Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)

American Soldier (2003)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it.

My dad served in WWII stateside. FIL was in the Army during the Korean War (or is it still a "conflict"?) but he was in Germany for the duration. Neither saw combat, for which I remain very grateful. My former lawn-mowing neighbor kid is in the Marines. Otherwise, I don't seem to run the same gang with a lot of soldier/sailor/flyer folks. 

Oh! My sister WORKED on an army base in Germany as the daycare supervisor for several years in the 90s. Not in the army, just at the army. 

2) In this song, Toby Keith reminds us soldiers "work straight through holidays," even this one, and we are grateful for that, too. Have you ever had to work on a federal holiday? If yes, did it make you sad to be on the job when everyone else was celebrating?

I have traditionally worked on a lot of federal holidays. The 'only' official days off we are closed are Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4 and Thanksgiving. All others the library is open for business, although we do occasionally close early on Xmas Eve or NY Eve.

It's not hard or sad to be at work when everyone else is partying anymore. I'm used to it after 35 years and we always adjusted to having whatever party it was on a day when I don't work, or Beast and Sparky went without me, which is  fine with me.

3) The video for this song was filmed at Edwards Air Force Base. This site was chosen to make it easier for off-duty soldiers, reservists and their families to appear. Have you ever visited a military base?

See above re sister working in Germany. That's it. We aren't big Armed Forces folks. My dad was not thrilled about life in the Army, and my brother was 'of age' during Vietnam so he did whatever he could to not be drafted.

4) Toby Keith never served in the military but often performed for the USO. While the USO is best known for providing entertainment to our troops, they also have a "Canine Comfort Crew." Local USO centers make dogs available to troops who long to see a wagging tail. Are you a dog lover?

I love dogs. Almost all my immediate neighbors have dogs, big 'uns, and I know them better than the people living in the houses. I've owned a couple of dogs over the years (one at a time) and would have loved to have more, but it turned out that I'm allergic. And now I'm just too lazy to have a dog; I'd be in better shape if I had to entertain and walk a furball.

5) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? 

Today, I would pretty much murder someone for my mom's potato salad. None better! But I'm also up for whatever you're serving at a picnic.

6) Let's welcome summer with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? Cone or cup?

I do not like chocolate ice cream. Vanilla with some chocolate syrup or sprinkles is fine, but I really prefer peppermint. Or birthday cake. OK, well, honestly, I'd eat any gelato you put in front of me because GELATO! In a cup. Always.

7) This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you applied mosquito repellent?

I simply do not go outside long enough to need this in years. Much as I love summer, I'm allergic to everything else alive out there, so I run from building to building, car to car, etc. with only very occasional forays onto the front porch or middle of the street to chat with a neighbor.

8) Or swam?

I don't can't swim. There is a (man-made) lake for which my town is named, but it is ill-advised to get in the water without a lot of precautions, even if I had access to it, which I don't. 

9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? 

The house fan is on because my brother cleaned out all his water containers from his RV this morning so I'm moving the air around to make sure the smell doesn't permeate. I could turn it off, but I forgot to after he left earlier. Otherwise, it's too cold outside for cooling on the inside. As I sit here, I'm wearing a fleece over a T-shirt, all-weather pants, and my bare feet have lost all feeling in them due to cold (and poor circulation). In fact, I was considering going up to take a shower after I finish this so I can warm up.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Wish List Meme, part two

26.) Favorite kids name?

Right outta the gate I go pedantic: the name of my favorite kid? or my favorite name for a person (all of whom start as children)? Where's the apostrophe supposed to be???
So, my favorite name is Josephine.
My favorite kid is (naturally) Sparky, although he's 23 so I'm stretching a bit. If I exclude "former kids" and only go with current ones....seriously this is hard. There are a lot of contenders in my life. I think I have to go with my coworker's son Ian, or maybe play family-favorites and go with my great-nephew J. I've always connected to Ian's thought processes and general persona; J. is just a tough little kid, and while I'm terribly glad I'm not his mom, he totally has my heart because he's a miracle baby with serious spunk.

27.) Do you speak any other languages?

I can make myself understood in Spanish, given a forgiving Spanish-speaker with whom to deal. I can speak some pidgin Italian and Greek, and I used to have some pidgin Russian too. I can read some French and German.

28.) Do you use Twitter?

Not very often.

29.) Do you go onto YouTube?

I watch videos that others tell me about. I don't watch "shows."

30.) Do you play Angry Birds?

Nope.

31.) Do you like Angry Birds?

Well, I don't hate them or anything, but I never really understood the attraction of the whole thing.

32.) Do you like Hello Kitty?

Not particularly, but again, it's not as if I hate them.

33.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy?

All the damn time!

34.) Who would you like to see in concert?

Do I have to be in the crowd, or can I be in a box? If there's a box available, I'd see almost anyone. Bleacher seats? Nope; I'll stay home.

35.) Can you swim well?

I have come to hate this fucking question. No, goddammit, I can't swim at all!! Stop bloody ASKING!

36.) Ever won a contest?

Yup.

37.) Ever won a giveaway?

Yup. I have a couple of books on the way from GoodReads right now, in fact.

38.) Do you get a full 8 hours of sleep every night?

Only if I stayed in bed for 12 hours would that happen lately. My recent pattern is sleep for an hour, wake up and read for awhile, sleep for another hour or two, wake up and read for awhile, sleep the rest of the night (or repeat the earlier pattern once more at 4). It's ridiculous.

39.) What tea do you like?

Hot, strong, black tea.

40.) What coffee do you like?

I don't like coffee. Blech.

41.) Do you shop at Walmart?

Not very often, not if I have other options.

42.) Do you shop at Target?

I love Target, but there isn't one near us anymore.

43.) What do you order at Second Cup?

Looks like it's a Italian soda for me. However, I don't think we have any nearby; the website is a bit borked right now so I can't tell for sure.

44.)

...is missing

45.) Do you like homemade meals?

Yup. Well, I mean, I like food, and homemade is fine.

46.) Do you like homemade baked goods?

Helz yeah!

47.) Do you shop online?

I do.

48.) Name 3 stores online stores you would like to shop at:

Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and my local indie bookstore.

49.) What holiday don't you like?

I'm not a huge fan of July 4th just because everyone around here goes completely bonkers and buys scads of fireworkswhich are illegal in this state!! For good reason: people are dumb.

50.) What do you eat more of when you're sick?

Soup.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
If I Knew You Were Comin' (1950)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is performed by a woman who is positively tickled to have unexpected company. How do you feel when people drop by unannounced?

Depends on who they are and how long they stay. I don't mind people stopping by for a visit, but I'd be less calm if someone pulled up and expected to stay a week.

2) She is clearly proud of her skills in the kitchen. Do you enjoy baking? Cooking?

I love baking. I know how to cook and once I'm actually making food, I enjoy it. But the deciding what to make and the shopping and so forth is a nightmare. I don't bake much anymore because I'm the only one who eats what I make...

3) Reference is made to hiring a band. Tell us the last time you were at an event with live music.

My nephew's wedding included a band comprised of his dad, the bride's best friend and a couple other friend. They were quite good, especially knowing they'd not played together ever...until an hour before the reception.

4) After making recordings in the early 1950s, Eileen Barton appeared on daytime TV in the early 1960s -- including a game show called Video Village. Let's say we're all headed to a TV game show taping this morning. Would you volunteer to appear as a contestant? Or would you rather just stay in the audience?

Doesn't it really depend on the show? I'd probably play, though. I'm a bit of a games junkie.

5) In 1961, Ms. Barton got married in Juarez, Mexico. What's the longest distance you've ever traveled to attend a wedding?

I've been to all three of my sister Jean's kids' weddings in England; one in Leeds, one in Leicester, and one in Bristol. I'm not going to both with the mileage, but suffice to say that we combined the first two with longer vacations around England (the first one) and in Italy (the second one). You can read all about the first two here. I didn't keep a journal with this last one.

6) In 1950, when this song was popular, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. Are you looking forward to the upcoming NHL season?

I couldn't possibly care less about hockey.

7) 1950 also marks the first time anyone in the United States paid by credit card. Do you pay with a credit card to get rewards? If yes, what rewards are you accumulating (points, cash back, airline miles)?

We use a card that gets us miles on United. That's really the only credit card we have.

8) In 1950, an athlete named Florence Chadwick swam the English Channel. Are you a good swimmer?

Nope. I'm not even a passable swimming. I'm good at sinking.

9) Random question: Think about the last "white lie" you told. Was it to spare someone's feelings, or to make your day go more smoothly?

I'm sure it was at work, something about not knowing something some patron was telling me about in great detail, or something being "no problem" when of course, it was a hassle. And it would be for both reasons; why make people feel shitty about something for no reason except to stroke my ego?

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Surf City (1963)
... Because Melissa suggested Jan and Dean. Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) When the song was written, "Surf City" was a fictitious town.* Tell us a song that is set in a real place.

One of my favorites is "Wolf Creek Pass" by C.W. McCall. My brother and I have it memorized, and he does it with the same panache as McCall, whose name was really Bill Fries. We sort of got hooked on his work when he became mayor of the tiny mountain town where we had our "cabin" when I was a kid; he wrote a number of songs about that area, which we also have permanently etched in our brains. And yes, I spoke to him a few times. And yes, I've been over Wolf Creek Pass; it's all true, except the cigar part. ;-) To my surprise, Fries is still alive (age 87!) and living in Ouray. Another reason to move there!

2) In the song, Jan and Dean sing about riding around in a 1934 station wagon, which means the car was 29 years old when the song was recorded. How old is your vehicle?

I think it's a 2013.

3) Are you good on a surf board?

Well, seeing as I can't swim, it would probably be somewhat foolhardy for me to check and see, eh?

4) When you spend time out in the sun, are you careful about applying sunscreen?

If I plan ahead, yes. I'm so rarely out in the sun anymore, though, that it's a bit of a moot point; I'm allergic to everything this time of year and mostly run from car to building to car to home.

5) Dean's original partner was Arnie Ginsburg. When Dean was drafted into the Army, Arnie didn't feel like waiting so he abandoned show business and went back to college. Today he holds several patents. What is something you wish someone would invent?

Earmuffs that selectively drown out Trump and other insane and hate-filled people.

6) Jan was a perpetual student who juggled college with recording. He not only graduated from UCLA, he completed two years of medical school at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. Have you ever considered going back to school?

Yes. It's been in the back of my mind for 30 years. I don't think I could deal with the other students these days though.

7) In 1966, Jan was sidelined by a serious car accident. During the years that he was unable to perform, partner Dean became a graphic artist. He designed logos and album covers for Steve Martin, Diana Ross and others. Do you feel you respond most to words, pictures, or music?

Words, by quite a long stretch. Pictures are dead last--I don't remember graphically at all. Music is fairly strong though.

8) In 1978, CBS made a TV movie about Jan and Dean. If they approached you about a made-for-TV movie of your life, who would you like to play you?

I've always gone with Sandra Bullock in the past and I see no reason to change.

9) Random question: Growing up, how did you learn about the birds and the bees? (From books/the web, from parents, from your friends...)

Friends and the "classes" we did in 5th and 6th grade (and the booklets we got). In 8th grade, I had to get my parents' permission to take "Family Living" and my mom couldn't sign the form any faster than she snatched it from me to do!

__________________
*Huntington Beach changed it's name to Surf City in the 1990s.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
Would You Rather Meme, part two

1. Would you rather go to a movie or to dinner alone?

   I've done dinner alone. I've never been to a movie alone. I need to remedy that. So I guess it's movie.

2. Would you rather always say everything on your mind or never speak again?

   Lately, I've been trying to do the latter, but I'm congenitally built to do the former.

3. Would you rather make a phone call or send a text?

   Text. I'm not big on phone calls.

4. Would you rather read an awesome book or watch a good movie?

   Book, of course.

5. Would you rather be the most popular person at work or school or the smartest?

   Smartest, but I'd like to not be a jerk about it.

6. Would you rather put a stop to war or end world hunger?

   I suspect that a positive way to end the causes of war would eventually sort out hunger.

7. Would you rather spend the night in a luxury hotel room or camping surrounded by beautiful scenery?

   Hotel. I hate camping.

8. Would you rather explore space or the ocean?

   Space. I would love to go to space. And seeing as how I can't swim....

9. Would you rather go deep sea diving or bungee jumping?

   See previous question re swimming. So bungees it is.

10. Would you rather be a kid your whole life or an adult your whole life?

    It's tempting to say kid, but really kids get shit on so regularly by the world that I'm going to say adult.

11. Would you rather go on a cruise with friends or with your spouse?

    I'm pretty torn on this one. Can't I go with both?

12. Would you rather lose your keys or your cell phone?

    Cell phone. Missing keys would make me nuts.

13. Would you rather eat a meal of cow tongue or octopus?

    Octopus, properly fried up.

14. Would you rather have x-ray vision or magnified hearing?

    Honestly, neither. My hearing is already too acute, and I don't really need to see through stuff.

15. Would you rather work in a group or work alone?

    Alone.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Neon Lights (2013)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Think of a neon sign you pass by often. What does it say?

The only neon that I'm aware of in my vicinity is the tiny bowling alley I pass to get to work (which usually reads BOW IN or something similar). Not a lot of neon in the exurbs. Oh, I guess there's a neon sign in for the blues club in town...but I don't really go by there much. Unless I go to the bakery next door. Which doesn't have neon. :-)

2) In the video for this song, Demi Lovato spends a great deal of time in the waer. When is the last time you swam?

I don't swim. And I haven't been in a body of water for a very VERY long time. I did see the ocean at the end of the year last year though. That was awesome.

3) The song encourages us to "look up at the sky." OK, we will. How does the sky look where you are today?

Pale blue, a few high pale clouds. Lovely.

4) Demi is a contributing editor for Seventeen magazine. When she was in junior high school, Crazy Sam eagerly awaited each new issue of Seventeen. When you were younger, what magazine(s) did you read regularly?

I'm trying to remember if I ever read Seventeen in my life.... I got Young Miss when I was really young. I don't remember if I got magazines at all as a teen; I was way more into books at that point, I think. Maybe Tiger Beat/Teen Beat/etc. but I didn't subscribe. I subscribed to Ms. in college and have gotten it pretty much ever since. And I read Time cover to cover every week in college and for at least a decade after that. Now I live for Entertainment Weekly which replaced Yahoo! as my favorite when the latter stopped publishing a dozen years ago.

5) Demi is an investor in the company that makes Texas Tea, a bottled beverage available at Whole Foods. Do you have any tea in your kitchen right now?

I have tea bags, tons of them. Lots of family and some friends drink tea, so it's a staple.

6) Demi is currently on tour, performing halfway around the world in Australia and New Zealand. Have you ever had a job that required travel?

Unless you consider delivering newspapers "travel" I have not. Beast, though....yeah. He was in Toronto/Michigan this last week and Arizona the week before that. There's probably a trip to Iowa coming up--supposed to be this coming week but it's been moved back. At the end of March he was in the Dakotas and Minnesota. His two-year-old car has over 60,000 miles on it and he's got like a zillion United Airlines miles accrued, not to mention all the free hotel nights with Holiday Inn companies. We travel free on vacation a lot.

7) Demi had a recurring role on the show Glee. That show's series finale aired last month. Is there a show that's no longer on that you miss?

I liked CSI:NY and it was just hitting its stride in the last couple of seasons. There are loads of others from the distant past. M*A*S*H comes to mind...

8) Fast-growing fast food chain Chipotle reports that their top sellers include a burrito bowl with steak or chicken, salad with chili-corn salsa, and a soft taco. Which of these would you order?

Give me the chicken burrito bowl please. I could probably make it last for at least two meals, too!

9) What beverage would you like to enjoy with your burrito bowl, taco or salad?

Diet Pepsi/Coke.

I'm confused about the last two questions--what is the connection between Demi/this song and Chipotle? Did I miss something?

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Stop! In the Name of Love (1965)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

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

Good golly it's been several years. The last family wedding I was at, I'm sure. So, about 2011. Maybe I should buy a dress--I don't own any--for Sparky's graduation....

2) With a record 12 #1 hits, the Supremes remain America's best-selling vocal group. This must have been hard for Betty McGlown, the fourth Supreme, who left the group before they recorded their first song. Can you think of an opportunity you missed?

I don't tend to dwell on missed opportunities. Nothing to be done about them, and there haven't been any major ones like this. No one I dated became famous, or rich, or a criminal. No big jobs or lotteries were missed by some random minor issue.

3) When "the girls" (Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Flo Ballard) first started hanging around Motown, founder Berry Gordy was reluctant to let them record. After all, they were still in high school. They refused to give up and eventually convinced him to let them add hand claps and finally back up vocals to recordings by other Motown artists. Tell us about a time when your persistence paid off.

My marriage. That's all.

4) 50 years after its release, "Stop! In the Name of Love" is one of the most popular karaoke songs. Do you know the lyrics?

Of course. I've listened to that song for my entire life, probably at least 5-10 times each year at least in various formats, editions, and situations.

5) There's a children's playground named in Diana Ross' honor within New York's Central Park. It includes swings, slides, rope bridges and a fountain. When you played in the park, what did you run to first?

Swings. I liked the monkey bars too.

6) Diana stumbled in her high heels and broke her ankle as she left the stage after a November 2012 concert. What do you have on your feet right now?

Black sox. Thinking about adding a blanket to them.

7) Ever the trooper, she honored her commitment to perform at a White House-sponsored Christmas concert just weeks later, even though her leg was still in a cast. Tell us about a time when you "played hurt."

I'm a mom. I played hurt for the first 5 years of my kid's life. One day when he was 3 or so, I remember vividly that I felt sick to my stomach all day. We were on our way to the grocery store and I sat down on the top step from the living room and said, "I'm sorry, kiddo, I just don't think I can do this." I kept it together in a low-impact let's-watch-TV-all-day kind of way till Beast came home from work. Within 5 minutes I was bringing up breakfast and anything not firmly attached to my insides, and Beast was calling the library to tell them I wouldn't be coming to work that night.

8) Young Diana Ross was a good student and a tough competitor who made her school's swim team. Are you a good swimmer?

Hah! I am a good drowner.

9) Diana's older sister, Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, was the first African American woman to be appointed dean of an American medical school. Decades ago, Barbara juggled post-graduate studies and raising small children. Are you good at multi-tasking?

Yes. All of my jobs have involved multi-tasking: teaching, mentoring, parenting, librarian-ing...yup. Juggling is me.

Friday 5

(Link in meme-roll)
Swimmingly

1. Where and how did you learn to swim?

I didn't/haven't. I hate having water in my ears and I can't see anything without my glasses so it's an altogether spooky experience for me to be in a pool.

2. How far away is the nearest swimmable body of fresh water, and how’s the swimming there?

We live in a town with "Lake" in the name and our house is, according to Google Maps 1.8 miles from the lake (via roads--we're actually closer than that as the crow flies). However, I wouldn't even want to dangle my feet in the water of that lake; it's renowned for being full of things that cause lake rash.

3. How long has it been since you’ve been for a swim?

Uhm, well...I haven't been in a body of water (river/lake/pool) in about 8 years. I don't even have a suit anymore.

4. What’s the nearest community swimming pool like?

It's quite nice with lots of fun features and slides for kids, plus a lap pool for serious swimmers and a zero-depth pool for babies and toddlers.

5. What experience do you have with jumping off stuff and into water?

That would be zero intentional experience. I've fallen in a few creeks, but I definitely do not do this intentionally. See #1.

Blogthings

You Are Bohemian

You are a free-spirit, and you always make sure to make your summer count. You are up for an adventure. Of all the types, you are most likely to crash a private pool. You love to go a little wild during the summer. You are not one to pass up a day by the pool, but you'll be ready to go have some fun after relaxing all day. You don't plan your summer, and you love to live in the moment. You make lifetime memories by staying impulsive.

What's Your Poolside Personality?

Uhm, this is so very not-true. In almost every way. Then again, I'm so rarely "poolside" that it could hardly be accurate no matter what the result.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
90, part 1

1. What was the highlight of your week?

Staying calm, going to meetings, and no anxiety attacks. I'm counting from Monday morning. Things could change any second.

2. Whose car were you in last?

My own.

3. When is the next time you will kiss someone?

Today. I mean, Beast is home for a couple of days. ;-)

4. What color shirt are you wearing?

I'm in the teal Tshirt from the 2010 Triennium (though I don't know anything about the site I snagged the photo from).

5. How long is your hair?

Fairly short. I can grab enough to pony at my nape, but only just, and it really wouldn't stay in..

6. Are you good looking?

I don't think so. I'm not butt-ugly, though, either.

7. Last movie you watched?

Can't remember. It's been awhile since I was in a theater.

8. Who were you with?

Probably Beast. Or Sparky.

9. Last thing you ate?

An untoasted bagel with Swiss and American cheese.

10. Last thing you drank?

I'm currently working on my second diet Dr. Pepper of the day.

11. When was the last time you had your heart broken?

Last Sunday. ... No, really; it's semi-constant.

12. Who came over last?

No one. Well, we had a political caller on Friday asking if we'd put a sign in our yard for our state rep when the election gets closer.

13. Are you happy right now?

Hmmm, that is the $64,000 question. I'm not unhappy....

14. What did you say last?

"You sleepy?" to Beast because, well, he looks it.

15. Where is your phone?

My cell is on the charger in the dining room. The nearest landline extension is between me and Beast on the table where it lives.

16. What color are your eyes?

Hazel.

17. Are you left-handed?

Nope.

18. Spell your name without vowels:

"Ct. Str." No, that's not my real name. I will say, however, that my full last name has three vowels and ten consonants which might explain why I don't do these kinds of things, eh?

19. Do you have any pets?

Two guinea pigs.

20. Favorite Vacation?

One of them? Can't choose just one. There've been a lot of good ones. Maybe our trip to England/Greece/Germany (the EGG trip) when Sparky was 8. It was pretty spectacular. I don't even remember any arguments.

21. What do you dislike currently?

Things that are out of my control, and having to accept that.

22. What are you listening to?

Right now, NASCAR is running at Pocono.

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

The assurance of recovery.

24. What is your favorite scent?

Vanilla. I also like the smell of 'clean.'

25. Who makes you happiest?

Silence and a good book.

26. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Reading. No, wait; I think I was asleep, finally, by then. Thank you, melatonin!

27. When is your birthday?

November.

28. Who has the same phone as you?

Beast has the exact same phone. He also has the next 'edition' for his work phone. It's a little confusing--there's not a great deal of visual difference between the Samsung 3G and the 4G. At least he has different cases for them, though.

29. Last time you went swimming in a pool?

I don't swim, but the last time I was in, or even AT, a pool for any reason was probably close to a decade ago.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Vacation (1982)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) Do you know how to water ski?

I think, since I can't swim, water-skiing will be remaining outside my skill-set.

2) Do you have 2014 vacation plans?

Not yet. Probably should think about this, eh?

3) Do you have a passport?

Yes. Maybe I should use it this summer.

4) If you took a 7-night cruise, could you completely unplug -- no phone calls, no texts, no internet?

Probably not. Well, maybe. Be interesting to try, eh?

5) Do you own a travel alarm clock?

Somewhere...? Maybe...? We've been using our phones as alarm clocks for so long, I don't even know where to look for the travel alarm.

6) Though the Go-Gos broke up in 1985, they frequently reunite for live performances. What's the last concert you attended?

Big one was U2. I've been to smaller, local ones since then.

7) Their first hit was "Our Lips Are Sealed." Can you be trusted with a secret?

Yes. Well, usually; there are a few I've shared because they needed to be shared for safety's sake.

8) In 1982, when this song was popular, the comedy Tootsie was in theaters. What movie makes you laugh?

Well, not that one. "Heathers" still elicits a chuckle. So does "Groundhog Day" for odd reasons, and "Caddyshack." The "Airplane" movies... Nothing much current, though I did like "Bridesmaids."

9) Sam is chewing on a Tums as she composes these questions. What's the last over-the-counter medication that you took?

Ironically, Prilosec. I'm on a 30-day course.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. N is for NAEVUS: Do you have a birthmark? If so, and you can share in mixed company, where is it located?

I have one on my right earlobe. It's fairly inconspicuous. There are rumors of others, as yet unconfirmed.

2. N is for NATATORIUM: Do you own a swimming pool? If not, have you always wished you did?

No, and no. I'd like a hot tub, but the upkeep sounds like a PITA.

3. N is for NEIGHBOR: Of your immediate neighbors, what percentage of them do you know by name?

I would say 85-90%. I don't ever remember the next-door woman's name, but I know her husband and kids (mostly). In ten years, I've spoken to her 3 times--she's NEVER outside--even less than I am. And the rest I know by name.

4. N is for NERVOUS: How nervous do you tend to get? Do you stress out easily?

I get anxious, yes. Overthinking is my middle name.

5. N is for NOTES: When you want to take notes about something, do you prefer to write them on paper or type them electronically?

Either way. I tend to do more writing, I think, when it comes to jotting things that pop into my head.

6. N is for NOVEL: What’s the name of the last novel you finished reading?

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. It's quite an odd book: beautifully-written and -balanced about a competition between two powerful magicians, a competition they did not instigate but are forced to carry out. Not linear. Lovely, but strange.

Saturday 9

Endless Summer

1) The best-selling Beach Boys album of all time is this two disc greatest hits compilation. Do you have favorite Beach Boys song?

I actually think I own this LP set.... There are so many good songs by these guys. I'll go with "Good Vibrations" with the option to change my mind if I think of a different one later.

2) The original members of the group were the Wilson brothers, their cousin Mike and a friend from the neighborhood. Have you ever worked with a family member?

I worked with/for my dad a bit when I was quite young, but otherwise no. I'm pretty sure my siblings and I would have killed each other, and, while Beast and I work ok together on projects, I don't think we could work a job together.

3) Originally released in the mid-1970s, Endless Summer was one of the first fast-selling albums sold on TV. Have you ever picked up the phone and purchased anything directly from TV?

I have not.

4) The Beach Boys are very popular in Australia. Have you ever been Down Under?

Not yet. Someday I hope to.

5) Actor John Stamos played bongos on the Beach Boys' hit, "Kokomo." In his younger days, Stamos was Blackie on the daytime drama, General Hospital. Have you ever followed a soap opera?

I watched GH when Demi Moore was on it; I think Stamos was there too, towards the end of my interest. And my college roommate was a big DOOL fan in the 80s and I was occasionally trapped by that, and then a coworker who insisted on watching it when she was at lunch. I tried hard to not schedule my lunch at the same time, and not only because of that.

6) Many Beach Boys songs revolve around the surf. How are you on a surf board?

Uh, yeah, the whole swim thing...no. Moving on....

7) Would you prefer summer to be endless? Or do you enjoy the changing seasons?

I like seasonal change, but I'm not a huge fan of bitter winter.

8) Do your summer 2013 plans include a trip to a waterpark?

Nope. Never.

9) Describe your swimsuit.

I think there are two in my dresser, probably neither of which fit me anymore. They're at least 6 or 7 years old. I haven't worn either of them in eons. Should probably just toss 'em.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Wackadoo Meme part 2

30.] What brand of batteries do you usually get?

Energizer? I think? However, we go through plenty of Duracells too. It's more a matter of which I see first and which are on sale.

31.] Are any of your friends pregnant or have kids?

I will be 50 years old in a few short months. Some of my friends have grandkids!! One of my nieces will be delivering a little boy this month, and one of my nephews is expecting (technically, yes, it is his wife who is expecting) later this year. My oldest niece has an almost-four-year-old, and another niece has an eight-month-old. There will be loads of second-cousins running around very shortly.

32.] What is in your medicine cabinet?

I have a GIANT cupboard I use for medical stuff because our actual medicine cabinets are too small to be functional. The cabinet in my bathroom has deodorant, perfume, face soap on my shelf, and Beast's shelf has a razor, shaving stuff, and cologne. Sparky's has an old toothbrush, some hair gel, and...maybe something else, I can't remember.

33.] What's your favorite aspect of the natural world?

The mutability of it. It's never the same from minute to minute.

34.] What's your favorite man made thing?

Medical science, followed fairly closely by electronics.

35.] Can you whistle properly?

I can whistle a tune. I can't do the piercing attention-getting whistle, though, more's the pity.

36.] What song do you think is the most widely heard in the world?

"Happy Birthday" has to be up there somewhere near the top.

37.] Where's the strangest place a fast food restaurant was located?

Uhm...in the sense that it is no longer there, or just a strange place for a fast-food place? To be honest, this question has caught me completely off-guard and I can't think of anything at all.

38.] What states surround your state? Or are you not land locked?

There is water on parts of two sides of my state, and it's in the middle of the country. If you're a regular reader, you probably have a general idea of where I am, and that's about as much as I'm willing to share.

39.] Do you own binoculars or monoculars? What do you use them for?

We have binoculars somewhere. I can't use them: they make me nauseous because of my glasses.

40.] Do you ever wish you had a telescope on the roof or attic to stargaze?

Nope. Not my thing, not at all. See above re binoculars.

41.] What's your favorite chocolate bar?

I like Butterfingers and Heath/Skor bars.

42.] Do you fall asleep easy in cars? How about planes, trains and boats?

I do. I can crash for an hour in the passenger seat five minutes into the trip. Aside from the fact that planes don't make it easy to get comfortable, I have no problem sleeping at any time while traveling, which is a lovely gift primarily because it keeps me from getting motion sick.

43.] Would you rather live a year of your life in every major country or stay in the same place you live forever without vacations?

Choice one. I like travel. I'm also becoming massively tired of being here where I live. I have now lived in this area longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life. This makes me incredibly sad.

44.] What will you not tolerate in a person?

I'm generally pretty forgiving, but I don't put up with delusion or meanness.

45.] Do you forgive others easier or yourself? Why is this?

Depends on the 'sin' I"m forgiving. Usually I'm harder on myself, but there are certain people and certain issues that are hard to get past.

46.] How was God made, if [H]e exists?

Admittedly I'm not young, but I was NOT here when God "was made" for cryin' out loud! Ask Him, or Her, why dontcha? And if you get an answer, let me know what it is.

47.] Have you ever done aqua aerobics or polo?

I did water aerobics when I was pregnant.

48.] What age were you when you learned how to swim?

Fifty-plus. As in, it hasn't happened yet.

49.] What shows or characters scared you as a child?

EVERY-damn-thing scared me as a child: Mr Bumble in "Oliver" (the movie and the play), loud noises, people who looked different from my family, darkness, dreams.... Then again, when I was a toddler, there was a lot of justified fear in my family's life.

50.] Do you stay up all night on New Years Eve/Day or go to bed after 12am?

I try to make it till midnight, or I hit the sheets by ten so I'm solidly out of it when the fireworks start around here. If I'm up though, there's no sleeping till closer to 1. Mostly I go to bed early so I can watch the Tournament of Roses parade in the morning.

51.] What's something unusual currently in your fridge?

Leftover garlic chicken--mostly the broccoli bits since Beast didn't want them. I have to take it to the garbage this afternoon. Too old to (safely) eat.

52.] How about your freezer?

I've got a rice-filled sock in there, I think. For muscle aches and pains and injuries.

53.] What could you be doing now that is more productive?

Emptying out the old food, cleaning the guinea pig cage, taking a nap, working on the project "assigned" at today's after-church meeting (Beast and I are splitting it up), reading, tidying my desk....

54.] Give me some lyrics from the song that's stuck in your head?

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match/Find me a find, catch me a catch.../...For Papa, make him a scholar/For Mama, make him rich as a king/For me, well, I wouldn't holler if he were as handsome as anything!"

55.] What's your favorite type of firework?

I like the ones that drizzle down like weeping willows.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
40 of The Most Random Questions Meme, Part Two

21) What's something you've always wanted?

Long straight hair that always looks perfect.

22) Do you have hairy legs?

Not so much; I've shaved recently.

23) What does "Semper Fidelis" stand for?

It doesn't STAND FOR anything; it isn't an abbreviation. It MEANS "Always faithful." And yes, I knew the translation without checking, even without having any Latin lessons, or anyone in the Marines or any of the several others who use this as their motto. ;-)

24) Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?

I can't swim. But ocean, if I could. Certainly NOT the lake near where I live!

25) Do you wear a lot of black?

I wear black 2-4 times a week in some part of my wardrobe.

26) Describe your hair:

Ironic in view of the first answer I gave. My hair is wavy/curly (more at the wavy end of things), dark brown and turning white, which means the white hairs are even more twisty than my usual hair texture. Awesome. It's also too short to ponytail anymore.

27) Do you have Entomophobia?

I'm not a huge fan of bugs, but I'm not afraid of them. I live in a not-tropical climate, so there aren't too many bugs to fear around here except killer mosquitoes and ticks.

28) Are you an adult?

Most of the time.

29) Do you own or rent?

We have a mortgage.

30) Do you have a tan?

Hah! Perish the thought. I have faint freckles at this point.

31) Are you addicted to TV?

Not really. The computer, but not TV.

32) Do you enjoy spending time with your In-laws?

My parents-in-law are dead, but I loved spending time with them. Beast's brother is being a bit of a dickhead lately, and all the folks who have married-in are about as usual for them. On balance, the answer is yes.

33) Are you a sugar freak?

Uhm, yes.

34) What happened to Larry King?

?? Several heart attacks, even more marriages, and old age aren't enough??

35) What sign are you?

This one.

36) What do you wish on your birthday?

Not with any anticipation of having it granted.

37) Who did you copy this from?

See top of page.

38) Do you eat breakfast?

Yup.

39) What would you name the royal baby?

How about John (or Jane) Bull?

40) Do you buy a newspaper?

Very rarely.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
40 of The Most Random Questions Meme, Part One

1) What side of the heart do you draw first?

The side to my left, I think. But I just checked to be sure and I can go either way. I'm assuming this is the traditional "valentine" heart, by the way, since I'm pretty sure I couldn't draw either side of an anatomically-correct heart.

2) Can you dive without plugging your nose?

I can't swim, so the whole diving thing doesn't happen. So, I guess that means nose=unplugged.

3) What color is your razor?

Peach and white. I don't buy pink if I can avoid it.

4) What is your blood-type?

O+ Yeah, they love me at the blood centers.

5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?

No one. Really? Yuck.

6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you?

Oh, hell, I don't know. Probably like most mythology, whatever people say about me is based on a sprinkling of fact.

7) How do you feel about carrots?

I like them much better now than I did as a child.

8) How many chairs at the dining room table?

Four. There are four back-up chairs in the front closet, and we have a window seat that has been employed as seating as well.

9) Which is the best Spice Girl?

Baby. She's the only one I haven't heard from or about in a decade.

10) Do you know what time it is?

Yes. ... Oh, you want me to tell you the time? It's 18:44:51 GMT -6 as I type this.

11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song?

...the fuuuu...?

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?

Phone for help, yell for help, pound on the door....sit and wait. I wonder if I started singing if people would rescue me faster...?

13) What’s your favorite kind of gum?

Peppermint. I'm a huge Eclipse chewer. ...er, well, I mean I frequently grab a piece instead of eating.

14) All’s fair in love and war?

No. I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing fair at all about this world.

15) Do you have a crush on anyone?

I ... don't think so? Maybe a little mental crush on the Prez.

16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning?

I can compose a coherent sentence using only words I know, which is a bit of an improvement over this question. And yes, I do occasionally use words I'm not 100% sure of in order to sound more impressive to impressionable people. I'm not proud.

17) Do you like to sleep?

Oh, hell YES! However, over the past month or so, I've been having some very disturbing dreams; not nightmares, just ... uncomfortable, stress-y, strange. Hard to explain.

18) Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings time?

I know two states that don't.

19) Do you know the words to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart?

OK, that one I do know, mostly.

20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang?

No. I have no interest in driving around in a banana.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Live and Let Die

1) "Live and Let Die" was nominated for an Oscar as best song. Do you have a favorite movie song?

I'm partial to "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago. I also like The Proclaimers' "500 Miles" from Benny & Joon.

2) The latest Bond movie, Skyfall, is crazy successful. Have you seen it/do you want to see it?

I have never seen a Bond film start to finish. Why start now?

3) What do you think makes Bond movies so enduringly popular?

I can't explain it; they seem ridiculous and extremely sexist, although I hear the latest one isn't quite so much of the latter.

4) Do you have a favorite among the actors who have played "Bond, James Bond?"

Remington St ... er, that is, Pierce Brosnan. Drool. I always liked Roger Moore too; he seemed like a fun guy. Mind you, I've clearly never seen either of them doing their Bond impersonation.

5) Bond orders martinis -- "shaken, not stirred." What's your regular drink order?

Stoli, rocks. Or tonic if I'm feeling particularly weak.

6) Moving from the bar to breakfast -- do you have a favorite cereal?

Froot Loops. I like Grape Nuts ok too.

7) Let's daydream about warm weather. Would you rather swim in a lake, the ocean, or an outdoor pool?

I can't swim, so...yeah. I'll do my swimming in the bathtub, thanks.

8) Did you get 8 hours' sleep last night?

I fell asleep sometime after 4 this morning and was up at 7:30 for a haircut. Tried for a nap at noon, but that didn't work. I'm so fucking tired right now I am having to type everything twice. [Peeerce?, feeling week?, bahtub?)

9) What are you wearing on your feet right now?

Not . a . thing. Not even nail polish.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Imaginary Meme, Parts Four & Five

61. Ocean or pool?

I can't swim, so if there's a big deal to be made over the presence of water, I'd prefer it be 'natural' water.

62. Fridays or Ruby Tuesdays?

The nearest Ruby's is easily 35-40 minutes away; Fridays is "merely" 25 minutes from us. However, we are getting a Panera in town; w00t!!

63. Did you want to go to college?

I could not wait to get to college! I started planning on it seriously in 7th grade. "Get me the fuck OUTTA here!!"

64. What did you [do] last time at a mall?

I'm not sure how to answer this. I haven't been to a mall in well over a year, as far as I can remember. That was probably with Amy, which meant talking, wandering, ignoring the guys who wanted us to try out their massage chairs or hyperbaric chambers or whatever, giggling, and yeah, I guess we bought some stuff too.

65. Which close friend have you known the longest?

L. (since I was 5), though she's in Colorado and I'm ... not anymore. B. since freshman year in high school. J. & S. since the first week of freshman year of college. Beast from later that year. And Amy since 2003ish. There are others, but those are the biggest guns.

66. Why do you like the music you do?

"Good beat, easy to dance to." Lyrics? Meh, they're overrated.

67. Do you read much?

Not as much as I should.

68. Favorite country?

I love the U.S. But visiting Canada, the U.K., Italy, Greece, Mexico, and parts of Russia...sigh. I sorta do get homesick for those places I've visited and loved.

69. What is something you wish you were better at?

Remembering things.

70. What’s your favorite album/CD?

There are several of Melissa Etheridge's that I could listen to on repeat most of a day.

71. What's a good dinner order?

I suspect that if you order ANYthing from me, you'll be liable to get egged in a very non-edible sense.

72. Planes or boats?

Automobiles? I think the answer to this question is wholly dependent on where/how far I'm going.

73. One rumor that’s been spread about you:

"Don't make her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry." This is not an untrue rumor....

74. Who is your newest friend?

Hmmm, I'm not sure. On Facebook, I think it's the oldest son of our current pastor, whom I don't actually know very well. IRL, I guess maybe Sue at church, the 'newest' Sue. Church seems to be filled with Sues, so it matters which one. ;-)

75. Have you ever sat on a rooftop?

Yes. Yes I have. Not for MANY years now, but I have done so.

76. Was your last text useful?

Probably not. I haven't texted today, since I never picked up my phone off the nightstand after getting up this morning. Probably yesterday's last text was something like, "On my way home; cya soon."

77. Favorite soda?

Diet Dr. Pepper, though I call it "pop." Speaking of which, can someone just try to explain this whole "Dr. Pepper Ten" thing to me? Diet Dr. Pepper with 10 calories added back in, and marketed just to men? WTF??!

78. Do you like yourself?

There are days...and then there are other days....

79. The worst weather: Hot or cold?

I'm coming around to preferring cooler weather. I just cannot sleep in warm weather and I generally feel sort of sticky/dirty all the time when it's hot out. As my sister told me nearly 40 years ago, at least when it's cold you can add another layer....

80. Do you play an instrument?

We've covered this elsewhere: flute, some piano, handbells. Kazoo. Owl-hooting hands. I think that's probably all I'm willing to admit to.

81. What’s your favorite action movie?

I do like the Lethal Weapon movies. Die Hard 1 and 2 were good. And the Matrix trilogy.

82. Have (or are) you ever been involved someone much older than you?

Well, only to the extent that they're part of my family. Beast is actually (very) slightly younger than me.

83. Do you believe in lust at first sight?

Of course I do.

84. Favorite type of venomous snake?

OK, props for a brand-new question!! But, "favorite" venomous snake?? I don't really like any venomous snakes on principle.

85. Do you drink alcohol?

Only ethanol, and only good stuff. I sneer at the cheap shit, in general, at this point. If I'm going to drink, which I do rarely, I'm drinking quality.

86. If you wanted to talk to someone who'd lift your spirits, who'd you call?

Rachel. Or Liz. Or Beth. All three work with me.

87. What do you wear to feel sexy?

This is not a feeling I find myself looking for regularly. At all, in fact. So...I probably don't.

88. Do you like to learn?

It's my most favorite thing!!

89. Have you ever been hit on by someone who really overestimated their attractiveness?

Most men seem to be entirely clueless about their overall lack of good points in this area. I have no idea what the deal is here, but yeah, guys, you're just not all that and a bag of chips. [I'd probably go for the chips.]

90. Where did you last go on vacation?

Hmm. I guess the last vacation was our trip to Colorado last July while Sparky was in Germany.

91. Dallas (as in J.R. & Bobby) returns this week. What film or TV series would you loved to be resurrected?

It would be quite weird to see someone try Gilligan's Island, but I wouldn't watch it. My sitcom days are behind me.

92. Explain your karma beliefs.

Don't really believe in karma as such, but I do believe that what you get out of life is in pretty close approximation to what you put into it. If you are a sinkhole of negativity, chances are good that you're going to get handed a lot of that back, or at least you're going to perceive that's what life is about. Doesn't mean that I think bad things ONLY happen to bad people--that's just not true--but it does mean that one's ability to handle bad things is part of knowing how to deal with whatever life throws at you. ... And I think I just completely confused myself!

93. When do you think that you have a hard life?

I don't. Not very often. I try very hard not to dwell on the depressing things that have happened, because really, what's the point of doing that?

94. Favorite comic strip?

Still "Bloom County."

95. Have you ever broken a heart?

I've torn a few, by accident, no doubt.

96. Should pot be legalized?

Yes. YES! A thousand-million times YES!

97. Have you ever gone skinny dipping with someone that you shouldn't have?

I've never gone skinny dipping PERIOD.

98. What do you do when you're down?

Work on my bouncing skills. [actually, I do a lot of crying and beating myself up over things]

99. Last time you were really angry?

Just about exactly 8 days ago I was as angry as I've been in the past, oh, 2-3 years, if not longer. I could say as angry as I've EVER been, but that seems to be a stretch, but I was well past annoyed for sure!

100. What is your favorite flavor in general?

Mint. Plain mint; no chocolate, no vanilla, nothing cute, just mint.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Imaginary Meme, Part Three

41. Growing up, who was the easier mark: Mom or Dad?

Dad, totally; his currency was guilt while Mom's was yelling and/or spanking.

42. What is the stupidest pet that you ever saw?

I've never really understood why people want ferrets; they smell weird. And I do NOT get fish as pets. We have had a large fish tank at work for 12 years; I still don't get the attraction.

43. Tell us about a band whose every CD is a "must have."

I don't think there's one that every single person should own but IMHO everyone should have listened to Sgt. Pepper at least once.

44. Where you surprised when Jim Parsons came out?

Who? What? Do I care if/when someone "comes out"? Only if it's someone in my family, and then only because it would be a relief to have it out in the open.

45. Have you ever shoplifted?

They're way too heavy for me....

46. We currently have a person who plays both this meme and Saturday 9 who signs in to Mr. Linky every week. Yet, if you click on that link, you are told that only "members" can read the blog. Why do you think that person even bothers to sign in or for that matter, do the meme? (Don't misunderstand, we have no rules and we aren't angry. But it is damn peculiar, no?)

I'd guess they don't realize they have that setting flipped that way, or they haven't thought it through. I think "peculiar" is being kind though; I'd say that whoever this is is just really fuckin' dumb.

47. Have you ever driven a Ferrari?

No. But I got the shirt anyway, although mine has a zip front rather than buttons.

48. What do you call those little plastic things on the ends of shoelaces?

They're aglets. Never ask a librarian a trivia question....

49. Have you ever walked more than a mile?

Of course. At one time even. I used to hike around the mountains for a full day, for Pete's sake! Even last year in Italy and England, I walked miles every day.

50. Do you believe in magic?

"...in a young girl's heart"?
I believe in magic tricks, but not controlled magical occurrences.

51. Have you ever been arrested?

I've gotten two traffic tickets, so yes.

52. Have you ever skinny dipped?

Nope. Can't swim, so the whole thing seems a bit dubious to me.

53. Explain what you think about hippies.

I don't, if I can help it. Seriously, the only true hippies who are left are somewhere between 60 and 75 years old. That's terrifying.

54. New York or California?

For what? California has better wine, weather, and accents, New York has better Revolutionary War sites and trees.

55. Have you ever been dumped?

Nope. Unless we're talking about friends (not dates).

56. What are you wearing right now?

SoulSeed T (ecru, white and yellow), gray short yoga pants, underwear, rings, earrings, nail polish, and hair gel.

57. John Edwards had a mistrial. How do you think he conducted himself after the verdict?

lol...I thought that said "John Edwards had a minstrel"!! I think I need either a nap or new glasses. John Edwards' life and mine have no lines of intersection, so I don't really much care; he's irrelevant to me.

58. Did you watch the series finale of House?

I have not watched one scene of that show. It just does not appeal.

59. You may need to go back a long way if you are old like Harriet. Who was the last person who asked you out? (Or that asked you out. Same dumb question either way.)

No, a person isn't a "that", so they are different questions. And well, if we're talking dates, that would be Beast. Out shopping or for a platonic day out, probably Amy.

60. Do you have any collections?

Innumerable. We're now naming all our dust-bunnies, for instance.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The 99'er Meme: Part 1

1) Put your iTunes on shuffle. Give me the first 6 songs that pop up.

I don't use iTunes, but I'll give you the last six and the next six tunes on Jango.
Last six:

1. I Want Candy (Bow Wow Wow)
2. Zarartou (Cheb Mami)
3. Mr. President (LL Cool J)
4. Our Time Now (Plain White T's)
5. Over My Head (The Summer Obsession)
6. Shake It (Metro Station)

Next six:

1. Wire (U2)
2. Sitting on a Fence (The Housemartins)
3. More Than This (Live) (Roxy Music)
4. Castanets (Alejandro Escovedo)
5. Chances Are (Sheryl Crow)
6. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (Alison Moyet)

2) If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

I would love to meet Nelson Mandela.

3) Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.

"[believ-]ing our encounter with the Divine to be the definitive one. In..." from The Evolution of Faith (Phillip Gulley), one of the six books equidistant from me.

4) What do you think about most?

I try hard not to think about much.

5) What does your latest text message from someone else say?

"Hmmmmm. Calzone please." from Beast about 3 hours ago.

6) Do you sleep with or without clothes on?

I can't sleep naked, unless I'm really hot or really sick.

7) What's your strangest talent?

Alphabetizing at warp speed? Or, while waiting for a cop to show up, walking by a sign and noting that the handwritten part says "Welome" instead of "Welcome."

8) Women.... (finish the sentence); Men.... (finish the sentence)

Women need to man up; men need to turn down the macho.

9) Ever had a poem or song written about you?

Yes. Embarrassing. I have made it a practice never to date or hang around poets or lyricists since then.

10) When is the last time you played the air guitar?

I've hired that out: Sparky takes care of that for me. So, yeah, about ten years. ;-)

11) Do you have any strange phobias?

I'm said this a million times: all my fears make perfect sense. To me.

12) Ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?

I don't think so. Except Kleenex. And a nasopharyngeal tube...well, a doctor did that... medications.... yeah, nothing that shouldn't have gone there, for sure.

13) What's your religion?

I'm an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. Impressed? Don't be. Not for that. In all seriousness, I like PCUSA polity because it makes more sense than other options in running life inside a church.

14) If you are outside, what are you most likely doing?

Walking to or from my car. This time of year, it will be done as quickly as safely possible.

15) Do you prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it?

BE. HIND.

16) Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band?

U2.

17) What was the last lie you told?

I can't think of one. Maybe that I "had" to bug outta church before the service ended this morning. I could've probably stayed and helped put the bells away, etc., but I was worried about Beast and about getting to work on time.

18) Do you believe in karma?

Not. As. Such. If you go over to the right-hand column and search for "believe karma" you can see how I've answered this question a kabillion other times.

19) What does your URL mean?

Really? You must ask this? How long have you been using the internet?

20) What is your greatest weakness; your greatest strength?

Greatest weakness: I tend toward a short fuse and not suffering fools gladly. Greatest strength: I laugh inappropriately. For instance, today I was called "the b-word" and "rude-ass" and nearly cracked up at the absurdity of an adult saying "the b-word" instead of just saying "bitch" and the fact that this guy was so far past rude on the Rudeness Scale but calling ME rude-ass.

21) Who is your celebrity crush?

Still crushing on William Petersen. And George Eads.

22) Have you ever gone skinny dipping?

Nope. Can't swim, so I don't even go non-skinny-dipping.

23) How do you vent your anger?

There is yelling, there is crying, there is blood rushing to my face (and if things are really bad, rushing OUT of my face), I see red.... Honestly, all of these things will happen given enough provocation, but not necessarily in the order listed.

24) Do you have a collection of anything?

S&Ps. And dust.

25) Do you prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online?

Talking on the phone without video. Sparky moves around too much for me to be really comfortable Skyping with him; it causes motion-sickness if I watch him too closely.