Sunday Stealing
1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier.
A. It gives me instant access to education and made it easier for me to do my freelance work.
2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you?
A. The Ponderosa.
3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones? Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments?
A. I am afraid I don't reply to comments on my blog with regular frequency. I also do not go back to see if authors have commented on my comments, unless it is a topic I have great interest in. I value all of my readers and every blog writer I read, but I forget to go back so unless it's a heady topic I don't remember.
4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision?
A. Depends on what it is. Emergency appendectomy versus blessing out my insurance company are two very different decisions.
5. Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment?
A. I try to gather a lot of information, even for emergency surgeries.
6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently?
A. Everyone should know what their insurance policies cover and what happens when you file a claim. While your claims adjuster and insurance agent should be assets to you when you need information, that is not always the case. Additionally, like most industries, insurance companies have their own acronyms and code words. Don't hesitate to ask if you don't understand.
7. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill.
A. I have many skills, including the ability to quote Xena: Warrior Princess saying, "I have many skills."
8. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer.
A. I don't define god the way most Christians do, so I am not sure how to answer this. I see the infinite in everything and the infinite to me is sacred. Therefore everything is sacred and the search for knowledge of everything encompasses my religion.
9. What’s one of your nicknames? How did you get that nickname?
A. My husband calls me Sweetie Pie. I have no idea why.
10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why?
A. My medication, because without them my blood pressure would go zoom! Also my eyeglasses so I could see.
11. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not?
A. I read books on a Kindle as well as on my iPhone, but I prefer real books. E-books are handy when you're at the doctor's office or waiting somewhere, but for a long reading session, I want a real book in my hands. I like the feel of it, the weight of it, the action of turning pages. A book is like a little lover whose words are softly tickling your fancy. I don't get the same notions from e-books.
12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why?
A. I do both, but I write more on a keyboard because I can delete and edit. But if I am in need of deep thoughts, I write longhand. I also generally write poetry in longhand.
13. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.)
A. My shoes say I am a bit careless, because they are always scuffed even though they're leather sneakers. They say I won't hesitate to spend money on a good pair of shoes because these are expensive sneakers I need because of issues with my feet (I wear custom orthotics and these are the only shoes that fit them.). They also say I walk around a lot because they are showing wear on the bottoms even though I bought them in June. (I average 2 miles a day according to my Fitbit.)
14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.
A. That would be the sneakers I have on and just described. They are white leather shoes, wide width, with laces. They are Apex shoes and I recommend them to anyone who needs a stiff sole in their shoe.
15. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be?
A. I would like to have the ability to move through time.
BONUS: When they "cool sculpt" your body, where does the fat go?
A. That's what Cool Whip is made of. I thought everyone knew that.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Saturday 9: Think
Think (1968)
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.
In fond remembrance of The Queen of Soul (1942-2018). Farewell, Aretha Franklin.
1) As befits one of America's premiere artists, Aretha Franklin sang at three Presidential inaugurations. The first was Jimmy Carter's in 1977, when she sang "God Bless America." What's your favorite patriotic song?
A. America the Beautiful
2) The daughter of a Baptist minister, Aretha grew up with church music. She told Rolling Stone one of her favorite songs was the hymn, "Victory Is Mine." What's your favorite religious song?
A. Amazing Grace
3) She welled up a bit when President George H. W. Bush presented her with the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. When is the last time you shed a tear?
A. This is going to sound weird, but I was in the car at the stoplight earlier this week, and the song "This is my fight song" came on the radio. I had this sudden image cross my mind of Hillary Clinton appearing on TV, breaking the imaginary glass ceiling, and I started to cry, right there in the car.
4) In 1980, the Queen of Soul sang for the Queen of England in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall. Have you ever been to London?
A. A plane I was on stopped at Heathrow on its way to Spain. Otherwise, no.
5) Since Aretha had many honorary degrees, it would have been appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you referred to by his or her title (Officer, Father, Sgt., Dr., etc.)?
A. My chiropractor.
6) In this week's song, Aretha tells her lover that it doesn't take a high IQ to understand what's going on in their relationship. Do you know your IQ?
A. Haven't a clue. I was told a long time ago in school that it was above average but I have no idea of the score.
7) A sculpture of Aretha is on display at Madame Tussaud's in New York. Do you think wax museums are cool, or creepy?
A. I think it depends on the museum and the subject matter.
8) Aretha and Motown legend Smokey Robinson were literally lifelong friends, since they were playground buddies in Detroit. Smokey is one of the only people who can claim to have seen The Queen of Soul with a bucket in a sandbox. If we went to the playground today, would you head for the swings, the slide or the jungle gym? Or, like Aretha, would you play in the sand?
A. I'd go for the carousel, though I don't think they have those at playgrounds anymore. My second choice would be the swing.
9) Random question: Do you like pumpkin seeds?
A. They turn into pumpkins if you plant them, so sure.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's song. Hear it here.
In fond remembrance of The Queen of Soul (1942-2018). Farewell, Aretha Franklin.
1) As befits one of America's premiere artists, Aretha Franklin sang at three Presidential inaugurations. The first was Jimmy Carter's in 1977, when she sang "God Bless America." What's your favorite patriotic song?
A. America the Beautiful
2) The daughter of a Baptist minister, Aretha grew up with church music. She told Rolling Stone one of her favorite songs was the hymn, "Victory Is Mine." What's your favorite religious song?
A. Amazing Grace
3) She welled up a bit when President George H. W. Bush presented her with the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. When is the last time you shed a tear?
A. This is going to sound weird, but I was in the car at the stoplight earlier this week, and the song "This is my fight song" came on the radio. I had this sudden image cross my mind of Hillary Clinton appearing on TV, breaking the imaginary glass ceiling, and I started to cry, right there in the car.
4) In 1980, the Queen of Soul sang for the Queen of England in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall. Have you ever been to London?
A. A plane I was on stopped at Heathrow on its way to Spain. Otherwise, no.
5) Since Aretha had many honorary degrees, it would have been appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you referred to by his or her title (Officer, Father, Sgt., Dr., etc.)?
A. My chiropractor.
6) In this week's song, Aretha tells her lover that it doesn't take a high IQ to understand what's going on in their relationship. Do you know your IQ?
A. Haven't a clue. I was told a long time ago in school that it was above average but I have no idea of the score.
7) A sculpture of Aretha is on display at Madame Tussaud's in New York. Do you think wax museums are cool, or creepy?
A. I think it depends on the museum and the subject matter.
8) Aretha and Motown legend Smokey Robinson were literally lifelong friends, since they were playground buddies in Detroit. Smokey is one of the only people who can claim to have seen The Queen of Soul with a bucket in a sandbox. If we went to the playground today, would you head for the swings, the slide or the jungle gym? Or, like Aretha, would you play in the sand?
A. I'd go for the carousel, though I don't think they have those at playgrounds anymore. My second choice would be the swing.
9) Random question: Do you like pumpkin seeds?
A. They turn into pumpkins if you plant them, so sure.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Thursday Thirteen
I readily admit I stole this idea from something I saw on Facebook.
______________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 566th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Destination
|
How
to Get There
|
Home
|
Country Roads
|
Memphis
|
Loving somebody and following them
|
Winslow, AZ
|
Flat Bed Ford
|
Desert
|
Horse with No Name
|
Illinois Central Station
|
Ridin' on the City of New Orleans
|
Heartbreak Hotel
|
Lonely Street
|
Georgia
|
Midnight Train
|
Heaven
|
Stairway
|
The Sea
|
Fly Like an Eagle
|
Hotel California
|
Dark desert highway
|
Honalee
|
A boat with billowed sail
|
Hell
|
Highway
|
Round the Mountain
|
Six white horses
|
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Still Dealing with the Dishwasher Damage
The insurance company dragged its feet for an entire week, but after an unhappy policy holder turned up at the agency office to complain on Monday, things began moving again.
Tuesday the plumber showed up. Really nice guy from Eagle Rock, Richard Craft. Seemed to know his stuff and I give him a big thumbs up for a job well done.
After he left, I had this:
Today I went to take the car to Christiansburg for service, and when I returned, I found this:
The next step is to have a drywall person come in (I hope I don't need an insulation person, too. Surely not.). That person will fix the hole. The reason there is a hole is because the wall was black with mold from the leak from the dishwasher. There was mold on the cabinet, too.
Trying to figure out dinner when you have nothing but a tiny bathroom sink to wash a big pot in is a real challenge. I think we might be eating out a lot until this issue is fixed.
Lesson? Keep a closer eye on things that deal with water. Water in the sink is good. Water in the cabinets, not good.
 |
| For two weeks we had this hole, minus the flooring, which was removed on August 6. Then the waiting began. |
 |
| Minus the flooring. Alas, my parquet. I loved you for 30 years. |
Tuesday the plumber showed up. Really nice guy from Eagle Rock, Richard Craft. Seemed to know his stuff and I give him a big thumbs up for a job well done.
After he left, I had this:
 |
| No sink. |
 |
| No cabinet and the drywall's been cut out. |
The next step is to have a drywall person come in (I hope I don't need an insulation person, too. Surely not.). That person will fix the hole. The reason there is a hole is because the wall was black with mold from the leak from the dishwasher. There was mold on the cabinet, too.
Trying to figure out dinner when you have nothing but a tiny bathroom sink to wash a big pot in is a real challenge. I think we might be eating out a lot until this issue is fixed.
Lesson? Keep a closer eye on things that deal with water. Water in the sink is good. Water in the cabinets, not good.
Monday, August 20, 2018
A Visit From Mr. Skunk
Early Saturday morning I had a visitor in the field. I shot these in low light, so they're not the best.
One thing I was intrigued by was the snake-like way the skunk moved about the field as it searched for grubs. It moved as if it had no bones, almost. The skunk was minding its own business, seeking breakfast, and I was far enough away not to bother it. Thank goodness for a long-lens camera!
We smell them occasionally but rarely see skunks, so I was pleased to get these photos.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. Name three fears.
A. Fear of being homeless, fear of being left behind, fear of losing my mind.
2. Name three things you love.
A. My husband, my other family members, my technological gadgets.
3. Name four turn-ons.
A. I am turned on by stimulating intelligent conversation, chocolate, learning, and music.
4. Name four turn-offs.
A. I am turned off by people who don't bathe, certain foods, snakes, and anger.
5. Who is your best friend?
A. I have several close friends. I don't like to name just one; someone might be hurt by that.
6. Name your favorite book.
A. Lord of the Rings
7. Tell about your best first date.
A. My best first date was with my husband. We met at a football game (Lord Botetourt v. James River, 1982), and we were underneath the goal posts watching the game. We weren't actually on a date. Our friends had maneuvered us so that we met. We went dancing after the game. Since I have been married to him for 35 years, it must have went well.
8. How tall are you?
A. I am 5' 2" tall.
9. What do you miss?
A. I miss my grandmother a great deal. We talked on the phone a lot and sometimes when I am feeling very lonely I wish I still had her to call.
10. What time were you born?
A. I was born on a day when the world was standing still while spring began its sojourn into summer, under the sign of Gemini.
11. What is your favorite color?
A. My favorite color is blue.
12. Do you have a crush on anyone?
A. No.
13. What is your favorite quote?
A. "Not all those who wander are lost." J.R. R. Tolkien
14. What is your favorite place?
A. My home.
15. What is your favorite food?
A. Chocolate. That technically is not a food, but what the hey.
16. Do you use sarcasm?
A. Oh right. Like I would ever use sarcasm to make a point. What do you think I am, a pencil?
17. What are you listening to right now?
A. The sound of silence, aside from the pecking sound my fingers make when they hit my keyboard.
18. What is the first thing you notice when you meet someone new?
A. Their posture.
19. What is your eye color?
A. Hazel, but my eyes are liked cracked ice.
20. What is your hair color?
A. Brown and "soft white."
__________
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. (#245)
1. Name three fears.
A. Fear of being homeless, fear of being left behind, fear of losing my mind.
2. Name three things you love.
A. My husband, my other family members, my technological gadgets.
3. Name four turn-ons.
A. I am turned on by stimulating intelligent conversation, chocolate, learning, and music.
4. Name four turn-offs.
A. I am turned off by people who don't bathe, certain foods, snakes, and anger.
5. Who is your best friend?
A. I have several close friends. I don't like to name just one; someone might be hurt by that.
6. Name your favorite book.
A. Lord of the Rings
7. Tell about your best first date.
A. My best first date was with my husband. We met at a football game (Lord Botetourt v. James River, 1982), and we were underneath the goal posts watching the game. We weren't actually on a date. Our friends had maneuvered us so that we met. We went dancing after the game. Since I have been married to him for 35 years, it must have went well.
8. How tall are you?
A. I am 5' 2" tall.
9. What do you miss?
A. I miss my grandmother a great deal. We talked on the phone a lot and sometimes when I am feeling very lonely I wish I still had her to call.
10. What time were you born?
A. I was born on a day when the world was standing still while spring began its sojourn into summer, under the sign of Gemini.
11. What is your favorite color?
A. My favorite color is blue.
12. Do you have a crush on anyone?
A. No.
13. What is your favorite quote?
A. "Not all those who wander are lost." J.R. R. Tolkien
14. What is your favorite place?
A. My home.
15. What is your favorite food?
A. Chocolate. That technically is not a food, but what the hey.
16. Do you use sarcasm?
A. Oh right. Like I would ever use sarcasm to make a point. What do you think I am, a pencil?
17. What are you listening to right now?
A. The sound of silence, aside from the pecking sound my fingers make when they hit my keyboard.
18. What is the first thing you notice when you meet someone new?
A. Their posture.
19. What is your eye color?
A. Hazel, but my eyes are liked cracked ice.
20. What is your hair color?
A. Brown and "soft white."
__________
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. (#245)
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Saturday 9: It's a Jungle Out There
Saturday 9: It's a Jungle Out There (Theme from Monk) (2003)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's song is the theme from the detective show that ran from 2002-2009. Were you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show.
2) The song warns us about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Does your home have an air or water filter?
A. My home has both types of filters.
3) The lyrics say, "People say I'm crazy to worry all the time." Are you a worrier? Or do you just take things as they come?
A. I worry. As my husband says, if it is there, I worry about it.
4) TV's Adrian Monk is known for his outstanding deductive powers, an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Have you read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books featuring Sherlock Holmes?
A. Yes. I took a class in detective literature and read several of his books then.
5) Monk was also known for fastidiousness and precision, an homage to Hercule Poirot. Have you read any of Agatha Christie's books featuring Poirot?
A. Yes, in the class I mentioned in #4.
6) This song was written and performed by Grammy and Emmy winner Randy Newman. Do you have any trophies or plaques?
A. I have my three college degrees, about a dozen Virginia Press Association Awards, some short story and poetry awards, and there are plaques in two of the county libraries with my name on them because I was on the county library board and helped oversee construction on the buildings. (One was a renovation, the other was a brand new library.)
P.S. I have disliked Randy Newman ever since he did that song Short People.
7) Before winning an Oscar in 2001, Mr. Newman had the distinction of having the most nominations (15) without a win. Do you consider yourself a graceful loser?
A. I hope so.
8) In 2003, when this song was introduced, Lance Armstrong won his fifth Tour de France. Later, he was disgraced in a doping scandal. Can you think of a time when a hero disappointed you?
A. Yes. Actually I can think of many times multiple people that I had high regard for disappointed me. They're still around so I won't mention names or events, except for one: a person I was friends with, in real life and on Facebook, unfriended me and refuses to respond to my query as to why (we share the same politics and I don't post much political stuff anyway, so I am sure that wasn't it). I didn't do anything so I don't know what brought that on. Her loss, but I am disappointed. Not exactly a hero story but there you go.
9) Random question -- We're catering lunch. Should we put you down for a burger or a taco?
A. Can I please simply have the house salad? My ulcers are acting up.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's song is the theme from the detective show that ran from 2002-2009. Were you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show.
2) The song warns us about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Does your home have an air or water filter?
A. My home has both types of filters.
3) The lyrics say, "People say I'm crazy to worry all the time." Are you a worrier? Or do you just take things as they come?
A. I worry. As my husband says, if it is there, I worry about it.
4) TV's Adrian Monk is known for his outstanding deductive powers, an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Have you read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books featuring Sherlock Holmes?
A. Yes. I took a class in detective literature and read several of his books then.
5) Monk was also known for fastidiousness and precision, an homage to Hercule Poirot. Have you read any of Agatha Christie's books featuring Poirot?
A. Yes, in the class I mentioned in #4.
6) This song was written and performed by Grammy and Emmy winner Randy Newman. Do you have any trophies or plaques?
A. I have my three college degrees, about a dozen Virginia Press Association Awards, some short story and poetry awards, and there are plaques in two of the county libraries with my name on them because I was on the county library board and helped oversee construction on the buildings. (One was a renovation, the other was a brand new library.)
P.S. I have disliked Randy Newman ever since he did that song Short People.
7) Before winning an Oscar in 2001, Mr. Newman had the distinction of having the most nominations (15) without a win. Do you consider yourself a graceful loser?
A. I hope so.
8) In 2003, when this song was introduced, Lance Armstrong won his fifth Tour de France. Later, he was disgraced in a doping scandal. Can you think of a time when a hero disappointed you?
A. Yes. Actually I can think of many times multiple people that I had high regard for disappointed me. They're still around so I won't mention names or events, except for one: a person I was friends with, in real life and on Facebook, unfriended me and refuses to respond to my query as to why (we share the same politics and I don't post much political stuff anyway, so I am sure that wasn't it). I didn't do anything so I don't know what brought that on. Her loss, but I am disappointed. Not exactly a hero story but there you go.
9) Random question -- We're catering lunch. Should we put you down for a burger or a taco?
A. Can I please simply have the house salad? My ulcers are acting up.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Thursday Thirteen #565
1. Fast lane
2. A highway.
3. Slow lane.
4. Two lanes.
5. Single lane.
6. Dirt road.
7. Brick road.
8. Path.
9. Trail.
10. Alley
11. Interstate
12. Byway
13. Boulevard
Now, can you think of songs that have those types of roads in them?
________________________
Life in the fast lane
Life is a highway
Follow the yellow brick road
There's an interstate running through the back yard, you know, he thinks he's got it so good.
The boulevard is not that bad.
What about the others?
______________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 565th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
2. A highway.
3. Slow lane.
4. Two lanes.
5. Single lane.
6. Dirt road.
7. Brick road.
8. Path.
9. Trail.
10. Alley
11. Interstate
12. Byway
13. Boulevard
Now, can you think of songs that have those types of roads in them?
________________________
Life in the fast lane
Life is a highway
Follow the yellow brick road
There's an interstate running through the back yard, you know, he thinks he's got it so good.
The boulevard is not that bad.
What about the others?
______________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 565th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Monday, August 13, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. You’re in a tattoo parlor about to get inked. What are you getting done?
A. I think I'd have a dragon.
2. If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be?
A. I would be Nancy Drew. That's not exactly "literary" but "literary" is such a nebulous description. If that doesn't work, then I would want to be Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter series, and if I must be even more literary, then I shall be Galadriel from Lord of the Rings. Actually, maybe I'll just be Galadriel.
3. You’re given $10,000. There is one condition: you cannot keep the money for yourself. Who would you give it to?
A. I would give it to either my local library or to my alma mater. If I have to give it to a person, then I would divide it into 10 sets of $1,000 and go check with Social Services to see who would need it most.
4. If you had to go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
A. I would not have left my job at an attorney's office in 1985. I'd have stayed there. That means I'd have never been a news reporter, probably, but financially it would have offered more stability.
5. If you had to delete one year of your life completely, which would it be?
A. Well, 2013 kind of sucked because I had surgery and 60 ulcers.
6. You’re an action movie hero. What’s your weapon of choice and the line you scream when defeating your arch enemy?
A. My weapon of choice would be A Shout (from The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and basically a word spell), and after I defeated my arch enemy I would say, "I told you not to mess with me."
7. What is the first curse word that comes to mind?
A. F&ck. I'm afraid I overuse that one anymore.
8. Would you rather be stranded on a desert island with someone you love for ten years or someone you hate for a month? Explain why.
A. I would rather be stranded for a month with a someone I hate because I would only be there a month, which is a very short time compared to 10 years. Besides, I don't actually hate anyone and I would think that if you're stranded somewhere, after a few weeks you'd have to start cooperating. Or you could go to the other side of the island and be by yourself if you had to. Also, I would not want my loved one stranded somewhere, even if it was with me.
9. 5 things within touching distance:
A. A glass, a Burts Bees chapstick, a notebook, a ukulele, a box of tissues.
10. What are you supposed to be doing right now?
A. Exactly what I am doing.
11. Currently wanting to see anyone?
A. I always want to see my husband and my friends, but at the moment, after an overwhelming week, being alone has benefits.
12. Would you go against your moral code for money?
A. That rather depends on which part of my moral code I'm breaking. Break a little law like going over the speed limit? Sure, I would probably do that. Break a big law like killing someone? No, I would not do that. This question is too ambiguous to answer properly.
13. What’s more important to you: strength of the body or strength of the mind?
A. Strength of the mind. It would be nice to have both.
14. How important you think education is?
A. I think education is the most important thing in the world and the best thing a person can do for herself.
15. If you were the president, what would you do?
A. What a loaded question. I would ask Congress to implement universal healthcare (Medicare for all). I would ask for funding to increase the number of people overseeing government programs like welfare so that caseloads could be sufficiently managed. (I would cut out a few expensive military items to pay for that.) I would return the National Parks oversight to the government and take it out of private hands. I would return the EPA to its previous state (pre-#45) and increase scientific research funding for energy needs as well as healthcare needs, so that we could decrease our dependency on limited resources and instead switch to unlimited resources, like the sun, and cure diseases. I would increase taxes on people who make over $250,000 a year and lower them on people who make less. (Did you know that in 1945 the tax rate for high income earners was 86%? That is true. That was the year it was decreased from 90%.) I would improve educational opportunities for everyone through national college system of some sort. I would tax churches. I would improve roads and rail travel so that we are on par with better-developed countries like Japan and depend less on vehicles. I would like to make the United States a fairer place for everyone. But I will never be president so it really doesn't matter.
__________
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.
1. You’re in a tattoo parlor about to get inked. What are you getting done?
A. I think I'd have a dragon.
2. If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be?
A. I would be Nancy Drew. That's not exactly "literary" but "literary" is such a nebulous description. If that doesn't work, then I would want to be Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter series, and if I must be even more literary, then I shall be Galadriel from Lord of the Rings. Actually, maybe I'll just be Galadriel.
3. You’re given $10,000. There is one condition: you cannot keep the money for yourself. Who would you give it to?
A. I would give it to either my local library or to my alma mater. If I have to give it to a person, then I would divide it into 10 sets of $1,000 and go check with Social Services to see who would need it most.
4. If you had to go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
A. I would not have left my job at an attorney's office in 1985. I'd have stayed there. That means I'd have never been a news reporter, probably, but financially it would have offered more stability.
5. If you had to delete one year of your life completely, which would it be?
A. Well, 2013 kind of sucked because I had surgery and 60 ulcers.
6. You’re an action movie hero. What’s your weapon of choice and the line you scream when defeating your arch enemy?
A. My weapon of choice would be A Shout (from The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and basically a word spell), and after I defeated my arch enemy I would say, "I told you not to mess with me."
7. What is the first curse word that comes to mind?
A. F&ck. I'm afraid I overuse that one anymore.
8. Would you rather be stranded on a desert island with someone you love for ten years or someone you hate for a month? Explain why.
A. I would rather be stranded for a month with a someone I hate because I would only be there a month, which is a very short time compared to 10 years. Besides, I don't actually hate anyone and I would think that if you're stranded somewhere, after a few weeks you'd have to start cooperating. Or you could go to the other side of the island and be by yourself if you had to. Also, I would not want my loved one stranded somewhere, even if it was with me.
9. 5 things within touching distance:
A. A glass, a Burts Bees chapstick, a notebook, a ukulele, a box of tissues.
10. What are you supposed to be doing right now?
A. Exactly what I am doing.
11. Currently wanting to see anyone?
A. I always want to see my husband and my friends, but at the moment, after an overwhelming week, being alone has benefits.
12. Would you go against your moral code for money?
A. That rather depends on which part of my moral code I'm breaking. Break a little law like going over the speed limit? Sure, I would probably do that. Break a big law like killing someone? No, I would not do that. This question is too ambiguous to answer properly.
13. What’s more important to you: strength of the body or strength of the mind?
A. Strength of the mind. It would be nice to have both.
14. How important you think education is?
A. I think education is the most important thing in the world and the best thing a person can do for herself.
15. If you were the president, what would you do?
A. What a loaded question. I would ask Congress to implement universal healthcare (Medicare for all). I would ask for funding to increase the number of people overseeing government programs like welfare so that caseloads could be sufficiently managed. (I would cut out a few expensive military items to pay for that.) I would return the National Parks oversight to the government and take it out of private hands. I would return the EPA to its previous state (pre-#45) and increase scientific research funding for energy needs as well as healthcare needs, so that we could decrease our dependency on limited resources and instead switch to unlimited resources, like the sun, and cure diseases. I would increase taxes on people who make over $250,000 a year and lower them on people who make less. (Did you know that in 1945 the tax rate for high income earners was 86%? That is true. That was the year it was decreased from 90%.) I would improve educational opportunities for everyone through national college system of some sort. I would tax churches. I would improve roads and rail travel so that we are on par with better-developed countries like Japan and depend less on vehicles. I would like to make the United States a fairer place for everyone. But I will never be president so it really doesn't matter.
__________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Saturday 9: The Nanny
Saturday 9: The Nanny (1993)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's song is the theme from a sitcom that originally aired from 1993 to 1999. Were you a fan?
A. No. I did not watch this show.
2) The song tells us that Fran once worked in a bridal shop. Have you ever worked in a retail setting?
A. I had a friend who set up a "general store" type establishment in downtown Roanoke back in the mid-1990s. I worked for her for about a year, helping stock and acting as a sales clerk. I learned a lot. For one thing, the markup on everything is at least 100% but frequently as much as 300%. That is why stores can have big sales - they have lots of room to lower prices before they reach their actual purchase price.
3) The kids in the Sheffield household appreciate their nanny's "joie de vivre," which is defined as "exuberant enjoyment of life." Are you feeling joie de vivre this morning?
A. I rarely feel joie de vivre.
4) "The Nanny" is the colorful one, the one who wears red when everyone else wears tan. What color do you think you look best in?
A. Blue or black.
5) The TV show, The Nanny, was the brainchild of actress Fran Drescher. She got the idea while visiting her an old friend in London. Her friend's pre-teen daughter enjoyed having Fran as a confidante and shopping buddy. Do you enjoy shopping as a leisure activity? Or would you prefer to just dash into a store, grab what you need, and get out and go home?
A. I go in, grab what I need, and get out of there. The exception would be book stores, electronic shops, and office supply stores. I don't mind lingering in those places. But dress stores? Shoe stores? Blah.
6) The friend Fran was visiting in London was Twiggy, who was the world's most famous model in the 1960s. Name another famous model.
A. Cindy Crawford.
7) The Nanny: The Complete Series is available on DVD on Amazon. It consists of 19 discs and takes 55 hours to watch, start to finish. What TV show have you recently binge watched?
A. The last show I binge-watched was Downton Abby and that has been at least a year ago if not longer. I don't generally binge-watch TV. Actually I don't watch that much TV, comparatively speaking.
8) The Nanny theme was sung by Liz Callaway. Her father, the late John Callway, was a long-time Chicago newscaster. Have you, or has a loved one, ever been on TV?
A. I have been on TV, a very long time ago. It had something to do with school. Oh shoot, I was in a TV news interview not that long ago. Duh. Here's a link: http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Proposal-for-new-substation-in-Botetourt-485193201.html
9) Random question -- Which of these adjectives comes closest to describing you: sexy, sophisticated or down-to-earth?
A. Down-to-earth, I suppose. I'm certainly not sexy, and I don't think of myself as sophisticated.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. (#245)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This week's song is the theme from a sitcom that originally aired from 1993 to 1999. Were you a fan?
A. No. I did not watch this show.
2) The song tells us that Fran once worked in a bridal shop. Have you ever worked in a retail setting?
A. I had a friend who set up a "general store" type establishment in downtown Roanoke back in the mid-1990s. I worked for her for about a year, helping stock and acting as a sales clerk. I learned a lot. For one thing, the markup on everything is at least 100% but frequently as much as 300%. That is why stores can have big sales - they have lots of room to lower prices before they reach their actual purchase price.
3) The kids in the Sheffield household appreciate their nanny's "joie de vivre," which is defined as "exuberant enjoyment of life." Are you feeling joie de vivre this morning?
A. I rarely feel joie de vivre.
4) "The Nanny" is the colorful one, the one who wears red when everyone else wears tan. What color do you think you look best in?
A. Blue or black.
5) The TV show, The Nanny, was the brainchild of actress Fran Drescher. She got the idea while visiting her an old friend in London. Her friend's pre-teen daughter enjoyed having Fran as a confidante and shopping buddy. Do you enjoy shopping as a leisure activity? Or would you prefer to just dash into a store, grab what you need, and get out and go home?
A. I go in, grab what I need, and get out of there. The exception would be book stores, electronic shops, and office supply stores. I don't mind lingering in those places. But dress stores? Shoe stores? Blah.
6) The friend Fran was visiting in London was Twiggy, who was the world's most famous model in the 1960s. Name another famous model.
A. Cindy Crawford.
7) The Nanny: The Complete Series is available on DVD on Amazon. It consists of 19 discs and takes 55 hours to watch, start to finish. What TV show have you recently binge watched?
A. The last show I binge-watched was Downton Abby and that has been at least a year ago if not longer. I don't generally binge-watch TV. Actually I don't watch that much TV, comparatively speaking.
8) The Nanny theme was sung by Liz Callaway. Her father, the late John Callway, was a long-time Chicago newscaster. Have you, or has a loved one, ever been on TV?
A. I have been on TV, a very long time ago. It had something to do with school. Oh shoot, I was in a TV news interview not that long ago. Duh. Here's a link: http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Proposal-for-new-substation-in-Botetourt-485193201.html
9) Random question -- Which of these adjectives comes closest to describing you: sexy, sophisticated or down-to-earth?
A. Down-to-earth, I suppose. I'm certainly not sexy, and I don't think of myself as sophisticated.
_____________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. (#245)
Friday, August 10, 2018
Nice Work
Last weekend we went to the play by the local theater group. Attic Productions, located just outside of Fincastle, puts on some splendid theater, but we don't take advantage of it often enough.
The play we saw was Nice Work if You Can Get It, with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin.
We attended a Saturday matinee and it was full of people. I am pleased that so many folks support this local effort.
This play appeared on Broadway in 2012; it's first production was in 2001.
The story is set in the late 1920s. The basic premise is a rich playboy is trying to marry a decent girl so his mother will let him run the family business. This is his third marriage. In the interim, he runs into a bootlegger (a female) and the bootlegger steals his wallet and decides to use his second house as a storage facility for her illegal hooch.
Hilarity ensues.
We enjoyed ourselves, as we generally do when we manage to make it out. The play shows this weekend for its final time locally, so if you have a chance, check it out. It's a lot of fun.
Thursday, August 09, 2018
Thursday Thirteen
1. Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. ~ Kent Nerburn
2. August, the summer's last messenger of misery, is a hollow actor. ~ Henry Rollins
3. Every year, August lashes out in volcanic fury, rising with the din of morning traffic, its great metallic wings smashing against the ground, heating the air with ever-increasing intensity. ~ Henry Rollins
4. Woodstock happened in August 1969, long before the Internet and mobile phones made it possible to communicate instantly with anyone, anywhere. It was a time when we weren't able to witness world events or the horrors of war live on 24-hour news channels. ~ Richie Havens
5. Summertime, and the reading is easy... Well, maybe not easy, exactly, but July and August are hardly the months to start working your way through the works of Germanic philosophers. Save Hegel, Heidegger, and Husserl for the bleaker days of February. ~ Michael Dirda
6. Though my conduct on the 10th of August 1792 was the act of my life of which I have most reason to be proud, I will here merely do homage to the worthy martyrs of the national sovereignty and the sworn laws, who, while they supported constitutional royalty, manifested the highest degree of republican virtue. ~ Marquis de Lafayette (The Insurrection of 10 August 1792 was a defining event of the French Revolution.The storming of the Tuileries Palace by the National Guard of the Paris Commune and fédérés from Marseille and Brittany caused the fall of the French monarchy.)
7. I can recall back in 1998, in August of that year, when we had a horrible disaster along the Mexican border in the town of Del Rio. At the time, FEMA was the shining star of the federal government. It's now perceived as many to be the dullest knife in the drawer. Right or wrong, that's the perception. ~ Henry Bonilla
8. In August most of Europe goes on holiday. ~ Tony Visconti
9. I kept having the producers of 'Fog in August' take out some of the Nazi terms and phrases. I don't want audiences to look at this doctor and say, 'He is a Nazi monster' and think that it has nothing to do with our lives today. ~ Sebastian Koch
10. On Sunday August 5, 2012, I was among a group of people who witnessed the Rover landing on Mars in real time at NASA's Caltech-managed Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. ~ Ahmed Zewail
11. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. ~ Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty
12. August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time. ~ Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
13. The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. ~ Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
______________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 564th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
2. August, the summer's last messenger of misery, is a hollow actor. ~ Henry Rollins
3. Every year, August lashes out in volcanic fury, rising with the din of morning traffic, its great metallic wings smashing against the ground, heating the air with ever-increasing intensity. ~ Henry Rollins
4. Woodstock happened in August 1969, long before the Internet and mobile phones made it possible to communicate instantly with anyone, anywhere. It was a time when we weren't able to witness world events or the horrors of war live on 24-hour news channels. ~ Richie Havens
5. Summertime, and the reading is easy... Well, maybe not easy, exactly, but July and August are hardly the months to start working your way through the works of Germanic philosophers. Save Hegel, Heidegger, and Husserl for the bleaker days of February. ~ Michael Dirda
6. Though my conduct on the 10th of August 1792 was the act of my life of which I have most reason to be proud, I will here merely do homage to the worthy martyrs of the national sovereignty and the sworn laws, who, while they supported constitutional royalty, manifested the highest degree of republican virtue. ~ Marquis de Lafayette (The Insurrection of 10 August 1792 was a defining event of the French Revolution.The storming of the Tuileries Palace by the National Guard of the Paris Commune and fédérés from Marseille and Brittany caused the fall of the French monarchy.)
7. I can recall back in 1998, in August of that year, when we had a horrible disaster along the Mexican border in the town of Del Rio. At the time, FEMA was the shining star of the federal government. It's now perceived as many to be the dullest knife in the drawer. Right or wrong, that's the perception. ~ Henry Bonilla
8. In August most of Europe goes on holiday. ~ Tony Visconti
9. I kept having the producers of 'Fog in August' take out some of the Nazi terms and phrases. I don't want audiences to look at this doctor and say, 'He is a Nazi monster' and think that it has nothing to do with our lives today. ~ Sebastian Koch
10. On Sunday August 5, 2012, I was among a group of people who witnessed the Rover landing on Mars in real time at NASA's Caltech-managed Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. ~ Ahmed Zewail
11. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. ~ Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty
12. August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time. ~ Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
13. The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. ~ Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting
______________
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 564th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
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