MelaniePenelope

Sunday Stealing: Swiped Meme

 

Link up here if you're swiping today!

Swiped Meme

Stolen from: Get It All Down

Do you need to write down things to remember them?

 

Abso-freaking-lutely! If it doesn't get written down, it doesn't get done.

Do you keep a diary/journal?

You're looking at it, Sweetheart!

Are you scared of thunderstorms?

Not since I was about six. Now, I love them. Unless the power goes out for six days. That, not a fan.

Do you have any unusual fears or phobias?

 

You're looking at my absolute worst nightmare. If mustard touches me, If freak out. If it were all over me, like this, ohhhh hell naw.

Whats your favourite Disney movie?

 

Finding Nemo, of course! And yes, I did just go to Kohl's and get a Dory stuffy for my bed, because like I recently mentioned, she is so me! And she shall be my squishy.

Have you ever painted a house?

 

The outside? No. But I had painted the interior walls of our Virginia Beach house every color of the rainbow. Except puce and chartreuse. It's driving me insane living in a box with white walls right now, y'all.

What's the tallest tree you've ever climbed?

I used to climb the tree in our front yard in Monroe, NY, until we moved when I was six. At the time, it seemed huge... now, I'm not so sure it was much bigger than a stick. Who knows?

Do you always wear identical socks?

 

Dudes. I can count on zero fingers the number of times I've worn socks at all in the past year. I live for being barefoot!

Do you live by any motto or philosophy?

 

My motto has long been: "If you want something done right the first time, you've got to do it yourself." 

Do you lick the yogurt or dessert lid?

 

Of course! Isn't that the best part?!

Do you lick the spoon clean after making something sweet?

Before children, of course. After children, I have to divvy up the spoon, the beater, and the bowl amongst the three of them!

Have you ever played the bongos?

 

On Halloween 2000, the night before we "met" online, Hubs went as a bongo-playing beatnik to a costume party. We still have those bongos. I, of course, have played them (however badly) on numerous occasions. They are now adorned with artwork from our youngest child, Sophia, who has came out of the womb wielding crayons...

Have you ever handled a snake?

 

When my sister was 16, she was emancipated, and she lived with her future husband - and Jade, a Florida King snake. I used to hold Jade and let her wriggle and writhe all over me. I was 15 and probably held her until I graduated at 17. I don't think I've held a snake since then...

Have you ever assembled furniture by yourself?

I have, even IKEA furniture. When Hubs was in the hospital one of the first times with his brain tumor, we had the kids up in Fort Lauderdale with friends for the extended visit. One night, I went all gung-ho and built the girls' dressers myself. It took ALL night, but I got it done. Woot!

When did you last go to the beach?

I was in Key West on Wednesday with the family. All Sophia (our artistic youngest child) wanted to do was wade in the water. We ate dinner - and yes, I had a rather large and delicious piña colada - shopped for towels since we hadn't brought any, and walked around endlessly to look for our cars after NOT wading in the water. I think she is still holding a grudge. We'll go back to Key West in the next week or two. Need anything? Gal??

When if ever did you last go to London?

 

The last time I was in London was in a previous life, I guess. It's still sitting on my bucket list. I'll get there. Ain't dead yet!

What do you do to cool down when it's hot?

 

Listen. I'm probably the only idiot in Miami who needs a heating pad. Too hot? You must be crazy. (My gastric bypass surgery took away my ability to regulate my body temperature. It's a curse my family must live with. MWAHAHAHA...)

What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?

Probably sea urchin sushi, which I highly do NOT recommend. I nearly barfed.

Do you have a favorite mug?

 

This is my mug, and I love it. Meh.

Do you know any self-defense or martial arts?

Not really. When we were in high school, we learned the bare minimum of self-defense, which consisted of "Grab, Twist and Pull" the testicles of any male attacker. That's pretty much all I got out of it, anyway. I've never used it...

Who's your favorite movie action hero?

 

Lately it's Iron Man. I'm not really an action movie type of girl, but let's face it: Robert Downey, Jr. is HOT.

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle?

 

I've ridden on the back of the bike with my uncle (scary on purpose) and my husband (scary NOT on purpose). I'm not a huge fan of either, but I'm too chicken to learn to drive one myself.

Do you collect anything?

 

I collect shot glasses. I just had to buy my third case. And yes, I have actually used a few of them, once or twice...

Is there anything you wish would come back into fashion?

 

I don't know or care much about fashion. I wear what I like.

Do you stick to conventional fashions or like to try and be original?

 

Like I just said... I wear what I like. Haters be damned. :P 

Have you ever given someone a handmade present?

I have. Sometimes you win some, sometimes you don't. Meh.

If you could have any feature from an animal what would you want?

 

 

Wings. I want freakin' wings. I want to fly. Someday... if it's the last thing I do...! ;)

 

Thanks for stopping by, y'all.

 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: California Nights

LINK UP HERE if you're playing along today!

Saturday 9: California Nights (1967)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Lesley Gore premiered this song on an episode of Batman. She played Pussycat, the protegee of Catwoman. (That explains her outfit in the video.) How many of Batman's nemeses can you name?

Probably not many: The Joker... uh... yeah. That's all I know.

2) At least five actors have played The Caped Crusader already (Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale) and Ben Affleck will play him in 2016's Batman vs. Superman. Who is your favorite Batman? (If any Batmen were inadvertently omitted, Sam apologizes.)

Michael Keaton, definitely. I don't think I've seen any of the others. I think Affleck got a bad rap for being chosen as the latest incarnation. He'll do well.

3) Unlike most superheroes, Batman doesn't have any superpowers. This Saturday, you're more fortunate. We're bestowing any superpower on you that you want. Which would you like?

That's an easy one: I want to fly. I want to soar, high and low, above land and sea. I'm always dreaming that I can.

4) Though she's singing of warm California nights, Lesley Gore was a New Yorker, born in Brooklyn and, in February of this year, dying in Manhattan. Which coast have you spent more time on, the West Coast or the East Coast?

I'm definitely and East Coast girl. I've been on the West Coast a handful of times, but it just doesn't feel right to me.

5) Not many people know that while she was making records, Lesley was also a student at Sarah Lawrence and graduated with her BA in 1968. What's something we would be surprised to know about you?

Probably nothing; I'm a fairly open book. Let's see... Knowing how vehemently anti-smoking I am, maybe it would surprise y'all to know that I have tried it two or three times. (I couldn't light it, didn't inhale properly, and generally sucked at it. This was not a disappointment.)

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, the best selling new camera in the United States was the new Polaroid Swinger. Think about the most recent photo you took. Did you use a camera, a tablet, or a phone?

I used my Nikon D5100 DSLR to take a picture of pizza. Yes, pizza. **Groan** It was for a mystery shop, though, so I had to do it. I'm going to do a photo shoot with the kids tonight during Magic Hour, though.

7) The big fashion trend of 1967 was bright tights, in shades like Hot Pink, Shock Orange and Grass Green. Tell us about something you wore when it was trendy but now you look back and think, "Oh, God, that was awful!"

Hammer pants. You know, like MC Hammer? And I wore them in neon orange, pink, black, and green. All in one pair. My sister had them, too. We matched. It was (not) awesome.

8) In 1967, drivers complained about "gas wars." The price  was unpredictable and would rise and fall, day by day, as much as 30¢ per gallon. How much does it cost you to fill up your tank today?

I think it's about $2.67 down the road. I'm hoping it comes down a bit soon, but that's acceptable. Ish.

9) Random question: Are there dishes in your kitchen sink right now?

Always. Perpetually. Hey, I have three tween/teen-aged kids, three cats, a puppy, and a disabled husband. Pretty much if I don't do it, or demand it gets done, there they sit and wait!

Thanks for stopping by!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Very Much Questions Meme

Link up here if you're playing along today!

Very Much Questions Meme

Stolen from: Lots of Questions

 

1. What was the last clothing item that you bought? 

I bought this exact strappy-back push-up bra from Victoria's Secret, in cherry red, and I wore it today. I guaran-damn-tee you that it looks better on the model. ;)

 2. If you could stay one age forever, what age would you choose? 

So I'm not in the 40s club yet, but definitely 21. It was a great vintage for me.

3. When you say “lol”, are you really laughing? 

I'm a giggler. Maybe I'm not LOL'ing on the outside, but I'm definitely chuckling inwardly.

4. What is the most interesting thing you've done in the past year? 

In the last year? Probably my 20th high school reunion. It was great big fun. But 36 hours ago, I was petting a rare Red Ruffed Lemur, which is a felony to do anywhere else in the world but where I was doing it. Stay tuned for that post, up later in "Sundays in my City"!

5. If you started a business, what would it be? 

Hubs and I have teased the idea of opening a his'n'hers fishing and knitting shop, to feed both our interests. Pipe dream, but a fun (albeit weird) idea!

6. Do your friends/family/coworkers know about your blog? 

Everyone who knows me knows I blahg. Ain't nothin' but a thing.

7. How long does it take you to write an average blog post? 

 

You know, I really don't time it, usually. One of my many shortcomings.

8. How do you keep up with the blogs you follow? 

I still miss Google Reader (sad face), but I use Bloglovin' now.

9. What is your bedtime? 

Bedtime? Whenever I'm tired.

10. Introvert or extrovert? 

Introvert. Totally.

11. What is your biggest wish? 

I wish Hubs would get better. Wish I may, wish I might...

12. What is the best job you ever had? 

Mommy! Best job EVAARRRR! ;)

13. Dog person/cat person/both/neither? 

I love all the aminals. All of 'em!

14. If you had $1,000 to spend any way you wanted, what would you do with it? 

I'd pay a housekeeper to come in and clean my house spit-spot, and then I'd get the washer fixed. And the dryer. And the stove. And the freakin' dishwasher! Yes. I think our abode is staging a coup.

15. How do you “dress” your toast? 

I eat a lot of eggs, which means I eat a lot of toast. (Okay, so it's not an automatic thing, but that's the way I eat my dang eggs.) I prefer to butter my toast in Kerrygold, salted of course, though I cook the eggs in EVOO. I have my egg-and-toast system down to a science. I'm a touch neurotic about it.

16. How do you feel about snow? 

 

Listen, I grew up in Syracuse, New York. I did plenty of time with the snow. It's partly the reason I came to Miami. NO. MORE. SNOW.

17. What was the worst job you ever had?

I haven't really had any terrible jobs, but probably working at the gas station, briefly, was the suckiest. I was always waiting to get robbed...

18. What song can you not stop listening to? 

Right now? "Uptown Funk" is not growing old on me, though they play it OVER and OVER...

19. Love your name or hate it? 

I didn't when I was a kid, but I love it now. I just wish my middle name was Penelope!

20. How did you choose your blog/twitter handle?

It's a childhood nickname. I kept it. I'll tell you that story if you haven't heard it the first 100 times I've told it here. ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Fin.

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Saturday 9: Battle Hymn Of The Republic

Saturday 9: Battle Hymn Of The Republic

Link up here if you're playing along this week!

Saturday 9: Battle Hymn of the Republic

(From the archives) 

Memorial Day was introduced to honor the men and women who died while serving the in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not forgotten this weekend.
 

1) This recording was made live at St. Patrick's Cathedral, during Senator Robert F. Kennedy's funeral. (Hear it here.) While both of Bobby's older brothers were decorated war heroes, he served too - enlisting in the Navy in 1943. Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.)

 

 

This is then-AN Robert Odette, now retired PR1 Odette, in his first year in the United States Navy 22 years ago. I'm super-proud of the guy I married, not only for his epic contributions to our family, but for his service to our country. Thankfully, he is not being memorialized this weekend, as he's sitting behind me eating some potato chips!

 

Additionally, my grandfather served in the Navy in WWII. Several other family members on both sides of the marital bond are Navy vets, and my dad was a Coastie. I have not personally served.

  
2) Memorial Day also kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? 

 

Hmm. Pre-vegetarianism, I would have had to say Fried Chicken! Post-veg, I'll say potato salad. I like the red, skin-on kind best.

  
3) Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

 

 

 

This is what my Grandpa wore. The scent of it brings me back to the their condo in New Jersey in the 80s. Ahhh... those were the days.

  
4) When was the last time you had your hair cut or trimmed?

 

I trimmed my own bangs this past week (shhh! don't tell my stylist sister), but about a week ago or three, I had it professionally cut.

  
5) Crazy Sam runs on Dunkin'. Are you loyal to a particular brand of coffee?

 

 

At home, I'll brew whatever K-cups I can get a good deal on - except Seattle's Best, because I'm NOT a fan - but if I got out for coffee, it's gonna be Starbucks. Yep. I don't go but once or twice a month, but when I do, it's gonna be a Java Chip Frappuccino Light, no whip, with coconut milk. Mmm-mmm, delish!

 
6) If money was no object, what home improvement would you like to make this summer? 

 

Buying one. Here in Miami. Specifically, since money is no object, I'd like one with 4+ bedrooms, 2½+ bathrooms, a large decked-out kitchen, and a sizable in-ground pool in the fenced-in backyard. With room on the patio for an immense grill, picnic table and benches, and lounge chairs. I'm not dreaming, much.

7) What was the last thing you bought purely for your own enjoyment?

 

Since you asked, a cherry red Victoria's Secret push-up bra, for my sad little ladies. ;) I'd show you a picture, but (a) I'm not brave enough to post a selfie of that and (b) I'm not secure enough to look at the models wearing it for longer than it takes to order it. Ha!

 

8) When was the last time you rode a bike?

 

Too long. My bike is sitting, locked up, on the front patio, waiting for me to hop aboard. I'm waiting for Hubs to install the basket on it, so I can look adorable while I'm tooling around, running errands. What?

 
9) Sam worries that many of her song selections reflect her decidedly Baby Boomer sensibilities. Is there a song or a performer that you'd like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer?

 

Oh, yes, lots of suggestions come to mind. I'm crushing right now on Björk's "I Miss You," Brandon Flowers' new album, and anything by Nickel Creek. Check it out!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Fin.

Throwback Thursday: Kiwi Crates #TBT

A long time ago, maybe five or six years, we received our first Kiwi Crate for the kiddos.

Sorry for the mess, but you know what? It's always a mess in Casa de Odette, so I guess I can't apologize forever...

Anyway, the Crates were a HUGE hit, and now I'm super excited that they have Tinker Crates (for Jack's type of kid) and Doodle Crates (for Sophia's) for the older crowd, too!

This morning, Sophia woke up to discover her latest Doodle Crate was here! It took approximately 15 seconds for her to rush over, pick up the box, and open it. That's just a little excitement right there, folks!

This month's theme was Terrarium, and wow! I thought Sophia did a beautiful job setting hers up. She thoroughly enjoyed this activity. I can't wait to see how it grows and develops!

Also in the kit, she even got to make a clay "Jellyfish" with plant tentacles. So cute! I forget where she said she was hanging it up, but I'm sure she already has... 

Thanks again, Kiwi Crate, for another wonderful kit! Stay tuned for more on Jack's upcoming Tinker Crate in the next few days! ;)

Fin.

 

Wordless Wednesday: Magic Hour Shoot

Link up HERE with 5 Minutes for Mom if you're Wordless today!

The other morning, we took advantage of Magic Hour, that sunrise/sunset time when all [the lighting] is right in the photography world. Chloë needed new photos for her acting profile, and the timing was right. Here are a few of the photos we took.

The last one was just for fun. The first two were what I submitted to her actors' profile. Did I choose right? 

Thanks for stopping by!

Fin.

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Sunday Stealing: Another Random Meme

 

Link up here, Turtledove, if you're completely awesome and stuff!

RaNdOm Meme

Stolen from: Lots of Questions

1. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as? 

Maybe I'd go in this little number from Halloween 2012, since I still have it in my closet... ;)

2. What are your choice of toppings on a hamburger? 

Nope. No cowburgers for me. On my veggie burger, I'll take some wilted cheese and sautéed onions. That's good for me!

3. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask? 

Hmm. I'd ask, what up with not making better strides for the Environment and our bass-ackward Education system, Dude?!

4. It’s your first day of vacation, what are you doing? 

Hmm. Since I live pretty much at the beach, maybe I'd go to ... the beach! Haha! Hey, man, love the freakin' ocean, what can I say? But if I'm traveling not near a beach, then definitely exploring off the beaten path, where the locals go and not the tourists.

5. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies? 

A super-dooper-extra-large Diet Coke. Anything else is optional.

6. Which do you dislike more: pop-up ads or spam email? 

My Yahoo email spam filter works pretty well, but so does my pop-up blocker, so... I guess pop-ups. Neither one is a major irritant in my life, though.

7. What do you think Captain Hook’s name was before he had a hook for a hand? 

Eek!! Hmm... Bartholomew. That's my guess.

8. Rock, paper, or scissors? 

What's wrong with Lizard and Spock? I'd choose Lizard, in that case.

9. Let's say a brick fell on your foot, and your kid is standing right next to you, what is your 'cleaned up’ swear word? 

Honey, I'm not of those awesome mommies who doesn't swear in front of the kids. I don't hit them, either, or neglect or otherwise abuse them. So if you think it's bad to swear in front of your kids, and yet you're a smoker (around kids) or do other things that damage or harm them, well, then, fuck you! ;)

10. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet? 

Too quiet is bad for me. It is actually quite maddening, in fact.

11. What is one quality that you really appreciate in a person? 

I think Loyalty is the one that endears you to me the absolute most.

12. At the good old general store, what particular kind of candy would you expect to be in the big jar at the counter? 

Wax Coke Bottles... but you can actually still get these. I've bought them here in Miami, actually!

13. What is the most distinguishing landmark in your city? 

I would have to say it's the Art Deco district in Miami's South Beach. Trés cool!

14. Everyone hears discussions that they consider boring. What topic can put you to sleep quicker than any other? 

Anything related to finances. Economics. Snoozefest!

15. How many times did it take you to pass your drivers test? 

My dad was shocked I didn't fail, but I didn't! Take that, mofo!

16. If you had to have the same topping on your vanilla ice cream for the rest of your life, what topping would you choose? 

Peanut Butter Sundaes are THE best thing that ever happened to vanilla ice cream, y'all. YUMMO!

17. What food item would need to be removed from the market altogether in order for you to live a healthier, longer life? 

Without question, it's the Coca Dieta. That shit's gonna kill me one day.

18. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second? 

With my luck? I'll keep the fitty bucks.

19. If you had to choose, which would you give up: cable TV, or DSL/cable internet? 

I can and have lived without TV. The internet, perish the thought!!! :O

20. What is your highest level of education? 

I worked on my Ph.D. in the ecological and functional morphology of the feeding mechanism of elasmobranch fishes for two years. I was taking a break from it when I married Rob. 17 or so days later, we found out I was pregnant with Chloë Raine. I have never gone back.

21. How much is a gallon of gas in your city? What was the highest it’s been? 

It's about $2.60/gallon where I fill up. It's been lower, but it's been much, much higher. So I'm good.

22. What kind of lunch box did you have as a kid? 

I had a red Snoopy and Woodstock lunchbox, much like this one. Loved that thing!

23. What would you rather have, a nanny, a housekeeper, a cook, or a chauffeur? 

I have this exact sign hanging up in my house. Take a guess!

24. Would you rather be trapped in an elevator, or stuck in traffic?

I would MUCH rather be stuck in traffic. As annoying as that is, it doesn't freak me the f--- out!!!

And yes, I realize I didn't need to bleep that out after swearing previously in this post. Oh, well.

Thanks for being here!

Fin.

Saturday 9: No Myth

It's still Saturday, technically, so this counts, eh? LINK UP HERE if you're playing along this weekend!

Saturday 9: No Myth (1989)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The girl in this song is "just looking for someone to dance with." Who was your most recent dance partner?

My girls, Sophia and Chloë, since Hubs definitely won't dance with me. And the rare time he does, I stop him. It's no bueno, dudes.

2) Michael Penn wonders if he'd do better with the ladies if he was Romeo or Heathcliff. What fictional character represents your romantic ideal?

Hmm... Maybe Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre. Someone who loves me despite my faults, real or imagined (by me).

3) The lyrics refer to "knots I have yet to untie." Do the shoes you're wearing have laces?

First off, I'm barefoot. Second, I wear shoes with laces maybe twice a year. I usually wear Crocs, either my flip-flops or wedge sandals or even my Crocs heels! I live in Crocs. Don't hate; they've actually gotten pretty stylin'.

4) Name a character from mythology.

Odysseus a.k.a. Ulysses, depending on whether you prefer your Greeks or your Romans. Of course, there are plenty of other brands of mythology, but those are the ones I know best. 

5) Michael Penn is the brother of Oscar winner Sean Penn. Give us the title of a Sean Penn movie.

I Am Sam, probably my favorite S. Penn flick.

6) Their father, Leo Penn, was a busy TV director from the 1960s through the 1990s. He specialized in detective shows (Magnum PI and Cannon) and medical shows (Trapper John and Marcus Welby, MD). Are you more likely to watch a program with lots of car chases, or one that's set in a hospital?

Probably the hospital kind, though I pretty much only watch This is Jeopardy! every weeknight, and The Big Bang Theory on Thursday nights. Just can't drag my ass to the couch to watch telly.

7) 1989, the year "No Myth" was popular, is the year of the first HDTV broadcast. Do you watch many shows in "high def?"

I'm not even sure, you know? Maybe not? Our new TV is, I think,  HD, but yeah, I really don't know.

8) 1989 was also the year The Simpsons premiered. Who is your all-time favorite animated character?

Dory from the Disney movie, Finding Nemo, because she is SOOOO me!!!

9) Random fill-in the blank: If I never had to ______________ again, it would be too soon.

...smell my husband's baked beans farts... (he just ate a TON of them and OH MY GOD!!!!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Fin.

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Public baked bean supper at Thorndike church

Finding Dory - A Quest to Locate This Happy Fish's Family

Friday Fragments: Episode 5.15.15

 

 

Bits and pieces,

Pieces and bits,

LINK UP HERE

so I don't have a fit.

 

(It's better than rhyming "tits," isn't? My mind is in the gutter tonight - okay, always - and that was my first inclination...)

 

☼

 

 

 I used to own the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack CD way back in the day, even before I'd seen the movie. I loved every single song on it, and then it was stolen from me. Man! That sucked. But I found the complete album on YouTube, and now I am again obsessed with it.

 

Faith Evans' "Kissing You" is on right now, and I just love it. ::SWOON::

 

☼

 

 

This guy has been inpatient in the VA Hospital for the past week, ever since I posted the last Friday Fragments episode. I miss him like crazy! He should be coming home today, God willing, and I can't wait! It's too often, too long, too damned much lately.

 

☼

 

 

Still no Miranda. It's probably going to take some doing to get her back, but I'm hoping it will be the beginning of June. So a couple more weeks. In the meantime, my amazing friend Shontell has been letting me borrow her car to get groceries and do a few necessary errands, and I love her for it. Thanks, girly-girl!

 

☼

 

 

The length of my to-do list is, once again and lately constantly, inversely proportional to the strength of my motivation to get things done. Sucks. I really, really need to get some energy. Maybe it's time for another iron infusion and/or Vitamin B12 injections?! :/

 

☼

 

 

 

Pitch Perfect 2 comes out today! I'm stoked, the girls are stoked, and Jack couldn't care less. Regardless, if Rob doesn't come home, I'm dragging his butt with us to go see it. I have four free tickets to see this flick, and I intend to go! Prontissimo! I know it'll be good for a much-needed laugh.

 

☼

 

That's it for me this week! Relatively short and sweet.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Fin.

 

Related articles

Sundays In My City: Chihuly At Fairchild, A Garden Of Glass

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Wordless Wednesday: Because She's Still Awesome

Björk. 'Nuff said.

Link up here if you're Wordless today!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: CAPS LOCK MEME

 

Link up here if you're stealing this Sunday, too! And, really? A CAPSLOCK meme? I refuse to shout this whole meme, so forgive me for taming it down a smidge!

CAPS LOCK Meme

 

Stolen from: VERY MUCH QUESTIONS

1. YOU HAVE 10 BUCKS AND NEED TO BUY SNACKS AT A GAS STATION. WHAT DO YOU GET? 

I'd fill up my giant keg full of Diet Coke at the fountain for 99¢, get four two-for-$3 bottles of Gatorade for the rest of Team Odette (and yes, we do call them by their colors, LOL). That takes care of $7. With the other $3, I would buy two 49¢ string cheeses for me, and a big $2 bag of chips for everyone else. And yes, I have done exactly this in the past; what makes you ask? ;)

2. IF YOU WERE REINCARNATED, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE? 

I would rather be a rock. An unfeeling, uncaring, unworried, unstressed, unpained rock. Is that a possibility? Sign me up for that, por favor.

3. WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE REDHEAD? 

 

Me!! Okay, okay, I'm guessing you meant natural redhead. I'll go with my sweet, smart, talented ginger niece, Hanna Leigh. 

And my favorite redhead whom I don't know but who is my boyfriend anyway? Ed Sheeran!!! ♥

4. WHAT DO YOU ORDER WHEN YOU’RE AT AN IHOP OR OTHER BREAKFAST PLACE? 

This ^^^ is true. I can't make an omelet to save my life. I do get them when I go to IHOP, though. I like them with some kind of greens (spinach, usually), some kind of cheese (feta, maybe), and sautéed onions. Yummy!

At Waffle House, I'll get my hash browns scattered, smothered, and covered. Great, now I want to go down to Key Largo (our nearest Waffle House location) and get a plateful!

5. LAST BOOK YOU READ? 

I actually just started Black Boy by Richard Wright. I'm not far into it enough to comment. We'll see!

6. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? 

We watched a few movies yesterday, but tonight the girls are watching Monster High: Haunted, and then the three of them are watching some puppy movie, and then, finally, I get to see the first Pitch Perfect. I've been dying to see it forever!

7. DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF UNDERWEAR. 

They're definitely not a thong, I'll tell you that. My butt does not like Der Thongs. Nope nope nope!

8. DESCRIBE THE LAST TIME YOU WERE INJURED. 

I don't know. I am a klutzy, clumsy girl, and I just don't have the brain cells to remember every injury I incur!

One time, when I was in college, we were doing a soil survey in the anoxic muck of a mangrove tree forest. Walking out of the mangroves toward shore, we had to step carefully on the sturdier prop roots. Well, of course graceful Smellyann took a misstep, and my leg slid down between a thick cluster of prop roots, cutting my entire leg up from ankle to knee. It was a horribly ugly boo-boo. People kept asking me WTF I did to myself. Since most of them knew I was studying shark biology, I said I'd gotten attacked by one. More often than not, they believed me! I still find this hilarious.

Did I ever tell you about the time I tripped over the dead dolphin in the freezer? Ah, another day...

9. IF YOU COULD INVENT ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Um, EWW?

I would invent a self-cleaning house. And then live in it.

10. ROCK CONCERT OR SYMPHONY? 

It depends on who is playing, but probably the symphony these days. I don't know, I'm game for either one. You buyin'?

11. WHAT IS THE WALLPAPER ON YOUR CELLPHONE? 

I haven't changed it in ages. It's just a droplet of water. Cool, but I need something new.

12. FAVORITE SODA? 

Diet Coke, sighhhhh...

13. FLAVOR OF PUDDING? 

Tapioca! It reminds me of my mom; she used to make it for me.

14. WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE A PEDICURE OR A MANICURE? 

Nope. I'd rather go for the massage and do my own nails!

15. ANY BUTTONS OR BLINKIES IN YOUR SIDEBAR? 

I don't even know. I think I have a few, but I'm not sure what they are.

16. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON YOUR BLOGROLL?

 Don't know, don't care. I just added a few the other day. Sometimes I feel like I'm the last person in the blogosphere to discover a popular one. Makes me feel like stupeed.

17. WHAT’S THE LAST PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU BOUGHT?

 

Well, it wasn't this dress, I can tell ya that much!

I ordered a bunch of clothes for the kids on ThredUp and saved 95% off a bunch of great clothes. I love this site!

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Harper Valley PTA

Link up here if you're playing along this weekend!

Saturday 9: Harper Valley PTA (1968)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's featured artist uses her middle initial (C. for Carolyn) all the time. Do you use your middle initial very often? 

 

I used to, for a long time, but I stopped when a "friend" started teasing me endlessly about it. Just wasn't worth the hassle.

2) In this song, a mother tells off the local PTA. What's the most recent school event you attended - whether as a parent, a teacher or a student?

 

I'm a homeschooling mom, so pretty much every day is something school-related for us!

3) The lyrics reference the mom's miniskirts, which were trendy in the 1960s. The website Popsugar reports that gingham checks are trendy for 2015. Tell us about the most recent addition to your wardrobe.

 

I was at the local outlet store here {in Florida City}, and they had some crazy-awesome clearance deals. Combined with my military discount, I paid rock-bottom prices at G.H. Bass for two adorable denim skirts, a black crossbody purse (my Thirty-One satchel finally gave up the ghost), and a wallet to go IN that purse.

 

 

{I didn't have a wallet for ages, because my Thirty-One crossbodies are itty-bitty wee-tiny.} Anyway, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

4) Thinking of moms, Access Hollywood named Carol Brady of The Brady Bunch TV's #1 mom. Who is your favorite TV mom?

 

 

Claire Huxtable!

5) Mother Winters always gave Sam peppermint tea to calm her stomach. Do you have any tried-and-true home remedies to share?

 

When I get my really bad migraines, they go all the way down my spine to my coccyx, and around my clavicle, and they hurt in my jaw and pretty much my entire skeleton. {I'm now thinking I have an auto-immune disorder, actually.} Anyway, when my Fioricet doesn't take away the migraine pain, I've found that a really hard knuckle massage from my oldest kiddo, Chloë, helps. She has to massage my ankles to my wrists and everything in between, and it wears her out, so I only ask beg her to do it when I'm desperate.

 

{P.S. to CountryDew: Yes, I have had acupuncture for depression, but not for pain. It helped marginally. I'm willing to give it a go for this, but I haven't sought out an acupuncturist here in Flah-riddah yet. Stay tuned, I guess!}

6) Sam's mother always tips 15% in restaurants. Sam has worked in food service and is more judgmental, tipping between 10% and 25%, depending on the quality of the service. What's your tipping policy? Are you more like Sam or her mother?

 

I'm more like good ol' Sam. However, I never tip less than $2.00 for anything, unless the service was so crap-tastic that I don't leave a tip at all. That rarely happens. When I mystery shop, I'm often specifically instructed to tip 15-18-20% regardless of the quality of service, and so I do what I am told. Left to my own devices, though, I let my tip do the talking.

7) When the tip of her shoelace becomes frayed, Sam's mother snips off the end and then paints the tip with clear nail polish. Good as new! Sam thinks that's crazy because you can just buy new laces for less than $2. Are you more frugal like mother or spendthrift like daughter?

 

It completely depends on the circumstances. I am mostly the frugal type, and I am a hard-core couponer (please don't call me "extreme," though; I'm just a smart shopper) from jump street. My mama taught me how to use coupons, and I am teaching my young'uns the same way. It absolutely kills me to pay full price for something that I know I can get for  nearly free or better-than-free, so I avoid it at all costs (pun not intended).

 

However, there are times when I'm extremely brand-loyal, such as my JAFRA skin care regimen, and I will not use anything else... because I'm worth putting only high-quality products on my skin, and I feel good about that! (Holy run-on sentence, Batman!)

8) Mother Winters loves how French vanilla smells and burns her Yankee Candles all year around. Do you use scented candles or air fresheners?

 

I absolutely adore fruity scents and will burn those whenever I can. We can't burn any candles right now, because Sophia's kitten, Sugarplum Yogurt (yes, that is her real name, and yes, Hubs and I have lots of creative nicknames we use instead of that one!), is in the "leap before you look" phase of exploratory development. Having her land in a burning candle would be no bueno, especially after her littermate Spike's recent untimely demise. :(

 

{P.S. I absolutely loathe French vanilla and cinnamon-y scents. They make me gag, truthfully! I'm mostly apathetic about pine-y and floral scents, but I lean towards "no, thanks" on those, also.}

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds?

 

Chocolate with almonds sounds nice, please. As a motherless daughter from a young age, and also as a mother who has lost a son, I have mixed feelings about Mother's Day, myself. I celebrate it mostly for my living childrens' sakes, but I would not care if we did not.

 

On that note, thanks for stopping by today!

 

Fin.

Friday Fragments: Episode 5.8.15

 

 

♫ "Another day, another dollar, another war, another tower went up where the homeless had their homes..." ♫ 

 

Oh, hi, there! Sorry, I guess a little Jewel needed to bust out of me instead of what I meant to write. That ever happen to you?

 

Anyway, here we are at Friday again. TGIF! Though, when you are a stay-at-homeschooling mom of a retired husband, all the days kinda blend together, and it doesn't make a lick of difference much whether it's Tuesday or Saturday. At least some weeks. And this is one of those weeks.

 

(Oh, look, it would appear I'm in full-on babble mode today...awesome.)

 

Link up here with Mrs. 4444 if you're fragmented today, folks. If not, just leave a comment so I know you were here. I ♥ comments!

 

☼

 

 

So, this sucks, and I haaaaate even writing about it, but I'm gonna anyway: Our van was towed away in the middle of the night yesterday. I am not sure where it is or why it got towed, but I suspect being behind on the payments by a couple of months is to blame. Heh. (It's not entirely my fault. Our bank account is messed up, like, permanently, and our online bill payment function is currently disabled. I tried to pay the bill, but I was unsuccessful.) Instead of staying on top of it, though, I put it in my "I'll get to that...later" file, and later never came. So I do take most of the blame. 

 

Either way, it completely sucks butt, and I am terribly disappointed right now. I'm going to get Miranda (the van) back, but it might be a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I tried to rent a car yesterday, and let's just say that was a big FAIL. I'm trying again today. Oh, and Enterprise? You are dead to me.

 

☼

 

I can't get this post off italics, and it's driving me crazy. Try to ignore it.

 

☼

 

 

While we were waiting for our new couch to arrive - our last one bit the dust utterly and completely - the girls broke out my old college Organic Chemistry model set and started building molecules. My oldest kid, Chloë (in the purple, on the left), actually said to me, "Mom, I wish you hadn't lost the book. I want to learn more!" About Orgo, people. 

 

I love that. LOVE. (And not just 'cause I have a minor in Chemistry...)

 

☼

 

 

There was much cheering and joy happening in Casa de Odette when the couch of newness was delivered. We were sick of sitting on a mattress on the floor, y'all. I had three criteria: No leather (being pescetarian, it wouldn't do), easy to clean, and cheap-but-nice.

 

Welp, two out of three will have to do, because it's a leather blend. It was on sale, the price was right, and hey, we needed a damn couch. We aren't Moroccan, after all. Floor pillows are cool... for like, a day. After that, it just hurts your tushy.

 

(And yes, it's I-hate-it beige, but I figured that would be more easy to accessorize than the University of Miami-orange I very nearly chose instead of this one. I mean, we didn't *all* go to UM, after all. Sad to say.)

 

☼

 

 

Remind me to tell you how "Turnt Up!" became my catchphrase for a night, last year. That's a post for another day. I'd get turnt up just talking about it, right now!

 

Anyway, I did a mystery shop this week at a national retailer's local outlet, and when I spotted this shot glass, I knew it would have to be what I made for my required purchase item. I have an extensive shot glass collection, I'm turnt up all the dang time, and here she is at home. What a beaut!

 

☼

 

 

Pepper, our Maine Coon kitteh-kitteh-cat, has grown quite large of late. At 2.5 years old, he still has some growing to do (this breed is considered full-grown at about three years of age), but man! He is, as Jack says, "one large cat."

 

To remind you, this was Pepper when we found him wandering the middle of the road in October of 2012:

 

 

He'd just had a bath, obviously, because he was ravaged with fleas and nearly died from flea anemia. We thought he'd be sickly for life. Boy, were we wrong! He is quite healthy now, strong as an ox! I bet he's pushing 15 pounds. And still room to grow...? Oof!

 

 

In other kitty news, Sophie's kitten, Sugarplum, is adjusting to life without her littermate, Spike. Pepper has taken to her, and he bathes and snuggles with her. It's quite sweet.

 

☼

 

 

This is my home pharmacy right now. Kind of ridiculous. What's even more so is that I have all these meds at my disposal, and I'm in pretty much near-constant pain. My entire skeleton throbs and aches, 24/7. It sucks. I'm resigned to the fact that yet another thing is wrong with me, and I'm pretty sure it's an autoimmune issue. Once Hubs is done with the daily in-home nursing care, and his surgery wound is all healed up, I'm going to make an appointment to get a referral to a rheumatologist. What's the opposite of thrilled? That's what I am.

 

☼

 

 

To kind of have a chill evening, after the stress of Miranda being "stolen" from us, Chloë and I walked to Publix nearby and rented a couple of movies. The girls didn't last through the end of The Book of Life (which has an awesome soundtrack, by the by), and Jack was passed out there on the floor well before the end of The Boxtrolls. We opted to turn it off and finish watching it another time, when they're, y'know, awake and stuff.

 

☼

 

 

I would be remiss if I let the month go by without mentioning that May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Since Hubs' cerebellar cavernous hemangioma and the subsequent craniotomy to remove it - and bits of surrounding, healthy brain tissue along with it - in February 2015 have set the tone for the past two years, I've made this my Facebook profile pic for the remainder of the month.

 

Go Gray for May! #BTAM

 

☼

 

 

So this week was not without some good - no, really, really great - news. A random post on a blog I read mentioned that this organic mushroom farm by the spectacular company Back to the Roots (which was new to me at the time) was on sale on Amazon. Since environmentalistm, local/organic/sustainable eating and living are big passions for me and somewhat for the rest of Team Odette, I did some poking around on their website.

 

Long story short, they were looking for Regional Brand Ambassadors for diferent parts of the country, with Florida as its own "region" on the list. They asked for résumés and cover letters from interested applicants. I bucked the trend and just shot them an email instead, with all of my reasons for why I'd be great as their Florida RBA.

 

Well, days went by. Then weeks. And then, almost a month later, this week, I received an email back, stating that I sounded absolutely PERFECT to represent Back to the Roots for Florida. I don't want to jump the gun and congratulate myself just yet, since they'll be talking to me more when they expand into Florida this summer, but I was crazy excited when I got that message! Woot woot!!!

 

☼

 

And that,  my friends, is that for this week. Have a lovely!

 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Anyday Meme

 

Link up here if you're thievin' today, too!

Anyday Meme

Stolen from: Aromantic Aardvark

1. What is your dream career, and what path do you plan to take to get there? 

In a perfect world, I would be an author. I love writing. However, I'm lazy. I've started a book, like, a year ago, but I only have the chapter outline finished. The actual writing is still all in my head. Someday, someday... I will have the guts to get it out.

 2. Whom do you aspire most to be like? 

It's not the cool answer, but it's a true one: I am a Christian, and I aspire to be like Christ. Trust me, I fail a WHOLE lot. But I can keep trying.

 3. What do you like in a best friend? 

My best friends share the same qualities: Loyal and supportive, funny as hell, smart as whips, and tell me the truth when I really need to hear it.

4. Do you currently have any squishes (people you really want to be best friends with)? 

This question is silly. Next?

5. What is your ideal platonic relationship? 

That would be my same answer as #3. My best friends are my ideal platonic relationships; except Hubs, of course, my true bestie.

6. Best late night IM/phone conversation story. 

When Hubs was in the hospital this past week, he literally called me every five minutes, all day long. Hundreds of calls. He was bored and lonely. Poor guy! (And yes, of course, I was over there visiting every day, several times.)

7. List one person you’d like to wear the sweater of, one person you’d like to bake cookies with, and one person you’d like to drive around and get lost with. (can be celebrities or fictional characters, has to be three different people and not all the same person) 

I don't understand the sweater question?? But I don't want to wear a sweater, because that would mean it's cold outside, and I don't do cold, y'all.

I pity the fool who doesn't know Martha Stewart is my idol, so I would looooove to bake cookies with her!

And honestly, I would not like to drive around and get lost, either. I have to know where I am going and where I am at all times, or I panic. Like, straight-up, full-on, panic. It's not a good time for me. (What the hell did I do before Google Maps and GPS?!)

8. Describe your current best friend(s). 

You know all about Hubs, so I'll talk about my beloved "Dr. Lisa." I met her in middle school in sixth grade, and we've been friends for the 27 years since. We rarely argue, since she's so chill and accepting of the fact that I am not chill. We connect on an intellectual level, and she laughs at all my stupid jokes and antics. I love her to death. I also love that she's in the medical field and puts up with my calling her every time some health issue comes up - which is altogether too often. I love you, Dr. Lisa!

9. What is a strange, little-known fact about you? 

I have Tardive Dyskinesia, a side effect of taking my Bipolar Disorder medicine, Abilify. It drives me absolutely crazy: my legs are always twitching, and my face is always moving. My jaw goes up and down, my tongue gets stuck up in the roof of my mouth, and it even happens in public. I can't control it without a whole lot of concerted effort. I hate it!

10. What is a career you wanted to have when you were younger, and still kind of want to have now? 

I wanted to be a marine biologist throughout my teens. I studied to be a marine biologist. I was a marine biologist. I gave it up to get married and be Mom. I sometimes miss it... a great deal. But I would not give up being a wife and mom for anything. And the "What I actually do" part in the funny pic above? It is absolutely true.

11. If you could have tea and pleasant conversation with one person, who would it be? 

Kate Middleton. I don't know, I just like the looks of her. Yeah. Kate. (Congratulations on the Baby Princess, Mama!)

12. If you had a time machine, what era would you go to? 

I'd like to visit the 50s and go to a sock hop in a poodle skirt, but then I'd have to go back to the present, 'cause I could not settle for being a good little 1950s wifey. Yeah, I mean, that's what I do, but that's not what I am. If that makes sense.

13. What celebrity or historical figure would you love to have as your best friend and why? 

Are these two taking applications?

14. What fictional character would you love to have as your best friend and why? 

I would pick Anne. I loved the Anne of Green Gables books, and I think I would be a kindred spirit of hers. I love her!

15. If you could have one wish, what would it be? 

If I could wish for anything, and get it, I would wish that Hubs has a complete recovery and starts living the retirement that he absolutely deserves. ♥

16. If you were trapped on a deserted island and could only take one item, what would it be? 

Sunscreen! I mean, there are a lot of things I would pick to take with me if I could, but I would be exposed to a lot of sunlight, and I am one pale-ass mofo, y'all. Or yeah, that hat.

17. If you could pick one career other than the one you are pursuing/plan to pursue, what would it be? 

In my wildest dreams, I would be a singer. A really good singer. So that won't happen...

18. What is your best memory you have with a friend? 

 

Nothing major. Just sitting, talking about nonsense, and laughing our fool heads off... those are the best times.

19. Do you have any peculiar interests that most people don’t know about? 

 

Yeah, I read celebrity gossip mags like Us Weekly and People. I like my celeb fix. I'm not too proud of it!

20. What were your favorite childhood toys? Do you still have them? 

I had three Cabbage Patch Kids: A white, redheaded one named Auberta Lenora; a black one I begged my racist (and probably bewildered) father for named Tiffany Jacqueline when I was eight; and then I got a brunette cornsilk one named Andrea Gina. Obviously, they meant a lot to me, since I still remember their names 30 years later! 

My daughters have them now. They don't appreciate the history that goes into them, either personally or culturally since that was when the Cabbage Patch craze swept the nation. They're wrecked now. I try not to be sad about it. They're just... things.

21. Favorite baked good? 

I don't like cake (unless its first name is Ice Cream!), but man, can I kill a batch of chocolate chip cookies. People used to ask me how I could still be chubby when I was a vegan. Dude. There ain't no meat in donuts.

22. If your best friend were here right now, what would you do with them? 

I don't know, we're both mommies and stuff now, so we'd probably just have our whole families together for a great dinner (maybe some Arab food, since her hubs is Palestinian), go swim in her pool (if we were up at her place in NY) or the beach (if we were here in Miami), and just lauuuugh and lauuuugh. Something simple but real.

23. Who would you love to play video games with? 

What am I, 12? No.

24. If you could visit any country, which one would it be? 

Hands-down, my top pick would be Australia. I can't wait to go someday.

25. Are there any friends you miss having around?

Why isn't this called the "friends meme"? Fo'real, yo. Anyway... yes! All of them! ALL!

☼

Thanks for stopping by!

Fin.

Choose Beautiful Or Choose Average?

Have you seen these ads by Dove?

What do you think you would do, Women of the World, if you were confronted with two doors like these, and no one was watching you enter?

Would you choose to enter through the "Beautiful" door? 

or, like me,

would you choose to enter the "Average" door?

I would love to know your thoughts, and of course, this being my blahg, you know I'm fixin' to share mine.

I learned a long time ago, when I was a graduate student working on my Ph.D. in Biology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, that my brain does not work the same way most peoples' brains work.

This dawned on me over time when, Friday after Friday, in our Discussions of published papers session in the lab. When everyone else seemed to have an agreement as to the quality of the experiment we were discussing, or the veracity of the findings, or whatever whatever, and when I had read the paper myself, my thoughts had gone in an entirely different direction about the work.

It was frustrating and, at the same time, enlightening. I learned to accept that I was always going to have a different opinion, that I was never going to see things the way most people see them, and you know what? That was fine. Sometimes there are no right or wrong answers, and sometimes there are and I'm wrong, but I learn from that. (And sometimes, there are, and I am right! But that is fodder for another day's post.)

So when I saw this ad, I did not know that the "right" answer was supposed to be for me to enter through the Beautiful door. My initial reaction was to think to myself, "I would choose average."

I had no pre-conceived notion about this campaign. I had not heard of it, nor did I immediately note the #ChooseBeautiful at the top of the post where I saw it.

As I am wont to do, I quickly examined my thoughts for why I chose the Average door. I thought maybe the doors indicated what lie beyond, that what was behind the Beautiful door was more grand and glorious than what was behind the Average door.

Certainly, I would have entered through Beautiful, then, right?

But then I realized, what if that's not it? I hesitated. Then, with sureness and purpose, I mentally entered through the Average door.

Why?

My gut reaction was that the women who Chose Beautiful had more conceit than those who Chose Average, and that the women who Chose Average realized that superficial beauty is only skin-deep, and that the door they chose bore no resemblance to the depth of the splendor within them, that their true Inner Self was, in fact, accessed through entering Average and reached nothing short of Spectacular.

So no, I didn't choose Beautiful.

Did I choose wrong? Or does it even matter? What did you choose before and then after the video?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Fin.

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper

Link up here if you're playing along today!

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper (1984)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. (As an 80s girl, I love this song!!)

1) You can't miss George Michael's gold hoops in the photo above or in the "Careless Whisper" video. Are you wearing any jewelry right now?

 

 

I had to take my wedding and engagement rings off, as well as my two beloved Daisy & Cherry Blossom Pandora rings (I had to put them on my left hand to take the picture, but normally I wear them on righty), because I had an allergic reaction to something from Panera earlier, making my hands swell up. I still have my silver hoops and nose ring in, though.

 

(Yes, I really am that pale. No, I'm not albino.)

 

 

And speaking of Pandora Daisy rings, I am so totally wanting to add this sparkly silver cubic zirconia one to my collection. Please, Mommy, can we keep it?

2) Though the label says this hit is performed by "Wham! featuring George Michael," George Michael is the only member of the pop duo who appears in the video. Do you remember the name of the other guy who was in Wham!?

 

Nope. I'd have to Google it, and I'm not really in the mood! I'm sure someone will, and I'll read it on your blog later. Thanks.

3) Much of the video was filmed on Watson Island, a man-made island near South Beach. Have you ever been to Miami? 

 

 

{Rats. I spent too dang long looking for this picture of me from recently - if October 2014 is recent - in front of our home, to "prove" I live in Miami, but you can't even see more than the trunk of the palm tree behind me. I misremembered it. Oh well, carry on, nothing to see here...}

 

You're teasing me now, aren't you Samantha? I live in Miami, and I love it! And yes, I have been to South Beach of course, but I have not yet made it to Watson Island. I ain't that cool.

4) Born Georgios Panayiotou, George Michael is of Greek descent, the son of the Greek restauranteur in East London. When you think of Greek cuisine, what comes to mind?

 

 

I think of the gyros that Hubs loves so much but which I've never had because I don't eat meat and surely won't, therefore, eat a wee little lambykins. I also think of the delicious kalamata olives, and feta, and hummus, and other yummy stuff we ate in Katakolon, Greece, when we went on our European cruise in 2008. I love Greek food. Oh! And how could I forget baklava? Mmmm....

 

(Ugh, I love that I documented that trip on this separate blog, but I hate looking at it because I was at my heaviest weight on that trip. Yuck.)

5) Today he lives in a tony suburb called Highgate, and his neighbors are Kate Moss and Sting. Tell us about one of your neighbors. 

 

Our neighbor, Francisco, left for his home in Madrid, Spain, today! He's really nice, and he brings us Cuban coffee:

 

 

... and he even gave Sophie a box of chocolates recently for her tenth birthday. However, every now and then, I used to sit out front and have a beer with Frank, but I had to stop because he developed quite a crush on me and has been trying to get me to give him a smooch ever since. No. Just... no.

6) George Michael fans can purchase officially licensed merchandise from his website, including an iPhone cover with his photo and signature. Tell us about your cell phone. Is it Apple or Android? Is it a smartphone?

 

It's an Android. I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 with a boring, gray Otterbox Defender case on it that I'll probably never change, because I would have destroyed that phone ages ago if the Otterbox wasn't, you know, defending it so well. I love my phone. I'm not wanting to change it for the Galaxy S6 at all. Nope, not a bit... ;)

7) George Michael sang Stevie Wonder's "You and I" for Prince William's wedding to Kate Middleton. What's your favorite love song?

 

It's a toss-up between Eric Clapton singing "Wonderful Tonight," which is the song Hubs and I danced to after our barefoot sunset wedding on St. Pete Beach in 2001, and this song that Hubs used to woo me with in 2000:

 Go ahead. Give The Barenaked Ladies a listen.

8) In 2014, George had a health scare. He was rushed to the hospital for tests and released the next day. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?

 

Yeah, I have a few times as a patient and accompanying a patient. The time that sticks out in my mind the most is when our oldest baby, Chloë, was four months old and had a febrile seizure, and I freaked out when she threw her head back and her eyes rolled up... That was super scary.

9) Known for hard partying in his youth, George is now in his 50s and says he's quite happy to spend his evenings eating takeout and watching DVDs. Are you doing any socializing this weekend?

 

Hmmm. Given that Hubs just had (yet another) emergency surgery on Wednesday, and he may or may not be coming home from the hospital on Friday, I'm thinking probably not, other than with his home care nurse. I haven't even given a thought to what plans we may or may not have had!

 

Thanks for stopping by; have a great weekend!

 

Fin.

Friday Fragments: Episode 5.1.15

Look at me, fragmentin' three weeks in a row! Link up with Mrs. 4444 here if you have to brain-dump today, too.

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Welp, Hubs has been hospitalized yet again, this time for surgery to remove an abscess that grew from nothing to absolutely enormous practically overnight. He's in horrendous pain and can't get comfortable, and I really feel for the guy. His retirement has completely sucked so far, these past two years. I hate that for him!

Nevertheless, as high as he was when I took this picture, he's still able to crack jokes and whoop my arse at Jeopardy! which pisses me off to no end. ;)

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In addition to Rob having emergency surgery on Wednesday, this week has overall been a huge load of crap for our family. Instead of dwelling on that, though, I'm going to focus on cheerier, more pleasant things in this post. So here I am with just a few random thoughts.

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I've been following Kathy B.'s Art Projects For Kids website and blog for years now, and we have done many of the projects she, an elementary school art teacher, puts forth on the site. This week, we chose to take it easy on school a little bit because of all the awfulness that's going on, so we opted to do this tropical fish watercolor painting assignment.

The top one is Sophia's, and this one is Chloë's. Not surprisingly, both girls jumped right in and got started. Chloë, true to herself, worked slowly and carefully, sticking close to the original form of the APFK assignment's detailing. On the other hand, as usual, Sophia went in her own direction and opted to do different species of fish of her own choosing and not exactly listen to my instructions. Haha! I love the flounder!

And here is Jack's. What impresses me the most about this is that, despite his constant proclaiming of "I hate Art!" (as you may remember from last week's entry) and all the tears he shed at the beginning of this assignment, he still did it anyway and turned out a not-too-shabby piece of work! He may be a cantankerous soul, but he is also a persistent one.

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Speaking of websites and blogs I've followed for a long time, The Loopy Ewe is another one of them. I have been knitting ever since I was pregnant with the twins in Guam and found out I was going to be delivering the babies in the middle of winter in Virginia instead of near the equator. I thought I better learn the craft, to keep my three-babies-under-three warm myself, since there is absolutely no store selling warm clothes in Micronesia, y'all.

Anyway, back to The Loopy Ewe. Every week, Sheri (who I have actually had the pleasure to meet while shopping at her bricks-and-mortar yarn store, back when they were still based in St. Louis, Missouri, instead of Colorado) posts a store update with new yarns, on the blog. When I read it this week, I was instantly covetous of this orange Wollmeise, once one of the most highly sought-after yarns in the world. I actually scored a skein once, but we had, I think, eight (eight!) cats at that time, and sadly it didn't fare so well. Sigh. But I refrained from pulling out my debit card, because the knitting occasions happening around here lately have been few and far between. (It is soooo lovely, though.)

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Please be sure and check out my post pinned at the top of this blahg, about Maria Bailey and her 5 Trades Away project. I still have this to swap - it's free, and I'll ship it to you! - and would love to trade it up for something for Maria to auction for the pregnant woman of Uganda. Thanks!

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Oh, and I actually did have some good news this week. I've been seeing an OB/GYN for the past two months for these painful ovarian cysts that keep rupturing off my left ovary. I've had a hysterectomy, but they left me that so I wouldn't go into menopause at 31 years old. Anyway, they found a huge mass measuring about 9x5 cm, and he wasn't sure it was benign. My tests all came back Wednesday: every tumor marker was negative, and they didn't see the mass on my last ultrasound. It hurts like hell, but it must have been another cyst that finally ruptured. Hallelujah!

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Well, that's it for me, this week, and for April. I'm looking forward to seeing what flowers May brings, because April sure had its share of showers for us.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fin.