from the makers of breath free, makers of air for eternity

(Found here)

What was the last Disney movie you watched? I have no idea. I sorta gave up animated stuff when Sparky grew out of them.

When was the last time you danced with someone? The last time we were at a wedding, I probably danced with Beast.

How did you get rid of your hiccups the last time you had them? I think I held my breath.

Was your last missed call because you were ignoring the person? No. I was asleep.

Do you find the lead singer of your favorite band attractive? Well, yeah, isn't that part of the point?

Have you ever been to the sand dunes? I've been in sand dunes; I'm not sure if they were THE sand dunes.

Do you like the Halloweentown movies? Nope.

What are you best at cooking or baking? Pasta.

Does anyone in your favorite band have a side project? Yup, just found out Bono has recorded some songs on his own.

Have you ever worn a cloak? Yes. I think....

How about a trenchcoat? Yup.

Do you enjoy reading Shakespeare? I do. I love Shakespeare.

Have you ever worn a fake mustache? Only attached to Groucho glasses.

Tell me a story of you being strange as a child. We had stepping stones along the driveway, and I would drive my brother's toy cars from "town" (stone) to "town" making up stories about what was going on as I went. I don't think I ever got past the 4th stone.

Have you ever wished that you were a witch or a warlock? Sure. I watched a LOT of Bewitched as a child. REALLY wanted to make the magic happen.

What is your favorite thing to learn about? Techy stuff. I'm actually just a trivia sponge.

Are you like me and wish your life was more exciting? No. I want my life to be as boring as it can be. Yes, I'm dead serious.

Did you read The Magic Schoolbus books when you were little? Uh...I'm 47. You figure out the answer to this.

How often do you clean your cellphone? CLEAN it? It doesn't really ever get dirty, though I do wipe the screen and mouthpiece once in awhile.

Do you and your siblings get along well? I get along great with my oldest sister. Not so much with my brother. The other two...yeah, well...hard to argue with dead people.

You are given a free trip to either SeaWorld or Disneyland. Which do you choose? SeaWorld.

--------------------------

What is/was your high school mascot? We were the Pirates. Which is insane, considering the biggest body of water nearby was a reservoir smaller than most retention ponds.

How long was your longest relationship in high school? Wellll...the first round was probably 6 months, and then we got back together for about 3 months.

Do you know who Philip DeFranco is? No, but you can bet I just Googled him.

What's the biggest age difference you've ever had in a relationship? If we're talking about dating, real honest-to-god dating, it's about a year. If we're talking about all relationships...well, yeah, my grandmother was almost 90 years older than me.

Did you hear about that guy who glued a kitty to a highway?! Ugh. What? No, I am NOT Googling that!

Does your cell phone have different vibrate intensities? Nope, purely binary: on/off.

Do you have any allergies? Shitloads of em.

Don't you just love NigaHiga? Never heard of it, Googled it, don't care about it.

What's the most illegal thing you've EVER done? Speeding. REALLY speeding. Stupidly.

Where did/do you want to get married? I got married in the town in which Beast and I went to college.

What's the highest level of education you've reached? I have a Master's degree, and am still doing continuing education in the School of Hard Knocks.

Is your last name extremely common, like Gonzalez? Heh, no. Not.At.All. I'm quite singular.

Ever notice how most flags are red, white, and blue? Yeah, like that German flag...oh, no, I mean the Japanese...uh, the Ital... Nevermind. Whoever wrote this question is an idiot.

Have you ever had a crush on a family member? There was an uncomfortable period of time when I sorta was crushing on a couple of my brothers-in-law.

In 2012, will you vote for Obama's re-election? Yes. Or, well, whoever's the least likely to be a complete asshat.

How old is your YOUNGEST friend? Charlie and Ian are 4. I think. Maybe Ian's 3.

How old is your OLDEST friend? Fran is 90.

How long should people be together before they propose? Propose to do what? OK, seriously, this is totally an individual thing. No way I'm gonna try to legislate that.

Have you had your first touch screen phone yet? Nope.

Don't you hate when parents divorce but then still argue regularly? Well, I do think it's ridiculous when adults can't let go of petty shit, yeah.

Out of all your friends, who has the prettiest eyes? Amy and Jenny both have lovely eyes.

Out of all your girl friends, who has the biggest boobs? Wow, yeah, moving right on....

Out of all your guy friends, who has the most body hair? Like I would know?!

What is the dumbest internet sensation you've heard of? I'm pretty unclear on why people are into the whole LOLZ thing.

Would you ever join the military? I doubt very much that they'd have me. When they would've, I wouldn't've.

When did you first see snow? At what AGE?! Probably within weeks, or days, of my birth.

When you are typing, do the words ever come out in the wrong place? Today was a bad day for this very thing.

If you could have any dog, what dog would you have? A mutt from the pound.

Would you ever kill a bunny and make soup out of it? If I needed to eat, absolutely.

Do any of your friends own a ferret? I don't think so.

What is the most overplayed song on the radio? I wouldn't know--I don't listen to the radio anymore.

What would you do if that song played during your "first time?" {eyeroll}--grow up.

What are we going to do about all these muffin tops? Put them on diets. Or, better, take their picture from the rear and show them what they look like.

Do you believe that Christians are better than non-Christians? Nope.

Do boys really rock pink more than girls do? What? I feel like I just went down the rabbit hole.

Do you own a pair of skinny jeans? Yeah, NO!

Are you aware that tight shirts only make your fat more obvious? Yes, dear, I am very aware of that. Point?

What's your view on the Islam culture? The same as pretty much any other culture: interesting, worthwhile, not something I'm willing to adopt wholesale.

What's your favorite thing to have for breakfast? Pancakes.

Do you ever say, "evidently?" I do.

Do you know what, "C'est la vie" means? I do. Without Googling, even. Do you know what reductio ad absurdum means?

Did you hear that Obama authorized the CIA to kill Americans out of the US? Shut it. Damn, I hate stupid people.

Do balloons make you have a better birthday? Not particularly, no. I haven't had balloons in years, and that's ok with me.

Krispy kreme donuts aren't as good as Dunkin Donuts, are they? I'm not that fussy.

What is the most romantic thing YOU have ever done? Oh hell, I don't know.

What is your favorite song from "Aventura?" Whoops, down the rabbit hole again.

If you could legally assassinate any celebrity, who would it be? I wouldn't assassinate anyone, but I'd sure like it if Sarah Palin would just fucking GO to Russia and annoy Putin for the rest of my life.

Do you use Twitter or Formspring? Never heard of Formspring, but I do tweet.

Why did you last cry? I was laughing VERY HARD at Date Night earlier tonight.

If you had to lose 5 lbs, how would you do it? Stop eating.

Is there anyone who seems to think that you are a pillow? Not anymore; Sparky used to.

Tell me about your WORST Valentine's day ever. I don't have any memory of this at all. I suppose it might be the year I had surgery the weekend of Val Day in '97.

Tell me about your BEST New Year's Eve ever. We have an adorable picture of Sparky on New Year's Eve 1999, taken at 11:40 p.m. sound asleep in the papa-san chair.

If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to? I'd probably go back to my maiden name, alone.

Do you need love in your life? Of course. Don't we all?

Lunapic editor is amazing, no? Rabbit hole.

How do YOU write "Okay?" OK. ok. Ok.

What was your favorite Judy Blume book? Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Alaskan women are strong-handed

(Found here)

1. Can you cook? I can. I don't, unless I have to.
2. What was your dream growing up? To be grown up and out of the house. Mom and I didn't exactly get along.
3. What talent do you wish you had? More get-up-and-go. I peter out too fast, too often.
4. Favorite place? Up on the side of the cliff outside Ouray between two large rocks, with my dog Tippi.
5. Favorite vegetable? Beans.
6. What was the last book you read? One Shot (Lee Child) is the last one I finished.
7. What zodiac sign are you? Scorp.
8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Best thing that happened today: Lunch was pretty good.
9. Worst Habit? Procrastinating.
10. Do we know each other outside of LJ? How many online/blog friends have you met in person? The only regular commenter here that I've met is Amy.
11. What is your favorite sport? To watch: football. To play: bocce.
12. Negative or Optimistic attitude? Generally, if the sun's out, I'm up.  In January, I just am: neither up nor down.
13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me? Call for help.  Nothing personal.
14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? Just.Not.Going.There.
15. Tell me one weird fact about you: One of my toenails flips backward off the nailbed.  Makes it hard to polish.
16. Do you have any pets? Just the Rukstar.
17. Do you know how to do the Macarena? In theory only.
18. What time is it where you are now? 9:38 p.m.
19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Depends entirely on the clown.
20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? Weight. WEIGHT! OK?!
21. Would you be my crime partner or my conscience? It's pretty weird that this question keeps coming up lately. I would be YOUR conscience, being as how I don't know you.
22. What colour eyes do you have? Hazel.
23. Ever been arrested? Nope.
24. Bottle or draft? If this refers to beer, I'd rather not, thanks.  Though if you're going to use "colour" you should probably also use "draught" to be consistent.
25. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it? Bank it after paying the taxes.
26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew? Sugar-free.
27. What's your favorite bar to hang at? Can't remember the last bar at which I regularly "hung."  If any.  Ever.
28. Do you believe in ghosts? Nope.  Not as such.
29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? This. Or reading.
30. Do you swear a lot? Not as much as you might think reading this.  But I'm not really swear-averse, either.
31. Biggest pet peeve? Intentional stupidity.
32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Unbelievable.
33. Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?  Worst perfume scent you've come across? I'm really NOT a fan of "Old Lady/Old Perfume Floral" at all.  I have no idea what the real brand is, but...gaahhhh.

you're just so typical i took you for original

(Found here)

Are you friends with the people you were friends with two years ago? Yes.

Who was the last person you talked to before you went to bed last night? It was probably Beast, but I don't remember for sure. I may have shouted to Sparky in his room on my way to bed--he was still wide awake.

Who was your last incoming call from? I dunno. Beast probably.

Are you busy tomorrow? Yup. Got me a list.

Do your parents really know you? No. Well, maybe now they have a better idea of the lay of the land.

Do you act differently around the person you like? Not anymore. He's around all the time anyway.

Who are you thinking of right now? Michael Oher.

Do you think your wasting your time on the person you like? At this point, I'm pretty unlikely to admit that, yo.

Do you find it in your heart to forgive? I seem to be getting worse at it as time passes. It's disturbing.

Are you one of those people who hate crying in front of others? Nah. I don't do it as much--not nearly!--as I used to though.

Have you ever slept on a couch with a person you liked? What one thing SHOULD you do tomorrow that you've been putting off? I gotta pick up Sparky's letter jacket.

How was your weekend? Aside from work (which really wasn't that bad), it was an amazingly wonderful weekend.

Will you be up before seven am tomorrow? Oh yeah.

Is your hair long enough to put in a ponytail? Yes, which is the point of the hairstyle I have.

What were you doing last night at 11? Getting ready to sleep.

Have you ever chugged a beer? Yuck, no.

Have you ever trusted someone then regretted it? Of course. It is how we learn.

Do you change your Myspace page often? What was that thump I just heard? I'm hoping it was Sparky dropping something upstairs. Or it's something that just broke.

Are you slowly drifting away from someone? No. I'm rowing just as fast as I can from a couple of people though.

Do you have good memories with old friends? Well, yeah, duh.

If you died today would your life be complete? ...by definition...

Did you kiss or hug anyone in the last 48 hours? Yup.

Did you have any unread text messages this morning when you woke up? Nope. I pretty much never do.

Are you ticklish? Yes.

Do you dislike it when people don't show emotion? Only if I'm busy wigging out in every direction. I like company in my freakouts.

Do you ignore people when you're mad/upset with them? I try not to speak with them in order to get myself under control.

What were you doing at 8 this morning? Realizing I forgot to turn off my alarm, which was in the midst of waking Beast up. I was in the living room.

Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with? Sparky, though I've got to admit that it was only deep in context, not in content. It was about 20 words total.

What was your last thought before you went to bed last night? Before I went to bed? I have no idea. Before I went to sleep, it was something like, "I really don't want to go to ch....zzzzzz....."

Do you think there is someone thinking about you right now? Nah.

Would you ever get a tattoo? It's not in my top 100 Things To Do, no.

Are you happier now than you were three months ago? Three months ago it was February. Simply by virtue of the sunshine and warm temps, I'm happier now.

How late did you stay up last night? 10:30 or so. I think.

When was the last time you were in a sleeping bag? What was the reason? Last summer on the mission trip.

How many missed calls have you had today? None.

Do you miss the way things used to be? Not really. What's over is over.

Was the first person you talked to today male or female? Male. "He fell again last night?" "Yup. Don't know why they waited till 7 a.m. on a Sunday to call and wake us up." "So he's ok?" "Coupla skin tears." "OK."

Will this weekend be a good one? When was the last time you gambled? Or do you not gamble on principle? I play the slots or video poker in Vegas, with the clear understanding that I'm going to lose all the money I plug in. I played about $100 in January over a couple of days.

Are you listening to music right now? No, I'm watching a show about Vegas. :-)

Last time you texted your number one? My number one is Beast...and I texted him several times at about 1:30 today.

Were you happy when you woke up this morning? Being awakened by the phone sux.

If you could have one thing right now what would it be? Warm feet.

Who was your last text from? Uhm, yo? Pay attention. I already answered this.

Where was your default pic taken? I dunno; I snagged my current profile pic from somewhere on the net.

When was your last kiss? About half an hour ago.

Last time you hugged someone? About half an hour ago.

Have you ever lost a close friend? Yes.

What is your current mood? Sleepy.

What's your brother(s) names? None of your business! In my head, I've been know to call him "Idiot" quite a lot.

Where do you wish you were right now? Curled up in bed.

Have a crazy side? Do I? Oh, yeah. Not right now, but yes, I do.

Ever had a near death experience? Not really. Couple of "death would be preferable" experiences, though....

Is there anyone you would do anything for? Yup.

Who do you trust right now? The usual cadre of people.

Where did you get the shirt your wearing right now? It's my dad's, one of the three of his I wear periodically.

Who was the last person who yelled at you? One of my coworkers shouted across the nonfic area today just before closing time.

What is your natural hair color? Dark brown. And gray.

Is your hair naturally curly or straight? Very wavy.

Has anyone ever called you "scrumptious" before? Not with any degree of seriousness. I'm sure it would have been due to the influence of the movie version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Gone skinny dipping this summer? It's not summer yet, but I haven't started my skinny dipping career as yet.

Are you happy with life right now? Yup. Is good.

Are you currently jealous? Not really.

What are you looking forward to? Not much.

Does anyone like you right now? If you could drive any car, current or classic or antique, for one hour anywhere, what and where would you drive? I'd kind of like to take a drive on the Million Dollar Highway c. 1930 in a Model T. Hey, my Mom did this as a child in the rumble seat! It would be fun to relive that.

What was the last thing you drank? Water.

I need an easy friend

(Found here)

bold the true statements

• I have a serious attitude problem
• I hate repetitive surveys
• I dig 80s music
• I’m feeling pretty lonely right now
• Donnie Darko is really overrated
• I have a shell necklace
• Cats are my favorite animal
• I wish I was with my boyfriend right now
• My mother had me when she was too young
• I haven’t brushed my teeth yet today
• I love lollipops
• I hate chewing gum
• I once ate takeaway food three nights in a row
• Will Ferrell is hilarious
• I don’t think hats suit me
• I wear alicebands (for those who don't speak Brit)
• I have heard of the band Tears For Fears
• I don’t drive & I’m not sure if I ever will
• I’d rather be driven than drive myself
• My job consists of sitting around on my ass all day
• Oh no, the sun is out
• I miss last summer
• The good memories of my past make me want to cry
• I HATE Star Wars
• Angelina Jolie was a great actress in Girl, Interrupted
• I know where Shakespeare was born in England
• I’m not interested in Shakespeare or any of his plays
• The term “whatever” is used when the person doesn’t have anything better to say
• Zebra print is so effing tacky
• If I were to get fat, I wouldn’t care
• Girls who look anorexic, now that is repulsive
• If you were to give me $200 right now, I’d go right out & spend it all
• I want to go to Madame Tussaud’s wax museum
• I don’t know much about my country’s history
• I do not own a bikini
• I wear earrings everyday
• I had a very disturbing dream last night
• I can’t watch animals eating other animals on wildlife TV; it makes me so sad
• I love to read True Crime
• I would find it hilariously funny if Former President Bush tripped over his own two feet & fell off a cliff
• I live in America & do not have an American accent
• I can fake a Scottish accent
• Some music moves me to tears (most movies do)
• I have read the book Jane Eyre
• I love Borders bookstore
• I’d love to work there
• I HAVE worked there
• I have never purchased anything from Starbucks
• I can sing opera
• I have seen a picture of my parents on their wedding day
• My parents never married
• Sometimes I wonder if I was adopted
• I strongly believe in reincarnation
• The celebrity I’d most love to meet is dead
• I find Joaquin Phoenix highly sexilicious
• I call people “fools” a lot
• People in motorized wheelchairs make me laugh
• I have been caught singing into my hairbrush
• When I’m embarrassed I turn bright red
• I don’t blush
• I’m not squeamish at the sight of blood
• Guys who smell good really turn me on
• One of my favorite actors is Jim Carrey
• Kate Winslet is the perfect example of an English Rose
• I seriously think Sarah Jessica Parker is one of the ugliest female actresses out there
• I enjoy taking walks by myself in the summer
• One of my pets recently died
• I want to marry a fat old man with loads of cash
• I’m afraid of all animals with hooves
• MOO
• I’m interested in the supernatural
• My mother is such a gossip

Random 20-question survey

(from The Survey Place)
Write your answers in your own blog and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.

01. Make a list of 5 things you can see: Beast, the TV, the fireplace, Sparky's copy of Brisingr (why is it down here?), green plaid fringy throw,

02. Would you ever get plastic surgery? Only if it was for repair, and then I'd have to think pretty hard about it.

03. What kind of magazines do you read? Here's a list: Real Simple, Ms., Entertainment Weekly, Bookmarks, Presbyterians Today. That's all. I will browse through the crap zines (Us, People, OK! et al.) on airplanes and at the hair salon, too.

04. What's your occupation? I catalog books and answer the odd (oh, so very...) question in a public library.

05. Do you nap a lot? I wish...

06. What sort of computer do you own/are you using? This is a Gateway laptop. Sparky has an eMachine laptop. Beast has a different model Gateway laptop. We've got a couple others, but I CBA to go find out what they are.

07. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction? Facebook. NCIS.

08. What are you listening to right now? A BigSpot.com commercial on the Discovery channel.

09. What food could you eat every day for weeks and not get sick of? Cheetos.

10. What websites do you always visit when you go online? Bloglines, Blogger, Gmail and Facebook open up automatically when I click on the internet icon on this computer.

11. What was the last thing you bought? Groceries yesterday. Woo hoo: my life is too exciting. But $200 worth of food? That's kind of weird.

12. What was the cutest thing you've seen today? Uhm...? Some cute kids in the library, I guess.

13. Does the weather affect your mood? Hella yes!

14. What is the truest thing about your horoscope sign? Anger issues? High energy?

15. Do you want to learn another language? I'd love to learn to read Greek properly.

16. 6 things you can't live without. Air, water, food, shelter, allergy meds, God.

17. Do you have any siblings? Yup. Three of 'em are still around.

18. What's something you'd like to say to someone right now? "Keep workin' hard, kiddo! You need this job!"

19. What are your looking forward to? Hearing about Sparky's first day (evening, really) of work.

20. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Invisibility.

the loser human drifts forever

(Found here)

Do you get skanky when you drink? Nope.
What are your plans for the day? Watch a little more football, finish this, go to bed.
When was the last time you put gas in a car? I gassed up the truck on Thursday.
Do you like the smell of paint? House paint or art paint? I don't mind, within reason.
Is there something you should be doing besides this survey? Prolly.
Do you know anyone who is an amazing dancer? No.
What's the worst thing to happen to you in the last week? I guess the off-and-on headaches. It's been a remarkably good week.
Could you date someone who used poor grammar? Only if English were not their first language.
How important is a sense of humor in a significant other? Imperative.
What did you last get in the mail? Couple of cards, bills, junk.
Where will you next go? To bed. Then work. Eventually, next month, Vegas.
It's Mardi Gras. Have you ever flashed someone for beads? It's not Mardi Gras, and no.
How much would someone have to pay to see you naked? (one person, no pictures, no touching, complete stranger) I suspect I'd have to pay them.
What station is your local rock station? Jack, or the state abbreviations of our state plus the one just over the border.
Do you prefer grape or orange soda? Which has more caffeine?
Name three purple objects in the room you're in? Lots of purple football players on the TV screen. Probably some purple in the Christmas cards on the wall. Definitely some purple ornaments on the tree.
How many people know you have a survey site memes blog? Everyone reading it, plus Beast and Sparky (who never read it).
Who gave you your last hickey? Pretty much has to be Beast.
Where was it? I have no idea.
What was the last party you went to? Outside our house, I don't know--the thing at Andy's last month?
How many TVs are in your house? Two that work.
Do you like picture surveys? Not sure what they are.
Do you immediately notice when your nipples get hard? Depends on the reason behind it happening.
Have you ever met a stripper? Sure, lots of 'em. Oh, wait, an ecdysiast? Well, then, no.
Have you ever stolen produce? Nope.
Have you ever shoplifted at all? Yes, but not for 35 years.

Mmmm chai

(Found here)

Is there a night you would like to put on repeat, and live it forever? God, that sounds like 100% hell. No thanks.

Have you kissed more than 1 person this year? Well, yeah...of course.

Can you recall the last time you liked someone a lot? I like my father-in-law a lot. Does that count? Otherwise, yeah, I'm a little light in the "liking people a lot" thing right now.

Are you cheating on someone right now? No. CBA

Anyone of the opposite sex been on your mind lately? Of course. I know lotsa boys. One lost his job. One is an adorable 3-week old baby. One just found out he's in line for two jobs. One has been sick. One has been in the hospital. One is a giant PiTA. Those are just the ones off the top of my head.

Someone knocks on your window at 2 am, what do you say? "What the FUCK are you doing on my porch roof??! Hello, 911!"

Will you be in a relationship next month? I hope so. I hope to be in several, to be honest.

Ever had a sleep over with the opposite sex? Hello? I'm married? Not to mention the mother of a son. It's not all it's cut out to be, this "sleep over with the opposite sex."

Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Uhhhh, maybe the same neighbor I keep mentioning. I haven't been on the phone at all today, except to text.

Anyone you're giving up on? No, but there are always renegotiations of boundaries and priorities going on.

Have you ever fallen asleep with the last person you kissed? Hello? Really--I'm married? So, yeah. Regularly.

What were you doing at 10:30 last night? I think I was doing another one of these.

What mood are you in right now? A little out of sorts.

Will your next kiss be a mistake? Not.

When is the next time you'll hug someone? Sometime this evening.

Has anyone put their arms around you in the past 5 days? Sigh. Hel-LO!? I'm MAR-RIED?! Yes.

Is the last person you kissed mad at you? No, but I haven't exactly been thrilled with him today. He's been a bit of a putz.

Does it bother you when someone lies to you? If I know they do, then yeah.

Do you still talk to the person you were dating 5 months ago?
I wasn’t dating anyone 5 months ago. Not even my husband. lol

Do you like animals? Mostly.

Are you easily bothered? Yes. Clearly. Am I easily irritated? Maybe....

How long have you been on the computer? Maybe half an hour. I dunno.

Are you nice to everyone? I tend to start things that way. Things have a way of changing, though, at times.

Have you ever slept in the same bed as your friend? Oh for fuck's sake...P L O C K!

Who will you be sleeping with tonight? Chances are good that Beast will come to bed at some point tonight, almost definitely after I'm asleep. It's the way we operate lately.

Do you watch "The Hills"? Not even if you paid me!

Wearing any bracelets? I wear bracelets about 5 times a decade. Today is not one of those days.

Do you feel awkward when strangers say hi to you? Strangers frequently say hi to me at work; I've gotten used to it. Lots of people vaguely recognize me when I'm out in public (not at work) because of my job, so...not really.

Are you any different now than you were a year ago? Sure.

Are you taller than your mom? Much. Especially since June.

Is anything upsetting you right now? Nah.

What's the farthest away from home you have ever been? China.

Do you hate being alone? I adore being alone. I love it more than almost anything else on days like today.

Who was the last person you cried in front of? Oh, I cry all the time. Pffft. I think I teared up a bit at church today. Before that, I have no idea.

What's on your agenda for tomorrow?
Wake up, make shopping list, go to the grocery store, take Sparky to Old Navy to exchange several pairs of pants for his size, supervise the cleaning of his room, do some work-related stuff...

What are you doing today?
This. Facebook. I'll take a bath and go to bed at some point.

If you could have one person with you right now, who would it be? JMAO

Does anyone know your passwords other than you? Beast knows a couple of them.

Did you have a good day yesterday? VERY laid-back, kinda boring. It was nice. Plus, I didn't get up till 10.

Where would you like to be right now?
Alone. On a beach with a Tequila Sunrise.

Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette? Well, yeah as a matter of fact, I could.

Did any particular thing brighten up your day today? Beast's mood has improved this evening and he seems less likely to terminally piss me off.

Next piercing? Likely to be an IV, and not anytime real soon.

How has the past week been for you? Pretty good.

Do you currently have a hickey? ....AM MAR-RIED! What are the odds?!

Pick a word that starts with the second letter of your first name: Octopus (or Aardvark if we're going by pseudonyms).

One thing you're looking forward to? Vegas, baby!

Could you go out in public looking like you do now? Sure, but my feet would be idiotically cold in about 5 seconds, seeing as I'm wearing moccasins.

Do you hate the last person you kissed? Nah.

When was the last time you wanted to punch someone in their face? Today. OK, seriously? It's been awhile.

Would you rather be a hobbit, elf, dwarf, vampire, werewolf, mermaid, magician or unicorn? I'm sticking with human. Sorry. Not a Tolkien-aholic.

What's your favorite pattern/print? Stripes. Preferably same color on same color: blue on blue, or whatever.

If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would the introduction look like? Enjoy yourself NOW!

If you have a best friend, tell us a little about them: "If"? Right. Uhm...I'd rather not. I'd have to pick one from my little group of three BFFs.

Think back on a time when you were really really happy. Can you describe your exact feelings? No, except to say that I'm aware of the stupid grin on my face when I'm happy. And I tend to whoop when I laugh really hard.

What is your favorite musical instrument? To listen to: cello, or trombone. To play, flute.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Laura Ingalls. Or Jane Eyre.

Why do people watch so much TV? In my case, pure unadulterated laziness.

Why are there so many unsuccessful book-to-movie translations? Because the book changes in its interaction with each individual reader. Very meta.

Are you afraid of the dark? Nope.

If you could, would you become immortal? ...TECHnically...depending on your beliefs...

What do you like most about yourself? I'm more tolerant of little stuff than it probably sounds like on this blog.

How about something you'd like to change about yourself? My weight. Yes, it's shallow, but I need to get my cholesterol under control this year.

What does it take for you to be happy? Being surrounded by genuine-ness.

If it was a choice between saving a thousand people you don't know or saving your three best friends, what would you do? I would need more details here. Are my friends with me, or the people I don't know, or am I alone? How are they going to die? Is this an immediate result of my decision or something that will happen over time?

What do you hate more than anything? Jumping to conclusions.

What would you rather never have to do: sleep, eat, or breathe? Breathe. It would probably take care of my allergies.

What is a talent you'd dearly like to have? Photographic memory.

Compare the love you have (or would like to have) to a famous romance: The Honeymooners...or I Love Lucy...comes closest.

What do you think will happen to you when you die? A big freakin' party, and then I don't know. Hopefully, there is a heaven.

Do you hate it when you think that someone's calling for your boyfriend/girlfriend across the way when it's really somebody else? I am not part of whatever hallucination this is.

What was the farthest place you had to travel by foot recently? Haven't been for a walk in quite awhile. Too much snow and ice.

Who were the last three people of the opposite sex you hugged? Toms 1, 2 and 3.

Have you ever looked for something that was in your hand/nearby? All the time.

Do you remember the last thing you "aww'd" at? Olivia at church this morning.

Why are you feeling the way that you are feeling right now? My head sorta hurts and I'm kinda bored.

When was the last time you prank called somebody? Close to 35 years.

Have you gotten gum stuck in your hair before? Yup. Dumb.

Did you have anything to eat for lunch today? Culvers.

What was the last movie you watched with talking animals? Chicken Run. About a year ago.

Can you handle a relationship without amazing sex? Most of my relationships have no sexual component whatsoever. So, yes.

Have you run into a pole before? Fuck. Yes.

On this same month one year ago, were you single? Not bloody likely.

Is there anyone that you like at the moment? Nope.

Was the last animal you touched/pet a household pet? Yes, I tend to avoid touching animals to whom I have not yet been introduced properly.

What holiday do you always dread the most every year? 4th of July. Moronic neighbors.

Who was the last person to put their arm around your shoulder? Uhhh, hmmm? If these is distinct from a hug, then it was probably someone last Sunday at church.

Have you ever cried from missing somebody so badly? Oh yeah. Got a little teary earlier this week over my mom.

What "minor problem" do you have that's been bothering you for a while? Back to the weight thing.

Ever walked into the opposite sex's restroom by accident? Yup.

Do you have a "thing" for a celebrity? Yup. Well, really, it's more the character he plays on TV. I have utmost respect for the fact that he has been married about as long as I have.

When was the last time someone said you "looked cute with someone" while near someone? I don't think I've done "cute" since I was 6.

Have you kissed anybody today? Yes.

Is your best friend still a virgin? {{guffaw}}

Where did you last order Chinese food/take-out? Thursday night. Just finished up the leftovers before I started this.

What was your dream last night? I have no memory of my dreams last night. THANK GOD!

During this time right now but 24 hours ago, what were you doing? Facebooking, I think.

Can you recite the alphabet backwards perfectly? I can even sing it backwards! Mad skilz

Ever liked someone even while you were taken all the while? That pretty much describes the situation with my first boyfriend, and even more dysfunctionally I had the hots for his brother.

Who is the last person you high-fived? Beast this morning at church when Olivia wouldn't do it for him.

What do you feel about "PDA"? Kissing is fine, or a hug. Tongues and groping is not.

Have you ever tried to push open a door that said pull? Yup.

Be honest, who do you miss at this very moment and would love to see? Jen

Can't think

(Found here)

What is on your bed right now? Fresh sheets, clean laundry, and (soon) ME!

When was the last time you threw up? Not for awhile. Thank God.

What's your favorite word or phrase? "Actually..."

Name 3 people who made you smile today? Mike Rowe, FIL, Sparky.

What were you doing at 8 a.m. this morning? Sleeping.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Another meme.

What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving.

Have you ever been to another country? Several.

What is the last thing you said aloud? "oohhg, excuse me!"

What is the best ice cream flavor? Peppermint

What was the last thing you had to drink? I'm drinking DDP right now.

What are you wearing right now? Jeans, Christmas sox, a too-warm-for-me wool sweater. Oh, and underwear, rings and my glasses.

What was th e last thing you ate? Chocolate kiss

Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Technically I haven't; I shopped at Old Navy last Friday.

When was the last time you ran? Last weekend, but not very far. Was more of a trot, too. I just don't run often.

What's the last sporting event you watched? College football this afternoon.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Ydra.

Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace? Don't use MySpace.

Ever go camping? Yes. Never again, not by choice.

Do you have a tan? It's December in the snow-belt and I'm northern European. What do you think??

Have you ever lost anything down a toilet? Nope.

What is your guilty pleasure? Stupid Facebook games, and meming.

Do you use smiley faces on the computer a lot? Prolly more than I reasonably should.

Do you drink your soda from a straw? Only at restaurants.

What did your last text message say? Incoming: "Just leaving. Should be home in 20-30 minutes. Roads aren't horrible, but not great either. Luv ya!"

Outgoing: "OK. Thx for the update. Be safe. :-*"

Are you someone's best friend? Yup.

What are you doing tomorrow? Church. Football. Otherwise {shrug} not sure.

Where is your mom right now? ...uhhhh... Heaven?

Look to your left, what do you see? The Christmas tree, the end table with a shitload of crap stacked on it...

What color is your watch? My cell phone tells me the time, so I stopped wearing a watch.

What do you think of when you think of Australia? Red, warm, cool animals, nice people.

Ever ridden on a roller coaster? OMG. Yes. Even I am not that lame-o.

What is your birthstone? Topaz. Yuck.

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Drive through.

Do you have any friends on MySpace that you actually hate? ...bloody MySpace! I have no friends on MySpace because I don't use it!

Do you have a dog? No. ...sigh

Last person you talked to on the phone? Next door neighbor.

Any plans today? Wash my face, brush my teeth, change into jammies, sleep.

Are you happy? Pretty much.

Where are you right now? On the sofa with the recliner back.

Biggest annoyance in your life right now? My lack of motivation.

Last song listened to? Hell, I dunno! Some Christmas song or another.

Last movie you saw? Part of the latest Batman movie.

Are you allergic to anything? Dogs, cats, some grasses, corn pollen, god knows what else.

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? I have loads of shoes. Right now, I love 'em all. Have weeded out all the shoes I dislike.

Are you jealous of anyone? Not really, no.

Are you married? Yup.

Is anyone jealous of you? Probably. I dunno.

Do any of your friends have children? Many of my friends do.

Do you eat healthy? No. I eat food. (and not always very healthy food)

What do you usually do during the day? Work, play, work, play, sleep.

Do you hate anyone right now? ...uhmm, still no.

Do you use the word 'hello' daily? That, or some variant of it: hi, hey, howdy...

How many kids do you want when you're older? Just the one of my own, but I'll borrow other people's if offered.

How did you get one of your scars? Surgery.

Who knows

(Found here)

Are you strong enough for this survey? We'll see, eh?

Have you ever taken a picture of yourself kissing someone? Not sure. I don't remember one, anyway.

Do you want to be in a relationship with someone? And the infamous "plock" shows its face already....

Are you someone who's an asshole because you're so honest? I try not to be asshole-ish in my honesty.

Have you ever said you loved someone when you didn't mean it? I've said it knowing that our definitions of the word were miles apart.

What is your opinion on no sex before marriage? I think it has certain positive aspects for young people, but it's really no one's business as long as no one gets sick or pregnant.

Was your last kiss perfect? Given the circumstances, yes.

Have you ever wanted to never give up on someone? Well, yeah, after 46 years, this has come up at least once. {eyeroll}

Would you push someone off a cliff if you had the chance? I wouldn't plan ahead for the possibility, but in the heat of the moment there are a few people I would be tempted to send over, yes.

Have you ever broken someone's heart? Welcome to life. Yes. If you are a parent, have parents, siblings, friends...yeah. Been there.

Have you ever liked someone who didn't like you back? 'course!

Have you ever thought something would work out but they used you? Seems a relative constant over time.

Is this survey hard for you? It's not helping my headache, but nothing really is, so.... Carry on:

Would you ever want to be a supermodel? Uh, I'd rather dig ditches.

Do you tell white lies? See comment re assholery above. Yes, I do tell lies.

Do you scratch when and where you want to scratch? Not always. Of course.

How do you handle a break up? With dismay and sorrow.

What was the last thing you ate? Scots shortbread.

Have you ever accidentally eaten an insect? They do fly right in sometimes, don't they. Yes.

Do daddy long legs freak you out? Not really. I am grateful for the work they do.

Have you ever cleaned up someone elses vomit? I have a kid, among other reasons. Of course I have.

Do you kiss your pets on the mouth? It freaks out the guinea pig, so I've stopped trying.

Would you ever work in a retirement home? I totally do not have the patience or emotional wherewithal for it.

Have you ever had to dial 911 before? Yes.

When was the last time you had ice cream? Gotta be at least 4 months....

Do you honestly hate anyone? I sort of dishonestly hate someone. Does that work for you?

Do you prefer morning or night? Most of the time, morning.

Do you swear a lot? Fuckin' A man!!

Can you whistle? Yes. I. Can. Can you? People don't whistle as much any more...sad.

Could you ever picture yourself on a reality television show? Not so much, no.

What was the last movie you watched? Beast was watching the latest Batman movie, again, last night.

Do you drink more apple or orange juice? Apple

Have you spoken to your Father today? Well, with that capitalization, yes. Small 'f' father, that's a little harder to do.

What is bothering you right now? My head hurts. Day 3. So irritating.

Have you ever kissed someone with braces? I kiss with my lips, not my teeth. Weirdo.

When was the last time you cried? ...been awhile.

Where did you last go out to eat? Six Balls, or maybe Jena-Ps. Can't remember.

What time did you go to sleep last night? It was 11-something. I don't remember precisely.

Do you regret anything you've done this year? Always room for regret. I try not to dwell on them, but they are around.

What is the most fun that you've had in the past week? Working on Wednesday was fun. Working on the jigsaw this wee was fun too.

Are you waiting on anything? I'm just waiting on a friend. And yes.

Do you think that you will be married within ten years? I'm married now, so...yeah.

Do you like waking up to new texts in the morning? It beats waking up to the alarm clock, I guess.

Are you currently angry about anything? Nah.

What was your last phone conversation about and who was it with? Cindy called to find out what the weather was like and to be sure her house was still standing.

Do you feel like anyone's taking you for granted? I have a teenage son: what do you think?

Do you regret anything you've done this week? Hello? Haven't we been here already? Yes, ok, YES!

Will you be up before 7am tomorrow? Probably not.

Where did you buy the shirt you're wearing right now? I think it was a gift. It's VERY warm, and itchier than heck, but it's very pretty.

Would you ever tattoo your significant other's name on yourself? I don't really think that's likely.

New Year's Survey

(from Allison)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Drove 150 miles in a blizzard...twice...in one month. Acted as a nursing assistant in incredibly trying circumstances. Watched Beast become extremely overwhelmed with too much. Fed my mom meals of (basically) baby food.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't do resolutions. My word for 2008 was "thrive." This year...I dunno yet.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? There were babies at church, but none in my immediate circle of friends. My family...is hopeless at procreation.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes.

5. What countries did you visit? Fear, Horror, Dismay, and Sorrow...all here in the U.S.A.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Getting up off my butt.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? August 7 is the only one that I think needs to stick.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Clearing off my work cart after being horrifically behind for 7 months. Taking steps to get more involved in the community. Figuring out the Clerk of Session stuff, just in time to finish my term.

9. What was your biggest failure? I did not handle a diseased (or dis-eased?) relationship well; I didn't take strong steps to find a cure and it is probably beyond saving now.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing that losing at least two stone wouldn't alleviate. Oh, and that stupid eye infection that lasted all winter and spring.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Commercially: the Wii (tho' technically Beast paid for it). However, the best things I think I paid money for this year were the opportunities to serve with the youth on another mission trip to travel to ALA and spend time getting to know a colleague (now friend) better.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Sparky. And our president-elect.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Much of the rest of the human population. For some shining examples, read any front page virtually any day this year. If you insist on a name, let's go with the Illinois Governor because what he has been doing is so humiliating to anyone with a conscience.

14. Where did most of your money go? Gas. OK, not really, but it felt that way.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The new school. And watching the election returns.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Grace Kelly" Mika

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer? Less unhappy, waa-a-a-aay fatter, slightly richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Sorting photos.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Allison said it: "Sitting on my ass, figuratively and literally."

20. How did you spend Christmas? With family and friends, mostly laughing.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? A little.

22. What was your favorite TV program? CSI:NY has been a pleasant surprise.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't hate anyone, but I am extremely disappointed with two people and trying to figure out how to extricate myself from dealing with them.

24. What was the best book you read? Pretty close to a tie between John (Niall Williams) and Ruby's Imagine(Kim Antieau).

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I can't think of anything right now.

26. What did you want and get? A wonderful mission experience for all, a fix for my eyes, iced sugar cookies, a Wii, the chance to say goodbye properly to my mother-in-law.

27. What did you want and not get? Lower cholesterol, duct tape over my mouth at necessary times, younger, thinner, time.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? The only movie I saw at a theater was Speed Racer (which I enjoyed, believe it or not). I've enjoyed watching I am Legend last month on TV. I can't think o f anything else.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 45 and it was just a regular day. I don't make a big deal of it anymore. Beast got me lovely cards and gifts. There was cake.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I would like to stop second-guessing myself all the time.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Everything was too tight!!

32. What kept you sane? Blogging, work, music, friends, and (some) family.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I like Kate Winslet. OK, to be clear: I admire her. I can't think of any guys that fit the bill beyond the usual suspects.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? What, the presidential election wasn't a big enough deal?

35. Who did you miss? Dad. I could have used some good advice at a few key points, and a hug from him.

36. Who was the best new person you met? The library people at Sparky's school. Getting to know Andy at work better is proving to be a lot of fun too.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. The best gift I can give myself is a break.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.from The Lion King:
[We will stand by your side]
[Filled with hope and filled with pride]
We are more than we are
We are one

If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me
The way I am?

Can I trust in my own heart
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?

[Even those who are gone]
[Are with us as we go on]
Your journey has only begun

[Tears of pain, tears of joy]
[One thing nothing can destroy]
Is our pride, deep inside
We are one

Decisions

(swiped from Kwizgiver)
Either/Or

Twilight or Harry Potter? HP

Root Beer or Coke? Diet Coke

Freeze to death or Burn to death? Freeze

Bike or Skate? Bike

Mac or PC? PC

Baths or Showers? Baths

Hamburger or Cheeseburger? Cheeseburger

Mary-Kate or Ashley? If I pick one, will the other (please) fall off the planet??

Family Guy or Simpsons? I don't watch either.

Music or TV? Music

Apple Pie or Apple Crumble? Crumble to make, either to eat.

Burger King or McDonalds? ...McDonalds

Tape or Stapler? Paper clip. C'mon, I'm a librarian with archivist tendencies!

School or Work? I'm not in school anymore, so Work

Pepsi or Coke? Diet

Sprite or Mountain Dew? Dew (diet)

Dr. Pepper or Root Beer? DP (diet)

Pictures or Video? Pictures

Reality TV or Sci-Fi? ...depends on which incarnation of each...

Country Music or Metal? plock on both!


True or False [anything I bolded is true for me]
I've met a celebrity
I've danced naked (not in public)
I am bored
I have been to Las Vegas
I have made a scrapbook (over two dozen)

I own a bicycle
I have been to Hollywood
I have been on a subway
I enjoy roller coasters
My toenails are painted

I always wear my seatbelt
My favorite color is pink
I am an only child
I have a collection
I have been in a museum

I run with scissors
My middle name starts with A
I can do a cartwheel
I have been on a diet
I am broke

I have a diploma
My car gets good gas mileage
I live close to the a beach

Thinkers

From Allison (because, after all, the woman has a name and I should use it!)

If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say? I would tell the doctor that he clearly has the wrong results or the wrong chart, because it ain't hap'nin' here!
When was the last time you flew in a plane? Last March
What did the last text message you sent say? I have no idea; too lazy to go get my phone and look, too!
What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex? intelligence, humor, wide shoulders
What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future? I have no goals beyond staying healthy and being ready to spring whichever direction I need to head at a moment's notice
Shoe size? 9.5/10
Been to Mexico? Yes, and I would LOVE to be there right now!! (It's been 28 years since I was there)
When is the last time you had a massage? Hmmm, my gosh, it's been MONTHS! My back has finally loosened up somehow!
What was the last TV show you watched? OMGWTFBBQ: golf, about 15 minutes ago!!
What are your plans for the weekend? ...am sleeping, am meeting with mentee, am watching football, and on Monday am driving 6 hours round trip to see Dean
If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say? "Dude, check the contract: we're up to 22 years here shortly!"
What is in the back seat of your car right now? My 'back seat' is the extended cab of a small truck. When I unloaded it after work tonight I left a smooshed Kleenex box, a window brush/scraper, jumper cables, my Garmin...I think there was an empty pop can in one cup-holder and a Sudafed packet in the other one.
What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Packing off the last of the kids from church, loading the cars, and then heading to work via McDonalds.
If you could marry any celebrity today who would it be? TOtally never marrying a celebrity, simply because Beast has no desire for that sort of fame, and I'm not marrying anyone else.
Have you ever been to a strip club? ...well, here comes the purging part of the meme...
What is the best ice cream flavor? Bubblegum. Or peppermint. Or vanilla.
What is the last sporting event you watched? See aforementioned golf. The last one I saw in-person was a AAA baseball game last summer.
Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace? No hay nadie; no uso MySpace, gracias.
Ever go camping? Pretty sure I can count the number of times on one hand. And that's not likely to change. I like plumbing, comfort, and a controlled heat/cool environment.
What did your last text say? See above re too lazy to look
Where is your mom right now? Probably getting ready for bed in her nursing home
What color is your watch? The band is brown leather, the face is white with a little brown and gold. It's a "men's" watch, because I loathe those damn little shitty things women are supposed to use!
Last phone call? Beast is on the phone right now with his Mom who called us about 10 minutes ago.
Are you allergic to anything? grasspollen(especiallycorn)cat&dogdanderdustmoldmorphine (FUCKIN'allergies)
Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? I don't really care for shoes, but in the summer I almost exclusively wear slip-on flats/sandals.
What is one thing you have learned about life recently? Everything changes and the older one gets, the more close friends and family get sick.
Do you own an iPod? Creative Zen
Do any of your friends have children? It would be easier to count those who don't, which near as I can tell at this point is one friend...I think.
What do you do at work? I get paid to write in books!
Who was your last kiss? Sparky, upon my return from work, after I kissed Beast.
How did you get one of your scars? I have a nice one about 6 inches long from my belly button down from when I had abdominal surgery 11 years ago.
What is your mom's name? Heh. She was NOT named after the heroine in "The Wizard of Oz" and her middle name is the one I would have used if we'd have had a daughter, and her last name is the same as the one I used as a child.
Are you ticklish? Yes.
Ever cried for no reason? Hello, of course!! I thought only girls did this, but Sparky fell apart last night just like I've seen loads of girls do. Quite odd to see a guy have that kind of meltdown.
Ever broken a bone? Fingers, and something inside my wrist. I never have seen a doctor about any of them, however, so it's possible that I'm making that up!
Do you have any piercings? One in each earlobe.
Have you ever changed clothes while driving? The best I can do is that I've taken my coat or jacket off, and also, other times, my shoes.
Have you ever cleaned up someone else's vomit? One of my aliases is "Mom." I've cleaned up EVERYthing at various points.
What was the last thing you ordered at McDonalds? Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel and a large diet Coke...this morning.
Can you do the Crank Dat dance? Not bloody likely, not that I have the faintest clue! Nor do I care....
What is your favorite color to wear? I seem to have accrued a large number of olive green and brown items over the past few years.
What is the longest plane ride you have ever been on? Longest single flight was probably either to/from Frankfort or to Zurich (from the same airport but 16 years apart).
What is the longest road trip you have ever taken? We drove from central Maine and back in a giant loop about 7 years ago. It was amazing, and we did stay in Maine for a week the middle, but it was a LONG drive!!
What are your turn-offs? selfish people, mean-just-for-the-hell-of-it people, people who don't like kids, intetionally ignorant people
What was your 1st alcoholic beverage? I tasted some wine at Thanksgiving when I was about 11 (and also when visiting another church during Communion), but my first real drink was rum and coke. Or Southern Comfort and coke.
What was your last alcoholic beverage? I had a glass of wine some time in the past two weeks. I really shouldn't drink much because of the meds I take.
What are you craving right now? I'm so tired everything is doing that Wayne's World shimmy, only less obvious, just sorta woo-woo-ey. I'm going to bed...VERY tired!

The Survey Place

(Link at left)

In 2007 did you.....
1. Drink alcohol? Yes
2. Cry yourself to sleep? Yes
3. Kiss someone? Yes
4. Hook up? ...uh...? Not according to what I consider the usual definition (see #3 here)
5. Move? Not my living arrangements, no.
6. Get in a car accident? No.
7. Go out of the country? No.
8. Drive for 3+ hours? Yes.
9. Get a haircut? Yes (please don't talk to me if your answer is no!)
10. Attend a funeral? Yes.
11. Attend a wedding? Yes.
12. Get dumped? Not as such.
13. Get asked out? ...uh...sorta?
14. Ask someone out? ditto
15. Dump someone? Yes. Not romantically, but a sorta-friendship hit the dumper in a big way.
16. Go to Disneyland? No.
17. Go to a concert/show? Uh, I don't think I did, actually.
18. Go to a museum? Yes.
19. Visit the hospital? Yes.
20. Get beat up? Emotionally, yes. Physically, no.
21. Smoke hookah? Wow. No. Not last year, not evah.
22. Smoke weed? No.
23. Go to the beach? I don't think so; can't remember. Actually, I drove past my favorite beach, but didn't stop.
24. Catch the flu? I don't think so.
25. Do community service? Yes, but as a choice, not as an assignment.
26. Donate money? Yes.
27. Get in a big fight with your parents? Well, no. I guess that's a positive, innit?
28. Attend more than three parties? Yes.
29. Dye your hair? Yes.
30. Write an essay? Yes, I guess some of my blog posts could be considered essays.

Who is the person/people you were with the most? Outside my family, probably the high school kids in youth group.

What places did you hang out at the most? Home, work, various cars....

What new things did you learn? More patience, how to say no definitively, how to piss off my boss....

Was there a particular day that was special to you? July 7 was pretty awesome!

What was your biggest regret? Katherine having to deal with the load she's carried this year. If I could figure out how to carry it with her (at least) I would. In a heartbeat.

What song would best describe 2007? Ch-ch-ch-changes

What was the best movie of 2007? One of the hundreds I did NOT see!

What television show did you watch the most? CSI. I think we watched 6 seasons of the original and 3 of Miami on DVD, plus all the new shows, plus the reruns on Spike TV.

How many times did you go to Starbucks in 2007? Uh...three, four times, maybe?

Do you feel 2007 went by too fast? Not fast enough at times, but generally at a good pace. Everything goes by faster than it used to.

2007 in review

from...myself, actually.... ;-)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? Said no, and consciously stood by it. And didn't feel too guilty about it, either!

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really do resolutions. This year I was just trying to get through the year and grow a little. I did both.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not, technically, in 2007. No. However, I have walked a whimpering baby in the past month, so that was a nice thing.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Not in 2007, no. I went to one funeral, though. There may be at least one funeral coming in '08. We'll see.

5. What countries did you visit? The U.S. Is "the South" a country? ;-)

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Accomplishment of tasks.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 1/13/07--the saddest funeral I've been to in a very long time, since Andrew's about 6 years ago. 7/7/07--My niece's wedding. 11/18/07--bad news about Beast's mom (13 years exactly after receiving worse news about my dad)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Coercing 8 directors to see sense and not trade to a crap database. I did NOT do this alone, and I wish we could have convinced more, but it still feels pretty damn good.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not knowing how to deal with my niece's and nephew's grief.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not really. Lots of allergies, but nothing acute or awful.

11. What was the best thing you bought? New floors.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Sparky's improvement in virtually every arena.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Basically everyone in charge of anything everywhere, with a few minor exceptions, from government to corporations to schools.

14. Where did most of your money go? It ALWAYS mostly goes to paying the mortgage!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our trip to Minneapolis.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007? "Grace Kelly" by Mika.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
(a)Happier or Sadder? Happier (no contest!!)
(b)Thinner or Fatter? Today, definitely fatter.
(c)Richer or Poorer? Financially stable. Otherwise, I think I'm richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Getting together with friends.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Letting idiots dictate my mood and responses.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? Woops...uh, at home. Unless this means Christmas 08, in which case the answer is "I have no idea."

21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Not really. Not exactly. Kinda.

22. How many one-night stands? Hah. None.

23. What was your favorite TV program? I think I watched all the extant episodes of CSI and CSI: Miami this year, so we'll go with CSI in general, eh?

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? "Hate"--no. There are some people who could disappear that I'd be happy to see go.

25. What was the best book you read? The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Mika.

27. What did you want and get? Love, patience, and time with family and friends.

28. What did you want and not get? Healing for family and friends.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 44 this year and took several days off work since that was a long weekend for the school district. We didn't do much of anything, but that's ok.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A little more self-discipline.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Comfort at all costs!!

33. What kept you sane? Blogging.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? ...er, I actually can't think of anyone who made me drool this year... Except maybe this one guy who comes in the library all the time. Yeah, he's a cutie.

35. What political issue stirred you the most? I'm so freakin' TIRED of this war! On the other hand, I'm not sure that's political. It certainly ought not to be. Oh, well. That's my answer.

36. Who did you miss? Jenny.

37. Who was the best new person you met? I got to know P#ggy, a cataloger at a nearby library, better this year, though I've known her for a couple of years. And getting to know the high school youth group kids has continued to be eye-opening.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007: Don't count on anything! Things can change in, quite literally, a heartbeat. Be grateful for what is here, now.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: In looking over the past year, I have quoted the lyrics from "Desperado" at least three times. That seems to be the theme, quite unconsciously. I'm not sure what to make of it, so I'll just quote these lines:

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses? You been out ridin' fences for so long now. Oh, you're a hard one; I know that you got your reasons. These things that are pleasin' you can hurt you somehow.

Another survey

...from Kwizgiver

1) Who is the last person you high-fived? Sarah/Jenny.

2) If you were drafted into a war, would you serve? Kinda depends on the war, eh? The current one--no.

3) Do you sleep with the TV on? I have fallen asleep innumerable times while Beast watches TV. If it's something I really, really care about, no. And we do NOT have a television in our bedroom! Absolutely NOT.

4) Have you ever wheezed the juice? WTF?? I had to go look this up...no. Yuck.

5) Have you ever won a spelling bee? My school was too "progressive" for this sort of thing. I would have, though.

6) Have you ever been stung by a bee? Yes

7) How fast can you type? No clue. Over 60 wpm, but probably not as accurately as I used to be.

8) Are you afraid of the dark? No.

9) What color are your socks? I have socks of many colors. I'm currently barefoot inside my slippers, however.

10) Have you ever made out at a drive-in? No. I have only been to a drive-in to talk to the employee(s).

11) When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower? Night before last...I'll have one tonight again.

12) Do you knock on wood? Yes.

13) Do you floss daily? No. But I should.

14) Do you wanna Fanta? Not right now, no.

15) Can you hula hoop? My brother-in-law has me on film at about age 8 hula-ing my brains out in my backyard. I surely can't do it anymore, though.

16) Are you good at keeping secrets? Improving.

17) What do you want for Christmas? Peace and quiet, and a book to read.

18) Do you know the Muffin Man? I used to know a dog named Muffin; does that count?

19) Do you talk in your sleep? Occasionally.

20) Who wrote the book of love? God.

21) Have you ever flown a kite? Once, very briefly.

22) Do you wish on your fallen eyelashes? No

23) Do you whiten your teeth? Once in awhile, I buy a kit. I did 6 weeks of whitening before Elizabeth's wedding last summer.

24) Can you smell what the Rock is cooking? WTF redux. No clue about this one, and the only thing I smell is leftover dinner smells.

25) Have you ever asked for a pony? I'd rather have a horse.

26) Have you, or would you ever, donate sperm/eggs? I would if I could, but I can't so I won't.

27) Can you juggle? Not so muc.

29) If you could enact any new law, what would it be? Mind your own business!

30) Do the chickens have large talons? Get a life, dood. Find your own liger.

31) If you had only enough energy left in you for one last smile, who would you give it to? Sparky.

32) Are you ready to rumble? Doesn't take me long to get ready.

33) Can you count to Schfifty-Five? No.

34) Have you ever been suspended or expelled from school? No.

35) How do you spell relief? R E L I E F (even during the Rolaids commercials)

36) Have you ever crawled through a window? We broke into our house that way awhile back.

37) Have you ever eaten dog food? No intentionally, and not that I know of.

38) Can you handle the truth? Better than Tom Cruise can, that's for sure!

39) Do you like green eggs and ham? OMG--I loved Jesse Jackson's rendition of this. (but no, I'll pass on the green food)

40) Who is your daddy? and what does he do? My daddy isn't around anymore. He's resting.

The Survey Place

(Link at left)

Today Did You--

1. Talk to a boy/girl you like today? Yup. Several.

2. Realize anything new? "Must do dishes more often. The hand-wash only ones. MUST NOT let them sit for several days!"

3. Talk to an ex? Only in the ex-fantasy sense.

4. Miss someone? No.

Last person who--

5. Slept in your bed? ...? Beast was the last one up this morning.

6. Saw you cry? Beast (and a shitboat full of people at church last week).

7. You went to the movies with? Sparky.

8. Went to the mall with you? Amy.

9. You said "I love you" to and meant it? Sparky, when he went to bed, followed closely by Beast on the phone after I told him to drive safely.

10. Made you laugh? My mother-in-law.

11. Said they loved you? Beast.

12. Called you in the middle of the night? Emphatically, it was a wrong number. The last ACTUAL call we received in the middle of the night was my brother calling in 1994 to tell us that my dad had died.

13. Do you have a crush on someone? Not exactly.

Just plain questions--

14. What book are you reading now? Twospot, by Bill Pronzini; Single Tree, by Gary D. Svee; Turncoat, by by Aaron Elkins. And the book on CD in the car is Deception Point, by Dan Brown (it sux, trust me on this)

15. Best feeling in the world? Knowing your baby loves you.
[You may define "baby" anyway you like.]

16. Favorite location? On the side of a mountain, or in bed.

17. Piercing/Tattoos? I have only pierced earlobes, very old-school.

18. What are you most scared of right now? Winter.

19. Where do you want to get married? Here and now works for me.

20. Who do you really hate? I don't hate anyone, though I'm very exasperated with quite a few Very Important People.

21. Does anyone really hate you? Prolly. Do I care?

22. Do you like being around people? Generally, yes. There are some exceptions.

23. Have you ever cried? ...er...? See #6.

24. Are you lonely right now? I'm alone. But not lonely in the least.

25. Song stuck in your head right now? It was "She Bangs" by Ricky Martin, the Spanish chorus, all weekend. I've got UPop on right now, hoping to get Mika or Maroon5 to displace it. Oh, "All in the Jungle" by The Hours might do it!

26. Been on radio/TV? I did a radio show for four years, but I've only been on TV as part of my high school marching band, not individually.

27. Ever liked someone, but you think they never noticed you? Of course. Isn't that the definition of 7th grade?

28. Ever liked someone who treated you like craP? No. Despite everything, I've managed to avoid this. And, why is hte P capitalized?

29. How many beds did you lay in yesterday? OK, this month's winner for weird question! Just one.

30. What color shirt are you wearing? I've got a dark blue sleeveless button-front shirt on over a red cami.

31. Name three things that you do every day? Hah! Brush my teeth, eat, and yawn.

32. How much cash do you have on you right now? At this very second, nada. However, there is about $200 in the vicinity of my wallet in preparation for grocery shopping, supply purchasing (for a program), and Sparky's allowance. By tomorrow night, I should be hovering at about $15.

34. When was the last time you saw your dad? On or about November 24, 1994.

35. Who got you to join myspace? I think I signed up after finding out that Sparky had an account, about 3 years ago.

36. What did you have for dinner last night? Leftover vegetable lasagna.

39. What web site do you visit the most? Google, or Bloglines.

40. Do you have plants in your room? Plastic ones, the only ones I haven't killed.

41. Does anything hurt on your body right now? Nope.

42. Where was your last cab ride? It was in the Big City, but I don't remember how long ago. Within the past year, I'm sure.

43. What's your favorite starbucks drink? The caramal apple thing is outstanding, but I always get a stomach ache because it's so rich. I stick to the fizzy grapefruit juice most of the time on the semi-rare occasions I visit Starbucks.

The Survey Place

(Link at left)
Two for One

Are you easily amused or hard to humour? Pretty easy to amuse.

Outgoing or no? Not. I can act outgoing, though.

Are you at all competitive? Just a lot.

Would you say you are emotional? Emotional in what way? Yes, and across the board: happy, sad, angry, everything. I only have a poker face during poker.

Are you social or are you more of a loner? I prefer quiet, therefore loads of people are not my cup of tea. However, I can be social on a small scale as long as I know I will have the chance to decompress at some point.

What does your favourite teddy bear look like? Er, he's about 6' tall and has a cute moustache....

What's on your walls? Paint. Some pictures. Some posters. Some surround-sound speakers...you know, the usual.

Name 5 random things on your desk right now: HAH! I just cleaned off my desk (at home), so this is easy: a picture frame, Scotch tape dispenser, a large pencil dispenser like the comb cleaners at beauty salons (don't ask) which is still in its box, youth group files and papers, my file of books that I've read.

Do you have anything Disney in your room, if so, what? Gaaachhhhk! Oops, yeah, I do have a pair of earrings from Animal Kingdom, but you'd never know they were from Disney.

Anything black? If so, what?: In my room? Clothes. Book covers. Picture frame (I think).

What do you cherish the most in your room house? My family.

Name 5 random cds from your collection? Styx "Paradise Theater"; Billy Joel "Storm Front"; Melissa Etheridge "Yes I Am"; Broadway cast recording of "The Sound of Music"; Howard Jones "Dream Into Action"

Do you have a dictionary? If so, do you ever use it? Yes, of course. We have two 'regular' ones, and some language dictionaries, and maybe a small student dictionary or two.

Your favourite book: Little Town on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Last movie you watched: Underdog (to my dismay)

Last song you listened to: I don't know. I was rather rudely interrupted this afternoon in the midst of ... something ... in Launchcast and subsequent events drove the song right out of my head.

Last person you spoke with online: via IM: Beast; via email: our church secretary.

Last comic you read: Maus and it was MANY years ago (I'm not a great fan of the graphic novel)

Last thing you bought: A bottle of pop and a nine-volt battery when I picked up my prescriptions tonight at Walgreen's.

Last thing you ate: Half of the last piece of pizza from Saturday night.

Last present you got, and from whom: A salt & pepper set shaped like a large chunk of cheese and a mouse.

Rory Gilmore or Lorelai Gilmore: How 'bout neither.

Invasion or LOST: How 'bout whatever's on Discovery Channel instead.

Blind Guardian or Dragonforce: ...zzzzzzzz....

Interview with the Vampire or Queen of the Damned: I'll go with You Suck! (Christopher Moore)

Winter or summer? Summer

Pants or skirts: Pants (or trousers for you right-ponders)

Frogs or snakes: ...frogs, I guess...

Beer or wine: White wine.

Joey Tribbiani or Chandler Bing: ...mmmm...plead the 5th, but I'd probably have to kill Joey if I spent too much time trying to talk to him....

Halloween or Valentines Day: Thanksgiving.

How do you feel? Kind of tired, but less cranky than last night at least!

You're thinking about? "Must remember to write lunch money check tonight for Sparky for school tomorrow! Must not forget!"

What are you listening to? The blower on the a/c, and the distant sound of an electric sander.

Close your eyes, move your head and open them. What are you looking at? The ceiling fan and the light switch on the opposite wall.

What colour are your socks? I'm barefoot. I have brownish nail polish on, though. Does that count?

Are you wearing any jewels? One diamond, three sapphires.

Who do you think is the sexiest actor? This changes with the movies and shows I see. I'm liking Gary Dourdan and George Eads right now.

Actress? As in, the same question as above? Uhhhh, probably Angelina Jolie, I guess. {shrug} whatever

The best looking male musician: Chris Cornell has moved into my heart of late.

Female musician: Well, it's certainly not Amy Winehouse! So, let's see....Beyonce? again, whatever....

Which horror movie villain would you be, and why? Whichever one screams a lot but doesn't actually kill anyone.

What do you think about Mel Gibson? I try very hard NOT to think about him.

Do you like reality shows such as Newlyweds? No. I'll stick with the semi-originals: Survivor and The Amazing Race.

Any not so known actors you like? ...my niece? :-)

Do you have any weird habits? Don't we all?

Your favourite colour: Blue.

The best author? Robert Parker nearly always makes me smile.

Does the lyrics of songs matter to you? [Normally I fix wording and grammar, but this was too hysterical: I had to leave it!] Yes, the lyrics matter, unless it's purely a club song.

Whats the color of your panties right now? The same as when I put them on this morning.

Do you have any obsessions? Outside of memes? No.

Ever been hit by a girl? Yup. And I'm not even counting my mom!

What Lord of the Rings character do you prefer? ...yawn...

Any hobbies? Reading, blogging, crosswords, sudoku, worrying.

Ever made out with a boy? When I was a girl, yes.

A girl? Nope.

A donkey? Er, no.

Any favourite animal characters in animated movies? Speaking of donkeys, I do like Donkey in the Shrek movies. And, uh, Bambi always makes me laugh at the very beginning..."Flowww-werrrr."

What are you listening to right now? Well, the sanding stopped, the blower stopped, but I can hear the vent in the bathroom and the water running in the shower instead.

What is your pet's name; if you dont have a pet, what would it be if u had? Erk. Technically, I don't have a pet, but Sparky shares Buddy with us (he named him). Naming a pet should probably occur once you've been properly introduced, don't you think?

Where would you like to live? In a snug house in the mountains, with wireless or DSL access.

Do you have anything on your hands right now? Three rings, and nail polish (which is pink--matching is boring).

Do you belive in God and Satan? I believe in God. I'm iffy on Satan, but I do believe in evil.

Vampires? No thanks. Oh, and no, I don't believe in them, except in a metaphorical sense.

Ghosts? Not exactly.

----------------------------------------

What was for dinner last night? Beef from the burritos the other night, wheat bagel crisps and water.

Whats your favorite number? 16. Or 3.

How many chairs at the dining room table? Four.

Do you like video games? Some.

Whats your favorite kind of gum? Peppermint or spearmint.

Do you like to read? Er...well, yeah.

Do you have a crush on anybody? Not at this time.

Do you like to sleep? Oh, sweet Jeeesusss, yes!!

Do you like rap? I like the kind that has some sense of originality and humor.

Do you want a bright yellow '06 mustang? Sure. Where can I pick it up?

How many sibillings do you have? [another I had to leave 'as is'] I have a brother and three sisters.

Would you rather swim in an ocean or a lake? I like the choice I was given this morning: the hot tub, please.

Do you wear a lot of black? No.

Describe your hair: Shoulder length, wavy, bangs, reddish-brown with some ash highlights. Right now it's kind of a mess.

Do you like drama? On stage, yes. In life, emphatically no.

Are you afraid to die? I think the actual dying is the easy part. I'm not thrilled with being sick.

Are you an adult? Most of the time.

Do you think you have a good handle on spelling? Yes. Yes, I think I do.

Have you ever won a spelling bee? My school was too forward-thinking to have spelling bees. Ever. But I could have.

Are you a television addict? In some respects, yes. Mostly no.

Do you enjoy spending time with your mother? Nope.

Are you a sugar freak? Yep.

Actually, do you like orange juice? Actually, I don't mind it, as long as there isn't a lot of pulp.

What sign are you? No Right of Way. (Scorpio)

Where do you wish you were right now? In the bathtub. And off I go (after I write that check for lunches for Sparky!)