1) Black is this week's signature color because Friday, November 27th, was "Black Friday," when retailers cut their prices and consumers flock to the stores. Did you score any "Black Friday" bargains?
Well, I never do. But for the first time at Zero Dark-Thirty this morning, I took my daughter Chloë out to score a couple of things she wanted to get her dad for Christmas. We went to Kohl's, but the two things together were out of her budget, and she didn't want to get just one. I told her we could wait until Cyber Monday and try again. She did end up scoring a great deal on a laser toy for our four cats, though. Hee!
Oh! And then, I got a bug up my ass to start decorating for Christmas - which I insist on not doing until Thanksgiving is over - so I took my other daughter, Sophia, out to Michael's. I had seen that their Christmas décor was 50% off, and I had a 30% off coupon on top of that, so we got some garlands and a tree topper thingy to make a tree for our wall. We raced there at 0140, knowing they closed for the night at 0200, and got 'er done.
Back at home, I got my girls and my son Jack together to help me construct a "tree" out of the garlands. I nailed it to the wall after setting the three of them to work making their first-ever popcorn and cranberry garlands, and then we unwrapped and hung some of our many ornaments. I think it's beautiful, and I love it!
2) WalMart, Best Buy, Toys R Us and Target have all heavily advertised their "Black Friday" sales. If you could have a $50 gift card to one of those stores, which would choose? What would you spend the $50 on?
Definitely not Walmart or Best Buy. Ugh. Probably not Toys 'R' Us, since the toys my tween- and teen-aged kids want now are way over fifty bucks. I guess that leaves Tarjay. It's my favorite of the four stores anyway, though I prefer shopping at small businesses over the Big Box stores...
Hm. If I couldn't use coupons and had to shop for some Black Friday doorbuster, in the spirit of the question, I would use the $50 off $100 purchase I saw advertised for Target today and get Sophia the motorized scooter I saw advertised for $90, with a 20% Cartwheel, bringing this $250 item down to $72... and then I'd get $28 worth of Littlest Pet Shop toys for her to bring my total up to the requisite hundred bucks. In the end, after my gift card, I'd have paid nothing but a few dollars' tax. Now I wish I'd done that! Haha!
3) Star Wars items are predicted to be big sellers this Black Friday. Are you a big sci-fi fan? Are there any sci-fi fans on your holiday gift list?
I am not. Not at all. But Chloë is enormously into Harry Potter right now (she's on book 6 of 7 but has not seen any of the movies yet), so I'm sure her Christmas presents will largely focus on that. ;)
4) Feasting and football are also popular Thanksgiving weekend pastimes. Do your Thursday-Sunday plans include pigging out or watching a game?
Having had gastric bypass surgery, there is no pigging out going on for me, ever again. I had intended to watch my alma mater (U Miami) play against Pitt today, but I napped through the whole thing! Ah, well. At least we won! #GoCanes #AllAboutTheU!
5) At Thanksgiving dinners, Crazy Sam's homemade gravy is always a hit. (Probably because she's so generous with the cognac, which gives the gravy a nutty taste.) Do you have a signature dish?
I didn't do any cooking or baking (my specialty) this year for Thanksgiving, sadly. I've been getting sicker and sicker since May, and now my energy is completely depleted while my pain is often unmanageable. Rob had to cook the whole dinner, which was great, but he does not bake. So, we didn't have any pie, because I refuse to have store-bought when it just doesn't meet our high gastronomic demands. I'm hoping I'll be doing great by Christmas, after a transfusion, and will shine then!
Also, that gravy sounds enviable! I want some!
6) What did you give thanks for on Thanksgiving 2015?
My family, of course. They accept me and support me no matter what. Without their love, I might not be here still.
7) Monday is Cyber Monday, when shoppers can save big online. Do you shop confidently over the Internet, or do you worry about security breaches and identity theft?
I have actually been the victim of identity theft through Walmart's (surprise, surprise) website. I loathe that store anyway, so I just avoid shopping there online or at the brick-and-mortar stores at all costs. If I have to go, I pay cash.
Because of the repeated security breaches at Target, I don't shop online there, either. I get a little more skeered each time some news comes out about another incident, but for the most part, I don't worry too terribly much. I check my bank account incessantly, though!
8) This week's featured band, Los Bravos, was international. Their members came from both Germany and Spain. If you could travel to any foreign country in the world, which would you choose?
That's an easy one: Australia. I'd give anything. Even being sick, I'd go right now.
9) The band's name, Los Bravos, can be translated to mean, "The Brave." Do you consider yourself gutsy?
Not in any sense of the word. Because I'm still fighting after everything I've gone though, people constantly call me "strong." I disagree. I just feel like it's the only option I have, to maintain my integrity to continue. Is that gutsy? I really don't know. It's not for me to decide. :)
Recently, Dr. Lisa, my BFF, posted this assignment that her daughter had completed in school. First grade, maybe? Anyway, I thought her paper was so cool that in inspired me to make it into an entire "project" of sorts for my family to do that night after dinner. Here's what happened:
I passed out this paper to each person in the family, myself included, and allowed no peeking, nor discussion, during its completion. Once everyone was finished, we went around the table to talk about everyone's "Perfect Day."
This one is Rob's. I think it's beautiful in its simplicity, and I was heartened by being included in his nap *winky* time.
Here is mine. I smiled at Rob as I read the last answer, because we both had the same thing in mind. Can we still win the Newlywed Game after being married for damn-near 15 years?!
For the "amazing meal everyone liked," we really had a lot of back and forth about what that would include. It's challenging, because we have a completely picky eater (Jack), and someone with very specific, very niched dietary requirements (me). Sophia and Chloë are somewhere in the middle of that and Rob, who is the family garbage can! The result of this meal-planning? I'll make a bunch of tapas to pass around, and each person can pick whatever they'd like from it, and then we'll have Baked Alaska for dessert. I can't wait to do it!
This one is Chloë's. I was particularly interested in the kids' answers, to see how much they included technology in the days of perfection. I was also interested in seeing what time they rose and went to bed, since they share my predilection for sleeping the day away and staying up all night! So Chloë Raine's answers really warmed my heart, partly because it will be so easy to make this day happen for her!
Jack's paper, here, cracked me up a little bit. Look at what time he wants to go to bed; so specific!
Jack, my spelling-challenged gamer, is the only one who wished to play on his fablet during his Perfect Day. That's fine with me, since he actually ate some food for once and got some exercise, to boot!
And finally, here is Sophia's paper. (She accidentally wrote 1900 instead of 0700 as her rising time, so I fixed it for her.) (Kinda.) And look at what she would do in the afternoon! I admit, I welled up a little over that inclusion. For those not in the know, by the way, "LPS" are Littlest Pet Shop toys.
Sophia Lorelei is obsessed with all things LPS. She has a bunch of the actual critters, and she spends hours crafting habitats for them, sewing clothes and accessories for them, and drawing situational stories about them! Her Christmas will largely consist of LPS gifts. I hope she doesn't get "over" them by February!
In the end, the kids, all of whom groaned when they saw that Mom's "fun and interesting" family activity would include putting pen to paper, agreed that it was a worthwhile endeavor. And that made me the gladdest of all.
Would you rather be stuck on an island alone or with someone who talks incessantly?
I am that person, and I drive myself crazy. I would rather be alone if the other person talks as much as I do!
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Would you rather be too hot or too cold?
I'm rarely warm enough, thanks to my internal thermostat being broken after my Gastric Bypass Surgery in '09. I would SO much rather be too warm, but alas, I am always, always cold.
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Would you rather have a cook or a maid?
I love to cook, but I hate to clean. That maid is a no-brainer!
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Would you rather be the youngest or the oldest sibling?
I don't know. I am the youngest of two, four, or five, depending on how you count the offspring from my childhood. I feel like I wish I was the oldest, because I have no backbone whatsoever, and I can be selfish and petty and spoiled like a baby. But, I am what I am, and it can't be changed other than to address it head-on! (Which I do try.)
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Would you rather get rich through hard work or through winning the lottery?
Gotta play to win it big, and I don't play.
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Would you rather have a 10-hour dinner with a headstrong politician from an opposing party, or attend a 10-hour concert for a music group you detest?
What, like Donald Trump? Or Ben Carson? Or Marco Rubio? Or the league of other guys - and Carly Fiorina - vying to become POTUS? I couldn't handle a 2-hour dinner, let alone ten of them. No, I'd rather go to a country music concert or something else I detest. #DontGetMeStarted
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Would you rather be an Olympic gold medalist or a Nobel Peace Prize winner?
I would obviously rather win the Nobel Peace Prize. I would have done something good for humanity. Being an Olympian - gold or otherwise - does not preclude that, but it doesn't guarantee it, either.
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Would you rather have a desk job or an outdoor job?
I have had both. The desk job, for me, was a snooze-fest all day, every day, week in and week out. No, I need to be out in the field, communing with nature, breathing in fresh air... ahh. Yes.
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Would you rather live at the top of a tall NYC apartment building or at the top of a mountain?
I must be a stay-home mom (I am), because my first thought was, "Either way, think of the groceries I'll have to lug up there!" Ha! Living in NYC for a year is on my Bucket List; living at the top of a mountain is not, so I'll go with the Big Apple.
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Would you rather have Rambo or The Terminator on your side?
I don't really know enough about either one; not my genre. I can't comment on it. Sorreh!
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Would you rather be proposed to in private or in front of family and friends?
I was proposed to privately, and it was exactly the way it should have been - for me. And then we eloped and, to get married in front of family and friends and God, we had a small, calm, quiet wedding on the beach. I wore a $17 slip nightgown from Kmart and was barefoot; hubs wore his Navy dress blues. I had an inexpensive grocery store bouquet, and my friends sang and played guitar for the music. It was very tasteful, very small, and very us. I loved it. I would not have wanted it any other way.
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Would you rather have to sew all your clothes or grow your own food?
I'm a beginner at both, but I love both ideas. I could knit much of our clothes better than sew, and I'm not the best gardener, but I find both ideas very appealing. This photo shows what I just picked up yesterday from the farm that hosts our local CSA. We joined our first one this year, and I'm SO excited! I used a bit of the mizuna and some of the garlic chives to make homemade sauce last night, and it was outstanding!
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Would you rather hear the good news or the bad news first?
I would rather hear whichever one is the bottom line last, so that I can act appropriately.
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Would you rather be your own boss or work for someone else?
Wouldn't everyone rather be their own boss? Actually, I don't mind working for someone else, as long as the job is right. It's a bit of a trade-off for me.
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Would you rather have nosy neighbors or noisy neighbors?
I would rather have noisy neighbors, which we do, over nosy ones, which we also do. Both are annoying, but at least the noisy ones leave us the hell alone! Gahhh, I can't wait until we move...
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Would you rather be on a survival reality show or dating game show?
I don't know... I think I'd rather be on Survivor, because at least I will have gone somewhere really cool and not lived out my dating drama publicly.
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Would you rather be too busy or be bored?
Only boring people get bored. I am never bored. I am often too busy, but I definitely prefer that over being bored. I can't remember the last time I wasn't actively - or even passively - doing something.
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Would you rather watch the big game at home or live at the stadium?
I'd rather be there, where the action is! We went to our (U. Miami) homecoming game this year, and we won! That was epic. (Sorry, Country Dew...)
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Would you rather spend the day with your favorite athlete or you favorite movie star?
You're offering me Matt Damon or...what again?? ::drool::
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Would you rather live where it is constantly winter or where it is constantly summer?
I took this picture earlier this month. I have lived in Syracuse, New York, and I have lived in Miami in the past. I only went back to Miami. It's a no-brainer for me!
1) This song is about "the thrill of a lifetime" kind of love. Do you believe we each get one great love? Or do you think it's possible to fall in love more than once?
I do not believe there is a finite number of times one can fall truly in love. I think there are more than one of "The One" for each and every person. What if you are widowed early on in your life, or divorced for that matter? Of course you can fall madly in love again if you had experienced that before. What if you are in different stages in your life and therefore frames of mind in those times? Then, of course, your "The One" might be different at 22 than at 48, for example. I think you can fall in and out of love over and over in life, if you meet with the right circumstances.
2) Brad Paisley endured his own "perfect storm" in 2010, when he lost his guitars in the massive flood that hit Nashville. Tell us about a time when you had to clean up after Mother Nature.
In December 2002, we were living on Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo, Guam. I was hugely pregnant with our identical twin sons, Robby and Jack. It's damn near equatorial there in Micronesia, so you can imagine how hot we were, especially me. And then, on December 8th, Supertyphoon Pongsona arrived on Guam and brought extensive damage with it. During the eye of the storm, we went out and explored some of the damage. The entire forest was completely obliterated. Leaves and broken branches were everywhere. After the storm passed, we went out again. Our shed had been ripped away from the main part of the house, leaving only one wall, behind which our lawnmower was still cowering.
There were fires in the ports, so no food, no supplies, and no more gasoline could get onto the island. We had no electricity, no TV or Internet connectivity of course, no way to cook, no way to (warm or) cool our houses, no way to do laundry, nothing.
In a word, it sucked.
When we were back in Continental United States a few months later, I thought everything would go well. It didn't. In September of 2003, Hurricane Isabel hit Virginia Beach and caused much of the same hazardous conditions in and around our neighborhood and roadways. I was very surprised to find that I was now dealing with PTSD from the Supertyphoon experience.
And that, too, sucked.
3) He is married to actress Kimberly Williams, who played Steve Martin's daughter in the Father of the Bride movies. He has admitted he was a little in love with her before he met because he'd seen her on screen. Do you have a crush on anyone right now?
Well, Ed Sheeran an d Larry David are my boyfriends. Hubs is okay with that, but probably only because they aren't aware of it.
4) He's a passionate Cleveland Browns fan. Are you following the NFL this season?
Nah. The fucks I give are non-existent. Sorry.
5) Brad has developed his own line of western wear for Boot Barn, including some pricey items. (A "Perfect Storm" felt hat goes for $230.) What's the most expensive item you've added to your wardrobe recently?
Probably a pair of shoes. But maybe not. Nothing really expensive. I did drop several hundred dollars on clothes for the kids recently, though. But I don't do that for myself!
6) "Paisley" is also a term for a popular print. Are you wearing a print or solid right now?
Well, I'll show you:
7) Crazy Sam is not a big country fan, but she can sing along with this song because it played so very often at a bar she frequents. What's the last song you sang?
I'm all about the new Adele song, "Hello." When that comes on, as overplayed as it already is, I turn up my radio and croon along.
8) Though Brad Paisley has recorded songs about drinking, he never touches alcohol. His favorite beverage is Yoohoo, a chocolate beverage bottled by the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Company. What's the last beverage you drank directly from the bottle?
Diet Coke, of course. Guilty of not trying to quit. Again.
9) Random question from a Sat9er: What's your favorite handmade item?
I actually just received them. When we were in Missouri last month, my mama-in-law showed me two sweaters that her mother had knitted for her. I found them stunningly beautiful and, as a fellow knitter, could tell they were extremely well-made.
Some time after we returned home to Miami, MIL mailed those sweaters to me. I cried my eyes out! I haven't worn them yet - I don't know if I'm supposed to! - but I want to. They are soft and gorgeous, and I was super touched to have received them.
1) The lyrics tell us about a young man who stopped at a bar named Webb's before heading home. What's the last restaurant or bar you visited? What did you order?
We went to Skipper's Dockside in Key Largo last week, and I had this seafood 'casserole' with scallops and shrimp. It was supposed to come with swordfish, but that's on my no-no list, so I asked for more of the other things and none of that. They complied. It was outstanding!
Oh, and I had some of these Rum Runners, too. ;)
2) In this video, Vicki Lawrence is obviously lip synching. If you had to participate in a competition, would you do better at karaoke or lip synching? And what song would you choose to perform?
I've actually never done karaoke, but it's on my Bucket List. I'm bad at lip syncing, so I would sing. And this song, 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up?" is what I would attempt to perform.
3) Back when this song was popular, so was the Rubik's Cube. Can you solve that 3-D puzzle?
Not without removing stickers or sections of the damn thing.
4) Vicki Lawrence is a hyphenate, meaning she's a comedienne-actress-singer. Using hyphens, describe yourself.
I guess you could say I'm a wife-mom-whirling dervish. Not as exciting as Vicki.
5) Back in the early 1970s, songwriter Bobby Russell first offered this song to Cher, who refused it. Give us the name of a song Cher did record.
6) Vicki Lawrence won her first big break playing Carol Burnett's kid sister because of her resemblance to the star. Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity?
I used to get Kristy McNichols a lot, and also Marisa Tomei, and also Molly Ringwald... that's my general look, I guess?
(me)
7) She also starred on Mama's Family in the role of matriarch of an argumentative Southern clan. As we head into the holiday season, do your plans involve a lot of family time?
With this crew, yes, and probably (hopefully) at the beach!
8) After The Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family, Vicki became a staple on daytime TV. She hosted Win, Lose or Draw and was a contestant on TheMatch Game and $25,000 Pyramid. Do you watch much daytime TV?
Nyet.
9) Random question provided by a Sat 9er: Bugs/insects. Do you like 'em or fear 'em? Tell us something/anything you know about them.
Like most of my answers, I have to hedge and say: It depends. I'm not afraid of most "bugs," but I have a rule. They are not allowed to touch me without my freaking out, unless they have my express written permission. This, my friends, almost never happens!
Butterflies, like the poisonous Monarch and its edible Batesian mimic, the Viceroy, are a notable exception. They can land on me anytime.
Is there anyone else in the room with you at the moment? What are they doing?
These two sleeping beauties (Paco the Chihuhua & Otto the GSD), along with their snoozing Papa, Hubs, on the couch behind me
Do you show your teeth when you smile, or do you prefer smiling with your lips closed?
You tell me: Here I am yesterday at my alma mater's (the University of Miami) homecoming football game, with my babes. P.S. We won! Go 'Canes!
Would you rather be told the truth, even if it isn’t what you want to hear?
There is a way to tell those awkward truths without being hurtful... that's what I prefer.
What is something that you plan to buy, as soon as you’ve saved up the money for it?
I'm a grown-up. What I'm waiting for right now is our next payday, so that I can put new brake pads on the van and spay our last un-altered pet, Sugarplum. Exciting stuff, right?
I used to be a little bit addicted to it. I've pulled back, so I only play now and then anymore.
Have you ever had a migraine?
I have frequent migraines. They suck. I don't have one right now, which is a fantastic rarity for me.
What was the last book you read for pleasure?
I read Relic and then started the next book in the Agent Pendergast series, Reliquary, but I have not had time to get too far into that one. I have the next 3 books lined up, too. Better get movin'!
What was the last item of clothing you purchased for yourself?
I bought matching orange Nautica shirts for Hubs and myself, to go to the homecoming party on Friday night.
Your first serious relationship, do you still talk to him?
Yes, Ben and I are facebook friends, and my family and his had dinner together when mine went to Central New York for my high school reunion last year. All sweet and friendly and lambs and butterflies and stuff!
Who is the last person you texted?
A creepy guy texted me. I told him he was creepy and to leave me alone. That's about it!
How close is your family?
Yeah, what that ^ ^ ^ said!
Is there anything too serious to be joked about?
Yes, of course. Of course there are things.
Do you like to understand and have good knowledge of things?
Who wouldn't? Who doesn't?
What is worse? Back pain or shoulder pain?
I can't begin to quantify what your pain is to me, or what my pain is to you. But a pain in the ass? Now that's entirely different...
Have you ever almost fallen off of something high off the ground?
No, because I rarely put myself in that danger. I've suffered from vertigo since I was a young teenager, and I get dizzy easily, especially from heights. Nope, no thanks.
What’s one fruit you love in drinks?
I have never had a Bloody Mary, but I had a killer Strawberry Daiquiri the other day. If it hadn't been so high in sugar, I could have had ten more, but yummo!
What is something simple that you’re afraid of?
My mustard phobia is well-documented around these parts. I can't even stand it to touch me, or be near me... if it does, I freak out like a bitty girl!
Has this weekend been good?
Yes, homecoming as an alum was SO fun!! Go 'Canes!!! ;)
How much time do you take to get ready in the morning?
As little as possible, but I gotta take a bath first (I can't shower because our water pressure is crap), so that takes the most time...
Last movie you watched in theaters and with whom?
I think the last movie was Jurassic World, with the whole fam-damily in tow. Next up: Mockingjay Part II. I can't wait!
Hey, y'all, link up here if you're playing along this weekend!
Saturday 9: All Random This week's Saturday 9 is refreshingly theme free, featuring questions submitted by regular Saturday 9ers.
1) Do you prefer your pickle sliced thin, sliced thick, or in a spear?
Listen. For me, if it's not a Claussen kosher dill spear, it ain't worthy of being called a pickle.
2) What kind of eggs do you like best for breakfast?
First of all, let me just say that I have to eat the expensive, vegetarian-organic-omega3-whatever-whatever-whatever eggs vs. the El Cheapogrocery store-branded eggs, because the last time I tried the latter, I wound up getting stuck with an Epi-pen and transported to the hospital. Not a fun time! Now, I would avoid eggs entirely, but I rely on them heavily for my high-protein needs, since I eat mostly vegetarian (the occasional sea creature escapes down my esophagus). I will finally answer the question: I like my eggs sunny-side-up, over easy - or, if Hubs is willing to do it, his cheese 'n' onion omelettes are kick-ass grub!
3) If you got 2 pennies for change, would you pocket them or leave them on the counter for the next person?
Oh, I always keep my pennies. I go through a lot of change and rarely accept the 'extra penny' when I'm in need of one at the counter, so I don't feel it's hypocritical of me. Plus, I'm the first one to volunteer a dime or whatever to the person ahead of me who is a few cents short of a dollar, you know? ;)
4) You’re now in charge of the manners for the planet. Tell us the new rules for cell phone etiquette.
#1: I like that new teacher rule where all portable electronic devices have to be collected at the front of the classroom in order for the students to be marked as "present" for class.
#2: S/he who grabs her/his celly first at a restaurant outing is the one who shall have to pick up the check.
#3: If you are gabbing on your cell loudly in line at the store/movie theater/restaurant/wherever and holding up said line while you discuss matters important to no one else, you're fined $50 payable to each and every person within earshot.
#4: If you are texting or talking on your phone while driving like a complete and utter douchenozzle, I have every right to flip you the finger, honk my horn incessantly, and wish diarrhea upon you.
That's enough for now. :D
5) You’re about to write a novel. What genre will it be (sci fi, chick lit, historical fiction, comic …)?
None of the above, but more like a Jodi Picoult novel, wherein you're not sure if it's art imitating life or the other way around...
6) Is it a bad thing to lie to save a friend’s feelings?
If the lie is truly along the lines of altruism, then I guess it's okay. If it's really to spare yourself from feeling badly, then not so much.
7) Is your big toe your longest toe?
Nope; my second toe is longer than my big toe.
8) Hot stone massage: yea or nay?
I've never had one! You tell me.
9) Do you check the mirror before going out?
Of course I do! It's just common sense, isn't it? Also, I am a bit vain, I admit. I might check it two or three times. ;)
We stayed at the Element hotel in Doral, Miami, last night. Jack was up early, so I took him to the pool for a swim. I played with my camera settings a lot during that outing, so here's what I got!
Wordless today? Link up here with 5 Minutes For Mom to join in the fun!
I wasn't feeling well Saturday, so I didn't get to post my Sat9 answers. I'll answer them in combo with this week's Sunday Stealing, since so many of you participate in both memes. Link up here if you want to join in Saturday 9 this weekend!
Saturday 9: Thriller (1983)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this video, Michael Jackson is transformed into a "werecat," with fangs, claws, yellow eyes and whiskers. What monster or ghoul frightened you the most?
Definitely Freddy Kreuger of the Nightmare on Elm Street series; I was so scared of him that I would jump from my bedroom doorway to my bed without hitting the floor, lest he be hiding underneath. Confession: He still scares me! ;)
2) Michael sings that evil things that will be lurking "close to midnight." Where will you be at midnight tonight?
Like I said, I felt crappy, so I passed out on the couch around 6:30 PM. I slept for eight hours, and now it's the middle of the night, so here I am!
3) Horror movie icon Vincent Price does the voice over on "Thriller." What's your favorite scary movie?
I don't really like scary movies, because I'm quite the chickenshit when it comes to that stuff. I can't even read scary stories, because I close my eyes at the bad parts. I do like thrillers, though, so I'll say it's The Silence of the Lambs.
4) Mr. Price's House of Wax, made in 1953, was one of the first 3D movies. What's the most recent 3D movie you saw?
I think we saw something in 3D recently, maybe Tomorrowland or Pixels, but I can't remember. Both were great, with the former being very inspiring and the latter being very reminiscent of my 80s childhood. ;)
5) Horror fans might be surprised to know that, despite his sinister image, Mr. Price enjoyed very genteel and relaxing hobbies, like cooking, gardening and painting. What would we be surprised to learn about you?
Probably very little; I'm an open book. Maybe that with all my neuroses, including OCD, my house is often a disaster! :\
6) A Halloween tradition is the jack-o-lantern. Did you carve a pumpkin this year?
Le sigh. Noooo... In years past, we would do this early and the pumpkin would be fine, but here in Miami, it rots after a day. I saved it until the last minute, therefore, and we ended up not having time. Bummer.
7) According to Yahoo!, the most popular costume of Halloween 2014 was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Will you be in costume this Halloween? If not, who or what would you most like to dress up as?
Hubs and I dressed up as the Naughty Schoolmaster and his Student this year, but that was for a party last weekend. We were going to dress up for the actual day, but I just wasn't up to it.
8) When you went trick or treating as a kid, did you usually wear a store-bought costume, or was it DIY?
Always DIY as a kid! My kids have had about 50/50 DIY and store-bought, thinking back over the 15 Halloweens I've been a mom...
9) When trick-or-treaters show up at your door, what candy will they get?
They were greeted with this assortment, but we didn't get too kids many this year. I'm trying to refrain from touching it. On the other hand, the Laffy Taffy has done me in this year!
Not at all. When I was in grad school, I found a tiny bat on the verge of death after smashing into my office's window. I tried to nurse him back to health, even contacting my former professor who studied bats, but he didn't make it. :(
When you were a kid, did you go out on Mischief Night? (Mischief Night is an informal holiday on which children and teens engage in pranks and minor vandalism. While its name and date vary from place to place, it is most commonly held near the end of October to coincide with the night before Halloween)
No, I never did anything like that, but we definitely were the recipients of it when I was growing up. Many a smashed pumpkin and some vandalism to some of our cars happened.
What is your favorite trick-or-treat candy?
Historically, it was chocolate and most notably Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. However, now that Candy Tax is paid to Daddy. Mom is trying to completely refrain. It's weight-gain season for me, and I don't wanna participate this year!
Have you ever seen a ghost?
No, and I don't believe I ever will.
The most memorable costume you ever wore?
Maybe this Angel/Devil costume I wore in 2012 to a concert and party afterward. I got a lot of attention there - not necessarily wanted!
Do you dress up on Halloween?
We tried to get into the fun of it, yes!
Any cooking or baking you do for Halloween?
I do if I have time, but this year and last year, I have not. These Halloween chocolate cat cookies were from 2013.
Have you ever been to The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland or Disneyworld?
Yes! We took the kids to Disneyworld for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2006. Of course, we visited the Haunted Mansion during that event. Great fun!
Any element of the season you don’t like?
I hate rushing from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas so quickly. I've seen Christmas trees and decorations in stores all this month, in October FPS! Sloooooow it down, retailers!
What is your favorite scary movie?
I do not like scary movies, Sam I Am! I'm too skeeeeered.
Do you cook the pumpkin seeds from your carved jack-o-lanterns?
Traditionally, yes, though not when we have done the now-too-commonplace Puking Pumpkin!
Are you intrigued by vampires?
Nah. Totally not my thing.
What is your favorite written work of horror fiction?
No! Just no. I tried to read Stephen King's The Shining when I was in high school, but I just couldn't get through it. I haven't read anything like that since.
What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy?
Fantasy and Sci-Fi are completely out of my wheelhouse, but I am enthralled with The Hunger Games series. I love, love, love it and can't wait for the last movie installment this month. Woo!
Who is your favorite monster?
Cookie Monster, duh!
What is your favorite Horror movie?
I've seen all of The Nightmare on Elm Street movies. I don't know if I could call those my favorite, but I don't have a whole lot to go on there.
What horror movie gives you the most chills?
When I was seven, right after my mother died, my dad had my sister and me watch The Children of the Corn. Um, no. Don't do that. #ParentingFail
What character from any horror film would you most like to play?
I wouldn't. Listen, this $#!t scares me! I'm chicken! Bring on the shiny, happy unicorns pooping Skittles and rainbows, okay?!!
Activist. Navy Veteran's wife. Proud mum of 4. Warrior: Lyme º Lupus º Fibro º Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome º POTS º MCAS etc. Believer. Unashamed, unafraid bleeding-heart liberal snowflake tree-hugging vegan-type. Defender of all the living things, except the evil ones. Excruciatingly fierce empath. Ally to and glad co-conspirator with LGBTQ+ & BLM communities. Need another ally? Inquire within.
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