Random Dozen

After quite a long absence (well, to be fair, Lid took the summer off) I decided to participate in the Random Dozen again. This week she asked her readers to give her questions to ask – so that she could have her birthday off from making these difficult decisions. I must say that they did a great job. If you'd like to see other answers to the questions, check out Linda's 2nd Cup of Coffee blog here.

1. From "Men Are Dumb ....": If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be? I Like Big Butts, by Sir Mix-A-Lot. It's not a song that I really know, but it's the one that popped immediately into my head, & I can only hope that people are thinking it when I enter a room LOL! I was going to post a link to the video, but decided that my blog is a little too family friendly. Feel free to google if you're curious!

2. From Pam of "Alert And Oriented x 4": Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of the object of your most painful shoe-buyer's remorse?

Which is which? You be the judge! And if you wear a size 6.5 US women's and just have to have them, I will gladly ship the gold ones to you.

3. From Susanne of "Living to Tell the Story": Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you've personally experienced. I think I've mentioned this on my blog before, but for my 30^th birthday my mom sent me a gift a day for 30 days. Sometimes it was big (a new outfit), sometimes it was small (a candy bar). It was the highlight of my day for those 30 days. And really brought home how old I was LOL. Of course, 16 years later…

4. From Lori of "Just me and My Life": If you were a flavor of ice cream, which would you be? Ben & Jerry's Phish Food! I've eaten enough of it that I'm probably Phish Food already. That's not really a good thing is it?

 
5. Cindy Swanson of "Notes in the Key of Life" asks: Have you ever had a crush on a movie star? Who was it, and are you still crushing? Gary Sinise, from when he was in The Stand. Sigh. But our politics are not even in the same universe so I had to let him go.

6. Jill from "Jill Boyd's Place" inquires: Glasses or braces--if you had to wear one, which would it be? Having had both I would have to say glasses. Even though I hate to wear glasses, the three years I wore braces are not remembered fondly. Not. At. All.

7. Nel from "Fasteneau Facts" asks: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Right now it would probably be Burke County, North Carolina. Near the mountains, near our parents, still pretty rural (I think!).

8. Thena from "Patiently Waiting" wants to know: If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive? That's easy – a hybrid vehicle of some kind. My long time crush has been a Toyota Prius, but who knows? By the time someone actually gives me a car like that almost any car company could have the best hybrid.

9. From "Life Through Bifocals," LynnMarie asks: What is your favorite birthday meal? Bakery cake (no whipped frosting – that's not frosting!). That's all. I don't need real food on my birthday.

10. Debby at "Just Breathe" checks in with: Do you still send hand-written thank you notes? Still? That implies that I ever did. I am a terrible southerner! Just the other day I got the sweetest note from Amy thanking me for her birthday earrings (her birthday was during my slight blog break – happy late birthday Amy!). I had two thoughts when I got the note: 1. Oh how nice! 2. Guess it's a good thing I didn't keep the earrings for myself. Heh.

11. Linda from "Mocha with Linda" poses this question: What is something you've done that you never thought you'd do? Hmm. I'm not usually very surprised by myself. I could say live in Africa for a year and a half, but really that didn't surprise me. I know! I joined the Episcopal Church after we moved to Ohio. I hadn't thought about it very much, but I always assumed I'd be a Southern Baptist forever. But the Episcopal Church seemed to be a place of welcome instead of a place of condemnation (sorry – that's how I felt about the Southern Baptist Convention at the time).

12. Jewel, my homegirl from Indiana who writes at "Musings from the World of Jewel," is very insistent that we answer this: Mount Rushmore honors four US Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why? Any person? Why, Ben Franklin of course! I don't want to hear any historical mumbo jumbo about the reality of the man – his myth is larger than life & twice as fascinating. And he would certainly liven up the party!

Wednesday Random Dozen

The Random Dozen is hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. Go there to check out the answers other folks gave to these questions.

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch? I don't cook, really, so it would be something VERY simple, like grilled chicken (on the Foreman grill – I don't mess with our outdoor grill), my dad's green beans & rice. We usually add bell peppers to the green beans. I know – very exciting!

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.) My current audio book. If I am forced to listen to the radio I can't be held responsible for my driving actions. Really.

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting? My dad's house. Sure there are lots of other places I like to visit, but where else can I sleep in my old bedroom, eat Amy's cooking, and just hang out & do nothing? And if I need excitement I can head next door to my brother's house :)

4. Share one factoid of your family's history. My dad pointed out to me the other night that the village where my mom grew up is the only one with its name in the U.S. I did an internet search & I think he might be right. Brookford, North Carolina is one of a kind. And should perhaps remain that way Uncle David? Heh. It was a mill town – her parents worked in the mill & so did she when she grew up. It was a hosiery mill. I think she sewed socks. What's interesting to me is that although neither of his parents worked in the mill, Dr. M also grew up in a mill village. So instead of marrying my father, did I marry my mother? Hmmm – I think I should just stop this line of thought right now.

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...." thought I would get into shape someday. I guess that could still happen.

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be? Gasoline! I would say some food item, but I'm NOT a hoarder – I would just eat whatever it was until it was gone, which would be about three weeks months.

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...." I have to leave the room or cover my eyes when there's a lot of tension or scary stuff going on in a show I'm watching. Like, I remember when I was a kid, watching Little House on the Prairie, and the scene where Mary is in the tree with what's his name – I could NOT stay in the room. Just couldn't stand it. Now I don't remember why (was it their first kiss?). But I still do that. Dr. M laughs at me.

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy? Something chocolate I'm sure. Or a lottery ticket.

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...." The sheep I drive by every day. I don't know why – I just think sheep are funny. Or maybe that pig – that's pretty funny too.

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal? Exercise (see number 5 above).

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else? Call someone I haven't talked to in a while. Or maybe the blessing would be if I don't call.

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon? Going to NC to see the family at the end of the month. I'll be staying at my favorite place!

Wednesday Random Dozen

The Random Dozen is hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. Go there to check out the answers other folks gave to these questions.

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated? I'm supposed to be cleaning out the office of one of the attorneys who left the company over two years ago. I look through a stack of papers in a desultory way about every two weeks. At this rate it'll be 2012 before I'm finished (and then the world will end!). At home we can always say that I'm procrastinating the vacuuming. Unless it's the actual day I've vacuumed or the six days after I've vacuumed – then I'm avoiding the vacuuming.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night? I usually fall asleep within about 5 minutes of going turning the light out. Usually. Sometimes it takes longer. Like when I sleep until 10:30 in the morning & then try to go to bed a scant 12 hours later. I always wake up to go to the bathroom at least once during the night – often twice. But I have no trouble falling right back asleep.

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles? I'm not fashion-forward enough to know the answer to this question. The preppy look did nothing for my figure. And the hippie look, ironically, seemed to be for straight skinny people too. I think the sixties offered the most alternatives for a small-waisted, big hipped woman.

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd? Me, feed people? Ha! Now, Dr. M has some good "company" dishes – BBQ pork & grilled chicken come to mind. I'll provide the pita & hummus. (Sabra brand – you didn't think I'd actually make it from scratch did you?)

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse? I'm an impulse food shopper (Must. Stay. On. List. – ooh tiny little cartons of Skinny Cow Ice Cream!). But since I so rarely do other kinds of shopping I can't say that I'm an impulse shopper. I usually do the "do I really need this" test - & sometimes I say no & still get it – but I wouldn't call that an impulse buy after all that agony.

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral? That I were still alive? Oh, not an option? I think that I would want the service to be whatever the folks who are left behind need for it to be. It's not for me – it's for them.

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today? Bright blue skies, boss in a good mood, Laughing Cow cheese, my Toms shoes…

8. What is your favorite type of bread? I'm not a huge bread eater (Give me chocolate people! No, not chocolate people. People! Give me chocolate!), but I do have an opinion. Mamaw's yeast rolls. Those evil biscuits at Red Lobster. Hushpuppies (are they not bread?).

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.) I already have all of those! Thanks, Lid for pointing out my faults… I think that I'm most afraid of losing my memory. I know that's probably not exactly a "trait." But it scares me. I'm fairly forgetful already.

10. What trait would you like most to develop? The opposite of those listed above! Vigor, selflessness, kindness…

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why? The living room. There are a lot of uncompleted tasks, a bit of clutter, lots of blankets & a comfy pillow on the futon, my computer, and the TV where the baseball saves my sanity each night.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging? I maintain balance by just not doing very much. I'm on the computer a LOT, but so is Dr. M. It's our family time together. My work gets left behind at work (I'm hourly so I can only work 40 hours a week anyway). Right now church is a one day a week gig – choir practice is after the service is over on Sunday. That could change if I get more involved. I do struggle to get the vacuuming in there since I'm so busy. Heh.

Wednesday Random Dozen

The Random Dozen is hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. Go there to check out the answers other folks gave to these questions. You might learn something interesting! As opposed to here where you're mostly going, "Huh?"

This week Linda informed us that George Washington has a couple of overdue books at one of NYC's oldest libraries. They were only due November 2, 1789. Libraries are so strict!

OK, here are this week's questions, and my questionable answers:

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?" I am one of those obsessive people when it comes to library fines. In general, the only time I owe them is when they won't let me renew the book & I'm not done yet. Dr. M says – just finish the book & pay the fifteen cents already! But it makes my heart hurt to think I'm depriving someone else of the joy of the book (I don't really care about the fifteen cents).

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts? I do have a place for gift wrap, etc. – a bin we keep under the bed. And, I'm ashamed to say, that sometimes just to keep from having to crawl under the bed to get it I will buy something at the store instead.

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster? Does the Blizzard of '93 count? It was while we were living in the Asheville NC area. I remember my boss called me from the office wondering where I was. He had cross country skied in. He was obviously joking. Wasn't he? What I remember most from that event was that we never lost power – although we did lose cable. Bummer. (P.S. I'm making light because it was not really a big deal for us, but for many other people it really was a disaster).

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song? My dad calls him Barry Monotone. And I must admit that listening to an entire album can be mind-numbing. But I can't help it – I love most of his music! So it's really hard to pick, but I'm going to go with the obvious (at least to me) & pick Copacabana. Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl… you probably don't really want to hear me sing this. Heh.

 

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?  My wedding dress! Well, it felt like a costume – all girly & fancy. Hmmm. If I don't pick that, then I'll go with my flapper costume.

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? The thesaurus. The advent of spell check means that I very rarely use a dictionary but I'm always looking for a new way to say something.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food? It used to be French Toast – yum! But now when I wake up I want something more savory, so I crave grits, eggs & livermush. Yum!

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial? The Tony Little Gazelle! I've had the thing for years. Sadly, I use it only sporadically. Which may be why it's lasted so long.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window? I can't believe it, but I don't remember ever crawling through a window. Although I have a vague recollection of squishing myself through a car window, it's possible that I'm just imagining that scenario. Because who doesn't want that image in their mind?

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? I have never experienced it with a person, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. Dr. M and I gravitated toward each other gradually. Now, if we're talking food or handbags, then I've had love at first sight MANY times.

11. How many pairs of jeans do you own? Do we count the ones we can't wear right now? Let's not. The ones that can make their way over my current booty are five in number – but I mainly only wear three of them. The reason I have so many (I'm usually a wear them until they shred kind of person) is that we often get the opportunity to pay money to wear jeans at work and my coworkers notice if I wear the same pair every day. Why do they have to be so observant? I'm wearing jeans right now because I donated to the March of Dimes for the privilege for the month of April.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.") Opus from Bloom County. Isn't he the cutest thing? Now that I think about it, why hasn't anyone done this for me before? I love bakery cake. Would it have been so hard to have the Kroger make one in the shape of a penguin? Hmmm?

Random Dozen Meme

I decided to participate in the Wednesday Random Dozen again. This week it's being hosted by Southlakesmom at I Didn't Know THAT!. Go to her site to check out the other folks who are participating.

1. What is your favorite sign of Spring?

2. Did you remember to spring forward on March 14?  If not, how did it impact your day? We did remember – although we were at my dad's house & traveled back to Ohio that day, so it wouldn't have mattered that much if we'd forgotten. Monday was the tough day. Who knew that my body would know what time it was? I thought I was in charge here!

3. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year? Just one? Hmmm. Cabbage! I'm TOTALLY kidding. I hate cabbage. I think I'd grow lettuce. If I had more choices, then I'd add tomatoes, peppers, cheese (what, that doesn't grow in a garden?). I'd basically like to walk out my door & have instant salad!

4. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant? Blueberries! For my salad.

5. What is your least favorite insect? I'm going to say slugs. Are they in the insect family? I refuse to go find out! Blech!

6. March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand? I used to buy fairly cheap bottled water & then just wash & refill the bottles with water from my Brita pitcher. Now I use a metal water bottle (Flylady brand, if you're interested – if you put ice in it at night the ice is still there in the morning!).

7. Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that? No, even in Zambia the water was fine (for me anyway – I think some missionaries had problems). I do remember being at Girl Scout camp one year – we were tasting foods from around the world & I couldn't find a single thing to drink! So I just kept eating the pineapple from the Hawaii table.

8. How many glasses of water do you drink per day? Sadly, since we were told that soft drinks can count as our liquid for the day I've decreased my water consumption. Even though I know that it's better for me. I probably drink about five glasses (40 oz.) a day on a regular basis.

9. March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini.  Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share. No. I don't think my nephew B1 counts, although he did like to show us his card tricks.

10. Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)? Nope – and I don't think it's happening at this late date!

11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies?  If so, what is your favorite? It probably depends on the director – I like some of each. I generally like westerns better than gangster movies, but I think it's the scenery more than anything. I did really like The Untouchables (the baby carriage scene is pretty amazing).

12. (Really random)  What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday? This is TOUGH. There are so many I've never visited. I haven't been to New England, or the west coast. In fact the farthest west I've been is Kentucky (with a teensy little foray into Missouri when we drove across a bridge & then back again). But I think at the top of my list would be northern California to visit the redwood forest.

In summary, I need to keep looking out for flowers, drink more water, stock up on salad items, and plan a trip to California!

Random Dozen Meme – The It’s My Birthday Edition

This is what Dr. M brought home with him last night - isn't he a sweetie? I love bakery cake - yum! My birthday is today, but he teaches until nearly 8:00 on Wednesdays so we celebrated early.

And this is what happened when I opened my Dad's birthday card - this is the confetti that was on the tables at Thanksgiving & it ended up all over the floor. I used to send out cards with confetti in them all the time - payback is heck. Heh. Thanks Daddy & Amy!

Now it's on to the Random Dozen, hosted by Lidna at 2nd Cup of Coffee. Go to her site to check out the other participants - it's always a hoot!

1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason? I'm not really a numbers person. Even though I have an Accounting degree. And I spend a lot of time counting (50 seconds to rinse my hair in the shower – 1001, 1002, 1003…). And I'm trying to decide how I feel about turning 46 TODAY.

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you? Well, this is my comment on Linda's Monday blog post: I'm probably the most vain person in my life - in a self-deprecating I'm so not worthy way. It's a lethal combination (lethal as in, guaranteed to put you to sleep).

3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered. Hmm – I'm going with inquisitive. My friends know that I have a fetish about looking in boxes. If you have a decorative box in your home, I'm going to open it to see what's in there. So make sure it's not your stash! My nosy side is really annoyed that I don't work in Human Resources any more.

4. How lucky do you consider yourself? On a scale of 1 – 10 I'd say about an 8. I've had a lot of good things happen to me – especially meeting Dr. M (thanks KJ!).

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written? Well, the one about the Rapture ranks right up there LOL. And then there's the Snuggie one. And my dad's green bean scrambled eggs. But I think my favorite posts are the poetry ones, and since they're all my children I can't pick just one – sorry!

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words. Cold, windy, waiting

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery) Sadly, I always think that if the person is flattering me then it's blarney. This could be a self-esteem issue.

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking? I'm about 40% green I think. We recycle. I think about the water & heat we use, but don't consciously reduce either. I use cloth grocery bags & sandwich bags. I have a water bottle. I occasionally use environmentally friendly products.

9. What is your favorite song this week? Well, I could say "You're So Vain" (thanks very much Linda!), but not really. I don't listen to music that much – I usually have words in my head instead of music. I guess I'm going to go with the NBC Olympic theme song – it's still rattling around in there!

10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up? Well, now, the denomination doesn't matter as much as where it is & the condition it's in. Quarter in an oil puddle? No way. Penny in the grass? Probably. (note – after writing this, I was in a store & saw a penny on the floor. The penny was shiny, the floor looked clean. I did not pick it up. Apparently I do have my limits.)

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...." I think surely it will be spring soon. Surely!
 

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out. I Wanna Hold Your Hand by the Beatles. Awww – I'd like to get a big vat of hand sanitizer & hold all my bloggie friends' hands!

Random Dozen Meme

If it's Wednesday, it must be time for the Random Dozen hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to link up or just read the other participant blogs, just click here.

1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow? Yes, & let's just say that it's a good thing that I was never really interested in hunting or skeet shooting. I have the aim of a drunk pig (I just made that analogy up – aren't I clever?)
2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are? Thanks to Facebook I know where some of them are (hi Karen!), but others are lost to the mists of time.
3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time? I prefer to arrive early (hurry up & wait – that's me!), so that's mostly what I do. However, when leaving from work to go anywhere it's anybody's guess as to what time I'll arrive at my destination (sorry Dr. Bartnik!).
4. Are you more of a New York or California type? I'm more of a Blue Ridge Mountain type – so I'm going with California. I think that I could find something in that big state that would feel like home.
5. Do you have a special ring tone? One I can hear! I used to have a Norah Jones ring tone, but I could never hear it ring. So I went with a generic one that's a lot louder.
6. What is your favorite type of chip? I'm not a humongous chip eater (although I'll eat chips if they're put in front of me). If I'm choosing at Subway, then I'm going with Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips.
7. Best comedy you've ever seen is .... Oh this is too hard! I think I'm going to have to go with Blazing Saddles. Although Stripes was pretty funny. And Foul Play has that one scene with the tourists in the taxi that practically makes me pee my pants every time I see it.
8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, "How'd that work for ya?" Why I cut my bangs just last week. And I'm thinking of having another go at them this weekend. But I'm not sure that bang trimming really counts (even that time when I was 4 & cut an intriguing V pattern into bangs). I haven't ever tried to cut the rest of my hair. I should – it's a mess!
9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self? If we owned our house then I would want it to be about that – we already have some great ideas about what we'd do to this house if it was ours & we had the money. Given that we rent, then I'm going with me!
10. Are you allergic to anything? Only the known universe. I exaggerate. But since I'm sneezing every five minutes while I'm typing this… I'm allergic to mold (including old books – and I think that includes the hymnal from church), long haired cats, and some trees. I also think that I'm "sensitive" to whatever they use to treat the roads for snow & ice – I believe that's the cause of my sneezing fit this morning.
11. Why is it so hard to change? OK, I'm going to read all the answers to this question in the hopes that someone has a good solution to this problem! I'm currently working through the Geneen Roth workbook, Why Weight? A Guide to Ending Compulsive Eating, and although one part of me wants to succeed, another part of me just doesn't care enough to work at it. Sigh.
12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable." Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you'd like to about this topic. If you do it right, this is so true! You have to trust that the person with whom you share your secrets will hold them close and not betray you. And that they won't hold that secret knowledge over your head. Here's a poem I wrote to Dr. M for our 8^th anniversary in 1998. Heh – in this poem I sound like I think I'm grown up – that was 11 years ago!
    

When we really met that January,

how could we know that by Christmas

we would be bound together by love

and secrets shared?

And by the Christmas after that

we were married.

Married!

I look at those two people

and think how far they have to go

to be who we are now.

They were sweet,

connected at the hip,

lovers and confidantes.

Children.

I think of you now in your study.

My love, my life

working toward your dream...

It's my dream too.

And yet, I don't even care if we get there--

my journey with you is my life.

I view what happens along the way

through the filter of us.

It's a pretty good filter

don't you think?

Random Dozen Meme

If it's Wednesday, it must be time for the Random Dozen hosted by Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to link up or just read the other participant blogs, just click here.

1. Do you use the labels various charities send you as "free gifts?"

I didn't used to unless I had contributed, but after a while I just started getting irate. If they're going to waste money sending me stuff without checking to see if I really want to donate, then I'm just going to use it! I even used free labels on our Christmas cards.

2. What is your favorite time of day (or night) for skywatching?

If I were a morning person I'd say dawn, but the only time I see a sunrise is if Dr. M films it for me. Here is my favorite sky (as painted by Dr. M).

3. What is the most adventurous you've ever been with trying a new food? (Keep it G-rated please).
 
I'm gonna go with the locusts in Zambia, although the rattlesnake in college runs a close second. They were both cooked by people who weren't experts in those delicacies, so I think that was the adventurous part. Kind of like if I were to try to make a roast – it would be adventurous of you to eat it. The locusts tasted like burnt okra (because they were burnt & in my memories most of the okra my mom fried was burnt). The rattlesnake tasted like chicken. Really!

4. Have you ever heard a rock sing? (Trust me, there's a reason for this one!)

I've heard wind whistling through rocks and that sounded like music. Does that count?

5. If you could learn a language you don't presently speak, what would it be?

Spanish!

6. Al Capone's tombstone read, "My Jesus, Mercy." If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

If I Died For Want of Healthcare I'm Coming Back to Haunt You!

7. If you were a famous musician who was known by one name, like "Cher," "Sting," or "Jewel," what would it be? It doesn't have to be your first name, but it can be, if you'd like.

Damawallace! (See my Sunday post for clarification)

8. Have you ever been inordinately "into" a television show?

When I was younger I'm sure I was, although I don't remember. In my adult life I remember a flirtation with Friends, and an obsession with West Wing for about 2 seasons. Since then, nope. I don't want to be tied down & I know that I just wouldn't watch something I taped (or Tivo'd or DVR'd). I can't be bothered.

9. When you sneeze, do you go big, or do you do that weird "heenh!" sound that makes people think you're going to blow your brains out? Any other variation we should know about?

I believe that Dr. M could find me in a crowded Walmart simply based on my sneeze. It's pretty impressive if I do say so myself.

10. Do you still read an actual newspaper that you hold in your hands, or do you get your news elsewhere?

We recently subscribed to the "weekend" package for the Dayton Daily News. We get Thursday – Sunday – which I mostly read on Sunday because I won't sit down to mess with it before then. I like it because I'll actually read stories that I skip on the internet, since they're right there in front of me.

11. Are you a good speller?

I'd say middling. I used to be a lot better before the advent of spell check. However, I'd say when someone asks me I'm right about 95% of the time.

12. At what time each day do you start thinking about Lost lunch?

Seriously? Around 9:30 or 10:00 I start the pep talk. "You can make it until 11:30. If you eat too soon you'll get hungry this afternoon. And then you'll go to the café next door to get a pretzel with cheese." It's a slippery slope, eating your lunch too early!

To summarize (heh – I'm copying Amy Ro): I need get out of bed to catch the sunrise at least once in my life, yell "fore" before I sneeze and stick to eating instead of cooking. And maybe take 15 minutes each day to read the newspaper.

Happy Birthday Aunt V!

(She was one of the first people to call me Bug!)

Random Dozen – Where The Bug Reveals Her Dark Impatient Side

If it's Wednesday, it must be time for the Random Dozen Meme from "Lidna" at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to participate just go to Linda's site to link up.

1. 
   
   How good are you at delaying gratification?
   
   
   
   You know the phrase, "zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds?" That's me. I have the thought (how tall is Jessica Alba? I want chocolate!), and then I have the result in a flash (5'6"!
   Brownie!). It's kind of sad. I've tried to work on it, but so far I'm not doing very well.
   
   
2. 
   
   Maybe a marshmallow wouldn't be too difficult a temptation for you. What food (or anything else) would be most tempting?
   
   
   
   Sadly, I find many foods to be irresistible. No bake cookies. Pizza. Bakery cake. Sigh.
   
   
3. 
   
   On a scale of 1-10 (10 being saintly) how patient are you?
   
   
   
   I'm a three. I can wait a full 3 minutes before I start tapping my toes & looking at my watch.
   
   
4. 
   
   Have you ever waited for something in life only to be disappointed upon realization of the goal/object/etc.?
   
   
   
   If we're talking material things, yes. I get the whatever-it-is (keeps washed lettuce fresh!) & realize that it just doesn't cut it. Big ticket things like marriage or a new Webkins? Not really.
   
   
5. 
   
   Are you a person who takes shortcuts?
   
   
   
   Yes I do – if I don't understand why all the steps are there. If I think it's busy work, I'm skipping!
   
   
6. 
   
   Which line is hardest to wait in?
   
   
   
   The line to the bathroom!
   
   
7. 
   
   Did you wait to discover the gender of your unborn child until its birth?
   
   
   
   N/A. Although I would NOT wait if the situation ever came up. I hear pregnant women talking about their daughter or son & it just seems more special.
   
   
8. 
   
   Are you more patient with children or the elderly?
   
   
   
   I can be pretty impatient with any age group, but I think that children can send me over the edge faster than anyone else!
   
   
9. 
   
   Did you ever sneak a peek at a present? 
   
   
   
   Not as an adult – I like surprises! But I remember the Christmas I learned there wasn't a Santa Claus – I discovered my Barbie camper in my parents' closet. I was NOT traumatized (Mom as Santa Claus? Cool!), but I'm afraid that my cousin K has still not recovered from me telling her all about it.
   
   
10. 
    
    What is the longest you've ever waited for anything?
    
    
    
    From the glimmer of thinking about the concept (around 1995 or so), until the offer of a position (this past summer), Dr. M's current job was quite a while coming. Please realize that he wasn't looking for a job that whole time! We had to get the Master's & Ph.D and then look for a job.
    
    
11. 
    
    Who has more patience, you or your significant other?
    
    
    
    Oh he does in most cases. He can get pretty uptight sometimes, but I'm more impatient.
    
    
12. Which of the following songs about waiting is your pick for the best? (OK, you may substitute another, if you like.)
    
    A) Anticipation by Carly Simon
    B) The Waiting by Tom Petty
    C) Right Here Waiting for You by Richard Marx
    D) Wait for Me by Rebecca St. James
    

I don't like any of these choices! I read the lyrics & they creeped me out a bit. But if we ignore the rest of the song, then I'm definitely The Waiting. Because it is the hardest part!

Well basically, I need to just take a chill pill! Go back to the days in Zambia where going to the bank was a leisurely task, not a speed event. I was much calmer then, once I figured out the system. Ohm!

Random Dozen Meme

If it's Wednesday, it must be time for the Random Dozen Meme from "Lidna" at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to participate just go to Linda's site to link up.

1. So I was thinking about how Jon Bon Jovi never seems to age much. His hair is smaller nowadays, but he still manages to look like a boy somehow. And then that made me think of the story of Dorian Gray. Question: If you physically lock in one age for yourself, which would you choose and why?

The year I turned 40. I had hit my weight goal & was feeling pretty good about how I looked.

2. What is the best dish that you cook or bake (your piece de resistance?)

I am NOT much of a cook, so there's nothing that's a sure thing. However, I have made pumpkin spice muffins (with chocolate chips) several times in the last few years & I haven't messed them up yet.

3. When you feel blue, what is one strategy you use to help yourself back to normal?

Sadly, eating is my number one strategy – but as you guys know I'm working on that. Reading or working puzzles are other things I do. I want to add some form of exercise to my "feeling blue" toolbox.

4. When was the last time you danced in public?

Wow – so long ago that I don't remember. I'm not sure that the swaying I do really counts as dancing anyway.

5. Do you consider yourself a realist or dreamer?

I guess a bit of both – although I can be more of a dreamer in that I have ideas of how life can be, but don't really do anything to make them happen.

6. As a parent, what is one thing that you have done well?

Not having children! Honestly, I think it was one of the smartest decisions I ever made. I knew as a teenager that I didn't want to be a mom – and although people assured me I would change my mind, I never waivered.

7. Which is your favorite character on the Andy Griffith show?

Ooh – a tough one. I loved how even & wise Andy was. And I really liked that Ernest character. But I'm going to have to go with Barney – he was just the most hilarious dude!

8. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

I'm married to a historian (have I mentioned that before?). I think I know a lot. He wasn't a perfect man, but I think God used him as a prophet. I really wish that we could banish racism. But it feels like it's embedded in the mortar of our country.

9. Have you never been mellow? Have you never tried … to find a comfort from in side you? (Sorry, Jorge was singing that song just now, and it just seemed to be perfect timing as I was creating this week's questions.) REAL question: What is your #1 driving pet peeve?

Ooh – there are so many! Currently it's when a car flies by to get in front of me right before the four-lane road goes to two lanes. And then slows down. To below the speed limit. Really? Did you have to blast past me at 80 mph just so you could then drive 45 mph in front of me? I would so give you the finger, but the last time I tried that I ended up making the peace sign. The person at whom it was aimed just looked baffled. Clearly, my "good girl" subconscious was in charge.

10. Which color best represents your mood today? Care to elaborate?

Sort of a misty white. That's the color outside, and that's the color I am. Not really alert to the world around me, but not really feeling very bad about it. If I were taking anything other than Osteo BiFlex & Ibuprofen I would think this feeling was drug-induced. But I think it's just a sort of Monday on a Tuesday kind of feeling.

11. If your spouse were an animal, which would he/she be?

Well, that's easy! A bear! He's pretty cuddly, but if you mess with any of his "children" (he's a bleeding heart liberal, so we're ALL his children) he can get pretty irate.

12. What activity takes up the bulk of your time on an average day

Um, well, um. I don't want to say. It's embarrassing. IthinkthatmostlyIreadblogs. Perhaps I should add a new hobby to my repertoire.

Random Dozen Meme

If it's Wednesday, it must be time for the Random Dozen Meme from "Lidna" at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to participate just go to Linda's site to link up.

1. Do you find it gross to share drinks with family? Friends? Nope. Drinking after each other. Eating from the same bowl. Sharing a tortilla chip. It’s all good. In fact, Dr. M has to get on me about drinking after him when he’s sick. It never enters my mind that I too could get sick. I’m a ditz.

2. What have you learned this year? (You didn't see a question of that weight coming, did you? At least not for #2.) I wish I could say that I’ve learned something concrete – like Spanish. I did learn that I like living in a house – I always thought I’d be an apartment or condo person. And maybe after this winter & having to keep up with snow removal (I do plan to help sweetie!) I will change my mind. But right now – being able to howl with laughter & not worry about neighbors? Priceless.

3. When do you dismantle the Christmas decorations? Well, we aim for sometime in January. One year we left the tree up until MLK day (3rd Monday in January for non-US folks).

4. Something you wish to accomplish before the end of 2009 is: Clean out Dr. M’s office!
 
5. How do you feel about winter (after Christmas)? It’s not my favorite time of year. I really hate having to bundle up to go everywhere. But I just focus on my birthday (March 3) and soldier on…

6. Have you participated in after-Christmas sales? Not intentionally. Dr. M & I stopped by a craft gallery on Saturday & got a Christmas CD 60% off.

7. Do you have plans for New Year's Eve? I have a really strong goal of being able to stay awake until midnight. I may have to drink caffeine after 4:00 in order to accomplish that goal.

8. Is there anything special awaiting you in January? Adhering to a new budget so we can eventually afford to replace our Jeep (it’s getting kind of scary to drive). Woo hoo!

9. If your life this year was a movie, what category or genre would it be? (Romance, Comedy, Drama, Thriller, Suspense, Farcical, etc.) Drama with a few comedic episodes.

10. How much time per day do you spend blogging? Please do not lie. I will know. Well, when I’m at work I probably spend about three hours a day reading other folks blogs. I get bored in my job. Writing my own blog? Not really that much – maybe three hours per week, depending on how prolific I am.

11. Who runs your household? Dr. M! He just wishes I’d get up off my hiney & DO something every now & then. Actually, we’re fairly evenly divided on tasks & such. I do defer to him with some decisions out of laziness or due to his superior knowledge. Some feminist I am!

12. Share one hope/dream for 2010. Clean out Dr. M’s office! (Did you think we’d actually get it done this week?).

To summarize (stealing this idea from AmyRo!): I need to get busy cleaning out Dr. M’s office, stop futzing with blogging at work, stay AWAY from the office café where I spend way too much money, and keep my grubby mouth off of other people’s food!

Random Dozen Meme

If it's Wednesday, it must be time for the Random Dozen Meme from "Lidna" at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to participate just go to Linda's site to link up.

1. Which Wizard of Oz character are you most like? I really want to be like Dorothy because that girl could sing a blue streak, but I like adventures! I would not have been in such a hurry to go home. Which one wanted the brain? The scarecrow? That’s who I am!


2. When you're deciding what you're going to wear each morning, which item do you select first? Why? Pants – because I have black pants & brown pants & I have to know which ones are clean before I can tell what top to wear.

3. What kind of animal do you think the world could live without? Mosquitos! What purpose do they serve?

4. How many Christmas trees are in your home? None yet – but we’re hoping to figure out where to put one this year. The past few years we’ve just put lights on our indoor tree – the apartment was too small for a real tree.

5. Would you prefer to be emotionless if it mean you didn't have to feel a heartbreak? I’m partway there anyway – I am really good at compartmentalizing so that I can get through my day. Right now, in the back of my mind, is some anxiety about my mother-in-law, but I’m still able to answer the random dozen! That said, I like to have emotions, even repressed ones, so I wouldn’t want to lose them entirely.

[Note: after I wrote this Dr. M received a call from home - apparently his mother wasn't quite ready to go into the good night - today she was sitting up & drinking coffee! Not sure how a person goes from practically lifeless to drinking coffee, but we'll take it!]

6. Do you ever experience holiday let-down or depression? Yes, sometimes, but see the answer to #5 – I tend to just focus on spring (Easter is on its way!) & slog my way through. You know, speaking of Easter, it's appropriate to me to feel somber for the time leading up to it - how can I fully appreciate the glory of resurrection without the despair of death (I'm also speaking metaphorically about the rebirth of the the earth)?

7. Do you like Michael Jackson's music? Mostly I do, although it’s not a style that I listen to much anymore. But I totally had the Thriller album. Didn't everyone?

8. Why is it that we never judge people who have their teeth fixed for cosmetic reasons, but every other cosmetic procedure has a stigma? That is an excellent question! I guess we’re all hypocrites? Hmmm. I think that, in my case, I needed braces for good dental hygiene – even Glide floss wasn’t going to get between those babies. Also, I looked like a rabbit.

9. Enjoy horseback riding? My backside hurts just thinking about it. I’ve been on a horse twice in my life. Once on my cousin’s horse where he just led the horse around the yard, & then at 4-H camp in the 4th grade (this was the camp experience where I didn’t bathe for an entire week, but that’s another blog post). They put me on a horse that would follow the others & we TROTTED for an hour. Ow ow ow!

10. Shoes--practical or stylish? Practical. I used to go for really cute shoes – but never with very high heels because that was just begging for a twisted ankle. Now they have to have support because of my arthritis. Sigh.

11. What was the name of your first pet? Feel free to post a pic. The first one I remember is Alexander. I think he was at least part border collie. I wish I had a picture of him! My brother & I chose the name because we thought it sounded regal. At least that’s how I remember it, but I was probably 5 or 6 at the time, so who knows! The dog before Alexander was Blackie. I don't remember him, but there's a funny story about my Mom calling him right as a person of color was walking down the road by our house. Ouch! She was pretty mortified.

12. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done? Hmm. I have 12 people to shop for (not counting the nephews – they’re getting cash!) & I’ve gotten gifts for 1. So that’s 8%. What day is it? Should I be concerned?

Random Dozen Meme - The A Day Early Thanksgiving Edition

If it's Wednesday Tuesday of a holiday week, it must be time for the Random Dozen Meme from "Lidna" at 2nd Cup of Coffee. If you want to participate just go to Linda's site to link up.

1. Are you sticking to traditional Thanksgiving foods this year, or are you being culinarily adventurous? We’re going to my Dad’s for thanksgiving & I’m pretty sure it will be traditional. I’m not making a thing. Well, I might make my chocolate chip pumpkin muffins – but we sure won’t need them. My dad’s wife Amy always has enough food for an army - & she’s not the only one cooking. We’re getting the forklift ready to load me into the car when it’s time to come home.

2. Tell me something concrete that you're thankful for. (Something you can literally touch, see, etc., not a concept like "hope.") I’m thankful for Dr. M’s job & our new life in our new town. We’ve waited a lot of years to get to this point – I’m so glad we’re not disappointed in the results!

3. You knew the flip side was coming: Share about something intangible that you're thankful for. I’m thankful for the resilience of the human spirit. We always yearn and that alone can pull us up from the depths.

4. Share one vivid Thanksgiving memory. It doesn't have to be deep or meaningful, just something that remains etched in your memory. Until recent years, Dr. M &I spent many Thanksgivings with just each other. I remember the year we decided to have a traditional meal that we gave each other. Well, we didn’t cook a whole turkey, but we fixed the things we wanted. I enjoyed how the day felt special with just the two of us.

5. What is one thing that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt is going to happen this Thanksgiving because it always does, year after year? I will try valiantly to not overeat & I will fail miserably. Daddy – you do have plenty of Tums on hand don’t you? Also, my sister-in-law B will try to get me to go shopping with her the day after. I say “a pox on thee!” Not gonna happen. No way. No how. Maybe.

6. Do your pets get any left-overs? Yep – Daddy’s two outside dogs will have quite a feast!

7. Does your family pray before the big meal? If so, do you join hands while seated, stand, repeat a formal prayer or offer a spontaneous prayer? Who does the praying? Yes, we always pray. We’ll all stand around trying to decide & then make Vivian pray. Or maybe Ken. We’ll see.

8. Will you be watching football in the afternoon? If not, what will you be doing? We’ll probably be eating while the football is on. And we might have the TV on in the background. Go Raiders! Let’s win two in a row! Wow, that would make the season 4 & 7!

9. There are two distinct camps of people on this issue: How do you feel about oysters in the dressing/stuffing? I don’t like stuffing (after years of trying to figure out how I couldn’t like a dish made of bread I finally realized that I don’t like sage) and I don’t like oysters, so I’m going with no!

10. Do you consider yourself informed about the first Thanksgiving? Yes I do – just got a refresher from some blog recently… hmmm… who was it? Oh yeah – Brenda at Days of my Life!

11. Which variety of pie will you be enjoying? All of them! But especially pecan (the ooey gooey Karo Syrup kind!). And if there isn’t pecan pie I will cry.

12. Do you feel for the turkey?? (This is a humorous throw back question related to the 12th question in another Random Dozen!) Nope! I’m not a huge turkey eater anyway – I might go with the ham this year. Or, you know, I might eat both. Who am I kidding? It’ll be both. Boy, I already feel REALLY full!

Looking back on these answers I think I need to do an intervention with myself regarding the holiday. Here are some rules guidelines:

• I’m going to be there until Sunday. There is no need to eat EVERYTHING in one sitting. Pace myself.

• Focus on spending time with family instead of on the food (this will be HARD).

• We focus a lot on giving thanks to God, & that’s GOOD, but I want to remember to personally thank the people too.

Random Dozen Meme, and I Won, You Win Winner!

1. If you could master one sport, what would it be? Does ping pong count? I use to love to play when I was younger (& had access to a table), but I wasn’t super fabulous at it, just better than people expected so I would sometimes win. But I would LOVE to be a world-class ping pong player. Wow, I really am super geek.

2. When you make a major purchase, do you go with your gut instinct, or do you do research to make an informed decision? I make Dr. M do the research & then he’s the one who gets to decide since he did all the work. I know, a major cop out! I think if I had to do it myself I would narrow down my choices with research & then go with my gut instinct to make the final selection.

3. There is an old kids' game that says you can find out what your movie star name would be by using your middle name as your first name and the name of the street you grew up on as your last. What is your movie star name? Well, this isn’t much fun – my maiden name is Wallace & the street I grew up on was Wallace Dairy Road! So I’d be Marie Wallace Dairy. Heh. Sounds like a character actor to me.

4. Would you rather give up your favorite music or your favorite food? This is hard! I rarely listen to music since I listen to books on tape – but I don’t know that I’d want to give any of it up. But food! For my health I should say I’d give up the food. This is my not happy to give up food face.

5. There are two types of banana preferences. One is pristine yellow, almost to the point of being green; the other is spotty and more ripe. Which is your preference? Banana bread! No? Ok, then it needs to be ripe enough that you can actually peel the thing, but I don’t like brown spots.

6. Your favorite tree is? Christmas tree!

7. On a scale of 1-10, how tech savvy are you? I’m an 8 I think – except that I’m not moving with the times. I don’t know how to text, twitter or DVR.

8. Has H1N1 touched your family? Not that I know of – yet!

9. Are you an analytical person, or do you just accept things the way they are without questioning or scrutinizing? Analytical – this was especially evident when I was a child & had all these questions about the Bible…

10. Is your personality more like that of a dog, cat, or Koala? Hmmm, another toughie. I’m going to go with cat – leave me alone & let me do my thing. I’m gonna do it behind your back anyway…

11. Do you keep in touch with friends you made years ago? Yes - three friends from college (well, one of them is my cousin Kim so I’ve known her from birth). We try to get together around Christmas every year to have a meal & exchange gifts. I missed the year I was in Zambia, but I don’t remember missing any others. So that’s, what 25 years now? Hi Sherri & Jenny & Kim (and assorted hangers on otherwise known as your families)! Have you bought your ornaments yet? I have perused, but not purchased...

12. You are checking out at a grocery store. In the express lane, there are more people than the regular lanes, but of course, their load is less than those in the regular lanes. Which lane do you choose (assuming you qualify for the express lane) and why? I go with the self checkout lane. Oh, that wasn’t an option? Boy you’re strict. The express lane for me – I just think it will go faster than the grocery carts filled to the brim.

OK, now it's time to announce the winner of the I Won, You Win carnival. I put all six of the names in a lovely pottery basket & made Dr. M do the honors. The winner is Amy!! Congratulations!

P.S. I'm very conflicted about the floss - I have some teeth that are very close together, but I think the wax flakes off & gets lodged in there. I've started using Reach Gentle Gum Care Mint Woven Floss. I think it works best.