The Sweet Escape (2006)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) This song begins with, "First of all, let me say I must apologize . . . " Who most recently apologized to you?
A. No one that I can think of. Usually I apologize. I apologize for everything. Breathing. Moving. Making eye contact. Clearing my throat. Coughing. Being alive.
2) Gwen Stefani sings that she acted like "sour milk on the floor." Is there milk in your refrigerator right now? What about non-dairy creamer?
A. No milk. No creamer. Just yogurt.
3) In the video, Gwen wears several different pairs of stiletto heels. What are you wearing on your feet as you answer these questions?
A. Sneakers.
4) Mrs. Stefani named her daughter "Gwen" after a stewardess in the book/movie Airport. Who was your favorite character in the book you just read, or movie you most recently watched?
A. The last movie I watched was The Hunger Games. I guess Katniss was my favorite, though I liked Rue, too.
5) Gwen is a distant cousin of Madonna's. Are there any performers in your family?
A. My father plays in a band, still (he's in his 70s). My brother sang in the county choir.
6) In high school, she joined the swim team not because she enjoys swimming but because she wanted to lose weight. Are you doing anything (dieting, participating in an exercise regimen) in order to shed a few pounds?
A. I should be, but I'm not.
7) Before she became successful, Gwen worked at the makeup counter in a department store. What was the last thing you purchased? Did you buy it online or at a store?
A. The last thing I bought was a filter for the air purifier, and I bought it online.
8) Gwen has gotten a great deal of publicity for her romance with country star, Blake Shelton. What's your favorite Blake Shelton song?
A. I don't even know who Blake Shelton is.
9) Random question: Which of these compliments would make you the happiest -- to be called fascinating, or brilliant, or gorgeous?
A. Either fascinating or brilliant. I don't care a whit about being gorgeous.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Saturday, September 07, 2019
Thursday, September 05, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
1. Many months have passed since I found myself have trouble making up a Thursday 13, but this morning my mind is mud.
2. Mondays are frequently difficult days but Thursdays generally are not, so I'm not sure where my brains are today. Well, I know, really. They're everywhere but here.
3. Monkeys are much like people, it seems. I've been watching Serengeti on Discover and they've had some very intriguing footage of baboons, which are not monkeys, but close enough.
4. Memories are things that make us who we are.
5. Muddled memories make for muddled people, I suppose.
6. My husband is mowing.
7. Microsoft is not making me happy these days. Windows 10 updates all the time. Get it right the first time, you know?
8. Mountains are my first love where geography is concerned. I love the height, the color, the way they reach up and catch the clouds. My Blue Ridge Mountains bring me joy.
9. Mastering something takes a lot of practice. I don't think I've mastered anything. I consider myself a Jill-of-all-trades sort of girls. From using a machete to growing mustard, I have many skills.
10. Mispronunciations plague me sometimes. I am supposed to be intelligent but I also frequently come up with my own forms of malapropisms. Usually I don't mean to it.
11. Meteorologists have hard jobs. Everyone expects the weather people to get it right but weather forecasting is not an exact science. (Actually, I'm not sure anything is an exact science. What do you think?)
12. Miniature items have always fascinated me. I once had a dollhouse that I wanted to fill with miniature furniture, etc., but like I do with many things, my interest waned and eventually the dollhouse was sold at a yard sale.
13. Millions of dollars in homes and infrastructure are being pulverized by Hurricane Dorian as I write this. Weather like that is a good reason not to live along the coast.
This Thursday 13 brought to you by the letter M.
_________________
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 619th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
2. Mondays are frequently difficult days but Thursdays generally are not, so I'm not sure where my brains are today. Well, I know, really. They're everywhere but here.
3. Monkeys are much like people, it seems. I've been watching Serengeti on Discover and they've had some very intriguing footage of baboons, which are not monkeys, but close enough.
4. Memories are things that make us who we are.
5. Muddled memories make for muddled people, I suppose.
6. My husband is mowing.
7. Microsoft is not making me happy these days. Windows 10 updates all the time. Get it right the first time, you know?
8. Mountains are my first love where geography is concerned. I love the height, the color, the way they reach up and catch the clouds. My Blue Ridge Mountains bring me joy.
9. Mastering something takes a lot of practice. I don't think I've mastered anything. I consider myself a Jill-of-all-trades sort of girls. From using a machete to growing mustard, I have many skills.
10. Mispronunciations plague me sometimes. I am supposed to be intelligent but I also frequently come up with my own forms of malapropisms. Usually I don't mean to it.
11. Meteorologists have hard jobs. Everyone expects the weather people to get it right but weather forecasting is not an exact science. (Actually, I'm not sure anything is an exact science. What do you think?)
12. Miniature items have always fascinated me. I once had a dollhouse that I wanted to fill with miniature furniture, etc., but like I do with many things, my interest waned and eventually the dollhouse was sold at a yard sale.
13. Millions of dollars in homes and infrastructure are being pulverized by Hurricane Dorian as I write this. Weather like that is a good reason not to live along the coast.
This Thursday 13 brought to you by the letter M.
_________________
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 619th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
Gray Halls
At 7:20 in the morning, the halls of the hospital were mostly empty. But the gray was everywhere.
The walls were light gray.
The flooring was dark gray.
I half expected foggy mists to seep up through cracks in door frames as my husband and I wandered, hand in hand, down the long halls of Lewis Gale, seeking the radiology department.
Why? Because finally my doctor had decided the blood clot in my leg had troubled me long enough to warrant an ultrasound.
So we slipped through corridor after corridor, following signs through hallways that all looked the same.
How boring.
How unimaginative.
How incredibly frightening.
We reached the place we'd been told to go, only to find it was the wrong radiology department (shouldn't they all be together?) and we needed to go elsewhere. This time a woman in black with a white ruffled shirt (just like the other woman's clothing looked as she stood behind the counter - matching outfits, I guess, making the intake persons in this department look like they worked at a hotel) led us down the long, gray halls, pass the flashing red "exit" signs and out into the back part of the hospital.
This completely eliminated the great parking space we'd found at the hospital's front door, because if we had been told where to go in the first place, we could have parked just a few steps away and never seen all those long, gray corridors that seemingly led only to the River Styx and the boat waiting there to take your coin.
Once we reached the right department, the receptionist (dressed in regular street clothes, thankfully, and not the hotel management outfit from the other department), found my name but not the doctor's orders. This meant we had to wait until my doctor's office opened at 8 a.m.
In the meantime, we learned that the receptionist had family who worked in the fire department, people my husband knew, and they rattled off names and retirement dates.
I was on the phone with my doctor's office at 8:02 a.m., telling them I was at the hospital and couldn't receive my ultrasound until they did their paperwork.
This cost us about two hours of time and most of the morning, waiting on the paperwork. I was being worked in, you see, because my doctor didn't like the sound of, "pain that feels like a razor slitting something open inside of the calf of my leg." That, and swelling up to my knee.
The woman who did my ultrasound was named Linda. She was very kind. She was two years older than I and she had been at Lewis Gale for 40 years. She loved her job. She didn't see any deep vein thrombosis (deep blood clot) but could tell there was a superficial one, which is what we'd been treating for all along. It's just taking its time going away, I guess.
After she gave me the thumbs up to leave, I dressed and wandered out, making the right turn out the door as she said. But then . . . gray corridors. Gray walls. I couldn't find my way back to my husband.
I panicked for a moment. When you're lost in the woods, you're told to find a fence or a river. If all else fails, stand still. So I stood still. Finally someone asked if she could help me. "I'm lost," I said.
She led me back to the waiting room, through the endless gray corridors, to where my husband sat sleeping.
I pulled out my cell phone and called the number on the wall behind us that said "complimentary" carting around. It said something else but the word escapes me.
At any rate, we needed carting around. I wasn't trying to find my way back through that maze of gray again.
A fellow introduced himself on the phone as Xavier and said he'd be right over to fetch us.
We walked outside straight from the waiting room, avoiding the gray corridors. The sunshine was welcome. Even the slight humidity and the heat was a relief after being in the cold dungeon-like corridors of that hospital.
Xavier put my husband in the front seat of the red van and me in the back, though I am short and could have used a boost up into the seat, frankly. Then Xavier took off, driving through parking lots all over the hospital campus, telling us about how he used to work for the railroad for 20 years, and then discovering that he knew a neighbor of ours who still works for the railroad. It was like we were old friends.
He finally dropped us off at our car, and we headed for home. The test results were a relief, though I've yet to hear an official word from my physician. The ultrasound lady was confirmation enough that things are simply moving slowly, but in the appropriate direction.
The walls were light gray.
The flooring was dark gray.
I half expected foggy mists to seep up through cracks in door frames as my husband and I wandered, hand in hand, down the long halls of Lewis Gale, seeking the radiology department.
Why? Because finally my doctor had decided the blood clot in my leg had troubled me long enough to warrant an ultrasound.
So we slipped through corridor after corridor, following signs through hallways that all looked the same.
How boring.
How unimaginative.
How incredibly frightening.
We reached the place we'd been told to go, only to find it was the wrong radiology department (shouldn't they all be together?) and we needed to go elsewhere. This time a woman in black with a white ruffled shirt (just like the other woman's clothing looked as she stood behind the counter - matching outfits, I guess, making the intake persons in this department look like they worked at a hotel) led us down the long, gray halls, pass the flashing red "exit" signs and out into the back part of the hospital.
This completely eliminated the great parking space we'd found at the hospital's front door, because if we had been told where to go in the first place, we could have parked just a few steps away and never seen all those long, gray corridors that seemingly led only to the River Styx and the boat waiting there to take your coin.
Once we reached the right department, the receptionist (dressed in regular street clothes, thankfully, and not the hotel management outfit from the other department), found my name but not the doctor's orders. This meant we had to wait until my doctor's office opened at 8 a.m.
In the meantime, we learned that the receptionist had family who worked in the fire department, people my husband knew, and they rattled off names and retirement dates.
I was on the phone with my doctor's office at 8:02 a.m., telling them I was at the hospital and couldn't receive my ultrasound until they did their paperwork.
This cost us about two hours of time and most of the morning, waiting on the paperwork. I was being worked in, you see, because my doctor didn't like the sound of, "pain that feels like a razor slitting something open inside of the calf of my leg." That, and swelling up to my knee.
The woman who did my ultrasound was named Linda. She was very kind. She was two years older than I and she had been at Lewis Gale for 40 years. She loved her job. She didn't see any deep vein thrombosis (deep blood clot) but could tell there was a superficial one, which is what we'd been treating for all along. It's just taking its time going away, I guess.
After she gave me the thumbs up to leave, I dressed and wandered out, making the right turn out the door as she said. But then . . . gray corridors. Gray walls. I couldn't find my way back to my husband.
I panicked for a moment. When you're lost in the woods, you're told to find a fence or a river. If all else fails, stand still. So I stood still. Finally someone asked if she could help me. "I'm lost," I said.
She led me back to the waiting room, through the endless gray corridors, to where my husband sat sleeping.
I pulled out my cell phone and called the number on the wall behind us that said "complimentary" carting around. It said something else but the word escapes me.
At any rate, we needed carting around. I wasn't trying to find my way back through that maze of gray again.
A fellow introduced himself on the phone as Xavier and said he'd be right over to fetch us.
We walked outside straight from the waiting room, avoiding the gray corridors. The sunshine was welcome. Even the slight humidity and the heat was a relief after being in the cold dungeon-like corridors of that hospital.
Xavier put my husband in the front seat of the red van and me in the back, though I am short and could have used a boost up into the seat, frankly. Then Xavier took off, driving through parking lots all over the hospital campus, telling us about how he used to work for the railroad for 20 years, and then discovering that he knew a neighbor of ours who still works for the railroad. It was like we were old friends.
He finally dropped us off at our car, and we headed for home. The test results were a relief, though I've yet to hear an official word from my physician. The ultrasound lady was confirmation enough that things are simply moving slowly, but in the appropriate direction.
Tuesday, September 03, 2019
Changes
I noticed it in early August, the dying of summer and the approach of Autumn,
The shimmer of light against pale leaves, leaves that once were thick with green, now letting the sunshine slither through, like sand seeping through a sieve.
Then I saw the poplars turning, their leaves beginning to yellow.
This morning as I drove to an early appointment, I looked at Tinker Mountain and saw that the familiar dark greens were giving way to milder color, muted, less pronounced - almost a gray in places.
Autumn is on its way.
This used to be my favorite time of year, not because of the cooling temperatures (most welcome now), or the colorful trees, but because September signaled my return to school.
Oh how I loved my education. I loved the books, the teachers, the smell of the school library overloaded with young adult fiction. Worlds where horses talked, girls solved mysteries, and toads enjoyed tea and joyrides in cars. Lands filled with inhabitants I could see in my minds eye with each word I devoured.
My teachers, for the most part, were good souls, even the older ones who must have seen thousands of kids offer up excuses for lack of homework. I adored their ability to reach me, to see into my soul, to call out the best of me. Oh yes, I was often the teacher's pet, the A student, the smart one the other kids sometimes hated but secretly admired. Too smart for my own good, book smart, and no common sense.
Or so some folks said.
I don't go back to school now in the fall. In August, when the notebooks go on sale, I sniff my way through the aisles of the box stores, occasionally (maybe frequently?) picking up an 18 cent notebook and placing it gently in my cart. My notebooks must not be bent or torn; I won't use them if they're mussed. Picky, I know. But don't we all have our quirks?
This morning I looked at the big project I have before me, one that would earn me a check-off on a masters' thesis if I were doing such a thing again (thank goodness I am not), and thought of those school days. Those long days in a seat with names scratched into the top of the desk. Those vividly rainbow-colored days when my English teacher captivated me with Shakespeare or Poe. And sometimes a teacher even managed to teach me math, though I could not tell the order of operations now if my life depended on it.
I know though the grammar rules, the "I" before "e" except after "c" and in weird words like weigh and neigh. Knowing the rules means I can break them, because once learned they became part of me, and then my reflexes can take over when I write, and I can be free of the phrases and clauses. I can write as I like, and end a sentence with a preposition.
Here I find my voice, on white pages - computer screens now. It was lost for a long time and sometimes it still disappears on me. Then I must seek again, that voice. That sound of my self, the song of my heart.
Autumn brings on these thoughts. The changing leaves soon will rustle beneath my feet should I take a quick walk, the wind will whirl them around my legs on a cool night.
The change is coming.
The wind speaks its name.
The shimmer of light against pale leaves, leaves that once were thick with green, now letting the sunshine slither through, like sand seeping through a sieve.
Then I saw the poplars turning, their leaves beginning to yellow.
This morning as I drove to an early appointment, I looked at Tinker Mountain and saw that the familiar dark greens were giving way to milder color, muted, less pronounced - almost a gray in places.
Autumn is on its way.
This used to be my favorite time of year, not because of the cooling temperatures (most welcome now), or the colorful trees, but because September signaled my return to school.
Oh how I loved my education. I loved the books, the teachers, the smell of the school library overloaded with young adult fiction. Worlds where horses talked, girls solved mysteries, and toads enjoyed tea and joyrides in cars. Lands filled with inhabitants I could see in my minds eye with each word I devoured.
My teachers, for the most part, were good souls, even the older ones who must have seen thousands of kids offer up excuses for lack of homework. I adored their ability to reach me, to see into my soul, to call out the best of me. Oh yes, I was often the teacher's pet, the A student, the smart one the other kids sometimes hated but secretly admired. Too smart for my own good, book smart, and no common sense.
Or so some folks said.
I don't go back to school now in the fall. In August, when the notebooks go on sale, I sniff my way through the aisles of the box stores, occasionally (maybe frequently?) picking up an 18 cent notebook and placing it gently in my cart. My notebooks must not be bent or torn; I won't use them if they're mussed. Picky, I know. But don't we all have our quirks?
This morning I looked at the big project I have before me, one that would earn me a check-off on a masters' thesis if I were doing such a thing again (thank goodness I am not), and thought of those school days. Those long days in a seat with names scratched into the top of the desk. Those vividly rainbow-colored days when my English teacher captivated me with Shakespeare or Poe. And sometimes a teacher even managed to teach me math, though I could not tell the order of operations now if my life depended on it.
I know though the grammar rules, the "I" before "e" except after "c" and in weird words like weigh and neigh. Knowing the rules means I can break them, because once learned they became part of me, and then my reflexes can take over when I write, and I can be free of the phrases and clauses. I can write as I like, and end a sentence with a preposition.
Here I find my voice, on white pages - computer screens now. It was lost for a long time and sometimes it still disappears on me. Then I must seek again, that voice. That sound of my self, the song of my heart.
Autumn brings on these thoughts. The changing leaves soon will rustle beneath my feet should I take a quick walk, the wind will whirl them around my legs on a cool night.
The change is coming.
The wind speaks its name.
Sunday, September 01, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. Name a song you like with a color in the title - Song Sung Blue, by Neil Diamond
2. Name a song that needs to be played very loud - Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen
3. Name a song that makes you want to dance - Dancing Queen, by Abba
3. Name a song to drive to - Band on the Run, by Paul McCartney & Wings
4. Name a song with a number in the title - In the year 2525, by Zager & Evans
5. Name a song that makes you happy - Uptown Funk, by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
6. Name a song that makes you sad - Starry Starry Night (Vincent), by Don McLean
7. Name a song that reminds you of summer - Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, by Brian Hyland
8. Name a song that you remember from your childhood - Jackson, by Johnnie Cash & June Carter Cash
9. Name a song that breaks your heart - I'll Stand by You, by the Pretenders
10. Name a song that you never get tired of - Weather Channel, by Sheryl Crow
11. Name a song from your preteen years - White Rabbit, by Jefferson Airplane
12. Name a song that is a cover by another artist - Blue Bayou, by Linda Ronstadt (Roy Orbinson did it first.)
13. Name a song from the year you were born - Sugar Shack, by Jimmy Gilmore and The Fireballs
14. Name a song that makes you think about life - Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield
15. Name your favorite song with a person's name in the title - Aubrey, by Bread
16. Name a song that you think everyone should listen to - The Logical Song, by Supertramp
17. Name a song by a band you wish were still together - Landslide, by Fleetwood Mac (technically they're together but without one of the original members).
18. Name a song by an artist no longer living - Thriller, by Michael Jackson
19. Name a song by an artist with a voice you love - You Needed Me, by Anne Murray
__________
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. Name a song you like with a color in the title - Song Sung Blue, by Neil Diamond
2. Name a song that needs to be played very loud - Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen
3. Name a song that makes you want to dance - Dancing Queen, by Abba
3. Name a song to drive to - Band on the Run, by Paul McCartney & Wings
4. Name a song with a number in the title - In the year 2525, by Zager & Evans
5. Name a song that makes you happy - Uptown Funk, by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
6. Name a song that makes you sad - Starry Starry Night (Vincent), by Don McLean
7. Name a song that reminds you of summer - Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, by Brian Hyland
8. Name a song that you remember from your childhood - Jackson, by Johnnie Cash & June Carter Cash
9. Name a song that breaks your heart - I'll Stand by You, by the Pretenders
10. Name a song that you never get tired of - Weather Channel, by Sheryl Crow
11. Name a song from your preteen years - White Rabbit, by Jefferson Airplane
12. Name a song that is a cover by another artist - Blue Bayou, by Linda Ronstadt (Roy Orbinson did it first.)
13. Name a song from the year you were born - Sugar Shack, by Jimmy Gilmore and The Fireballs
14. Name a song that makes you think about life - Unwritten, by Natasha Bedingfield
15. Name your favorite song with a person's name in the title - Aubrey, by Bread
16. Name a song that you think everyone should listen to - The Logical Song, by Supertramp
17. Name a song by a band you wish were still together - Landslide, by Fleetwood Mac (technically they're together but without one of the original members).
18. Name a song by an artist no longer living - Thriller, by Michael Jackson
19. Name a song by an artist with a voice you love - You Needed Me, by Anne Murray
__________
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 31, 2019
Saturday 9: Money for Nothing
Saturday 9: Money for Nothing (1985)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) Sweatbands are prominent in this very 1980s video. What's the last thing you wore on your head?
A. I don't know. Probably a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes. I don't generally wear things on my head anymore, unless eyeglasses count. I wear those all the time.
2) The lyrics are from the point of view of a man who delivers and installs appliances. What's the biggest purchase you've made lately? Was it big in size or expense?
A. The biggest purchase we made was the installation of new floors back in the winter. It was big in both size and expense.
3) The delivery man of the song imagines the worst thing that happens to a musician is a blister on his little finger or thumb. Do you have any minor aches or pains bedeviling you as you answer these questions?
A. Actually, I've played the guitar until my fingers bled, so it can be a little worse than a blister. Holding a big ol' heavy guitar makes your back hurt, too. I always have little minor aches or pains. Mostly my left leg is hurting from a blood clot. My right arm is hurting from typing.
4) The term "dire straits" describes a troubling situation that's difficult to extricate oneself from. When's the last time you found yourself in dire straits?
A. Apparently right at this moment. I seem to be in demand for my writing services and I'm having trouble with the "no" word.
5) There's a dinosaur called masiakasaurus knopfleri. It's a prehistoric, predatory lizard, and the paleontologists who discovered it were big Dire Straits fans, so they named it after lead singer/guitarist Mark Knopfler. Do you find dinosaurs fascinating, terrifying, or both?
A. They don't exist anymore, so I am not scared of them. I do find them fascinating. I suppose if one were to suddenly emerge alive from the melting polar ice caps, I might find that a little terrifying for more reasons than one.
6) Prior to his music career, Knopfler was a junior reporter, covering the entertainment beat for the Yorkshire Evening Post. Do you believe you would make a better musician or journalist?
A. I made a better journalist but I probably could have been a good musician, too, if I'd pushed it harder. Maybe in my next life.
7) In 1985, when this song was popular, rib eye steak was $3.89/pound. Today it's more than twice that. Do you have any beef in your freezer right now?
A. I don't think so. I do have a bunch on the hoof out in the field, though. Moo.
8) In 1985, Michael Jordan won the NBA Rookie of the Year award after his first season with the Chicago Bulls. It was the beginning of a career that made him a hero and a household name. Who do you think today's young people look up to?
A. I have no idea. I don't know of anyone who is worthy of looking up to in the younger set.
9) Random question: Friends take you to dinner for your birthday. The menu you're handed doesn't have any prices on it. Do you try to estimate the costs and choose what you guess is the least expensive entree? Or do you figure that since your friends want you to have a good time, you should order whatever you want?
A. I'd probably go for a salad and eat a piece of cake. The salad shouldn't be too expensive.
___________
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.
1) Sweatbands are prominent in this very 1980s video. What's the last thing you wore on your head?
A. I don't know. Probably a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes. I don't generally wear things on my head anymore, unless eyeglasses count. I wear those all the time.
2) The lyrics are from the point of view of a man who delivers and installs appliances. What's the biggest purchase you've made lately? Was it big in size or expense?
A. The biggest purchase we made was the installation of new floors back in the winter. It was big in both size and expense.
3) The delivery man of the song imagines the worst thing that happens to a musician is a blister on his little finger or thumb. Do you have any minor aches or pains bedeviling you as you answer these questions?
A. Actually, I've played the guitar until my fingers bled, so it can be a little worse than a blister. Holding a big ol' heavy guitar makes your back hurt, too. I always have little minor aches or pains. Mostly my left leg is hurting from a blood clot. My right arm is hurting from typing.
4) The term "dire straits" describes a troubling situation that's difficult to extricate oneself from. When's the last time you found yourself in dire straits?
A. Apparently right at this moment. I seem to be in demand for my writing services and I'm having trouble with the "no" word.
5) There's a dinosaur called masiakasaurus knopfleri. It's a prehistoric, predatory lizard, and the paleontologists who discovered it were big Dire Straits fans, so they named it after lead singer/guitarist Mark Knopfler. Do you find dinosaurs fascinating, terrifying, or both?
A. They don't exist anymore, so I am not scared of them. I do find them fascinating. I suppose if one were to suddenly emerge alive from the melting polar ice caps, I might find that a little terrifying for more reasons than one.
6) Prior to his music career, Knopfler was a junior reporter, covering the entertainment beat for the Yorkshire Evening Post. Do you believe you would make a better musician or journalist?
A. I made a better journalist but I probably could have been a good musician, too, if I'd pushed it harder. Maybe in my next life.
7) In 1985, when this song was popular, rib eye steak was $3.89/pound. Today it's more than twice that. Do you have any beef in your freezer right now?
A. I don't think so. I do have a bunch on the hoof out in the field, though. Moo.
8) In 1985, Michael Jordan won the NBA Rookie of the Year award after his first season with the Chicago Bulls. It was the beginning of a career that made him a hero and a household name. Who do you think today's young people look up to?
A. I have no idea. I don't know of anyone who is worthy of looking up to in the younger set.
9) Random question: Friends take you to dinner for your birthday. The menu you're handed doesn't have any prices on it. Do you try to estimate the costs and choose what you guess is the least expensive entree? Or do you figure that since your friends want you to have a good time, you should order whatever you want?
A. I'd probably go for a salad and eat a piece of cake. The salad shouldn't be too expensive.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Happy Friday
Today I was happy to see some old style video games in a restaurant. I wasn't able to play them, but it brought back some interesting nostalgia.
I used to be fairly decent at Centipede. I was never very good at anything else, and I still don't consider myself a video game ace even though I have been playing them forever.
You don't have to excel at something for it to bring joy.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
I used to be fairly decent at Centipede. I was never very good at anything else, and I still don't consider myself a video game ace even though I have been playing them forever.
You don't have to excel at something for it to bring joy.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
Today's post is for women and for the men who love them.
If you're not interested in helping a woman deal with a "female issue," then skip this post.
I'm talking about a condition called endometriosis. I have it and it left me infertile and unable to have children.
It's an incredibly painful condition. So here are some facts about it.
1. Endometriosis is caused when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (called “the endometrium”), grows outside the uterus.
2. This growth causes chronic inflammatory reactions that "may" (I don't think there is any "may" about it - it certainly scarred me.) result in scar tissue. The scar tissue is generally left on the pelvic peritoneum, on the ovaries, in the recto-vaginal septum, on the bladder, and bowel.
3. However, the tissue can travel throughout the body and in some cases it has been found on the diaphragm and in the lungs.
4. This condition affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (ie. usually between the ages of 15 to 49). That's about 176 million women in the world.
5. Endometriosis can start as early as a girl’s first period, and the pain may last a lifetime. Menopause may not resolve the symptoms of endometriosis – especially if the woman has scar tissue or adhesions from the disease and/or surgery.
6. Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, painful ovulation, pain during or after sexual intercourse, heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility, and can impact on general physical, mental, and social well being.
7. A general lack of awareness by both women and health care providers, due to a “normalisation” of symptoms, results in a significant delay from when a woman first experiences symptoms until she eventually is diagnosed and treated. (In other words, women are still not believed and considered "hysterical" and not troubled with an actual physical illness when they present with symptoms.)
8. There is no known cure for endometriosis. It sometimes can be treated effectively with drugs, but most treatments are not suitable for long-term use because of side-effects.
9. Surgery to remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue can help, but success rates are dependent on the extent of disease and the surgeon’s skills.
10. Pregnancy may relieve symptoms but is not a cure for the disease. Hysterectomy, with surgical removal of all the disease at the same time, may relieve symptoms, but may not be a “definitive cure” either. Removal of the ovaries at the same time as a hysterectomy is performed increases the chances of pain relief but also results in an immediate menopause.
11. There is no known cause of endometriosis but it is highly likely that certain genes predispose women to develop the disease. Thus, women have a higher risk of developing endometriosis if their mother and/or sister(s) are also affected.
12. It is possible that age when the menstrual period starts, other gynecologic factors, and environmental exposures influence whether a woman is affected. Whereas evidence has been weak with regards to exposure to dioxin (an environmental pollutant) some evidence now supports exacerbation of its symptoms due to PCBs.
13. Some studies have linked the presence of endometriosis with the development of ovarian cancer; however, the association is not definitive and the absolute risk for a given woman with endometriosis is exceedingly low. Whereas endometriosis cells have been localized adjacent to ovarian cancer cells, the former has not been proven to be a pre-cursor to cancer.
Lastly:
Even though endometriosis is associated with inflammation and immunological dysfunctions, it has not been proven itself to be an autoimmune disease.
My own experience with this disease has been life-altering in many ways. I experienced horrific pain through my teenage years, then began having ovarian cysts when I was 22. These were life-threatening as they became infected, causing me to run a high fever, and if the cysts burst then I would have died (rather like having a burst appendix, and this was 30 years ago). So I underwent 8 surgeries before I finally had a hysterectomy. Things went along fine after that for 20 years, but my gallbladder surgery in 2013 set something off, and now I have chronic abdominal pain that doctors attribute to overgrowth of scar tissue.
Unfortunately, there is nothing to do for that but more surgery, and the results for more surgery for scar tissue means more scar tissue. It is quite painful and it has cost me my job, my health, my mobility, and my peace of mind. I am better than I was thanks to a lot of physical therapy and determination on my part to do what I could for the problem, but this is not something to laugh off.
The medical establishment needs to take a long look at how it treats women and women's issues, and give them the care they deserve. Despite the fact that we can't get an equal rights amendment clause in the US Constitution thanks to a bunch of fat old white men who have their dicks in their brains, we're human beings and people, too, and deserve the same care and treatment as the old white fat men.
If you love someone with this condition, advocate for her. Be there when she is in pain. Believe her when she says she is in pain. Ensure that she gets the care she needs. Tell the old white fat men to make health care a right, and not something only rich people can afford. No one should suffer because of gender bias. Be bigger than that.
For more information, visit http://endometriosis.org/.
__________________
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 619th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
If you're not interested in helping a woman deal with a "female issue," then skip this post.
I'm talking about a condition called endometriosis. I have it and it left me infertile and unable to have children.
It's an incredibly painful condition. So here are some facts about it.
1. Endometriosis is caused when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus (called “the endometrium”), grows outside the uterus.
2. This growth causes chronic inflammatory reactions that "may" (I don't think there is any "may" about it - it certainly scarred me.) result in scar tissue. The scar tissue is generally left on the pelvic peritoneum, on the ovaries, in the recto-vaginal septum, on the bladder, and bowel.
3. However, the tissue can travel throughout the body and in some cases it has been found on the diaphragm and in the lungs.
4. This condition affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (ie. usually between the ages of 15 to 49). That's about 176 million women in the world.
5. Endometriosis can start as early as a girl’s first period, and the pain may last a lifetime. Menopause may not resolve the symptoms of endometriosis – especially if the woman has scar tissue or adhesions from the disease and/or surgery.
6. Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, painful ovulation, pain during or after sexual intercourse, heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility, and can impact on general physical, mental, and social well being.
7. A general lack of awareness by both women and health care providers, due to a “normalisation” of symptoms, results in a significant delay from when a woman first experiences symptoms until she eventually is diagnosed and treated. (In other words, women are still not believed and considered "hysterical" and not troubled with an actual physical illness when they present with symptoms.)
8. There is no known cure for endometriosis. It sometimes can be treated effectively with drugs, but most treatments are not suitable for long-term use because of side-effects.
9. Surgery to remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue can help, but success rates are dependent on the extent of disease and the surgeon’s skills.
10. Pregnancy may relieve symptoms but is not a cure for the disease. Hysterectomy, with surgical removal of all the disease at the same time, may relieve symptoms, but may not be a “definitive cure” either. Removal of the ovaries at the same time as a hysterectomy is performed increases the chances of pain relief but also results in an immediate menopause.
11. There is no known cause of endometriosis but it is highly likely that certain genes predispose women to develop the disease. Thus, women have a higher risk of developing endometriosis if their mother and/or sister(s) are also affected.
12. It is possible that age when the menstrual period starts, other gynecologic factors, and environmental exposures influence whether a woman is affected. Whereas evidence has been weak with regards to exposure to dioxin (an environmental pollutant) some evidence now supports exacerbation of its symptoms due to PCBs.
13. Some studies have linked the presence of endometriosis with the development of ovarian cancer; however, the association is not definitive and the absolute risk for a given woman with endometriosis is exceedingly low. Whereas endometriosis cells have been localized adjacent to ovarian cancer cells, the former has not been proven to be a pre-cursor to cancer.
Lastly:
Even though endometriosis is associated with inflammation and immunological dysfunctions, it has not been proven itself to be an autoimmune disease.
My own experience with this disease has been life-altering in many ways. I experienced horrific pain through my teenage years, then began having ovarian cysts when I was 22. These were life-threatening as they became infected, causing me to run a high fever, and if the cysts burst then I would have died (rather like having a burst appendix, and this was 30 years ago). So I underwent 8 surgeries before I finally had a hysterectomy. Things went along fine after that for 20 years, but my gallbladder surgery in 2013 set something off, and now I have chronic abdominal pain that doctors attribute to overgrowth of scar tissue.
Unfortunately, there is nothing to do for that but more surgery, and the results for more surgery for scar tissue means more scar tissue. It is quite painful and it has cost me my job, my health, my mobility, and my peace of mind. I am better than I was thanks to a lot of physical therapy and determination on my part to do what I could for the problem, but this is not something to laugh off.
The medical establishment needs to take a long look at how it treats women and women's issues, and give them the care they deserve. Despite the fact that we can't get an equal rights amendment clause in the US Constitution thanks to a bunch of fat old white men who have their dicks in their brains, we're human beings and people, too, and deserve the same care and treatment as the old white fat men.
If you love someone with this condition, advocate for her. Be there when she is in pain. Believe her when she says she is in pain. Ensure that she gets the care she needs. Tell the old white fat men to make health care a right, and not something only rich people can afford. No one should suffer because of gender bias. Be bigger than that.
For more information, visit http://endometriosis.org/.
__________________
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 619th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Happy Wednesday
Today I'm happy that the sun will be coming back up so my husband can mow hay. He is not very good with bad weather.
I'm also happy about, hmm. Well, nothing else comes to mind.
But I'm grateful for many things. A roof over my head, breakfast, Milky Way bars, texts, friends, my husband, a glass of water, and the telephone book.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
I'm also happy about, hmm. Well, nothing else comes to mind.
But I'm grateful for many things. A roof over my head, breakfast, Milky Way bars, texts, friends, my husband, a glass of water, and the telephone book.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1. Has anyone ever made fun of your taste in music?
A. Not that I recall.
2. Is anyone’s birthday coming up?
A. My stepmother's and a friend.
3. Do you remember who you liked in grade eight?
A. No.
4. When was the last time you burned any part of your body?
A. A very long time, since I can't remember anything specific.
5. If I gave you ten dollars, what would you spend it on?
A. I'd buy you lunch.
6. What are you most excited about right now?
A. I bought a new keyboard and it's so nice to have the keys jumping and not sticking!
7. Does / did either of your parents serve in the military?
A. My father served.
8. Are you somewhat of a perfectionist?
A. There is no "somewhat" about it.
9. Do you like sour candy?
A. Sometimes.
10. Are all-nighters something you have grown used to?
A. I am too old for all-nighters.
11. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you’re driving?
A. Yes.
12. Do you wear your shoes around the house?
A. Yes. I do not like to go barefoot. Never have.
13. What clothes are you most comfortable in?
A. Jeans and a t-shirt.
14. Are you good at painting nails?
A. No.
15. Smoothies or slushies?
A. Neither one.
__________
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. Has anyone ever made fun of your taste in music?
A. Not that I recall.
2. Is anyone’s birthday coming up?
A. My stepmother's and a friend.
3. Do you remember who you liked in grade eight?
A. No.
4. When was the last time you burned any part of your body?
A. A very long time, since I can't remember anything specific.
5. If I gave you ten dollars, what would you spend it on?
A. I'd buy you lunch.
6. What are you most excited about right now?
A. I bought a new keyboard and it's so nice to have the keys jumping and not sticking!
7. Does / did either of your parents serve in the military?
A. My father served.
8. Are you somewhat of a perfectionist?
A. There is no "somewhat" about it.
9. Do you like sour candy?
A. Sometimes.
10. Are all-nighters something you have grown used to?
A. I am too old for all-nighters.
11. Do you usually wear sunglasses when you’re driving?
A. Yes.
12. Do you wear your shoes around the house?
A. Yes. I do not like to go barefoot. Never have.
13. What clothes are you most comfortable in?
A. Jeans and a t-shirt.
14. Are you good at painting nails?
A. No.
15. Smoothies or slushies?
A. Neither one.
__________
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 24, 2019
Saturday 9: No One's Here to Sleep
Saturday 9: No One's Here to Sleep
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Here it here.
1) This song is the theme of How to Get Away with Murder, the legal drama that premiered in 2014 and airs on Thursday nights. Are you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show. This should not surprise regular readers, who know I do not watch a lot of TV.
2) The song's refrain says, "I'll never catch up with you." Behind the wheel, do you carefully observe the speed limit? Or do you have a lead foot, making it hard for anyone to catch up with you?
A. I used to have a lead foot, but now I'm older and I don't go *too much* over the speed limit.
3) How to Get Away with Murder is about Annalise Keating, a law professor at a top Philadelphia university. She has a reputation for being tough, demanding and able to turn her students into successful defense attorneys. Tell us about a teacher who helped prepare you for life after graduation.
A. I had several teachers who were instrumental in my success, many of whom I have written about here. I think I will tell you this time about Jeanne Larsen, my English professor at Hollins. I took as many classes under her as I could, beginning with Freshman Poetry (or something like that, I'd have to look at my transcripts). Jeanne was a wonderful teacher, very perceptive, and encouraging. She was incredibly nice to her students and I think I only saw her somewhat angry once in all the years I had a class with her. She helped me to see that I did have a writing talent and wasn't simply mediocre. I have always thought I disappointed her, though, by not applying myself to poetry or novels and instead venturing into news writing.
4) The students she feels show the most promise -- and are recruited to help her solve murders -- are known as The Keating Four. Did you ever sense that you were your teacher's favorite?
A. Yes. I generally was the teacher's favorite, especially in elementary, intermediate, and high school. I was a straight A student. I wasn't the teacher's pet in something like biology or gym, but I usually was in English.
5) Viola Davis was just nominated for an Emmy for playing Professor Keating. Ms. Davis was born on a farm in SC. Have you spent more of your life in a rural, suburban or urban setting?
A. Rural.
6) Next to Annalise Keating, Viola Davis is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as Aibileen in the movie, The Help. Have you seen it?
A. I have. The book was better than the movie.
7) In 2014, the year How to Get Away with Murder premiered, we lost two famous comedians: Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Who was the last person to make you laugh out loud? (This means actually, literally laughing out loud, not just keystroking LOL.)
A. I had a phone conversation earlier today with the editor of my local paper, and I called something going on in the county a "clusterfuck" and she wanted to know if she could quote me on that.
8) The 2014 Olympics were held in Sochi. Have you ever been to Russia? If not, is it a dream destination of yours?
A. I have never been to Russia and it's never been high on my list of destinations.
9) Random question: The sign on the railing says, "Wet Paint." Do you touch the railing to see if it's really wet?
A. If I'm just walking by, no. If I want to stop and look over the railing at something, yes.
___________
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? Here it here.
1) This song is the theme of How to Get Away with Murder, the legal drama that premiered in 2014 and airs on Thursday nights. Are you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show. This should not surprise regular readers, who know I do not watch a lot of TV.
2) The song's refrain says, "I'll never catch up with you." Behind the wheel, do you carefully observe the speed limit? Or do you have a lead foot, making it hard for anyone to catch up with you?
A. I used to have a lead foot, but now I'm older and I don't go *too much* over the speed limit.
3) How to Get Away with Murder is about Annalise Keating, a law professor at a top Philadelphia university. She has a reputation for being tough, demanding and able to turn her students into successful defense attorneys. Tell us about a teacher who helped prepare you for life after graduation.
A. I had several teachers who were instrumental in my success, many of whom I have written about here. I think I will tell you this time about Jeanne Larsen, my English professor at Hollins. I took as many classes under her as I could, beginning with Freshman Poetry (or something like that, I'd have to look at my transcripts). Jeanne was a wonderful teacher, very perceptive, and encouraging. She was incredibly nice to her students and I think I only saw her somewhat angry once in all the years I had a class with her. She helped me to see that I did have a writing talent and wasn't simply mediocre. I have always thought I disappointed her, though, by not applying myself to poetry or novels and instead venturing into news writing.
4) The students she feels show the most promise -- and are recruited to help her solve murders -- are known as The Keating Four. Did you ever sense that you were your teacher's favorite?
A. Yes. I generally was the teacher's favorite, especially in elementary, intermediate, and high school. I was a straight A student. I wasn't the teacher's pet in something like biology or gym, but I usually was in English.
5) Viola Davis was just nominated for an Emmy for playing Professor Keating. Ms. Davis was born on a farm in SC. Have you spent more of your life in a rural, suburban or urban setting?
A. Rural.
6) Next to Annalise Keating, Viola Davis is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as Aibileen in the movie, The Help. Have you seen it?
A. I have. The book was better than the movie.
7) In 2014, the year How to Get Away with Murder premiered, we lost two famous comedians: Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. Who was the last person to make you laugh out loud? (This means actually, literally laughing out loud, not just keystroking LOL.)
A. I had a phone conversation earlier today with the editor of my local paper, and I called something going on in the county a "clusterfuck" and she wanted to know if she could quote me on that.
8) The 2014 Olympics were held in Sochi. Have you ever been to Russia? If not, is it a dream destination of yours?
A. I have never been to Russia and it's never been high on my list of destinations.
9) Random question: The sign on the railing says, "Wet Paint." Do you touch the railing to see if it's really wet?
A. If I'm just walking by, no. If I want to stop and look over the railing at something, yes.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
Friday, August 23, 2019
Happiness Friday
The writing is going well, even if it is a bit exhausting.
Oh, and it's not 100 degrees today.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Oh, and it's not 100 degrees today.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
1. A magnifying glass.
2. A water glass
3. A cellphone glass cover.
4. Glass camera lens
5. Glass in the temperature gauge
6. Glass in my glow light
7. Glass in the picture frame
8. Glass covering the clock
9. A candle in a glass holder.
10. A glass piggy bank.
11. An owl decoration made of glass.
12. Glass on my watch.
13. Glasses on my eyes.
__________________
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 618th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
2. A water glass
3. A cellphone glass cover.
4. Glass camera lens
5. Glass in the temperature gauge
6. Glass in my glow light
7. Glass in the picture frame
8. Glass covering the clock
9. A candle in a glass holder.
10. A glass piggy bank.
11. An owl decoration made of glass.
12. Glass on my watch.
13. Glasses on my eyes.
__________________
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 618th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Happiness Wednesday
Today I made a decision and stood up for myself, ending something that had been going for five weeks.
So there.
Doing so made me happy.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
So there.
Doing so made me happy.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Happiness Tuesday
This morning I'm going to the physical therapist. That in and of itself doesn't make me happy, but I am happy that I have the services of a quality physical therapist available in my area. It helps when people know what they're doing.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world. Check out the gal that initiated this here.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing
1) What do you enjoy about summer?
A. It's not freezing cold, and things are green and not dead-looking.
2) Do you like snow? Why?
A. Not particularly. It makes it hard to feed the cattle and I no longer have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
3) What do you think about dogs?
A. I don't think about them very much, actually. I get tired of seeing all the lonesome dog photos on Facebook from groups begging for money. I block them. I like dogs and used to have one, but I don't need to see the pictures of beaten or abused animals every day.
4) Have you ever gotten lost?
A. Once when my mother had taken us shopping, I lost her. I started crying and a salesperson got me. She took me to the service counter and they made an announcement. My mother came up within a minute. "I'm right here," she said. I got in trouble for causing a scene.
5) What are your favorite type of socks?
A. The kind that stay up.
6) What is your favorite style of shoes?
A. Sneakers.
7) What would you name your boat if you had one?
A. Galadriel.
8) What common misconception do you hate to hear repeated as fact?
A. Um. Unfortunately, pretty much anything that comes out of the White House these days.
9) What was the last shop you went into and what did you buy?
A. I went to Food Lion and I bought TV dinners, potatoes, and tea.
10) What's your favorite thing to do to pass the time?
A. Read.
11) What is a way to die that scares you the most?
A. A long slow decline from an illness.
12) Travel or home body?
A. Home body.
13) Have you ever gone to a Bingo hall?
A. Yes, but it has been a long time. The VFW Hall used to host Bingo games on Friday nights. They don't anymore.
14) What is the longest plane trip you have taken?
A. I flew to Spain.
15) Do you text more or call more? Why?
A. I call more. I prefer to hear a voice. You can tell more about what a person means, or how they are feeling, and hear a real laugh that means more than any LOL ever could.
__________
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) What do you enjoy about summer?
A. It's not freezing cold, and things are green and not dead-looking.
2) Do you like snow? Why?
A. Not particularly. It makes it hard to feed the cattle and I no longer have a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
3) What do you think about dogs?
A. I don't think about them very much, actually. I get tired of seeing all the lonesome dog photos on Facebook from groups begging for money. I block them. I like dogs and used to have one, but I don't need to see the pictures of beaten or abused animals every day.
4) Have you ever gotten lost?
A. Once when my mother had taken us shopping, I lost her. I started crying and a salesperson got me. She took me to the service counter and they made an announcement. My mother came up within a minute. "I'm right here," she said. I got in trouble for causing a scene.
5) What are your favorite type of socks?
A. The kind that stay up.
6) What is your favorite style of shoes?
A. Sneakers.
7) What would you name your boat if you had one?
A. Galadriel.
8) What common misconception do you hate to hear repeated as fact?
A. Um. Unfortunately, pretty much anything that comes out of the White House these days.
9) What was the last shop you went into and what did you buy?
A. I went to Food Lion and I bought TV dinners, potatoes, and tea.
10) What's your favorite thing to do to pass the time?
A. Read.
11) What is a way to die that scares you the most?
A. A long slow decline from an illness.
12) Travel or home body?
A. Home body.
13) Have you ever gone to a Bingo hall?
A. Yes, but it has been a long time. The VFW Hall used to host Bingo games on Friday nights. They don't anymore.
14) What is the longest plane trip you have taken?
A. I flew to Spain.
15) Do you text more or call more? Why?
A. I call more. I prefer to hear a voice. You can tell more about what a person means, or how they are feeling, and hear a real laugh that means more than any LOL ever could.
__________
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 17, 2019
Saturday 9: Where You Lead
Saturday 9: Where You Lead (1971)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
1) This is the theme of The Gilmore Girls, a TV show that ran from 2000 to 2007. It recently enjoyed renewed popularity as a reboot. Were you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show.
2) The show is about thirtysomething Lorelai Gilmore, her teenage daughterRory, and her parents, Richard and Emily. The four of them had dinner together every Friday night. Who did you have dinner with on Friday? What was on the menu?
A. I had dinner by myself. My husband was working. I ate a sandwich.
3) Lorelai is outgoing and talkative. How about you? Are you seldom at a loss for words?
A. I am not the most talkative person. Someone once described me like this: "She's very quiet, but if she says something you should listen because she only speaks after she's thought about what needs to be said." I think if you're someone I know, I talk more. I'm rather quiet in public.
4) Rory dreamed of going to an Ivy League school and then becoming a broadcast journalist. When you were in high school, what were your ambitions?
A. To be a writer. I wanted to be a ghost writer, really, and write Nancy Drew books, or something like that. A good steady job of writing that would pay the bills and keep me happy and intellectually stimulated. I became a news reporter instead. Close enough, I guess.
5) Rory's grandfather (and Lorelai's dad) went to Yale and performed with the Whiffenpoofs, Yale's famous a cappella group. Have you ever sung in front of an audience?
A. Yes, I have. I used to play guitar and sing in a band when I was in high school. I've a picture here someplace.
6) Rory's grandmother (and Lorelai's mother) Emily was very active in civic organizations and worked hard on the Hartford Zoological Society'sAnnual Silent Auction. Have you ever attended an auction?
A. Yes. Auctions are popular past times in rural areas. I don't go much anymore because someone always has a cigarette going, and I can't take the smoke because of my asthma. I used to go to them more frequently when I was younger. I once bought my husband a lot of tools at an auction. We also once bought a big bucket of hammers at an auction. Apparently we mostly buy tools at auctions.
7) Alexis Bledel, who played Rory, went on to appear in Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Of these three shows -- Gilmore Girls, Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale -- which would you prefer to binge watch?
A. The Handmaid's Tale. I haven't see any of these shows.
8) Carole King originally wrote this week's song, "Where You Lead," for her Tapestry album. Do you have a favorite Carole King song?
A. Probably "So Far Away," but she wrote "You've Got a Friend," and I love that song, too.
9) Random question: If zoo animals could talk, which animal do you imagine would be the rudest?
A. That's quite an intriguing question. I've been watching Serenghti on Discovery - great show if you're into watching lions, monkeys, etc. in their natural habitat. On that show, anyway, the baboons come off as being the rudest. Or maybe it's a tie with the hyenas.
___________
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.
1) This is the theme of The Gilmore Girls, a TV show that ran from 2000 to 2007. It recently enjoyed renewed popularity as a reboot. Were you a fan?
A. I have never seen this show.
2) The show is about thirtysomething Lorelai Gilmore, her teenage daughterRory, and her parents, Richard and Emily. The four of them had dinner together every Friday night. Who did you have dinner with on Friday? What was on the menu?
A. I had dinner by myself. My husband was working. I ate a sandwich.
3) Lorelai is outgoing and talkative. How about you? Are you seldom at a loss for words?
A. I am not the most talkative person. Someone once described me like this: "She's very quiet, but if she says something you should listen because she only speaks after she's thought about what needs to be said." I think if you're someone I know, I talk more. I'm rather quiet in public.
4) Rory dreamed of going to an Ivy League school and then becoming a broadcast journalist. When you were in high school, what were your ambitions?
A. To be a writer. I wanted to be a ghost writer, really, and write Nancy Drew books, or something like that. A good steady job of writing that would pay the bills and keep me happy and intellectually stimulated. I became a news reporter instead. Close enough, I guess.
5) Rory's grandfather (and Lorelai's dad) went to Yale and performed with the Whiffenpoofs, Yale's famous a cappella group. Have you ever sung in front of an audience?
A. Yes, I have. I used to play guitar and sing in a band when I was in high school. I've a picture here someplace.
6) Rory's grandmother (and Lorelai's mother) Emily was very active in civic organizations and worked hard on the Hartford Zoological Society'sAnnual Silent Auction. Have you ever attended an auction?
A. Yes. Auctions are popular past times in rural areas. I don't go much anymore because someone always has a cigarette going, and I can't take the smoke because of my asthma. I used to go to them more frequently when I was younger. I once bought my husband a lot of tools at an auction. We also once bought a big bucket of hammers at an auction. Apparently we mostly buy tools at auctions.
7) Alexis Bledel, who played Rory, went on to appear in Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale. Of these three shows -- Gilmore Girls, Mad Men and The Handmaid's Tale -- which would you prefer to binge watch?
A. The Handmaid's Tale. I haven't see any of these shows.
8) Carole King originally wrote this week's song, "Where You Lead," for her Tapestry album. Do you have a favorite Carole King song?
A. Probably "So Far Away," but she wrote "You've Got a Friend," and I love that song, too.
9) Random question: If zoo animals could talk, which animal do you imagine would be the rudest?
A. That's quite an intriguing question. I've been watching Serenghti on Discovery - great show if you're into watching lions, monkeys, etc. in their natural habitat. On that show, anyway, the baboons come off as being the rudest. Or maybe it's a tie with the hyenas.
___________
I encourage you to visit other participants in Saturday 9 posts and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.
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