Friday 5

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Why deny the obvious?

1. What has you feelin’ groovy? 

Not much. It's raining. I bailed on work partway through the last two days (the floor is tilting, like vertigo) and I'm not enjoying much. 

2. Where do you often stop when you are homeward bound?

Most of the time I just want to be at home ASAP. Sometimes I stop at DQ--it's around the corner at work--but otherwise, I'm full-speed to the house.

3. When were you most recently awake far too late in the evening?

I was awakened Weds or Thurs in the wee hours (1:45) by 20 minutes of fireworks popping off--no bangs, just "pop pop pop" for awhile. I was wide awake before they finally stopped. I hate those people so much.

4. Where might you go to hear the sound of silence?

Space. It sounds lovely. [I spent the morning with about 25 children who were mostly fine but there were definitely chaotic moments.]

5. What proves you are still crazy after all these years?

The fact that I still keep going to work after 37 years (minus a couple I spent with Sparky when she was a baby). I'm tiiiiired.

Saturday 9 x 2

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Baby Love (1964)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elaborate hairstyles, make up and full-length gowns. When was the last time you got dressed up?

A VERY long time. Over a year, probably. I wasn't even really all that dressed up for the wedding I went to, as I recall, but it wasn't a super-fancy wedding with required formal wear anyway.

2) "The girls," as they were known to the engineers and executives at Motown Records, were Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross. They began singing together when they were high school classmates. Are you still in touch with any friends from your high school days?

I am. I have probably a dozen from my high school that I'm friends with. Some of them were not friends per se at the time, but are wonderful to know now.

3) Mary Wilson was born in Mississippi and her family moved a great deal before settling in Detroit, where she fatefully met Florence and Diana. Were you uprooted often when you were a child? Or did you spend your school years in the same neighborhood?

My parents lived in the same house from 1946ish until 1994. The only one of us who ever lived anywhere else was my oldest sister who was born in 1943 and with my mom followed my dad around the U.S. a bit during WWII.

4) The Supremes began as a quartet called the Primettes. In addition to Mary, Flo and Diana, there was Betty McGlown. In 1960, Betty left the group to get married and was replaced by Barbara Martin. In 1962, Barbara left the group to have a baby. They quit trying to replace the fourth voice, soldiered on as a trio, and made pop history. Have you ever found yourself in a position similar to Betty's or Barbara's, where you had to make a difficult decision and choose between your personal life and your career?

Of course. I was a mom in late-20th-century America.

5) Thinking of babies and "baby love," is anyone in your life expecting a baby in 2018?

Not that I'm aware of at this point. Actually, someone at church just had her second child last week. I don't think I know anyone else who is currently pregnant, however.

6) With twelve #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, The Supremes remain America's most commercially successfully recording group, and this song (along with "Stop! In the Name of Love") is one of the most popular karaoke songs. If we handed you the mic this morning and absolutely insisted you perform, what song would you choose (any song, any genre)?

I can rock out to any mid-century Sunday School song you name.

7) Original group member Florence Ballard left the group in 1967. She died of cardiac arrest in 1976 at the age of 32. Since February is National Heart Month, it seems appropriate to ask: Is anyone in your life battling heart disease?

Yes. My sister has some heart issues, and one of my favorite people at work had a heart attack last year, out of nowhere. She's over 70, though. Thirty-two? That's really young. I'm waiting for my turn, since I'm sure I'm headed that way.

8) Florence Ballard's brother, Hank, wrote Chubby Checker's famous dance song, "The Twist." When did you last dance?

I dance around sometimes while I'm cleaning or cooking, and I car-dance semi-regularly. Really dance? A long time. OK, I "danced" with my baby-nephew at that wedding mentioned above, mostly to keep him from screaming and generally happy.

9) Random question: Close your eyes and visualize the most beautiful place you've ever been. Now describe it to us.

I've been to loads of different places that I found beautiful. My favorite is a certain little town in Colorado:

Obv not my photo

The Love Club (2013)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.

1) Lorde has said this song is about a time when she fell into "a bad crowd." Her high-maintenance new friends were all about their romantic dramas and it overwhelmed her. Have you ever had a friend who was just too much work?

Yes, though once I got done with education, I became a lot more discerning in my selection of friends.

2) She sings that she longs to be alone. Where do you go when you want peace and quiet?

My corner of the couch. Or bed.

3) Lorde credits her mother for encouraging her verbal skills. "Mum" let her join a theater class when she was just 5 and was always giving her books. Tell us about an encouraging, understanding adult who assisted you when you were growing up.

I had good teachers all over the place and a couple of my sisters were good cheerleaders for me.

4) Lorde is not the only celebrity from her class at Belmont School in Auckland, New Zealand. Olympian Eliza McCartney was a classmate who went on to win a bronze medal in Rio for the pole vault. Did you participate in any sports in high school?

I did not.

6) Lorde wrote music for one of the Hunger Games soundtracks. Have you seen any of the Hunger Games movies, or read any of the books?

I've seen the first two. I didn't like the last book in the series, so I just bailed on the movie.

7) Her favorite candy is Peanut M&Ms. Do you prefer Milk Chocolate, Peanut, Almond, Mint or Cripsy M&Ms?

Plain or Crispy. I'm not a fan of chocolate with nuts, and I loathe chocolate mint.

8) When Lorde was on stage at Lollapalooza, a sudden storm interrupted her set. The music festival was evacuated and her performance was cancelled. Can you think of a time when the weather had a major impact on your plans?

I'm a bit British this way, in that sometimes it doesn't matter what the weather is doing; life goes on. However, there've been some storms in my life that have caused everything to come to a halt.

9) Random question: Please complete this sentence -- Before I leave the house, I always _________________.

...check to be sure I have a way to get back inside.

Friday 5

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Ssssssh!

1. What’s something sneaky you’ve recently done?

   I don't do much sneaky stuff anymore. Maybe eating junk food?

2. Who or what do you feel the need to tiptoe around?

   I've gotten far more careful about everything I say at work to my coworkers. It's sad. But necessary.

3. What’s the dirty secret about the field in which you work?

   Most people who go into library work seem to be slightly deranged.

4. What was the subject or your last whispered conversation?

   It was, undoubtedly, something snarky during yesterday's meeting at work.

5. What’s recently snuck up on you?

   End-of-budget-year is April 30. I'm so not ready to deal with "next year."

Sunday Stealing

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The Cannon Fodder Questions

1. Is there someone you'd like to be kissing right now?

I actually did just kiss Beast before I sat down. He's having a crabby day, and as I type this he's taking his next round of mega-painkillers. That should help, but it also means he'll probably be asleep in half an hour or so.

2. When you're being extremely quiet, what does it mean?

It either means I'm concentrating on something or I'm really fucking pissed at you. Or I'm asleep.

3. What are you listening to right now?

The TV is on--Men Turning Left in Texas--so I hear car engines and the guys talking. The front door is open so I also hear birds and random people noise from outside. And I'm doing laundry, so the ejector pump just came on.

4. Are you a big fan of thunderstorms?

I am not afraid of thunder. I'm not a fan of lightning, however.

5. Do you believe in perfect?

Not in this world, nope.

6. Are you a jealous person?

Heh. No.

7. What was the first thing you thought this morning?

"Ugh. How many times can I hit 'snooze'?" Pretty much the same every day.

8. What do you think about when you are falling asleep?

As little as possible. I focus on breathing--a CPAP helps with that--and if I can't shut my brain off, I sing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" in my head.

9. Are you satisfied with what you have in life?

Yes.

10. Do people ever think that you're either older or younger than you actually are?

I have no idea. My hair color indicates my age pretty accurately however: dark brown turning gray.

11. Do you think men truly understand women?

I'm not even convinced this is a thing, but see question #2. I think it's just that men aren't really conditioned or expected to try to understand others.

12. How about women understanding men?

I think for the most part, yeah, we girls have got your number, guys. Of course, we're also often self-delusional about you-all.

13. Did anybody ever call you handsome or beautiful?

Ha ha ha ha ha.

14. What is one fact about the last person that called you?

The last person who called me is one of those people who will be late to her own funeral.

15. Other than your current one, tell us about the longest relationship you have had either a romance or a particular good friend.

I have friends from, literally, 45 years ago. What do you want to know about them? I know quite a lot of dirt, especially on one of the two people I'm thinking of.

The Sassy Questions

1. If you could say anything you wanted to say to Donald Trump, what would you say?

Words would fail to express my thoughts to him accurately, or appropriately. Can I just throw up on his (not-made-in-America) ugly-ass tie?

2. If you had to be the mother of Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan, who would you choose and why?

That's an interesting question. I think Britney would, these days, be a lot calmer to hang out with. I've never really cared for Lindsay, even before she went off the deep end.

3. You get to be Queen for a day. The kids are all taken care of, and you can spend as much money as you want. What do you do all day?

There's not a lot of stuff I can think of that only lasts a day. Maybe going up in a private jet and flying around in 100% cushiness?

4. Is there a song that brings tears to your eyes every time you hear it? If so, which one?

There are some hymns at church that remind me of specific people every time I hear them. "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" is one of them. "Morning Has Broken" is another. The Bach organ toccata that is often used in old horror flicks is on my list too, though not because of movies.

5. A fairy taps you on the shoulder and tells you that you can either have a perfect face or a perfect body for the rest of your life. Which do you choose?

Body. If "perfect" means no breaking, no illness, and no pain, I'm in!

6. If you could live any place in the world and money was no object, where would you live and why?

More and more my answer is "not in this country." I've seriously considered looking for a job in England. It's just that a) I'm too lazy to do that, and b) public libraries there are in even worse shape than here.

7. What is your biggest regret in life?

Not learning to fly a plane.

8. If you could go back and visit one person in your life who is now dead, and ask one question, what would that question be and why would you ask it?

I'd love to spend some quality time with all three of the grandparents who were alive when I was born. They all died within the next 10-11 years and I have almost no real memories of them at all.

9. If you had the choice to age forward (like we are now) or aging backwards (think Benjamin Buttons) which would you choose and why?

I'm okay with the way time works. I'm too tired right now to think about aging backwards.

10. What will the epitaph on your headstone say?

Funny you should ask. I told Beast this morning--after he read a headline in overnight news to me--that I want "I HATE PEOPLE!" on my tombstone. I've been saying it almost non-stop since January 20.

See what happens when Beast goes to bed really early?

You Think Jetsetting is Luxurious

For you, luxury is all about seeing the world in style. You'd like all the benefits of travel without the fuss. You are curious about this planet, especially when it comes to bucket list experiences. You want to do it all. If you had all the money in the world, you'd travel the world. Preferably in your own private plane, boat, and car. Even if you can't travel in the way you'd like to be accustomed to, you try to get out there and see as much as you can. You love adventure and novelty. Travel tickles your brain and inspires your heart in a way nothing else can. One day you may be able to travel the world full time, even if just for a while. You are dedicated to finding a way to make it happen.

The Luxury Test

Pretty accurate, though I don't really 'do' bucket lists and I don't need things to be luxurious. I don't want to be uncomfortable, though.

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Your Irish First Name is Quinn

You are an even tempered, thoughtful, and wise person. You make good decisions and give good advice. You are never one to get caught up in the moment. You have a lot of perspective on every issue. You are often the person to play devil's advocate. It's not that you like to argue - you just want people to consider every argument carefully. You take ethics seriously. You want to do the right thing no matter what, even if it's not popular. You are true to yourself. Quinn, meaning counsel, intelligence, and wisdom is the perfect name for you. You embody all of those things. You may not feel like you have a lot of wisdom in your life yet, but those around you would disagree. You are the wisest person most people know.

What's Your Irish First Name?

Huh. I'm not sure about the wisdom stuff, but I do have a good deal of perspective and believe that ethics are worth thinking about. And I like the name "Quinn."

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You Are Balanced

Your approach to money is pretty average. You spend a little and save a little. Of course, you enjoy getting a great deal, but you also give into a fair amount of impulse purchases. A frugal lifestyle seems depressing to you, and you can't imagine going without just to sock away a lot of money. You love to go out and have fun. The things you buy make you happy. And there's nothing wrong with that. It seems like you have a healthy approach to spending money, as long as you're staying within your means. If you're not sure if you're spending too much (or too little) consider trying a budget for a few months.

Are You Cheap?

I'm not a spendthrift, but I've been known to be wasteful. I do go without things though. I'm really kind of a train-wreck about money, I think.

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You Show Yourself Some Compassion

Whenever possible, you try to be easy on yourself. You aren't always compassionate, but you try. You believe it's important to cut yourself a break, because no one else might. And you're doing the best you can. You live a hectic life, and sometimes it's hard to find the time or energy for self-care. You are still looking for the right balance. And when you're having a hard day, it may be difficult to not beat up on yourself a bit when you're feeling worn down. No worries if you're not as self-compassionate as you'd like to be. You're getting there, and that's the important thing. Remember to be easy on yourself in every way. Even when you make mistakes, it doesn't mean that you're broken.

Are You Compassionate Toward Yourself?

I've been known to be ridiculously hard on myself. I'm better than I used to be, and I'm not a masochist at all.

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You Are Quiet

You are the silent type, but that doesn't mean you're not engaged. You are always listening. You just feel less social than most people, and you're okay with that. You don't push yourself into being something you're not. Your style is very personal and even a bit plain to the outside eye. You don't need to have showy things. Each object you own is beloved and special. You tend to own things for their comfort or nostalgia value. You find alone time comforting. You don't feel quite like yourself unless you are able to retreat. You have created your own world and safe space. You are at peace every time you come back to it.

The Sofa Test

Wow, this is quite accurate!

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You Are a Rule Taker

You are not a big fan of rules, but you know they serve their purpose... at least following them does. You'll grit your teeth and play by the book, but that doesn't mean you like it. You just prefer following the rules to getting in trouble. Whenever possible, you don't like to set up too many rules in your own life. There's enough rules you already have to follow. You try to be as free form and unscheduled as possible. You don't like having any extra obligations. You tend to believe that things go more smoothly if people follow the rules. Rules aren't fun. That's why they're rules. If the rules are already in place, you will follow them. You just don't impose new rules on yourself or others.

Are You a Rule Breaker or a Rule Maker?

Again, pretty accurate. I like rules, as long as they make sense.

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Your Heaven on Earth is a Sandy Beach

When you travel, you're not just looking to relax - you're looking to check out completely. And nothing takes you away from your normal life more than a sandy beach, with the ocean crashing around you. You love the feeling of the sun on your skin, and you're always up for a little bit of swimming or splashing. Bonus points if you can stay at an all inclusive resort where your every whim and desire is catered to. Consider a classic beach destination like Hawaii or the Greek islands for your next vacation. And of course, a luxury hotel. Or if you want to mix things up a bit, pick a smaller island or a remote part of Asia. Then you'll get a beach to yourself!

What's Your Heaven on Earth?

Aside from sun and the Greek islands, this is pretty wrong. I like sand, but since I can't swim beaches are a little wasted on me. Give me mountains any day of the week.

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Little Things Capture Your Heart

You are moved by the smaller things in life. Even the tiniest detail, when done right, can delight you. You don't like huge gestures, and in fact, you shy away from them. You prefer to make each day a little special. You cherish peace, thoughtfulness, and completeness. Nothing goes unnoticed or unappreciated in your world. You think ordinary life is wonderful as is. No need to make big sweeping changes or statements. You are exhausted by too many dramatics, even if they're in the name of romance or fun. You prefer to keep things simple. It's not that hard to put a smile on your face. Just knowing that someone is trying is often enough for you.

What Captures Your Heart?

OK, this is a fairly good fit, though the occasional grand gesture isn't unwelcome.

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Your Energy Makes You Funky

You're the type of person who's always on the move. You've lived several lives in less time than [some?] people live one. You don't wear down easily, and even when you do, it's easy to find a way to energize yourself. You don't stay still for long. Novelty energizes you, and because you like new things, you've seen and experienced a lot. And you feel like there is much more to see. You think boredom is a choice, and you refuse to choose it. Whenever you're feeling the tiniest bit bored, you just get up and do something... anything! You inspire those around you to be more and do more. You have a proactive attitude, and you think it's important to keep going. You aren't exactly an optimist, but you are a fixer. If there's a problem in your life, you get out there and take it on!

What Makes You Funky?

Yup, definitely a fixer, and this week at work has been rather awful: have spent it finding things to do because my main job is at a standstill due to cascading technological and personnel issues.

Patrick's Place

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Saturday Six

1. Q is for QUACK: What’s the worst medical advice you ever received?

The doctor my family went to when I was young was pretty awful. When I went for my first full Big Girl exam, for instance, which of course included a breast exam, he informed me in the middle of that that once I got married my husband could do that for me. I was 18ish and shy and alone in the room with him; if a doctor said anything like that to me now, my next call would be to the state licensing board...if the nurse that is now required to be in the room didn't slap him upside the head first.

2. Q is for QUEEN: What do you think you’d most enjoy about living the life of royalty?

Not having to shop for clothes or food.

3. Q is for QUICK: What household chores are you lease [sic] likely to procrastinate about doing?

Uhmmmmm...I guess dishes. But I procrastinate on those too. In fact there are some hand-wash items that have been sitting all week....

4. Q is for QUIET: Where do you go when you feel like you need quiet time alone with no distractions?

If I'm home alone, I'll just turn off the computer and TV and read here on the couch. Otherwise, I'll head up to my room, or go for a drive.

5. Q is for QUIT: What would you most like to quit doing in 2013?

Eating everything that doesn't move!

6. Q is for QUIZ: What subject in school did you most dread a pop quiz in?

I never minded pop quizzes, ever. But I suppose science and/or math would have been most problematic.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

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Vol. 98

1. Noah Webster was born this week back in 1758....besides the online version, do you own a dictionary? Do you ever use the hardback copy or is your hunt for a definition strictly online these days?

We own a couple. I almost always use the online dictionary at home, but oddly I still grab the print one at work about half the time.

2. Should public schools ban Halloween celebrations? What about other holiday celebrations currently under fire?

What's going on now? I have probably missed it, because I think it's all totally stupid. In the best possible world we would all step off and let kids have fun while they can. Halloween? Go costumes--within reason--no sexy or bullying outfits! Christmas? Go carols! However, I'd be ok with killing off Valentine's Day.

3. What's your favorite 'dog' movie?

I suppose it would be wrong for me to say Cujo, primarily since I haven't actually seen it. I don't think I've seen any (good) dog movies since Benji. That's sad. Snow Dogs was absolutely AWFUL! Memorably awful, in fact.

4. When were you last somewhere you'd describe as 'too quiet'?

I have never been someplace too quiet. There is no such thing as too quiet. That's like being (in popular culture) too rich or too thin.

5. Are you a neat cook or a messy cook? In other words do you clean as you go or make a big mess and then deal with it later?

I tend to clean as I go, but there always seems to be one big disaster at the end anyway. Sigh...

6. Did you hear about Felix Baumgartner, the skydiver who broke the sound barrier via parachute? Was your first thought COOL! or was your first thought CRAZY! Are you adventurous?

I heard about it. First thought? WHY?! Second thought: meh. I'm not that adventurous overall, but I am willing to at least consider most anything once. Key word: consider. I would be very likely to exclude this kind of thing at this point in my life.

7. What's not a word but should be?

Blerghhh.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I suddenly realized this week that I am finding my job kind of boring lately. I wonder what that means. Do I need to start looking for new challenges elsewhere? Or is it just that we're so completely stretched as a staff that I'm emotionally wrecked?

Friday Fill-Ins

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Last week's:

1. I knew it was love when...I realized that life without would be a real big drag!
2. My heart can be broken but you always find a way to glue it back together.
3. A dog is the one thing about allergies that I miss having around.
4. My how you have changed!
5. Can you see my house from here?
6. And the beat goes on.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight Friday I looked forward to getting through it (accident, family staying at our house, explosion...drama), tomorrow Saturday my plans included spending time with my niece and her husband and son (but that totally imploded so instead I sat in the park and talked with Beast for four hours), and Sunday, I wanted to figure out where we go from here!

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This week's:

1. It's always nice when a plan comes together! I've learned not to take that for granted
2. I like to hear silence.
3. Positive: we got some rain, finally; negative: not nearly enough.
4. This is the end of a long, busy day.
5. What I heard I wish I could forget.
6. Often, I search for random stuff about TV shows I'm watching. (not now: golf is on...YAWN!)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight Friday I was looking forward to saying goodbye to C.T. at work, tomorrow Saturday my plans included seeing Dr. W. and Sunday today, I wanted to make 6 dinners for cooking later, and I did! (although, technically, we ate one of those 6 tonight)

Friday Fill-Ins

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1. Sleigh bells ring somewhere far from here where there is snow on the ground.

2. It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees but not for me; we have a fake tree.

3. You're a mean one Mr. Grinch.

4. Father Christmas is a funny book.

5. Silent night is more likely for me when wearing earplugs.

6. All I want for Christmas is a quiet, boring day on the 25th!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with my boys, tomorrow my plans include wedding shopping, and attending a wedding, and Sunday, I want to have a good time with the youth group grads!

Saturday 9

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Money Grabber

1. Has anyone ever intentionally ripped you off? Or perhaps unintentionally?

Have you heard the phrase caveat emptor? Isn't this all about American business practice? Yeah, I thought so. There are a lot of scams out there; I've been taken in by some in the past. And I'm sure people are all over the intentionality spectrum here.

2. When was the last time that you made a quip that fell completely flat and embarrassed you?

Oh, regularly. I frequently engage brain AFTER speaking. Not by best trait.

3. When you go to sleep, does it you need to be absolutely quiet or do you need a little noise (radio, TV, music or white)?

SILENCE! I keel you! (pace Achmed) I wear heavy-duty earplugs and sleep fabulous. Prior to my discovery of earplugs, I didn't sleep well at all. On the other hand, I have no problem whatsoever napping during a football game or NASCAR race in surround sound. Go figure.

4. Do you have a memorable "ripped clothing" moment in your life? No? How about in someone else's? (Come on, you know you have something to contribute!)

I don't think I've ever worn anything that tore embarrassingly, but Beast was playing around at friends' years ago and fell into a tomato stake which missed his skin but tore the front pocket out of his shorts. It was ... not good.

5. What's changed on your blog since its inception? ...a redo? ...a change of pace? ...or is it still business as usual?

What hasn't? When I started blogging--OMG almost 8 years ago!--I had two blogs: one for my reading list, one for daily life. Since then the latter has split, cloned, and spread into about 10 other blogs including this one. It's sorta like my real life. I've also redesigned the look of the blogs repeatedly, though not for awhile.

6. Can you remember where you were in life ten years ago? If you could travel back in time and whisper something to yourself ten years ago, what would it be?

Ten years ago, Sparky was in 3rd grade, Beast was working for the first incarnation of his job here (his company has been bought out, twice, since then), I was working nights and weekends at the library. If I could travel back in time, I'd probably tell myself to buy Apple stock, and be more patient with Beast & Sparky. Not that I'd listen.

7. Okay, let's have it! What's the craziest, most impulsive thing you've ever done?

Throwing garbage back at the people who'd pitched it towards us...on the 4th of July at the lakefront 20 years ago. Everyone I was there with was horrified, thinking I'd started a fight with a bunch of drunks, but they backed down. Never mess with a pissed off librarian!

8. If you were having a bad day what or who would you turn to for comfort?

Books, bath, bed. Any or all of the above. Maybe Beast, if his day hadn't sucked as well.

9. According to the song White Rabbit, "one pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small". If you were offered these pills today, which pill would you take and where would it take you?

Small, of course. Though I'd probably just wave it at my mouth--I just want to be a little smaller, not minuscule!

Curious as a Cat

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1) Today, whose mouth needs to be covered with duct tape?

This is why I try to do this meme (and others) before reading other people's answers: I don't want to be prompted. But today I ran across Bud's answers before I thought about mine, and now I can't get Michelle Bachman out of my mind for this one. She's kind of been hovering in my forebrain anyway, what with Sparky watching the rerun of SNL this week which led with a MB bit, and shelving the Newsweek with her on the cover at the h.s. this morning, and the fact that she and one of my best friends graduated from the same college (to my friend's undying shame). The woman's both insane and inane, which is rather a good trick.

Otherwise, if we haven't used up all the duct tape on her, it might not be such a bad thing to keep a couple strips handy in my vicinity; I expect this week is going to bring The Mouth out in me a bit.

2) You are a zookeeper, and one day a shady-looking man brings in what he calls an "exotic animal." This animal is in a wooden box with small air holes on the top and the box is stamped DANGEROUS. He throws a picture on your desk and you look at the strangest creature you’ve ever seen. Describe it, and tell what you’re going to do.

I dunno--having watched a lot of National Geographic PBS shows as a kid, and continuing to watch a lot of basic cable shows of that ilk, combined with reading an awful lot of Stephen King and his ilk as a kid...it may be hard to freak me out.

So the first thing I'm going to do is get this guy's ID and then call the USDA, or at least animal control, and report him.

(By the way, I'm picturing something like this but with a beak and a peacock tail.)

3) Share three good things about your life right now.

1. I'm very proud of my son. He leaves for college on Friday, and has proven again this weekend that whatever his weaknesses are, he is very aware of things and is smart as a tack.
2. I have an awesome group of friends on whom I can count to tell me the unvarnished truth, and even hold me and pray for me. I know, that's not the sort of thing you may come here expecting to hear, but oh well.
3. It's summer, but it's not hot-and-nasty like August here usually is. That is priceless and rare.

4) 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

Hey, I'm Jesus-juking you all in a big way this week! It was not intentional when I wrote this, and found the photo. I do have to wonder what exactly this is all about: why is he (or He) looking at the road, what's around that corner that he (or He) is watching, who took this picture, is it doctored or an actual branch/lighting/weirdness combination? Aside from the creepy eyeballs looking down from On High, this is a lovely, peaceful photo.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) When have you been the most silent?

I'm feeling a lot of tape-over-the mouth moments lately. It's difficult for me. I was a pretty quiet kid growing up, too; I remember listening a LOT to grownups talking.

2) Describe your favorite outfit. Why is it your favorite?

I love wearing jeans and t-shirts. I figured out a long time ago that a lot of this is because of my mom not allowing me to have jeans until I was a teen, and not being allowed to wear them to school until high school. I'm still in rebellion.

3) Think of all the people you know. Now assign one of them to each of the virtues and vices.

VIRTUES:

Chastity--John T.
Abstinence--Sue K.
Generosity--Jim W.
Diligence--Tom S.
Patience--Marla R.
Kindness--Fran S.
Humility--Annie N.

VICES:

Lust--C.N.
Gluttony--Mike S.
Greed--Lisa G.
Sloth--Frank G.
Wrath--Paul T.
Envy--Jessica T.
Pride--Jane K.

This was incredibly hard!

4) What city’s character or reputation do you think fits your own personality?

Pueblo, Colorado. [not that I want to live there]

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 book looks awfully heavy to pick up and read, but it also looks like it might be filled with some good secrets, or stories. It almost looks like a journal of Someone Important. This is the sort of book that makes me love books: it's not clean and tidy, it's a little banged up around the edges, and the pages aren't perfectly pristine. However, what's with that plate thingy on the front cover?

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!