It's Friday!

I have the feeling we'll be busy at work today. Some agents tend to hold on to their applications until Friday then they want them done at the last minute for this week of the contest. Apparently this happens every year. Very annoying, since if anything isn't quite right with the app we can't enter it and somehow that will end up being our fault, ya know what I mean?

So, I figured I'd get on here early as I'm planning to go to my friend's house after work if I'm still feeling OK. Felt crappy yesterday but better this morning. I'm going to do my last cleaning of the soot at work today -- better be the last time. Now that the filter is on the vent this should be the last time and if it makes me sicker at least I won't miss any work because of it.

So, here's Four for Friday. The other ones weren't up yet and I dont' feel like waiting around.

Q1: When shopping for food or related sundries, how important are brands in your decision-making process? For instance, let's say you're standing in the cereal isle at your local supermarket, and right there in front of you are two of essentially the same item, but one carries a brand name or label you're familiar with, while the other is labeled with the name of the supermarket? All things being equal except price, which box of cereal do you purchase?
Depends on the product. I'm very particular about laundry soap because many of them make my feet and ankles itch. I know Tide does not so that's what I buy, on sale or not. Plus, I've found that I tend to use more of the generic brands of laundry soap, so I'm really not saving any money, and they don't get my clothes as clean. Where's the bargain in that? I'm the same way about cola -- can't stand generic cola. Other stuff I don't care so much about. I tend to always get generic canned veggies and frozen veggies. When it comes to cereal I get non-sugary stuff that's either on a great sale or generic.

Q2: If you wore eyeglasses, based on what you know today about the procedure, would you choose to have elective laser surgery to correct a common eye disorder such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or an astigmatism (distorted vision)? Do you know anyone who has had this sort of surgery, and if so, what have they said about the experience and/or the results?
I don't know anyone who has had it. I doubt I'd ever have it done. I have eye issues and whenever anything happens to a person's eyes in a movie it really freaks me out. I'm fine with my glasses, thanks! Plus, for me it's not worth the risk. I rely on my eyes for too many things to have surgery just so I don't have to wear glasses.

Q3: What do you do when you're given the wrong amount of change when purchasing something with cash? Does your reaction differ depending on which side of the equation you land, i.e., receiving too much change verses not enough?
I don't always notice. If it's obvious that somebody has stiffed me or has given me too much I tell them. I tend to only pay attention to bills and not coins, though.

Q4: Do you have confidence in the airport screening procedures in place in the United States?
Not complete confidence, no. When I went out to Salt Lake City a few years back my luggage was searched, I took off my shoes, etc. etc. I have no problem with that. However, when I was at Salt Lake I dumped out my purse on the bed to go through some stuff and there it was -- a little pocket knife! I had COMPLETELY forgotten I had put it in there weeks before after I received it as a sample at work -- it has "Piano Lane" etched into it. So, for all the searching of my luggage (which was in the cargo hold) and taking off my shoes, they didn't catch the thing I had on me that could have been used as a weapon. That bothered me a great deal.

Is it a full moon or something?

I didn't post yesterday because I actually got quite a bit of stitching done and didn't get on the computer last night. Man, did I miss some stuff! Go away from the computer for a night and all Hell breaks loose on all sorts of boards!

Well, I don't feel like tackling yesterday's sci-fi questions for the Wednesday Matinee, so I'm skipping them. I just don't have the energy to think about what sci-fi I like best and get into the whole Star Trek vs. Star Wars thing.

However, I will do the Theater Thursday:

1. Do you remember the very first time you watched a movie on the big screen? Describe it.
I think it was actually Star Wars: A New Hope. I don't remember much except I think the Sand People scared me more than Darth Vader did. He was scarey but those things creeped me out! I would have been six when we saw it at the local drive-in (I miss those). I saw it with my mom and siblings. At first I didn't understand that the Imperial Troopers were people under those white outfits. I thought they were robots or something, like C3PO. It's annoying when people tell me that I was too young to have seen this when it first came out and that I must be mistaken. Duh! I think I know what movie I saw and when, jackass!

2. What was the last movie you saw on the big screen?
The Village. I saw it with a good friend and had promised Tim I'd also see it with him. I really liked it, he didn't. I think that's the way it is with that movie. The way they marketed it people thought it was a very different movie than it really was. That didn't bother me but I know other people were irritated.

3. Did you ever like a movie so much that you paid to watch it more than once? If so, what movie
OMG, this is sooooo embarassing! I can't tell you how many times I went to see LOTR: Return of the King when it was in the theater! It was out when I was only working part-time and was stuck in the house. I was bringing home a little money and some unemployment money but I didn't leave the house much because I knew if I went to the store to "window shop" I'd buy stuff, and I was only buying stitching stuff I needed for what I was working on, mostly DMC floss. I was going nutso because my resumes were either getting no response or interviews where I was told I was overqualified. So, once a week I'd have to get out of the house and would take myself to a matinee. I figured this movie was very long and would take up a lot of my time -- more bang for my buck! I knew I loved it and I absolutely love just listening to the music. It was nice to get my mind off things, if only for a few hours.

?BONUS) How much does a movie ticket cost in your neck of the woods?
Full-price shows here are around $8-$8.50 and $5.50-$6 for a matinee.

TV Tuesday

A great show never dies, it simply spins off into new shows! LOL This week we'll take a look at the ever famous spin off syndrome!!

1. What's your favorite all time spin off? Which show did it spin off?
Off the top of my head I'd say Frasier. It was a spin-off from Cheers and I think I actually enjoy Frasier more. I really don't watch the Cheers reruns but often watch the reruns for Frasier.

2. What do you consider the worst spin off ever? Why?
Well, I try not to remember those. However, there was a really bad show about Sheriff Lobo that I think was a spin-off of that BJ and the Bear show I liked as a kid, the one with the cute truck driver and the monkey. I probably wouldn't like it now but liked it then. Didn't care for the spin-off at all, though.

3. Is there a show that's ended that you wish they'd done a spin off for? Which one?
Technically, Angel is a spin-off of Buffy but I never really got into it. I missed a few episodes a few years back and was confused and couldn't find my way back. I think it would be neat if they had another Hell Mouth somewhere (I think they mentioned Cleveland in the finale) and had something going on there. The thing is, pretty much every potential slayer was made a true slayer in the finale so there could be more than one slayer there, maybe some that go bad like Faith did, etc. Doubt it will happen, though. I'd like it but I also wouldn't want it to be EXACTLY like Buffy, either.

~Bonus~ If you could "end" your current life and make a spin off of it what would you call it? What would be the theme (characters new and eliminated, changes you'd make)?
Oh Lord, I'm bad at these kinds of questions! I guess my spin-off would have me living in San Francisco near my sister after I won the lottery so that Tim and I could move there. His mom would either come with us or we'd give her plenty of money so that she could hire somebody to help her with her errands and such. I'd still have my friends back here but would make new ones out there, I would think. It would also have to show my sister and I getting used to being so close geographically, which we haven't been since she was 17 and I was almost 14. It would be good but also hard at times because we are very different in many ways.

Sunday Meme

I forgot about this but figured I'd do Erica's Sunday Brunch:

1) Do you prefer wide rule or college rule notebook paper?
In school I prefered college rule, then my handwriting got bigger and I use the wide rule.

2) What is your favorite writing instrument?
A pen, specifically these handy-dandy Mass Mutual fat pens I get free at work. Woohoo!

3) What is the one office or school supply that you can’t live without?
Post-Its!

4) Staples or paper clips?
Usually staples. Depends on the situation, though. If I know I'm just going to take something apart again I'll use a paper clip.

5) Describe the contents of the top of your desk.
Computer, two speakers, phone, small candy dish holding peppermint Live Savers, water cup and decanter, rolodex, files, papers, mouse and keyboard, paperclip holder, stapler, mug with silverware in it, container for my pens and pencils and scissors, paper holder, fan.

It's Monday again

And I feel like I have another cold! I'm pretty sure I know what's causing this, and I think it's an allergy not a cold. This is the third time I've felt like this since I started working my new job in June. I usually get one cold a year, if that, so this is odd. However, I've been noticing a black dust coming out of the a/c vent above my desk. We mentioned it to the maintenance people and they are supposed to be putting a filter over it but haven't done so yet. I'll mention it to my boss again today. The worst I felt was for about 5 days last month and that was after I had cleaned up the area when it became my permanent desk. I bet I breathed in a lot of it. The other two times were when I had to do some riling around on my upper shelf, which is where most of this stuff lands. I also notice that when I come in some mornings my mousepad has a grainy feel to it and I wipe it off, and it's probably the same stuff. I hope they fix it soon because I shouldn't have to feel like this every few weeks.

Saturday was BJ's baby shower. It was nice -- no stupid games and a small amount of people. The sad thing was that some had also been invited to another shower next weekend because BJ's mom and her DH's mom don't get along. My friend helped plan this and had told her mom what was up and wanted to have one, but at the last minute her mom decided to have her own shower and not invite my friend, therefore not invite other people BJ would probably want because she doesn't know most of her friends. She pretty much ignores her in favor of her younger sister. The thing is, BJ was very happy with the small shower she had from her DH's mom (who is very cool, by the way) and really isn't into having a million showers. She's also getting one at work. When people complain about baby showers they really should remember that often the recipient has no idea nor any control over them.

It's also good but sad about the baby. She was born very early and is going to be in the hospital for at least another five weeks, we think. She's already been there about three or four. It's kinda sad when everybody's happy that the baby just hit 3 pounds. She's doing well though, so that's good.

On the way over we were rearended. Nothing serious, but it was a little funny looking back. We had heavy rains all day Saturday, and Dana was sitting at the light. Then I got this jolt and was knocked forward and back a bit, luckily wearing my seatbelt. Dana's reaction was a simple "I knew that was going to happen," she got out, saw no damage and let the person go. It was just so strange because she wasn't upset or anything. She said whenever there's bad weather and she's driving a relatively new car she expects it. She had a year left to pay on her Sonata when she was sideswipped on the interstate last spring during a snowstorm when this moron decided he had to go faster than everybody else and that he should use the shoulder to do so. Her car was totaled and she's lucky she wasn't totaled as well. So, this Saturn is a 2005 and maybe 6 months old. On the way there we saw two other accidents -- one was a guy who came down the hill too fast and hit a stone wall, the other was also apparently going too fast. He was going fast enough down a hill that he went off the road and UP a hill into the front bushes of a motel! We thought he had hit the motel but on the way back it looked OK. It appears that the bushes stopped him from ending up in the building. People need to realize that when it rains you should go a little slower so you have stopping time and such. Of course, the woman who rearended us ended up flying past us and we were surprised to not see her in another accident farther up the road.

The Friday Fiver

1. How much TV do you watch?
I watch more than I should. Granted, I'm usually stitching or cleaning or something but still... I'd have to say I watch about five hours a day during the week, from 6pm to 11pm or later. On the weekend it's more. I know how horrible that sounds, but it's not like I'm sitting like a lump just watching tv and doing nothing else, often it's background noise. (Should I explain myself any more? LOL)

2. What is your favorite type of programming?
I like documentaries very much and watch the History Channel and Discovery quite a bit. I also like a few comedies, but they are mostly older ones. I also like the CSI shows very much. I'm not into "reality" tv and that seems to be much of what is on these days, in different forms.

3. What is your favorite TV show?
Hmmm.. I really like The Simpsons for comedy and both CSIs for drama. As far as the documentaries go, I really like the Modern Marvels series as well as many others. Of course I enjoy the Civil War series by Burns, but that's on PBS and not on often.

4. Do you watch a TV show from beginning to end, or are you a flipper?
I usually watdh from beginning to end and hate coming into a show midway through. Sometimes I'll flip to the Weather Channel during commercials.

5. Could you give up TV for a month?
I could give up TV programming for a month if I had to. When I first moved here I had no tv and got by, and my house was much cleaner :-) However, I'm assuming I'd still be able to use the TV for DVDs and would take total advantage of my NetFlix subscription.

Busy today

Finally at lunch! Our firm started their big Quota Buster this week and things have already picked up a lot. They do a very large amount of their business during this crazy five-week period every year. It's a contest and there are all sorts of prizes and nice trips for the agents.

So, Dianne sent me a second "Mini-Mindy" as she calls them :-) This one has darker hair and I'm truly "on the water":



The new Theater Thursday isn't up yet so instead I'm answering the Thursday Threesome:

Onesome: Girl- Girls' (or boys') Night Out- Do you ever just feel the need to drop everything and go hang out with your pals? What do you all do when you go out? Something "wild" like partying at the bar, or something as "mild" as just hanging out at a coffee shop and discussing the latest books you've read? Or do you head over to a pal's house to watch the big game?
I do this on occasion, although it's difficult since my best friends have kids and aren't able to be as impulsive as me. It's not always a big deal though, since my favorite thing to do with the girls is to just hang out and jabberjaw, eat bad food and watch a movie. Sometimes we'll go out to a movie or shopping, but with the kid angle it's just easier (and less expensive) to hang out and somebody's house. I'm a homebody, so that's fine with me.

Twosome: Scout- Were you ever a scout as a kid? Which branch? Did you join willingly or was it something you did because everyone else was or your parents thought it would be "good for you?"
I was a Brownie for a few years but then I got into 4H. My sister was in it and my mom was our club leader. Maureen was in a second group for horses and I was in a second group for dogs. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot, and it was where I had my first experience with cross-stitching. And it was good for me :-)

Threesome: Cookies- What's your favorite kind of cookie? What's the strangest cookie you've ever had or heard of but been too afraid to try? And do you buy Girl Scout cookies? Which ones?
My favorite is the kind with the white chocolate chips and Macademia nuts. Yummy! Pretty much any kind will do. The strangest cookie I've had or heard of was a bacon grease cookie they were talking about on a board the other day. I think they use the grease to oil the pan, but it just rubbed me the wrong way and I didn't even open the thread, so I could be wrong. I do buy Girl Scout cookies but try to be careful because if I buy them I eat them. I love the Thin Mints but the title gets me -- it makes me think "thin" but those mints will do anything but make me thin.

Thanks Dianne!

My friend Dianne made a Mindy icon and sent it to me the other day. I'm finally getting around to getting it up here. While I'm at it I'm gonna go for broke and upload a real picture of me. I finally took a picture with our crappy webcam. It's not great but it's me. I like seeing what people look like and figured it was only fair that people see me. I also included my doll I often use in signatures. I've been told the doll is a good likeness, but you can only see my headshot and not the rest of my body. Let's just say I'm a bit more… robust than the doll is :-)

Mindy icon that Dianne made me (I LOVE that she put me near water!)


My headshot


My main doll (I have others that I haven't used yet.)

Kind of a blah day

Tim and I got in an argument over something stupid (usually is, right?) and it took forever for me to fall alseep. That made me madder because I was actually tired enough to go to sleep at a decent hour for the first time in over a week. GRRRR! So, he called me at work to "ask how I was doing." Well, I told him I was fine but grumpy and we went on to other things. It amazes me how we tend to love people who drive us crazy!

I didn't like the Wednesday Matinee questions, nor any of the other Wednesday prompts, so I just picked one from Blog Ideas:


3 things on my desk that I adore.
I'm on my lunch break at work now, so let's see…

1. Just Nan cat design -- I can't remember the name but it's small and has a cat face in four corners and little balls of yarn between them and a cat charm in the middle. I made it a while back for my old office and as soon as this little cubicle was mine I had to bring it in.

2. Hanging behind me on the wall is my Christmas Elegance by Mirabilia. It's too pretty to only take out at Christmas and is Tim's least favorite because he doesn't like all the beads. It's my favorite so I figured I'd have it here where I can see it and others can also appreciate it.

3. I have a cool candle someone sent me years ago in a swap. I've never lit it because it's so neat. It's a Brazil nut pod that was filled with wax and a wick. A friend from Canada sent it to me. It looks like tree bark LOL! The thing is about 3.5 inches in diameter and I can still smell the vanilla scent even though it's old and never been lit.

TV Tuesday

1. Do you have a favorite judge? Least favorite?
I really don't like any of them, but my very least favorite is Judge Judy. I used to like her but she thinks she's better than everybody else now. There are times I'm convinced she makes judgement as soon as the people walk into her court before she's even heard both sides.

2. If you were given the chance would you settle a court case on a judge show?
There's no way I' d do that. I have no interest in making a spectacle of myself for the amusement of others, thank you very much!

3. What's the silliest case you've ever seen on a judge show?
I remember one where one person was suing another for a month's rent, however he had kept the extra month's payment he had recieved when the other person signed the lease. That case lasted about five minutes. He could not understand that since he got that extra month's depost at the beginning he doesn't get it again for the end. I couldn't believe it!

Hu's on first?

OK, this is NOT a political thing, the events just were right for this joke while Bush is in office. I would have found it just as funny if it was Clinton or anyone else. I hate the fact I have to say this, but it not I'll get all sorts of accusations, and may otherwise. People really need to lighten up!

Anyway, I resurrected this joke that was sent to me some time ago. Most people have probably already seen it but I thought it was hysterical!

(We take you now to the Oval Office.)
George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The Chinaman!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you or will you not tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he was in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look, Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China.
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.
(Condi picks up the phone.)
Condi: Rice, here.
George: Rice? Good idea. And a couple of egg rolls, too. Maybe we should send some to the guy in China. And the Middle East. Can you get Chinese food in the Middle East?

Stitching QoTW

Do you stitch small projects one at a time that you can finish quickly, have numerous large projects going at once that you rotate,or both?
How does your current system work for you and have you thought about changing it?
Well, before I discovered the boards I was a one-at-a-time stitcher. Then I found the boards and kept seeing all the lovely Mirabilias and L&Ls and TWs and Just Nans... I can't possibly stitch one at a time with so many lovely designs waiting in the wings! I tend to have large, medium and small ones going on at once. That way I can still finish something every so often, whether it's a little ornament or a large one. Some weeks I only stitch on small items to give myself a break from my many large projects.

As for a system, mine is a bit of a "screaming" rotation -- if a design is screaming at me I gotta stitch on it at least for a few hours. I have a system now where I will essentially start a new project for every two of about the same size I finish. This should help me with my large WIP stash.

Daydreaming on paper

List all the jobs that you have had in your lifetime.

1. Farmhand -- This was from the time I was maybe 7ish until we lost the farm when I was almost 14. Typical stuff on an agricultural farm -- picked grapes, berries, peas, tomatoes, beans, corn (when I was big enough), dug potatoes, etc. When I was about 12 I was the one who manned our produce stand most of the day and was paid $1 an hour. That money was used at the end of the summer to buy my school clothes for the new year.

2. Babysitting -- Again, typical teenage babysitting jobs here and there. I wasn't old enough to work in a regular job but the people in the neighborhood trusted me and knew they wouldn't come home to a bunch of kids in the house or a boy or anything.

3. College Newspaper -- I really only got paid for about half the time I put into it my last two years. I worked about 40 hours a week and was Editor-in-Chief my senior year, but it was also my work study and if I put in all the hours I worked I'd have none left for the last semester.

4. College Bookstore -- I didn't work a lot of hours there but here and there throughout the week, especially at the beginning of each semester. It was pretty easy work and was in addition to my work study money. I also had some various odd jobs here and there -- helping a lady clean her house, babysitting, etc.

5. Burger King -- worked there when I was 16 and through high school. Continued to work there on my summer and winter breaks from college and worked there as a manager for a few years after college while looking for work better suited for me.

6. Classified Ad Mananger -- This was a second job I worked during my first summer after college while I was a regular BK employee and not yet a manager. It was kind of boring for me because I really didn't use my creativity, but the people I worked for were nice.

7. Nanny/Babysitting -- More intense babysitting then when I was a teen. When I was home for two summers during college my second job was babysitting two kids during the day and getting them lunch and breakfast. They were pretty easy to take care of, thank goodness! I also was a nanny to my best friend's baby for a few months while I was unemployed this past year and it worked out well for both of us.

8. Choral Music Specialist -- I worked for a music distributor in Florida selling choral music over the phone to people who called in, mostly from churches and schools. It was OK, but again I wasn't able to use my creative skills.

9. Assistant to the Advertising Manager -- This was at a music publisher and I liked the job for the most part and was finally able to use my creativity and computer skills again. There were some odd politics going on there sometimes, but it was a pretty good place to work. They didn't pay much there, though, but I learned a lot about the business.

10. Assistant Manager, Blockbuster -- One of my second jobs while working at the publisher was as an Asst. Manager at Blockbuster. I had also worked at one in FL. The one in FL was much better. The Store Manager of the one here was a major jerk and a little weasel, and often I wanted to just pound him into the ground (and I probably could have).

11. Video Store Clerk -- After the Blockbuster thing ended because I could no longer take the nonsense, I still needed a second job to supplement my income while living by myself. So I worked for a few years at my friend's husband's video store. That was nice. The people were friendly and the customers were pretty good -- much better than at Blockbuster, I think because they knew it was privately-owned. I also had a similar job at another place that eventually went out of business, called SuperStar Video.

12. Creative Director -- This was the job I had where I was laid off last year. I really loved what I did but the last few months were hell for various reasons. I was literally sick by the time I got laid off and the office was moved out of state. However I learned a great deal about advertising and marketing that I didn't know and learned a lot about business in general. Sadly, one of the biggest lessons I learned was how to document everything so that my butt is covered when my boss decides to blame his mistakes on me. So glad I caught on early and it didn't work!

13. Marketing Specialist at a financial firm -- Able to still be creative but in a very different industry, which isn't a bad thing. So far I'm only working 4 days a week but everybody loves my work and I'm sure that soon I will be full-time. I get benefits even being part-time, which is great and I'm not complaining, especially after looking for work for close to a year :-)

What kind of mermaid are you?

You are the Aqua Marine Mermaid. You are pure and
brave. Strong and True. Your best freind is
your seahorse, your steed. You have fought many
battles in your own life and in the sea. No
matter what challenge you overcome it.
Congratulations there are very few of you.
Would you rate my quiz for I am brave too?


What kind of mermaid are you? (Gorgeous Pics)
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What Peanuts character are you?

You are Franklin!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
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What mystical creature are you?

Yeah, THERE'S a big surprise!


You're a mermaid. The stereotypical mermaid had a
long, fish-like tail that blended with the
human torso at the hips and almost white skin
with red hair or some off color like green or
blue. They were the most fantastic singers and
the siren type of mermaids would lure sailors
with their lovely lullaby into dangerous rocks.
They were mostly harmless and peacefull and
they were content to simply sit on the beach
combing their hair or in the water playing with
friends. They never wore clothes and were
always women. They were sweet and a little
deciteful at times. (please rate)


What Mystical Creature Are You? (Pictures)
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What color am I?

What color are you? (Anime Pictures)
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What color is my brain?

What Color is Your Brain?
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September 11

Well, it's been three years since that horrible day in 2001. What started out as a glorious day in New York turned into a day of horror beyond imagination. Everybody talks about what they were doing and where they were that day, but I just don't have the energy to tell that story again. I had no loved ones lost in that tragedy, and for that I'm very thankful. I'm not a cold person, but the way I try to look at the events of that day is like I'm living through history. I think that's the way I deal with it.

One thing that has bothered me more and more, however, is how people say the buildings failed. Well, if you call two skyscrapers crashing to the ground like that a failure and look at nothing else, I guess they did fail. However, the more I learn about them and the engineering that went into building them, the more grateful I am that they were built the way they were. In the end, because those buildings withstood the crashes as well as they did, 25,000 people were able to escape. How much worse could it have been if:

...the buildings had been decapitated when the planes hit, with the tops crashing to the ground
...the towers had fallen over when hit or later, instead of pancaking
...if the bathtub hadn't held as well as it had and let the river in, flooding the city
...if they hadn't withstood the crash itself long enough for most people to survive

Like I said before, I'm sure it's easy for me to see things this way since I didn't lose anyone that day. To people who lost loved ones, the loss is 100% and how many did escape really doesn't matter.

Those buildings were built better than any other buildings of that era were and built beyond the code of the day. They were built to withstand hurricane winds and the largest plane of the day, I believe a Boeing 707, flying slowly due to being lost. I don't think anybody could have planned for those huge planes flying around 500 and 600 mph crashing in the way they did, full of fuel. The one thing that really wasn't planned for was the heat caused by the jet fuel burning. It did not occur to them when they were simulating the plane crashes. That is a tragedy, since that was the ultimate factor which made the buildings collapse -- the weakening of the steel due to the extreme heat of the fire.

I think that it's impossible to plan for every contingency, especially looking down the line 30 years. I may be in the minority, but I think it's amazing that those towers stayed up as long as they did and I'm thankful for them. I cannot imagine the additional devastation of any of my little points above had happened.

I also wanted to address the whole "Have you forgotten 9-11?" thing. No, I haven't and I doubt i ever will. Just because I do not think we should have gone to war in Iraq for various reasons (this isn't the time nor place to go into that) does NOT mean I have forgotten what happened that horrible day. I don't get offended easily, but I think it's very offensive to treat people like they have forgotten 9-11 simply because they don't agree with the politics of those who are for the war in Iraq. I won't go into details because I don't want to get started on that whole thing, but that kind of treatment really ticks me off.

Friday Forum

1. Fame - or wealth?
I've always said I want to be rich but not famous. I've been told that's not possible, but that's not true. There are plenty of very wealthy people out there who nobody really knows about. Celebrities are not the only wealthy people out there. I'm a private person and don't handle crowds well. I'm afraid Tim and I are the type who, after people keep shoving cameras in our faces, would go off and probably pull a Sean Penn on them LOL! That stuff would drive me crazy!

2. Admired - or feared?
Definitely admired. What's the point in having somebody fear you? If people admire me it's likely they'd want to do the same stuff for me as if they feared me, but they'd do it because they'd WANT to do it, not because they'd be afraid I'd come down on them. One woman who used to work in my office a few years back once told me she was scared of me. Why? Because she was the payroll person and I had received a paycheck loan from the company and she was telling my co-worker/friend that she shouldn't loan me any money if I ask because I was having money problems. Yeah, I went through the roof! So she comes to me crying, saying she didn't mean to upset me. I said I accepted the apology but she shouldn't do it again. So, the fact that she pulled a stunt like that and that I called her on it made her fear me? Gimme a break! Personally, I thought she should have gotten a little more than a "talking-to." I didn't want her to get fired, but she should have had a few days suspension or something, considering she's in a job requiring confidentiality. Who knows how many people she was telling about my business?

3. Loved - or looked up to?
Loved. I think if somebody loves you they also look up to you, at least some of the time. I know you can love a person and hate them at the same time now and then, but if I love a person I usually also look up to them. I know that can be interesting with family sometimes, since you're supposed to love them no matter what.

Thursday's Tattle

I didn't like the Theater Thursday questions so I'm using Thursday's Tattle instead.

Are you the first or last to arrive at a party?
I'm usually one of the first to arrive because I like to get there before there's too many people.

As a couple are you famous for being on time or late?
We are almost always on time, very rarely late.

Do you shop for the gift in advance or the day of the party?
Usually in advance, but sometimes I get rushed and have to do it the day of. I really don't like doing that and avoid it most of the time.

Do you help the host during the party?
Well, I offer. Sometimes they don't want help but if they do I try and do what I can.

Do you ever notice there are some people who never help the host at a party?
Oh yes! Granted, some hosts don't want help and there's not much you can do there. However, it's always good etiquette to at least ask.

Are you the first to leave or usually the last to leave a party?
I'm usually the first. Most of my friends' parties are all afternoon and evening affairs and I do better in small groups than large ones. That much socializing is too much for me and after a while I get overwhelmed and have to have some quiet time.

Wednesday Matinee

Well, I can't republish my blog due to some glitch so who knows when this will really post. At any rate:

1. Resident Evil vs Dawn Of The Dead: who wins?
Actually, I haven't seen either. From what I've seen I'd like Resident Evil better.

2. What's your favorite horror movie?
I'd have to say Halloween. I really like The Fog, too.

3. Who's your favorite male actor?
Tough one. I'd say Kevin Spacey, but I also very much like Ian McKellan, Russell Crowe, Keith Urban (easy to look at) and Denzel Washington.

~I See Dead Sales Bonus~ What's the last movie you saw in theatres you wish you hadn't seen or regret paying to see?
Godsend. A fellow blogger was discussing this not too long ago. We saw it in the theater figuring you couldn't go wrong with DeNiro. Well, he was good and I like Kinnear, but the story just went nowhere at the end. It was very anti-climactic.

The meaning behind my blinkies

As I mentioned in a previous post, Princess made a bunch of blinkies that she said we could hijack as we saw fit. So, I figured I'd explain why I picked the ones I did.



This is obvious to you stitchers out there, I'm sure. For those who aren't stitchers, Mirabilia Designs are from Nora Corbett. They are beautiful cross stitch designs, often including metallics and beads. They are usually women in different forms in flowing dresses -- humans, mermaids, fairies, angels, etc. She has also designed some children. She is my favorite designer and I own most of her designs and truly intend (cough) to stitch all the ones I have.


This is just to show that I'm a Tolkien fan, although a late bloomer. I never read any of his books because I always thought they were "just fantasy" and I'm not usually into that. After seeing the movies I realized that they were much more, and that I HAD to read the books to get the real feel of the characters. It feels more like history to me than fantasy.


As you can see from my picture at the top, I like cats. I like dogs, too. Growing up I was more of a dog person but I also lived on a farm. In a small apartment a cat is the way to go.


I think I would make a good hobbit. I like things to be simple, I don't care to "keep up with the Jones" and I'm a homebody at heart who likes peace and quiet. I'm not too good at growing things, though.


I've always said I was born into the wrong species. Ever since I could walk I loved the water and was a natural swimmer. I swam competitively for a time and still swim laps now and then -- something I must start doing on a regular basis because I always feel great after a swim. I'm much better in the water than on land, even though I look like a big blueberry on a stick in my navy swimsuit.


Do I really need to explain?


I LOVE that she made one of these for each season. Autumn is my favorite season. I didn't realize how much I'd missed it until I moved back north after 10 years of living in Florida. I love seeing the leaves turn, the nights get crisp and the smells in the air. It's not the same here as it was where I grew up, where you only need to go outside in the fall to smell the ripe grapes on the vine.

Current TV Tuesday

1. When you were a kid what was (or is if you're still a kid LOL) your favorite show?
Off the top of my head, I'd say The Muppet Show.

2. What is the silliest kids show you've ever seen? (You can use stupidest, most outrageous, worst, etc if you prefer!
First one that comes to mind is Barney, and I can't stand those Teletubbies, either.

3. If you could be any character in a kids show (past or present) who would you be? Why?
I don't remember his name but I always liked the moose in Captain Kangaroo. I think I would like to be able to drop ping pong balls on people all the time :-)

~Bonus~ This one is kind of for the adults and parents out there. Do you feel kids shows have changed for the better or worse since you were a kid?
I think a lot of kids shows these days are horrible, but maybe if I was a kid I wouldn't think so. However, I think Wishbone is pretty cute. The dog is adorable and I like that it encourages children to read.

TV Tuesday from last week

I didn't answer it last week and since I'm bored and it's almost Tuesday, what the heck?

Now that the Olympics have closed let's review!!

1. How much of the Olympics did you watch?
I watched it every night for the first week, not much the last week. Everything I'm really into is the first week and them I'm burnt out for the track and field stuff.

2. What's your favorite Olympic sport?
Swimming, of course!

3. What's your least favorite Olympic sport or one you feel should be removed?
Boxing. I don't feel it should be moved necessarily, but I just can't stand to watch to grown men beat the crap out of each other and call it sport.

~Bonus~ If you could participate in the Olympics what sport would you want to be in?
The 50m freestyle. When I was competitive we swam in yards and in a 25 yard pool so even a 5o had a stinkin' turn. I would LOVE to swim a 50 where you could just go all out without even having to worry about a turn.

Cool blinkies and memes!

Thanks to Princess for the cool blinkies she posted in her journal for everybody to use. I hijacked a few and finally figured out how to insert them into my sidebar. Very cool!

Since I'm bored I feel like doing another meme: Five by Five

Quickly, without giving it too much thought, write down five things you can see from where you are sitting.
1. my desk
2. DVD stand in bedroom
3. dresser
4. bedside table lamp
5. Smokey

Now, tell us five things about each of those five things.

1. my desk
a. it's a light-colored wood
b. it's small and actually a student's desk
c. it was built by my grandfather for my sister and I have no idea how I ended up with it
d. I can't replace it now because I have no place to put it and refuse to do away with it for sentimental reasons
e. I will probably end up shipping it to FL so my nephew can use it in a few years

2. DVD stand in bedroom
a. holds about half my DVD collection, the rest are in the livingroom
b. I'm too embarassed to admit how many I have (although most were bought used)
c. many of Tim's favorite DVDs are back here while most of mine are in the livingroom
d. the stand is black and narrow with 5 shelves, but the bottom shelf has some VHS tapes
e. I got the stand for about $10 at a clearance sale

3. dresser
a. under all the junk up there is a blue crocheted dresser scarf from Tim's mom
b. it's a cheap dresser but sentimental as it belonged to my grandmother who died in '89
c. the top drawer has a little design on the front and a different handle
d. the dresser has five drawers
e. I can't tell you the last time I sorted stuff in there

4. beside table lamp
a. a Christmas gift from my still-alive grandmother from a few years ago
b. it's supposed to be a touch-tone but it doesn't work so we screw and unscrew the bulb
c. I didn't have the heart to tell her because the first one she sent was stolen from my apartment building because the mailmen left it out by the mailboxes (grrrrr!)
d. the shade is 5 light blue glass panels with pretty blue flowers on each panel
e. I sometimes like to put a blue lightbulb in it to make the room look cozy

5. Smokey

a. Smokey is my Russian Blue kitty who is sitting on top of my clean clothes that I need to put away
b. he loves me and sometimes loves Tim but can be very "sometimey" with others
c. he will be lovey-dovey then turn on you at a moment's notice
d. he likes to curl up with me under the covers early in the morning, especially when it's cold
e. he used to belong to an ex-friend of mine and I'm so glad that she couldn't keep him as she made him completely psycho (even moreso than now)

How egalitarian do you think you are?

Where do you think your views are still skewed and why?

Definition of egalitarian: Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.

I think I'm about as egalitarian as the next person. I don't care about race, politics, religion etc. The only time those things bother me is when somebody is trying to convert me to their way of thinking. I tend to be stubborn and will hear a person out but it's doubtful they will change my mind. When my mind is made up about something there is usually a good reason.

That being said, I think the areas in which I'm not as egalitarian is when it comes to education. I don't mean formal education, but more about the way people talk and act. I think it's because I come from a country background and not much money, yet my mother raised us with manners, to take school seriously, to learn about music and other arts, and to treat people as we would like ourselves to be treated. Sometimes I find that I feel a bit of contempt for people who can't put a sentence together or who make absolutely no sense when they speak or write. It's something I'm working on, believe me. Sometimes these people don't speak English as a first language and I'm OK with that because I figure that I can't speak their language half as well as they can speak mine. However, it really bothers me when I hear/see grown people say "I seen" or something similar. When somebody is trying to make a point and their grammar and sentence structure is completely off, I find that it colors the way I think about that person and whatever point that person is trying to make is lost on me. It's something I'm trying to get past, but it's not easy. I guess I hate to see people using the fact that they are poor as an excuse, since we grew up with little money but my parents didn't raise us to "act poor," if that makes sense.

The Daily Dirt

1. What vegetable do you hate eating?
Lima beans

2. Which music artist do you hate the most? Why?
I really can't stand music from any of the pop divas, or so they are called. I'm not really into the whole pop or hip-hop scene to begin with, and many of these ladies would be nowhere if it wasn't for mixing boards and MTV where people can seem them wearing practically nothing. Sorry, but if Britney was an average-looking girl there's no way she would be that popular. Her singing just isn't that great.

3. What book do you hate?
I'm totally not into trashy romance novels, but I do like The Thorn Birds and Anne Rice books, which can get a little racey.

4. What type of clothing do you hate?
On me or in general? In general, I think the jeans that are so low-cut that one can see what type of underwear a person is wearing is a bit much. Isn't that why it's called "underwear?" For me, I don't like anything clingy up top because I have a gut that won't quit. I do OK with leggings or straight-leg jeans because my legs are not bad, but I have to wear something big on top.

5. Do you agree with "you don't hate a person, you just hate what they've
done (to you)"
For the most part, yes I agree. However, after a person has done several things to me that I hate it does start to color my opinion of that person. I mean, there's only so much you can put up with until enough is enough. That being said, I think there are only two people I know personally who I actually hate, and these are ex-boyfriends of mine who did some pretty bad things which I won't go into here. I have an ex-friend who I call "The Liar." I don't hate her, but I want nothing at all to do with her, can never trust her again and generally dislike her. I find "hate" to be very strong and don't like to apply it unless necessary.

Unconscious Mutterings

Unconscious Mutterings is a free association word game. I list the words they give me and type the first thing that comes to mind

Reporter > trash
Mythology > Greece
Wimbledon > tennis
Civilization > Greece
Punctuation > grammar
Party Games > drinking
Flawless > perfect
Unprecedented > first
Curry > food
Tropical > storm

Stitching Blog

How do you explain cross stitch to non-cross stitching people? Do they get it or do they say “Oh, right.. you do knitting then (or sewing, or needlepoint)"?
Many people confuse cross stitch with needlepoint and other needlework. I usually explain that it's somewhat similar to needlepoint but that it uses little x's and point out that if you look closely you can see that the pictures are made up of tiny x's of various colors. My friend's husband thinks this is the coolest thing. I made Mirabilia's The Kiss for my friend for her 30th birthday and he loves getting close up and focusing on all the little x's and really seeing what the thing is made of. Most people are interested in what I'm doing if they see me working on it during my lunch break at my desk. I also have Christmas Elegance hanging at work because it's one of my favorites and one of Tim's least favorites, so I figure I'd have it there where I can see it up close a lot. People like looking at the detail in it and it's framed in glass so I don't have to worry about people actually touching the stitching. I find it very complimentary that people are so fascinated by it.

So, I think the easiest way to explain it to people is to say they are pictures made of of lots of little x's in different colors. If they want more of an explanation I can always give one, but that's usually enough for them to get a basic idea. What really throws most people seems to be how we get the x's from a chart to the fabric. Many think we somehow transfer the chart to the fabric, kinda like stamped stitching, but they are amazed when I tell them we count and just use plain fabric -- hence the term "counted" cross stitch. That usually boggles their minds :-)

Feeling better now

The muscle relaxers I take are also anti-depressants in large dosages, but I wonder if I have the opposite reaction to them. I don't feel nearly as bad as I did yesterday and this morning. I heard from my friend and everything's fine. I way overreacted and I think it was just the combination of the pain, the drugs, and the crap with my apartment that sent me over the edge. Oh well, it happens. I figure if I can put up with my friends when they have bad days they can put up with me, too :-)

Anyway, haven't done any memes this weekend if I recall, so here's one for today, The Sunday Brunch. Ironically, it's about weddings LOL!

1. Indoor or outdoor weddings?
Outdoor weddings can be beautiful, but there are too many risks when you have to plan a wedding in advance. I can't imagine having planned an outdoor wedding for this weekend in Florida! So, I'd go for an indoor wedding because it's safer and can still be beautiful.

2. How many wedding have you been in?
I've been in 3 weddings: my sister's, my brother's and my best friend's.

3. When you were married (or if there is a wedding in your future), what type of wedding did or would you have?
We will probably get married some day. I want a simple wedding. I don't plan on buying a fancy gown because I'm large and don't need to look larger. I'd wear a nice dress (not white or ivory, but another color) and he could wear a suit. I'd be happy with a maiden of honor and a best man. We'd have it in a church and a nice but not large reception probably in a local hotel. I'd rather spend more money on the reception and have a good time than on the actually wedding and clothes and such. There's no reason for me to get a fancey schmancy wedding dress that I will never wear again and will only wear for a few hours. If I had money to burn I would, but I don't. I've never had dreams of huge weddings, either. I know some do. Actually, I'd rather spend the most on our honeymoon and take a really nice one. I've seen too many people focus on the wedding and not whether or not they are ready to be married and seen it end in disaster.

4. Have you caught the bouquet or garter?
No, and I avoid those games like the plague!

5. Tell us about a funny, scary or memorable wedding moment.
My sister got married for a short time back in 1990 (long story). I was in the wedding. I was about 19 at the time. The night before, at the rehearsal dinner, the best man decided he wasn't ready to play the guitar for his brother who was singing a song during the ceremony. My sister was livid, for obvious reasons. So, she had the piano book (it was a John Denver song, "For Bobbie" or something was the name) and our ex-neighbors in NY was where we were staying and they had a piano. I practiced all night and learned it OK. The next day I had a chance to run it through with the singer once or twice (literally) before the wedding. I got through it OK and it sounded OK on the tape because I'm pretty good at picking out what is important to play and what's not on the fly like that, but I was a bundle of nerves for obvious reasons (I didn't want to ruin my sister's wedding, for one!) and I didn't do as well as when I'd practiced. After the wedding I was sobbing because I thought I'd ruined her wedding and she assured me it was fine and thanked me profusely. I felt better when I saw the video and realized it sounded OK to anyone who doesn't know any better. So, the wedding was nice but the marriage wasn't. Thankfully, she can separate the two.

Nothing like being insignificant

Maybe that's a bit harsh and I'm just in a pissey mood, but I feel VERY insignificant. I had left two messages on my "best friend's" phone yesterday about not being able to make our friend's ceremony. I couldn't find his number and I was in a bad state with my head and the muscle relaxers that I couldn't even remember his last name at the time to look it up. The first message I got upset near the end because I was just overwhelmed with a lot of stuff building up in my life over the last year and for some reason it just got to me that second. I'm bad about talking about this stuff to people because their problems usually seem worse than mine. I called later to apologize for getting upset but that I still just couldn't make it, wasn't able to drive or anything.

Well, it's 4:30 the next day and I haven't heard a word. I figure I'm getting shunned for having the nerve to not drive 40+ minutes when I'm on medication and put up with a reception when I have can barely think due to being in pain from the headache. I'm probably overreacting because sometimes I get irritated when I'm taking this medication, but jeesh! I rarely cry by myself let alone in front of anybody or on a message, and I'm a bit embarrased about that message. I couldn't help it and I cut it off short. However, since my "friends" know I don't act like that you would have thought by now somebody would have given a shit and at least called to make sure I wasn't in the hospital or that I was OK. Nope, not a word.

This is what I get for caring about my friends' kids and their own well-being, I guess. If people want something than I'm a friend. If I need something they aren't around for even a phone call. I've had the impression for a while now that I'm pretty much an afterthought, but this clinches it for me. I hope I'm just in a bad mood and will feel better tomorrow, but it bothers me how often I feel that I jump when I'm needed, but when the shoe's on the other foot nobody gives a shit. I think I could disappear and nobody but Tim and my coworkers would realize it for about a week. Not that I'm implying anything by saying that, but I think it's true.

Good grief!

What a day! I woke up with a horrible headache. Seems I'm grinding my teeth again in my sleep -- joy -- so my TMJ is acting up again. When I woke up I went into the hallway to find it sopping wet. Seems early this morning my sink had backed up and overflowed. This apartment isn't very even so the kitchen floor wasn't very wet because it had all gone through the wall into my hallway. So I called the manager and she came out with a plunger and a wet vac. The wet vac is a very cheap one and doens't work well at all, so my hallway is still wet (you can see shoeprints still, 12 hours later) and I have a fan on it. It's going to reek and I'll have to use my steam cleaner and rug deodorizer a million times to get it better, just like last time.

Yes, I said last time. This doesn't overflow because I put food down the drain (because I don't) or anything like that. It's because I'm on the bottom floor of an old building. What pisses me off is the attitude that this is just the way things go and that I'm not the only one with this problem. So, instead of fixing it the way it should be fixed, they snake it and temporarily fix it. Then in another year or two (God I hope I'm outta here by then!) it will happen again, probably when I'm sleeping or I'm out of the house.

So, after they left I was able to sleep. I fought this headache for hours with Motrin and such but it really didn't help. So, I took my muscle relaxers and slept for about 5 hours. I'm still pretty funky but I'm up. Unfortunately, I was supposed to go to a commitment ceremony of two friends of mine today. With this headache, I knew I couldn't go before I took the muscle relaxers. I was scared to drive, and figured that loud music wouldn't be good. I couldn't find their phone no. and called the banquet hall. It rang and rang and rang, but there was no machine and nobody picked up. So, I called another friend's cell phone to tell her what was up because she's in the wedding and I figured she was there. I don't want to just be a no-show. I feel bad enough about this as it is. Well, I left two messages on her phone but she hasn't gotten back to me hours later so I'm not sure if she got them. I'm probably worrying too much about this, but I normally do not miss events like this and feel terrible about it. Of course, I will find out how much my plate cost me and reimburse them for whatever money was spent on stuff that would have gone to me. It's not fair for them, otherwise, since I told them I would be going.

So, here I sit: sitting at my computer all drugged up with a funky carpet and a cabinet-full of crap all over the kitchen from where I had to get it from under the sink. Screw it -- I'm leaving it there until tomorrow.

Paranoia surrounding terrorism

I don't know what got me thinking about this incident today, but it's been on my mind. This happened right after they started finding Antrax in the mail.

I was working with an older lady (in her late 50s at the time) and we were the only ones in our office. We worked in a three-story building with several offices. Well, she was looking out the window and called me over to look at something. I looked out the window and she pointed to a red stationwagon with a bumper sticker that read, "I (heart) Allah." That bumper sticker really bothered her and she didn't like it. I then said, "Well, I'm more worried about the HazMat truck, the police cars, fire truck and ambulance down in the parking lot." She replies, "Oh! I didn't even see those!" She had to look past all those emergency vehicles to see that bumper sticker. It just struck me as odd.

Ends up somebody had spilled some powder in the downstairs ladies room and the person who found it called 911. Everything was fine, and I think it was smart for the person to call 911. It just amazed me that my coworker was so bothered by a Muslim bumper sticker that she failed to see all those emergency vehicles.

Don't know what my point is, but I've been thinking about it today and wanted to get it down on paper. Would she have had the same reaction if it had said, "I (heart) Jesus" or "I (heart) Buddha"? I doubt it. Yes, the people who have attacked us in the past are Muslim. That does not mean that all Muslims want us dead. I happen to personally know some Muslims who fled the Mid East precisely to get away from people like that.

Friday Five

1. What is your favorite summer activity?
Swimming in a lake, although I haven't done that for years.

2. What was one great thing you did this summer?
Got a job :-)

3. When you were a child, what was your favorite summer activity?
Again, swimming. We used to go down to Keuka Lake every day after we were done with our chores. It was cold but great!

4. What has been your favorite summer vacation?
Going to sound strange, but I think it was when I was about 9 or 10 and we went to Gettysburg for a few days. That trip is what got me interested in American Civil War history and years later in college I still remembered about Devil's Den, Pickett's Charge and Little Round Top. I just was able to better comprehend how everything fit together when I was older. Although, even when I was young and heard about Pickett's Charge I was full of wonder. I couldn't understand why they charged across that field out in the open like that, knowing they would get gunned down. I better understand the idea behind it now, but it still makes me very sad, and I'm a Yankee.
5. Summer goes well into September, but when do you feel like it is over?
I usually end up getting rid of my summer decorations and bringing out the fall ones during the Labor Day weekend. Fall is my favorite season and I'm always impatient for it to start.

Theater Thursday

1) What is your favorite movie about some type of 'animal gone wrong'?
I guess the Jurassic Park movies.

2) Do you end up feeling sorry for the animal, or just scared to death?
Sometimes. I felt very bad for the dog in Cujo because it wasn't his fault he was bitten and ended up with rabies. He was a nice dog when he was sane :(

3) Do you think there is a movie about a 'killer animal' that went way too far or was just a ridiculous movie?
Hmmm... Well, I wasn't overly fond of Man's Best Friend. That scene with him eating the cat was VERY disturbing.

BONUS) What kind of killer animal movie would you like to see made? Scary squirrels anyone?
How about Rampaging Rabbits? That Monty Python bit with the deadly rabbit has always cracked me up.

How money hungry are you?

I took The Ten Million Dollar Test and out of 100 scored 30 and was told:

Congratulations, you have personal integrity. Your answers revealed that you would not go all out to get your hands on ten million bucks. There may be one or two things that you would consider, but overall you're not willing to commit acts that are outright repulsive or might hurt anyone just to hit the jackpot. You likely realize that money does not equal happiness, and don't want to throw all your self-respect out the window for a windfall. You are not easily bought!

Well, that's very good and all, but I wonder if my answers would change if somebody was truly in front of me with $10 million in cash. Taking a test and believing I'd be very moral is one thing. Doing it when the time actually comes is another. I'd like to think I'd act with integrity, but you never really know until you're faced with it.

Wednesday Matinee

1. What are your thoughts about Hollywood making money on the life of Jesus?
Well, it doesn't bother me any more than Hollywood making money of off other people's suffering. I refuse to ever watch Pearl Harbor because it looked like such a water-downed version of the story that it doesn't do justice to the experience. I've seen interviews with Pearl Harbor survivors and these tough men still break down 60 years later when talking about it. As violent as I've heard The Passion of the Christ is, I think it should be that way for people to really understand. Even then it's still a movie, but I think it helps. Of course, I believe that everybody who is old enough to understand it should see Saving Private Ryan at least once. Yes, it's a movie, but it's the first movie I ever saw that really showed a glimpse of what it must have been like for those men on those beaches.

So, I guess the answer to the question (got off track a little) is that it doesn't bother me.

2. What's your favorite movie set in "historical" times (medieval, greek, roman, victorian, etc)?
The first one that comes to mind is Elizabeth. I thought Blanchett was awesome in this movie and have always felt she was robbed of her Oscar. Sorry, but I'm not a Gwyneth fan and was completely bored by Shakespeare in Love. I also really liked Gladiator, and of course we can't forget the infamous Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail.

3. What's your favorite movie based on a true story?
I have a few and it's always hard to pick a favorite. Obviously Elizabeth is one of them. I also like u571 (although it's a shame it couldn't have been a British sub since they were the ones who found most of the Enigmas), K19, Enemy at the Gates, Tora Tora Tora, and The Insider. There are many more I'm sure, but these are off the top of my head.