A Note to Fathers With Girls

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. ~John Gregory Brown

I think my clock was missing a few hours yesterday -- because I sure didn't get anything done before it said it was bedtime. I have got to figure out how to better manage my time...

DD is feeling very insecure about her hair. She asked me a half dozen times yesterday if I really thought she looked good with shorter hair (she does -- it makes her look grown up... maybe I should make her keep her hair long?) and I reassured her.

Then DH comes home, and I know he was just joking, but it was really bad timing on his part. He hadn't seen her haircut the day before, so last night said: Wow! Your hair is chopped... looks like you got in a fight with a weed-whacker and lost.

I swear, I wanted to hit him.

Here's the thing. I don't think men can really understand how deeply sensitive girls tend to be, especially about their appearance. I can remember many, many times something was said to me in jest (like my stepfather saying, "Have another serving of mashed potatoes, my plump little dove." or my drama teacher saying -- when he came upon me eating a candy bar -- "You aren't going to put on any more weight before the production are you?") that really tore down my self-esteem.

I've talked to him about it, and sometimes I see him make an effort (last weekend when we went to the confirmation and were all dressed up, he mentioned that he had the two best-looking girls with him, and DD giggled and preened), but then he wrecks it all.

So -- any men out there with daughters... please be aware that even when you're joking, and even when we know you're joking, it still erodes away at our self-confidence.

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You Are Balanced

You are a peaceful and content person. You don't ask too much of yourself or those around you. You are confident and self-assured. You never try to be someone you're not - you believe that you are enough. You have a healthy skepticism about the world. You don't buy into a lot of mainstream values. You've found a better way to live - through deep reflection and understanding yourself.

Are You Bouncy, Bold, Behaved, or Balanced?

And again I respond: HAHAHAHAHA... no. Okay, some is right, but when I see the first sentence all I can think of is, uh NO.

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Hair Cut Woes

Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices. ~Shana Alexander

My day FLEW by yesterday. FLEW! I have no idea where the time went.

DD wanted her hair cut. She's been growing it out to donate again, and HATED the length, so I took her to a walk in haircut place. I mean, how hard is it to whack off a ponytail and even the ends? Her hair is not that hard to cut.

Evidently, I was wrong. Perhaps I should have run out the door when the stylist was a lady older than I am but wearing a pink Mohawk. Understand, I don't have an issue with Mohawks, per se, but on a 50ish woman, it was a little out of place.

She whacked off the pony, ended up "notching" one side of it about an inch higher than the other (which was WAY shorter than DD wanted her hair cut) and then, when she "evened" out her hair, one side was much longer than the other. It was wet when we left (I didn't want to pay for a blow dry... my bad) and DD kept tucking it behind her ears, so I didn't notice it until we were home.

Now, I know I can go back to that lady and have her fix it for free... but my concern is that the "fix" will be worse than the cut. And it's already so short that DD hates it, so there isn't a lot of room for error.

Teach me to go to a cheap walk-in place. I'm so sad. I could have done a better job cutting her hair.

We also had to run to the store to find clothes for the daughter. She's growing like a weed and all of her tops were too small. We found a couple at the L.L. Bean Outlet, and plan on hitting Kohl's at some point this week.

Now ... I didn't get a chance to respond to your questions and comments yesterday, so I'll do it here!

Maria Zannini said she was getting Nice / Naughty dog bones for her fur babies (having one of each... if you remember her Dog Dish interview, you know which is which). I love those bones! I don't have one of each, I have a dog with the proverbial Angel / Devil on her shoulder... so she can have both!

Dru Ann loves the bracelet... which is a good thing. *G*

Joanna St. James asked, "does she sell some of her designs on artfire or etsy" about DD's designs. Joanna, she does! LOL... I forgot to say that (assuming y'all knew). Her store is DistinctivelyDD on Artfire.

Tori said, "I bet Artfire has some awesome steampunk stuff." They DO. And lots of it!

Brandy said, "I'm STILL trying to find something for the Out-laws for the Holidays, so will be sure to check out Artfire." -- I swear, I'm so totally sold on goods from Artfire. I really, really LOVE the place. Bet you find something perfect there.

Thanks for visiting yesterday!

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Your Color is Blue

You are a calm and content person. You find that the key to life is easy... just be yourself! You believe in the importance of letting go. You release your anxieties and welcome renewal. You are a generous person, and you look for the best of people. You promote peace and trust. You value intellect and experience. Unlike most people, you truly respect your elders.

What's Your Feng Shui Color?

HAHAHAHAHA... no. Maybe the last sentence, but the rest? Not so much.

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Going Gray

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? ~Satchel Paige

I a moment of great irony, my snow-loving husband who has been bored out of his gourd this weekend will be going back to work on Tuesday -- a day on which we will be getting a bunch of snow! Now tell me God doesn't have a warped sense of humor...

I did some writing yesterday, which made me happy. I got stuck on choosing a name for a fictional online dating service, though, and lost a good 20 mins of writing time because of it. But, after much brainstorming with my pal, Judy, I came up with something and can now move forward!

I colored my hair yesterday. More appropriately, I "washed the gray" out of my hair. My gray hair really stresses out DD -- it makes her see me as "old" and she starts thinking I have one foot in the grave. Because, yanno, coloring your hair makes you younger and healthier, lol.

I used Garnier Fructis (#53, in case you wondered) because the last time, I used L'oreal and it didn't color the gray at ALL -- I was not happy. But, I forgot how frizzy Garnier makes my hair. When it dried yesterday, it was quite amusing, to say the least ... and even using a flat iron didn't help much! Anyone else out there color the gray? If so, what hair color do you use (unless it's your stylist ... I can't swing $60 every few weeks, so I need mine from a box)?

I'm posting on Healthful & Homemade today -- if you read this a bit later in the day, my post on my first attempt at homemade sourdough bread will be up.

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You Should Get a New Laptop

Let's be honest... you're not exactly the most romantic person in the world. And there's nothing wrong with that. Flowers, chocolates, and stuffed animals don't really do it for you. Your eyes only light up for a new toy. You are a bit of a geek, and traditional romance just isn't a priority for you. You find somewhat unusual things romantic. You'd prefer a laptop to an expensive piece of jewelry. At least you'd actually use the laptop!

What Valentine's Day Gift Should You Get?

ROFL... this is exactly right! I told DH I wanted a small, handheld shampooer if he was going to buy me anything. *G*

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This and That

Dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare. ~H.F. Hedge

I'm in a rambling mood, so beware :-)

DH asked me to wake him up this morning to go out hunting if it wasn't windy (the leftovers from Ida are hitting us today). At 2 a.m., the dog had to potty (*sigh* She hasn't had to do that in a long time), so I took her out (and noticed it was already windy) and then curled up on the couch because I'm a light sleeper and DH ... well... he can really saw the ZZZ's so getting back to sleep would have been tough.

Anyway, at 4 a.m., my alarm went off (startling the cat who was drooling on my pillow -- guess SHE isn't a light sleeper) and I looked out the window and saw the trees swaying, so rolled over and went back to sleep.

Only -- here's the thing. There is no window I can see out of from the couch, and it's too dark at 4 a.m. to see anything anyway. At 4:45, I stretched and thought, "Boy I'm glad it was windy so I could doze off again and I wonder if it still is." then rolled over to look and realized I couldn't see out -- and had DREAMED the whole other thing! LOL... I jumped up and stuck my head outside and almost had it blown off, so it was still windy, but wow. Vivid dream.

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Maria Zannini got the book thong DD made especially for her. DD tried to match it to the banner ad Maria has at the top of her blog for her book, "Touch the Fire".

It sounds like it was well loved, and my DD was thrilled she appreciated it. BTW, if you want a custom made book thong or earrings or bracelets, email DD and put in your order (she's at distinctivelydd AT gmail DOT com). We've had several custom order requests already, and she enjoys the challenge of making them.

Speaking of Distinctively DD, she has her first bracelet/earring set up. Once we get bracelets down pat, we'll be moving on to necklaces. And then maybe some fancier earrings.

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Allie posted this on her blog yesterday and I think it's something that should be shared:



I recently posted about losing Georgia, the pit bull mix in our agility class. She was an amazing dog. Some of the best, gentlest dogs I've know were Rotties. The most amazing dog I ever knew was a German Shepherd named Jenny that one of my SIL's owned. People have ideas about dog breeds because of the media -- I've only been bitten once in my life, and it was by a chihuahua (and it was a bad bite). Instead of punishing a particular breed, we need to start punishing the people who make the dogs the way they are.

As an aside, a breed that is the most well loved family pet is also a breed with one of the highest rates of reported dog bites (albeit not fatal bites): The Golden Retriever. So don't judge a book (or in this case, a dog) by it's cover. Breed specific legislation is wrong.

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I'm slowly beginning to write again, but not on my NaNo book -- because I can't seem to brainstorm a really good, juicy conflict for my H/H. OTOH, I did think of a really great conflict for my H/H in "A Jewel for Geoff" so that was exciting. AND, I found some pretty hot pix of a good-looking blond guy to replace my folically challenged Geoff in my mind, so I'm hoping that will help me find him more attractive. I have to be able to fall in love with my heroes, or I can't feel like the heroine can. Yanno?

I wonder if it's legit to add together the writing I do on "A Jewel for Geoff" to the writing I already did for "Drive Me Crazy" and total them for a win on NaNoWriMo?

Probably not. *sigh*

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You Should Have Curly Hair

You are cheerful, outgoing, and downright bouncy. People find you to be very personable and real. You are confident in your own skin, and you don't feel like you have to fake anything. You are very independent and unique. You wouldn't like to look like every other person on the street. People find that you're honest, and it's easy to trust you. Others expect you to be honest in all facets of your life.

Should You Have Straight Hair or Curly Hair?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Well... that's convenient, since I HAVE curly hair. Except -- check this out! I got my hair cut and flat-ironed on Weds. What do you think?



I like it :-) ... or I should say, I likeD it -- cuz it's curly again.

Okay, time to get back to work. Have a great Saturday.

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Slug-a-Bed

The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more. ~Wilson Mizener

You know what? I slept in today... sort of. I was awake early, but DH isn't home (he did an overnight at his BILs camp -- camp cleanup yesterday and snowmobiling today), so instead of worrying about waking him because I was restless, I just stayed there. I let the cat in and she flopped onto my head (why do they DO that?) and the dog snored beside me and all was well with the world.

Until DH called... lol. It was early, but he knows I'm *always* up early.

In any case, I can see the attraction of laying around like a lazy slug-a-bed.

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DD and I watched "Nancy Drew" yesterday. She loved it, I thought it was okay. I loved Bruce Willis' cameo, very cute. But what cracked me up is that my DD is hitting the stage where she's noticing boys, but it's uncomfortable. So, at the end of the movie, when Ned and Nancy share a very chaste kiss, she got all scrunched up on the couch and said, "Don't do it, don't do it!" and hid behind her hands. I said, "I can fast forward." She said, "NO!", but still watched through her fingers. *sniff* My little girl is growing up.

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Would you believe I started brainstorming a sequel to the fantasy I'm working on? I'm only 23,000 words into this one! But, I couldn't help myself. There's a character in this story who deserves a HEA and I want to give it to her. First things first, though. I need to finish this one. I will -- I like it a lot. It's challenging to write a fantasy, though. Despite the fact I get to play God and decide what works and how, and if things behave in certain ways, it still has to make sense. So, if I say -- "This rock is sentient", I have to have a reason for that, a purpose AND make it work.

It's doubly tough working with psychic powers, which a few of my characters have. I have to remember that they always have them, not just when it's convenient.

And there is more -- but world-building is hard and I know I haven't done the best job I can. I'm going to have to make sure I take care of any problems or lacks when I go back and edit. In the meantime, I'm still moving forward.

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Re: yesterday's post and hair.

Brandy, I don't know how you can wear your hair the same way every day -- doesn't it hurt?

Amy, I use headbands, but they still bother me after awhile -- and the soft kind tend to slip out of my hair unless I let my hair stay wicked curly.

Gay, yep I like to change things with my hair, too. My only problem is that my hair grows VERY slow, so when I do something drastic (like the last two times I did Locks of Love) it can take forever to get back to where it was. It take MORE than a year to grow ten inches of hair for me.

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Your International Spy Name is Honey Steel

Your Code Name: The Pirate You Reside in: Stockholm Why You're a Good Spy: You have total recall

What's Your International Spy Name?

Okay... sounds more like my porn movie name, but hey ... I can see the fun in it. "Don't call me sweetheart, my name is Honey."

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This and That

Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself. ~Hubert de Givenchy, Vogue, July 1985

I was looking for a change, so I started parting my hair on the opposite side.

I know... I'm a rebel.

Seriously, though -- those of you with absurdly thick hair will understand: fixing my hair the same way all the time made my head hurt to the point where I couldn't stand it. That pain is the reason I keep getting it all whacked off -- braids, pony tails, even just pulling a little bit of the sides back -- it all hurts. But, I can't stand to have my hair tickling my face. Drives. Me. Nuts.

My hair is as resistant to change as I am though, so I had to pin and spray the pogees out of it to keep it in place the first day. And, I have to admit, it really felt funny. The wind on my part... I kept thinking something was wrong: I shouldn't FEEL the breeze there. The way I auto-flip my hair was in the wrong direction. Funny how we get so used to something, isn't it?

I'm on day three of my new part, and my hair and I are getting used to it. Still, I'm rather tired of having to mess with it at all, and dream of chopping it off again. DH is resistant to this ("Short hair looks like a man."), but it's my head, so I'll make the final decision.

In the meantime, I'll have fun with my new look.

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Dakota is doing incredibly well in agility. I don't have pictures because the instructor doesn't want the flash to distract the dogs, and I completely understand. Last night, we learned the teeter-totter (or see-saw, which is what I chose to call it... you have to name the obstacles so the dog knows where to go). I thought this obstacle would be the one Dd refused to do. It's noisy, it's scary and IT MOVES!! She didn't love it, but she did it -- and she did it without help the last time. I was so proud. She really enjoys doing the agility and is becoming quite the star of the beginner class. She's one of the few who does the course off leash, and gets it *mostly* right.

The only problem we have right now is that there is one dog in the class who is dog aggressive. The owner is using the class to help socialize the dog AND to build a stronger bond between owner/dog. They keep her on leash the entire time (except when she runs through the tunnel or chute), and the instructor is always near, but it makes us all very nervous. It doesn't help that the dog is a pit bull. I try not to be biased against breeds as I firmly believe that it's HOW a dog is raised not WHAT a dog is. In fact, neither pit bulls nor rottweilers are in the top three breeds of reported dog bites (interestingly, Golder Retrievers ARE, so throw those preconceived notions right out the window).

Still, the fact is, while I don't believe that pit bulls (or rotties, whom I adore) are more aggressive than other breeds, the simple fact is this: if a pit bull attacks you or your dog, you're more likely to get seriously hurt than if a ... oh, cocker spaniel or Australian shepherd does.

So, it makes me uneasy.

And, last night, we compounded the fun by adding an unsocialized German Shepherd to the mix. She wasn't exactly dog aggressive, but she wasn't being friendly, either. And Dakota developed a fascination with her. The two times Dd stopped listening to me and took off, she went right to that dog.

Dumb Dd.

Anyway, for the most part (except the one time the pit jumped through the tire facing us and lunged with a menacing growl and was stopped about 18 inches from us...leaving my heart firmly planted in my throat) fun was had by all.

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You Are Kate

You've done a bad things in your life, even though they were justified. And since you keep your past to yourself, people see you as very mysterious. You're independent. You do what you have to in order to survive. You are quick witted, and you have a variety of useful skills. You're quite resourceful. Although you're a loner, you form strong romantic bonds quickly. Deep down, you're very loving - though you are still scared of being burned by someone.

Who Are You on LOST?

Some yes, some no... and since I don't watch "LOST", I have no idea who Kate is, or whether I'm like her... Now, if there was a "Eureka" quiz...

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Monday Morning Meme

The world is governed more by appearance than realities so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it. ~Daniel Webster



1. Are you brunette? Blonde? Auburn? And is it natural? If you could pick any type of hair you wanted, the style and color, what would it be? (Can you link us to a picture?)

Brunette with red highlights. And, yep... it's natural. I went blonde (or nearly blonde -- I did some really heavy highlights) for a while back in ... the late 80s and it actually looked pretty decent. I like having naturally curly hair BUT I wish it wasn't so freaking thick and frizzy. Honestly, I can't do anything with it and I've been trying different things for 40 years now. It's worse here in the NE because of the humidity. In CO I could actually get it to behave for the most part.

See... one more reason to move!

2. How did your car get that little scratch/dent? (Because let’s face it, we ALL have car stories, right? If, for some reason you don’t, tell us about how someone else’s car got that scratch/dent).

Actually, the vehicle I have is in pretty decent shape (especially if you consider it's 16 years old and has 250,000 miles on it -- and still runs like a charm!). I do have one scratch that I made... a year ago, when my mom moved, I got rid of a rug she'd put in her house. I rolled it up and stuck it in the back of the 4Runner, but it was a tad long, so I rolled down the window and it hung out a big. By the time I got to the dump, it had rubbed a pretty bad scratch into the top of the tailgate.

:-(

Thankfully DH has a little tube of paint (looks like lipstick) that is for repairing spots like that. We painted it and then waxed the pogees out of it and it looks like new!

3. In your opinion, what is the worst-tasting candy? Now, what is the best-tasting candy? How often do you eat candy? Do you keep it around your house? Do you allow your children to eat very much candy?

Worst? I don't like black licorice. Blech.

Best? Dark chocolate, of course. And do I keep it around the house? Not regularly. Do I let DD eat much candy? Not really, though she does typically have a little every day (like 5 chocolate chips, lol).

4. Are you easily agitated? What really makes your temper soar? Do you stay angry for a long time? Or do you get over it pretty fast?

That depends. Some days, I'll fly off the handle in two seconds with little provocation. Some days, I'll be the most mellow and tolerant person you know. When I do get mad, though, it can be ugly. And I do admit to holding grudges. **sigh**

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Today is writing day. Wish me luck! I'm going to work a bit on my NaNo novel, and then see if I can't get a short story finished, finally. I've been working on the dang thing for-freaking-ever!

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Your Taste in Music:

Country: High Influence Classic Rock: Low Influence Eighties: Low Influence Adult Alternative: No Influence Alternative Rock: No Influence

How's Your Taste in Music?

I think I checked off five bands... I haven't even HEARD of most of them. Oy... am I really getting that old?

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Monday Morning Meme

Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. ~Carl Zwanzig

I think that guy was trying to be funny, but I heartily believe in duct tape. I love the stuff... Hey, even MacGyver worshipped at the altar of duct tape, right?

I'm exhausted. It's been a busy, busy, busy (not to mention VERY long) weekend and I'm thrilled it's Monday. No, really, I am!

I did get a bit of writing done, but mostly Judy and I worked on planning and executing our HUGE first anniversary bash for The Long and the Short of It. Yep... next month will have been ONE WHOLE YEAR that we've had the website up and running, and what a fun and crazy and interesting year it's been.

In any case, I'm a bit pooped, so, without further ado, I give you:

1. What is your blog about? How long have you been blogging? Why did you begin blogging? Is it the same reason that you continue to blog today? How has your blog changed over the time you’ve had it? In six words, sum up your blog.

I started blogging to promote my writing. When I started, I hadn't even been published yet. In fact, I don't think I'd even submitted anything for publication -- but, hey. I'm forward thinking, what can I say?

Since then, it's morphed a bit. Do I talk about my writing? Sure... but I also gab about anything that strikes me as, well, something to gab about! And, best of all, I've made some great online friends (::waves::).

Six words? Um, um, um... Writer, reader, butterfly raiser & vole catcher. (I didn't count the &, lol...)

I don't know. What six words would YOU use to describe this blog?

2. When you go for a haircut, do you do something drastic? Or are you more of a ‘just a trim’ sort of person? Do you color your hair? If so, how often? Tell us about your best, and worst, hairstyle. What sort of hairstyle do you think looks good on you now?

Drastic or a trim? Depends. Most recently, drastic -- 10" off. But usually, it's just a trim.

Color? Yep... I'm gonna wash that gray right outta my hair... and I do it whenever my DD mentions my gray is showing again.

Best and worst? Honestly I have no idea. I've never really had a horrible haircut, and I've mostly worn my hair (with the exception of the current short cut) long and not much different my entire life (except with I was desperate to have "feathers" in junior high, damn that Farrah Fawcett).

3. Tell us about your 4th of July celebration. Show us some pictures (if you have them). What did your family do? Did you go and see a big fireworks display? Or did you stay home and have a (semi) quiet family fireworks celebration? On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), how patriotic would you say you are? Do you routinely talk about our country’s issues within your family unit? Do you and your significant other see eye-to-eye on political issues? International friends: tell us how you celebrate your country’s birthday/new year/significant annual event.

The dog and I stayed home. It was wonderful. DD and DH took the boat out with my SILs and swam and ate bad food and watched fireworks. I don't like boating, I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, and I can't stay up late... so their day sounded like pure torture to me.

Patriotic? Quite. Discussing politics? Regularly. It's actually something I'm quite passionate about -- but I don't discuss it here on the blog. It's forbidden (and BOY is it hard to bite my tongue sometimes, but so far, I've managed). My DH and I are pretty well aligned politically, so that's good.

4. If you only had enough time each day to read one section of the newspaper, which section would you read? Why this particular section?

Comics? LOL... either that or the editorials. Because they both make me laugh.

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We hatched another butterfly yesterday. This one fell, too (stupid things!), but I happened to be there about two seconds after he hatched (and, yes, thus far they've ALL been males... how do you tell the difference? Go here to see.) and scooped him up. DD held him, dangling from her finger, for about 45 minuntes and then put him out on the echinacea. He flew off about an hour later. Phew. This butterfly wrangling is hard work!

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Locks of Love and Kitchen Matches

Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices. ~Shana Alexander

I suppose I should try for cleverer titles to my blog posts, but... hey... I'm a "tell it like it is" kinda gal.

First off, I couldn't stand my hair any more, so I donated again. It's a little (okay A LOT) shorter that I wanted it, but it's such a relief. All you folks who say you want thick, curly hair? You have NO idea... I have so much hair that my head hurts all the time when my hair is long. I was headache free yesterday for the first time in MONTHS.

My hairdresser tied up my hair in a ponytail to cut it -- yes it's UBER frizzy because she brushed it. You can't brush curly hair without dire consequences.



Then she started cutting just above the rubber band. And she cut, and cut and cut. And changed hands and cut from the other side. And cut, and cut, and cut. Finally, she stopped, laughed and said, "I need a hacksaw!"

She did finally cut off the required ten inches. And left me with this:



And so, I start the cycle over again. Well, maybe not. I may keep it short. We'll see how it goes, because it really does feel fabulous. To be honest, I barely care how it looks!

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I've been haunting my author page at Samhain, waiting to see the "coming soon" cover for "Kitchen Matches". Today, lo and behold, it is UP!!! Now I know my exact release date: August 12th. YAY!

My second round edits are done, and the manuscript is headed for a FLE (Final Line Editor). The cover is being drafted and I'm interested to see what the artist comes up with.

In the meantime, why don't you head over and see what the blurb whiz at Samhain came up with (from my lame attempts at writing a blurb) -- click here.

What do you think?

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You know Murphy...? Of "Murphy's Law"...? Yeah, me, too. In fact, I met him yesterday. I'd mentioned on Monday that my cucumbers that I'd planted from seed well over two weeks ago hadn't peeked their little heads above ground, right? Well, today I looked all over the place until I finally found the type I wanted -- a little expensive, and each plant was in its own little pot (no cute, inexpensive six-packs for me... oh no). I bought six plants. I was so relieved to find them I almost cried.

You know what's coming, right? Yep. I got home and brought my new plants over to where I'd been keeping the dirt and peat pots that hadn't grown into cucumber plants. Since THE MORNING plants grew. Only two so far, and they really aren't even above ground, just the upside down "U" of the stem just beginning to emerge.

But, darn it... they're growing. It may be that I'll have twelve cucumber plants in my garden this year. Anyone want some?

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What Your Fridge Says About You

You like to be surrounded by things you love. You aren't exactly greedy, but you can be materialistic at times. You tend to be a fairly thrifty person. You splurge occasionally, but you're mostly a saver. You are a very adventurous person. You love to try new things, and you get bored very easily. You are responsible, together, and mature. You act like an adult, even when you don't feel like it. You are likely married, possibly with kids.

What Do the Contents of Your Refrigerator Say About You?

Okay, yeah... except for that new things part, I'm good with this.

Friday's Feast 191

A library is a hospital for the mind. ~ Anonymous



Appetizer

What is the nearest big city to your home?

We live near the biggest city in New Hampshire: Manchester. But with a population of merely 107,006 it doesn't really qualify. I'd have to say Boston, MA -- ringing in with a population of 589,141.

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?

I'd have to say 9. I mean, after all, you didn't know about that time I... erhm... never mind.

Seriously, though, I'm a world class secret keeper. Feel free to share yours *G*.

Salad

Describe your hair (color, texture, length).

I have thick (not just how much hair, but each individual hair!), dry, frizzy, super curly, impossible to tame reddish-brown (going to gray, *sigh*) hair. My hairdresser tells me she cuts more hair off my head for a "trim" than most people HAVE on their heads. I have yet, in 41 years, learned how to deal with it so most days I pull it into a braid or a ponytail.

Main Course

What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?

I drive the speed limit (thereby annoying everyone else on the road), I obey the traffic laws, and I let people in when they need it. That said, I also despise pushy drivers, and nothing annoys me more on the road when someone does something like zoom past me in a lane they KNOW is ending (or on the shoulder), just to get four cars farther ahead and then try to shove their way in. In those cases, I admit to having a tendency to kiss the bumper ahead of me and then look straight ahead (I don't see you....) -- hmmm, am I really that passive aggressive?

Dessert

When was the last time you had a really bad week?

Last week. That's all I'll say. I have NO desire to relive it.

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Yesterday, I looked into doggy daycare for Dakota. I think I'm going to start putting her in one day a week. I hate to spend money on something that isn't really necessary, but honestly -- I need one day for my sanity. I took a tour of the facility and they even have an indoor pool for the dogs!! In fact, for $20 you can reserve the pool for you, your family or friends, and dogs for an hour on the weekend. How cool is that?

Anyway, she'll go in for an "evaluation day" next week where they'll see how she does, see what group of dogs she'll fit in with for the playtimes, etc., and then I think we'll start the once a week trip the following week.

Yay. Freedom!

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What Your Taste in Music Says About You

Your musical tastes are upbeat and conventional. You are an easy going, optimistic person. Family and friends are very important to you. You enjoy caring for and helping other people. You thrive in a tranquil environment, and you do your best to keep things peaceful. You enjoy your life. You have your priorities straight.

What Does Your Taste in Music Say About You?

Uh. No.

I am, possibly, the least optimistic person you'll ever meet, LOL...But, fact is, this quiz didn't give me "real" choices and I had to select the lesser of evils. Oh well.

::shrugs::