Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Papa Loved Mama (1992)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Then try this. It's not very good quality, and it may have been pulled by the time you get over to it, because Garth doesn't like YouTube videos. Sorry.

1) This song is about a trucking "accident" that was covered extensively in the local paper. What's the big news story in your neighborhood?

Right now, for some reason everyone's talking about the fact that we're scheduled for a major snow dump over the next 30 hours or so. Hello? It's winter in the upper midwestern U.S.--we're supposed to get snow this time of year! Also on deck is the annual rodent tribute party. Whee.

2) The action centers around a motel. When is the last time you stayed in a hotel or motel?

When we were in Pasadena at the beginning of the year. I'm hotel-bound Tuesday night too, so I can arrive at the hospital at 6 without having to get up at 3 a.m.

3) In the song, Papa wants to surprise Mama with a bottle of wine. Do you prefer white or red?

Red gives me a headache so I mostly drink white these days on the rare occasions when I drink anything.

4) This week's featured artist, Garth Brooks, has said that the late Chris LeDoux -- singer, sculptor and rodeo champion -- is his hero. If you had to single out someone this morning as your hero, who would it be?

My grandparents, who homesteaded (unsuccessfully) 100 years ago. They went through hell trying to prove their claim, losing all their money and a daughter in the process.

5) Before he was able to support himself as a singer, Brooks was a bouncer at a bar. Have you ever had an encounter with a bouncer (either that he threw you out or came to your aid)?

I have. Back in the day, a group of people we were out with were not allowed in a dive-bar because Beast and I were wearing Harley gear. In Milwaukee, where H-D makes their engines. Uhm, that was rather silly.

6) According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), Garth surpassed The Beatles as the top selling artist of the last 25 years. Whose music do you listen to more -- Garth Brooks or the The Beatles?

I'd say it's about equal, and fairly infrequent. I'm tired of the Liverpool Four (sorry, Bud), and it just never occurs to me to dig out Garth.

7) While 1992 was a banner year for Garth Brooks, it was a bad one for another country legend, Willie Nelson. Willie ended up paying the IRS more than $9,000,000. When you file your taxes, will you qualify for a refund? Or will you owe money?

I think we'll probably get a refund. We usually do. I think. Really, Beast does all the work, so I do not know for sure.

8) When this song was popular in 1992, Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, was in all the papers and magazines for her controversial conduct -- including being photographed sunbathing topless with a man not her husband. Today no one seems to care much about what Sarah Ferguson does. Can you think of someone else whose fame was fleeting?

Sarah was on the Today show just last week!! I don't think she's exactly unfamous, especially now that her ex, Prince Andrew, is back in the news for some bad behavior of a similar sort of his own. And my gosh, does he look OLD! Anyway, let's see....who else from that era has fallen off the regular news cycle? Hmmm, hey! Remember Bryan Adams??

9) This is Super Bowl weekend. Where will you be watching The Big Game?

We'll be watching the ads in our living room, probably a little later than "live." We want both teams to lose because of their coaches (and some of the players too). I loathe--loathe!!--Belichick and Beast can't stand Pete Carroll. So, we may DVR the game and fast-forward through the sports in order to see the new ads.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
I Got You, Babe
If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) Popular music has produced almost countless groups, but not that many duos. Besides Sonny & Cher, can you name another?

Jan & Dean is the first one to pop into my head. Then the Captain and Tenille, and Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash (though they recorded separately as well).

2) Hearing this recording from his clock radio is how Bill Murray woke up every morning in Groundhog Day. What woke you up this morning?

I'm glad you snuck Groundhog Day in...lol I woke up because I was done sleeping. No alarm, no urgent places to be, just a nice lie-in.

3) When she was growing up, Cher practiced her autograph for when she became a star. Is your signature legible? Or is it more of a scrawl?

My signature is legible. I don't hold with lousy handwriting.

4) In addition to show biz, Sonny & Cher had many careers: Sonny was a restauranteur and politician, Cher is an interior designer. Would you like to try your hand at any of those professions?

Nope. I'd be awful at all of them. No, I fear my backup career will be Professional Crime Show Viewer.

5) In 1965, when this song topped the charts, Sonny and Cher were as famous for their wardrobe as for their music. Sonny was fond of tall, heavy-heeled boots while Cher often paired granny dresses with bare feet. What's on your feet right now?

Just nail polish on my toes. And some calluses on the soles. But I do like tall boots too, just not when the humidity is over 90% as it is today.

6) By 1968, their career crashed. Cher's early attempts as a movie actress failed, their records stopped selling and the IRS came after them for back taxes. Have you ever been audited?

No, thank GOD! We did get a call "from the IRS" this week though (not).

7) In 1971 they were on top again with their TV show. But their marriage was coming apart. Sonny said, "For the last 5 years I worried about our career, not about us." Have you ever been guilty of putting career before relationship?

Yes. It's hard not to sometimes, and especially when Beast is out of town so much. I obsess while he's gone and sometimes forget to stop when he's home.

8) By 1972 they were living separate lives -- in the same house. For the sake of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, they pretended to be happily married another year and a half. Tell us about a time when you pretended to be happy, but weren't.

The last several months have had plenty of instances of that. Most people have no idea what's been going on inside my home.

9) While their separation and divorce were bitter, they resumed their friendship when Cher showed up at the opening of his restaurant in 1976. Have you ever made the first move in repairing a relationship?

Often. It doesn't always work, but sometimes the other person has seemed very glad that I made the first move.

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday Six

1. R is for RACONTEUR: Who in your family is the greatest storyteller, and have you ever considered doing a blog post about that person?

Oh, that is TOTALLY my brother! No contest, no one else is even close. He can rule a room for an hour easy. Have I done a post all about him? I don't think so. I could.

2. R is for RAGMATICAL: Of the locations you frequent, where do you normally see the most out-of-control children?

Uhm, my workplace...? Or perhaps random stores, though really I don't pay a lot of attention. Kids being kids don't bother me all that much.

3. R is for RANCID: How old is the oldest item in your refrigerator?

There's a three or four-year-old electrode thingamajig that Beast refuses to throw out. Of the food, probably one of the condiments would be the oldest.

4. R is for REFUND: Do you generally bank a tax refund, spend it on something new, or use it to pay down your bills?

Bank it. In the past we've donated the whole refund to church for various special projects.

5. R is for REGIUS: If you had the chance to meet one of the following, which would you be more likely to choose: the U.S. President, the King or Queen of England, or the Pope?

President. I'm hopelessly American Protestant. I have to say, though, that the current Pope would be fascinating to talk with.

6. R is for ROOM: Which room of your home is your favorite and why?

I love my bedroom--especially when it's clean and considerably tidier than it currently is. I also like the main rooms on the first floor: front hall, living room, dining room, kitchen. It's a big open area that just flows together.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

(Link in meme-roll)

1. In an effort to combat obesity, the mayor of NYC has plans to ban the sale of large sugary drinks (anything over 16 oz.), initially in restaurants, movie theatres, and street carts. Corner stores would also be affected if they are defined as food service establishments. You can read more here. Your thoughts?

I'm ok with this, but I'd be even more ok if they jacked the prices way up on stuff like this, starting with the things are the worst. Sort of a prorated sin tax.

2. Art festival, music festival, food festival...which would you most like to attend?

Music and food. This, here in the midwest, is known as State Fair or an ethnic festival.

3. What are you irrational about?

This could be one of the worst days ever to ask me that question.

4. Do you feel confident you'll have a comfortable retirement?

Right now, it looks probably. But that's 20 years off. Or more.

5. What's been your favorite Olympic moment so far? (Not ever, just in the 2012 Summer games)

I really like Oscar Pistorius. A whole lot.

6. What would you label as the messiest room in your house?

Beast's workshop area.

7. Do you follow your heart or your head?

I lean towards my head when things are otherwise even.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are." --W. Somerset Maugham

Patrick's Place

(Link in meme-roll)
Saturday 6

1. Have you filed your state and federal taxes yet?

Done last weekend, but to be very clear: I didn't do jack on them. Beast did 'em all, including his dad's.

2. When do you traditionally file?

Usually not till March. We had to do it earlier this year because of the #@&$( FAFSA.

3. Are you expecting a refund or a balance due this year?

I think we're going to net a return of about $100 between state and federal.

4. Do you file them yourself manually, with help from software, or do you take it to a tax professional?

We pay for nothing except TurboTax. The last couple of years, we've had someone do FIL's, but Beast did those this year as well.

5. If you are expecting a refund, what would you be most likely to buy with that money?

Gosh, I already think I spent it on Wednesday when I paid the sponsorship fee for Sparky's anime club for an event. At my library. It's win-win for everyone.

6. What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever purchased with a tax refund?

I think, early on, we used one for the down-payment on a car.

Curious as a Cat

(Link at left)

What do you think the next big, potentially-life-changing decision you make will be?

Well. I have no idea. Maybe whether to let Sparky drive at 16. I swear I can't see how choosing our next car will be life-changing, but that's probably the next big decision I/we will be making.

What part of the universe would you like to explore?

I'd just like to go up into orbit for a few days. That's all.

What single item do you think should have a large luxury tax added?

Recreational mood-altering drugs; legalize ALL of them, and then tax them at 100% of their cost. Taxes should go toward education and rehab.

Four for Friday

(Link at left)

Q1 - Shopping Carts: When you're done using a store's shopping cart (bricks-and-mortar, not online), do you return the cart to the store, leave it in the parking lot, or push it into one of those storage areas that takes up all the great parking spots?

I leave it in a cart corral, usually. Unless it's as bloodyfeckingcold as it has been lately. I'm afraid I get really lazy when the temperature is under 5F.

Q2 - Global Warming: Do you think global warming is an environmental problem that is causing a serious impact now, or do you think global warming isn't having a serious impact?"

I think we're beginning to slide down the slope, and the speed of the depletion of resources is just going to increase unless we start taking some real steps to fiure out a solution.

Q3 - Prison: At the Southeast State Correctional Facility in Windsor, Vermont, inmates have been told that the facility's prison cats must go. According to SSC's new superintendent, the facility, which for years has allowed cats to come and go as they please, is not conducive to a pet program. If you were in charge of the facility, would you voluntarily parole Ziggy, Marmalade, Smokey and Shane, or would allow them to stay?

I'm allergic. I plead the 5th on this one. I don't care either way.
Seriously, I can see both sides of this, but being allergic trumps rationality.

Q4 - Taxes: After federal taxes are collected from the public, do you think the U.S. Congress thinks of the money more as taxpayer money to spend carefully or as their money to spend as they wish? How much of the money you pay in taxes do you think is spent on government programs that you personally favor and support?

I don't think they really think about where it comes from; it's just there. I'm sure that the largest chunk of my taxes pays for stuff I abhor. Rather disheartening. Thanks a lot! hah

By the Way Sunday

(Link at left)
~Tax Time Again~


How prepared (forms, receipts, etc.) are you right now to do your taxes?

Hah! Surely you jest. It's a week in; the workplaces haven't even sent the stuff we need, nor have the banks. Besides, Beast does all the work on these and I'm a very good ostrich.

Do you file your taxes yourself or do you go to an accountant/tax preparer?

We do them ourselves. Yes, I'm using the Royal We.

If you file your taxes yourself, do you e-file or put pencil to paper?

We complete AND file them by computer and ahve ben doing so for as long as that has been feasible.

Do you file as soon as possible or do you wait until the last possible minute?

Beast gets everything ready to go, finds out how much we'll get/pay...and then ignores everything until about April 10.

Do you think you'll get a refund or will you be paying this year?

No idea. We usually net a tiny bit back, between state and federal taxes, but not much.

Do you have any good tax-saving tips that you'd like to share?

CPAs will save you money, I guarantee it. However, judging by one who is stalking someone via her blog, they are a little touchy when someone suggests they might have stunted ethics.

I don't have any tax tips, except that as a librarian I will tell you that we can't give you ANY tax ideas/suggestions while on the job.