Sunday Stealing:

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The Controversial Questions Meme

1. Would you do a recreation[al] drug if all were legalized? (Not a “for or against” question…)

If it were prescribed and controlled, then yes. What I fear about recreational drugs is the non-standardization more than anything else. God knows what's been put in that baggie with the weed!

2. Are you happy that the U.S. Supreme Court once again upheld a woman’s right to abortion?

Yes. And to be clear: they affirmed that it is MY RIGHT to decide what happens in my body, and no one else's. I don't need anyone's permission to make medical decisions. AND to be clearer: this doesn't mean that I'd actually GET an abortion. Well, I wouldn't now, for sure, because I can't get pregnant, but yeah....even way back.

3. Would our country cope any differently with a woman president?

Probably about as well as we've "coped with" a non-white president. YMMV

4. Do you believe in the death penalty?

Not really. It's never been proven to be a deterrent and it is so unevenly applied to mostly minority and poor defendants that I think it's dangerous.

5. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?

There are "already" places it has been, duh. And yeah. See question #1 above. Regulate it, tax it, and make it boring.

6. Do you believe in God?

Yup. Mostly. Except when I'm being combative.

7. How do you feel now that same-sex marriage is legalized?

Who people marry doesn't actually affect my health or well-being; does that happen to others? I'm very happy that people who love each other can announce their relationship to the world and share the benefits that legally are attendant to that. Mostly because I have enough issues of my own to deal with: I do not need to solve other people's perceived problems as well. Happier people make for a better society, anyway.

8. Do you think it’s wrong that so many Hispanics are moving to the USA?

Oh jeebus pete, hell, for crying out loud. No. I think too many STUPID people have already taken up residence, so I'm quite happy in thinking maybe that ignorance will be diluted by good, hard-working people who WANT to be here!

9. A 12-year-old girl has a baby… should she keep it?

Is she in any way related to me? ... No? Well, then it's none of my business at all, is it? [If she were my daughter et al., we'd have to have some serious discussions of what her life was going to entail if she brought a baby into the house--it would suck balls, frankly, for everyone--but more importantly...how the HELL did she get pregnant?! And why?!]

10. Should the alcohol age be lowered to 18?

I'd be ok with that. It was when I turned 18 and (most of) my friends survived, as did I. When it went up to 19 a year later, it was right after I turned 19. And then in two years I was grandfathered in when it rose to 21. It's ridiculous, frankly, to think that 18-year-olds aren't drinking.

11. Should the wars in Middle East be called off?

I don't see how you can "call off" a war. It's not like a soccer game, is it? It would be nice if the people in the area could be left alone for a decade or two in order to sort their shit out amongst themselves. In my lifetime, there has never been peace there. That's sad.

No 12.

13. Do you believe in spanking your children?

I have spanked my son. Surprisingly, it does hurt the spanker as well as the spankee! So I didn't do it much, and I didn't do it for good reasons most of the time, so it was pretty futile.

14. A mother is declared innocent after murdering her 5 children in a temporary insanity case… what do you think?

I think we can all agree that a parent who kills their children is insane and needs help. Whether we agree that that excludes them from prison is really the issue. I don't know. I just feel so very sad for EVERYONE in situations like this, including the offending parent--while also being very angry, of course. There are no winners, no matter what the legal outcome is.

15. Would you want to prosecute someone for burning their country’s flag as a method of protest?

Nope. This is such a dorky thing to get worked up about. I mean, it's FABRIC for crying out loud. We do far more damage to our country every day we ignore the Constitution. The flag is beside the point.

16. It’s between you and a person who is being kept alive (with NO hope) by life support machines… one has to die? Who?

Dude on life support has got to go, sorry. Easy choice. If it were ME in that situation, I would hope it would be just as easy a decision. Pull the plug.

17. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

I have no doubt that these questions will provoke some interesting answers. I'm eager to see what people say. Will I judge people for their replies? Probably. Do I expect others to have opinions on my opinions? Sure. But I'm not going to fret.
Or argue in the comments. So I will be attentive with the delete button if necessary. Pretend you're in my living room having the discussion.

Sunday Stealing

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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

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Battle Hymn of the Republic
(From the archives) [my earlier answers]
Memorial Day was introduced to honor the men and women who died while serving the in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not forgotten this weekend.

1) This recording was made live at St. Patrick's Cathedral, during Sen. Robert Kennedy's funeral. (Hear it here.) While both of Bobby's older brothers were decorated war heroes, he served too -- enlisting in the Navy in 1943. Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.)

I am not. No one in my generation, or younger generations, in my family has served. My dad was a WWII vet. The brother of my godson is in the National Guard. Otherwise, we aren't much in the military frame, but I have the utmost respect for those who have served time and seen battle.

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

The local small grocery store makes the most aMAZing baked potato salad! Better than Mom's--well, better than my mom's, which was actually yummy! I also like fresh fruit.

3) Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

Old Spice reminds me of my dad and Beast's dad. Alberto VO-5 men's hair goop is my dad's too.

4) When was the last time you had your hair cut or trimmed?

Three weeks.

5) Crazy Sam runs on Dunkin'. Are you loyal to a particular brand of coffee?

I don't drink coffee.

6) If money was no object, what home improvement would you like to make this summer?

We're having the damage repaired from February's mini-flood starting next week. And we desperately need to do some sorting, pruning, and organizing of our possessions.

7) What was the last thing you bought purely for your own enjoyment?

I bought a Twix bar yesterday, and some gum (not to be used at the same time of course). Does that count?

8) When was the last time you rode a bike?

Pretty close to a decade.

9) Sam worries that many of her song selections reflect her decidedly Baby Boomer sensibilities. Is there a song or a performer that you'd like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer?

How about some Ed Sheeran, Elle Goulding, Sam Smith, or Taylor Swift? Maybe Hozier's "Take Me to Church" or Rihanna/Kanye WestMacca's "FourFive Seconds." Or Rihanna's new song "American Oxygen." Kelly Clarkson's "Heartbeat Song" would be fun too.

Patrick's Place

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Saturday Six

1. W is for WAFFLE: Have you ever had the dish Chicken and Waffles? Love it or hate it?

It sounds hideous. I like each part, but separately please. This comes from a woman who, as a child, always freaked out when her meal components touched each other; beets and potatoes were a freakin' nightmare for me!

2. W is for WAGE: Do you think minimum wage should be raised to $15/hour nationally, and if it happened, do you think people would lose jobs because of it?

I think the minimum wage should be tied to local Consumer Price Indexes. New York City minimum wage should absolutely be $15/hour. In West Bejeezus in flyover country, that's probably not much less than what a lot of professionals (teachers, etc.) make, so it's patently ridiculous.

3. W is for WAITING: You’re sitting in a waiting room for some appointment and you see a stack of magazines: which magazine do you hope will be in the stack to keep you entertained?

Trashy ones, like Us and People. I don't want to read anything of substance, since I'm probably going to be interrupted in the middle of an article.

4. W is for WAIST: Is your waist size bigger, smaller, or the same as it was one year ago today?

I expect it's bigger, sad to say.

5. W is for WAR: Do you believe that there is never a valid reason for war or that there are times when war may be the only option remaining?

I think WWII was an instructive example of a just war. Generally, however, I'm not pro-war.

6. W is for WAYWISER: What is the longest distance you’ve traveled at one time?

We drove for 11 hours in March straight through to visit my sister and niece and families. And there were a few trips from Wisconsin to Milwaukee that were straight through too; that would be 16 hours plus stops for gas and food. One of the latter trips started well, but on a stop for dinner, we all drank the water and ended up with some kind of stomach thing all night all the way across Nebraska. Ugh.
It occurs to me that the longest trip I've ever taken in one big bite was probably US to USSR in 1985; that's 6000 miles in two flights, close to 14 hours of airtime (plus layover). And we left hours late, so that didn't help things either.

Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Memorial Day was introduced to honor the men and women who died while serving the in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not forgotten this weekend.

1) This recording was made live at St. Patrick's Cathedral, during Sen. Robert Kennedy's funeral. While both of Bobby's older brothers were decorated war heroes, he served too -- enlisting in the Navy in 1943. Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.)

My dad served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 or -46; he worked on bomb-sight maintenance. Beast's dad served during the early 1950s in the Army; he was stationed in Germany doing something involving aiming large cannon. Or something. Anyway, yeah, no one else in either family has been in the service. It's a bit weird, frankly, that in the past 50 years, we're both so far removed from the military--although my sister worked as a consultant for the Army about ten years ago for a couple of years.

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

Mom's potato salad, and her ham salad. I'm too lazy to make the former, and I don't have the equipment to make the latter.

3) Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

Old Spice and VO5 hair gel will always and forever mean my Dad's in the vicinity.

4) When was the last time you had your hair cut or trimmed?

About 10 days ago. It really needed it: the bangs and sides were totally out of control.

5) Crazy Sam runs on Dunkin'. Are you loyal to a particular brand of coffee?

I don't drink coffee. Just DDP.

6) If money was no object, what home improvement would you like to make this summer?

I'm getting really freakin' tired of the countertops in our kitchen. We went cheap in that purchase, and they have been crap since the beginning.

7) What was the last thing you bought purely for your own enjoyment?

Hmmm, the flowers for the porch yesterday? Well, no. Maybe it was the soup I had for lunch. ;-)

8) When was the last time you rode a bike?

Holy cats, it's been a really long time, several years. We live at the top of a hill, so it's great fun to leave on a ride, and absolute hell coming home.

9) Sam worries that many of her song selections reflect her decidedly Baby Boomer sensibilities. Is there a song or a performer that you'd like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer?

Bruno Mars, Adele, U2, deadmau5, Jennifer, Hudson, blink-182, The Offspring, Phillip Phillips, Tim McGraw, Wiz Khalifa, Beyonce, fun., Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, Kenney Chesney, Icona Pop....that enough? ;-)

Saturday 9 18

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Changes (last week's questions)

1. Do you believe people can truly change?

Wow, the timing for this was freakishly appropriate! Not that I saw the questions last week when they was posted.
OK, yes, of course people can change, if they want to badly enough, if they are motivated, and/or if they get help and support in areas they need it.

2. Do you think there is anything wrong with being average?

No one is average; that is sort of the point of averages, isn't it? Averages normalize everyone into one blob, where people are eminently un-blob-like. Except when we are busy being sheep: baa baa baa.

3. Do you believe in fairy tale love?

Nope. Haven't ever actually witnessed it so...no.

4. Has anyone ever spread something malicious about you?

Sure. Welcome to middle-school girls at their best. Some girls never outgrow that, either; I know quite a lot of adult women whose emotional and social skills stopped evolving at 13.

5. Have you ever done something at a party that you've ever regretted?

Fuck yeah! It's enough to permanently ruin parties for me! lol

6. How do you go about setting your goals?

I don't. Seriously, when the schools started having us do this--towards the end of high school a bit, and then definitely in college--I was literally unable to complete the assignments. I ended up desperately throwing shit on the paper just to have stuff to turn in. (This is never a bad idea in our culture, is it? Getting credit for "doing your homework" even though the result is actually pure bullshit.) I still don't do 5-year-plans, goal-setting, bucket lists, or 100 Things About Me lists. My brain does not work that way; if I want to do something, I start doing it, or I just don't.

7. Do you believe you deserve everything you want?

Yeah, of course I do. And by the way, I want YOUR car, YOUR money, YOUR life, and YOUR house. You ok with that? Oh, sorry, too bad for you. [no, I don't]

8. Do you have people in your life you could always count on?

Again with the amazing timing. Yes. I have a stupendous support network, which I may or may not deserve. Thank God for them!

9. Did you ever make a close friend from someone that you've dated?

Yup.

+ + + + + + + + + + +

Hot Fun In the Summertime (this week's questions)

1. What do you have planned for fun in the summertime?

This summer, I have nothing planned at all. It is my 30th high school reunion year, but I'm probably not going to the parties, which is fine. The reunion ten years ago was pretty good, but I'm not sure I'm at a place right now that would allow me to enjoy this sort of thing. Otherwise, the summer stretches out in front of much the same way it has since I was a child: seemingly endless, full of possibility, and hot.

2. Who was the last celebrity that you thought was bright until you saw them interviewed?

Most of them. It's much rarer to have the opposite reaction, to be honest.

3. Do you think that the U.S. and our present war(s) seem to just ignore our history?

I think people tend to see what they want to see in the past, and act accordingly. We Americans laughed at the Russians when they got stuck in Afghanistan in the '80s, and then conveniently forgot about the history of wars in that region when we invaded in 2002. I don't, however, think just the U.S. does this.

4. Have you ever conformed just to "fit in"?

Nope. Never. Especially not as a child! [is there ANYone who hasn't done this??]

5. Do you feel that you at times do not enjoy the moment because you are worried about what will come next?

Hello world, you've found out my dirty little (not-so-) secret.

6. Does it seem that when you learn more about yourself, that others' opinions of you seem stupid?

Yes, to an extent. This is what happens in college for sure, and whenever you realize that your parents don't really know you as well as you and they think, and various other times in life.

7. In rock & roll history, what bands or artists do you think made the biggest impact?

Elvis. The Beatles. James Brown. The punk movement as a whole. Michael Jackson. Madonna. I dunno. There are probably far more "unsung" movers and shakers, like Quincy Jones for instance, that changed the direction of pop culture.

8. Who do you blame for the state of the economy? Why?

I blame all of us. And Bernie Madoff.

9. Do you get upset and do you think you're being lazy when you do nothing?

Yes. And that's why I didn't do memes this past week. I really need to STOP being lazy.

Patrick's Place

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Sunday Seven

Name seven the "worst things in the world" that would top your list. [based on this list--which I didn't find humorous in the least, so I'll be answering with what I think are actually the worst things in the world, sorry]

In no particular order....

1. Starving children
   
   
   
   
   
2. Illness and disease
   
   
   
   
   
3. Abuse
   
   
   
   
   
4. Greed
   
   
   
   
   
5. Hatred and bigotry
   
   
   
   
   
6. War and murder
   
   
   
7. Any kind of cruelty or neglect (physical/mental/emotional, to any living creature)
   
   
   

W.T.F.

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Harry Potter ends while the media ignores other important topics

1) Who has the capacity to make you angrier than anyone else in your life, and what in particular does he or she do to make you so angry?

I'd say it's a toss-up between Sparky and Beast. The particulars vary. Pouting and refusing to talk make regular appearances, though.

2) If you could mix three animals together, which ones would you choose to make the ultimate animal?

I think we have something like this going already in the platypus. And judging by that one, I think I'd sit this question out.

3) What is the last thing you regret buying?

The ice cream I forgot about during the party on Sunday. Now we have, like, 6 gallons of ice cream in the house. Sigh.

4) The final "Harry Potter" movie opened in theaters across the United States today. Did you attend a midnight showing overnight or do you plan to see the movie in a theater at some point in the future?

I probably will go sometime in the next week or so.

5) Some people have made the "Harry Potter" series a large part of their lives and are now depressed that the series is coming to its end. What is your take on the "Harry Potter" phenomenon overall? Are you a fan or do you not even care about the series at all?

I love the books. I like most of the movies. I think it's really cool, as I read elsewhere this week, that my son was fortunate enough to come of age during the craze. I still don't quite understand what is so (ahem, sorry) magical about these books. They really are pretty amazing.

6) What topic does not receive as much mainstream media coverage as it should?

Actual news. NOT gossip, not speculation, not screaming-at-each-other-talking-heads, not spin: actual NEWS. For instance, how many people in this country know that there's been a war going on in the Congo for ten years?

7) Did you ever keep a journal? What types of things did you write in your journal? Was it just written words or did you make drawings in it?

I did keep a diary off and on from age 10 through high school. I only wrote, and only sporadically. I'm not so good with follow-through.

8) What non-banking related card in your wallet/purse is the most valuable to you (library card, store loyalty card, business card, etc.)?

In theory, I would say my library card, even though I haven't actually used the card itself in years (I'm pretty sure the expiration date on it is 2007 or so), but I check stuff out at least 3 times a week on average.

9) Does your full name make any interesting anagrams (an anagram is a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters in case you didn't know)? You can use this link if you need help.

This one made me snort: "roach waltz thorns tutor."

10) Do you remember any of your recent dreams? Tell me about one (the weirder the better)

All I remember is that I'm having lots of dreams about college, have been for months. Don't remember anything specific from this week, though. I haven't been sleeping very well, but it's not the dreams keeping me awake.

Saturday 9

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You're My Best Friend

1. Outside of your romantic life, do you currently have a best friend?

Wow, this is an interesting way to phrase an old, tired question! Yes, I have a couple of best friends to whom I'm not married.

2. Regarding your future, what is the best thing you could hope for?

Live well, die happy, leave the world better than when I arrived.

3. Have you ever helped out a friend with basic needs, like rent or food? If yes, what did you do?

Uh, well, food: sorta. Churches are really good at what I call Casserole Patrol when life spirals out of control. I've cleaned houses for a couple of people, and I've purchased gift cards and mailed them anonymously for a couple of others, one a coworker. I'm not comfortable in the Lady Bountiful mode, but if asked I would find some way of helping.

4. If they re-instituted the draft (for both genders and you were of age) would you go, or would find some way out of it?

I'd claim C.O., though it's highly doubtful they'd draft me with my medical issues. Interesting timing on this: on my son's next birthday he has to register with the draft people. I'm not happy about that, but it is his decision if he wants to step outside of the norm on it.

5. Tell us one thing you wish you hadn't let yourself do.

I wish I'd left a former job--or not taken that job--very early on instead of dragging things out for 5 years. I 'won' but at great cost.

6. Tell us about the last time you bragged.

Probably in the previous meme, though I wasn't meaning to. Or maybe in question #2 of this one.

7. What area are you wisest in?

My relationships with other people. I rarely overstep the boundaries, and could probably be accused of underrating or misrepresenting the kind of relationship. Every so often, I find out that I'm "best friends" with someone I consider much more of an acquaintance than a friend (much less a "best"). I have learned that people are grand, but most are unreliable, so I'm careful to expect very little.

Not that that makes ANY sense outside of my head. Oh well.

8. Tell us about something that happened that at the time made you "full of yourself".

I have that feeling sometimes at the Reference Desk: the All-Knowing, All-Seeing Librarian. It's sort of a feeling that whatever anyone throws at me, I can handle it, like being in the zone. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen often, but there are days when I can help every single person who asks for my help, and they leave happy.

It happens while cataloging too, but I rarely get props for it so it's less noticeable.

9. Has there ever been a time that you wanted to try something in the bedroom, but were afraid to ask?

Fuuuuuckkkk, yeah!

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five

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Remembrance

This week's Friday Five invites reflection on the theme of remembrance, which is also present in the feasts of All Saints, celebrated in many liturgical churches on November 1, and All Souls--known in Latin@ cultures as the Day of the Dead--celebrated in some the following day.

1. Did your church have any special celebrations for All Saints/All Soul's Day?

I don't think so. I was out of town, and we didn't go to my sister's church either. We used to, but that was with another pastor; our current one doesn't really go in for it, I think.

2. How about Veterans' Day?

I would say that it would be highly unlikely.

3. Did you and your family have a holiday for Veterans' Day/Remembrance Day? If so, how did you take advantage of the break?

Our school district had conferences last week, so there was no school after noon on Thursday until Wednesday this week. We always get Veteran's Day off.... Anyway, this year, Sparky & I flew to Colorado to see my oldest sister and her husband, and my mom.

4. Is there a veteran in your life, living or dead, whose dedication you remember and celebrate? Or perhaps a loved one presently serving in the armed forces?

My dad was a WWII vet who worked here in the states on bomb sights. My father-in-law is a veteran who served in Germany in the 50s. But generally, I honor all soldiers present and past because I know I certainly could never do what they are doing and have done. I also, by the way, honor their families, because that's not a picnic either.

5. Do you have any personal rituals which help you remember and connect with loved ones who have passed on?

I have some personal belongings of my sister Ellen and my dad. I have my dad's parents' Bibles, which is interesting, but since I barely knew them it's not really remembrance, just connection.

I am the warrior

What Ancient Warrior are you? Cavalry were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback in combat. A man fighting from horseback also had the advantages of greater height, speed, and inertial mass over an opponent on foot.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Uh...? "...greater...inertial mass..." hmmmm