Fivespot

Your neighborhood librarian tagged me for this five-themed meme. Really hit the spot this week; I think I’m in the mood to do another one.

What were you doing five years ago?
Generally? Um. Working and stuff. Polishing my leather boots on Sunday nights. Carefully maintaining a hygiene routine (home spa days, even!), drinking on the weekends, shooting pool, sleeping in, staying up late, burning the toast. That sort of thing. Childless newlywed type things. Smoking. Trying to quit smoking. Working out. Obsessing about the size of my ass (if only I could have seen the future! I would have embraced what I then loathed!). Reading. Renting The Sopranos from Cranbrook Video. Emptying the ashtrays. You know.

What ~~are~~ were five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
And I quote, from my little notebook:

Lasagna
library
laundry
dishes
mail

What are five snacks you enjoy?

Utz Cheese Balls (forever)
The Chex Mix my dad makes
Tostitos and queso
chocolate-covered pretzels
Cormac’s chin

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

Assign chunks of money to give to members of my family
buy people presents
hire a staff
move
donate large amounts to my favorite charities — and then get taken off their phone lists.

What are five of your bad habits?

I am unremittingly self-centered
I stay up way too late and then am snappish the next day
I procrastinate
I underestimate myself
I am frequently tardy, flighty, and lost in another world while you’re talking to me

What are five places where you have lived?

Louisiana
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Indiana
Virginia

What are five jobs you have had?

dental x-ray developer
country-club waitress
stagehand
bakery clerk
cartoonist

What five people do you want to tag?

I would like to tag five people who lurk here and NEVER SAY HI. I (think I) know who you are. HI! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!

(I know. I hate it when people are like “tag yourself! la la!” and here I am doing it because it’s too late for me to go rooting around for blog addresses for people I dig, but I’ll try and do it for the next one, and soon, because personally, I love being tagged, and i should send that special feeling back out to y’all.)

May 16, 2008 | Filed Under memes | 5 Comments

Things that are lame

bloggers who think their piddling, holier-than-thou grievances are truly worth a 500-word essay
people who write to Miss Manners to win an argument
people who won’t give county teachers their paltry, nominal raises
@#$%& teething
not having the money to do things the way I want them to be done
a horse with a broken leg
this list.

I saw this little meme on gwendomama’s blog and it really hit the spot today. It’s been a long, long week, Supa friends. One of those weeks when I’m actually looking forward to grocery shopping, if only for the chance to self-medicate with Pop-tarts.

April 5, 2008 | Filed Under blather, memes | 8 Comments

Meme! (part the second)

Yesterday: Part the first of a meme from Ventura Mom

Do you like someone? A better question would be, Do you dislike someone? Because the answer to that one would be a ringing “yes”
The last song you listened to? ‘Linger’ by The Cranberries. I miss the mid-90’s.
What time of day were you born? Not sure. Morning-ish, I think. I wasn’t exactly paying attention, I was too busy learning how to breathe.
What’s your favorite number? Seven. Or whatever number wins the lottery, that’d be a good one.
Where did you live in 1987? Maumee, OH. I was in second grade. I looked rather like this.
Are you jealous of anyone? People with money and/or nice kitchens.
Is anyone jealous of you? Homeless people, probably.
Where were you when 9/11 happened? Tallying chits in the back office at the country club.
What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Mutter creative curse words, poke the coin-return button, growl.
Do you consider yourself kind? Yeah, but I’m not sure it’s actually true.
If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be? What, like gun-to-your-head body mod? I have one already but I always thought I’d like to put Owen’s name or initials somewhere. Is that trashy?
If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be? French is really hard for me, so I’d pick that.
Would you move for the person you loved? Already did.
Are you touchy feely? Only with people I’m very comfortable with. So, probably not you. Unless it is you. In which case, how do you get your hair so soft?
What’s your life motto? “Do what makes sense.” My Global Studies teacher used to say it all the time. Sounds obvious, but it’s really helped me. (Then again, common sense = not a strong suit for me)
Name three things that you have on you at all times? debit card, driver’s license, bobby pin.
What’s your favourite town/city? I don’t actually have a favorite … some are better than others, but they all have their flaws.
What was the last thing you paid for with cash? Yesterday’s soft pretzel with cheese.
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? Thank you note, last week. Letter … last month? The month before? I got new stationery, so…
Can you change the oil on a car? Yes. Um, theoretically.
Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her? They’re doing well.
How far back do you know about your ancestry? My dad worked up the genealogy going back to Ireland in the … 19th century, I think.
The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy? Black woolen shift, heels and a wide red leather headband for Matt’s wedding in September.
Does anything hurt on your body right now? My abdominal ligaments. And my tongue. I think I’m allergic to cinnamon.
Have you been burned by love? “Burned By Love,” that’s some Whitesnake power ballad, yes? Ah, but seriously. I’ve been heartbroken by people I thought I loved, but “burned” … how do you get burned by love? Unless the person you loved took you for everything you had, then I could see how. But in my case, no, not so much.

Ah, that’s it? That went by quickly. Too bad.

Stay tuned tomorrow for some interesting news.

November 28, 2006 | Filed Under memes | 4 Comments

I know — a meme!

Courtesy of Ventura Mom. I am totally cheating and dividing it into two: 25 today and 25 to come.

When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? Must tackle that eyebrow situation.
How much cash do you have on you? $6 minus $1.31 for the soft pretzel I had this afternoon.
What’s a word that rhymes with “DOOR?” MORE. (SNORE, BORE, CHORE)
Favorite planet? I prefer Pluto the Planetoid.
Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Der-wha? That would require me getting up and finding my phone. I am guessing it’s Matt.
What is your favorite ring tone? “ring, ring.” Or there’s always “bzzzzt.”
What shirt are you wearing? fitted 3/4 sleeve olive green button-down.
Do you “label” yourself? All the time! That’s what the masking tape is for.
Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? J.Crew
Bright or Dark Room? What, right now? I have a 60-watt light bulb in the lamp. What’s that count as?
What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Total nablopomo ass-saver. I just ran out of things to write and she saved my boot-ay.
What does your watch look like? Rectangular face, wide olive-green canvas strap, giant grommets. It’s hahd-coah.
What were you doing at midnight last night? Trying not to vomit. (Something may have been off with my fruit salad.)
What did your last text message you received on your cell say? “Happy Thanksgiving 2 all!”
Where is your nearest 7-11? Um. Go up two blocks, over one block, and down one block. Can’t miss it. That’s where I buy my Skittles.
What’s a word that you say a lot? Fuck, shit, actually, um, dude. (— Ventura Mom, I’m leaving this in! —MB)
Who told you he/she loved you last? Iain.
Last furry thing you touched? Bag of moldy bread. Barring that, my in-laws’ Gordon Setter.
How many drugs have you done in the last three days? Er, Tums. And that reminds me I need to take my vitamins.
How many rolls of film do you need developed? *snicker* film? Seriously?
Favorite age you have been so far? 19 for the careless and fancy-free aspects … otherwise, now is good.
Your worst enemy? My evil archnemesis, of course.
What is your current desktop picture? For some reason, this is embarrassing to admit, but it’s the generic Green Leaf Nature Background that came with my Mac.
What was the last thing you said to someone? “Yeah, but they’re all up there somewhere.” And then I gestured toward the entertainment center.
If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? Drrrr. Maybe the money. Then I could buy a plane ticket.

More scintillating responses tomorrow! Stay tuned! You never know what disappointingly honest reply I’ll give next!

November 27, 2006 | Filed Under memes | 1 Comment

The things I did for love

Memes: the crutch of NaBloPoMoers everywhere. This one courtesy of LetterB — she’s aces.

Things I Did For Love

played chicken on a dark suburban street
spelled out my affection on looseleaf paper, then braved dozens of jeering sophomores to deliver it
arrived at prom in a 15-year-old VW Rabbit and wearing a lime-green dress
smoked a little too much ganja
skipped an entire semester of Journalism 102
switched to Lucky Strikes and Southern Comfort
nepotism
Wyoming with a medical condition
changed my name
moved 400 miles and forfeited a honeymoon
heartburn, leg cramps, a popped hip, bloating, night sweats, and extreme fatigue
stitches. Babymaker stitches.
That suppository thing
Or that time I scooped all the poop out of the bathwater
kept going, every day.

November 15, 2006 | Filed Under family unit, love life, memes, sappy crap | 6 Comments

Ten Simple Pleasures

Tagged by Jenijen at Not Calm (dot com).

One: I took Owen on a walk a few weeks ago and discovered a hidden path to a really nice neighborhood and a huge, well-cared-for public playground.

Two: I like that he likes to hold my hand.

Three: Dollar-bin dinosaurs.

Four: My favorite, most comfortable green chair.

Five: Garlic. Butter. Bread.

Six: The only thing better than garlic bread is Reese’s.

Seven: New shirt!

Eight: These words belong on every wedding invitation.

Nine: Iain plays guitar, Owen and I dance, my heart bubbles over.

Ten: This laugh. Nothing can be wrong if he be right.

Tagging: Oh, I can’t keep straight who hates memes and who grudgingly accepts them. If you do this meme, drop a comment and I’ll link to yours, too.

Tagging update: Max of Son of Max did a set, and it’s here on Flickr. Go check it out!

May 16, 2006 | Filed Under baby, family unit, memes, pix | 8 Comments

I need a meme, or something.

Two disparate topics about which I considered creating complete and individual entries, but in laziness chose instead to combine into one superlame conglomerate post that doesn’t make any sense:

Wanting a dog the way some women want babies, with a yearning, aching need. I mean, I do yearn and ache for more kids, and I think Owen kicks major ~~infant~~ toddler ass, don’t get me wrong — but right now I am yearning for a dog. A dog! Imagine the joy! He’d bark and sit and fetch and eat kibble and pee on the rug! a dog! I could pet him and brush him and give him a witty, faux-regal name and a corresponding vomitous nickname! Mister Farley Von Snugglesworth, Snuggsy for short! A dog! We’d get a vet and buy a leash and stock up on worm pills! A dog, oh to have a dog!
The first concert I ever went to was Rage Against The Machine, Cobo Arena, Detroit, 1997. It was pretty cool. Half a dozen of the Churchills Gang, including me, squeezed into Ben’s ‘84 Chevy Nova and put-putted up I-75 to see the head-banging righteousness of Zac and the rest of the Rage. I got a kickass poster, the image of which I cannot seem to find on Google, and then we drove home, the end. I am also remembering other concerts I have seen, and that list shamefully, embarrassingly includes: The Verve Pipe, Moby, Bush, Barenaked Ladies, Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Lilith Fair thing, and Earth Wind and Fire [let’s hear it for municipal concert series!]. Also, can you tell precisely what year I stopped attending live shows? I bet you can!

And … that’s it? That’s all I got? One, two, buckle your shoe, this entry smells like poo.

I’m all in the mood to blog, and that’s the best I come up with? Shameful. It’s like, I put my cozy blogging sweater on, and my trusty nerd cap, and I got out my inkwell and blotter and quill, and I’m up here in the garrett with fucking writer’s block. WTF, writer’s block! Nerd cap, do your business! Make some words!

p.s. atomictonic ladies don’t have to answer, but the rest of you: What was your first concert? Was it better or worse than Earth Wind and Fire?

April 17, 2006 | Filed Under blather, memes, neuroses | 17 Comments

Seven Things, because I obey the pregnant ladies

Nat at MooseMunch tagged me. It was ages ago, but as my tombstone is going to say, “Better Late Than Never.”

Seven movies I have loved (in no particular order):

Gone with the Wind
Rushmore
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
High Fidelity
Lost in Translation
Raising Arizona

Seven books I love:

Dinosaur Roar, because it’s been Owen’s bedtime book for the last year
Marty, a book published in 1953 about a “girl reporter” which I just picked up from the Book Thing and which I will love forever
Gone with the Wind, which I read every summer throughout high school
Little Women, because the copy I have used to be my mother’s
A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson, cause he’s funny and talented and Iain’s threatened to make me hike the AT
Miss Piggy’s Guide to Life, because I’m a nerd for Jim Henson
You know what, this is too hard.

Seven things I say:

Holy crap!
Shit
Dammit
No-no, honey
What’s for dinner?
What’s our game plan?
God, I’m tired

Seven things that I look for in a city

Culture: museums, art; museums, other; music
Personality: down-home, friendly, welcoming, stick-to-it-iveness
Education: a quality library system, good collegiate infrastructure
Money: Preferably not broke-ass and drowning in debt
Nature: Good parks system
Housing: Low housing prices would be STELLAR
You know what? Pittsburgh. I look at a city and I say, is it Pittsburgh? If the answer is yes, then I like it.

Seven things to do before I die: