Saturday 9

(Link in meme-roll)
Sign of the Times (2017)
... because Cat. [me!!] recommended Harry Styles [I did?]
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here

1) In this song, Harry sings, "We don't talk enough, we should open up before it's all too much." When you have something serious on your mind, who do you share it with?

Beast, you-all here online, God.

2) As a kid, Harry wanted to be a lawyer because he can see "both sides." Are you good at seeing both sides of an argument?

Yes, to my own loss quite often.

3) He can't decide which is favorite color -- orange or blue. Help Harry out: which of those colors do you prefer?

What a combination ... especially around here, he'd be fine wearing both. I prefer blue. Orange is not a favorite.

4) Harry says he prefers older women, but would never go out with someone older than his mother. Do you think age disparity matters in romance?

Not once both parties are out of their teens. There's something decidedly skeevy about an adult dating a teen, by which I mean 10+ years age difference.

5) He admits to a big crush on Adele, who is six years older than he is. Who are you crushing on right now? (It doesn't have to be a celebrity.)

My heart belongs to Beast, but my eyes can't help but notice well-spoken guys of any age with a good sense of humor and lack of entitlement.

6) It makes Harry's skin crawl when he sees people use their teeth to open bottles. What creeps you out?

Butt cracks. I have seen far FAR too many of them at work. Doesn't matter the gender, the age, the relative cleanliness of the rest of the person, I do NOT need to see your but while you're using a library computer!!

7) When he's on the road, his go-to food is tacos. Do you like Mexican food?

I do. I actually really love real Mexican food. It's kind of one of my comfort foods.

8) Harry has never smoked. Have you ever been a smoker? If you quit, how did you successfully kick the habit?

Thank the Good Lord from keeping me away from this particular addiction! I don't remember anyone smoking that was in my life during those formative years when you're trying to impress people. My sister Ellen smoked, as did (does?) her husband, but otherwise I had a remarkably smoke-free adolescence. Unless you count those of my friends who smoked pot, of course....

9) Random Question: As she pulls out of her parking space, an elderly woman in an old car scrapes an expensive car. Then she drives away. You witness the whole thing. Do you make a note of her license plate and leave it for the owner of the expensive car? Or do you just mind your own business?

Hmm, that's a great ethical conundrum. In my town, it's quite likely that I know one or the other of these people, so that is going to color my decision a bit. Generally, though, I'm more likely to pretend I saw nothing. We have a pocket of horrible, entitled jerks living in the area; it's always nice to see them get theirs.

Friday Five

(Link in meme-roll)
Scattergories Part 7!
This week’s 5 is inspired by the party game Scattergories, in which players have to think of items, all beginning with the same letter, in several categories. For example, if the die is rolled and shows the letter C, players might have to name a soft drink, a farm animal, a river, and a U.S. President, all beginning with C. Valid answers might be Coke, chicken, Cuyahoga, and Carter.

First, go to this nifty online random-letter generator. Set the “number of random letter sequences to generate” to 1. Set the “length of each random letter sequence” to 1. Leave the “letters to choose from” how it is and click the button. You’ll get a rather non-dramatic one letter. Use that letter to begin all your answers to the 5 questions below. If you’d like to avoid difficult letters, feel free to change the “letters to choose from” list. I’ll only judge you a little bit. 🙂

Alternately, if you find that boring, you could set the “length of each random letter sequence” to 5, thereby giving you five letters, a different one for each question.

I've done this a couple of different ways in the past. In 2009 I just picked one letter. in 2014, I got a series of five letters and answered each question with all five letters. In 2015, I was back to one letter. And last year I did five letters again. Seems like I have a scheme. This year I'll be doing one letter. I hope it's not an awful one....

What random letter was generated by the online random-letter generator (this doesn’t really count as one of your five questions)? N

1. What’s something gross whose name begins with the letter?

After a great deal of thought, the only thing I can think of that's gross that starts with N is nail fungus

2. What’s something crunchy whose name begins with the letter?

Nuts! I'm currently having my "dessert" of walnuts, but I like most all tree nuts.

3. What’s something (or who is someone) you wouldn’t mind hugging whose name begins with the letter?

My nieces and nephews. I'm totally not fussy about which one(s)!

4. What’s something whose name begins with the letter and can be found on a passenger airplane?

The nose is rather important. Also numbers for rows.

5. What’s something (whose name begins with the letter) you could purchase at a hardware store?

Nails. I love hardware stores so much...

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The Cannon Fodder Questions

1. Is there someone you'd like to be kissing right now?

I actually did just kiss Beast before I sat down. He's having a crabby day, and as I type this he's taking his next round of mega-painkillers. That should help, but it also means he'll probably be asleep in half an hour or so.

2. When you're being extremely quiet, what does it mean?

It either means I'm concentrating on something or I'm really fucking pissed at you. Or I'm asleep.

3. What are you listening to right now?

The TV is on--Men Turning Left in Texas--so I hear car engines and the guys talking. The front door is open so I also hear birds and random people noise from outside. And I'm doing laundry, so the ejector pump just came on.

4. Are you a big fan of thunderstorms?

I am not afraid of thunder. I'm not a fan of lightning, however.

5. Do you believe in perfect?

Not in this world, nope.

6. Are you a jealous person?

Heh. No.

7. What was the first thing you thought this morning?

"Ugh. How many times can I hit 'snooze'?" Pretty much the same every day.

8. What do you think about when you are falling asleep?

As little as possible. I focus on breathing--a CPAP helps with that--and if I can't shut my brain off, I sing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" in my head.

9. Are you satisfied with what you have in life?

Yes.

10. Do people ever think that you're either older or younger than you actually are?

I have no idea. My hair color indicates my age pretty accurately however: dark brown turning gray.

11. Do you think men truly understand women?

I'm not even convinced this is a thing, but see question #2. I think it's just that men aren't really conditioned or expected to try to understand others.

12. How about women understanding men?

I think for the most part, yeah, we girls have got your number, guys. Of course, we're also often self-delusional about you-all.

13. Did anybody ever call you handsome or beautiful?

Ha ha ha ha ha.

14. What is one fact about the last person that called you?

The last person who called me is one of those people who will be late to her own funeral.

15. Other than your current one, tell us about the longest relationship you have had either a romance or a particular good friend.

I have friends from, literally, 45 years ago. What do you want to know about them? I know quite a lot of dirt, especially on one of the two people I'm thinking of.

The Sassy Questions

1. If you could say anything you wanted to say to Donald Trump, what would you say?

Words would fail to express my thoughts to him accurately, or appropriately. Can I just throw up on his (not-made-in-America) ugly-ass tie?

2. If you had to be the mother of Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan, who would you choose and why?

That's an interesting question. I think Britney would, these days, be a lot calmer to hang out with. I've never really cared for Lindsay, even before she went off the deep end.

3. You get to be Queen for a day. The kids are all taken care of, and you can spend as much money as you want. What do you do all day?

There's not a lot of stuff I can think of that only lasts a day. Maybe going up in a private jet and flying around in 100% cushiness?

4. Is there a song that brings tears to your eyes every time you hear it? If so, which one?

There are some hymns at church that remind me of specific people every time I hear them. "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" is one of them. "Morning Has Broken" is another. The Bach organ toccata that is often used in old horror flicks is on my list too, though not because of movies.

5. A fairy taps you on the shoulder and tells you that you can either have a perfect face or a perfect body for the rest of your life. Which do you choose?

Body. If "perfect" means no breaking, no illness, and no pain, I'm in!

6. If you could live any place in the world and money was no object, where would you live and why?

More and more my answer is "not in this country." I've seriously considered looking for a job in England. It's just that a) I'm too lazy to do that, and b) public libraries there are in even worse shape than here.

7. What is your biggest regret in life?

Not learning to fly a plane.

8. If you could go back and visit one person in your life who is now dead, and ask one question, what would that question be and why would you ask it?

I'd love to spend some quality time with all three of the grandparents who were alive when I was born. They all died within the next 10-11 years and I have almost no real memories of them at all.

9. If you had the choice to age forward (like we are now) or aging backwards (think Benjamin Buttons) which would you choose and why?

I'm okay with the way time works. I'm too tired right now to think about aging backwards.

10. What will the epitaph on your headstone say?

Funny you should ask. I told Beast this morning--after he read a headline in overnight news to me--that I want "I HATE PEOPLE!" on my tombstone. I've been saying it almost non-stop since January 20.

Friday 5 x 3

(Link in meme-roll)
Pees

1. What’s something that recently required perseverance?

Walking through airports. I swear, we are nearly always at the farthest-away-from-anything-else gates!

2. What’s something that’s been unpleasantly persistent?

My insistence on jumping in and "saving" things...often things that don't necessarily need my interference in the first place.

3. When has practice not proven to make perfect?

There is no hope in hell of me every becoming a quiet, lady-like woman.

4. Where were you last required to exercise patience?

Tonight waiting for Beast to pick me up, waiting for a ride to pick Beast up--plans do change radically sometimes--driving to pick him up, driving him home...getting him to bed. And in not asking about the obviously FUBAR garage door when we pulled into the driveway.

5. How do you feel about peas?

I like fresh peas. Always have. Not canned ones--they are evil and should be banned.

+ + + + + + + + + + + +
That’s My Fund-Day

1. What’s the last thing you didn’t want but purchased anyway because someone’s kid was raising funds for something?

I, fortunately, haven't been asked recently. Having said that 36 kids will show up on my doorstep this weekend.....

2. What’s something you’re always happy to buy when kids sell it as a fundraiser?

Chocolate!

3. What was the last fundraiser you participated in?

My nephew and his new bride sort of fundraised for their honeymoon trip rather than getting gifts or registering somewhere. They are not the registry sort, for one thing, and for another, many of the guests were all coming from (FAR) out of town, so they used Honeyfund and let us pick what we wanted to "buy" them.

4. What are your feelings about the endless cycle of fundraising?

I hate it. I hated having to sell Girl Scout cookies when I was a GS, so the growth in the industry doesn't please me.

5. What’s something people don’t sell as a fundraiser but really should?

Chores: weeding, cleaning, mowing, grocery shopping. I'd totally pay a kid to do this!

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All Over

1. What would you like right now to be coated with?

This sounds positively repellent! I want to be covered in a sheet and blanket for a year-long nap. That's all.

2. What’s something you recently slathered on something else?

I made a peanut butter sandwich the other day with way more peanut butter than I really ought to have used.

3. What’s something you purchased recently whose purpose is to cover something?

I purchased quite a few clothing souvenirs for myself and assorted others. I guess that counts, right?

4. What do your current bed linens look like?

Messy. They are sateen-striped sheets, pale blue with two dark tan pillowcases along with the usual matching two. And a blue bedspread with shells and so forth embroidered (embossed?) on it.

5. Under what circumstances did you last wear some kind of gloves?

I haven't worn gloves in 4-5 months and have no clear memory of precisely when the last time I wore them was. That time is coming around again. Guess I should hit the store and stock up--at my age you would think I could hang onto a pair of gloves for more than one season, wouldn't you?

Sunday Stealing

(Link in meme-roll)
The 2015 Year End Meme

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?

Drove an RV!!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My resolutions mostly applied to work, and I did OK with them; not perfect, but better. Next year, more of the same, only turbo-charged: Silent Cordiality.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My niece Katharine had a son in October. My niece Rosellen is hoping to pop out twins any second.

4. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2015?

I need to choose who I trust more carefully, and trust myself.

5. What was your favorite new TV program?

CSI: Cyber

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

I need to lose weight and generally take better care of myself.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Sparky's graduation from college, our long stint in the ER in St. Louis, J's birth, Beast's surgery, the disaster/flood in February, my surgery.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Honestly, improving my relationships with Sparky and Beast while saying to hell with most everyone at work probably ranks up there.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Getting "outed" (doxxed) by crazy people wasn't my best moment. My handling of it with my boss could have been better.

10. What was the best thing you bought?

I have a new laptop I'm using to type this. It's lovely, but there are some major changes I'm having to get used to. The other best thing I 'bought' was weekly therapy.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Beast's for the most part. He's had a very hard year emotionally AND physically, and he's finally learning to listen to his body when it tells him to cease and desist. Also, so many people who have supported him (us), and kept us sane. Also, Sparky, for getting through college and beginning to make his own life choices.

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?

The leadership of the Republican party. ISIS. People with more guns and bullets than sense.

13. What song will always remind you of 2015?

"Uptown Funk"

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Emptying our varying storage areas and getting rid of stuff.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eat junk.

16. What was the best book you read?

Ready Player One (Cline), Joseph Anton (Rushdie), Our Souls at Night (Haruf) are among the ones that will stick with me.

17. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?

Keeping my mouth shut and walking away.

18. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"Do you get a little kick out of being slow-minded?
You want to be like your father
It's approval you're after
Well that's not how you find it

Do you really enjoy living a life that's so hateful?
'Cause there's a hole where your soul should be
You're losing control of it and it's really distasteful"

NSFW

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Drawing eyebrows with a Sharpie and other crazy things

1) Daily deal websites (like Groupon, LivingSocial, Seize the Deal, and even the pet-oriented DoggyLoot) are all the rage right now. Have you bought anything from any of those deal websites?

Nope. Not my deal, not my thing at all.

2) A former classmate of mine posted a Facebook status recently saying that she finally got her first "real world" job, to which I welcomed her to the hell of adulthood. She responded by saying, "Hell is being an adult and still having a part-time job at Old Navy!" How would you describe hell on earth?

Being in the hospital waiting for 10 hours to find out if you're going home that day or not.

3) Many people are doing their back-to-school shopping for their children or themselves right now. Did you have a favorite character/theme for your school supplies when you were in school? Or, do you like to have unique supplies (like the high heel shoe-shaped tape dispenser on my office desk) for your office/home today?

Theme? I got a new lunchbox most years in grade school--because the old one was usually rusted, and some new clothes. I got one folder and spiral notebook for each class. Mostly I used Pee-Chees, because most everyone at my school used 'em and they were cheap. I miss Pee-Chees. Anyway, yeah, themes were sort of a decade or more past my time.

4) Speaking of office supplies, some people love using Sharpie markers to draw in eyebrows. What is your favorite use for a Sharpie?

Uh, yeah, I like to use them to WRITE WITH! Concept, eh?

5) Who is a celebrity you'd love to sit down and have a conversation with?

Bono. Though it would probably be more me listening/him talking than a proper conversation. Which is fine.

6) I recently discovered a list of 100 "crazy" things you should do before you die. (Click here to read.) What is something you think everyone should do before they die?

Love someone so much you are willing to die for them, without even taking the time to think about it.

7) What is the worst job in the world?

Any job that makes you feel small and useless and unnecessary.

8) What television show's filming would you love to be in the audience watching?

It might be fun to see the Drew Carey MGM Grand show--can't remember its name, but Sparky has watched every one of them so many times he has them memorized.

9) Some people are annoyed when other people talk on cell phones while in line at a store. I discovered something even more annoying -- someone ahead of me paying for a case of beer with all pennies. When you've been behind someone in the checkout lane at a store, what is the most annoying thing a person has done?

Sometimes, just being in front of me is annoying enough. Beast gets absolutely furious when people don't (didn't?) start writing their check out until after their stuff has been scanned.

10) I don't know if they really exist or not, but I heard a TV show talking about memory foam toilet seats. Do you think a toilet seat made from memory foam that shapes to your specific bottom sounds like a good idea?

Sounds great until you think about having to clean it. So, yeah, no thanks.

W.T.F.

(Link in meme-roll)
Deep-fried randomness

1) What is the grossest thing you've ever done in public?

I have a faint memory of throwing up in a gutter on my way home from school when I was quite young. Maybe I didn't actually do it, just thought I was going to. That's pretty gross. Actually, childbirth was practically public too: all those people surrounding you and peering in a rather private anatomical place while you scream...ugh.

2) Over the weekend, a large amount of people in my area lost electricity for an entire afternoon (with temperatures around 100 degrees). What things do you like to do when your electricity goes out?

Go out to eat (inside, where it's air-conditioned), or just deal. We lose electricity pretty regularly, probably at least once a month, due to storms or heat or cold.

3) Deep-Fried Kool-Aid Balls were recently introduced at the San Diego County Fair. I thought deep-fried Twinkies and Snickers were bad enough, but frying Kool-Aid is just plain insane (in my opinion). What is something you'd like to see deep-fried?

I'm kind of traditional: meat, veggies, yknow, yeah, NORMAL THINGS!

4) If you were asked to house-sit for a really good friend and you found a bloody knife hidden underneath the friend's stairs, what would you do?

What the hell am I doing digging around under the stairs?? This just wouldn't happen, and trust me, if I found a bloody knife in someone's house I would probably pretend I didn't. I read too many crime novels to even think about confronting them! But it isn't going to happen anyway.

5) "Big Brother (U.S.)" premiered Thursday night. Would you ever live in a house that is filmed 24/7 for a television show in order for a chance at winning money?

Nope. Not a chance in the world.

6) If your navel suddenly became a dispenser for some condiment, what condiment would you like to dispense out your belly button? (This was really a question discussed at my office last week.)

You have a very weird workplace. I'll go with...wow, the mere thought of eating ANYthing that came out of my belly button is so gross, I can't do it. Sorry.

7) If you were a professional wrestler, what would your name be?

Conan the Librarian, of course.

8) Finish this sentence: If my life is a TV channel, I'm currently on ...

...the National Anthem. [You youngsters won't even get that one!]

9) Saturday (July 10th) is National Teddy Bear Picnic Day (Seriously. Once again, I can't make this stuff up.) Do you remember any specific stuffed animals from your childhood that you really loved?

I had a 4-foot-long multi-colored snake with spectacular eyelashes which was pretty damn outstanding.

10) What cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy? Explain your answer.

I like Mighty Mouse. Not flasky, not overly famous, just REALLY REALLY good at his job.

11) A recent study by the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University shows that contrary to stereotypes, acts of tenderness such as kissing, caressing and cuddling were more important to males than females in predicting relationship happiness. Are you a cuddler or more of a hands-off person?

Cuddly. And this is not news to me, honestly. I have theories on why this is so, but I won't bore you....

Disgusting

You Are Not Easily Disgusted

Wow, nothing ever not much grosses you out. Have you considered becoming a doctor? You find humans fascinating, and you're way too curious to let yourself feel revolted by anything. You tend to gravitate toward the more eccentric side of life, even if you're fairly straight [sic] laced yourself. It's likely that you occasionally gross other people out with your stories. You forget how queasy the general population is!

Are You Easily Disgusted?

I used to pride myself on sitting through the ookiest parts of the human physiology movies in school, and I was one of the only people in class who could use the lancets when we did blood typing. I'm not a fan of gross stuff, but I can certainly get through most of it. Mike Rowe, I'm not, but watching him is fun.

The Dating Profile Meme

(Link in meme-roll)
My Best Friend
This is a bit different than an "answer this question" meme. Either you have used sites such as Match.com or Yahoo Personals or you’ve read them. Weekly, we scour those on-line dating sites to respond either a person's profile or often their headlines as most of us would really like to do.

1. I want to find my best friend.

Why? Where'd ya lose her? Or is it 'him'? This is for dating not friendship--get a clue.

2. We don't have to have everything in common.

This is true. Uh-oh, I think by agreeing with you, I have too much in common with you already!

3. I love the simple pleasures of life; sun rise, sunset, to dance, music, rain, sounds and smell of the ocean, love, laughter, a kiss...do you?

Do I kiss? Sound like the ocean? Or what? WHAT are you talking about? "Sunrise" is one word, and jeez, could you be more inane?

4. I'm looking for a connection with a grown-up who in turn, takes care of themself and is not desperately searching for a person to complete them.

"Themself"? Holy cow, if my husband dies or leaves me, I am never dating again. This is all just too, too sad.
While I applaud the general sentiment, I don't think you're gonna catch any flies with the 'sugar' you've chosen to use.

5. There are no such things as coincidences...I am where I am for a reason.

Might have something to do with that Order of Protection, though.

6. Everyday brings new adventures from snow mobiling, scuba diving, skiing, cycling, fishing, swimming an open water on the first day of spring, and my adventures never seemed to stop passing through my life.

Glad you have so much going on. You won't hardly miss my absence.

7. As Michael Bublé sings it…”I Just Haven't Met You Yet”.

Seriously, I'm a snob: I canNOT even consider dating a guy who quotes Michael Bublé songs.

8. A person comes into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime Which one will you be?

I don't see "one brief shining moment" on that list, but that's my answer.

9. I am looking for a potential long term relationship that might lead to something long term someday, however... hold on!

What the... ? If... ? But doesn't "long term" mean... ? Wow, damn. ADHD much?

10. Please understand that I am not interested in having your children.

That would be painful, no? You, presumably, being a guy. And I'm not having yours. So we're starting out even-Steven, which is the best of this bunch, I guess.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) What is the most hideous scent you can think of?

I can't stand the smell of creeping charlie. And skunk...omg...just, omg...especially up close.

2) If you were a character in any spy novel, who would you be?

Well, of course, I'd be the strong, silent, heroic type. Ever notice that this character is always male? Yeah, that's why I don't read many spy novels. If we expand this a little to include mysteries, I want to be V.I. Warshawski (not the Kathleen Turner incarnation).

3) Whose smile can most easily persuade or seduce you?

Oh, I'm really pretty easy: a joy-filled kid can get me to do anything. Fortunately, most of 'em don't realize it or my life would be hell.

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

For some reason, this first reminded me of the refugees after our departure from Vietnam. Then I wondered if it was a Somalian pirate launch. Whatever it is, it gives me the willies--I'd never get on that boat willingly.

Thursday Threesome

(Link in blogroll)
::Loss of Connectivity::
Onesome: Loss-- of appetite? Have you ever been invited to an event where the food just was too terrible to even pretend to like? What was your solution? ...I mean, besides holding out for a burger on the way home {g}!

Yeah, but not often. I'm not too fussy. Most of the times have been places/times when I'm out of the country, and so basically screwed. My solution is the immediate beginning of a diet. I can eat another time.

Twosome: of-- the last three days, we've lost Net access in Central CaliLand most of the time. I'm thinking it has to do with the lack of a State budget out here. Do you have long periods of disconnect where you are?

We have moments...not really lengthy moments. We were out overnight Monday/Tuesday. Maybe twice a month we have issues.

Threesome: Connectivity:-- addiction or necessity? Is the Net essential to your daily activities (yes, work counts!)? ...or would you even notice if someone cut the wire?

It is essential. Period.

(In all fairness, I am trying to be offline a little more often. I'm currently doing embroidery for a couple of hours a day.)

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) What is the most disgusting thing you've ever had in your mouth?

Vomit. Sorry. But really, what could possibly be worse than that?

2) What is the boldest thing you've ever done?

I know the one thing I got a lot of flack (and sideways props) for was when I verbally took on a group of drunks one Fourth of July when they threw their bag full of garbage into our midst. All of my group was freaking out, but the other guys backed down. Whatever.
Personally, I have felt much bolder the times I've stood up for myself with my family and wit someone I'm bound by etiquette not to speak ill of.

3) If you could pick one person you know well to be more religious (or spiritual), who would it be?

First of all, we all have to make our own peace with our spirituality, which may look completely different from what I think is 'right.' However, I wish my brother would climb down off his high horse.

4) What is partner's best feature?

Honest trustworthiness.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one. Photo © Cat. 2007

I'm pretty shocked at how well this photo turned out! It's a freeze frame of one of the rides at the Mall of America in mid-flight. I love all the different straight lines that are just slightly off. It really is right side up: the people are sideways in the 'car' in the center. Those poles you see that support the rollercoaster track actually move as the coasters go over them. Ack. I'm sure it's safe. Really. But you won't catch me riding any of those things here!