From Sunday Stealing
90, Part 2
30. Do you read your horoscope?
A. I do, but I don't live my life by it.
31. Where was the last place you bought something?
A. The supermarket. I bought groceries for dinner but since I have decided today to go on a cooking strike I guess that meat will simply sit there.
32. How do you feel about your hair right now?
A. I'm glad it's on my head.
33. Do you bite your nails?
A. Yes. I have since I was a very young child.
34. Do you have any expensive jewelry?
A. Honestly, yes or no questions are not good meme questions. They should be opened-ended, such as "What kind of expensive jewelry do you have, if any?" Not that I would answer that particular question. I don't want to be robbed.
35. Have you ever been told you speak fast?
A. I'm from the south. No one down here speaks fast unless they have come from somewhere else.
36. Is your laugh usually hearty?
A. It's a laugh. Ha ha. I have no idea if it's hearty or not.
37. How fast have you driven a car?
A. Well, don't tell anybody, but I once hit 120 on the back roads of Botetourt. It was a very long time ago, though, and now I am a good girl and (almost always) drive the speed limit.
38. Have you ever smoked?
A. I tried cigarettes in high school but could not tolerate them. I have asthma so that is probably a good thing.
39. What was your favorite subject in school?
A. English.
40. Do you have cell phone provider loyalty?
A. I suppose so, since I have been with my provider since about 2001.
41. What type of boy or girl do you usually fall for?
A. Um. I've been married for 30 years. The guy I "fell for" is a ol' plow boy who works hard and doesn't see much beyond tomorrow. He's also very kind, big-hearted, and intelligent. I'm not sure what "type" that makes him.
42. Do you have any hidden talents?
A. If they're hidden, how would I know?
43. Favorite song?
A. Don't really have one. I like stuff from the 1970s, including the dreaded disco. I favor southern rock and I like the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Anne Murray, Melissa Etheridge, and early Sheryl Crow. I don't listen to country music, hip hop, heavy metal, punk, or alternative music. I like classical sometimes when I'm in the mood, and I like album soundtracks from movies like Lord of the Rings.
44. Do you like to sing at all?
A. I do like to sing, yes. Sometimes I belt it out until I am hoarse.
45. Dream job?
A. One that would give me enough money to live just a bit above "comfortable" and, since I am now having health issues, I would like to be able to afford someone to come in and clean occasionally.
46. Where does most of your family live?
A. Some live nearby,some are on the other side of the country.
47. Are you an only child or do you have siblings?
A. I have a brother. He is a brat still, even though we are both old people.
48. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
A. No, but I imagine some might.
49. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
A. That I would be alone again today.
50. Do you drink?
A. Water. You know if you don't, you dehydrate and die. So I think most everyone capable of answering this question would answer "yes" in some fashion.
51. Know any other languages?
A. Yo hablo muy poco espaniol.
52. Ever write a coded message?
A. I had a friend in high school who insisted on writing in code; it drove me crazy.
53. Have you ever been in someone else's wedding?
A. Yes.
54. Do you have any children?
A. No.
55. Did you take a nap today?
A. Not yet.
56. Who has the same birthday as you?
A. I have an uncle who is a year younger than I who was born on my birthday. According to Biography.com, I share this date with Barbara Bush, Nancy Sinatra, Gabrielle Giffords, Frank Lloyd Wright, Joan Rivers, and a bunch of other people whose names I don't recognize.
57. Ever met anyone famous before?
A. Yes. I used to write for newspapers and I have met many so-called famous people, mostly politicians. I have met every Virginia governor since Doug Wilder up through Bob McDonnell. That includes both of our current senators (Mark Warner & Tim Kaine). I have not met the current governor, Terry McAuliffe. I also know several state delegates and senators and most of the local news media folk. Also, I met Dolly Parton a really long time ago.
58. Do you want to be famous one day?
A. I'm already about as famous as I want to be.
59. Any pet peeves?
A. People who talk on their cell phone instead of paying attention to the people who are right in front of them. Sales clerks who ignore the customers at the register in favor of those on the phone. Discourtesy in general.
60. Are you multitasking right now?
A. The washer and dryer are both working hard, and the radio is playing, so I suppose so.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
I Am A Nerd
Saturday 9: Oh! My Papa (1954)
1) Eddie Fisher starred in a popular 1950s TV show, which was sponsored by Coca Cola. Do you have a favorite soft drink?
A. I drink A&W Root Beer from time to time, though last year's diagnosis of ulcers has kept me from having a taste in a long while. Mostly I drink water, though, and a cup of tea or two every day.
A. Debbie Reynolds was the first wife, and Elizabeth Taylor the second, or maybe I have that backwards.Trivia: Debbie Reynolds eventually married Richard Hamlett, a real estate developer, and they lived in Roanoke, VA (which is the city closest to where I live) for a short time in the 1980s. My friend Lee delivered balloons and singing telegrams and she delivered one to Reynolds. You can see a picture of her with the movie star here if you scroll through her picture collage near the bottom of the page.
A. I am a nerd. Of course I am a fantasy and a sci-fi fan. May the Force be with you, Schrodinger's Cat. I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.
4) Since the father of the author of these questions (that would be Sam the Great Meme Writer) is particular about his footwear and likes "a good pair of Cole Haan loafers," her Father's Day present to him is a DSW gift card. If we were to give you a gift card to any store or restaurant, which would you choose?
1) Eddie Fisher starred in a popular 1950s TV show, which was sponsored by Coca Cola. Do you have a favorite soft drink?
A. I drink A&W Root Beer from time to time, though last year's diagnosis of ulcers has kept me from having a taste in a long while. Mostly I drink water, though, and a cup of tea or two every day.
2) Fisher was notorious for leaving his famous first wife for his very famous second wife. Can you name either of the women involved in this Hollywood scandal?
A. Debbie Reynolds was the first wife, and Elizabeth Taylor the second, or maybe I have that backwards.Trivia: Debbie Reynolds eventually married Richard Hamlett, a real estate developer, and they lived in Roanoke, VA (which is the city closest to where I live) for a short time in the 1980s. My friend Lee delivered balloons and singing telegrams and she delivered one to Reynolds. You can see a picture of her with the movie star here if you scroll through her picture collage near the bottom of the page.
3) His oldest daughter, Carrie Fisher, is best known as Princess Leia from Star Wars. Are you a sci-fi fan?
A. I am a nerd. Of course I am a fantasy and a sci-fi fan. May the Force be with you, Schrodinger's Cat. I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things.
4) Since the father of the author of these questions (that would be Sam the Great Meme Writer) is particular about his footwear and likes "a good pair of Cole Haan loafers," her Father's Day present to him is a DSW gift card. If we were to give you a gift card to any store or restaurant, which would you choose?
A. Any book store will do.
5) Sam's father hates it when she swears. When is the last time your cursed?
5) Sam's father hates it when she swears. When is the last time your cursed?
A. Today. I curse a lot. My parents always did and I was raised with it. I can make a sailor blush, truly. I try not to use this colorful language but it slips on out.
6) Sam's father is a voracious reader. So much so that the local librarian knows him on sight and by name. How often do you visit your neighborhood library?
6) Sam's father is a voracious reader. So much so that the local librarian knows him on sight and by name. How often do you visit your neighborhood library?
A. About once every two weeks, sometimes more often. I know the library number by heart and the local librarians all know me by name. I also used to serve on my local library board. Big fan of libraries here.
7) "A good used car is a better investment than a new car." That's what Sam's dad tells her when she's in the market for wheels. Share some other words of financial wisdom with us.
A. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
8) Every car her father has ever owned had a pro-union bumper sticker. Do you have any bumper stickers on your vehicle?
8) Every car her father has ever owned had a pro-union bumper sticker. Do you have any bumper stickers on your vehicle?
A. No, but I do have a college alumnae doohickey around the license plate. I am also pro-union, even though Virginia has been a "right to work" state for as long as I can remember, effectively neutering unions and being a part of the demise of our way of life as we know it. (Virginia laws regarding unions started in 1947 and were revised in the 1970s.) "Right to work" is actually slang for "right to fire."
9) To celebrate Father's Day, Sam is giving away her father's favorite candy: LifeSavers. Would you prefer a roll of Wild Cherry, Butter Rum, Winter Green or Peppermint?
9) To celebrate Father's Day, Sam is giving away her father's favorite candy: LifeSavers. Would you prefer a roll of Wild Cherry, Butter Rum, Winter Green or Peppermint?
A. Wild cherry, which to be perfectly honest with you, I have been looking for but cannot find in the Roanoke area. Do they even make those any more?
Friday, June 13, 2014
The Fret Mill
The Fret Mill is a music store located in downtown Roanoke. It was the only reason a friend and I were in downtown a while back; we wanted to pick up guitar strings.
I hadn't been in the store in years (because I really don't like downtown Roanoke, not that I am repeating myself). But a very long time ago, like about 25 years or so, I took guitar lessons there. I went on my lunch hour when I worked at one of the area's biggest law firms.
The fellow who taught me guitar died young but he was a legend in the finger-picking circles during his time. He won all kinds of awards. His name was Buster Jones. I only took lessons from him for a single summer; he was an interesting guy. And he could make that guitar sing, let me tell you. But I don't think he really had the patience to teach.
The Fret Mill I went into recently was a shadow of its former self. The store was about half the size it once was, and it was carrying name-brand guitars that I did not recognize. I have a great little classical Takamine guitar that I bought there so long ago.
I suppose as computers take over, and kids think Guitar Hero is how one plays a guitar, the music stores will go the way of book stores eventually. You'll buy your instrument over the Internet and hope it sounds good when UPS drops it off. That is if anyone still plays at all.
You can't get the feel of an instrument until you hold it your hands. I would hate to see the stores go away.
The Fret Mill still offered a nice selection of books, strings, and other music essentials. It was nice to revisit the store, in spite of the changes.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen places I'd like to be . . .
1. Down by the river
2. In someone's heart
3. On a mountain top
4. By the ocean
5. In the forest
6. Driving fast in my new car
7. In the barnyard
8. Nowhere
9. On someone's mind
10. On another planet
11. High up in a tree house
12. Buried deep in a book
13. Inside a cave
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 348th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
2. In someone's heart
3. On a mountain top
4. By the ocean
5. In the forest
6. Driving fast in my new car
7. In the barnyard
8. Nowhere
9. On someone's mind
10. On another planet
11. High up in a tree house
12. Buried deep in a book
13. Inside a cave
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 348th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
The Roanoke City Market Building
In late May, I went downtown for a brief visit. I don't like downtown Roanoke and go there infrequently. This was my first trip to the city's center in years.
My friend and I went to the City Market Building to eat lunch. The building was renovated in 2011 at a cost of $7.9 million.
Somebody needs to ask for their money back.
This exterior sidewalk art was the nicest and coolest thing about the redesign.
Inside, the open space was, well, big. It was also depressing, uninspiring, and dark. The City Market Building back in the late 1980s (and I suppose up until the renovation) was a strange-looking place, with lots of neon signs, but it at least had character and visual interest.
This has no character. This is like a big warehouse with eateries in it.
It is not a place I would want to spend much time. Actually, I doubt I ever go back in there again if I can help it.
What a shame the city spent so much money to accomplish so little. As I understand it, the firm that renovated the building was not from the area; I hope they aren't using this building as one of their prize projects in their portfolio.
The Roanoke City Market district area is the oldest continuous farmer's market in Virginia. It began in 1882 and this building played a big role in that history.
While I am glad they didn't tear down the historic structure, I think the city residents got a raw deal in this redesign. The whole thing was poorly done from the get-go, what with the building being closed for a long time so that the small restaurants that had been there for years had to close or relocate.
We were down there at mid-day and the place should have been so crowded you could hardly walk, but as the pictures show that was not the case.
Except for the interesting exterior sidewalk art, I give this project a big fail.
Dan Smith over on his blog posted about the Market Building's kiosk in May 2012, which was removed. He called the newly designed Market Building "a building without life" and I have to agree. Somebody please go in there and save this space!
My friend and I went to the City Market Building to eat lunch. The building was renovated in 2011 at a cost of $7.9 million.
Somebody needs to ask for their money back.
This exterior sidewalk art was the nicest and coolest thing about the redesign.
Inside, the open space was, well, big. It was also depressing, uninspiring, and dark. The City Market Building back in the late 1980s (and I suppose up until the renovation) was a strange-looking place, with lots of neon signs, but it at least had character and visual interest.
This has no character. This is like a big warehouse with eateries in it.
It is not a place I would want to spend much time. Actually, I doubt I ever go back in there again if I can help it.
What a shame the city spent so much money to accomplish so little. As I understand it, the firm that renovated the building was not from the area; I hope they aren't using this building as one of their prize projects in their portfolio.
The Roanoke City Market district area is the oldest continuous farmer's market in Virginia. It began in 1882 and this building played a big role in that history.
While I am glad they didn't tear down the historic structure, I think the city residents got a raw deal in this redesign. The whole thing was poorly done from the get-go, what with the building being closed for a long time so that the small restaurants that had been there for years had to close or relocate.
We were down there at mid-day and the place should have been so crowded you could hardly walk, but as the pictures show that was not the case.
Except for the interesting exterior sidewalk art, I give this project a big fail.
Dan Smith over on his blog posted about the Market Building's kiosk in May 2012, which was removed. He called the newly designed Market Building "a building without life" and I have to agree. Somebody please go in there and save this space!
Monday, June 09, 2014
Medicine Applicator For Your Back
Sometimes when you are alone, you need things done that require a second person. I have a husband but he's a busy guy and our schedules don't always work out so that he can help me.
Applying something like Ben Gay or a similar product to the muscles of your mid-back qualifies as one of those. The same goes with suntan lotion. How do you get it back there without contorting yourself up into a pretzel?
My solution to this issue was to purchase a hardy back scrubber and make it into something I could use as an applicator.
You will need a back cleaner brush, preferably one with stout bristles, some tape (I used some surgical tape I had here, but duct tape would do), a pair of scissors, and a covering. I am using a surgical wound pad here, but I have also used facial cleaner pads with good results.
Cover the bristles with your pad.
Tape all the way around so that the pad is firmly in place.
Apply the medication (or suntan lotion).
I usually rub the medication into the pad a little bit, and then reach the back scrubber over my shoulder and place the medication where I want.
Incidentally, I like BioFreeze, which is only sold at places like physical therapy and chiropractic businesses and not in general stores, but you could use this for any product you need to apply in a hard-to-reach area.
So there you have it. A self-applicator.
*No one paid me to mention any product. This is just a helpful hint.*
Applying something like Ben Gay or a similar product to the muscles of your mid-back qualifies as one of those. The same goes with suntan lotion. How do you get it back there without contorting yourself up into a pretzel?
My solution to this issue was to purchase a hardy back scrubber and make it into something I could use as an applicator.
You will need a back cleaner brush, preferably one with stout bristles, some tape (I used some surgical tape I had here, but duct tape would do), a pair of scissors, and a covering. I am using a surgical wound pad here, but I have also used facial cleaner pads with good results.
Cover the bristles with your pad.
Tape all the way around so that the pad is firmly in place.
Apply the medication (or suntan lotion).
I usually rub the medication into the pad a little bit, and then reach the back scrubber over my shoulder and place the medication where I want.
Incidentally, I like BioFreeze, which is only sold at places like physical therapy and chiropractic businesses and not in general stores, but you could use this for any product you need to apply in a hard-to-reach area.
So there you have it. A self-applicator.
*No one paid me to mention any product. This is just a helpful hint.*
Sunday, June 08, 2014
Today's My Birthday!
Today, Dear Reader, is my birthday! I am 51 years old as of 3:04 a.m. this morning. My head still thinks I'm 16. My body, on the other hand, thinks I'm 151. I am looking for the magic potions for that dilemma.
From Sunday Stealing
90, Part I (that sounds ominous, doesn't it?)
1. What was the highlight of your week last week?
2. Whose car were you in last?
A. Mine. My brand new 2014 Toyota Camry that I purchased in April.
3. When is the next time you will kiss someone?
A. Whenever I next see my most excellent spouse. Preferably after he's had a shower, though.
4. What color shirt are you wearing?
A. Gray.
5. How long is your hair?
A. Shoulder length.
6. Are you good looking?
A. Not especially. I am not beautiful by any means. When I was young I think I might have been called a "handsome" woman, whatever that means. But now I'm just me.
7. Last movie you watched?
A. The last one at the theater was The Hobbit II: Desolation of Smog.
8. Who were you with?
A. My most excellent spouse.
9. Last thing you ate?
A. A boiled egg.
10. Last thing you drank?
A. Water.
11. When was the last time you had your heart broken?
A. I don't know. Does hearing from a doctor that you might be disabled for the rest of your life count as a broken heart? If so, then back in April.
12. Who came over last?
A. My friend Teresa (see the woman in the cow costume, above), who picked me up and drove me to physical therapy.
13. Are you happy right now?
A. I can't complain. It's my birthday! And my husband is taking me to dinner so I don't have to cook.
14. What did you say last?
A. I told my husband to be careful as he headed out the door to the hay field.
15. Where is your phone?
A. The landline is on my desk. My cell is in my car. I don't have good reception in the house so I don't use it inside.
16. What color are your eyes?
A. Hazel.
17. Are you left-handed?
A. No.
18. Spell your name without vowels:
A. No. What a silly command. I absolutely refuse on the grounds that today is my birthday and I can do whatever I darned well please.
19. Do you have any pets?
A. Twelve cows a calving! Eleven raccoons jumping! Ten coyotes howling. Nine foxes dancing! Eight crows a cawing! Seven turkeys gobbling! Six geese a-laying! Five big blue jays! Four deer with fawns, three groundhogs in holes, two nesting finches, and a big bear down in the hay field!
20. Favorite vacation?
A. We have equally enjoyed Williamsburg, Monticello, and Myrtle Beach.
21. What do you dislike currently?
A. I dislike not knowing what is wrong with me. Mystery illnesses are no fun. When you fall outside of what the medical profession professes to know, you land in limbo land.
22. What are you listening to?
A. The ticking of a clock and the clicking of my computer keyboard keys.
23. If you could have one thing right now what would it be?
A. Good health.
24. What is your favorite scent?
A. I prefer everything unscented because I am allergic to most of the world, but I must say it is hard to beat the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.
25. Who makes you happiest?
A. You have to make your own happiness. Nobody can do it for you.
26. What were you doing at midnight last night?
A. I was asleep.
27. When is your birthday?
A. TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!
28. Who has the same phone as you?
A. Um. I don't understand this question. Nor do I care to understand it.
29. Last time you went swimming in a pool?
A. It's been years.
From Sunday Stealing
90, Part I (that sounds ominous, doesn't it?)
1. What was the highlight of your week last week?
 |
| Udderly insane! |
A. That would be a tie. On Monday, which was my husband's birthday, my friend dressed up in a cow costume and we took him a John Deere birthday cake to his place of employment. Since that is a firehouse, you can image the looks we received. On Friday, another dear friend took me to lunch for my birthday.
2. Whose car were you in last?
 |
| Hi Gorgeous! |
3. When is the next time you will kiss someone?
A. Whenever I next see my most excellent spouse. Preferably after he's had a shower, though.
4. What color shirt are you wearing?
A. Gray.
5. How long is your hair?
A. Shoulder length.
6. Are you good looking?
 |
| The only picture of myself in which I've thought I might pass as "pretty." My wedding day, almost 31 years ago. |
A. Not especially. I am not beautiful by any means. When I was young I think I might have been called a "handsome" woman, whatever that means. But now I'm just me.
7. Last movie you watched?
A. The last one at the theater was The Hobbit II: Desolation of Smog.
8. Who were you with?
A. My most excellent spouse.
9. Last thing you ate?
A. A boiled egg.
10. Last thing you drank?
A. Water.
11. When was the last time you had your heart broken?
A. I don't know. Does hearing from a doctor that you might be disabled for the rest of your life count as a broken heart? If so, then back in April.
12. Who came over last?
A. My friend Teresa (see the woman in the cow costume, above), who picked me up and drove me to physical therapy.
13. Are you happy right now?
A. I can't complain. It's my birthday! And my husband is taking me to dinner so I don't have to cook.
14. What did you say last?
A. I told my husband to be careful as he headed out the door to the hay field.
15. Where is your phone?
A. The landline is on my desk. My cell is in my car. I don't have good reception in the house so I don't use it inside.
16. What color are your eyes?
A. Hazel.
17. Are you left-handed?
A. No.
18. Spell your name without vowels:
A. No. What a silly command. I absolutely refuse on the grounds that today is my birthday and I can do whatever I darned well please.
19. Do you have any pets?
A. Twelve cows a calving! Eleven raccoons jumping! Ten coyotes howling. Nine foxes dancing! Eight crows a cawing! Seven turkeys gobbling! Six geese a-laying! Five big blue jays! Four deer with fawns, three groundhogs in holes, two nesting finches, and a big bear down in the hay field!20. Favorite vacation?
A. We have equally enjoyed Williamsburg, Monticello, and Myrtle Beach.
21. What do you dislike currently?
A. I dislike not knowing what is wrong with me. Mystery illnesses are no fun. When you fall outside of what the medical profession professes to know, you land in limbo land.
22. What are you listening to?
A. The ticking of a clock and the clicking of my computer keyboard keys.
23. If you could have one thing right now what would it be?
A. Good health.
24. What is your favorite scent?
A. I prefer everything unscented because I am allergic to most of the world, but I must say it is hard to beat the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven.
25. Who makes you happiest?
A. You have to make your own happiness. Nobody can do it for you.
26. What were you doing at midnight last night?
A. I was asleep.
27. When is your birthday?
A. TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!
28. Who has the same phone as you?
A. Um. I don't understand this question. Nor do I care to understand it.
29. Last time you went swimming in a pool?
A. It's been years.
Saturday, June 07, 2014
Saturday 9 - Walk This Way
Saturday 9: Walk This Way
(recommended by In the Company of Me)
1) This song is about a young man who takes advantage of his "big chance at a high school dance." Share a memory from your high school years.
A. I used to play in a rock band when I was in high school, but we didn't perform this song - we did a lot of disco. That was the hot music at the time on the dance scene and we played dance halls which did not want rock and roll. We were a pretty good band for a bunch of kids.
2) Lead singer Steven Tyler is the son of a working mother (mom Susan was a secretary). Did your mother work outside the home?
A. She did. She worked as a secretary at a company in Salem, Virginia. It was a 40 minute drive for her each way to get to work. When we came home from school, which was usually around 4 p.m. or so, we had to call her and let her know all was fine. If we didn't call, she would call us, and we had a pre-arranged signal in case a stranger ever came into our home while we were there without an adult (which was a lot of the time; I was a latchkey child). If I answered the phone and called her by a name different than "Mom" she would know something was wrong.
3) Onstage, Tyler takes colorful scarves from around his neck and drapes them over the microphone. Do you accessorize your outfits with scarves and belts? Or do you prefer to keep things simple?
A. I keep things simple. A single small chain and my wedding band is about it, though I confess I have a secret passion for hats.
4) Tyler confessed to having a massive crush on Jennifer Lopez, his fellow judge on American Idol. Do you think a coworker has ever had a crush on you?
A. Not that I was aware of, no.
5) Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry says seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 inspired him to go into music. How did you end up in your chosen profession?
A. I have always loved the written word as long as I can remember. My writing abilities were encouraged by nearly every teacher I ever had. My ambition was not to write news stories, though. I wanted to write a series like Nancy Drew, at least when I was younger.
6) Perry's hobby, breeding horses, is very lucrative. What are your hobbies?
A. Playing guitar, reading, gardening, journaling, computer games.
7) Aerosmith performed before their biggest-ever TV audience when they played the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001. Are you a football fan? If so, do you prefer college football or the NFL? What teams do you root for?
A. I am not a football fan. I root for the University of Virginia team (Go Wahoos!) during the college season, mostly because around here everyone roots for Virginia Tech (Boo Hokies!). I have never followed the crowd. My alma mater's college football team, by the way, has never lost a game, ever. That's because it is an all-female university at the undergrad level and they don't have a team! Gotcha, didn't I!
8) Now that we're into summer, the days are longer. When is the last time you watched the sun set?
A. I love to take photos and the sun sets right in my front door, so I watch it go down almost every evening.
9) What time did you go to sleep last night?
A. We went to bed around 10 p.m. I did not sleep well.
(recommended by In the Company of Me)
 |
| CountryDew rockin' out 35 years ago. |
A. I used to play in a rock band when I was in high school, but we didn't perform this song - we did a lot of disco. That was the hot music at the time on the dance scene and we played dance halls which did not want rock and roll. We were a pretty good band for a bunch of kids.
2) Lead singer Steven Tyler is the son of a working mother (mom Susan was a secretary). Did your mother work outside the home?
A. She did. She worked as a secretary at a company in Salem, Virginia. It was a 40 minute drive for her each way to get to work. When we came home from school, which was usually around 4 p.m. or so, we had to call her and let her know all was fine. If we didn't call, she would call us, and we had a pre-arranged signal in case a stranger ever came into our home while we were there without an adult (which was a lot of the time; I was a latchkey child). If I answered the phone and called her by a name different than "Mom" she would know something was wrong.
3) Onstage, Tyler takes colorful scarves from around his neck and drapes them over the microphone. Do you accessorize your outfits with scarves and belts? Or do you prefer to keep things simple?
A. I keep things simple. A single small chain and my wedding band is about it, though I confess I have a secret passion for hats.
4) Tyler confessed to having a massive crush on Jennifer Lopez, his fellow judge on American Idol. Do you think a coworker has ever had a crush on you?
A. Not that I was aware of, no.
5) Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry says seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 inspired him to go into music. How did you end up in your chosen profession?
A. I have always loved the written word as long as I can remember. My writing abilities were encouraged by nearly every teacher I ever had. My ambition was not to write news stories, though. I wanted to write a series like Nancy Drew, at least when I was younger.
6) Perry's hobby, breeding horses, is very lucrative. What are your hobbies?
A. Playing guitar, reading, gardening, journaling, computer games.
7) Aerosmith performed before their biggest-ever TV audience when they played the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001. Are you a football fan? If so, do you prefer college football or the NFL? What teams do you root for?
A. I am not a football fan. I root for the University of Virginia team (Go Wahoos!) during the college season, mostly because around here everyone roots for Virginia Tech (Boo Hokies!). I have never followed the crowd. My alma mater's college football team, by the way, has never lost a game, ever. That's because it is an all-female university at the undergrad level and they don't have a team! Gotcha, didn't I!
 |
| June 19, 2010 sunset |
A. I love to take photos and the sun sets right in my front door, so I watch it go down almost every evening.
9) What time did you go to sleep last night?
A. We went to bed around 10 p.m. I did not sleep well.
Friday, June 06, 2014
Thursday, June 05, 2014
Three on Thursday
Three on Thursday
1. What is an irrational fear you have?
A. That I will end up sleeping in a box under an overpass.
2. What is the chore that is the worst for you?
A. I am not fond of cleaning toilets, but at the moment, because of a health issue, I can do that more easily than I can run the vacuum.
3. Are you a sports person/fan? (Feel free to share the teams you cheer for! Go Team Go!)
A. Not really. My husband watches NASCAR so I sometimes see that when I sit with him. I like to watch the Olympics when they are on, but I do not keep up with who is doing what.
1. What is an irrational fear you have?
A. That I will end up sleeping in a box under an overpass.
2. What is the chore that is the worst for you?
A. I am not fond of cleaning toilets, but at the moment, because of a health issue, I can do that more easily than I can run the vacuum.
3. Are you a sports person/fan? (Feel free to share the teams you cheer for! Go Team Go!)
A. Not really. My husband watches NASCAR so I sometimes see that when I sit with him. I like to watch the Olympics when they are on, but I do not keep up with who is doing what.
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen photos from 2014 so far -
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 347th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 347th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Wednesday, June 04, 2014
Bird on a Roof
I came home from physical therapy Monday to find this bird on the roof of my house. I had no idea what it was. The consensus on Facebook is that it is a pigeon. We don't have pigeons like this around here normally; we have small brown birds that we call pigeons, but this was rather big and had lots of interesting markings.
It also seemed rather tame. After a while it flew away, but then I later found it (or another like it) in my driveway down near my mailbox. It would not move so I attempted to shoe it off, and it went under the car. Finally it went to the side and watched me drive by.
City bird lost in the country? Carrier pigeon with a private message for me? I have no idea.
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Happy 55th
Yesterday was my most excellent spouse's 55th birthday.
He had to work. We went to dinner Sunday night to celebrate, but birthday celebrations should last many days. I like to take the whole month, myself.
Anyway, I wanted to see him at the firehouse on his birthday, so after my physical therapy, I dropped in on him.
Actually, a COW and I dropped in on him.
This is my friend Teresa, who has very kindly been taking me to physical therapy on the days when I've not felt well enough to drive.
She also likes to, um, dress up as a cow. She does this at the elementary school for reading programs. Yesterday she did it for my husband. It was her idea.
The firefighters were highly amused.
My most excellent spouse turned a little red around the ears, but I don't think I embarrassed him *too* much.
My most excellent spouse and his new friend, the cow.
I had ordered him a special John Deere cake, complete with tractor.
Now how many 55 year old guys get that kind of treatment on their birthday, eh?
Monday, June 02, 2014
Zoe Dances
The Floyd Ward Recital was again this weekend, and my husband and I went to watch my niece dance (as well as my brother in the Dad's Dance with his daughter). Unfortunately I was sitting behind someone tall who had a big head and my photos suffered as a result. I took many but these two are the only ones that turned out. There is a little video in the blog entry before this one, but there again, those were the best of what I took.
My niece wasn't feeling well but she was a trooper.
Books: Midnight Bayou
Midnight Bayou
By Nora Roberts
Audio 5 discs (6 hours)
Abridged
Read by James Daniels & Sandra Burr
Copyright 2002
Nora Robert offers up a romantic suspense - almost a gothic romance - in this interesting tale set in the New Orleans bayous.
Declan, from Boston, has been drawn to the old Manet mansion ever since he was a teenager. Now a wealthy lawyer (retiring early at the old age of 30 something), he decides to purchase the place and fix it back up.
But the mansion has a history, harboring secrets of murder and pain. The ghosts affect Declan - but thanks to Lina Simone, who has her own connection to the house - he manages to work it all out.
This was well-read by Daniels and Burr, with Burr alternating on the back story. Daniels did a nice job with different voices of characters. It always amazes me how much a good reading of a book matters with regards to how well I enjoy it.
Anyway, Roberts does not disappoint with this story. I enjoyed it very much.
By Nora Roberts
Audio 5 discs (6 hours)
Abridged
Read by James Daniels & Sandra Burr
Copyright 2002
Nora Robert offers up a romantic suspense - almost a gothic romance - in this interesting tale set in the New Orleans bayous.
Declan, from Boston, has been drawn to the old Manet mansion ever since he was a teenager. Now a wealthy lawyer (retiring early at the old age of 30 something), he decides to purchase the place and fix it back up.
But the mansion has a history, harboring secrets of murder and pain. The ghosts affect Declan - but thanks to Lina Simone, who has her own connection to the house - he manages to work it all out.
This was well-read by Daniels and Burr, with Burr alternating on the back story. Daniels did a nice job with different voices of characters. It always amazes me how much a good reading of a book matters with regards to how well I enjoy it.
Anyway, Roberts does not disappoint with this story. I enjoyed it very much.
Sunday, June 01, 2014
I Belong to Them
Sunday Stealing
Hey Nineteen! That's 'Retha Franklin. She don't remember the Queen of Soul. - Steely Dan
1)Where would you retire to?
A. If spit were wishes and I could have anything I wanted, I would have three homes. One where I am now for spring and fall, one in Vermont for summer, and another in Savannah, Georgia, for winter. As it is, I expect to be right here in ol' Virginny until the worms eat me.
2)What are your best physical features?
A. I have good skin, or used to - I'm starting to get moles and barnacles as I age.
3)What are your best characteristics?
A. I am loyal and smart. I have the ability to see right into the heart of a problem and find a solution (so long as the problem doesn't involve myself - that's too close for solutions, apparently).
4)What kind of books do you like to read?
A. Literary fiction, fantasy, mysteries, chick lit, young adult fantasy and other good stories, gothic romances and nonfiction health books, as far as genres go. Some of my favorite authors are Janet Smiley, Nora Roberts, Phyllis Whitney (old school there), Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton, Anita Shreve, Tamara Pierce - oh, heck, there are just too many to name.
5)What are you reading now?
A. At the moment I am reading Healing Pelvic Pain by Amy Stein.
6)Where would you want to retire to?
A. Didn't we already answer this question?
7)What is your favorite time of the day?
A. I like the hours between 10 and 2. Dr. Pepper time.
8)Where did you grow up?
A. I grew up about six miles from where I live now, on a farm.
9)How far away from your birthplace do you live now?
A. Not very far.
10)Are you a morning person or a night owl?
A. I'm a middle-of-the-day person.
11)What inspires you?
A. Good stories, pretty pictures, friends, interesting conversations, Mother Nature.
12)Can you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows?
A. Well, I tried but without looking at myself in the mirror, which I can't do with my eyes closed, I am not certain. It feels like the eyebrows go up but I can't swear to it.
13)Do you have pets?
A. I have a herd of cattle, lots of deer that think I belong to them, and a couple of rabbits that believe my flowers and garden to be their personal domain. Also a few turkeys believe that I am here for their amusement, and the other day I found a few vultures roosting on my roof. The latter creeped me out.
14)How many rings before you answer the phone?
A. I have to get it before it rings four times or the voice mail kicks in.
15)What are some of the different jobs that you have had in your life?
A. Babysitter, file clerk, secretary, legal secretary, news reporter, news stringer, freelance writer, bookkeeper, computer repair person, webmaster, blogger, poet, nonfiction writer, photographer, professional student, teacher, house cleaner, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, granddaughter.
16)Any new and exciting things that you would like to share?
A. Not really. I can give you a health update - I'm in pain, now trying specialized physical therapy at a place with nice people but parking from hell, and still don't have a diagnosis as to what is wrong with me. I think the 60+ ulcers I had in my tummy have mostly healed, and the nausea is all but gone, which helps a lot. I have little stamina or energy and most activities make my abdomen hurt. Things that used to take me minutes to do can now take an hour. There is improvement but it is slow.
17)What is most important in life?
A. At this point I would say your health. I wish I'd realized that about 30 years ago.
18)Did you dream last night?
A. Yes, very vividly. And in color.
19)Do you remember your dreams?
A. I do. Last night I dreamed I was trapped in molasses and my husband was trying to pull me out. It hurt, and there was a lot of screaming involved.
Hey Nineteen! That's 'Retha Franklin. She don't remember the Queen of Soul. - Steely Dan
1)Where would you retire to?
A. If spit were wishes and I could have anything I wanted, I would have three homes. One where I am now for spring and fall, one in Vermont for summer, and another in Savannah, Georgia, for winter. As it is, I expect to be right here in ol' Virginny until the worms eat me.
2)What are your best physical features?
A. I have good skin, or used to - I'm starting to get moles and barnacles as I age.
3)What are your best characteristics?
A. I am loyal and smart. I have the ability to see right into the heart of a problem and find a solution (so long as the problem doesn't involve myself - that's too close for solutions, apparently).
4)What kind of books do you like to read?
A. Literary fiction, fantasy, mysteries, chick lit, young adult fantasy and other good stories, gothic romances and nonfiction health books, as far as genres go. Some of my favorite authors are Janet Smiley, Nora Roberts, Phyllis Whitney (old school there), Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton, Anita Shreve, Tamara Pierce - oh, heck, there are just too many to name.
5)What are you reading now?
A. At the moment I am reading Healing Pelvic Pain by Amy Stein.
6)Where would you want to retire to?
A. Didn't we already answer this question?
7)What is your favorite time of the day?
A. I like the hours between 10 and 2. Dr. Pepper time.
8)Where did you grow up?
A. I grew up about six miles from where I live now, on a farm.
9)How far away from your birthplace do you live now?
A. Not very far.
10)Are you a morning person or a night owl?
A. I'm a middle-of-the-day person.
11)What inspires you?
A. Good stories, pretty pictures, friends, interesting conversations, Mother Nature.
12)Can you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows?
A. Well, I tried but without looking at myself in the mirror, which I can't do with my eyes closed, I am not certain. It feels like the eyebrows go up but I can't swear to it.
13)Do you have pets?
A. I have a herd of cattle, lots of deer that think I belong to them, and a couple of rabbits that believe my flowers and garden to be their personal domain. Also a few turkeys believe that I am here for their amusement, and the other day I found a few vultures roosting on my roof. The latter creeped me out.
14)How many rings before you answer the phone?
A. I have to get it before it rings four times or the voice mail kicks in.
15)What are some of the different jobs that you have had in your life?
A. Babysitter, file clerk, secretary, legal secretary, news reporter, news stringer, freelance writer, bookkeeper, computer repair person, webmaster, blogger, poet, nonfiction writer, photographer, professional student, teacher, house cleaner, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, granddaughter.
16)Any new and exciting things that you would like to share?
A. Not really. I can give you a health update - I'm in pain, now trying specialized physical therapy at a place with nice people but parking from hell, and still don't have a diagnosis as to what is wrong with me. I think the 60+ ulcers I had in my tummy have mostly healed, and the nausea is all but gone, which helps a lot. I have little stamina or energy and most activities make my abdomen hurt. Things that used to take me minutes to do can now take an hour. There is improvement but it is slow.
17)What is most important in life?
A. At this point I would say your health. I wish I'd realized that about 30 years ago.
18)Did you dream last night?
A. Yes, very vividly. And in color.
19)Do you remember your dreams?
A. I do. Last night I dreamed I was trapped in molasses and my husband was trying to pull me out. It hurt, and there was a lot of screaming involved.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
A Beat Up Old Wrap Thing
Saturday 9
"Meet the Flintstones" (The Flintstones Theme)
A. I had dogs, cows, chickens, ducks, quail, peacocks, guineas, and probably other things I am forgetting. The dogs that I can recall were Prince and Princess (two Dalmatians, one of whom was run over by the ice cream truck at my grandmother's house); Heidi, a poodle; her son, Major; Schooner, a mixed-breed collie mutt; and Clipper and Trixie, who were sisters. After I left home, my husband and I had a dog named Ginger for 17 years. After she died in 2001, I choose not to have any more dogs.
Also when I was young, we had two baby calves that we bottle-fed; their names were Jack and Jill.
5) Mr. Slate is Fred's blustery boss at quarry, and he frequently threatens to fire Fred. Have you ever had a bad-tempered boss?
A. I once had a boss who would dictate into the dictation machine while he was eating. The letters would sound like, "Dear Mr. So & So, (slurp, chomp) As yoiuknuynuyj (who knew what he was saying), we are going to file suit tomorrow (slurp, chomp)."
I was expected to make something out of this. Finally, when I had had enough and was about one day away from quitting, I typed out the letter exactly as it sounded, which was much like the above. I got into trouble for it but as you may have gathered, by that time I didn't really care. He was not necessarily a bad-tempered boss, he was just a jerk all the way around. He got fired not long after I left the company. I was not surprised.
7) In 1961, The Flintstones was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy Award as Outstanding Comedy Series. Do you watch awards shows?
A. No. They are boring.
8) There are at least two Flintstones-themed amusement parks currently in operation. Do you enjoy scary rides?
9) Flintstones Vitamins are still on store shelves. Do you take a vitamin each morning?
A. I take one every evening. I graduated from Flintstones vitamins to Centrum Silver, though.
****************
Bonus mini-rant that has nothing to do with The Flintstones or Saturday 9:
I really don't understand how people can blame the POTUS for the things the health insurance companies do. My insurance has been dictating my care since 1985, and never for the better, I assure you. Thanks to the insurance companies back then, I was not able to have a child. They wouldn't pay for my care for endometriosis until it nearly killed me (it was a pre-existing condition), and by then it was too late.
Now I am again having a health care crisis, and my insurance company doesn't want to pay for my physical therapy. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act and everything to do with stockholders trying to get money out of something that should not be done privately to begin with.
If you want to blame POTUS for anything, it should be the fact that he caved in and didn't create a single payer system (Medicare for all), which would have destroyed the insurance industry and put doctors back in control of health care.
"Meet the Flintstones" (The Flintstones Theme)
(Recommended by Harriet)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) The song promises that, "When you're with the Flintstones, you'll have a yabba-dabba-doo time." So clearly Wilma was one accomplished hostess. What about you? Do you enjoy having company?
1) The song promises that, "When you're with the Flintstones, you'll have a yabba-dabba-doo time." So clearly Wilma was one accomplished hostess. What about you? Do you enjoy having company?
A. I just today took a test that said I was 97 percent introvert and 3 percent extrovert. What can we extrapolate from that? I bet the answer is that I am not the best hostess. I have people over occasionally but it is infrequent. Some years it is only once a year, at Christmas. I am perfectly fine with that.
2) Since lyrics say, "Let's ride with the family down the street/courtesy of Fred's two feet," we're assuming the pedal-powered Flintstone car didn't require much gas. Are you loyal to a particular brand of gas? Or do you fill up with whatever is nearby, or least expensive?
2) Since lyrics say, "Let's ride with the family down the street/courtesy of Fred's two feet," we're assuming the pedal-powered Flintstone car didn't require much gas. Are you loyal to a particular brand of gas? Or do you fill up with whatever is nearby, or least expensive?
A. I prefer Citgo gas but the store that sold it locally closed. Now I buy my gas at Kroger and I have no idea what they actually sell. I do know that I have to use more fuel-injector cleaner with it than I ever did with Citgo gas.
3) Clearly a sharp-dressed man in stone-age Bedrock wore a long tunic and no pants. What are you wearing right now, as you answer these questions?
3) Clearly a sharp-dressed man in stone-age Bedrock wore a long tunic and no pants. What are you wearing right now, as you answer these questions?
A. A pair of jeans, a short-sleeved pull-over sweater, brand-new $130 sneakers, and a beat-up old wrap thing that I call "blue thing" that is more than 20 years old and full of holes. Also socks and underwear, but no bra. How's that for too much information?
4) Pebbles Flintstone grew up with Dino the Dinosaur and Baby Puss the Saber-Tooth Cat. Did you have any pets as you were growing up?
4) Pebbles Flintstone grew up with Dino the Dinosaur and Baby Puss the Saber-Tooth Cat. Did you have any pets as you were growing up?
A. I had dogs, cows, chickens, ducks, quail, peacocks, guineas, and probably other things I am forgetting. The dogs that I can recall were Prince and Princess (two Dalmatians, one of whom was run over by the ice cream truck at my grandmother's house); Heidi, a poodle; her son, Major; Schooner, a mixed-breed collie mutt; and Clipper and Trixie, who were sisters. After I left home, my husband and I had a dog named Ginger for 17 years. After she died in 2001, I choose not to have any more dogs.
Also when I was young, we had two baby calves that we bottle-fed; their names were Jack and Jill.
5) Mr. Slate is Fred's blustery boss at quarry, and he frequently threatens to fire Fred. Have you ever had a bad-tempered boss?
A. I once had a boss who would dictate into the dictation machine while he was eating. The letters would sound like, "Dear Mr. So & So, (slurp, chomp) As yoiuknuynuyj (who knew what he was saying), we are going to file suit tomorrow (slurp, chomp)."
I was expected to make something out of this. Finally, when I had had enough and was about one day away from quitting, I typed out the letter exactly as it sounded, which was much like the above. I got into trouble for it but as you may have gathered, by that time I didn't really care. He was not necessarily a bad-tempered boss, he was just a jerk all the way around. He got fired not long after I left the company. I was not surprised.
6) It's estimated that during The Flintstones original run (1960-1966), it was viewed by as many adults as kids. Now that you're a grown up, do you still watch cartoons?
A. I used to enjoy Captain Planet and Reboot in the 1990s, but I don't think either of them are on now. I don't think I have watched a cartoon in a good 10 years.
7) In 1961, The Flintstones was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy Award as Outstanding Comedy Series. Do you watch awards shows?
A. No. They are boring.
8) There are at least two Flintstones-themed amusement parks currently in operation. Do you enjoy scary rides?
A. If the ride didn't jerk me around and dislodge body parts, I might. But I am fragile and break easily and gave up on amusement rides a long time ago.
9) Flintstones Vitamins are still on store shelves. Do you take a vitamin each morning?
A. I take one every evening. I graduated from Flintstones vitamins to Centrum Silver, though.
Bonus mini-rant that has nothing to do with The Flintstones or Saturday 9:
I really don't understand how people can blame the POTUS for the things the health insurance companies do. My insurance has been dictating my care since 1985, and never for the better, I assure you. Thanks to the insurance companies back then, I was not able to have a child. They wouldn't pay for my care for endometriosis until it nearly killed me (it was a pre-existing condition), and by then it was too late.
Now I am again having a health care crisis, and my insurance company doesn't want to pay for my physical therapy. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Affordable Care Act and everything to do with stockholders trying to get money out of something that should not be done privately to begin with.
If you want to blame POTUS for anything, it should be the fact that he caved in and didn't create a single payer system (Medicare for all), which would have destroyed the insurance industry and put doctors back in control of health care.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)