Monday Morning Meme and More....

Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It's passing, yet I'm the one who's doing all the moving. ~Martin Amis, Money



1. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why? Care to hand write a short letter to us, scan it, and then post it to your blog?

I write on a keyboard almost exclusively. I'll write notes to myself and brainstorm stuff in a notepad, but actually writing is always on the computer. Why? Because it's faster and I can edit as I go without scribbling. I don't have a scanner, so can't do the last part. I don't have an iPod, a gaming system, an eReader or a Blackberry either. Aside from my laptop (which is a couple years old), I am a technological dinosaur.

2. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.) Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Now tell us how they make you feel when you wear them.

Right now, I'm not wearing any. I would go barefoot all day, every day if I could. I am NOT a shoe freak. In the summer I wear sandals (usually the flip-flop kind, but leather) or my gardening clogs or sneakers if I'm walking a lot. In the winter I wear hiking boots or snow boots. I have two pairs of dress shoes that I never wear, and two pairs of cowboy boots that I seldom wear. Aside from the cowboy boots, none of my shoes are name brand. It's one of the reasons I don't read much chick-lit or enjoy "Sex In the City" -- seriously, who CARES about shoes? They cover my feet. Beyond that? ::shrugs::

3. Who was your arch enemy in high school? Why were they your enemy? Do you think you could be friends today? Why or why not?

I didn't have one. Seriously. I can't think of one person I even disliked strongly. I did have one in fifth grade, Diane M., who even went as far as to call me out for a fight. I also had one in fourth grade, Mike V., who always tried to kiss me (ICK... I was so not into boys then). Once, as I was walking past him on the bus, he grabbed me and tried to kiss me... so I took my pile of books and smashed him on the head. I'm pretty sure that was his last attempt. I think about the way school is today and realize that HE would have been in trouble for "sexual harassment" and I would have been in trouble for assault. Times were much easier when I was little -- and we worked it out.

Mostly, though, I got along with pretty much everyone in school.

4. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be? How would this new-found ability or quality change your life?

To NEVER have to sleep. Oh yeah -- I'd gain TIME, Bay-bee!! What I wouldn't give for an extra two hours, never mind a solid EIGHT every day!!!!!

You?

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I have my first mosquito bite. Welcome to the season of bugs. Ugh. I've already picked of several ticks from Dakota, and both my DH and DD have had a tick each. I love the warmth, but hate the bugs.

*sigh*

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Monday Morning Meme and More

All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than animals that know nothing. ~ Maurice Maeterlinck



1. If a new medicine were developed that would cure cancer but caused a fatal reaction in one percent of those who took it, would you want it to be released to the public? Why or why not? Do you think we’re close to curing cancer? Have you ever lost someone to cancer? If so, please write a short tribute to that person.

Let's see... speaking as a person who lost her father to cancer, and whose mother is a cancer survivor... Yes. I would say release the cure. So many cancers are terminal (Dad had lung cancer, and was given NO chance at survival. Mom had breast cancer, and had surgery but no chemo and came through like a champ. Does Bailey count? She had bone cancer.) and I really think people should be given a choice of treatments. For someone like Dad, who was terminal anyway, what would he have lost by taking a drug that might kill him?

Are we close to curing cancer? I doubt it. I'd like to think so, but honestly, I don't think treatments have changed all that much in the last 20 - 30 years. We don't understand the disease and really don't even know what causes it (except in the case of lung cancer... and even then, some folks who have never smoked and weren't exposed to much second-hand smoke, will get it). Our bodies are funny things. Dr. Marianne thinks a lot of it has to do with chemicals that we pump into our bodies... but that's just me.

A short tribute to someone... gah. I can't -- it tears me up. Dad has been gone for seventeen years and there are times I can't stand how much I miss him. I wish he was here to see his granddaughter (who keeps a picture of him on her dresser). I wish he'd been around to give me away at my wedding and dance with me after I was married. Most of all, though, I wish I'd spent more time with him when he was alive. I was pretty young then (he died when I was in my very early 20s) and thought there was always tomorrow. There isn't. His death taught me a very hard lesson: there's not always time to tell people you love them, or give them a hug, or laugh with them. I think this is why it's so hard for me to be far away from my mom now... what if today is the last day I have with her, and I'm not with her? What if today I opt to NOT call her, and this is the last day I'd have that chance? Life is never quite long enough.

And, now I'm crying anyway. Dang it.


2. You discover your wonderful one-year-old child is, because of a mix-up at the hospital, not yours. Would you want to exchange the child to try to correct the mistake? Why or why not?

It would tear my heart out, but yeah I'd exchange the child. I'd hope that both families could keep in touch, but even if we didn't the fact remains -- the correct child should go to the correct family, and better at one y.o. than at five or ten.

3. Do you think that the world will be a better or a worse place 100 years from now? Explain your answer, please.

If the world is around 100 years from now? I have no idea. I don't believe that, overall, the world is a better place NOW than it was 100 years ago. Medical advances aside, we are just as cruel and heartless as we were then (if not more so), and now we have the power to hurt even more people. I'm a firm believe that inanimate things tend to be amplifiers (my DH will say things like "money is evil" -- I disagree. I think money makes you more of whatever you are: if you're a generous person, you'll become more generous. If you're a arrogant, controlling person you'll become more arrogant and controlling... because money gives you the freedom to be "more".), so advances like the internet have given people the chance to be both better and worse.

I'm not a Pollyanna. I'm more Chicken Little. Sorry.

4. How many pictures do you have on your living room walls? And what are they? (paintings, photographs, sketches, abstract, family, etc). Feel like taking us on a tour of your home? If so, post your video or photos!

Downstairs I have eleven pictures, and it's hard to choose which room is the "living room" honestly. We'll exclude the three in the dining room, leaving eight. Four are nicely framed oil paintings -- two autumn country scenes and two winter country scenes.

Of the four remaining: one is an landscape (woodsy) oil painting done by my MIL and given to DH and I on our fifth anniversary, one is a picture of my mom and her sisters when then were very small, one is a southwestern picture drawn by my SIL and one is a "Home Sweet Home" cross stitch done by me.

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So, yesterday began as a lovely, sunny, and warm (for here) day. I walked the dog early... before DD and DH woke, and was cool but not cold. I couldn't wait for it to warm up more so I could work outside.

I took Dakota and DD for a nice long walk around 10:30 and it started getting cold. Windy. Overcast.

We got home, had lunch and then -- while we were doing dishes -- it STARTED SNOWING. Big, fat, fluffy flakes. It only lasted about 30 mins, and the ground is thawing, so it didn't stick but GAH. And after the storm, the frigid winds really kicked up, so no working outside yesterday, dang it.

I'm so ready for warm weather. We're hoping official ice out will be mid-April. I always guess April 24th (DD's birthday). Last year it was April 23rd. So close... but DH is getting really, really antsy.

Next weekend, he'll be taking down more trees. Our new neighbor has given us permission to cut down all the pines trees between our properties. DH hates pine trees with an all consuming passion, so there will be a bloody massacre in six days.

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You Were an Active Kid

When you were a kid, you were happy as long you didn't have to sit still. You were very hyper, and it was hard for you to sit through class or finish your homework. It's likely that you were a natural athlete and a natural entertainer. You loved to play outside with your friends. You were an outgoing, popular kid. Put you in a sports game or a school play, and you really shined.

What Kind of Kid Were You?

Hmmm... yes and no. I am NOT hyper, exactly. Active, yes. I was an athlete (basketball, volleyball and--briefly--cross country track), and I was in drama (even got "best actress" in my senior year, lol). And, though I wasn't in the popular clique, I really did know lots of people and pretty much got along with everyone from the cheerleaders to the geeks.

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Monday Morning Meme and More!

I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn't itch. ~Gilda Radner



1. Does blogging make you fat? Do you find yourself sitting around and eating more since you started your blog? Or do you get so caught up in the whole blogging routine that you forget to eat?

Let me just make one thing very clear: I never forget to eat. I wish I did now and then, but food and I? We are tight. BFFs.

Now, it's not BLOGGING that makes me sit around on my rapidly increasing rear -- it's the LASR/WC website. Yeppers... that sucker is very labor intensive, and it's all computer based. So, yikes. One of the ladies who is participating in JaNoWriMo can write and walk on her treadmill. I need to figure out how to do something like that!!

2. The one topic I will not touch on my blog is __________. Why? What sorts of topics do you receive the most comments on? What sorts of topics do you receive the least number of comments on?

I don't talk about politics or religion -- too easy to get a flame war going on either of those things. I have very, very strong views on both subjects, but don't feel the need to share them here. And, typically I get most comments on topics of a personal nature (like my post, below, about Dakota passing her Good Citizen class, for instance). Least number? My guest bloggers. I guess it's because my readers don't KNOW the person, so unless something specific really resonates, they don't feel the need to comment.

3. Spring is coming. How is your wardrobe? What sorts of clothes do you usually wear in the spring? Where do you normally shop for your clothes? How successful are you in finding clothes for yourself?

I just bought four new long-sleeved T-shirts at the LL Bean Outlet's President's Day sale -- everything in the store was 30% off (be still my heart). Spring and winter clothing isn't all that different for me... temps here still stay cold until May, when I switch to summer clothes. The only real difference is the jacket I wear when I go outside (no more heavy winter coat, now I'll wear my lined windbreaker or fleece jacket).

I typically try to shop for my clothes at higher end stores, but from the sales rack. The fact is, you really do get what you pay for, and a T-shirt from WalMart is utterly different than a T-shirt from LL Bean. OTOH, the frugal side of me refuses to pay $29 for a T-shirt -- so, I wait, and I watch and I scoop them when they are $8 each (oh, yes I did!). I shop at Macys and Kohls and Lands End, but only from the sales rack. I truthfully don't even LOOK at the full-priced clothing.

Yes, I am cheap frugal and wise.

And, finding clothing for myself is very, very difficult because I really dislike the styles (and have for the last 5-6 years). I don't like tight clothes (and, dear heavens, do normal people look good in those skin tight shirts? The answer, folks, is NO.), and I have long legs and arms and no waist to speak of. So shirts? Finding them not tight with sleeves that actually go down to my wrists? HA. And pants? If they fit in the waist, they're baggy in the butt. If they fit my butt, they're so tight in the waist I can't breathe. And, I'm not even going to talk about the fact that most of them are practically Capri's on me.

Oh. Woe.

4. We should treat every day as a special gift - we’re alive, right? What made this past week special for you? (And if you’ve already talked about that special something on your blog, then think of something else - something little perhaps, but had a big impact on you or your loved ones).

These questions are so hard for me. I'm a naturally negative and depressed person, so it's not instinctive to look at the bright spots. Um... Hey, Dakota passed her Good Citizen test!! And, we didn't lose power last night, despite the fact the lights flickered and we lost our satellite signal. Those are good, right?

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We did get whomped with snow... several inches of the heavy, wet, white stuff. And, yes, our lights flickered a bunch. I was a wreck. I don't know if I'll ever get over losing power for so long during the ice storm in December!

I woke up this a.m. around four and couldn't hear the hum of the fridge. I leaped up and checked the lights. On. Phew.

I don't take electricity for granted ANY MORE.

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Monday Morning Meme and More...

Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity. ~Author Unknown



1. What did you do over the weekend?

Well... you guys already know! LOL... Judy and I had a chat at the WC Yahoo group (with tons of prizes which are packed up and waiting for the post office to open). Judy was a trooper and hosted it on her own for the first 90 minutes or so while I took my DD to the urgent care. Otherwise it was pretty much same old, same old...

2. What was your first impression of your spouse or current partner? Now tell us about your first date with this person.

My VERY first impression? LOL... Um, I had towed my car over to the auto shop where he worked (it was my first full day in a new city and state and I needed the drive shaft put back in my car) and his boss and I were busy undoing the chains on the tow dolly. Next thing I know, I look over and he's there hooking them back up again! He tells me it's cuz I was distracting him (yeah... me in my sweats and no makeup, with "three days on the road" showing all over me).

Still, my poor car seemed to have lots of problems over the next couple of weeks (seriously... I wasn't trying to set things up), so we kept getting thrown together. Once, I walked in and he was blasting country music, and I loved to country dance so I asked him if he knew a place to go. He not only told me where, but told me when he'd be there next and drew me a map of the place with a big "X" where he "always" hung out.

Think that was a hint?

Still, it was amusing because I got there fairly early and found a table. I danced some and enjoyed the place. He finally showed up with a pile of friends. And every time I went to go where he was, he escorted someone to the dance floor. I'd wait until he got back and get up, and he'd be taking someone else! I finally gave up after doing that a few times. Eventually he finally noticed I was sitting a nearby table and came over. The rest was history.

3. How many lurkers do you think you have that read your blog, but never comment? Have you ever been successful at getting them to say hello? Do you mind the lurking? Are you a lurker? Or do you try and comment every time you visit?

I clearly have a lot of lurkers, because my stats tell me I have close to 100 visitors on average every day... but only 8-10 comments. I wish they'd say hi so I could check out THEIR blogs. C'mon folks... give me a shout out!

And, I seldom lurk. If I'm going to bother reading a blog with any regularity, I'm going to comment. I don't always comment the first time I'm there, but if I go back once or twice? You bet I'll say howdy.

4. Good friends is are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. (Judy stole my "coffee" answer... lol)

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So... DD has made a miraculous recovery and is acting as though she never felt sick! LOL... she still has a little sniffle and the occasional cough, but for the most part, she's recovered. It amazes me, because she was truly all but on death's door on Saturday.

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I'm NOT happy today is a holiday. Messes up my entire week. Seriously. I hate having my routine disrupted. What about you? Creature of habit or One Who Loves Change?

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Monday Morning Meme and More

The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this. ~Mark Twain



1. How many coats do you own? Do have a good coat? Casual coat? Summer jacket? etc. Do you wear coats very often? Or do you have a tendency to leave your coat at home whenever you go out? What is your favorite coat? Why is this one your favorite? Care to model it for us?

I have way too many, which is ironic, because I usually only wear one. I have a down SF 49ers jacket that I really never wear because it's TOO warm, but I can't part with it. I have a navy peacoat that is so completely worn out, but I LOVE it, and can't part with it until I find another one exactly the same (probably not going ot happen, but a girl can hope). I have a long down jacket that I bought when I was pregnant because it had a belt and would fit preggo or not -- and I do wear this for shoveling snow, but not any other time because it's too hard to get in and out of the truck while wearing it. I won't list all the others, but suffice it to say that I don't go coat-less.

But, man, I love that peacoat.

And, yes, I wear coats and/or jackets all the the time -- we have winter for 9 months here...

2. You’ve learned a thing or two about this thing we call blogging. Tell us one thing you don’t recommend to other bloggers. Tell us one thing you do recommend to other bloggers.

Don't: get too controversial, unless that's what your blog is for. I stay away from religion and politics for that reason, despite having pretty strong opinions in both areas.

Do: Blog regularly. If not daily than every other day. If you don't blog regularly, people won't show up. I like people (*G*), so I blog daily.

3. Is cursive writing a lost art? Should good penmanship be taught? Tell us about your handwriting - good / bad? Do you think your children have good handwriting (given their appropriate age, of course).

YES good penmanship should be taught. Sheesh... it's not like we can do EVERYTHING on the computer. My handwriting is actually quite good... big and loopy and easy to read. My DD's? Not so much. Her curriculum this year is on the computer and didn't come with a penmanship supplement. I noticed that her writing was getting worse, so I bought her a penmanship book recently to help her improve.

4. Have you ever struggled with infertility? If you haven’t, or if it wasn’t the hardest thing you’ve ever had to go through — what was?

Struggled? Not exactly. Took me forever to get pregnant, but that's partly because I had REALLY long cycles, so I only had a chance once every two months. The hardest thing? To be honest, I'm not prepared to address that here. Sorry...

But other difficult things? Being 3000 miles away from my mom. Losing my dog. Missing my best friend -- I haven't seen her in seven years. Hating where I live. Still, as "bad" things go, there are people who are far worse off than I am.

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It got into the 40s yesterday, with amazingly high winds. I'm shocked at how much snow melted... I forget, while I'm suffering through the winter, how quickly spring arrives here. It's not here yet, don't get me wrong. We'll most assuredly have more snow. But when it starts warming up here, it warms up fast and with incredible results (results called "MUD SEASON" here for a good reason). In no time at all, my crocus' and daffodils and hyacinth will be poking their heads out of the ground and blooming like crazy.

I.
Can't.
Wait.

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I finished Mary's "Hot Shot" last night -- one of the best books I've read in a while. It was already reviewed by someone else at LASR, so I'll just say this: it was well written, well edited (except one "till" vs. "'til" ... one of my personal pet peeves), well plotted and exciting.

Truthfully, I do wish it had been longer -- but that's something I'll say about every book I enjoy because I'm not ready to leave the characters. I did have the villain pegged, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book in any way. The H/H were good, strong protags with all kinds of issues (which made them interesting) and the hero was the kind of guy any woman would fall in love with. (Aside to Mary: I LOVED the scene in the hotel with the condom machine.)

So... going to have to go get "Where's There's Smoke" and enjoy Mary all over again.

Okay, gotta go write. I'm so far behind on JaNoWriMo! But... not for long.

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Monday Morning Meme and Much More!

When buying a used car, punch the buttons on the radio. If all the stations are rock and roll, there's a good chance the transmission is shot. ~Larry Lujack
First off...

LASR is having a poll for the Best Book of 2008. In the running are all books and stories that rated a "best book" (except one category which had none -- we used five books for that). Please click here to vote!

And next...

I'm in the author spotlight at LASR. The woman who was supposed to be received some very bad news regarding a furry family member and wasn't able to participate, so Judy asked me to jump in at the last minute. If you've ever wondered where I got the ideas for some of my books and stories, then check out the spotlight. As an added bonus, just for playing you're eligible to win ANY of my eBooks.

Now, onto the Monday Morning Meme:



1. When was the last time you vacuumed out your car? How often do you wash your car? Do you wash it, or do you run it through a car wash service? How much money do you generally spend to wash your car?

It's probably been a month or two since I vacuumed. I tend to do it more frequently in the warmer months because, after all, who wants to be out in the garage when it's 15 degrees?? It's in desperate need though, and bothering me enough that I'll probably brave the cold to take care of it very soon. My vehicle is washed when it needs it. In the summer, we wash it in the driveway, but in the winter I use a car wash. My DH will wash HIS car in the driveway in the middle of a snowstorm, but I'm just not up for that!! I typically use the wash where you spray it off yourself ... so $2.75, but now and then I just don't feel like it and will run it through the "touch free" wash up the road for $8. Yes, I'm a crazy woman... :-)

2. What kind of car do you drive? What color is it? Do you like your car? How long have you had it? Is it reliable? Would you recommend it to a friend? If money were no object, what car would you buy for your family? Now, which car would you buy for yourself? Do you have an opinion about people who drive expensive cars? (Jealous? Disgusted? Curious?)

I drive a 1992 Toyota 4Runner. It's (unfortunately) red ... but when you buy used, you don't get a lot of color choices, lol. We opted to worry about how it ran, not what color it was. It's VERY reliable and I love it. We bought it with 175,000 miles on it (yes, really) and it now has about 250,000 miles and still runs like a champ. DH is starting to make noises about replacing it, though (when the noises start, it usually takes a year or two), and I'm sad. I love my truck. We'll probably replace it with another 4Runner -- but the main issue for me is this: I prefer to drive a manual transmission, and they stopped putting them in the Runners after 1992 or 1993. I do NOT like automatics, especially when driving in the snow. But, sadly, I may not have choice. So, would I recommend it? Absolutely. And -- my truck gets as good, if not better, gas mileage than most cars, so how can I complain?

As far as expensive cars? If people want to throw their money away, I suppose it's their business. If I had all the money in the world, I wouldn't buy a Jag ... I'd probably still buy Toyota. Maybe I'd splurge and go for a Lexus, lol. But that's about it.

3. What’s the biggest thing on your mind right this moment? Why is this issue so important to you at this time?

The biggest issue on my mind right now is how to fix things so my mom and I live closer again. I worry because her move to California didn't work out like she'd planned and she is, for all intents and purposes, alone. While she's certainly not infirm or on death's-door, she's still 75 y.o. and I worry. We are trying to work things out logistically, but in the meantime, I worry constantly. And, I miss her.

4. Have you ever cried when hearing about the death of a celebrity? If so, who? And if so, why? Who was the last celebrity you remember feeling sorry for? Why? Pick one celebrity you would miss if he/she were to die. Why this person?

I balled like a baby when Karen Carpenter died. Yes, I really did. When I found out, I shut myself in my room and played all my Carpenters albums and sobbed. The last person whose death made me cry was probably Steve Irwin's, though. That was awfully tragic, and I was especially sad because he left behind his wife and two babies.

A celebrity I would miss if he/she were to die? That's tough... I think, anymore, I miss the "greats" who die. We don't really have movie stars like we used to: the Jimmy Stewarts and John Waynes, the Katherine Hepburns and Bette Davis's, do we?

I suppose I'd be VERY sad if one of my fave authors died. Yo, Nora, take care of yourself, you hear?

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Monday Morning Meme and MP3 Player Giveaway

Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they do not know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it. ~William Haley



1. What was your favorite subject in grade school? Why did you enjoy this subject so much? What was your favorite part about this subject?

Does basketball count? LOL... seriously, I loved school, so it's hard to choose. Probably English (which is called "language arts" now for whatever reason -- was there something wrong with calling it English?). I imagine I loved the subject partly because it was easy for me and partly because I just love words. Grammar interests me. Reading was usually incorporated in the subject (in grade school at least) as well as writing (I had my first writing prompt in sixth grade -- my teach had one of those boxes where you choose a card with a first line...) and, to be honest, I'm a bit of a grammar geek. I'm not perfect, but I really enjoy grammar (and all the goofy rules that go along with it).

2. Tell me about your best friend in grade school. Do you still keep in touch? If not, why did the friendship dissolve?

Um... Janet Saling. We stayed friends into adulthood, but in our twenties, just slowly lost touch. I tried to find her a few years ago, and still look for her now and then on Classmates.com or Facebook. Hey, Janet... if you're out there, drop me a line!

Janet was one constant in my life from fourth grade at Pioneer school on. We moved a lot, and I attended several schools, but we stayed in touch. I remember when I was returning to Pioneer school after a few years away (the middle of seventh grade, because we never seemed to move at the beginning of a school year -- so, not only was I always the "new kid" I had to figure out how to fit in mid-year after all the other "new kids" already found their niche). I was so nervous, changing schools in junior high ... my folks dropped me off for the first day, and -- standing out in front, waiting -- was Janet. I hadn't been in touch with her for a while, but she'd heard through the grapevine (Pioneer was a VERY tiny school in a VERY tiny town with a BIG grapevine) that I was returning, so she wanted to welcome me back.

A good memory. I hope she's happy, wherever she is.

3. Do you remember your first day of school? If not your very first day, then please tell us about the earliest memory of your first day of school - how did you feel? What did you wear? Did it take long for you to make new friends? Do you remember anything about the classroom or the teacher?

I don't remember kindergarten. I skipped first grade, so my first memories are of second grade. Mrs. Butler was my teacher. I don't remember school, but I do remember recess and how ALL the girls thought Darin Reynolds was s-o-o-o-o-o cute. We used to chase him up to the monkey bars (there were two sets: one for girls, one for boys, so he could be safe). Poor kid. He probably never enjoyed a recess because he was always being chased by a gaggle of girls! LOL...

Otherwise, to be honest, I have few memories of school until fourth grade, for whatever reason. ::shrugs:: I have lots of memories of that time, just not of school. Guess it didn't make a huge impression on me!

4. Let’s jump to middle school. What were your middle school years like? Did you have a lot of friends? Did you adjust quickly or slowly to the change from grade school? What was your favorite subject in middle school?

Middle school... that's what, sixth, seventh, eighth? See, when I was young we had elementary, junior high and high school. And, I homeschool my DD, so the new terms confuse me.

Um... As noted previously, we moved a lot. I went to fifth grade at Pioneer, sixth at Sierra School, started seventh at Mitchell Jr. High, switched mid-year to Pioneer, started eight grade at Pioneer, switched mid-year BACK to Mitchell, started ninth grade at El Dorado High School, switched mid-year to Mills Jr. High (they did 7-8-9 and was I ever annoyed at ending up BACK in junior high) ...

Anyway, you get the idea.

Thankfully, most of the schools were in the same general area, so I could usually find someone I knew -- until I hit Mills Jr. High, which is another story and NOT middle school, so I'll leave it be.

I don't really recall suffering through any adjustment. Even in fifth grade, we used to switch classes for electives and stuff, so the changing classes thing never bothered me. I suspect that the fact I changed schools so much made it easier for me to deal with the other changes that came along. I never really got settled into a routine, so I just went with the flow.

I had lots of people I hung out with, and getting along was never an issue for me, but I also seldom developed deep friendships -- because I only knew people for a year or less before we moved. Unfortunately, this little quirk seems to have followed me into adulthood, where I know LOTS of people, but have deep friendships with very, very few.

Tell me about your school memories.

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Karen, who hosts the Monday Morning Meme is having a Bloggy Giveaway on her blog -- she's giving away an MP3 player! It's easy to enter, all you have to do is comment (daily if you'd like).

The link to the contest info is here.

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We at JaNoWriMo are going to continue on with our writing group -- the rules will be changing a bit, but the big thing is that the "ja" in JaNoWriMo can't stand for "January" anymore. And, we're not writing a novel in a month. But, I don't want to change the link, so I'm looking for help. What ELSE can JaNoWriMo stand for?

Ja = ?
No = ?
Wri = ?
Mo = ?

Help?

Anyone, anyone?

Please? I'm desperate....

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Your Expression Number is 6

You have an outstanding sense of responsibility, love, and balance. You are helpful and inclined to comfort those in need. You have many artistic and creative talents, but you only use them to better others. You are loving, friendly, and appreciative of others. You have a depth of understanding that produces much kindness and generosity. Openness and honesty are apparent in your approach to all relationships. Sometimes, you can be too demanding of yourself. At times, you tend to sacrifice yourself for the welfare of others. At other times, you have trouble distinguishing between helping and interfering.

What's Your Expression Number?

Um... a lot is true, but not all of that. Interesting...

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Monday Morning Meme and more

Dust is just a country accent. ~Author Unknown



1. You have just been hired to clean your own home, what is your first complaint?

That hardwood floors are impossible to keep clean! I hate them... hate them. I'll Swiffer and mop and five minutes later there is a fine layer of dust. ARGH!!!!

2. Are you able to ignore a ringing telephone? How often do you allow a ringing phone to go to voice mail? Do you answer your cell phone, out in public, every time it rings? Or do you silence it and get back to it when you’re in a more private area? How often would you say you’re on your home phone? Your cell phone? Do you like talking on the phone or do you view it as a necessary communication tool?

I seldom outright ignore a phone, but I will check caller ID and won't answer a call from a number I don't recognize. My cell phone almost never rings -- I'm not a big phone person and am always amazed at people who have their phones all but glued to their ears. Is there really that much to talk about? But, yeah, when it rings I answer because it's typically either important or it's my mom (who is also important!).

3. When did you last go for a bike ride? Do you own a bike? Do you encourage your children to ride bikes? Given the most popular New Year’s resolution of losing weight, would you consider putting bicycle riding as one of your exercise options? Why or why not?

We did LOTS of bike riding this summer because we'd take Dakota to wear her out. It was the most efficient way to get rid of all that crazy energy she has. But, using it for weight loss or fitness? Nope... because there are so few nice days to ride. We've had frigid temps and snow on the ground for months and have months to go. There is more winter here, than summer. I'm trying to get DH to say "yes" to a treadmill. I'm such a lump.

4. If you had to name a smell that always makes you nostalgic, what would it be? What sorts of memories does the smell evoke?

Leather. And before some of you let your minds run away with that (get them out of the gutter RIGHT NOW. You know who you are), the smell of leather reminds me of horses. I really, really miss having a horse. *sigh*

What about you?

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Attention authors: I am going to begin a "What, When, Where, Why, How" day on the blog. I'll ask you five questions beginning with those words -- you answer (feel free to be verbose. No three word answers, please.) and I post them on the blog. This is in lieu of the guest blogging I had last year. I'll also include an author bio, your site/blog and one book cover. I won't schedule your day until I receive your responses back. IMHO, it's a fun and unique way to showcase yourself.

Interested? email me at authormariannearkins AT gmail DOT com and I'll send you questions.

C'mon... be brave.

=======================

We got about a foot of snow yesterday. Whee.

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You Are Chocolate Chip Pancakes

You prefer sweet and rich foods. You shy away from anything that's overly bland or unnaturally fat free. It's not likely that someone would find low fat cheese or sugar free cookies in your kitchen. Instead, someone might find a pan of brownies baking in the oven or warm popcorn covered in real butter.

What Kind of Pancakes Are You?

Yep. Hence my need for a treadmill!!!

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Monday Morning Meme and more

A hearty laugh gives one a dry cleaning, while a good cry is a wet wash. ~Puzant Kevork Thomajan



1. What book is on your nightstand right now? What was the last book you read? How many books do you think you read in 2008?

Um... "Seduction in Death" is what I'm reading that is fiction, and "Total Money Makeover" is my non-fiction (I usually have at least one of each going). The last book I read was "Betrayal in Death" and I probably read somewhere between 50-100 books last year -- I don't keep track. I mean to. I even set up an excel spreadsheet for it... I have about three books in there. *sigh*

2. Name three blogfriends that have inspired you. Now please tell us how these blogfriends have inspired you.

Dru, for her upbeat attitude, her pictures, her quilts (!) and so much more.

Groovy, for her ability to put a humorous spin on even the most un-funny things.

Suzanne McMinn for her photo-stories, recipes and tips on country living. I seldom comment, but I read her blog every day!

3. How far do you live from the place where you grew up as a kid? Tell us about the place you grew up - would you choose to go back there and raise your own family (if you have one)? Why or why not?

According to MapQuest.com I live 3054.48 miles from where I lived when I was in high school. Where I "grew up" is tough because we moved so much (though, all in the same 60-90 mile radius).

I went to school in Rancho Cordova, CA and no, I wouldn't go back and raise my kids there. When the air force bases there and near there were closed in the 90s, it really destroyed the town. It's a little "ghetto-y" and run down, but also tremendously populated and overcrowded. I miss California something fierce, but it's been a while since I've been there, so really I'm missing the California of my childhood, not how it is now. Whenever I go back to visit, I'm reminded why I left.

Still, I WOULD and HOPE to move back out west, somewhere a little more rural (Wenatchee, WA for example) but still close enough to my family and friends to visit more easily (a 15 hour drive as opposed to a 50 hour one).

4. Finish this line: Absence makes the heart……
(please do not say “grow fonder”.) How long do you think is ‘too long’ to be away from your loved ones?

Depends on who you're talking about! LOL... Absence, IMHO, makes the heart grow distant. My DH and I both lived through that -- being engaged (not to each other) and being separated from our respective intendeds for long periods of time. By the time we were in the same time zone again, his fiancee was married and mine was living with someone.

And any time away from loved ones that has a day and a night is too long (**MOM**)... just saying.

=======================

I had a nice birthday, yesterday. DD got me two dark chocolate Dove candy bars (can I just say "YUM") and gave me a coupon that said the following:

This is for you. You may use it as often as you like. When it expires you can get another one. I don't think it will expire soon. I hope you like it and use it wisely and also when you're sad.

COUPON: Free hugs for the next 500,000,000,000,000,000 years.

And then, after I opened and read it, she said, "You could use it right now."

I'm not sure if that coupon was really for me or for her...

I also got a couple Amazon.com gift certificates! WOOT! I am so using part to preorder "A Geek Girls Guide to Cheerleading".

We had lunch at Shorty's -- a Mexican food place. DD had a taco and shared my portabella mushroom fajitas with me. DH had Polla con Espinaca -- and, oh MAN did it look good. It may just have been the spinach and cheese sauce over the top but I was drooling.

And, we were all so stuffed from lunch that no dinner was necessary!

==========================

I really hate Google reader. Really. It locks up my computer every-freaking-time. I'm trying to move everyone into bookmarks, but since it locks up every time I try to retrieve your URLs it's time-consuming, and time is one thing I am extremely short on. I don't know WHY it does this. No on else seems to be having trouble. But, I am.

===========================

I'm not terrifically enthused with either of my stories for JaNoWriMo. Wait, that's not entirely true. I LOVE the idea of them, and the fantasy especially excites me. But... writing them isn't exciting me right now and I don't know why. I'm desperate to write, but I can't seem to find the words.

I may try to do another short for Woman's World (as an aside, I had a dream the other night that they sent me a check for $885 to publish my story -- it's supposed to be $1000, but they took out taxes, lol) or another short for somewhere else. Maybe that will get me excited? I don't know. Color me frustrated.

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You Are a Hooded Sweater

You are active, casual, and laid-back. There's not a pretentious bone in your body. You are very humble. You have a very giving spirit. Whether you're dealing with friends or strangers, you tend to ask very little of people. You are honest and open. You believe that if you are truthful with people, they will be straight with you.

What Kind of Sweater Are You?

Um... some is right, some isn't. I'll let you guess which is which! LOL...

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Monday Morning Meme and more

Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward. ~Kurt Vonnegut



1. What was the last thing you laughed at? Would you say you have a great sense of humor? What sorts of things make you laugh in general? Would you say people “get” your humor?

This email was the last thing I laughed at:

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words.

The winners are:

1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

3 . Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.

6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle (n), olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), (back by popular demand): The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

I have an odd sense of humor. I'm more "Frasier" than Adam Sandler or Three Stooges. I appreciate a good pun, and liberally sprinkle my conversation with sarcasm. Some people get it, some don't.

2. How many pieces of jewelery are you wearing at this very moment? Do you wear jewelry every day, or only on special occasions? What is your favorite piece of jewelery? Tell us the story behind one piece of your jewelery.

Um... wedding ring and two pairs of earrings: diamond studs and usually silver hoops. Does a watch count? That's pretty much what I wear daily. I really don't wear necklaces or bracelets and my ears are the only thing I have pierced. My fave jewelry would be my wedding ring. Story? Um... the diamond earrings I wear in the top hole in my ears were from my DH. I wanted little bitty chips (maybe an 1/8th carat total?), and he refused to get me something that small. I think the ones I have are 1/4 carat, but I gotta be honest -- it really doesn't matter to me. I am SO not a jewelry person. If I could find good, cheap, fake jewelry that wouldn't tarnish, I'd be all over it. Who cares if it's real?

3. If you could offer one piece of etiquette advice that everyone should follow when dining out, what would it be?

I have to admit to leaning toward how your treat the waitstaff... but that's probably because I was one for so many years. Pay attention to them, they really are people. I typically make folks who eat out with me laugh, because I'll carry on long conversations with the servers, but I remember being ignored or treated like a piece of furniture, and that stinks.

You might also take your kids outside if they are screaming, turn off your cell phone and don't talk like the person with you is deaf.

Wait... you asked for one, didn't you? ::shrugs::

4. What are the first three things a guest would notice when they walked through your front door?

Once they got through the Dakota leaping, crying, barking, licking greeting? The stairs (the door pretty much opens on them, the living room and the TV room. I don't have any fancy furniture or paintings or knick-knacks. Sorry.

====================

Favorite line I wrote for my JaNoWriMo challenge yesterday (from "A Jewel for Geoff")... Liv has just run into Geoff (much to his dismay). And she says:

“Geoff, I need advice.” She grabbed his sleeve and tugged him to the chairs that lined the wall, shoving him into one. “Okay, now pretend you’re a man.”

Ouch.

=====================

RE: My Big Fat Greek Wedding...the votes were as follows:

Chick Flick: 5

Comedy: 2

People who haven't seen it, but thought it was a chick flick: 2

Hmmmm..... I guess the votes reflect that it's a truly funny chick flick that both men and women can enjoy.

======================

Monday Morning Meme and More

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland



1. When you are having a bad day, what do you do as a little ‘pick me up’?

Um... eat? Seriously, I tend to medicate with food. Otherwise? I have no idea. How weird is that?

2. How long have you been blogging? Who is your target audience? How often, if at all, do you think about quitting or taking an extended break?

Since July 10, 2005. I don't know that I HAVE a target audience, lol. I suppose I started to promote my writing, and I do ... but I just like "meeting" the people who read it. And, heck, I like to gab.

Have I thought of quitting or taking a break? Sometimes. But I don't think I could do so, to be honest. I'd miss you guys.

3. Think back over the past year. Tell us: five good things that happened in your life, three bad things that happened in your life. Now go through your blog archives and pick five posts that you personally liked/resonated with you, or, you would like to share with your new readers. Link to them, please.

Five good? Hmmm....

"One Love for Liv" was released in eBook AND print! (is that two?)

My daughter didn't lose her toes in the boating accident.

Dakota is *mostly* learning how to be good and doesn't eat my plants or tear apart the cushion in her crate anymore.

Um... the LASR website is really, really busy -- that's good, right?

GAH... I really can't think of anything else. How sad.

Three bad? Hmmm...

I didn't write nearly enough.

I still miss my mom and my mom because neither of them live here anymore.

My daughter is struggling with her school this year and we're both frustrated.

And... seriously -- no time to find blog posts. Sorry.

4. It’s a new year - a new beginning. Please finish this sentence: I will work very hard to make the following three things happen in 2009:

... write and submit more.

... lose these stupid extra 20 pounds.

... find the patience to deal with a frustrated daughter and stubborn, willful dog.

==========================

Anyone else find it odd that I had red-breasted robins in my yard yesterday? Did they not the get "time to migrate south" memo?

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We've started the relaunch of the Long and the Short of It. Take a look at the new pages and see what you think.

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You Are A Nightgown

You are a bit old fashioned and elegant. You aren't very casual. You are well mannered and modest. You don't make a fool of yourself. You tend to be a bit reserved, and it's hard for strangers to get to know you. You are likely to not let anyone outside your bedroom see you in your pajamas.

What Kind of Pajamas Are You?

Yep... pretty close...

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Monday Morning Meme and More

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. ~Carl Reiner



1. It’s the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature is stirring … except you, you can’t sleep, and it’s 3:00 o’clock in the morning. What do you do?

The problem with my being awake at 3 a.m. is that it's too close to when I usually get up and I'm not very sleepy anymore anyway... I'd probably hop on the computer and load up the LASR pages. And then work...

Yeah, I'm boring that way.

2. What is the one attribute that you have that your significant other struggles with? Why do you think he/she struggles with it? Now tell us one attribute that your significant other has that you wish you possessed.

My DH wishes I was more of a neat freak. Most people fight over money -- we don't. We fight over the fact our house doesn't look like a model home. Thing is, as it stands (and if you eliminate his OCD family), our home is ALWAYS cleaner and neater than anyone else's I know. Always.

Hmmm.... something my DH has that I don't? Maybe the ability to relax. Shut off. Just... be. I get itchy if I'm not doing something at all times.

3. What advice do you have for your next door neighbor? (This would be a good time to air your grievances - or - praise something about your neighbor). Begin with: Dear Neighbor, There is something I’d like to tell you …

Okay, I'm talking to both of mine...

Dear Neighbor on my left,

I wish you wouldn't beat your dog and yell and demean your son. Your wife is just as angry and nasty and unkind as you are, but the two innocents in your home deserve better.

M~

Dear Neighbor on my right,

You don't own your home anymore. Get. Out. And take your dogs with you. I'm really tired of them roaming the neighborhood, pooping on everyone's lawns, digging up their gardens when they scent mark and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Seriously. You lost your home after three years of non-payment on your mortgage (and yet you have plenty of money for the two garbage buckets of beer bottles and pizza boxes and to chain smoke your cigarettes, and to spend every night at the local bar -- that must be the extra income you get from the drugs you sell on a regular basis) and the man who purchased it would like to get in an fix the place up. Let him. Go live with your brother in Florida like you said you had planned. Florida is nice this time of year.

M~

Okay, yeah... I feel better. Seriously, there is only one other family on this street who are bad neighbors... everyone else is cool. And, yet, DH and I are sandwiched between two of them. We have all the luck.

4. If you could live yesterday all over again, what would you do anything differently?

Call my mom. I kept meaning to all day, and then something else always seemed to happen. Otherwise? I don't have any complaints. DD played. DH deconstructed one side of the basement (remodeling always makes him happy). The dog romped. I made fudge. I probably should have worked more, but I was burned out.

==========================

It was snowing last night at 2 a.m. -- yeah, Dd and I were up. She vomited and peed and pooped and then felt so good she decided to chase snowflakes. I held up the door post and tried not to fall face first into the snow.

BUT.... now it has STOPPED SNOWING. There are 30 MPH winds outside, so keeping our driveway clear will be impossible. But IT STOPPED SNOWING.

Finally.

Hallelujah. Three days of snow was all I could take before going postal. Oy.

DH works today. And then, that's it for two weeks. So, bear with me as he and I face too much togetherness once again. Actually, he'll probably be snowmobiling at least a day or two (if they can get the trails open -- lots of trees came down in the ice storm, and they're really struggling with that).

Still... did I mention it STOPPED SNOWING???

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You Are Biscotti

You are a very direct, honest person. You don't have time for dramatics or emotional pleas. You feel most comfortable in the intellectual realm, especially with science and technology. You are good at understanding difficult subjects. Understanding people? Not so much.

What Holiday Cookie Are You?

HAHAHAHAHA....!!!! Yep, that's pretty much right on...

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Monday Morning Meme and MONDAY!

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad. ~Norm Papernick

It's MONDAY!! It's DECEMBER!!! Life as we know it is back to normal (well, at least as normal as it ever is). WOO HOO!!!!!!!



1. Please tell us about your Thanksgiving day, don’t leave anything out! Please share some Thanksgiving photos with us! (And then submit the permalink to your entry in the Coffee Chat project for a chance to win a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate!)

Geez... it was quiet. My DD, DH and I (and Dd and Dc, of course) had dinner. It all went smoothly -- I didn't have to cut my 24 lb turkey in half (probably because I had a 13 lb turkey), all my side dishes were cooked without incident. We ate until we wanted to vomit and then our neighbor stopped by with her lab puppy for a play date with Dd. DH and DD went to visit the in-laws... I stayed home because Dd has been having digestive issues (**ahem**) and I didn't want to come home and clean up.

I watched four episodes of NCIS, worked on the website and went to bed.

**yawn**

I suppose I could lie and make it more exciting. Or, hey... next year, if Karen has the competition again, I'll make sure something odd or goofy happens!

2. How is the Christmas/Holiday shopping coming along? Has the economic crunch changed how much you usually spend for Christmas/Holidays? Why or why not? How have you adapted? Did you go shopping on Black Friday? Why or why not? What are your thoughts about how out of control some people behave on Black Friday?

I'm as cheap as always *G* ... so, nothing much has changed this year from last, economically. And, ACK NONONONONONO, I did NOT shop on Black Friday. Considering the list of fatalities from folks shopping on Friday, I'm glad. I think their behavior is absurd. Why is it worth killing (or even hurting) someone to get a few dollars off?? How can ANY of the people at this WalMart live with themselves?? Worse -- people were ANGRY THEY CLOSED THE STORE!!! Um, hello -- someone DIED. Sheesh.

Dear heavens to betsy, what has happened to our society?

:::steps down off soap box:::

3. How many times a week do you eat fast food? (Be honest!) What do you think about this number? What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Do you think the food you eat there is healthy for you? Do you consciously make healthier choices when you eat out?

Um... lately? Once. Maybe twice, but usually once. We go to Taco Bell after dog obedience class. Sometimes we'll go to Wendy's, but not once a week. I think you can make healthy choices, and sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. I think it's easier to eat healthy at a "sit down" restaurant, but I seldom go to those either.

4. Fill in the blank: Can’t talk to you now, I’m just too busy _____________________.

Can’t talk to you now, I’m just too busy working on the LASR website.

===========================

We decorated the tree yesterday. I'll have pictures tomorrow -- they're on the camera, but the dock is upstairs, and DH is still sleeping.

DD had loads of fun -- we let her do most of it. I also took her shopping for her annual ornament yesterday, and tried to steer her away from the 8" gold glitter snowflakes. Dear heavens. She ended up with an angel, still flashy but not quite as gaudy. My DD has a thing for flashy, gaudy stuff. If it has glitter or rhinestones, it's for her.

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You Are 72% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Even though you may not be expecting the worst, you're the type of person who prepares for the worst. You live a relatively modest life. You don't overspend, and you aren't very materialistic. You are also quite self sufficient and independent. You have many useful skills. You can take care of yourself and those you love... which is crucial to surviving another Great Depression.

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

Honestly, I'm surprised the percentage isn't higher.... lol...

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Monday Morning Meme... and Miscellaneous Mumbling

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving? ~Erma Bombeck, "No One Diets on Thanksgiving," 26 November 1981



1. Thanksgiving is this week! Where are you going? Besides eat, what do you do on Thanksgiving? Do you have any family traditions you’d like to share with us? Don’t forget to take pictures! (You’ll be asked to show them next Monday! This will also prove handy for Coffee Chat!)

We'll eat... just the three of us, which -- even after nine years here, I still find odd. My inlaws all have dinner at their own homes, and then gather for an hour or two somewhere after eating. My memories of Thanksgivings past are of utter chaos, zillions of family members, the "kids table" and just a lot of fun. Not so here. It's sad and I miss the chaos. I'm sad my DD won't have those kinds of memories.

The only tradition we have is getting the tree the day after Thanksgiving. We used to go cut one down, but the inlaws have decided that the Friday following T-Day is too early, so THEY all go in mid-December. So, last year we went to Agway and bought a tree, and this year I imagine we'll do the same.

I'll take pictures, but -- sorry Karen -- I won't post them here. No photos of family faces on my blog. Sorry. Only mine and the dog's, and you're probably sick of those! LOL...

2. What is your favorite gadget? Why is it your favorite? If money was not an object, what gadget would you buy for yourself?

Unless I consider my laptop a "gadget", I don't have one. No iPod, no Blackberry... my cell phone doesn't even take pictures, nor do I use it to text or email (shockingly, I only use it to, yanno, make PHONE CALLS).

I'd probably buy a Wii, because my DD wants one so badly (but DH is opposed to gaming systems), or a treadmill (which isn't really a gadget... but...) for the dog. Yes, the dog. How the heck am I going to wear her out this winter without one?

3. You’ve been chosen to be a contestant on “Survivor” and you leave in 6 weeks. How will you spend the next 6 weeks to prepare for the challenge?

Well. Hmmm... I've never watched "Survivor", but I imagine I'd need to be fit. And I think the chickies wear a lot of revealing clothing. I wonder if I could lose 35 lbs in six weeks? Could I go on "The Biggest Loser" first?

4. How many times a week do you visit the ATM machine? Do you normally carry a lot of cash? How often do you use credit cards? Are you pretty good at paying off your balance every month? How do you control your credit card spending?

I use the ATM for deposits, mostly. I seldom carry cash -- it's too easy to spend thoughtlessly. I use the CC for everything and, yes, pay it off every month. We're big believers in not carrying debt and living within our means (unlike half the rest of the world... but don't get me started on irresponsible people who expect other people to bail them out when they get into trouble, okay?).

Your turn!

===========================

Today I get to sweep, mop and dust the area that will be my office. I bought the scatter rugs and felt pad thingies yesterday, so will start moving in the furniture again. Hopefully I'll have some pictures for you tomorrow. I took a picture of the tile in the bathroom (it's actually stone (!!) and turned out really well).

We're having a heat wave today -- 47 degrees. I'm going to get out, run the dog, scoop poop and let the fire die since the chimney guys are coming today to install the cap. Good timing on the warm (HA!) weather.

That's about all that's happening in my exciting life, other than trying to get to Tractor Supply Company today to buy DH's birthday present -- his birthday is TODAY. Nothing like waiting until the last minute... I might pick up a new bird feeder while I'm there. My birds need something bigger -- they're eating me out of house and home.

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You Are a Siamese Cat

You are a very communicative creature. You're eager to express yourself - and do so often. You are very dependent and love attention. You will complain if you are not getting enough affection. Even though you are very loving, you can seem aloof, unpredictable, and stubborn in relationships. A relationship with you takes a lot of patience.

What Breed of Cat Are You?

That first part? Totally wrong... but the second? Yeah... that's kind of right on.

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Monday Morning Meme and JanNoWriMo

“When birds burp, it must taste like bugs.” - Bill Watterson



1. How is burping seen in your family? Is it rude? Humorous? Applauded? And do you ignore it, apologize or hide it? Okay, same questions for farting. (Come on, don’t be shy! We’ve all done it!)

All passing of gas is frowned upon by me... if you must do it, then at least excuse yourself. I've been known to say "excuse me" even when I'm totally alone, lol. If the dog does it, I'll let it slide. DH never says "excuse me" unless someone besides DD and I are around. Drives me nuts (though I read on another woman's blog once that she was thankful that her DH was comfortable enough around her to pass gas ... um, me? Not so much). DD does say "excuse me", but that doesn't make her try to be in the least bit circumspect.

I had a friend whose mother was so freaky about gas-passing, that the kids could only do so in the bathroom. My friend, as an adult, was unable to tell if her "need" was gas or solid, so always had to adjourn to the potty. That's a little extreme.

And that was all more than you probably wanted to know about gas on a Monday morning.

2. How long was it from your first date until the proposal of marriage? How long until the wedding? What do you think the shortest amount of time is acceptable between the first date and being engaged and getting married?

We started dating in November, were engaged a year later(shortly before our 1 year anniversary and, no I don't remember the date -- DH was not exactly romantic. He took me ring shopping, saw what I liked, bought it and shoved it at me, saying "Here." I may have to use that in one of my stories...) and married the following August, so nearly two years from start to finish.

I've always had a problem with whirlwind courtships. OTOH, I've seen them work ... but I think those are more the exception to the rule. Don't you need to get to know each other a little? To get past all the posturing and good behavior that happens at the beginning? To see the warts and decide whether you can live with them?

::shrugs::

Maybe that's just me. Yanno, for someone who writes romance, I'm not very romantic.

3. What do you have in your glove compartment? Show us a picture!

No picture for two reasons. 1. I'm too lazy to go get the camera, snap the pic and then download it. And, 2. My truck is up on a jack with the rear axle removed, and I'm a little afraid to touch it.

But, in my glovebox: napkins, cell phone charger, deodorant (what? You've never forgotten to put it on?), extra little bags for garbage, user manual for the truck and the hub lock key.

4. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email? Do you think either “marketing” strategy is more effective than the other? Have you ever clicked on a pop-up ad or followed through with a spam email? What was the result?

I hate them both. And I make a point of never, never, never, ever clicking through on either. I wish I could send little electric shocks -- the number of which would equal the number of spam emails sent out -- to all the spammers in the world. And pop up (and pop under) boxes should be outlawed. Blech.

Not that I have strong feelings or anything.

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Okay, folks -- we're having a JanNoWriMo!! Come one, come all and join the party. So far, Amy, Sarita, Melissa and maybe Ceri have mentioned being interested. We could set up a Yahoo group, make a little database whoosie to log in our word counts, allow comments for encouragement or complaints... Or we could make it less formal and just say we're doing it and note our word counts on our blogs each day.

I do think that one exception should be made -- I say we make it our intention to write 50,000 new words in January, 2009 ... but they can be part of a WIP. I say this partly because I have 10,000 words on my NaNo novel and partly because I have three other novels begun, and it would sure be nice to finish one before I start something new.

See... it's all about me.

If you want to start something new, that's cool, too. But 50,000 new words (not editing) should be the goal, IMHO.

Thoughts? Any other victims ... volunteers?

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You Are a Lace Bra!

Dreamy, romantic, and ultra-feminine You're a womanly woman who makes guys feel like men Your perfect guy is strong, determined, and handsome With a softer side that only you can draw out

What Kind of Bra Are You?

Oooh... kay... if you say so.

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Monday Morning Meme and Misc.

Happiness is your dentist telling you it won't hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. ~Johnny Carson

It's MONDAY! WOOT!



1. Do think it’s okay to bring your own snacks into the movie theater? Why or why not?

Yes and no... lol.

I always bring my own candy, but I buy popcorn and soda there. I figure I've supported them with the popcorn/soda buy and I am VERY picky about my choice of candy, so I gotta bring my own or be annoyed.

Now, folks that bring everything? That's not right.

2. If someone were following you, would you:
A. Attempt to lose them.
B. Turn around and confront them, asking them what in the heck were they doing??
C. Nothing.
D. Something else (do tell!)

Tell us about a time when you thought someone was following you. (Don’t we all have those stories? I do!)

It depends. Am I on a busy street? A dark street? A mall? If I don't feel safe confronting him, I'm going to take off running of course, or duck into a store or whatever. But, if I'm in a crowd of people, I would (at least) turn and stare just to let the person know I'm on to them.

And, no... oddly, I don't have any stories about being followed. Am I unobservant or lucky?

3. What is your highest level of education? What were/are your thoughts about school? Would you ever consider going back to school? If so, for what? If not, why not?

I have some college education, but I never finished. Would I go back? The only reason I've been tempted is because there have been whispers that eventually they will only let folks with teaching degrees homeschool their kids. It hasn't happened yet, though, and my DD is getting old enough that, should I HAVE to put her in school, I wouldn't feel as uncomfortable doing so. Also, we have a great private school nearby that just opened up, and an even greater private high school down aways. So, at this point would I go back? Nope.

4. Do you order photos online? Do you print your own photos or go someplace to print them off? And do you order photographic gifts too?

Yes, I order my photos online. I don't print my own (I don't like the quality). And I seldom order photographic gifts because I'm too cheap, lol.

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Don't even ask about NaNo... yesterday was the day from hell in so many ways. Today, though, DH is back at work. YAY.

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You Are Checkers

You are very logical and rational. You are able to understand what is and isn't a factor. You're able to compartmentalize and focus on the essentials. You appreciate simplicity. You can see the layers of complexity and beauty in anything. You are also playful and good natured. You don't take life too seriously!

What Board Game Are You?

Um... yes and no -- about 50/50...

As an aside, however: I hate checkers. I'm more a Trivial Pursuit kind of gal...

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Monday Morning Meme

To give vent now and then to his feelings, whether of pleasure or discontent, is a great ease to a man's heart. ~Francesco Guicciardini

I'm writing this Sunday night. I'm tired. I feel like doo-doo... so I have no idea what time I'll be up in the a.m. -- at some point today (i.e. Monday), I'll write something else, when I'm coherent.

In lieu of a post that actually requires me to think, I give you:



1. When do you need soothing? And, what soothes you? Tell us about the last time you needed soothing.

Seldom... um... the last time was probably when my darling dog, Bailey died last November. What soothes me? Aside from chocolate? Ha... Just a "poor baby" and a hug works. Don't try to fix me.

2. What makes today special for you? And you’re not allowed to say “nothing.” Everyday should be special - life is short! If you can’t think of anything that makes today special, then tell us something you’re thankful for, right now, right this very minute.

See... I was going to say nothing. Usually Monday's are great because it's a return to routine, and I love routine. But my DH is home, so routine is shot. I also have a cold, so I'm cranky...

What am I thankful for? That I have everything I need, even if I don't have everything I want.

3. What is the most you’d be willing to spend on the perfect pair of blue jeans? What about shoes? Tell us about the last time you purchased jeans. Now tell us the last time you purchased a pair of shoes.

A perfect pair? Priceless. Seriously. I have no waistline to speak of and absurdly long legs. So, if pants fit my butt, they are too tight in the waist and I have to unbutton them. If they fit my waist, they're ridiculously baggy in my butt and thighs and it's nearly impossible to find ANY that don't look like capris.

So... see? If I could find jeans that actually fit me? There would be no price too high.

4. What is the oddest thing you ever bought for yourself?

Um... Um... I have no idea. I'm not terribly whimsical, unless you count my frog collection.

You?

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Monday Morning Meme and More

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown



1.What is your earliest memory of a library? Who took you? Do you have any funny/odd memories of the library?

I worked in the library in grammar school -- and I remember shelving books, even as early as fourth grade. That's where I discovered ALL of the Oz books (my absolute faves as a kid), and where I learned what the Dewey Decimal system was. Funny/odd memories? Not really. Just warm fuzzy ones.

2. What two things are at the top of your to-do list? When do you think you’ll get around to doing those things? How good are you at crossing things off your to-do list?

I'm perpetually behind on working the LASR site. I always have reviews to build, pages to update, reminders to send, ads to place ... it's never-ending, so that is ALWAYS on my to-do list.

Second for now would be to finish getting ready for NaNoWriMo -- and, I'm telling you what, I better have words fall from my fingers, or I already don't know where I'm going to find the time. Still, I have faith (gotta have faith -- and an alarm clock!).

When? Everyday. I cross off my to-do stuff, and then start anew. Even when it's the same stuff.

3. Where do you come in the family? Are you the oldest? Youngest? Only child? Or smack in the middle? How do you think this has affected the way you grew up? Would you agree with your birth order personality? Are you happy with your birth order, or do you wish you had been the oldest/youngest, etc.

I'm the baby (awwww....), the youngest of six and am five years apart from my next nearest sibling. I was all but raised an only child, though, because my nearest brother and sister moved out early and by the time I was in sixth grade, I was on my own. Even before that, we really didn't hang out together... the age difference really impacted our relationship as we grew up, IMHO.

So, birth order... hmmm, let's try both.

Last born child traits says:

* Risk takers
* Idealists
* Good sense of humor
* Hard working
* Immature
* Attention seeking
* Secretive
* Sensitive

Okay... yes on most. I don't think I've ever been immature -- I've been told I was born old. But otherwise, yep. What about only child?

* Mature faster
* Get along well with older people
* Responsible
* Self-Centered
* Perfectionists
* Attention seekers
* Use adult language
* Prefer adult company
* Have difficulty sharing

Yes and no... that's about 50% I think. Wanna guess WHICH 50 is me? LOL...

4. If it wasn’t for ________ , I would ________.

If it wasn't for my husband, I would move back west.

But, yanno... he lives here, so I suppose I must. *G*

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Thanks for the well wishes about Dakota. Will check her lump this a.m. and make the determination as to whether it's increased, decreased or (thinking positive) mysteriously disappeared overnight.

DD and Dd had a bit of a slumber party last night. Everyone with cats will appreciate this. My cat decided she wanted to sleep on DD's bed... so she did. Right in the middle. And Dd wouldn't challenge her (cat has her whipped into shape), and DD didn't want to disturb her (yes, cat is queen), so she made a big bed on the floor of her room.

Yes, folks -- DD and Dd slept on the floor while Queen Breeann, cat extraordinaire got the entire bed to herself!



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Today is writing day for me -- which means more work on my NaNo project, and possible tinkering of short stories I have in progress.

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How was your weekend? Do anything interesting?

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Monday Morning Meme, Mums and More

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis

1.If your children are going trick-or-treating this year, what costumes are they wearing? Do you take them door-to-door or do you take them to a sponsored event? Tell us about the last time you dressed up for Halloween. How do you feel about Halloween in general?

We go out to dinner on Halloween -- we don't trick-or-treat, mostly because my DH and his family are ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY against any form of celebrating Halloween and it's really just easier. The day after, we go to the store and buy tons of candy for half price, and when DD was younger, I used to buy her costumes for dress-up, too.

I think Halloween is an odd holiday, really, but otherwise don't much feel one way or the other.

2. Do your friends and family read your blog? How does this knowledge affect your writing? Do you feel like you can totally be yourself on your blog? Where do you draw the line when it comes to disclosing too much about your life on your blog?

Yes and yes. And, I am not totally myself on my blog, because it's not a personal blog, per se, but a blog for my writing. I never post pictures of anyone but me (well, and the dog and cat, but they told me I could). I don't use names of anyone in my family, and don't say what town I live in. I suppose folks could find all that stuff out if they really wanted to, but I'd like to protect my DD as much as possible.

I did post a picture of her once, a long time ago -- in her ballet costume, and got some slimy, sexually perverse and anonymous comments about it. That pretty much clinched it for me -- no pictures of DD again. Ever.

3. Are you an early bird or a night owl? What do you like to do in the early morning hours or late at night? How do your sleeping patterns affect the rest of your family?

I'm very much an early bird. The morning hours I work -- I write or blog or work on the LASR website. It's peaceful and calm and there are no interruptions (except for the cat, on occasion, if she needs food). How do my sleep patterns affect everyone else? I don't know that they do. My DH and DD could sleep through a bombing raid, so it really doesn't matter much what I do. I, OTOH, will wake up if you drop a feather in the basement... which really stinks.

4. Do you lie about your age? Why or why not?

Nope. What's the point? Who cares? HEY EVERYONE -- I'M FORTY-ONE YEARS OLD!! So what? LOL...

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Hey, lookie -- the woodpile!




Five and a half piles. Phew.

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I was wandering around the yard with the camera to take pix for It's Only Natural, and discovered some mums from last year that were finally blooming. Aren't they gorgeous?



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DH sealed our deck on Saturday afternoon. It's still wet. Taking out Dakota and/or putting out and retrieving the bird feeders is an unbelievable pain. And ... I'm beginning to think it's NEVER going to dry.

**sigh**

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