A Southern USA Accent

From Sunday Stealing

The ASK Meme, part one


1. What’s your favorite candle scent?

A. Unscented. I suppose that isn't a scent, but I am sensitive to most smells, and scented candles cause asthma attacks.

2. What female celebrity do you wish was your sister?

A. Meryl Streep.

3. What male celebrity do you wish was your brother?

A. I have one brother, I don't need another one. But I would like to be friends with Tom Hanks.

4. How old do you think you’ll be when you get married?

A. I was 20, still a baby. If I only knew then what I know now!

5. Do you know a hoarder?

A. Probably, but I am not aware of it.

6. Can you do a split?

A. Sure, I can split. Watch me leave!

7. How old were you when you learned how to ride a bike?

A. I was five. Here's my first bike story: I received a beautiful blue girl's bike for Christmas the year I was five, complete with training wheels. Santa placed a Batgirl doll on the seat and she was driving! I was thrilled. And then a few days later my father took me outside and taught me to ride.

8. How many oceans have you swam in?

A. Just the Atlantic. Also Kelsy's Ocean (You will only get that if you watch the ol' black and white Andy Griffith shows).

9. How many countries have you been to?

A. Four. USA, England (in a plane stopover, but it still counts), Spain, and France.

10. Is anyone in your family in the military?

A. Not at the present. My father, grandfather, and several uncles served.

11. Have you named any of your body parts?

A. Eww. No.

12. If you had a child today, what would you name him/her?

A. If we had been successful in our efforts to have a child, I would have named a girl Susan and a boy James, after his dad.

13. What’s the worst grade you got on a test?

A. Like I remember that? I was, generally speaking, a straight-A student, with Bs in gym. As an undergrad in college my GPAs were above 3.5 and I finished my masters with a 3.96.  Take from that what you like.

14. What was your favorite TV show when you were a child?

A. Bewitched, the Brady Bunch, and Charlie's Angels. If only I could crinkle my nose and go Marsha, Marsha, Marsha while chasing after bad guys!

15. What did you dress up as on Halloween when you were eight?

A. I have absolutely no idea. What, are these questions for people who are 15? That was 42 years ago!

16. Have you read any of the Harry Potter, Hunger Games or Twilight series?

A. I have read all of the Harry Potter books. I haven't read any of the others, although I do have the first Hunger Games book in my to-read pile.

17. Would you rather have an American accent or a British accent?

A. I would rather have no accent. I have a southern USA accent, and would like to overcome it someday. I am not sure what an "American" accent sounds like.

18. Did your mother go to college?

A. She attended the local community college but did not finish.

19. Are your grandparents still married?

A. They were when they died, yes.

20. Have you ever taken karate lessons?

A. I went one time and decided I was too old and too fat for such a thing.

21. Do you know who Kermit the frog is?

A. Yes. He sang The Rainbow Connection. He's a muppet.

22. What was the first amusement park you’ve been to?

A. The first amusement park I went to, I presume, was Lakeside, a now defunct amusement park in Salem, VA that had a rollercoaster, a sky tram, and other rides. Lakeside closed in the late 1980s; it never recovered well from the infamous Flood of 1985, which about wiped most of my area from the map. Check out this link for photos of Lakeside, and this link for photos of the Flood of 1985.

23. What language, besides your native language, would you like to be fluent in?

A. Spanish and Latin. I took both in high school but use it or lose it: I lost it.

24. Do you spell the color as grey or gray?

A. I use both, actually. I try to be consistent about it within a single piece of writing, though.

25. Is your father bald?

My father. I guess he
is getting a little thin
on top.

A. No, but my husband is.

I cannot figure out percentages

Saturday 9: 1, 2, 3, 4

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, the singer tells his girl he appreciates how she makes him feel. Who is the most supportive person in your life?

A. My husband. He is, without a doubt, my number one fan.

2)  Our singer only has to count to 4, which is a cinch. Do you understand the more sophisticated math sciences, like geometry and algebra?

A. A long, long time, I can still remember how that music used to ... oh wait. Um. We're talking math here. Way back in high school (which was over 30 years ago), I took Algebra, Geometry, and Trig, and aced every class. Today I cannot figure out percentages to save my soul.

3) This video features a couple who shared their first kiss behind the high school. Tell us about your first kiss.

A. My first kiss with my husband, that being the only one I care to recall, is the one I will describe. We had just met that night at a football game, on a chilly October evening in 1982. Mutual friends introduced us. He asked me out after the game, and we went dancing. While we were dancing he leaned in and kissed me, long and slow . . . I wrapped my arms around him and we stayed like that, kissing while we slow-danced, for almost the entire song (or until his friends who were in the crowd started making noises). And that was when I knew I would marry him.

4) Filmed in Chicago, this video features the Art Institute of Chicago, home to works by Monet, Gauguin and Van Gogh. How do you express your creativity? (Draw, paint, write, sing or play music ... )

A. I am a professional writer and photographer. I also find joy in baking cookies and making fudge, which for some reason tickles those creative little funny bones. Additionally, I sing and play guitar. I used to do those professionally, too, but that was a very long time ago.

5) Chicago is home to two of the world's tallest buildings -- the Willis aka Sears Tower and The John Hancock Center (which appears briefly in this video). Both have observation decks that offer panoramic views of the city. Are you afraid of heights?

A. I am afraid of elevators. I am not afraid of heights, really, but without an elevator it makes getting to the top rather tricky.

6) The Plain White T's got their start in Lombard, a suburb of Chicago and home to Yorktown Center -- a huge, two story shopping mall. Do you enjoy going to the mall, or would you rather shop online, or in small, independent stores?

A. I like to shop in malls when I want to browse, in independent stores when I'm feeling like supporting my community, and an online when I can't find what I want anywhere else.


7) Naturally Yorktown Center has a food court. Would you prefer a pretzel from Auntie Anne's, a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon or a cookie from Mrs. Field's? 

A. A cookie, I guess, though I have never had a Mrs. Field's cookie. My husband would rather have the cinnamon roll from Cinnabon. He thinks those are da bomb.

8) While we're at the mall … Imagine you're at the customer service counter of a big department store. As you wait for help, you see an older lady pocket a Timex watch. Would you turn her in or look the other way?

A. Hmm. I think I would watch her and if she walked out of the store without paying then I would hope I would speak up, but technically until she leaves without paying, she hasn't done anything wrong.  I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

9) Which puzzle would you have more success with: crossword or sudoku?

A. Crossword. I have never done Sudoku. I'm not even sure what it is.

That's Interesting

The What's What Meme

From Sunday Stealing


Q. What is on your bed right now?

A. My favorite set of sheets, a blanket, and a bedspread. I don't use comforters as they will not stay on the bed and I hate chasing after the covers.

Q. What’s your favorite word or phrase?

A. I say "That's interesting" a great deal, either to elicit more commentary or because I have no idea what someone is talking about. It works for both. Some of my favorite words are chagrin, snickerdoodle (which is a type of cookie), and hasenpfeffer (pronounced hossenfeffer). I don't like to eat hasenpfeffer, it's a code word in my household.

Q. What is the best ice cream flavor?

A. I don't think hot fudge Sundae is a flavor but that would be my favorite. I haven't had it since I was 12, so ... 38 years.

Q. Did you wake up smiling this morning?


A. I woke up screaming, actually. I've been having night terrors lately. I think it's caused by a new medication I'm on.

Q. Is there something in your life you used to have, and now miss?

A. Yes. I used to have one and at the moment I do not.

Q. What major company would you like to work for?

A. None of them, really. But if I must pick one, then I would like to be a bestselling author for a major publishing company.

Q. What time do you wake up on a typical morning?

A. My alarm is set for 6 a.m.

Q. What holiday makes you sad?

A. What's to be sad about, it's just another day.

Q. Where does a good night’s sleep rank on your priorities?

A. Very, very high.

Q. One song that makes you cry?

A. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night), by Don McLean. Here's a link to it on youtube.

Q. How old was your mom when she had you?

A. She was 18 years old when I was born and she was 56 years old when she passed away.

Q. When is the last time you went to the beach?

A. October of last year.

Q. What is the most random object around you?

A. Geez, my whole home office is kind of random. I have a used yogurt cup and a spoon in front of me (my Saturday night dinner). Does that work?

Q. What is your favorite sushi?

A. The cooked kind. I don't eat sushi. Actually I don't eat fish; I've developed an allergy to shellfish and have stopped eating all fish as a precaution.

Q. What food do you find disgusting?

A. Sushi!

Q. If you could have any type of dog in the world, what would it be?

A. A teacup poodle, provided there was some way to make a hypoallergenic model.

Q. What was the last meal that you made for yourself?

A. I fixed a really mean pot roast for my husband and me, along with some Basmati jasmine rice and peas.

Q. Is the hard drive on your computer full or getting close to being full?

A. No. It's only about 1/3 full.

Q. Are there any songs that you prefer the acoustic version over the regular version?

A. Not that I can think of it. I like the acoustic versions of most any song if it well done. But I like the usual sounds, too.

His Shy Smile

Don't worry, my fellow and I of 30 years are doing all right! No Potential New Boyfriends for me!

Saturday 9: Potential New Boyfriend

Unfamiliar with this week's featured song? Hear it here. 

1) In this song, Dolly Parton locks eyes with a definite maybe. What's the first thing that attracts you to a potential new boyfriend or girlfriend? If you're currently in a relationship, what first attracted you to your partner?

Me with my husband of
30 years. Isn't he
adorable?

A. The first thing that attracted me to my husband was his shy smile and brilliant blue eyes. Then we started talking and I loved his intelligence.

2) When Dolly was still a very young girl, she met Johnny Cash, who told her to follow her instincts and pursue a music career. Obviously this worked out very well for her. What's the best advice you ever received?

A. To pursue my four-year degree at Hollins College, now Hollins University. I received my BA there in 1993 and my MA in 2012. Had anyone told me to marry my husband, that would have been number one, but no one did. I made that decision on my own.

My Hollins Bear
with my 2012 MA
announcement

3) Dolly enjoys telling interviewers how she met her husband at the Wishy-Washy Laundromat in Nashville. Do you have a load of dirty clothes, or some other household chore, waiting for you after you finish this week's Saturday 9?

A. I always have laundry waiting on me. To be two people, we go through a pile of clothes. And housework never ends, you know.

4) Dolly's Imagination Library is a charity devoted to children's literacy. What book did you enjoy as a kid? Or, if you're a parent, what book did you enjoy sharing with your own children?




A. I loved every book I read, I think, but one of my favorites was Miss Osborne the Mop by Wilson Gage. I bet you never heard of it. Apparently it is out of print.

5) Dolly's theme park, Dollywood, is a very popular vacation destination. When you have time off, would you rather travel or have friends/relatives visit you?

A. I would rather have visitors so long as they stay in a motel. It would have been the other way around before the bedbugs returned. Now I'm so terrified of bringing those back home that I tend to just ... stay home.

6) Dolly is godmother to Miley Cyrus. If you could advise Miley, what would you say?

A. Grow up. Go to college. Keep your clothes on. You ain't no Madonna.

7) Dolly has earned a reputation for being very warm and friendly to the public. Have you ever had a celebrity encounter?

VA Senator and former
governor Tim Kaine speaking
with Hollins U. President
Nancy Gray

A. I don't know if politicians count, but I've met several of the governors of Virginia (Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (now also state senators), Bob McDonnell, Doug Wilder) during the course of my work as a news reporter. I've met some prominent writers, too - Lee Smith being the most famous one who comes to mind. I also know several local television celebrities, local artists, and local writers, but that's about it.


8) As you can see by the photo, this song was originally released on vinyl. Do you still have any old-school LPs or 45s?

A. Yes. I still have all of my LPs. Even Captain and Tennille. My husband has all of his Rolling Stones albums. But we have nothing to play them on.

9) Sam simply cannot stand Dish TV's Hopper commercial, where hysterical grown men hide under the bed and up in a tree house because they're afraid of ... something. What commercial just bugs the beejeesus out of you?

A. All of them.

Changing All the Clocks

From Sunday Stealing


1) Do you think Daylight Saving Time is still necessary?

A. Probably not. Kids don't play outside anymore, or even ride the school bus. They stay inside on their Xbox and Mom takes them to school. But maybe it meets some need that I am not aware of.
 
2) How long does it take you to adjust to the time change?

A. A day or two, though I have noticed as I get older that it seems to take a little longer.



We received this clock as a wedding
gift 30 years ago.

3) What's the hardest part of the time change?

A. Changing all the clocks.
 
4) How many clocks are in your house?

A. Three in my office, three in the bedroom, four in the great room, and then there's the stove and microwave clocks, too. So ... twelve, not counting our two wrist watches. I really like clocks. Oh, wait, I forgot the cuckoo clock, so 13 clocks in our tiny little house.

My friend gave me this clock.

 
5) Are you generally early, late, or on time?

A. I am either a little early or on time.
 
6) If an invitation to an event listed the time as 8-11pm, what time would you arrive?

A. No later than 8:05 p.m. But I would not stay until 11 p.m., either.
 


The Alice that came with
my very first watch.
Alas, I don't have the
watch anymore. It had
a blue band.

7) Do you wear a watch?

A. Yes. I am naked without it. I have worn one almost every day for more than 40 years. My favorites were a Waltham that had the moon and stars on it, and my Alice in Wonderland watch that was my very first watch. I prefer a watch in both silver and gold with a stretch band. My current watch is a Timex, and I like a dial face and not digital.
 
8) Have you ever glanced at the time and had to glance again because you didn't pay attention the first time?

A. Well, of course.
 

My cuckoo clock.

9) Are most of your clocks digital or dial?

A. About half and half.
 
10) What does your alarm clock sound like?

A. I wake up to the local adult contemporary radio station.
 
11) Do you use the snooze feature on your alarm clock?

A. On occasion. But not generally.
 

My newest clock, an antique I bought
at the estate auction of my
husband's aunt, Ginny.

12) Does clock ticking drive you nuts?

A. No. I like the sound of it and find it comforting.

Saturday 9: Twilight Zone

Saturday 9: Twilight Zone

Unfamiliar with this week's featured song? Hear it here.

1) This is one of the first songs to see a bump in sales after its video was shown on MTV. Do you ever watch music videos?

A. I used to when they actually showed music videos. I was a big fan of VH1 in the early to mid 1990s.

2) Golden Earring is from the Netherlands. The average life expectancy there is 79 years old. Who is the oldest person you know?

A. Probably Joe Johnson at present, who is in his 90s, but I had a great-great aunt who died about five years ago at the age of 107! She was born in 1900 and died in 2007; she saw the entire 20th century! Her name was Pearl. She was my great-grandfather's sister on my mother's maternal side of the family.

3) The song's composer says the song and especially the video were inspired by the 1980 book, The Bourne Identity. The espionage thriller was finally made into a movie with Matt Damon in 2002. Do you have a favorite secret agent/spy?

A. I was always very fond of Nancy Drew when I was growing up. These days I like Sue Grafton's books about Kinsey Millhone and I like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.  As for TV, I was a big fan of Charlie's Angels (the original) and Cagney and Lacey.

4) The song's title comes from The Twilight Zone TV show, which ran from 1959 to 1964. Are there any old shows that you enjoy watching in reruns?

A. I like to watch The Golden Girls, Andy Griffith, Frasier, and The Big Bang Theory, which is not old but has been around long enough to almost qualify. I also like to watch Little House on the Prairie, JAG, and The Waltons.

5) "All guys cheat on their girlfriends, so yeah, I forgive him." Sam heard a young woman say that into her phone as they waited in line at the drugstore. While Sam is always surprised by how much personal information people share in the public, that's not what we're concentrating on this morning. Do you think that it's true? Do all guys cheat on their girlfriends?

A. No, they do not all cheat, and if a man cheats the woman should dump him and run far, far away, especially if they are in the girlfriend/boyfriend stage. If they're married (or common law live-ins) then there must be some exploration to see if there is something salvageable, but if those ties that bind are missing, then see you later, you cheating-ass alligator.

6) Whenever Sam goes to the grocery store she picks up Snausages  because her dog looks at her with sad eyes when she tries to reward him anything else. What product has your brand loyalty?

A. Charmin bathroom tissue. Yes, I know, it is toilet paper. But it very, very important and the thing I most worry about running out of.

7) Do you have a piggy bank or a coin jar?

A. I do, yes. Except it is shaped like a fireman, not a piggy.

8) Sam knows that she's always supposed to wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days, but she sometimes forgets. What do you know you should do, but sometimes don't?

A. I know I am supposed to not eat chocolate but I do, which is the opposite of the question, isn't it. I know I should exercise 30 minutes every day, but I sometimes don't. Lately I've been too ill to manage it.

9) Retailers report that sales of Halloween costumes for grown-ups are strong. Since Halloween was earlier this week and there will be parties this weekend ... What's your costume for Halloween 2013?  If you aren't dressing up this year, tell us about one of your favorite outfits from a Halloween gone by.

A. I am not dressing up. I guess my favorite costume when I was a child was the year I dressed as a hobo. But my favorite Halloween memory is the one where I was trick-or-treating and a witch answered the door. "Won't you come in, my dear, I have goodies for good little children," she said. And I held out my bag and said politely, "No thank you, my mother told me not to go into the homes of strangers."

 

Age is Just a Number

From Sunday Stealing

A birthday meme (though my birthday has already come and gone this year)

1. As you get older, are you jazzed about your birthday?

A. This year I turned 50, and that's a big one as far as birthday's go. I was not jazzed so much as miserable. I don't like to think of myself as old. However, age is just a number. But generally I am jazzed; last year was an anomaly.
  
2. Do people usually remember your birthday?

A. My husband, my brother, and one of my close friends all have birthdays that are in the same month as mine, and so we all remember our respective birthdays easily. My other close friends generally remember, too, and I remember theirs.

3. An ex-coworker used to begin 3 mos. before her birthday flat-out reminding us that it was coming up. It's amazing what no self-esteem does for you. Anyway, do you know anyone who pre-announces their birthdays?

A. I do not "flat out" remind people of my birthday although this year I think I talked about turning 50 a lot more than I ever have talked about birthdays, because I was kind of scared of the number. So except for myself when I hit that big 5-0, I guess the answer to this question is no. 
 
4. What was your best birthday? Why?

A. This last birthday was pretty good. I turned 50 and my husband threw me a surprise party. I'd never had a surprise party before.
 
5. What was your worst birthday? Why?

A. Probably my 38th birthday, because that was my first birthday after my mother passed away.
  
6. Name your best birthday gift.

A. My husband gave me a Nook a couple of years ago, which was a nice gift, but the surprise party he threw me this year, and all of the people who took the time to show up in the middle of the day on a Saturday, tops everything. I mean, the gift of LOVE is absolutely the best. There is no material present that can ever top that.
  
7. Name the best birthday gift you've gotten for someone else.

 

A. I bought my husband a red leather captain's helmet for his 50th birthday, and I threw him a little party at his station because he had to work that day. At the time he was a captain with the fire department (and 6 months later he was promoted to battalion chief, so he didn't get to wear the red hat very long as battalion chiefs wear white). If you are a fireman the special leather helmets (as opposed to the department-issued helmets) are big deal things. They are also expensive.

  
8. As I age, I value SLEEP as a priceless commodity. I didn't get any for my birthday, however. What do you want this year for your birthday?

A. Well, for my 51st birthday, which is 8 months away, I want to be healthy and stay that way. I was healthy on the day of my 50th birthday but 20 days later I had my gallbladder removed and I have been sick ever since. So I value HEALTH as a priceless commodity and am hopeful for that. Having good health well before next year - like by Thanksgiving - would be great, though. I've been sick for four months and that's plenty long.

Composition Books and Chocolate

I thought I'd join up with yet another meme - the Saturday 9. It's run by someone who calls herself Crazy Sam, in case you notice that reference in the questions.

Saturday 9: If It Makes You Happy

Sheryl Crow is a breast cancer survivor and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please spread the word about early detection.

Here's a link to her youtube video: If You Makes You Happy, one of my favorite Sheryl Crow songs, though I am not necessarily crazy about the video.

1) What's something that always makes you happy?

A. Phone calls or visits from friends, small presents from my husband (which seldom happens, he's not a gift-giver except for important occasions, which he always remembers so he gets points for that), a song I love on the radio. Also blank composition books and chocolate.


2) In the lyrics, Sheryl refers to a poncho. How do you usually protect yourself from the rain? Poncho? Umbrella? Raincoat? Hat?

A. I usually have an umbrella and wear a light all-weather jacket.

3) Early in her career, Sheryl made ends meet by singing commercial jingles, including one for McDonald's. When was the last time you visited The Golden Arches?

A. I think it has been several years since I last ate at McDonalds. I don't normally eat fast food and if I do, Micky D's is not my first choice. But I remember when I was a child I thought it was great.

4) Sheryl rode a horse into the ring of a Wyoming rodeo and then sang. Have you ever been to a rodeo?

A. When I was young my parents took us to the rodeo at the local civic center. That would have been at least 40 years ago. I don't remember much about it.

5) Sheryl lives outside of Nashville, which is known as Music City. What type of music do you listen to most often?

A. What they used to call American Top 40. I'm not sure what they call it now. Adult Pop? Adult contemporary? I also like to listen to the sounds of the 1970s. And Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge are two of my favorites.

6) Crazy Sam is a massive Sheryl Crow fan, and is sure that the only reason why she and Sheryl aren't best friends is that they haven't met. What famous person do you think could be your BFF?

A. When I was younger, I wanted to be friends with Kate Jackson of Charlie's Angels' fame. Now I think I would like to be friends with Meryl Streep or Susan Sarandon. 

7) Sheryl and cyclist Lance Armstrong were once engaged. Had they tied the knot, she would have become stepmother to his three children. Are you a step-parent, stepsibling or stepchild?

A. I am, officially, a stepchild. My father remarried a few years ago (my mother died in 2000).

8) Sheryl has performed carols at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC. Have you ever visited our nation's capital?

A. I think my parents took me there in 1972. I remember the zoo, but that's about it. I would love to return as an adult. A nine-year-old could not possibly appreciate the history of the things to see in D.C.

9) Do you consider yourself easy going or do you have a fiery temperament?

A. I think I'm easy going but I suspect my spouse would say otherwise. I tend to hold things in and then, BOOM, my anger overfloweth like gutters in a monsoon.

And because I just started this, and last week the Saturday 9 was about Melissa Etheridge, who is also one of my favorite singers, I will do last week's meme, too.


Saturday 9: Come to My Window

Melissa Etheridge is a breast cancer survivor and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please spread the word about early detection.

Here is a youtube video to Melissa Etheridge's song Come to My Window, which just happens to be one of my favorite songs ever (and the video is terrific, too).

1) This song is about a woman passionate about love and willing to pursue it, no matter what "they say." Are you fearless when it comes to public opinion? Or do you worry about what "they" think of you?

A. I can be fearless - as a journalist, reporter, newspaper columnist and blogger I have done my share of putting it out there and not worrying too much about public opinion. But there are times when what "they say" is an overwhelming worry.
 
2) Melissa's father was a high school teacher. Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on you.

A. Almost all of my teachers impacted me, mostly for the good. I was a straight A student and generally the teacher's pet in almost all of my classes, even in college. I would have to say that Jeanne Larsen, my English professor at Hollins, had the most impact upon me, though. She believed in me not just as a writer but as a woman and a person.

3) Melissa won a Grammy for this song. If you won a major award, where would you display it?

A. I have my diplomas on the wall in my office. But I have my Virginia Press Association Awards in a drawer.

4) Which TV game show do you think you'd do better on -- The Price Is Right or Wheel of Fortune?

A. Neither. I'd do better on Jeopardy.

5) Are you neat and organized?

A. I wish.

6) When was the last time you went more than a day without washing your hair?

A. When I had my gallbladder out in late June.

7) When you eat Chinese food, do you use chopsticks or a fork?

A. A fork.

8) Are you a good cook?

A. I am a good baker, and I make killer fudge. I am not a good overall cook, but we don't starve.

9) We're having a party in your honor! Would you prefer a costume party, a bowling party or a pool party?

A. I'd prefer a book party, but if someone wants to throw me a party I will be glad for anything. It's better than a funeral.

I Am Genuine and Sincere

From Sunday Stealing

My Random Randomness Meme, part 3

1) What room are you in?

A. The room we call my office, which is the front of the house. It originally was a bedroom.  It has two windows, parquet flooring, three clocks, my diplomas on the wall, and many books, tons of paper, and my computer.

2) Can you solve a rubix cube?

A. Yes.

3) Are you psychic in any way?

A. Yes. You know yes or no questions are boring, right? I knew you were going to nod your head!

4) What star sign are you?

A. Gemini. The Twins. An air sign, it's ruled by Mercury and is the sign of communicators. Gemini people are known for their wit, their ability to think, and attention to detail. Famous Gemini include Marilyn Monroe, Anne Frank, Andy Griffith, John F. Kennedy, Maeve Binchy, and many others.

5) What's your favorite color?

A. Blue. This link offers an interesting take on personality based on what liking the color blue means. It says I am genuine and sincere and I take my responsibilities seriously. That sounds about right.

6) What's your lucky number?

A. Eight (8).

7) Do you have any chores that should be done now?

A. There are always chores. If you life your life doing everything you should, then it would be boring and unfulfilled. Who wants to work when there are silly questions to answer?

8) Did you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other toy?

A. I had Blue Dog. Blue Dog was, well, a blue dog.

9) What was the last thing you bought from a vending machine?

A. Probably a bottled water, since that is all I ever get from vending machines.

10) What shoe size are you?

A. A Women's size 7W, generally. But it depends on the shoe.

11) How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A. More than 10.

12) If you were prime minister/ruler of the world what laws would you make?

A. Those that would make the world more equitable, because I believe everyone deserves, not just a chance, but to have their basic needs met, such as food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education. I would create a baseline. I think there will always be poverty and always wealthy people, but I think the disparity between those two divisions needs to be less, not greater. There is simply no reason for some people to live in slums while a few live in magnificence. It's just wrong. It should be something like Okay and better than Okay, but never Terrible and Fantastic. And certainly it should never be 99 percent live in Terrible and 1 percent live in Fantastic. It should be something like 1 percent lives in Terrible, 98 percent live in Great, and 1 percent live in Fantastic. Or something like that. I wish it could be 100 percent live in Great but I don't think that will ever happen.

13) If you were a super hero what powers would you have?

A. Invisibility, keen intelligence, speed, strength, and stamina.

14) and what would your hero name be?

A. Librarian Lady.


15) and what outfit would you wear?

A. Black. Black shirt, black long pants, black boots. Black gloves, black mask around the eyes. No cape.

16) What was your last dream about?

A. I dreamed about my doctor. I saw her at an event and she asked me how I was, and I told her I was dying. She told me she wasn't going to let that happen, and gave me a hug. (To my knowledge I am not dying in reality.)

17) What would you do if you won the lottery?

A. While it depends on the amount, if it is a vast sum, I would do the following: first, I would set half of it aside to use for charitable purposes, some of which would include building a local library, establishing a scholarship at my alma mater, and setting up a foundation to help people in need. For personal use, I would buy some land, build a new house, buy a new car, pay off my nephews (in the plural) student loans, assist other family members as necessary, and things like that. Whatever was left would go back to the charitable purpose half.

18) Would you like to build/design your own house?

A. I already did that. If I did it again, I would change a few things. After you've lived in a house you figure out what works and what doesn't.

19) Which form of public transport do you prefer?

A. I drive a car. I have been on a plane occasionally, and never on a bus as an adult. I can't say that I prefer any public transportation.

21) Can you juggle?

A. I can juggle a lot of different tasks at one time, as I am fairly good at multi-tasking, but I cannot juggle in the sense of tossing many things up in the air and then catching them.

Some Interesting Misadventures

From Sunday Stealing

My Random Randomness Meme, part 2


1. What was your first alcoholic drink?

A. I don't remember, probably a sip of my father's Jack Daniels. I know in high school I tended to favor Mad Dog 2020. We didn't have wine coolers and such back then.

2. What was your first job?

A. Babysitting. Taking care of the farm when my parents weren't home. And then I worked as a file clerk, all before I was 16.

3. What was your first car?

A. A Datsun. A wagon that was some kind of awful burnt orange color. I had me some interesting misadventures in that car, yes I did.

4. What was your first mobile phone?

A. A Nokia. All you could do was talk on it, too.

5. What is your first proper memory?

A. My mother fainting onto the floor in front of me.

6. Who was your first teacher?

A. The first real teacher I remember was Mrs. Zircle, my first grade teacher. She made me cry.

7. Which fictional character do you wish was real?

A. Intelligence Woman, who goes around saving stupid people from themselves.

8. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?

A. Spain. Although I think we had a stopover in England, and I didn't get to see anything but the airport.

9. Who was your first best friend?

A. I had an imaginary friend named Jamie who was my first best friend. My first real best friend that I remember was Chris.

10. What was your first detention for?

A. Ha. I only had one detention and that was for skipping band class.

11. What's your strongest sense?

A. Smell. I can smell stuff no one else can, including snakes and mold.

12. Who was your first kiss?

A. Interestingly enough, his name was Jamie, too. And I married a James. I sense a theme.

13. What was the first film you remember seeing at the cinema?

A. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I was five years old.

14. What's the largest amount of money you've ever won?

A. Probably about $5 bucks. I'm not very lucky that way.

15. What's the largest amount of money you've spent in one spree?

A. Probably about $150. I'm very thrifty, and I don't count big purchases like refrigerators or computers as "sprees."

16. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

A. Do Not Cross.

17. Have you ever got sweet revenge on anyone?

A. No, I can't say that I have.

18. Have you ever been to a live concert?

A. Yes. I've seen Loretta Lynn, Neil Diamond, Styz, Linda Rondstadt, Elton John, Conway Twitty, The Commodores, Juice Newton, Mannheim Steamroller, and probably a few others that I can't remember in concert. When I was a teenager, Lakeside Amusement Park (which no longer exists) used to have a summer concert series and they brought in a lot of big names or up-and-coming names. Me and my Datsun went to many of those concerts once I was old enough to drive.
 
19. Have you ever been to see stand up comedy?

A. Yes. I've seen Bill Cosby and Jeff Dunham.

20. Have you ever needed stitches?

A. Not for a deep cut, but I have needed them for surgery. I've got lines all over me.

Potato Chips and Root Beer

From Sunday Stealing

1.Name your favorite movie actor:

  Orlando Bloom (especially as Legolas in the Lord of the Rings movies)

2.Name your favorite movie actress:

  Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock. It's a tie.
  
3.Name your favorite tv actor:

  Jeff Daniels at the moment.

4.Name your favorite tv actress:

  I don't think I have one right now.
 
5.Name your favorite television show right now:

  The Big Bang Theory

6.Name a few really cool movies you’ve recently seen:

  Um. Um. Um. I don't watch many movies or much TV for that matter. I think the last movie I watched was Hitch with Will Smith in it.

7.Your favorite canceled television show:

  Cagney and Lacey
  
8.Name one movie you wish you hadn’t wasted time/money on recently:

  Anything with Adam Sandler in it would be mostly unwatchable for me.

9.You would never watch a movie with:

  Pornography. Yes, I'm a prude.
  
10.Favorite candy/food to watch movies with:

  Potato chips and root beer. Except I never eat either of those any more.
  
11.Three favorite tv channels:

  TLC, Discovery, and HBO

12.Favorite reality or competition show:

  Survivor is the only one I watch that falls into this category.
  
13.Cable or satellite?

  Satellite. Can't get cable here.

14.Do you watch more movies at home or at the theater?

  Since I am lucky if I go to the theater once a year, definitely at home.

15.Is there a time of year that you watch more tv?

  Probably from September until April. But I really don't watch that much TV at any time.

I Want It All Just Right

My Random Randomness Meme

From Sunday Stealing

1. How did you choose your baby's or pet's names?

A. I haven't had a pet in years. My dog that died in 2001 was named Ginger, and I picked that name just because I liked it.

2. Have you ever been fishing?

A. Yes. When I was about 10 years old I won a bag of chips at the Salem Fishing Rodeo for catching a catfish in the trout pond.

3. Have you ever had your national flag painted on your face?

A. No.

4. What was the last social faux pas you made?

A. I have no idea. I probably talked with my mouth full or wiped my nose on my sleeve or something gross like that.

5. What makes you nostalgic?

A. Smells - wood burning, chocolate chip cookies, old people odors.

6. What's the scariest thing you've ever done?

A. I went up in a hot air balloon once. I rode a motorcycle. I have shot guns. I went into surgery. Okay, that last one is the scariest, hands down.

7. What fairy tale character would you most associate with?

A. The princess in the Princess and the Pea. I am a little OCD and I have to have everything just so. So maybe also Goldilocks in the Three Bears, who wanted it all just right.

8. How much do you tend to swear in public?

A. Not as much as I do in private.

9. If you ruled your own country, who would you get to writer your national anthem?

A. Well, not you, O person who asked this question, since your sentence has a typo in it. I think Melissa Etheridge, though, could write a good national anthem for my country.

10. Who is the most intelligent person you know?

A. My friend in England is probably the most intelligent person I know. But I know a lot of very smart people.

11. What's the craziest thing you've ever done for someone?

A. Chasing cows for my husband is pretty crazy, especially at my age.

12. What's the worst piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

A. To do anything for money.

13. If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?

A. Blue Raspberry.

14. If you had to describe yourself as a car, what would it be?

A. Toyota Prius.

15. If you had to describe yourself as an animal, what would it be?

A. Deer.

16. Do you think laughing at someone else's misfortune is wrong?

A. Yes. Of course it is wrong.

17. If a loved one was to serenade you, what song would you most like them to sing?

A. Anything with "I love you" in it. Or maybe "Annie's Song" by John Denver.

18. Would you ever let your parents pick out a partner for you?

A. No.

19. Have you ever tried spam? (the meat product)

A. Yes, and I actually like it. It is also good to have on the shelf in the event of an apocalypse.

We End Up Somewhere Quiet

From Sunday Stealing

Fall/Autumn Meme

Q. First of all, is autumn your favorite season? Why or why not?

A. Autumn IS my favorite season! That's because it is cooler and it's pretty. It also heralded the start of the school year and I was a nerd who loved school. What am I saying? I'm still a nerd who loves school. Autumn means new notebooks and school books, new clothes and shoes, and new people in your life. What's not to love?

Q. Is it ‘autumn’ or ‘fall’, to you?

A. I actually use both.

Q. What kind of weather does your area get during this season?

A. It turns cold and we have chilly rains.

Q. Were you born in an autumn month?

A. No.

Q. Do you pay attention to any ‘fall fashions’?

A. No, but I look my best in "fall" colors - purples, browns, blues. A very long time ago when women did their "colors" (do they do that anymore?) I was an Autumn.

Q. Which leaf color is your favorite?

A. Red. I love it when the trees look like the hills are jumping with fire.

Q. Is it still fun to rake the leaves and jump in piles of them?

A. No. Actually that never was fun, it is only fun in the comic strips.

Q. When can you really tell that it’s autumn?

A. When the weather turns cooler and leaves begin to fall. Rather like today.

Q. Do you enjoy carving pumpkins?

A. Yes, though we seldom do it. We live far off the road and have no trick or treaters.

Q. Do you eat the pumpkin seeds? If so, do you put any kind of flavoring on it?

A. I don't eat them.

Q. Are you planning to go to a pumpkin patch this year?

A. Not particularly, but Ikenberry Orchards usually has loads of pumpkins and I visit there frequently.

Q. Which was your favorite Halloween costume to wear?

A. I always enjoyed being either a witch or a hobo. I was not the fairy princess type.

Q. Are you planning to go trick-or-treating? Why or why not?

A. No. I am old. A few years ago I donned a witchy costume and drove to FIncastle with bags of goodies, which I handed out to children throughout the town. I got a lot of strange looks. I am not sure anyone knew who I was, even my friends.

Q. Are there any county fairs or festivals held nearby during this time?

A. Buchanan has a Mountain Magic festival. Salem last week had its Olde Salem Days. The Craftsman Classic is at the Roanoke Civic Center in October.

Q. What is your favorite dessert for this time of year?

A. I don't have favorite desserts by season, but the apples are good in the fall.

Q. Is your Thanksgiving Day in October or November, if you even celebrate it?

A. It's in November.

Q. If you do celebrate it, where do you usually have Thanksgiving dinner?

A. At my mother-in-law's house.

Q. Do you remember any crafts you used to do that were autumn-themed?

A. Not really, but I remember when I was in the 7th grade, right at the first of school, we were given an assignment to collect leaves and label them, and turn it in at the end of the first six weeks semester. The teacher warned us that he would know who put it off until the last minute because the leaves would be changing, and the people who had green leaves instead of brown or colored ones would get the best grades. Guess what. I completely forgot about the assignment, and then raced around examining leaves to try to find whatever green ones I could. It was not one of my better classroom performances.

Q. Are any of your favorite bands doing a fall tour this year?

A. I am not aware of it if they are.

Q. Which new TV show are you looking forward to this season?

A. I watched Sleepy Hollow when it came on, and the new season of Survivor. Sleepy Hollow was a little gory so I don't know that I will watch it.

Q. How does autumn typically make you feel?

A. Fine.

Q. What color do you always associate with autumn?

A. Red.

Q. Is there a song that always reminds you of this season?

A. Not especially.

Q. Do you have any seasonal traditions?

A. No.

Q. Do you spend a lot of time outside during this time of the year?

A. Are you kidding me? Until there is frost on the pumpkins I can barely stand to be outside. The ragweed is killer this year.

Q. How can you tell that fall is over?

A. Santa Claus is nigh.  

Q. What is a typical autumn outfit that you wear?

A. Blue jeans and a sweater.

Q. Describe a perfect autumn day:

A. It's a lovely crisp 60 degrees, the sun is shining, the sky is a brilliant periwinkle blue, and I am outdoors working to clear up my flower beds. An hour or so later, I come in and shower, and my husband and I go to a fall festival. We hold hands as we peruse the goods, and eventually we end up somewhere quiet where we can chat over a nice bowl of spaghetti.  

Q. Do you hate it when stores start promoting Christmas early?

A. Yes.

Q. What is your favorite thing about this season?

A. That it comes and I'm still alive to enjoy it.