Saturday 9

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I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (2006)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Bette Midler sings about the storm that's raging outside. How's the weather where you are today?

Bright blue, sunny skies, but brutally cold. OK, it's warmer than it was earlier this week, but it's still bloody cold!

2) She mentions her gloves. Tell us about your favorite pair of gloves or mittens.

I have glittens--the things that flip the mitten part back so you can use your fingers.

3) Does your home have a fireplace to keep you warm?

We have a fireplace. I even used it this week...and set my bangs on fire because I forgot the whole damper thing. Dumbass.

4) Bette's father, Fred, supported his family as a house painter. Have you ever held a job that kept you outdoors a great deal of the time?

No, thank God!

5) Her mother, Ruth, was a talented seamstress. How about you? Can you sew on a button? Raise a hem? Darn a hole?

I can do all of those things. I haven't darned in a really long time, but I regularly sew buttons and repair things, apply patches, etc.

6) 2017 was a big year for Bette. At the age of 72, she opened on Broadway in the revival of Hello, Dolly! and won a Tony. As we kick off 2018, what would you like to accomplish this year?

Financial clued-in-ness. I'm not stupid, but I feel completely at sea.

7) Bette and her husband Martin have been married for nearly 34 years. Their wedding was officiated by an Elvis impersonator. Are you looking forward to any weddings in 2018?

I don't think so. Well, I mean Prince Harry's getting married, but... {lol}

8) Bette and Martin are very proud of their daughter, Sophie, now 30, who graduated from Yale in 2008. Do you expect to attend any graduation ceremonies in 2018?

I don't think so. The only people I know that are likely to graduate in anything are in master's degree programs or certification programs which don't always lend themselves to giant parties somehow.

9) Random question: Yesterday, who did you spend the most time with?

I was at work 9 hours yesterday, no break for lunch, mostly at my desk in the workroom. After work I came home. The vast majority of my time I spent in my head (as usual) listening to various podcasts. I spoke at length to a couple of people, but mostly kept myself to myself and got on with my job.

Sunday Stealing

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Year End HodgePodge

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

Friends. People are great.

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

I got to see all my nearby family members, including the kids. No stress, no fuss.

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment) 'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

I'm ok with this. I wish it were more than a pedestal and meant something beyond symbolism, but yeah.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

I spent a lot of time caretaking. I guess I know how to do that. I still don't enjoy it very much, but I'm pretty good at it.

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

Good . Fucking . Riddance ! Don't let the door hit you in the ass.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I finally got my heart's desire this year: lots of alone time and time and reasons to make all my own decisions all the time. Be careful what you wish for, folks.

Friday 5 x 2

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Quarters

1. The first quarter of 2017 is now behind us. How has it been?

   LONG!! Holy crap, this year is just creeping by. I'm pretty sure it's a combination of living with an invalid, having a crazy-child running our country, and worrying about everything....it's wiping me out.

2. How has this past quarter of your life been surprisingly good?

   Uhm. It really hasn't been. It's a nice night, birds are singing, I'm watching Emergency on TV (not the 70s drama, this is a reality show from Canada). It's kind of fun listening to the accents.

3. When did you last drop quarters into a vending machine?

   I can't even remember. We have coin kiosks at work for making copies (etc.) so I use--and definitely HEAR--them all the time.

4. How do you feel about your state’s twenty-five-cent coin? If you’re not in the U.S., which of the coins do you think is especially striking?

   I had to Google it since I haven't paid the slightest attention to all of the hullabaloo about them. It's got the state's Favorite Son on it, the skyline for our biggest city, and some farm buildings. Whee.

5. Google’s corporate headquarters is called the Googleplex. What would be a good name for the corporate headquarters of your life?

   Messy, dusty, untidy, chaotic. Sorry, I don't have any creative way of phrasing that.

Gimme One Reason

1. What makes you unreasonably irritated?

   Stupidity. Man, everyone was irritating me today: other drivers, a couple of regular patrons that are incredibly needy (and stupid), office staff at the doctor's office.... It was just an irritating day.

2. What are you unreasonably particular about?

   Having facts to support a point of view. If you just "believe" it, that's fine, but it doesn't mean the rest of us have to "believe" it on your say-so. Bring me some data, or go to hell. [Though, to be honest, I don't think this is at all unreasonable....]

3. What’s something that’s unreasonably complicated?

   Disability sign-up. Beast's application was submitted 3 months ago. It's still "pending."

4. What are the best reasons for working in your field?

   I get to do something I think is important to society--literacy, reading, exploring, fact-finding, providing access to all of the above--and get paid a decent wage for it. I work with great people, and every day is different.

5. What are some good reasons for the most recent silly purchase you made?

   I was hungry for something sweet, watching Beast eat his M&Ms. So I went and bought junk food. I suck.

Sunday Stealing

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Bud's Last Stand of 2016

1. Your main fandom of the year:

I geeked out a lot over "Criminal Minds" and the NCIS shows. This is not new, though.

2. Your favorite Film this year:

I really enjoyed Hail, Caesar! though it didn't get wonderful reviews, and it was terminally silly.

3. Your favorite Book read this year:

The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker.

4. Your favorite Album or Song this year:

Honestly, I can't think of a single outstanding song from 2016. There were some good ones, but nothing like "Happy" or "Uptown Funk."

5. Your favorite meme site of the year:

Uh. Nope. Not going there. Can't win. I love you all.

6. Your Fandom that you haven't tried Yet, but want to:

I don't even....

7. Your best new Fandom Discovery of the Year:

Richard III.

8. Your biggest Fandom Disappointment of the Year:

Shemar Moore leaving "Criminal Minds"--and then Thomas Gibson blowing up his career and getting fired from the show.

9. Your TV Boyfriend of the year:

Derek Morgan (I wish!) or good ol' Jethro Gibbs. I also have a mini-crush on Wayne Brady.

10. Your TV Girlfriend of the year:

My heart belongs to Emily Prentiss and Olivia Benson. Sonja Percy is creeping up to the top of late.

11. Your most Missed Old Fandom:

Hmm. I don't think I missed anything much, or perhaps that just means I missed it completely.

12. Your Biggest Anticipations of the New Year:

I can't think of anything. Here's a snapshot: prior to our viewing of Rogue One we were subjected to 8 (eight!) previews for upcoming movies. There were two that were mildly interesting to me; the only one I remember of those two is the Wonder Woman movie, because ... WONDER WOMAN! I think my interest in pop culture has waned into almost nothing.

13. Your favorite post (of yours) of the year:

Nope, I'm not going back to read them all. I'd be happy to get through a post without any typos or egregious stupidity.

14.Your favorite new blog (to you) of the year:

I'm hopeless at this stuff: I don't want to pick one and NOT pick someone else.

15.Your favorite new website of the year:

The National Archives site, where I spent a lot of time translating written records into digital format in my free time.

16. Your favorite news story of the year:

This was not a year during which I enjoyed the news very much. At all.

17. Your favorite actor of the year:

Eddie Redmayne is an interesting guy.

18. Your favorite drama TV show of the year:

Probably NCIS:NO.

19. Your favorite comedy TV Show this year:

I don't watch a lot of comedies these days. So it's probably a toss-up between "Whose Line Is It?" and "SNL."

20. Your favorite cartoon of the year:

I really don't do cartoons. Beast throws the new Bloom County strips at me regularly, but I don't find it funny except in the absurdist frame; mostly it's just depressing because it's true. And I don't watch cartoons on TV or movies at all.

Friday 5

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Back in the Highlights Again

1. What was your highlight in dining for 2016?

   It kind of has to be our first night on the cruise, the Italian restaurant on the boat. Wonderful food, incredible service. Interesting people to watch, too, and our server was (rather weirdly) Indian rather than Italian which was strange only in the pronunciation of the food ultimately.

2. What was your highlight in relationships for 2016?

   Just continuing to find out how many good friends and people are out there to help and support me.

3. What was your highlight in entertainment for 2016?

   Well, we'll probably go see the Star Wars movie next week but aside from that Fantastic Beasts was really good.

4. What was your highlight in self-improvement for 2016?

   Endless meetings, lots of reading. Talking. Listening.

5. What was your highlight in completing something for 2016?

   I seem to have regained my footing at work. Let's just home I can maintain. I had a backslide this week, but I dealt with it differently. So maybe that's improvement.

Saturday 9

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Best Day of My Life (2013)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song begins by mentioning clouds. Do you see clouds in the sky this fine Saturday?

I see nothing but clouds this not-so-fine Saturday. The sky, she be white.

2) Lead singer Zac Barnett sings that, "Everything is looking up." What are you looking forward to today?

Not much, aside from not having a ton of stuff to do: some laundry, a grocery-shopping trip later, and I'm sure there's NASCAR or something involved cars going fast.

3) 2016 is not yet half over, but what's been your best day so far this year?

I had a couple of dreamlike, just-about-perfect-in-every-way days on the cruise.

4) The members of the group, American Authors, met in college. When is the last time you heard from a school chum? Do you know them from grammar school, high school or college?

I've been talking to a friend from my single-digit years who went to the same after-school babysitter with me back then. It's quite weird that I have literally known her longer than anyone on Facebook aside from family, 46 years. I have another friend from almost as long ago who was my bestie in junior high and high school--though to be clear I met her when we were 6--and then quite a few people from elementary school on through graduate school.

5) One of the all-time best-selling American authors is romance writer Danielle Steele. She's been writing for more than 40 years and has sold more than 800 million books. Have you read any of her work?

I read Palomino in my mom's Good Housekeeping. That was her first book, I think, and as a young teen it was SOOO VERY roMANTic and heartstopping. I loved it. Then I glanced through her books once I started the librarian gig and was professionally appalled at them. Eventually, about 15 years ago, I decided to read whatever one was coming out just to say I'd read a recent one.O . M . G . L'horreur!

6) Have you ever dreamed of being an author?

All the time. Still do. If I'm gonna do it, I should just do it. But I'm terrified because of all the really good books I've read. I don't want to suck.

7) Do you have an e-reader?

I do. It's currently charging. I finished Tami Hoag's latest this morning--really good by the way!

8) American Authors rang in 2016 in Chicago, giving an outdoor concert on New Year's Eve on a stage not far from Lake Michigan. There are 5 Great Lakes in all,including Lake Michigan. Without looking it up, name the other 4.

Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior. It's easy once you know the acronym. ;-)

9) Random question: You see photos on Facebook of a dinner party hosted by a friend. You recognize most of the attendees, yet you weren't invited. How do you feel? Left out and angry? Do you wonder what you may have done to offend your friend? Or do you just forget about it and move on?

I'd probably wonder why I wasn't included, but it does sort of depend on the occasion and how close a friend we're talking about. If it were a (for instance) apparently church-wide event at church, I'd be very hurt. If it were a birthday party or something at someone's home...meh, that's fine. I'd miss the cake, but I'm not going to be all pouty about it. Generally, I think I would try to forget I saw the pictures and move on.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

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1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?

The fact that I have at this point purchased less than $20 worth of Christmas gifts for Beast. Sparky is relatively good to go. Beast...I have no ideas. None.

2. Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse...done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year?

I'm fine with their choice. Nice to see an non-American woman on the cover of a major, mainstream American magazine for something that doesn't involve makeup, fashion, or breast implants.

3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.

Yes we have one. I painted all the figures about 20 years ago--they came as plain whiteware--and we bought a "stable" to house them. They go on the dining room dresser, except Jesus who doesn't appear till after Christmas Eve service at church.

4. Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?

We usually deliver gifts for a local organization that gives Christmas gifts to every household in town that lives below the poverty line. If there are kids, each one gets a toy and a book. One of the Rotary Clubs puts it all together, with a lot of help, and this week is packing (tonight is toys and books, tomorrow is food) and Saturday is delivery. However, this year, I'm not sure we'll be able to help load out on Saturday because of Beast's whole back/shoulder thing. We'll have to play it by ear, just like every other freakin' thing in the universe right now.

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?

It's the most fun to shop for little kids. They just love everything!

6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?

The mashed potatoes with dinner tonight were pretty good.

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is _____________.

Smile and have a positive attitude.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Two sick kids this week--not mine, only one family member--the kind of sick that involves hospitals, surgeries, and general long-term thinking rather than planning for tomorrow. Apparently, God is trying to tell me something about planning...and expectations, which was also part of the theme from last night's meeting.

Sunday Stealing times 4

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The New Year's Eve Meme

In 2014, I gained:

an embarrassing amount of weight.

I lost:

a bit of my need to control everything in the universe.

I stopped:

making excuses.

I started:

holding myself (and others) accountable.

I was hugely satisfied by:

the fact that Sparky is taking charge of his life more and more.

And frustrated by:

the idiot things Sparky does and then blames on other people.

I am so embarrassed that I:

was so freakin' insane at the beginning of last year.

Once again, I:

rode myself too hard at work.

Once again, I did not:

clean house very often.

The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is:

between the weight and the blood calcium levels and two hard, painful falls, it's been a rough year for my body.

The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is:

oh my gosh, my mental health is MUCH more stable, for so many reasons. Thank you, Dawn and the AFGs!

I loved spending time:

online.

Why did I spend even two minutes:

worrying about being "behind" at work? I mean, my boss doesn't care so why should I?

I should have spent more time:

reading The Literature. And reading generally.

I regret buying:

Sparky's birthday cake online, since it disappeared into a UPS facility never to be seen again.

I will never regret buying ______ even though with that money I could have ______.

...tickets to the ToR Parade and the Rose Bowl .... paid for Sparky's extra semester of school and then some....

I _______ way too much.

... procrastinate ...

I didn’t _______ enough.

... exercise ...

________ drove me crazy.

Maniac ...

The most relaxing place I went was

those AFG meetings, close to 100 of them.

Why did I go to

Taco Bell so many times? They recognize me by voice in the drive-thru I think now.

The best thing I did for someone else was

let go.

The best thing I did for myself was

getting tough.

The best thing someone did for me was

being honest.

The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better,

the Steps. I'm not exactly rocking them.

2014/2015 Meme, part one

1.What one event, big or small, are you going to tell your grandchildren about?

Sparky getting carsick on the roads in the mountains around Johnson City.

2.If you had to describe your 2014 in 3 words, what would they be?

Hard, emotional, better.

3.What new things did you discover about yourself?

I'm too much of a pushover, and I need to worry about myself, not everything EXCEPT myself.

4.What single achievement are you most proud of?

Keeping my stupid mouth SHUT on those increasingly more common moments.

5.What was the best news you received?

My niece in England is pregnant again!!

6.What was your favourite place that you visited in 2014?

Pasadena was pretty awesome, not just for the parade. So was Redondo Beach, though we were there one night; I'd like to go back to explore there more. Vegas was its usual bizarre self. Tennessee was fun, though the hotel was...a little ...not-right.

7.Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?

Stubbornness.

8.Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?

Dawn.

9.Which new skills did you learn?

Patience (again, for cryin' out loud), and keeping quiet.

10.What, or who, are you most thankful for?

Beast.

11.If someone wrote a book about your life in 2014, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film noir or something else?

Drama, the edge of your seat kind. At least the first half.

12.What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2014?

I can't even pick one.

13.Which mental block(s) did you overcome?

Again, there've been SO MANY I can't pick just one.

14.What 5 people did you most enjoy spending time with?

Beast, Sparky, my Sunday School class (counts as one?), Amy (online only), my nephew James.

15.What was your biggest break-through moment career-wise?

Working hard to keep my mouth shut, keep my head down, and really internalizing that "keeping up" is a very low priority with my boss.

16.How did your relationship to your family evolve?

I think my relationship with Beast and Sparky grew by leaps and bounds, in a good direction, because I'm trying to do less controlling. With my extended family...oh, dear, I'm related to a large number of crazy people...

17.What book or movie affected your life in a profound way?

Shotgun Lovesongs was a delightful book. I really loved the characters, and the love the author clearly felt for all of them.

18.What was your favourite compliment that you received this year?

I can't think of a compliment, but I am gratified that so many of my AFG people are becoming friends.

19.What little things did you most enjoy during your day-to-day life?

Music. Music is my savior.

20.What cool things did you create this year?

Myself.

21.What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?

Intentional.

22.Was there anything you did for the very first time in your life this year?

I can't think of anything interesting.

23.What was your favourite moment spent with your friends?

I can't think of anything for this one either. Just being with them and enjoying their company, I guess.

24.What major goal did you lay the foundations for?

My future. I'm trying to become a person I'd want to hang out with. I'm not sure that's been true for awhile.

25.Which worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?

ALL OF THEM!

2014/2015 Meme, part two

26.What experience would you love to do all over again?

I'd like to redo BandFest, with no rain please.

27.What was the best gift you received?

Trip to California, first class all the way!

28.How did your overall outlook on life evolve?

I'm a lot less prone to constant panic.

29.What was the biggest problem you solved?

See previous answer. And plowing through loads more cataloging at work than every before.

30.What was the funniest moment of your year, one that still makes it hard not to burst out laughing when you think about it?

I'm sure it was at work. One thing about my job is that there are some hilarious people there.

31.What purchase turned out to be the best decision ever?

Would you believe me if I said a showercap?

32.What one thing would you do differently and why?

I'd eat a LOT less!

33.What do you deserve a pat on the back for?

Not killing anyone, or myself.

34.What activities made you lose track of time?

Work. Sims4. Facebook.

35.What did you think about more than anything else?

Work, sadly. Then definitely Beast.

36.What topics did you most enjoy learning about?

Uhm. Let's go with "people."

37.What new habits did you cultivate?

Attentiveness.

38.What advice would you give your early-2014 self if you could?

Stick with it.

39.Did any parts of your self or your life do a complete 180 this year?

No, but close.

40.What or who had the biggest positive impact on your life this year?

Vic or Dawn.

41.What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be?

"Think."

42.What do you want to see, discover, explore?

I'd love to get to Spain to visit my niece and her husband, I would like to go explore the Cahokia Mounds area, and I'd like to re-discover my self.

43.Who do you want to spend more time with in 2015?

Beast. The one I married.

44.What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?

I need to keep doing Step work, and I have to figure out an exercise regime that works for me.

45.Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?

Better listening.

46.What do you want your everyday life to be like?

Calm, but interesting.

47.Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?

I need to stop eating when bored, and I need to work on burning calories, and I have to start reading more.

48.What do you want to achieve career-wise?

I have no aspirations here.

49.How do you want to remember the year 2015 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?

I hope Sparky freakin' graduates!!

50.What is your number one goal for 2015?

Survive.

Name Your Favorite…

Place

Ouray

Person

Sparky

Color

Blue

Food

Carbs

Smell

Pine

Book

....I can't pick just one!

Movie

meh

Music artist

I'm enjoying Janelle Monáe and Colbie Caillat lately.

Thing to do when bored

Sims4

Genre of literature

Mysteries

Magazine

Entertainment Weekly

Texture

Sanded wood

Time of day

9 a.m.

Day of the week

Tuesday

Thing to learn about

Church history

Thing about yourself

Sense of humor

Lifehack (a time saving, efficiency technique for life)

When in doubt, and definitely whenever tired, take a nap.