friday fill-ins #139

And...here we go!  My answers are in blue.

1. He was a misanthropic piece of garbage.

2. The return of beautiful fall days is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend is a position that is available.  Would you care for an application?

4. In order to build true bonds, you must be honest with me and allow me to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be a means to making ridiculous and completely inaccurate judgments.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was my little Sweetie.  She is always such a ray of sunshine.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to resting my weary bones, tomorrow my plans include making the most of hurricane conditions and Sunday, I want to clean up all the messy muckies!

bs, dog kisses, memories, and you guessed it.....more!

Welcome to the August 27th version of Thursday Thunks!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by

Kimber, the number of kids I have and the color of dead roses.

1. Have you ever played Bullshit?
I have! We played it for the duration of the twelve hour bus trip to Toronto back in high school. In between Truth or Dare games of course, where I made Jodi kiss Brent. Ha ha!!!
I don't remember how to play it anymore though. Oh well.

2. A dog licks you on your face. Are you disgusted or thinking it was sweet?

I dry heaved just reading this question. I am sooo not a dog person. Dog slobber is one of the reasons why. Blech!

3. Tell us about a fun/special memory you have of a grandparent.

When we went to Nigeria and met my grandmother for the first time, she met us at the airport. My parents were dealing with paperwork or customs or something, and I remember standing on one side of a sliding door with my sisters, and a woman standing on the other side smiling so big and waving. She recognized us instantly, but she didn't speak English and didn't know what to say. She was just so happy and crying and waving, as the door slide open and closed, open and closed. It was a great moment, meeting her for the first time.

4. Have you ever pet a rat?

On purpose??? Uh, no.

5. If I walked into your kitchen, where are the cups?

In the cup cabinet? I don't get this question. Where else do cups go? Measuring cups? Cabinet. Coffee cups? Cabinet. Cup of sugar? Cabinet. Bra cups? On my chest.

6. Since you already let me in your home, I found the cup and had water, now where's the bathroom from the kitchen?

Just past the cups on the left. It has bright red walls, and the washer and dryer are in there. Feel free to do a load while your in there. And don't forget to wash your hands.

7. Have you ever pet a turtle or tortoise?
I've touched them, but what is there to pet? I'm not sure human nor turtle derive any satisfaction from petting a turtle shell. That would be the equivalent of someone petting the roof of my house.

bread

On my way to work yesterday there was a loaf of bread on the side of the highway. It was so weird! Just a loaf of bread sitting on the side of the highway!

Then while running errands around town last night, I saw a loaf of bread on a sidewalk. What the heck????

People are losing their bread all over the place!!

This recession is worse than I thought.

:)

tell me what you like about yourself

I have been watching Nip/Tuck. If you've never seen it, it is a bizarre drama about two plastic surgeons and their crazy personal and professional mishaps. When they meet a client for a consult, they always begin with, "Tell me what you don't like about yourself." This prompts the client to expose their insecurities. It is an effective tool for them to diagnose what is "broken" with a patient, and accordingly "fix" them with new boobs, noses, facelifts, or what have you. The irony is, the deeper the answer to the question runs, the less effective the plastic surgery is at solving said problem.

Today on a whim while running out the door to pick up my kids from practice, I typed into my Facebook status, "Tell me what you like about yourself."

After only three hours, there are 25 responses. And they are pretty incredible. It was so fascinating to watch it unfold. To see people courageous enough to stand up and recognize their own amazingness - well, it's not something I get to experience everyday. I am surrounded by strong, beautiful, loving, hard-working, spiritually fulfilling people, and I am blessed to have been enveloped in their positivity today.

Here is what they have to say about themselves:

• I'm a pretty good cook, and master of my grill.
• nothing at the moment :( [note from tosin - this is not true. The person who wrote this is beautiful, kind, funny, and generous. She has low self-esteem, but I still love her for all those reasons I just mentioned and more!]
• i think i'm pretty smart and well, just pretty too
• I think I may be smart.
• That I'm stronger than I thought I was!
• I never give up, and believe in my self.
• That I am a great mom and fun and loving person.
• I'm constantly active. Can't go more than 3 days without doing some form of exercise. Helps me keep up with my girl and keeps the hormones level. Hubby really appreciates the latter!
• I think I am a nice person - at least I try to be. I also think I am a wonderful wife, mother and grandmama even though sometimes I wonder if they think the same!
• That I've made it this far, and am giving my kids a better life than I had (even if I CAN'T buy Chase a quad!).
• tenacity and perseverance.
• I like that I didn't follow in my mother's footsteps
• I see the big picture, and can analyze things from every angle. It makes me an effective problem solver.
• I'm also a good problem solver. I refuse to let myself get overwhelmed or sidetracked by the little things. I always try to remember that someone's got it worse than me. Oh, and I have gorgeous blue eyes.
• I like that I'm so "HOT" in all of the pics taken at scrapping retreats! [note from tosin: She also has a great sense of humor, and is a lot of fun!]
• I married a good man.
• that I have my master's degree and I can take care of myself!
• I like my laugh~
• I like that I care about people & like to help anyone that I can & try to look at the bright side of things.
• I can sing wierd song in scary situations 8) nuff said haha [note from tosin: this girl is more mature than her years, is kind to her "elders", and made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe for a whole weekend! And I don't know why on earth she thinks Take on Me by AHa could possibly be "weird"]
• I'm different.
• that I'm a momma, it only took 8 1/2 years.

I am surrounded by AMAZING. There is the proof. Join the movement. Please leave a comment and tell me what you LIKE about yourself.

choices

Sometimes I really wrestle with making sense of things - what I've been given and how to make all the pieces fit together. How to reconcile what I imagined things to be with what they have become. It is such a difficult journey. Going back to decision making, I think that the hardest ones are when forced to choose between two options where neither is desired. Somehow, there is always the inexplicable third choice that is not actually an option. I have always had trouble letting go of that unattainable choice to properly evaluate those realistic options left before me are the most viable and appealing.

I just watched a documentary, Boy Interrupted, about a boy who committed suicide at age 15. His parents were film-makers and created the documentary as their means of sharing his story and further their healing. One of the things that struck me the most was his suicide note. He was able to rationally identify and evaluate the pros and cons of living vs. dying, but in the end could not see past the intense burning need in him to end his own life. He wasn't able to make a rational choice with that burning knowledge of what his mind was telling him he needed to do. It is an extreme case, but I do understand being so hyper-aware of something that it colors good judgment.

questions about this and that and that other thing

Welcome to the August 13th version of Thursday Thunks!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by

Kimber, the number 4812 and the color of storm clouds.

1. Hypothetical question- you are in a building with famous works of art, old manuscripts of famous novels, and original sheet music from famous composers. The building is on fire and looks to be completely destroyed. Do you grab any of the famous works before fleeing, and if so what?
I suppose I would try to grab the lot. Well, not the art if it is cumbersome. And the manuscripts are probably bulky as well. And am I really supposed to be able to make out pages of sheet music in a pile of burning rubble?
Wait, why am I standing in a burning building that is completely destroyed and contains originals of this many artistic items? I am assuming that my own life is not at risk? (Ah, this is where the hypothetical part comes in.) Yep, then I'd grab the lot. I am a sucker for all things creative and artistic.

2. In August 1969, the Manson family went on a 2 night killing spree. Do you think 40 years later they have paid for their crimes?
I don't know nuthin 'bout no Manson killing spree.

3. Power Outage! What's the longest you have been without power?
5 days. And trust me when I say, it's too damn long.

4. Just bought a new tazer gun. Will you let it be tested it on you to see if it works, and how it feels to be tazered?
Tell me someone else reading this has seen The Hangover? (Not you, Fat Jesus. Slide it on back...)

5. A neighbor's mail was delivered to you. In it is a magazine not wrapped in plastic. Is it ok for you to flip through it before giving it to the neighbor? Do you tell them you looked through it?
Ok, well since you are obligating me to give it to them (yeah, yeah, I would have anyways... Geez!!) If it was of interest I might flip through. And I'm not sure I would mention it. That would feel weird.

6. If I went through your purse/wallet right now, what all would I find in there?
Let's take a look, shall we? Makeup bag, wallet - with no cash whatsoever, brush with a broken handle, pen, notebook, mints, lotion, Advil, receipts, sunglasses, a broken bracelet, a broken ring, checkbook, napkins, chapstick, tampons, dance schedule, pictures, and Lisa's birthday card.

7. Have you been living under a rock?
It's so quiet and cool under here. Please don't let anyone know where I've been hiding. Thanks.

8. Tell us something crazy you did this week.
Ok, I'll tell, but let's keep it amongst ourselves, shall we? I considered some major life changes. And they're crazy. And that's all I have to say about that.

decisions

Oh my goodness. I really feel incapable of making the right decisions sometimes. I think I am so paralyzed at having to make important decisions on my own that impact others, or that the effects of what I am doing feel so monumental, or that choosing a particular option will involve more work than I am willing to take on. Then I blindly jump in and go with whatever feels best in the moment. Ugh! I don't really know if I am actually making bad decisions, or am given bad circumstances with which to make the best decisions I can considering.

How do you know what the right thing to do is when faced with these situations? What kind of thought process or metric do you follow? I would love to hear different approaches.

questions much to do about nothing

Questions much to do about nothing.

Welcome to the August 6th version of Thursday Thunks!

This week we will answer some crazy questions brought to you by Berleen, the number 1 and the color of the crap under your shoe.

1. What the hell were you thinking?
Dude. I NEVER know what the hell I am thinking. I am too worried about what the hell everyone else is thinking. What the hell were YOU thinking???

2. The tornado sirens go off in your neighborhood - what do you do?
Pause to wonder when we passed the town budget to include entirely unnecessary weather alert systems.

When I lived in an area where this question actually applied, if it is noon on Friday, just go about my business. Any other time, step outside to watch the clouds swirl.

(Yes I know. What happens if a tornado hits at noon on Friday? Dude! We are screwwwwwed!!!)

3. Give us a recipe.
1 Stick
1 Marshmallow
3 Squares of a Hershey bar
2 Graham Crackers

Preheat campfire all evening until there is a nice bed of hot coals. Put the marshmallow on the end of the stick. Hold it low to the coals, out of the direct flame, and slowly rotate. Heat to a nice golden brown. Do not set the marshmallow on fire. It might look cool, but it tastes gross. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar and a wiseass. While roasting the marshmallow, have a friend place the chocolate squares on one of the graham crackers. When the marshmallow is ready, place it on the chocolate and have your friend put the graham on top and pull the marshmallow off the stick. Eat, and say mmmmmmm.

4. It's the middle of the night, there isn't a car in sight and you are stuck at a red light that just won't change.... how long do you wait until you run it?
Not very long, especially if I am in a more rural area. I will readily admit to doing this more often than not. For someone married to a guy who puts those things up for a living, I just don't seem to have very much respect for them.

5. When was the last time you got all dressed up fancy-like? Where did you go?
I'd like to think that every day I am all fancy-like. Are you saying my frayed jeans and sweatshirt aren't fancy? Ok, I am not fancy. Even whilst purposely trying to be so. I am frumpy by design. Good grief, is this blatant stall actually covering for the fact that I can't think of the last time I went anywhere requiring me to be even remotely fancy? I guess I've gone out for a few nice dinners where I gave a go at not looking like I just got off the treadmill. Phew, yeah. I don't know......

6. Have you ever had a mole removed?
Actually, there was a dead one in the garden recently, and I certainly had hubby remove that sucker right away!
Wait, what?

7. Are you in an area of record highs or record lows for the temps this summer? Are you lucky and stuck in the middle where it's somewhat normal?
I am in the record suck area. If it rains one more day I swear to G*d I am going to jump.

8. When was the last time you changed your furnace filter?
I am pretty sure we have a guy for that.

9. What's your favorite type of frog?
Blue poison dart frog. Duh.

10. If you were to go on America's Got Talent, what would you do for your talent? (and choosing not to go is not an option....)
Flaming Baton twirling. I have already choreographed my routine. Why aren't they calling?

11. Have you ever been on a rooftop of a building?
Yes. The last time it rained and I was considering jumping. Then I realized it was only a two story building and the worst that probably would happen was a broken bone, and that would just be more of an inconvenience than anything else. And it probably isn't good for the cast to get that wet in ALL THIS RAIN.

12. What is the first website you go to each day when you sit down at your computer, other than your email?
iGoogle. It is my homepage. And has allllll my loverly apps for all my favorite stuff.

Have a great week, y'all! Peace out!!

mindless meme

1) Right now I want: My kiddos home. I miss them soooooo much.

2) I wish I knew how to: Play piano. We are getting a piano, as soon as I figure out how to get it moved. I hope someday I will be able to take lessons.

3) When I want to indulge myself, I: Eat something I shouldn't. Shop. Mani/Pedi. Ahhhhh.

4) You’ll never see me: Satisfied and settled. Always striving for more....

5) A childhood memory that I love: My sisters and I loved the water so much. When we went to the freezing New England ocean we wouldn't ever want to get out of the icy water. After wearing ourselves out swimming, we would still stay in the water floating around. To entertain ourselves we would start singing "California Dreaming" by the Mamas and the Papas. I'm not sure why we even knew that song at the time, but we would stand in that water singing that song for hours!

6) 2 things I do every single day: take my vitamins, check my email

7) Happiest moment of 2009, so far: Nothing specific comes to mind (weird?), but time spent with my family and time spent with my friends has all been great.

8) Describe yourself in 3 words: nothing comes easy

9) 2 scrap related goals for this year: Organize my photos. It is MOSTLY done. But it needs to be all the way done. Then I can start printing my digi stuff and get working on that. I have been holding back on printing for that reason. Secondly, I would like to start the Disney stuff. I will be very excited to work on that.

10) You have $40 that you MUST spend on yourself – what do you do with it? I would probably get a pedicure. Flip flop season is here! - here's hoping this mandatory 40 bucks falls out of the sky soon!