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.
Sunday, September 01, 2019
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.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Happiness Friday
Last night I went to listen to my father's band play at the local retirement home. Dad is in his late 70s, but he is in good form.
I enjoyed listening to him sing, and watching him be the showman he is. He's very charismatic and good at working a crowd. He always has been.
His band, called Stone Coal Gap, played mostly 1950s music. I knew all but three of the songs. Many of those songs I grew up hearing my father sing. He's always been into music.
Here are photos of him and his band at their gig last night. My dad is the guy in the pink shirt up front singing and playing the guitar.
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 enjoyed listening to him sing, and watching him be the showman he is. He's very charismatic and good at working a crowd. He always has been.
His band, called Stone Coal Gap, played mostly 1950s music. I knew all but three of the songs. Many of those songs I grew up hearing my father sing. He's always been into music.
Here are photos of him and his band at their gig last night. My dad is the guy in the pink shirt up front singing and playing the guitar.
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 15, 2019
Thursday Thirteen
Since I was supposed to be writing about happy things in August and forgot, I'll make up for it here with a list of 13 things that makes me happy.
1. Good music.
2. A good hair day.
3. My husband's smile.
4. A phone call from my brother.
5. A visit from a friend.
6. Sunsets.
7. Fawns (before they turn into deer eating my roses).
8. A good bloom on my rose bushes.
9. Sleeping well.
10. Chocolate.
11. Reading good fiction.
12. Feeling like things are falling into place.
13. Being remembered.
__________________
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 617th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
1. Good music.
2. A good hair day.
 |
| This was not a good hair day. I must've been 12 or so. Yikes. |
3. My husband's smile.
 |
| A little grizzled, but smiling. |
 |
| The boy doesn't look like this anymore. |
5. A visit from a friend.
 |
| This is Gertie Groundhog. We're friends. |
6. Sunsets.
 |
| That was a red one, wasn't it? |
7. Fawns (before they turn into deer eating my roses).
8. A good bloom on my rose bushes.
9. Sleeping well.
 |
| The deer sleep well around here, anyway. |
10. Chocolate.
11. Reading good fiction.
12. Feeling like things are falling into place.
13. Being remembered.
__________________
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 617th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Happy I Have Morals
I think this was the second episode. I missed the first one.
The premise is that Billionaire Man will go into some city and in 90 days create a $1 million company. This is to prove, I think, that people who are poor are poor because they aren't smart or can't figure out how to beat the system or something. It's obviously slanted in that direction.
It's propaganda.
To my absolute horror and dismay, in the first minutes of the episode last night, Mr. Billionaire went onto private property (some vacant industry), then drove around back and waded through a pile of tires until he found several good ones. He then STOLE those tires and sold them for $1500 to get his "seed" money for his business. (Actually it was to get him a room because he'd been sleeping in his truck.) I don't know what happened after that because I turned the TV off.
The moral here I guess is that if you're willing to (a) trespass and (b) steal, then you can move forward in life. (Can you see my eyes rolling?)
He is nothing but a crook. If he thinks this is ok, then I doubt he's a billionaire because he did something legal to earn his millions.
This morning I am happy that I am not a crook. I am happy that I know right from wrong, and that I do not believe that just because your bicycle is out next to your house, I have the right to take it. Basically that is what Mr. Billionaire did. Even if the property had been reposed by the city, that land and its contents belongs to the taxpayers and the stuff wasn't Mr. Billionaire's to take.
So I am content to be mediocre and not of great wealth, because at least I have my principles.
I am happy that I have good morals.
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.
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