You Can Only Type One Word: Now copy, paste, change the answers to suit you, and pass it on.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? adorable
3. Your hair? straighter
4. Your mother? mom
5. Your father? pa
6. Your favorite thing? creating
7. Your favorite flower? poppy
8. Your favorite drink? beer
9. Your dream/goal? retirement
10. The room you're in? office
11. Your ex? MIA
12. Your fear? time
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
14. Where were you last night? bed
15. What you're not? short
16. Muffins? top
17. One of your wish list items? house
18. Where you grew up? michigan
19. The last thing you did? contract
20. What are you wearing? brown
22. Your pets? shed
23. Your computer? mac
24. Your life? slow
25. Your mood? fair
26. Missing someone? family
27. Your car? noisy
28. Something you're not wearing? pants
29. Favorite Store? crafts
30. Your summer? quiet
31. Like someone? everyone
32. Your favorite color? changes
33. When is the last time you laughed? earlier
34. Last time you cried? weeks
35. Who will/would re-post this? everybody

Music to My Ears

1. How often do you listen to music?

I listen to music when I wake up every morning and in the car on the way to and from work. So, three times a day, for 30-45 minutes at a time. I also try to use my iPod when I'm crafting or at the gym, but those events are more sporadic than regular.

2. Do you ever listen to the radio? What is your favorite station?

Most of my listening is radio these days. The alarm clock is tuned to 92.5 (WXRV) and so is the car stereo. I will occasionally flip to 92.9 (WBOS) if I've heard too much Sting or U2 on the River. It's like listening to my iPod on shuffle, but with more new music.

3. How do you find new songs, albums, or artists to listen to?

One of a few ways: hearing them on the radio like Rodrigo y Gabriella, Gomez, and Lucinda Williams; hearing a song featured in a TV show or commercial like Ingrid Michaelson, Ben's Brother, or Landon Pigg; or recommendations from friends, family, and online communities, like my old VP's suggestions of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, or the "Music Like..." stations on Last.fm.

4. When was the last time you bought a CD? A digital music file?

I bought three CDs yesterday, although it had probably been close to 6 months since my last purchase. I picked up a few songs on iTunes about 6 weeks ago.

5. Do you think any of the technologies and distribution methods mentioned above will still be around in ten years? Why or why not?

I think music distribution methods will become increasingly digital. First, we'll start downloading albums and individual songs inside retail stores instead of buying hard copies. Then instead of downloading songs, we'll just get an access code to stream them. Data transfer is getting so good that we won't need 160 GB drives to hold our data, because we'll just need a few KB of links to the servers that stream it. Since tape/CD singles didn't kill the album, I don't think the ability to download individual songs will either. Fans will always want more from their favorite artists. It might force artists to release shorter albums on a shorter schedule instead of 20-song marathons every 3-4 years.

Age:

28

Where I grew up:

Michigan

1. A body of water, smaller than a river, contained within relatively narrow banks.

creek

2. What the thing you push around the grocery store is called.

shopping cart

3. A metal container to carry a meal in.

lunchbox

4. The thing that you cook bacon and eggs in.

frying pan

5. The piece of furniture that seats three people.

couch

6. The device on the outside of the house that carries rain off the roof.

eaves trough, sometimes a gutter

7. The covered area outside a house where people sit in the evening.

porch

8. Carbonated, sweetened, non-alcoholic beverages.

pop -- although I have been New Englandized and have started calling it soda

9. A flat, round breakfast food served with syrup.

pancake

10. A long sandwich designed to be a whole meal in itself.

sub

11. The piece of clothing worn by men at the beach.

swimsuit or swim trunks

12. Shoes worn for sports.

tennis shoes

13. Putting a room in order.

impossible... or cleaning.

14. A flying insect that glows in the dark.

firefly

15. The little insect that curls up into a ball.

rolly polly

16. The children's playground equipment where one kid sits on one side and goes up while the other sits on the other side and goes down.

teeter-totter

17. How do you eat your pizza?

in hand, from the inside, until there's as much pizza as crust. that's when I fold it on itself and start eating from side to side, taking equal amounts of crust and pizza. weird, i know.

18. What's it called when private citizens put up signs and sell their used stuff?

garage sale or rummage sale

19. What's the evening meal called?

dinner

20. The thing under a house where the furnace and perhaps a rec room are?

basement

21. What do you call the thing that you can get water out of to drink in public places?

drinking fountain or water fountain

Well, what do YOU say?

2. spoken by Jack Nicholas

8. spoken by Clark Gable

13. that Jell-O on springs is Marilyn Monroe

Think of 15 of your favorite movies, go to IMDB and find quotes for each. Post the quotes. When someone guesses the movie, add the movie name and the person who got it right. (No fair using IMDB to find the answer)

1. These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized.(The Shawshank Redemption - Gillian)
2. DS: Well, the real reason that you've been sent over here is because they wanted you to be evaluated... to determine whether or not you are mentally ill. This is the real reason. Why do you think they might think that?
   RM: Well, as near as I can figure out, it's 'cause I, uh, fight and f**k too much. (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Carol)
3. ...you don't have bones of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So, go get him, for Pete's sake! (Amelie - Sarah W)
4. I'm old... I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart. I feel... thin. Sort of stretched, like... butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return. In fact I mean not to. (Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Gillian)
5. You're a thirty-year-old kid. Soon you'll be a fifty-year-old kid. Pretendin' you're hearin' cheers when there ain't any. Dreamin' and drinkin' your life away. Heroes in the real world live twenty-four hours a day, not just two hours in a game. Mendacity! You won't... You won't live with mendacity? Well, you're an expert at it! The truth is pain and sweat and payin' bills and makin' love to a woman that you don't love any more. Truth is dreams that don't come true, and nobody prints your name in the paper 'til you die. (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Jon)
6. This is a $4,000 sofa, upholstered in Italian silk. It is not just a couch. (American Beauty - Alistair)
7. JR: Oh, no. Where's R?
   EV: R?. He chickened out on me back at the studio.
   JR: No he didn't. I hit him in the head with a frying pan and put him in the trunk... so he wouldn't get hurt.
   EV: Makes perfect sense. (Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Tara)
8. I've always thought a good lashing with a buggy whip would benefit you immensely.(Gone With the Wind - Carol)
9. C: Why can't I have a normal boyfriend? Just a regular boyfriend, one that doesn't go nuts on me!
   B: Everybody wants that, dear. It doesn't exist. (As Good As It Gets - Sarah W)
10. What's the décor? Early Mexican brothel? (Chocolat - Carol)
11. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people? (Office Space - Gillian)
12. Will you look at that! Look how she moves! It's like Jell-O on springs. Must have some sort of built-in motor or something. I tell you, it's a whole different sex! (Some Like It Hot - Carol)
13. IT: I can't believe he swore on the Bible!
    R: Well, if that judge had looked any closer, he'd have seen that it was a copy of Moby Dick. (Fried Green Tomatoes - Jami)
14. I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style. [pause] Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever. (The Replacements - Jon)
15. Father Brian: I keep thinking about what you said in seminary, that the life of a priest is hard and if you can see yourself being happy doing anything else you should do that.
    Father Havel: That was my recruitment pitch, which is not bad when you're starting out because it makes you feel like a marine. The truth is you can never tell yourself there is only one thing you could be. If you are a priest or if you marry a woman it's the same challenge. You cannot make a real commitment unless you accept that it's a choice that you keep making again and again and again. (Keeping the Faith - Alistair)

I was tagged by Gillian, the queen of pet peeves. And I'm really only doing this to take a break from what feels like non-stop work.

List and describe as many of your pet peeves as you can then tag someone for every pet peeve just to annoy them:

1. Tags sticking out of other people's collars.
2. Excessive product packaging.
3. Companies that send me coupon and sale e-mails several times a week.

I probably could've listed a few more, but that would mean tagging everyone and their brother to get in on this meme. As it is, Amy, Jami, and Carol need to do it now.

Forgetful:

1. They say elephants never forget. Would you compare your memory to that of an elephant or gnat?

I'd say I'm more like a gnat than an elephant when it comes to my memory.

2. What kinds of things do you find it easy to remember?

It's easy for me to remember abstract ideas, concepts, and theories. Also partial snapshots of things I've seen or imagined. And emotions. Although my memories seem to be appended as my experience grows, I can still remember concepts I was taught 20 years ago, how those lessons made me feel, and even what things looked like at that time.

3. What kinds of things do you find it difficult to remember?

I have trouble remembering numbers, dates, and other very specific details (like movie quotes, or what my boss said 15 minutes ago). Unless there's an overarching pattern to them, a deeper emotional significance, or I repeat them over and over. I can remember the phone numbers of my closest family members, even if I haven't dialed their number in more than a decade along with their addresses, including zip codes. I can also remember my bank account number and pin, credit card number and expiration date, and several of the account numbers at work. Ask me when some historical event happened or how many publishers we have at work and I'll give you a very vague estimate. It's like my brain uses a lossy compression scheme for data, so when I go to retrieve it, the closest I can come is an estimate.

4. How does your short-term memory compare to your long-term memory?

My think my long-term memory is pretty solid, due to that compression scheme I just explained. But it took me almost two weeks and a prompt from Jon to remember to bring the Blackberry charger back to work, like my boss asked.

5. How do you commit things to memory? Do you use tricks, songs, images, word associations, or other little mnemonics?

Repetition works for me in the short term. If you repeat something over the course of a few months or years, it helps secure it in my long term memory. For instance, I can remember an IP address for a few weeks if I repeat it a dozen times (and write/type it a few dozen more). But if I stop using it, I will quickly forget it. But I can remember my grandmothers' addresses, including zip codes, because I write them out at least twice a year, every year.

Color Your World

1. What is your favorite color?

Red

2. What colors do you like to decorate with?

I've discovered that I gravitate toward warm colors, with the exception of white: I love using reds, but not wine or burgundy; warm greens, whether sea-hued or bright and leafy; chocolaty browns; and touches of black.

3. Is there a color that you absolutely hate?

I've never been a fan of pink or lavender, except in flowers.

4. Which colors look best on you?

Once again, the deep, warm colors I like to decorate with. Fall and winter are good shopping seasons for me, although this past summer had great deep colors too.

5. Which colors do you wear most often?

I wear a lot of black, brown, and dark khaki because those are my basic bottoms. I have jeans too, but really only wear them on weekends and almost always with black or brown tops. I've been wearing more green, in part because there are more great green pieces available this year, but also because I realized that I had to stop buying most blues (except navy, peacock, and dark sea blues).

I'm notorious for not finishing things, which is why this book meme is perfect for me:

These are the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing's users (as of today). As usual, bold what you have read, italicize those you started but couldn't finish, and strike through what you couldn't stand. Add an asterisk (*) to those you've read more than once. Underline those on your to-read list.

more...

1. Go to www.careercruising.com
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top ten results.

1. Website Designer
2. Desktop Publisher
3. Artist
4. Technical Writer
5. Multimedia Developer
6. Computer Trainer
7. Librarian
8. ESL Teacher
9. High School Teacher
10. Community Worker

Link: The Sorting Hat Test written by leeannslytherin

1. Who was your best friend?
   Kim was until she graduated. I don't think I made a "best" friend after that.
2. What sports did you play?
   I did track and field for three years. And I was on the freshman basketball team for less than a week. The coach wouldn't comprimise on practice/game times when my marching band director would. I chose the band. Probably a good thing too, since I'm not sure the basketball team won a single game that year and half the team quit by the end of the season because the coach was such a jerk.
3. What kind of car did you drive?
   Which year? A conversion van, a Lumina, a giant pick-up truck, and a Corsica.
4. It's Friday night, where were you?
   At the football game!
5. Were you a party animal?
   Not at all.
6. Were you considered a flirt?
   Not really. I flirted to be funny, but that wasn't really my MO.
7. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
   I was very, very much in the band. And like Amy, I lettered. Several times.
8. Were you a nerd?
   If by nerd you mean smart, in all the AP classes, and in geeky extra-curriculars, yes.
9. Did you get suspended/expelled?
   Good heavens, no.
10. Can you sing the fight song?
    Certainly. In fact, I've been singing it on and off for the last few weeks since I got a scammy alumni directory request in the mail. What I really wonder is if I could pick up a baritone and actually play it without the music in front of me...
11. Who was your favorite teacher?
    Mr. Ferriby. His American Lit class was one of the best I ever had. He really took time to entertain us with American Lit instead of drilling us, probably because an honors program that most AP-level kids couldn't participate due to poor scheduling left him with the dregs (and two AP kids). I might have also enjoyed it because other than reading, there was little homework. Or because Rob and I got to goof off most of the time.
12. What was your school's full name?
    Carman Ainsworth Senior High School
13. School mascot?
    Cavalier
14. Did you go to Prom?
    I went my senior year but missed it my junior year to go to Alan's junior prom in New York.
15. If you could go back and do it over, would you?
    Sure.
16. What do you remember most about graduation?
    The surreal sensation that the band was playing without *me* in it.
17. Where were you on senior skip day?
    Sadly, at school. I don't think I had enough sick/vacation days to miss another day.
18. Did you have a job your senior year?
    Not during the school year.
19. Where did you go most often for lunch?
    The cafeteria.
20. Have you gained weight since then?
    Yes. I lost it all and then some, but I've put plenty back on. I'm about the size I was when I graduated though.
21. What did you do after graduation?
    The post-party, which got crammed into the high school instead of the local college athletic center.
22. When did you graduate?
    1998
23. Who was your Senior prom date?
    Alan
24. Are you going to your 10 year reunion?
    If I can make it, yes. I'm hearing rumblings of the planning now, which I'd love to participate in.
25. Who was your home room teacher?
    We didn't have homeroom. But I did spend my extra minutes before school in the band room.
26. Who will repost this after you?
    You know, I'm not sure.

• Go to IMDB.com and look up 10 TV shows you like(d).
• Post three official IMDB "Plot Keywords" for these 10 picks.
• Have your friends guess the show names.

1. celebrity guests; dieting; obesity
2. bittersweet; dysfunctional; midwest
3. office romance; awkward; satire
4. paranoia; surveillance; computer programmer
5. bush pilot; 1930s; aviation
6. prison; sibling rivalry; brother sister relationship
7. roommate; innocence; cheesecake
8. womanizer; movie star; stupidity
9. roommate; innocence; funny accent
10. rich kid; high school; soap

more...

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me. It can only be one word.

No more.

Then copy & paste this in your journal so that I may leave a word for & about you...

Roses Are Red
Inspired by friday5.org

1. What is your favorited red food?

Apples. Although I really like the green ones too.

2. Do you own any red clothing?

I have several red shirts, a few red sweaters, red undergarments, red socks, a red windbreaker, red gloves, red flip flops and heels. I want red sneakers and a red wool coat. As you can see, I like red. Almost as much as I like black.

3. Name one item you can see right now that is red.

The Rubix Cube on Aaron's desk.

4. Have you ever run a stop sign or red light?

Never intentionally, but yes, I've run a stop sign. And I've very nearly run a red light or two. I usually catch myself on those though.

5. Do you ever get so angry that you "see red"?

More often that I'd like. I try to stay calm about everything, but there are times when people do such incredible things that I can't help but get mad. And when I'm really, really mad I understand where the saying "seeing red" comes from. Red implies passion and blood, both of which are stirred by anger.

Jen70 tagged me and everyone else on Splitcoast. So here goes, a little ABC list to help you get to know me better.
A-Available or Taken: Taken
B-Best Friend: Jon
C-Cake or Pie: It depends on whether I want to feel indulgent or comforted.
D-Drink of Choice: Coke Zero. Or beer.

more...

Blue Spaceman 11 Classicness, 1 Technology, 5 Team, -9 Aggressiveness

Your results: Classic High-tech Goodguy Citizen Found in: 6824 Space Dart-I, 1984

Link: The Which Lego Minifig Are You? Test written by legomutineer on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

20% Extraversion, 86% Intuition, 46% Thinking, 6% Judging

So, you want to make the world a better place? Too bad it's never gonna happen.

more...

Holiday Spirit

1. Which winter holidays do you celebrate, if any? Why?

While I'm not a Christian, I enjoy plenty of the celebrations for Christmas. I think we've reached a point in our society where a large part of the holiday is secular enough that I feel comfortable participating. You might say I celebrate Winter Solstice, but I haven't really started any traditions for it.

2. How do you like to celebrate those holidays?

I like spending time with my family (which includes the family I married into), eating way too much food, and spoiling people with great presents. I love to decorate with lights and greenery, candles, and shiny glass baubles. Heck, I'll even admit to enjoying the children's pageant on Christmas Eve at Margaret's church. Other than my never-ending search for an appropriate Solstice tree topper (a bright copper sunburst), I haven't gotten very far in celebrating Solstice specifically. It's kind of hard to do when no one else you know "celebrates" it.

3. What is your favorite holiday carol or song?

The Huron Carol! Winter Wonderland is pretty high up there too.

4. Tell us about your favorite holiday tradition.

Just one? Why did I write the question that way? I can't pick one! Today, I think it's baking nutrolls and cookies. Tomorrow it will be something else, like having Christmas breakfast with Dad.

5. If you could change one thing about the holiday season, what would it be?

The space-time continuum? It makes it rather hard to be with all our family at once. Other than that, I would probably request that stores wait until at least December 1 to start shaking us down with holiday shopping displays.

Sugar cookies!

You are very very happy, sweet, and fun... watch out for Santa.

Take this quiz!

Put an x next to the items that apply to you.

[ ] Short, 5'2 and under
[ ] 5'3 -5'6"
[x] 5'7" - 6'0
[ ] Tall 6'2 and up

more...

First Snowfall

1. Do you get snow where you live? How much?

Of course, but only a couple feet a year.

2. When was the last time it snowed in your neck of the woods?

You know, I'm not sure. I think there were some brief flurries back in April, but I haven't seen anything yet this season.

3. Tell us about the worst snowfall/blizzard you've been in.

Probably back in early 2001 when I flew back from Michigan in the middle of a blizzard. There wasn't much snow on the ground when I landed in Providence, but I only made it half-way to Worcester before the plows gave up. I had to hole up in a hotel room for the night. When I got to Worcester the next morning there was nowhere to park because of the two feet of snow on the ground. I had to drive around until the plows came out and cleared the lots.

4. What is your favorite thing about snow?

Everything? I think probably the way it coats everything in a sparkling coat of white. It looks so clean and fresh.

5. Imagine two ideal homes, all things being the same except climate. Do you choose to live the rest of your life somewhere that never sees a snowflake or somewhere that sees a plethora of them every winter? Why?

I'll take the plethora of snow. While driving in it isn't always fun, I don't think I could be happy for very long without it.

...that these quizzes don't mean a thing.

You've Experienced 68% of Life

You have all of the life experience that most adults will ever get. And unless you're already in your 40s, you're probably wise beyond your years.

Your Christmas is Most Like: The Muppet Christmas Carol

You tend to reflect on Christmas past, present, and future... And you also do a little singing.

Cooking School: These great questions are from the folks at The Friday Five LiveJournal community. I thought they were so good that I didn't have the heart to change them.

1. Given a choice, and imagining that money and time were no object, would you rather cook dinner, eat out or order in?

That question was only hard until they threw in that "money and time were no object" caveat. Then I know I'd rather cook dinner (with help from my husband, who's a better cook than me).

2. What is the most elaborate meal you've ever prepared yourself or purchased at a restaurant?

Jon has made some pretty elaborate things, but I tend to go for stuff that's simple yet tasty. The most elaborate thing I've had out was probably at Mori Moto's restaurant in Philadelphia. Lots of little bitty food painstakingly cooked and arranged for my enjoyment.

3. What food do you find yourself making and/or eating way too much?

Everything? I have a problem with baked goods. I like making them and they're vary delicious. And we all know that they can't be kept for more than two days, so have to be devored promptly.

4. What was your most disastrous cooking/eating out experience?

Umm, the time my cream of broccoli soup turned out to be green goo. Maybe the time I turned an entire tray of cookies black because I forgot they were in the oven. Or the pear tarte tatin cheesecake that oozed all over my oven because the springform pan failed.

5. Would you rather cook for someone else or have them cook for you?

That depends on who's cooking. I would much rather cook for my mother than have her cook for me ;) The opposite for Jon.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The Midland
The South
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

Which "Saved By The Bell" Character Are You?

From Becca:

1. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?
2. You can flip a switch that will wipe any band or musical artist out of existence. Which one will it be?
3. What is the first song that you can remember calling your "favorite"?
4. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?
5. One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by MUMMIES. The mummies aren't really doing anything, they're just standing around your bed. What do you do?
6. Suddenly, you have gained the ability to FLOAT!!! Whose house are you going to float to first, and be like "Dude, check it out... I can FLOAT!"?

more...

The first five people to respond to this post via e-mail (sarah at criminalgrace.com), will get some form of art, by me, about them. I make no guarantees about quality or type, but I will assure that I will give it good effort.

The only catch, of course; as with most memes, if you sign up, you have to put this in your own journal as well. But don't worry, I won't hold you to it.

My Personality

Neuroticism	28
Extraversion	48
Openness To Experience	86
Agreeableness	44
Conscientiousness	10

Find your MySpace/Xanga/Hi5 soulmate / pysch twin Test Yourself Compare Yourself View Full Report MySpace Surveys, Piczo and MySpace Layouts by Pulseware Survey Software

Conscientiousness? Since when am I not conscientious? I definately wouldn't have guessed that my score on that scale would be so low. But then again, I didn't realize that they used it to indicate the following qualities: Self-Efficacy, Orderliness, Dutifulness, Achievement-Striving, Self-Discipline, Cautiousness. Because I don't really have much of those in the traditional sense. Otherwise, I think the evaluation is pretty accurate.

Shop-a-holic

1. What are your five favorite stores?

Target. Eddie Bauer. Pottery Barn. William Sonoma. JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts.

2. Is there any store you absolutely hate going to?

I'm not a fan of Wal-Mart, but the damned thing is right across the street and I'm miles from the closest Target. I also hate wireless/mobile phone stores. They feel so shady, even when there's a brand name on the front. But sometimes you just have to feel the phone in your hand before you buy it.

3. Do you pay with cash, credit, debit, or something else?

Credit. I don't like paying with cash or check. I do want to switch to a debit card, but that involves switching around my bank accounts and direct deposit.

4. Do you prefer to shop in person or online?

I love the smells and textures of in-person shopping. Not to mention the instant gratification. The perfectionist in my loves to shop online because of the tremendous variety.

5. In the last six months, what single purchase has been the most important to you?

Quite possibly my Dunkin' Donuts cup cozy. It was ridiculously cheap but saves me a lot of frustration and keeps my iced coffee colder longer.

The Big Date

1. Are you single, in a relationship, married, divorced, seperated, etc?

I've been married for 335 days now.

2. When was the last time you went on a date?

You know, I don't remember. Probably sometime last year before Jon and I got married. We tend not to do "date" things much anymore.

3. Describe your ideal date.

Dinner and a movie. Maybe an afternoon spent antiquing or hiking and a little lunch. As long as it gets me out of the house.

4. Do you think dating has become archaic?

In some ways, yes. Formal dating doesn't seem to happen for long anymore. Either you hit it off and form a relationship or you split quickly and move on to more dates with someone else.

5. What are your feelings on online dating services?

I love them. In fact, I met my husband on one. The guys I met through them were mostly nice, normal people just looking for a new way to get introduced to someone. I mean, if you don't spend time in bars, parties, or other social functions where you meet a lot of new people you don't really have the opportunity to be introduced to someone. Internet dating services augment those social settings, bringing more people into your realm. The major downside is that there isn't any chemistry in a photo and blurb, and someone you might dismiss based on their profile could be a perfect match while another who appears perfect could be a bust. You just have to open up a bit and get out there to meet them face to face.

Bold all of the following TV shows which you've ever seen 3 or more episodes of in your lifetime. If you want, add up to 3 additional shows (keep the list in alphabetical order).

more...

Copy and paste into your own, complete the phrase, and post me a comment if you do it! Can't wait to see your answers!

I AM: tired and cranky
I WANT: a long nap in a warm bed
I HAVE: trouble believing it's not later than 5pm
I WISH: I could make cute doodles
I HATE: feeling weak
I MISS: my husband
I HEAR: office chatter
I WONDER: how long it will take to get home
I REGRET: eating that whole wheat bagel with lunch
I AM NOT: skinny
I DANCE: to my own drummer
I SING: along with the radio in the car
I CRY: more than I would like to
I AM NOT ALWAYS: a negative person
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: anything I can
I WRITE: less than I should
I CONFUSE: several of my typing strokes
I NEED: sleep
I SHOULD: go to the gym
I START: more projects than I can finish
I FINISH: these little memes

Summer Lovin'
Tell me more, tell me more...

1. Did you get very far? What's the farthest away from home you've gone on a summer vacation?

Alaska

2. Like does he have a car? What car would you like to have for the summer?

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

3. Was it love at first sight? Have you ever felt love at first sight?

If you count puppy love, sure.

4. Did she put up a fight? What was the last fight you had about?

Gosh, I came up with the question and I can't even remember the last fight I had. I'd like to say it was probably with one of the cats over some bad behavior.

5. But you don't gotta brag. What accomplishment or talent are you most proud of?

Right now, making such a quick transition to my new job. In general, my craftiness.

Any Given Day

1. What is your favorite day of the week? Why?

Sunday, because the week is just too tiring and Saturday is usually too busy. Sunday ends up being my inspired day to get things done.

2. On what day of the week were you born?

Friday, making me loving and giving, I suppose

3. On average, how many days a year you spend away from home?

Maybe 8-10 days, if I'm lucky.

4. Are you the kind of person who always knows what day it is or do you constantly find yourself asking someone else?

I like to know what day it is, but that tidbit of information tends to slip out of my conscious mind when I'm not in a routine that involves using the date. I usually end up calculating the date by using the date of an event I have committed to memory, like a party or book club meeting.

5. What five topics would you like to answer questions about on fridays?

I'd like to abstain from this question since well, I made up the question. I usually try to make all of the questions related or variations on a theme, but I'm not sure if that matters to anyone else. What are you preferences? Do the questions (or prompts) have to be related?

[A is for age]: 26
[B is for beer of choice] : Wachusett Blueberry Ale
[C is for career]: no career yet, but I am a Publisher Service Associate
[D is for your dog's name]: no dog yet
[E is for your essential daily item]: whole grain cereal
[F is for favorite song at the moment]: Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall
[G is for favorite games]: Euchre, Floats
[H is for Hometown]: Flint, MI
[I is for the instrument you play]: basson, clarinet, trumpet, baritone/euphonium, trombone, guitar, zylophone, etc...
[J is for favorite flavor of juice]: cran-apple
[K is for kids]: n/a
[L is for last hug?]: Jon, Wednesday night
[M is for marriage]: August 20, 2005
[N is for name of your crush]: Silly
[O is for overnight hospital stays]: once when I burned my arm and again when my father suspected a repeat heart attack
[P is for phobias]: fish, falling, failing
[Q is for quote]: "A lot of guys think the larger a woman's breasts are, the less intelligent she is. I don't think it works like that. I think it's the opposite. I think the larger a woman's breasts are, the less intelligent the men become." Anita Wise
[R is for biggest regret]: not transferring out of WPI
[S is for status]: Married
[T is for time you wake up]: 5 a.m., 6:50 a.m.
[U is for underwear]: Cacique cotton high cut briefs
[V is for vegetable you love]: peas
[W is for worst habit]: running late
[X is for x-rays you've had]: Wrists just this week. Also chest, feet, hands, teeth, and head.
[Y is for yummy food you make]: Kibbeh
[Z is for zodiac]: Pisces

In Memoriam

1. Do you know anyone who died in service of your country?

No.

2. Memorial Day began as a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Do you visit or maintain any gravesites?

No. My family plots are all in Michigan.

3. There are some people who believe Memorial Day should be returned to it's original day, May 30, instead of the last Monday of May. What is your preference?

As much as I like having a long weekend, I think the reason for the day would be better served by a day that isn't just a vacation.

4. After your death, how would you like to be memorialized?

With a piece of art somewhere. Maybe a statue in a park or garden.

5. What are your plans for this holiday weekend?

Nothing, other than staying home and catching up on my laundry and reading.

Book Worm

1. What was the last book you read?

Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini

2. What book(s) are you reading now?

Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris and The March by E.L. Doctorow

3. Do you have a library card? Do you use it?

Yes, to both counts. I have a card for the Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell and I picked up both of the books I'm currently reading there. Even better, I got a notice that the book I put on hold is ready to be picked up.

4. How do you choose a new book to read?

I check the staff recommendation shelves at bookstores and sometimes my Amazon recommendations. I also look at the New York Times Bestsellers.

5. We all had to read books in school. Which was your favorite? Your least favorite? Do you think you would feel differently about them if you read them now?

I loved reading Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. I wasn't fond of the teacher who assigned it, but I got into it anyway. My least favorite was definately Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. At the time, my study partner, Rob, considered it his favorite because of it's paltry length. That wasn't enough to overcome the dreary story and dry prose for me though. To this day I cringe when I hear it, even though I know I would appreciate it more if I reread it now.

Spring Cleaning - Thanks to Amy for reminding me to put up a Friday Five and coming up with the questions to boot!

1. Do you do spring cleaning? If so, what do you do?

Not really. I usually try to put away some winter clothes and bring out my summer stuff, but other than that, nothing special.

2. What's the mosted cluttered area/room of your home?

Our spare room. Possibly the floor of my closet because the shoes keep falling of my shoe rack and I'm too lazy to fix it.

3. How do you split up cleaning duties in your home? Do you have a system? How about a schedule?

We don't have a system or a schedule. I can say that Jon does most of the vacuuming and I seem to do more bathroom cleaning. He has also been doing a lot of his own laundry because I don't do laundry often enough to keep the few clothes that fit clean.

4. What are your favorite and least favorite cleaning chores?

I dislike laundry the least and dislike cleaning the tub/shower the most.

5. If you could rid yourself of one household chore forever, what would it be and why?

Cleaning the litter box because it just keeps filling back up no matter how frequently I empty it.

Cinco de Mayo

1. Can you explain the significance of Cinco de Mayo?

It's the day the Mexicans defeated the French, their overly ambitious creditors.

2. Do you speak Spanish? How well?

Not at all. I can understand some of what I read, but I'm terrible with the spoken word. It's on my long list of things I'd like to learn.

3. Have you ever been to Mexico?

Can't say I have.

4. If you could commemorate one of the "battles" in your own life, which would it be and why? How would you celebrate?

I think it would be fun to celebrate my continued battle with depression on the darkest day of the year. I'd like champagne, berries, pastries, and sparklers to brighten things up.

5. What is your favorite way to enjoy tequila?

In food, like lime tarts. There are so many great recipes out there. Otherwise, it makes me think I'm licking a dirty ashtray.

I think some of these were just way too hard, so here are the answers:

more...

Shuffle your digital audio player of choice, and post the first line or two of the first ten songs (or twenty!). Have your wonderful and erudite readers guess the songs and artists.

more...

The Silver Screen

1. What is your favorite movie?

Chocolat

2. What is the worst movie you have ever watched?

The Island of Doctor Moreau

3. What was the last movie you saw in the theatre?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Yes. Way back in November.

4. Sugared or salted popcorn? Or maybe butter?

Salted and buttered. Although I have a weakness for microwave kettle corn...

5. Movie theatre or DVD?

I used to love the theatre, but watching at home is so much easier now.

Find your own pose!

Take Out

1. What are your favorite ethnic/regional cuisines (Italian, Mexican, Thai, etc.)?

I *love* Mexican food. Also Cuban and Indian. I think it's the liberal use of beans and lentils that does it for me.

2. When visit a restaurant serving that kind of food, what do you generally order?

I am a total fool for Mole and carnitas in Mexican restaurants. Cuban restaurants kill me with their black beans. I just can't get enough of them: as side dishes, in soups, or in appetizers. In Indian restaurants I usually go for the buffet or sampler plates because I like just about everything (except goat curry and super spicy stuff).

3. Which ethnic food or dish is your favorite to make yourself?

Baked Kibbeh - Soak one cup of bulgar wheat in 2 cups of warm water for 15-20 minutes. Mix with one pound of ground lamb or beef, one cup of diced onions, a half cup of pine nuts, and two teaspoons each of cinnamon and cumin. Add cayenne pepper and salt to taste. Fill a greased muffin tin with the mixture and bake for 25 minutes. Serve with hummus sauce (hummus thinned with olive oil and broth), cool cucumber and tomato salad, and pitas.

4. If you could travel to one country or region, just to experience the food, where would you go?

Cuba.

5. Where would you not want to go because of the food?

Japan. They eat far too many fishy things for my tastes.

Taxation Without Representation

1. Have you filed your taxes yet?

Technically, Jon filed them for us a couple months ago. I had almost nothing to do with it, other than getting copies of a couple forms to him since we filed jointly.

2. Do you use e-file or the old fashioned paper forms?

I've been using e-file for the last few years because it's so much easier (and faster!).

3. Do you do your taxes by hand, with the help of computer software, or do you hire an accountant or tax firm?

I can do them by hand and have in the past, but the advent of TurboTax online and similar applications has made doing them by hand seem downright uncivilized. I like knowing that I could do them if I had to.

4. How soon do you do your taxes? Are you a procrastinator or do you do you start them before you even have all of the supporting documents?

I may be a procrastinator at heart, but I think the latest I've ever waited was April 1. I traditionally do them after my birthday, but Jon was even speedier this year.

5. Imagine you were subjected to a tax law like the Stamp Act of 1765. Would you be willing and able to give up your favorite beverages (coffee, Diet Coke, etc.) and manufactured goods in a boycott like many women did during the American Revolution?

I never realized how involved women were in the American Revolution until I read about the huge boycotts they organized in Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts. They were some seriously dedicated women. While I'm sure I could give up shopping or soda, I'm not sure I would want to. It would have to be in support of a large movement and a lot of people would have to participate. We're so dependant upon manufactured goods these days that it would be hard to organize a truly successful boycott. I mean, unless a significant percentage of the population participated, the world wouldn't notice. That's probably why I respect the women of that era so much, because they were able to move so many people to make those sacrifices for the good of the colonies.

Spring Fling - Sandal weather is nigh upon us...

1. Do you wear any footwear that exposes your feet?

My toes love to be free! I have a hard time finding shoes that fit, so finding sandals that fit is a little easier because you only have to fit part of your foot instead of the whole thing. Plus, my feet just breathe easier when they're out in the air.

2. Do you prefer flip-flops or slides?

I'm a flip flop girl, but I enjoy slides too.

3. Have you worn sandals yet this year? Is there a special time when you traditionally break them out?

I wore flip flops to the scrapbooking retreat I went to in early March and loved it. I've also worn a pair of slides a couple times this week now that the weather is nicer (I can say this only because I waited almost a week to answer these darned questions).

4. What are your feelings on the increasing popularity of flip flops and their appearance at the White House last summer?

Personally, I don't mind seeing flip flops everywhere. But then again, I believe in dressing for comfort and have never placed much stock in what the fashion rules. I actualy wore thong sandals to my wedding -- patent red with kitten heels -- and loved it. I think the problem here is the perception that formal flip flop wearers don't respect the people around them enough to wear something nicer. They do think flip flops are nice.

5. What kind of shoes are you?

I'm comfortable loafers, duh. I guess I'm not carefree enough to be flip flops. Perhaps they need to add Birkenstocks to the list...

Opening Day

1. Who is your favorite Major League Baseball team? How about your favorite player?

My husband has taught me to love the Red Sox. And even though he doesn't play for the home team anymore, Kevin Millar is still my favorite player. I suppose I'll have to pick a new favorite soon.

2. Describe your first trip to see a baseball game.

April 13, 2003 Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles, 2-0. Sadly, I can't remember much more than that. My second game was much more memorable.

3. Do you plan to watch their season/home opener?

No. By the time I get home from work it will probably be over. I'll have to make sure we Tivo it.

4. Who do you think will be in the World Series this year?

Cardinals & Blue Jays

5. What is your favorite baseball-related movie?

I have to agree with Cathy, I think A League of Their Own is my favorite, although The Sandlot is a close second.

My First Time - I've been (trying) to do the Friday Five for four years now. To honor that, I propose we answer the first Friday Five I ever did from March 22, 2002:

1. What is your favorite time of year?

Fall

2. What is it about your favorite season that, well, make it your favorite season?

The crisp, cool air and colorful scenery. And the food. Fall food is the best.

3. What is your least favorite time of year?

Late summer. I hate the heat and humidity of August and early September. It seems to have all of the heat and none of the sparkle of the earlier months.

4. Do you do anything to celebrate or recognize the changing of the seasons?

I try to take a moment to reflect during the solstice and equinox, but often the days pass me by before I even realize they're coming.

5. What's your favorite thing to do outside?

Although walking is nice, I can see more when I sit still.

According to the Rebel-Yankee Test I'm "35% Dixie. You are definitely a Yankee."

I would like to note that most of my answers came up as "common throughout the Great Lakes" or the entire country, which means I'm more of a Midwesterner than a Yankee. Too bad the test only measures which side of the Mason-Dixon line you belong on, instead of which general region you're from.

Luck of the Irish

1. Are you Irish?

I think so. My paternal grandmother has hinted at it and never fails to remind me that one of her sisters had red hair whenever she sees mine dyed red. Even so, it's probably not enough to make a big deal over.

2. Are you by any chance wearing green today?

I am. A bright kelly green even.

3. What kinds of special things do you do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

I usually try to wear green and I used to try to pinch people who weren't, but I've given that up. Jon has a tradition of making corned beef and cabbage so I'll be joining him in that now that we're married. The crock pot is already on so that it will be ready when we get home.

4. Do you believe in luck? How about fate?

I don't really believe in either, although I do wish people good luck. It's a nice idea, but really, luck is just how you look at the things that happen to you. Ditto for fate. I will admit to liking the phrase "dumb luck" because I think all luck is dumb.

5. What would you do if you found a pot of gold?

Pinch myself. Then take a picture or twelve to document it. Only then would I spend the crap out of it.

Scent-sory Overload - Thanks for these sweet-smelling questions should be directed to the always scent-sational Amy Marr.

1. Do you wear perfume or cologne?

Mostly I wear Bath and Body Works' Warm Vanilla Sugar perfume. But depending on the season I'll layer one of their body sprays on top of it, like Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin in the fall, Cherry Blossom in the spring, and Coconut Lime Verbena in summer. I can't wait to check out their new Japanese Cherry Blossom, White Cherry Blossom, and Pear Blossom fragrances at lunch today.

2. What brand or kind of soap do you use?

Whatever bodywash Jon buys? I'm not very picky about my body wash since I find the scent disappears after a half hour. As long as it moisturizes a little bit and smells good, I'm happy.

3. Do you use anything to scent your home (candles, potpourri, scented oils, etc.)?

I have Air Wick scented oil warmers (with nightlights!) in my kitchen and bathrooms. I haven't unpacked my glade plugins for the living room and bedrooms yet, but they'll turn up eventually. I have a collection of scented candles I rarely burn because of my mischevious cats and an electric tart warmer that's much more kitty friendly.

4. What's your favorite scent on a member of the gender to which you're attracted?

I like clean, crisp scents on men as well as some woodier notes. Jon wears Cool Water, which I love on him. I like hugging him even more when I get to snuggle in close to that scent.

5. Have you ever tried aromatherapy? If so, describe your experience; if not, do you think it works?

Can't say I have, beyond trying the aromatherapy collection at BBW, but I think it would be interesting to try. Our sense of smell has deep roots in our memory and it would be pretty easy to manipulate our feelings by triggering certain memories with scents.

I Am A: Neutral Good Half-Elf Ranger Druid

Alignment:
Neutral Good characters believe in the power of good above all else. They will work to make the world a better place, and will do whatever is necessary to bring that about, whether it goes for or against whatever is considered 'normal'.

Race:
Half-Elves are a cross between a human and an elf. They are smaller, like their elven ancestors, but have a much shorter lifespan. They are sometimes looked down upon as half-breeds, but this is rare. They have both the curious drive of humans and the patience of elves.

Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.

Secondary Class:
Druids are a special variety of Cleric who serves the Earth, and can call upon the power in the earth to accomplish their goals. They tend to be somewhat fanatical about defending natural settings.

Deity:
Mielikki is the Neutral Good goddess of the forest and autumn. She is also known as the Lady of the Forest, and is the Patron of Rangers. Her followers are devoted to nature, and believe in the positive and outreaching elements of it. They use light armor, and a variety of weapons suitable for hunting, which they are quite skilled at. Mielikki's symbol is a unicorn head.

Find out What D&D Character Are You? courtesy ofNeppyMan

You Are 56% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

Bed Bugs

1. What do you wear to bed?

Usually a tank top and pajama bottoms of some sort

2. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

Always to the left (when looking at the bed)

3. Do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach?

Up until my surgery a few years ago I slept on my stomach, but I retrained myself to sleep on my side so I wouldn't damage my boob job. And as hard as it was to change, it seems to be even harder to try to go back now that things are healed.

4. Describe the bedding on your bed right now. How does it change with the seasons? Are you particular about your pillows or linens?

I think the bed is wearing red flannel sheets right now. I usually love flannel, but something happened to this set from L.L. Bean in the wash, making them pilly and rough. I would use smooth flannel sheets all year round if I could, but I've started warming up to high thread-count percale sheets. Now that I live in a home that is sufficiently heated and sleep next to a very large, warm man, I find all I want is a sheet and my microfleece blanket. Jon has to have his down comforter, and since it's far too warm for me, we have our own blankets. So I guess that makes me particular. Requiring a firm non-down pillow is also pretty picky.

5. Do you hog the bed, steal covers, or snore?

Jon would say I do all three, but I'll only admit to the last one. It's been pretty bad since I started my meds last fall, but Breate-Right strips seem to help. As does making sure Jon's asleep before me.

You chose BX - your Enneagram type is NINE.

"I am at peace"
Peacemakers are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure.
• I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advatage of this.
• Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit.
• Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally.
• Ask me questions to help me get clear.
• Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery.
• Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings.
• I like a good discussion but not a confrontation.
• Let me know you like what I've done or said.
• Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life.

What I Like About Being a Nine

• being nonjudgmental and accepting
• caring for and being concerned about others
• being able to relax and have a good time
• knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
• my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
• my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
• being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being a Nine

• being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
• being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
• being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
• being confused about what I really want
• caring too much about what others will think of me
• not being listened to or taken seriously

Nines as Children Often

• feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
• tune out a lot, especially when others argue
• are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Nines as Parents

• are supportive, kind, and warm
• are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on Ok Cupid

Romancing the Stone

1. Did you do anything special for Valentine's Day this year? On Tuesday or some other day?

Actually, other than cooking a nice dinner at home, we didn't do anything. I got the feeling Jon was disappointed, but I was happy to just spend a little time with him.

2. What is your favorite Valentine's Day memory?

Probably eating lobster and green beans with Jon while sitting in the car overlooking the Cape Neddick Lighthouse

because it was too cold and windy to enjoy the picnic he planned outside.

3. Flowers or chocolate?

Oooh. That's tough, but I think I would have to say flowers, simply because I can enjoy chocolate any time of year.

4. Do you send Valentines? What kind? To who?

I try to send Valentines to my family, although I don't always remember every year. I was good this year and got just about everyone. They're usually funny greeting cards I find at different stores, but if I have time, I'll make them myself.

5. Valentine's Day puts jewelry stores in the black. What are your thoughts on the tradition of giving jewelry and the marketing that surrounds it?

I don't think there's anything wrong with giving jewelry as a gift, but I'm not as fond of the expectation we've developed as a society. Diamonds may be nice, but how personal is the gift if every man (at least those in relationships) in America is running out to the jewelry store to get that "unique" gift? Maybe it's just because I'm not a big jewelry girl, but those marketing messages touting the magic of jewelry make me a little ill.

Share your insight on my personality here...

And once you're done you can take a look though my window.

You represent the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. You embrace change, the the ups and downs of life. Fate is something you accept, even when you could possibly change things. Big things tend to happen to you more than other people.

Your fortune:
Something huge is about to happen in your life, and you have little control over it.You must accept your destiny, but luckily it is good fortune that has come your way. Big things and big changes are about to come your way. And while things will be intense for a while, they will be followed by a period of rest.

What Tarot Card Are You?

Growing Up. These thought-provoking questions were used in the Friday Five LiveJournal community in December 2005. They were so good that I couldn't bring myself to change them or not offer them to you.

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was really little I thought I wanted to be a singer but I soon decided that law and politics were my calling, specifically the presidency.

2. Did you follow through? If not, what happened?

Oh no. Once I started researching going into law and politics back in 7th grade, I quickly realized just how much of a burden it would be. So I set my sights of science.

3. Is your life turning out the way you thought it would when you were a kid? If not, is it better or worse?

Not exactly. I always figured I would be married (or about to be married) to a wonderful man and starting a family around age 25, so that part is right on track. While we don't have the house I always dreamed of, we're working on it, and that's good enough for me. My professional life isn't quite as good as I had hoped it would be, but back then I had no idea just how much motivation and ambition it would take to make things happen.

4. Paradoxes aside, if you could time-travel back to when you were 10 years old, what would you tell your 10-year-old self?

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there -- you'll look no more foolish than anyone else. And while you're at it, stay active.

5. Do you think the child you were would like the adult you've become?

For the most part:

• As someone who read voraciously, she would probably be dismayed with how little I read these days, but I think she would approve of my selections.
• I tend to think she would find my clothes a bit conservative, but then again, not much more than any other adult's.
• I might not be smart enough for her. When I was young I fancied myself an intellectual and tried to know everything about everything. I've relaxed quite a bit on that front, possibly making me intelectually inferior to my young self.

Get Your Drink On

1. What is your favorite beverage? Why?

Chai. At times I think I could live on the stuff, especially the blends from Starbucks.

2. Your preference: Tea, coffee, or hot cocoa?

Tea. I don't drink coffee and hot cocoa is often too sweet for my tastes.

3. Favorite thing do drink in the heat of summer?

Cool sparkling water. I love the fizz.

4. Worst beverage you've ever tasted?

Tonic water with quinine. Ick, ick, ick. Although the first bottle of Sam Adams Triple Bock was pretty close.

5. How do you take your water: flavored, bottled, carbonated, or straight from the tap?

Straight from the tap. Room temperature, or just slightly colder is best. If not that, then carbonated.

Wall Flowers

1. What is the wallpaper on your computer?

PC: Richard Seymour celebrating, courtesy of Boston.com's Patriots Wallpaper page
Mac: Macro shot of a dandelion gone to seed
Laptop: Windows "Bliss"

2. What color are the walls in the room you're in right now?

Well, the divider is off white, the walls are a light beige wallpaper, and my cube walls are almost lavender

3. Describe some of the wallpapers you have lived with.

My childhood bedroom had smurf wallpaper that I grew to hate because it was so childish. Little did I know that just a couple years after we tore it down that I would want it back. My sister had country-themed Holly Hobby paper and the dining room had horrible early 80s floral panelling in rusty oranges and brown.

4. Would you ever consider using wallpaper to decorate? What would it look like?

Sure. I wouldn't mind using wallpaper to add texture and I'm a big fan of anaglypta. I also dig wall murals and big, graphic, geometric prints.

5. If you could use anything not specifically intended for walls (no paint, wallpaper, etc) to spruce up your walls, without any nasty consequences, what would you use?

I have to admit that I loved the episode of Trading Spaces where Gen covered a wall with moss. It looked so earthy and rich. If the moss could survive (and not shed all over my carpet or stink up my house) I'd totally do it.

You area sophisticated drinker, who knows that simple quality is over-rated. You're a knowledgeable drunk, but sometimes you're a know-it-all when you're blasted.

You should never: Drink and gossip. You tend to forget who's standing right behind you!

Your ideal party: Has a real bartender. But no one mixes a better drink than you.

Your drinking soulmates: those with a Chocolate Martini personality

Your drinking rivals: those with a Margarita Martini personality

What Flavor Martini Are You?

Does Not Compute

1. What kind of computer do your have?

I have a Sony VAIO laptop, an R505, 12.1" display, 1.2MHz P3, 30 GB, 256MB RAM, CD-RW/DVD, and an integrated dock. Of course I say this like it's totally hot, and it probably was when I bought it. But now it's only worth a few hundred dollars on ebay.

2. How old is it? Are you happy with it?

I bought it in the summer of 2002, so about 3.5 years. I've been pretty happy with it - in fact, I can count on my hands the number of times it has crashed on me, despite having been powered on for almost every moment of the 3.5 years I've owned it. Now that I know I don't cart it around at all, I wish I had sprung for a larger model. A bigger display would've been worth the sacrifice in weight.

3. How many computers are in your household?

At least three, sometimes more. I would really have to ask Jon since I really only use one of them.

4. What is your favorite thing to do on your computer?

Surf the web for new things to learn, closely followed by designing things.

5. What is your dream computer?

It's sitting at my desk at work. Along with inheriting Troy's graphical responsibilities upon his departure, I also inherited his PowerMac and Cinema Display. The only way it could get better is if it were a G5, but beggars can't be choosy.

Resolve
In the new year...

1. List one person you've lost touch with that you will look up.

• Catherine Raposa, although technically we're not completely out of touch, we don't talk or hang out as much as we should

2. List two places you want to go.

• Michigan
• Alaska

3. List three habits you want to change.

• underestimating the amount of time it takes me to do something
• overestimating the amount of time I have
• throwing my clothes into the laundry basket instead of folding them

4. List four things you hope to learn.

• Spanish
• Fair Isle
• JavaScript
• how to complete a CDR ;)

5. List five goals you would like to achieve.

• finish my degree
• eat healthier
• get to work on time
• wear my skinny clothes again
• put together a strong portfolio

In the Holiday Spirit: Thanks for these spirited questions should be direct to Amy.

1. What holiday(s) do you celebrate at this time of year? When you greet people, what do you say?

Solstice, Festivus, and Christmas, even though I'm not a Christian. I generally greet people with a "Happy Holidays," although I will wish my friends and family who celebrate Christmas a "Merry Christmas" because really, the sentiment is a wish for them, not for me. I do go out of my way to buy cards that make no mention of Christmas and prefer ones that omit holiday as well, since not everyone I send cards to actually celebrates a holiday at this time of year.

2. Are you ready for the holiday(s)? If so, when did you finish preparations? If not, what do you still have left to do?

As ready as I'm going to be. Jon is supposed to wrap the most recently delivered presents today, but otherwise, I finished a couple days ago.

3. Are you starting new traditions this year? If so, what are they?

I'm making my own nut rolls this year and sharing them with friends and co-workers. Unfortunately, Jon and I like them enough that I might have to consider making a double-batch next year so we have enough to share. Since Jon and I have been able to spend the last couple Christmases together, we don't really have any new traditions. I suppose those will come once we start having kids in a few years.

4. Are you traveling for the holidays? If so, where?

We're heading down to Connecticut to stay with Jon's parents for a couple days, but that's all.

5. Have you found it harder than usual to get into the holiday spirit this year? Why or why not?

It's been pretty easy this year. I haven't been able to decorate as much as I'd like, between my destructive cats (well, honestly, cat) and my long commute, I just haven't had the desire to decorate the trees with all of my ornaments. Other than that, I've had a lot of fun finding and wrapping gifts this year. I've been listening to 106.7's 24-hour holiday music spree for the last few weeks too.
On a related note, I haven't really found any ornaments or decorations in the stores that I want to buy either. Are they uninspiring or am I just feeling more bah humbug this year?

You Are Blitzen

Always in good spirits, you're the reindeer who loves to party down with Santa. Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying! Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini.

1. What is your favorite Christmas carol/song?

The Huron Carol, which I fell in love with when I heard the instrumental version on A Canadian Brass Christmas. The lyrics make it even more special though.

2. White lights or multiciolored?

White in everything except big pine trees. Those require the large, multi-colored ceramic bulbs.

3. Do you have a cut tree, live tree or an artificial tree?

I have 4 artificial trees. As much as I like fresh cut trees, I can't deal with the needle dropping or the thought that I'm killing it to make my living room smell like pine.

more...

On the Line - Thanks should go to Amy for this set of revealing questions.

1. How much time do you spend online in a given weekday? What about the weekends?

8-9 hours a day on weekdays and less than 1 a day on weekends.

2. What time(s) of day do you go online? Is it the same every day?

I spend all day online at work and usually hop on later in the evenings. It varies on the weekends depending on what I'm trying to do.

3. When you first get online, what do you do first? What sites do you visit every day?

When I'm at work, I open my e-mail first. I will usually check Live Journal and turn my AIM away message off. I usually check in again in before lunch, adding boston.com, CNN, and a few blogs to the rotation.

4. How many online journals/blogs do you read regularly? What are some of your favorites and why?

Not including Live Journals, about 8, including Yarn Harlot, Marmalade, and Dooce.

5. Other than reading e-mails and journals, what else do you do online? (shopping, chatting, research, etc.)

I do a lot of research online. Whenever I hear something interesting, I'll go look up more about it. I've learned a great deal about knitting this way. I chat on AIM occasionally, but I find I don't have as much patience for it as I used to. I also get my news and traffic online when I'm not shopping. I also used the Internet to find my husband.

Checking it Twice

1. Did you make a wish list for Santa when you were a kid? Do you still make a list?

For a while, yes. Usually we just marked the pages in the Sears and JCPenny catalogs. I still have a wish list on my site.

2. What would you most like to find under the tree this year?

A digital camera. Or cash. Cash is always good.

3. What is the best present you've ever received? Why?

That's hard. I think it's a toss-up between the tires my mom got for me and the antique mixing bowl Jon found for me two years ago. They're both great for very different reasons. The tires were (are!) infinitely useful and something I might've had trouble purchasing myself. The bowl was practical and thoughtful -- Jon went back to antique store we had browsed together and picked it out.

4. What is the worst present you've ever received? Why?

Probably all of the "one size fits all" sleepshirts I got as a kid when I was clearly too big for them.

5. Describe your own holiday gift-giving strategy. Do you use a wish lists?

Even though I like to come up with my own gift ideas, I really prefer to compare them to wish lists. It lets me know whether my own ideas are on track and gives me ideas in those instances when I don't have a clue.

The Truth About Cats and Dogs

1. Are you a cat person or a dog person?

I'm a dog person. While I enjoy cats, I much prefer the companionship of a dog.

2. Do you have any pets in your house?

I have two cats, Tia and Silly.

3. Have you had cats or dogs before? Tell us about them.

Cats:

• Lady, a mothering seal point
• Lady's son, Bucky, a fuzzy blue point
• Baby, a large orange stripped tabby
• E.T., a 99% black stray kitten who eventually went to live with my Aunt Bev
• Misty, another seal point my sister adopted
• Roadkill, a grey striped tabby (read: monster) we hand-raised after my sister found him in the middle of the road, only a few weeks old.

Dogs:

• Boo Boo, my first dog, an extremely loyal and gentle black Lab and Shepherd mix
• Sunny, a spunky little daschund we had for just a few months
• Chuck, my mom's silly Wire Fox Terrier
• Ginger Bear, my baby and bed mate, a ginger-colored Lab and Springer Spaniel mix

4. If you could take your pick of any kind of cat or dog, what breed would you chose?

If I had to chose another cat I think I would look for something that resembled a Russian Blue. I would consider another Maine Coon if I could find one with a more traditional coat. As for dogs, I would love a St. Bernard, Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, or English Mastiff. I'm also interested in learning more about Leonbergers, as I've never met one in person but have heard good things about them.

5. What is your favorite movie (or TV show) staring a cat or dog?

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

2:37 PM

November 16, 2005

Triple Word Score

Pholph's Scrabble Generator

My Scrabble Score is: 21.
What is your score? Get it here.

2:58 PM

November 4, 2005

Five on Friday for November 4, 2005

Morning Routine

1. What do you typically have for breakfast? And what about on those mornings when you're being bad?

Some sort of whole grain cereal, like Kashi's GoLean Crunch or Kellog's Frosted Mini Wheats. I occasionally have leftovers, like sweet potatoes, pizza, or pasta for breakfast. And cake. If there's cake in the house, I have to have some for breakfast.

2. What is your favorite cereal?

I'm a big fan of Mother's Peanut Butter Bumpers and Honey Graham Life.

3. Do you wait patiently for the cereal prize to tumble out of the box or do you start digging the moment the box is opened?

I wait until the box is mostly empty, then allow myself to dig a little bit. Granted, I don't often buy cereal that has prizes in it.

4. What time is your alarm clock set for? When do you actually get out of bed?

It's set for 7 a.m. and lately, I've been getting out of bed at that time too. I used to lay around waiting for the second alarm (7:30 a.m.) but decided I'd rather spend that extra time eating breakfast and watching NECN's morning newscast.

5. Do you have any tips or tricks for saving time or preventing stress in the mornings?

Put all of the things you need to remember to bring to work in the morning near the door as soon as you think of them. As I'm getting ready I tend to add more things to the pile, like my purse and coat.

11:58 AM

November 1, 2005

What Kind of Yarn Are You?

You are Mohair. You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with others, doing your share without being too weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely refuse to change your position once it is set, but that's okay since you are good at covering up your mistakes.
What kind of yarn are you?

2:53 PM

October 28, 2005

Five on Friday for October 28, 2005

Brand Identity

1. What brand of shampoo and/or conditioner do you use?

Right now I'm using Dove's Intense Moisture shampoo and conditioner. I use Neutragena T/Gel and Dove's Intense Moisture Deep Conditioning Treatment every week or two as well. I was a big fan of Pantene's Full & Thick 2-in-1 and L'Oreal Kids for a while.

2. How about laundry detergent and fabric softener?

I like Tide, especially the "Clean Breeze" scent. I don't use fabric softener as often as I used to, but every once in a while I'll toss in a little Downy to make the sheets or blankets smell nice (but never towels).

3. Toilet paper?

I'm picky about my toilet paper. Although the soft stuff like Charmin is nice, I find it leaves too much lint. So I've turned to Scott. They have a new variety called Extra Soft that works pretty well for me. For wipes I'm all about Playtex's Personal Cleansing Cloths because they're moist but not wet.

4. Soda?

Not too picky about it, as long as it's carbonated and sugar-free. Because Jon is devoted to Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi I end up drinking a lot of it.

5. Any other brands you swear by?

Jif. I would never buy any other brand of peanut butter because I'm a choosy mother. Or something like that. Also Dove deoderant, Oil of Olay moisturizer, Stayfree maxi pads, and Playtex tampons.

4:23 PM

October 21, 2005

Five on Friday for October 21, 2005

Earworms: (noun) a song or tune that gets stuck in one's mind and repeats as if on a tape; also written ear-worm, ear worm; also called cognitive itch, sticky tune

1. What was your last earworm?

Feist - Mushaboom

2. Is there a particular song or genre that is more sticky than another for you?

Phish tends to stick in my head because of their bubbly, twangy, hypnotic melodies. It's all about the melody for me when it comes to earworms, which is why Feist is stuck in my head so hard this morning.

3. How long do yours usually last?

Usually just a few hours, but they've been known to last for days. A few of them have been measured in weeks, which gets to be really annoying.

4. How do you get rid of them?

I exorcise them by finding a sound clip online or buying the song. The little annoying ditties are taken care of by clips, but a lot of earworms stick because I like them so much. Those are the ones I invest in.

5. Do you feel any guilty pleasure in passing the earworm to someone else?

Not really. Since most of mine are usually "I need to find out what this song is and have it for my own" type things, I don't often share them.

10:52 AM

October 14, 2005

Five on Friday for October 14, 2005

That's Like, So High School

1. Bullies, preps, stoners, geeks, jocks, drama queens, and more roamed the halls. Where did you fit in? Did your clique have a name?

I was such a band geek, although we had no special name for it. I was also what you might call an academic: similar to a nerd because of the academic achievement but socially adept and moderately popular.

2. Hot lunch or cold lunch?

I did both, depending on the year. For a while I brought a lunch of yogurt, apples, and crackers every day. Then I mostly stuck with hot soup and the salad bar (which had loads of government cheese).

3. What did you wear to school? (Go ahead, date yourself here)

Jeans (wide leg or bell-bottom), chunky shoes or purple Pumas, and dozens of my father's flannel and/or plaid shirts.

4. What extra-curricular activities did you participate in?

At school I was in the band, marching band, pep band, winter drumline, science olympiad, nhs, newspaper, and track. Outside of school I was in the local Youth Wind Ensemble and the Youth Orchestra.

5. Who were your best friends? Do you still talk to any of them?

Kim was my best friend until she graduated. We spent a ridiculous amount of time together, to the point that it seemed like we had two sets of parents and siblings. Even though we don't talk much, our families are still close, so we see each other every year or so. She (and the rest of the family: Ray, Barb, Ken, Kari, and Katie) were able to come to my wedding reception.

4:07 PM

October 7, 2005

Five on Friday for October 7, 2005

Apple of My Eye

1. Have you been apple picking yet this year?

Sadly, no. Even though the weather has been beautiful for the last few weekends, we have had other things to do.

2. Where do you go to buy or pick your apples?

For the last few years I've gone to Tougas Family Farm in Northborough. I've been looking for farms in the Lowell area, but obviously haven't gotten very far.

3. What is your favorite variety of apple?

I think Gala is probably my favorite to eat fresh. Empires are my favorite for baking.

4. How do you like to eat your apples (fresh, dipped in caramel, baked into a pie, etc)?

I love them fresh, sometimes dipped in peanut butter, but I'll take them any way I can get them. I'm a big fan of apple crisp and dutch apple pies though.

5. They say an apple-a-day keeps the doctor away. When was the last time you saw your doctor?

A little over two weeks ago.

11:20 AM

September 30, 2005

Five on Friday for September 30, 2005

Boob Tube
These questions were part of the original Friday Five, from April 2002

1. What's your favorite TV show and why?

Currently? Arrested Development because, well, it's hilariously funny. I know not everyone gets it, but I do and that makes all the difference in the world. Rosanne is probably still my all-time favorite though.

2. Who is your favorite television star?

That's difficult to answer since I don't watch too much TV. Maybe Jerry Remy or John Madden.

3. What was your favorite TV show as a child?

Smurfs, Mr. Wizard, Voltron, and Looney Tunes.

4. What show do you think should have been cancelled by now?

ER.

5. What new show do you hope escapes the axe this season?

I've only seen three new shows this year, and frankly, I don't care if any of them make it through the year.

4:54 PM

September 28, 2005

Cub Scout

You Are a Bear Cub!

Bears are strong and independent creatures who roam in the forest in search of food. Bears are usually gentle, but anger one and be prepared for their full fury! You're tough, you won't back down from a fight -- classic attributes of a bear. Intelligent and resourceful, though lazy at times, you are a fascinating creature of the wild.

You were almost a: Duck or a Pony
You are least like a: Groundhog or a Chipmunk

What Cute Animal Are You?

10:25 PM

September 21, 2005

Full Wizard

Fineto! You scored 87%!

Wow! Impressive. "We can expect great things from you." You must have read the books several times or are just really good at remembering which spell does what. I myself didn't know all the spells until I started writing this test. haha... In any case, if you wanna talk "Harry Potter" with someone, message me. I love meeting other Harry Potter enthusiasts!

The Harry Potter Spells Test

4:46 PM

September 16, 2005

Five on Friday for September 16, 2005

In Your Opinion
1. Why does history repeat itself? Because mankind hasn't really evolved since the dawn of "history." As a society we may have made progress, but as individuals we're still being limited and driven by a human nature that hasn't changed in thousands of years. We have the same emotions, instincts, and intellectual capacity as our predecessors so the choices we make are bound to resemble theirs.

2. Why are people so fascinated by celebrities? Because they need an escape from their own lives. I'm not often drawn to celebrities, but I have been on a few occasions. During one of my worst battles with depression I was pretty well fixated on professional wrestlers, the Big Show in particular. All the drama in their performances helped me detach from myself from my own painful existence. It was sad, really. Whether it's depression, insecurity, or just boredom, celebrities offer us a distraction from our own lives and maybe even reassurance that it could be worse.

3. Who is overrated? Who is underrated?
Overrated: Michael Vick. Emeril. Clay Aiken. John Mayer.
Underrated: Toni Collette. Kevin Youkilis. Maia Sharp.

4. Why do so many marriages end in divorce? Because we expect too much of our spouses. Gone are the days when the role of a husband was to provide for, protect, and love his wife, when his wife was expected to take care of him and his children, be faithful, and love him. Now there seems to be an expectation that we be each other's best friend, confidant, golf partner, soulmate, sexual outlet, business parter, nurse, surrogate parent, and personal cheerleader. That's a lot of stress for a relationship, not to mention a major let-down if when one or both spouses aren't able to satisfy all of these expectations. Love can hold two separate people together like a bridge, but it has it's limits. And I just don't think the average relationship has the structural integrity to withstand the stress we place on it over the course of a lifetime. It seems to me that the couples that keep things together have made a lot of repairs to their relationship and adjustments to their expectations.

5. Will there ever be world peace? Continuing on the philosophy in #1, there won't be peace until we evolve and change our nature. As long as we're jealous, proud, and vindictive we're doomed to continue repeat the unrest and violence of our past.

5:19 PM

September 9, 2005

Five on Friday for September 9, 2005

It's Personal
1. What kinds of things are too personal to discuss with others? Some of my innermost thoughts and insecurities. Other than that, everything else is pretty much fair game with someone.

2. Is there a person you tell (or at least *can* tell) everything to? A couple, yes. Even if I don't tell them everything you know I could if I felt I needed to.

3. Do you keep a diary outside of LJ? Considering this my LJ is just a feed of this journal, techncially yes. But I have kept handwritten journals as well. I really only use them when my brain is stuck on something, so they've been laying dormant for a while now.

4. Do you know who you are? For the most part, yes.

5. Who/what can you rely on to never change and always be there? The weather. Even when it changes it never really changes.

10:08 AM

August 31, 2005

Pure Nerd

82 % Nerd, 26% Geek, 30% Dork

For The Record:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.

You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd. The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendences associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.

Congratulations!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 91% on nerdiness
You scored higher than 24% on geekosity
You scored higher than 50% on dork points

Link: The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test written by donathos on OkCupid

5:29 PM

August 12, 2005

Practically Einstien

10:20 AM

August 11, 2005

Low Rank

4:08 PM

August 5, 2005

Five on Friday for August 5, 2005

Shake your booty!

1. Do you consider yourself a good dancer? No, but I wouldn't consider myself a terrible dancer either.

2. How often do you go dancing? Like, never? Although I enjoy cutting a rug every once a while, dance clubs are totally not my scene.

3. What is your favorite type of music to dance to? Classic rock, some hip hop, and up-tempo bluegrass.

4. Have you ever hurt yourself (or someone else) dancing? Not that I can recall...

5. Do you dance when you're alone? Hecks yeah. Back when I had a desktop machine and speakers I had a playlist just for dancing: Fat Bottom Girls by Queen, Paint it Black and Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones, along with a couple others. To this day I have a hard time listening to Paint it Black without wiggling around.

2:14 PM

July 29, 2005

Five on Friday for July 29, 2005

The Magic Touch

1. Do you believe in magic? Why or why not? Not so much. I think magic is just the easiest way to explain the unexplainable.

2. Have you ever wished for magical powers? If so, what powers did/do you wish to have? Sure. I think it would be neat to do my chores with a wave of the wand or finish a sweater without working up blisters. But being able to apparate would be the cat's meow (and would certainly make my commute a cinch).

3. If you could make a love potion, who would you want (or would have wanted, in your past) to use it on? If I had access to love potion when I was of a Hogwart's age, I totally would've used it on Jimmy, one of the only boys in my seventh grade class who was taller than me. His locker was right next to mine, and he was so painfully shy at times that I felt shy around him. A little love potion probably would've helped that. And dating the only nice boy who was bigger than me would've made high school a little easier. Nice to know that I eventually end up with one, even without love potion.

4. If you could Apparate (that is, instantly appear some place else), where would you like to go, right now? In front of a slot machine at Foxwoods that was about to hit big. Or maybe sunning myself on a beach in the pacific northwest.

5. If you had the power to go back in time and change your past, what would you change? Why? I would be tempted to change a lot of things, like my decision to come to WPI, staying in a dead-end relationship because it felt safer than putting myself on the market, choosing to do my projects by myself, moving into that apartment on John Street, and buying that visor handheld back in 1999. But I'm rather fond of the way things have turned out and who I've become.

3:45 PM

July 28, 2005

The Wit

(65% dark, 21% spontaneous, 22% vulgar)

your humor style: CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK

You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean you're pretentious. You realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons' philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat.

more...

9:46 AM

July 22, 2005

Five on Friday for July 22, 2005

Runaway
1. Have you ever considered running away? Yep. I tried it once when I was a kid and only got as far as the barn. Now that I'm older, running away is more literal. When I feel like I want to run away I sneak outside and run as far as I can. It clears my mind at least for a little while. And as you can see, I don't do it very often.

2. Do you speak a foreign language? Do you have a passport? No foreign languages, unless you count Canadian. I do have a passport though. What's more, it's still valid.

3. Right now: do you know which way is east? Of course. I'm facing my fireplace, which is on the east wall of my building.

4. How do you like to travel: get up and go, or plan it out? A little of both: 70/30. I like to be prepared for the direction I'm headed, even if I don't have a schedule or planned route.

5. Do you ask for directions when you are lost, or do you keep on going? Although I am capable of asking for directions, I rarely do. It helps that I never feel lost. In addition to paying close attention to road signs and my path, I keep a map of the U.S. in the door of my car. So even if I don't know how to get somewhere, I can figure it out.

8:32 AM

July 12, 2005

Cherry Garcia!

You scored 74% SWEET, 55% CHUNKY, and 62% UNIQUE!

cherry sweet cream base with cherries and fudge chunks
Awesome...you are one of my personal favs: Cherry Garcia. You fall in the middle on all measurements- sweet, wild, and unique, but not overwhelmingly so on any of those. You make a good friend, able to share your unique perspectives on things, and able to have fun without winding up in jail or something. Good job.

The Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor Test written by weered1 on OkCupid

And I don't even like Cherry Garcia...

11:51 AM

July 8, 2005

Five on Friday for July 8, 2005

Listen to the Music

1. Do you have a theme song? Never really thought about it. If I had to choose, I'd say No Cheap Thrill by Suzanne Vega. It contains the lyrics that inspired the name for this site.

2. What music do you play when you're angry? Fiona Apple, early Ani Difranco, Poe, Lucinda Williams, NIN
Sad?Ani's Reckoning, Ben Harper, Beck's Sea Change, Peter Salett, Elliot Smith, more Fiona Apple
Mellow? Suzanne Vega, India Arie, Nickel Creek, Pearl Jam, late Beatles
Happy? Phish, Cake, Counting Crows, assorted Bluegrass artists, early Beatles
Gosh. I'm dating myself terribly with some of these...

3. What was the last song you listened to? Inidgo Girls - Jonas & Ezekiel

4. What was the last song or album you purchased? The last song I got from iTunes is We're All in This Together by Old Crow Medicine Show and the last actual album I bought is the soundtrack to the Phantom of the Opera movie.

5. Do you sing along to songs when you're alone? Hecks yeah. I even do it when other people are around. I love singing harmony on bluegrass songs and riffing over instrumental solos, but I tend to limit those more adventurous things to my alone time.

11:02 AM

June 17, 2005

Five on Friday for June 17, 2005

The Writer's Life

1. What color ink pen do you like best? Black. It just looks more professional. And do you have any idea how hard it is to match blue inks? And since we're talking about it, I'm a ball-tip girl. I hate roller ball and felt tip pens (with the exception of my double-ended sharpies, which are essential for labeling) with a passion.

2. Do you prefer lined or unlined paper? For writing, I love lined paper, preferably college-rule. Like my Mead Five-Star 9.5x6 wirebound, 2-subject notebook. It's perfect, although a little large to carry in your average handbag. That's why I carry it's little brother (7x5, single-subject) everywhere I go. I've tried others and they just don't compare. Did I mention they have little pockets? *swoon*

3. Which way do you prefer to read material: printed or on-screen? I much prefer printed material, although I'll take what I can get.

4. Which would you rather get: email or snail mail? Good question. As much as I like e-mail, it's not as nice for personal correspondance now that I get so much of it. Before I depended on it for work, filtering through hundreds of messages a day, it was great.
But now I'm more likely to put off reading (or replying) to personal messages because of the sheer bulk I'm dealing with. Snail mail tends to be handled when I'm not busy with something else.

5. Is letter-writing a thing of the past? Definately a thing of the past, and not just because kids today can't write. It's the instant society that makes it hard. Why write a letter to talk about what you're doing or ask questions when it'll be old news by the time it arrives? We're so used to getting responses immediately that we don't know what to say when we know we have to wait.

3:50 PM

June 10, 2005

Five on Friday for June 10, 2005

Meet the Parents. You know, both of my parents read this journal, which puts a little more pressure on me as I try to answer this week's questions. Perhaps thinking of these traits as good traits and bad traits might be easier.

1. Name one thing you like about your mother, and one thing you dislike.
I love my mother's self-sufficiency. She can and will do anything that needs to be done, without fear or complaint. I'm not sure there's a needy bone in her body. Because of her I know I can do anything I put my mind to and don't need to rely on a man to do it for me.
I was going to say that I wasn't crazy about my mother's fashion sense (or lack there of), but the older I get the more I realize that making sure your kids are wearing socks that match their outfits isn't nearly as important as making sure they're read to on a regular basis. It's not so much poor fasion sense and different priorities. I think the one thing that bothers me is that sometimes she's self-sufficient to a fault. She doesn't ask for help nearly as often as she should and ends up shouldering a bigger burden than she has to.

2. Name one thing you like about your father, and one thing you dislike.
I love my father's amiable nature. He's friendly with almost everyone, and downright charming at times -- not in a ladies' man sort of way. He just comes across as a genuinely friendly guy.
On the other hand, he did inherit his fair share of his father's gruffness and mood swings. He can be a real bear when he's not happy -- like when his favorite football team makes a turnover in a bowl game.

3. Which of the above four felt easiest to answer? The likes were the easiest to answer because I've found that I really like both of my parents as people. I think my mom's best trait was easier to pick than my dad's because it's so much more powerful. It just had a lot more impact on my own personality.

4. Name a trait you inherited from your mother, and one you inherited from your father.
mother: the desire to hand-craft things
father: knowing at least a little about everything (aka: know-it-all)

5. Do you get along with your parents? These days, yes. My mother and I used to argue when I was a teenager, but that went away as soon as I left home. Turns out part of the time she was just trying to press my buttons and get a rise out of me. Hee hee.

2:28 PM

June 9, 2005

Quick and Dirty

Your IQ Is 140

Your Logical Intelligence is Genius Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Genius

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

11:26 AM

Go Fork Yourself

You are a Fork.

You are special, unique... and shiny.... but you just don't know it. Many admire you for your outward appearance, but you haven't truly expressed all of the great stuff inside of you. You have the potential to do great things and help others, and this will help you in the future. When you hold a grudge at someone, however, this can be dangerous. Despite your calmness that most people perceive about you, you keep a lot of feelings bottled up inside that one day can make you explode and stab something. Instead of resorting to that, you can say, "Go Fork Yourself!"

Most compatible with: Knife, and Sock.

Click here -- What Random Object Represents Your Inner Self?

11:14 AM

June 3, 2005

Five on Friday for June 3, 2005

The Great Outdoors

1. How much of your time do you spend outside? Very little. Although that's not really an accurate reflection of my feelings for the out of doors. It's more a reflection of my current lifestyle.

2. Do you have seasonal allergies? I never have, but I suspect that could be changing.

3. Do you take outdoor-oriented vacations? Day trips? Not really. When I was going to Maine with Eric almost every weekend we spent most of our time outside (or just inside at the dining table looking out the open windows) at his family's camp. That was the most tan I've been since I was a kid. In fact, it makes me want a house on a little lake.

4. What's your favorite outdoor activity in the summer? Fall? Winter? Spring? Summer: berry picking and barbeques
Fall: apple picking and football games
Winter: walking in the snow
Spring: flower-gazing

5. Do you always wear sunscreen? Bug repellent? Do you always remember to bring a coat/umbrella/rain boots? I always wear a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15, but I often neglect to use sunscreen unless I intend to spend more than a couple hours outside. I inherited just enough of the native skin tone to prevent instant burning. I usually have bug spray on hand but don't use it unless I've been overcome by swarms. I'm good about packing a jacket but rarely carry an umbrella, even when it's raining.

2:21 PM

May 27, 2005

Five on Friday for May 27, 2005

Either/Or

1. Would you rather be alone OR surrounded by enemies for the rest of your life? I would definately rather be alone. It might eventually drive me crazy but it wouldn't destroy me the way enemies would.

2. Are you an early bird OR a night owl? I'm suck a night owl. Maybe I could learn to be an early bird, but my drive tends to get me up at night, not wake me up.

3. When sick, do you prefer to be pampered OR left alone? When I don't feel well all I want is a little concern and a wide berth. Just a "let me know if you need anything" or "there's chicken soup and juice in the kitchen" is sufficient. That said, it was nice to have my mom around when I had my teeth pulled last week. But more because I enjoyed the company than wanting to be waited on.

4. Do you believe in the relative OR the absolute truth? Everything is relative.

5. Which is worse, the Burning Question OR the Painful Truth? The burning question is so much worse. My mind tends to run away with things when there's a burning question in the vicinity.

2:47 PM

May 13, 2005

Five on Friday for May 13, 2005

Dream A Little Dream

1. Describe a dream you have frequently. Honestly? I can't think of any. Except for a couple recurring nightmares when I was a kid, my dreams seem to be one-use-only type things.

2. Describe a nightmare that has haunted you. I've described a couple of them in my journal before, but one of my favorites (now that I'm older) involved my dad doing battle with a fire-breathing dragon at my Grandmother's house in the woods of northern Michigan while I watched from the (very flammable) screen porch.

3. Has a dream ever affected your conscious decisions (ex: caused you to change careers)? I can't remember any specific instances, but I imagine it has happened. Sometimes I wish I took them a little more seriously.

4. Do you dream in color? In sound? Always, unless there's call for a special effect. My dreams are like movies, many without me in them, so sometimes black and white just makes more sense for the genre. They usually have sound as well.

5. Has a dream ever given you insight into your personality or into a particular problem or issue you were dealing with? Yes. The bridge dream has had particular significance for me. Jon finds it especially interesting now that we're getting married in Niagara Falls with my family (including my grandmothers) present. Even more interesting was that the bridge in that dream nearly two years old looked a lot like the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara.

11:39 PM

May 11, 2005

How Liberal/Conservative Are You?

Your Political Profile

Overall: 20% Conservative, 80% Liberal

Social Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

4:15 PM

May 6, 2005

Five on Friday for May 6, 2005

All In a Day's Work

1. Number of jobs you've held.

1. Cashier - Mrs. Field's Cookies
2. Assistant - Alpine Typesetting
3. Computer Monitor/Instructor - SYBerNet Cafe
4. Sales Associate - Asheley Stewart
5. Telemarketer - WPI's Alumni Giving
6. Customer Service Representative - Gander Mountain
7. Meat Packer - Koegel's Meat Products
8. Technical Writer/Intern - Compaq/HP
9. Web Developer - WPI

2. Your biggest raise, by percent. 2.5% — I was supposed to get a 15-20% during my last summer with Compaq, but the merger and the incompetence (resulting in firing) of the HR person kept it from happening.

3. Have you ever quit? That telemarketing job with WPI — only lasted one evening. I wrote the director and said I was never coming back. I suppose I quit my job at HP too. After reporting to 6 different people in 3 months during the merger I decided that the last 2-3 weeks I was scheduled to work just weren't worth it.

4. Have you ever been fired? Thankfully, no.

5. Your worst mistake on the job. Forgetting to change my gloves after scooping up a hotdog off the (sterile) floor. Wouldn't have been so bad if I weren't standing 10 feet from the USDA inspector.

11:18 AM

April 29, 2005

Five on Friday for April 29, 2005

Healthy Living

1. What is your definition of 'healthy eating'? According to your definition, do you eat healthy? A balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and lean meat is what I consider healthy eating. There's room in there for indulgences like chocolate and potato chips, as long as they're in moderation, like everything else. I'd say I fit that bill 80% of the time. I'm not as consistent with fresh fruits and veggies as I would like and when something tastes really good (be it strawberries or chinese food) I tend to eat beyond the point of satisfaction.

2. Do you exercise on a regular basis? What is your favorite form of exercise? Least favorite? I don't anymore. I used to go to the gym three times a week and do yoga or Tae Bo twice a week. And I walked more. It's hard to get back into a regular routine though. I think I'd have to say that weight-lifting is one of my favorite forms of excersize, closely followed by yoga. I hate running just for the sake of running. Even at the peak of my fitness a couple years ago when I could leg press more than 500 pounds and ride a stationary cycle for an hour I was never comfortable running more than a mile. It's probably all in my head, but I blame the overabundance of fast-twitch muscle fibers I inherited.

3. Do you take vitamin supplements? I should, but I don't. I can never remember to take them.

4. Can you tell that your body is getting older? If so, how? I'm too young to feel old. But I do, particularly in my hips. They're still incredibly flexible, but they ache and crack more than they ever used to.

5. Would you call yourself healthy? Honestly? No, not anymore. It's amazing how much your health can change in two years. It's hard to get back into those healthy habits I gave up when I rejoined the working world. And my health has suffered for it. I'm working on it again, partly because I have incentive. If I get to spend the rest of my life with Jon, I want that life to be as long (and healthy) as possible.

4:51 PM

April 22, 2005

Five on Friday for April 22, 2005

Mother Earth

1. Do you recycle? If so, what materials? If not, why not? I do. It's the one thing I really like about being back in the city waste removal route. I recycle paper, plastic, metal, and glass. I even bring my bottles back to the store.

2. What is your car's gas mileage? Do you ever rideshare, bike, walk, or take public transportation? I usually get 28-30 mpg highway but an SUV-like 12 mpg in the city. That averages out to around 24 mpg, which is much lower than I'd like. I walk to work when I can. Today would've been a good example -- except that I have a dentist appointment, so I had to drive.

3. Do you buy organic foods? Do you ask for paper or plastic bags at the market? I buy some organic foods, but I don't make a point of it. I ask for paper when I need something to hold my recyclables and get plastic the rest of the time. Plastic bags don't bother me as much now that most of them are made from recycled materials.

4. What is your ecological footprint? 9. It's bigger than I'd like it to be, but there isn't a lot I can do about all the extra packaging that fills up my garbage basket or the lack of locally grown food at the average grocery store. At least I can put most of them in the recycling bin. I find that I generate about one Target-sized bag of garbage and paper sack of recyclables each week. I feel good that I recycle more than I pitch, especially since a fair amount of the pitch is food refuse (peels, seeds, etc). In an ideal world I'd be able to compost again and reduce my waste even more.

5. What should the United States be doing to combat pollution? Passing stronger environmental legislation. We're way too soft on CAFE standards (fuel economy). I mean, seriously. There have been only marginal increases in the last 15-20 years. We're going nuts over our dependance on foreign oil, looking for ways to get more out of our own soil. But what I don't hear enough of is how to decrease the amount we use in total. Wouldn't reducing the load by 5% be just about as effective as increasing the amount of American oil by 5%? I would also like to see more government push behind alternative fuels and hybrid cars. I want to buy one now, but there are only a couple available. And they're generally done to cars that already have acceptable fuel economy. I want a hybrid SUV or minivan and I don't think I should have to wait another year or two to get them.

I'd like to thank my own mother for teaching me about the importance of the Earth.

10:31 AM

April 15, 2005

Five on Friday for April 15, 2005

Idiot Box

1. What TV show have you seen every episode of? The closest I've come is Fat Actress, because I've seen five of the six episodes so far and the sixth is waiting on my DVR. I have also seen every espisode of West Wing and 24 this season, definately a first for me.

2. What show makes you laugh until you cry? Daily Show. Red Green Show. Arrested Development. Grace Under Fire. American Chopper.

3. What show do you wish had not been cancelled? I wouldn't say it was cancelled, because it was so long-running, but I really miss Rosanne.

4. What show do you wish WOULD be cancelled? Survivor. Will and Grace. Seventh Heaven (hasn't that family died yet?). Semi-Homemade Cooking.

5. Who is your favorite TV character, either past or present? Rosanne. Sophia Patrillo is a close second.

11:22 AM

April 14, 2005

Your Linguistic Profile:

65% General American English
25% Upper Midwestern
5% Midwestern
5% Yankee
0% Dixie

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

9:14 PM

April 8, 2005

Five on Friday for April 8, 2005

LiveJournal

1. When did you start your LJ? What was your first post about? January 9, 2004. My first post was about how I only created the account so I could read friends-only posts. Even now I only use LJ to read friends posts, join communities, and post LJ only quizzes. The journal you're reading has been around since September 2001, much longer than my LJ account.

2. How frequently do you read LJ? Do you ever lurk on your friends' Friends pages? At least once a day during the week and maybe once a weekend. I don't really lurk on other people's friends pages unless it has been suggested I read something -- like Troy commenting on Derek's latest Buick rant.

3. How frequently do you post? What subject(s) are most of your posts about? I try for at least once a day, but often miss the weekends and Mondays. Oops. Most of my posts are about what's happening in my life, which can be pretty boring, but it's a journal. What more do you want?

4. How many people have become your friends in real life after you met them on LJ? How many people on your Friends list have you never met in real life? I have met mom_almighty and 2_misters_mama after getting to know them through livejournal, but pretty much everyone else is someone I knew or met before I started participating.

5. Do you follow any non-LJ blogs? You bet. In addition to the ones in my menu, I try to read Dooce, Marmalade, ljcfyi, Yarn Harlot, Chic Knits, and Tenth Muse on a semi-regular basis. I'm sure there are a bunch more, like Jen and Helen, but I think I'd go nuts trying to list them all.

4:47 PM

April 1, 2005

Five on Friday for April 1, 2005

Home Sweet Home

1. How many people and pets live in your home? Just me and my devoted kitty.

2. How many rooms are in your home? Four? Maybe five if you count the little hallway/butler's pantry thing.

3. Is there enough room in your home to comfortable accommodate overnight guests? Hecks no. Maybe if I had a futon or sleeper sofa, but as it stands, they have to crash on the couch or sleep with me.

4. How close do your neighbors live? Do you know them well and are they welcome in your home? Considering it's an apartment, pretty darn close. Outside my building is an old house converted into a dorm, and an old house converted to a swank office building. I don't know any of the students or business people, but I do talk with the girls who live upstairs on a semi-regular basis. At least to swap cars in the driveway.

5. How often do you rearrange your living room? Once a year maybe? It's hard to guage since I haven't lived anywhere longer than a year in a while. But when I had the place on William street for two years Stacey and I rearranged the furniture every 4-6 weeks.

2:39 PM

March 28, 2005

Five on Friday for March 25, 2005

Say Cheese!

1. What type of camera do you have? Sony Cybershot P20. It's only 1.3 megapixels, but it takes nice enough photos in natural light. They're not what I'd call print quality, but they're definately Web quality. And it uses Sony memory sticks, making interfacing with my laptop pretty easy. I finally threw my old Olympus away last fall after finding out that there was no good way to fix it. I'm in the market for a new camera, but have more important things to spend money on.

2. How do you store your photos (box, album, computer, etc.)? I have a couple small albums and a fairly large box for prints. Most of the photos I have taken in the last two years have been digital, so they're all stored on one of two computers.

3. What is your favorite thing to take pictures of? I like taking pictures of people, but most of them don't like to be the subject, so I mostly photograph flowers, plants, and random objects.

4. Do you like having your picture taken? I can be a ham at times, but for the most part I don't care one way or the other.

5. Do you prefer posed or candid pictures? I'm a big fan of the photojournalistic style, which is more candid than posed.

4:08 PM

March 18, 2005

Five on Friday for March 18, 2005

By the Numbers

1. Describe one thought currently on your mind. Why do people change their minds so often?

2. List two sounds you can hear right now. Faint strains of Tainted Love eminating from Troy's computer and the tippity-tappity of Kate's keyboard.

3. Name three songs you like. Fly Away by Poe, Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch, and Lonesome Wind Blues by Rhonda Vincent. all taken from my meager iTunes library.

4. List four books on the bookshelf closest to you. Idiot's Guide to UNIX, Web Design in a Nutshell, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, and Millennials Go to College by Neil Howe and William Strauss.

5. Name five things that make you mad. Mud. Improperly perforated "tear here" strips. Turns without turn signals. Domestic shipping companies. PETA.

12:38 PM

March 11, 2005

Five on Friday for March 11, 2005

Around the Playground

1. Did you have a nickname as a child? If so, have you outgrown it? My family used a lot of endearments and silly nicknames but not many stand out in my mind, except Lizzard Breath. And since Sarah is a hard name to shorten, I was mostly just Sarah T. I did have a few friends that called me Toenail in junior high...

2. Who was your best friend? Carrie Dunn, who lived down the street. Then after she moved, Liana Lloyd, one of the only other girls in my grade in my class. And let me say, you just couldn't be best friends with someone in another grade in those days. And we weren't in the same lunch/recess periods as the normal classes, so we were pretty limited to our few classmates.

3. Were you picked first or last for playground games? I was bigger and stronger than everyone else, but severly uncoordinated, so I was usually in the middle of the pack for girls.

4. Were you a bully or the one being bullied? I was easy to pick on because I was too big to retaliate without getting in trouble, but I wouldn't say I was ever really bullied. I suppose I could've been a bully if I wanted to, being almost twice the size of most of my classmates. Instead I was a sympathizer and a friendly cajoller.

5. Did you prefer the swings, slide or monkey bars? I was totally a swing girl, but the jungle gym was my secret passion. Since I was heavy, I didn't have the strength to swing myself from rung to rung underneath the monkey bars. I could hang upside down on them and flip myself around with the best of them though. I didn't want to look like a fat fool though, so I'd mostly just sit on one of the rungs, dangling my legs while my skinny friends climbed around like gymnasts.

4:09 PM

March 9, 2005

Five on Friday for March 4, 2005

I totally forgot to do my Five on Friday last week. I supposed doing it today is better than not getting to it at all though, so here it is: Party Time

1. What kind of parties do you like best (big bashes, small get-togethers, casual, formal, etc.)? While I like occasional big bashes, I'm pretty happy with small get-togethers. And I definately prefer casual to formal. I'm doing my best to keep my wedding plans from drifting too far down that road to formality.

2. Do you prefer to be the center of attention, or off to the side? I like to move in and out of the spotlight. I enjoy a little attention now and then, but being at the center of everything takes too much energy.

3. Have you ever had so much to drink at a party that you couldn't remember parts of the night? Nope -- I know my limit.

4. How often do you get out for a night of fun? If by fun you mean party, a few times a year. But fun doesn't necessarily have to be "going out."

5. Do you like surprise parties? I have a tendancy to run late, which is at odds with the surprise party MO. That makes them more stressful than they should be. Otherwise, they're fine.

5:29 PM

February 25, 2005

Ten Things I've Done That You Probably Haven't:

It took me a while, but I finally came up with a list of relatively unique things I've done that you probably haven't. Unless of course you have. In which case you should tell me so I can figure out something else to put here.

1. Had major plastic surgery.
2. Flew 600 miles for a first date.
3. Slept on a black sand beach.
4. Read books by Stephen King, Michael Crichton, and V.C. Andrews at age 10.
5. Cartwheeled down the hallway of the Campus Center at four in the morning.
6. Distracted the lead singer (and a lot of other men) at a concert by wearing tiny strobe lights atop each of my breasts.
7. Basked in the midnight sun.
8. Bunked up in an English boarding school.
9. Got third degree burns from falling into a fire pit, and have virtually no scarring to show for it.
10. Met the most important person in my life online.

7:37 PM

Five on Friday for February 25, 2005

Auto-biography

1. What kind of car do you drive? 2000 Chevy Malibu

2. What's your dream car? You mean other than a 1999 Buick Riviera Silver Arrow? Probably a Cadillac SRX V8 Luxury. It's technically an SUV, but it's not even a foot higher than my car and about the same length.

3. Do you keep the inside of your car clean, or is it messy? I kept it clean for several years. It was easy when I parked in a lot with a dumpster. I would carry my trash out with me every time I got out. But now? Now there's usually a bag of trash on the passenger's side and I tend to leave random things in the backseat instead of bringing them inside.

4. Do you know how to drive a stick shift? Check the oil? Change a tire? In theory I know how to drive a stick shift. I have had almost no practice, though I'm confident I could drive one (poorly) if I had no other option. I know how to check the oil, and I know how to change a tire, although, like the stick shift, I haven't had any practice.

5. Have you ever been caught speeding? Did you get a ticket? Not technically, no. I drove through a really sneaky speed trap on 290 in Shrewsbury once and an officer gestured that I should slow down. Granted, the cop was waving at pretty much everyone, but I guess it means someone "caught" me.

11:49 AM

February 18, 2005

Five on Friday for February 11, 2005

Money Matters
I'm a dork. I admit it. I forgot to do Money Matters last Friday. I had grand plans of doing it this week, but ended up doing much more productive things every time I thought about it. So after much ado, here it is:

1. Cash, check or charge? Charge. Everything is direct deposit these days, so I don't often see cash.

2. On whom or what do you spend most of your money? Being single, I spend it mostly on myself.

3. How often do you shop for yourself, and what do you splurge on? Aside from food and other necessities? I would like to say once or twice a month, but that damned Target makes it so easy to buy frivolous things like candles and wicker baskets when all you really need is toilet paper and toothpaste.

4. A recent TV commercial claimed the average American has 14 credit cards. Are you average, above, or below? I only have 4 -- one that I use for everyday purchases, one that I'm simply paying off from that rough period a couple years ago, and two store credit cards. At one time I had oodles of store credit cards, even though I rarely charged things to them. After getting my credit report and the suggestions for improving my score, I decided to close all those unused accounts.

5. If someone gave you $1000 with the condition that you can only use it "for fun", what would you do/buy? Damn. My first instinct would be to pay down my debt, or at the very least put most into my savings account for the next time I need work done on my car. But if I had to, I'd probably buy shoes. And enough yarn to make a nice sweater. And a plane ticket to visit my family.

3:32 PM

Five on Friday for February 18, 2005

Forces of Nature
1. What's the most severe weather you've ever experienced? I remember flooding and tornados when I was a kid, but we were never hit very hard. I've also seem plenty of snow and ice storms in my life. The worst would have to be the snow storm I got stuck in back in March of 2001. With the snowy forecast, I was sure that my flight from Detroit to Providence would be cancelled. Just like every other flight headed to New England that evening. I ended up being one of the only a couple dozen people at TFGreen, feeling quite lonely but positive as I scraped 6" of snow off my car in the long-term parking lot at 10 pm. After all, there was just over an inch of snow on the roads and Worcester was less than 50 miles away. But the farther I got from Providence, the fewer cars I saw on the quickly deteriorating expressway. By 11pm I was the only car on the road. I hadn't seen a plow or salt truck in at least half an hour, four inches of snow had built up on my moving car, I couldn't see more than 20 yards in front of me as I inched along, and I wasn't even out of Rhode Island yet. So I checked in to the first motel I saw. There was at least another foot of snow on my car when I woke up. But the plows had been out on the road, so I headed towards Worcester. But when I got there I had no place to go -- my parking lot was plowed, but the city had filled the driveway with a pile of snow 4' high and 6' deep. There was no way I was shoevelling through that with the dinky emergency shovel in my trunk. The radio kept telling everyone to stay off the roads because they were so bad, but there was no where to park my car to get off them. Everything except a couple gas stations and Dunkin' Donut shops was closed. So I just drove around until the driveway was cleared out and I could safely park.

2. What kind of natural disaster scares you the most? I was going to say earthquakes, but after seeing footage of the Tsunami, I think I've changed my mind. I think I could deal with the earth moving beneath my feet, but being swept off it would be so much worse.

3. Where would you live if climate was the only factor? Anchorage, Alaska for the sunny, mild summers and chilly winters.

4. Do you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder? I suffer from severe depression. And it's generally worse when I don't get enough daylight. Lack of daylight alone isn't enough to make me feel lousy though, so I'd wager I wouldn't be diagnosed with SAD.

5. What is your favorite thing to do when it rains? Nothing in particular -- it's not much different than any other time. Snow is different though. I just love to sit and watch it fall.

3:00 PM

February 8, 2005

If You Can't Beat 'Em

If you read this, even if I don't speak to you often, post a memory of me. It can be anything you want, it can be good or bad, just so long as it happened.

Then post this to your journal. See what people remember about you.

5:11 PM

February 4, 2005

Five on Friday for February 4, 2005

To Err is Human

1. Is there someone you have not forgiven for something? I still haven't forgiven Sam for saying I wasn't a true friend and blaming me for his problems. Those vindictive and egomaniacal words made me doubt everything I knew about myself and my relationships. After what we'd been through as friends, lovers, and roommates, it completely gutted me. I bled self-worth until I had none left. It took me months to realize that he had hurt me just to make himself feel better for his mistakes.

2. What would it take for you to forgive that person? I'm not sure. I know it's not healthy to hang on to, but I've survived the pain and expressed my anger. So all of the strong emotions have worked themselves out. I wouldn't say I have forgiven him, because I don't know that I ever will. But I can say that I am letting go. While part of me would like to forget it ever happened, just like I forgave and forgot the myriad of trivial wounds Sam inflicted during the time I knew him, the majority of me wants to hold on to a scrap of that feeling to remind myself that you can only forgive so much before you break.

3. Do you forgive easily, or bear a grudge? I am forgiving to a fault and can almost always empathize the transgression away. And even though my forgiveness blinded me to Sam's abuse, I still rely on it. It's my forgiveness that mends my thin skin after all. This is one of the first times in my life I recall bearing a real, honest-to-goodness grudge.

4. What transgressions do you consider unforgivable? The most malicious ones -- those done deliberately to cause pain. I abhor emotional abuse, physical, and sexual abuse whose only purpose is to torment another person. I can forgive most crimes driven by passion, but not those that are driven by hate and perversion. It's a fine line drawn by my ability to empathize with the perpetrator.

5. Have you done something that someone else has not forgiven? Do you seek their forgiveness? In the conversation mentioned in my answer to the first question, Sam laid the sole blame for our relationship, and the effects it had on his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, squarely on my shoulders. He felt it was my fault that he sought me out, that he decided to break up with his girlfriend, that he jumped into bed with me immediately after, and that she lost some faith in him after hearing of the emotional attachment he'd formed to me. He told me that he would never be able to forgive me for what he had done. The reasoning boggles my mind to this day. Yes, we made a mistake, but we made it together.

7:41 PM

January 28, 2005

Five on Friday for January 21-28, 2005

Two for the price of one, because I completely forgot to do last weeks, even after commenting that they were a nice change of pace. D'oh.
Wild and Crazy

1. Do you have any tattoos? If not, would you ever consider getting one? Where on your body would it be, and what image would you select? No, but I'm not opposed to them. For a couple years I wanted to get a sun tatooed in the middle of my back in the style of Pacific Northwest native art. I had a picture of it hanging on my wall for months, but just couldn't commit to the design. The only other area I'd consider having done would be my toes. It'd hurt like a bitch, but a permanent toe ring would be neat. And would be unlikely to become distorted as my body changes over the next 60 years.

2. Have you ever gone skinny-dipping? Yep. It was good, clean fun.

3. Have you ever dyed your hair a crazy color? What would be considered crazy? I did a dozen shades of burgundy in high school until hitting the jackpot with "Chocolate Cherry" in college. It looked like a nice dark brown with a hint of auburn indoors but in sunlight it glowed a firey dark red. Definately not my color. I haven't dyed my hair in at least 3 years and get far more compliments on my natural color than I ever did on the fancy ones.

4. Have you ever committed a crime? Did you get away with it? No felonies here. I stole a cheap barette covered in crystals and sparkles once just to see if I could do it, and I still feel guilty years later.

5. Have you ever had sex in a public place? That all depends on your definition of public...

What's in a Name?
1. What does your name mean? In Hebrew Sarah means princess and Elizabeth means consecrated to god. Funny, I never feel like a princess who's been dedicated to god.

2. Are you named after anyone? Not really. I seem to remember my parents saying they had an acquaintance named Elizabeth who was quite nice. Apparently knowing nice people with a name you like makes it easier to that name for your children.

3. Do you like your name? I have no complaints.

4. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? When I was a kid I desperately wanted to be a Bethany or Sharon. Anything but Sarah, like a couple dozen other girls in my school (including two in my own class). I've been told that I was jealous of my sister's middle name, Rose, and dubbed myself Sarah Flower.

5. What's the strangest name of anyone you've ever known? I know a lot of people with unusual or uncommon names, but none I'd really call strange. Except perhaps the infamous MegaZone, with whom I exchanged messages through an online dating site several years ago. At the time I hadn't realized that MegaZone was more than his screen name.

5:36 PM

January 17, 2005

Five on Friday for January 14, 2005

When we were kids...

1. What was your favorite subject in school? Reading. Until we got new books in 6th grade that I was forced to use instead of the 8th grade books.

2. What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was really young, I wanted to be a singer. Then I decided that President of the United States was a better goal. Compared to all the girls in my elementary class who wanted to be teachers and veternarians, I thought I was quite progressive.

3. What was your favorite game? Trivial Pursuit.

4. Did you watch cartoons? Which were your favorites? Oh yeah... I was (and still am) a big fan of Looney Tunes and their Merry Melodies. I generally watched Smurfs, Rainbow Brite, He-Man and She-Ra, Fat Albert, Thundercats, Transformers, Strawberry Shortcake, and Voltron.

5. Did you have any imaginary friends? Not that I remember.

2:38 PM

January 7, 2005

Five on Friday for January 7, 2005

Emotional Rollercoaster

1. When was the last time you achieved absolute happiness? Last night, briefly, as I worked on Potluck Wool Mittenettes for myself. I guess you could say I find absolute happiness on a semi-regular basis. At least once a week (unless it's a bad, bad week) I can find something that makes me totally happy, blocking out the dark clouds long enough for me to experience absolute happiness. It could be knitting for hours on end, lazing in bed with Jon on weekend mornings, finishing some difficult task, or learning to appreciate something new. It's not earth-shattering or life-changing, just the simple happy things that keep me going from week to week.

2. When was the last time you cried uncontrollably? Probably last November when Jon told me we weren't going to Columbus. I was so sad for him, for us, for our broken dreams. I had been holding in stress about the entire thing and now that it was over, it all came pouring out. There was a period of time when I did it on an almost daily basis because it was the only way to let out all of the pain and frustration I felt. Now there's not so much pain in my life, so it doesn't happen as often.

3. Name a piece of music that makes you sentimental. Anna Begins by Counting Crows

4. What emotion do you tend to hide the most? Fear. It's not a good thing.

5. When was the last time you were almost uncontrollably angry? I think a little over two years ago, when my relationship with Sam was at its worst and most destructive point. It was almost assuredly followed by uncontrollable crying because I get upset when I'm angry. And, well, Sam was an ass.

4:40 PM

December 17, 2004

Five on Friday for December 17, 2004

CHRISTMAHANUKWANZAAKAH III: The Celebrations

1. How many holiday cards did/will you send out this year? Don't remind me that I haven't sent them yet. I expect to send at least 20, because that's all the cards I have this year. The only time I think I have a too many aunts and uncles is when I have to address my cards every Christmas.

2. At how many locations will you be exchanging gifts this year? 6? Work, the Jay's, Aunt Jean's, Grandma's, Mom's, and Dad's. I think that's it. Although that doesn't include Wednesday's yankee swap.

3. Do you have any special holiday traditions? Having breakfast with my dad on Christmas Day (or the day after Christmas Day if I fly home on Christmas Day). Eating nut rolls at Grandma's. Everything else varies from year to year.

4. Do you have any favorite holiday memories? The time my sister nearly fainted when she got scotch tape in her stocking. Or maybe the time Grandma and Grandpa Dick clogged for us. Oh, and sitting in an airport holding Jon's hand on Christmas Day as we waited for our plane.

5. Do you have any stories of interesting holiday mishaps? You mean like the time my dad got my mom a totally awesome cordless drill to keep in the house and hid it so well he didn't find it for six months and spent the entire two days before Christmas tearing apart the house and garage with a barrage of curse words?

12:43 PM