From Sunday Stealing
The I Meme
I am . . . smarter than the average bear.
I want . . . social and class equality.
I have . . . been resilient in overcoming misfortune.
I wish . . . people would learn to disagree without being hateful, mean, and spiteful.
I hate . . . feeling like I am worthless.
I fear . . . growing old and not accomplishing anything worthwhile.
I hear . . . the ticking of clocks.
I search . . . for answers to questions that have no response.
I wonder . . . if the world really exists, or is merely the figment of some other being's imagination.
I regret . . . not taking better care of my body when I was younger.
I love . . . my husband.
I never . . . expected to end up unable to work at my age.
I ache . . . for the sister I never had.
I always . . . believe in the best in people.
I usually . . . discover that my good intentions fall flat.
I am not . . . the best at reading the needs of others.
I dance . . . when no one is watching, and then I do it badly.
I sing . . . songs from the 1970s.
I sometimes . . . walk into a room and forget what I went in there for.
I cry . . . when I see man's inhumanity to man.
I am not always . . . happy.
I lose . . . my temper, sometimes.
I am confused . . . when people give me mixed signals.
I need . . . a hug!
I should . . . stop saying "I should."
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Saturday 9: It's Not Unusual
Saturday 9: It's Not Unusual (1965)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Check here.
1) In this song, Tom sings that "it's not unusual to go out at any time." Will you be "out and about" this weekend?
A. As I write this, I think we will probably go out to dinner once this weekend, and I may make an impromptu run to the market.
2) Before his music career took off, Tom supported himself and his young family by working as a vacuum cleaner salesman. Could the room you're in right now benefit from a thorough cleaning with a vacuum?
A. My whole house could benefit from a thorough cleaning with a vacuum. I live on a farm and dirt accumulates within an hour after dusting.
A. I seem to recall having some kind of little autograph book when I was around 8 or 9. And I have my yearbooks, which have some signatures and sayings in them, but not many. I was not "Miss Popularity" though the teachers loved me.
4) At the height of his popularity, female fans would throw their panties onstage at Tom Jones. Sam can't imagine doing this, and not just because she's not that crazy about Tom Jones. She'd be embarrassed because her underwear drawer could use a serious refresh. If you could choose one new article of clothing to add to your wardrobe today, what would it be?
5) "Tom Jones" is also the name of character in a famous 18th century novel. Tell us about a character from a book you wish you were friends with in real life.
A. I would like to be friends with Gandalf. He is the wizard in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. Gandalf is wise and ancient. He has seen a lot of things but yet he has a great sense of humor and knows that he doesn't know everything. He is a humble wizard. I would like to know him and have him come and drink tea with me in my backyard on a warm summer's evening, and hear his tales and legends. Who knows, maybe he'd teach me a little wizardry.
6) When this song was popular in March 1965, Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City fame was born. Do you share your birthday with anyone famous?
A. Frank Lloyd Wright.
7) Also in 1965, when this song was a hit, Americans were riveted by the Gemini space program and children all over the country wanted to be astronauts. Think back to your childhood: When you were in first or second grade, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A. At various times I wanted to be an archeologist or a geologist. At one point, my career goal was to grow up and fly or sail across the Bermuda Triangle until I disappeared so I could solve the mystery. Writing, however, has always been my main career goal. I told my mother when I was about 10 that I would grow up to write for the local newspaper, and so I did. I also wanted to write Nancy Drew novels or something similar, and be a hack like Carolyn Keene, but that has yet to happen. I have never really wanted to write the Great American Novel but I do feel like people expect me to write the Great American Novel. It's a lot of pressure, particularly when all you really want to do is make a living telling stories, somehow or another. I'd still like to be a hack. Anybody know how you go about being a lucrative fiction hack?
8) Fifty years ago, the most popular headache reliever was aspirin, and you could buy a bottle of 200 tablets for just $1. Do you have any aspirin in your medicine chest right now?
A. I keep a bottle of aspirin in my bedside dresser expressly for heart attack emergencies. I buy a fresh bottle once a year or so. Otherwise, we take acetaminophen.
9) Random question: You've just entered a public restroom. Would you rather find a paper towel dispenser or hot air hand dryer?
A. Paper towel dispenser, along with a trash can for disposal. I used to think hot air hand dryers were better until I read a study that said they harbored tons of germs.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Check here.
1) In this song, Tom sings that "it's not unusual to go out at any time." Will you be "out and about" this weekend?
A. As I write this, I think we will probably go out to dinner once this weekend, and I may make an impromptu run to the market.
2) Before his music career took off, Tom supported himself and his young family by working as a vacuum cleaner salesman. Could the room you're in right now benefit from a thorough cleaning with a vacuum?
A. My whole house could benefit from a thorough cleaning with a vacuum. I live on a farm and dirt accumulates within an hour after dusting.
3) You can purchase a verified Tom Jones autograph on eBay for $299 (or the best offer). When you were growing up, did you collect signatures and sayings from your friends? (Autograph book? Yearbook? Cast?)
A. I seem to recall having some kind of little autograph book when I was around 8 or 9. And I have my yearbooks, which have some signatures and sayings in them, but not many. I was not "Miss Popularity" though the teachers loved me.
4) At the height of his popularity, female fans would throw their panties onstage at Tom Jones. Sam can't imagine doing this, and not just because she's not that crazy about Tom Jones. She'd be embarrassed because her underwear drawer could use a serious refresh. If you could choose one new article of clothing to add to your wardrobe today, what would it be?
A. A really nice warm coat. The one I wore this winter fell apart.
5) "Tom Jones" is also the name of character in a famous 18th century novel. Tell us about a character from a book you wish you were friends with in real life.
A. I would like to be friends with Gandalf. He is the wizard in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. Gandalf is wise and ancient. He has seen a lot of things but yet he has a great sense of humor and knows that he doesn't know everything. He is a humble wizard. I would like to know him and have him come and drink tea with me in my backyard on a warm summer's evening, and hear his tales and legends. Who knows, maybe he'd teach me a little wizardry.
6) When this song was popular in March 1965, Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City fame was born. Do you share your birthday with anyone famous?
A. Frank Lloyd Wright.
7) Also in 1965, when this song was a hit, Americans were riveted by the Gemini space program and children all over the country wanted to be astronauts. Think back to your childhood: When you were in first or second grade, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A. At various times I wanted to be an archeologist or a geologist. At one point, my career goal was to grow up and fly or sail across the Bermuda Triangle until I disappeared so I could solve the mystery. Writing, however, has always been my main career goal. I told my mother when I was about 10 that I would grow up to write for the local newspaper, and so I did. I also wanted to write Nancy Drew novels or something similar, and be a hack like Carolyn Keene, but that has yet to happen. I have never really wanted to write the Great American Novel but I do feel like people expect me to write the Great American Novel. It's a lot of pressure, particularly when all you really want to do is make a living telling stories, somehow or another. I'd still like to be a hack. Anybody know how you go about being a lucrative fiction hack?
8) Fifty years ago, the most popular headache reliever was aspirin, and you could buy a bottle of 200 tablets for just $1. Do you have any aspirin in your medicine chest right now?
A. I keep a bottle of aspirin in my bedside dresser expressly for heart attack emergencies. I buy a fresh bottle once a year or so. Otherwise, we take acetaminophen.
9) Random question: You've just entered a public restroom. Would you rather find a paper towel dispenser or hot air hand dryer?
A. Paper towel dispenser, along with a trash can for disposal. I used to think hot air hand dryers were better until I read a study that said they harbored tons of germs.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
My grandmother on my father's side turns 95 years old today. She lives in California
This is, I think, a picture my father took of her yesterday. I swiped it from my brother's Facebook page.
This picture was taken I think 5 years ago, when she turned 90. I think she looks younger at 95!
My grandmother grew up in West Virginia and married when she was very young (still in her teens). She had four children, two of whom have already passed on. I honestly don't know how many grandchildren and great grandchildren she has. She may even have great-great grandchildren.
She and my grandfather, along with my father's two brothers and his sister, moved to California when I was six months old. I have only been to California once to see them, and that was when I was 12. When my grandfather was alive, they traveled back here several times. However, I have not seen my grandmother in person since about 1989, so I am sorry to say I don't know her as well as I would have liked, nor do I know all of my cousins.
My grandmother and I used to talk on the phone frequently, until she lost her hearing; now I send her cards and notes, though I never know if she gets them or if someone reads them to her at the nursing home. I hope so.
Anyway, I hope she has a special day. Not everyone reaches the age of 95.
This is, I think, a picture my father took of her yesterday. I swiped it from my brother's Facebook page.
This picture was taken I think 5 years ago, when she turned 90. I think she looks younger at 95!
My grandmother grew up in West Virginia and married when she was very young (still in her teens). She had four children, two of whom have already passed on. I honestly don't know how many grandchildren and great grandchildren she has. She may even have great-great grandchildren.
She and my grandfather, along with my father's two brothers and his sister, moved to California when I was six months old. I have only been to California once to see them, and that was when I was 12. When my grandfather was alive, they traveled back here several times. However, I have not seen my grandmother in person since about 1989, so I am sorry to say I don't know her as well as I would have liked, nor do I know all of my cousins.
My grandmother and I used to talk on the phone frequently, until she lost her hearing; now I send her cards and notes, though I never know if she gets them or if someone reads them to her at the nursing home. I hope so.
Anyway, I hope she has a special day. Not everyone reaches the age of 95.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Thursday Thirteen - Bad Habits
We all have them - bad habits. They're the crazy things we do that we know we shouldn't, but it seems we can't stop. I started wondering if I had 13 bad habits, so let's see what I can name:
1. Nail biting. Yep. I have chewed those suckers ever since I was a wee lass. Nowadays I keep them clipped close and try not to bite them but let me get a little hang nail and see how fast that fingernail finds my teeth. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to break this habit.
2. Overeating. I'm a stress eater, and I tend to reach for something when I am alone and feeling bored. Give me a great article to work on and a deadline, and I can work all day without thinking about eating, but on days when the things to do are boring and unappealing, then the 'tater chips beckon.
3. Procrastination. I think sometimes I am the Queen of Procrastinators. I have a long list of things I should be doing but I don't do them. Mostly I don't write on long projects that I think I should be doing, but don't.
4. Avoidance. I prefer not to engage in angry anythings, including arguments, fistfights, or yelling of any kind. I stay away from difficult topics not because I don't have an opinion but because I don't want to have to stand up for myself. I mean, isn't it enough that I exist? Why should I have to defend what I think, too?
5. Playing video games. This probably falls under the procrastination and avoidance umbrellas, but I also really enjoy video games. I am particularly prone to play games that have puzzles to solve. Quests also intrigue me. However, I have been known to put the video game first and the housework second.
6. Not exercising. I have always been sedentary. Even in elementary school, I seldom made the straight "A" honor roll because I always received a "B" in gym. These days my exercise is physical therapy whilst we try to straighten out my issues from my 2013 surgery - going on two years now. I am doing better with the exercising at the moment. I hope it's not a phase.
7. Cursing. Yep. I have a foul mouth. I come by it honestly - both of my parents, at least when I was growing up, tended to curse like sailors. My mother in particular could let loose a string of words that would make the Pope run and hide. I try very hard to control this but let me get a little angry or worked up and the words roll out like a wave in a hurricane.
8. Sniffling. I am afraid I do this more than I care to admit, and maybe more than I realize. I have horrible allergies and while I keep tissues with me at all times, it seems there is an uncontrollable urge to sniff the stuff back up. This is especially true when I'm driving or both of my hands are otherwise occupied (such as typing).
9. Checking the curling iron. This probably is a bit of an obsessive compulsive behavior, but I always have to come back in the house and make sure I've turned off the curling iron. I do this even though I have a curling iron that turns itself off! Sometimes I have driven a mile away before I turn around and come back to check. It is always unplugged.
10. Buying (and eating) chocolate. I go to the store with no intention of buying chocolate, but it ends up in the basket anyway. It's like a magic beast follows me around and slips it into the cart.
11. Trying to be perfect. This is another lifelong issue. I have tried all of my life to be the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect student, the perfect wife, the perfect employee - you name it, and I've tried to be perfect at it. I hope I am getting over this one, because obviously I am not perfect, and the idea of "perfect" is subjective, anyway. Still, perfectionism often leads me down the path to procrastination. I can't mess it up if I don't do it to start with.
12. Negative self talk. I can cut myself to pieces in a heartbeat without even thinking about. My inner voice fusses at me constantly. "Why haven't you done the dishes? So what if you're in pain? Get up and do it?" And yes, there are curse words in there.
13. Taking too long to make a decision. I can think about something until the issue has past, if I am not careful. I listen to all sides, weigh the consequences. It's like when I play solitaire on the computer, I sit and figure out the moves to seven or eight places before I decide if I should move a card. I win most of the games but my deliberation is a sight to see.
How about you? What are your bad habits?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 387th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. Nail biting. Yep. I have chewed those suckers ever since I was a wee lass. Nowadays I keep them clipped close and try not to bite them but let me get a little hang nail and see how fast that fingernail finds my teeth. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to break this habit.
2. Overeating. I'm a stress eater, and I tend to reach for something when I am alone and feeling bored. Give me a great article to work on and a deadline, and I can work all day without thinking about eating, but on days when the things to do are boring and unappealing, then the 'tater chips beckon.
3. Procrastination. I think sometimes I am the Queen of Procrastinators. I have a long list of things I should be doing but I don't do them. Mostly I don't write on long projects that I think I should be doing, but don't.
4. Avoidance. I prefer not to engage in angry anythings, including arguments, fistfights, or yelling of any kind. I stay away from difficult topics not because I don't have an opinion but because I don't want to have to stand up for myself. I mean, isn't it enough that I exist? Why should I have to defend what I think, too?
5. Playing video games. This probably falls under the procrastination and avoidance umbrellas, but I also really enjoy video games. I am particularly prone to play games that have puzzles to solve. Quests also intrigue me. However, I have been known to put the video game first and the housework second.
6. Not exercising. I have always been sedentary. Even in elementary school, I seldom made the straight "A" honor roll because I always received a "B" in gym. These days my exercise is physical therapy whilst we try to straighten out my issues from my 2013 surgery - going on two years now. I am doing better with the exercising at the moment. I hope it's not a phase.
7. Cursing. Yep. I have a foul mouth. I come by it honestly - both of my parents, at least when I was growing up, tended to curse like sailors. My mother in particular could let loose a string of words that would make the Pope run and hide. I try very hard to control this but let me get a little angry or worked up and the words roll out like a wave in a hurricane.
8. Sniffling. I am afraid I do this more than I care to admit, and maybe more than I realize. I have horrible allergies and while I keep tissues with me at all times, it seems there is an uncontrollable urge to sniff the stuff back up. This is especially true when I'm driving or both of my hands are otherwise occupied (such as typing).
9. Checking the curling iron. This probably is a bit of an obsessive compulsive behavior, but I always have to come back in the house and make sure I've turned off the curling iron. I do this even though I have a curling iron that turns itself off! Sometimes I have driven a mile away before I turn around and come back to check. It is always unplugged.
10. Buying (and eating) chocolate. I go to the store with no intention of buying chocolate, but it ends up in the basket anyway. It's like a magic beast follows me around and slips it into the cart.
11. Trying to be perfect. This is another lifelong issue. I have tried all of my life to be the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect student, the perfect wife, the perfect employee - you name it, and I've tried to be perfect at it. I hope I am getting over this one, because obviously I am not perfect, and the idea of "perfect" is subjective, anyway. Still, perfectionism often leads me down the path to procrastination. I can't mess it up if I don't do it to start with.
12. Negative self talk. I can cut myself to pieces in a heartbeat without even thinking about. My inner voice fusses at me constantly. "Why haven't you done the dishes? So what if you're in pain? Get up and do it?" And yes, there are curse words in there.
13. Taking too long to make a decision. I can think about something until the issue has past, if I am not careful. I listen to all sides, weigh the consequences. It's like when I play solitaire on the computer, I sit and figure out the moves to seven or eight places before I decide if I should move a card. I win most of the games but my deliberation is a sight to see.
How about you? What are your bad habits?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 387th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Sunshine Week
Unfortunately, in spite of the internet and what seems to be an overflow of information, we really live in a time of great secrecy when it comes to how individuals and groups deal with public funds. I see it at the local, state, and federal levels. Monies change hands and the public remains unaware.
As newspapers in particular have fallen by the wayside, with few readers and fewer reporters, local governments in particular have no watchdog to keep them on their toes. No one is attending the local council meetings at towns, for instance, where hundreds of thousands of dollars are being used for . . . whatever. Hopefully for the public good, but without someone to pay attention, how does anyone know?
One nearby town in recent years learned that a trusted employee had embezzled a great deal of money. That's a singular example, but how does anyone know that someone isn't writing a check for $200 for a tire but actually pocketing $50 of it? Without oversight and accountability, the public doesn't know.
And then there are plans and improvements and other uses that the public rarely or barely has a say in. Maybe you don't want a statue in the courthouse yard, but suddenly there it is. Or maybe you want more money for the library, but instead you find that there are no new books being purchased for the year because money has been diverted to sports or something.
Newspapers in the old days (which makes me sound old, good grief), were considered "the fourth estate." Newspapers held significant power to point out and advocate for change. The local newspaper was the "paper of record" and supposedly everything of importance was recorded in the paper. The local reporters kept an eye on things, questioned what was going on, and raised a ruckus when something didn't look right.
I have always been a strong advocate of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws, and have had to use those laws at various times. In one county I covered (not where I live and work now), the FOIA became a vital resource for citizens as a school board went amuck with public funding. So too when a local official used public funds to keep her house from foreclosure.
Little by little, though, the legislatures at the state and federal levels are chipping away at the public's right to know. Virginia's FOIA has a lot of exceptions that allow local and state officials to go into "closed" meetings, where the public has no idea what is discussed. It takes a level of trust to keep from wondering if they really do "discuss only what we went into the meeting to discuss" during those talks behind closed doors.
I, for one, never trust a politician, so I always take those promises with a shrug. I have no way to disprove their word, though later events might make me question when, exactly, did they talk about thus and such. By then, though, the deeds are done and it is too late.
If you believe the public has a right to know, I urge you to become familiar with your state's FOIA laws. You can learn more about Virginia's FOIA by visiting the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council website.
Ask your local representatives to abide by existing FOIA laws, and urge them to always consider open government to be a good thing. Remember, nothing absolutely has to be discussed in closed session. That is a choice your elected officials make.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Sunday Stealing: One Thing
From Sunday Stealing
The One Thing Meme
One Thing . . .
that makes you smile:
A. My husband coming in the door after work.
that makes you cry:
A. The part near the end of Return of the King when Aragon bows down to the Hobbits and says, "My friends, you bow to no one," and everyone else bows before the Hobbits, too. You can see a clip of it here (I can't even watch the little clip without tearing up!)
that you love to do on the weekends:
A. Go out to dinner with my husband.
that you do for only yourself:
A. Have my hair cut.
that you have in your underwear drawer that's NOT underwear:
A. That's all that is in my underwear drawer. Sorry.
that you do before going to sleep:
A. Turn out the light beside the bed.
that you do within the first 15 minutes after waking:
A. Take medication.
that's in your purse:
A. Tissues.
that you actually LIKE to clean:
A. I don't mind doing the laundry.
that you DETEST cleaning:
A. The toilets.
that other people would find odd about you:
A. I'm a little nerdy and very much into Lord of the Rings.
that you would buy if I handed you a $100 bill:
A. Dinner for me and three other people.
that you feel you HAVE to do before you die:
A. Clear some clutter out of the house.
The One Thing Meme
One Thing . . .
that makes you smile:
A. My husband coming in the door after work.
that makes you cry:
A. The part near the end of Return of the King when Aragon bows down to the Hobbits and says, "My friends, you bow to no one," and everyone else bows before the Hobbits, too. You can see a clip of it here (I can't even watch the little clip without tearing up!)
that you love to do on the weekends:
A. Go out to dinner with my husband.
that you do for only yourself:
A. Have my hair cut.
that you have in your underwear drawer that's NOT underwear:
A. That's all that is in my underwear drawer. Sorry.
that you do before going to sleep:
A. Turn out the light beside the bed.
that you do within the first 15 minutes after waking:
A. Take medication.
that's in your purse:
A. Tissues.
that you actually LIKE to clean:
A. I don't mind doing the laundry.
that you DETEST cleaning:
A. The toilets.
that other people would find odd about you:
A. I'm a little nerdy and very much into Lord of the Rings.
that you would buy if I handed you a $100 bill:
A. Dinner for me and three other people.
that you feel you HAVE to do before you die:
A. Clear some clutter out of the house.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Saturday 9: Mysterious Ways
Saturday 9: Mysterious Ways (1991)Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) In honor of St. Patrick's Day (this coming Tuesday), we're featuring one of Ireland's most successful exports, U2. What else is Ireland famous for?
A. Potato famines, leprechauns, druids, and lack of snakes.
2) The Dublin studio where U2 recorded this song (and all of Achtung, Baby) is now a music store called Claddagh Records. U2 pilgrims from all over the world travel to the spot (Celia Street, Dublin 2). If we were to visit your neighborhood, are there any landmarks you could direct us to?
A. Santillane in Fincastle is an old antebellum home where Judith Hancock, who married William Clark, lived. The Judith River in Montana, discovered (by white men) and named during the Corps of Discovery Expedition, bears her legacy. Fincastle itself is worthy of a tour. The town was established in 1772 and has quite a few 1800-era structures remaining.
3) Lead singer Bono is rarely seen without his trademark sunglasses because he suffers from glaucoma. How is your vision? 20/20?
A. I wish. I've been told one of my eyes has reached its peak as far as correction with lenses goes. I wear progressive lenses now and my declining vision has affected my reading for about the last seven years. I don't read as much as I once did simply because I have to strain more to see and my eyes dry out and tire.
4) Bono and wife Alison were married in 1982 and are still together today. Who is the longest-married couple you know?
A. There are some 50+ year marriages on my Facebook page, but at the moment I would give that honor to Faye and Porter Caldwell (not knowing how long anyone else has been married.) They were married in 1958, which is longer than I have been alive. They are interesting folks who set their own path and who are well known in the community. In the past, they did arts and crafts and Porter's copper work is on display and for sale in Colonial Williamsburg.
5) When Bono inducted Frank Sinatra into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he applauded the older man's "swagger." Do you think you have swagger?
A. Nope. I have a droop.
6) Bono has been honored by world leaders, including President Obama and Nelson Mandela and the Pope, for his philanthropy. Here's your turn to brag: tell us something you have received praise for recently.
A. My physical therapist said "That's good, Anita" when I didn't fall over when she pushed me really hard while I was standing on some bouncy foam. I also recently had a photo of the moon on TV, and the pictures received a lot of thumbs up on Facebook. And my editor said, "well done" regarding the picture, too.
7) Clearly Bono is the most famous member of U2. Who else is in the band?
A. I have absolutely no idea. I have never been a big U2 fan.
8) On St. Patrick's Day, will you wear green?
A. If I remember, but it is not important to me that I do, even though I am Irish in heritage.
9) Will you enjoy a glass of green beer or maybe a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's?
A. Nope. I do plan to eat Chinese with a friend that day, though. Maybe I'll eat some salad. That would be green.
1) In honor of St. Patrick's Day (this coming Tuesday), we're featuring one of Ireland's most successful exports, U2. What else is Ireland famous for?
A. Potato famines, leprechauns, druids, and lack of snakes.
2) The Dublin studio where U2 recorded this song (and all of Achtung, Baby) is now a music store called Claddagh Records. U2 pilgrims from all over the world travel to the spot (Celia Street, Dublin 2). If we were to visit your neighborhood, are there any landmarks you could direct us to?
A. Santillane in Fincastle is an old antebellum home where Judith Hancock, who married William Clark, lived. The Judith River in Montana, discovered (by white men) and named during the Corps of Discovery Expedition, bears her legacy. Fincastle itself is worthy of a tour. The town was established in 1772 and has quite a few 1800-era structures remaining.
3) Lead singer Bono is rarely seen without his trademark sunglasses because he suffers from glaucoma. How is your vision? 20/20?
A. I wish. I've been told one of my eyes has reached its peak as far as correction with lenses goes. I wear progressive lenses now and my declining vision has affected my reading for about the last seven years. I don't read as much as I once did simply because I have to strain more to see and my eyes dry out and tire.
4) Bono and wife Alison were married in 1982 and are still together today. Who is the longest-married couple you know?
A. There are some 50+ year marriages on my Facebook page, but at the moment I would give that honor to Faye and Porter Caldwell (not knowing how long anyone else has been married.) They were married in 1958, which is longer than I have been alive. They are interesting folks who set their own path and who are well known in the community. In the past, they did arts and crafts and Porter's copper work is on display and for sale in Colonial Williamsburg.
5) When Bono inducted Frank Sinatra into the Grammy Hall of Fame, he applauded the older man's "swagger." Do you think you have swagger?
A. Nope. I have a droop.
6) Bono has been honored by world leaders, including President Obama and Nelson Mandela and the Pope, for his philanthropy. Here's your turn to brag: tell us something you have received praise for recently.
A. My physical therapist said "That's good, Anita" when I didn't fall over when she pushed me really hard while I was standing on some bouncy foam. I also recently had a photo of the moon on TV, and the pictures received a lot of thumbs up on Facebook. And my editor said, "well done" regarding the picture, too.
7) Clearly Bono is the most famous member of U2. Who else is in the band?
A. I have absolutely no idea. I have never been a big U2 fan.
8) On St. Patrick's Day, will you wear green?A. If I remember, but it is not important to me that I do, even though I am Irish in heritage.
9) Will you enjoy a glass of green beer or maybe a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's?
A. Nope. I do plan to eat Chinese with a friend that day, though. Maybe I'll eat some salad. That would be green.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Thursday Thirteen
Over the years, I have frequently experienced what some may call "writer's block." I never call it that; instead I refer to it as procrastination. I think for some it is fear, either of the process itself, or potential success or failure.
I have tried many different ways to stop my procrastination. Some of them work for a while. Nothing has been perfect and I am still trying to find ways to force myself to do the thing that I most want to do. Sometimes it feels like drowning even though I know how to swim.
Anyway, here are 13 ways to over come procrastination (or writer's block, if you prefer).
1. Do a notebook dump. This is most useful when you're writing nonfiction and have taken notes by hand. Typing up the notes from an interview or meeting usually will lend itself to a beginning paragraph. Generally, I never get all of my notes typed because I switch over to the writing process and begin the work.
2. Read a passage from another book and then take that to start your work. Using someone else's writing to get started is fine, so long as you go back eventually and change it. No plagiarizing in final drafts, please.
3. Write in a journal. Sometimes when I am stuck on a piece of writing, I write about the process of writing. Why might this particular part of a project be holding me up? What would make the story stronger?
4. Take a walk. While this sounds very much like procrastinating, and I suppose it is, sometimes you need to stop worrying over what you're writing and give your mind a break. A little exercise can do wonders for the thought process.
5. Perform your little rituals before you sit down. I know some writers have to have a clean space, or pencils lined up in a row, or their favorite T-shirt on. Whatever it is that brings your muse to you, make sure you have it ready.
6. Turn off all distractions, including the Internet. You don't need to look at Facebook every hour nor do you need to know when your email comes in. If necessary, go buy a typewriter. Yes, I am talking old school! Or use a piece of paper and a pen.
7. Read the newspaper and write a piece of fiction about whatever news item catches your attention.
8. Take a shower. Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower, I have no idea why. Maybe your ideas come to you when you vacuum or do the dishes. Again, spur on that muse.
9. Write in a different genre. If you're writing a mystery, try a little fantasy. If you're working on nonfiction, try some poetry.
10. Do something creative that doesn't involve writing. Maybe painting or photography is your thing. Do you play guitar? Blow the trumpet? Step away from the keyboard and see if playing a little Dylan will free up a few brain cells.
11. Look at photographs or painted pictures and write about what you see. How does the picture make you feel? What would it make your character feel?
12. Don't finish the sentence before you stop for the next day. This works well for me if I'm working on a long piece. I leave the sentence half written, and then I absolutely have to finish it the next time I sit down to work. And that is often enough to get me started on the next line or paragraph, and then I'm off into the story.
13. Create an outline. Outlines can be helpful because, like a notebook dump, they give you something to work with besides the images in your brain. You already have words on the paper.
And here's an extra:
Dictate your story. I recently bought a digital tape recorder and started using it to talk to myself when things cross my mind about stories. Then I go back and listen, take notes on anything good or interesting, and ditch the file.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 386th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
I have tried many different ways to stop my procrastination. Some of them work for a while. Nothing has been perfect and I am still trying to find ways to force myself to do the thing that I most want to do. Sometimes it feels like drowning even though I know how to swim.
Anyway, here are 13 ways to over come procrastination (or writer's block, if you prefer).
1. Do a notebook dump. This is most useful when you're writing nonfiction and have taken notes by hand. Typing up the notes from an interview or meeting usually will lend itself to a beginning paragraph. Generally, I never get all of my notes typed because I switch over to the writing process and begin the work.
2. Read a passage from another book and then take that to start your work. Using someone else's writing to get started is fine, so long as you go back eventually and change it. No plagiarizing in final drafts, please.
3. Write in a journal. Sometimes when I am stuck on a piece of writing, I write about the process of writing. Why might this particular part of a project be holding me up? What would make the story stronger?
4. Take a walk. While this sounds very much like procrastinating, and I suppose it is, sometimes you need to stop worrying over what you're writing and give your mind a break. A little exercise can do wonders for the thought process.
5. Perform your little rituals before you sit down. I know some writers have to have a clean space, or pencils lined up in a row, or their favorite T-shirt on. Whatever it is that brings your muse to you, make sure you have it ready.
6. Turn off all distractions, including the Internet. You don't need to look at Facebook every hour nor do you need to know when your email comes in. If necessary, go buy a typewriter. Yes, I am talking old school! Or use a piece of paper and a pen.
7. Read the newspaper and write a piece of fiction about whatever news item catches your attention.
8. Take a shower. Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower, I have no idea why. Maybe your ideas come to you when you vacuum or do the dishes. Again, spur on that muse.
9. Write in a different genre. If you're writing a mystery, try a little fantasy. If you're working on nonfiction, try some poetry.
10. Do something creative that doesn't involve writing. Maybe painting or photography is your thing. Do you play guitar? Blow the trumpet? Step away from the keyboard and see if playing a little Dylan will free up a few brain cells.
11. Look at photographs or painted pictures and write about what you see. How does the picture make you feel? What would it make your character feel?
12. Don't finish the sentence before you stop for the next day. This works well for me if I'm working on a long piece. I leave the sentence half written, and then I absolutely have to finish it the next time I sit down to work. And that is often enough to get me started on the next line or paragraph, and then I'm off into the story.
13. Create an outline. Outlines can be helpful because, like a notebook dump, they give you something to work with besides the images in your brain. You already have words on the paper.
And here's an extra:
Dictate your story. I recently bought a digital tape recorder and started using it to talk to myself when things cross my mind about stories. Then I go back and listen, take notes on anything good or interesting, and ditch the file.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 386th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Whistling Cardinal
I was disappointed in these photos of a cardinal I took around 8:30 a.m. this morning. He was whistling to beat the band and I set up the tripod and used the digital zoom. However, I think the light was not right as none of the pictures turned out as well as I thought they might when I downloaded them.
Birds are hard to photograph and my Nikon needs a lot of light for their constant movements.
Birds are hard to photograph and my Nikon needs a lot of light for their constant movements.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Question 10
One of my favorite old books is called The Book of Questions, by Gregory Stock, Ph.D. My version is copyright 1985. I see on Amazon that it has been revised and updated as of 2013, and is available for Kindle.
The book is what the title claims. It offers up 200 philosophical and moral questions. One could simply answer "yes" or "no" to many of the queries, but the idea is to think about it and explain the answer.
Since today is the 10th day of March, I thought I'd open the book up to question 10. Given that Sunday was International Women's Day, this seems an appropriate sort of question:
Q. Which sex do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you ever wished you were a member of the opposite sex?
My answer to this question would be that males, specifically white males, have it easier in our culture. This is because white males dominate the political landscape and we are a patriarchal culture and have been for thousands of years.
A patriarchal culture is one in which males hold the power: they are heads of household, leaders of groups, leaders in government, bosses in the workplace. To me this is clearly the case in most segments of U.S. society. Women do not have equality here. (Yes, I am a feminist; I believe this is wrong and should be changed.)
Most studies show that women are paid 77 cents for every dollar a man earns when performing the same work. This is often "explained away" as necessary because women require more leave to care for family obligations, to have children, etc. However, even a single woman who has no children or other family to tend to earns less than a male doing the same job. Of course there are always exceptions, but they are not the rule.
This wage gap means that women, on average, earn the median yearly pay for women who are employed full time is $11,084 less than men doing the same work. That's a lot of cash to lose simply because you are female.
Discrimination against women still exists. I've experienced it myself many times. These days I find it most strongly in health care, where male doctors simply look at me and want to prescribe Valium simply because I'm a woman. How dare I take up their valuable time? I have no doubt that if my husband presented with a similar problem, he'd received a great deal more attention and had more testing.
Regarding the second part of the question, I don't recall ever wanting to be a man as an adult. I'm sure as a young girl that I probably did. It was obvious to me from an early age that I was considered inferior by some of the males in my life simply because I had to sit down to pee. I am sure that led to some youthful magical thinking.
I have mostly been happy as a woman. I think my career has suffered from my gender, unfortunately, because a lot of my health problems have been related to my female plumbing. But perhaps had I been born a male, I'd have had different health issues. Some people are simply sickly.
I do think, though, that women are dismissed and short-changed in many industries in this country. When women are seen as people, and not as "something less-than," I will consider us equals.
Undoubtedly, that will not happen in my lifetime.
The book is what the title claims. It offers up 200 philosophical and moral questions. One could simply answer "yes" or "no" to many of the queries, but the idea is to think about it and explain the answer.
Since today is the 10th day of March, I thought I'd open the book up to question 10. Given that Sunday was International Women's Day, this seems an appropriate sort of question:
Q. Which sex do you think has it easier in our culture? Have you ever wished you were a member of the opposite sex?
My answer to this question would be that males, specifically white males, have it easier in our culture. This is because white males dominate the political landscape and we are a patriarchal culture and have been for thousands of years.
A patriarchal culture is one in which males hold the power: they are heads of household, leaders of groups, leaders in government, bosses in the workplace. To me this is clearly the case in most segments of U.S. society. Women do not have equality here. (Yes, I am a feminist; I believe this is wrong and should be changed.)
Most studies show that women are paid 77 cents for every dollar a man earns when performing the same work. This is often "explained away" as necessary because women require more leave to care for family obligations, to have children, etc. However, even a single woman who has no children or other family to tend to earns less than a male doing the same job. Of course there are always exceptions, but they are not the rule.
This wage gap means that women, on average, earn the median yearly pay for women who are employed full time is $11,084 less than men doing the same work. That's a lot of cash to lose simply because you are female.
Discrimination against women still exists. I've experienced it myself many times. These days I find it most strongly in health care, where male doctors simply look at me and want to prescribe Valium simply because I'm a woman. How dare I take up their valuable time? I have no doubt that if my husband presented with a similar problem, he'd received a great deal more attention and had more testing.
Regarding the second part of the question, I don't recall ever wanting to be a man as an adult. I'm sure as a young girl that I probably did. It was obvious to me from an early age that I was considered inferior by some of the males in my life simply because I had to sit down to pee. I am sure that led to some youthful magical thinking.
I have mostly been happy as a woman. I think my career has suffered from my gender, unfortunately, because a lot of my health problems have been related to my female plumbing. But perhaps had I been born a male, I'd have had different health issues. Some people are simply sickly.
I do think, though, that women are dismissed and short-changed in many industries in this country. When women are seen as people, and not as "something less-than," I will consider us equals.
Undoubtedly, that will not happen in my lifetime.
Monday, March 09, 2015
It's Not Revitalization
In the local paper today there is a story about the City of Salem's efforts to generate a more vivid downtown.
Community leaders decline to call it "revitalization" but instead call it "the downtown plan."
This made me smile. As news reporter with 30 years under my belt, I've covered more "revitalization" plans that I care to remember. None ever turn out like their initial schemes, but I don't recall that any actually made a situation worse.
I don't go to Salem much anymore. I visit downtown Salem maybe once a year. The last time I was there, I went into Ridenhour Music to see about a guitar, but they were all upstairs and I wasn't able to climb the steps to see what they had to offer.
Before I had difficulty walking, I made a stop in Salem every year at the holidays. They have a couple of nifty stores that offer unique items.
When I was child, I spent a lot of time in Salem. It was quite different, then. My grandmother, who lived along the Roanoke River, kept my brother and me every summer. We saved up our pennies and quarters, and my grandmother would walk with us to downtown Salem. I think the walk was about 1.5 miles, one way. Grandma would have been in her late 40s or early 50s, so it was a trudge for her. After we reached the age of 10 or so, we went by ourselves - even rode our bikes uptown. I suppose today that would be considered child abuse given the current climate, but we came to no harm.
We would go to Newberry's, which was a dime store, where we were filled with the wonder of model cars, paddle balls, and those glider airplanes you could put together and then throw for 10 feet or so. The paddle balls lasted until the rubber string broke, which as I recall was usually pretty quickly. I also bought a set of jacks there, coloring books and crayons, and other things that a child in 1970 would enjoy.
With our purchases in hand, we'd trudge down the street to Brooks Byrd Pharmacy, dimes in our pocket, so we could have a snow cone. I always purchased the blue one.
Sometimes on the way back to my grandmother's house, we'd stop off at Aunt Pearl's house for a Coke. Aunt Pearl was my great-great aunt, and she lived to be 106 years old. Grandma and Aunt Pearl would talk about all kinds of things while Grandma rested and we played with our new toys. Then we'd finally go back home, and our purchases kept us occupied and out of Grandma's hair for a few days.
That is the Salem I remember. I don't think any "downtown plan" can look backwards because times have changed. Retail is out, internet shopping is in. While I prefer to look at the things I purchase, feel material, handle items and make sure they aren't broken or scratched, many people don't seem to mind looking at a picture and hitting "buy now." That's the reality of the world we live in. Shopping and purchasing has changed.
I don't know what Salem, or any other place, for that matter, could do to draw folks into its community. I will be watching their plan with interest.
Community leaders decline to call it "revitalization" but instead call it "the downtown plan."
This made me smile. As news reporter with 30 years under my belt, I've covered more "revitalization" plans that I care to remember. None ever turn out like their initial schemes, but I don't recall that any actually made a situation worse.
I don't go to Salem much anymore. I visit downtown Salem maybe once a year. The last time I was there, I went into Ridenhour Music to see about a guitar, but they were all upstairs and I wasn't able to climb the steps to see what they had to offer.
Before I had difficulty walking, I made a stop in Salem every year at the holidays. They have a couple of nifty stores that offer unique items.
When I was child, I spent a lot of time in Salem. It was quite different, then. My grandmother, who lived along the Roanoke River, kept my brother and me every summer. We saved up our pennies and quarters, and my grandmother would walk with us to downtown Salem. I think the walk was about 1.5 miles, one way. Grandma would have been in her late 40s or early 50s, so it was a trudge for her. After we reached the age of 10 or so, we went by ourselves - even rode our bikes uptown. I suppose today that would be considered child abuse given the current climate, but we came to no harm.
We would go to Newberry's, which was a dime store, where we were filled with the wonder of model cars, paddle balls, and those glider airplanes you could put together and then throw for 10 feet or so. The paddle balls lasted until the rubber string broke, which as I recall was usually pretty quickly. I also bought a set of jacks there, coloring books and crayons, and other things that a child in 1970 would enjoy.
With our purchases in hand, we'd trudge down the street to Brooks Byrd Pharmacy, dimes in our pocket, so we could have a snow cone. I always purchased the blue one.
Sometimes on the way back to my grandmother's house, we'd stop off at Aunt Pearl's house for a Coke. Aunt Pearl was my great-great aunt, and she lived to be 106 years old. Grandma and Aunt Pearl would talk about all kinds of things while Grandma rested and we played with our new toys. Then we'd finally go back home, and our purchases kept us occupied and out of Grandma's hair for a few days.
That is the Salem I remember. I don't think any "downtown plan" can look backwards because times have changed. Retail is out, internet shopping is in. While I prefer to look at the things I purchase, feel material, handle items and make sure they aren't broken or scratched, many people don't seem to mind looking at a picture and hitting "buy now." That's the reality of the world we live in. Shopping and purchasing has changed.
I don't know what Salem, or any other place, for that matter, could do to draw folks into its community. I will be watching their plan with interest.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Sunday Stealing
From Sunday Stealing
Threes Meme
1. Three things that scare me:
A. The thought of being homeless, growing old and having dementia, and the idea of outliving my husband.
2. Three people who make me laugh:
A. My friend Teresa, Bill Maher, and Rosie O'Donnell.
3. Three things I love:
A. My husband, writing, and reading.
4. Three things I hate:
A. Coconut, meanness, and cigarette smoke.
5. Three things I don't understand:
A. How people can be unkind to one another, what difference it makes if climate change is manmade or not because no one can tell me why industries shouldn't put pollution control stuff in their big smoke stacks because we all know it pollutes the air, and why religions that speak of peace are full of bloodshed.
6. Three things on my desk:
A. A camera, nasal spray (it's allergy season time), and the Shorter Oxford Dictionary.
7. Three things I'm doing right now:
A. Typing, breathing, and thinking.
8. Three things I want to do before I die:
A. Write and publish several books, create a good family genealogy, and hike to McAfee's Knob.
9. Three things I can do:
A. I write well, I play the guitar, and I listen.
10. Three things I can't do:
A. Lift heavy objects, run a mile, climb a ladder.
11. Three things you should listen to:
A. Good advice, the sound of silence, and The Rolling Stones.
12. Three things you should never listen to:
A. Bad advice, people whose value systems are corrupt, and Rush Limbaugh.
13. Three things I'd like to learn:
A. How to speak Spanish, how to cook, and how to knit.
14. Three favorite foods:
A. Chocolate, Concord grapes, and cucumbers.
15. Three beverages I drink regularly:
A. Water, decaf tea, and Gatorade.
16. Three shows I watched as a kid:
A. The Brady Bunch, Land of the Lost, and H. R. Puffenstuff.
Threes Meme
1. Three things that scare me:
A. The thought of being homeless, growing old and having dementia, and the idea of outliving my husband.
2. Three people who make me laugh:
A. My friend Teresa, Bill Maher, and Rosie O'Donnell.
3. Three things I love:
A. My husband, writing, and reading.
4. Three things I hate:
A. Coconut, meanness, and cigarette smoke.
5. Three things I don't understand:
A. How people can be unkind to one another, what difference it makes if climate change is manmade or not because no one can tell me why industries shouldn't put pollution control stuff in their big smoke stacks because we all know it pollutes the air, and why religions that speak of peace are full of bloodshed.
6. Three things on my desk:
A. A camera, nasal spray (it's allergy season time), and the Shorter Oxford Dictionary.
7. Three things I'm doing right now:
A. Typing, breathing, and thinking.
8. Three things I want to do before I die:
A. Write and publish several books, create a good family genealogy, and hike to McAfee's Knob.
9. Three things I can do:
A. I write well, I play the guitar, and I listen.
10. Three things I can't do:
A. Lift heavy objects, run a mile, climb a ladder.
11. Three things you should listen to:
A. Good advice, the sound of silence, and The Rolling Stones.
12. Three things you should never listen to:
A. Bad advice, people whose value systems are corrupt, and Rush Limbaugh.
13. Three things I'd like to learn:
A. How to speak Spanish, how to cook, and how to knit.
14. Three favorite foods:
A. Chocolate, Concord grapes, and cucumbers.
15. Three beverages I drink regularly:
A. Water, decaf tea, and Gatorade.
16. Three shows I watched as a kid:
A. The Brady Bunch, Land of the Lost, and H. R. Puffenstuff.
Saturday, March 07, 2015
Saturday 9: Here I Go Again
Saturday 9: Here I Go Again (1982)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
I can't believe this song came out in 1982. Now I feel really old.
1) This song originally appeared on Whitesnake's Saints and Sinners album. Are you feeling more saintly or sinful this morning?
A. Is there a middle option? I suppose I would have to lean toward the good side because I had enough sense to cancel my appointments for the day because of the snow we had yesterday (Thursday as I write this on Friday). The roads are treacherous. Plus I was quick with the camera this morning and took some shots of the moon setting over the mountain that I thought I'd never, ever be able to capture, which pleased me.
2) Whitesnake was formed by Brit David Coverdale, who now lives in Lake Tahoe, NV. Have you ever wanted to relocate to another country?
A. Sometimes I feel a draw toward Ireland or Scotland, the land of my ancestors. But I've never seriously considered moving. I've never made any of those "if so and so is elected I will leave" promises like some people do. There is more to a nation than its leaders, after all, and more to life than politics.
3) In the song, Coverdale says he "was born to walk alone." Do you enjoy time on your own? Or do you quickly get bored or lonely?
A. I spend a great deal of time alone. I occasionally get lonely but I am seldom bored. And if I get lonely (and the roads are clear of snow), then I go to the market because I almost always will see a familiar face.
4) During the band's 1980s heyday, Coverdale was known for his skintight leather pants. Do you own leather pants or slacks?
A. I have a leather jacket hanging in the closet. No pants, though. You wouldn't want me to see me in leather pants.
5) What about snakeskin?
A. Um. No.
6) It's estimated that 20,000 people die of snake bite every year. Approximately 1,000 suffer fatal spider bites. Less than 50 are killed each year by sharks. Considering sharks, spiders and snakes, which do you find scariest?
A. Snakes. I didn't realize that many people died of snake bites annually. That's a lot. We have venomous snakes in Virginia - copperheads, rattlesnakes, and cottonmouths. There are some mountainous areas around here where you don't dare walk in the summer.
7) In 1982, when this song was popular, the world lost Princess Grace of Monaco. Before she became a royal, she was film star Grace Kelly. Have you ever seen a Grace Kelly movie?
A. I probably have but nothing comes to mind.
8) Speaking of movies, the top-grossing film of 1982 was ET: The Extra Terrestrial. Have you seen it?
A. Yes, but it has been a very long time.
9) Random question: How many timepieces will you have to reset when we spring ahead this weekend?
A. Oh my. Eleven. I have a lot of clocks.
Friday, March 06, 2015
Thursday, March 05, 2015
Thursday Thirteen #385
Let's say that after you die you become a spirit and you join all the other spirits. Not all of them have lived or taken human form yet, though. You are talking to some who have never lived about how you HAVE lived. Some of the spirits who have never lived say they think they will travel to earth in a human body soon and live. They ask you what thirteen things on Earth should they be sure not to miss? You say . . .
1. Love someone else completely and thoroughly.
2. Find a good friend.
3. Get an education - read all the great works.
4. Commune with nature (take lots of walks in the woods).
5. Learn an art or a craft (writing, drawing, sewing, knitting).
6. Learn to cook tastily and healthfully.
7. Travel everywhere you can when you are in your 20s - earlier, and you won't remember it; put it off, and you may never get there.
8. Love a child.
9. Learn how to help others.
10. Visit museums.
11. Learn how to be alone with yourself.
12. Experience the joys of all of the senses, but most especially touch.
13. Express your creativity in new and exciting ways.
How would you answer the question?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 385th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
1. Love someone else completely and thoroughly.
2. Find a good friend.
3. Get an education - read all the great works.
4. Commune with nature (take lots of walks in the woods).
5. Learn an art or a craft (writing, drawing, sewing, knitting).
6. Learn to cook tastily and healthfully.
7. Travel everywhere you can when you are in your 20s - earlier, and you won't remember it; put it off, and you may never get there.
8. Love a child.
9. Learn how to help others.
10. Visit museums.
11. Learn how to be alone with yourself.
12. Experience the joys of all of the senses, but most especially touch.
13. Express your creativity in new and exciting ways.
How would you answer the question?
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 385th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
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