Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) What do you think about ghosts? Are they real? Hallucinations?

I have no issue with people experiencing ghosts. There are certain circumstances when I would completely understand someone feeling close to someone who is dead. I know I feel closer to those people I've loved who are gone at certain, specific times and places, but I've never seen a ghost.
Heard one, though? Yup.

2) What's your favorite part about visiting a new place — the food? The architecture? The people watching?

It's sort of a mélange of all of that: atmosphere, scent, the depth of the blue of the sky, the people's gaits and clothing, the relative cleanliness of the buildings, and the architecture. It's all of a piece. The sky in Colorado's mountains is a slightly different hue from the sky in Greece, and the smell of the Mississippi in the north is completely different from the southern parts of it, and they are completely different from the scent of English rivers. And the oppressive architecture of Moscow in January would never be mistaken for ANYwhere else (except maybe another Russian city in winter!). And the food in different places...well, let's just not go there. I'll just say one word: poutine.

3) What magazine(s) and/or newspaper(s) do you subscribe to?

I read (in paper and occasionally on my ereader) "Presbyterian Outlook", "Ms.", "Entertainment Weekly", "Real Simple", and "Consumer Reports." Beast gets the Big City Nearby paper, "Discover" and "Scientific American" and possibly something else. My three-years-dead father-in-law still gets the History Channel magazine, which is just annoying at this point--we've cancelled it more than once. I read a lot of local news via RSS feed (headlines, primarily) as well as the local news from the city where Sparky is at school, because I helicopter in stealth mode.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

It reminds me of the dry stone walls in Yorkshire, and the planters my dad built on either side of the porch in the house where I grew up. But mostly it reminds me of Robert Frost:

...Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.

"Mending Wall"

Blogthings Explosion

You Are a Crow

Like a crow, you are a mysterious and sometimes powerful force. People even wonder if you have a little magic up your sleeve. You may or may not believe in special powers, but you are attracted to the darker side of life. You are fascinated with the unknown. You are a big believer in destiny. [uh no] Personal transformation doesn't frighten you - it's getting you closer to your fate. You are intelligent and perceptive. You are ready to leap forward and take a risk when the time is right. You are flexible and adaptable. You will gladly change to survive in this world ... You are easily remade. You are mischievous and even a bit of a trickster. People know that you're manipulative, but they still come back for more.

What's Your Spirit Animal?

I am NOT manipulative...usually. At least not intentionally. And "destiny" is not at all my thing, even if I am Presbyterian. lol
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You Are an Energizing Essential Oil

You face the day, and your life, with an incredible amount of energy. You don't let anything slow you down. You keep your eye on the prize and do your best to stay motivated. You believe that energy comes from within. You help others dig deep and find the resources to reach their goals. You are a psychological cheerleader. You believe that energy is not just a physical thing. And everyone probably has more energy than they realize. Your secret for living an energetic life is staying positive. You know how much negativity weighs people down. Energizing essential oils that fit you perfectly are: peppermint, rosemary, lemon, and orange.

What Kind of Essential Oil Are You?

OK. Whatever. Moving on...
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Your Sweetness Makes You Adorable

The face you present to the world is caring and giving. You have a true love for humanity, and it shows. If there's ever a way that you can help someone in need, you'll do it. You like to help. On the inside, you are just as sweet as you seem - if not more so. You can't fake sweetness. In fact, you probably don't consider yourself to be an unusually sweet person. You think compassion should be expected. Your friends love you because you are always supportive and there for them. You are an excellent friend. [no clue if this is accurate--ask them] Everyone needs that person that they can count on no matter what in life, and you are that person to many.

What Makes You Adorable?

Well, I try, but I quibble with being able to fake sweetness. Please, please do not call me sweet, though.
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Your Weather Personality is Chilly

You are more of the indoor type, and because of this, you love a good chilly day. Or week. Or month. You love curling up with a warm sweater and blanket. And when the A/C is blasting, you just don't feel as comfy. You are an outdoors person, but only in small doses. You like to get a bit of fresh air from time to time. And because your primary motivation is fresh air, you don't really care for overly warm or humid temperatures. You tend to be a serious, no nonsense person. In fact, you think too much nice weather can be a bit of a distraction. When the weather is colder, people go inside and get to work. You think there is a nice energy to that!

What's Your Weather Personality?

I like hot. I like cool. I don't like freezing cold, or damp. And I like sitting in the sun and doing nothing, thank you very much.
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You Are Chocolate

You prefer to live a life that's open and cooperative. You like to share and grow with others. You believe that we each have many sides to our selves. You refuse to see anyone as all good or all bad. You think the choice between logic and emotions is a false and overly simplistic one. You always try to incorporate both in decisions. You try to get to know every person on a human level. Everyone deserves your respect equally until proven otherwise. You are an amazing communicator, and you are able to get through to people that no one else can seem to reach. You think the world would be a better place if we all just slowed down and listened to one another more.

Are You Chocolate, Strawberry, or Vanilla?

OK, pretty accurate. Too bad I'm not a big chocolate fan...
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You Are Fun

You live a life of whimsy, excitement, and even adventure. You don't stop yourself from having a good time. You don't take life too seriously - that bums you out. You embrace the innocence and good times of youth. In general, you are lighthearted and optimistic. You think people are unhappy because they don't know how to embrace simple pleasures. You are also a big fan of 'guilty pleasures'... but you don't call them that. People shouldn't feel guilty about enjoying themselves. You are youthful because you never lost your youth. The best parts of you stayed young and never grew up. Sure, you can be an adult when the situation requires it. But whenever it's possible, you're just a big kid!

The Cereal Test

Yummmm, Fruit Loops!
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You Are a Green Gummy Bear

You are the gummy bear most associated with lime or strawberry (huh?) flavors. And like these flavors, you are quite popular. You stand out from the crowd, but people seek you out anyway. They like what you have to offer - you mix things up. You are a bit zany, but you're also grounded and centered. Being grounded means you're also ready for anything. You push yourself outside your comfort zone as often as possible. You like to play with edges and boundaries. If you aren't a little anxious, it means you aren't growing. And you can't stand the thought of being stagnant. You don't know where life will take you, and that's the beauty of it. You are open to almost any path.

What Color Gummy Bear Are You?

Strawberry? WTF? OK, the rest is fairly accurate, even if I'm not a fan of the green gummy.
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You Are T'ai Chi

You are the type of person who is always in movement, both physically and mentally. You can't sit still. Your life is constantly changing and evolving. And you are growing along with these changes. Every day you're a bit different. In life, you are flexible and open. You believe stubbornness leads to stagnation, and you do your best to avoid both. You approach everyone and everything with softness. You don't want to have a hard heart. In a battle, you have mercy for your enemy. You have no desire to hurt or harm anyone if you can help it. You think that discord or disagreement can be beautiful if handled properly. Not all arguments have to be a bad thing.

What Martial Art Are You?

I HATE arguments! What in the hell?!
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You Are Resolute

You are a pillar of strength and consistency. You can be counted on in the best and worst of times. You tend to take a stand and not waver from it. You don't mind if this makes you a little old fashioned. You hit a wall when you have to adapt to change or be flexible quickly. It takes you time to acclimate. Of course, you will adjust when you need to, but you don't relish it. You prefer consistency. You break through walls when toughness, guts, and determination are required. In a battle of wills, you win out. You will bust down a wall head first if you need to. Nothing is going to stand in your way.

The Funky Wall Test

Oh, yeah, big-time stubborn.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Describe your ideal romantic dinner.

Well, it's really all about the company, right? So, someplace Beast and I can talk and laugh and enjoy good food without worrying about day-to-day things. It's amazing though: some meals that 'look' romantic and fun end up being anything but, while others that seem fraught turn out to be delightful. It's a hard balance to achieve.

2) If you were a piece of furniture, what would you be?

No, this is not my house...sigh...I wish.

3) When was the last time you spotted an unwelcome visitor (i.e., bug, rodent, etc.) in your house?

Aside from the minuscule spider running across the kitchen counter the other day, I haven't seen any vermin of the "freak out and scrub down everything in the house" variety in a very long time. For which I am very thankful. Apparently, we're just untidy, not actually dirty.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

Public Domain Photo

It reminds me of the dry stone walls in Yorkshire which have stood for centuries and run up and down the dales. Then it reminds me of Robert Frost's poem, Mending Wall:

...Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence....

But this looks more like Germany to me, or anyway someplace greener and more forested. And it's lovely. I wouldn't mind sitting against it and reading for a bit, or maybe just soaking up the sunshine and warmth from the rocks.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in meme-roll)

1) Have you felt like you've hit a brick wall anytime recently?

I seem to be stuck, unable to face the piles of (time-sensitive) materials on my desk here at home. Lack of motivation, and not wanting to face reality have met, explosively.

2) Where do you feel the safest?

In the basement. Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I do live in the Midwest; how did you know?

3) Have you ever been completely lost somewhere?

Not to the point of panic. I've always been confident that I can figure out, generally, where I am, even halfway up a cliff in Ouray, even after taking a wrong turn in the middle of Flatland, USA.

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.Public Domain Photo

There was a show on TV, briefly, when I was a kid called Hot L Baltimore. I never 'got' the jokes/sense of the show, but I always wanted to because of the name. My question about this picture is why it's such a garish, hideous color of neon. Is that because someone monkeyed with the photo, or is there really such a color!?