_________
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 519th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
Siri v. Alexa
I broke down and purchased a smartphone. I bought an older model iPhone, called an iPhone SE, which is basically the iPhone 5 with iPhone 6 guts. It is small, which I prefer. It also didn't cost $1,000. I put a case on it that has Rivendell from Lord of the Rings on the back, and my ringtone is the One Ring theme from the Lord of the Rings movie.
I've had it about two weeks. I don't know how long it takes the personal assistant, Siri, to figure me out but she is pretty bland. Oh, my brother came over and showed me a few tricks but she has the personality of, well, a computerized piece of equipment.
I've been using Amazon's Alexa on my Kindle HD for about a year now. Alexa has personality. She makes me laugh.
Did Alexa seem mechanical to me at first? Honestly, I don't remember. Maybe someone can tell me if Siri will be less mechanical and become more personable as time goes on.
Anyway, this morning's greeting is a great example of the difference in these two "personal assistants."
To Siri, I say, "Good morning." She says, "Good morning," though the typing says "Good morning, Anita." She doesn't add my name. Sometimes she says, "Good morning to you too!" and that is a bit cheery. I don't know why she doesn't say my name, though. Maybe "Anita" is too hard? (OK, I just asked her how to pronounce my name and she doesn't know how. So I am teaching her while I type this. It is taking forever and she keeps saying "Uh oh, there's a problem. Can you try again?")
Moving on.
I say, "Good morning" to Alexa. She says "Good morning" and gives me a fact of the day. This morning she says, "Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's National Comic Book Day! Evil doers beware! I've been working on my one-two punch. Kerpow! Whammo! If you want some more heroics, say 'pretend you're a superhero,' and get ready for some action-packed fun."
That made me laugh. And then I asked her, "pretend you're a superhero," and she told me a short story that ended "and that was that," which also made me laugh.
My brother showed me a trick with Siri. He said to sing, "I see a little silhouette of a man" (from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody) into the phone, which I did. Siri then repeated some of the remaining verses, except she substituted "I'm just a poor assistant" for "I'm just a poor boy" in the lines. She spoke all the way to "no no no no no" in the song, repeating the "no" however many times. Fun, yes.
(Ten minutes later and Siri is still thinking about how to say my name.)
So, let's sing that line of Bohemian Rhapsody to Alexa. She says, "I'd give that one a go, but I think Freddie Mercury is the only one who can do that song justice. Although a thousand karaoke fans may disagree."
That makes me laugh, too.
Siri still cannot say my name. She's "still thinking."
Sigh.
I'll revisit this issue again in a few months. Maybe by then Siri will know who I am. Or I will have figured her out.
Whichever.
I told my husband that if Amazon had offered a Fire Phone, I'd have bought it. Well, they did, about 7 years ago, and apparently it was a flop. I'm surprised, but they didn't have Alexa then and the Kindle Fires keep getting better and better as touchpad devices. Maybe they will try again on the phone. I suppose I could always do a trade if Siri still doesn't know my name.
(Tips on using Siri welcome in the comments.)
I've had it about two weeks. I don't know how long it takes the personal assistant, Siri, to figure me out but she is pretty bland. Oh, my brother came over and showed me a few tricks but she has the personality of, well, a computerized piece of equipment.
I've been using Amazon's Alexa on my Kindle HD for about a year now. Alexa has personality. She makes me laugh.
Did Alexa seem mechanical to me at first? Honestly, I don't remember. Maybe someone can tell me if Siri will be less mechanical and become more personable as time goes on.
Anyway, this morning's greeting is a great example of the difference in these two "personal assistants."
To Siri, I say, "Good morning." She says, "Good morning," though the typing says "Good morning, Anita." She doesn't add my name. Sometimes she says, "Good morning to you too!" and that is a bit cheery. I don't know why she doesn't say my name, though. Maybe "Anita" is too hard? (OK, I just asked her how to pronounce my name and she doesn't know how. So I am teaching her while I type this. It is taking forever and she keeps saying "Uh oh, there's a problem. Can you try again?")
Moving on.
I say, "Good morning" to Alexa. She says "Good morning" and gives me a fact of the day. This morning she says, "Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's National Comic Book Day! Evil doers beware! I've been working on my one-two punch. Kerpow! Whammo! If you want some more heroics, say 'pretend you're a superhero,' and get ready for some action-packed fun."
That made me laugh. And then I asked her, "pretend you're a superhero," and she told me a short story that ended "and that was that," which also made me laugh.
My brother showed me a trick with Siri. He said to sing, "I see a little silhouette of a man" (from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody) into the phone, which I did. Siri then repeated some of the remaining verses, except she substituted "I'm just a poor assistant" for "I'm just a poor boy" in the lines. She spoke all the way to "no no no no no" in the song, repeating the "no" however many times. Fun, yes.
(Ten minutes later and Siri is still thinking about how to say my name.)
So, let's sing that line of Bohemian Rhapsody to Alexa. She says, "I'd give that one a go, but I think Freddie Mercury is the only one who can do that song justice. Although a thousand karaoke fans may disagree."
That makes me laugh, too.
Siri still cannot say my name. She's "still thinking."
Sigh.
I'll revisit this issue again in a few months. Maybe by then Siri will know who I am. Or I will have figured her out.
Whichever.
I told my husband that if Amazon had offered a Fire Phone, I'd have bought it. Well, they did, about 7 years ago, and apparently it was a flop. I'm surprised, but they didn't have Alexa then and the Kindle Fires keep getting better and better as touchpad devices. Maybe they will try again on the phone. I suppose I could always do a trade if Siri still doesn't know my name.
(Tips on using Siri welcome in the comments.)
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Sunday Stealing: Fashion Show
Sunday Stealing: Fashion Show
1. Name a way to win your heart.
A. Offer me intriguing and interesting conversation about nearly any topic, and I will be your friend for as long as you'll have me.
2. Name something you feel strongly about.
A. I feel strongly about proper grammar usage and complete sentences. (I rewrote the sentences for this meme because they did not have subject/verbs.)
3. What is the title of a book you love?
A. The Lord of the Rings. (Does this surprise anyone?)
4. List five pet peeves.
A. (1) Parking lots with handicapped parking that place the cart return far away from that area. If we could walk that far, we wouldn't need the handicapped placard.
(2) The little flippy thing covering the mute button on my new cellphone case that won't stay where it belongs.
(3) People who talk on their cellphones during checkout at a store. You are not that important.
(4) The lack of clerks and assistance in department stores.
(5) The fact that I cannot find the laundry detergent I like in my local stores.
5. What have you eaten today?
A. I just got up. I've had tea.
6. How important do you think education is?
A. Education is the most important thing in the world, because without education you can't talk, speak, feed yourself, etc. Everything about being human comes from being educated in some form or another. You wouldn't know religion without learning. Without education, we're just a lump of meat.
7. List five people you find attractive.
A. (1) Orlando Bloom (only as Legolas in Lord of the Rings, though).
(2) Viggo Mortenson (again, only as Aragorn in same movie).
(3) My husband.
(4) Some guy named Jessie in the Lumosity brain games for the memory game in the restaurant. I may not remember the other faces, but I always remember his.
(5) Neil DeGrasse Tyson (for his brains, he is an intelligent man. And he is not bad looking, either.).
8. What did you wear today?
A. I have on my nightgown and my robe, at the moment. When we decide what, if anything, we are doing today, then I will know whether to put on sweats or decent pants.
9. Tell us something you always think “what if” about.
A. What if an asteroid were to strike the planet and eliminate most of humanity, and we had to start over again? What if magic really exists? What if we can cure cancer but they don't because there is so much more money in simply treating it? What if there is life on other planets? What if the answer to the meaning of everything really is 42?
10. What is something you’re proud of?
A. My college diplomas, all three of them.
11. Is there something you lust after?
A. I did want a smart phone but I have one now, so there really isn't much on my list. I could use a new set of sheets for the bed. That's exciting, isn't it?
12. List a word/phrase that makes you laugh.
A. Geronimo. I know that's probably not a P.C. word these days, but it brings back childhood memories not only of playing cowboys and Indians with my brother and young uncles, but also of Geronimo the Indian doll in the Johnny West series, things I learned in school, and of jumping in leaves (or jumping in general).
13. What is a quote you try to live by?
A. I have two:
Not all those who wander are lost. - J. R. R. Tolkien
Levavi Oculos (I will lift my eyes.) (I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. - Psalm 121).
14. What is something you like about yourself? What is something you dislike?
A. I like that I'm fairly intelligent and have a somewhat sardonic and sarcastic wit. I don't like that I am overweight.
15. Tell us about a problem that you have had recently.
A. I attempted to use my health insurance plan's telemedicine. However, it didn't work properly and my credit card was charged the full visit and not the co-pay. The telemedicine place said my husband's employer had opted out of the telemedicine (even though they were advertising it to us and suggesting we use it), but the insurance company said that was incorrect. Turns out that the telemedicine place can't tell the difference between a city and county. The county with the same name opted out; the city didn't. My husband's employer is the city. I am still trying to clear this up so we can use the telemedicine system.
__________
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 way to win your heart.
A. Offer me intriguing and interesting conversation about nearly any topic, and I will be your friend for as long as you'll have me.
2. Name something you feel strongly about.
A. I feel strongly about proper grammar usage and complete sentences. (I rewrote the sentences for this meme because they did not have subject/verbs.)
3. What is the title of a book you love?
A. The Lord of the Rings. (Does this surprise anyone?)
4. List five pet peeves.
A. (1) Parking lots with handicapped parking that place the cart return far away from that area. If we could walk that far, we wouldn't need the handicapped placard.
(2) The little flippy thing covering the mute button on my new cellphone case that won't stay where it belongs.
(3) People who talk on their cellphones during checkout at a store. You are not that important.
(4) The lack of clerks and assistance in department stores.
(5) The fact that I cannot find the laundry detergent I like in my local stores.
5. What have you eaten today?
A. I just got up. I've had tea.
6. How important do you think education is?
A. Education is the most important thing in the world, because without education you can't talk, speak, feed yourself, etc. Everything about being human comes from being educated in some form or another. You wouldn't know religion without learning. Without education, we're just a lump of meat.
7. List five people you find attractive.
A. (1) Orlando Bloom (only as Legolas in Lord of the Rings, though).
(2) Viggo Mortenson (again, only as Aragorn in same movie).
(3) My husband.
(4) Some guy named Jessie in the Lumosity brain games for the memory game in the restaurant. I may not remember the other faces, but I always remember his.
(5) Neil DeGrasse Tyson (for his brains, he is an intelligent man. And he is not bad looking, either.).
8. What did you wear today?
A. I have on my nightgown and my robe, at the moment. When we decide what, if anything, we are doing today, then I will know whether to put on sweats or decent pants.
9. Tell us something you always think “what if” about.
A. What if an asteroid were to strike the planet and eliminate most of humanity, and we had to start over again? What if magic really exists? What if we can cure cancer but they don't because there is so much more money in simply treating it? What if there is life on other planets? What if the answer to the meaning of everything really is 42?
10. What is something you’re proud of?
A. My college diplomas, all three of them.
11. Is there something you lust after?
A. I did want a smart phone but I have one now, so there really isn't much on my list. I could use a new set of sheets for the bed. That's exciting, isn't it?
12. List a word/phrase that makes you laugh.
A. Geronimo. I know that's probably not a P.C. word these days, but it brings back childhood memories not only of playing cowboys and Indians with my brother and young uncles, but also of Geronimo the Indian doll in the Johnny West series, things I learned in school, and of jumping in leaves (or jumping in general).
13. What is a quote you try to live by?
A. I have two:
Not all those who wander are lost. - J. R. R. Tolkien
Levavi Oculos (I will lift my eyes.) (I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. - Psalm 121).
14. What is something you like about yourself? What is something you dislike?
A. I like that I'm fairly intelligent and have a somewhat sardonic and sarcastic wit. I don't like that I am overweight.
15. Tell us about a problem that you have had recently.
A. I attempted to use my health insurance plan's telemedicine. However, it didn't work properly and my credit card was charged the full visit and not the co-pay. The telemedicine place said my husband's employer had opted out of the telemedicine (even though they were advertising it to us and suggesting we use it), but the insurance company said that was incorrect. Turns out that the telemedicine place can't tell the difference between a city and county. The county with the same name opted out; the city didn't. My husband's employer is the city. I am still trying to clear this up so we can use the telemedicine system.
__________
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, September 23, 2017
Saturday 9: Da Doo Ron Ron
Saturday 9: Da Doo Ron Ron (1977)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) This song begins by stating that he met her on a Monday and his heart stood still. How did your past week start? It may be a lot to expect you to report that you met someone who made your heart stand still, but did anything noteworthy occur?
A. My Monday started with cleaning the house. Whee. That was about the only noteworthy thing that happened. Well, my throat started hurting again, but who wants to hear about that?
2) While making hit records, Shaun Cassidy also starred as Joe Hardy on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books have been popular with generations of American kids. Were you a fan?
A. Oh yes. I read both series.
3) Shaun went to Beverly Hills High School. Over the decades, BHHS has had many good footballs teams. Do you remember what sports your school excelled at?
A. Football and girls volleyball, at the time I was in school. I don't know what sports they play well, now.
4) Shaun followed his older half-brother, David Cassidy, into TV/records/teen stardom. Do you have siblings? If yes, what career paths did they follow?
A. I have a brother. He is the President of my father's company. He knows many people and is in charge of many lives and overseeing many things.
5) His middle name is Paul, after his maternal grandfather. Tell us something about one of your grandparents.
A. My maternal grandfather often came across as very gruff, but he also had a playful streak. We were constantly being told to stay out of his workroom (he repaired TVs on the weekends) but he also ran races with us, gave us quarters to mow the yard, and once sat out on the back stoop with me while we watched a lightning storm across the way.
6) Shaun's mother, actress Shirley Jones, reports that he was more than 3 weeks late and born by Cesarean. Have you heard family legends about your arrival into the world?
A. Yes. I was told that when I was placed in my mother's arms, I stretched and squirmed and pushed her away, and she knew immediately that I did not love her. Make of that what you will. Also, someone said I had cute little ears.
7) "Da Doo Ron Ron" was originally recorded by The Crystals. Can you think of another song that has been a hit by more than one artist?
A. I probably could have before you asked. :-) Now I have to think about it. Ok. Crimson and Clover was recorded by the Shondells and then Joan Jett.
8) In 1977, when this version of "Da Doo Ron Ron" was popular, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporated Apple. Are you Mac or Android?
A. I went from DOS to Windows and have always used Windows. I am now the proud owner of an iPhone, however. Maybe the times they are a'changin'.
9) Random Question: You're exhausted. You collapse into bed and are about to drift into slumber when you hear the drip-drip-drip of the bathroom faucet. Would you kick off the covers and go turn it off? Or would you stay in bed, letting it drip until morning?
A. I cannot sleep with any kind of noise, so I would have to rise and turn the thing off. If it was a drip I could not fix, I'd place towel under it to halt the noise.
_____________
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 song begins by stating that he met her on a Monday and his heart stood still. How did your past week start? It may be a lot to expect you to report that you met someone who made your heart stand still, but did anything noteworthy occur?
A. My Monday started with cleaning the house. Whee. That was about the only noteworthy thing that happened. Well, my throat started hurting again, but who wants to hear about that?
2) While making hit records, Shaun Cassidy also starred as Joe Hardy on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books have been popular with generations of American kids. Were you a fan?
A. Oh yes. I read both series.
3) Shaun went to Beverly Hills High School. Over the decades, BHHS has had many good footballs teams. Do you remember what sports your school excelled at?
A. Football and girls volleyball, at the time I was in school. I don't know what sports they play well, now.
4) Shaun followed his older half-brother, David Cassidy, into TV/records/teen stardom. Do you have siblings? If yes, what career paths did they follow?
A. I have a brother. He is the President of my father's company. He knows many people and is in charge of many lives and overseeing many things.
5) His middle name is Paul, after his maternal grandfather. Tell us something about one of your grandparents.
A. My maternal grandfather often came across as very gruff, but he also had a playful streak. We were constantly being told to stay out of his workroom (he repaired TVs on the weekends) but he also ran races with us, gave us quarters to mow the yard, and once sat out on the back stoop with me while we watched a lightning storm across the way.
6) Shaun's mother, actress Shirley Jones, reports that he was more than 3 weeks late and born by Cesarean. Have you heard family legends about your arrival into the world?
A. Yes. I was told that when I was placed in my mother's arms, I stretched and squirmed and pushed her away, and she knew immediately that I did not love her. Make of that what you will. Also, someone said I had cute little ears.
7) "Da Doo Ron Ron" was originally recorded by The Crystals. Can you think of another song that has been a hit by more than one artist?
A. I probably could have before you asked. :-) Now I have to think about it. Ok. Crimson and Clover was recorded by the Shondells and then Joan Jett.
8) In 1977, when this version of "Da Doo Ron Ron" was popular, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak incorporated Apple. Are you Mac or Android?
A. I went from DOS to Windows and have always used Windows. I am now the proud owner of an iPhone, however. Maybe the times they are a'changin'.
9) Random Question: You're exhausted. You collapse into bed and are about to drift into slumber when you hear the drip-drip-drip of the bathroom faucet. Would you kick off the covers and go turn it off? Or would you stay in bed, letting it drip until morning?
A. I cannot sleep with any kind of noise, so I would have to rise and turn the thing off. If it was a drip I could not fix, I'd place towel under it to halt the noise.
_____________
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, September 21, 2017
Thursday Thirteen
Ruined Book Titles
1. Heaves of Grass (Leaves of Grass)
2. Mall of the Wild (Call of the Wild)
3. Hairy Potter and the Odor of the Phoenix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
4. Lord of the Fries (Lord of the Flies)
5. The Handmaid's Kale (The Handmaid's Tale)
6. Of Lice and Men (Of Mice and Men)
7. Gone with the wine (Gone with the Wind)
8. Animal Harm (Animal Farm)
9. Bravo New World (Brave New World)
10. Anne of Green Tables (Anne of Green Gables)
11. Art of the Heel (Art of the Deal)
12. Lord of the Rinks (Lord of the Rings)
13. The Hunger Dames (The Hunger Games)
Extra:
The Drapes of Wrath (The Grapes of Wrath)
Little Mouse in the Big Woods (Little House in the Big Woods)
Little Louse on the Prairie (Little House on the Prairie)
The Lizard of Oz (The Wizard of Oz)
_________
1. Heaves of Grass (Leaves of Grass)
2. Mall of the Wild (Call of the Wild)
3. Hairy Potter and the Odor of the Phoenix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
4. Lord of the Fries (Lord of the Flies)
5. The Handmaid's Kale (The Handmaid's Tale)
6. Of Lice and Men (Of Mice and Men)
7. Gone with the wine (Gone with the Wind)
8. Animal Harm (Animal Farm)
9. Bravo New World (Brave New World)
10. Anne of Green Tables (Anne of Green Gables)
11. Art of the Heel (Art of the Deal)
12. Lord of the Rinks (Lord of the Rings)
13. The Hunger Dames (The Hunger Games)
Extra:
The Drapes of Wrath (The Grapes of Wrath)
Little Mouse in the Big Woods (Little House in the Big Woods)
Little Louse on the Prairie (Little House on the Prairie)
The Lizard of Oz (The Wizard of Oz)
_________
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 518th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Sunday Stealing: Never Have I Ever
Sunday Stealing: Never Have I Ever
1. Have you ever had chicken pox?
A. I had them when I was a wee lass.
2. Have you ever shopped in Home Depot?
A. Yes, I have, but I do my best not to.
3. Have you ever spied on your neighbors?
A. I see them out and I wave. Does that count?
4. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
A. No, I have not.
5. Have you ever had a pet fish?
A. When I was very small we had an aquarium. I barely remember it.
6. Have you ever lied about your age?
A. Not that I ... oh, wait. I had a fake ID when I was young. So yes, I suppose I did.
7. Have you ever fired a gun?
A. Yes. I have good aim, too.
8. Have you ever been ice skating?
A. Yes, and on a real pond, even. It is not as much fun on a real pond as it looks in the movies; there are bumps and frozen sticks and lots of things to throw you down.
9. Have you ever played golf?
A. I've played Putt-Putt golf. Does that count?
10. Have you ever hidden on Halloween because you had no candy for trick or treaters?
A. We never have trick-or-treaters. Too rural and too far off the road.
11. Have you ever made a prank call?
A. I'm sure I did when I was younger, way back before caller ID.
12. Have you ever gotten a tattoo?
A. No. I have lots of scars, though.
13. Have you ever had a massage?
A. Yes, and they are wonderful.
14. Have you ever locked your keys in the car?
A. True story. Way back around 1986, on the first day of hunting season, I locked my keys in the car while I was working on an article for the newspaper. My husband was working at the fire station, and in those days, if you had to leave, the rule was you had to take the entire day for your vacation. He had to come and rescue me, and all of the firefighters said it was really a trick so he could have the day off to go hunting. It wasn't, but he wasn't all that unhappy about having to rescue me, either.
15. Have you ever ridden a horse?
A. My mother had a horse when I was a child. We also had a pony, which bolted with me on it. I fell off and cracked a rib and refused to get back on the animal. Not long after that my parents decided horses required too much care and they sold them.
16. Have you ever been to the circus?
A. A very long time ago, when I was a child.
17. Have you ever been to Europe?
A. I have been to Spain and France.
18. Have you ever built a fire?
A. Yes. We have a fireplace. I grew up with a fireplace. I was splitting wood well before I hit my tweens.
19. Have you ever been skydiving?
A. No, but I have been up in a hot air balloon. May I have points for that?
20. Have you ever bought something at a garage sale?
A. Of course.
21. Have you ever walked in on someone having sex?
A. Probably my parents but I don't really recall any particular incident.
22. Have you ever faked an injury to get out of something?
A. I had a mole removed from my chest when I was very young. It left a huge scar. In middle school, I told the gym teacher I couldn't do much physical education exercises because I'd had heart surgery, and I showed her my scar. She believed me and I frequently sat out the very sweat-inducing portions of PE.
23. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
A. No, nor do I have any desire to visit one.
24. Have you ever received a speeding ticket?
A. No, I have not.
25. Have you ever run a marathon?
A. Some mornings just managing to dress and prepare myself for the day is like a marathon. But the answer to the question is no, I have not.
__________
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. Have you ever had chicken pox?
A. I had them when I was a wee lass.
2. Have you ever shopped in Home Depot?
A. Yes, I have, but I do my best not to.
3. Have you ever spied on your neighbors?
A. I see them out and I wave. Does that count?
4. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
A. No, I have not.
5. Have you ever had a pet fish?
A. When I was very small we had an aquarium. I barely remember it.
6. Have you ever lied about your age?
A. Not that I ... oh, wait. I had a fake ID when I was young. So yes, I suppose I did.
7. Have you ever fired a gun?
A. Yes. I have good aim, too.
8. Have you ever been ice skating?
A. Yes, and on a real pond, even. It is not as much fun on a real pond as it looks in the movies; there are bumps and frozen sticks and lots of things to throw you down.
9. Have you ever played golf?
A. I've played Putt-Putt golf. Does that count?
10. Have you ever hidden on Halloween because you had no candy for trick or treaters?
A. We never have trick-or-treaters. Too rural and too far off the road.
11. Have you ever made a prank call?
A. I'm sure I did when I was younger, way back before caller ID.
12. Have you ever gotten a tattoo?
A. No. I have lots of scars, though.
13. Have you ever had a massage?
A. Yes, and they are wonderful.
14. Have you ever locked your keys in the car?
A. True story. Way back around 1986, on the first day of hunting season, I locked my keys in the car while I was working on an article for the newspaper. My husband was working at the fire station, and in those days, if you had to leave, the rule was you had to take the entire day for your vacation. He had to come and rescue me, and all of the firefighters said it was really a trick so he could have the day off to go hunting. It wasn't, but he wasn't all that unhappy about having to rescue me, either.
15. Have you ever ridden a horse?
A. My mother had a horse when I was a child. We also had a pony, which bolted with me on it. I fell off and cracked a rib and refused to get back on the animal. Not long after that my parents decided horses required too much care and they sold them.
16. Have you ever been to the circus?
A. A very long time ago, when I was a child.
17. Have you ever been to Europe?
A. I have been to Spain and France.
18. Have you ever built a fire?
A. Yes. We have a fireplace. I grew up with a fireplace. I was splitting wood well before I hit my tweens.
19. Have you ever been skydiving?
A. No, but I have been up in a hot air balloon. May I have points for that?
20. Have you ever bought something at a garage sale?
A. Of course.
21. Have you ever walked in on someone having sex?
A. Probably my parents but I don't really recall any particular incident.
22. Have you ever faked an injury to get out of something?
A. I had a mole removed from my chest when I was very young. It left a huge scar. In middle school, I told the gym teacher I couldn't do much physical education exercises because I'd had heart surgery, and I showed her my scar. She believed me and I frequently sat out the very sweat-inducing portions of PE.
23. Have you ever been to a nude beach?
A. No, nor do I have any desire to visit one.
24. Have you ever received a speeding ticket?
A. No, I have not.
25. Have you ever run a marathon?
A. Some mornings just managing to dress and prepare myself for the day is like a marathon. But the answer to the question is no, I have not.
__________
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, September 16, 2017
Saturday 9: Don't Talk to Strangers
Saturday 9: Don't Talk to Strangers (1982)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) When did you recently have a conversation with a complete stranger? What did you two discuss?
A. Thursday I had a bad conversation with a sales clerk. It wasn't her fault that I had to walk all over an entire JC Penny store to find someone to take my money, but by the time I found her, I was tired and pretty pissed. This is the third time I've had to hobble all over JCP to find a clerk, and I told the woman I didn't want her credit card, didn't want her rewards, I just wanted to check out and get out of there and I was never coming back. Then I came home and sent an email to the manager, who had written me in June apologizing for the exact same problem after I tweeted about it. I used to love JCP, and they were my go-to store. Now I don't have a go-to store. I think I need to find a seamstress to make my clothes.
2) In the video for this song, a woman is having a "hot" conversation on a corded, rotary dial phone in her bedroom. Do you have a landline? If so, do you have an extension in your bedroom?
A. We do have a landline. In fact, the extension in our bedroom is still a ROTARY phone. It has push buttons but it connects via the rotary part of the phone system, which apparently is still in place, and thus is the only phone that still works when the power is out but the phone systems are not. When you dial from that phone, you can still hear that rotary sound that phones used to make in the line. It goes "clack clack clack" as you dial.
3) This week's artist, Rick Springfield, says he wrote this song when he was worried that his girlfriend (now his wife) would cheat on him when he was touring. Would you describe yourself as suspicious or trusting?
A. Trusting.
4) He became a daytime heartthrob as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. Do you think it would be cool to have a really attractive doctor? Or would it make you uncomfortable?
A. Usually when I am seeing a doctor I am sick so I really don't pay a lot of attention to what he or she looks like. Actually, the guy who took out my gallbladder was fairly nice looking but he had a miserable bedside manner and he did a crappy job on my surgery and has left me mauled for life. I care more about the competency than the looks.
5) He's discussed how sad he was when, as a boy, he had to leave his dog Elvis behind when the family left Australia. While you were growing up, did your family often move?
A. We moved five times before I left home for good. My husband and I have moved three times in 34 years (the last time in 1987). My parents moved when I was a baby and I don't remember that, then again when I was seven, and again when I nine, and again when I was thirteen. I might be a little off on the ages and time frames. My father remains in that last house.
6) In 1982, when this song was popular, Italy won the World Cup. Do you ever watch soccer?
A. No.
7) "Smiley," the first emoticon, was introduced in 1982. Do you use emoticons in your communication? Or do you avoid them?
A. Mostly I avoid them but sometimes I remember they exist and use them.
8) The Vietnam Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC, in 1982. Do you know any veterans of that conflict? If so, tell us about him or her.
A. I probably do, but no one comes to mind at the moment. While that war framed my first 10 years of life, afterwards, aside from Granada, I don't remember much about wars until we invaded Kuwait. I am a pacifist by nature, so while I read the news and am up on current events, I tend not to dwell on those kinds of things.
9) Random Question: Your friends are throwing a birthday "roast" in your honor. Which one quality of yours are you sure will be singled out for laughs?
A. My sarcastic and quick wit. Everyone comments on it, so I can't imagine that it wouldn't be something someone would note.
_____________
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) When did you recently have a conversation with a complete stranger? What did you two discuss?
A. Thursday I had a bad conversation with a sales clerk. It wasn't her fault that I had to walk all over an entire JC Penny store to find someone to take my money, but by the time I found her, I was tired and pretty pissed. This is the third time I've had to hobble all over JCP to find a clerk, and I told the woman I didn't want her credit card, didn't want her rewards, I just wanted to check out and get out of there and I was never coming back. Then I came home and sent an email to the manager, who had written me in June apologizing for the exact same problem after I tweeted about it. I used to love JCP, and they were my go-to store. Now I don't have a go-to store. I think I need to find a seamstress to make my clothes.
2) In the video for this song, a woman is having a "hot" conversation on a corded, rotary dial phone in her bedroom. Do you have a landline? If so, do you have an extension in your bedroom?
A. We do have a landline. In fact, the extension in our bedroom is still a ROTARY phone. It has push buttons but it connects via the rotary part of the phone system, which apparently is still in place, and thus is the only phone that still works when the power is out but the phone systems are not. When you dial from that phone, you can still hear that rotary sound that phones used to make in the line. It goes "clack clack clack" as you dial.
3) This week's artist, Rick Springfield, says he wrote this song when he was worried that his girlfriend (now his wife) would cheat on him when he was touring. Would you describe yourself as suspicious or trusting?
A. Trusting.
4) He became a daytime heartthrob as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. Do you think it would be cool to have a really attractive doctor? Or would it make you uncomfortable?
A. Usually when I am seeing a doctor I am sick so I really don't pay a lot of attention to what he or she looks like. Actually, the guy who took out my gallbladder was fairly nice looking but he had a miserable bedside manner and he did a crappy job on my surgery and has left me mauled for life. I care more about the competency than the looks.
5) He's discussed how sad he was when, as a boy, he had to leave his dog Elvis behind when the family left Australia. While you were growing up, did your family often move?
A. We moved five times before I left home for good. My husband and I have moved three times in 34 years (the last time in 1987). My parents moved when I was a baby and I don't remember that, then again when I was seven, and again when I nine, and again when I was thirteen. I might be a little off on the ages and time frames. My father remains in that last house.
6) In 1982, when this song was popular, Italy won the World Cup. Do you ever watch soccer?
A. No.
7) "Smiley," the first emoticon, was introduced in 1982. Do you use emoticons in your communication? Or do you avoid them?
A. Mostly I avoid them but sometimes I remember they exist and use them.
8) The Vietnam Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC, in 1982. Do you know any veterans of that conflict? If so, tell us about him or her.
A. I probably do, but no one comes to mind at the moment. While that war framed my first 10 years of life, afterwards, aside from Granada, I don't remember much about wars until we invaded Kuwait. I am a pacifist by nature, so while I read the news and am up on current events, I tend not to dwell on those kinds of things.
9) Random Question: Your friends are throwing a birthday "roast" in your honor. Which one quality of yours are you sure will be singled out for laughs?
A. My sarcastic and quick wit. Everyone comments on it, so I can't imagine that it wouldn't be something someone would note.
_____________
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, September 15, 2017
Seeing Rainbows
These were taken with my Nikon P500. I also took some with my new iPhone SE, but I can't figure out how to get them to the computer.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Thursday Thirteen
Books I have read so far this year:
1. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, by Kate Douglas Wiggin
2. The Apple Orchard, by Susan Wiggs
3. Love Letters, by Debbie Macomber
4. Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
5. Hold Still, by Sally Mann
6. Smooth Operator, by Stuart Woods
7. The Practice House, by Laura McNeal
8. Truevine, by Beth Macy
9. Turbo Twenty-Three, by Janet Evanovich
10. Guilt by Association, by Marcia Clark
11. The Mutual Admiration Association, by Leslie Kagen
12. Fire is Your Water, by Jim Minnick
13. The Summer Hideway, by Susan Wiggs
Three of these are by area authors: Hold Still, Truevine, and Fire is Your Water. I know two of those three and the other went to my alma mater.
I went through a spate of reading children's books early in the year, when things were feeling dire and I needed some comfort reading.
These are not all of the books I have read this year. I am not reading as much as I once did, but I still read a great deal.
_________
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 517th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
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