Saturday 9: What Hurts the Most (2006)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) What hurts Sam the most is her sole, since she just found that earring she thought was lost by stepping on it with her bare foot. How about you? Any aches and pains to report?
A. Nothing overly new, except my lower back where the chiropractor worked on it Friday is a bit tender. Otherwise same ol' same ol'.
2) What's the last thing you misplaced? Did you find it?
A. A pair of kitchen scissors, which I lost at least six months ago or better, suddenly appeared just today. I have sworn off chocolate and was reaching around in an upper cabinet where I had been known to stash a candy bar, hoping I'd missed something, and lo, there was my scissors. But no chocolate.
3) Lead singer Gary LeVox sings that he's not afraid to cry. When is the last time you shed a tear?
A. Not that long ago; I have been trying so hard to improve my pain situation with physical therapy and the insurance company decided I had to go to a "home program." Within two weeks, things started going downhill and have continued to decline. Stupid insurance.
4) Gary auditioned for another country group, Little Big Town, but didn't get in. Considering how successful Rascal Flatts has been, he's probably not sorry. Tell us about something you thought you wanted, but later weren't so sure.
A. I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but after attempting it, I determined it was not really for me. Too petrified in front of the students, and too independent to really get with the rules and regulations.
5) The country group has their roots in Columbus, Ohio. What else is Ohio known for?
A. Something to do with voting? Or that Joe Plumber dude? An O at the beginning and another at the end?
6) Lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney married model and former Miss Georgia, Tiffany Fallon. Many major pageants give prizes in the talent, congeniality and swimsuit competitions. Would you prefer to have exceptional skills, a great personality, or a terrific body?
A. Exceptional skills and the will to use them.
7) 2006, the year this song was popular, was a very good one for tennis pro Roger Federer. He reached the finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments, and won three. What's the last game you won? (Yes, Words with Friends counts.)
A. Solitaire.
8) Actor Tony Shalhoub won an Emmy in 2006 for his portrayal of detective Adrian Monk on Monk. Who's your favorite TV detective?
A. Christine Cagney on Cagney & Lacey. Yes, I am old school.
9) Random question ... You've just won an all-expenses-paid trip but now you have to choose: Carnivale in Brazil, the Bordeaux Wine Festival in France, or the Running of the Bulls in Spain?
A. Oh, let's go to France. I would like to see Paris again.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other
participants in Saturday
9 posts and leave a comment.
Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We
love memes,
however.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Thursday 13
This is the stuff that sits in my office that doesn't really belong in here:
1. My GS Mini Taylor guitar.
2. My Takamine classical guitar.
3. A pair of binoculars.
4. Nasacort Nasal Spray.
5. Bach Rescue Remedy.
6. A pair of hand barbells.
7. A mouth covering mask (for allergies).
8. Play Doh.
9. A music stand.
10. A tool kit (screwdrivers and a small hammer).
11. An axe.
12. Duct Tape
13. Bubble blowing stuff.
_____________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 448th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
 |
| Sometimes I like to play when I am supposed to be writing. |
2. My Takamine classical guitar.
3. A pair of binoculars.
4. Nasacort Nasal Spray.
5. Bach Rescue Remedy.
6. A pair of hand barbells.7. A mouth covering mask (for allergies).
 |
| For my inner child. |
9. A music stand.
10. A tool kit (screwdrivers and a small hammer).
11. An axe.
 |
| Look out, Lizzie Borden! |
 |
| You always need this stuff. |
 |
| More inner child. |
13. Bubble blowing stuff.
_____________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 448th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
I see how you lie there, waiting for me. Your sweetness beckons me like the cries of seagulls bring forth the mermaids. You make my mouth water as I think of you, how your thickness will taste on my tongue, how the goodness that spills from you will make me feel.
That sugar high when the chocolatey goodness that is a Hershey Symphony bar oozes from the heat of me, and then ventures down my throat to my stomach. How that bite of cocoa lights up the inner joy of brain, giving me a mild sensation of a joyously glorious high.
O Chocolate Bar! O Milky Way Midnight! O Three Musketeers! O Nestle's chocolate chip cookies, O Keebler Fudge Stripes! You must all go away, leave me now, whilst I sit alone here with my celery and green beans.
Apparently, you have to eat healthy more than once to get in shape. This is cruel and unfair.
You, O chocolate, are as bountiful as the sea, filling aisles at the supermarket, appearing even in the healthy food section. My love for you is deep, for the more of you I eat, the more I crave, the desire overcoming good sense and all thoughts of nutrition. I hear your siren call the moment I step into the store - deny it not! You sing loud and long, trilling and thrilling me with your song, all the while whispering, "Come eat me, my love."
And eat you I have, not measuring or caring if the bites end up on my hips or make my triglycerides raise to uncountable levels. How can I resist you, my sugary desire? How can I break myself of the need for you at 2 p.m. in the afternoons, when the rest of the world is off dancing whilst I sit home alone?
I cannot abide you in small bites. I must have you all, every M&M, until the bag is empty. Only you, O Chocolate - only you make me do this and act in such an irrational manner. No other whispers to me, or persuades me to indulge in that which I should not. Only you, you feckless and irresponsible dark drug of chocolate covered cherries - only you drive me to despair when you're not in the house.
So there will be no small withdrawal. No small Kisses, no occasional delight. I'm sorry it must be this way, my dear, but we must not see one another again, not for years. Perhaps I will greet you at a cousin's wedding, and hope by then that a small taste of your deliciousness will not render me unconscious, if enough time has passed. For if my lips touch you, you will think I still care, and that caring I must force into submission, until I crave salads, and salads alone. I will not still care, I will not.
So farewell, my sweet delicacy, my delight, my afternoon bite of lust. I free you and fling you from my thoughts and my brain. You are gone now from my house, dear and wonderful treat, and I shall shed tears at the loss of you and the joy you once brought.
Now someone bring me a carrot.
That sugar high when the chocolatey goodness that is a Hershey Symphony bar oozes from the heat of me, and then ventures down my throat to my stomach. How that bite of cocoa lights up the inner joy of brain, giving me a mild sensation of a joyously glorious high.
O Chocolate Bar! O Milky Way Midnight! O Three Musketeers! O Nestle's chocolate chip cookies, O Keebler Fudge Stripes! You must all go away, leave me now, whilst I sit alone here with my celery and green beans.
Apparently, you have to eat healthy more than once to get in shape. This is cruel and unfair.
You, O chocolate, are as bountiful as the sea, filling aisles at the supermarket, appearing even in the healthy food section. My love for you is deep, for the more of you I eat, the more I crave, the desire overcoming good sense and all thoughts of nutrition. I hear your siren call the moment I step into the store - deny it not! You sing loud and long, trilling and thrilling me with your song, all the while whispering, "Come eat me, my love."
And eat you I have, not measuring or caring if the bites end up on my hips or make my triglycerides raise to uncountable levels. How can I resist you, my sugary desire? How can I break myself of the need for you at 2 p.m. in the afternoons, when the rest of the world is off dancing whilst I sit home alone?
I cannot abide you in small bites. I must have you all, every M&M, until the bag is empty. Only you, O Chocolate - only you make me do this and act in such an irrational manner. No other whispers to me, or persuades me to indulge in that which I should not. Only you, you feckless and irresponsible dark drug of chocolate covered cherries - only you drive me to despair when you're not in the house.
So there will be no small withdrawal. No small Kisses, no occasional delight. I'm sorry it must be this way, my dear, but we must not see one another again, not for years. Perhaps I will greet you at a cousin's wedding, and hope by then that a small taste of your deliciousness will not render me unconscious, if enough time has passed. For if my lips touch you, you will think I still care, and that caring I must force into submission, until I crave salads, and salads alone. I will not still care, I will not.
So farewell, my sweet delicacy, my delight, my afternoon bite of lust. I free you and fling you from my thoughts and my brain. You are gone now from my house, dear and wonderful treat, and I shall shed tears at the loss of you and the joy you once brought.
Now someone bring me a carrot.
Monday, May 16, 2016
The Deer Are Not Afraid
We have lived in our house for 29 years. The animals are used to us. They stand and watch while the car drives up and down the driveway. They will run a few yards when we walk out the door, then turn and look at us as if to say, what did you bother me for?
When my husband was mowing, I glanced out the window and saw this:
There are actually two deer up there; one is a little further in the back and I shot this through the window screen.
Isn't it amazing how close they come, though?
When my husband was mowing, I glanced out the window and saw this:
There are actually two deer up there; one is a little further in the back and I shot this through the window screen.
Isn't it amazing how close they come, though?
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Sunday Stealing: Doodley-Do
From Sunday Stealing
Doodley-Do Meme
1. Do you keep notes, drawings or letters that people give you? A. For a while, anyway. Some I keep forever.
2. How many true best friends are present in your life? A. How can one determine that? I have many friends, some of whom only turn up during a crisis, others who are there but I don't speak too often, and others who seem to know when to call because I need them.
3. Do you currently have a significant other? A. I've been married for 32 years. I hope it is significant.
4. Would you be able to stand being in the same room as someone you hate? A. Yes. But there are not many people I hate. There are some I am not fond of, but I don't hate them or wish them harm.
5. Do you depend on people at all, in any way? A. Of course. Everyone does, and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. (My apologies to any Sunday Stealers who think they go it alone; I contend you have not thought it through.)
6. Have you ever lost a close friend? A. Yes.
7. Has anybody ever held a grudge against you for a dumb reason? A. I'm sure they have.
8. Have you ever stayed up late talking to someone you like on the phone or online? A. When I was young. Older people go to bed early. They have jobs and households to take care of.
9. Have you ever felt backstabbed by a close friend? A. Hasn't everyone?
10. Have you ever regretted ignoring anybody? A. I'm human, so yes.
11. Has a friend of yours ever confessed their love to you? A. Yes.
12. Have you written or drawn anything for somebody else? A. Yes.
13. Do you tend to hide your emotions from certain people? How do you hide them? A. Yes. I smile when I shouldn't, or crack a joke.
14. Do your friends know how to make you smile in tough times? A. Some of them do, yes.
15. Could you picture yourself on a reality TV show? A. I would last about 1/2 day on Survivor, I can't cook, and I have no designer style. Unless the reality show was about staring out a window, I don't think so.
16. Are you better at drawing or coloring? A. I have recently taken up coloring and seem to be fairly good at it.
17. Do you prefer meat or seafood? A. Seafood is meat, isn't it? But I have developed a fish allergy so I do not eat seafood anymore.
18. Have you ever read the Bill of Rights / Declaration of Independence? A. Yes. I can recite the preamble without looking because I learned it from School House Rock when I was young. Everyone should read the entire U.S. Constitution once in a while.
19. Would you rather become a police officer or a firefighter? A. I am not physically qualified to do either, and after being married to a firefighter my whole adult life, I would say that many people are not mentally qualified to do either job. They are difficult roles and society devalues them, when they should instead be grateful that there exist people who will put their own safety on the line for others. Selfless professions should be greatly rewarded and highly regarded, and we have it backwards.
Doodley-Do Meme
1. Do you keep notes, drawings or letters that people give you? A. For a while, anyway. Some I keep forever.
2. How many true best friends are present in your life? A. How can one determine that? I have many friends, some of whom only turn up during a crisis, others who are there but I don't speak too often, and others who seem to know when to call because I need them.
3. Do you currently have a significant other? A. I've been married for 32 years. I hope it is significant.
4. Would you be able to stand being in the same room as someone you hate? A. Yes. But there are not many people I hate. There are some I am not fond of, but I don't hate them or wish them harm.
5. Do you depend on people at all, in any way? A. Of course. Everyone does, and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. (My apologies to any Sunday Stealers who think they go it alone; I contend you have not thought it through.)
6. Have you ever lost a close friend? A. Yes.
7. Has anybody ever held a grudge against you for a dumb reason? A. I'm sure they have.
8. Have you ever stayed up late talking to someone you like on the phone or online? A. When I was young. Older people go to bed early. They have jobs and households to take care of.
9. Have you ever felt backstabbed by a close friend? A. Hasn't everyone?
10. Have you ever regretted ignoring anybody? A. I'm human, so yes.
11. Has a friend of yours ever confessed their love to you? A. Yes.
12. Have you written or drawn anything for somebody else? A. Yes.
13. Do you tend to hide your emotions from certain people? How do you hide them? A. Yes. I smile when I shouldn't, or crack a joke.
14. Do your friends know how to make you smile in tough times? A. Some of them do, yes.
15. Could you picture yourself on a reality TV show? A. I would last about 1/2 day on Survivor, I can't cook, and I have no designer style. Unless the reality show was about staring out a window, I don't think so.
16. Are you better at drawing or coloring? A. I have recently taken up coloring and seem to be fairly good at it.
17. Do you prefer meat or seafood? A. Seafood is meat, isn't it? But I have developed a fish allergy so I do not eat seafood anymore.
18. Have you ever read the Bill of Rights / Declaration of Independence? A. Yes. I can recite the preamble without looking because I learned it from School House Rock when I was young. Everyone should read the entire U.S. Constitution once in a while.
19. Would you rather become a police officer or a firefighter? A. I am not physically qualified to do either, and after being married to a firefighter my whole adult life, I would say that many people are not mentally qualified to do either job. They are difficult roles and society devalues them, when they should instead be grateful that there exist people who will put their own safety on the line for others. Selfless professions should be greatly rewarded and highly regarded, and we have it backwards.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Saturday 9: Boots
Saturday 9: These Boots Were Made for Walkin' (1966)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
(I remember this from when I was a child. This song and the show The Mod Squad made me want a pair of go-go boots before I even knew what they were.)
1) In this song/video, Ms. Sinatra's boots make a serious fashion statement. Do you choose footwear for comfort or fashion?
A. Comfort. I would like to say I used to wear fashionable shoes but I never have. I was one of those children who went to the special store to buy Stride-Rite Mary Janes because I didn't have arches in my feet. Or at least not well-defined arches. I hated those shoes. However, because of bad feet and bad knees, I never got into fashionable shoes. I was once told when I worked at a law firm that I was passed over for a promotion because I didn't wear heels, only flats. "You're one of the best legal secretaries but you don't look the part," was the take-away from that particular interview. I left not long after.
2) This is by far the biggest hit of Nancy Sinatra's career, which includes 6 top ten hits. Can you name another?
A. Alas, Yorick, I cannot. I even looked them up and don't recognize any of the names.
3) Nancy recorded it on Reprise Records, which was founded by her father, Frank. Did your parents give you a leg up in your chosen career?
A. My mother always told me, "Sure, you can try to be a writer, but you better take business courses because you're going to end up as a secretary. There is no money in writing." I sort of proved her wrong - I made decent money writing for quite some time, as a freelancer.
4) Professionally Nancy has been involved in espionage, singing the theme to a James Bond movie and appearing in an episode of The Man from UNCLE. Do you enjoy spy/secret agent stories?
A. I like mysteries, sometimes. I enjoyed those shows with that older woman who fell into stories, the name of which I cannot remember now, it was a long time ago and she had red hair. Darn, I hate when I lose my recall. Jessica Fletcher? Was that it? Murder She Wrote! (Yes, I googled it.) But I don't like shows with a lot of gun violence and/or blood.
5) Nancy maintains the official Sinatra family website, which includes a link to the site of Mia Farrow. Ms. Farrow was, briefly, Nancy's stepmother, and obviously they are still on good terms. Do you have a big, extended family?
A. I suppose I do. I know many of my cousins. I embrace anyone with a family connection, even it goes back to the 1800s. In fact, my husband and I are 5th cousins. But mostly this is on my mother's side; my father's family all live in another state. My immediate family consisted of four people (mom, dad, brother, me), but my mother had 5 siblings. I knew my grandparents and great aunts and uncles. One of my great-great aunts died a few years ago at the age of 107. And my father's mother is still alive, though in California. She is 96.
6) Nancy's music -- and posters -- were very popular with the troops during the Vietnam War. Nancy continues to return their loyalty and affection with her efforts on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Here's your chance to promote a cause that's near and dear to your heart. What charity gets your support?
A. I give to local historic societies and arts groups, The American Cancer Association, the cemetery where my mother is buried, and the local homeless shelter.
7) Nancy hosts a Sirius radio show devoted to her father's music. Do you have a subscription to a satellite radio or podcast network?
A. I'm afraid not. Well, I listen to Amazon music and Pandora. Does that count?
8) Nancy has said that she and her sister Tina had a more comfortable relationship with their famous father than their late brother, Frank, Jr., did. Do you think it's easier for mothers to get along with their sons, while fathers have an easier time with their daughters?
A. That has not been my experience, and I have no further comment on that topic.
9) Random question: Tonight's dinner is on us. Would you prefer to eat at a casual restaurant with exceptional food, or an exclusive restaurant with so-so food but a celebrity clientele?
A. Oh, the causal restaurant with exceptional food, please, with all of the Saturday 9 and Sunday Stealer players filling the tables. We'd have great fun. And I could wear my sneakers and not worry about my feet.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
(I remember this from when I was a child. This song and the show The Mod Squad made me want a pair of go-go boots before I even knew what they were.)
1) In this song/video, Ms. Sinatra's boots make a serious fashion statement. Do you choose footwear for comfort or fashion?
A. Comfort. I would like to say I used to wear fashionable shoes but I never have. I was one of those children who went to the special store to buy Stride-Rite Mary Janes because I didn't have arches in my feet. Or at least not well-defined arches. I hated those shoes. However, because of bad feet and bad knees, I never got into fashionable shoes. I was once told when I worked at a law firm that I was passed over for a promotion because I didn't wear heels, only flats. "You're one of the best legal secretaries but you don't look the part," was the take-away from that particular interview. I left not long after.
2) This is by far the biggest hit of Nancy Sinatra's career, which includes 6 top ten hits. Can you name another?
A. Alas, Yorick, I cannot. I even looked them up and don't recognize any of the names.
3) Nancy recorded it on Reprise Records, which was founded by her father, Frank. Did your parents give you a leg up in your chosen career?
A. My mother always told me, "Sure, you can try to be a writer, but you better take business courses because you're going to end up as a secretary. There is no money in writing." I sort of proved her wrong - I made decent money writing for quite some time, as a freelancer.
4) Professionally Nancy has been involved in espionage, singing the theme to a James Bond movie and appearing in an episode of The Man from UNCLE. Do you enjoy spy/secret agent stories?
A. I like mysteries, sometimes. I enjoyed those shows with that older woman who fell into stories, the name of which I cannot remember now, it was a long time ago and she had red hair. Darn, I hate when I lose my recall. Jessica Fletcher? Was that it? Murder She Wrote! (Yes, I googled it.) But I don't like shows with a lot of gun violence and/or blood.
5) Nancy maintains the official Sinatra family website, which includes a link to the site of Mia Farrow. Ms. Farrow was, briefly, Nancy's stepmother, and obviously they are still on good terms. Do you have a big, extended family?
A. I suppose I do. I know many of my cousins. I embrace anyone with a family connection, even it goes back to the 1800s. In fact, my husband and I are 5th cousins. But mostly this is on my mother's side; my father's family all live in another state. My immediate family consisted of four people (mom, dad, brother, me), but my mother had 5 siblings. I knew my grandparents and great aunts and uncles. One of my great-great aunts died a few years ago at the age of 107. And my father's mother is still alive, though in California. She is 96.
6) Nancy's music -- and posters -- were very popular with the troops during the Vietnam War. Nancy continues to return their loyalty and affection with her efforts on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Here's your chance to promote a cause that's near and dear to your heart. What charity gets your support?
A. I give to local historic societies and arts groups, The American Cancer Association, the cemetery where my mother is buried, and the local homeless shelter.
7) Nancy hosts a Sirius radio show devoted to her father's music. Do you have a subscription to a satellite radio or podcast network?
A. I'm afraid not. Well, I listen to Amazon music and Pandora. Does that count?
8) Nancy has said that she and her sister Tina had a more comfortable relationship with their famous father than their late brother, Frank, Jr., did. Do you think it's easier for mothers to get along with their sons, while fathers have an easier time with their daughters?
A. That has not been my experience, and I have no further comment on that topic.
9) Random question: Tonight's dinner is on us. Would you prefer to eat at a casual restaurant with exceptional food, or an exclusive restaurant with so-so food but a celebrity clientele?
A. Oh, the causal restaurant with exceptional food, please, with all of the Saturday 9 and Sunday Stealer players filling the tables. We'd have great fun. And I could wear my sneakers and not worry about my feet.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Sofas, Smell, and Stench, Oh My!
On March 22, I wrote about our issues with sofas. We've been trying to obtain new furniture since July of last year. Our 10-year-old Ashly sectional broke, so we bought new furniture at Grand, two over-sized love seats.
After two months, the one we were sitting in broke. I allowed them to fix it, and we sat in the other, and after two months, it broke.
They replaced that, but the furniture smelled so badly that we moved it to the garage, and ultimately ended up asking Grand to take it away.
So we picked out different furniture, and it was delivered on April 30.
The furniture is all the same color, it just doesn't look it in the light. We hadn't planned on the chair, but from early February until the end of April we had nothing to sit in but lawn furniture. My back couldn't take it and they had the power chair that matched the furniture on the floor at the Tanglewood Grand store, so I bought it so we'd have something to sit in.
The chair had a mild odor after it was delivered. By the fourth day, I could no longer smell it.
The new furniture at first did not seem to smell, but then after we'd had it about four days, the odor began in earnest. It was not as bad as the other furniture (which the delivery man informed us stunk up his truck for two days after he picked it up; it was the same fellow), but bad enough to keep me out of the kitchen and living room.
Once again we put out baking soda and charcoal absorbers to try to eliminate the odor. We ran fans. Finally, I found a product called Ozium Air Sanitizer, available in automotive stores (and probably others), which claims on the bottle to reduce airborne bacteria and eliminate smoke and malodors. It seemed to help, so I started spraying it three or four times a day in the living room.
The Ozium smells a bit like lemon when it is first sprayed.
I can now sit in the furniture for a while without it messing with my sinuses or giving me a sore throat. I don't stay in there for hours on end, but I can get back on the treadmill and watch HBO so long as it is not a long movie. My hope is that after a few days more I can treat the living room like, well, my living room.
The new furniture sits well and looks good. This time we bought a love seat and a sofa (and the unexpected purchase of the power recliner). The sofa is as big as the oversized love seats were in the other brand of furniture. We like the size of this furniture better, I think, though we were quite content with our original purchase until it broke.
Now our fingers are crossed that (a) this will stop smelling, which I am sure it will eventually, and (b) it holds up and doesn't break.
As an aside, I think furniture companies have a responsibility to inform purchasers of off-gassing issues with new furniture. Grand was good to work with but they did not really want to accommodate my request to hold the furniture in their warehouse, uncovered, for several weeks so it could air out. They held it for 10 days which obviously wasn't long enough, and the salesman was pushing me to get it delivered. Frankly, if they are going to sell this stuff with this odor, which can be hazardous to anyone with asthma or other lung issues, then they should set aside a place to let it air out for a long time before delivery. I can't be the only person in the area who is sensitive to this off-gassing.
If you type in "off gassing" on Google, you find this is an issue for many people and for many objects. This is what comes from deregulation and from lack of oversight of what companies sell. It is definitely a "buyer beware" sort of world. I have a feeling most of these things that stink are not good for you, and probably continue to create problems even after the odor eases. Some sites claim the odors and problems associated with it continue for up to a year.
The last time I had this much trouble with something was in 2005, when we purchased carpeting. After that experience, I have sword we will never again put in new carpet, which means hardwood floors or tile or something when the time comes to replace the carpet (which, since it is 10 years old, is not so far off).
While I am on the subject of stinking stuff, we had the living room painted while it was empty. The painter used Natura paint by Benjamin Moore, and it had only a mild odor. I am quite allergic to paint and was able to stand this without having my mouth and hands swell up, as sometimes happens with other brands.
The lessons learned here are many. First, lack of regulation allows anything to be sold in this country, and it doesn't matter whether it is healthy for you or if it will kill you - and unfortunately many of us, brought up in better times, still think there is a regulatory body out there that keeps harmful things from entering the consumer highway. That is not the case, however, and it is best to remember that. No one is going to look after you but you, and that is certainly true since the 1980s. It has always been so but I know growing up that civics courses taught otherwise - in the 1970s, at least, there was an indication that the government regulated manufacturers so that they couldn't sell stuff that would kill you. Or at least that was the impression I was left with. That is obviously no longer the case.
Second, deal with a reputable company so that if you have problems, you have recourse for remedy. Grand has been very good to deal with in this matter, and I think the fact that we purchased from a long-standing reputable dealer made a difference here. Get to know the folks you're dealing with, too.
Buying local, even if the stuff ultimately comes from across the sea, makes more sense every day.
*I have not been paid to talk about any product or company mentioned in this post.*
After two months, the one we were sitting in broke. I allowed them to fix it, and we sat in the other, and after two months, it broke.
They replaced that, but the furniture smelled so badly that we moved it to the garage, and ultimately ended up asking Grand to take it away.
So we picked out different furniture, and it was delivered on April 30.
The furniture is all the same color, it just doesn't look it in the light. We hadn't planned on the chair, but from early February until the end of April we had nothing to sit in but lawn furniture. My back couldn't take it and they had the power chair that matched the furniture on the floor at the Tanglewood Grand store, so I bought it so we'd have something to sit in.
The chair had a mild odor after it was delivered. By the fourth day, I could no longer smell it.
The new furniture at first did not seem to smell, but then after we'd had it about four days, the odor began in earnest. It was not as bad as the other furniture (which the delivery man informed us stunk up his truck for two days after he picked it up; it was the same fellow), but bad enough to keep me out of the kitchen and living room.
Once again we put out baking soda and charcoal absorbers to try to eliminate the odor. We ran fans. Finally, I found a product called Ozium Air Sanitizer, available in automotive stores (and probably others), which claims on the bottle to reduce airborne bacteria and eliminate smoke and malodors. It seemed to help, so I started spraying it three or four times a day in the living room.
The Ozium smells a bit like lemon when it is first sprayed.
I can now sit in the furniture for a while without it messing with my sinuses or giving me a sore throat. I don't stay in there for hours on end, but I can get back on the treadmill and watch HBO so long as it is not a long movie. My hope is that after a few days more I can treat the living room like, well, my living room.
The new furniture sits well and looks good. This time we bought a love seat and a sofa (and the unexpected purchase of the power recliner). The sofa is as big as the oversized love seats were in the other brand of furniture. We like the size of this furniture better, I think, though we were quite content with our original purchase until it broke.
Now our fingers are crossed that (a) this will stop smelling, which I am sure it will eventually, and (b) it holds up and doesn't break.
As an aside, I think furniture companies have a responsibility to inform purchasers of off-gassing issues with new furniture. Grand was good to work with but they did not really want to accommodate my request to hold the furniture in their warehouse, uncovered, for several weeks so it could air out. They held it for 10 days which obviously wasn't long enough, and the salesman was pushing me to get it delivered. Frankly, if they are going to sell this stuff with this odor, which can be hazardous to anyone with asthma or other lung issues, then they should set aside a place to let it air out for a long time before delivery. I can't be the only person in the area who is sensitive to this off-gassing.
If you type in "off gassing" on Google, you find this is an issue for many people and for many objects. This is what comes from deregulation and from lack of oversight of what companies sell. It is definitely a "buyer beware" sort of world. I have a feeling most of these things that stink are not good for you, and probably continue to create problems even after the odor eases. Some sites claim the odors and problems associated with it continue for up to a year.
The last time I had this much trouble with something was in 2005, when we purchased carpeting. After that experience, I have sword we will never again put in new carpet, which means hardwood floors or tile or something when the time comes to replace the carpet (which, since it is 10 years old, is not so far off).
While I am on the subject of stinking stuff, we had the living room painted while it was empty. The painter used Natura paint by Benjamin Moore, and it had only a mild odor. I am quite allergic to paint and was able to stand this without having my mouth and hands swell up, as sometimes happens with other brands.
The lessons learned here are many. First, lack of regulation allows anything to be sold in this country, and it doesn't matter whether it is healthy for you or if it will kill you - and unfortunately many of us, brought up in better times, still think there is a regulatory body out there that keeps harmful things from entering the consumer highway. That is not the case, however, and it is best to remember that. No one is going to look after you but you, and that is certainly true since the 1980s. It has always been so but I know growing up that civics courses taught otherwise - in the 1970s, at least, there was an indication that the government regulated manufacturers so that they couldn't sell stuff that would kill you. Or at least that was the impression I was left with. That is obviously no longer the case.
Second, deal with a reputable company so that if you have problems, you have recourse for remedy. Grand has been very good to deal with in this matter, and I think the fact that we purchased from a long-standing reputable dealer made a difference here. Get to know the folks you're dealing with, too.
Buying local, even if the stuff ultimately comes from across the sea, makes more sense every day.
*I have not been paid to talk about any product or company mentioned in this post.*
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Thursday 13
I live in Virginia's Blue Ridge, one of the loveliest places on earth (I think). It resembles the mountains of Scotland and the lands of England, and indeed is part of a mountain range that runs beneath the ocean all the way into those aged hills.
Many folks who live in the area often say there is nothing to do here, because we live here. But there are a lot of things to do in this area. Here are 13:
1. Visit the Mill Mountain Star (actually called the Roanoke Star now, but I am old and still call things by their original names) and the park. There's a lovely area for there for walking, picnicking, and hanging out.
2. Check out Mill Mountain Zoo, while you're there. I am not a fan of zoos, but I know some people are, and the Mill Mountain Zoo has been around since 1952 (that's longer than I, for I am not that old!). I would like to visit it again, since I haven't in about 40 years, simply to take photos of the animals.
3. The Virginia Museum of Transportation has all things trains, among other modes of transportation. Come on a specific weekend and you could get a ride on the 611 steam engine!
4. Black Dog Architectural Salvage & Antiques. This place has become popular because there is a show about the fellows who go out and save the remnants of old structures, and then turn them into something else, or leave them as-is for some savvy home builder to use in construction or whatever.
5. The O. Winton Link Museum. This is a museum dedicated to preserving the photos of Winston Link, who documented the history of the Norfolk & Western Railway during his lifetime.
6. Taubman Museum of Art. This is an interesting structure (one which I am not fond of, as I do not believe it fits in with the architectural landscape of Roanoke City and would have looked better on a knoll off by itself somewhere), and it offers various displays of art. At the moment, Normal Rockwell's pictures are up for viewing.
7. Visit the City Market. The Roanoke City Market area has a variety of shops and eateries, along with one of the oldest farmers' markets in Virginia. While you are there, check out Center in the Square, the History Museum, and the Pinball exhibit.
8. Tour the Town of Fincastle. This is about a 30 minute drive from Roanoke, and a walk about town makes for an interesting tour of historic structures. The opportunity to learn about patriots who settled this country is a great lesson for all. Fincastle was the true starting point of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
9. Visit Ikenberry Orchards (Daleville) and the Jeter Farm (Bonsack). Both offer a bit of old fashioned goodness in the form of sweets, hay rides, and other "farm stuff" opportunities.
10. The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum of Fine Arts at Hollins University. The museum changes out its displays frequently, so there is always something new to see. While you are there, you may as well tour the college grounds, which date back to the mid-1800s and feature intriguing older structures.
11. Tour any other nearby small town, city, or community. Check out Buchanan, Floyd, Vinton, Salem, Bedford, Rocky Mount, Smith Mountain Lake, or Blacksburg. You could feasibly spend the better part of a day at each area, and that's not all of them.
12. Visit any of the wineries in the area. Here's the Botetourt Wine Trail, if you're interested.
13. Take a trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Go south, and you'll end up at the Peaks of Otter. Head north, and you'll hit Mabry Mill. You can't go wrong either way, as the views are magnificent.
There is lots to do around here. Do it!
_____________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 447th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Many folks who live in the area often say there is nothing to do here, because we live here. But there are a lot of things to do in this area. Here are 13:
1. Visit the Mill Mountain Star (actually called the Roanoke Star now, but I am old and still call things by their original names) and the park. There's a lovely area for there for walking, picnicking, and hanging out.
2. Check out Mill Mountain Zoo, while you're there. I am not a fan of zoos, but I know some people are, and the Mill Mountain Zoo has been around since 1952 (that's longer than I, for I am not that old!). I would like to visit it again, since I haven't in about 40 years, simply to take photos of the animals.
3. The Virginia Museum of Transportation has all things trains, among other modes of transportation. Come on a specific weekend and you could get a ride on the 611 steam engine!
4. Black Dog Architectural Salvage & Antiques. This place has become popular because there is a show about the fellows who go out and save the remnants of old structures, and then turn them into something else, or leave them as-is for some savvy home builder to use in construction or whatever.
5. The O. Winton Link Museum. This is a museum dedicated to preserving the photos of Winston Link, who documented the history of the Norfolk & Western Railway during his lifetime.
6. Taubman Museum of Art. This is an interesting structure (one which I am not fond of, as I do not believe it fits in with the architectural landscape of Roanoke City and would have looked better on a knoll off by itself somewhere), and it offers various displays of art. At the moment, Normal Rockwell's pictures are up for viewing.
7. Visit the City Market. The Roanoke City Market area has a variety of shops and eateries, along with one of the oldest farmers' markets in Virginia. While you are there, check out Center in the Square, the History Museum, and the Pinball exhibit.
8. Tour the Town of Fincastle. This is about a 30 minute drive from Roanoke, and a walk about town makes for an interesting tour of historic structures. The opportunity to learn about patriots who settled this country is a great lesson for all. Fincastle was the true starting point of the Lewis & Clark expedition.
9. Visit Ikenberry Orchards (Daleville) and the Jeter Farm (Bonsack). Both offer a bit of old fashioned goodness in the form of sweets, hay rides, and other "farm stuff" opportunities.
10. The Eleanor D. Wilson Museum of Fine Arts at Hollins University. The museum changes out its displays frequently, so there is always something new to see. While you are there, you may as well tour the college grounds, which date back to the mid-1800s and feature intriguing older structures.
11. Tour any other nearby small town, city, or community. Check out Buchanan, Floyd, Vinton, Salem, Bedford, Rocky Mount, Smith Mountain Lake, or Blacksburg. You could feasibly spend the better part of a day at each area, and that's not all of them.
12. Visit any of the wineries in the area. Here's the Botetourt Wine Trail, if you're interested.
13. Take a trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Go south, and you'll end up at the Peaks of Otter. Head north, and you'll hit Mabry Mill. You can't go wrong either way, as the views are magnificent.
There is lots to do around here. Do it!
_____________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 447th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
No Joy in De Feet
For several years now, I have shown you, dear reader, an occasional photo of my foot in a boot or a surgical shoe, or something.
I have a terrible time with my right foot and ankle (and occasionally in the left foot, too). I have arthritis in the joints in my big toe (or great toe, as my physical therapist calls it), and that causes me to walk on the metatarsal of the second toe, which makes that hurt.
In my right ankle, two of the bones rub together. Nothing seems to help this, though I use a lot of KT tape to keep the nerve pain to a level below "screaming."
Some of my feet problems didn't start until I had plantar fasciitis and a heel spur in the left foot, and a podiatrist insisted I must wear orthotics in my shoes, and my shoes must have a very solid sole. I used to wear Easy Spirit sneakers but the soles on those bend. So I began testing my shoes, and if the sole bent, it was not a shoe I wore. I ended up with New Balance 927s, but then New Balance changed those and I went to a 928. That worked okay for several years, though I still had a lot of pain. Then New Balance recently changed *that* shoe, and in March, when I went to purchase a new pair at the locally owned shoe store, I discovered the change made my foot drop inward even with my inserts in them. They had narrowed the sole significantly, it seemed, and changed the support.
So I went to a very stiff shoe called an Aetrex, and the jury is still out on those. I am wearing them but initially they made my big toe hurt, mostly because I was wearing them without the orthotic and thus walking like I should be, putting weight on that toe. I finally reconfigured a mosaic "pad" insert that came with the shoe to change the way my weight carried on the right side, stopping, at least, the pain in the toe.
Sigh.
I personally thought (and think) that the orthotics are as much of a problem as not. I used to wear Minnetonka moccasins with no soles around the house all the time, buying a new pair every time we went to the beach. But we stopped going to the beach and after I wore out my last pair (about 15 years ago), I did not replace them (online shopping wasn't the thing it is now). And my foot has grown wider in the intervening years, so I would prefer trying on a pair because Minnetonka doesn't make a wide shoe.
I would go barefoot but I have a thing about anything touching my feet except socks.
Anyway, the local paper a few weeks ago had an article about a company in Charlottesville called Oesh. (If that link doesn't work, you can see them at Amazon here.) The shoes reportedly were made by a woman for women, and there was a note that most shoes start with a basic form (from a male foot, of course) and so women are wearing the wrong shoes to begin with.
That does not surprise me.
So I went to the company website, and I purchased the shoe they had on sale.
If you think this looks like nothing I would wear out, you would be right. I'm little miss plain Jane, wearing only white sneakers. But around the house, these feel pretty good.
They feel a bit like a moccasin, and for that reason I am wearing them with no orthotics (though I do have my ankle taped up as I usually must do to keep the nerve pain down). At first, the soles felt squishy and unstable, but after walking on them a few minutes they were okay. The top is a very soft mesh. The bottom is entirely flat, so it is like walking barefoot but not, and with something soft between my foot and the floor.
I am not yet ready to make a call on these shoes, but I think if you have feet problems and are looking for something different to try, these might be an option. They have others that don't look quite so, um, different, but I went with the cheapest ones. If I should decide I like these well enough to order another pair, I'll get something that looks a bit better. I suppose one might consider these "fun" shoes but the colors really aren't my thing.
The fact that these are made locally (I'm 2 hours from Charlottesville) and in Virginia also factored into my decision to purchase. If that matters to you, then that is another reason to take a look at the shoe.
Many people on Amazon report that these shoes have helped their feet issues. I haven't worn them enough to know yet. But I do think that they may make a difference, especially if I wear them in conjunction with my other shoes, alternating. At any rate, I am not unhappy with them. We'll see.
*No one paid me to write about this product.*
I have a terrible time with my right foot and ankle (and occasionally in the left foot, too). I have arthritis in the joints in my big toe (or great toe, as my physical therapist calls it), and that causes me to walk on the metatarsal of the second toe, which makes that hurt.
In my right ankle, two of the bones rub together. Nothing seems to help this, though I use a lot of KT tape to keep the nerve pain to a level below "screaming."
Some of my feet problems didn't start until I had plantar fasciitis and a heel spur in the left foot, and a podiatrist insisted I must wear orthotics in my shoes, and my shoes must have a very solid sole. I used to wear Easy Spirit sneakers but the soles on those bend. So I began testing my shoes, and if the sole bent, it was not a shoe I wore. I ended up with New Balance 927s, but then New Balance changed those and I went to a 928. That worked okay for several years, though I still had a lot of pain. Then New Balance recently changed *that* shoe, and in March, when I went to purchase a new pair at the locally owned shoe store, I discovered the change made my foot drop inward even with my inserts in them. They had narrowed the sole significantly, it seemed, and changed the support.
So I went to a very stiff shoe called an Aetrex, and the jury is still out on those. I am wearing them but initially they made my big toe hurt, mostly because I was wearing them without the orthotic and thus walking like I should be, putting weight on that toe. I finally reconfigured a mosaic "pad" insert that came with the shoe to change the way my weight carried on the right side, stopping, at least, the pain in the toe.
Sigh.
I personally thought (and think) that the orthotics are as much of a problem as not. I used to wear Minnetonka moccasins with no soles around the house all the time, buying a new pair every time we went to the beach. But we stopped going to the beach and after I wore out my last pair (about 15 years ago), I did not replace them (online shopping wasn't the thing it is now). And my foot has grown wider in the intervening years, so I would prefer trying on a pair because Minnetonka doesn't make a wide shoe.
I would go barefoot but I have a thing about anything touching my feet except socks.
Anyway, the local paper a few weeks ago had an article about a company in Charlottesville called Oesh. (If that link doesn't work, you can see them at Amazon here.) The shoes reportedly were made by a woman for women, and there was a note that most shoes start with a basic form (from a male foot, of course) and so women are wearing the wrong shoes to begin with.
That does not surprise me.
So I went to the company website, and I purchased the shoe they had on sale.
If you think this looks like nothing I would wear out, you would be right. I'm little miss plain Jane, wearing only white sneakers. But around the house, these feel pretty good.
They feel a bit like a moccasin, and for that reason I am wearing them with no orthotics (though I do have my ankle taped up as I usually must do to keep the nerve pain down). At first, the soles felt squishy and unstable, but after walking on them a few minutes they were okay. The top is a very soft mesh. The bottom is entirely flat, so it is like walking barefoot but not, and with something soft between my foot and the floor.
I am not yet ready to make a call on these shoes, but I think if you have feet problems and are looking for something different to try, these might be an option. They have others that don't look quite so, um, different, but I went with the cheapest ones. If I should decide I like these well enough to order another pair, I'll get something that looks a bit better. I suppose one might consider these "fun" shoes but the colors really aren't my thing.
The fact that these are made locally (I'm 2 hours from Charlottesville) and in Virginia also factored into my decision to purchase. If that matters to you, then that is another reason to take a look at the shoe.
Many people on Amazon report that these shoes have helped their feet issues. I haven't worn them enough to know yet. But I do think that they may make a difference, especially if I wear them in conjunction with my other shoes, alternating. At any rate, I am not unhappy with them. We'll see.
*No one paid me to write about this product.*
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Birds of Color
Medium: Colored Pencil
These would be more dramatic and interesting if I were actually drawing them, instead of simply coloring them in, but I am finding the coloring therapeutic. I'm also surprising myself with how well I can actually color, as I have never considered myself artistic in the drawing sense. In writing, yes, and perhaps occasionally I'd manage a lucky shot with the camera, but not "art."
I'm not sure if coloring is an art - it probably isn't - but I do find it a quick way to step out of whatever is troubling me for a few minutes.
My coloring books are kept on an old computer stand, that I have set at standing height. So I have to get out of my chair and off my behind to color, which is a good thing. I sit way too much.
So far I've used colored pencils, markers, and crayons. I like the dark and smoothness of the markers, but I can't make details with the markers as well as I can with crayons or colored pencils. After all, wit the latter two, all one must do is bear down a bit harder and it is as if there is an entirely different color, depending on pressure.
This is from a Dover coloring book called "A Walk in the Woods." I was hoping it would be similar to the Dover coloring books I have of wizards and goddesses, which have large spaces and less detail, but this coloring book is fairly detailed. I like to have a few wide spaces wherein I can simply concentrate on evening out the color and not worrying about detail. I worry too much about detail as it is.
In fact, there was an article in today's paper about how coloring is not just a "fad," that it can help one work through grief, or help people enjoy their passions because there are coloring books about everything, apparently. A visit to doverpublications.com reveals coloring books that are classic works, remakes of old movie posters, Gaugin paintings, fairy tales, flowers, patriotic colorings, dogs, nautical scenes, etc.
They do not, however, have a Lord of the Rings coloring book. Never fear, though, my dears - for you know how much I love Tolkien. There is a Lord of the Rings coloring book coming out, based on the movies, as of May 31. I have it on order, so expect to see colorings of Gollum, Frodo, Sam, and Gandolf over the summer months. I have not looked for one based on The Hobbit; I must remedy that.
I actually pulled up each bird and looked at it on the computer as I colored, turning around many times (for I color with my back to this thunderous machine) to see how the coloring was. Of course, real birds have much more detail and the colors blend, and I couldn't really do that, but I did my best. I think I am learning, and maybe this kind of creative effort is good for me. It is change, like playing music, something different for my brains to ponder.
Monday, May 09, 2016
Sunday, May 08, 2016
Sunday Stealing: Monsters
From Sunday Stealing
Monsters in the Closet Meme
1. Do you usually sleep with your closet door open or closed?
A. Open. It stays open all the time because one of the heating/cooling registers is in there and if you shut the door it messes up the air circulation.
2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?
A. No, because they are usually scented and I have to have unscented everything.
3. Have you ever ‘done it’ in a hotel room?
A. Yes. I'm married. That's what vacations are for.
4. Where is your next vacation?
A. We haven't planned one, though we are considering Savannah, GA.
5. Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
A. Can't say that I have.
6. Who do you think reads these?
A. Other meme writers and some of my regular readers.
7. Do you have a calendar in your room?
A. I have a Lord of the Rings calendar hanging on my wall. For May, it is Frodo Baggins. June is Legolas and I can't wait to turn the page. It might stay June the rest of the year.
8. Where are you?
A. In my office in my house on a farm in Virginia.
9. What’s your plan for the day?
A. Saturday, as I answer this, I am having a high pain day, and my husband has literally ordered me not to do anything strenuous. I have been instructed to find a good book and read it. Of course, I am not doing that, I am answering these questions and otherwise playing around on the computer. Sunday I am hoping to feel well enough to straighten the house up and have my mother-in-law over for dinner, but that is really going to depend on how I am.
10. Are you reading any books right now?
A. No, I am answering these questions. But the books I am reading are something by Neil Gaiman that I can't remember the name of, and The Japanese Lover by Isabela Allende (?). And my new O! magazine.
11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
A. I am sure I have at some point but it is not routine.
12. Have you ever peed in the woods?
A. Yes, when I was young and my family went camping.
13. Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?
A. Yes.
14. Do you chew your pens and pencils?
A. Sometimes.
15. What is your “Song of the Week”?
A. I don't really have one, but I have today been singing lines from And When I Die by Blood, Sweat, and Tears. You can hear it here.
16. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
A. Of course it is. My husband looks great in his pink shirt.
17. Do you still watch cartoons?
A. I haven't in a while, but I would if they would show something worth watching. I used to watch Captain Planet and the Planeteers when I was in my 30s.
18. What's your favorite love movie?
A. Dirty Dancing.
19. What do you drink with dinner?
A. Water.
20. What do you dip Chicken Nuggets in?
A. I don't eat chicken nuggets.
21. What is your favorite food/cuisine?
A. Chocolate is my favorite food, but it is soon going out of my life.
22. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
A. All three movies in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Under the Tuscan Sun, Forest Gump, Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia! (Pierce Brosnan trying to sing cracks me up), Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and many others.
23. Last person you hugged/kissed?
A. My husband.
24. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
A. No. I wanted to be, but my mother worked a full-time job and I could not make the meetings.
25. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
A. I assure you, no one would want to see that.
Monsters in the Closet Meme
1. Do you usually sleep with your closet door open or closed?
A. Open. It stays open all the time because one of the heating/cooling registers is in there and if you shut the door it messes up the air circulation.
2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?
A. No, because they are usually scented and I have to have unscented everything.
3. Have you ever ‘done it’ in a hotel room?
A. Yes. I'm married. That's what vacations are for.
4. Where is your next vacation?
A. We haven't planned one, though we are considering Savannah, GA.
5. Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
A. Can't say that I have.
6. Who do you think reads these?
A. Other meme writers and some of my regular readers.
7. Do you have a calendar in your room?
A. I have a Lord of the Rings calendar hanging on my wall. For May, it is Frodo Baggins. June is Legolas and I can't wait to turn the page. It might stay June the rest of the year.
8. Where are you?
A. In my office in my house on a farm in Virginia.
9. What’s your plan for the day?
A. Saturday, as I answer this, I am having a high pain day, and my husband has literally ordered me not to do anything strenuous. I have been instructed to find a good book and read it. Of course, I am not doing that, I am answering these questions and otherwise playing around on the computer. Sunday I am hoping to feel well enough to straighten the house up and have my mother-in-law over for dinner, but that is really going to depend on how I am.
10. Are you reading any books right now?
A. No, I am answering these questions. But the books I am reading are something by Neil Gaiman that I can't remember the name of, and The Japanese Lover by Isabela Allende (?). And my new O! magazine.
11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
A. I am sure I have at some point but it is not routine.
12. Have you ever peed in the woods?
A. Yes, when I was young and my family went camping.
13. Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?
A. Yes.
14. Do you chew your pens and pencils?
A. Sometimes.
15. What is your “Song of the Week”?
A. I don't really have one, but I have today been singing lines from And When I Die by Blood, Sweat, and Tears. You can hear it here.
16. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
A. Of course it is. My husband looks great in his pink shirt.
17. Do you still watch cartoons?
A. I haven't in a while, but I would if they would show something worth watching. I used to watch Captain Planet and the Planeteers when I was in my 30s.
18. What's your favorite love movie?
A. Dirty Dancing.
19. What do you drink with dinner?
A. Water.
20. What do you dip Chicken Nuggets in?
A. I don't eat chicken nuggets.
21. What is your favorite food/cuisine?
A. Chocolate is my favorite food, but it is soon going out of my life.
22. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
A. All three movies in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Under the Tuscan Sun, Forest Gump, Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia! (Pierce Brosnan trying to sing cracks me up), Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and many others.
23. Last person you hugged/kissed?
A. My husband.
24. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
A. No. I wanted to be, but my mother worked a full-time job and I could not make the meetings.
25. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
A. I assure you, no one would want to see that.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, May 07, 2016
Saturday 9: Mama
Saturday 9: Mama (2015)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Gamal Lewis got the nickname "LunchMoney" in 10th grade because of his round cheeks and because lunch was his favorite part of the school day. What do you recall about lunchtime in the school cafeteria?
A. When I was in high school, at least twice I managed to throw my retainers in the trash bins, and I then missed sixth period to go toss myself into said bins and hunt for the darned thing. I found it each time, wrapped in a napkin. I would take it home, boil it in bleach water, and use it. It was either that or tell my parents I lost them, and they were expensive.
2) His father and uncle were members of the band Inner Circle. Their song, "Bad Boys" was the theme to the reality show Cops. What reality show have you seen recently?
A. Survivor is the only one I watch.
3) In this song, Mr. Lewis sings that his mama taught him how to put on pajamas. What did you wear to bed last night?
A. A nightgown.
4) He claims he can't ever lie to his mama because she'll hear it in his voice. Are you a convincing liar?
A. I don't think so.
5) LunchMoney sings that his mama made him chicken soup when he was sick. Do you eat soup all year around, only during winter months, or just when you're battling a cold?
A. I eat soup all year round.
6) The lyrics tell us that when her son was hungry, Mama reliably whipped something up. What's the last food you prepared?
A. I had an egg sandwich.
7) He also sings that his mama always made sure he had a few dollars in his pocket. Let's talk about you and money. Did you more recently lend or borrow it?
A. Borrowed it from the bank.
8) Mother's Day is for grandmothers, too. Sam grew up calling her grandmother "Grandgran." Did you have a nickname for your grandmother?
A. I just called her Grandma.
9) To celebrate Mother's Day, Sam is giving away her own mother's favorite candy: Hershey Bars. Would you prefer milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate with almonds?
A. Dark chocolate.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Gamal Lewis got the nickname "LunchMoney" in 10th grade because of his round cheeks and because lunch was his favorite part of the school day. What do you recall about lunchtime in the school cafeteria?
A. When I was in high school, at least twice I managed to throw my retainers in the trash bins, and I then missed sixth period to go toss myself into said bins and hunt for the darned thing. I found it each time, wrapped in a napkin. I would take it home, boil it in bleach water, and use it. It was either that or tell my parents I lost them, and they were expensive.
2) His father and uncle were members of the band Inner Circle. Their song, "Bad Boys" was the theme to the reality show Cops. What reality show have you seen recently?
A. Survivor is the only one I watch.
3) In this song, Mr. Lewis sings that his mama taught him how to put on pajamas. What did you wear to bed last night?
A. A nightgown.
4) He claims he can't ever lie to his mama because she'll hear it in his voice. Are you a convincing liar?
A. I don't think so.
5) LunchMoney sings that his mama made him chicken soup when he was sick. Do you eat soup all year around, only during winter months, or just when you're battling a cold?
A. I eat soup all year round.
6) The lyrics tell us that when her son was hungry, Mama reliably whipped something up. What's the last food you prepared?
A. I had an egg sandwich.
7) He also sings that his mama always made sure he had a few dollars in his pocket. Let's talk about you and money. Did you more recently lend or borrow it?
A. Borrowed it from the bank.
8) Mother's Day is for grandmothers, too. Sam grew up calling her grandmother "Grandgran." Did you have a nickname for your grandmother?
A. I just called her Grandma.
9) To celebrate Mother's Day, Sam is giving away her own mother's favorite candy: Hershey Bars. Would you prefer milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate with almonds?
A. Dark chocolate.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
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