i remember being a child & waking up to a brand new Advent Calendar. seeing these in the Germany pavilion at Epcot brought back memories of my father making sure that when i opened my eyes on December first, there was an Advent calendar waiting on my nightstand... it awakened that first flutter of excitement & anticipation that Christmas was getting closer.
i miss that flutter... and i won't be waking up to an Advent calendar in the morning...
"The people who are still with you at the end of the day, those are the ones worth keeping. Sometimes it's too close, but sometimes that invasion of personal space can be exactly what you need."
(Grey's Anatomy, 11.30.06)
1) gingerbread men
2) jingle bells
3) snowflakes
4) angels
5) icicles
6) stars
7) snowmen
8) reindeer
9) poinsettias
10) "snow scenes"
11) candles
12) evergreen
13) and most important: the Nativity
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
brought to you by The Back Porch
::Sweet Baby James::
Onesome: Sweet-- or sour? What type of sauces do you like on your dishes when you 'do Chinese'?
well i like sweet & sour sauce on my sweet & sour chicken. and i like whatever it is they put on beef (or chicken) & broccoli, but other than that i don't put any sauces on my Chinese food.
Twosome: Baby-- back ribs? ...or steak? Tofu? Chicken? It's your choice; what would you like for your next meal "out"?
for some reason i am craving a great big juicy cheeseburger. not the fast food kind.
Threesome: James-- town flood? What do flood your mashed potatoes with, gravy or butter? ...or do you like them plain?
with butter is good but with gravy is the *best*. mashed potatoes & gravy is a major comfort food for me.
Week 199
I say ... and you think ... ?
Rhyme :: nursery
Substantial :: significant
Instant :: pudding
Greed :: desire more & more
Brad :: Paisley
Season :: Autumn
Accomplished :: highly skilled
Invite :: request the presence of
Sparkle :: glitter
Rainbow :: Noah
brought to you by Monday Madness
Let's talk about holidays... Depending on where you live and what religion you are, you may celebrate different holidays and at different times of the year than others. But most of us do celebrate at least one holiday a year. Let's share! =)
1. Which of the holidays that you celebrate, do you feel is the most important?
assuming you mean throughout the entire year, it would be a combination of Christmas & Easter. you need them both as a Christian.
2. Which holiday do you most enjoy?
Christmas because i get to spoil the people i care about. not as much this year though... =(
3. Is there one holiday that your family tries to get together every year? If so, which one?
ummmm... i am sure that my family gets together for most of the holidays. i, however, am only there with them in spirit.
4. Share one special memory from a past holiday.
i used to love slipping away from the huge family Christmas party with my dad to attend the Candlelight Christmas Eve service at church. i remember the first year i was "old enough" to go with him. it was so beautiful & peaceful. i haven't missed a single year since.
5. Name one holiday coming up, that you're really looking forward to, and why.
right now, i'm looking forward to a good Christmas, because i get to spend time with some very special people, enjoy good food & company, and make some new memories. =)
Feast One Hundred & Nineteen
Appetizer
Have you ever changed a flat tire by yourself?
no. i know how it's done but i'm never strong enough to actually unscrew the lug nuts since they are tightened with an air wrench. i needed help both times i needed to change a tire.
Soup
Do you have an "innie" or an "outie" belly button?
innie. whoever "made" my belly button did a good job. =)
Salad
Name a new paint color and describe it.
hmmmm... how about a warm cozy brown called Gingerbread
Main Course
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
attending the Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve
Dessert
If you were a cookie, what kind of cookie would you be, and why?
i think i would be Pfeffernusse because a) it has a cool name, 2) it was my Gram's favorite Christmas cookie and d) how do you go wrong with a little powdered sugar? =)
needed to print thirteen copies of a letter on company letterhead. pulled exactly thirteen sheets of letterhead out of the box without even trying.
::crickets chirp::
ok, well, i impressed myself anyway.
;-)
it's been a while, nine days to be precise, since i last talked a little sports here on the ol' blog. i know there was some silent rejoicing from a few select readers, but... i'm sorry to inform those of you who didn't miss it that it is, indeed, back. so. sit back. relax. take in some football and/or baseball... or skim... or feel free to just plain give me a hard time in the comments section without ever reading past this opening paragraph. i'm exercising the "it's still my blog & i will still talk about whatever suits my mood" rule. =P
i think i'll start with football & move on to baseball...
first, some of my own thoughts: i swear, Asante Samuel is completely underrated. three interceptions & nine tackles in the game against Chicago. that's not just your average cornerback right there. i was really sad to see Junior Seau's season (and probably career) end the way it did with that broken arm. the floppy forearm was immediately a bad sign & seeing him walk off the field with his arm in that air cast makes me nervous about defense yet again, especially with Rodney Harrison's return up in the air.
not as nervous as i was to see Bruschi down on the ground for a couple of minutes though. that's enough to send a girl over the edge. if there was anything more impressive than Asante's performance, i think it was Gostkowski's 52-yard field goal. after the first attempt didn't make it but was voided by the Bears calling a late timeout (probably trying to mess with Gostkowski's head. ha! did that ever backfire!), the kid snuck one through the uprights on round two. Adam who? ;-) and last, but not least, was Tom Brady's 11-yard run for first down on 3rd-and-nine. he may not be fast but he's tough enough to run & not slide short of the critical first down. which is more than we can say for *some* touted QBs.
speaking of QBs who should play in a powder puff league instead of the NFL, i will never ever tire of cracks on Peyton. for example: Archie's Older Doofus Spawn. i'm sorry but... i can't read that without laughing. especially because it silently includes Eli in the title as well (as the Younger Doofus Spawn, of course!) -- and the only thing better than poking fun at Peyton is poking fun at *both* Manning boys.
and speaking of Peyton:
5. Great article over at the Armchair GM. They did a fake BCS system for the NFL to see who would be playing in the Super Bowl. Here’s the line of the article:
Peyton Manning goes undefeated, yet still manages to choke, failing to reach the Super Bowl.
I mean, how perfect is that?
(Dirty Watah)
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
and now a little Q&A with a *real* QB:
Q: Talk about putting that move on Urlacher.
Tom Brady: I know. I would have never have thought I would, either. It must be the turf. I don't think that would have happened a few weeks ago. That was pretty cool. At least I can tell my kids one day that I shook Brian Urlacher. They probably won't believe me.
Q: Were you thinking at all about sliding?
TB: Well, I knew I needed nine yards for the first down. So, if I had slid at four [yards] my teammates would have killed me. I tried to do the best I can to make a guy miss.
Q: What did you say to Urlacher?
TB: We were laughing about it. He said, "Man, you made me look bad". I said, "You make the whole team look bad". He is a great player. That team can really bring it. The way they attack the football is pretty impressive. I wish we would have taken better care of the ball today. It is a great win for are team. They were 9-1. We really needed that one.
(Reiss' Pieces: Tom's Take)
::grins:: you just can't say the guy isn't likeable.
lots of talk about the turf that was installed at Gillette Stadium since the last (disasterous) Patriots home stand. some rumors that Brady is still adjusting to the surface & that his back is a little sore right now. he did have a career 19-1 record on artificial surfaces, though, going into that game. combine that with his record in domes & if i weren't such a supporter of not playing MLB & NFL indoors, i would say cap off that field in Foxboro & let's be in business! but, like baseball needs to be enjoyed in short sleeves on summer evenings, football should be affected by weather elements. back to my point: make that record 20-1 now, thank you very much. and we'll keep the turf.
i haven't had much opportunity to see the Patriots play this season & Tom Brady slings passes to so many receivers that the games i have seen, i don't recall any close-ups on Reche Caldwell. i got a couple in this past Sunday's matchup against Da Bears & omg. amen to this: the dude's Chris Tucker eyes still freak me out.
this just makes me smile:
Tedy Bruschi made like Rod Tidwell there. Bruschi went down on that third-down play, and the crowd began chanting TED-Y! TED-Y! Bruschi popped up off the turf like the character in "Jerry Maguire," which drew the "Bruuuuuuuu" cheer.
(PatsBlog: Tedy Gets the Love)
now as long as this continues to hold true (and a cursory glance over the remaining schedule says that there is hope for this, though we all know that you can't take anything for granted in the NFL), then i am thinking i will be able to enjoy the final weeks of 2006 Patriots football:
33-6 -- The team's post-Thanksgiving record since 2001, which is the best mark of any team in the NFL over that span.
(Reiss' Pieces: By the Numbers)
and now... baseball, as promised -- for those of you who suffered skimmed through the football ramblings.
this one goes back to late October, but there are just some quips that were too amusing to not share as i caught up with some archived posts:
8. Captain Fist-Pump wins the Hank Aaron Award. And somewhere in the backwoods of Texas, Kevin Millar demands a recount.
(TATB: They're not saying "Drewww . . .)
The Mets are reportedly interested in Mark Loretta. Are the Sox?
my sentiments *exactly*.
i am guessing we've all heard about Schill's ::coughcough:: appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy. i really thought Surviving Grady summed up well how i feel about all the criticism he received in "I'll Take Let's See Doug Savant Carry His Team to a World Series Title on One F#@%ing Foot for Five Hundred":
Hey, the guy isn't in the business of knowing anything about John Wilkes Booth or Rice-a-Roni. He's in the business of strapping 'em on, setting 'em down, and launching the drunken fans in the stands to dizzy new heights of euphoria.
a little respect for the Sox departed (as long as they don't turn to the Dark Side, of course):
8. Okay, so maybe he was mean to Michael Holley, and maybe it wasn't wise to say he didn't like watching baseball as a fan (funny how that one word is always omitted in most criticisms). Still, I remain convinced that the cause of Keith Foulke's injury problems in his final two seasons in Boston can be found in the physical sacrifices he made during the '04 postseason, particularly in the midst of the ALCS comeback when he threw 100 pitches in three days. Foulke traded two seasons, if not the rest of his career, to do his damndest to make Johnny From Burger King's baseball dreams come true that October, and for that you must be forever grateful. We should, and will, remember him for this first and foremost: Foulke to the set, the 1-0 pitch . . . here it is. Swing, and a ground ball stabbed by Foulke! He has it, he underhands to first . . . and the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's World Championship. Can you believe it?" Yeah, you bet I'll remember him well.
(TATB: Nine Innings: 11.13.06)
i give you one guess who this refers to: Team Beelzebub. i am telling you, Chad Finn over at Touching All the Bases has to be one of my absolute favorite sports bloggers. great writing, makes me laugh *and* i get Red Sox & Patriots in the same location!
i really enjoyed the way TATB wrote up the Manny situation, but it's too long to bring over here, so a link will have to do: Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
another on Manny & the prospect of acquiring JD Drew which i will admit is scaring me more & more: The Confusing Saga of Manny and JD
and finally, i'm still brooding over A-Gon not only getting away from the Sox, but losing the well- earned Gold Glove to Captain Fist-Pump. i could rehash it but i'll just provide some linkage to others who have already said their piece & just tell you that i wholeheartedly agree:
No Love for the Glove
Baseball: one sport where it definitely pays off to make it look really hard when you do something really easy
Please Excuse Me While I Go F-ing Crazy
Gonzo Loses Gold Glove to Jeter (?!)
Outrage
just when i thought i couldn't be disappointed anymore in the 2006 season...
i sing much better when i'm really tired. perfect pitch. i wonder why that is?
Read more...found this on Katie the Scrapbook Lady
Do you cook all or part of the meal?
i've helped to cook in the past, but not recently. i do enjoy being in & around the kitchen when the cooking is taking place though. the process fascinates me. and the smells. you just have to be aware of the cook's movements & be able to dance back out of the way as they move about their space.
How much do you spend buying groceries for the meal?
actually, i've never spent more than about $15 on ingredients for a couple of dishes my family used to request.
Do you eat at home or go to someone else's?
i have never hosted a Thanksgiving myself. i am always lucky enough to be a guest.
Describe your perfect bite?
the first taste of each dish on my plate. getting to experience each flavor for the first time.
White meat or dark?
i prefer the white.
Stuffing with giblets or without?
if they're in there, i don't want to know about it.
Anything you won't eat at the Thanksgiving meal?
i am not crazy about winter squash. and my Gram used to make creamed onions too -- also a "no, thank you" as well as real pumpkin pie. but this year i ate *everything* & it was amazing!
Carve Mr. Gobble at the table of serve on a platter?
how about carving the turkey in sight of the table since there is rarely room *on* the table for much in the way of serving bowls & platters?
Favorite pie?
apple. or a double layer pumpkin.
Formal table or Chinet?
formal. formal. formal. i can't even deal with the idea of a holiday table set with anything disposable! and i do have to say that the table i was lucky enough to sit at was set beautifully.
Your menu?
well, it wasn't so much *my* menu as the menu which i was served. Nichole posted it in her blog.
Favorite leftover?
i swear the dressing just got better & better. which is hard to believe since it was incredible the first time.
Extended family, friends, both or just immediate family for dinner?
well, growing up, it was just immediate family, which for us was me, my father, my brother & my father's parents. later we also added in my cousin, her husband & my aunt. now it's friends... i mean, *family*. =)
After dinner, do you go to the latest movie or football on TV?
it's just not Thanksgiving without *some* football on the tv. but i know not everyone enjoys it, so i am willing to compromise, as long as i get to see some.
Do you watch the Macy's parade?
NO!! please, no.
Christmas decorations up before or after?
after. never ever before. in fact, Christmas decorations shouldn't go up until the first Sunday in Advent or at least December first... but as long as it's after Thanksgiving, i can deal.
Black Friday shopping or sleep in?
i have never shopped the day after Thanksgiving. of course, i only have two gifts left to purchase this year, but in years past, i prefer to do the majority of my shopping in December when the malls really hum with holiday spirit.
Any special Thanksgiving tradition?
i'm all for creating some new ones... =)
Favorite thing about Thanksgiving?
the food shared with great company
Favorite Thanksgiving memory?
this year's climbed right to the top of the charts. i have some very fond memories of Thanksgivings back in Connecticut that will always be dear to my heart, especially the very last Thanksgiving my whole family was together, because we were very thankful that my dad was still with us, but this year's was... wonderfully special. =)
my work is done. just wasting time until i can leave at 1:30. found this over on Fleur de Lisa & thought why not? =)
ETA: kind of funny that i started this on Wednesday but then never got to finish. now i'm just killing time til i can get in my car to drive home...
1. Christmas tree: pine or cedar?
pine. scotch pine. love the way it looks, so full, with the long needles.
2. Name two dumb things you did as a kid.
hmmmm... well. Josh & i used to take turns standing in his Radio Flyer red wagon, the other one pulling us over big rocks in our grandparents backyard, to see who could stay standing longer. in retrospect, that seems like heads-split-open just waiting to happen. maybe Gram was right about that being a stupid idea... i can't really think of anything else i did as a kid that was dumb, though i am sure that i did them. i can *easily* think of lots of things my brother did though! like whack leaves off trees with his baseball bat... or throw rocks at our father's brand new Camaro...
3. What foods did your mom used to make that you will never, ever cook.
i only saw my mom once a week & she didn't make anything that i didn't like. it was all kid-friendly food & pretty much at our request. except for the bologna sandwiches. bologna gives me a headache. but if i were to pick my *Gram*, who cooked for me all the time growing up, i would have to say... Spam. red cabbage with brown sugar. Cream of Wheat. American Chop Suey. creamed onions. and any sort of mushy winter squash.
4. Describe the place you go to in your head when you need to calm down.
warm. safe. peaceful. and that's all i'm sharing about my special place because it's mine & i'm not sharing... ::small smile::
5. Have you ever seen a ghost, or something you can’t explain?
never a ghost, though two of my cousins lived with one. i swear. his name was Eddie, he wore a red plaid shirt & suspenders, and he liked Patricia but not Kate. he showed his teeth to Kate in a rather menacing manner. as for things i can't explain? ::looks around:: i wouldn't even know where to start listing the things i see that i can't explain.
6. If money and image didn’t matter, what would you do for a living?
private Disney tour guide ;-)
7. Did you ever fall off a horse and get right back on?
i've only been on a horse a handful of times & never fallen off. unless you mean the proverbial horse -- as in "If you fall off a horse, get right back on!" -- not really. i tend to reapproach the situation cautiously, if at all. been pushed off or unceremoniously dumped off too many horses to trust that getting right back on, or getting back on at all, is a good plan.
8. What name did you call a sibling that was sure to start a fight?
i don't ever remember calling Josh any names that were sure to start a fight. i had other ways to bug him if i wanted to accomplish that.
9. Describe the events surrounding you first alcoholic drink.
you know... i don't remember a single detail of my first alcoholic drink. and not because i was drunk off my ass either. i've never been more than pleasantly buzzed. i hate the out-of-control feeling that comes after that. i've been close to that feeling & then eased up because i don't enjoy it & if it's not enjoyable, why would i keep going with it?
10. Have you ever had a wild animal as a pet?
well... define "wild." Casey could be a wildman. but he was domesticated. can you imagine herds of wild Cocker Spaniels?? LOL! i digress.
11. Do you have a deep, dark, secret?
i would say that we all have a few. that doesn't mean there isn't someone who knows them though...
12. Would you ever shoot a deer?
i don't know. it doesn't bother me that people hunt, as long as it's not just for sport. i don't know how i would feel about actually shooting one myself though.
13. Do you return money if you get too much change?
i do if i happen to notice it when it happens. good karma, you know? doesn't hurt to keep the universe on your side. (hmmm... maybe i need to bulk up on the good karma. the universe has been kind of mean to me...) i'm not going *back* though if i don't notice until after i've actually left.
14. What puzzles you?
"why." i just want to know "why"...
15. How do/did you act toward a person you have/had a crush on?
i don't really have crushes any more... and i can't even remember the last one i had.
16. What makes you cry?
things i would rather not think about, much less share here.
17. What’s the best bargain you ever bought at a yard sale?
believe it or not, i haven't ever been to a yard sale. i have enough of my own junk. why do i need to by someone else's??
18. How much wood can a woodchuck chuck?
beats me. i don't even know what "chucking wood" means!
19. If nobody is watching, would you run a stop sign?
no. stop signs are there for a reason. if i were to run one, luck would have it a cop would be hiding somewhere to catch me, even though i *thought* nobody was watching. or someone else would also run the stop sign & crash into me. it only takes a moment to stop.
20. Do you believe in Hell?
absolutely. i don't think you can believe in Heaven without believing in Hell & i definitely believe in Heaven.
21. What material possession do you value most?
well, i value my computer & my camera for their monetary value. i value my cell phone because it keeps me connected to some very important people. but *sentimental* value would have to be the wedding photo i have of my grandparents.
22. Which day is better…Friday or Sunday?
well... Sunday has football, but Friday is... Friday. ::small smile::
23. Do you read a book more than once?
if i really enjoy a book & have nothing new to read, i will read a book more than once -- but only if i haven't read it in a while.
24. What is the greatest problem with today’s society?
wow. i don't know that i can narrow it down to one. there is greed & self-centeredness... and lack of accountability... and so many more problems... i just don't know that i can say one is the greatest. they all come in so may forms... and have so many consequences.
25. How old were you when you first touched somebody else’s hoohah?
i beg your pardon??
26. Would you ever skydive?
not very likely. i don't enjoy the feeling of dropping in *any* situation. actually *choosing* to jump out of a plane?? no thanks.
27. Name 3 songs significant to your romantic life, and tell why.
i'll name three, but i'm not disclosing the reasons. some things are just too... personal. "Ever the Same" (Rob Thomas). "Angel" (Sarah McLaughlin). "Simple Things" (Jim Brickman).
28. Would you ever have plastic surgery?
nope. i am who i am. if you don't like what's there naturally, then don't look at it, i guess.
29. Does bigfoot/sasquatch/yehti exist?
if they do, they are outsmarting all of us, since we have yet to prove it!
30. Are you a follower or a leader?
i think it is important to be both, as each individual situation requires. i am perfectly capable of being a leader, but there are times when it is much more important for me to sit back & let another person lead. i try to do both with as much grace as possible.
31. What’s the worst thing you did when you were a kid?
i was a really good kid, all things considered. i mean, sure, i did my share of back-talking & teasing my brother, but generally speaking, i was an easy child. very well-behaved when it came to the important things & rarely in trouble, pretty innocent & naive.
32. List three jobs you would never want to do.
anything involving trash. anything involving blood or puke. anything involving law enforcement.
33. Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi, but only when a carbonated beverage is absolutely necessary.
34. Where would you live if you could move your family, friends, and job there?
i think as long as i lived near a Disney, i would be happy. even happier with just a few special people all close by, but i've gotten used to being separated from *almost* everyone.
35. Is three really a crowd?
sometimes. but not always. =)
36. What kind of interpersonal interaction repulses you?
"close talkers." people who finish my sentences. and getting into my personal space before i know you.
37. Who would you rather spend an hour with, a writer or an entertainer?
hmmmm... maybe a writer... i guess it would depend on who the entertainer was!
38. Which calendar appeals to you:
this answer won't change. i've been getting this calendar for years now. the Lang calendar, "Four Seasons" by John Sloane. i guess it fulfills my need to "see" the four seasons change, even where i have only one.
39. What would you do if life gave you lemons?
life gives me lots of lemons. i try to make lemonade. some days i really want to cut the lemons in half & squirt the juice in life's eye, though. =P
40. Do you believe in love at first sight?
absolutely. being in love is like the flu: if you have to ask, you don't have it. now. whether or not you will admit it to yourself or try to run away from it is a completely different story. but i believe that when you are in love with someone, it's there right away.
41. Did you ever wish on a falling star, and have the wish come true?
i did. it took a really long time between the wish & the realization though. so maybe one had nothing to do with the other. i've kind of given up on believing that wishes come true.
no, really, she did, & i, like a lemming, must play too. ::shakes head::
Appearance
I'm short: compared to what? i think i'm above average in the height department. for a girl anyway.
I have scars: a few. most of mine aren't the visible sort though... i do have the obligatory chicken pox scars. and a very faint one on my left palm, near my thumb, from a burn i got as an infant. if i have more, i can't think of them.
I tan easily: if you happen to click on the above link, you will see that Michelle believes she would be crowned Miss Alabaster 2006. i think that i could give her a run for her money. i am so pale, i glow in the dark. i gave up trying to tan *years* ago. i just load up on the SPF now & remind myself that my skin won't look like leather when my years are more advanced & i am minimizing my risk of skin cancer.
I burn easily: i do if i don't wear sunscreen.
I wish my hair was a different color: not at all. i like my brown when i highlight, which i have. i don't think any other hair color would look right on me...
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color: i swear i just answered this question recently... you can see my natural color between the blonde highlights.
I wear glasses or contacts: i am going to leave Michelle's answer for this one, because, quite frankly, i could have written it myself - Glasses. I will never wear contacts. I cannot even take eyedrops, and you want me to put some itty tiny piece of something in my eye? Yeah, right.
I'm legally blind without them: i don't know about officially "legally blind," but i can't see much & am probably a danger to myself.
I have 5 or more piercings: dear God, no. i have one in each ear. that hurt more than enough. if i hadn't been afraid of looking dumb, i wouldn't have even pierced the second ear at the time. maybe i should have been more worried about *being* dumb though, because i could have just stopped right there & let the first hole close up...
I have/had piercing in places besides my ears: not a chance. *ever*.
Relationships
I miss someone right now: as a mtter of fact...
I've gotten divorced: never been married. in this case, lucky for me.
I've had a crush on a teacher: no, i didn't, but a lot of people had one on my senior year band director.
I've hugged a stranger: you're kidding me, right? i have an exclusive "hug list." very few people are allowed into my personal space.
Embarrassment
I've laughed so hard I've cried: on several occasions. my friends have to be some of the most amusing people i have ever known.
I've glued my hand to something: ummmm. yeah. when i was working for Bloomingdale's By Mail, in the receiving department, we got in this shipment of purses. it was Christmastime, the purses were backordered like crazy & the ones that arrived were missing this little chain decoration that they were supposed to have on the front. the manufacturer overnighted us the missing parts. i got nominated "Girl Who Glues" & off i went. the problem was that you had to Super Glue the chain to material that wasn't terribly cooperative so it required a lot of pressing... a few drops too many of the glue & i needed some assistance in being separated from ::looks sheepish:: more than one purse. acetone is not very friendly to the skin, in case you're wondering.
I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose: a few very well-placed comments have produced this result in the past. i can think of a couple of people who have been trying to properly time a comical remark with my partaking of a beverage. so far... no luck. there have been some worthy comments issued, but impeccable timing is of the essence. ;-)
I've had my pants rip/drop in public: no. and it's *not* on my list of things to do.
I was born with a disease/impairment: not that i know of. i am sure my parents would beg to differ. i cried the first three months of my life. i was a very colicky baby. i certainly had an attitude impairment about joining the real world, if nothing else.
I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend: only inadvenrtantly. i happened to run into a friend who had a doctor at the same office i used, and coincidentally we had appointments at the same time, so we waited together.
I've had my wisdom teeth removed: no. not yet. i suspect that's coming though. not really looking forward to it, truth be told.
I've had a serious surgery: i've never had *any* surgery.
I've had chicken pox: oh, yes. very much so. i was in the 8th grade. my brother gave them to me. the little troll had a half dozen spots on him & was fine over the course of a weekend. i was covered from head to toe, even had them in my ears & on my eyelids. i missed two & a half weeks of school -- they contemplated not allowing me to graduate, but my grades were outstanding & my brother carried my schoolwork back & forth each day, so i didn't fall behind. they almost didn't let me get confirmed though. my Gram would have *none* of that & i was allowed to show up just before the church service & had to leave immediately afterward. talk about feeling like a leper...
Experiences
I've gotten lost in a city: i wasn't lost. i was merely on a spontaneous adventure...
I've seen a shooting star: a few times. they always amaze me & they happen so quickly, i wonder if i imagined them.
I've wished on a shooting star: by the time i saw my first shooting star, i had stopped believing in wishes...
I've gone out in public in my pajamas: yes, but unless you know me, you probably wouldn't realize that i was in my pajamas. i usually sleep in track pants & a tank top.
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator: can't say that i have.
I've been to a casino: sure have. i even won. once.
I've been skydiving: there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this happening voluntarily.
I've played spin the bottle: i haven't. thank. God.
I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour: i haven't ever had a gallon of anything to drink in an hour. and i don't drink milk. ::shudder::
I've been in a car wash: what a bizarre question. i have been in a car wash many times. i was in one on Saturday in fact.
I've caught a snowflake on my tongue: i am a native of New England. i am not sure you qualify as a true New Englander if you didn't do this at least once in your life.
I've sat on a roof top at night: i don't think i've ever been on the roof top of anything, at night or otherwise.
I've played chicken: certainly not. but in high school, my friend, Brian, would periodically scare the hell out of me when we were driving somewhere at night on a deserted road, by turning off the headlights & taking his hands off the wheel of the car. i didn't so much enjoy that.
I've played a prank on someone: sure i have. can i think of a single one? no.
I've ridden in a taxi: this is sure to floor someone. i have never been in a taxi. i've been in limos. i've been in shuttles. i have taken buses & monorails & trams. but never a taxi.
I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show: once. not by choice, really. didn't enjoy it.
I've eaten Sushi: yes, i have. i am not terribly adventurous with it, but if someone i trusted, who knew my tastes, asked me to try something, i would.
Random
I own something from Hot Topic: i don't even know what that is. i probably sound old now. old enough to be someone's mother, maybe. =P
I own something I got on E-Bay: i don't *own* anything. i have attended various events using tickets purchased tickets from Ebay though.
I own something from Abercrombie: i did in the past. i don't anymore.
I own something from American Eagle: i've gone in & looked a few times. never found anything that i wanted though.
I own something from Anchor Blue: from where? seriously, am i *this* out of touch?
More Random
I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant: do i even want to ask why someone would do this? i've never even considered it.
I watch the news: i do. not every day, but regularly enough. at least the headlines & the weather. not the sports though. i only watch those on ESPN.
I curse regularly: not really. unless you count 'ass' & 'bitch' which are *technically* real words.
I sing in the shower: no. sorry.
I'm a morning person: i sure am. =) and a late at night person. from 2-5pm though? not so much.
I have listened to more than 30 CD's in a day: can you actually listen to that many CDs all the way through? are there enough hours in the day?
I've worn pajamas to school: only for Halloween the year i was dressed as a baby.
I know how to shoot a gun: as a matter of fact, i do! did so for the first time back in October. and i was told i did pretty well.
I laugh at my own jokes: not really. although sometimes i will think of a funny comment to make & start cracking myself up just thinking about it (yes, i am *that* much of a dork!) & am then unable to deliver the comment between fits of unexplainable laughter. (i told you i was a dork.)
I am really ticklish: very. and i don't like to be tickled. at all.
I play video games: the last time i played a video game, the original Nintendo was all the rage. i used to play Super Mario Brothers, Donkey King Jr, and Burger Time. aren't they fighting over like Nintendo 32 now? i dunno. don't really care.
I'm good at remembering names: if you're someone i *want* to remember...
courtesy of Monday Madness
Fill in the blank time!! Have fun and have a fabulous week!! =)
1. In order to protect my computer from viruses, I use Norton Antivirus, which I run every night.
2. I also use Spy Sweeper by Webroot, once a week, for protection from spyware.
3. I don't spend nearly enough time with those most important to me.
4. The first person I usually talk to in the morning is Nichole, by text.
5. It takes me about 45 minutes to get ready in the morning.
6. I keep all my appointments in/on my head & it's amazing that i don't forget more than i occasionally do.
7. It takes me about a half hour to fall asleep at night.
Week 196
I say ... and you think ... ?
Teacher :: lesson
Fifty :: cents
Crossword :: puzzle
Stuffed :: Thanksgiving
Family :: far away
Purr :: content
Toad :: so many toads, so few princes...
Cocktail :: dress
Insecurity :: losing...
Magical :: Disney World
brought to you by Patrick's Weekender
Saturday Six - Episode 136
1. When a bill arrives in the mail, what do you do with it: pay it immediately, hold it with others and pay at once, or put it off until the last possible minute?
i usually pay it within a week or so of receiving it.
2. Which actor makes the best James Bond?
i haven't watched all of the James Bond movies, so i can't give a truly informed answer, but i would have to say Sean Connery for the old Bond movies & Pierce Brosnan for the newer releases. in my opinion, they both have the right look for "James Bond."
3. Of the foods you enjoy, which one are you least likely to try cooking yourself?
hmmm... i can't really think of one i wouldn't at least *try* to cook myself.
4. Take the quiz: What does your birth month reveal about you?
Your Results:October
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.
5. Of the results you just got, which one seems the farthest from the "real" you?
wow. just wow. normally the October/Libra descriptions are pretty accurate for me. this one? i don't feel like i am really reading about myself at all. i definitely don't love people just because they love me. beauty? no. i really can't stand lies, but i have pretended things to myself for far longer than i should at times. i very rarely get angry. i do not constantly make friends; quite the opposite, in fact. i always care what others think, though some "others" more than other "others" (lol!). decisive?? really?! i don't *think* i'm touchy or jealous... and i have been called stubborn far more than i have been "easily influenced." i wonder how many of these characteristics might really be accurate & i am only deluding myself...
6. Will you see your extended family on Thanksgiving Day this year?
i actually won't be seeing any family at all on Thanksgiving.
after throwing four interceptions & no touchdowns two weeks ago against the Colts, followed by one touchdown pass & an interception of uncharacteristically poor decision against the Jets last Sunday, Tom Brady has indeed redeemed himself by tying his career high of four touchdowns yesterday & zero turnovers. everyone still thinking he's injured to the point of panic on Belichick's part? because i'm not.
and speaking of the Testaverde acquisition.
QB Vinny Testaverde
on his coming in to take three kneel-downs
"I ran in the huddle and called the formation and said `quarterback sneak on 1, ready!' and they all looked at me like `what?' I was just kidding. I was just sitting on the sideline and Bill asked me if I wanted to take a knee. I said `sure.' It's fun, just to go in the huddle and be with the guys for a couple of plays, under those circumstances, even if you're just taking a knee or handing it off." (Reiss' Pieces: Pats Chatter, Nov.19.06)
dude cracks me up.
yes, Nichole, i said dude. can i have my brain back yet? =P
two-game losing skid.
SNAPPED.
woo hoo!!!
251 consecutive game start streak.
SNAPPED?
=( hope not.
nine games for an undefeated season.
SNAPPED!!
sorry Peyton.
LOL.
sometimes i feel a real tremor in the universe. if we play a little word association (and you know *anything* about the NFL), when i say Bill Belichick, you should immediately reply track pants & hoodie. because that's what he wears. that's who he is. not a team polo & khakis. not a button-down shirt & dress pants. big sloppy, comfy track pants & an oversized gray fleece Patriots hoodie.
now i read this:
"Patriots coach Bill Belichick just held his Thursday press conference (10:30 a.m. ET) and it ended on a light note. With 49ers coach Mike Nolan and Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio reportedly granted permission to wear a suit on the sidelines for two games this season, Belichick was asked if he'd trade his trademark gray hoodie for a suit.
"I didn't even know it was an option," Belichick said. "I think it's great, really I do. When you think back to the Paul Browns and the Vince Lombardis, Tom Landry and guys like that, their busts in the Hall of Fame, George Halas, you can practically see them. I think it was really a signature for some of those coaches. ... If I had an option to wear one, would I consider it? Yes, I would definitely consider it."
step away from the suit, Bill. stick with the hoodie that has worked like a good luck charm. you see what happened when you started wearing the homeless man version even. don't mess with success, man! it hurts my brain almost as much as the day i read Surviving Grady about Trot Nixon -- Trot, of Fenway right field fame, with the pine tar covered cap & the dirtiest uniform in the line up, even when he's on the DL, because the dirt & grass stains are so embedded into the fabric that they can't be extracted -- conducting a NESN interview while wearing a suit. a what?? what is it with the suit?? my mind is just *not* designed to wrap itself around such abberations...
::shakes head furiously::
another tidbit i've been mulling around all week is that of Vinny Testaverde suited up in New England blue & silver. this, of course, caused a huge media buzz, speculating that Tom Brady *must* be injured. after all, isn't he on the injury report?? with that shoulder thing?? ::coughs:: i believe Tom Brady has been "probable with a right shoulder" for something like the last two and a half seasons. i personally want to take this a different direction. this is Bill Belichick. he's up to something. (as long as it isn't anything to do with a suit, i'm all for it.) have we forgotten that last season New England had the oldest QB in the league on the roster? one 43-year-old Doug Flutie? and the drop kick that we all marveled over as the season faded to black? Belichick is cooking something up. he likes trick plays. he likes kickers throwing for TDs and veteran QBs kicking field goals. and now we have 43-year-old Testaverde standing on the sidelines. this isn't about an injured Tom Brady. this is about the potential for some sort of trickery that only someone of Belichick's genius could devise, let alone execute, leaving us all momentarily slack-jawed before we burst into applause.
and in closing, something i didn't think i would be saying but... here we are...
GO COWBOYS!
Feast One Hundred & Eighteen
Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
i don't really know. i think about everything involved to make life on Earth possible & the delicate balance required & i wonder what the odds are that the miracle of life could actually exist somewhere else... and then i consider how vast the universe is... infinite... and wonder how life could possibly *not* exist somewhere else when the possibilties are limitless.
Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
leave New England & live somewhere else
Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
i have mentioned her before. my junior year English teacher, Anne Norton. she may be one of the best teachers i have ever had. she motivated & inspired us in ways that were so unconventional. most of the time, i don't think we were even aware that she was. she teased & used sarcasm. she called us names (nothing obscene though, at least not out loud). i often wonder if she has been able to continue teaching in her own style now that we have gotten so sensitive as a society... i digress. i was absolutely challenged in her class. so much so that when i had to write a paper in college for an education-related course, i actually went back & observed her & used her as the subject.
Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
no one. i wouldn't trade my place to be anyone else... ::small smile::
Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
probably the balsamic chicken with steamed broccoli over pasta that i make. it has some of my favorite ingredients & i've gotten really efficient at making it.
i'm going to warn you right now. if you watch Grey's Anatomy & you haven't watched it yet but you still plan to
STOP RIGHT NOW
do not read another word of this post until *after* you watch because i am going to talk about my favorite parts of last night's episode & i will feel *really* guilty ruining for you.
that being said...
**********************************
i had a real connection to Meredith's "dark & twisty" references and i am loving "bright & shiny" too (even if, in the end, she decided it wasn't something *she* could do.)
moment of identification for Dawn:
"Us with the boobies? We make a lot of bad decisions." (Meredith)
totally loved when George cornered Cristina & told her that he picked her as the intern for his father's case because she is a robot... and then pleaded with her to please be human. loved that. i really like George.
favorite symbolic moment:
when Addison threw the wedding rings into the water
completely cracked up at Frank, the patient who referred to himself in the third person. i know this is old news, because they did it on Seinfeld years ago, but i really thought Grey's executed it in a way *I* found way more amusing. and then when Alex & Izzie started doing it too? busted. a. gut.
and. speaking of Alex & Izzie.
best OMG moment:
when Alex grabbed Izzie & *kissed* her.
now *that* was a kiss.
i'm a little jealous.
**********************************
ok. that covers it, i think. just really enjoyed last night's episode & wanted to "snapshot" my thoughts while they were fresh.
here's to:
a little less dark & twisty
a little more bright & shiny
and kisses that stop you dead in your tracks.
i woke up, completely freaked out, somewhere around 4am (i think), after dreaming that zombies were trying to bite me.
settled myself down.
went back to sleep.
dreamt that Thing 1 (personal reference to someone i know, not the Dr Seuss chracter & just take my word for it ::shudder::) had started working for my place of of employment... and she was pregnant. i found this even more disturbing than the first dream when *it* woke me at 5:20.
i stayed awake after that.
freaking dreams.
TGIF
SPF: For Jenelle
This week SPF was thought up by Missing JTSnow. HEre is the email she sent: (I can’t quote box anything because I am THAT LAME)
Hey Kristine - loved the shout out to Breast Cancer Awareness this week. I totally have a theme for you for sometime in November! I’ll be blogging about it more next Wednesday, but November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (You know, that crappy monster that has a hold of my little girl!)
Anyway, you can totally say I suggested this so it won’t seem so inappropriate or distasteful (LOL) but I was thinking of this…
1. Something you seize (as in seizure, get it?)
2. Something that shakes (because you shake when you have seizures)
3. And something purple (because purple is the color for National Epilepsy Awareness Month!
Just thought I’d help! Have a great weekend!
KellyAka Missing JT Snow!
I hope you all get a chance to play!!
and i present to you...
1. Something you seize - seize the day... time... the moment...
2. Something that shakes - these little guys shake *everything* like crazy when they climb out of the water! and they are just about the cutest little things you ever did see.
3. And something purple - self explanatory...
...and a bonus purple, because the castle makes me happy, even if it's a little blurry...
1) It's A Small World - Disney World: it's in a building. Disneyland: it *is* its own building.
2) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - Disney World: you ride in a hunny pot. Disneyland: you ride in a beehive.
3) The Haunted Mansion - Disney World: the mansion has a Gothic Revival facade. Disneyland: the theme is a haunted Antebellum mansion *and* it gets redecorated from just before Halloween until just after New Year with a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme!
4) Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Disney World: there is only a tribute to it remaining, inside The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Disneyland: still has it!
5) "the square" - Disney World: has Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom. Disneyland: has New Orleans Square.
6) same track, different attraction - Disney World: Dinosaur in Animal Kindom. Disneyland: Indiana Jones Adventure.
7) the castle - Disney World: Cinderella Castle. Disneyland: Sleeping Beauty Castle.
8) The Enchanted Tiki Room - Disney World: has been transformed into the The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management), featuring Iago from "Aladdin" and Zazu from "The Lion King." Disneyland: has the *original* Tiki Room.
9) the tree house - Disney World: remains with the original Swiss Family Robinson theme. Disneyland: was remodeled & given a new "Tarzan" theme.
10) The Jungle Cruise - Disney World: there is an Asian temple ruins scene. Disneyland: there is a piranha attack.
11) "the automobile attraction" - Disney World: has Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, which is based on driving a Grand Prix race track. Disneyland: has Autopia, representing a "futuristic look" at a multi-lane highway.
12) "river rapids ride" - Disney World: Kali River Rapids, in Animal Kingdom, is a white water raft ride through the rain forests of India. Disneyland: Grizzly River Run, in Disney's California Adventure, is a rapids ride through a mountain mining camp.
13) Pirates of the Caribbean - Disney World: one drop. eight & a half minute ride. Disneyland: two drops. fourteen & a half minute ride. *way* better than the Disney World version. totally spoiled me.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
sometimes being able to produce a mental image in startling clarity is amusing & entertaining.
other times...
not so much.
so. you've noticed there hasn't been much talk of football around here the last two weeks. (i suspect some of you are rejoicing.) i just don't have much to say after two weeks of
and
so pick yourself up
start acting like the three-time Super Bowl champ you are and knock this off
because it's getting old & we know you have far better in you. i'm really getting tired of reading things like *this* already.
i find the opportunity to read jabs at Peyton far more entertaining.
the only consolation you are leaving me with is that if you decide to make a third end-of-game walk off the field that looks like this
at least that will be another good game for
had this one kicking around in the "file of possibilities" for awhile...
Answer with one word only, no explanations.
1. Yourself: emerging
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife: someday
3. Your hair: highlighted
4. Your mother: ammends
5. Your father: sacrifice
6. Your Favorite Item: camera
7. Your dream last night: searching
8. Your favorite drink: water
9. Your Dream Home: comfortable
10. The Room You Are In: office
11. Your love: possibility
12. Your fear: pain
13. Where you Want to be in Ten Years: happy
14. Who did you hang out with last night: myself
15. What You're Not: aggressive
16. Your Best Friend: irreplaceable
17. One of Your Wish List Items: this
18. Your Gender: female
19. The Last Thing You Did? listened
20. What You Are Wearing: blue
21. Favorite weather: warm
22. Your Favorite Book: reread
23. The Last Thing You Ate: yogurt
24. Your Life: rearranging
25. Your Mood: pensive
26. The last person you talked to on the phone: customer
27. What are you thinking about right now: someone
...does this cost you a dollar to read? =P
found this one while perusing the blog of another Monday Madness participant this morning. couldn't resist. and since apparently you all can't stop collecting useless Dawn trivia, here you go. more for your collection.
1. How old will you be in five years?
35. halfway through my 30s. i wonder what i will look back & see has changed...
2. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?
all the lovely people i work with.
3. How tall are you?
they told me 5'7" the last time i was at the doctor. i've been told they must be lying to me. i don't know. i have to believe what they tell me.
4. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?
the next six weeks emcompass almost the entire holiday season. i am looking forward to *many* things. and none of them can possibly be ranked as "most."
5. What's the last movie you saw?
i can't even remember the last time i saw one in the movie theater. i did watch "The Wizard of Oz" on TBS Saturday night though!
6. Who is the last person you called?
Alison. i called & relayed a message to her from our former boss.
7. Who was the last person to call you?
our accounting manager called me to ask for some paperwork.
8. What was the last text message you received?
well i deleted it just a few minutes ago, but Nichole said something to the effect of "That's true. It can always be worse."
9. Do you prefer to call or text?
i like them both, thank you. sometimes one is easier or more appropriate than the other at the moment, that's all.
10. Do you have any pets?
i have a pup but he doesn't live with me.
11. What were you doing at 12am last night?
i was just settling into bed after watching the Bears stomp all over the Giants on Sunday Night Football.
12. Are your parents married/separated/divorced?
both married but not to each other.
13. When is the last time you saw your mom?
i saw her in June when my brother got married.
(Where is number 14? I'll add one.)
14. What is the last CD you listened to?
i have one of the Grey's Anatomy sound tracks in my cd player in my car. if i scan all my radio presets & don't find a song i want to listen to, i just hit play & listen to a few tracks from the cd before trying the radio again.
15. What time did you wake up today?
6:20am
16. What are you wearing right now?
comfy flowing black pants (work *great* as good eating pants!). a long sleeve brick red t-shirt. socks. black heeled boots. and a wind breaker because this office feels like the North Pole.
17. What's your favorite Christmas song?
"O! Little Town of Bethlehem"
18. Where is your favorite place to be?
Disney. World or Land. they both make me very happy.
19. Where is your least favorite place to be?
stuck in traffic when i have to be somewhere time sensitive.
20. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?
my home away from home =)
21. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?
i don't know where i'll be next *month*.
22. Do you tan or burn?
i burn. it hurts a little. i don't peel. i fade right back to "blinding white."
23. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?
vampires. or jackyls. the vampires i am sure most people are familiar with. the jackyls? well, i have *no* idea what they are or were, but my Gram scared the bejeezus out of me, telling me that if i went outside after dark, the jackyls would get me. my Gram was a smart lady. i didn't ask questions.
24. What was the last thing that made you laugh?
teasing a co-worker that his Indianapolis Clots were going to take their only loss for the season the week that they play the Arizona Cardinals. i wish... unfortunately, it's not likely to happen at all.
25. How many TVs do you have in your house?
two. one in the living room & one in the bedroom.
26. How big is your bed?
it's queen size. more than enough room for one person. especially one who sleeps curled up in a tiny little ball.
27. Do you have a laptop or desktop computer?
desktop! i love the idea of a laptop, especially one with a wireless connection. but i worked for a computer company for a while & learned that laptops can be very cranky. i can't run the risk of having *no* computer & i can't afford to have two, so i will stick with the somewhat more reliable desktop variety.
28. Do you sleep with or without clothes on?
comfy pajamas usually...
29. What color are your sheets?
white
30. How many pillows do you sleep with?
right now? six.
31. What is your favorite season?
Autumn.
32. What do you like about fall?
well, if you happen to mean somewhere where there *is* an actual Autumn, i love everything. the weather. the trees. the smell of the air. the apples & pumpkins. cool nights & warm days but nice & crisp. baseball post season. start of football season. there is nothing about Autumn that i don't love!
33. What do you like about winter?
well in Florida, i like that there is no snow to shovel, no ice to drive on & no slush puddles to step into. it gets colder but not frigid (not that you'd know it to listen to *me* whine! LOL!). but i do miss being able to look outside from my warm, cozy home & see the snow falling & the whole ground blanketed in soft white.
34. What do you like about the summer?
sandals & happy painted summer toes. and *baseball*.
35. What do you like about spring?
warmer weather. colors after the dreary end of winter. in Florida, we get the scent of orange blossoms.
36. How many states have you lived in?
two.
37. What cities/towns have you lived in?
Bristol. Terryville. Davenport. Winter Garden. Clermont. Auburndale. Lakeland.
38. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
for what? i mean, outside, i prefer to have shoes on. inside, i wear socks, unless my feet are too warm. then i am bare foot.
39. Are you a social person?
sometimes. i like my quiet time too.
40. What was the last thing you ate?
a granola bar. and my growling stomach reminds me that it would like me to please heat up the penne alfredo with broccoli that is waiting upstairs in the refrigerator.
41. What is your favorite restaurant?
i don't really have a favorite at the moment.
42. What is your favorite ice cream?
it's awfully hard for me to pick a favorite ice cream. there are so many yummy ones. i don't like anything excessively chocolate though when it comes to ice cream. *some* chocolate, yes, but not overwhelmingly so.
43. What is your favorite dessert?
cheesecake or warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
44. What is your favorite kind of soup?
new england clam chowder
45. What kind of jelly/jam do you like on your PB & J sandwich?
grape. or raspberry.
46. Do you like Chinese food?
yes, i do. i especially like Chinese food buffets so i can pick a variety of what looks good at the moment. i am especially fond of sweet & sour chicken, chicken & broccoli, and vegetable lo mein.
47. Do you like coffee?
i love the way it smells & i love coffee ice cream. i like frozen coffee beverages (*not* iced coffee though!). but a cup of straight coffee makes me ridiculously jittery.
48. How many glasses of water, a day, do you drink on average?
i have a couple of bottles while i am at work & then when i get home, i will fill my water cup once or twice for the evening. sometimes more. rarely less.
49. What do you drink in the morning?
a small glass of unsweetened 100% cranberry juice.
50. Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone?
for right now, alone is good.
51. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
where ever i happen to fall asleep, which these days is right smack in the middle.
52. Do you know how to play poker?
nope & i would be bad at it. i can't lie & i have no poker face at all.
53. Do you like to cuddle?
yes, i do.
54. Have you ever been to Canada?
i went to Quebec in 1993. and to the Canadian side of Niagra Falls in 1996.
55. Do you have an addictive personality?
i don't know how exactly an addictive personality would be defined. i know that some people are drawn to my mellow, laid-back personality & others find it frustrating.
56. Do you eat out or at home more often?
i'm pretty good about eating at home. i'm getting back in the groove of cooking for myself.
57? I'll add one. Do you have a wall calendar in your home, and if yes, what kind is it and where is it hung?
i always get the same calendar. it's a Lang calendar. The Four Seasons with art work by John Sloane
58. Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you?
no. i don't even think i know of anyone who has an October birthday. i do know three people who have a June 25 birthday though!
59. Do you want kids?
i am not planning to have any right this second but one or two, if they happen on their own, in the future. and by on their own, i mean without any heroic efforts. i respect people who are driven to have babies by any means necessary, but that isn't for me.
60. Do you speak any other languages?
a little bit of German & some fragments remaining from four years of high school French.
61. Have you ever gotten stitches?
never.
62. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
thankfully not.
63. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
since i prefer not to swim, the ocean, because i can be there for the peacefulness & the beauty.
64. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
that depends. if i am flying alone & not in any particular hurry, then i like the window. if i am going to be anxious to meet up with whoever may be waiting for me, then i like the aisle so i can grab my stuff & get off the plane already. and if i am flying with someone i like spending time with, then i don't care *where* i sit, even if it's in the middle seat.
65. Do you know how to drive stick?
several people attempted to teach me. several people failed.
66. What is your favorite thing to spend money on?
little surprises for the people i love.
67. Do you wear any jewelry 24/7?
i take my jewelry off when i'm in for the day. i only wear two things anyway. my watch & a necklace. i wear them almost every single day. sometimes, if i am going somewhere that requires me to *really* dress up, i will also put in earrings.
68. What is your favorite TV show?
i can't pick between two current shows: Boston Legal & Grey's Anatomy. but of all time, it is Friends, hands down.
69. Can you roll your tongue?
sure can!
70. Who is the funniest person you know?
most of my friends can make me laugh. a *lot*. Baby Girl *really* makes me laugh though. kids say & do some of the funniest things *ever*.
71. Do you sleep with stuffed animals?
i don't think that i ever have, actually...
72. What is the main ring tone on your phone?
it doesn't ring. it buzzes.
73. Do you still have clothes from when you were little?
not that i am aware of...
74. What red object is closest to you right now?
ummmm... lol... my bra.
75. Do you turn off the water when you brush your teeth?
i know it is horribly wasteful, but no, i don't.
76. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
i hate when closet doors & cabinets are left open. i always close them when i'm done.
77. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees?
ummmm... well... the bear would be a quicker way to go, i guess. not really so thrilled with either though.
78. Do you flirt a lot?
i used to once upon a time. now? no.
79. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
aaaaaahhhhhhhhh!! no more chicken nuggets!! but honey mustard used to be the dipping sauce of choice.
80. What is your favorite food?
not counting anything dessert-like in nature, i think... mashed potatoes & gravy.
81. Can you change the oil on a car?
LOL! you're kidding right?
82. Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?
no. i. have. not.
83. Have you ever run out of gas?
*i* haven't but i've been in the car with someone who has.
84. What is your usual bedtime?
anwhere from 10:30pm til around midnight.
85. What was the last book you read?
i am almost done with "The Summons" by John Grisham. i've been reading it for about three weeks now but i've been taking my time with it. not because it isn't good, but because i don't know what to read when i'm done & i always like to have something around to read.
86. Do you read the newspaper?
i dont get the newspaper but i do check the news online.
87. Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
Redbook & Good Housekeeping -- just fluff women's magazines to thumb through. and Simple Scrapbooks which i think is about to expire.
88. Best comedian?
i don't know many comedians, but i really like Steven Wright's one-liners.
89. Do you watch soap operas?
not anymore. i used to watch Sunset Beach a long time ago until it went off the air though.
90. Do you dance in the car?
BAHAHAHAHA! no. the only dancing that i like to do at all is the slow kind.
91. What radio station did you last listen to?
i am forever changing radio stations when i am in the car. i think the last station it was on this morning was MAX 98.3 -- the greatest music from the 80s, 90s & today.
92. Who is in the picture closest to you?
this photo of Baby Girl from July 2005
93. What was the last note you scribbled on a piece of paper?
"Ernest X. sand blasting. start date Nov 14."
94. What is your favorite candle scent?
oh man. Yankee Candle for sure. but i have *so* many! Autumn Wreath. Balsam & Cedar. Cinnamon Apple Berry. Mistletoe. Pumpkin Pie. Lavender. Honeydew Melon. Granny Smith. Apple Cider. Cinnamon Vanilla. Cranberry Chutney. Farmhouse Apple. Vanilla Caramel. Hazelnut Coffee. Clean Cotton. Rain Washed. Ocean Water. Sunwashed Linen. Tropical Vanilla. Holiday Bayberry. Home for the Holidays. and the new holiday scents: Sparkling Pine. Sparkling Vanilla.
95. What is your favorite board game?
i enjoy a good game of Monopoly. i also really like the game Scattergories.
96. Where do you attend church?
at the moment... when i go... it's to Christ Lutheran Church in Lakeland.
97. When was the last time you attended church?
Easter morning. yes, i know. *bad* Dawn.
98. Who was your favorite teacher in high school?
my junior year English teacher, Ms Anne Norton
99. What is the longest you have ever camped out in a tent?
i have *never* camped out in a tent. not for this girl!
100. What are you doing right now?
outside of filling out this survey (which has taken me the better part of two & a half hours since i am doing it between other things): answering the phone. printing delivery tickets. replying to email. texting. making copies. posting mail.
brought to you by Monday Madness
This week's questions all come from fellow participants and it pretty much completes all the suggestions I've received so far. Feel free to continue to offer your suggestions. I appreciate your support and your participation! Have a great week! =)
1. From ch'i:
If you could only read one blog every day- which one blog would be on your daily list?
i don't know that i could pick just *one* blog. i keep up with so many of my friends through their blogs. even the ones i talk to frequently. i think i will have to cheat & say i would just check my Bloglines account... ::looks sheepish::
2. From kat:
What do you do to de-stress from a hectic day?
come home, take a hot shower, get into comfy clothes, make something low maintenance for dinner and hang out in front of the tv & computer for the evening.
3. From paxil princess:
What is your favorite piece of clothing to wear in the winter?
i have a sweater that my Gram gave me for Christmas about seven years ago. it's deep red, charcoal gray & ivory & it has a subtle showflake pattern. i love it because it's warm & cozy, it's my favorite colors & it reminds me of her. it doesn't get cold enough to wear it in Florida though for more than a month or so.
4. From sherle:
Do you prefer discussing problems with a sibling, a parent, a significant other, a psychologist, or a total stranger?
where is *my* answer?? where is "a close friend"...?
5. From trista:
How long have you been blogging?
since December 26, 2004
6. From lisa e:
Which side of the bed?
right now? the middle
7. From elton:
How often do you pig out when you eat?
not very often. i don't tend to eat a huge amount at one time. i graze all day instead. =P
8. From karen:
Do you watch the space shuttle launches?
not specifically. but if i am standing in a good location outside & it's clear enough, sometimes i can see them
9. From dawn:
What's your favorite leisure-time activity?
just hanging out at Disney World. alone or not. *always* with my camera.
10. From sherle:
When is the last time you said, 'I love you' and to whom?
What about hugs? Who is the last person you hugged?
not recently enough.
hugs... i miss hugs.
Things that scare me:
hurting someone that i love
great big prehistoric-size spiders
vampire movies
People who make me laugh:
Baby Girl
Andie
the entire cast of Friends
Things I don’t understand:
why the Red Sox have not signed Mark Loretta to a new contract
how people can be cranky at Disney World
things related to numbers
Things I am doing right now:
watching Sunday Night Football
drinking some hot apple cider
drying a load of laundry
Things I can do:
take a halfway decent photo
navigate my way around Disney World without the aid of a guide map
listen well
Ways to describe my personality:
quiet
mellow
resilient
Things I can’t do:
root for the Yankees, the Bucs or the Colts
make myself eat Spam, oatmeal or bananas
drive a stick shift
Things I think you should listen to:
your heart
your gut feelings
me (lol)
Things you should never listen to:
people who seek to shake your confidence
John Madden's football commentary
anyone with a chronically negative attitude
Things I’d like to learn:
how to cook better
how to take even better photos
how to silence my own fears
Favorite Foods:
Balsamic chicken & broccoli
mashed potatoes & gravy
ice cream
Beverages I drink regularly:
ice cold water
unsweetened 100% cranberry juice
(when it gets cool outside) hot apple cider
TV Shows I watched as a kid:
Full House
Beverly Hills 90210
Captain Kangaroo
i am so tired of hearing about how unfallible Peyton Manning is. he *does* fail. when it counts. in the playoffs.
know what i'm ready for?
Peyton to be on the cover of Madden NFL 08.
Week 197
I say ... and you think ... ?
Nick :: tiny cut from shaving
Focus :: camera
Police :: officer
Miles :: too many
Earn :: reward
Twice :: baked potato
Razor :: sharp
Personality :: cheerful
Dumped :: spilled
Reliable :: able to be counted on to come through when needed
Marianne had a fun quiz on her blog that she found at QuizBox & i couldn't resist playing along!
Get to know yourself better
Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.
The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.
Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you meet that person.
The seriousness of your love:
You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.
Your views on education:
You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.
The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.
How do you view success:
Success in your career is not the most important thing in life. You are content with what you have and think that being with someone you love is more important than spending all of your precious time just working.
What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.
Who is your true self:
You like privacy very much because you enjoy spending time with your own thoughts. You like to disappear when you cannot find solutions to your own problems, but you would feel better if you learned to share your thoughts with a person you trust.
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