Smellyann Strikes Again

Sunday Stealing: The Fairy Tale Meme

Link up here if you're playing along today!

Sunday Stealing: the fairy tale meme

Snow White: Do you consider yourself pretty? Name the part of your body you think is the most beautiful!

I think I'm okay. Not beautiful, but not unattractive, either. I think my collarbone and shoulders are the most attractive part of me; I wish I could get my full body lift to make the rest of me match!

Cinderella: What is your shoe size?

I have what one shoe salesman recently called "tiny" feet: size 5½. I take a size 4 bowling shoe, though. 

Sleeping Beauty: How many hours do you sleep each night?

People sleep at night?!

My sleeping habits are pretty erratic. Half the nights I don't sleep at all, and then I'll do a marathon 10-12 hour catch-up snooze binge.

Little Red Riding Hood: What is your favorite food?  

I adore hummus and frequently make ridiculous assertions about it being "yummus."  Right now, though, I'm craving Gordon Biersch's garlic artichoke dippy stuff. Mmm-mmm, so tasty.

The Frog Prince: What do you find disgusting?

I know I always get on my high horse about this, but here's what continually disgusts me:

When I'm in an amusement park, zoo, or any other such venue where children are abundant, and there are designated smoking areas (or, ideally, the place is smoke-free), that whiff of smoke from some "the rules don't apply to me" asshat makes me want to vomit.  You want to pollute your own lungs inside your own house, fine. But you don't have the right to toxify my any child's air. No. No, you don't.

It's the one thing about which I'll always be outspoken, shyness be damned. I don't care if you're the Queen of England.  Smoking is gross.

And yes, that's how I really feel. ;)

Jack and the Beanstalk: What plants are in your room?

Sadly for a biologist, I have a black thumb. I killed so many plants as a graduate student, I wondered how I'd ever manage to successfully raise a child! 

Puss in Boots: Do you have a pet? Do you want one?

Oh, God. Well, this is somewhat embarrassing, but right now we have six cats and are fostering two more. We intend to adopt out those little guys this week. I wouldn't mind getting rid of one of our six, but we all have pretty strong attachments to the other five, so I don't know how we'd pare that number down any more.

It wouldn't be so bad if we had the room for them. And in my utopia, there would be many more species in cohabitation with us! It'd be like Noah's freakin' ark up in here.

Rumpelstiltskin: What is the meaning of your url?  

Let's go over that one more time, shall we? My name is Melanie Ann. My dad has always called me Mellie-Ann. When we were in middle school, my older sister delightfully changed it to Smellyann. The joke's on her, though, because I liked it!

The Little Mermaid: Can you sing?

I have my good voice days and my bad ones, but I can carry a tune. I was in choir for years and was going to audition for the college one, but I got strep throat for the billionth time. After that, I was too anxious about it and haven't really sung publicly since, unless singing in church counts.

Pinocchio: What is your greatest wish?

I wish people would take better care of the Earth we've been given. The situation is dire, and most people have their heads in the sand.

Peter Pan: What is your (mental) age?  

In reality, I'll be 37 in September. Mentally, though - and especially now that we've moved back to Miami - I can't believe I'm not college-aged anymore. I feel the pangs of aging physically, but I still have that 20-year-old outlook. I admit to wearing rose-coloured glasses, too.

The Star Money: What is your most prized possession?

You know that quote, "The best things in life aren't things"? Well, all that aside, it's my mom's Bible and her old costume jewelry. I have few things from my mother - and fewer memories - but I cherish every gift of hers I've been given. And that includes her "things."

(Sorry about the formatting here, but Typepad is being a butt.)

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Current Meme

Link up here if you're one of the playas today!

Thinking about:

The delishamus baked potato with sautéed Vidalia onions and sowie cream and butter and love that Rob made me just now. *(gag)* 

Feeling:

 

I've been so anxious lately, I've had to go back on my anxiety meds. Sucktastic. :*(

Reading:  

Just doing a little catchin' up while I eat my taters

Listening to:  

Currently, Miss Gaga is on il radio. Hey, I don't make the requests, I just plug the buds in my ears and zone out.

Wondering:  

 

...and if so, what will it beeeeeee????

Looking forward to:  

We're heading to the zoo tomorrow with FIL and sMIL for Mom's Day. Should be so fun!

Missing:  

 

Me Maw. Mother's Day sucks without her. :'(

Watching:  

Lucky and Hunter, those two playful rascals we're trying to adopt out

Eating:  

 

(and it's SO good)

Making me happy:

The fact that I'm going to lie down as soon as I'm finished eating. I'm TARD.

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Three Wishes Meme, Part The Second

I'm having wine. Consider yourself warned. Linkage is here.

The Wish List Meme, part two  

26.) If you had to order from a kid's menu, what would you get?  

You know what's pretty good? Macaroni and cheese. Good old mac and cheese.  I like that shit. Apparently that menu doesn't believe in it, though, so I'll take the grilled cheese. Thanks for asking. By the by, I do get to order off the kids' menu with my "I had gastric bypass surgery" doctor card. Except for Chinese restaurants. Those people don't give a shit.

27.) Do you speak any other languages?  

I used to be fairly fluent in Spanish, but I've lost a good piece of it, so I'll be re-learning it along with the kids now that I've bought Rosetta Stone. I can speak a little French, Italian, Latin, German, Japanese, ASL, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Polish... and maybe more, but not enough to sell a car in any of those except the español. I'm told that's the litmus test.

28.) Do you use Twitter?  

I do, but you know what? I have no fecking clue why I do.  Pretty much no one reads my tweets, including me. (@Smellyann)

29.) Do you go onto YouTube?  

I rarely do, except to look up the occasional cake-decorating or knitting technique a handful of times a year. I have a channel, but I only upload (and take) a few videos a year. Again, I have no audience, and I don't really want one except youse guys. (Smellyann76)

30.) Do you play Angry Birds?  

I used to, until I realized my kids are better at it than I am, and that pissed me off. So I stopped.

31.) Do you like theme parties?  

I don't know that I've ever been to a theme party. Unless you count "wear a dorky taffeta and tulle dress that your bitch stepmother made and pretend to like everyone else there" Junior Prom? No. Probably not.

32.) Do you like current cartoons?  

If it's by Seth MacFarlane, probably yes. Except for the stupid chicken scenes with Peetah in Family Guy. I'm so over that.

33.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy?  

OMG, that's so wrong, hahaha... I have cried so many pathetic "I hate my life" tears, I don't know if I have any left over for happy. Especially not with the happy pills I'm on. Chloë, 11, "cries happy" all the time, though. Last time was on Monday in Orlando at Sea World, when we fed the dolphins. #DreamComeTrue

34.) Who would you like to see in concert?  

Call me lame, it's okay, but I really want to see Kelly Clarkson. And Bruno Mars. And some other people who can't be heard on Classic Rock Z109.5ZZZZZ radio stationz.

Oh yeah, duh, I totally lied. MY dream come true would be seeing Eric Clapton. So I take that other shit back.

35.) Can you swim well? 

I mean, I'm all right, but I'm not winning any contests. I can float like mad, though. Thanks for making sure of that, Grandma!

36.) Ever won a contest? 

(Obviously I'm not winning the cut-and-paste contest! Ha!)

Yeah, I've won contests. At Sea World the other day, I was the first person to answer "NO" to whether sea turtles can come out of their shell, and I won a damn trivia card. Highlight of my freakin' life.

37.) Ever won a giveaway?

  

A week or two ago, the high-tech kids' headphones I won from a blog (I forget which, sorry) arrived in the mail. It's pretty awesome because we needed a third pair for the DVD player in the van. Three kids fighting over two pairs sucks donkey dong.

38.) Do you get a full 8 hours of sleep every night?  

I figure I get at least 30 hours of sleep a week. :\

39.) What tea do you like?  

I'm the kind of person that should like decaf herbal tea... But I don't.

40.) What mixed drink do you like?  

If it's fruity and rummy, I'm pretty much down with it. A very long time ago, in Key West, I had a salad and a margarita at Buffett's Margaritaville. We went somewhere else, and I had a pint of Guiness. Somewhere else again, and the bartender sent us each over a shot of tequila. I puked so hard after that. I blame the Irish.

41.) Do you shop at Walmart?  

I really try to avoid it at all costs, but sometimes it's the only place that carries what I need. I make sure not to wear undergarments so I'll fit in.

42.) Do you shop at Target?  

Sure! But I haven't in a couple months, because does Homestead have one??

43.) What do you order at your local coffee shop?  

I never even went into a Starbucks until, like, two or three years ago, and you know what? The caramel frappé at McDonald's is soooo much better. Trust.

44.)  Do you drink bottled or tap water? 

Seriously, here, folks. Give up the bottled water. It's bad for the planet, and it's just plain stupid. No jokes for this one.

45.) Do you like homemade meals?  

Seriously? What kind of dumb shit is that?

46.) Do you like homemade baked goods?  

That's a cake. I used to pretend I had such talent, but I don't think I really do so much now. So I stick to other desserts. I make a mean cheesecake... er, um, I mean, yes. I do.

47.) Do you shop online?  

'Nuff said.

48.) Name 3 stores online stores you would like to shop at:  

because they have everything,

because everything handmade is there that I could want, and 

because yarn. Duh.

49.) What holiday don't you like?  

I kind of can't believe we really still 'celebrate' this 'holiday.'

50.) What do you eat more of when you're sick?

I kind of don't really eat more when I'm sick. As a slightly irrelevant aside, I was in the produce department at Publix a few hours ago, and I almost bought all the ingredients for broccoli cheese soup. Except, I can't eat soup anymore. That moment sucked.

I need more wine. Someone get me a glass of Moscato already, will ya??

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Three Wishes Meme

Link up here if you're playing along today!

1.) What are three things on your wish list, and why?

a. Braces - I've already had them twice as a kid, but I need them again. I have a small jaw, and my teeth are overcrowded despite having 8 or 10 teeth removed.

b. A DSLR camera - I'm not a great photographer, but I want to learn and improve. I had a DSLR already (an awesome Nikon), but it got stolen along with all my lenses months ago from our old house. I'm still bereft about it!

c. Yarn, always the yarn. I love knitting in my 'spare' time, and I can't get enough of soft-pretties!

2.) What do you miss about your childhood?

Not much; it pretty much sucked. I miss my mommy like crazy, though, even after 29 years...

3.) What do you do on your spare time on the weekends? 

There's not a lot of that, but we like to go to the beach when I'm not mystery shopping. Otherwise, any spare time these days is spent unpacking, cleaning, and organizing our new home.

4.) What do you appreciate most in your life? 

I thank God every day for my beautiful family. I have an amazing, supportive husband and three gorgeous, hilarious, clever children. And I'm grateful for where we live now. I feel lucky; I have a wonderful life.

5.) Would you rather be rich or healthy? 

I'd much rather be healthy, which means no Bipolar Disorder. I hate that I have it and am so controlled by it and my medications. But, it's my cross to bear.

6.) If you could go back in time would you and why? 

If I could go back, I'd reset what happened either with my mom's sudden, untimely, unexpected death, or my son's. Neither should have happened; both were preventable.

7.) Favorite game as a child?

I loved playing cards with my grandma. It's a toss-up between Gin Rummy, Uno, and Skip-bo as to which was our favorite to play. We played cards constantly whenver I visited them!

8.) What is your dream career? 

I would be a singer or gymnast if I could do either well.

10.) Favorite clothing stores? 

I'm a big fan of Old Navy - great clothes, cheap! For the kiddos, I love Gymboree and The Children's Place, and I'm sad that they (at least the girls; Jack almost never grows out of clothes) are getting to be too big for them. What next? Justice? Ugh.

12.) 3 things you need in your life are: 

a. Caffeine - I'm having a terrible time quitting the Diet Coke habit.

c. My satchel - it contains the other half of my life. Those two things missing would be enough for a major breakdown! ;)

13.) What can't you sleep without?

My "bearpo," aka my huge teddy bear from Hubs & my brick of a pillow. Both of which, by the way, Rob steals on a continous basis, whenver he gets the chance.

14.) What are you currently a nerd for? 

I'm a nerd, period; I think the word you're looking for is 'geek,' just sayin'. I geek out over yarn, duh!

15.) What is your favorite seasoning?

I'm equally a fan of garlic and lemon pepper seasoning. Mmm! Can't have too much garlic, can you?

16.) What is your favorite wild animal? 

Rob... oh. Not what you meant? It would have to be sharks. My favorite is either the Port Jackson or the wobbegong. (Swagbucks it; they're like a lumpy carpet.)

17.) Name 3 of your favorite childhood shows: 

a. Punky Brewster - I idolized her!

b. Jeopardy! - toldja I was a nerd!

c. Perfect Strangers - Loved Balky and "Cosin Larry Applaton," remember them?

8.) If you could live as a character in a movie who would it be? 

Annie, duh. Although I prefered pretending I was Molly, the wee little orphan I swore I resembled, when I was a tyke.

19.) Favorite vegetable? 

I love a lot of veggies. Corn, even if it's not really one, carrots, broccoli, and potatoes (another non-veg) are favorites.

20.) Favorite Fruit? 

I'm with my daughter Sophia on this one: Strawberries!

21.) If you had a dragon what would you name it? 

There's always gotta be a dumb question, huh? I'd name it Fuego.
 
22.) What do you put on hotdogs? 

I don't eat hot dogs, gross. Meat, no. Nitrates and nitrites, no thanks. And all those icky preservatives. But even when I did eat that crap, I still put nothing on them.

23.) Do you play online games? 

Not really anymore, but I do play Words With Friends and Scramble With Friends on my iPhone. Wanna play?

24.) What's your favorite way to get inspired?

It's a toss-up between pretty pictures and projects in magazines (I love Martha Stewart Living  and Family Fun for that) and going to a craft store. I could live there. I would buy several of everything and just make stuff all day long, if these people let me.

25.) Do you have a middle name?

Yeah. But it's Ann, which I don't like. Plain and boring, so unlike myself. I'd rather have been born Melanie Penelope!

Eebitty-eebitty-ee, that's all folks!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Unlucky 13 Meme

Okay, first off, I see that this meme is now hosted again by Bud Weiser, instead of Mr. Lance? What? Another shake-up, Mr. Lance is out and Bud is back? What's up with that? Now I ponder. Anywayyyy... let's get to the questions, shall we? ;)

2. If you could ask your favorite author one question about the book(s) they wrote, what would it be?


I'd ask Jodi Picoult why they let the movie folks fuck up the film version of My Sister's Keeper. I mean, really? I was so pissed when I left the theater! The book version, as usual, was way better, but really?! C'mon!

6. Who would you rather switch places with for a day: your favorite celebrity, or your favorite fictional character?

My favorite celebrity seems to really have his shit together and have a great, happy life, so I would definitely switch. All my favorite characters are, obviously, wonderful but also perfectly flawed people. Yeah. I'd pick Matt's life.

7. Who would you rather have point out a flaw that you weren't aware you had: a close personal friend, or a total stranger?

 

I agree with the picture! Really? I've had both happen to me, and both were painful. However, the friend is much more likely to let me know gently, so I'll go with that choice.

6. Do you get jealous easily? If so, what sorts of qualities or characteristics in other people are you most likely to be jealous of?

I used to be, a lot, as a kid. I was so jealous of my friends having other friends. But now? I'm really not. I am possessive, somewhat, yes, but I can handle the green-eyed monster now.

7. Which version of yourself would you rather have a conversation with: the one from ten years ago, or the one you turn into ten years from now?

That ^^^ is because I couldn't find a picture to go with talking to myself 10 years from or before now. Hee. Anyway, ten years ago, I was spiraling into the depths of my grief over losing Robby, our  living son Jack's identical twin, three days after they were born. I never thought I'd get over it. I'd like to go back and tell myself that I wouldn't ever get over it, true, but I'd get through it, and life was going to be so much better on other side. And I'd give myself a big damned hug.

8. Were you ever bullied in any way as a child? If so, how has it shaped you today?

I have, both online as an adult, and by some girl named Sue I'm-Probably-a-Piece-of-Trash-Now Gullo, in junior high. The childhood incidents taught me to stand up for myself and not take the crap from anybody. And I don't. Although, I do cry when I get angry, which is really pretty lame. I wish I could stop that.

9. What is one fear you would like to overcome in your lifetime



I'm afraid of speaking in public, because I hate all the attention being on me and am afraid of all the criticism I might generate. It's a huge hindrance, and I'd love to get over that.

10. What is one food you haven't tried yet that you would like to?

How much do I love the idea of getting my food in Thailand that way? That's one, but closer to home? I've never had rhubarb anything, and it intrigues me. I'd love to try strawberry rhubarb pie some day. I think I'll make some soon.

11. Is it easier to forgive someone for the wrong they've done you or to seek forgiveness from someone that you've wronged in any way?

 
What a good sentiment. I can hold a grudge with the best of 'em, and I apologize like nobody's business, so you do the math. I'm still working on forgiving. It's hard to let go.

12. Let’s go random: What did you do for New Year’s Eve for the turn of the millennium?



I think, like everybody else, I sat around and waited for my computer to malfunction. Thank goodness that didn't happen! I don't remember much else about the night.

13. What else around here have you noticed?

I noticed right from the get-go, man. Welcome back, dude, what's up?!

********

Welp, that's another round and another shake-up. Hope you've had fun, and if you comment, I promise I'll comment back this time. I know I've been sucky at that lately, but now that we're mostly settled in down here, I'm going to be better about that. Swears!

Fin.

Double Header: Saturday 9 & Sunday Stealing

What's up, guys? I haven't posted this week because our innernet connection sucks big time, and I'm STILL trying to find a service provider for our area, which is not awesome. I'm sitting at McDonald's to boost off their free wi-fi at the mo', and I plan to do a buncha posts back-to-back while I'm here. Check 'em out, will ya? And for the love, please comment if ya read 'em. All week I've gotten tons of spam comments, and it's getting wearisome. Spanx! ;)

Saturday 9: You Belong With Me

 

1) Like the girl in this song, have you ever been in love with someone but afraid to tell them?

Yeah, but I did eventually - and it turned out to be mutual, when the object my affection finally responded. This turned out to be disastrous to our formerly-awesome friendship. Bah.

2) Taylor Swift has been known to write songs about her real-life lovers. If you were to write a song about the most recent person you were romantically involved with, what would the title be?
 

Welp, it'd have to be about my husband, and it would be the sub-tagline of this-here blahg: "On Our Wavelength," which is also close to what I had engraved on his wedding ring. ♥

3) Ms. Swift recently turned 23 and has already won VMAs and AMAs and Grammys. What were you doing when you were 23? (If you aren't 23 yet, where do you see yourself when you hit it?)
 

I lived in Tampa and was working on my Ph.D in elasmobranch ecomorphology {Translation: shark feeding behavior and the related anatomy}. I no longer work in that field, except, it appears, when we're at the beach and I'm trying to drop knowledge on my homeschooled children, who keep insisting I should go back to working as a marine biologist. Ahh, that was a lifetime ago, children...

4) When you were a child, did you sleep with a plush toy? (If yes, please include its name in your answer.)
 

Of course I did - and I still do! The childhood toy was a red-and-white puppy with holly berries on one ear; its name was Snowflake. Now, it's the giant teddy bear Hubs gave me when he proposed. His less-romantic name is "Xavier, the X-rated Bear." Yeah. True story.

5) I'm making a Starbucks run. What can I get you?
 

I'll take a low-fat, sugar-free caramel frappuccino, por favor.

6) It was 60 years ago that Clarence Birdseye first marketed frozen vegetables. Now it's your turn: Share something you learned recently.

Yesterday, I learned how to get to downtown Miami from Homestead (hint: do NOT take US-1 unless you want to sit in traffic for 2½ hours; take the Turnpike instead!) and then from there, how to get to Key Biscayne. Not fascinating, perhaps, but a beautiful journey just the same...

7) In junior high, were you class clown, teacher's pet, a geek, a jock ... or did you just melt into the background?

I was a nerd, the teacher's pet, natch.  I was not a very popular girl!

8) Was your most recent ticket for parking illegally or was it a moving violation?
 

 A moving violation, from a November micro-accident. The copper wrote me up for reckless driving, a total crock of shit that I got thrown out of court. Whew! Also, as I was leaving the courtroom, I heard the judge reaming the officer for the ridiculous ticket. Heh, heh. 

9) Tell us about the last museum you visited.

That would be Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, with  my kidoodles, in Williamsburg, VA. It was an assignment for my side job, but it was fu-u-u-un! We had a blast there. If you get the chance, you should totally go. Worth the trip, I promise (unless you have something up your butt and are the uptight type who doesn't like silliness and shenaniganizing.)

1. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten in public? 

 

Both on cruises I've taken to the Caribbean, it would have to be either the frog legs or the escargot. I mean, I haven't tried monkey brains or goat testicles, so my options here are a bit limited, y'know?

2. If you had to go on an adventure, with elves, dwarves, or hobbits, who would you take and why? 

 

Uhhh... this question is so ridiculous, I shan't deign to answer it. Sorry. Wait! Wait a minute! Dwarves are real, aka Little People. My own son is a dwarf. So I'm slightly offended now. Humph.

3. You are at a rural retreat lodge somewhere deep in Wisconsin or Canada. You are approached by a taxidermist who hands you a stuffed badger and asks you to put it in your lap. What do you do next? 

 

All I can think of is to ask, "Why?!" which, I know, is exactly what I would really do.

4. If you were given biscotti, would you prefer it with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate? 

 

I officially hate this meme almost as much as I hate biscotti. I mean, cookies are not supposed to be that freakin' hard!

5. In your opinion, who is the funniest man or woman alive today?

Oh, gosh. I don't know! Ellen DeGeneres has to be right up there, though. She cracks my arse up every single time I see her. Oh, and Steven Wright is one funny dude. We saw his show once. It was fantastic! 

6. If you were given thirty seconds on television to say something, what would it be? 

 

I could not possibly sum up the brain diarrhea that I would want to share in half a minute, yet I guarantee you I'd be imploring you to recycle at some point in my li'l ol' message.

7. What is your idea of the most romantic date setting ever? 

When my husband and I got married on the beach at sunset, that was pretty romantic. I couldn't have thought of a way to beat that until Sunday night, when we were at the beach at sunset, and there was suddenly a huge group of people descending on the beach. All of them were wearing white from head to toe, and they were walking INTO THE WATER to watch the bride and groom, who happened to be Jewish (judging by the Israeli flag someone carried), get married. And there were horns playing and oh, my God, it was so damn cool. And yes, romantic.

8. If you could go on one date with a movie or television star, who would it be and why? 

 

I have a silly crush on Matt Damon, because he's so cute with those crinkly eyes and crooked smile. And talented, to boot. That's why, so there.

9. What is the worst song you have ever heard? 

 

That stupid werewolf song by (I think) Warren Zevon, or anything sung by Stevie Nicks, who sounds like a wounded goat. Seriously, I can't stand her voice. Ugh.

10. If you could live anywhere else, where would it be? 

 

Dudes, we just moved to paradise, aka Homestead, Florida. I thank God every day for this beautiful life we're now living. I love it HERE!

11. Who - in your opinion - was the greatest person to ever live?

I'm not at liberty to say. Okay, okay... aside from Jesus, it'd have to be someone like Mohatma Ghandi, Mother Theresa, or whoever thought up milk chocolate. Fo'realz.

All right, I guess that wasn't too bad after all. I'll be back momentarily with more loveliness from our new paradise home, so come back and comment, will ya? I mean, the spam is ridick today!

Fin.

 

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Q Meme, Part The Sixth

The link is here, so get on it, peeps!

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme Continues... Part Six

 

121. Have you ever lost someone without having the chance to say goodbye?

Yeah, my mom. She came home sick from work on a Friday afternoon, stayed in bed all weekend, and died in the wee hours of Monday morning. They called the coroner and whisked her out before my sister and I woke up. We didn't get to see her, say goodbye, go to her funeral, or anything. I'm surprised my dad even let us visit her grave. He had no clue what to do. I've made it my mission in life to make sure that anyone I know in a similar situation understands how important it is that everyone - even the littlest of littles - needs to see the body and say their goodbyes, or closure will NEVER happen, even once the child is old enough to "understand." 

P.S. Telling your 7-year-old child her mother went for a walk with God and letting her sit on the porch for days, or weeks even, on end, waiting for her mother to come back? Terrible idea. She's still waiting...

This coming Tuesday marks the 29th anniversary of her death from untreated diabetes. RIP, Mom. I think of you every single day. ♥

122. How do you feel about women in politics? 

I think the world needs more of them. I think the US, in particular, needs a female president. I'm confident it will happen within the next few elections. We're ready.

123. Would you rather have an indoor Jacuzzi or an outdoor pool? 

I'd much rather have the pool. I get overheated fast in a Jacuzzi, get dizzy, and uncomfortable. No thanks.

124. What things are you interested in that you study or read about regularly? 

There's no limit to that! I absorb everything I can find in the news about sharks - did you see this one?

125. Would you consider yourself to be intelligent? 

Sometimes, yes, but when I don't, I whip out my Mensa card (not kidding) and show it to myself to remind me! ;)

126. Would you consider yourself to be wise? 

No, I'm a flipping idiot with no common sense, or so says my former stepmother. She can go lick the third rail, though.

127. Have you ever given or received a lap dance? 

Pfft! I would not WANT to receive one - ewww! And if you can consider some of the silly stuff I've done with Hubs to be a lap dance, maybe only then...

128. Have you ever spoken to a homeless person? 

Only about a billion times! I give money when I can and when I know where it's going (though I much prefer giving them food - and watching them scarf it down while I head home).

129. Would you ever creep into the subway tunnels to go exploring? 

There are worse things I can think of doing, but not too many. Anyway, BTDT.

130. If you could add 70 years to your life but only by making some random person die 70 years sooner would you? 

OMG, no! That's horrible!

131. Can you identify any of the following lyrics? 

A: Nothing to kill or die for... 

Imagine by John Lennon

B: Late comings with the late comin' stretcher... 

Uh, no.

C: I could make a film and make you my star...

Nope.

132. Are you worried about North Korea?

I'd be a fool not to, wouldn't I?

133. Would you rather be a world political leader or a talk-show host? 

I'd never in a million years want to lead a country. I think I'd make a pretty rad talk-show host, actually. Are they hiring?

134. Have you ever given someone a love letter that you wrote? 

Sure I have. Hubs still has a bunch of them from the half-second we were dating before we eloped, I think.

135. Have you ever sent someone a surprise though the mail? 

Yup! What's more fun than getting a surprise care package?!

136. Are you looking forward to any dates right now? Vacation perhaps?

We're supposed to have a date coming up on the 13th, but I really need to find a sitter first. And right now, we're on permanent vacation, so I'm actually looking to an end to that and getting back into some real life stuff!

137. Of all animated movies, which is the best one you've ever seen? 

I'm partial to Finding Nemo, and I like Ponyo, too. It's weird but creative, like everything from Hayao Miyazaki.

138. What are the best bands or songs to listen to while driving? 

Anything sing-alongable, especially loud and with the windows down. That's one of my favorite things to do on the planet! Oh, and the other day, Rob and I were totally car-dancing to some song, rocking out, and we pulled up to a red light. Then we looked over, and a convertible full of cute, young college guys was watching us and laughing their heads off. I DIED laughing!

139. What do you think is the most amazing thing that anyone has ever accomplished? 

I don't think I could answer that. Olympic athletes are capable of amazing feats of human endurance, strength, and acrobatics that I could never dream of accomplishing. Composers, artists, scientists, ... all of that amazes me. People should never give up on finding the thing they really excel at; I believe everyone is a genius at some thing. That's why I let my kids try so many different things. I want them to experience it all!

140. What could a member of the opposite sex do to impress you?  

The guy who makes me laugh the hardest, think the deepest, and smile the most,... he put a ring on it. ♥

Stay tuned for more posts about our new life in Miami, coming up shortly! 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Two-In-One Meme

Link up here if you're playing along today!

1: Who is your favorite musical artist from when you were a teenager?

I couldn't pick just one if I tried! I've always been a fan of pop music - lame, I know, but it's so singable, and I love to sing. Take your choice!

2: Who is your favorite game show host?

Jeopardy! is my favorite game show, and Alex Trebec makes the show what it is.

3: Who is your Favorite Blog hosting service?

I've only ever used Blogger and Typepad, and the latter is far superior, IMO, but I hear Wordpress is the place to be!

4: If you could meet anyone again from your childhood, who would it be?

I left a lot of pals behind when we moved away from Monroe, NY, when I was six. I'd love to see those guys again.

5: Where did you want to live when you were growing up?

Anywhere but Syracuse, with anyone but The Bitch From Hell (aka my evil stepmother).

6: What is the most interesting piece of trivia that you know?

Hmm. I think that's pretty subjective, but it probably involves shark behavior if you ask me. I don't know.

7: If you could live in any point of history when would it be and why?

I'd love to live in the 50s, with the cars and music and dancing. That seems so fun!

8: What is the most interesting job you have ever had?

There is no job more interesting than being a mother to these three clowns! ;)

9. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share. 

I've told this one before in this blahg, but I'll share again: In 7th grade, I was in the library on the computer, and I didn't want to get up and lose my spot. I had to go to the bathroom badly. Finally, it was too late, and I peed my pants. I was 12! It took forever to live that one down.

10. What's your favorite Beatles song?

I like many of them, but I love Let it Be.

1. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?
 
Flip-flops by Crocs, my pink pajama pants from Old Navy, and a tank top. I gave those Crocs away because my feet shrunk, though, so I really need to get a new pair for Miami!

12. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

As much as I'm a control freak, I'd much rather be a guest. Hosting makes me a complete nervous wreck! Like, panic attack level. I hate that.

13. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

I don't think that'll ever happen. Traditional books are never going to go away. There's just something about cracking open a new book, smelling that smell, feeling the pages in your hands, that you just can't get from an e-reader.

14. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

I've never learned by listening - ever. Reading is great, but hands-on experience is the best way. I try to do a lot of that with my kids in our homeschooling, too.

15. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

Smoking and being racist or other -ists. Gross. Just gross.

16. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

You mean I have to choose? Chocolate, preferably milk, with nuts, maybe.

17. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

The only thing I forgot was there was my U. Miami baseball cap, which I've been wearing every day lately. Not because we're in Miami and I want to blend in with other fans of my alma mater (although there certainly are plenty), but because my hair has grown to the point where it spikes straight up. Not a good look for me.

18. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

Loved him in Magnolia!

19. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

I'd probably just give it to my kids to use. They're not too particular at this point!

0. Your favorite spring comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

I don't really base my diet on the seasons, you know? I'm loving Latin food so far this Spring, though. Yuca Fritta? Yes, please!

Happy Easter, folks!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Memphis Meme, Part The First

Link up here if you're one of the fun guys!

1. Be honest, who texted you last?

My husband sent me a hee-hee.

2. Do you sleep with the bedroom door open or closed?

What is this, a hotel? I have an open-door policy.

3. Do you drink tea?

Iced tea, not on your life. Hot tea, only if I'm sick.

4. Do you have plans for tomorrow?

Tomorrow being Monday, yes, we are going over to our house and packing up the rest of our crap. Time to go!

5. What's worse: dry skin or chapped lips?

Ooh. That's a really good one for me, since I haaaaate both! But definitely dry skin. Can't stand having it, but I for damn sure don't want someone with it touching me! Ick.

6. Would you be surprised if Facebook started charging?

Facebook already does charge, for some things! Meh. It's a free countr...oh. Wait.

7. Would you rather go to Canada or California on vacation?

I don't know, both have their appeal. There are plenty of areas in both that I desire to see!

8. How many social media sites are you registered with?

Let's see... I have a MySpace (maybe?), but I don't ever, ever go there anymore. Does anyone? Facebook, natch. Here. LinkedIn. Google+. Twitter. Foursquare... yeah, that's enough. I'll hush now, it's embarrassing. Would you believe I'm pretty introverted?

9. Are you wearing jeans, shorts, sweats, or PJs?

I'm wearing my super-comfy University of Miami garb. Sweats.

10. So, what if you changed lives for one day with the person you texted?

Ew, I'd have to join the NRA. NO, THANK YOU!

11. Last person you told a secret to?

Hm. Probably Rob (hubs), but I'm not going to share whatever it was here!

12. What are you listening to at the moment?

"Down," by 311

13. Where was the last place you fell asleep, other than your bed?

I napped in my daughter Chloë's bed at least twice in the past 24 hours.

14. Is there someone that you believe you will always be attached to?

Sure, lots of people. Everyone I love, who doesn't shit on me in return!

15. Are you going to any concerts this year?

So far, none are planned, though I have a feeling if Taylor Swift comes to Miami, I'll be taking Chloë to her first show. There are a number of acts I'd love to catch, but budget constraints, y'know...

16. Do you believe in Karma?

I believe a lot of things related to it, but maybe not that per se. I'm Christian and stuff.

Welp, that was a quickie for me. Are you satisfied?

Fin. 

Sunday Stealing On A Tuesday

Linky linky is here, pals, friends and chums!

 

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Five 

 

101. What does happiness/joy feel like physically? 

Warm and fuzzy, like an itty bitty bunny ... ♥

102. List five things you love starting with the one you love the absolute most. (My interpretation: People aren't things, so I'm not including them!)

A - Yarn. Natural, vibrant, soft, knittable YARN.

B - My iPhone 5!

C - The beach

D - Singing a great song at the top of my lungs while driving with the windows down on a warm day

E - Itty bitty babies, whether they're people or other animals

103. How many movies have you gone to see this year? 

We just went to the movies on Thursday for a mystery shop! Once, so far in 2013. It was Escape From Planet Earth, and I really liked it. It was surprisingly good! I want to get the DVD.

104. If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for yourself, what would you wish for? 

A - I would wish for lots more money for my husband. ;) (What? I didn't SAY he had to share!) (But he would.)

B - I would wish for an end to all the world's "issues" caused by the exponential population growth of human beings.

C - I would wish for mandatory parenting classes for all first-time parents. I've seen some bad shit, man.

105. In what ways do you relax and de-stress when you are really tense? 

If it's that bad, I have to pop a Klonopin. And then, if I can't nap, I'll read a bunch of magazines and/or knit something mindlessly simple.

106. How much money would it take to get you to sell your blog address?

I don't know. At least tuppence.

107. Have you ever been hunting?

LOL I thought that said "hurting," and I was all, have you met me?! No. I have never been hunting. I never will, either. Bambi's safe from me. 

108. Have you attempted this 5000 question meme in the past?

I don't know, but probably. I've been blogging for a while now!

109. What do you think of cloning? 

Everything in moderation. The world doesn't NEED another me or you, but repetition certainly has its place.

110. Do you read or watch TV more often? 

Since we don't have TV, it's pretty much reading by default.

111. With all this talk of terrorism going around are you willing to sacrifice rights and freedoms for increased safety?

Pfft. If you're not constitutionally allowed to go into a crowded movie theater and yell "FIRE!" then even the 2nd Amendment has its limits, thank you so much. Anyone who thinks that the right to bear arms should be absolutely limitless is a TOTAL FUCKING MORON, and I have no problems saying that to ANYONE. And yes, this is a bit of a passionate issue for me. ;)

112. What is the punishment you would have come up with for Osama Bin Laden if you caught him alive? 

I don't know, an eye for an eye, I guess. So would I put him on a suicide plane mission? No. Would I put him on the plane as a terrified passenger? No. Top of a tower about to be hit by a plane? Nope. I would make him love someone with all his heart and soul and then have to bear the pain when that person was tragically ripped from his life forever. Worst pain ever. I know.

113. Have you ever named an individual part of your body?

No. However, I am an odd duck, and I feel bad for my left hand for not getting as much use as my righty, so I often favor it to give it more attention. Wow. I can't believe I'm admitting such kookiness so publicly! 

114. Have you ever been on the radio or on TV? 

Yeah, both. I posted here recently about the rug store commercial I was on when I was a kid. I have also been interviewed on a radio station about my charity in memory of our son. Twice. That was pretty cool.

115. Have you ever won a lottery or sweepstakes? 

I have won a few things, but I'll be darned if I can remember any of them at the moment. Oh, and when I turned 18, I won about $3.50 the first time I played the lottery. The next two weeks, I didn't win anything. Haven't played since.

116. Have you ever won a contest or competition? 

Similarly, yes, several things, but I'm hard-pressed to name them!

117. Have you ever watched The Joy of Painting show with Bob Ross (check out this link if you don't know who he is.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross_(painter)? 

Yeah, but I like the South Park version of Bob better than the real one! 

118. Do you know what your grandparents and your great-grandparents did for a living? 

My mom's dad worked at Tingue Brown as a factory laundry installer for many years. He was a hard-working man up until he died. 

My mom's mom was ... a stay-home mom, I guess? I really don't know if she worked before I came along, ever.

My dad's dad also did hard physical labor, but I can't remember the specifics. Both he and dad's mom died before I was born.

I haven't a clue what the greats did. However, my great-aunt (dad's side) was a longtime secretary for Exxon corporate.

119. Is there anything really interesting in your family history? 

I tend to think so. My dad's side of the family came from Germany to the Caribbean island of Saba several generations ago. It's a very tiny, not well-known isle, with historically unfriendly harbors, so you have to fly to get there. My dad's father was born there, along with his older sister. The great-aunt, Amy, mentioned above, was born in New York City, though. So I'm a 2nd generation American, right?

On my mom's side, my grandparents met just before World War II. My grandpa asked Grandma out, but she turned him down. She did NOT like him. Then he left to join the Navy and go fight in the war. When he got home, she had had a change of heart and started dating him. Three kids, five granddaughters, and six great-grandkids (so far) have come from that union!

120. Is there anyone you trust completely? 

Do I trust anyone 100%? Hmm. Not myself, definitely; I'm too impulsive. I couldn't think of anyone I trusted completely for a while, but now that I think about it, I trust my therapist that much. Maybe she's an odd choice, but she is absolutely fabulous. I'm really sad to be leaving her behind when we move in a few weeks. We've talked about doing remote therapy, though...

Oh, wow. I didn't realize I was at the end, here.

Welp, have a great week, y'all! I'll have more to post soon. 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Another Damn Meme On A Weekend, Yo

What's up, y'all?! I'm baaaaaack. Didja miss me? I know you did. I missed me, too. Heh. Here we go:

1. First job:

Blow or ...? Oh, you mean... right. There was a lot of this:

and then there was tons of this:

2. First real job:

Blow, or...? That would be Ben. Oh, you meant... right. Well, they were all real jobs, then, weren't they? I mean, I got paid. So I'll say first really COOL job was here:

and shortly after that, here:

...back when, you know, my education was somewhat relevant!

3. First volunteer job:

That was more like "voluntold," my favorite Navy-learned term, since I was at the top of my class and had to be a mentor to lots of incoming Marine Science freshman (all of whom were convinced they were going to play with dolphins for the rest of their lives, to my utter amusement and, yes, exasperation). 

And later, this:

was the charity, CARE Package, Inc., I started and ran in my son's memory. 

4. First car:

In 1994, as a high school senior, my dad found and helped me buy a 1991 Ford Escort wagon that had supposedly only belonged to a sweet little old lady. Only after he deserted me, I was walking past it one morning and the sun hit it just right, and I could see the shape of the Coca-Cola logo. BAHAHAHA! Kills me now.

5. First record:

My sister and I knew ALL the songs, and we sang them a capella, as duets, ALL. THE. TIME.

6. First sport played:

I didn't play sports. I danced. And behold, I was good. Sad ending to that story, and I don't want to boo-hoo you to death here, so let's skip it, m'kay?

7. First concert:

A long, long time ago, this girl was the shizznat. Another sad ending...!

8. First country visited:

I remember, we went to Ottawa for one of my dad's business trips. We were walking around downtown after dinner out, and there was a street fight just ahead of us. I was about 8 or 9 years old, and suddenly someone was being thrown through a plate glass window, and there was blood and screaming and shoving... it was pretty horrifying! I still don't have good feelings about Ottawa!

9. First kiss:

That would be Kenny... at the time, I thought he was so freakin' cute. And that kiss! :::swoon:::

10. First speech:

Um, no. Not me!

11. First boyfriend: 

See #9! And then there was:

Luisito Alberto Capó, whom I met on my first Caribbean cruise in 1991, when I was 14... he was four years older and had THE most contagious, bubbly laugh I've ever heard. We sailed out of Miami, where he lived with his family, the people behind El Dorado furniture. Years later, when I moved to Miami to go to college, we met up again at a dance on campus. And he sent me a gigantic bouquet of peach-colored roses and... that was that. I chose not to pursue it for a very, very, very superficial reason. Ah, well!

12. First encounter with a famous person:

Remember Dave Barry, the syndicated humor columnist who wrote for the Miami Herald? Well, he and his wife, Michelle, lived in Coral Gables, which happens to be where the University of Miami is located. I worked down the road at the local Publix when I wasn't in class, and Dave and Michelle shopped there all the time. The first time he came in, I was floored - I had been reading his column my whole life, up in Syracuse, NY, and I absolutely LOVED him!!! It was a Sunday that day, and I quickly bought a newspaper, pulled out the section with his column in it, and stalked him around the store until his wife noticed me mousing around, and got him to sign it for me. I think - I hope - I still have it somewhere??

And then, remember Andrew Cunanan, who killed Italian designer Gianni Versace? Yeah. He made an appearance in my store between the murder and his own death, too. Not as big a thrill, I have to say!

13. First brush with death:

Apart from many suicide attempts during my youth (and beyond), the first time I almost died was when I was pregnant with Chloë, my oldest. I went into a very traumatic labor and developed severe preeclampsia. My blood pressure was something like 200/110! I was on the verge of a stroke. They did a quick slice-and-dice to GET HER OUT of me. It was horrible. Just horrible. It took me a long time to get over that awful birth experience, so unlike what I'd planned!

14. First House Owned:

It's the house we still own and need to unload right now. We bought it ten years ago, just after the twins were born, when we got here from Guam. Lots of memories in that townhouse. And I can't wait to walk away from it. Onward!

15. First film seen at a cinema:

I'm sure it wasn't really the first movie, but it was one I really remembered seeing at the theater. A drive-in, if I recall correctly. My favorite. When Chloë was a newborn, our young babysitter, Sarah, went to go see the 20th anniversary release of it - for the first time!!! First time I ever really felt old, and I was only 25 then.

16. First media appearance:

I really didn't know what image to put for this one, can you tell??

A friend of my dad's had opened a brand-new carpet store. He asked us to be in the TV commercial. We didn't get paid - but we did get some garish blue t-shirts out of the deal!

17. First hospital stay:

Well, I imagine that it was for my birth, but the next time was in Miami, when I was 17 and just a week or two into my freshman year of college. I got extremely sick and was diagnosed with strep and mononucleosis. I overheard the doctor telling my dad on the phone, "She's a very sick little girl right now." Oh, my word, I thought I would die!

18. First book you remember reading:

Yup. We were churchy folks.

19. First pet:

After I graduated college and moved out of the dorm into my summer house, the first thing I did was get a dog that looked a lot like this little guy. Johnny was a dachapoo, and he was the best. Just the best. I miss that little spazz! He died a month or so before our youngest, Sophia, entered the picture - of old age. He lived a great, long, well-loved life. Good dog.

20. First election you voted in:

I can't really remember. I think it was either to vote FOR this guy for President of the USA, or...

... AGAINST this guy for Governor of the state of Florida. Man, Jeb Bush has gotten OLD since then. And, um, er... rather bloated. Not a pretty picture. But that's beside the point.

So okay, another week gone. Time to knit!

Fin.

Weekend Double Header: Saturday 9 AND Sunday Stealing

Yeah, I'm a sucky, neglectful blogger. I thought December was a busy month - February is just cray-cray! So my promises to be a more prolific poster here have gone by the wayside in lieu of Living. I will catch up soon. Um, I promise?

Here is this weekend's Saturday 9: The Way We Were.

1. In honor of Valentine's Day, what's the most romantic movie you can think of?

Hmm. It's pretty cliché for my generation, but c'mon, what beats The Notebook??

2. The Way We Were was a tearjerker. Do you think most real-life love stories end in heartbreak? Or do you believe in happily ever after?

Heh. Well, the side of my Odyssey has a cutesy family decal of us and four of our six cats, and arcing over that are the words, "Happily Ever After," so that answers that question!

3. What's your favorite love song?

It's obviously not a romantic love song, since Eric Clapton wrote it for his son who passed away, but even before my own son died and we played it at his memorial service, "Tears in Heaven" moved me beyond words. What greater love is there than the one a parent has for his child?

4. In 1993, Barbra Streisand married actor James Brolin, who first became famous as Dr. Steven Kiley on Marcus Welby, MD. Who is your favorite TV doctor?

Dr. Carter, played by Noah Wyle on E.R. And the fact that he was cute as a button was just a bonus!

5. In 2012, Streisand renewed her contract with Columbia, where's she's been recording since 1963. So she's been with the same label for fifty years! Where have you worked the longest, and how long was that?

Y'mean besides Casa de Odette, where I've been HMFIC for the past 12 years? I guess that would have to be the Law Offices of JMB in St. Pete, Florida, where I was a legal secretary on-and-off for 2½ years, throughout grad school. Yeah. My résumé rocks.

6. Sam Winters once worked as a hostess in a chic bistro in Worcester, PA. That's why she frequently gets  frustrated by bad service in restaurants -- she's certain she could make it run more smoothly. Where do you find yourself getting annoyed most often?

Welp, similarly, I worked in grocery retail for ages. Wait, I guess that would be my longest job, but whatevs. Anyway, I quickly moved up to the customer service desk and then ran the front-end of a large grocery store chain location, so I know what it takes to provide good customer service - and when I don't get it, I get pissed - pissed!!

7. Have you ever taken a polygraph test?

LOL... No. And that's the truth!

8. Crunchy, smooth, or organic peanut butter?

Since when is "organic" a texture? Pffft. Organic smooth for me, please, so it doesn't tear up my bread!

9. Describe your favorite sweater.

Hand-knit by me, the most glorious shade of sea blue-green, delightfully textured, perfectly fitted to my body - and as-yet imaginary. I haven't had the time yet to make it!

And now for a little something different:

Link up here if you're playing along today!

21. Would you swear in front of your parents?

I actually try not to, because I feel weird about it and don't like my dad's "tsk, tsk," but I have on occasion. Last month, I actually cussed my dad out - but in all fairness, he totally deserved that shit. Oops, there I go again.

22. Which continents have you been on?

North America, South America, Asia (if Guam counts as Asia?), and Europe. It's not enough, though I woudn't be disappointed if I missed Antarctica...

23. Do you get motion sickness? Any horror stories?

I've spent a lot of time at sea and usually have no problems whatsoever with motion sickness there or anywhere else - except once. We were in the middle of a research trip in the Dry Tortugas, and there was a huge storm producing 10' swells. Our little 80' research vessel was tipping all the way over on its side, back and forth, back and forth. I didn't puke, but I came damn close. I was one of the few who didn't.

24. Why did you name your blog whatever you named it?

Because I'd already had a blog, on some obscure website - oh yeah, it's called MySpace - but I recognized that site as doomed before it really was doomed. I started it up again here, in a much different and more public way. I like this version better.

25. Would you wear a rainbow jacket? A neon sweater? Checkered pants?

That actually sounds like my perfect outfit! I'd wear it all at once. Which I am not, because right now I am sitting here in nothing but yellow-and-green striped knee socks. And that's a fact, Jack.

26. What was your favorite cartoon growing up? Post a picture if you can.

I can't. Google Images refuses to load for me right now. Bastages! I used to love The Far Side, and Calvin and Hobbes. I have a Far Side book where the entire alphabetical index is blank, except for the letter 'T' - all the cartoons are listed under "The One about..." this and that. I love it; it cracks me up. And that was way before Friends stole the idea, folks!

27. In a past life, I must have been a...

Sloth, because truthfully, I am really freakin' lazy. No one believes that, because I actually do accomplish quite a bit, but I am. I could sit on my ass and watch the world go by for days on end. And servants - I would love to have lots and lots of servants. (Well, I do - my kids are my minions. They do not love that.)

28. If you had to look at one city skyline for the rest of your life, which would it be?

I could not do that. Mine is a nomadic soul. I'd go nuts. Well, nuttier.

29. Longest plane ride you've ever been on?

We flew from Florida to Los Angeles to Honolulu to Guam, pretty much straight through, in 2002. And then straight back, except here to Virginia, four months later. With a toddler. And I was pregnant with twins. Talk about awesome. (Actually, it wasn't too bad. Thank God Chloë was a ridiculously easy baby by that age!)

30. What's the longest you've ever slept?

I think it was my very recent 22-hour nap, during an illness. Pretty unusual for me.

31. Would you buy a sweater covered in kitten pictures? Would you wear it if someone gave it to you for free?

Hell-to-the-no, but if they handmade it, I might. If it was well-made and comfy. But gosh, really? So not my style.

32. Do you pluck your eyebrows?

Hell yeah! Those things would otherwise run amok all over my loverly face. I didn't start until I was 25 and a mom, though. What was I thinking? People compliment me on my eyebrows at least 2-3 times a year. I'll keep plucking 'til I'm dead or too senile to care.

33. What's your favorite kind of bean?

Garbanzo! As in, chickpeas. As in, hummus - yummus!

34. How far can you throw a baseball?

Oh, at least a good three feet. I am SUCH a wimp!!

35. If you had to move to another country, where would you move?

I hear St. Baart's is nice, but we're not wealthy enough, and Canada is too cold, so... I don't know. Anywhere Rob went, I'd follow.

36. Have you ever eaten Ethiopian food? Vietnamese? Korean? Nepalese? How was it?

No. Yes. Yes. No. Good. How's that for concise?

37. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a ... no. I hate this question too much to even finish typing it out!

Y'all go out and have a kick-ass week, m'kay?

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Basically Obscure Meme

Better late than never, right? Linkage is here.

1. Do you notice a person's eye color?

Generally, yes - it's rare that I don't.

2. White, milk, or dark chocolate mocha?

I'm trying to get into the habit of eating the darkest chocolate I can stand, because it's better for you, but I love my milk chocolate too much to give it up entirely. White chocolate... isn't. Gross.

3. If you could get a tattoo for free, would you do it? What would it be?

I really don't know. I'm not inked yet, but I've thought about it for a long time. My husband has 8 of them, and we talked about getting a joint one that would be an artistic feat of matching up our arms or legs to, together, make up our four kids' initials, embedded in a huge oceanic wave. I'd have to see the artist's workup first to be sure!

4. Did you grow up in a small or big town? Did you like it?

Until I was six, I lived in New York's Hudson Valley region, and then we moved up northwest of there, to a small town outside of Syracuse. I liked it at the time, but I'm a city girl at heart, and I really hate the small-town, backwards-thinking mentality of a lot of people who remained there. I prefer progressive types. ;)

5. Who was your favorite adult as a child, besides your parents?

Well, my mom would have been that person, but my dad and stepmother? Huh, no. Not even close. I guess it would have been my grandparents. They were the shining stars of an otherwise terrible, traumatic upbringing. If it weren't for Grandma and Grandpa - my mom's parents - I would have had very few happy moments.

6. What kind of smoothie sounds really good right now?

A sugar-free strawberry banana protein-boosted one from Tropical Smoothie Café

7. Most embarrassing moment from your elementary school years?

I can't think of anything that embarrassed me then. I didn't know enough to be embarrassed!

8. Most embarrassing moment from your middle school years?

That would absolutely be the time in 7th grade when I was on the computer in the library and didn't want to give up my spot. I sat there so long, I ended up peeing my pants, and the popular kids noticed it! I endured a lot of nasty teasing for it. Three of my good friends walked, surrounding me while I clung to the wall on one side, down the the Principal's office with me so I could call home for a change of clothes. Love those girls!

9.  Most embarrassing moment from your high school years?

The time when I unexpectedly got my period wearing white shorts. Ugh!! How mortifying. Thank God the home-ec teacher had a spare change of clothes for me to wear while I washed them in her room.  Why do all my most embarrassing moments involve my underwear?!

10.  Have you ever fired anyone?

No, but I did get fired myself once. I was working at Larry's Ice Cream Shoppe in St. Pete Beach, Florida, between college and graduate school. They found out I had been accepted to start my Ph.D. and decided to fire me before I could quit. Really? Higher education is grounds for termination?! I was livid.

11. Have you ever climbed a tree more than 20 feet off the ground?

I've never seen a tree more than 20 feet off the ground. Isn't part of the intrinsic nature of a tree being rooted into the ground?! Heh, heh.

12. Did you like swinging as a child? Do you still get excited when you see a swingset?

I'm glad you clarified what you meant there, because I was not a child swinger, no! ;) Anyway, yes, I have always loved to go on the swings. When I was in college, my friend Kristal and I often drove from Miami out to South Beach - in the middle of the night sometimes, even - to go rollerblading and to ride the swings on the beach there. Good times, good times.

13.  If you could have any pet in the world, illegal or not, what would you get?

My mommy had a pet monkey when she was a kid - really! - and I always thought it would be cool to have a chimp until I learned what terrible pets they really make. I'll stick with my yearning for a Chihuahua puppy, thanks.

14. What's your favorite place to relax?

In bed, in Hubby's arms - best place in the world.

15. What's your favorite part of your personality?

It's hard for me to admit to liking anything about myself, since I grew up with so much self-hatred, but now I do appreciate that I have good qualities, too. I like that I really do care about other people and try my best to help them in whatever way I can.  And I love my giggly, silly nature!

16. Madonna or Lady Gaga?

I admit, I like both, but the Material Girl is a longtime favorite of mine.

17. Have you ever watched the Super Bowl all the way through?

I don't think I have ever - ever! - watched any part of the Super Bowl. Call me un-American, but it just doesn't interest me much.

18. Have you ever watched any major sporting event live?

Yes, we went to Shea Stadium in NYC and watched the Mets play the California Angels, when I was a kid. That was when Darryl Strawberry and other famous guys were on the team. And if college football games between the Miami Hurricanes and our biggest rivals, the Florida State Seminoles (f**k you, Seminoles!) count, then plenty of those, too.

19.  What's the most delicious food you've ever eaten in your life?

The entire meal I ate when I was a Junior in high school at the Inn Between, halfway between Camillus and... Dewitt (??), in Central New York. There I was with three other folks in their late 20s, who had taken me along for a pricey ($100 a pop, maybe?) Valentine's dinner out, because they were the coolest folks ever and knew I had a terrible home life. I can't remember everything we ate, but I know there were some creamy, buttery, garlic mashed potatoes that were to die for!

A close second are the amazing lump crab cakes I get from Uncle Chuck's seafood shack at the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market. Before I return 100% to vegetarianism this year, I hope I get one more chance to have a crabby patty or two from there!

20. Margarine or butter? Which did you grow up with?

I grew up with both, but I'd much rather have real butter now than plastic, er, margarine...

********

Welp, that's the show, folks! Have an outstanding day, and I'll be back tomorrow with some photos.

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Meme From Suburbia

Linky linky here, peepers!

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

Well, I was enormously pregnant with our identical twin sons, awaiting their arrival and about to go into pre-term labor. That would take me on a downward spiral for the next three or so years... We had just been through a supertyphoon, in Guam (see previous post, Saturday 9), and I was declared unfit to survive on the island under those conditions. Hm. Shoulda stayed, but hindsight is 20/20.

2. By this time next year, I ...

... plan to be fully settled in Miami, proudly watching my husband go to college for the first time. Woot! I can't wait to see how it goes for him!

3. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing?

Yes, and yes. I have a strong feeling Hill C. will be the one.

4. Which fictional TV show character you would shag anytime?

Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory - it would probably be terrible, but it would also be funny, fer darned sher!

5. Who is your greatest enemy?

Often, I would say it's me, myself and I.
 
6. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles?

I went down to South Carolina a few weeks ago to allow my son to visit my dad for a week, and then dipped into North Carolina to pick him up again. Like I said, hindsight... I'm sure it'll never happen again, so I hope they both enjoyed it!

7. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

I use the dictionary more frequently, but I use the thesaurus more earnestly. Whatever the hell that means.

8. Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Look up. All the way up at the top of the screen. There it is, pal.

9. What are you dreading at the moment?

Blowing my nose again in T-minus five minutes. My poor schnozz is so sore!

10. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

I used to, but I figure, they can click away as easily as I can hit the "delete" button on anything nasty anyone puts out there, right? I put lots of myself out there on the line, here and on Facebook, and somehow I still have tons of friends and "friends," so it's all right in the end.

11. If you find an outfit you love, but the size on the label is larger than you want, do you buy the outfit? Why or why not?

No. Again, I refer you to my last post, with my "before" and "four years after" surgery pictures. After going from a size 26 to a size 2-6 (depending on the maker), I don't ever intend to pay money for something that does not fit well again!

12. Even the biggest slackers are anal-retentive about something? What are you anal-retentive about?

Oh, lots of things, Hubs will tell you, but recycling everything I possibly can is probably the star of that show.

13. Out of all the books you read as a child, which one had the biggest influence on how you are today?

Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, together with The Bible

14. Which Golden Girl would you want to spend a night on the town with?

Hands down, if I couldn't hang with all four of those lovely ladies, it would have to be Estelle Getty's character, Sophia. Not unlike my own Sophia, she was a pistol!

15. What is the one product you would never buy in its generic form even if the generic is half the price?

Other than any prescription that requires the name-brand version, I would rather not buy cheese at all than by that crappy generic version. Blech!

16. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa?

Five or six. I remember the day I found out about Santa, clear as a bell.  My sister and I found out together from our neighbor and BFF, Ursula. I don't remember being upset, just shocked that my parents would lie to me!

17. What is the one smell that turns your stomach without fail?

Infant formula puke - the smell of the formula is almost as bad, IMNSHO!

18. If someone holds out a carton of milk to you and asks you to sniff it to see if its spoiled, do you?

Without fail, I do.

19. You have a completely free day and $2000.00, what are you doing?

It depends on my starting point and if plane fare is involved, but it probably involves Manhattan!

20. What is the most used item in your home?

I would say my iPhone, but instead I'm going to say the toilet. Because there are five of us and one measly li'l bathroom in this ramshackle abode. There. I have now stooped to discussing the commode on my blahg. Happy? ;)

Have a spectacular week, fogies!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Back Half Meme

Link up here if you're a thief like us! (Note to Mr. Lance: I love ya, man, but count your questions! I had to rename the meme... *wink*)

Cheers to all of us thieves!

15. How do you vent out your anger?

I yell and say a lot of four-letter words. If I'm super-beyond-pissed, I tend to throw shit. Not terribly emotionally mature of me, I know, but I'm working on it.

16. Favorite childhood toy?

I spent countless precious moments away from Auberta Lenora, Tiffany Jacqueline, and Andrea Gina, having to explain to my father that they were Cabbage Patch KIDS and not DOLLS. I mean, really!

17. Favorite season?

I'm a summa-time girl. Summa yours, summa mine, I'm a summa time girl... I bet none of you will get that reference. Usually I dole out the points in two-at-a-time increments, but I'll give you a hundred if you know from whence that came!

18. Do you ever get letters delivered by the post office?

As opposed to what, the Pony Express? All my mail gets delivered by the post office... (And yes, I'm intentionally reading that wrong. Come on, now.)

19. When was the last time you laughed hard?

Today. Someone was asking where, locally, she could get a microscope on the quick, in one of my online homeschooling forums. Someone else replied, "I'm a singer, and I got mine from ABCXYZ. It works awesome!" It took me a minute to realize that the respondent was talking about a microphone.... DER der der!

20.  What is on the floor of your closet? 

Do you know, I'm not sure? I haven't looked in there in a LONG time. Don't ask. I know Hubby has a bike or two in there, and that's all the information I need to keep out at this point.

21. Are you any good at drawing?

I'm pretty good at drawing baths and conclusions, but pictures... I'm only semi-decent. My dad is a pretty good sketcher, as is Hubs. My youngest babe, Sophia, seems to have an innate ability to draw well, too.

22. What did you do last night?

Well, this silent auction group (two, actually) I'm part of ends at midnight on Fridays, so I was up watching my bids and my sales! I sold a ton (yay) and won the two things I really wanted, so it was a rockin' night. The excitement of a 36-year-old mom just isn't the same as when I was a 20-year-old college co-ed...

23. What are you most afraid of?

No fear is worse than something happening to one of your children. I've already held one of four while he took his last breath. I never, ever, ever want to outlive another one of my babies.

24. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburger?

Ew. I haven't eaten a hamburger in 17½ years. Like, don't have a cow, man.

25. Favorite dog breed?

Like I said last week, I've always wanted a Chihuahua puppy, but I also would love a Puli someday, too. Oh, the glorious amount of maintenance that must be done on these creatures, though! 

26. Favorite day of thee week?

Any day in which I've slept, Rob is home, and/or money arrives unexpectedly in the mail is a pretty good one, I think. Wait, I say that last one like it happens every week. Don't I wish?!

27. How many states/provinces/countries have you lived in?

I've only ever lived in the USA: New York, South Carolina, Florida, Guam, & Virginia. So, what's that, five? I can't count, all my energy is being focused on not peeing my pants right now. Okay, I give, I'll be back in a second.

******** INTERMISSION ********

Miss me? I feel better now, thanks.

28. Diamond or pearl?

If I must choose between those two things, then diamond, because duh! Diamonds and girls, you know... but I live my life in living color, and I generally abhor white. Diamonds, pearls and opals are on the bottom of my favorite "precious whatever" list. I'm so pleased my birthstones are sapphires, although I would have been happy with rubies and emeralds, too! And yes, I know, I'm a bit on the ridiculous side at times.

29. What is your wish for this new year?

I don't wish. I hope, plan, and achieve, or else I set new goals. So, at this moment, I'm in the hoping stage of finding somewhere decent and affordable to live in Miami in the next several weeks.

30. New year resolutions

That's not a sentence, let alone a question that I can answer. I'm going to take a wild guess that you're asking me if I have MADE any of those things for this year. I have, but so far I'm failing as miserably at last year at keeping the main one: Be more active. I'm just a lazy, lazy girl. I always have been. It's in my baby book, people! (Mom, haven't you ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?! I had no choice!)

All right, I'm done here. You may proceed to the comments section to leave me something I'll love to read. Cheers!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The 40 Random Questions Meme, Final Part

Link up here if you're a thief at heart, too!

21. What’s something you’ve always wanted?

Every year for as long as I can remember, my grandparents would ask me what I wanted for my birthday, and every year, I would ask for a Chihuahua puppy. I still haven't gotten one!

22. Do you have hairy legs?

I should say not! Unlike my fuzzy hubby, I inherited my relative hairlessness from my mom's father (same as in the question above). I hardly ever have to shave, and only then because I know it's there!

23. What does “Semper Fidelis” stand for?

Anyone who has studied a Romance language - or knows anything at all about the U.S. Marine Corps - knows that it means "Always Faithful" in Latin. It doesn't "stand for" anything, der.

24. Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake?

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, I'd choose the ocean. Now if I were in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy and there had just been a shark attack on the same beach the day before, I might back out and go to the stupid dumb boring lake. (Hence my being a marine biologist, and not a limnologist!) 

25. Do you wear a lot of black?

I used to, when I was super-morbidly obese. Now, I wear as much color as I can get away with. It's sort of a metaphor for my life.

26. Describe your hair.

It's about 1 cm long at the moment. A couple of months ago, I meant to trim my bangs and ended up going all Edward Scissorhands on myself. I have an ugly-shaped head that does not look good bald. I asked for a lot of bandanas for Christmas, and that helped disguise my lack of occiput!

27. Do you have Entomophobia?

The only bugs I don't like are the ones that touch me or get too close to me without my express written - and notarized, if there's time - permission!

28. Are you an adult?

Well, I'll be 37 this year, but I don't know if I'll ever reach true adulthood! I have a lot of childhood demons to exorcise first - but I'm getting there.

29. Do you own or rent?

Both, at the moment! Both have their upshots and downsides.

30. Do you have a tan?

No. It's Winter, and I don't fake-and-bake. I'm very fair, and skin cancer is not high on my list of must-haves.

31. Are you addicted to TV?

No; we don't even have television service. I couldn't begin to tell you what's on the tube these days.

32. Do you enjoy spending time with your In-laws?

More than they realize, I think

33. Are you a sugar freak?

I can't really have sugar, but it doesn't keep me from eating chocolate when I absolutely must have it. I don't know what I'd do if I were allergic to the stuff! 

34. What happened to Larry King?

Did something happen to Larry King? You tell me.

35) What sign are you?

I am the quintessential Virgo, but I make it a point not to read my horoscope.

36. What do you wish for on your birthday?

What, you weren't happy with the Chihuahua? I wish for peace and contentment in my own heart.

37. Who did you copy this from?

Well, you know the answer to that question, so let's get to the heart of the matter: Why can't the people who write memes write them well? That is, with proper English? Gah. Major peeve of mine.

38. Do you eat breakfast?

No, not anymore. I rarely eat at all anymore. I don't have time for that nonsense. Drinking is where it's at!

39. What would you name the royal baby?

Jasper Sebastian James Pendleton Forbes the First

40. Do you buy a newspaper?

We subscribe to the Sunday-Wednesday editions.

********

That's it for another week! Thanks for stopping by, yadda yadda. I will get back to a more regular posting habit again this week, by Jove!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: I've Heard THAT Before Meme, Part The First

Linkage is here. (I'm not usually so succinct. Enjoy it while it lasts.)

1) What side of the heart do you draw first? 

The left, always

2) Can you dive without plugging your nose? 

Sure can, but I can't plug my nose without diving. Huh? What's that, you say?

3) What color is your razor? 

I have three razors in there right now, a pink one, a yellow one, and a purple one. Don't ask me why; I don't rightly know.

4) What is your blood-type? 

I'm O-, the universal donor. (Gawd, I hate it when people try and tell me it's O+, like a bunch of dinguses.)

5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?

My husband. We'd probably laugh our asses off the whole time. As long as I had my medicine with me, anyway...

6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you? 

That I'm sane. Oh. Wait. No, no, they didn't.

7) How do you feel about carrots?

I suppose they'd do in a pinch, but I prefer my husband.

8) How many chairs at the dining room table?

Right now, we are still using our card table, and we have four chairs set up because I rarely eat with the family. I'm sorry, but watching people eat after I finish in two bites is not my cup of tea.

9) Which is the best Spice Girl? 

No.

10) Do you know what time it is? 

Pretty sure I learned to tell digital time about 30-some-odd years ago, yes. It's 0144.

11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince theme song? 

I know about 90% of them!

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? 

C'mon, you know I would freak the fuck out after about 2½ seconds.

13) What’s your favorite kind of gum? 

Something fruity. Anything but watermelon, though. Or grape. Yuck.

14) All’s fair in love and war?

I have no response to that. It's not even a real question.

15) Do you have a crush on anyone?

I'm crushing on Hubs at the moment. We had a scintillating conversation the other day and... wait. That's not so unusual for us. ♥

16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning?

Hmm. I don't entirely see how that's truly possible.

17) Do you like to sleep? 

I love to sleep. I wish I did it more regularly.

18) Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings time?

I know Arizona doesn't. I'm not sure if any others don't.

19) Do you know the words to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart? 

Hey, only one "do you know all the words to this song" question per meme, s'il vous plaît.

20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang?

Red cars go faster. I want a convertible Smart For Two. So cute!

That was short and sweet. Back to work for moi. 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing Double Play: Triple Threat & Mixed Bag Memes

Linkage is here if you want to read answers better than mine! ;)

Sunday Stealing: The Triple Threat Meme

Three names you go by, other than your given name:

Smellyann, its predecessor Mellie-Ann, and Mom

Three screen names you've had: 

Dillaboo, Smellyann, and my real, full name, which was an accident and became a big joke amongst my friends...

Three things you like about yourself: 

I'm creative, I'm intelligent, and I'm freakin' hilarious.

Three things you don't like about yourself: 

Being bipolar, being too self-indulgent, and being too shy/mousy with new people & situations
 
Three parts of your heritage: 

I'm roughly 2/3 German/Pennsylvania Dutch, 1/6 Hungarian, & 1/6 English.
 
Three things you are wearing right now: 

A purple bandana to cover my slightly-more-than-stubbly head, now, a striped long-sleeve t-shirt, and tight gray pants that I can't stand to wear because I hate the feel of them against my skin.

Three favorite bands/musical artists: 

Eric Clapton, Jewel (the old stuff), and, um,... Kelly Clarkson. Yeah, I love that kid.
 
Three favorite songs: 

Okay, we'll go with ones by each of the above: "Tears in Heaven," "The Morning Song," and "My Life Would Suck Without You"
 
Three things you want in a relationship: 

Total honesty, scintillating conversation, and tons of laughs
 
Three things about the preferred sex that appeal to you:  

Muscular arms, eyes that crinkle when he smiles, and a sharp wit (SCORE!)

Three of your favorite hobbies: 

Knitting, paper-crafting, and, duh, this blahg

Three things that scare you: 

Losing another child, speaking in public, and leaving my children without a mother like I was

Three of your everyday essentials:  

 Diet Coke, Internet, & my children's laughter

Three places you want to go on vacation: 

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Japan, and Hawai'i
 
Three careers you have considered/are considering: 

Family court judge, marine biology (check!), and teacher (check!)
 
Three things you want to do before you die:  

See the whole world, go to a gay bar, and visit Times Square for New Year's Eve, brrrr

Three things you want to do really badly right now: 

Clean up this house, sell the old house, and move to California!

********

 Sunday Stealing: The Mixed Bag Meme

1. How many songs are in your library?

Ugh. I lost my entire library when my computer crashed. I've got, like, five albums' worth now. Boo.

2. Do you like Christmas music? 

Yes, but only for a week or two. Then I am so over it!

3. What magazines do you have subscriptions to?

I get so many free mag subscriptions, it's ridiculous. I have everything from People to Forbes, Martha Stewart Living to U.S. News & World Report, Essence to Latina (though I'm neither black nor Hispanic!)... and sooo many more.

4. What is your favorite scent?

Citrus smells - lemons, limes, and oranges, are my favorites.

5. Do you give money to charity?

Sometimes.

6. What is your theme song?

"Crazy," by Gnarls Barkley - it's my ringtone for my therapist, which I find very amusing, and so does she!

7. What's in your wallet?

I don't really carry a wallet so much as wear a little satchel, so I'll tell you what's in that instead: spare coinage, cards of the debit, ID, insurance and voter varieties, cash when I have it (two bucks right now), my kids' gift certificates to Build-a-Bear Workshop right now, a small gold business card holder with a few of my cards in it, and occasionally, I'll stuff my iPhone and lip balm in there. 

8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?

Most anyone who knows me - even a little bit - will tell you it's the latter, unfortunately. Sometimes it's served me well, though. 

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

You mean like our finances being in the shitter?? That's about it.

10. Do you have a good body-image?

How could I? I don't have a good body. :/ 

11. How are you spending your holidays?

At home with my family, as per our usual. I like it just that way.

12. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?

Getting rid of as much stuff as possible, in preparation for our cross-country move and an expected down-sizing of our abode!

13. Tell us a secret?

It's not a really a secret - I have few of those, y'know - but in grad school (and now, on Facebook), a girl whose father helped develop Universal Product Codes (UPCs) and their scanners was my pal. 

14. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?

Thanks to my girl-crushing 11-year-old daughter, "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift. Hey, it's catchy. At least it's not Justin Bieber. 

15. What’s your favorite item of clothing?

I don't really pick favorites like that. I'm an equal-opportunity everything. I love that I can fit into lots of my very-skinny hubby's clothes now, but I'm the type of girl who gives preferential treatment to my left hand as much as possible, because I feel guilty when I don't use it as much as my right. Yeah. Can you say "OCD"? 

16. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?

They're okay, but my cereal days are pretty much over now, thanks to my cranky pouch.

17. Is Santa real?

I'd like to be my usual rose-colored glasses self and be all, yeah, the magic, blah blah, but no. No. I told my children the truth about Santa long ago, when they were still quite young. (Not because I wanted to dash their sweet Christmas dreams; rather, they were quite disrespectful of the things we worked hard to provide for them, and I wanted them to develop a respect for their property - and ours - by knowing from whence they really came.) 

18. What should you be doing right now?

Knitting, and now I shall do just that.

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Deleted Meme

Link up here if you wanna be a thief today, too!

Sunday Stealing: The Deleted Meme  

1. Who is your favorite artist (any field)?

Definitely Romero Britto. We have a couple two-three of his pieces, both fine art and functional art. I ♥ him excessively. Have you hard of him before this?

2. Describe yourself.

If that picture doesn't sum it up, which I think it does quite well: warped, wacky, wild, and wonderful.

3. How do you feel today?

I had a few rough days toward the end of last week, but right now, right this very minute, I'm doing quite okay. I'm grateful for that.

4. Describe the area where you currently live.

I don't want to say it's the ghetto, but... it's the ghetto. Our old 'hood was much, uh, less so. Wah. Hopefully wherever we end up in San Diego will be a step back in the right direction for us, especially as far as safety is concerned. Bah.

5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Is "everywhere" an option? Then that's my answer. (If not, then my first stop would be the Great Barrier Reef. Ohh.... one day.)

6. What is your favorite form of transportation?

Of all the modes of transportation I love, I would have to say walking is my favourite. Given the number of people I know who can't do it, or do it with extreme difficulty, including myself before I lost my weight, I consider myself very fortunate to have this ability. Now, running, pah! Well, I might take it up in 2013, but we'll see. I said that a year ago or so, too...

7. Your best friend is:

Hubs is my very, very besty-best friend. I'm so blessed.

8. You and your best friends are:

... in other words, kindred spirits. I have a lot of pals, chums, buds, whatever, but my very bestest-best friends are few and fantastic.

9. What's the weather like?

At least, that's what it is in my imagination at the mo'. Truthfully, it's almost 0330, probably pretty frosty outside, and I have no idea what daytime will bring. Are we in San Diego yet?!

10. What's your favorite time of day?

Even when he's in a seriously grumpy mood from work, it's that moment when Hubs walks in the door. ♥

11. If your life was a TV show, what would it be called?

But, it's been done. Ah, well.

12. What is life to you?

The biologist in me is laughing at this question, but the "human" me has a harder time answering. Making people. Making good people. Making happy good people. You get the point.

13. Your relationship:

Was there something you wanted to ask me?

14. Your fear:

Been there, definitely do not want to go there again... and please don't say anything about Connecticut. I can NOT handle it. Sorry. Weak, I know.

15. What is the best advice you have to give?

That sounds pretty good. I'll go with that one.

16. Thought for the Day:

Ah, remember those? Anyway, my position is generally, "As long as it's funny, it's okay." However, I do not tolerate racism and most -isms, so there are exceptions. That's not really a "thought for the day" type of answer, is it? Ah, fuck it, I really don't care right now. LOL!

17. How would you categorize your soul's present condition:

My soul is good, thanks for asking.

☼

Have an abfab week, peeps!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: The Meme Of Today

Since I mis-named yesterday's Saturday 9 (DER!!!), I'll do that to today's as well. I like things in even numbers, see. Anyway, link up here, yadda yadda.

1. What is your favorite possession?

Um, assuming I'm not allowed to possess my peoples, uh... I am going to shock all of you by NOT saying yarn and saying, instead, my rings of the engagement and wedding varieties.

 2. Do you like to read? If so, which books do you love best? 

Do I like to read? What kind of stupid question is that?! Don't you know me?! Oh, right. You may not. Anyway, I've been reading since the age of three, and I do not believe I have stopped, since. I even read in my sleep. I prefer fiction to nonfiction, and I prefer there to be no sci-fi in my choices, although I do like Michael Crichton's works, so hmm.

3. Do you have any pets?

Currently, six cats reside with us. Two singletons, who fight for status, two twins who are known as "the tweens," and two twin kittens who are the first male felines I've known well. Ask me again when we reside in San Diego a few months down the road...

4. What was your favorite food as a child? Is it the same now?

Probably pizza, and yes, though the toppings have changed from the more crittery variety to piña and feta.

5. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

For the most part, I don't have to filter my thoughts, and I can just get OUT the things that I mightn't be able to say elsewhere. And if I DO filter them, I can just not publish the post, though I've done that exactly nonce.

6. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

I don't know. I haven't been everywhere yet. I was going to say "Heaven," but since I'm sort of extremely bipolar, I didn't want my constantly-on-suicide-watch friends to be concerned.

7. What is your favorite number?

It's been 64 for as long as I've known about the concept of numbers.

8. Which of these things would you find hardest to give up for a year? Chocolate, reading, coffee or smoking?

I don't smoke and abhor the practice, so that's a non-issue. Coffee would be the easiest. Hm. I guess I would have to say ... eeeee this is a hard choice, but chocolate. Never stop learning, that's my policy, after all!

9. If you could make your life into a movie, what would you name it, and who would you want to play you?

I would want Parker Posey to capture my essence, because she would, and I would name it, um, Fuck, that was hard. And if you can find more than one way to read into that title, then you probably get it.

10. If you had £20,000  for a shopping spree, what would you buy?

After a few souvies, since I don't live where the currency is poundage, there would be yarn of the local sort, foods (read: chocolate) of the local sort, and something ridiculously weird of the local sort. I'd know it when I saw it.

11. If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be?

Barack Obama, and if his wife walked in to join us, it would be icing on a very delicious cake!

☼

Commence commenting. I love that part. (Except you, spammers. You can rot.)

Fin.