trick or treat

be open...

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The W.T.F. Meme

1. One of my favorite TV shows recently changed the actors who played two characters. Have you ever been bothered by a TV show or movie series changing actors who play a character you love? I hate when that happens... I remember being confused when Bewitched switched Darrens...

2. A coworker recently shared a link to a blog listing the "five things you should know before dating a journalist." As a journalist, I can honestly say the writer was spot-on. What are some things people should know before spending time with you? it's tough for me to be vulnerable

3. What is something you often do without realizing that you're doing it? hmmm... I can't think of anything

4. Who has the capacity to make you angrier than anyone else in your life, and what in particular does he or she do to make you so angry? my sisters can push my buttons like nobody else and I think I get so angry because they shouldn't be pushing my buttons

5. If a fairy waved a magic wand and gave you the house of your dreams, where would it be and what features would it have? I'm happy where I am but new furniture would be nice

6. What’s a belief that you hold with which many people disagree? the holiday season really is the most wonderful time of the year

7. I used to talk in my sleep. In fact, I could carry on a conversation with someone when I was fully asleep, and my mom used this fact when I was a teenager to find out if I did anything wrong and was hiding it from my parents. If you were talking your sleep tonight, what do you think you would say? I would more than likely talk about school

8. The fourth installment of the "Twilight" movie series ("Breaking Dawn Part I") will be released in theaters soon. Movie theaters started selling advance tickets for midnight showings months ago. Have you ever attended a midnight premiere showing of a movie? just the Rocky Horror Picture Show when I was in college

9. On Tuesday, tigers, lions and bears were let loose in Zanesville, Ohio, by their owner before he committed suicide, leading to a hunt in which 49 of the animals, including 18 endangered Bengal tigers, were killed. How would you react if you saw "Caution exotic animals. Stay in your vehicle" being displayed on a road sign? I would avoid

10. If a company opened a theme park aimed at adults, what would you name one of the rides? funtime

11. Imagine you just moved onto Sesame Street. Which puppet would you want as your new roommate? I would love to share with Snuffy

12. Have you ever had a weird crush on a famous person that didn't make sense to you? yes

13. If you get ten minutes to interview any celebrity of your choice, who would you like it to be? George

14. You've just won the complete DVD collection of all the movies starring one actor or actress. Which actor/actress would you pick? George

15. Actor George Clooney recently told People Magazine that he doesn't use Twitter "because I will drink in the evening and I don't want anything that I could possibly write at midnight to actually end my career." What is something you've said through social media and then regretted it? I haven't

16. VH1 has re-introduced its hit show "Pop-Up Video," which gives behind-the-scenes facts for popular music videos. What musician would you be most interested in learning behind-the-scenes facts about? I loved this show and was excited it's back... I'd love to see some background on Sting

17. If you stumbled across someone's personal written journal that was accidentally left in a public place, would you read any of the content? probably

18. What is the title of a self-help book that you'd never want to see on a store bookshelf? How To Be Conservative

19. Many media outlets have been asking this question a lot this week... Which Halloween costume do you think will be overdone this year? any politician or maybe Charlie Sheen

20. Should a marriage license have a renewal date or expiration date, like a driver’s license? maybe a renewal

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

what does your birth date mean?

You Are a Romantic

You have the mind of an artist, even if you haven't developed the talent yet. Expressive and aware, you enjoy finding new ways to share your feelings. You often feel like you don't fit in - especially in traditional environments. You have big dreams. The problem is putting those dreams into action. Your strength: Your vivid imagination Your weakness: Fear of failure Your power color: Coral Your power symbol: Oval Your power month: November

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

zodiac birthday meme...

1. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months.
2. Pick your month of birth.
3. Highlight the traits that apply to you.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

THE MONTHLY FLAVORS, WHICH ARE YOU?

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

saturday 9

Mr. Roboto

1. Do you enjoy holidays like Halloween or is your approach more robotic? I enjoy the decorations

2. Have you ever been to a haunted house? yes, it was great fun

3. What are you doing for Halloween this year? nothing particular

4. What was your lamest Halloween costume ever? a pumpkin

5. Is handing out candy fun for you, or more of a nightmare? I usually enjoy it

6. Do you buy trick-or-treat candy and end up eating it yourself? buy it for me, of course!

7. Did you carve any pumpkins this year? no

8. What was your favorite costume as a child? an old-school princess before it got all Disney-fied

9. What is your biggest pet peeve about trick-or-treaters? when they don't thank

what to do?

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. Beware of teenagers who've eaten too much sugar.

2. I'm not ready for snow.

3. And since we had cake at lunch I shouldn't have more cake tonight.

4. Is it time for wine or spirits?

5. Where time flies, nobody knows.

6. Beans on toast is one of my favorite meals when it's cold out.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going out, tomorrow my plans include birthday lunch and Sunday, I want to get my laundry done!

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

A tedious meeting.

halloween meme 5

Are you scared of bats? well, I avoid them but I know how valuable they are

When you were a kid, did you go out on Mischief Night? no, I had never heard of it

What is your favorite trick-or-treat candy? something chocolate

Have you ever seen a ghost? no

The most memorable costume you ever wore? I wore a nun's habit one year, it was awesome

Do you dress up on Halloween? not usually

Any cooking or baking you do for Halloween? sometimes I'll make a pumpkin cake

Have you ever been to The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland or Disneyworld? no

Any element of the season you don’t like? I can't think of anything

What is your favorite scary movie? the most recent one I watched was Blair Witch Project

Do you cook the pumpkin seeds from your carved jack-o-lanterns? always!

Are you intrigued with vampires? no, but I do love True Blood

ten things tuesday...

Ten things about today:

1) I almost sent a student to the office. Not only did he push my buttons, he was so foolish it was interfering with the class. I hate having to threaten the office, and I hate having to send them to the office. Grow up!

2) This was a day spent in anticipation. I was pretty jittery all day.

3) Dinner was delicious. I couldn't eat everything and have half the meal left over.

4) After school I helped some students record their Voice of Democracy speeches using Garage Band. It was actually fun and easy.

5) I contemplated my outfit choice all afternoon. I wanted to look casual but nice.

6) My friends said some supportive and encouraging things to me. I have such great friends.

7) I passed the point of nervousness and just let go. I took a deep breath and went with the flow.

8)

9) I want a dog.

10) I had a delightful time today. The anticipation and nervousness paid off.

jitters...

I have a date tomorrow night. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm being open to the possibilities.

what's your ideal weather?

Your Ideal Weather is Light Rain

There's always time for laughing at misfortune. You know you can't let bad luck get you down. No matter how old you become, you continue to have a youthful and hopeful energy. You have passion. You try not to take life too seriously. The world is so absurd that you just have to laugh at it. You are a mystery to those around you. You rarely show anyone the full picture of who you are.

What's Your Ideal Weather?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

halloween meme 4

1. What is your favorite written work of horror fiction? Salem's Lot scared the bejeezus out of me

2. What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy? the Harry Potter series

3. Who is your favorite monster? Cookie Monster or Grover, if he's a monster

4. What is your favorite Horror movie? The Exorcist

5. What horror movie gives you the most chills? The Birds

6. What character from any horror film would you most like to play? Janet from Rocky Horror Picture Show

7. Freddy or Jason? Jason

8. Ghosts or goblins? goblins

9. What did you do for Halloween as a kid? traditional trick or treating, although there were some community groups that would host parties for kids that would have contests and give aways

10. What’s the best Halloween party that you’ve attended? when I was in high school, my family had a costume party and it was a blast--good, nerdy fun with no drinking or drugs

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The Questions Galore Meme, part 3

41. What is a quote that you love?

42. Do you think of pure hate as something humanity created? yes

43. When was the last time you wanted to scream? oh, I'm sure there is some point during the school day

44. Do you ever at times see the world in black and white? oh, yes

45. Have you ever thought that cell phones are too obtrusive? that would be the reason I don't have one

46. In your life, where do you thank the rainbow will end? hopefully at my peaceful death

47. What is something that you never want to do again? let others' opinions influence me heavily

48.When was the first time you realized the world was small? oh, when I was crossing a street in DC with my dad and someone recognized him

49. How you spend your time contemplating life’s mysteries? it's pretty constant

50. Ever discuss your political beliefs with people? frequently, although generally with people who are like-minded

51. Do you care about the environment? of course

52. What’s your motto for life? "I have to accept (person's name) for who s/he is and not who I want them to be."

53. Is progress destroying the beauty of the world? no

54. Do you believe there is life somewhere else in the universe? not human life

55. Would you like to rule a country? you mean I don't already?

56. Do you believe everything has a purpose? I'm not sure about this

57. Is war ever for the best? it is a necessary evil

58. Could you kill anyone in defense of self or loved ones? probably, hopefully I'll never have to find out

59. How do you react to people (Such as Governor Rick Perry) who don't believe global warming is really our fault? with mockery

60. Does love conquer all? yes

61. Is euthanasia morally acceptable? in cases of terminal illness, yes

62. Is world peace impossible? yes

63. Is pride a good or a bad thing? it is a good thing, hubris is not

64.What do you think is the purpose of your life? to be happy

65. Do you believe in karma? oh, yes, what comes around goes around

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

halloween meme 3

1 – What was the scariest movie you have ever seen? The Birds really freaked me out

2- What was your favorite Hallowe’en costume as a child? one year, I think I was four, my costume was a gypsy and it was great--fake hoop earrings and all

3- Given enough money what would be your fantasy Hallowe’en costume? uhm... I donno

4- When was the last time you went trick or treating? I took my niece in the mid 90s, it was so much fun

5- What is your favorite Hallowe’en candy? chocolate something

6- Tell us about a scary nightmare you once had. for a few years my recurring nightmare was being bludgeoned to death

7 – What is your supernatural fear? mind control

8-What is your ‘creepy-crawlie’ fear? snakes or rodents, occasionally spiders

9- Tell us a time you saw a ghost or heard something go bump in the night never

10- Would you stay overnight in a real Haunted House? if it was comfy

11-Are you a traditionalist or a creative carver of you Jack-o-Lantern? I am not a carver, I prefer whole pumpkins

12- How much do you decorate the house at Hallowe’en? I put up a couple of things, but I don't decorate for any holiday too much

13- What do you want on your Tombstone? a clever epitaph, I have yet to think of one

saturday 9

The Last DJ

1. Who was favorite DJ and what radio station did you listen to as a kid? Kevin Mannix on WEGP

2. What has been the weirdest thing you have worn in public? a name tag I forgot to take off

3. What was the best part of last weekend? dinner with my bestie

4. What was the most effective punishment for you as a kid? being grounded from the phone

5. Would you lie to your significant other to not hurt their feelings? probably not

6. We're taking you order for breakfast. What would you like? an omelet and homefries

7. Do you celebrate Halloween? If yes, do tell. If no, why not? sure I celebrate, I put together little gifties for my friends

8. Do you hand out candy to the neighborhood kids? not here at my place but I often will go to Dad's and pass out candy for them

9. What's the favorite age you've been, so far? every

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. Old me would be worried about everything; new me would be very chilled out.

2. Sometimes it's tough taking responsibility.

3. So...in a way this is the best day.

4. Will we ever get it right?

5. The big difference isn't that big after all.

6. Any holiday makes me happy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching up on dvr'd shows, tomorrow my plans include running errands and Sunday, I want to noodle around!

mayer hawthorne

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Itchy, dry eyes.

halloween meme 2

1. What is the worst treat to get when trick-or-treating? things that can't be eaten

2. What character from any horror film would you most like to play? the Bride of Frankenstein

3. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? (why) an alien would be fun because I'm from out of this world

4. How many Halloween, Friday the 13th, or Nightmare on Elm Street movies combined do you have on dvd? none, but I was given Blair Witch Project as a Halloween gift

5. What is the scariest movie you have ever seen? I don't really get scared but I get the creeps--like Carrie or the Birds

6. Lamest costume you have worn on Halloween? a pumpkin, it was pathetic

7. Favorite Halloween treat? chocolate

8. Friendly-faced jack o’lantern or scary one? oddly faced

9. Have you ever had nightmares about a scary movie character chasing you? no

10. Best thing about Halloween? the decorations or the candy

11. Strangest Halloween custom you’ve heard of? smashing pumpkins... it's sad

12. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)? my niece, she's still the right age to get candy

13. Are you superstitious? If so, name at least one superstition of yours. not so much, but I've been known to knock on wood

ten things tuesday...

Ten random things as they pop into my head:

1) Had my annual physical today. So much poking and prodding. Luckily, I'm healthy and feeling very well.

2) I took the day off for my physical. I didn't want to rush back and forth between here and school (in the next town over).

3) I have enjoyed a delightful morning, catching up on some DVR'd shows. I have fallen behind on my watching.

4) I enjoy Anderson Cooper's talk show. I think he's interesting. And not hard to look at.

5) I'm synching my iPad. I don't do it as often as I should, I suspect, because it's taking a long time.

6) I downloaded Mayer Hawthorne's cd on a whim. I hope it's good R&B.

7) The weather stinks. Rainy, overcast and chilly. I had to put on actual pants, instead of wearing cropped pants. But I'm still holding out with my flip flops.

8) I have read 51 books so far this year. I'm not counting the AS Byatt book I was half through before I ditched it. And it's been pretty diverse reading, although I need to make more of a non-fiction effort.

9) Maybe I should go get a big glass of water. I've only had one glass today. I'm behind. At school I suck water down all day long.

10)

halloween meme

Which urban legend ghost scared the bejeesuz out of you when you were a kid? I slightly remember a slumber party story about a couple on a deserted road and a crazed person with a hook... it used to freak me out

Which horror movie has the best premise? I was scared to death by the Birds

What is the most disappointing “treat” to receive in your bag on Halloween night? religious tracts

What’s the best non-candy item to receive? I actually liked getting toothbrushes from my dentist, they were the good kind

Did a monster live in your closet when you were a child? no

Which supernatural creature sent chills up your spine when you were ten and still does? evil stepmothers or Maleficent

Which supernatural creature makes you yawn? hmmm...

What’s your favorite Halloween decoration? pumpkins

If you could be anywhere on Halloween night, where would you be? I like going to my dad's to pass out candy

What’s the scariest book you’ve read so far this year? not scary but creepy was The Likeness by Tana French

Haunted houses or haunted hayrides? either

Which Stephen King novel/movie would you least like to find yourself trapped in? oh lawdy... any of them

Which is creepiest: evil dolls, evil pets, evil children? evil dolls *shudder*

finished reading

I've gotta admit, I struggled with the beginning of this book. But I stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. This is a storyteller's book, driven by characters and description rather than by action. It's a story of hope and despair, love and loss, and resiliency.

This is a book I never would have picked up on my own. I'm so glad I read it, it's a beautiful book with real characters and a rich history. I kept forgetting that it was a novel.

ayuh

pj day

I am a lazy slug. And I'm glad I can be.

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The Questions Galore Meme, part 2

21. What was the last song you listened to that wasn’t sung in English? some Korean dance music a student played for me

22. One of our SS players generally leaves a critical comment on our memes. Which is fine. All's fair. Do you let meme authors know when you hate their memes? no

23. What TV show would you like to be on? it would be fun to be a teacher on Glee

24. What was the last video game you played? hmmm... I don't remember

25. Have you ever been in a musical? If yes, do tell. I was a theater kid, my first role was Gretel in the Sound of Music when I was five

26. Do you follow your own style or everyone else’s? my own

27. What’s the last store you bought from? the local supermarket

28. In retrospect, have you ever let a person use you a lot? yes, there is one person

29. What are you doing two days from now? I'm taking the day off from school to have my annual physical and another appointment

30. Did you ever believe there were monsters in your closet? no

31. When you graduated high school, did you let random people sign your yearbook or just close friends? just close friends

32. Would you consider adopting a child that had a mental illness? no, but not because of the mental illness, because I wouldn't consider adopting any child

33. Does thinking about death scare you? not at all

34. If you died, do you believe that you go to Heaven or Hell and where would your spirit go? I don't believe in heaven or hell

35. Who did you last write a snail mail letter to and why? sent out a couple of Halloween cards to some former students

36. Do you care what people say or think about you? professionally I do

37. Have you ever been threatened? yes, it was traumatic

38. Which side of your family do you get most of your qualities from? my dad's

39. What was the last thing with alcohol that you drank? probably some wine

40. Have you ever kept a relationship a secret? not really

truth...

sometimes

Sometimes all you need on a rainy Saturday night is an inspirational movie from Lifetime.

saturday 9

Mrs. Potter's Lullaby

1. Adam Duritz (writer and lead sing of Counting Crows) mentions previous girlfriends in songs. In Mrs. Potter's Lullaby he sings “There a little piece of Maria in every song I sing”. Is there a piece of an ex that will always be a part of you? not really

2. Who was your very first significant friend? Lisa M. we were best friends until her family moved when we were in middle school--we reconnected through FB

3. What are four (4) things you hope to do this weekend? 1) make a significant dent in the book for book group, 2) clean the bathroom, 3) nap, 4) get my errands done

4. What do you consider to be the main purpose of your blog? a place for my ramblings

5. Tell us something that you've never before written about in your blog because it's too personal. well... not really, but sometimes I temper what I write

6. If you could choose your doctor, do you prefer someone of the same or opposite sex? I did choose my doctor and she is a woman

7. If you could dream about anything tonight, what would the subject matter be? something happy

8. How do you react to practical jokes when they're played on you? I'm usually a good sport

9. What's on your agenda after this weekend for the upcoming week? I can't think of anything particular

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!


1. It's easy to enjoy the fall colors around me.

2. Oh,my darling.

3. Once upon a time, I was darling.

4. And that's ... the end.

5. What is the point of the workshop we attended on Tuesday.

6. The holidays will be here sooner than later.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to dinner with my bestie, tomorrow my plans include getting things done and Sunday, I want to sleep in!

reading meme...

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading? I don't remember, I've always loved reading and know I learned to read early

What are some books you read as a child? pop-up books as a kid then I moved on to Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, I loved mysteries

What is your favorite genre? well... I enjoy literature and mysteries

Do you have a favorite novel? Eureka Street by Robert Mcliam Wilson and Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Where do you usually read? in bed

When do you usually read? in the evening

Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time? usually

Do you read non-fiction in a different way or place than you read fiction? yes, I usually read that during the day in the comfy chair

Do you buy most of the books you read, or borrow them, or check them out of the library? I buy most, but I'm trying to borrow more with my Nook

Do you keep most of the books you buy? If not, what do you do with them? I pass them along, although with the Nook I keep them now

What are you reading now? Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese

Do you keep a "To Be Read" list? not really

What’s next to be read? I'm not sure

What books would you like to reread? the Harry Potter series

Who are your favorite authors? Stephen King, although I haven't read anything by him in a while

hello handsome...

wednesday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

I realize it's Wednesday. But I burned the roof of my mouth so badly I wanted to whine about it today. So, my bug this week is a burn on the roof of my mouth.

bafab

Totally forgot that October is Buy A Friend A Book time. It's supposed to be the first week of October but I'm sure no one will mind my being late.

ten things tuesday...

Ten things I like about autumn:

1) The leaves change and the colors are radiant. This year they are mostly orange because we have had such a rainy summer.

2) Toodling around on a drive through the countryside is also beautiful--the fields are also changing: through the process of harvest.

3) Harvest Break. Such an enjoyable vacation time.

4) Cooler weather. Without it being cold. I don't like cold but I do like cooler. But there is something about the crispness in the air that makes me shiver happy.

5) I like the decorations. For autumn or for Halloween. I just like them. Some are clever and cool.

6) My birthday is coming up. Who doesn't like celebrating?

7) If you have read my blog before, you know I also like candy. And this is definitely the season of candy. But I also really like Honecrisp Apples and Pomegranates, which are also in season.

8) There is something about the sunset that is amazing. I always say the end of October and the first few weeks of November have the most beautiful sunsets.

9)

10) Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This is the kick off of the holiday season for me, when I reflect on the joys of family and friends.

cracked me up...

autumn meme

Have you ever been apple picking? yes, at the school farm

Is there a dish you make/eat only during this time of the year? soup or chili

Will you attend a ‘tail gate’ party this season? no, I don't really do sporting events

When do you turn on the heat? when it gets cold... it's been on already

How many sweaters do you own? holy moly, I don't have any idea... 30?

Are you fond of Nouveau Beaujolais wine? never had it but I would try it

Do you get excited about Halloween? yes

How about Thanksgiving? very!

Is there an activity you do only in the autumn? leaf peeping, I like to take a leisurely drive

Have you ever burned leaves? well, not by myself, but my dad has... I was on hose patrol

Do you own any ‘scarecrow’ decorations? not that I can think of

Do you plant bulbs? I planted some at Dad's

Your fondest autumn memory? years ago I rode a ski lift up a mountain for leaf peeping and hiking with some friends. Great pictures and a really fun day.

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The Questions Galore Meme, part 1

1. Is there someone in your life you know you’d be better off without? not that I can think of

2. Do you get criticized because of your body? frequently

3. Did you kiss the last person you called? no

4. When was the last time you danced? yesterday :-)

5. Do you keep in mind other people’s feelings? sometimes

6. If you have a hang nail, do you pull it or clip it? clip

7. Who do you want to forget? no one

8. Who was the last person to send you a letter? my bestie

9. Who did you last tell to shut up? hmmm.. I don't remember saying it

10. What’s the last thing that you smelt that smelt bad? I put trash in the apartment bins, that was really bad

11. What’s your favorite cereal? bite size frosted mini wheats

12. How do you feel when people lead you on, but they don’t even like you? huh?

13. Could you live without sunlight? no way

14. What’s something you know is bad, but you want to do it anyway? eat donuts

15. What was the last thing you lied about? what I paid for something

16. Do you regret anything you’ve done in the past week? no

17. What was the last movie you bought? it was for school

18. What is a sport you would like to do? uhm... I can't think of anything I would like to do

19. When was the last time you felt like crying? when Dumbledore died

20. Have you ever wanted to kill someone (not that you actually do it)? no, I'm a lover not a fighter

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

just read!

saturday 9

Someday We'll Be Together


1. Have you ever left a relationship but knew that eventually you'd get back together? no

2. Are there things that you hate to buy? Items that you either hate to spend perfectly good money on or hate to spend the time it takes to buy them? I don't like buying things associated with chores

3. What is your favorite cartoon show and why? I am a real Bugs Bunny fan

4. Are you anywhere close to doing what you wanted to do as a kid? well... I guess so

5. Now that you're in the "real world," is your current job now really what you want to do for a living? If not, what would you ultimately like to do? I know I want to work with youth but sometimes the politics of teaching get on my nerves... and I mean my last nerve.

6. A local university has asked you to teach a class about the one thing you know the most about. What would you be teaching and what would the name of the course be? wow... that's a good question

7. Commercials ... they can make us laugh or can annoy the heck out of us. Tell us about your favorite commercial and/or a commercial you simply loathe. there are some local commercials that drive me nuts but there's also a local commercial that makes me laugh (I just looked for it online but couldn't find it)

8. Tell us about your favorite comedy movie of all time. There are just too many to choose from, but I'm going with the Princess Bride

9. Tell us about your favorite black and white movie of all time. Casablanca is fantastic

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. How can I get back into the swing of school.

2. I'm tense at the moment.

3. That summer, was a blast.

4. It was a sunny day and we respected that.

5. What was the answer.

6. I forget to stay in touch.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a Harry Potter movie, tomorrow my plans include the Breakfast Club, and Sunday, I want to have an adventure if the weather holds!

just finished reading...

The last installment of the Harry Potter series. This book is a great finale--tying up loose ends in a satisfying manner. Instead of returning for their seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and Hermione seek to fulfill Dumbledore's quest. Most of the book is on the run, trying to escape detection of the Death Eaters and other newly instituted organizations aimed at finding Harry. I liked that the characters stayed true, that they weren't suddenly transformed with other characteristics and traits than they'd been given throughout the previous books. And I like that my body is still tense, half an hour after I finished reading it. I was that into it. I'm interested to see the final movie, to see how Snape's actions are shown, instead of reading about him.

lurve

starting the series...

Although I had seen it before it didn't really mean a lot. Having read the book, it had more depth and I appreciated it much more. What well done movies, the visual detail is amazing.

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Dust. Around the house, I hate dusting.

seriously

gleek

One of the best episodes ever tonight. Mike Chang was a star. A real study of competition between Rachel and Mercedes for the role of Maria and Kurt and Brittany for class president. The cover of Coldplay's "Fix You" was great. No foolishness.

best laid plans...

So I thought it would be fun to take my niece to the coast of Maine for a little getaway. Unfortunately, the weather didn't think it would be fun. So, after spending the day in rain, and having some epic luck shopping, we returned home. Even though I am disappointed we didn't have a grand adventure, we did have a lot of fun today. And it is good to be in my own bed on such a cold, rainy night.

ten things tuesday...

Ten things I'm tired of: 1) Laugh tracks on television shows. I think I can figure out when to laugh all by myself. 2) Facebook changes. They won't annoy me always, will they? 3) The political nonsense. I am so tired of listening to people bash each other instead of listening. 4) I'm tired of tv shows that don't live up to the hype. Where is the good tv anymore? 5) Student friendship requests on Facebook. I feel kinda bad. 6) Hearing the same songs on the local radio station. Over and over and over. Aren't there 40 songs in the top 40? 7) Guilt. I'm tired of feeling guilty for things that don't really matter. Making mountains out of molehills is a specialty. 8) Rotten weather leading to a lackluster foliage season. 9) Pennies that seem to multiply overnight in my wallet. 10) The clutter. And decluttering. And maintaining.

road trip...

It's time to pack a bag and head out for an adventure. I'm taking my niece with me. I can't decide if I want to go to the Coast or just shopping. I can't decide if it's going to be an overnight excursion or just a day trip. I can decide tomorrow, I suppose.

love...

fall meme

1. Fave fall Holiday: can I say my birthday?  
2. Best thing about fall walks: the crunching leaves  
3. Favorite fall chore: going through my sweaters  
4. Least favorite fall chore: putting my flip-flops away  
5. Best change in the home: needing to snuggle under a blanket  
6. Best tree in the fall: maple  
7. Fall ritual: going leaf peeping  
8. Most frustrating thing about fall: the sun sets too early  
9. Favorite fall decorations: pumpkins and candles  
10. Favorite clothing: cozy sweaters and scarves  
11. Traditional fall candy: Carmel apple lollipops  
12. Favorite sound: crunching leaves  
13. When does fall begin for you? pretty much around Labor Day  
14. What is your favorite aspect of fall? the foliage, except this year it's kind of dull  
15. What is your favorite fall memories? riding the ski lift up Mars Hill Mountain for a day of hiking  
16. What do you like to drink in the fall? apple cider from the School Farm  
17. What's your favorite fall food? Honeycrisp apples  
18. What color is fall? all shades of orange  
19. What does fall smell like? cinnamon  
20. Holiday shopping in fall: yes or no? yes  
21. If you could go anywhere in the fall, where would you go? just staying around here is nice, although I'm heading to Coastal Maine tomorrow  
22. What is your favorite fall sport? Football  
23. What is your least favorite thing about fall? winter is coming soon  
24. Which do you prefer, the Farm or the Fair? the farm, I especially enjoy the corn maze

just finished reading...

The war against He Who Must Not Be Named is not going well for the "Muggle" world or the wizarding world. This book begins a bit differently than the rest--although once again we find Harry at the Dursley's home during summer vacation; first there is a taste of the political upheaval that is the war with the Dark Lord.

Of all the books, this is the darkest: good does not always triumph over evil, the "bad guys" seem to be gaining power, a beloved character dies, and life at Hogwarts might come to an end.

Most of this story is spent at Hogwarts--with the relationships between Harry and Dumbledore strengthened by their working together to uncover the history of Voldemort, with Harry discovering feelings for Ginny, and Ron and Hermione bickering like an old married couple. I liked trying to figure out who the Half-Blood Prince was.

When I put this book down and wiped my tears (and yes, I did shed a few), I couldn't wait to pick up book 7 to see how it all ends.

sunday stealing

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Sunday Stealing: The Lucky 33 Meme

1. Can you cook? yes, I choose not to

2. What was your dream growing up? to be happy

3. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could fix my hair so it looks amazing every day

4. Favorite place? right here

5. Favorite vegetable the friendly potato

6. What was the last book you read. the last book I read was Cutting For Stone, I am on chapter 2

7. What zodiac sign are you? Scorpio

8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? two tattoos: left wrist and right ankle, four ear piercings: one left and three right

9. Worst Habit? inability to get out of my own way = self-sabotage

10. Do you personally know anybody on Blog? no

11. What is your favorite sport? to watch: ice hockey or football

12. Negative or Optimistic attitude? realistic, wherever that fits

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an lift with someone of the opposite sex? freak out

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? mum dying when I was six

15. Tell me one weird fact about you: I always put my pants on left foot first

16. Do you have any pets? dust bunnies

17. Do you know how to do the macarena? I can sing the whole song

18. Is the sun shining where you are now? no, it's a cold and dreary day

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? cute

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? I've always had a double chin, I would love to make it go away

21. Would you be my good angel or bad angel? neither

22. What color eyes do you have? dark green hazel

23. Ever been married? no

24. Bottle or Draft? depends on the brand

25. If you won £10,000 today, what would you do with it? what would that be in American money?

26. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew? I usually chew minty gum

27. What's your favorite bar to hang at? I don't have one

28. Do you believe in ghosts? no

29. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? this

30. Do you swear a lot? not so much

31. Biggest pet peeve? being annoyed

32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? content

33. In two words, how would you describe yourself? blunt and honest