Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The "what would YOU do?" meme.....
I thought it might be fun to post some prompt to make people think. If you want to join in COOL, if not that's COOL too.
Copy my answers and paste them in your own note replacing my answers with yours.
PROMPT: Imagine you are in a room with 50 random strangers. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
On a scale of 1 to 10 how uncomfortable would this make you?
With 1 being completely comfortable and 10 being panic attack, I'd probably be at a 3. I used to have jobs where I had to interact with strangers.
Would you be the first to speak to someone you didn't know?
Probably not unless someone gave me some sort of acknowledgment like a smile or nod. I'm not uncomfortable conversing, but I don't want to pester someone who might not feel like talking.
How would you feel if the other 49 were of the opposite sex?
Totally fine. I get along with men better than women.
How would you feel if the other 49 were of the same sex?
Uncertain. Women are much more unpredictable and can be more easily offended. Some are shallow, or vain, or overly needy, or even all three (not to say that men can't be, but they are usually easier for me to deal with). But then in a group that large, odds are I'd find someone cool or at least tolerable to chat with.
How long would it take you to find a way out of the room?
If I didn't have to stand the whole time, and if I had food, drink and use of a restroom, I could probably hang around for a couple of hours.
What would be your biggest concern?
Having enough energy to socialize.
What would you think if you were told that you were expected to speak to this group on something you are an expert?
Before I got sick 12 years ago, I would be happy to do it. But now that my vocabulary and memory are unreliable, impromptu speaking is tricky for me. I might still give it a try as long as the group was willing to cut me some slack.
What would you think if you were told that you were expected to speak to this group on something random?
Same answer as above.
Copy my answers and paste them in your own note replacing my answers with yours.
PROMPT: Imagine you are in a room with 50 random strangers. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
On a scale of 1 to 10 how uncomfortable would this make you?
With 1 being completely comfortable and 10 being panic attack, I'd probably be at a 3. I used to have jobs where I had to interact with strangers.
Would you be the first to speak to someone you didn't know?
Probably not unless someone gave me some sort of acknowledgment like a smile or nod. I'm not uncomfortable conversing, but I don't want to pester someone who might not feel like talking.
How would you feel if the other 49 were of the opposite sex?
Totally fine. I get along with men better than women.
How would you feel if the other 49 were of the same sex?
Uncertain. Women are much more unpredictable and can be more easily offended. Some are shallow, or vain, or overly needy, or even all three (not to say that men can't be, but they are usually easier for me to deal with). But then in a group that large, odds are I'd find someone cool or at least tolerable to chat with.
How long would it take you to find a way out of the room?
If I didn't have to stand the whole time, and if I had food, drink and use of a restroom, I could probably hang around for a couple of hours.
What would be your biggest concern?
Having enough energy to socialize.
What would you think if you were told that you were expected to speak to this group on something you are an expert?
Before I got sick 12 years ago, I would be happy to do it. But now that my vocabulary and memory are unreliable, impromptu speaking is tricky for me. I might still give it a try as long as the group was willing to cut me some slack.
What would you think if you were told that you were expected to speak to this group on something random?
Same answer as above.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Literary geek meme....
You have received this note because someone thinks you are a literary geek. Copy the questions into your own note, answer the questions, and tag any friends who would appreciate the quiz, including the person who sent you this. Don't bother trying to italicize your book titles. We know you want to.
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Harlan Ellison
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Other than many versions of the Christian Bible, probably something by Mark Twain. I had his complete works, and then after the deaths of my mom, grandmother and Dan's uncle, I sorted through and kept much of their book collections and unwittingly ended up with more duplicates than I realized.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Only a little.
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Lestat. Maybe love is too strong a word. More like that fascination women have with bad immortal boys, lol.
5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
I used to pretty much memorize books as a child (with or without pics), so excluding them and only counting times read cover to cover, it would have to be THE STAND.
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
BLACK BEAUTY.
7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Nothing that I finished.
8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
ROADSHOW: LANDSCAPE WITH DRUMS, A CONCERT TOUR BY MOTORCYCLE by Neil Peart.
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Can't decide.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
No clue.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Hmmm. Most of them that come to mind have already had attempts at movies. Not all of them good.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Hate to say it, but as much as I love Ellison's material, I don't think anyone would be able to do it properly. Plus most of his best stories would be too short.
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I dreamed that my cousin really was Stephen King. Not so far-fetched as the two of them do look alike.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Not gonna answer as I had to "dumb down" my reading material since I got sick.
The one with the best title:
LOVE AIN'T NOTHING BUT SEX MISSPELLED
15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Tie between James Joyce and Chaucer (in original Middle English).
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
None of the plays themselves were obscure, but the oddest film version might have been "Prospero's Books".
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
Russians. I guess I prefer depressing to arrogant, lol.
18) Roth or Updike?
Updike is ok, but Vonnegut.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Neither.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Tough one. I like all three. But Shakespeare has the edge.
21) Austen or Eliot?
I like both, but Twain is better.
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Current adult fiction.
23) What is your favorite novel?
LORD OF THE RINGS
24) Play?
Hard to pick one because I like so many, but maybe EQUUS because it really grabs a hold of your psyche and makes you squirm.
25) Poem?
Do the epic poems count as a single poem or a book of them? I'm going to go to the opposite extreme and say Dickinson. Simple stuff not requiring analysis, and she was quite observant for one who never saw much outside her own home. "Hope is the thing with feathers".
26) Essay?
Harlan Ellison's essays. Maybe the best collection was AN EDGE IN MY VOICE.
27) Short story?
Mainly collections - SF, horror and fantasy, various authors.
28) Work of nonfiction?
CHOSEN TO LIVE by Jerry Schimmel. He was a co-worker of mine who survived a horrible plane crash in Sioux City, Iowa in 1989. The book details that experience plus inadvertently having to re-live it when the movie "Fearless" came out. Apparently, no one bothered to tell him they were going to base the Jeff Bridges character on him (at least the part that happened during and immediately following the crash).
29) Who is your favorite writer?
Isn't it obvious? Harlan Ellison.
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Does Paris Hilton have a book out yet? LOL
31) What is your desert island book?
The complete works of Shakespeare. It could double as a chair, lol.
32) And... what are you reading right now?
NEW MOON. Deal with it.
1) What author do you own the most books by?
Harlan Ellison
2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Other than many versions of the Christian Bible, probably something by Mark Twain. I had his complete works, and then after the deaths of my mom, grandmother and Dan's uncle, I sorted through and kept much of their book collections and unwittingly ended up with more duplicates than I realized.
3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Only a little.
4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Lestat. Maybe love is too strong a word. More like that fascination women have with bad immortal boys, lol.
5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
I used to pretty much memorize books as a child (with or without pics), so excluding them and only counting times read cover to cover, it would have to be THE STAND.
6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
BLACK BEAUTY.
7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
Nothing that I finished.
8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
ROADSHOW: LANDSCAPE WITH DRUMS, A CONCERT TOUR BY MOTORCYCLE by Neil Peart.
9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Can't decide.
10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
No clue.
11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Hmmm. Most of them that come to mind have already had attempts at movies. Not all of them good.
12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Hate to say it, but as much as I love Ellison's material, I don't think anyone would be able to do it properly. Plus most of his best stories would be too short.
13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I dreamed that my cousin really was Stephen King. Not so far-fetched as the two of them do look alike.
14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
Not gonna answer as I had to "dumb down" my reading material since I got sick.
The one with the best title:
LOVE AIN'T NOTHING BUT SEX MISSPELLED
15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Tie between James Joyce and Chaucer (in original Middle English).
16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
None of the plays themselves were obscure, but the oddest film version might have been "Prospero's Books".
17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
Russians. I guess I prefer depressing to arrogant, lol.
18) Roth or Updike?
Updike is ok, but Vonnegut.
19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Neither.
20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Tough one. I like all three. But Shakespeare has the edge.
21) Austen or Eliot?
I like both, but Twain is better.
22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Current adult fiction.
23) What is your favorite novel?
LORD OF THE RINGS
24) Play?
Hard to pick one because I like so many, but maybe EQUUS because it really grabs a hold of your psyche and makes you squirm.
25) Poem?
Do the epic poems count as a single poem or a book of them? I'm going to go to the opposite extreme and say Dickinson. Simple stuff not requiring analysis, and she was quite observant for one who never saw much outside her own home. "Hope is the thing with feathers".
26) Essay?
Harlan Ellison's essays. Maybe the best collection was AN EDGE IN MY VOICE.
27) Short story?
Mainly collections - SF, horror and fantasy, various authors.
28) Work of nonfiction?
CHOSEN TO LIVE by Jerry Schimmel. He was a co-worker of mine who survived a horrible plane crash in Sioux City, Iowa in 1989. The book details that experience plus inadvertently having to re-live it when the movie "Fearless" came out. Apparently, no one bothered to tell him they were going to base the Jeff Bridges character on him (at least the part that happened during and immediately following the crash).
29) Who is your favorite writer?
Isn't it obvious? Harlan Ellison.
30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
Does Paris Hilton have a book out yet? LOL
31) What is your desert island book?
The complete works of Shakespeare. It could double as a chair, lol.
32) And... what are you reading right now?
NEW MOON. Deal with it.
Rave of the Day for March 27, 2009:
Ok, even though this refers to e-mails and is meant to be sent as such, I thought it was important enough to post here. Some of the advice, particularly the part about checking the validity of forwarded messages, could also be applied to blogs and Facebook walls. Thanks to Pete for this.....
Just a reminder to all.
A friend who is a computer expert received the following directly from a system administrator for a corporate system. It is an excellent message that ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send e-mails. Please read the short letter below, even if you're sure you already follow proper procedures. Send it on to people you know that do not follow proper procedures.
Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT.
Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it?
Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses & names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every e-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel!
How do you stop it?
Well, there are several easy steps:
(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the 'Forward' button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on 'Forward' first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.
(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or CC: fields for adding e-mail addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses. This is the way the people you send to will only see their own e-mail address.
If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say 'Undisclosed Recipients' in the 'TO:' field of the people who receive it.
(3) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual e-mail you are reading. Ever get those e-mails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By Forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view, you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.
(4) Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses.
A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein.
If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition.
If you think about it, who's supposed to send the petition in to whatever cause it supports? And don't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just isn't so! One time I called the reputable group that was to be helped & got voice mail. I asked them what to do about the petition ...over 500 names ..NO ONE EVER called me back.
(5) One of the main ones I hate is the ones that say that something like, 'Send this email to 10 people and you'll see something great run across your screen.' Or, sometimes they'll just tease you by saying something really cute will happen. IT ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! Trust me, I'm still seeing some of the same ones that I waited on 10 years ago! I don't let the bad luck ones scare me either, they get trashed. (Could be why I haven't won the lottery??)
6) Before you forward an Amber Alert, or a Virus Alert, or some of the other ones floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward them. Most of them are junk mail that's been circling the net for years! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out at Snopes. Some things seem so real, but when you check them, they are completely false. Some people just make up these stories. Just go to Snopes Reference Page
It's really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on. Please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.
(7) & clean up all the <<<< & re-space it so it can be easily seen so it uses less memory. If you can spell or use grammar correctly, fix that too. We can't complain about the younger generations not using the language right if we keep passing on stuff that doesn't.
(8) Finally, here's an idea!!! Let's send this to everyone we know (but strip my address off first, please). This is something that SHOULD be forwarded.
Just a reminder to all.
A friend who is a computer expert received the following directly from a system administrator for a corporate system. It is an excellent message that ABSOLUTELY applies to ALL of us who send e-mails. Please read the short letter below, even if you're sure you already follow proper procedures. Send it on to people you know that do not follow proper procedures.
Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% DO NOT.
Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it?
Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses & names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every e-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel!
How do you stop it?
Well, there are several easy steps:
(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message (at the top). That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the 'Forward' button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message. If you don't click on 'Forward' first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.
(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or CC: fields for adding e-mail addresses. Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) field for listing the e-mail addresses. This is the way the people you send to will only see their own e-mail address.
If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say 'Undisclosed Recipients' in the 'TO:' field of the people who receive it.
(3) ALWAYS hit your Forward button from the actual e-mail you are reading. Ever get those e-mails that you have to open 10 pages to read the one page with the information on it? By Forwarding from the actual page you wish someone to view, you stop them from having to open many e-mails just to see what you sent.
(4) Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses.
A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein.
If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry list of names and email address on a petition.
If you think about it, who's supposed to send the petition in to whatever cause it supports? And don't believe the ones that say that the email is being traced, it just isn't so! One time I called the reputable group that was to be helped & got voice mail. I asked them what to do about the petition ...over 500 names ..NO ONE EVER called me back.
(5) One of the main ones I hate is the ones that say that something like, 'Send this email to 10 people and you'll see something great run across your screen.' Or, sometimes they'll just tease you by saying something really cute will happen. IT ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN!!!!! Trust me, I'm still seeing some of the same ones that I waited on 10 years ago! I don't let the bad luck ones scare me either, they get trashed. (Could be why I haven't won the lottery??)
6) Before you forward an Amber Alert, or a Virus Alert, or some of the other ones floating around nowadays, check them out before you forward them. Most of them are junk mail that's been circling the net for years! Just about everything you receive in an email that is in question can be checked out at Snopes. Some things seem so real, but when you check them, they are completely false. Some people just make up these stories. Just go to Snopes Reference Page
It's really easy to find out if it's real or not. If it's not, please don't pass it on. Please, in the future, let's stop the junk mail and the viruses.
(7) & clean up all the <<<< & re-space it so it can be easily seen so it uses less memory. If you can spell or use grammar correctly, fix that too. We can't complain about the younger generations not using the language right if we keep passing on stuff that doesn't.
(8) Finally, here's an idea!!! Let's send this to everyone we know (but strip my address off first, please). This is something that SHOULD be forwarded.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Bonus Rave of the Day for March 25, 2009:
Rave of the Day for March 25, 2009:
My latest product review for But You Don't Look Sick is up. The nose knows, heh heh....
NeilMed NasaFlo Neti Pot
My next project should be some book reviews. One of the books I just finished reading has already been covered by But You Don't Look Sick, so I'll probably just post about it here, a blog EXCLUSIVE, heh heh.
NeilMed NasaFlo Neti Pot
My next project should be some book reviews. One of the books I just finished reading has already been covered by But You Don't Look Sick, so I'll probably just post about it here, a blog EXCLUSIVE, heh heh.
Monday, March 23, 2009
50 questions meme....
1. If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?
I'd say change my name to Mary because it's a MIRACLE! lol
2. Do you trust all of your friends?
Most
3. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?
Did two years ago
4. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
Yes, but I don't believe we are always meant to know what that reason is.
5. Can you make a dollar in change right now?
No
6. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor?
Some know how to patch people up because they are parents, others know a lot about chronic illness. But I don't know who would actually want to be a doctor.
7. Are you afraid of falling in love?
Nope
9. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?
Yes
10. Whats your favorite scar?
Well, I didn't enjoy getting it, but the most memorable one is the one on my right knee. Bike accident - skidded on gravel left over from a snowy winter and hit a parked car. Mom fainted when she saw the gash, and my dad, instead of taking me to a doc for stitches, picked rocks out of the wound with tweezers and poured RUBBING ALCOHOL on it! Found out later that I'd torn all the ligaments under my kneecap.
11. When was the last time you flew in a plane?
2007
12. What did the last text message you sent say?
No hablo text.
13. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex?
Eyes, smile, behind
14. Fill in the blank. I love:
too many to list, both living and no longer living.
15. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?
some more articles for But You Don't Look Sick. And some scrapbooking.
16. If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time who would you call?
Assuming I'd be able to communicate and he were still around, my husband.
17. How many kids do you want to have?
Zero. I think I've kept that promise, lol.
18. Would you make a good parent?
Nah, I'm a bad influence, lol
19. Where was your profile picture taken?
At the house in Denver.
20. What's your middle name?
Lynne
21. Honestly, whats on your mind right now?
How much my back hurts.
22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Would have been less mean to a person whose request for a date I'd declined.
23. Who was or will be the maid of honor/ best man in your wedding?
Pete and my ex's brother (because his best friend stood him up) at the first one. The second one only had witnesses.
24. What are you wearing right now?
Sweatshirt, pajama bottoms, chenille socks, house shoes, hoodie.
25. Righty or Lefty?
Both-y.
26. Best place to eat?
In my current locale, A Taste of India.
27. Favorite jeans?
A pair that FITS! A very rare thing.
28. Favorite animal?
dogs
29. Favorite juice?
mango
30. Have you had the chicken pox?
yep
31. Have you had a sore throat?
have a bit of one right now
32. Ever had a bar fight?
No, but I've been the cause of one. Danced with a guy once, thought we were done, another dude comes up and asks me to dance, and when I say yes, the first guy punches him and breaks his nose!
33. Who knows you the best?
My husband
34. Shoe size?
10
35. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?
neither since LASIK surgery. Need glasses again though.
36. Ever been in a fight with your pet?
Yes, when he had something in his mouth he wasn't supposed to and I tried to stop him from eating it.
37. Been to Mexico?
yep
38. Did you buy something today?
No
39. Did you get sick today?
I've been sick for 12 years.
40. Do you miss someone today?
Yes
41. Did you get in a fight with someone today?
No
42. When is the last time you had a massage?
Thursday. I go once a month for therapy.
43. Last person to lay in your bed?
Me
44. Last person to see you cry?
my husband
45. Who made you cry?
death of yet another friend
46. What was the last TV show you watched?
Heroes
47. What are your plans for the weekend?
Hoping to have friends over for dinner and games. Have been meaning to do this for TWO YEARS.
48. Who do you think will re-post this?
Don't know
49. Who was the last person you hung out with?
My husband
50. Have you ever grown a plant from seeds?
Not successfully.
I'd say change my name to Mary because it's a MIRACLE! lol
2. Do you trust all of your friends?
Most
3. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?
Did two years ago
4. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?
Yes, but I don't believe we are always meant to know what that reason is.
5. Can you make a dollar in change right now?
No
6. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor?
Some know how to patch people up because they are parents, others know a lot about chronic illness. But I don't know who would actually want to be a doctor.
7. Are you afraid of falling in love?
Nope
9. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?
Yes
10. Whats your favorite scar?
Well, I didn't enjoy getting it, but the most memorable one is the one on my right knee. Bike accident - skidded on gravel left over from a snowy winter and hit a parked car. Mom fainted when she saw the gash, and my dad, instead of taking me to a doc for stitches, picked rocks out of the wound with tweezers and poured RUBBING ALCOHOL on it! Found out later that I'd torn all the ligaments under my kneecap.
11. When was the last time you flew in a plane?
2007
12. What did the last text message you sent say?
No hablo text.
13. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex?
Eyes, smile, behind
14. Fill in the blank. I love:
too many to list, both living and no longer living.
15. What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?
some more articles for But You Don't Look Sick. And some scrapbooking.
16. If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time who would you call?
Assuming I'd be able to communicate and he were still around, my husband.
17. How many kids do you want to have?
Zero. I think I've kept that promise, lol.
18. Would you make a good parent?
Nah, I'm a bad influence, lol
19. Where was your profile picture taken?
At the house in Denver.
20. What's your middle name?
Lynne
21. Honestly, whats on your mind right now?
How much my back hurts.
22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
Would have been less mean to a person whose request for a date I'd declined.
23. Who was or will be the maid of honor/ best man in your wedding?
Pete and my ex's brother (because his best friend stood him up) at the first one. The second one only had witnesses.
24. What are you wearing right now?
Sweatshirt, pajama bottoms, chenille socks, house shoes, hoodie.
25. Righty or Lefty?
Both-y.
26. Best place to eat?
In my current locale, A Taste of India.
27. Favorite jeans?
A pair that FITS! A very rare thing.
28. Favorite animal?
dogs
29. Favorite juice?
mango
30. Have you had the chicken pox?
yep
31. Have you had a sore throat?
have a bit of one right now
32. Ever had a bar fight?
No, but I've been the cause of one. Danced with a guy once, thought we were done, another dude comes up and asks me to dance, and when I say yes, the first guy punches him and breaks his nose!
33. Who knows you the best?
My husband
34. Shoe size?
10
35. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?
neither since LASIK surgery. Need glasses again though.
36. Ever been in a fight with your pet?
Yes, when he had something in his mouth he wasn't supposed to and I tried to stop him from eating it.
37. Been to Mexico?
yep
38. Did you buy something today?
No
39. Did you get sick today?
I've been sick for 12 years.
40. Do you miss someone today?
Yes
41. Did you get in a fight with someone today?
No
42. When is the last time you had a massage?
Thursday. I go once a month for therapy.
43. Last person to lay in your bed?
Me
44. Last person to see you cry?
my husband
45. Who made you cry?
death of yet another friend
46. What was the last TV show you watched?
Heroes
47. What are your plans for the weekend?
Hoping to have friends over for dinner and games. Have been meaning to do this for TWO YEARS.
48. Who do you think will re-post this?
Don't know
49. Who was the last person you hung out with?
My husband
50. Have you ever grown a plant from seeds?
Not successfully.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Rave of the Day for March 21, 2009:
Time for some laugh therapy. This goody courtesy of Pete. WARNING: contains some profanity....
A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
_________________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air, then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
________________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
______________________________
THURSDAY:
Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes. He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
______________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrill voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
_________________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air, then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
________________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
______________________________
THURSDAY:
Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late - it took me that long to tie my shoes. He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
______________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrill voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Been walloped too many times by real life lately....
I've been sick for 12 years now, so I'm accustomed to having down times. But those times typically last only a day or two at the most, and then I get back the best I can to business as usual. The past few months, though, the losses and setbacks have been piling up, sometimes quicker than I can adjust to them.Since October, my dog, my uncle, and FOUR friends have died. Two of the friends died quite suddenly Wednesday morning, and all four friends were approximately my age (40's), which is rather sobering. And one other friend found out a few weeks ago that there is nothing more that can be done for her pancreatic cancer, so the docs have her on narcotics to keep her comfortable enough so that she can at least make it to church for now.
Then last night, I found out that my brother-in-law is being deployed to Iraq. He won't actually go there until next year, but he'll be gone from home for training quite a bit of time between now and then. His boy is only 20 months old but will be four by the time he returns from Iraq.
And while I wasn't terribly freaked out by the whole breast lump investigation saga, it WAS tremendously physically exhausting for me. I just don't have the stamina to be away from home very long anymore. Aquacise is tiring enough, and that's just 40 minutes of stretching and walking in water.
So suffice to say I am utterly wiped out, to the point that I don't even want to celebrate my birthday on Sunday because it will be too tiring, and I am too fed up with all the accommodations I require for a simple dinner with relatives. This is totally unlike me as I used to love parties and other social occasions. Now I can't even generate enthusiasm for someone buying me lunch.
I wish I could take a vacation from myself, but unfortunately, my ailments follow me no matter what I do. I hate having to negotiate time of day, content of meals, how much physical effort will be involved, etc. just to have fun in a social setting. And I miss Colorado terribly.
It completely sucks that being the life of the party these days would be the equivalent of moving a mountain for me. Things will get better with time; they always do, especially when I've been able to process my losses and press on. But for now, I'm waving the white flag.
Rave of the Day for March 20, 2009:
Got this about six weeks ago from Pete. Hilarious!
Two hillbillies walk into a restaurant. While having a bite to eat, they talk about their moonshine operation.
Suddenly, a woman at a nearby table, who is eating a sandwich, begins to cough. After a minute or so, it becomes apparent that she is in real distress. One of the hillbillies looks at her and says, 'Kin ya swallar?'
The woman shakes her head no.
Then he asks, 'Kin ya breathe?'
The woman begins to turn blue and shakes her head no.
The hillbilly walks over to the woman, lifts up her dress, yanks down her drawers and quickly gives her right butt cheek a lick with his tongue.
The woman is so shocked that she has a violent spasm and the obstruction flies out of her mouth.
As she begins to breathe again, the Hillbilly walks slowly back to his table.
His partner says, "Ya know, I'd heerd of that there 'Hind Lick Maneuver' but I ain't niver seed nobody do it! "
Two hillbillies walk into a restaurant. While having a bite to eat, they talk about their moonshine operation.
Suddenly, a woman at a nearby table, who is eating a sandwich, begins to cough. After a minute or so, it becomes apparent that she is in real distress. One of the hillbillies looks at her and says, 'Kin ya swallar?'
The woman shakes her head no.
Then he asks, 'Kin ya breathe?'
The woman begins to turn blue and shakes her head no.
The hillbilly walks over to the woman, lifts up her dress, yanks down her drawers and quickly gives her right butt cheek a lick with his tongue.
The woman is so shocked that she has a violent spasm and the obstruction flies out of her mouth.
As she begins to breathe again, the Hillbilly walks slowly back to his table.
His partner says, "Ya know, I'd heerd of that there 'Hind Lick Maneuver' but I ain't niver seed nobody do it! "
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Rave of the Day for March 19, 2009:
I think I found this in my archives. This has probably been posted before, but it's worth a repeat because it's hilarious.....
For those of you who have sons & those of you who are happy that you don't.
You find out interesting things when you have sons, like...
1.) A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way. It can also throw Match Box cars a long way!
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do. This is true even when you have a 4 year old girl!
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in Tucson, AZ has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
For those of you who have sons & those of you who are happy that you don't.
You find out interesting things when you have sons, like...
1.) A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way. It can also throw Match Box cars a long way!
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Legos will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do. This is true even when you have a 4 year old girl!
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in Tucson, AZ has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Rave of the Day for March 18, 2009:
Clearing away some goodies that have been sitting on my desktop for some time. Ducky e-mailed me this gem....
An Obituary Printed In The London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled some in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
An Obituary Printed In The London Times
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled some in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Rave of the Day for March 17, 2009:
This seemed appropriate to post today. Thanks to Feathers for e-mailing it to me....
Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease....in fact, she was just sure it was fatal.
She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap. Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke, for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
Remember....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.
If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease....in fact, she was just sure it was fatal.
She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap. Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke, for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
Remember....live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.
If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Thelma and Louise are BOTH exhausted!
Started with the mammogram scans, two on the right (aka Louise) and FIVE on the left (aka Thelma) where I'd found the lump. Then after those were analyzed, I had an ultrasound on the left. I could easily see the lump on the screen.After quite a long wait in the room where I'd had the ultrasound, I was told I'd need to have an ultrasound on the other breast for comparison. Then another long wait, after which I was told I'd need three more mammogram scans on the right.
Finally, after I'd been at the facility two and a half hours, I was told that both breasts got a clean bill of health. The lump is just a cyst like I thought, but having dense fibrocystic breasts always makes proper diagnosis more of a challenge. The good news is that Thelma and Louise won't need any more scans for a year.
The bad news is that I'm utterly wiped out. I feel like a ran a marathon, when in reality the majority of time I spent in that office I wasn't actually DOING anything. I wish to hell I could just go lie down, but a nap would just screw up my sleep cycle and possibly make the fatigue worse.
So I'll just keep it low key tonight, watch "Reaper" and maybe call it a night a tad earlier than usual. I have to stay upright for at least three to four hours after my last meal of the day, so it will still not be until at least 11pm.
But no cancer, no biopsy, and no more panini maker for another year. YAY!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Rave of the Day for March 16, 2009:
I think we're wayyyyy overdue for some humor. This funny courtesy of Pete....
Three little boys were concerned because they couldn't get anyone to play with them. They decided it was because they had not been baptized and didn't go to Sunday school.
So they went to the nearest church. But only the janitor was there.
One little boy said, 'We need to be baptized because no one will come out and play with us. Will you baptize us?'
'Sure,' said the Janitor. He took them into the bathroom and dunked their little heads in the toilet bowl, one at a time. Then he said, 'You are now baptized!'
When they got outside, one of them asked, 'What religion do you think we are?' the oldest one said, 'We're not Kathlick, because they pour the water on you.'
'We're not Babtis, because they dunk all of you in the water.'
'We're not Methdiss, because they just sprinkle water on you.'
The littlest one said, 'Didn't you smell that water?!'
They all joined in asking, 'Yeah! What do you think that means?'
'I think it means we're Pisscopailians.'
Three little boys were concerned because they couldn't get anyone to play with them. They decided it was because they had not been baptized and didn't go to Sunday school.
So they went to the nearest church. But only the janitor was there.
One little boy said, 'We need to be baptized because no one will come out and play with us. Will you baptize us?'
'Sure,' said the Janitor. He took them into the bathroom and dunked their little heads in the toilet bowl, one at a time. Then he said, 'You are now baptized!'
When they got outside, one of them asked, 'What religion do you think we are?' the oldest one said, 'We're not Kathlick, because they pour the water on you.'
'We're not Babtis, because they dunk all of you in the water.'
'We're not Methdiss, because they just sprinkle water on you.'
The littlest one said, 'Didn't you smell that water?!'
They all joined in asking, 'Yeah! What do you think that means?'
'I think it means we're Pisscopailians.'
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Rave of the Day for March 12, 2009:
Time for some humor. Outtakes from "Little House on the Prairie", link courtesy of Robert....
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Thelma requires more study....
Went to my primary care doc this morning. She checked out the lump in my left breast and agreed that it is probably a cyst, but since it is more solid and larger than the previous ones, it wouldn't hurt to get some scans done. Hence, more appointments were made.Next Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day, I'll be going to the Breast Health Institute for a mammogram/ultrasound series. No problem there, but if they think it necessary, they may also do an aspiration. Ewwwwww!
One thing that really cracked me up: my doc compared mammogram machines to panini makers! Lucky I won't be ending up with grill marks, heh heh.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Perhaps TMI for my male readers....
A couple of weeks ago, on my niece's birthday, actually, I found a lump on my left breast. I wasn't alarmed; I was annoyed. You know your financial situation is in the crapper when your first thought isn't, "gee, I hope I don't have cancer", but, "Dammit! I can't afford this!"Many of my readers may recall that I have poly-cystic breast disease (or whatever the proper term is). I had cysts in 2002 and 2004 that were diagnosed via ultrasound, and one diagnosed via biopsy just a year and a half ago. So chances are probably 90 percent that this is the same danged thing.
Only difference is, the other three lumps were found in mammograms, too small to feel by hand. This one is much larger; I even had Dan see if he could feel it, and he could. My last mammogram series was six months ago, and it was completely clean.
Knowing that it's probably another stupid cyst makes me reluctant to even mention it. I didn't want to bother my doc with it, but I did some research, and all of it said to have every lump checked out anyway, so I'm off to see her tomorrow. The good thing is that this is quite round; most cancerous tumors aren't.
I am gonna feel like a total tard if this ends up being the same spot they biopsied last time. I don't think it is, though, because the biopsy was out toward the armpit, and this lump is toward the center. I'm expecting that tomorrow all that will happen is that an ultrasound will be scheduled.
Cool thing about ultrasounds at least is that they are quite comfy compared to mammograms. But I am thinking that my boobs are more trouble than they're worth, heh heh.
Oh, and a humorous note to anyone still reading this: I named them several years ago, before it was fashionable to refer to them as "the girls". The left one is Thelma, and the right one is Louise.
Right now I'm pretty fed up with Thelma.
Rave of the Day for March 10, 2009:
Don't assume that if you are hospitalized that they will automatically accommodate your dietary requirements. Here's an article with ideas for those with celiac disease, but it will probably help with other food intolerances as well...
Tips for Ensuring a Gluten-Free Hospital Stay
I've been lucky enough to avoid any overnight hospital stays for a decade now, but the idea of being trapped in an uncomfortable bed eating questionable food and being given medication that I might react to gives me the willies.
Tips for Ensuring a Gluten-Free Hospital Stay
I've been lucky enough to avoid any overnight hospital stays for a decade now, but the idea of being trapped in an uncomfortable bed eating questionable food and being given medication that I might react to gives me the willies.
Monday, March 09, 2009
One word meme.....
USING ONLY ONE WORD! It's not as easy as you might think! Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers.
Be sure to tag the person you received it from!
1. Where is your cell phone? nonexistent
2. Your significant other? Dan
4. Your mother? missed
5. Your father? distant
6. Your favorite? what?
7. Your dream last night? Chip
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? travel
10. What room you are in? basement
11. Your hobby? photography
12. Your fear? needles
14. Where were you last night? here
15. Something that you aren't? vain
16. Muffins? tops?
17. Wish list item? settlement
18. Where you grew up? Colorado
19. Last thing you did? DVR'd
20. What are you wearing? jammies
21. Your TV? changing
22. Your pets? deceased
23. Friends? varied
24. Your life? shrinking
25. Your mood? complete
26. Missing someone? several
27. Car? Saturn
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29. Your favorite store? bookstore
30. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? tonight
34. Last time you cried? tonight
35. Who will resend this? ?
36. One place that I go to over and over? pharmacy
37. One person who emails me regularly? nobody
38. My favorite place to eat? Indian
39. Your religion? liberal
40. Your politics? independent
41. Your secret? temper
42. Favorite time of year? butterfly
43???
44. What's in your pocket right now? nothing
45. One word to sum you up? facetious
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Bonus Rave of the Day for March 7, 2009:
Limbaugh's tantrums are amusing to me, but now they are calling Michael Moore the left-wing equivalent for the Democrats. Anyone who has been watching his material since the 1980's like me knows better....
Michael Moore: Why I'm Not Now and Never Have Been the Democrats' "Rush Limbaugh"
I've always seen Moore as a liberal independent, not unlike myself. People who stand up for what is right can be like that.
Michael Moore: Why I'm Not Now and Never Have Been the Democrats' "Rush Limbaugh"
I've always seen Moore as a liberal independent, not unlike myself. People who stand up for what is right can be like that.
Rave of the Day for March 7, 2009:
Wanna know what the number one song on the charts was on the day you were born? Give this a shot....
Look up the number one song on any date in history
My lucky draw was "She Loves You" by The Beatles. Yeah yeah yeah....
Look up the number one song on any date in history
My lucky draw was "She Loves You" by The Beatles. Yeah yeah yeah....
40 secrets meme....
1. who was your last 4 texts from?
I don't text, tweet, or even own a working cell phone.
2. where was your default picture taken?
Upstairs in my house in Denver somewhere between 2002 and 2006. My husband captured this shot of Chip D. Dog.
3. what’s your middle name?
Lynne
4. your current relationship status?
Happily married.
5. does your crush like you back?
Anyone I might have a crush on other than my hubby will never know, lol.
6. what is your current mood?
Fighting for optimism but not quite succeeding.
8. what color shirt are you wearing?
Red
9. are you feeling romantic or frisky?
Too exhausted for either.
10. if you could go back in time and change something, would you?
Perhaps I would have disposed of less of my disposable income back when I had it, lol.
11. where was the last place out of town, that you went to?
Rochester, Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic, January 2008.
12. ever had a near death experience?
Not near enough to report anything unusual.
13. something you do a lot?
Rest. Way more than I want to.
14. do you have a fondness for gnomes?
I guess they're ok.
15. who can/do you tell anything to?
I don't tell absolutely EVERYTHING to anyone, surprising as that may seem. But my husband comes pretty close, probably hears wayyyy more than he wants or ought to, lol.
16. name someone with the same birthday as you?
William Shatner.
17. when was the last time you cried?
Last week I think.
18. where are you right now?
In my basement where the computer is.
19. if you could have one super power what would it be?
Flight.
20. what’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
If they are walking toward me, their smile. If they are walking away, their butt, lol.
21. who is your favorite movie actor/actress?
Yikes. Too hard to pick just one. Fave contemporary actress, perhaps Emma Thompson?
22. what is a saying that you believe?
Laughter is the best medicine.
23. favorite color(S)?
Purple.
24. what is one thing that annoys you on tv?
90 percent of so-called reality shows. I have enough reality in my life already, thank you. I don't want to see celebrities dance to cheesy renditions of popular music, I don't want to see aspiring singers (or designers, chefs, hair stylists, dog groomers, models, etc.) insulted by self-important morons, I don't want to see shallow people compete for the affections of shallow celebrities, and I don't want to see people compete for losing the most pounds when the goal should be becoming healthy inside and out. The only exception I make is "Last Comic Standing".
25. do you still like kiddie movies?
Some.
26. what are you eating or drinking at the moment?
Dasani lemon flavored water.
27. do you speak any other language?
not fluently. I do know a fake one my mom made up, though, lol.
28. what’s your favorite smell?
Lilacs, roses, leather, several kinds of food.
29. describe your life in one word?
evolving.
30. have any tattoos?
Nope. Too afraid of needles.
31. what are you looking forward to the most?
traveling someday, after saving up for it, after debts are paid off.
32. what are you thinking about right now?
That it's past my bed time.
33. what should you be doing?
Balancing checkbook, paying bills, catching up on medical paperwork, checking refill status of meds, writing an article for But You Don't Look Sick.
34. who was the last person that made you upset/angry?
The used hotel furniture company that was supposed to deliver a TV stand on Wednesday and hasn't yet.
35. what are you listening to?
Recording of Harlan Ellison reading his story "Midnight in the Sunken Cathedral".
36. do you like working in the yard?
Can't anymore even if I did like it.
37. what color are your nails?
White and slightly bluish from Raynaud's
38. do you act differently around the person you like?
No
39. what is your natural hair color?
boring brown
40. why did you cry the last time you did?
cumulative effect of recent deaths of friends and loved ones.
I don't text, tweet, or even own a working cell phone.
2. where was your default picture taken?
Upstairs in my house in Denver somewhere between 2002 and 2006. My husband captured this shot of Chip D. Dog.
3. what’s your middle name?
Lynne
4. your current relationship status?
Happily married.
5. does your crush like you back?
Anyone I might have a crush on other than my hubby will never know, lol.
6. what is your current mood?
Fighting for optimism but not quite succeeding.
8. what color shirt are you wearing?
Red
9. are you feeling romantic or frisky?
Too exhausted for either.
10. if you could go back in time and change something, would you?
Perhaps I would have disposed of less of my disposable income back when I had it, lol.
11. where was the last place out of town, that you went to?
Rochester, Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic, January 2008.
12. ever had a near death experience?
Not near enough to report anything unusual.
13. something you do a lot?
Rest. Way more than I want to.
14. do you have a fondness for gnomes?
I guess they're ok.
15. who can/do you tell anything to?
I don't tell absolutely EVERYTHING to anyone, surprising as that may seem. But my husband comes pretty close, probably hears wayyyy more than he wants or ought to, lol.
16. name someone with the same birthday as you?
William Shatner.
17. when was the last time you cried?
Last week I think.
18. where are you right now?
In my basement where the computer is.
19. if you could have one super power what would it be?
Flight.
20. what’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
If they are walking toward me, their smile. If they are walking away, their butt, lol.
21. who is your favorite movie actor/actress?
Yikes. Too hard to pick just one. Fave contemporary actress, perhaps Emma Thompson?
22. what is a saying that you believe?
Laughter is the best medicine.
23. favorite color(S)?
Purple.
24. what is one thing that annoys you on tv?
90 percent of so-called reality shows. I have enough reality in my life already, thank you. I don't want to see celebrities dance to cheesy renditions of popular music, I don't want to see aspiring singers (or designers, chefs, hair stylists, dog groomers, models, etc.) insulted by self-important morons, I don't want to see shallow people compete for the affections of shallow celebrities, and I don't want to see people compete for losing the most pounds when the goal should be becoming healthy inside and out. The only exception I make is "Last Comic Standing".
25. do you still like kiddie movies?
Some.
26. what are you eating or drinking at the moment?
Dasani lemon flavored water.
27. do you speak any other language?
not fluently. I do know a fake one my mom made up, though, lol.
28. what’s your favorite smell?
Lilacs, roses, leather, several kinds of food.
29. describe your life in one word?
evolving.
30. have any tattoos?
Nope. Too afraid of needles.
31. what are you looking forward to the most?
traveling someday, after saving up for it, after debts are paid off.
32. what are you thinking about right now?
That it's past my bed time.
33. what should you be doing?
Balancing checkbook, paying bills, catching up on medical paperwork, checking refill status of meds, writing an article for But You Don't Look Sick.
34. who was the last person that made you upset/angry?
The used hotel furniture company that was supposed to deliver a TV stand on Wednesday and hasn't yet.
35. what are you listening to?
Recording of Harlan Ellison reading his story "Midnight in the Sunken Cathedral".
36. do you like working in the yard?
Can't anymore even if I did like it.
37. what color are your nails?
White and slightly bluish from Raynaud's
38. do you act differently around the person you like?
No
39. what is your natural hair color?
boring brown
40. why did you cry the last time you did?
cumulative effect of recent deaths of friends and loved ones.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
15 Movies meme....
NOTE: I have to admit I had a lot of trouble with this one. Trouble limiting it to 15, that is. Every time I thought I was done, I'd come up with a few more, so just count this as a partial list for me....
Think of 15 films that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the films that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the films that shaped your world. When you finish, tag 15 others, including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill. Get the idea now? Good. Tag, you're it!
1) Star Wars (Original only)
2) White/Blue/Red trilogy, especially Blue
3) Gone with the Wind
4) Pink Floyd: The Wall
5) 2001
6) Brazil
7) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
8) Network
9) Wings of Desire
10) River's Edge
11) Equus
12) The Shining
13) The Lord of the Rings trilogy
14) The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl
15) A Clockwork Orange
