit there. My career and my serenity; those are ALL on me, with a lot of help from my friends.

11. Something you lust after

Sleep.

12. A word/phrase that makes you laugh

There's a part in our readings at meetings that cracks me up every time we get together: "[12-step program], as such, ought never be organized..." Now THERE is an organization that is perfect for me!!

13. A quote you try to live by

"It is not your job to complete the task of perfecting the world, but neither are you free to desist from it." [Mishnah]

14. Something you like and dislike about yourself.

I like that I don't get hysterical very often. I dislike that I feel guilty about everything.

15. A problem that you have had

Making myself do things BEFORE they are due. I hate how much I procrastinate myself into boxes.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Greenish Questions

1. What is your current obsession?

Skittles. I've been pigging out on them for a couple of weeks, much to my scale's regret.

2. What’s your go-to coffee place?

I don't drink coffee.

3. Who was the last person that you hugged?

Beast.

4. Do you nap a lot?

Heh, yeah. As often as possible.

5. Tonight, what’s for dinner?

I hate you. This is what I'm trying to avoid thinking about right now. We may be looking at grilled cheese or waffles at this point.

6. What was the last thing that you bought?

Garage light bulbs, propane for the grill, and a toilet seat. Living the big life, eh?

7. What is your favorite weather?

Hot and dry, i.e. zero humidity.

8. Tell us something about one blogger who you think will play this week?

There are days, reading her blog, when I'm fairy certain that Kwizgiver and I are living alternate versions of each other's lives. If we looked more like each other, it would be fun to do twin-switch thing for a few days. :D

9. If you were given a free house that was full furnished, where in the world would you like it to be?

Normally, I would say Ouray, but with the health care situation in my family and this country, I'm going to say Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh/English border.

10. Name three things that you could not live without.

My prescription meds, my glasses, my car.

11. What would you like in your hands right now?

I can't think of a thing.

12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures?

Pottering around mindlessly online.

13. What would you change or eliminate about yourself?

I would learn some self-control over food!

14. As a child, what type of career did you want?

I wanted to be a grocery store checker because of the old cash register buttons ... Clearly, I didn't really get out much.

15. What are you missing right now?

Someone to clean and cook for me.

16. What are you currently reading?

Burley Cross Postbox Theft, by Nicola Barker and Christmas Days, by Jeanette Winterson, the latter on my Nook. That's rather a low count for me.

17. What do you fear the most?

Pain.

18. What’s the best movie that you’ve seen recently?

We saw Wonder Woman last week. It was pretty good (to be read deadpan).

19. What’s your favorite book from the past year?

The Home for Wayward Clocks, by Kathie Giorgio and All Our Wrong Todays, Elan Mastai were each good for very different reasons.

20. Is there a comfort food from your childhood that you still enjoy?

White bread and Smarties. Not together (yuck) but individually. I don't buy either very often. Oh, and Mom's oatmeal cookies, but I don't have her recipe, so finding cookies that live up to this is difficult.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Unknown Author Questions

1. if someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

You'd have to read a lot of history, mysteries (everything but cozies) and "good" lit. You'd have to watch lots of (true and fictional) crime shows, and medical docs. I listen to almost everything. That one's pretty easy.

2. have you ever found a blogger who thinks just like you? if so, who?

Kwizgiver and I seem to be on the same wavelength fairly often. Except on football teams and coffee. ;-)

3. list your fandoms and one character from each that you identify with.

I don't really do fandoms. I like ST and my favorite characters of those series I've seriously watched are Bones, Picard, Kira, and Janeway.

4. do you like your name? is there another name you think would fit you better?

My name is good. At this point, having to switch to listening for another one would be difficult.

5. do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? do you identify yourself by the things you do?

Hah. I'm a human. I don't worry about doing and being unless it's a Frank Sinatra tune (do-be-do-be-do).

6. are you religious/spiritual?

I'm churchy. I think we're all spiritual beings, but not everyone connects with that part of them often.

7. do you care about your ethnicity?

Do I care?? I'm aware of it. I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on changing it.

8. what musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

U2, Melissa Etheridge, Howard Jones, Annie Lennox, Alison Moyet....

9. are you an artist?

I can do a mean stick figure, and lots of abstract stuff. I don't think I'm overly artistic in the traditional sense, however.

10. do you have a creed?

Lately, it's "don't be a dick."

11. describe your ideal day.

I started to write some stuff, but really I've found that good days are what you make of them, and being open to surprises is key.

12. dog person or cat person?

I'm definitely a dog person. But since I'm allergic to both cats and dogs, it's not in the cards.

13. inside or outdoors?

I've become mostly an indoor person. Allergies.

14. are you a musician?

Amateur only.

15. five most influential books over your lifetime.

In no particular order: The Bible. Traveling Mercies (Anne Lamott). A Marginal Jew, v. 1 (John Meier). The Laura books. Nicholas & Alexandra (Robert Massie). There are dozens of others.

16. if you’d grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?

No I do not think so. Everything that has happened in my life has made me who I am. Change one thing and the whole Jenga collapses.

17. would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

I don't do Tumblr--though, come to think of it, I guess I have one that I seriously have never used--but this blog gives you a decent idea of what goes on in my head.

18. what’s your patronus?

I think J.K. Rowling's site told me it was a rodent of some kind. Squirrel maybe? Or ferret? Seems fitting.

19. which Harry Potter house would you be in? or are you a muggle?

Being an American, I'd be a no-maj not a muggle, but I'm more or less solidly Hufflepuff.

20. would you rather be in Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, or somewhere else?

It would be fun to visit Hogwarts, but overall, I like here best.

21. do you love easily?

I don't even know for sure what this means. I probably do, but it doesn't seem "easy" to me. Or hard. It just seems like me.

22. list the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

Sleeping. Worrying/Feeling guilty. Working. Doing online stuff (Facebook, this, email, etc.). Reading.

23. how often would you want to see your family every year?

I see some family member or other 4-6 times a year, usually in packs, like coyotes. LOL There have been years of my life when no one lived nearby when I only saw family once or twice a year. It's not that I don't like them, but short visits go a long way for me. And there isn't anyone less than an hour away, and some are an 8-hour plane trip and 4-hour drive away.

24. have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

Beast and I occasionally feel that way. We've known each other for 35 years, so we have but to look at each other sometimes to know what the other person is thinking.

25. could you live as a hermit?

Not permanently. There are days, even a few weeks, when it sounds positively heavenly, but I need people to talk to at some point.

26. how would you describe your gender/sexuality?

I'm cis-gendered female.

27. do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the “real you”?

Nope. I'm absolutely not this old, nor is the real me this fat.

28. on a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it for someone to get under your skin?

Depends on who and what they're trying on. I'm probably an 8 in public/with the public, and maybe a 5 with people I know and care about.

29. three songs that you connect with right now.

These are the three that popped into my mind first: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder)--no clue why, today, when it's cold, windy and cloudy outside. "Short People" (Randy Newman)--because one of the drivers in the race is named Newman. "Amazing Grace"--because it's always floating near the top.

30. pick one of your favorite quotes.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.” ―James Baldwin

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
I Won't Last a Day without You (1972)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.*

1) This song makes reference to rainbows. Have you seen one lately?

It hasn't been sunny around here during rain lately. No rainbows. Just a lot of water falling down. OTOH, several gay friends post rainbows regularly on Facebook, so....

2) When Sam heard this song, it occurred to her that she wouldn't last a day without a game of online Yahtzee. What little commonplace pleasure reliably brightens your day?

I have my crosswords and Nook games at bedtime that soothe me into restfulness.

3) Richard Carpenter was emphatic that his group's name was "Carpenters," NO "the." Whenever he hears the group referred to as "The Carpenters," it gets on his nerves. What little commonplace annoyance reliably sets you off?

"Jew-ler-ee" is not a word. Neither are "Lye-ber-ree", "N(y)oo-ku-lur" or "Ho-made." That last one is at least mildly amusing.

4) Karen Carpenter said she drank iced tea all day long. What beverage do you think you'll have with your next meal?

Diet Dr. Pepper. I suppose you could count the big handful of raw walnuts as lunch, and I'm currently drinking DDP.

5) "I Won't Last a Day without You" was written by Oscar-winning composer Paul Williams. He also tried his hand at acting, most notably appearing with Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit. Back in the 1970s, the three movies in the Smokey series were very popular. Have you seen any of them?

Uh, yeah, hello! I was on the young end of the prime demographic for watching Burt Reynolds in his heyday. I've always thought he and Sally (Field) were the perfect couple. ...sigh

6) This song was recorded in 1973 by Diana Ross. Now in her 70s, Miss Ross is still going strong with a busy calendar of appearances in 2017. What's your favorite Diana Ross song?

I've been hearing "I'm Coming Out" quite regularly lately on Spotify (see footnote below), but my favorite is "MacArthur Park" just because it's so freakin' over-the-top and melodramatic! I worry about that cake being out in the rain...

7) In 1972, the year this song was popular, the United States and the United Kingdom joined forces and launched the Copernicus satellite. Today it's remembered for the discovery of long-period pulsars. Crazy Sam got bored writing this question. Do you enjoy reading about science?

Not astronomy. Beast is the Science Stud in my house, though I enjoy some biology/physiology stuff. Chemistry, physics, astronomy....yaaaaawwnnnnnn! My niece is an astrophysicist and even SHE doesn't work in her field!

8) Before Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz was American's premier Olympic swimmer. In 1972 he won seven Gold Medals. After making millions in endorsements and TV appearances, he settled into a career as a realtor in Los Angeles. Are you contemplating a change in residence any time soon? If you move, will you be consulting a realtor?

Mark Spitz is a realtor!? (hey, there's another word that is on my list of peeves: it's "ree-uhl-tor" not "ree-luh-tur"!) OK, the thought of moving makes me physically ill, but I think we need to start being realistic. Beast struggles up our stairs, and there are a lot of them--7 to get to the main floor from outside, 15 to the 2nd floor bedrooms, another 7 down to the basement--and I worry that I'm going to find him dead at the bottom one day after a fall. He, of course, wants to stay put here. And before we really consider moving, we need to repaint and replace some floors. And then we'll call one of the many realtors we know, yes.

9) Random question: Which of these is completely, 100% UNTRUE of you -- boring, lazy or stupid?

I'm not 100% stupid. I have my blonde moments (my hair is going from dark brown to gray, so I'm getting closer to blonde these days anyway!), but I'm far lazier and more boring than I am stupid.

_____________
*Yet again, I heard this song this past week. We have to stop listening to the same Spotify, Sam!

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Money Time Questions

1. What are five passions that you have? (If you have less than five, tell us where you do have an interest.)

Literacy, history, kids, reading, learning.

2. List up to ten random facts about yourself.

1. I have hazel eyes.
2. My feet are currently freezing.
3. My house currently smells like smoke and burnt food.
4. Those last two are connected: I'm burn-cleaning the oven. It stinks and it's not really warm enough to have every door and window open.
5. There's a nap in my immediate future.
6. I ate a whole package of Twizzlers yesterday.
7. My eyesight is lousy.
8. These questions make my mind go blank, so it's taking me bloody-forever to do this. Ugh.
9. I need to get the oil in my car changed this week.
10. My feet are still cold.

3. List five people (personal, historic, living or dead) who have had a major impact on your life or the way you think.

Jesus, my parents (that's one, right?), Corrie ten Boom, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Les (my pastor as a kid).

4. List 5 things you'd tell your 15 year-old self, if you could.

1. Stand up for yourself.
2. Listen to your conscience.
3. No one likes a know-it-all.
4. Your instincts are good: if you think someone is lying to you, the probably are.
5. Not everything is your fault.

5. What is a major strength that you have? (You can list more than one. Staying with our no rules approach.)

I read people pretty well.

6. What is a major weakness that you have? (You can list more than one. STILL staying with our no rules approach.)

I second-guess myself.

7. Describe the family dynamic of your childhood versus your family dynamic now.

I'm the adult child of an adult child of an alcoholic. My childhood, aside from the floating anger from one parent, was pretty good because my parents worked hard to make it so. Life today is, maybe, becoming pretty good because my alcoholic husband is not currently drinking.

8. What popular notion do you feel that the world has most wrong?

That any of us is all the center of the universe.

9. Name three things that always cheers you up when you are down.

Babies' giggles, music, reading.

10. Name three things would you like to be remembered for?

Loving kids, being a good worker, making killer mac'n'cheese.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Eight/Ten Questions

TEN TO START:
1. Are you single?

Nope.

2. Are you happy?

Meh.

3. Are you bored?

Yeah, a little.

4. Are you naked?

Hell no! It's less than 30 degrees (F) outside!

5. Are you a blonde?

Nope.

6. Are you moody?

Not so much.

7. Are you a lover/hater?

One or both, most of the time, yep.

8. Are you hot/cold?

My feet are cold, the rest of me is ok right now.

9. Are you Irish?

Some percentage of my heritage involves Ireland, yeah.

10. Are you Asian?

Not to my knowledge.

TEN FACTS:
1. Name:

Cat.

2. Nickname:

Well, the above IS a nickname, so....

3. Birth mark:

There's this thing on my earlobe....

4. Hair color:

At this point, brown-turning-gray.

5. Natural hair color:

Same.

6. Eye color:

Hazel.

7. Height:

5'7" or so.

8. Facebook Mood:

😫

9. Favorite color:

Blue.

10. One Place to Visit:

One place that I'd like to go to that I haven't visited before is Barcelona.

TEN THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE.
1. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Not really, no.

2. Do you believe in soul mates?

Nope.

3. (MIA)

4. Have you ever been hurt emotionally?

Well, of course!

5. Have you ever broken someone’s heart?

I guess.

6. Have you ever been cheated on?

Not that I know of.

7. Have you ever liked someone and not told them?

Yes.

8. Are you afraid of commitment?

Nope.

9. Who was the last person you hugged?

My husband.

10. Who was the last person you kissed?

Same.

TEN THIS OR THAT.
1. Love or lust?

Love.

2. (MIA)

3. Cats or dogs?

Dogs.

4. A few best friends or many regular friends?

Just a few good ones.

5. Television or internet?

Internet.

6. Chinese Or Indian?

Takeout? Indian.

7. Wild night out or romantic night in?

Nights in are preferred.

8. Money or Happiness?

Happiness.

9. Night or day?

Day.

10. Skype or phone?

Phone.

TEN HAVE YOU EVER.
1. Been caught sneaking out?

Nope.

2. Been skinny dipping?

Nope.

3. Stolen?

Yup.

4. Bungee jumped?

Nope, though I used to want to. Now, I'm pretty sure I'd die.

5. Lied to someone you liked?

Naturally.

6. Finished an entire jaw breaker?

...yeah?

7. Cheated on a lover (yes kissing counts...)?

Hmmm. Nope.

8. Wanted an ex bf/gf back?

Not enough to actually do anything about it.

9. Cried because you lost a pet?

Of course!!

10. Wanted to disappear?

This happens almost every day. Isn't this normal?

TEN PREFERENCES IN A PARTNER.

1. Smile or eyes?

Smile.

2. Light or dark hair?

Dark.

3. Hugs or kisses?

Really, I have to pick? Jeez, ok, hugs.

4. Shorter or taller?

Taller.

5. Intelligence or attraction?

Intelligence IS attraction!

6. Romantic or spontaneous?

Steady.

7. Funny or serious?

Appropriate.

8. Older or Younger?

Same age.

9. Outgoing or quiet?

Outgoing.

10. Sweet or Bad Ass?

Sweet.

TEN HAVE YOU’S.
1. Ever performed in front of a large crowd?

Ayup.

2. Ever done drugs?

Only the legally prescribed variety.

3. Ever been pregnant?

Yup.

4. (MIA)

5. Ever been on a cheer leading team?

Absolutely not.

6. Ever been on a dance team?

Nope.

7. Ever been on a sports team?

Yep.

8. Ever been in a drama play/production?

Yes.

9. Ever owned a BMW, Mercedes Benz, Escalade, Hummer or Bentley?

Nope. Nor is it likely to occur, either.

10. Ever been in a rap video?

Hah! Yeah, no.

TEN LASTS.

1. Last phone call you made:

I ordered pizza for delivery on Friday.

2. Last person you hung out with:

Just Beasty. Altho, Gail and I hung out during church--instead of sitting in the sanctuary, we went in the office and chatted. Yep, going straight to hell.

3. Last person you flirted with:

Probably a cute little baby.

4. Last time you worked:

Friday. Unless you count laundry, shopping, and food prep at home.

5. Last person you tackled:

...I have no idea. I don't actually spend too much time physically assaulting people.

6. Last person you IM’d:

Sparky, thanking him for letting us know he got home.

7. (MIA)

8. Last person(s) you went to the movies with:

Beast.

9. Last thing you missed:

....? I don't know what this means. Like a missed appointment? Probably a haircut. I missed running head-on into someone on the trip home from church. I missed the dryer with some of the wet clothes on the last switch.

10. Last time you did the nasty:

Like that's something I'm likely to share! Hahaha.

Bud's Laws of Life
Law 54. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is never putting it in a fruit salad.
For the complete list of "Bud's Laws of Life" click here.

Blogthings

Your Attitude Makes You Deep

Your unique ways are the first thing that people notice about you, but you don't stand for its own sake. You are very comfortable in your own skin, and you aren't afraid of being different. You enjoy yourself no matter where you go. You know that everyone's a critic, and you don't take harsh words seriously. You are open to feedback, but you know what's best for you. You know where you're going in life, and it's not usually where the crowd is headed. You love finding your own bliss.

What Makes You Deep?

Hah. Can someone explain that first sentence? I mean, I get the 'unique ways' bit but what am I not standing for??

Yeah, the rest is fairly accurate. All because I don't swim so the only 'safe' place was this option. lol

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Back in the Highlights Again

1. What was your highlight in dining for 2016?

   It kind of has to be our first night on the cruise, the Italian restaurant on the boat. Wonderful food, incredible service. Interesting people to watch, too, and our server was (rather weirdly) Indian rather than Italian which was strange only in the pronunciation of the food ultimately.

2. What was your highlight in relationships for 2016?

   Just continuing to find out how many good friends and people are out there to help and support me.

3. What was your highlight in entertainment for 2016?

   Well, we'll probably go see the Star Wars movie next week but aside from that Fantastic Beasts was really good.

4. What was your highlight in self-improvement for 2016?

   Endless meetings, lots of reading. Talking. Listening.

5. What was your highlight in completing something for 2016?

   I seem to have regained my footing at work. Let's just home I can maintain. I had a backslide this week, but I dealt with it differently. So maybe that's improvement.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Getting to Know You Questions

1. Would you prefer to be smart or happy, and why?

Happy, but I suppose that would get tiresome after awhile. I dunno. I think there's no way to pick just one of these since situations and needs change so frequently.

2. If you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?

Invisibility.

3. What is your biggest regret in life so far?

Just one? I have so many....

4. If you could marry a fictional character, who would it be and why?

My first answer was going to be Almanzo Wilder, but he's not really fictional. So...Robert Parker's Spenser. (or Hawk)

5. If money and career were no object, where in the world would you choose to live?

Right now, as winter approaches, pretty much any random Greek island, or specifically Ydra.

6. What’s the last book you read that you simply could not put down until you finished?

I can't think of anything that's grabbed me like this for awhile. I mean, I've read some good books, but my life has been so fragmented this year that sustained, unputdownable reading is not happening.

7. What television show do you plan your day around in order to see it live?

I don't watch anything live. Even football games get DVR'd so we can skip ads. OK, maybe SNL...naw, we DVR that too.

8. What extracurricular activities or sports did you participate in when you were in high school?

I was in Band, Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. I was in a couple of clubs too but nothing real time-intensive.

9. Of all your pet-peeves, which is the strangest?

I'm not sure I'd notice if they were that strange, would I? Honestly, I can't think of any weird peeves. Maybe people who claim to be Christian but clearly don't let it affect their actual behavior toward others. Ever.

10. Is it better to beg forgiveness or ask permission?

As a Mom, I must say that it always better to ask permission. As a human being, I'd rather ask forgiveness.

11. If you inherited or won a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Pay off the house. Put the rest in an IRA or something similar.

12. What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?

The most mortifying moment was whipping around at work because I had HAD it with a coworker interrupting me... and it was my boss who was trying to get my attention. I saw the next few months and years in startling clarity in that moment. Weirdly, accurately, and horrifying.

13. Which fictional character do you believe is the most like yourself?

Jo, from Little Women. Or at least I wish.

14. Are you superstitious? If so, what are you most superstitious about?

I would love to say no, but I do knock wood and other silly things like that.

15. Do you believe it is vital to everyday life to know what is happening in the world around you?

I've made it this far without knowing everything that's going on, so ... Seriously, I do think one should try to keep track of the Big Wide World in general terms so as to not do too much navel-gazing.

16. What is the nicest thing anybody has said, or you believe they would say, about you?

Beast told me several years ago that he was amazed at how kind I am. I was floored. I certainly never would have said that about myself.

17. What are your life and career goals in 5, 10 and 15 years?

I'd like to be alive. Perhaps in 15 years I'll be able to retire. The way things are going though, that's not necessarily likely.

18. Would you rather live in a large house in the suburbs, or a tiny apartment in the city with an excellent view?

Can't I have both? Really, I'd rather be in the suburbs, but not in a large house. Smaller is better.

19. What are you[r] three weaknesses?

I have way more than just three!! The first three I thought of are my big mouth, my inability to let sleeping dogs lie, and my impatience.

20. How would you describe yourself in three words?

Smart, anxious, middle-aged.

21. Which is more logical to follow—your heart or your head?

Logic = head.

22. Are you spiritual or religious in any way? If so, how?

Yeah, I am. But I'm less than interested in converting anyone. I just want people to not be hypocritical and horrible.

23. If you could have any career possible, what would it be?

I like my current career. Although hanging around doing nothing all day has its perks as well.

24. Have you ever been arrested or contracted any diseases?

... How are these related? I've gotten a speeding ticket. And of course I've had diseases: strep, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathryoidism, various eye issues, influenza, pneumonia, German measles, chicken pox, hyperglycemia.... What a ridiculous question.

25. Which is better—a novel or a movie?

Depends on the book or movie in question. Usually, the book, though.

Friday 5 x 2

(Link in meme-roll)
Upper Body

1. What’s got you scratching your head?

   I'm pretty confused about politics right now. It's like the GOP-Goes-to-Vegas--the weirdest show on earth right now. It's entertaining and actually a bit scary.

2. What’s the big news in your neck of the woods?

   The election was a bit of a problem this week. They've changed the check-in process to electronic and between that and a new County Clerk not knowing her shit, there were some issues. Two people I spoke to on Tuesday had problems voting properly, and the County Supervisor had to get an order to keep the polls open an extra 90 minutes...except not all the polling places were contacted to inform them so they closed at 7 like usual. And some didn't open on time because the building custodians weren't there early. And the technology issues were difficult to resolve because the Clerk wasn't picking up the phone ... all day.
   
   I personally had no trouble: in fact this week was the first time in the 11 years I've lived here that the people at the polls included me in the conversation while I was there. I guess I'm officially a 'local' now, even if I did still (again) ask for a Dem ballot.

3. What has everyone else raising an eyebrow, but is only getting a shrug of the shoulders out of you?

   The political debate between Hilz camp and the Bern-ers. Really, as long as it's not a Repug, this year I'm going to celebrate in November.

4. What are you keeping an eye on?

   Myself. Only myself. Or trying to. Harder than you'd think, though.

5. What’s something you’ve done an about-face on recently?

   I'm trying like hell this year to differentiate between the important things in life, what's my problem to solve and what's not, and keeping my damn opinion to myself unless asked.

Ticket to the Weekend

1. How many traffic tickets have you received, and what was the first?

   I've gotten two, both in the last 10 years. The first was for speeding in a local community notorious for speed traps, the other was for inattentiveness when I plowed into my neighbor's work truck a couple of years later. Ironically, both of these were while Sparky was either learning to drive or in his early driving years. He was with me in two accidents while he was in high school--the other one was not my fault. Otherwise, I've never had accidents or tickets. Haven't since then either, probably in 5-6 years. Knock wood.

2. What are some of the ticket stubs you’ve held onto?

   Hmmm, when I was scrapbooking, I kept all that kind of stuff. Now, not so much. I did notice the ticket stub for "A Walk in the Woods" on my dresser this morning--we saw that last fall.

3. What have you seen because someone had extra tickets?

   Several years ago, one of my coworkers had tickets for a kids' version of Wizard of Oz in the Big City to the East. I still use the string bag that I got that day for day-traveling. It was a very good show, and the tickets were for the 2nd row. Weird sitting that close in a theater that big.

4. What have you won in drawings or raffles?

   Very damned little. Beast is the raffle-winner in the family, not me. Honestly the only thing I remember winning was a turkey at Thanksgiving when I was around 12.

5. How do you and your friends usually handle a restaurant bill?

   Depends on the situation. We either split it or get separate checks, though it's really dependent on a lot of things, including how much cash either of us has.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Balance

1. When opposing forces in your life pull you in different directions, how do you recenter yourself and find balance?

   Quite often I come apart at the seams. I don't handle opposing forces well at all. Just ask, oh, ANYone at work!

2. What are often the greatest threats to your overall balance?

   I worry far too much for my own good. And I tend to fight battles that are not really mine to be involved in.

3. If you could add just a little more of one thing to your life and have a little less of another, what would they be?

   I would like to have more self-motivation, and a lot less laziness.

4. What are pluses and minuses of hanging out with mercurial people, and what are pluses and minuses of hanging out with even-keeled people? Which tend to populate your social groups most?

   Even-keeled people tend to be reliable and unsurprising, which is lovely. Mercurial people are, perhaps, more fun, but also can be annoyingly inconstant. If it isn't obvious, I prefer calm to mercurial, and gravitate to that side of the human spectrum for friendship.

5. What’s your greatest challenge in maintaining a balanced diet?

   Pretty much, just doing it. So many more easily-made bad choices.

Tea

(Found here)

black: how much personal space do you like?

I'm a midwesterner, so a fair amount compared to (for instance) southern Europeans, New Yorkers, etc. If you get close enough to me that I can smell your breath when you talk, you're too close. Especially if you had spicy/oniony food recently. Or, for cryin' out loud, BOOZE! Back the fuck right off!

chamomile: describe your sleep schedule

I shoot to head to bed by 9:30 so I can be asleep before 11. I'm usually awake at some point between 1 and 4 for an hour or so (usually more), and I'm out of bed no later than 7:30, though it varies from day to day. Often, I'm working on 5-6 hours average for several nights running. Or less.

dandelion: when you make wishes who are they for?

World peace. Me and Andie McDowell. Maybe there's something in the water around here....

elderflower: do you get sick often?

Define "often." I don't, not really, but I often feel like death in the colder months of the year, mostly psychosomatic.

fennel: how do you feel right now?

I'm exhausted. Considering I've had the last three days off work, I feel like I need a vacation! This semi-nursing situation at home just sucks. So much to worry about, all the time.

ginger: what animal do you act like?

I fear I am very much like my nickname on line. And often, not a very nice feline, either.

ginseng: post a photo of somewhere you feel calm

I don't have a picture of my bed, asleep. Or the driver's seat of my car on a country road with the sun shining and no worries.

green: list your top 3 motivators

1. Fear. 2. Love. 3. Stubbornness.

hibiscus: do you like when people try to start a conversation with you?

That is 100% dependent on the person. In general, when I'm out in public doing my own thing, no. At work, I don't mind, up to a point. And if you're creepy, do not talk to me. Ever.

kava: post your favorite color scheme

I like blue. Seriously, throw me in a blue room, or a room with blue furnishings and I'll be fine.

lavender: does physical activity help you relax?

Mindless stuff does...until it doesn't. I get antsy and bored if I do too much mindless physical stuff.

lemon: how differently do you behave when you're by yourself versus when you're with others?

I hope it's not a lot different. I suppose I talk to myself more when no one's around, since there's no one else to talk to. ;-)

matcha: do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Sunrise.

mint: what song gives you energy?

Almost anything by Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, or Pink will do.

nettle: is there anything you do when you feel guilty?

I get defensive and irritable.

oolong: where do you see yourself in five years?

Here is fine. I do hope that Beast isn't on Round Three of back pain. I'm tired of this.

peppermint: are you self righteous?

I can be, yes.

rooibos: if a conversation bothers you, will you speak up about it?

Oh, probably. I seem to have lost a lot of my etiquette filters over the years (assuming I had any to start with).

white: do you think family is important?

If your family isn't totally toxic, yes. Family is the most important thing, unless they are horrible people. I'm not, for a change, being flippant either. My family has a few nutjobs, but I love them all--when I don't want to bash them on their heads--and I know they've got my back. But we also tend to be generally rational, ethical, kind, and law-abiding.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1972)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The lyrics tell us about a young man who stopped at a bar named Webb's before heading home. What's the last restaurant or bar you visited? What did you order?

This cracks me up because there's a chain of coffee shops in Milwaukee called George Webb, or Webbies. I never put that together before now. OK, anyway, last place I ate out was the Pub, two blocks from my workplace, last night. Sort of a late birthday dinner. I had soup and salad. Beast only had half a bowl of soup. He's not eating well/much at all.

2) In this video, Vicki Lawrence is obviously lip synching. If you had to participate in a competition, would you do better at karaoke or lip synching? And what song would you choose to perform?

I wouldn't do either, being generally not comfortable with performing. If I were forced, I'd go with lip syncing, probably something by Melissa Etheridge or Joan Osborne.

3) Back when this song was popular, so was the Rubik's Cube. Can you solve that 3-D puzzle?

Nope. I never even really tried. Not in my wheelhouse at all.

4) Vicki Lawrence is a hyphenate, meaning she's a comedienne-actress-singer. Using hyphens, describe yourself.

Sister-mom-librarian-wife-SundaySchoolTeacher-friend-blogger.

5) Back in the early 1970s, songwriter Bobby Russell first offered this song to Cher, who refused it. Give us the name of a song Cher did record.

"Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" thought I'm afraid the first thing that popped into my head was "Believe."

6) Vicki Lawrence won her first big break playing Carol Burnett's kid sister because of her resemblance to the star. Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity?

Uh, no. I do look like everyone's next door neighbor or something though. People are always asking if I'm [names] or if I used to work at [places].

7) She also starred on Mama's Family in the role of matriarch of an argumentative Southern clan. As we head into the holiday season, do your plans involve a lot of family time?

We've got at least 7, maybe 9, people coming for Thanksgiving, including Sparky and two little people. It'll be fun. We don't usually do much extended family stuff at Christmas, but I'm assuming Sparky will be home at least.

8) After The Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family, Vicki became a staple on daytime TV. She hosted Win, Lose or Draw and was a contestant on The Match Game and $25,000 Pyramid. Do you watch much daytime TV?

Not anymore. I work during the week.

9) Random question provided by a Sat 9er: Bugs/insects. Do you like 'em or fear 'em? Tell us something/anything you know about them.

Not a fan of insects. I live in an area where they're really just annoyances; not too many dangerous ones (except, of course, ticks and skeeters spreading Lyme disease and so forth). I'd still like them all to be eaten by bats and spiders.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Really Random Meme

Do you believe that Walt Disney is really frozen?

I do not, because it's an urban legend.

Do you believe its easy to forgive and forget?

It is definitely not easy to forgive. I don't even try to forget.

When you feel like running away from it all who do you call?

Amy. We're going bowling in Canada.

Is there anyone who knows your entire life story?

Nope. Beast probably knows the most of everyone besides me.

Have you had to have stitches at all in the last year?

Yup, I had surgery in February. Seven stitches in my neck.

Which is coming next: Christmas or your birthday?

Birthday.

Have you ever been a clown for Halloween?

Yes. I believe that's the last costume my mom ever made for me.

What time did you go to bed last night?

I was in bed by 11:15. Asleep by midnight. Awake again at 1. And 4. And 7.

When did you get up this morning?

I gotout of bedat about 7:25 when Beast was finished in the shower and headed downstairs.

When was the last time it rained?

Overnight, I think. It was damp out this morning.

Are your finger nails painted at the moment?

My fingernails are never painted but my toenails are bright orange right now.

Do you ever go hunting/fishing?

Yuck. No, thanks.

Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?

Yes I did. I wonder how B.B. has fared in the intervening 45ish years....

Which parent do you look most like?

My dad's gene pool is deep and strong. We all look[ed] like him, except perhaps my brother. Even my son looks like him! And several other grandchildren are clearly "his" as well.

Do you have any friends who are famous?

Nope. Thank you to all of you, my friends, for staying under the radar. ;-)

Do you use eBay to buy or sell?

I use eBay for photos, when I use it for anything at all, which is rarely.

Is music a daily part of your life?

Yes. I listen to music pretty much every day. I haven't tracked it but I'm fairly certain that my shittiest days tend to be music-free. I'm not sure which one leads to the other, but I suspect the two facts are interconnected.

Is your self esteem high or low?

I'd call it healthy. Not too high, not too low. Probably a little lower than optimal right now. It's been a really rough week.

the world shrieks and sinks talons into our hearts. This we call memory

(From Amy...with her title)

Have you ever written a love letter?

Yes. The question really should be whether I've ever mailed that letter. ;-) [yes, I have done this--several of them--written and mailed]

How many Valentine's cards did you receive this year?

I think I got one from Beast...? That was over 6 months ago...who knows, really. The only person in my immediate family who's in trouble for lack of cards is NOT Beast.

Have you ever made a ball of twine or rubber bands?

Better a ball than finding the twine all over the floor/drawer tangled in everything else. As for rubber bands, I once bought a ball of them...and the vast majority dried up before I could put them to use. I almost never use them. I don't like the way they make my hands smell. OTOH, I used to chew on them when I was a kid. Yeee-uuuuck!!

Could you ever be a living organ donor?

I could! Just ask. I've been on the bone marrow registry for over 20 years, waiting.

Have you ever made someone cry?

I am Mommy, hear me roar! Usually roaring involves "no," of course. And I've caused tears in others too, including (I'm sure) my parents and other family and friends near and far.

If you could have a full scholarship to any university what would you choose to study?

Theology? I wouldn't mind going to seminary...IF I had all the time and money in the world, and patience to deal with the more 'traditional' students.

Do you prefer honey or jam?

Honey. No contest. The fresher the better. I don't like chunks in my bread-spread.

How fast can you get changed?

If it's a one-for-one change--T-shirt/jeans to T-shirt/jeans--probably 90 seconds. If socks, underwear, jewelry, or a change in the level of dressiness is involved, it could take me 20 minutes or so. Or more if we're adding in nylons and a totally different hairstyle. And of course, this assumes that the clothes I'm changing into have already been pulled together before I start shedding.

Would you rather be the fella in a movie who gets the girl or the baddie with all the good lines?

Oh, I'm all about the sidekick with all the good lines. That doesn't mean I'm a baddie, but I prefer comedy to romance.

Would you rather have a man's top half and a woman's bottom half or visa versa?

I'd pretty much rather be one or the other all over, my apologies to hermaphrodites and intergender people everywhere.

If you met a genie who offered you three wishes, what would you wish for? "More wishes" does not count!

First would be that all the kids living horrible lives be sorted into better living conditions.
Secondly, everyone forgets everything about how to build nuclear armaments and the mere thought of developing them becomes as taboo as incest across all cultures (and we can safely dismantle the bombs already extant).
Finally, people who make their living off fostering hatefulness all develop a horrific, new, incurable visually-repulsive disease that can only be cured by being kind 24/7 for at least 10 years.

Have you ever been fishing?

I have. Twice. Maybe thrice. Yaaawwwwwnnnnn.

What was the last social faux pas you made?

I would think that walking into the workroom yesterday at about 4:02 and, as I walked the 20 feet to my desk, saying with increasing volume as I approached said work area, "...fuck fuck fuck Fuck Fuck FUCK FUCK FUCK!!" would count, no? There are some infuriatingly stupid people in the world. And no, this is not in reference to a coworker, either.

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.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Stay with Me (2014)
... because Kwizgiver recommended it
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Sam Smith explains that this song is about just not wanting to wake up alone. How about you? Are you comfortable being by yourself?

I adore being alone. Alone is awesome. Part of the reason for feeling this way is having learned to entertain myself as a child, being the youngest of 5, far younger than everyone else. My nearest sib moved permanently out of the house when I was about 10. There weren't really too many kids in the neighborhood. And nowadays, Beast travels for work and is gone probably 60% of each month. I come home to an empty house during the work-week a lot. It's nice not to have to be social after a long day of sociability at work.

2) Last year a lawsuit filed by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, who maintained that "Stay with Me" was really just "I Won't Back Down." Petty and Lynne won. Have you ever served on a jury?

I was called and went through part of voir dire before being dismissed (for recalling the article in the paper about the defendant). Your timing is great though: this week I received a summons for Grand Jury duty next month. Whee!

3) Smith performed this on The David Letterman Show. Did you watch Dave's final episode last May?

Nope. But that's par--I think I might have sat through, at most, 5 full episodes of the show over it's entire run. I never really 'got' Dave's humor.

4) Smith says his style was influenced by ladies with "massive voices," including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Chaka Kahn, and Whitney Houston. Of those four, which do you listen to most often?

Adele probably edges out Amy at this point. I never listen to Whitney without hearing Beast sneering in my head, and ... well, Chaka isn't really on my list. What about Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Melissa Etheridge?? Janis Joplin?? Mary J? Beyonce? Sam, you disappoint me.

5) Speaking of style, Mr. Smith is a smart dressed man who looks comfortable and dapper as he walks the red carpet in a tux. Do you enjoy getting dressed up for special occasions?

Not particularly. If I had stylists and what-all, it might be different, but I don't so it pretty much sucks.

6) "Occasions" is a word that makes Crazy Sam stumble because she can never remember how to spell it correctly. Are you a good speller?

Yes, but I'm full of self-doubt so I'm not ashamed of using spell-check and looking up words. "Occasion" isn't one of my bugbears, but i have a lot of trouble with double-vowel words ("niece," "gauge," etc.), and the -ant/-ent endings

7) Sam Smith was born on May 19, which makes him a Taurus. When did you last check your horoscope?

The last time we ate at a Chinese restaurant, which is the wrong kind of horoscope, I realize. I don't follow astrology much at all.

8) Tauruses are supposed to be reliable, organized and ambitious. Do any of those three adjectives describe you?

I'm fairly reliable, and occasionally organized. Not ambitious at all. Good think I wasn't born in late May/early June, eh?

9) Random question: Look at the floor. Do you see carpet, rug, hard wood or tile?

Wood laminate.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Dirty Dozen Meme

1. This weather is really...

...springlike, unfortunately: cold, rain, sun, wind, gray sky, awesome sunrise/sunset....that's just the last 18 hours or so!

2. You think you've seen it all, you should see me...

...alphabetize!

3. I'm sure you would still love me even if...

...I stole all your Easter candy. You would, right?

4. I think I have finally realized...

...that I need to get a solid grip on my temper. Sorry, Dad; I know that means you might've been a bad teacher in this area.

5. Since the last time we linked up...

...I've done a metric shit-ton of cataloging.

6. I get super embarrassed...

...when people compliment me.

7. I really thought by now...

...I'd have life figured out.

8. If I thought no one would read it, I would write about...

...my family and how they annoy me. Oh. Wait. I have. And pretty much no one HAS read it.

9. I knew I was in the wrong place...

...as soon as I turned the corner and found myself in a business district instead of a residential area.

10. I am so not above...

...stealing candy from children! On Easter! (and Halloween)

11. Let's pretend...

...I'm not 100% selfish.

12. Just you wait...

...'Enry 'Iggins, just you wait! You'll be sorry, but your tears'll be too late! You'll be broke, but I'll 'ave money. Will I 'elp you? Don't be funny! Just you wait 'Enry 'Iggins, just you wait.