5 Years and 5 Things Ago?
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

What were you doing 10 years ago?
  We still lived in Mass & I was mostly at home Taking care of miss 10 who was only 6 months old, at that time my ex ran an auto parts store & when someone would call him to see if he could get a special order part he'd call me & I'd drive to the warehouse to pick it up & have it there for the customer really quick, miss 10 would ride along with me on these jaunts most every afternoon in our ancient mustang which took forever to warm up enough so that I couldn't see my breath while driving.

5 years ago?
  Working the same job I work now but it was different then, more of a challenge & a lot less stressful, worrying, arguing with the ex by phone weekly.

One year ago?
  Working, Loving being in my new house,

Yesterday?
  Working It sometimes seems like I'm always working

5 snacks you enjoy?
  Chocolate
  Popcorn with Parmesan Cheese & onion powder sprinkled over it
  Barbara's Cheese Curls
  Cereal, Corn Chex in particular
  Doritos Ranch Flavor

5 songs I know all the words to?
Wish you were here by Incubus,
Gypsy Road by Cinderella
Ends by Everlast
Far Away by the Offspring
I Stay Away by Alice in Chains  

5 things you would do if you had 5 million dollars?
Build a really nice house
Travel
Go to a spa & have all my fat sucked out of me!
Shop
NOT work!

5 things you like doing?
Reading
Writing
Driving back roads to explore
Some tv watching
Internet, reading blogs etc

5 bad habits?
Internet
Tv
Not cleaning much
Eating too much
Wanting to do what I'm into to the exclusion of everything else

5 things I would never wear again?
High heels!
Mini skirts
Any perfume but my favorite
Colored Jeans
Skimpy tops

5 favorite toys?
My son's Imaginext build a castle sets (discontinued)
Mahjong
My Car
Dollhouse stuff (SOMEDAY, I'm going to get to make a nice one for ME)
Scrabble

Saw This on Someone else's blog today & thought it was pretty cool!
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

The first line from the first post for each month of last year, (starting in February since I didn't start blogging until February)

February   100 things about me
100- I'm Fat, I've been fat my whole life excluding ages 18 to 21 & it's only a big deal when it keeps me from doing something I want to do.

March  It Could always be worse.....it was not the worst day I've ever had, it wasn't among my best though. I didn't lose my temper at anyone on the phone & I only remember shaking my middle finger at the computer screen during 3 or 4 calls today! over the course of 55-60 calls in a day that's pretty good, for me.

April I left work early back on Friday, I was feeling Ill & on top of that my ex's threatened visit was really putting me into a tailspin. My house is a mess, my yard is a mess, I'm broke, I have broken windows & can't figure out how to take the boards that hold the windows in their frames off to take the windows out & repair them

May I was reading annother Local blog which had an entry about people coming from other areas, thinking this was a good place to settle & on the
considerations they should take under advisement,

June   Just got back from a hike in Patrick County, ( more pictures are here) I managed half the hike & let 16, her Boyfriend & Chris-sea's daughter finish it. miss 9 & mr 6 & I stayed in the primitive campsites & went wading in the river & met butterflies.

July  I'm not going to pretend I did anything of great importance today, I would have liked to but then I'm a boring person in general & I'm boring enough to say at least I acomplished most of what I set out for myself.

August  Its hard getting back in the swing of things after being on vacation, it's even odder when barely a week after getting home you're off again. Tuesday of this week we drove to Kentucky to take miss 16 to a friends house

September   If everybody is happy doing their own thing why do I feel guilty that I've been wasting the whole day looking at silly stuff on my computer? All three kids are busy with their own pursuits, no one has asked me to do anything which I've said no to because I'm absorbed in the computer, but yet, I still feel guilty for being on here just messing around-

October  I've been online for over an hour just reading other peoples blogs etc. & it seems everyone has so much more of a life, so many more links to interesting & funny & beautiful things.

November  Halloween is over & it's back to the grind, Last night was fun, not spectacular, I was actually rather disapointed in my company's halloween setup, there were some stand out parts, the IT department in particular stands out - the little ones actually got tentative & jumped when the scare came- something I would have doubted would happen any longer.

 December I was at work this morning struggling to make it to the halfway point in the day so I could go home sick & I got a text message from miss 16 who was home from school with the diareah & vomiting I was struggling against while at work. The text said 'yeah, I just almost died'.

Last Meme of 2006
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

I was able to Cut my sugar intake (for maybe, 8 of 12 months)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for
next year?

I made No resolutions in 2006, I'm going to resolve to do better with my attendance at work this year,

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not really, my ex-aunt did in February, I saw the little one for the first time Christmas eve.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Grandmother.

5. What countries did you visit?
Oh yeah, sure.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Money, Time, Patientice

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Easter, whenever that was in April, because of the ex's visit, it's always odd seeing him & now even odder since he has a new family now.

December 14th when my grandmother died, very odd, I didn't want to go to work, I could feel something was wrong, I just didn't know what.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 Not losing my Job yet.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to keep my patientice. Both at home & at work.

10. What was the best thing you bought?
I would say the plumbers services!

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Miss 16 with her all a's & b's this semester in 11th grade, lets hope the second semester is as good, (not holding my breath, Chemistry & Algebra 2 are in the mix)

12. Whose behavior made you appalled and disgusted?
Our President, Rumsfeld, et al.

13. What song will always remind you of 2006
Hate Me by Blue October

14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Slept...lol, just kidding, spent time with my kids, though we did most of the things we like to do this year, except going camping....

15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Complaining, Feeling stressed.

16. Did you fall in love in 2006
With my blog

17. What was your favorite TV program?
Jericho

18. What was the best book you read?
Too Many to list, maybe Davinci Code since I didn't expect to like it.

19. What one thing would have made your year measurably more satisfying?
Well, more money of course!

20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006
What fashion concept? ok here goes: If it fits & isn't stained or made of really nasty polyester I'll wear it.

21. What kept you sane?
St Johns wort of course, that & liberal applications of sleep.

22. Who did you miss?
Since my grandmother just died, I can't say her really. I guess it would have to still be my brother. He's been dead 17 years but I never stop wondering what his take on current events, my kids, music etc. would have been, I think, because we were homeschooled & spent inordinate amounts of time together that its more like missing a best friend in a lot of ways.

23. Who was the best new person you met?
Both of the people who came to mind I technically met in october of 2005 so they don't really count. lets say Terrence from work since I got to know him more over this year even if I did meet him in 2005.

24. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2006
 Get everything in writing beforehand.

25. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Heartless challenge, Pick your path & I'll pray... (no one said it had to be a current song!)

Christmas Survey
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?  Both! Egg Nog says Christmas to me though, where Hot Chocolate is all winter long.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?   He fills the Stockings only, gifts beneath the tree are from friends & family.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  Colored lights, Grew up with white & it is boring.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?   Yes!

5. When do you put your decorations up?   The Weekend after Christmas.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?  Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown sugar.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Christmas morning with my whole family together between the stockings & the tree we'd have breakfast with homemade eggnog & fresh bread or coffee cake & all spend time together & talk. (Last year Christmas eve I was awake half the night remembering all kinds of Christmas memories, I've never had that happen before, just been flooded with rememberances of things past)

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?   I was about 8 & I read everything, voraciously, my Grandmother who lived with us brought home Womans Day & Family Circle magazines all the time & one of them had a story about a boy finding out about Santa & I caught on at that point.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?   My kids do.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  Lots of old novelty ornaments, (hallmark type & handmade- my mother gives one each year to remind me & others of my brother & father both dead for 15+ years- last year's was a chewbacca action figure because my brother collected star wars stuff) glass balls, new & antique (which I try to collect) strings of popcorn & cranberries, strips of tinsel not the garland kind.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?   Working at a job where I can get fired for over 7 absences in a year I dread snow like the plauge. I like to see it falling in the few weeks before Christmas I admit, it really puts the Christmas season in place for me. After Christmas though, YUCK!

12. Can you ice skate?  Yep.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  Probably the year my ex & I got together & he gave me an emerald ring- it didn't fit quite right but I wore it with my finger turning purple all through the holiday weekend until he could get it sized.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?   Being with my Kids & family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?   Croquemboushe.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?  Just being together.

17. What tops your tree?  A star with white lights in it. (I know, I said I like color, but the star just needs to be white.)

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?   Giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?   Snow at Christmas by Greg Lake (of Emerson, Lake & Palmer) you know, the one that goes: 'they said there'd be snow at Christmas, they said there'd be peace on earth' ?  (as for real, traditional Christmas songs it would be Angels we Have Heard on High)

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or yummy? Yummy but only once or twice a year. not a huge peppermint fan.

21. Favorite Christmas Movies? National Lampoons Christmas, Reckless (Not Exactly a Christmas movie but it deals with it!) Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, Scrooged.

Yes, Annother Meme
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

Stole this one from Jody!

&, fair warning, there's more to come!

1. How tall are you barefoot?   5'4"

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?   nope, there were times in my life where I'd probably have done so if anyone offered me some

3. Do you own a gun?   No

5. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents"?   I'm nervous just meeting any people

6. What do you think of hot dogs?   Gross

7. What's your favorite Christmas song?   Snow at Christmas by Greg Lake (I think)

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Water & then sugar free Sobe Energy drink.

9. Can you do push ups?   Lol, yeah right

10. Is your bathroom clean?   Annother yeah, right

11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry?   I don't wear Jewlery much, probably the bracelet of antique dimes from my father's family

12. Do you like painkillers?   Like asprin? sure. harder stuff, not much anymore.

13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?     I have none, I'm anti flirting & am pretty much out of the loop nowadays.

14. Do you own a knife?     An athame (which was my deceased brother in law's) & cooking knives.

15. Do you have A.D.D?     Not by how they describe it on tv commercials, but I think I might have as a kid.

16. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1. Why did I eat that for dinner?

2. Why do I have to go to work tommorow on my day off?

3. How am I going to get the Christmas shopping done with 16 hours of mandatory overtime to do in the next 2 weeks?

18. What's your normal bed time?    k I try for 11 on nights when I have to get up the next day & whenever on nights when I don't.

19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink:
1. Diet Coke
2. Sobe Energy sugar free
3. Water

20. What time did you wake up today?   1030 am

22. Current worry?  Time

23. Current hate? having to go to work tommorow & then get 2 more hours of ot before Sunday & having to do annother 8 next week.

24. Favorite place to be? Home

25. Least favorite place to be? Work

 

 27. Do you own slippers? I have some sock looking things with fake fur around the tops which could be loosely termed slippers I guess.

28. What shirt are you wearing? I'm in my new flannel nightgown

29. Do you burn or tan?    Burn & Burn & Burn (with some peeling in between.

30. Favorite color?   Teal

31. Would you be a pirate?   Sure

32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink?    Uhhh, when did Chrissie move out? September?

33. What songs do you sing in the shower?   I rarely sing in the shower.

34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child?   I was afraid of garbage trucks.

35. What's in your pockets right now? No Pockets

36. Last thing/person that made you laugh? The kids

37. Best bed sheets you had as a child?   Snoopy

38. Worst injury you've ever had?   Probably the time my face swelled up after I dove into the rock in the river in Maine.

39. If you could cheat on your spouse and not get caught would you?
What spouse? When I had one the answer was no.

40. Are your parents still together? No

41. Who is your loudest friend?  I doun't know, Jody maybe?

42. Who is your most silent friend?   I don't know- I'm the quiet one.

43. Does someone have a crush on you? Nope

44. Do you wish on shooting stars? Yes

45. What is your favorite book?  I can't narrow it down to one, the last one I read that I LOVED was Between Georgia

46. What is your favorite candy? Skor Bar.

47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding?   We played 'Never Let you Go' by Steelheart.

48. What song do you want played at your funeral? What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

49. What were you doing 12 AM last night?   Watching the news on dvr.

50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?   Oh Shit! How late did I sleep?

 

Post note: I had this all set to go last night & My internet connection dropped out on me- very agravating, no rain or anything obvious to cause it! I'm posting with yesterday's date since it should have been yesterday. 

Still Yet annother Meme
Now Playing: The Sweetest Thing, By U2
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
Were you a planned baby?:
 Yes

Were you the first?:
 Yes
Were your parents married when you were born?:
Yes

Part 2: The Family
How would you describe your family?:
home life when I was young was strained & fairly sedate


Are your parents still married?:
My father is deceased so no.

Siblings or an only child?:
1 brother, also deceased


If you have siblings are you oldest, middle, or youngest?:
Oldest

Which parent do you get along with best?:
I got along better with my father, now that its just my mother & I we get along ok.

What do you fight about?:
My mother & I fought constantly from the time I turned 10 or so, I think her attitude is best illustrated by what she said when I was pregnant with my second child & worried that I wouldn't love it as much as the first she said: "Don't worry about it, once you have the baby everything the oldest child does will just annoy you" I'm her oldest child.

Do you have step parents?:
NO



Part 3: The Friends
Do you have more than one best friend?:
Yes

What do you like to do when you are together?:
 Talk mostly

Do you share the same interests?
With some I do, with some we have varied interests

Which friend can you tell anything to?:
Chrissie

Part 4: Your Personality
How high/low is your self esteem?:
pretty Low

Do you get depressed about things easily?:
I try not to, I take st.Johnswort to help with depression which my runs in my family.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert?:
Introvert all the way

Happy?:
Yes, pretty Happy.

do you live life to the fullest?:
Not really but I'm satisfied.

Part 5: Appearance
Are you comfortable with the way you look?:
Pretty Much, most people aren't but I don't really care.

What would you change about your appearance if you could?:
my weight of course.

Do you have any piercings besides your ears?:
None.
How do you style your hair

How do you dress?:
I put my clothes on the same way most people do...lol... with my own certain style, I like what I like & there's no real name for the style, maybe hippie?

Part 6: The Past
Were you a strange child?:
Yes.

What did you use to love that you no longer do?:
Horror movies

Do you have the same friends?:
Some of them, I've known Chrissie since I was 12, Jennie since 15 & Jen since she was born since we're cousins.

Was there anything in your past that was traumatizing?:
I'm sure, many things were traumatizing, I know my mother venting to me that we might lose the house through not being able to afford the mortgage payments etc. was pretty traumatic, I was afraid for years afterwards that we were going to get thrown out on the street. That's when I started overeating too...


Part 7: The Future


Are you scared of growing old?:
Not really

Do you want to get married?:
NO!


Part 8: The Outdoors
What is your favorite season?:
Everything but winter

Favorite weather?:
Warm & Sunny
Do you like walking in the rain?:


Part 9: Food
Are you a vegetarian?:
Nope, but I don't eat a lot of meat.

What is your favorite food?:
Chocolate

What food makes you want to gag?:
Peanut butter.

What is your favorite dessert?:
Chocolate Cheesecake.

What is your favorite restaurant?:
kabukis which is  a Japanese Steakhouse

Are you a picky eater?
Fairly

Part 10: Relationships and Love

do you think love is the best feeling in the world?:
I guess, it's been so long I can't remember

Believe in love at first sight?:
Yes, I've experienced it.

Do you think you're in love currently?:
Nope, not at all.

Annother Meme
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

GRUB-OLOGY
• What is your salad dressing of choice?

Bleu Cheese

• What is your favorite fast food restaurant?

 None really, I'll eat subs or pizza over any chain- type McDonalds restaurant

• What is your favorite sit down restaurant?

Here in VA: Kabukis

In Mass:  Top of The Hub

• On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?

at least 15%, sometimes more

• What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?

Chocolate! on a more realistic note, pasta, with different sauces, toppings, etc. I could eat it daily for weeks.

• Name three foods you detest above all others.

Peanut Butter,  Chewing Gum & Ham

• What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?

I like the appetizers, all we ever get is pu pu platters to share

• What are your pizza toppings of choice?

Mushrooms, Sausage & Extra Cheese

 • What do you like to put on your toast?

Butter & cinnamon sugar

• What is your favorite type of gum?

Don't like it at all.

BI-OLOGY

• What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?

Hair

• Are you right handed or left handed?

Right 

• Do you like your smile?

Not really

• Have you ever had anything removed from your body?

Babies!

• Would you like to? 

Oh yes!

• Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?

Smell

• When was the last time you had a cavity?

Just recently

• What is the heaviest item you lift regularly?

my son is about 45 pounds, I pick him up to hug him regularly

• Have you ever been knocked unconscious?

Nope 

MISC-OLOGY

• If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?

No. probably not.

• If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?

Jemima, an old family name which my mother was going to use but my Uncle talked her out of it.

• How do you express your artistic side?

Crafts, Beaded Jewlery, Embroidery

• What color do you think you look best in?

Emerald Green or Teal- conveniently my favorite colors.

• How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison?

Pretty long, I'd try to read a lot.

• Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?

Yes.

• If we weren’t bound by society’s conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at?

Nope- not really

• How often do you go to church?
Seldom

• Have you ever saved someone’s life?
No.
• Has someone ever saved yours?

DARE-OLOGY

For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much.

• Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?

Sure,
• Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?

Absolutley

• Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000?

Yes 

• Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
Probably, you don't use pinkie fingers that much do you?

• Would you never blog again for $50,000?

It would probably take more like $100,000.

• Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?

would I have to read/hear, complaints & comments about my pictorial? I'm pretty fat after all... If I could be oblivious to the response I'd probably do it for $500,000.

• Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?

Sure
• Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000,00?

I don't think I could take a human life at all

• Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000?

more like $50,000 & someone else would have to pay for the shaving & waxing.

• Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?

Sure- as long as I could still watch dvds & use the computer no problem. 

Yes, Yes, annother Meme,
Now Playing: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

With Apologies (thanks?) to http://ben-gal.tripod.com/

1. Yourself: Worried

2. Your husband/wife: None

3. Your hair: Needs Washing

4. Your Mother: Depressed (as always)

5. Your Father: Deceased

6. Your Favorite Item: Item? The Computer or my bed

7. Your dream last night: Can't remember.

8. Your Favorite Drink: Water or Diet Coke

9. Your Dream Home: Log Cabin on a back road right here in my area

10. The Room You Are In: Dim, we need lightbulbs!

12. Your fear: One of my kids dying

13. Where you Want to be in Ten Years? Here, with more money or better yet an unlimited supply of money!

14. Who you hung out with last night: My kids & Chrissie

15. What You're Not: Outgoing & gregarious

16. Your Best Friends: Chrissie, Ann, Jen.

17. One of Your Wish List Items: Unlimited Cash

18. Your Gender: Female.

19. The Last Thing You Did: Washed the Dishes

20. What You Are Wearing: Nightgown

21. Your favorite weather: Warm & Sunny

22. Your Favorite Book: Too many to begin to list

23. Last thing you ate? Steak, Rice Pilaf & Summer Squash & Zuchini from my garden.

24. Your Life: Needs Less Stress

25. Your mood: Calm

26. The last person you talked to on the phone: Chrissie

27. What are you thinking about right now?: Wether to stay online or go watch tv for awhile

Memes for vacation.
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
Over the past 5 days I've been doing 5 in depth questions, I got them from somebody's blog which I read quite steadily over a few months, but when my computer crashed 2 crashes ago I lost the url to the site & can't remember it for the life of me, Whoever you are, thank you for the meme, it's a challengeing one & if anyone does take it from me, please link me so I can read your responses, I split it up so I could post 1 piece a day for 5 days while I'm away on Vacation!!

5. Answer James Lipton's Ten Questions:
What is your favorite word?
Interesting...
What is your least favorite word?
No
What turns you on?
Cheerfulness
What turns you off?
Moodiness
What is your favorite curse word?
Damnit!
What sound or noise do you love?
Rain on the roof
What sound or noise do you hate?
the beep that tells me I'm getting a call on my headset phone at work.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Most Anything! I like the idea of real estate but not the part where new construction takes all the green spaces & I don't think I'm outgoing enough to bear all that talking.
What profession would you not like to do?
Gravedigger would not be a good one for me, Doctor also would not be a good choice because I lack empathy
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
welcome, you did good!

Memes for vacation
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
Over the past 5 days I've been doing 5 in depth questions, I got them from somebody's blog which I read quite steadily over a few months, but when my computer crashed 2 crashes ago I lost the url to the site & can't remember it for the life of me, Whoever you are, thank you for the meme, it's a challengeing one & if anyone does take it from me, please link me so I can read your responses, I split it up so I could post 1 piece a day for 5 days while I'm away on Vacation!!

4. Describe your least favourite and best characteristics.
Least Favorite:
Selfish,
Given to attitudes of intellectual superiority.
Mean spirited.
Lazy
Don't clean up the house enough.
Hypocritical
Introverted

Best:
Patient
Calm
Smart
Quick to understand things
Thoughtful
Quiet & introspective.
Introverted (yes, it's on both lists because it's a plus & a minus at the same time!)

Memes for vacation
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

Over the past 5 days I've been doing 5 in depth questions, I got them from somebody's blog which I read quite steadily over a few months, but when my computer crashed 2 crashes ago I lost the url to the site & can't remember it for the life of me, Whoever you are, thank you for the meme, it's a challengeing one & if anyone does take it from me, please link me so I can read your responses, I split it up so I could post 1 piece a day for 5 days while I'm away on Vacation!!
3. If you could have dinner with five people from history, living or dead, who would they be? What about five fictional characters? or 5 present day famous people alive now. What would you serve at each dinner?
Historical:
Timothy Leary
Madame Voisin
Thomas Jefferson
John Greenleaf Whittier
Martha Washington
I'd have to have simple food for Mrs Washington, Jefferson & Whittier, the others would just have to deal! Probably Some sort of stew & my fresh, homemade bread & salad.

Fictional:
Claire Fraser of the Outlander series
Gandalf
Harry Potter
Tally from Scott Westerfield's Uglies trilogy
Jack Sparrow
Shish Kebab, rice pilaf & salad.

Present Day:
Stephen King
Sarah Bird
Douglas Coupland
Johnny Depp (ok, yeah, I don't want to talk to him!)
Demi Moore
Lasagna, more Fresh, homemade bread & Salad of course. Man, 3 out of 5 are writers! I'm so out of it!

Memes for vacation
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
Over the past 5 days I'm doing 5 in depth questions, I got them from somebody's blog which I read quite steadily over a few months, but when my computer crashed 2 crashes ago I lost the url to the site & can't remember it for the life of me, Whoever you are, thank you for the meme, it's a challengeing one & if anyone does take it from me, please link me so I can read your responses, I split it up so I could post 1 piece a day for 5 days while I'm away on Vacation!!

2. Pretend you won the lottery. It's a huge amount, although not sickeningly huge. After you've given away your chunk to charity, paid off all your bills, set up savings/trust funds for kids and self and given money to deserving family and friends, you're left with $5 million, which you must use to build a house. Where would it be? What would it look like? Tell me how you'd furnish it and then describe your first party there.

My House would be on the site of a rental home I used to live in with my ex, The house would be behind where the rental house is situated, the original house there is old, leaky & poorly situated to take advantage of the view, behind the current house the hill the house is built on slopes down steeply & I would build into the hill, from the street the house would look like a modest 2 story log cabin house, there would be a porch/deck running the entire perimeter of the house & there would be a third level built into the ground with garage space & an efficiency apartment for guests behind the garage. the entire back of the house facing down the hill towards a stunning view of Floyd's own Buffalo Mountain, would be all huge windows. The first floor would be open concept with the living room running the entire right half of the house, there would be a large central chimney with multiple fireplaces built into it, behind the chimney adjoining the living room would be the dining area & the kitchen would be on the back right half of the house, the front right would have 2 of my kids bedrooms woth full bath. upstairs my bedroom would be the entire right side above the living room but only about half of the room would be a walled bedroom the back half, (facing down the hill) would be an open room with all my books, a hammock, papasan chair & other comfy places to sit & read. The floor would not come all the way to the glass wall, this area would overlook the living room & dining room & have a spiral staircase down to the living/dining room area.
at the front of the upstairs would be the master bath & a second bathroom for my oldest & her room would take up the left part of the upstairs with a similar open area to see the view & see what is going on in the rest of the house. We'd have a pool, jacuzzi etc, below the house & off to the right would be a horse area with a big barn & above the barn more efficiency apartments for friends to come & stay & for the person I'd hire to keep the horses for me. The furnishings would be comfortable & fairly casual. though I would want a large dining room set, lots of space for lots of guests. The entertainment center would be state of the art & have speakers in every room & a full setup so that what is on the main tv in the main room is available (also with option for independent viewing of other things) in every room in the house.
The whole house would have passive solar, sustainable water, generators etc. I'd build in a lot of extras for self sufficiency in a bad weather, end of the world sort of situation. I'd want to heat with pellet stoves or some other recyclable option for the heating source (the rental house there had a wood stove & it was there I learned that heating with wood is a LOT of work!)I think I'm spending a lot more than 5 million here!
I don't think I'd have a single party at my house, I'd rather have all my friends & family come & visit seperately so I could really see them individualy & get to show them all the really wonderful things around my area.

In Depth Memes,
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
Over the next 5 days I'm going to do 5 in depth questions, I got them from somebody's blog which I read quite steadily over a few months, but when my computer crashed 2 crashes ago I lost the url to the site & can't remember it for the life of me, Whoever you are, thank you for the meme, it's a challengeing one & if anyone does take it from me, please link me so I can read your responses, I split it up so I could post 1 piece a day for 5 days while I'm away on Vacation!! 1. Pretend you're stranded on a desert island. You already have shelter, water, batteries, an abundant food supply that doesn't revolve around coconuts and even a cabana boy/girl to minister to your, erm, needs. However, you need some intellectual entertainment. Give me your top five desert island: books, movies, albums (NOT compilations of your own making) and tell why these make the cut. Books: 1. The Outlander series, because I've only read them once & I belive you've got to read a book at least 2 times before you truly know it, 2. Complete Works of Shakespeare I truly intend to read it again someday! 3. The Clan of the Cavebear series, I've read all but the last book but it's been so long since I read the first that I'd have to re-read them all to truly 'get' the most recent book in the series. 4. Linda Goodmans Star Signs, There's enough in there to keep me pondering for 20 years! 5. The Complete works of Judith Merkle Riley, just plain my favorite author. writes about the 14 & 1500's & has a great flavoring of the occult, humor & just general bawdyness which I love. (yes, I cheated by giving series of books & complete works, but I'm a reader, if it was only 5 actual books I'd be very unpleasant after about 10 days.) Movies 1.The Lord of the Rings Trillogy. Well, of course. 2.At Close Range. My all time favorite movie, Christopher Walken is a god! 3.Dogma. A hilarious look at the whole religion thing. 4.Gone With the Wind. Learned to love it at my Grandmother's knee. .Braveheart. "Freedom!!" Albums 1.Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes. I could listen to the cd that introduced me to Tori forever!(but wait, what about Alanis Morisette's Jagged little pill?) 2.Audioslave, Out of Exile. not a song I skip on this one, (or on Godsmack's The other side, maybe that one would be better!) 3.Smashing Pumpkins, Rotten Apples/Greatest Hits. Annother one where there's not a song I skip. (But I'd have a lot of trouble leaving my Soundgarden's A sides behind...) 4.Greatful Dead, American Beauty. An all time classic. (But then, so's the Beatles Yellow Submarine or Seargent Peppers!- is the Dead really more important to me than the Beatles?) 5.Guns & Roses, Use your Illusion 2. Many great songs, (no, maybe it should be Rush's greatest hits, or Alice in Chains'5 cd's/albums is just too few!-just give me my computer hard drive, with all my music on it & no one will get hurt!)

Five Fives, for the 25th (with apologies to a few different blogs I've seen this on, some with different questions)
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense

5 Items in my fridge:
1. Ice cream I was conned into buying because it was 'buy 1 get 1 free mom, it's a good deal'
2. Enough Diet Coke to have the Nutrasweet sensitive twitching
3. Leftover Tuna which has too much paprika for anyone but miss 16
4. Vidalia Onions I bought because someone told me there was fresh french bread at home but then they ate it all before I got there!
5. Jars of Pickle juice because the kids can't stop eating pickles

5 Items in my closet:
1. My Clothes, loosely organized by shirts, dresses, skirts & season.
2. My son's clothes because it's a double closet, in his room & we share.
3. Fisher Price toys, like the castle, house, parking garage, from the 70's yes, the ones with the people kids can choke on & neither I, my brother, 2 younger cousins who inherited the toys & then gave them back or any of my 3 kids ever did choke on them.
4. A box full of Winter & Larger clothes for my son which I buy cheap at yard sales & goodwill & keep until he needs them.
5. Boots which I rarely wear.

5 Items in my car:
1. One of those flashlights you shake up which never needs batteries
2. Too many cds & tapes
3. A couple of books in case I'm bored
4. The Beaded hanger for a crystal I had hanging in my car, about a year ago the crystal broke off & I have yet to buy annother crystal or find time to bead one I already have.
5. At least 10 matchbox cars & 3 abandoned purses.

5 Items in my purse:
1. All last months bills.
2. Pictures of everybody.
3. 4 pens because there's never enough.
4. Valerian Root, St Johnswort, Multivitamins, asprin.
5. 6 different kinds of moisturizer.

5 Items in my Medicine Cabinet
1. Band-aids in a metal box
2. A Deodorant stone
3. Chemical Skin peel which turns me red & does not much else!
4. 4 kinds of toothpaste.
5. Asprin, Advil & Goodys Headache powders.

46 Questions you wouldn't think to ask.... But Ann would though.
Topic: Stuff & Nonsense
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
Only at Rock Concerts they do a pat down most times

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters ?
Nope

3. When was the last time you've been sledding?
A few years ago. we get so little snow & it never lasts long, probably winter of 97.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
Alone has it's benefits, like the middle of the bed. It took me almost 2 years to get used to it though.

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
Yes

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
Yes

8. Carmen Electra or Jenna Jameson?
? Carmen Electra can at least talk so that's something right?

9. Do you totally dislike someone right now?
Hmm, do I have to actually know them to dislike them? I can think of a few people who I have talked with on the phone at work who were really uneccesarily rude & unpleasant that I dislike.

10. Do you know how to play poker?
Yes- played with my father & brother for years.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
Yes, many times, this past weekend felt like 48 hours straight, I slept about an hour on friday night 3 hours saturday night & 3 hours in the car on the way home. All of that 'sleep' was a light doze at best.

12. Have you ever cheated on a test?
Nope

13. Who was your first crush?
Jonathan Hall from sunday school

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around would you run a red light?
Yep- been there done that.

15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
Yes, a few.
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
well I hate baseball so my answer has no real meaning, I was brought up by my mother & grandmother to like the yankess, but my father was a redsox fan & I find myself rooting for them in his memory if you can call it rooting when I happen to be in the breakroom at work & see the scores on tv as I'm sitting there & I am pleased it the sox are doing well- that's as far as it ever goes for me I'm afraid.

17. Have you ever been ice skating?
Oh yes, too many times to count

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
I only dream vividly for about a week each month, right around the new moon for some reason & that's about the only time I remember the dreams.

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
I laugh like that with the kids all the time.

20. Can you name 4 songs by The Beatles?
Eleanor Rigby
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Dear Prudence
Here Comes the Sun

21. What's the one thing on your mind?
my shoulder hurts & I want it to stop permanently.

22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
yeah, it's happened to me.

23. Do you know who Ba-Ba-Booey is?
not a clue.

24. Do you always wear your seat belt?
Only in the daylight when the cops can see me, (they're trying to make it legal for them to stop you in Virginia just for not having the seatbelt on)

25. What talent do you wish you had?
I bet my kids would prefer that I could sing. for my own personal preference some convenient esp would do nicely.

26. Do you like Sushi?
Nope.
27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
I rolled a mercedes at 19, if it had been any other car I would've been dead.
28. What do you wear to sleep?
Nightgowns, My ex insisted I start when my son was born becuase he thought it would be bad for the boy to chance seeing his mother naked & I got in the habit & haven't stopped.

29. Left?
I've been left, I'm on the political left. I'm not a lefty though with my right shoulder in pain I'm using my left hand a lot right now.

30. Does size matter?
My feet are at the outer limit of womens shoe sizes, in that case size matters incredibly. My dress size matters it's too large.

32. Rock or Rap?
Rock

34. Do you know anyone in jail?
Not currently but I did a few weekends ago!

35. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror?
Probably as a teenager, I'm more of a steering wheel singer though.

36. What food do you find disgusting?
Peanut Butter.

37. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
Not friends, aquaintances & co-workers though, watch out!

39. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?
Not really, I don't much stand up at all, I'm pretty shy.

40. Have you ever been punched in the face?
Yep.

41. Who was the last person you slow danced with?
Well, I got married in 1993, my kids tell me on the video tape of the reception has us dancing, I guess that would be the last time.

42. Do you own any stuffed animals?
A snoopy which was 10's when she was a baby & a worn out stuffed dog which I had when I was a baby.

43. When was the last time you tripped?
Just the other day going into work (I'm assuming we're using the proper usage of the word, the improper would take me back to 1987)

44. Do you have a major crush on anyone?
Nope, but I have a couple of smiling nods I enjoy every day I work.

46. Do you miss someone right now?
Miss all my friends & family in Mass, Miss in the glad he's not here way, the ex.