Sunday Stealing

Monday Morning Meme

1. What was the last thing you laughed at?

A. The costumes of the grandchildren of some of my friends. They sent me pictures.

2. Who among your friends/family "gets" your sense of humor?

A. My husband and my friend Teresa. Also, some of my blog readers! Thank you!

3. What jewelry are you wearing at this moment?

A. A watch and earrings.

4. If you could offer one bit of etiquette that everyone should follow while dining out, what would it be?

A. Put down your cell phone and talk to the people you are with, and for heaven's sake, please look after your children. Additionally, if your dog is not a certified service dog, leave it at home.

5. What's the first thing a guest would notice when they walked through your front door?

A. No one ever walks through my front door. They come in through the patio door. I guess the first thing they notice is the kitchen table, which is a family heirloom, and the couch, maybe. I've never really thought about it before.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

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Sunday Stealing

Four 5's

FIVE things on my to-do list:

1. Bookkeeping work.

2. Write a letter.

3. Wash my car.

4. Walk on the treadmill.

5. Work on my project.

 

FIVE snacks I enjoy:

1. Nature Valley Cashew Bars

2. Brownies

3. Lays Baked Potato Chips

4. Nuts

5. Chocolate chip cookies

FIVE places I have lived:

1. In Salem, when I was very small.

2. In a trailer (mobile home) outside of Fincastle.

3. In an old farmhouse.

4. In my husband's grandmother's rental house.

5. In the house my husband and I built.

 

FIVE jobs I have held:

1. Guitar player in a band.

2. News reporter.

3. Freelance writer.

4. Legal Secretary.

5. Babysitter.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Meme Schmeme

Complete the thought:

I AM I said to no one there, and no one heard at all not even the chair. (So unoriginal.)

I LIVE like a drunken female lion out on a hunt, searching for an antelope to bring down and sink her teeth into it, drawing blood and taking out the life.

I THINK I know but I never know and I wish I knew but I never knew in the first place what it was that I did except to be born and how could I have stopped that, zygote that I was, little child, little girl, little one who wanted only to be held and snuggled and loved?

I KNOW that my husband loves me and I love him and I know that we are lucky to have found one another in this dark dungeon of the earth, this place where we are all just languishing until our sentence has been served.

I WANT to find my soul and I want to see that it is happy and I want to search for bliss and give that to everyone who is alive because we all deserve to feel a little bliss in our time on this planet, and I want to bring peace and joy and love to all that I know but many won't accept it.

I WISH I could make change happen when I wanted, like a genie snapping her fingers, or twinkling her nose like a witch, but change takes time and happens at its own pace, and who am I to rush the world?

I PRAY that people wake up and that eyes open and that hatred that is filling hearts suddenly turns into the deepest of love and everyone becomes whole.

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Sunday Stealing

Tune In

1. Name a TV show you've seen every episode of.

A. Xena: Warrior Princess.

2. On which device do you do most of your viewing (television, tablet, computer, phone)?

A. I watch it on a television.

3. Name an actor/actress who would make you less likely to watch a show.

A. Adam Sandler.

4. When you were a kid, what show did you love?

A. I loved Charlie's Angels when I was an early teen. Prior to that I remember liking the Partridge Family and Land of the Lost.

5. What show do you recommend everyone watch?

A. Band of Brothers.

6. What show do your friends like, but you don't?

A. Um, I have no idea.

7. When you watch TV, do you also busy yourself with something else (jigsaw puzzle, folding laundry, etc.)?

A. Sometimes I read the newspaper during commercials. But I don't watch much TV so when I do watch it, I try to pay attention.

8. Do you eat a meal or snack while watching TV?

A. We usually have the news on during dinner so my husband can see the weather.

9. What's your preferred genre (comedy, drama, reality, etc.)?

A. I like fantasy. Just not dark gory horror type fantasy.

10. Do you prefer mini-series (shows that tell their stories in a pre-determined number of episodes) or shows that come back season after season?

A. I like either one.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

In the Past Month Meme

During September, did you ...

1. Drink alcohol? 

A. No.

2. Try a new recipe?

A. No.

3. Go shopping with friends?

A. I went with my husband. He's also my friend. Does that count?

4. Eat an entire box of cookies by yourself?

A. Yes. My husband has his cookies, I have mine.

5. Dye your hair?

A. No.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Memememe -- Part 2

11. You can build a dream house anywhere in the world. Where would it be located?

A. In the middle of 1,000 acres near Charlottesville, VA.

12. Have you ever taken a photo in a photo booth?

A. A very long time ago. Like, decades ago.

13. What's your favorite kind of mustard (dijon, spicy brown, bright yellow)?

A. I am not a big mustard fan, but the only mustard we have here is French's yellow mustard.

14. What did you do on New Year's Eve?

A. I went to bed and slept through it.

15. Did your parents ever share memories of their high school days?

A. Occasionally. My mother told me about being a Girl Scout. My father had a business selling bait.

16. What's the most famous thing to happen in your hometown?

A. William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame married a woman from my hometown, Julia Hancock. She lived at a place called Santillane.

17. Did you ever have a MySpace page?

A. I think I did. But it wasn't much, whatever it was.

18. Will you eat a cookie today?

A. Not unless I go out and buy a cookie. There aren't any in the house at the moment.

19. Who is the last person you spoke to – not texted with – on the phone?

A. My husband.

20. Do you play poker?

A. I know how to play poker, but I haven't played in many years. I'd probably need a refresher course.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Memememe -- Part 1

1. The phone rings. Who do you want it to be?

A. I want it to be Publisher's Clearing House (pre-Chapter 11), telling me I've won their big sweepstakes.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?

A. Of course I return the cart, unless some nice person says, "May I take your cart for you?" which happens occasionally. I also do that for other people if they're unloading groceries as I walk by.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?

A. I tend to listen more. As one of my friends once said of me, "She doesn't talk much, but when she speaks up, it's probably best to listen."

4. Do you take compliments well?

A. What's a compliment? 

5. Do you play Sudoku or Wordle?

A. I play Wordle sometimes, but I haven't in a while. 

6. Did you ever go to camp as a kid?

A. We went camping as a family, but I was never sent away to camp.

7. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you?

A. I've been married for over 40 years, I don't date. But the answer would be yes.

8. Would you rather pursue or be pursued?

A. I think I would rather pursue.

9. Have you ever fired a gun?

A. I have fired a gun on many occasions.

10. Would you rather dine at Olive Garden or Panera?

A. Hmm. The local Olive Garden is where a waitress dropped a plate of spaghetti on my brand-new pair of $150 suede shoes, and when I made them pay me for the shoes, I was told never to return to that establishment. As far as I know the Panera here closed and if there is another, I do not know about it. So, I think I will have to take a pass on this answer.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

*This is my 600th Sunday Stealing. That's about 11 years and 6 months of Sundays.*

 

A Wednesday meme on a Sunday

1. Name five songs that you have completely memorized.

A. "If You Could Read My Mind," by Gordon Lightfoot

    "Landslide," by Fleetwood Mac

    "I Will Survive," by Gloria Gainor

    "Tequila Sunrise," by The Eagles

    "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo," by Lobo 

2. What takes up too much of your time?

A. Playing video games. I really need to stop that.

3. What TV show or movie do you refuse to watch?

A. I do not watch anything on Fox. I also don't like gore or horror shows.

4. What's worth spending more on to get the best?

A. Furniture. I don't understand this Ikea generation, where you're buying something that isn't going to last five years.

5. Share something you did last week.

A. I did some interesting writing, an essay about male witches and a short story.

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Sunday Stealing

From A to F

Give yourself a letter grade (A, A-, B, B-, C, C-, D, D-, F)  on the following. Just the letter grade is requested, but you're free to elaborate.

• Happiness - C. "You never were a happy person," sayth the pater familias in a message long ago. But I think I've got them all fooled. Some days I'm actually fairly content.

• Being a decent human being - A-. I can be a b*tch when I have to be.

• Being serene (calm, peaceful) - C-. I have a bit of anxiety.

• Kindness - A-. I try to be kind to everyone. I'm sure there are some who disagree.

• Anger management - C. I have a temper. I calm down fairly quickly, but I can also be quick to anger.

• Creative thinking - A. This is probably the only thing I will give myself a top grade in.

• Modesty - B. I am proud of some things I've accomplished, but appearances and owning things don't mean all that much to me.

• Being an original - A-. "You're an original baby, like we've never seen before. Turn around and you're looking at 100 more." - That's a line from a Sheryl Crow song. Anyway, I think I'm fairly original.

• Knowing yourself - B. According to my friends, I know myself pretty well. Chad and Sage are especially impressed with my insightfulness sometimes.

• Being true to yourself - C-

• Getting along with others - C-. I'm an introvert, it doesn't always get understood by others.

• Liking yourself - C-.

• Admitting your flaws - B. I could probably do better at this.

• Self-improvement - A-. I've done loads to try to be a better person.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

F.A.B.

F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching?

A. We are watching Wheel of Time on Prime. I am walking on the treadmill to old episodes of JAG. We also watch Deadliest Catch, In the Eye of the Storm, and some other shows like that. I enjoyed the two-part documentary on Billy Joel on HBO. Catch that if you can. Hopefully, new shows will be out soon.

A. Audio: What are you listening to?

A. My audiobook is Murder at the Paperback Parlor, by Ellery Adams, and my music is "If" by Bread, which is what came on just now when I asked Alexa to play me some music (followed by "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones).

B. Book: What are you reading?

A. I just finished The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty and have not yet picked out my next read.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

 

Morning Meme

1) What do you typically have for breakfast?

A. During the week I have Honey Nut Cheerios. On the weekends, I have scrambled eggs.

2) What was your favorite breakfast cereal when you were a kid?

A. Fruit Loops.

3) Orange juice, tomato juice or cranberry juice?

A. Cranberry juice. I'm allergic to citrus, can't drink tomato juice because of my propensity for ulcers, so cranberry it is. But I rarely drink juices of any kind.

4) What time is your alarm clock set for?

A. 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. 

5) Do you have any tips for preventing stress and making the morning go more smoothly?

A. Don't get out of bed in the first place! Otherwise, set out the clothes you want the night before, make sure you get a decent night's sleep, and let the coffee maker start the coffee for you if you're into that sort of thing.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

The 2x4 Meme

TWO foods you can't stand

1. Coconut

2. Citrus (because I am allergic to citrus)

FOUR foods you love

1. Watermelon

2. Chocolate

3. Chicken

4. Broccoli

TWO places you never want to see again 

1. The inside of a hospital.

2. Anybody's basement.

FOUR places you'd like to revisit

1. Williamsburg, Virginia

2. Charlottesville, Virginia

3. Myrtle Beach, SC

4. Charleston, SC

TWO musical artists who make you want to change the station 

1. Anyone singing twangy country.

2. Anyone singing rap or hip-hop.

FOUR musical artists you love to listen to

1. Fleetwod Mac

2. Bread

3. Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

4. The Eagles

TWO moments you'd like to erase

1. The time I quit a job at a law office in Fincastle.

2. The time I turned down an editor's job because I had just lost my mother.

FOUR moments you'd like to relive

1. The day I met my husband.

2. My 50th birthday.

3. The births of my nephews and niece.

4. The day I saw my byline in print for the first time.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Let's Do Our ABCs

A. Auto - Toyota Camry

B. Bed size - Queen

C. Cats - Allergic

D. Dogs - Allergic

E. Essential start to your day - A shower

F. Favorite color - Blue

G. Gold or silver - Silver

H. Hand you favor (righty or lefty) - Right

I. Instruments you play - Guitar and I can manage to get a tune out on many others

J. Job title - Retired

K. Kids - None

L. Live (rural, suburb, city) - Rural

M. Meal plans - People plan those things?

N. Nicknames - Sweetie Pie

O. Overnight hospital stays - Multiple

P. Pet peeves - People who whine on Facebook.

Q. Quote from a movie - You shall not pass! (From Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings)

R. Regrets - I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention.

S. Siblings - 1

U. Underwear - I wear it.

V. Vegetable you love - Broccoli

W. What makes you run late - Oversleeping

X. X-rays you’ve had - Loads. I probably glow in the dark.

Y. Yummy food - Chocolate

Z. Zoo animal - Panda

 

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week. 

 __________

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Sunday Stealing

 

About Blogging

1. When are you at your blogging best – a.m. or p.m.?

A. I don't know. I blog at all hours.

2. How many blogs do you have? Please include the links in your answer.

A. Just this one.

3. Do you prefer silence when you compose your posts and write your comments?

A. I either want it silent, or I want music in the background.

4. What's the grossest thing you've ever spilled on your keyboard?

A. Just water.

5. Ever posted while intoxicated?

A. I have not posted while intoxicated. I don't drink.

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Sunday Stealing

Living in the World, Not on It

1) You're on a trip taking a tour through the jungle. You have a backpack with some food, first aid supplies, a pocketknife, a flashlight and a couple bottles of water. Somehow, you get separated from your group. By night fall you haven't found your group and haven't heard them looking for you. How long do you think you would be able to survive on your own?

A. As long as the water lasts, and hopefully there's rain to make it last longer.

 

2) Do you think it's okay to lie to spare someone's feelings? Why? 

A. I think it is ok to give little white lies, like "Oh yes, that dress looks lovely on you" when it kind of doesn't. Those are lies that keep someone from feeling bad about themselves. Otherwise, it really depends on the situation. 

3) If a talking doll were made to resemble you, what 3 phrases would it say?

A. "That's interesting." "I love you." "You are beautiful to me."

4) If the superpower to be able to read minds at will was possible, do you think it would be... cool and helpful, intrusive and wrong, manipulative or maddening?

A. I think it would be intrusive and wrong, as well as manipulative and maddening. I don't think it would be a good power to have.

5) Are drunk confessions things people can't bring themselves to say sober or just the crazy ramblings of an influenced and intoxicated mind? 

A. I think they can be both.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

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Sunday Stealing

 

Stolen from Follow That Dream

1. My bestie and I once ... fooled the checkout clerk at the grocery store into thinking we were sisters.

2. When I'm nervous ... I eat.

3. My hair ... is turning gray.

4. When I turn to the left, I see ... a bookshelf with books and cameras on it, my guitars, two clocks, a picture of Gandolf from Lord of the Rings, and other stuff.

5. My favorite aunt ... seldom calls me.

6. I have a hard time understanding ... what is going on in the world.

7. You know I like you if ... I talk to you.

8. When I was 5 years old ... I told my mother my brother had swallowed a bottle of aspirin and saved his life.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Spill It!

1. If money wasn't an issue, would you move to a new home?

A. No. I might add a room to the one I'm in, but I wouldn't move. (Unless my husband had passed away, in which case I might consider finding an independent living community.)

2. Do you listen to different music when you're happy than when you're sad?

A. Yes.

3. What's your favorite way to unwind after a tough day?

A. Read a book or watch TV.

4. What's the first book you remember from childhood?

A. Green Eggs & Ham, by Dr. Suess.

5. What made you smile today?

A. Reading Rosie O'Donnell's response to someone in power who threatened her. King Joffrey with a tangerine tan indeed!

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Since it's the 4th of July weekend, we're going to keep this simple. We stole this from a blogger named Idzie, who called this the F.A.B. (film, audio, book) meme.

F.A.B.

F. Film: What movie or tv show are you watching?

A. We've been watching M*A*S*H* on DVD. 

A. Audio: What are you listening to?

A. At the moment, I am listening to nothing but the hum of the air purifiers.

B. Book: What are you reading?

A. I am listening to a memoir called Ordinary Time, by Annie B. Jones and up next is The Rulebreaker by Susan Page. I am not reading a book at the moment; I am reading The Atlantic.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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Sunday Stealing

Just Another Manic Monday

1. What is something you should throw away, but just can't bring yourself to part with?

A. My books. I have a lot of books on writing that I need to toss out. I haven't anywhere to put them except into the recycling bin, and I just can't bring myself to do that yet.

2. When you make yourself a sandwich, do you cut it on the diagonal, straight up the middle, or not at all?

A. I cut it in the middle.

3. What song or sound brings back memories of childhood?

A. A Bicycle Built for Two

4. Who is the first person you call when you have good news?

A. My husband. He's also the first person I call with bad news.

5. Have you ever set out on a walk in the rain?

A. I have. It was the only time I enjoyed walking around the city. The smell of the rain diminished the stink.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

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.