This weekend, the area at Exit 150 known as "the truckstop" closed. It closed not of its own accord, but because the state took the property and forced the company to shut down.
The land was wanted so the state can reroute the interchange and make things work better there.
Many people, myself included, feel that simply closing the truckstop will help the interchange immensely. The state, however, has plans to spend $46.5 million on this intersection, creating a new road (and the county supervisors are drooling for development along this new route), and adding a round-about.
A film I saw recently about the interchange (sometimes being a journalist has its perks) indicates that by 2036, there will be issues with the round-about. It shows traffic having to stop and slow down in order to let others through. No one likes the round-about but the state is insisting on it. I think it will be a big snafu and ultimately something else to be fixed.
I have serious concerns about the state taking the truckstop. On the one hand, I have sat in those very long lines of traffic that back up on the interstate during rush hours. I know that the interchange, which intersects not just I-81 but also US 220 and US 11, is a headache for local drivers as well as travelers who simply want to get to Cracker Barrel and have dinner.
But the 7 acres the state has taken will be dormant, and the state isn't doing much mowing these days because of funding cutbacks. In 10 years, I look for this wasted acreage to be an overgrown tempest filled with stinky paradise trees, brush, and a homeless person or two. If the state doesn't keep it mowed and cleaned up, that is a likely scenario.
The county is losing revenue with the loss of the truck stop, also. It is not as much as people believe - I've seen some crazy figures tossed around on Facebook - but for a local government any sum can be the number that means closing a school or cutting back personnel or shutting down a library. Plus about 45 people lost jobs. On the one hand, 45 people in a county of 32,000 is not many, but on the other, the county is handing out dollars hand over fist to companies to locate in Greenfield who offer a similar small number of employment options.
I don't know how much other revenue will be lost during construction. This is a three-year project and I daresay travelers will venture on to other exits for meals and overnight stays. I would, if I knew the construction was going on. Sometimes you don't know until you're right on top of it and no one mentions it when you make reservations, though.
The interchange does need to be improved. But I don't know that the state is making the right moves, and I disagree with shutting down a business like it did, especially when it did not move the business but instead offered a financial pay-out. The truckstop provided a necessary service for truckers, who by federal law are required to have certain rest times. They also need to fuel up and eat.
So I am mixed on this decision. It is done now, and of course there is nothing I could have done about it anyway. But I do wonder about the thought processes of those who are in control.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Hell Week Begins
Today marks the beginning of an entire week of doctor appointments.
It starts this morning with a visit to the dentist to have a tooth fixed. It's one of those iffy deals that hopefully will be just an old filling removed and a new one replaced, but could end up in a root canal - or even an extraction - because of a crack in the tooth. It depends on how deep the crack runs, I'm told, though the x-rays look good.
I am not looking forward to this at all.
The remainder of the week is filled with physical therapy visits, a chiropractic visit, and a regular doctor visit. I also had a mammogram scheduled in there but decided that was more than I could handle and postponed that until after Thanksgiving.
So wish me well as I begin this round of health care visits. Mostly I am worried about the dental visit today; I think if that goes well then everything else will be a breeze. While I generally do well with regular dental cleanings, the fact that the upcoming procedure is not clear-cut has me concerned since I am not sure what to expect.
Getting old kind of sucks.
It starts this morning with a visit to the dentist to have a tooth fixed. It's one of those iffy deals that hopefully will be just an old filling removed and a new one replaced, but could end up in a root canal - or even an extraction - because of a crack in the tooth. It depends on how deep the crack runs, I'm told, though the x-rays look good.
I am not looking forward to this at all.
The remainder of the week is filled with physical therapy visits, a chiropractic visit, and a regular doctor visit. I also had a mammogram scheduled in there but decided that was more than I could handle and postponed that until after Thanksgiving.
So wish me well as I begin this round of health care visits. Mostly I am worried about the dental visit today; I think if that goes well then everything else will be a breeze. While I generally do well with regular dental cleanings, the fact that the upcoming procedure is not clear-cut has me concerned since I am not sure what to expect.
Getting old kind of sucks.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Sunday Stealing: Taking Stock
From Sunday Stealing
Taking Stock Meme
Stolen from: The Blake Collection
Making: a blog post.
Cooking: nothing at the moment. We had pork chops and biscuits and gravy for dinner last night.
Drinking: water
Reading: Factory Man, by Beth Macy (nonfiction book), The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak, and I'm listening to The All-Girls Filling Station by Fannie Flagg.
Wanting: to be rid of pain.
Looking: at ways to improve.
Wasting: time.
Wishing: for better understanding from the people who are supposed to be on my side, but really aren't.
Enjoying: the new extended version release of The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.
Waiting: on the next and final installment of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, scheduled for showing in a theater near you on December 17.
Liking: that my husband realizes I am not feeling well and doesn't care if I don't dust or vacuum.
Wondering: how I grew old.
Loving: my husband.
Listening: to clocks ticking.
Needing: a hug.
Smelling: those biscuits from last night.
Wearing: sweatpants and my ragged "blue thing" cover and a T-shirt.
Following: The Newsroom and The Big Bang Theory.
Noticing: how odd I seem sometimes.
Knowing: that I probably really am odd sometimes.
Thinking: that these are some weird sort of questions.
Feeling: tired.
Bookmarking: nothing much.
Opening: my heart.
Giggling: about the long tale I've been weaving with my physical therapist during our twice-weekly sessions.
Taking Stock Meme
Stolen from: The Blake Collection
Making: a blog post.
Cooking: nothing at the moment. We had pork chops and biscuits and gravy for dinner last night.
Drinking: water
Reading: Factory Man, by Beth Macy (nonfiction book), The Book Thief, by Mark Zusak, and I'm listening to The All-Girls Filling Station by Fannie Flagg.
Wanting: to be rid of pain.
Looking: at ways to improve.
Wasting: time.
Wishing: for better understanding from the people who are supposed to be on my side, but really aren't.
Enjoying: the new extended version release of The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.
Waiting: on the next and final installment of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, scheduled for showing in a theater near you on December 17.
Liking: that my husband realizes I am not feeling well and doesn't care if I don't dust or vacuum.
Wondering: how I grew old.
Loving: my husband.
Listening: to clocks ticking.
Needing: a hug.
Smelling: those biscuits from last night.
Wearing: sweatpants and my ragged "blue thing" cover and a T-shirt.
Following: The Newsroom and The Big Bang Theory.
Noticing: how odd I seem sometimes.
Knowing: that I probably really am odd sometimes.
Thinking: that these are some weird sort of questions.
Feeling: tired.
Bookmarking: nothing much.
Opening: my heart.
Giggling: about the long tale I've been weaving with my physical therapist during our twice-weekly sessions.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Saturday 9: All About That Bass
Saturday 9: All About that Bass (2014)
(A special request from Smellyann)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
(I'd never heard this song and I enjoyed this!)
1) This song is body positive. In that spirit: What physical feature would you never change, no matter what?
A. My eyes. Gateway to the soul and all of that. Plus they are hazel and thus they change color with my clothes. I like the chameleon aspect of them.
2) The lyrics mention how often the media uses Photoshop to present a more ideal female form. Is Photoshop on your computer? If so, do you know how to use it?
A. I have Photoshop Elements on my computer. I don't really know how to use it. Mostly I use Google's Picasso to tweak photos, or Pic Monkey. I am not very good at tweaking, however, so try to make the shots count when I take them.
3) She also sings about Mattel's Barbie doll. According to Toys R Us, this year's best-selling doll is not Barbie but Disney's Elsa. Have you seen Frozen?
A. I have not.
4) In the video, Meghan dances merrily around her twin bed with its pink head/footboard. Describe your bed to us.
A. My bed is a four-poster queen-sized cherry bed, made by Virginia House in the late 1980s when they were still making decent furniture here in the USA. It was constructed less than 100 miles from where I live. In fact, our area was once the furniture capital of the south, and my friend and fellow Hollins University alumnae Beth Macy has written a book about this very thing: how the south became the furniture capital and then lost the title to foreign competition. The book is called Factory Man and I'm currently reading it.
5) Ms. Trainor began writing songs when she was 11. Would you find it easier to write lyrics or music?
A. I have done both, actually. I tend to do them in tandem.
6) Meghan recently performed "All About that Bass" on the CMAs with country star Miranda Lambert. Who is your favorite country singer?
A. I don't really have one. I'm a pop music or Adult Top 40 kinda girl.
7) In September, Meghan had to cancel several concerts because of throat trouble. Are you battling a cold, cough or sore throat this morning?
A. I always have post nasal drip. It's a constant. I'm allergic to everything.
8) Meghan was born in Nantucket, MA. "Nantucket" is an Algonquian name that means, "faraway island." How did your town get its name/what does it mean?
A. My county is called Botetourt, and it's named after Lord Botetourt, aka Norborne Berkley, who was a governor of Virginia prior to the American Revolution. The House of Burgess formed the county in 1770 right after Berkley died. The county was huge - it went all the way to the Mississippi and took in part of Wisconsin. Our courthouse has thousands of historical documents, some complete with signatures of famous people like Jefferson and Washington, stored inside a solid fire proof vault that is as big as a house. Lots of people can trace their heritage to Botetourt County. We are famously known as The Seedbed of the Republic, which is also the title of one of the most extensive and frequently referred to local history books.
9) According to the National Weather Service, between rain and snow, winter brings Nantucket the most precipitation it sees all year. How is the weather where you are today?
A. Damn cold.
(A special request from Smellyann)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
(I'd never heard this song and I enjoyed this!)
1) This song is body positive. In that spirit: What physical feature would you never change, no matter what?
A. My eyes. Gateway to the soul and all of that. Plus they are hazel and thus they change color with my clothes. I like the chameleon aspect of them.
2) The lyrics mention how often the media uses Photoshop to present a more ideal female form. Is Photoshop on your computer? If so, do you know how to use it?
A. I have Photoshop Elements on my computer. I don't really know how to use it. Mostly I use Google's Picasso to tweak photos, or Pic Monkey. I am not very good at tweaking, however, so try to make the shots count when I take them.
3) She also sings about Mattel's Barbie doll. According to Toys R Us, this year's best-selling doll is not Barbie but Disney's Elsa. Have you seen Frozen?
A. I have not.
4) In the video, Meghan dances merrily around her twin bed with its pink head/footboard. Describe your bed to us.
A. My bed is a four-poster queen-sized cherry bed, made by Virginia House in the late 1980s when they were still making decent furniture here in the USA. It was constructed less than 100 miles from where I live. In fact, our area was once the furniture capital of the south, and my friend and fellow Hollins University alumnae Beth Macy has written a book about this very thing: how the south became the furniture capital and then lost the title to foreign competition. The book is called Factory Man and I'm currently reading it.
5) Ms. Trainor began writing songs when she was 11. Would you find it easier to write lyrics or music?
A. I have done both, actually. I tend to do them in tandem.
6) Meghan recently performed "All About that Bass" on the CMAs with country star Miranda Lambert. Who is your favorite country singer?
A. I don't really have one. I'm a pop music or Adult Top 40 kinda girl.
7) In September, Meghan had to cancel several concerts because of throat trouble. Are you battling a cold, cough or sore throat this morning?
A. I always have post nasal drip. It's a constant. I'm allergic to everything.
8) Meghan was born in Nantucket, MA. "Nantucket" is an Algonquian name that means, "faraway island." How did your town get its name/what does it mean?
A. My county is called Botetourt, and it's named after Lord Botetourt, aka Norborne Berkley, who was a governor of Virginia prior to the American Revolution. The House of Burgess formed the county in 1770 right after Berkley died. The county was huge - it went all the way to the Mississippi and took in part of Wisconsin. Our courthouse has thousands of historical documents, some complete with signatures of famous people like Jefferson and Washington, stored inside a solid fire proof vault that is as big as a house. Lots of people can trace their heritage to Botetourt County. We are famously known as The Seedbed of the Republic, which is also the title of one of the most extensive and frequently referred to local history books.
9) According to the National Weather Service, between rain and snow, winter brings Nantucket the most precipitation it sees all year. How is the weather where you are today?
A. Damn cold.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Albino or Piebald Deer
I snagged these shots of a grey-white deer around 11:30 a.m. this morning as it passed through the field. The camera kept wanting to fog over from the cold so I had a difficult time getting a clear photo.
That last shot really shows how grey-white the deer is.
That last shot really shows how grey-white the deer is.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
Next week I celebrate 31 years of marriage to the same guy. This may not make me an expert on marriage but I think it does qualify for a little advice-giving when it comes to keeping a partner happy. So here, in no particular order, are 13 ways to please (and keep) your mate.
1. Listen. It is important to hear what your significant other is saying. Sometimes a person simply wants to be heard, to spout off, to get things off of his/her chest. They don't need advice.
2. Give advice if asked, and don't be offended if they don't heed it. Remember, you and your partner are separate individuals functioning as a unit, but the individuality still exists.
3. Respect the other person. Don't make fun of his/her ideas, thoughts, efforts, whatever.
4. Compliment your significant other. It is quite easy to tear one another down, but building up is better. Tell him/her they look nice occasionally, that you like a haircut, that you are pleased with something they did.
5. Keep complaints to a minimum (try not to nag). Keep the annoyances to yourself. I know it can be frustrating to have to keep picking up socks or cleaning the sink or whatever your pet peeve is, and it is okay to mention it every now and then in hopes the other will understand that this is important to you. But if he/she doesn't get the message, don't take it to heart.
6. Be interested in what your partner does. Ask about his/her day. As questions about what he/she is involved in, ask him to explain why he made a certain decision or how it impacted the project or whatever.
7. Touch one another. I really think Americans are a touch-starved lot, we've all got that Biblical Puritan Ethic thing going on that means you can't kiss or express physical affection and it appears to be deeply ingrained in our society. My husband and I hold hands while we watch TV, we hug every day, we kiss one another on top of the head. Give your loved one a foot massage, or a hand massage, or a shoulder massage.
8. Be individuals. You don't have to like the same things. If he doesn't like minty fresh toothpaste, then have two tubes of toothpaste and give him what he likes.
9. Don't have extended periods where you're angry with one another. Being married to a man who is involved in three different dangerous occupations (firefighter, farming, and construction), I learned a long time ago not to let things linger. I don't want something to happen and know that our last conversation was an argument over something insignificant. We have been known to be late for work or appointments in order to settle a difference before heading out. It really is that important.
10. Be friends. I think it is very important that you be friends with the person you live with and are in love with. Apparently you can be in love with someone and not be friends with them, but I really don't see how that could work out in the long run. Sometimes love waxes and wanes, but if you are friends then you can work through it.
11. Mind your manners. With family, it is easy to slip into a mode where you don't say please and thank you. But I think it is even more important to say these to people you love and care about. Why wouldn't you? Acknowledgement in a kind way is always good.
12. Choose your fights. It is important to know what is worth fighting over. You can fight about every little thing if you want to, but all that does is erode the relationship. Pick your battles and leave the arguing to the things that really matter. If something doesn't make any difference five years from now, it probably isn't worth the words.
13. Discuss money and financial matters and settle on something you can both live with, and stick to it. Early in our marriage, we agreed that any unnecessary purchase over $100 had to be discussed with the other. As time has passed, that number has grown a bit, but we still discuss major purchases of any kind with one another.
What advice would you offer to keep a relationship going?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 369th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
 |
| Us as old people |
1. Listen. It is important to hear what your significant other is saying. Sometimes a person simply wants to be heard, to spout off, to get things off of his/her chest. They don't need advice.
2. Give advice if asked, and don't be offended if they don't heed it. Remember, you and your partner are separate individuals functioning as a unit, but the individuality still exists.
3. Respect the other person. Don't make fun of his/her ideas, thoughts, efforts, whatever.
4. Compliment your significant other. It is quite easy to tear one another down, but building up is better. Tell him/her they look nice occasionally, that you like a haircut, that you are pleased with something they did.
5. Keep complaints to a minimum (try not to nag). Keep the annoyances to yourself. I know it can be frustrating to have to keep picking up socks or cleaning the sink or whatever your pet peeve is, and it is okay to mention it every now and then in hopes the other will understand that this is important to you. But if he/she doesn't get the message, don't take it to heart.
6. Be interested in what your partner does. Ask about his/her day. As questions about what he/she is involved in, ask him to explain why he made a certain decision or how it impacted the project or whatever.
7. Touch one another. I really think Americans are a touch-starved lot, we've all got that Biblical Puritan Ethic thing going on that means you can't kiss or express physical affection and it appears to be deeply ingrained in our society. My husband and I hold hands while we watch TV, we hug every day, we kiss one another on top of the head. Give your loved one a foot massage, or a hand massage, or a shoulder massage.
8. Be individuals. You don't have to like the same things. If he doesn't like minty fresh toothpaste, then have two tubes of toothpaste and give him what he likes.
9. Don't have extended periods where you're angry with one another. Being married to a man who is involved in three different dangerous occupations (firefighter, farming, and construction), I learned a long time ago not to let things linger. I don't want something to happen and know that our last conversation was an argument over something insignificant. We have been known to be late for work or appointments in order to settle a difference before heading out. It really is that important.
10. Be friends. I think it is very important that you be friends with the person you live with and are in love with. Apparently you can be in love with someone and not be friends with them, but I really don't see how that could work out in the long run. Sometimes love waxes and wanes, but if you are friends then you can work through it.
11. Mind your manners. With family, it is easy to slip into a mode where you don't say please and thank you. But I think it is even more important to say these to people you love and care about. Why wouldn't you? Acknowledgement in a kind way is always good.
12. Choose your fights. It is important to know what is worth fighting over. You can fight about every little thing if you want to, but all that does is erode the relationship. Pick your battles and leave the arguing to the things that really matter. If something doesn't make any difference five years from now, it probably isn't worth the words.
13. Discuss money and financial matters and settle on something you can both live with, and stick to it. Early in our marriage, we agreed that any unnecessary purchase over $100 had to be discussed with the other. As time has passed, that number has grown a bit, but we still discuss major purchases of any kind with one another.
What advice would you offer to keep a relationship going?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 369th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Monday, November 10, 2014
Fincastle Doin's
Last Thursday night, the Botetourt Historical Society hosted a book signing and art showing at the Botetourt Museum in Fincastle.
Authors Jean Robbins and Gail McMillan were on hand to sign their book, Dear Nannie . . . yours devotedly, Charlie. The book is a combination of history, recipes, and love story.
Artist Mark Woodie, whose detailed artworks of Botetourt County are coveted by many, was also on hand to sell his work.
I went to have my book signed. My mother-in-law had given it to me as a present last Christmas.
They had an impressive turn-out. You can order the book through the Botetourt Historical Society or go by the Museum and pick up a copy.
It had been a long time since I'd been out. It was nice to see these familiar faces.
Authors Jean Robbins and Gail McMillan were on hand to sign their book, Dear Nannie . . . yours devotedly, Charlie. The book is a combination of history, recipes, and love story.
Artist Mark Woodie, whose detailed artworks of Botetourt County are coveted by many, was also on hand to sell his work.
I went to have my book signed. My mother-in-law had given it to me as a present last Christmas.
They had an impressive turn-out. You can order the book through the Botetourt Historical Society or go by the Museum and pick up a copy.
 |
| Authors Jean Robbins and Gail McMillan |
 |
| Ed McCoy (editor of The Fincastle Herald) and Pam Wiegandt |
 |
| Loretta Caldwell and Weldon Martin |
 |
| Artist Mark Woodie |
 |
| Overview of the crowd. |
 |
| Woodie talks to Pat Honts and George Syndor |
 |
| Leslie Woodie, Mark's wife, and an old friend |
 |
| Sue Goodpasture, one of my old teachers |
 |
| A shot of the punch bowl. |
 |
| A board about the book. |
Sunday, November 09, 2014
Sunday Stealing: The Blue Meme
From Sunday Stealing
The Blue Meme
I wonder what happened to numbers 1 - 25?
26) Are you happy with the person you've become?
A. I would like to be healthier.
27) What's a sound you hate? What's a sound you love?
A. I hate the sound of screaming. I love the sound of my husband's voice when he says, "I love you."
28) What's your biggest "what if"?
A. WHAT IF. That's as large as the typesetting will go.
29) Do you believe in ghosts?
A. I think there are things that we do not understand and some people call them ghosts. Having seen a few apparitions myself, I tend to lean toward the idea that there are things going on in the world that we do not always clearly comprehend.
30) How about aliens?
A. How about them? Do you mean, do I believe in them? I might as well. They are one of those things you can't prove or disprove.
31) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?
A. Agreeing to marry my husband.
32) What's the worst place you have ever been to?
A. Virginia Beach in 1989, right after a series of riots. We already had reservations and the hotel assured us everything was fine and things were back to normal, but that was not the case.
33) Can insanity bring on more creativity?
A. I have no idea. The next time I am in a round room looking for a corner, I will try to figure out the answer to that question.
34) Most attractive actor of your opposite gender?
A. Orlando Bloom when he plays Legolas in Lord of the Rings.
35) To you, what is the meaning of life?
A. Striving to do your best in the service of your fellow human beings.
36) Define "Art".
A. Art is anything created by the hand of man, as viewed by the eye of the beholder.
37) Do you believe in luck?
A. Yes, and I have very little of it.
38) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?
A. Similar intellectual styles.
39) What's a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?
A. Happy by Pharrell Williams. But any song that I really like can put a smile on my face.
40) Where were you yesterday?
A. At home watching the extended version The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey so that later today I can watch the extended version of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
41) What's the worst injury you've ever had?
A. The one I dealing with at the moment is pretty bad. It's a problem with my abdominal muscles as the result of a poorly performed gallbladder surgery that was preceded by numerous other surgeries 20 years ago. When your abdominals don't work, most things are quite difficult to do.
42) Do you have any obsessions right now?
A. I seem to be fairly addicted to playing the video game Skyrim at the moment.
43) What's up?
A. Um. The ceiling?
44) Ever had a rumor spread about you?
A. I'm sure I have.
45) Do you believe in real magic?
A. Is there such a thing as fake magic?
46) Do you ever hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?
A. I try not to but sometimes forgiveness can take a long time.
47) What's your favorite (non-pet) animal?
A. Deer.
48) What is your secret weapon to get people to like you?
A. Listening.
49) Where is your best friend?
A. One of them is out of town at the moment, the other is, I hope, at home recovering from a cold, and another is out with her mother doing her weekly Saturday shopping routine.
50) What do you think is Satan's last name?
A. I don't believe in Satan.
The Blue Meme
I wonder what happened to numbers 1 - 25?
26) Are you happy with the person you've become?
A. I would like to be healthier.
27) What's a sound you hate? What's a sound you love?
A. I hate the sound of screaming. I love the sound of my husband's voice when he says, "I love you."
28) What's your biggest "what if"?
A. WHAT IF. That's as large as the typesetting will go.
29) Do you believe in ghosts?
A. I think there are things that we do not understand and some people call them ghosts. Having seen a few apparitions myself, I tend to lean toward the idea that there are things going on in the world that we do not always clearly comprehend.
30) How about aliens?
A. How about them? Do you mean, do I believe in them? I might as well. They are one of those things you can't prove or disprove.
31) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?
A. Agreeing to marry my husband.
32) What's the worst place you have ever been to?
A. Virginia Beach in 1989, right after a series of riots. We already had reservations and the hotel assured us everything was fine and things were back to normal, but that was not the case.
33) Can insanity bring on more creativity?
A. I have no idea. The next time I am in a round room looking for a corner, I will try to figure out the answer to that question.
34) Most attractive actor of your opposite gender?
A. Orlando Bloom when he plays Legolas in Lord of the Rings.
35) To you, what is the meaning of life?
A. Striving to do your best in the service of your fellow human beings.
36) Define "Art".
A. Art is anything created by the hand of man, as viewed by the eye of the beholder.
37) Do you believe in luck?
A. Yes, and I have very little of it.
38) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?
A. Similar intellectual styles.
39) What's a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?
A. Happy by Pharrell Williams. But any song that I really like can put a smile on my face.
40) Where were you yesterday?
A. At home watching the extended version The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey so that later today I can watch the extended version of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
41) What's the worst injury you've ever had?
A. The one I dealing with at the moment is pretty bad. It's a problem with my abdominal muscles as the result of a poorly performed gallbladder surgery that was preceded by numerous other surgeries 20 years ago. When your abdominals don't work, most things are quite difficult to do.
42) Do you have any obsessions right now?
A. I seem to be fairly addicted to playing the video game Skyrim at the moment.
43) What's up?
A. Um. The ceiling?
44) Ever had a rumor spread about you?
A. I'm sure I have.
45) Do you believe in real magic?
A. Is there such a thing as fake magic?
46) Do you ever hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?
A. I try not to but sometimes forgiveness can take a long time.
47) What's your favorite (non-pet) animal?
A. Deer.
48) What is your secret weapon to get people to like you?
A. Listening.
49) Where is your best friend?
A. One of them is out of town at the moment, the other is, I hope, at home recovering from a cold, and another is out with her mother doing her weekly Saturday shopping routine.
50) What do you think is Satan's last name?
A. I don't believe in Satan.
Saturday, November 08, 2014
Saturday 9: Brother, Can You Spare A Dime
Saturday 9: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1932)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Bing Crosby wants a dime for food. Adjusted for inflation, 10¢ in 1932 is now worth $1.69. Can you think of anything you could buy at the grocery story with $1.69?
A. Maybe two candy bars. A box of Tic Tacs. A soda or a bottle of water. A box of spaghetti. A can of green beans. A small bag of marshmallows.
2) This song was originally released as a 78 rpm record. Have you ever seen a 78?
A. Actually I have. I have even heard them play.
3) In 1932, Jean Harlow was Hollywood's glamor queen. Who do you think sets the standard for glamor today?
A. Sandra Bullock? Angelina Jolie? I really don't know. I don't think we have anyone who compares with the stars of yesteryear.
4) One of 1932's best selling books was Agatha Christie's Peril at End House. She remains popular today. Are you familiar with her work?
A. I have read some of Christie's work, yes. But not enough to say that she is a favorite author.
5) This week's featured artist, Bing Crosby, worked as a caddy when he was 12 and continued to enjoy time on the golf course his entire life. What type of exercise do you do most often?
A. At the moment I do stuff prescribed by my physical therapist most often. But I also like Tai Chi when I can stand up. I also like walking on my treadmill while I watch TV, another activity for which standing up is necessary. Maybe by the end of the year . . .
6) Bing had twin sons, Dennis and Philip. Many people believe that the propensity for twins is hereditary. Are there twins in your family?
A. Not that I can think of. One of my uncles married a twin but I doubt that counts.
7) Bing's daughter, Mary Crosby, has her own place in TV history. Do you know why?
A. I have absolutely no clue. I do now that I hit the search engine, but that is cheating, and the honest answer is the first.
8) In the mid 1970s, Crosby and his family did commercials for Minute Maid. Do you have any orange juice in your refrigerator?
A. No. I am actually allergic to citrus, including orange juice. It makes my ears itch way deep inside. So none in the house.
9) Now for something completely random: Do you like beef jerky?
A. No.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Bing Crosby wants a dime for food. Adjusted for inflation, 10¢ in 1932 is now worth $1.69. Can you think of anything you could buy at the grocery story with $1.69?
A. Maybe two candy bars. A box of Tic Tacs. A soda or a bottle of water. A box of spaghetti. A can of green beans. A small bag of marshmallows.
2) This song was originally released as a 78 rpm record. Have you ever seen a 78?
A. Actually I have. I have even heard them play.
3) In 1932, Jean Harlow was Hollywood's glamor queen. Who do you think sets the standard for glamor today?
A. Sandra Bullock? Angelina Jolie? I really don't know. I don't think we have anyone who compares with the stars of yesteryear.
4) One of 1932's best selling books was Agatha Christie's Peril at End House. She remains popular today. Are you familiar with her work?
A. I have read some of Christie's work, yes. But not enough to say that she is a favorite author.
5) This week's featured artist, Bing Crosby, worked as a caddy when he was 12 and continued to enjoy time on the golf course his entire life. What type of exercise do you do most often?
A. At the moment I do stuff prescribed by my physical therapist most often. But I also like Tai Chi when I can stand up. I also like walking on my treadmill while I watch TV, another activity for which standing up is necessary. Maybe by the end of the year . . .
6) Bing had twin sons, Dennis and Philip. Many people believe that the propensity for twins is hereditary. Are there twins in your family?
A. Not that I can think of. One of my uncles married a twin but I doubt that counts.
7) Bing's daughter, Mary Crosby, has her own place in TV history. Do you know why?
A. I have absolutely no clue. I do now that I hit the search engine, but that is cheating, and the honest answer is the first.
8) In the mid 1970s, Crosby and his family did commercials for Minute Maid. Do you have any orange juice in your refrigerator?
A. No. I am actually allergic to citrus, including orange juice. It makes my ears itch way deep inside. So none in the house.
9) Now for something completely random: Do you like beef jerky?
A. No.
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Thursday Thirteen: Movies
Thirteen of my favorite movies -
1. Fellowship of the Ring (A Hobbit and his friends must destroy a ring)
2. The Two Towers (An evil wizard sends out his fighters against the Men of the West)
3. The Return of the King (The true king returns to the throne)
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (A Hobbit gets asked to escort a group of dwarves)
5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (A big dragon breathes fire in the home of the dwarves)
(Okay, so I'm Tolkien nerd!)
6. Dirty Dancing (Young woman falls in love with sexy male dancer)
7. Under the Tuscan Sun (Older woman finds herself in Italy)
8. The Blind Side (Young homeless man finds hope and wealth with guidance of a foster family)
9. Secretariat (Horse lady raises up champion racer)
10. Walk the Line (Johnny Cash becomes a music legend)
11. Momma Mia! (A woman finds a lost love, set to the music of Abba)
12. Forrest Gump (Young man grows up, has an interesting life, finally gets the girl, and she dies)
13. Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi (Rebels attempt to keep bad guy from destroying the galaxy)
The links all go to the trailers for the movies.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 368th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. Fellowship of the Ring (A Hobbit and his friends must destroy a ring)
2. The Two Towers (An evil wizard sends out his fighters against the Men of the West)
3. The Return of the King (The true king returns to the throne)
4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (A Hobbit gets asked to escort a group of dwarves)
5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (A big dragon breathes fire in the home of the dwarves)
(Okay, so I'm Tolkien nerd!)
6. Dirty Dancing (Young woman falls in love with sexy male dancer)
7. Under the Tuscan Sun (Older woman finds herself in Italy)
8. The Blind Side (Young homeless man finds hope and wealth with guidance of a foster family)
9. Secretariat (Horse lady raises up champion racer)
10. Walk the Line (Johnny Cash becomes a music legend)
11. Momma Mia! (A woman finds a lost love, set to the music of Abba)
12. Forrest Gump (Young man grows up, has an interesting life, finally gets the girl, and she dies)
13. Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi (Rebels attempt to keep bad guy from destroying the galaxy)
The links all go to the trailers for the movies.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 368th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
My Relationship With Money
I woke up this morning, as I have for about a year now, to the radio combined with a beeping sound. It is supposed to be an alarm with one or the other, but it's a cheap radio and so I get both. It drives me crazy.
It replaced one I had had for nearly 20 years; it finally stopped holding the radio station and I was waking up to static noise.
This made the think about money and our relationship to dollars and stuff. We buy a $12 clock and expect it to work perfectly and last 15 years, and consider it a waste of money if it doesn't.
Yet we think nothing of buying $12 for a spaghetti dinner at the local restaurant. Or spending money on consumables like chewing gum, cigarettes (chewing tobacco in my husband's case) or $100 a month to watch the trash that comes across the TV screen these days.
We don't want to spend $4.00 for a bag of apples, but we'll spend $1.00 on a single candy bar. We expect appliances that we pay $500 for to last more than 5 years.
When you break it down, though, you're paying $100 a year for the $500 appliance. I spent about $1 a month on the cheap alarm clock (which I am getting ready to give to Goodwill and replace, as soon as I can find something suitable).
I think as a society, our relationship with money and stuff is weird.
I found this quiz about how you feel about money to be interesting as far the questions; the answer on the scoring left a little to be desired as it didn't really tell me anything. And I'm not sure it addressed the thing I am trying to puzzle out, which is the VALUE we place on things.
We over-value football players and under-value firefighters. We over-value entertainment and under-value education. We over-value the military and under-value the welfare of the nation's population. Or least in my mind we do. Obviously others do not agree.
We stand in judgment of someone on food stamps who buys a Mars bar, but honestly, doesn't everyone deserve a candy bar every now and then, if they want it? And who am I to stand in judgment of how you or you or you spend what you have, however you've received it?
I know I make bad decisions sometimes with money. That alarm clock was obviously a lousy purchase. Our house is full of stuff that needs to be removed - clutter that I can't quite part with because it might be worth $5, and yet - I want it out of here. I can name a dozen things that are stuffed in a closet that I need to remove (an original X-Box, an older model lap top, and about 100 books just to name three). I need to have a yard sale but I live in a rural area and I'm not able to pack the stuff up and haul it elsewhere.
This article says this: "I’ve noticed that people in general (and Americans in particular) have a complex love-hate relationship with wealth. People want to be rich — but they’re suspicious of those who already are."
I agree with this statement. Do you?
I'm still working on this idea, these thoughts of what we value. We value relationships but perhaps don't really work on them. We value our cellphones more than our mothers, it seems. Do we value stuff more than people?
When money is the primary value, it is a value misplaced. Of that much I am certain. But it is rather like being a food addict - you have to eat. In this society, you have to have money.
Is it any wonder we have a nation of hoarders?
This website, The Story of Stuff project, wants us all to have a better relationship with stuff. "We have a problem with Stuff. We use too much, too much of it is toxic and we don’t share it very well. But that’s not the way things have to be. Together, we can build a society based on better not more, sharing not selfishness, community not division."
This is an idea I can get behind.
My goal is to develop a healthier relationship toward money and stuff. Money and stuff are both simply tools: things that make life better or harder, depending on how you use them.
I have never wanted more than "enough" - whatever that is. Enough to pay the bills, eat okay, and be comfortable. I've never aspired to great riches. Sure, I dream of winning the lottery - I think in our society it's a conditioned idea. But generally when I think about the lottery, I say - and mean - that's I'd be okay with just one of the smaller five-figure prizes. But even that is a complicating the relationship.
Anyway, this is what I thought about this morning when I hopped out of bed. Yes, I know, my brain goes nonstop.
It replaced one I had had for nearly 20 years; it finally stopped holding the radio station and I was waking up to static noise.
This made the think about money and our relationship to dollars and stuff. We buy a $12 clock and expect it to work perfectly and last 15 years, and consider it a waste of money if it doesn't.
Yet we think nothing of buying $12 for a spaghetti dinner at the local restaurant. Or spending money on consumables like chewing gum, cigarettes (chewing tobacco in my husband's case) or $100 a month to watch the trash that comes across the TV screen these days.
We don't want to spend $4.00 for a bag of apples, but we'll spend $1.00 on a single candy bar. We expect appliances that we pay $500 for to last more than 5 years.
When you break it down, though, you're paying $100 a year for the $500 appliance. I spent about $1 a month on the cheap alarm clock (which I am getting ready to give to Goodwill and replace, as soon as I can find something suitable).
I think as a society, our relationship with money and stuff is weird.
I found this quiz about how you feel about money to be interesting as far the questions; the answer on the scoring left a little to be desired as it didn't really tell me anything. And I'm not sure it addressed the thing I am trying to puzzle out, which is the VALUE we place on things.
We over-value football players and under-value firefighters. We over-value entertainment and under-value education. We over-value the military and under-value the welfare of the nation's population. Or least in my mind we do. Obviously others do not agree.
We stand in judgment of someone on food stamps who buys a Mars bar, but honestly, doesn't everyone deserve a candy bar every now and then, if they want it? And who am I to stand in judgment of how you or you or you spend what you have, however you've received it?
I know I make bad decisions sometimes with money. That alarm clock was obviously a lousy purchase. Our house is full of stuff that needs to be removed - clutter that I can't quite part with because it might be worth $5, and yet - I want it out of here. I can name a dozen things that are stuffed in a closet that I need to remove (an original X-Box, an older model lap top, and about 100 books just to name three). I need to have a yard sale but I live in a rural area and I'm not able to pack the stuff up and haul it elsewhere.
This article says this: "I’ve noticed that people in general (and Americans in particular) have a complex love-hate relationship with wealth. People want to be rich — but they’re suspicious of those who already are."
I agree with this statement. Do you?
I'm still working on this idea, these thoughts of what we value. We value relationships but perhaps don't really work on them. We value our cellphones more than our mothers, it seems. Do we value stuff more than people?
When money is the primary value, it is a value misplaced. Of that much I am certain. But it is rather like being a food addict - you have to eat. In this society, you have to have money.
Is it any wonder we have a nation of hoarders?
This website, The Story of Stuff project, wants us all to have a better relationship with stuff. "We have a problem with Stuff. We use too much, too much of it is toxic and we don’t share it very well. But that’s not the way things have to be. Together, we can build a society based on better not more, sharing not selfishness, community not division."
This is an idea I can get behind.
My goal is to develop a healthier relationship toward money and stuff. Money and stuff are both simply tools: things that make life better or harder, depending on how you use them.
I have never wanted more than "enough" - whatever that is. Enough to pay the bills, eat okay, and be comfortable. I've never aspired to great riches. Sure, I dream of winning the lottery - I think in our society it's a conditioned idea. But generally when I think about the lottery, I say - and mean - that's I'd be okay with just one of the smaller five-figure prizes. But even that is a complicating the relationship.
Anyway, this is what I thought about this morning when I hopped out of bed. Yes, I know, my brain goes nonstop.
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
Technology of a Murder
Saturday night my husband, my mother-in-law, and James' aunt from Georgia went to Greenfield to see the murder mystery, Technology of a Murder.
The play was performed by HaeBo Productions. We have been to two others they have done there and enjoyed them both.
The crowd was a little sparse for this performance for some reason; maybe because it was Halloween weekend and there were lots of parties. But we had a good time. The group always gets the audience involved and that is fun.
The story involved cloning and unstable scientists.
Who also had beautiful wives who didn't want to be married to them.
The master scientist.
The conscientious objector who doesn't want cloning.
The fellow was killed directly behind where I was I was sitting, and I didn't even see it happen!
One of the young actors got my mother-in-law in the act.
There was a good deal of gun pointing.
Egads, a clone!
Ooops. Another dead body.
The sheriff wants everybody to stand down.
Heavens, another clone!
More gun pointing! Who did it? I won't tell. The show was very fast paced and it was difficult to pick out who was doing what at times. I guessed wrong as I generally do.
This makes me think I might not be cut out to write mysteries.
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Sunday Stealing: The Music Meme
From Sunday Stealing
The Music Meme
1. Which bands/artist do you own the most albums by?
A. For me, it's a tie between Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow. For my husband, it's the Rolling Stones. However, I own all of the music discs to the three Lord of the Rings movies, and I think that combination actually beats out everything else because there are so many discs.
2. What was the last song you listened to?
A. Well, I wasn't listening to anything, so I pulled up Pandora, and it brought up Something to Talk About, by Bonnie Raitt as the first song on my personal channel.
3. What’s in your CD player right now?
A. Melissa Etheridge in my office. In the car CD player, though, is an audiobook.
4. What was the last show you attended?
A. Elton John.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
A. Styx, Mr. Roboto, Linda Rondstadt, Elton John, or Neil Diamond. I am not sure which I liked the best.
6. What’s the worst show you’ve ever been to?
A. I don't think any of them were especially bad.
7. What’s the most musically involved you have ever been?
A. I used to play guitar in a Top 40 band when I was in high school. I also played flute in the marching band.
8. What show are you looking forward to?
A. None.
9. What is your favorite band shirt?
A. Um. What?
10. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
A. Cyndi Lauper. She seems to have such interesting ideas about women and equality, and I admire her activism.
11. Who is one musician or group you wish would make a comeback?
A. Bread.
12. Who is one band/artist you’ve never seen live but always wanted to?
A. The Eagles.
13. What was your last musical “phase” before you wisened up?
A. I don't know. Maybe when I was about 10 and liked The Archies.
14. How many music related videos/DVDs do you own?
A. I have no idea. Most of them are of The Rolling Stones.
15. How many concerts/shows have you been to, total?
A. A lot. We'll go with 20. I don't know if that's high or low or just right but it's a nice number.
16. What’s your “guilty pleasure” that you hate to admit to liking?
A. I don't have one, unless you count disco. I do like disco. Well, not all of it, but some of it.
17. What is your favourite movie soundtrack?
A. Forrest Gump. That movie has some rockin' songs in it.
The Music Meme
1. Which bands/artist do you own the most albums by?
A. For me, it's a tie between Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow. For my husband, it's the Rolling Stones. However, I own all of the music discs to the three Lord of the Rings movies, and I think that combination actually beats out everything else because there are so many discs.
2. What was the last song you listened to?
A. Well, I wasn't listening to anything, so I pulled up Pandora, and it brought up Something to Talk About, by Bonnie Raitt as the first song on my personal channel.
3. What’s in your CD player right now?
A. Melissa Etheridge in my office. In the car CD player, though, is an audiobook.
4. What was the last show you attended?
A. Elton John.
5. What was the greatest show you’ve ever been to?
A. Styx, Mr. Roboto, Linda Rondstadt, Elton John, or Neil Diamond. I am not sure which I liked the best.
6. What’s the worst show you’ve ever been to?
A. I don't think any of them were especially bad.
7. What’s the most musically involved you have ever been?
A. I used to play guitar in a Top 40 band when I was in high school. I also played flute in the marching band.
8. What show are you looking forward to?
A. None.
9. What is your favorite band shirt?
A. Um. What?
10. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
A. Cyndi Lauper. She seems to have such interesting ideas about women and equality, and I admire her activism.
11. Who is one musician or group you wish would make a comeback?
A. Bread.
12. Who is one band/artist you’ve never seen live but always wanted to?
A. The Eagles.
13. What was your last musical “phase” before you wisened up?
A. I don't know. Maybe when I was about 10 and liked The Archies.
14. How many music related videos/DVDs do you own?
A. I have no idea. Most of them are of The Rolling Stones.
15. How many concerts/shows have you been to, total?
A. A lot. We'll go with 20. I don't know if that's high or low or just right but it's a nice number.
16. What’s your “guilty pleasure” that you hate to admit to liking?
A. I don't have one, unless you count disco. I do like disco. Well, not all of it, but some of it.
17. What is your favourite movie soundtrack?
A. Forrest Gump. That movie has some rockin' songs in it.
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Saturday 9: Welcome to My Nightmare
Saturday 9: Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Tell us about a bad dream you've had.
A. I dreamed the other night that I was at a government meeting, and a cult group came in to "demonstrate" something and they lopped off a child's head. Everyone thought it was fake, but my spidey sense told me otherwise, so I went back after the meeting to check things out. They were cleaning up their mess, and this one fellow came over and asked me to help him. He said they'd really killed a child in front of us. He said he needed to get out of there, but he couldn't leave. I called 911 and asked for help, but the sheriff's office said they couldn't respond, so I asked for an ambulance. However, no sirens were forthcoming, and I called my husband. He finally showed up driving our Kawasaki Mule (a utility vehicle that goes about 30 mph) and carrying a shotgun. Meanwhile, I was busily trying to convince these crazy killers not to leave until help arrived.
When I was younger, I used to dream about a bathtub full of blood. I have always had night terrors and occasionally sleep walk. I frequently wake both my husband and myself up with screams.
2) Sam is not crazy about spiders. What frightens you, or gives you "the creeps?"
A. I'm definitely not into snakes. I'm not a fan of spiders, either, but I will take care of them if I must. Also, I don't like live mice. Yuck. I do like mice dressed up like Santa Claus, though.
3) This week's featured artist, Alice Cooper, has always liked to dress up. Performing as Alice, he wears garish eye makeup. In his first group, he and his bandmates dressed as the Beatles. Will you be wearing a costume this weekend?
A. I will be my usual self, as far as I know.
4) Alice says his makeup was inspired by Bette Davis in his favorite horror movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? This Halloween weekend, will you seek out horror movies and scary TV shows, or will you avoid them?
A. I will mostly avoid them, although the plan for tonight is a Murder Mystery dinner.
5) Born Vincent Furnier, Alice used to tell reporters that he and his band got the name Alice Cooper from a Oujia board. Have you ever tried a Oujia board?
A. When I was much younger we had an Oujia board. I would like to get my hands on one now as an adult. I think it would be a different experience.
6) Alice and his band (also called Alice Cooper) were discovered by music manager Shep Gordon while playing in Venice, California. Have you ever visited Venice, California or Venice, Italy?
A. Not to my knowledge, no. No Venices for me.
7) In 1970s England, a morality campaigner named Mary Whitehouse persuaded the BBC to ban Alice Cooper. The ensuing publicity resulted in such a bump in record sales that Alice sent Ms. Whitehouse flowers. Do you believe in censorship? Or should adults be able to choose to see/hear whatever they wish?
A. I do not believe in censorship generally; however, there are limits. Pornography, for example, that blatantly shows the abuse of any human being or animal. Yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. Commonsense, which long left the building, should rule. Given that it is no longer with us, I suppose we must have somebody out there thumping the pumpkin to see what is ripe.
8) Today Alice has a popular syndicated radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper. Listeners all over the United States, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and the UK hear him introduced as, "a man for whom even Dr. Phil has no cure." Do you watch Dr. Phil?
A. No. I rarely watch TV, and certainly not Dr. Phil.
9) Did you get many trick or treaters this year? What candy did you give them?
A. I live in a rural community and far off the road. I've never had a trick or treater. However, I always buy some Smarties to keep on hand in case someone shows up. I end up eating them. At least they aren't chocolate.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Tell us about a bad dream you've had.
A. I dreamed the other night that I was at a government meeting, and a cult group came in to "demonstrate" something and they lopped off a child's head. Everyone thought it was fake, but my spidey sense told me otherwise, so I went back after the meeting to check things out. They were cleaning up their mess, and this one fellow came over and asked me to help him. He said they'd really killed a child in front of us. He said he needed to get out of there, but he couldn't leave. I called 911 and asked for help, but the sheriff's office said they couldn't respond, so I asked for an ambulance. However, no sirens were forthcoming, and I called my husband. He finally showed up driving our Kawasaki Mule (a utility vehicle that goes about 30 mph) and carrying a shotgun. Meanwhile, I was busily trying to convince these crazy killers not to leave until help arrived.
When I was younger, I used to dream about a bathtub full of blood. I have always had night terrors and occasionally sleep walk. I frequently wake both my husband and myself up with screams.
2) Sam is not crazy about spiders. What frightens you, or gives you "the creeps?"
A. I'm definitely not into snakes. I'm not a fan of spiders, either, but I will take care of them if I must. Also, I don't like live mice. Yuck. I do like mice dressed up like Santa Claus, though.
3) This week's featured artist, Alice Cooper, has always liked to dress up. Performing as Alice, he wears garish eye makeup. In his first group, he and his bandmates dressed as the Beatles. Will you be wearing a costume this weekend?
A. I will be my usual self, as far as I know.
4) Alice says his makeup was inspired by Bette Davis in his favorite horror movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? This Halloween weekend, will you seek out horror movies and scary TV shows, or will you avoid them?
A. I will mostly avoid them, although the plan for tonight is a Murder Mystery dinner.
5) Born Vincent Furnier, Alice used to tell reporters that he and his band got the name Alice Cooper from a Oujia board. Have you ever tried a Oujia board?
A. When I was much younger we had an Oujia board. I would like to get my hands on one now as an adult. I think it would be a different experience.
6) Alice and his band (also called Alice Cooper) were discovered by music manager Shep Gordon while playing in Venice, California. Have you ever visited Venice, California or Venice, Italy?
A. Not to my knowledge, no. No Venices for me.
7) In 1970s England, a morality campaigner named Mary Whitehouse persuaded the BBC to ban Alice Cooper. The ensuing publicity resulted in such a bump in record sales that Alice sent Ms. Whitehouse flowers. Do you believe in censorship? Or should adults be able to choose to see/hear whatever they wish?
A. I do not believe in censorship generally; however, there are limits. Pornography, for example, that blatantly shows the abuse of any human being or animal. Yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. Commonsense, which long left the building, should rule. Given that it is no longer with us, I suppose we must have somebody out there thumping the pumpkin to see what is ripe.
8) Today Alice has a popular syndicated radio show, Nights with Alice Cooper. Listeners all over the United States, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and the UK hear him introduced as, "a man for whom even Dr. Phil has no cure." Do you watch Dr. Phil?
A. No. I rarely watch TV, and certainly not Dr. Phil.
9) Did you get many trick or treaters this year? What candy did you give them?
A. I live in a rural community and far off the road. I've never had a trick or treater. However, I always buy some Smarties to keep on hand in case someone shows up. I end up eating them. At least they aren't chocolate.
Friday, October 31, 2014
.JPG)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)