May 01, 2007
Ten political figures & what you think of them
1. President Bush: I appreciate his sense of humor, commitment to family and his sense of morals but I think he's also horribly misguided, picks terrible advisors, and doesn't realize that sometimes you have to be flexible and change the direction you are going in!
2. Al Gore: I wish that he was a candidate for president because I like him best. I especially appreciate his dedication to saving the environment. He seems to be a good family man with a sense of morals too.
3. Barack Obama: He just seemed to come out of nowhere, didn't he? I read his first book and was impressed by his honesty about himself as he came to grips with who he is. If Al Gore doesn't run, he would be my choice for the next president.
4. Hillary Clinton: She would probably make the most successful president because she is tough as nails and knows how to get things done. Maybe she would be like Lyndon Johnson, knowing how to use the connections she has to get the bills passed. I just don't care for her personality. She seems very cold and calculating.
5. Rudy Guliani: I admire his behavior during 9/11. I didn't ever live in the city so I don't know how he was as an administrator but he displayed all the qualities I would look for in a leader to feel confident and reassured during such a horrible time--God forbid we should ever have anything like that again!
6. Edward Kennedy: Okay, it's time to retire!
7. Tony Blair: calm and steadfast in the face of an unpopular war his country's become embroiled in. However, he is much more flexible than our president!
8. Kim Jong Il: I think this guy's more dangerous than Saddam Hussein was, why aren't we worried about him?
9. Umar al-Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir : This is a dangerous man too! Yes, there are sanctions against The Republic of Sudan but this man is horrible, on the same level as Adolf Hitler as far as I'm concerned!
10. Mahatma Ghandi: Okay, I know he is no longer alive but he was truly a person to admire and emulate. Why aren't there more people like him in the world?
April 24, 2007
Ten on Tuesday
Top 10 Things You Like to Do Alone
1. Go to the bathroom. Does that seem strange? I know that some don't mind company in the bathroom be it a spouse in a house but not me! The door is closed and we can talk later. Same thing for the infamous ladies' room. I prefer to travel alone there and not in a gaggle because all I want to do is do my business and get out.
2. Read
3. Drive
4. Shop
5. Listen to music
6. Go sit on the beach and think
7. Go to a movie
8. Daydream
9. Pay bills
10. Eat
Bear in mind that I can do all of the above (except #1 for reasons previously stated 
) with other people--I just enjoy doing these things alone too!
April 18, 2007
Play
We're impatiently waiting for more spring like weather too! Our play has been indoors lately. This picture was taken at the Children's Museum.
April 17, 2007
Childhood Idols
10 Idols/Heroes When You Were a Kid
These would be from about 1960 to 1967, when I was about 6-13.
1. Roy Rogers
2. John Wayne
3. Vic Morrow (Sgt. Saunders from Combat)
4. Lorne Greene (Ben Cartwright from Bonanza)
5. Peter Breck (Nick Barkley from The Big Valley
6. Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins from Dark Shadows)
7. My grandmother! I was just thinking...gee all older men and no women so far, what's up with that? And then I remember my grandmother who really should be #1 on this list
8. My geography teacher, Mr. Serio, my male idol under the age of 35
9. William Shatner (Captain Kirk, Star Trek)
10. DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy, Star Trek)
Yes, crusty Dr. McCoy made it to my list and not one of the pop teen idols at the time. like Dack Rambo, Jay North, Sajid Khan or the Monkees. I liked all the teen idols but they were not idols or heroes to me, they were more like contemporaries. Looking at the list, it seems like I was looking for a strong father figure mostly.
April 11, 2007
Spring
This picture was taken last Easter Sunday, a day that was so lovely and mild TB and Kristin just had to start up the garden!
April 10, 2007
10 High School Memories
10 Highschool Memories
1. Our graduating class was so big we had to have our own building in our sophomore year, called the "Annex". It was in this old decrepit building in downtown Baltimore, several miles from the main high school which housed the juniors and seniors. We really developed an attachment to that old building, it was weird moving on to the main school.
2. I remember Mr. Hiller, our oddball guitar teacher. He sang off key but he knew his stuff about playing the guitar!
3. The Ethnomusicologial Society--Mr. Hiller said joining would look great on our resumes and he was right! And basically we were just a roving folk guitar group. We had so much fun with our before-school "coffee houses"
4. I will never forget December 13, 1972: that day, one of our custodians went berserk, stabbed two security guards with a machete, took a girl hostage and barricaded himself in the room next door to our psychology class. When the SWAT team arrived, we had to lie on the cold floor for hours. I could hear the hostage crying and pleading to God to help her and for the man to "get that knife away from her neck". The man sounded crazy and he kept yelling, "There's no God and I'm going to kill you!" He finally let the girl go and the SWAT team blew him away.
5. The seniors had a "lounge" in the cafeteria...made up of smaller cafeteria tables for 4 and only us 12th graders could use it. We felt so cool! It didn't matter that last year it belonged to the seniors and we were so jealous!
6. My psychology teacher would take some of the students to "The Pink Hippo" in downtown Baltimore. I never went but I sure was tempted!
7. When I would play hooky from school, my favorite place to go was the Enoch Pratt Free Library. What a nerd!
8. Our principal was having an affair with our drama teacher!
9. I had to have surgery toward the end of my senior year and missed out on a lot of fun stuff!
10. We wore white formal gowns to our graduation in June, 1973 and it was held at the Baltimore Civic Center.
April 07, 2007
Spring Reading Thing
I'm getting started on this a little late but as the saying goes: better late than never!
I am so glad that I found this site. I love to read and so this just fits in with one of my favorite activities.
Here are the rules:
Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this spring. Your list can be as long or as short as you'd like.Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky below.
Get reading! The challenge goes from today, March 21st, through June 21st.
Check out other participants' lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!
If you're so inclined, write reviews of the books you read along the way.
Write a post about your challenge experience in June, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how the Spring Reading Thing went for you.
I'm not as fast a reader as I used to be and so my list is going to be modest to start. I figure I can read a book in a week to 10 days.
My list:
Pervasive Developmental Disorder: A Different Perspective by Barbara Quinn & Anthony Malone
I am reading this one to get a better understanding of what is going on with Tomas.
Cell by Stephen King, my favorite horror author. This one is better than many of his books recently written!
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling--I figure I better get this one read before the last one comes out, eh?
Living Well With Depression & Bipolar Disorder: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need To Know by John McManamy
I'm reading this one because the females in this house have one thing or the other
On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I'm reading this one because my goal has been to read a classic for every 3 other books I read.
Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio because it's on Oprah's list and because it looked like a good read to me. I am drawn to hardship tales told by precious girl/orphan children.
Do you want to participate too? Go to Callapidder Days and sign up!
April 04, 2007
Happiness Is ...
...precious time spent with family and loved ones!
This picture was taken last July at the Cape May Lighthouse. We sure did enjoy our vacation with three of the grandchildren from Tennessee, Brandon, Ryan & Taylor. We miss them! And Billy, our son who has been away at college, will be home next month!
April 03, 2007
The Movie Meme
Here is something fun I picked up from Red Nose
Meme At The Movies
1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.
I would love to say Forrest Gump but it's not that. It might be Casablanca but more than likely it is The Great Escape or West Side Story which are 2 family favorites we saw over and over and over again during my childhood and then again when I married Rich and we had the kids.
2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.
As an adult, it was The Jazz Singer with Neil Diamond because I just absolutely love his music. When I was younger I had this inexplicable crush on Charlton Heston and saw Hijacked about 3 times in one day.
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.
Tom Hanks, he's versatile and can do anything! He is my favorite actor right now.
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.
Adam Sandler
5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.
Forrest Gump--life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get and stupid is as stupid does!
6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
West Side Story
7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.
Singin in the Rain
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.
Just one???? There are too many! Definitely Casablanca. Also: To Kill A Mockingbird
9. Name a movie that you own.
I think I've got over 100 DVDs. My most recent purchases: Blood Diamond, Shenendoah, and How the West Was Won
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.
Jamie Foxx--I think he did comedy? And he sings? He sure has impressed me with the movies he's made!
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?
Many times! I think the last movie I saw at the drive-in was E.T.
12. Ever made out in a movie?
Funny, I never went there on a date!
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.
Neverland and many others
14. Ever walked out of a movie?
Yes, I had to walk out before the end of Saving Private Ryan because I couldn't handle any more gore. Excellent movie...I just couldn't handle the grisly details.
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.
Several, including Terms of Endearment
16. Popcorn?
Yes, please, large and with extra butter!
17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
When Billy worked at the theater, we were going every week. But I have a feeling we haven't been in about a year. The last one we saw .... oops, just saw the next question!
18. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?
King Kong.
19. What's your favorite/preferred genre of movie?
Comedy or Action
20. What's the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
Snow White
21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?
Some stupid thing about garbagemen with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. Yeesh!
22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?
Rocky Horror Picture Show
23. What is the scariest movie you've seen?
The original Night of the Living Dead
24. What is the funniest movie you've seen?
It's hard to pick just one but I'll force myself and choose Harvey
This meme was a lot of fun! If you have a weblog or a place to post, please feel free to borrow this meme and pass it along!
Spring!
10 Things You Love About Springtime
1. The weather is milder
2. You can go to the beach on a beautiful day and not have to pay to park
3. Blossoming flowers, beginning with the daffodils
4. Robins come back
5. You can go for a walk in a park and not have to worry too much about ticks yet
6. The sun stays out longer
7. Hope comes with each spring as new life grows
8. Outdoor events begin thanks to the milder weather
9. I can go on nice long walks with Tomas before the school bus comes
10. Billy will be home for the summer in May
March 29, 2007
Ten On Tuesday
Ten Movie Characters You Love
It's going to be hard to pick just 10! These are the first 10 I could think of:
1. Forrest Gump, from Forrest Gump
2. Elwood P. Dowd, from Harvey
3. Rick Blaine, from Casablanca
4. Grandma from Parenthood
5. M'Lynn Eatenton from Steel Magnolias
6. Aurora Greenway from Terms of Endearment
7. Rooster Cogburn from True Grit
8. Garth from Second Hand Lions
9. Hub from Second Hand Lions
10. Cole from The Sixth Sense
March 20, 2007
Ten Things I Hate Doing
1. Getting my blood drawn (I'm due for that now)
2. Getting a mammogram (today)
3. Getting the annual pap (soon)
4. Sitting in a doctor's office
5. Driving over bridges
6. Driving on turnpikes, throughways, and other fast highways
7. Throwing up
8. Giving up on something because it hurts too much to do it (like bowling)
9. Organizing a big mess
10. Spilling food on myself
March 13, 2007
Ten on Tuesday
10 Favorite Albums
Gosh, only 10! In no particular order:
1. The Joshua Tree by U-2
2. Storytellers by Meatloaf
3. The Rising by Bruce Springsteen
4. An Innocent Man by Billy Joel
5. Graceland by Paul Simon
6. The Stranger by Billy Joel
7. Ray Sings/Basie Swings by Ray Charles & the Count Basie Orchestra
8. Story of a Life by Harry Chapin
9. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
10. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles
March 06, 2007
Ten on Tuesday
10 Things You'd Like to Learn How to Do
1. Say NO and stick to it!
2. Knit or crochet, seems very relaxing
3. portrait photography
4. finish my stories, heh heh
5. write compelling letters of interest to publishers and agents
6. earn a living online
7. organizational skills
8. observation skills
9. html & css
10. how to fix computers when they go snap crackle pop
February 28, 2007
Forever Odd & Wednesday Mind Hump
What a nice coincidence that I finish reading a book and one of my favorite memes is about that very topic.
I know that a lot of people loved reading Forever Odd by Dean Koontz. This book is the second in a series about a strange loveable young man named Odd Thomas. Odd is cursed or blessed with the ability to see dead people but, unfortunately, they don't talk. Usually he can figure out what it is that they want. Most are victims of crimes and so Odd helps the local police catch the bad guy and the traumatized spirit move on. Odd himself was traumatized in the first book in a real twist of an ending. I guess I was expecting more from this book because unlike everyone else, I was pretty disappointed.
There's lots of fast paced action and there are twists. What I missed are characters I care about. There's Odd, of course, and maybe it should have been enough that he was the star of the book. I found myself missing his friends, though, the ones who helped him through his emotional crisis: the sheriff, sheriff's wife, the fat writer, and the kind hearted boss lady. I was introduced to a new friend, one who suffers from brittle bones (Osteogenesis imperfecta). Koontz goes into great detail about the disease and Odd talks about how much his friend Danny has suffered...and I just didn't care. It didn't hook me.
Danny's been kidnapped by 3 psychos led by a particularly sick and twisted sister named Datura. I totally detested her and her two goons. There was absolutely nothing redeemable about them and so I was totally turned off by some of the banter between Odd and Datura. Ugh. I cheered at Datura's bloody end but the end of the book didn't come soon enough for me. There was an iterminable and mind boggling chase before the end of the story finally came. I kept wondering, why doesn't this bad guy just give up? What's the point? Is he driven by some kind of implied voodooism? I don't know.
It was an okay book. Maybe it's just me. I hope I enjoy the next one more. Personally, I give this one a 5.
What is the last book you read? Wow, see above!
Who is your favorite character in the book? Odd Thomas
Did you enjoy the book? To be honest, not that much
Would you recommend the book to others? No
February 27, 2007
Tuesday Memes
10 Things You Would Do if You Were Younger
1. Learn how to parasail
2. Wind surf
3. Go scuba diving
4. Try out for Survivor
5. Try out for The Amazing Race
6. Finish my degree and get a master's
7. buy a cool looking car
8. sail around the world
9. learn to appreciate what I have at a younger age
10. get in touch with/stay in touch with old friends from high school
Do you wish you would…spend less or more time:
Watching TV and why? A little less, I guess...I have more important things to do
On your computer and why? Ah, well, to b more specific: less time on the Internet because it takes away from my writing time
With your family and why? More...hey no one ever died wishing they'd spent less time with their family!
Dedicated to your career and why? Less...perhaps I wouldn't have such debilitating injuries in my hands to deal with
Concentrating on yourself and why? More ... I put myself last even when I shouldn't
February 25, 2007
a How Rare Is Your Personality & Other Sunday Memes
| Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP) |
Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm.
Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving. How Rare Is Your Personality? |
| You Will Be a Cool Parent |
 You can tell when it's time to let kids off the hook, and when it's time to lay down the law. While your parenting is modern and hip, it's not over the top. You know that there's nothing cool about a parent who acts like a teenager... or a drill sergeant! |
Name your seven favorite pieces of American architecture.
1. The White House
2. The Washington Memorial
3. The Lincoln Memorial
4. The Wall (Vietnam War Memorial)
5. The Jefferson Memorial
6. The Smithsonian -- the original, the castle
7. The Empire State Building
- Soldier :: hero
- Lipton :: tea
- Reason:: purpose
- Terms :: of engagement
- Positive :: negative
- Example :: for instance
- Legacy :: remembrance
- Solo :: alone
- Instrument :: guitar
- Later :: not now
February 24, 2007
Saturday Memes
Yeah, four posts today, I'm amazed too!
The Saturday Special Meme
Book Value
1. Favorite Book You've Read?: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
2. Favorite Book Character?: Claire Fraser from the above titled book
3. Favorite Book Genre?: It's hard to pick just one
4. Hardcover or Paper Back?: Paperback because it's getting too hard to hold a hard back in my hands anymore
Saturday Six
1. Rating them on a scale of one to ten, which of the following aspects of your life would you think rates the highest: mind, body or spirit? Spirit
2. Rating them on a scale of one to ten, which of the following aspects of your life would you think rates the lowest: friends/family, love or finance? Finance
3. Considering all six categories, which do you think would rank closest to the middle, a "5"? Mind
4. Take the quiz: How does your life rate?
| This Is My Life, Rated | |
| Life: |  6.3 |
| Mind: | 5.6 |
| Body: |  3.3 |
| Spirit: |  8 |
| Friends/Family: |  6.6 |
| Love: | 7.3 |
| Finance: | 6.6 |
| Take the Rate My Life Quiz | |
5. Of the first three questions, how many of your responses match the responses of the quiz?
I matched exactly with the first question and just about matched on the third one. I kind of matched with the second.
6. Which of the test's responses do you disagree the most with and why? Here is what the analysis said:
Your Life Analysis:Life: Your life rating is a score of the sum total of your life, and accounts for how satisfied, successful, balanced, capable, valuable, and happy you are. The quiz attempts to put a number on the summation of all of these things, based on your answers. Your life score leaves room for improvement. You can make changes to improve your trouble areas, and this will bring you greater satisfaction. Focus on your weakest points and set about to change them. Do not delay your happiness and success.
Mind: Your mind rating is a score of your mind's clarity, ability, and health. Higher scores indicate an advancement in knowledge, clear and capable thinking, high mental health, and pure thought free of interference. Your mind score is not bad, but could be improved upon. Your mental health is not weak, but you are not achieving full mental clarity and function. Learn how to unclutter your mind. Keep learning, keep improving, continue moving forward.
Body: Your body rating measures your body's health, fitness, and general wellness. A healthy body contributes to a happy life, however many of us are lacking in this area. You have a rather low body score, which means that your physical health is not in a good condition. You must put a higher priority on your body, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction. Proper focus will lead to great improvement, leaving you feeling energetic and happy.
Spirit: Your spirit rating seeks to capture in a number that elusive quality which is found in your faith, your attitude, and your philosophy on life. A higher score indicates a greater sense of inner peace and balance. Your spirit score is relatively high, which means you are rewarded by your beliefs. Spirituality is clearly important to do. Never let it slip, and continue to learn and grow.
Friends/Family: Your friends and family rating measures your relationships with those around you, and is based on how large, healthy, and dependable your social network is. Your friends and family score is not bad but can be improved. Maintain your current social net, while you try to expand it. Try new things and form new friendships. You will be rewarded greatly.
Love: Your love rating is a measure of your current romantic situation. Sharing your heart with another person is one of life's most glorious, terrifying, rewarding experiences. Your love score is in good shape, meaning that things are going well. Do all you can to maintain it, and continue to grow and move ahead.
Finance: Your finance rating is a score that rates your current financial health and stability. Your finances are somewhat in the middle, neither bad or exceptional. Keep doing what works for you, and improve what doesn't. Focus on long-term financial stability as your goal.
Well, I don't see much to disagree with -- this quiz was pretty right-on!
February 21, 2007
Catch Up & Wednesday Mind Hump
Finally I am starting to feel better and finally my sugar is coming down.
What else?
Linda got fired -- took too many days off, they say. She's already got some interviews lined up.
Billy got an infection in his toe from a blister that went bad. He went to the doctor right away, thank goodness, got an antibiotic and his toe is much better already. He seems to be having a good semester this time around, no engineering classes to fight with. He is going to major in physics which is about as indecipherable to me as engineering but more power to him!
Heidi hasn't gotten to practice drive too much the last week because I've been so sick but she's doing well behind the wheel and enjoys it. Yay!
And Kristin's having some trouble with her jaw still...I'm hoping that she won't have to have surgery to correct it but I guess we'll see what the doctor has to say.
Catch-up pictures on the way...
1. What is your favorite place for delivered pizza?
Soprano's ... yes, it's in New Jersey and that's really the name
2. How often do you have pizza delivered at your house?
More than once a week, there's usually someone in the house ordering pizza
3. What toppings do you want on that pizza?
Extra cheese, maybe sausage or meatballs
4. Thick crust or thin?
Thick!
February 20, 2007
Ten on Tuesday
10 Foods You Hate
1. Liver
2. Shark
3. Swordfish
4. any other fish except salmon...this is psychological because when I was really little I saw my mom choking on a fish bone and it took so long to dislodge it. Now anytime I try to eat most fish (except salmon) I'm fighting a gag reflex
5. Brussels sprouts
6. Buttermilk straight from the carton
7. Sushi--can't get my mind around eating squid, octopus ... etc.
8. Seaweed
9. Sharkfin soup
10. raw clams or oysters
February 13, 2007
Ten on Tuesday
10 Things You Worry About
1. My health: weight, diabetes, blood pressure
2. My kids & grandkids
3. money
4. President Bush getting us blown up
5. Why is the school bus late? (i.e. lock down? accident? etc etc)
6. Icy roads
7. gang activity increasing around here
8. the vet is going to yell because my cats have all gained weight
9. my husband climbing around in dangerous places tryng to measure stuff
10. my body betraying me at the worst times -- like when I was trying to help buckle Tomas into the car seat my thumbs went all spazzy on me from the arthritis
February 10, 2007
Saturday Memes
1. A friend arrives from out of town and wants to go to dinner at a nice locally-owned restaurant: where would you take her?
Anapa's on Rt. 38 in Browns Mills
2. Your friend then says he wants to learn something about the history of your city: where would you take him first?
Hmmm...well, I guess to the Browns Mills Railroad Station. There's a museum there now.
3. Does your current hometown have any specific kind of weather threats (i.e., tornado alley, etc.) or natural disaster threats (i.e., earthquake faults, volcanic activity) that concerns you?
There's a near-terminal lack of things to do which concerns me
4. Take the quiz: What city shares your personality?
 | You scored as Killarney. You are Killarney, Ireland! You are probably somewhat quiet and thoughtful. You don't mind frequenting the city pubs with your friends, but you also enjoy peaceful time alone.
Which city shares your personality? created with QuizFarm.com |
Cool!!!!
5. Have you ever visited this city or lived there before?
No but I want to visit. I have Irish relatives in County Sligo.
6. Based on what you know about that city, either firsthand or from others, do you think it would be a good fit for you? Do you think it would be a better fit than the city in which you now live?
Yes and yes
a weighty sat-8.
1. are you over- or under-weight, or "just right"?
Way over
2. what do you consider a "healthy weight" for yourself?
A hundred pounds lighter than I am
3. in your past, have you struggled with weight issues?
Oh yes, even when I was at a healthy weight it was still a struggle to keep the pounds off
4. give us an example of a comfort food for you.
crunchy cheese doodles!
5. aside from eating when hungry, are you a 'snacker' when you are bored, stressed, or emotionally upset?
Not any more.
6. on nightline last night, the host was talking about models at fashion week being on "the nicotine diet." i've seen people GAIN weight from stopping smoking, but not smoking to lose. have you every smoked to keep thin, or known anyone who has?
Not per se but I have known people who wouldn't quit because they'd gain weight. For a long time, that was my reasoning, too.
7. i've never been a dessert person, and rarely eat desserts; all of my girlfriends are the same way. do you regularly eat dessert when you go out to a restaurant or eat at home?
Used to have dessert regularly, now only if I'm hungry
8. if someone close to you asked your advice on the best way to lose weight, what would you tell them?
Stay away from fad diets, they don't work. Make small permanent changes you can live with and exercise!
January 31, 2007
A Month of Ten on Tuesdays
Yes, I know it's Wednesday ... but this is my favorite meme and better late than never!
January 2, 2007
10 Resolutions for the Next Year
1. Check my blood sugar at least once a day (already backslid on that one!) 
2. Go swimming at least 3 times a week once Tomas starts school
3. Write for an hour every day once Tomas starts school
4. Learn how to use my new camera
5. Learn how to upload pictures to my computer
6. Read more often
7. Catch up on my email
8. Learn/read more about pervasive developmental disorder
9. Read more books than I buy!
10. Save money every week
January 9, 2007
Ten TV Guilty Pleasures
1. Lost
2. Survivor
3. The Amazing Race
4. The Wonder Pets (ACK! This is "sewwious!" 
)
5. Dr. Phil
6. Oobi
7. Animal Cops
8. Notorious
9. Biography
10. Sponge Bob Squarepants 
January 15, 2007
10 Things You Do Well
1. sign language
2. playing with grandkids
3. write
4. play Tumblebugs
5. listen
6. collect books
7. sit in the passenger seat with an inexperienced driver
8. play Trivial Pursuit
9. cook
10. shop for gifts
January 23, 2007
10 Things You Have a Weakness For
1. the grandkids
2. my kids
3. chocolate
4. buying kid clothes
5. buying toys
6. buying books
7. buying more books
8. buying still more books
9. The Sims
10. TB's lame jokes even though I don't laugh at them
January 30, 2007
10 Things You'd Like To Change About Your Country
1. OMG, we need a new president NOW!
2. decent health insurance for everyone
3. decent housing for everyone
4. no one goes hungry
5. make polluters clean up the environment
6. get rid of "No Child Left Behind" and all those stupid tests kids have to take that teachers are forced to teach to
7. Better mass transportation in suburban and rural areas
8. Stop over developing the land!
9. Stop dependence on oil
10. Increase wages for child and elder care workers so that there's not such a high turnover and so much abuse and neglect
January 08, 2007
January 07, 2007
It's Still Spring in NJ...
...and 8 more people were rescued from that landslide in Colorado. Plutoed is our new word of the year.. Speaking of words:
I say...and you think...
- Incomplete :: unfinished
- Bobby :: Kennedy
- Chopstick :: House
- Trauma :: severe injury
- Hesitate :: pause
- Leap :: jump
- Magnify :: Enlarge
- Yards :: football
- Alexander ::the Great
- Fracture :: break
December 30, 2006
Saturday 8
Whew, taking some time out from a busy day of cleaning to do a fun meme! We are having a large Christmas/New Year family party tomorrow here at the house and we wanted it in tip-top shape for the revelers. TB tacked some white plastic to cover that ugly hole in our ceiling. Roofer Giordano came and totally fixed the outside; now we just have to do the inside...when we have money. It's all gone, mostly drained away for various reasons and never to be seen again. Let's not get into all that, eh? Anyway, almost everyone in TB's family is coming except for his brother Jon & family (in Florida), our daughter Michele & family (in TN) and nephew Tim Jr. and his new wife (prior commitment as a youth pastor to an event at their church). We're not sure about Linda, she's on some weekend date or something, haven't seen her since late yesterday.
1. new year's plans?
Just this family party
2. i don't do new year's resolutions, but i think that we all look forward to doing something differently in the new year. what will you do in 2007 that you didn't do in 2006?
Check my blood sugars every day at least once.
3. in the past 24 hours, i have reconnected with 3 old friends that i've not spoken to in years. if you could reconnect with someone from your past who would it be, and why?
Daina, my friend in junior high and high school. I really enjoyed her friendship a lot and am sorry we lost touch with each other. I think that happened after I moved from the Baltimore area.
4. i live my life not regretting anything ... or at least try not to regret anything that i've done, and look at life as a learning experience. do you have anything that you would have not done/done differently in 2006 as you look back?
Well, things can't be undone so I'd rather just see everything as a learning experience too.
5. going back to my ex-friends that i reconnected with, one of them REALLY let me down as she chose a guy over our friendship. she wrote to me that she would think back over these past 14 years and kick herself, and wonder what had happened to me? do you have someone that you wronged/wronged you and wonder where they are? what happened to that friendship?
Yes, there was someone who started out as a good friend. Then I fell in love or in a crush or whatever with him but he didn't reciprocate and I was pretty bitter about it. So yes, I've wondered once in a while whatever happened to him.
6. one of the other ex-friends is an ex-boyfriend that i had when i was 16. he cheated on me when i was 17, and then i 'got over it' and we had a cordial non-friendship. i'm married and he's married, so i don't have any problem talking with him as there is NO chance at stirring up any old flames. if you had a chance to reconnect with an ex, who would it be, and why? or would you let sleeping "dogs" lie?
Let them lie.
7. i'm eating to join a weight-loss study. that's right ... i'm about 10 lbs. shy of the weight goal and am actually porking out this coming week as i get free vitamins/supplements, a free registered dietician for two years, and i also get $600/mo. to participate for two years. i'm VERY tall (over 5'9"), so this is going to be difficult! i'm gaining 10 lbs. to lose my original goal of 20 lbs., which will now be 30 lbs. (hey, i want to get back into a size 6 after being a size 10 for a few years!). to gain those 10 lbs., what do you suggest that i eat? any "fun" fattening foods that i should try?
Definitely have at least one Jim Dandy from Friendly's
8. i'm heading to disney today with the family and friends. what is your favourite theme park, and why?
It's hard to choose between them but I'd go with Sea World in a pinch. I love sea creatures, think they are totally fascinating and water has always been soothing to me.
December 28, 2006
Thursday Memes
This one is totally appropriate, considering my last entry!
Any New Year's Reading Resolutions? A certain number of books you want to read in 2007? Certain genres? Something from your TBR pile? Classics to read? Authors to try? Anything at all??
I try very hard not to make New Year's resolutions because they are so easily broken...especially if I resolved not to buy any more books until I read the ones I have first. Ha ha. Still, I do resolve to set aside more reading time so that I can make some kind of dent in the roomful of unread books. I also resolve to circulate the books once I've read them, either through Book Crossing or Paper Back Swap. I have several classics so I plan to read one for every three regular books I read. So let's see how I do with those resolutions!
Right now I am reading Every Man by Philip Roth. After that I'm tentatively planning to read Forever Odd by Dean Koontz and then Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy.
::Happy New Year!::
Onesome: Happy--New Year to you and yours! ...any plans for this weekend? Dick Clark? Guy Lombardo? Early to bed?
I'm not sure how this happened but we're hosting a great big family holiday party on New Year's Eve afternoon. After that, I'll probably collapse! 
Twosome: New--year, old year. Is this the year you take up skiing? ...or knitting? ...or vacuuming every other day
Well, I don't know yet...let's see what happens!
Threesome: Year--end chores? Do the lights and decorations come down this weekend? ...or are you already "done with Christmas"?
No, the lights and decorations don't come down this weekend, maybe next! I'm never "done with Christmas" although now that it's over, I'm fed up with winter. Not that we've had winter...
November 14, 2006
Ten on Tuesday
My health
TB
My kids
My extended family
My friends
My kitty-cats
Books
The time to journal/blog
Lost
last, but not least, the almost 18 years I had Rich in my life
Life journal
November 07, 2006
Ten on Tuesday
10 Things You Have On Your "To-Do" List
1. Finish reading my book!
2. Catch up on my email
3. Answer friends' posts
4. Clean the bedroom (yeah right)
5. Caption the pix in our photo gallery
6. Grocery shopping 
7. Update our recipe blog
8. Watch season 1 & 2 of Lost
9. Watch all the other DVDs I bought that have been sitting there collecting dust
10. Get back into checking my sugar regularly!
October 31, 2006
Happy Halloween!
This is a lot late but it's been a busy day! I took pictures of Linda, Heidi & Kristin in their costumes but haven't had a chance to upload them yet...soon! Tomas wanted no part of dressing up although he might want to next year after watching a parade of toddling characters collect bags of goodies from us!
10 Great Movies for Halloween
1. Night of the Living Dead
2. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
3. Psycho
4. Poltergeist
5. Shaun of the Living Dead
6. The Exorcist
7. The Bad Seed
8. The Shining
9. House on Haunted Hill
10. Audrey Rose
1. Do you celebrate Halloween? Explain:
Not really--except for handing out candy. I don't get dressed up any more or decorate the house...I sort of lost interest as the kids got too old for mommy to go trick-or-treating with them. I might become interested in it again when T is old enough to enjoy it.
2. Do you hand out candy and/or go door-to-door trick-or-treating?
I buy it. Then I get someone else to hand it out while I answer memes and surf the web.
3. What was the scariest Halloween costume you had and why did you pick out that costume?
I dressed up as a vampire one year when my cousin and I shared an apt in New York. Why that one? I don't remember...
4. Do you prefer a “trick” or “treat”? Explain:
A treat! How can I resist a piece of chocolate?
5. Do you think Halloween is scarier now than it was when you were younger? Explain:
Well...that's hard to say. When I was a kid (mid 60s) we used to have razors-in-apple and poisoned candy scares too. I worry about my kids while they are out but I suppose it's not any scarier than it was when I was a kid.
October 30, 2006
Today In History
I always found this to be fascinating...
WELLES SCARES NATION: October 30, 1938Orson Welles causes a nationwide panic with his broadcast of "War of the
Worlds"--a realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth.Orson
Welles was only 23 years old when his Mercury Theater company decided to update
H.G. Wells' 19th-century science fiction novel War of the Worlds for national
radio. Despite his age, Welles had been in radio for several years, most notably
as the voice of "The Shadow" in the hit mystery program of the same name. "War
of the Worlds" was not planned as a radio hoax, and Welles had little idea of
the havoc it would cause.The show began on Sunday, October 30, at 8 p.m. A voice
announced: "The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations present
Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater on the air in 'War of the Worlds' by H.G.
Wells."Sunday evening in 1938 was prime-time in the golden age of radio, and
millions of Americans had their radios turned on. But most of these Americans
were listening to ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy "Charlie McCarthy" on
NBC and only turned to CBS at 8:12 p.m. after the comedy sketch ended and a
little-known singer went on. By then, the story of the Martian invasion was well
underway.Welles introduced his radio play with a spoken introduction, followed
by an announcer reading a weather report. Then, seemingly abandoning the
storyline, the announcer took listeners to "the Meridian Room in the Hotel Park
Plaza in downtown New York, where you will be entertained by the music of Ramon
Raquello and his orchestra." Putrid dance music played for some time, and then
the scare began.
I saw a movie made about what happened and it seems that people who hadn't been listening right from the beginning really fell for this.
An announcer broke in to report that "Professor Farrell of the Mount Jenning Observatory" had detected explosions on the planet Mars. Then the dance music came back on, followed by another interruption in which listeners were informed that a large meteor had crashed into a farmer's field in Grovers Mills, New Jersey.Soon, an announcer was at the crash site describing a Martian emerging from a large metallic cylinder. "Good heavens," he declared, "something's wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now here's another and another one and another one. They look like tentacles to me ... I can see the thing's body now. It's large, large as a bear. It glistens like wet leather. But that face, it ...it ... ladies and gentlemen, it's indescribable. I can hardly force myself to keep looking at it, it's so awful. The eyes are black and gleam like a serpent. The mouth is kind of V-shaped with saliva dripping from its rimless lips that seem to quiver and pulsate."The Martians mounted walking war machines and fired "heat-ray" weapons at the puny humans gathered around the crash site. They annihilated a force of 7,000 National Guardsman, and after being attacked by artillery and bombers the Martians released a poisonous gas into the air. Soon "Martian cylinders" landed in Chicago and St. Louis. The radio play was extremely realistic, with Welles employing sophisticated sound effects and his actors doing an excellent job portraying terrified announcers and other characters. An announcer reported that widespread panic had broken out in the vicinity of the landing sites, with thousands desperately trying to flee. In fact, that was not far from the truth.Perhaps as many as a million radio listeners believed that a real Martian invasion was underway. Panic broke out across the country. In New Jersey, terrified civilians jammed highways seeking to escape the alien marauders. People begged police for gas masks to save them from the toxic gas and asked electric companies to turn off the power so that the Martians wouldn't see their lights. One woman ran into an Indianapolis church where evening services were being held and yelled, "New York has been destroyed! It's the end of the world! Go home and prepare to die!"When news of the real-life panic leaked into the CBS studio, Welles went on the air as himself to remind listeners that it was just fiction. There were rumors that the show caused suicides, but none were ever confirmed.The Federal Communications Commission investigated the program but found no law was broken. Networks did agree to be more cautious in their programming in the future. Orson Welles feared that the controversy generated by "War of the Worlds" would ruin his career. In fact, the publicity helped land him a contract with a Hollywood studio, and in 1941 he directed, wrote, produced, and starred in Citizen Kane--a movie that many have called the greatest American film ever made.
Now that was a fascinating study into what happens during a mass panic!
Fright Night
1.Where does Halloween fall on your "holiday excitement scale" (ie. Does it top Christmas, New Year's, your birthday, the whole shebang? Or is it just another day?)
It's not just another day but has nowhere near the excitement level of Christmas or my birthday. It's more like New Year's ... something I enjoyed a lot once when I was younger and now it's no big deal.
2.At what age do you consider someone to be too old for trick or treating?
When the adults handing out candy tell you or they sort of draw back in fear because they're afraid if they say something you'll destroy the house. Probably 15.
3. What was your lamest Halloween costume?
Lame? I had no lame costumes!
4.Is handing out candy fun for you, or more of a nightmare?
It's a big pain in the hiney. Up down up down up down...
5.Do you see Halloween as an excuse to show some skin and get away with it? If not, what do you think of people who dress this way?
Ah, no. And for those who dress that way, doesn't bother me unless it's my own kid...and thank God it hasn't been.
September 26, 2006
Another Kitty?
When we adopted Kosmo a couple of weeks ago, there were other kitties looking for homes. In particular there was a sad Russian Blue named "Mikey" who'd been given up (in the words of the pet sanctuary) "for no good reason". Kristin and Heidi favored adopting Mikey but TB had fallen in love with Kosmo. We all felt bad about leaving all the other kitties behind. Today someone called from the sanctuary to see how Kos is doing and TB happened to ask about Mikey. The lady told him that poor Mikey is in the hospital because he's stopped eating or drinking anything! She thinks it's depression and that a good foster home would help. Well, of course we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to the poor thing and so we want to take him in--if the hospital says he can come. So we may have a *fourth* kitty. We'll see.
10 Favorite Articles of Clothing
1. Purple dolphin T-shirt the girls gave me
2. Tie dye T-shirt a friend made for me
3. striped duster/robe
4. Made in Ireland T-shirt
5. Pink kitty socks
6. Kitty Christmas sweatshirt
7. Red sweater
8. Jeans (all of them)
9. Souvenier baseball caps (i.e. from Adventure Aquarium)
10. Cartman heavy jacket
September 24, 2006
Handyman in the House
Some guys who are handy around the house start a project but don't finish. Thank heavens TB likes to finish everything he starts although sometimes he really pushes himself hard. Anyway, his latest project is our new pantry! We love our kitchen but it really didn't have a lot of storage space and we were pretty cramped in there. We decided to order a kit from JC Penney and TB put it together a couple of days ago.
What a lot of stuff, eh? Check out the wine, er, soda, rack! Cool! TB wanted a neater look and decided to add on doors, sides and a top.
Now you see everything...
Now you don't! It's not quite finished but TB is finally taking a break! The pantry just needs door handles and to be stained.
randomness...feed your mind and your blog
week of Sept24: pet peeves
what's your pet peeve?
what really annoys you,
makes you wanna rip your hair out and scream?!
till next time...
At the moment, people who don't take responsibility for themselves, their actions, or their precious possessions! I have a couple of people in mind as I write this but can't be any more specific except to say we still don't have a very much needed medical card!!!!
- Bell :: ring
- Abuse ::injure
- Relief ::get a break
- List :: groceries
- Concern :: worry
- Absolute :: without doubt
- Cling :: hang on to
- Dump ::throw away
- Terminate :: end
- Wine :: cooking
September 22, 2006
Feline Friday: *My* Perch!
Mouse says: Don't even think about it, Kosmo!
At what time of day are you most capable of producing your best work?
In the morning, up to around lunch time
When you have lots of things to get done, are you more likely to get all of one thing done before moving on, or to do a little of one thing, a little of another, and a little of still another?
I do a little bit of everything and get nothing done!
Do television and music help you or hinder you when you’ve got work to do?
Music helps, TV hinders
When you realize you’re working inefficiently, are you more likely to grit your teeth and power through it anyway, or to put it all down and come back to it when the vibe is better?
I tend to get real frustrated and put it all down until next time when usually the same thing happens again!
What are your ideal working conditions?
I'm alone in the house, got a cup of coffee and music going in the background
More Cat Friday stuff? Check out the "http://carnival.isfullofcrap.com/">Carnival of the Cats
September 19, 2006
Ten On Tuesday
10 Things You'd Do If You Had More Time
1. Write
2. Read
3. Walk
4. Spend more time with family
5. Spend more time with the kitties
6. Go to the beach (an hour's drive away) and just relax
7. Keep in better touch with friends
8. Call my parents/aunt
9. Volunteer
10. Write some more
September 18, 2006
Aches & Pains
Linda just went to the emergency room. She's had a bad tooth for quite a while now and it's been giving her so much pain she tried taking 8 ibuprofens at once--and they didn't help. She's feeling sick from all the pain medication and so the last resort is the ER. Why not the dentist? She doesn't have insurance yet! Her new coverage doesn't start until November 1.
It didn't occur to me until just now but I thought she should have been covered under her old insurance for at least a year under the COBRA plan. I also know that companies pay by the quarter or the half-year and so she might have been covered but didn't realize it. If she hadn't left already I would have told her about it and said for her to try to use the old insurance.
This is one of the biggest gripes I have about the underinsured and uninsured. When they need medical treatment, they can't afford it and so they put off going to the doctor until it becomes really serious. For instance, if Linda has an infection, it can easily spread to her heart valves. If that happens, the complications can be deadly! That happens to so many people in this country it's pitiful.
Tomas and I seem to have a stomach virus now. He's been a healthy little guy up to now but was off his feed today, very grumpy and kind of lethargic. I started having cramps and other viral symptoms just a couple of hours ago and he seems to have the same ones. :P On top of that there's more than the usual fibromyalgic and arthritic pains lately. Guess the weather's going to change soon.
1. How do you eat an oreo cookie? (from tricia)I dip them a half at a time into milk just long enough to become really soft and then I pop 'em in my mouth before they fall into the glass!
2. How long does it take you to eat lunch?20 minutes average
3. Caffeine or decaf?Got to be high test
4. Chicken or beef?Buck-awk
5. Pen or pencil?Pen
6. Autumn or spring?Autumn--love the fall colors!
7. Baseball or basketball?Basketball
8. 'Survivor' or 'The Amazing Race?'Hard choice! Eeny meey...Survivor
9. Come up with one question I can ask our Monday Madness participants in the weeks to come.dramas or comedies?
September 10, 2006
A New Addition
We have a new member of the family!
Here Mouse meets his new older brother, Kosmo. Mouse isn't quite sure what to make of all this--aren't siblings supposed to be younger?
Amber made it clear she doesn't appreciate having another brother. But...maybe Mouse will stop picking on her!
TB wrote more about Kosmo and how we got him in his entry My Conversion Is Complete. TB is no longer a dog person!
It's been a long time since I had a chance to do a meme and Unconscious Mutterings is one of my favorites!
- True love :: enduring
- Age :: mature
- Stern :: strict
- Elastic :: rubbery
- Rustic :: old
- Enhance :: increase
- Jackson :: Browne
- Inherit :: the Wind
- Devious ::scheming
- Scapegoat :: victim
April 18, 2006
Busy Day/Tuesday 10
I am so glad we are getting to enjoy a real spring this year! I was on the run most of the day: we went shopping for a nice outfit for Heidi to wear to her portfolio presentation at U-Arts and had her trying on clothes for almost 2 hours! We went to a couple of other stores and grabbed lunch out, a girls' day together for us! I had a PT appointment and then dropped Heidi off at work.
10 Favorite Singers/Bands
In no particular order:
Billy Joel
Elton John
The Eagles
Neil Diamond
U-2
Phil Collins
Peter Gabriel
Genesis
The Rolling Stones
The Moody Blues
April 04, 2006
Ten on Tuesday
10 Things That People Do That Annoy You
1. Drop in unannounced and stay and stay and stay--even after I say I'm busy
2. Talk on cell phones while driving
3. Talk on cell phones loudly at a restaurant or movie
4. Talk constantly during a movie
5. Leave stuff lying around the room--it looks cluttered
6. Interrupt when I'm talking
7. Complain all the time
8. Come over and start talking to me when I'm trying to read or relax -- I mean strangers, people I don't know
9. Ask "how are you doing" and then proceed to convince you how much worse/better off they are than you
10. Play obnoxious music rrrrrealllly loud
March 23, 2006
Student Debt Forever
I just finished up editing my kids' FAFSAs. I don't really know what the EFC means exactly -- is it the amount of money we're expected to contribute to each kid? The number is 13000 something and I know we just don't have that kind of money lying around, particularly now that TB's been laid off. My next mission is to write a letter to the financial aid department at Billy's school and then one to Heidi's to get them a little more aid. I'm fairly confident that Heidi will be okay because it doesn't cost terribly much to go to community college.
Billy, on the other hand, will have to take out more loans--like a lot of other young people who are not rich. I sort of think that unless a poor kid got a fully paid scholarship it would be very difficult to go to a school like Billy's. I remember when we were struggling years ago. Even going full time to a community college would have been expensive for us.
College loans follow you to the grave ... I know. I am paying one off for the years I went in the evening. I didn't finish my degree but that doesn't matter. I have to pay it back and so does any kid who takes out a loan. I saw this article online:
The Nation) This column was written by Nicholas von Hoffman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Democratic Party did not find her. The Hollywood liberals did not find her. The reactionaries are not looking for her. But the Chicago Tribune did find Margo Albert and did understand how significant her plight is.The paper wrote, "Margo Alpert is on the 30-year plan. Every month between $500 and $600 is automatically deducted from her salary to pay off college loans. By the time the 29-year-old Chicago public-interest lawyer is in her mid-50s and thinking seriously about retirement, she will finally be free of college debt."
The newspaper also found Carrie Gevirtz, a 28-year-old social worker with a degree from the University of Chicago, a $55,000 school debt and an annu