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Regulars

I hadn’t expected it, but writing these A-to-Z Challenge posts is really knocking the smiley-faced sun off the corner of my crayon-and-butcher-paper world. I have a bunch of recipes and silly conversations and typical Sadie nonsense to share, just lacking the mental energy.

It also feels wrong… offensive, somehow, to the memories I’m writing out… were I to be glib or flip in a post directly after one that’s so hard and heavy.

Stick with me, dear Regular Readers. I’ll be back to my usual blend of exaggeration ad absurdum and polysyndetics and rhetorical tripletting in no time. Or, at the latest, May 1st (when the challenge ends).

Til then, if you’re actually enjoying the “Memories” posts I’ve been doing for the A-to-Z, let me know.  They are psychically draining (you know what I mean.  not, like, psychic — woo woo, you’re going to take a trip and meet a handsome stranger; just psychic, like, my brain be tired and needs a cool lemonade and a porch swing after wringing one of those suckers out), and y’all’s feedback and encouragement are more valuable to me than fat stacks of cash, truly great lip gloss, or choco…

Er, maybe not chocolate.

Dude.  Sorry.  But chocolate?  You’d know I was shining you up if I went that far.  =P

Glass Cleaning Day

Dirty Depression Glass
Dirty! Dirty!
Before…

As I was setting up to take yesterday’s picture of the pitcher, I couldn’t ignore the gross, disgusting layer of Arizona Dust Storm Beige all over the Depression Glass on the hutch in the dining room.  Because the glass is so fragile — and because I have my moments of sheer, unbridled klutziness — I generally only polish these pieces that sit out a couple times per year.

When it’s gotten too crusted up for the swiffy-foofy thing.

And I can’t stand to look at it any more.

Like, for instance, today.

Argh!

Man, cleaning this glass makes me a nervous wreck. I’m telling you… I’d rather change 117 ceiling lightbulbs on Hubs’ teetery-tottery step ladder than handle this ancient stuff. Love to look at it; loath to clean it.

No kindly volunteers, eh?

Fine. Fine! I’mma quit procrastinating now and go do it.

All Clean
Sparkly!
After…

2 hours later, Nana’s hutch is gleaming, and my old green glass is sparkling away in the spring sunshine peeping through the back door.  I also learned how to juggle while simultaneously cussing and slipping in wood polish overspray on the tile floor.  That was awesome.  I always wanted a real Stupid Human Trick of my very own.

How the heck did I get dust all down my front?

I need a drink.

 

(pictured: assorted pieces of green “Cameo/Dancing Girl/Ballerina” by Hocking Glass Co., 1930-1934; clear, etched water tumbler in “Springtime” by Monogah Glass Co., ca. 1927; frosted glass salad set in “Gay Fad - Ivy” by Hazel Atlas, ca. 1947; solid Cherry hardwood drop-leaf dining table by Ethan Allen, ca. 1960; solid Cherry hardwood hutch by Ethan Allen, ca. 1965)

My daughter’s high school was shut down today. Overnight, someone broke in, spray painted racial and ethnic slurs on several buildings, destroyed most of the main office, smashed out a bunch of windows, and left a threatening message indicating there might be a bomb on campus.

Faculty shifted to the school’s emergency lockout plan pretty quickly, but most of the buses were already pulling through the loop and had made drop-offs by that time. Students were ushered to and held on the football field. Police came in, including a specialized K-9 sniffer unit from another county. Everyone was so shaken, every time the PA system crackled, the kids cringed and yelped. Buses were called back, parents were phoned, and kids were sent home shortly before 9AM.

This was bad. Really bad. Kid took pictures before police roped areas off. The hate left on the walls of her school was unimaginably vicious. The destruction in the office alone must be in tens of thousands of dollars that our little city doesn’t even have!

And then there’s the whole bomb threat issue. Yeah, that. Spray painting a temper tantrum tirade of nasty words is one thing, but a bomb? Even the hollow threat of a bomb?! This is my daughter’s school! This is supposed to be the place where she is safest when she’s not in the safety of my home. How dare anyone threaten my child this way! It may have taken a lot of anger to spray paint and wreak destruction on that school the way you did, whoever you are, but it pales in comparison to the anger I feel right now.

Everyone is safe. Kid is home. Her friends are home. They’re in that post-scare adrenaline bravada high now, talking big about how small the person/people who did this must be. Thank god.

I’m the one who’s still plum purple mad and disturbed. What in the absolute holy hell is wrong with people that they can do things like this?

When asked what my favorite day is, I usually say Halloween or my birthday or something staid and expected like that.

Between you and me?  Today, February 29th, is my favorite.

Leap Day exists for just 24 hours every 4 years.  When it arrives, it’s like the opening of a secret portal to a wondrous parallel world that we mere and unwashed mortals can only handle in the most measured of doses.  I think magic can happen on February 29th.  On a made up day?  A day that is able to play hide-and-seek with us?  A day that resides between the folds of two real days?  How could magic not happen there!

Make it happen.

If I am lucky, I will enjoy about 20 Leap Days in my entire lifetime.  Today is my ninth, and I will treasure it with a private smile and little knowing wink to the unseen pixies or fairies or whatever magical creatures there are likewise visiting us from Leap World.

Happy Leap Day, everyone.

Smile.

Wink.

Holy crap!  It rained!

Rough translation for those of you who do not live in Phoenix, Arizona:  Holy crap!  A marauding band of unicorns festooned in Mardi Gras grandeur just danced the Lambada through my living room!

Hubs is in Vegas setting up something-something, I think recognized the word “server” in there, geekity-speak thing for a client.  He left this morning, and should be back Wednesday night, Thursday afternoon at the latest.

And now, it’s dark.  Like, really dark.  Like, as in, we have no street lights in our neighborhood, and — holy good-block-bad-block-dark-block-crack-block! — is it dark out there.

I’m also pretty sure all the villains, monsters and boogeymen from every TV show, movie and book that has ever existed in the entire history of ever have conspired to make night-bumpy sounds outside our house.

I am afraid of 9 out of 69 common fears

Cross out the things you’re afraid of and put your score at the top.

  1. the dark
  2. staying single forever
  3. being a parent
  4. giving birth
  5. being myself in front of others
  6. open spaces
  7. closed spaces
  8. heights
  9. dogs
  10. birds
  11. fish
  12. spiders
  13. flowers or other plants
  14. being touched   
  15. fire
  16. deep water
  17. snakes
  18. silk
  19. the ocean
  20. failure
  21. success
  22. thunder/lightning 
  23. frogs/toads
  24. significant other’s dad
  25. significant other’s mom 
  26. rats
  27. jumping from high places
  28. snow
  29. rain
  30. wind
  31. crossing hanging bridges
  32. death
  33. heaven
  34. being robbed
  35. falling
  36. clowns
  37. dolls
  38. large crowds of people
  39. men
  40. women
  41. having great responsibilities
  42. doctors, including dentists
  43. tornado
  44. hurricanes
  45. incurable diseases
  46. sharks
  47. friday the 13th
  48. ghosts
  49. poverty
  50. Halloween
  51. school
  52. trains
  53. odd numbers
  54. even numbers
  55. being alone
  56. becoming blind
  57. becoming deaf
  58. growing up
  59. creepy noises in the night
  60. bee stings
  61. not accomplishing my dreams/goals
  62. needles
  63. blood
  64. dinosaurs
  65. the welcome mat
  66. high speed
  67. throwing up
  68. falling in love
  69. super secrets

If you repost this, it’s been requested that you title it “I’m afraid of _ out of 69 common fears”

If you get more than 30, I strongly recommend some counseling.

If you get more than 20, you’re paranoid.

If you get 10-20, you are normal.

If you get 10 or less, you’re fearless.

(source: rewritingnormal )

[X] What Applies

1. Your boy side

[] You love hoodies. 
[] You love jeans. 
[] Dogs are better than cats. 
[] It’s hilarious when people get hurt.
[] Shopping is torture.
[] Sad movies suck.
[X] You own a car racing game. 
[X] You played with Hot Wheels cars as a kid.
[] At some point in time you wanted to be a firefighter.
[X] You owned a DS, PS2, N64, or Sega. 
[] You used to be obsessed with Power Rangers. 
[X] You have watched sports on TV.
[X] Gory movies are cool. 
[] You go to your dad for advice. 
[] You own, like, a trillion baseball caps. 
[] You used to collect hockey cards. 
[X] Baggy sweats are cool to wear.
[X] It’s kinda weird to have sleepovers with a bunch of people. 
[X] Green, black, red, blue, or silver is one of your favorite colors. 
[] You love to go crazy, and not care what people think. 
[] Sports are fun.
[] You talk with food in your mouth. 
[] You sleep with your socks on at night. 
[X] You have fished at least once.

2. Your girl side

[] You love to shop. 
[X] You wear eyeliner.
[] You wear the color pink.
[X] You go to your mom to talk.
[X] You consider cheerleading a sport. 
[] You hate wearing the color black. 
[] You like going to the mall.
[X] You like getting manicures and/or pedicures.
[X] You like wearing jewelry. 
[X] You cried watching THE NOTEBOOK.
[] Dresses are a big part of your wardrobe. 
[X] Shopping is one of your favorite hobbies. 
[] You don’t like the movie STAR WARS. 
[] You are/were in gymnastics. 
[X] It takes you around one hour to shower, get dressed, and make-up.
[] You smile a lot more than you should. 
[X] You have more than 10 pairs of shoes.
[X] You care about what you look like. 
[] You like wearing dresses when you can. 
[] You like wearing high heel shoes. 
[X] You used to play with dolls as little kid. 
[] You like putting make-up on others. 
[] You like being the star of everything.

3. Appearance 

[] I am shorter than 5′5″.
[X] I have many scars. 
[] I tan easily. 
[] I wish my hair was a different color.
[X] I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color. 
[] I have a tattoo. 
[X] I am self-conscious about my appearance. 
[] I’ve had/have braces. 
[X] I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger. 
[X] I have more than two piercings. 
[X] I have/had piercings in places besides my ears.

4. Experiences

[X] I’ve gotten lost in my city. 
[X] I’ve seen a shooting star. 
[X] I’ve wished on a shooting star. 
[X] I’ve seen a meteor shower. 
[X] I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas. 
[X] I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator. 
[X] I’ve kicked a guy where it hurts. 
[X] I’ve been to a casino. 
[] I’ve been skydiving. 
[X] I’ve gone skinny-dipping. 
[] I’ve drunk a whole gallon of milk in one hour. 
[X] I’ve crashed a car. 
[X] I’ve been skiing. 
[X] I’ve been in a musical. 
[X] I’ve caught a snowflake or snow on my tongue. 
[] I’ve seen the northern lights. 
[X] I’ve sat on a rooftop at night. 
[X] I’ve played a prank on someone. 
[X] I’ve ridden in a taxi. 
[X] I’ve seen THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. 
[X] I’ve eaten sushi. 
[] I’ve been snowboarding.

5. Relationships

[] I’m single. 
[] I’m in a relationship. 
[] I’m engaged. 
[X] I’m married. 
[X] I miss someone right now. 
[] I’ve gotten divorced. 
[X] I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t. 
[X] I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did.

6. Honesty/Crime

[X] I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t. 
[] I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t. 
[X] I’ve snuck out. 
[X] I’ve lied to my parents about where I am. 
[] I’ve cheated while playing a game. 
[X] I’ve run a red light. 
[X] I’ve witnessed a crime. 
[X] I’ve been in a fist fight. 
[] I’ve been arrested.

7. Death and suicide

[X] I’m afraid of dying.
[X] I hate funerals. 
[X] I’ve seen someone/something dying. 
[X] Someone close to me has attempted/committed suicide. 
[] I’ve planned my own suicide before.
[] I’ve written a eulogy for myself.

8. Random

[X] I can sing well. 
[] Stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant. 
[] I open up to others easily. 
[] I watch the news.
[] I don’t kill bugs.
[X] I sing in the shower. 
[] I am a morning person. 
[] I paid for a cell phone ring tone. 
[] I am a sports fanatic. 
[] I twirl my hair. 
[X] I care about grammar. 
[] I have “?”’s in my screen name.
[] I’ve copied more than 30 cd’s in a day. 
[X] I bake well.
[] My favorite color is either white, yellow, pink, red, blue, black, purple, or orange. 
[X] I would wear pajamas to school.
[] I like Martha Stewart. 
[X] I know how to shoot a gun. 
[] I laugh at my own jokes. cause they’re funny
[] I eat fast food weekly.
[X] I’ve not turned anything in and still got an “A” in a certain class. 
[X] I can’t sleep if there is a spider/cockroach in the room. 
[X] I am ticklish. 
[] I love white chocolate. 
[X] I bite my nails. 
[X] I’m good at remembering faces. 
[] I’m good at remembering names. 
[X] I’m good at remembering dates. 
[] I honestly have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.

[X] All my answers were totally honest.

Write the first movie that comes to mind…
(For your entertainment and my chagrin, I’ll do this without the aid of the all-knowing Google or IMDb. This should be super awesome, since I can never remember a galldanged thing on the spot. Oh, boy).

01. Jake Gyllenhaal:  The one with the scary, giant rabbit.  Dude.  Nightmares!
02. Kirsten Dunst: AN INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. Hah! Nailed it.
03. Johnny Depp: The one where he totally recreated this whole Charlie Chaplin bit with the hat. You know… it had the chick who was also in that John Hughes movie where she was in love with the guy who was in love with the chick who played Caroline on “Caroline in the City.”
04. Lindsay Lohan: Wasn’t she in that HERBIE remake movie?
05. Orlando Bloom: THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE BLAH BLAH WHATEVER. All of them. Aaaaand score 2 for me!
06. Angelina Jolie: That weird spy one with that guy who played the creepy guy in SCARY MOVIE. They were all Russian sleeper agents or something.
07. Brad Pitt: AN INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. What? That is soooo not cheating! Okay, fine. Sheesh. KALIFORNIA.
08. Cameron Diaz: THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. I’m on a roll. Woot!
09. Owen Wilson: Isn’t he like a Baldwin person, with siblings who look just like him and also act? Yeah. I get alla them confused. Um… MEET THE PARENTS? Was that him or one of his doppelgangin’ brethren?
10. Reese Witherspoon: Oh! Oh! Uh… That chick who played Buffy and that hot guy Reese Witherspoon was married to for a while… Yeah, them. They were all in that modernization of Liaisons Dangereuses.
11. Ben Stiller: Darn it. I used up my FOCKERS answer on that Wilson guy. Shoot. Um… That one that starts with a “Z”. ZOOLANDER? Yeah, that sounds right.
12. Maggie Gyllenhaal: Do I know who she is? I can kinda see her in my head, but… Yeah. I’m yanking a blank here.
13. Jim Carrey: DUMB & DUMBER. That’s right. I got another one. Fear it!
14. Scarlett Johanssen: Oh! Yeah! That one with Mr. Funnyguydude, and he whispers something to her at the end. And everyone was all losing their crap, all like, “What did he whisper? ZzzzzOMG! What did he say?!” And I was like, “Pssh. Doesn’t matter what he whispered, only that he did it.” That one. That was totally her.
15. Eddie Murphy: That one I haven’t seen yet. TOWER HEIST? Something like that. Was it any good? Should I even bother with the Redboxing it?
16. Winona Ryder: HEATHERS. Hah!
17. Leonardo DiCaprio: Well, TITANIC, of course, but that isn’t what came to mind first. I actually thought of the one with all the blood diamonds first. That was a seriously good movie. Oh, and that one with the top spinning at the end. Yeah, I have my theories about that one. Also a good movie. But yeah… TITANIC. Duh.
18. Uma Thurman: Oh, what the crazy heck was it called. It had, like, everyone in it. And all the clocks are set to… 4:20? I think? And that one guy is always talking about Cheeseburger Royales at the McDonald’s in France. Oh, and Miss Uma dances with John Travolta. What the… blarg… it’s on the tip of my tongue!
19. Adam Sandler: The one with the remote control that can pause/rewind/fast-forward real life. And The Fonz plays his dad, and he dies! OMG, I seriously cried a big fat bucket when he died.
20. Rachel McAdams: I know who she is, but I get her confused with that other chick who was in the Julia Child movie, like, all the dang time. I have no idea why. They don’t even really look much alike. So, ok. This is the chick who was in THE NOTEBOOK? Right? And the other chick was the Julia Child chick and the fluffy perfect princess and all that. Yeah.
21. Bill Murray: That’s the guy from the Scarlett Johanssen movie! Dang it. Okay, fine. I’m not going to edit and fix it. Okay. Bill Murray. Bill Murray. Oh! They accidentally killed him in ZOMBIELAND. But… Wasn’t he in, like, eeeeevvvvvverrryyything before that? Like, GROUNDHOG DAY and CADDYSHACK and GHOSTBUSTERS and stuff? yeah. Mr. Funnyguydudebuddy! I get points for this one.
22. Julia Roberts: Okay, two hit me at basically once, but I can only think of one title. First, PRETTY WOMAN. The other was the one where she plays that babe-a-licious lawyer chick and absolutely destroys the… water company, I think it was. That was a good movie. She was all sassy.
23. Vince Vaughn: Was he in Maggie Gyllenhaal movies? Yeah. I don’t know who he is. Didn’t he play, like, football or something before this, too? I don’t know.
24. Natalie Portman: WHERE THE HEART IS. Woohoo!
25. Jude Law: Oh, I like him. He was in that movie with Uma Thurman, but not the one… OMG… That Uma Thurman movie with John Travolta was PULP goddanged FICTION. Anyway. Jude Law was in some other movie with Miss Uma. He was also in, uh, what was it called… with that guy… Ben Affleck’s friend. That guy. And he was totally pulling some b.s. identity theft on Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow. Not Tom Riddle. That’s Harry Potter. Something liiiiike that, though. Gosh darn it. Um…
26. Nicole Kidman: She was in the one with an actual Baldwin doppelganger person, and the guy’s some sort of surgeon dude, and he slams his fist on the table, and he’s all like, “I’m not playing God! I AM GOD!” That was a really good movie. No clue what the crud it was called, though.
27. Ashton Kutcher: Wasn’t he in AMERICAN PIE? Maybe? No? Um… Shoot. Now, of course, I can’t get “Punk’d” out of my head. Oh! Uh! With the chick. Oh! Natalie Portman! I should extra credit for that. And they have sex, but they agree not to fall in love with each other. Yeah, that one.
28. Dakota Fanning: She was in that one with Tom Crazyass Cruise and the aliens are invading.
29. Josh Hartnett: I get him confused with the Aussie guy who played Joker in the last Batman movie. Yeah, the guy who died, like right as the movie was fixing to premiere. So… All I can see is the Joker guy in my head now. Bummer.
30. Christina Ricci: She played Wednesday Addams in THE ADDAMS FAMILY remake. Hah! Double points for me!
31. Colin Farrell: I kinda don’t like his work. Sorry. He was in that goddawful racecar movie, and the one where he was the weatherman. Oh, right. That was the name of it, wasn’t it? Duh. THE WEATHERMAN.
32. Halle Berry: What’s that one where she gets busy with the Slingblade guy? That one. I’m so awesome. I can’t remember a single detail about the movie other than that. Heck, I’m not even sure it was the Slingblade guy. Fooey.
33. Seann William Scott: I have no idea who that is.
34. Jennifer Aniston: The one with the three guys plotting to kill their bosses. It had the word “Bosses” or “Boss” in the title. Came out, like, last year. Yeah. That one.
35. Johnny Knoxville: Oh, I do know who he is. Okay. Wait. Didn’t they make a movie off the “Jackass” TV show? Okay, then. JACKASS. No, not you! Sorry. I mean the movie!
36. Kate Hudson: Whoa. I had to pull up from the keys real quick, there. I had her confused with Jennifer Hudson for a second. Wow. Where is my mind? Okay. Kate Hudson. Goldie Hawn’s identical twin daughter. Yeah… She was in… Oh! She was the main chick in HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS. Hah! Hah hah, I say!
37. Tom Cruise: I really don’t dig on this guy. Um. He’s been in everything. Just.. whatever. I don’t know. RISKY BUSINESS. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE BLAH BLAH PART 17. VANILLA say-am-i-having-a-hemorrhage-induced-hallucination SKY. The one with the “Show me the money” dance. All that stuff.
38. Keira Knightley: Oh! yeah, she’s the chick in the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN movies. But that wasn’t the first thing that came to mind. She was also in that one movie a few years ago where her little sister was jealous of Miss Kiera’s beau, so she accused him of rape. Then he was shipped off to war, and everyone died before things could be set right. Man, that was a sad movie. So good. So sad. No idea what it was called.

(source: Survey #293 )

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?  Closed!  Dudebuddy, the closet monster might slip out in the middle of the night and snack me!

2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?  No.  I’m fussy about the products I use.  What?  I have my prissy princess moments.

3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?  Pulled out, but I remake the bed completely every morning.

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?  I haven’t personally stolen a street sign, no.  I was with some friends who took one once.

5: Do you like to use post-it notes?  I do.  I like the oversized, lined ones.

6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?  Yes.  To be fair, I cut out a lot of coupons.

7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?  My body reacts incorrectly to bee venom, so I’d have to take on the bear.  I’m related to Davey Crockett, though; I might actually stand a chance!

8: Do you have freckles?  More than you could count in both our lifetimes.

9: Do you always smile for pictures?  I almost never smile for pictures.  I often don’t look right at the camera, either.

10: What is your biggest pet peeve?  I get pretty irrational about folks not wringing out the sponge/dishrag.  I know that’s ridiculous!  That’s why it’s a peeve!

11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk?  I only count my steps on staircases.  Weird, but true.

12: Have you ever peed in the woods?  I have.

13: What about pooped in the woods?  That too.  Er… Two.  Har har.

14: Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing?  I do.  I even ask people to dance when we do that shuffle-same-way-whoops-can’t-get-around-you thing in the store.  I haven’t had anyone take me up on the offer yet.  Dammit.

15: Do you chew your pens and pencils?  No, I don’t chew on stuff… Just people!  Muahahaha!

16: How many people have you slept with this week?  One.

17: What size is your bed?  We have a California King.

18: What is your song of the week?  I don’t know that I ever have a song of the week.  ”Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj has been stuck in my head for a couple days, though.

19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink?  Sure, why not.   I mean, as long as he isn’t color-blind, and some joker told him it’s lime green. That’s not cool.

20: Do you still watch cartoons?  Does “Family Guy” count?

21: What’s your least favorite movie?  In the history of ever?  Wow, way to put a chick on the spot, there.  Uh.  Umm.  Oh!  Okay.  SHANE.  I had to watch that dreck for film studies.  Aside from whatshistname Jack Palance playing the black hat, the whole movie was a simpering, chest-clutching, postwar messianics mess.

22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?  Well, I’d… Oooh, you sneaky-sneak!  You almost got the super secret hidey-hole location out of me!

23: What do you drink with dinner?  Nothing.

24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in?  I don’t eat fast food, and I would never eat a chicken “nugget.”  Can you show me on the birdy where the “nugget” is?  No?  Exactly.

25: What is your favorite food?  Chicken and dumplings.  I also really like broccoli.

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?  WHERE THE HEART IS, BABES IN TOYLAND (1934), most of John Hughes’ oeuvre.

27: Last person you kissed/kissed you?  Hubs.

28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout?  Nope.  My mother and daughter were.

29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?  I probably wouldn’t, but I don’t see anything wrong with doing so.  Also?  Naked pays well.  Can’t hate.

30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?  A few months ago, I sent a handwritten letter to my great-grandmother.

31: Can you change the oil on a car?  I can.  You didn’t ask me if I would.  That?  That’s a different question.

32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket?  I have, but not in many years.

33: Ever ran out of gas?  In a car with a punk-busted gas gauge, yes.  And?  My then two-year-old daughter was in the car with me.  Any guesses what we were doing the following weekend?  If you said, “Selling that POS Nissan that left you and your baby stranded” you’d be correct, sir.  I won’t suffer a car that leaves me stranded.

34: Favorite kind of sandwich?  Turkey, provalone, sprouts, mayo, yellow mustard on some sort of artisan bread.  Honey and Rosemary, maybe.

35: Best thing to eat for breakfast?  Coffee.  Duh.

36: What is your usual bedtime?  I go to bed about 1AM, but I usually read until 2 or so.

37: Are you lazy?  Only when I’m procrastinating and/or it’s a task I don’t actually want to do.

38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?  Let’s see… I was Raggedy Ann when I was three, Isis when I was four, Wicked Witch of the West at five, a fairy princess at six, a something something at seven… I’d have to lug out the photo albums to double check all those and go any further.  No, I’m not going to get the albums.  See?  I’m being lazy.

39: What is your Chinese astrological sign? I am a Water Rat.

40: How many languages can you speak?  Two.  Three if you count ASL.

41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions?  I have subscriptions to “Better Homes”, “Cuisine”, “Bon Appetit”, and “Phoenix Home & Garden”.

42: Which are better Legos or Lincoln Logs?  Legos.  Dude, seriously.  Legos.

43: Are you stubborn?  I am very stubborn.

44: Who is better Leno or Letterman?  I don’t watch late night chat shows.

45: Ever watch soap operas?  I watched “Days of Our Lives” with my grandma when she was still alive.

46: Are you afraid of heights?  I don’t believe I’m technically afraid of heights.  I’m afraid of the little voice in my head that pipes up and says, “I wonder what it would be like to fall… alll… that… way.”

47: Do you sing in the car?  I only sing in the car when no-one else is in the car with me, and I’m not stopped in traffic.

48: Do you sing in the shower?  I almost always sing in the shower.

49: Do you dance in the car?  Yeah, okay, I might wiggle my booty a little bit.

50: Ever used a gun?  I have.  I’m an excellent shot.

51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?  My high school graduation photos.  Yes, cameras existed back then.  Shocker.

52: Do you think musicals are cheesy?  I like musicals.  I think I’m the only person I know who does.

53: Is Christmas stressful?  It can be.  That’s why we have booze.

54: Ever eat a Pierogi?  I like Pierogis…  Pierogi… Pierogii?  I like them thangs.

55: Favorite type of fruit pie?  I’m not real big on fruit pies.  I don’t know.  You’ve got the best odds of my eating it if it’s blueberry, but even then… We’re talking maybe 50-50.  If I’mma have some pie, I prefer the custard types.

56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?  I ran through all the typical doctor, lawyer, rock star dreams all little kids have.  When I was about 11, though, I remember, like, seriously trying to research how much it would cost to buy my own radio station.

57: Do you believe in ghosts?  I don’t think so, but there are definitely some whack-a-doodle things in the world that we don’t fully understand.

58: Ever have a deja-vu feeling?  I get that on occasion.  Like right now!  Ahhhh!  Heh heh.

59: Take a vitamin daily?  I do not take daily vitamins, no.

60: Wear slippers?  Yes, I wear slippers.

61: Wear a bath robe?  I don’t even own a bathrobe.

62: What do you wear to bed?  Tee-shirt and undies.

63: First concert?  I saw Barbra Streisand at the Hollywood Bowl when I was about three.  I blame my mother.

64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?  Wal-Mart!

65: Nike or Adidas?  Reebok.

66: Cheetos Or Fritos?  Salt & Vinegar potato chips.

67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?  Cocoa Roast Almonds.

68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?  No.

69: Ever take dance lessons?  I guess.  Sort of.  I was in a crapton of musical theater productions when I was younger, and certainly had to learn some moves for all that.

70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?  Is Hubs aware of this future spouse?

71: Can you curl your tongue?  I can curl my tongue.  I can wiggle my ears, too.

72: Ever won a spelling bee?  I won the school-wide spelling bee in 4th grade.  As far as I’m aware, they didn’t take it any further than that.

73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy?  I’ve done this many times.

74: Own any record albums?  I own several hundred… Possibly over a thousand 7”, 10” (yes, ten inch), and 12” vinyl records.

75: Own a record player?  I haven’t had a turntable in at least ten years.

76: Regularly burn incense?  I rarely burn incense; it reminds me of the ’70s, and the ‘70’s still suck.  I regularly burn candles.

77: Ever been in love? Yep.

78: Who would you like to see in concert?  Nobody.  It’s stupid expensive to go to a concert.  I’d rather have the money and watch the PPV special or whatever.

79: What was the last concert you saw?  Nine Inch Nails?  Depeche Mode?  Something in the mid-1990’s.

80: Hot tea or cold tea?  Hot tea.  Yum.

81: Tea or coffee?  Coffee.

82: Sugar cookies or Snickerdoodles?  Chocolate chip.

83: Can you swim well?  I swim very well.

84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?  Uh.  That’s weird.  Yes.  I don’t think I’ve ever held my nose.  I’m not even sure I actually know anyone who holds their nose.  What… Why?

85: Are you patient?  With everyone other than myself.

86: DJ or band at a wedding?  No.

87: Ever won a contest?  I have won many contests.

88: Ever have plastic surgery?  With the understanding that there is a difference between plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery?  No, I have never had plastic surgery.

89: Which are better black or green olives?  Black olives.  Green olives are nasty gross.

90: Can you knit or crochet?  I can knit.

91: Best room for a fireplace?  How about… a room not at my house.  Yay!

92: Do you want to get married?  And be a polygamist?  Nah, I’ll pass.

93: If married, how long have you been married?  17 years.

94: Who was your HS crush?  Uh… River Phoenix?  I don’t remember.

95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?  No, I just do it.  Better to ask forgiveness than beg permission, blah blah blah.

96: Do you have kids?  I have a teenaged daughter.

97: Do you want kids?  One is enough.

98: Whats your favorite color?  Dark green.

99: Do you miss anyone right now?  Frankie.