The Year End Quiz

I am totally glowing from Glee's Golden Globe win. It was nice to focus on something good for a change.

Things are so horrible right now, especially at work, I need something to distract me. The Golden Globes helped and I did not get as mad as I usually do when people I want to win don't. Perhaps because so many that I did want to win won this year so I was able to look past the insults of Jane Lynch and Neil Patrick Harris losing to people I do not believe deserved to win. But I digress...

I still need more to distract me. So what better than a mindless quiz to take my mind off things. I know I am well into the middle of January for a Year End Quiz, but this was the only thing I could find that wouldn't take too much effort. Plus I think I feel guilty for not doing my regular year in review posts.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Tried to make a baby

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I stopped making resolutions after high school. I never keep them

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister-in-law and my good friend J had babies within a month and a half of each other.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My father-in-law

5. What countries did you visit?
None that aren't imaginary in my head

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A baby

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Right now I can't think of any other date than December 1st, the day my father-in-law passed away.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not completely losing my mind over everything

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not taking care of myself and not sticking with our exercise routine

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fell down the stairs. Not my fault, blame the cats.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My 120gb iPod Classic

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friends. They always know how to keep my spirits up

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Too many to mention here

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, as always. And a house we couldn't afford

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Glee premiering and New Moon

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Poker Face by Lady Gaga

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Sadder, much sadder
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter, much fatter
c) richer or poorer? Pooper, much, much poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating crap

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Playing Bingo with Charming and my MIL and then going to work

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No, but still in love with my hubby, does that count?

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Glee

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I try not to hate anyone but it is so so hard. I strongly dislike several people

24. What was the best book you read?
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The music of Glee

26. What did you want and get?
I didn't really get anything this year, first year I got nothing sparkly. But I did ask for Beatles Rock Band and got that.

27. What did you want and not get?
A baby

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
It's a three way tie between Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, New Moon and Up

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Gulp, 32. And we didn't do much except dinner and then Gordie Brown's show at the Golden Nugget

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
No one dying

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Comfort

32. What kept you sane?
Finding time for myself

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Robert Pattinson and Alexandar Skarsgard

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I try not to get involved in politics but I would have to say everyone saying Obama is worthless after he hadn't even been in office for a year.

35. Who did you miss?
My best friend

36. Who was the best new person you met?
My friend J at work. I finally have an ally!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
You never know when your entire life can change in an instant

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I’m so tired but I can’t sleep
Standin’ on the edge of something much too deep
It’s funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can’t be heard

~I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan

Attempting To Be Deep With Proust

In keeping with talking about Lynda on this blog, she recently posted her answers to a Proust Questionnaire that had appeared in Vanity Fair. Apparently Vanity Fair has devoted the back page of each issue to the Proust Questionnaire, in which a noteworthy person answers a series of personal questions. The questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust (1871–1922), the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. You can click on the link above and read the answers given by a series of celebrities featured. Since VF will be spouting a cover with Robert Pattinson this month I decided to take a crack at their questions too. Because all of my decisions are based around the involvement of hot young men. Yes, I have my priorities straight. Also, I am curious to see my true nature since I myself do not know what it is. I will try to be as honest as possible.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Never having to worry about money issues again.

What is your greatest fear?
All that I love being taken away from me.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
My lack of motivation to change what I hate about myself.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Ignorance and rudeness.

On what occasion do you lie?
I am ashamed to say I sometimes lie to make other people feel better about themselves, myself included.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Massages.

What is your current state of mind?
Tired.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Understanding.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Understanding.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Really? Wow! and Not a problem.

When and where were you happiest?
As cliche as it sounds, our wedding day. It just felt perfect and so right and I was so blissfully happy with my new life ahead with my husband.

Who are your favorite writers?
I love a lot of bloggers but as for professional writers I would have to say Stephenie Meyer, MaryJanice Davidson, Charlaine Harris, Jodi Picoult and old Stephen King (I say old because I can't seem to get into his new stuff)

Which talent would you most like to have?
A voice amazing enough to be on Broadway.

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
That I lived closer to them.

If you died and came back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
Absolutely a cat. My cats especially have the perfect life.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?
The vast expanse of it.

Where would you like to live?
The suburbs of London, England.

What is your most treasured possession?
Corny again, but the love of my husband.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Cruelty.

What do you most value in your friends?
All of the things that make them special to me. For each one it is something unique.

What are your favorite names?
I like slightly more non-traditional names like Calliope. But I am not listing my favorites because our children are going to be named that and I don't want to give anything away.

What is it that you most dislike?
Stupid, insolent people who bring nothing good into someone's life,

What is your greatest regret?
That I never travelled across Europe or did a semester overseas while I was younger.

How would you like to die?
Safe and quiet in my bed.

What is your motto?
When God closes one door he always opens another, even though sometimes it's Hell in the hallway.

Let's keep this party going and have everyone else answer these questions too! Other Proust Questionnaire participants:

Finn (originator)
Blogography
Avitable
LeSombre
Sybil
Lynda
Your name here

Halloween Meme-ories

My favorite day of the year! Alas, today I have to work so no fun Halloween festivties for me. But I can still participate in a small way with a special spooky themed meme. Because I like being dorky apparently.

1. What is your favorite written work of horror fiction?
The one book that I could not read all the way through because it scared me so much was The Shining. I was like Joey in Friends. I needed to put it in the freezer when I got too scared.

2. What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy?
Because everyone is expecting me to say Twilight or Harry Potter I am going to say before either of those came out it was the Underworld movies.

3. Who is your favorite monster?
Vampires of course.

4. What is your favorite Horror movie?
I still can't watch Resident Evil without cringing. But I love all horror movies, I love being scared. I hope Paranormal Activity takes this honor after Tuesday when I finally see it, with Lynda!

5. What horror movie gives you the most chills?
The Exorcism of Emily Rose made my hair stand up on end because it was based on a true story.

6. What character from any horror film would you most like to play?
Anyone who dies in a totally cool way. Except Paris Hilton in House of Wax. She deserved her death and she should be the only one who owns that one.

7. Freddy or Jason?
Freddy, his movies were slightly funnier than scarier. Plus Jason freaked me out at the end of Friday the 13th when he came out of the water.

8. What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Mini Hershey bars.

9. Ghosts or goblins?
Ghosts, because they can be good or bad. Most goblins are just nasty.

10. Friendly-faced jack-o’-lantern or scary one?
Even the friendly ones look freaky at times, depending on who carves them!

11. What is your scariest encounter with the paranormal?
Our stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. If I ever had any doubts about hauntings, those two days cleared things right up for me.

12. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
Yes. Because I don't think evey soul goes away quietly. There are those in life who make a huge fuss, why not continue on in death?

13. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho?
Psycho, because I would actually exist. As fun as zombies and aliens are there is really no true evidence that they are real outside of the movie screen.

14. Favorite Halloween costume?
I was a sexy leopard one year and totally rocked that costume with knee high suede boots and everything.

15. Best thing about Halloween?
It's two days after my birthday so themed parties were the norm in school. Also, dressing up is a lot of fun!

16. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)?
My brother always has great costumes.

17. Are you superstitious?
YES! In fact after this meme I need to douse myself in holy water and pin around three times, counter-clockwise.

18. Share an unusual Halloween story.
One year I worked in a local Halloween haunted house as a tour guide. Each group we brought through we would try to freak out more than the last. The last group one night contained a few elderly ladies and one of the booths scared them so much she passed out and we had to shut downt he entire house to call the paramedics.

19. What did you do for Halloween as a kid?
Always dressed up, often had birthday parties for me since my bithday was so close, and we would trick-or-treat all over our neighborhood and our old neighborhood. We would go out for hours and come home with enough candy to last us through Christmas.

20. What’s the best Halloween party that you’ve attended?
I went to a halloween party at a club in Cleveland to see the guy I was dating at the time play in his band. I got hit on by about a dozen or so creatures of the night (this was the sexy leopard costume year) so it was a pretty good night.

Happy Halloween!!

Beautiful Liar

Since I am busy reading away trying to finish this series of books that have me absolutely captivated (I only have two to go! The Hollows/Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison if anyone is interested) I have been neglecting all things blog. In fact, I have been neglecting pretty much everything in my life. Laundry has piled up, the house is a mess and I read while walking down halls and even when I am on the loo. But like other times before when the written page has lured me into seclusion, I shall return! Not that I have much to talk about since the bike rides have gone to nil (although I do have one biking story I have been meaning to post for some time. Must get on that) due to my inability to ride without hacking and puking. The 100 degree heat at 9 AM hasn't helped matters either.

In the meantime, enjoy this meme I was tagged to do by Fraulein N. In the style of her and Naynay's posts I kept my title of this post as one from a song. Can you guess who sang it?

The concept: Sometimes you can learn more about a person by what they don’t tell you. Sometimes you can learn a lot from the things they just make up. If you are tagged with this Meme, lie to me. Then tag 7 other folks (one for each deadly sin) and hope they can lie.

However, I have slightly changed the parameters a bit and installed a bit a truth into one of these whoppers. Whoever can sniff out the somewhat truthful sin will win my unending gratitude.

Pride: What is your biggest contribution to the world?

I would have to say my unending ability to put a positive spin on even the most dire of circumstances. I am Little Miss Mary Sunshine, never letting anything get me down and helping people all around the world ward off cloudy sad days of despair.

Envy: What do your coworkers have that you wish was yours?

For being in a business that is known to pay almost nothing there are some pretty sweet cars in our parking lot at work. I am working on seeing how I can sweet talk someone's Jag to be my own. Or learn how to hot wire.

Gluttony: What did you eat last night?

My dinner of Lean Cuisine, Clementine and Cheese-Its did nothing for my ravenous hunger so I topped it off with two hamburgers, a hot fudge sundae and a White Mocha from Starbucks, non-fat and decaf of course.

Lust: What really lights your fire?

Manly smell. Not body stink but a nice clean Man Smell. And no cloying cologne to make my eyes water and nose run. Sometimes they can smell so good I want to lick them.

Anger: What is the last thing that really pissed you off?

Some ass cut me off in a construction zone because he couldn't see the three blinking yellow arrows and four neon orange signs informing drivers a lane was ending. I contemplated how much paint I would lose if I rubbed him and settled for murderous hand gestures and lots of cursing.

Greed: Name something you hoard and keep from others.

My love. I have a ten step process you must first complete before I shall consider you a contender for my affection. When a girl's been burned as much as I have she has to take precautions with her tender emotions.

Sloth: What’s the laziest thing you ever did?

I was napping on the couch and woke up having to tinkle really badly. But I was so comfortable I was worried that getting vertical and walking to the bathroom would ruin the rest of my afternoon nap. So I rolled off the couch, dropped my pants and peed in an empty juice glass. I then finished my nap on the floor.


And I tag Shades, Pixie, Steelers Wine Girl, Odette, Hallie, Maureen, and Carla (Sorry if you have already been tagged or if you have not and want to do this, go for it!)



VEGAS! Sights: UP! (Loved it! So sweet and it made me cry several times)
VEGAS! Sounds: "What Hurts The Most (Remix)" - Cascada
VEGAS! Soliloquies: The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

The Alphabet Meme (Meme Fridays)

I am still having a blast with Marie but wanted to give you all something new to read. So I present you with a meme. Because I love memes. Memes are fun, frolicy and carefree! Memes are what I wish my life was all the time.

Saw this on Tonjia's blog ages ago and I liked it so of course I stole it for future meme use.

A is for age: 31...and still here. So I guess my twenties being over were not the end of my life.

B is for burger of choice: A Fatburger, with egg. Not something I have all the time because I can feel it adding to my thighs which each bite. But oh so delicious!

C is for the car I drive: 2007 Toyota Camry, pewter color.

D is for your dog's name: Don't have any puppies, but my two kitties are Portia and Nerissa.

E is for essential item you use every day: My cell phone. I feel naked without it.

F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Lost, it's finally coming around to where I can see it all making sense. At least I hope it will.

G is for favorite game: Video game-Rock Band, Board game-Trivial Pursuit, Card game-Five Crowns

H is for home state: Massachusetts. I am a Mass-hole all the way.

I is for instruments you play: Drums on Rock Band! Always wished I could play piano or the violin though.

J is for favorite juice: Orange

K is for whose bum you'd like to kick: My builder for making us go through next week's PLUMBING HELL because of choose cheap materials.

L is for last restaurant at which you ate: Remedy's

M is for your favorite Muppet: Grover

N is for number of piercings: Five in my left ear, three in my right

O is for overnight hospital stays: 2, once in college when I got alcohol poisoning and once when I was 24 and everyone thought I was having a heart attack but really I just pinched a nerve throwing up so much with the flu. It was scary, my left arm was all tingling, my chest hurt bad and my fingertips were blue. I had to do a stress test after being poked and prodded all night. nothing like running on a treadmill after throwing up for two days and having nothing in your system because you can't even keep down water.

P is for people you were with today: Charming and Marie...but she leaves tomorrow! :(

Q is for what you do with your quiet time: read, blog, watch TV or movies

R is for biggest regret: Falling out with a very close friend and not getting closure with a certain relationship. Also never backpacking through Europe right after college like my mother did when she was that age.

S is for status: Married

T is for time you woke up today: 9:30 AM, getting up earlier to spend maximum time with Marie!

U is for what you consider unique about yourself: My ability to make people laugh, usually at my own expense.

V is for vegetable you love: Sweet corn

W is for worst habit: Procrastinating, and biting my nails. I can't seem to stop that one no matter how hard I try.

X is for x-rays you've had: How much time do we have? Mostly I think it would be easier to tell you what I haven't had x-rayed. Which is are my ears. And perhaps my right shoulder.

Y is for yummy food you ate today: Did I eat anything yummy? I can't remember so it must not have been that yummy.

Z is for zodiac: Scorpio and proud of my fiery nature!

Meme Friday

Ugh. I am all stuffed up and dripping simultaneously. A dangerous combination which secures I should never be far from a box of tissues or a humidifier. So I am two kinds of miserable with the pounding head and sinuses, the scratchy throat from all that goodness draining down, I upset tummy from pools of mucus taking up residence in my gastro tract. There is nothing pleasant going on in my body. Today I should be home in bed but alas life goes on whether or not I have a head cold. I will just have to bitch about it. Constantly.

Because I can not coherently think enough to both do my job and string three sentences together I am going to cop-out and pull on an old standard for my post today. The always reliable meme. I have a stash of them to refer to in times of crisis. And my raw nose and chalk tasting mouth are screaming CRISIS!

Some people have Ditch Fridays or Drink Fridays, I am going to have Meme Fridays. Although, I may need to rethink this. Because my option does not involve fun with impaired substances. How about Meme Fridays-Now With Alcohol! I may need to register that trademark.

Got tagged for a meme by Loraloo who claims I keep her coming back every day to read my blog. So I must be doing something right. List 10 honest things about yourself (TRUE and interesting things - not just the color of your socks!)

1. I am a natural blonde but not as blonde as I make myself.
2. For all my bravado and seemingly self-assurance I hate walking into a room of people I don't' know because I am always sure they will want nothing to do with me.
3. I hate the weight I am at now, the heaviest I have been in my life, but can't seem to get motivated to fix that.
4. I miss New England and Ohio more than I let on to anyone.
5. I never wanted to get married.
6. I am so happy I did to the perfect man for me. (Which is why I did not want to get married, I didn't think the perfect man for me existed.)
7. I am constantly afraid of failing at everything and feel like my life may change for the worse at any second. And there will be nothing I can do to stop it.
8. I miss riding horses.
9. I think I am a pretty cool person and can't understand why anyone wouldn't like me, so when they don't I get really upset (this sort of ties in with #2)
10. I think having a blog saved me from going insane from living in Vegas all on my own without my friends and family.

And then Steelers Wine Girl posted this on her blog and it was too much fun to pass up.

The bold ones are things I've done....

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars - not really an outdoors girl, I have never even gone camping not in a backyard!)
3. Played in a band - I was a singer for a really really short time for a band in college!
4. Visited Hawaii - have always wanted to and now that we are one Continental U.S. flight closer to doing that we have to go someday soon.
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - does Disney World count? I think Disney World is better anyway so I am bolding it.
8. Climbed a mountain - there is a hilarious story about climbing a mountain with Charming and my BIL but if I tell it I think my BIL may kill me.
9. Held a praying mantis - not a bug girl but these guys are so cool!
10. Sang a solo - lots and lots. I was often the go-to solo girl, plus played several leads in musicals, karaoke, etc.
11. Bungee jumped - I think I may regret never doing this one.
12. Visited Paris - one of the greatest trips of my life and I was only 16.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - I love this, the power of the ocean and the elements always astounds me. We used to watch thunderstorms roll in off the lake from our high rise apartment in Cleveland too. So thrilling.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I drew a lot as a kid and even won a prize for my rendition of our town library.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - too many times to count. I seem to attract bad food. Or I just eat anything no matter what it is...
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - Nope, went by it on a boat though.
18. Grown your own vegetables - I can't even keep a cactus alive.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - stood in line for three hours to see one painting. I even sneaked a picture and it was so worth it.
20. Slept on an overnight train - again in France, from Paris to the Southern part of France. I experienced so much on that trip.
21. Had a pillow fight - uhm...I am a girl and I loved slumber parties.
22. Hitchhiked - stupid, I know. But I was young. And stupid. And I was not alone.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - seriously, has anyone NOT done this?
24. Built a snow fort - we did one better one year, my Dad helped us build an igloo!
25. Held an alligator - at one of those interactive zoo programs. I liked him better than the python.
26. Gone skinny dipping - my parents have a pool...nuff said.
27. Run a marathon - and I don't see this one ever being bolded...(STW, your answer was so perfect I didn't even change it! Although I always fantasized running in the Boston Marathon)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - I haven't even ridden the ones at the Venetian.
29. Seen a total eclipse - Twice of the sun and I can't even count how many with the moon.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - Both, but more sunsets.
31. Hit a home run - Gotta love softball and kickball!
32. Been on a cruise - I hope to rectify this soon.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - three times, once as a child, once in college and once at the tail end of my honeymoon. An awesome experience bracketed by people I love...we won't talk about the middle trip.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - I hope to go to Ireland some day and Italy for my husband. My mom got to go when she was younger than me and I always regret not taking the time after college to do it as well.
35. Seen an Amish community - every time we visited my grandparents. They have the best stores!
36. Taught yourself a new language - I took five years of French and two of Latin but didn't teach myself...although I had to study so, yeah, I'm bolding it!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - is this ever possible?
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - unfortunately, yes. See previous non-outdoorsy comment for the reason why I shouldn't.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - I want to one day. Who wouldn't? He's hot!
41. Sung karaoke - just the other night in fact
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - I bought a homeless guy a McDonald's meal, that has to count, right?
44. Visited Africa - still upset that this did not happen the summer of my freshman year of college.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance - too many times for how young I am!
47. Had your portrait painted - gotta love those artists on the boardwalk. I have had real paintings as well as caricatures done.
48. Gone deep sea fishing - I actually might do this one day. Right now the closest I have come is whale watching and we were definitely NOT hunting the whales.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - snorkeling, Jamaica, honeymoon. I don't think I could ever scuba dive.
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - I love them! And there is one here in Vegas I have been dying to try.
55. Been in a movie - okay my Videography classes in college have to count, right?
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class - kickboxing counts, right?
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen - some really rewarding days in my life.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - Never was a Girl Scout. But I LOVE those Thin Mints.
62. Gone whale watching - Hey, I just mentioned this above! Gotta love living near Boston Harbor.
63. Got flowers for no reason - Hubby has done this on occasion.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - As much as I am allowed to do.
65. Gone sky diving - was supposed to do this with my brother on his 21st. He went without me.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - not my fault!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar - never again
72. Been to Canada
73. Stood in Times Square - I have the picture on cell phone to prove it!
74. Toured the Everglades - I think I have done this. I remember some tour we took in Florida and it was swampy so I am saying we did this.
75. Been fired from a job - not yet...although I have quit a few.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London - can't wait!
77. Broken a bone - my wrist, fingers, toes, cracked a few ribs.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - I had actually done this before my husband bought one.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - have flown over it but despite living two and a half hours from it, have never gone.
80. Published a book - I wish.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - The car I have now only had 9 miles on it when I bought it.
83. Seen Bon Jovi in concert - always wanted to. But I kick ass on their songs on Rock Band.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - several times, for various reasons. None of them bad.
85. Read Gone With The Wind - never even seen the movie. I know, I suck.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Uh, no. But my husband has.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life - I saved a kid from being run over in a parking lot once. Does that count?
90. Sat on a jury - never even been called up once.
91. Met someone famous - more than I can count, but no one I have always wanted to meet, not yet.
92. Joined a book club - Goodreads totally counts!
93. Lost a loved one - two this past year alone.
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit - some woman sued me when I rear-ended her but my insurance handled it.
98. Owned a cell phone - not until 2000
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own - I just did!

I have done 64 out of 100. Not too shabby.



VEGAS! Sights: What Would You Do?
VEGAS! Sounds: "Leave Out All The Rest" - Linkin Park
VEGAS! Soliloquies: How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

To Get Into The Holiday Mood

Before I start this wonderful meme post I need to point out the newest and most fun sucker of time ever! There is this wonderful little website called sporcle.com and it has these totally addictive games where you have to name all the items in certain categories within a certain time limit. Categories cover just about everything in movies, TV, music, sports etc... Think you know every single movie George Clooney has been in? Try your hand at how many you can list in five minutes. What about Monopoly spaces? Do you know the names of all the properties you can buy in that game? I could spend hours on this site trying to beat the clock and fill in all the answers. And it is even more fun to do with a bunch of people, since you can never think of them all yourself, although you may think you know them all. I never thought feeling stupid and frustrated could be so much fun! Warning, this site will make you lose hours of precious time needed for major responsibilities such as work, eating, sleeping and acknowledging anyone else's existence.

Now to the meme. From Shades, a Christmas Meme/Survey.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?...
Depends on the gift. While I love the ease of just slipping something into a bag, since they are so expensive I never seem to have any on hand unless I have been given one with a gift myself. So as much as I hate wrapping presents (my mind wonders what the point is since all that hard work is going to be torn to shreds anyway) I usually wrap. If I actually wrap at all.

2. Real tree or Fake....
I grew up with a real tree every year and love the whole process of going to find a tree, cutting it down, tying it to your car to lug it home and then dragging it into the house to decorate. Plus the smell is always amazing. However, when I became an adult and realized how much work it took to do that whole tradition I started to believe a small little fake tree I could put up and break down every year would be worth it. Plus, out here in the desert the trees they sell just don't seem right. It is not the same as it is back East. So for now I go fake.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Whenever my Dad would get the tree is when we would put it up, usually by the end of the first or second week of December. However, I like my in-laws tradition of putting it up the day after Thanksgiving since all the family is around any way. If I have to work that day it usually gets pushed to our next day off after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?...
After January 4th, my Dad's birthday. Can't let dismantling the tree get in the way pf a good party.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I used to love it but now it seems to turn my stomach.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Two spring to mind right away. My first Cabbage Patch Kid and my Barbie High Rise Dream House, complete with elevator!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Probably my father-in-law. He always says he doesn't need anything so I try to find something extra special.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Charming. He is usually always thrilled with whatever I give him because I know him so well.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
The funny thing is I always wanted one ever since I was a little girl. Putting out the manger was my absolute favorite part of decorating for Christmas. My brother and I used to fight over who could put the Baby Jesus in the manger. Now I have three of my own and never have a place to put them.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? ....
Mail of course! I love thinking up new ideas for my photo Christmas cards. Featuring the girls of course.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I am always thankful for everything I get because I am touched people took the time to think of me but I have to saw the year I got a water bottle.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
It's a tie between Christmas Vacation (usually on in the background while trimming the tree) and Love Actually (I adore this movie!)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Never early enough so usually I am scrambling around trying to finish up in time. Every year I say I am going to shop throughout the year and get things done by October and it never happens.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Sad to admit yes, I have. But it was only when I had received more than one of something, which actually happened a few times.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Candy canes, the cherry or strawberry ones.

16. Lights on the tree?
Of course! Lights are my favorite part. I grew up with the big bulbous colored ones, which I still miss. And then we replaced them with the small colored ones. On Charming's and my tree we rotate between tiny white lights and the tiny colored lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Another tie. Between the accapella versions of "O Holy Night" and "Carol of the Bells."

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
For 17 years I was always home for Christmas and then four more years through college I would either fly back or drive. Once I started dating Charming we divided ourselves between our families. But now that we live so far away I have not seen my family at Christmas since 2002 and it makes me very sad.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
On Dasher and Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen. On Comet and Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen. Then Rudolph of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Angel shining high with the light bulb up her butt.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One present on Christmas Eve and then you wake up, do your stockings, have breakfast and then open all the presents, lounge around and then have dinner.

2. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Self-absorbed, self-centered people in stores and parking lots. (This was Shades' answer and it was just so good I kept it. And I would like to add the commercial materialism that surrounds the holiday which totally misses the point of what Christmas is really about. Listen to Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas.)

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I always buy a new ornament every year and find myself choosing crystal ones that could break in an instant because I just love the way the light plays off of them.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
You put turkey and mashed potatoes in front of me and I am a happy girl.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I don't really need anything and asking for Rob Pattinson in a big red bow would probably make my husband upset so possibly a couple gift certificates to Borders or Best Buy.

26. Favorite thing about Christmas?
Feeling like a kid again when I open my presents, all that excited expectation and spending fun times with family.




VEGAS! Sights: The Family Stone
VEGAS! Sounds: "Eyes on Fire" - Blue Foundation
VEGAS! Soliloquies: Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson

Give Me An "M" For Meme!

I know, I know. Severely lacking in the post department lately. And posts with only a video do not count. I know these things. But I can not believe how far behind I feel after only three days of doing nothing but fun. Everything I usually do during the week backed up something terrible and I have a full blown crisis on my hands. Then when I find time to blog, I sit at the computer, post all mapped out in my head and realize, shoot, I need to do laundry or I am going commando tomorrow. Or, maybe I should inspect why the kitchen sink smells like dog barf, and we don't have a dog. Things that need my attention more urgently.

But I do have posts on standby regarding very important issues. Like how I may be way too excited to see High School Musical 3 for a woman out of her teens (hell, twenties, GAH!) and the girls sudden interest in reading, at 3 AM. And probably most importantly, how I plan to make believe next Wednesday is never going to happen.

I will get to them all, I promise.

In the meantime, I have some memes to catch up on and keep you all busy. From Shades and then from Jodi, I couldn't escape this one:

1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Blog 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag

Six Random Things

1. The movie The Dark Crystal scares the beegeezus out of me. This all stems from my abhorrence to all things puppets or claymation (I have an exception for Muppets because to me they are not like puppets. The kind that freak me out are more like marionettes and clowns.) And the things in The Dark Crystal look like a mixture of both. I remember having to watch that movie in middle school for some odd reason (I think our teacher considered it a treat) and I bawled throughout the whole thing, too scared to watch and too scared to admit why I was upset to the teacher. I only thought of this the other day because I saw a DVD of The Dark Crystal in a rack at the register at my local supermarket and I screamed so loud I scared the crap out of the cashier who was ringing up my items. Then I had to explain myself.

2. In middle school (I must be feeling nostalgic) I kept a diary but I also used to record my thoughts on cassette and play them back to myself. One time a friend and I recorded why I like a boy in my class and then called him up and played the tape for him. Only he hadn't answered the phone and his mother got an earful of all the reasons why I thought her son was so cute and should go out with me (which in fifth grade meant you sat together at lunch.) Thank goodness I did not say my name on the tape because I am sure his mom would have called my mom and I would have been in trouble. Not for the things I said because they were completely innocent, but for playing on the phone. Looking back I was a complete idiot, and never thought about how he would figure out it was me. Three days after the tape incident my "friend" started going out with him and told him what I had done. I found that tape last month and still can not believe how incredibly moronic and squeaky I sounded.

3. I secretly always loved the theme to Baywatch and recorded it off the TV by balancing a huge boom box next to the TV speaker so I could listen to it any time I wanted. I did the same with songs and skits from The MMC. I still have all those tapes too.

4. I am almost positive I never had soda with caffeine in it until I went to college, but I could be remembering wrong (Mom...back me up here?) And now I can not get enough. Bad I know.

5. I wear sneakers almost every single day because they are the most comfortable thing to wear to work. After sneakers I prefer bare feet or flip flops. I can't stand high heels and have lost the ability to walk in them for more than an hour at a time (I stopped wearing them after meeting Charming since he is not much taller than I.) And usually my feet hurt for days after wearing heels. At times, like when someone points out my legs would look nicer if I wore heels (which has happened often), I feel less of a woman because I don't wear high heels. But hell, I would rather be comfortable than risk breaking my neck.

6. I am obsessed with videos on the Internet and feel I must share them with everyone and then expect them to laugh just as hard as I did when I first saw them. Most of the time I am disappointed in their reaction (or non-reaction) and believe there has to be something wrong with them because hey, this shit is hilarious! Like this:

Solution to Economic Crisis (We should be so lucky if it were this simple)

See more Natalie Portman videos at Funny or Die

Or this: (Because while I don't support her in any way I can appreciate someone who is willing to sit there while someone else openly mocks her and take it graciously. Doesn't mean I think she is qualified for the job she is seeking, but she knows how to take a joke and that is respectable. That's all. This is not a view of my political stance. Mostly I think seeing a pregnant woman rap is hysterical and the subject matter pure gold!)

The Sarah Palin Rap on SNL's Weekend Update:


The eskimos and the moose part get me every single time!

Tagging six people to do this:
Steelers Wine Girl
Cruel Shoes
Pixie
Carlae
Maureen
Tonjia

Then speaking of Tonjia, she gave me this cool award. It is called a Perfect Blend of Friendship Award and has some questions attached to it. And of course more people to tag. So here I go!

1. Do you have the same friends since childhood? Some of them. Some I thought I would be friends with forever I haven't spoken to in over ten years, which makes me sad. I look back on how close we were when we were younger and wonder what happened. But I do believe not everyone in your life is meant to follow you all the way through it. I have found a whole lot of people on Facebook and have recently reconnected with some. And I have made a whole slew of new friends through this here little blog.

2. What do you value most about your friends? Honesty and compassion. I can't stand fake enthusiasm or two-faced people. Been burned way too many times.

3. Are your friends your sounding boards? Absolutely! Sometimes it is difficult since I live in a different time zone than most of my friends, but texting and emails help a whole lot. And a best friend that works mornings in Michigan who happens to be going to work when I am coming home from work at midnight in Vegas is a blessing.

4. What is your favorite activity to share with your friends? Just talking. I can sit and talk for hours with someone I am comfortable with. On the phone or in person. And I'll talk about anything!

And now according to the rules of this award, I have to list 5 things under the following headers, and pass this award on to 5 more people. Here we go!

10 years ago:
I was in college
I was just starting to work in my chosen field
I was extremely against the idea of marrying anyone
I was a lot thinner and prettier
I had the best two friends a girl could have

5 things on today's "To do" list:
Take a shower and get dressed
Fill out my sample election ballot
Go vote
Watch last night's episode of Fringe
Do some laundry

5 snacks that I enjoy:
Ice cream
Pepperidge Farm Sesame Snack Sticks
Cheese-Its
Cheese sticks
Pita Bread

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
QUIT!!!
Pay off the mortgages of both sets of parents
Travel the world
Build my dream house
Set enough aside to be comfortable for the rest of our lives

5 places I have lived:
Massachusetts
Ohio
Massachusetts (moved back to get married)
Nevada
Nevada (moved to our new house)

5 jobs that I have had:
Cashier at a supermarket
Receptionist at my local church
Camp Counselor/Nanny/Babysitter
Employee at Warner Bros Studio Store in our local mall
A Restaurant Hostess (for a day...the place was that bad!)

Tag 5 people to pass the award on to:
1. Jodi
2. Shades
3. Odette
4. Evey
5. Hallie

Feel free to do both memes even if I did not tag you for them. If I could I would tag you all!

Whew! All done!

All About Us

Got this from friend Jodi and it looked like fun so I decided to indulge. Feel as if I should say some nice things about my husband since I did broadcast that his childish antics impaled the cat on my boob. My boob which is not falling off and is healing. Turns out it was not infected, just a really bad scratch. Now I am doing everything in my power to stop scarring from occurring because man would a big white scar ruin my kick-ass cleavage.

So here's some random things about me and my darling hubby.

1. Who is your man? Charming, short for Prince Charming because that is what he is to me.

2. How long have you been together? Over eight and a half years

3. How long did you date before you got married? 3 years

4. How old is your man? He would say he is "SO old, an old man, ancient," but he's only 33

5. Who eats more? I definitely eat more junk which is why he is thin and I am a house

6. Who said "I love you" first? I did. I actually said "I think I'm falling in love with you," and he replied "I think I'm falling in love with you too." It was very sweet, said in the backseat of my car (which deadens the sweetness part a bit)

7. Who is taller? He is, but not by much. Only by a little less than 3 inches. I stopped wearing heels when I met him.

8. Who sings better? This one is all me. I used to sing in groups and bands and musical, so I am constantly singing. I have only heard him sing twice. Once he was very very very drunk and fooling around but it warmed my heart and I have never been able to get him to duplicate it. The second time was more of a murmur in my ear while we were dancing at our reception (insert "Awwww" here)

9. Who is smarter? We are both smart just in different areas. (I liked this answer and it seems politically correct so I kept it...did not want to open THAT can of worms...)

10. Whose temper is worse? This one is all me again. I am fire and brimstone and will go off about anything without a hitch. He is more like ice and takes a long time to build up to his freeze rage. He goes all quiet and cold when he is upset, which makes me rage more and more until I finally burn myself out and we decide to compromise. We are big on the compromising.

11. Who does the laundry? Me. Although he does do his uniforms for work and helps me transfer stuff to the dryer as long as I tell him exactly what setting to put it on. He he helps me fold towels and sheets.

12. Who takes out the garbage? He takes care of all the garbage except the cat box. So I take care of the poo and he does all the trash, including recycling.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do, but lately I have been wanting to switch and he won't let me. I have been having trouble sleeping and got it in my head I need to try the other side of the bed. But then he claims he wouldn't be able to sleep. It is an on-going discussion.

14. Who pays the bills? He does, which was really hard for me to let go of. I paid my own bills as an independant woman for a long time and always managed my money. Handing over those reigns was a challenge. But he clues me in to what is going on and discusses everything with me so I stay in the loop. And any big financial decisions needed we make together.

15. Who is better with the computer? Depends. I know more about navigating and the Internet but he built computers from scratch. So I guess he's engineering and I am IT.

16. Who mows the lawn? Lawn? We live in Vegas. We have gravel. But we both pull the weeds between the rocks. Does that count?

17. Who cooks dinner? What's cooking? This one I have to give the edge to my darling hubby. Not only does he make mu lunch every day to take to work but he grills and knows how to make several other meals. I know toast, the microwave and spaghetti. I am a disaster in the kitchen. He, his mother and mine have been trying to fix this malady for years but I have been able to thwart them for all this time. Once we have kids I fear I may not be so lucky.

18. Who drives when you are together? Mostly me. One, because I have the newer car and we don't want to put too many more miles on his until we can afford to get him a new one. And two, I have a much better sense of direction. I am also proud to say I am one of the few people who don't make my husband sick when I drive. He is very sensitive to motion.

19. Who pays when you go out? He does. He always carried the money. I hate having cash on me. But I do help figure out the tip.

20. Who is the most stubborn? We are both stubborn about different things in different ways, but I think I manage to get my way more often so I guess that makes me more stubborn. And kind of a shrew.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? We have gotten better at this and grown a long way. I think I am quicker to admit wrong because I want to reach a solution to our disagreement. But in silly things, like him telling me not to give the cats a bit of whipped cream because they would get sick and me saying, pashaw, they'll be fine...I never admit I am wrong when I am crawling on the floor cleaning up cat puke.

22. Whose parents do you see most? My husband's. They live in town. Mine are almost 3000 miles away but we see them at least twice a year.

23. Who kissed who first? I kissed him first. It actually was his wish. His chain was backwards with the clasp in front. I told him when that happens you kiss the clasp and turn it around to the back while making a wish. He did and I leaned in and kissed him. He told me later he had wished for me to kiss him. (Insert second "Awwww" here)

24. Who asked who out? I wish I could say he did. But I doggedly pursued him like a common harlot.

25. Who proposed? He did, at dinner with all of our families present on my Mom's birthday. He had to wait until I stopped stuffing my face and when he saw that wouldn't happen, he just put the box on the table and waited for me to notice. First and only time I was actually speechless.

26. Who is most sensitive? Me. By far. Some days I don't know how he puts up with me. Like when I cry over phone commercials.

27. Who has the most friends? Me, thanks to this little wonder of a blog. Which he still rebells against.

28. Who has more siblings? He does. Three brothers. I only have one brother and Marie who I wish was my sister.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Ha! We are pretty even but when it comes to sticking up for us, I do that. I am the one who takes charge when we are done wrong, like calling the credit card company when there is a fraudulent charge. Slowly I am getting him to take more of a stand in this but he is so used to me fixing things it's hard. Plus I am the confrontational one, he is way more passive. But if you ask him, he wears the pants. I let him think that becasue I am kind and love him.

30. How did you meet? Moving in with my friend from college to share an apartment and save on rent, he was helping his brother move. So yes, I lived with my brother-in-law before living with my husband. Something our families love to point out from time to time in jest.

All in all, my husband is a saint and I am a very lucky woman indeed.




VEGAS! Sights: The Prestige
VEGAS! Sounds: "Rise" - Eddie Veder
VEGAS! Soliloquies: same one as before...haven't had much time for reading lately.

Word Of Mouth

I got tagged by Odette to do a "word of mouth" post about 60 years ago (okay, two weeks ago) and only now saw it on her blog since I have been so bad about reading my blogs lately (and yes I will be posting about my parents' trip here one of these days...I promise, I think.) I am a bad blog friend when it comes to these meme things.

Apparently I am supposed to tell you about 4 things that I recommend. Why you would listen to a woman who is so out of trend and has nil of a social life is beyond me, but hey, to each their own. At least everyone will get a great laugh over what I deem worthy of passing on.

#1. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - I am not sure if I have toted this book before on this blog but I have been certainly talking it up to everyone who will listen to my incoherent ramblings about how this book made me wish I could eat words. Probably the most beautifully written book I have read in the last decade, this story is full of intrigue, suspense and such gorgeous prose the pictures in your head created from the imagery seem real enough to live in. A must for anyone who loves a great tale.

#2. Hot Dog Heaven - Who would have thunk a little hole in the wall hot dog stand would become such a hot spot. When the Las Vegas Review Journal claimed Hot Dog Heaven had the best hot dogs in all of Las Vegas, and I recognized this place as the little roadside stand I passed near my house almost every day, I had to hustle Charming together to check out all the fuss. Hot dogs can't be THAT good, can they? Oh yes, they can. And the guys who run it are a colorful lot, pure Chicago Italian with a touch of wiseguy thrown in for good measure. A great accompaniment to absolutely fabulous food. Now this has become one of our favorite places to eat. So much so we take everyone there, so ask my Mom and Dad, my brother, Charming's brother, just about everyone who has visited us since last year how good they are and you will get the same answer. Incredible!

#3. Hard Candy Fragrance by Sephora - So yummy you will want to lick your neck when you put it on. I had smelled something divine walking through the hall at work and tracked it down to a coworker spritzing herself with this heavenly spray. When she offered to spray my wrist I eagerly held out my unassuming paw. For the rest of the day I was a slave to my arm as I sniffed and re sniffed over and over again. Soon I just held my wrist to my nose for the rest of the night. And when Charming came home later that night he walked in gave me a hug and promptly nibbled the inside of my arm, trying to find the sweet spot. I don't own this perfume yet but I am hoping my wayward husband or perhaps a loving friend will bestow upon me the gift of the only scent I would willingly throw down half a C-note for.

#4. Which Jane Austen Heroine are you? - I love Jane Austen and saw this quiz on Pogonip's blog. So of course I had to take it. I can't say I disagree with their results:

Take the Quiz here!

You are Marianne Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a bit too brutally honest. You enjoy romantic poetry and novels, and play the pianoforte beautifully. To boot, your singing voice is captivating. You feel deeply, and love passionately.

Yes, that is about right for me. Marianne is one of my favorite characters, loved for her passion and impulsiveness and I could see myself as her, desperately wanting to fulfill my dreams of falling desperately in love. However, I don't think I would walk to my ex-intended's house in the pouring rain and then catch my death. Not quite my style, although I do understand being consumed by someone. People have even said I look a bit like Kate Winslet who played her in the movie so I am pretty impressed.

Those are my four things for you to try. Have fun and if you don't like them you did not hear about them from me. And I tag whomever wishes to complete this on their blog or in the comments.

Randomly Specific

I have had a lot of things swirling around in my head lately and when this happens the best thing to do is dump it all here and let everyone else deal with it. Abject removal from the situation works for me. And I love the posts that have no real purpose other than to take up space and empty my brain.

--My brother is here for an impromptu visit. He has been up in Alaska for the past two months on a photography assignment and decided to swing by Vegas on his way back to the East Coast. I am so excited that Charming and I have the next two days off so we can spend some time with him, and then leave him to his own devices Friday through Monday when we have to work. Little Bro (which sounds funny now since he towers over me at about 6'1") has been here twice, once for a weekend and once for just one day on a layover, so this is the first time he has been here for an extended period of time and we can actually do some fun things. Although we can't do much since we are all broke. But Vegas is the best city to find things to do that don't cost anything. I just thought of something. After complaining about how we never get any visitors we have had three in a month, and my parents are still coming in June. Suddenly we are POPULAR.

--I have a story to share about an interesting evening but I have to think about how to word things before writing it on here. While I want to share the story there are feelings I don't wish to hurt. And I am still just really dumbfounded at what occurred for it will take some time. But it will be well worth the wait.

--Charming was VERY sick this past weekend. Coming out both ends sick. Can't tell if he had food poisoning (the burping the led to the puking started after eating a turkey club wrap at work) or if he caught the bug his parents had last week. Either way, I am glad it is over and he is feeling better because I hate seeing him suffer. I actually had to leave work early Saturday night to go home and tend to him because he was so bad. And ended up slipping some Tylenol PM into his Gatorade so he could relax enough to sleep. What? You're looking at me like I am some crazed woman who drugs her husband so she can watch Indiana Jones movies on USA in peace. That was not the case. He ached so bad and was so tired but could not get comfortable enough to sleep, which is what his body needed. I just helped him along. I cared about the well being of my husband. Really. It wasn't because I couldn't stand his moaning any more. Seriously.

--Today I just had my third (or fourth...how many has it been? I can't remember because they were all so wonderful) chat with fellow blogger Hallie. Every single time I talk with her I hang up the phone wishing she lived 3 miles away rather than 3000. We just seem to get along so well and can already tell that our spouses will mesh nicely, just from trading stories and quirks they have with each other. I hope to get to see her in October if I can make it back t Massachusetts for a visit. And they are already planning a trip out here sometimes soon. We will even make Omaha steaks when they come (okay just realized only Hallie will get that joke, but it had to be said!)

--What is going on with the world? The cyclone in Myanmar, earthquake in China, tornadoes throughout the Midwest...the Earth is pissed and fighting back. Honestly I go to bed every night thinking what natural disaster we will have a story about next when I wake up. And the whole Myanmar aid thing pisses me off. But I am not going to talk about that here because I am sure everyone out there has large opinions that clash with mine and I don't wish for this blog to become political.

--So far so good, I did not get into trouble for my clown car comment about the Dugger's 18th baby announcement. Still keeping a low profile to make sure I am in the clear though. Although I am still wondering if her va-jay-jay looks like a school auditorium curtain. (Thanks for that image description jellybean!)

While I am writing about random things, this would be the perfect time to fulfill a meme requirement. Cruel Shoes tagged me with one. And then Naynay tagged me too. Since both of them are the cool beans I shall attempt to rack my brain for six random things that I haven't already shared with you all here.

Here’s what you do:
Post the rules on your blog, which are:
- Write six random things about yourself in a blog post
- Tag six people in your post
- Let each person know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
- Let the tagger know your entry is up
Next, write your 6 things (duh). Hee hee, I think the Duh was added later but I liked it so I kept it.

Here goes…

1. When I was about four or six years old (Can't remember the exact age. Guess I am gonna have to cal my mom to confirm) I was playing over at a friend's house in their basement playroom while our moms were upstairs. They had this sweet indoor plastic slide, right next to their brick fireplace. I had been jumping around and sliding down the slide continuously until my head started to hurt a bit. I went upstairs, rubbing the back of my head, and told my mom my head had an owie. When I took my hand away it was covered with blood. My mom turned me around the whole back of my shirt and shorts were drenched in blood. Turns out in my jumping around I had whacked my head on the brick fireplace next to the slide and continued to play and slide with a gaping head wound for God knows how long. After my Mom was picked up off the floor we rushed to the emergency room where I received three stitches i my head. The first of many stitches I would soon acquire in my lifetime.

2. I have this thing where if I see a person in uniform I feel like I have to go up to them, shake their hand and thank them for serving our country and protecting us. Maybe it is the military family I come from (Dad in the Navy, Grandfather in the Army, both in-laws in the Air Force and Brother in Law in the Navy soon to be shipped out to Iraq in five days) Today at the airport when we were there picking up my brother we saw a huge gathering of soldiers waiting for transport to Nellis AFB, as well as a few coming in one by one while waiting by the baggage claim. And I went up to each and every one of them. And as thankful as I am, they always seen even more thankful that I acknowledge their sacrifice and am grateful for their bravery.

3. Speaking of people in uniform...guys in uniform make me giddy. Which is probably why I love to go up to them and shake their hands. Which makes for an interesting spectacle as I shake their hands and giggle uncontrollably while they stare at me in bemusement. Charming gets a kick out of how silly I get and just stands back and watches me make a complete fool out of myself. I tell him he is missing out because if he brought home some dress whites I would be all over him like a dog in heat.

4. I hate to fly so to calm me down during take-offs, landings and any sort of turbulence encountered throughout the flight I have a repertoire of Disney songs I sing to myself. And the more scared I get the louder I sing. One time a little girl in front of me kept calling out requests during an extremely rough trip and soon I had four whole rows singing along with me. That was one flight I can honestly say I did not once worry about plummeting to my death.

5. I love fire. I love fires in fireplaces, bonfires, lighting candles, even pictures of wildfires although I hate how destructive they are. I would be a bonafide pyro maniac if I did not have incredible restraint and the fear of life in prison. There is something beautiful about a crackling fire to me. Fire makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I have always wanted a fireplace, which happen to be an option in many homes here in Vegas despite only being able to use them maybe two times a year when the temperature actually goes below forty for a day. But Charming refuses to allow me to get a fireplace of my very own because he thinks it would be a waste of money and space. Little does he know if we had one I would find an excuse to have that baby lit all the time. Which actually may be the real reason he is refusing my request. I even looked into a fire pit for outside, but our yard is so small it couldn't be the required distance from the house in order to be safe. Stupid fire laws.

6. This one is probably going to get me into deep trouble with my Mom. When I was in middle school and the beginning of high school I used to keep a scrap book of clippings and pictures of celebrities I liked. I would get them out of magazines and the TV Guide and newspapers and keep them in this huge binder where I would idly flip through the pages and dream what it would be like to know all these people personally. And I always wanted the most pictures I could get (remember my obsessive compulsive disorder I have regarding needing to have everything of something I like...I have spoken about it at length here.) However, I didn't have a subscription to every single magazine out there. So I would go to the library and find the magazines I needed and cut out the pictures I wanted and then put the magazines back in the stacks. I knew this was wrong but the need to have these pictures was so overwhelming I couldn't help myself. A few times I also ripped pages out of magazines in stores and put them back on the shelf for someone else to buy. Older and wiser now I am mortified at my behavior because my parents did not raise me like that. I was taught to respect other people's property and that stealing was wrong. But at the time I rationalized that it was no big deal, I needed to fill my albums. I am probably either going to get arrested for government vandalism (aren't libraries government property after all?), arrested for stealing or punished for the rest of my life by my Mom after she reads this. Mom, I would deserve it.

I can't believe I just confessed all that. And I can't believe I found six random things I never talked about before!

I tag jellybean, Hallie, Carla, Maureen, Mel and Odette. It was hard picking people because so many have done this already and I didn't want to pick the same people the people I picked may want to pick for themselves. Did you get all that?

Wow, this was a loooonnngggg post...which is good since I won't be around much the next few days due to the fact I will be busy corrupting my brother. Might as well secure that punishment from my Mom while I have the chance.


VEGAS! Sights: Survivor Micronesia Finale
VEGAS! Sounds: "Leavin'" - Jesse McCarthy (still LOVE this song even though Charming says it sounds like the music from Dr. Mario)
VEGAS! Soliloquies: Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot

Thoughtful Memes

Because Charming said I needed to do something to distract me from my spiral into the Twisted Kingdom since I am all moody after finishing the Twilight books (coming down off my reader's high), I am filling out these wonderful memes I got from Mel and Jodi (and have been neglecting to fill out for quite some time now.)

First the one from Mel.

The instructions:
1) Post a note about a blogger you would like to see something wonderful happen for. Maybe one whose posts have touched your heart in one way or another. Include details as to why you admire them and what you wish for them. Be as supporting and affirming as you can.

I would have to say Lynda. Lately she has been a bit lost. She even quit her blog! Luckily she came back after four days (once the blog world has you in its clutches you can't get away for long.) Since she was one of the first people I met when I started my blog I looked up to her for blogging advice initially. And then I realized what a fabulous and dedicated person she is and what a wonderful wife, sister, aunt, daughter and especially friend she is too. Her incredible ability to handle almost anything that comes her way is something I strive to emulate. And her ability to express raw emotion under the most trying of times, such as the tragic loss of her sister, displays the true grace she holds and what a wonderful human being she is. Her posts are funny and intriguing and ones I greatly look forward to. Although lately it appears she is missing something. That something that made her hang up her blog (albeit for a short time.) So she deserves something incredible to happen to her, to help her find her way again.

2) Post your favorite memory around selflessness, giving, or doing for others. Something that has actually changed you.

When I was in a sorority in college we were obligated to do a certain amount of charitable work each year. As a community-based sorority it was expected of us to assist in different aspects of the local region. I seemed to be the only one who did not moan and grown about our requirements and looked forward to my assignments eagerly. I love helping people, in fact I would rather help others instead of helping myself. That can get me into trouble at times. So I took to my charity work with vigor. I read to the elderly, played with children in the cancer ward and walked dogs at the local animal shelter. It was a very fulfilling time in my life. I wish I had more time to do those things again now. I will have to make some time. Donating turkeys to Salvation Army at Thanksgiving and purchasing a Christmas present for a needy child once a year doesn't seem to be enough any more.

3) As a postscript, name one thing you will actually do for someone in your life for the new year that is born out of joy.

I would like to visit my grandparents again sometime soon this year and help them out again with the various chores they can no longer do. Even though my last trip was short and the work was hard and at times unbearable I got great joy out of helping them, as a sort of payback for all the years they spent loving me and helping me, especially while I was at college (they were only an hour away and would come get me for the weekend and holidays quite a lot.) Helping them would certainly give me great joy.

4) Tag 3 other bloggers who will play the game and find the spirit. Don't forget to leave a comment on their blog so they continue to share the good feelings.

Hmmmm, I will leave it up to all of you to figure if you wish to fulfill this meme.


Now the one from Jodi (and then later today I got tagged for the same meme from Shades. I am just so popular!)

Here's how it works:
Link to the person that tagged you. (Done)
Post the rules on your blog. (Done)
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog. (Coming up)
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. (Eh, do it if you wish, I won't tag)
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. (See above)

7 random/weird things about me:

1. I cannot STAND the sound of someone filing their nails. It drives me batty. Every time I get a manicure this is the most disturbing part. I have to block out the sound and grit my teeth to keep from screaming because the sound just cuts through my skull. But hearing someone else do it is unbearable, I usually have to leave the room. Once I was stuck on a plane behind a woman who insisted on filing her nails throughout the entire flight. I thought I would going to break her wrist to get her to stop. I had to hum to myself to cover the noise, much to my neighbor's displeasure.

2. I do not like someone to read something before me if I have been intending to read it. For example if I get a new Entertainment Weekly and Charming grabs it first and cracks it open I feel as if everything has been ruined for me. Even if he only glances at one picture inside I get all upset and feel like I am being handed hand-me-downs to read. Which makes absolutely no sense since I purchase used books or borrow them from friends all the time. It seems to be mostly magazines and probably stems from the times someone at work took a magazine off my desk and read it before I got a chance to read it. Some ingrained paranoia I manifested from my utter annoyance that another person will discover the secrets inside before me.

3. Food items that should be smooth need to be smooth or else I can not eat them. Like yogurt, cream of wheat, tomato soup. If there is a chunk of fruit or a lump of cereal or a tomato piece hidden inside and I eat it my gag reflex will be activated and I will not be able to finish. Same goes for the milk left in the bottom of the cereal bowl. If there are pieces of cereal floating around I physically cannot make myself swallow the rest of the milk. Something Charming absolutely doesn't understand about me since he has no problem at all. He always accuses me of wasting milk but when I put just enough on my cereal to get it wet so there is hardly any left over (can't stand soggy cereal either...God I am a mess) he makes fun of me. I can't win.

4. I love and hate giving presents to people. I love it because it can be so awesome when that person absolutely loves what you got them and you feel all warm and fuzzy inside that you managed to track down the perfect gift. Makes you feel special. I hate it for those times I can tell the gift did not go over well. Or if the reaction is not big enough to satisfy me that they did indeed like it. I am totally insecure and fret about gifts all the time, sure no one is going to like what I get them and they will think I am an insensitive idiot who has no idea what they enjoy. I guess the same can be said about receiving gifts. I always hope it is something I absolutely love because I have a hard time covering up the fact I can not believe someone gave me something so wrong. Problem is if I love a gift I will gush and gush excitedly and I will do it even more if I don't like it to hide the fact my brain is going "What the hell were they thinking?" Thankfully this doesn't happen often since I usually enjoy what I am given. I guess I am a big hypocrite since I react the same way I don't like people to act when they don't like a gift. Or I just assume I know everyone better than themselves and am insulted they don't agree with what I chose. You pick.

5. I need sandwiches made in a certain way. Mayo on both sides of the bread, then meat, then cheese, then any vegetables. Any other way and I have to disassemble everything and put it back together. You should see me order at Subway, I am a treat to watch as I dictate EXACTLY how they should construct my order. Also ice cream if I order a sundae. Should be ice cream, syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles and then the cherry if they insist on adding one. I once made a guy at Ben & Jerry's remake my whole sundae because he put the sprinkles over the ice cream before the caramel and whipped cream. I refused to eat it. I really am deranged.

6. I used to ride horses and do gymnastics and ice skate and play softball. All things I wish I had kept up and could continue to do today. But I have no time, flexibility or strength to do any of them. Although I am sure Charming wouldn't mind me reconnecting with my bendy balance beam days.

7. I miss high school and college. Not the work mind you, I have written enough term papers for my lifetime. But the carefree attitude, the ability to make friends easily, the ability to have fun. I wish I could go back, just for a day and recapture, that incredible energy and love of life I had. I know we can not be in our teens or early twenties forever, but I really wish I could remember how to feel like that again. Plus there are a few small things I would change, just to see how my life would have turned out. If only I could have my own version of the many books I have read and movies I have seen that give you that second chance or dream state to picture what your life would be like if you chose a different path. How cool would that be? But I guess it would defeat the purpose of the life I am living now. However, seeing myself as a Broadway star or working at a big national entertainment company would be a hoot.

Thanks Jodi and Shades. You have helped me realize how incredibly crazy and OCD I am, especially with food. As if I didn't know already! :)

And then one more I found on Loraloo's blog that was just too cool to pass up:

50 Things
1. Do you like blue cheese?
No, yuck.

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
No, actually have never seen it except in movies.

3. Do you own a gun?
Not me myself.

4. Your favorite song?
It rotates with the changing times. Right now I would have to say "Apologize" by OneRepublic.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
Only that one specific doctor that I loathe. The one men don't have to worry about.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
Depends on the kind of hot dog. There actually is a difference. The dogs at game parks always taste so much better.

7. Favorite Christmas song?
Carol of the Bells

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Orange Juice or Starbucks

9. Can you do push ups?
Probably not any more. My upper body strength is pitiful.

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?
This is a hard one since hubby buys me so much jewelry. But I guess my oval diamond pendant is the one I wear the most.

12. Favorite hobby?
Blogging and reading

13. Secret weapon to get the same sex?
Is this right? Does it mean opposite sex? Because I really have no desire to attract the same sex. I actually have no desire to get the opposite sex either.

14. Do you have A.D.D.?
What? Wait...do I? Probably. Or maybe not. What was the question?

15. What one trait do you hate about yourself?
My inability to be happy even when everything is perfect.

16. Do you like celery?
Yes and it is even better with peanut butter smooshed inside.

17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
I wish I were at home.
I really hate working.
Man this meme is long...

18. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.
A Non-fat White Chocolate Mocha with whip
A half dozen pink roses (for my MIL)
A new cell phone battery

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?
Pepsi
Lemonade
Hot teas

20. Current worry right now?
Can I survive the rest of the night?

21. Current hate right now?
Everyone I work with.

22. Favorite place to be?
In bed.

23. How did you bring in the New Year?
Down on the Strip with 300,000 drunk people, stuck in a trailer staring at TV screens and barking out camera shot orders.

24. Where would you like to go?
England.

25. Name three people who will complete this?
I have absolutely no idea since I am not asking anyone to do it.

26. Do you own slippers?
Just got some new pink fuzzy ones for Christmas

27. What shirt are you wearing?
A royal blue one my Mom gave me for Christmas.

28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
No, way too cold. But I do LOVE sateen sheets. Just as soft but not slippery at all.

29. Can you whistle?
Very well actually.

30. Favorite Color?
It changes between blue, purple and pink depending on my mood. But blue probably more than any other. Although I have been on a big pink kick lately.

31. Would you be a pirate?
Only if Orlando Bloom was my first mate.

33. Favorite girls name?
My own of course! :)

34. Favorite boy's name?
I have always loved the Irish names like Collin, Calan, Caleb.

35. What's in your pocket right now?
Three post-it notes with reminder notes written on them of things I have to do or get. They are always what is in my pockets.

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
My husband's text message.

37. Best bed sheets as a child?
I had Rainbow Brite and My Little pony ones but I think my unicorn ones were my favorite.

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
I guess when I flipped over my bike and broke my wrists. Or when I tore all the ligaments in my knee in dance class. Both still bother me to this day.

39. Do you love where you live?
At times.

40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
3 hooked up for watching, one in the closet and one on the computer.

41. Who is your loudest friend?
I usually am the loudest but if I had to pick one I guess Jackie is the next loudest.

42. How many dogs do you have?
None, the cats are more than enough.

43. Does someone have a crush on you?
I would hope my husband. Anyone else, unless you are a devastatingly handsome vampire with a soul, don't bother.

45. What is your favorite book?
Right now Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

46. What is your favorite candy?
Sprees.

47. What is your favorite Sports Team?
Red Sox and Patriots (can't choose just one)

48. What song do you want played at your funeral?
Only one? Well, I guess one of my favorites but nothing too sad. I want a huge party at my funeral, celebrating my life instead of mourning my death.

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Reading, what else!

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
I need to read some more. NOW!!

There. That must fulfill my meme requirements for now. Back to my wallowing.


VEGAS! Sights: 3:10 to Yuma
VEGAS! Sounds: The Undomesticated Goddess (on audio CD in my car)
VEGAS! Soliloquies: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer




When God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It's Hell in the Hallway