Yet Another...

Stole this one from Michelle

Bold the items that you have done(or will admit to doing).
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse3
4. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
42. Had amazing friends
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on a television news program as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children - yes C counts!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Think I Was Dead?

Just a brief MeMe to let you know I am still in the land of the living. Just been busy, that's all...

Where is your mobile phone? Purse

Where is your significant other? Upstairs

Your hair colour? Blonde

Your mother? Friend

Your father? Awesome

Your favourite thing? i*Pod

Your dream last night? Scary

Your dream goal? Tenure

The room you're in? Cold

Your hobby? Reading

Your fear? Death

Where do you want to be in 6 years? Alive

Where were you last night? Bed

What you're not? Thin

One of your wish-list items? Coach

Where you grew up? Mountain

The last thing you did? Talk

What are you wearing? T-shirt

Your TV? Addiction

Your pets? Shedding

Your computer? Warm

Your mood? Cranky

Missing someone? Nope

Your car? Sorento

Something you're not wearing? Bra

Favourite shop? Amazon.com

Your summer? Over

Love someone? Obsessively

Your favourite colour? Eggplant

When is the last time you laughed? Daily

When is the last time you cried? Two weeks ago

Stolen

I should be doing homework but instead, I stole this Blog Meme Deluxe from Ms Lisa

FAVORITES:

• Favorite Color: Purple
• Favorite Food: Mexican - mainly chips & salsa
• Favorite Month: August - my birthday and usually a vacation
• Favorite Song: I don't have an all time favorite. Right now - David Bowie's Man Who Sold the World and Daughtry's What About Now
• Favorite Movie: A Room with a View
• Favorite Sport: None to play; basketball or men's swimming to watch
• Favorite Season: Fall
• Favorite Day of the week: Wednesday
• Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Pistachio
• Favorite Time of Day: Early Morning

CURRENTS

• Current Mood: Grumpy - I am sick from my third sinus infection in 6 months. My ears hurt.
• Current Taste: Stirfry - B's cooking and it smells yummy
• Current Clothes: Dark gray velour lounge pants, black turtleneck, and white sneaker socks.
• Current Desktop: A cartoon from this website. JAM!
• Current Toenail Color: Umm... getting that taken care of next week
• Current Time: 7:37 pm EST
• Current Surroundings: Our bedroom surrounded by textbooks
• Current Thoughts: I need to quit dicking around and type up the notes for this, I need to eat that stirfry, my ears hurt, what am I going to wear tomorrow for work

FIRSTS

• First Best Friend: First Real Best Friend was Kathy. Kathy and I were BFFs through junior high and high school, and we had great fun together. We were pretty competitive with each other, which was healthy and inspiring. We hung out all the time talking about boys, gossiping about everybody, making up interpretive dances, writing in slam books, and owning our local Children's Theatre. She's married to a great guy and has 2 beautiful boys, and is extremely successful in her field. She still inspires me today.
• First Kiss: First closed lips - Charlie V. in sixth grade. I think he managed to kiss every girl in our class. First open lips - David F. in eigth grade following the Brian Adams concert. It wasn't good, sorry David.
• First Screen Name: DMBFan. I am still a fan.
• First Pet: We always had pets, so I don't remember the first.We had Stupid (yes, the dog's name was Stupid), Oscar, Dottie, and Albert. All are now chasing rabbits and eating large soup bones in the sky.
• First (and only) Piercing: Earlobes
• First Crush: Jason C. in sixth grade. He had perfectly feathered blondehair, which was groomed repeatedly by the small comb he kept in the back pocket of his Lee jeans.He would wear those white crew socks with stripes at the top and pull at them constantly. His favorite song was Jack and Diane by John Cougar (Mellencamp), and every time I hear it, I think of him.
• First CD: Ahem, do you mean Album? That would be Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain.
  

LASTS

• Last Cigarette: About a year and a half ago. I was a social smoker, and never really was addicted. Since B quit, I have no one to bum a few puffs from.
• Last Drink: Can't really remember. Maybe a Dos Equis at the Mexican place about a year ago.
• Last Car Ride: I don't ride - I drive. Last drive was to and from the gas station to fill up my vehicle for a long drive in the am.
• Last Kiss: Real one last night from B before bed.
• Last Movie Seen: 3:10 to Yuma. I fell asleep. I have really been into Dexter lately. I just finished season I and I am now watching Season II on demand. I have also starting watching back episodes of BBC's Spooks.
• Last Phone Call: My mom calling to say goodnight.
• Last CD Played: Daughtry

HAVE YOU EVERS

• Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Guy/Girl Friends: I married my best guy friend.
• Have You Ever Broken the Law: Probably. Okay, yeah, but nothing too criminal. Petty things that karma will pay me back for someday.
• Have You Ever Been Arrested: Nope. Petty things only.
• Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: No, I can't swim and I would only skinny dip at night, so I can't see this ever happening.
• Have You Ever Been on TV: Yes, but only local access.
• Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Oh yeah. But only kissing.

5 THINGS

• Thing You're Wearing: Pigtails because my hair is dirty.
• Thing You've Done Today: Homework and Work-work. Yawn.
• Thing You Can Hear Right Now: C in the shower and B clicking through the channels on the TV.
• Thing You Can't Live Without: Family & coffee
• Thing You Do When You're Bored: Surf the Internet.

4 PLACES YOU'VE BEEN TODAY

1. In bed
2. In my recliner
3. My mother's house
4. On the toilet

PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO

1. B
2. My mom
3. Rachael

CHOICES

1. Black or White: Black
2. Hot or Cold: Hot coffee; cold everything else

No.1 THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: I can think of several things I want to do - finish my doctoral program and get my pointy hat, lose weight and be healthy, go to New York City, watch C graduate from school and have a good life, wake up every morning next to B, and many, many more. But the No. 1 thing I want to do before I die is hear my Ruby calling me Mama.

Shameless

I know I've been out of it for a while, and the excuses keep racking up. The big picture is that when we returned from the beach, I basically hit the ground running and didn't stop until yesterday when my doctor gave me an antibiotic, an inhaler, and some serious narcotic cough syrup to knock out the bronchitis and sinus infection that is beating me down.

I have several prolific posts in draft - a love letter, a conversation, and another TV rant, but right now I just can't get my fingers and brain to work well enough to string together very coherent thoughts. Perhaps it's the hydrocodone....

So, for now, a MeMe lifted from The Boob. Thanks buddy!

1. The phone rings, who do you want it to be? Ed McMahon... No one. I hate to talk on the phone.

2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Depends. If someone is watching or if the cart return is close enough, I will. If I am feeling lazy or the weather is crappy, I will park it next to the car next to me.

3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Total talker. B says that I "hold court."

4. Do you take compliments well? Yes and no. I will accept a complement and say thank you, but it's usually followed up with something self-deprecating or a discounter like, "Oh, this? I got it at Target."

5. Do you play Sudoku? No. I love crossword puzzles, pencil pointers, and logic puzzles, but I hate sudoku.

6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? Reading this made me think of the Styx song Man in the Wilderness. I feel abandoned in this adoption process, and although I am surviving, I feel very alone. Literally stranded and surviving would be questionable; I might make it one night.

7. Do you like nipple rings? No.

8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yes. I went to 4H camp for two consecutive summers. I loved going to camp! It felt like I was hundreds of miles away from my parents, when in reality I was only about 35.

9. What was your favorite game as a kid? My family and I were into board games like Life and Monopoly. I was also a Centipede freak and remember playing it at the Roller Rink Arcade. I would skate in, drop a few quarters, spin the roller ball, kick ass, and skate out. Good times.

10. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? Yes. I dated a lapsed Mormon for a year. We had some pretty interesting conversations.

11. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? Being the aggressive female I am, I am definitely a pursuer. I pursued B and got him. In retrospect, anytime I was the pursued, the guy was usually a creep or a weirdo.

12. Do any songs make you cry? No, not really. If I do tear up, it's usually because the vocal is so pure and beautiful, as well as the circumstances surrounding the listening. The last time this happened was when my mom and I went to see Wicked. Being there with my mom and overwhelmingly excited to see the show was what made me emotional, not just the singing.

13. Are you continuing your education? Yes. Sometimes it seems like that's the only thing that defines me.

14. Do you know how to shoot a gun? No, and I don't want to learn.

15. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grab? Besides my family? The cats and my purse.

16. Do you think more about the past, present or future? Sadly, the past. I tend to relive things in my mind and often think of alternative ways I could have handled myself or the situation. I reflect on my past mistakes and triumphs quite a bit. Perhaps too much.

17. Favorite children's book? Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald, illustrations by Hilary Knight.

18. What color are your eyes? Green.

19. How tall are you? Short. 5’6”

20. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? Yes.

21. Where was the furthest place you traveled today? In my mind? China. In reality? The bathroom and back.

22. Do you like mustard? I love yellow mustard and will eat it on just about any meat.

23. Do you look like your mom or dad? I look like my dad in drag. However, I have many facets of my mom's personality that give me away as her daughter - the same spazziness, the same laugh, the same command-your-attention attitude.

24. How long does it take you in the shower? 15 minutes, sometimes less if I am in a hurry.

25. Can you do splits? No. I am pretty flexible for a big girl, but that's too flexible for me.

26. What movie do you want to see right now? 3:10 to Yuma

27. What did you do for New Year's? The same thing I do every year - sleep.

28. Do you think The Grudge was scary? Get real.

29. Do you own a camera phone? Technically no. My work owns the phone I use, but it does have a camera.

30. Was your mom a cheerleader? Yes, until it was discovered that she eloped with my dad. Once they found out she was married, they made her quit.

31. What's the last letter of your middle name? This may be a surprise, but it is not 'S.' It is 'H.'

32. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? On the average between 4-6. Last night I slept 12 - thank you hydrocodone.

33. Do you like care bears? No. I hate Care Bears, sappy characters like Strawberry Shortcake, and most Disney. I also hate dolls. So far, Ruby has 2 stuffed that we have purchased: This Gal and This Guy. As you can see, we're not into cute.

34. What do you buy at the movies? Tickets. Snacks depend on the theater. One of our local theaters has the best nachos. At the others, it's usually popcorn for B and C, and gummy bears or smarties for me.

35. Do you know how to play poker? No not really.

36. Do you wear your seat belt? Is it really an option?

37. What do you wear to sleep? Men's Hanes V-neck and panties.

38. Is your tongue pierced? No, that's nasty.

39. Do you like Liver and Onions? Thanks for making me throw up a little in my mouth.

40. Are you in love? Yes I am.

41. Do you like funny or serious people better? Both.

42. Ever been to L.A.? No, and I don't think I want to go to LA. I'd rather go to NY.

43. Do you steal or pay for your music downloads? I pay because B makes me.

44. Are you a gullible person? Not really. I can get a pretty good read on people.

45. Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy? No. I am perfectly happy all by myself.

46. If you could have any job (assuming you have the skills) what would it be? I would like to review trashy books.

47. Are you easy to get along with? For the most part. I am a pretty dynamic person, so my intensity may drive some away (this is a nice way to say I am a spaz).

48. What is your favorite time of day? Early morning with my Darwin and coffee.

49. Would you rather sleep alone or with someone? Alone, which is why B and I have a gigantic bed. We sleep together, but apart.

50. Would you give up the one you love/care for the most to become immortal? No way. I would grieve too hard to be able to enjoy it. What's an everlasting life if B's not there to share it? We chose to grow old together.

51. What animal are you most like? An elephant. I am loyal, dedicated, nurturing, and like to take my time to process.

52. What kind of tea do you like the most? Constant Comment, iced; Earl Grey, hot.

53. Do you laugh at peoples' stupidity? Depends. Usually, yes. I am a terrible fun-maker, especially when it comes to bad fashion.

54. Do you feel guilty for doing so after you're done laughing? Only if the person turns out to have a disability. Otherwise, no. If they're dumb enough to sport that bad fashion, then they need to own it when someone makes fun.

Voila!

1. Yes it is true that I was recruited by the Marines when I was in high school. To the point where they tracked me down at home and then showed up at the school to meet me and a couple other students. Seriously. Even then, I was curvy and (at the time) was in a 36DD bra. Can you imagine me running at Boot Camp? The only running I did in high school was treading the boards of our local theater's stage. Obviously, they really didn't want me; I so did not enlist.

2. When I was 5, I was diagnosed with ADHD. My pediatrician wanted to medicate me, but my parents refused. I did not make my first A (outside of Drama and Choir classes) until I was in the 10th grade. I have learned to cope. As an adult I have developed my career around working with people who have mental illness or mental retardation. I think my childhood issues have had a direct effect on every aspect of my life - for the best.

3. I am so left-handed it's sick. I cannot drive a stick shift, knit, crochet, shuffle cards, or twirl a baton. So, if you haven't figured it out, this is the Stinkin' Lie!

4. Yes I have had some brushes with death..

a. I have been in 14 car accidents, 2 of which I had to be "assisted" from the vehicle by firefighters.

b. I was a bank teller in college and was robbed at gunpoint.

c. My college fiance's stepdad was re-habbing a house for us to live in when we were married. My fiancee lived there with a roommate, and the plan was that after we married he and I would live in the house for free, and my fiancee would manage the small apartment building across the driveway. My fiance's stepdad was a total slum lord and he would hire ex-cons on Work Release to do construction and maintenance around his rental properties. One guy was a known murderer. I knew this because he was my dad's best friend's step-brother, and when he killed and was jailed the first time, my family was freaked. I tried to tell my future FIL about him, but he didn't check him out. My fiancee and I had a huge fight over the whole situation, because he thought I was being reactionary and accusatory. I knew the truth! I refused to go to the house or stay there as long as that man was employed. About a month into the guy's employment he murdered a woman who lived in one of the apartments across the driveway. He stabbed her with my fiance's roommate's diving knife, planted my fiance's watch in the kitchen, and stole her jewelry, money, credit cards, and car. She was a social worker and knew him from where he was doing construction on our house. He went to her door and asked for her help. She trusted him and he killed her. To me, that's a little too close for comfort.

5. I am extremely ticklish and cannot stand for someone to touch the backs of my legs, especially on the backs of my knees. It's been like this for years. I don't know why, but I believe it's a visceral reaction to too much sensation. It's a total sensory overload, and as soon as someone touches me there, it automatically makes my stomach roll and I feel queasy. I will physically react by kicking out and gagging from the nausea. During my annual exam a couple of years ago, my GYN put his hand around my knee to check my reflexes and I almost took out his teeth. He doesn't check my reflexes anymore. I know. I am a freak.

Thanks for playing along!

I Ain't No Stinking Liar

So A&MG started this, and Connie and wzgirl have followed suit. Now, because I am such a MeMe 'ho, I have to participate.

Four of these fascinating facts are true, and one is not. What's your guess?

1. I was recruited by the Marines when I was in high school.

2. I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and it was predicted that I would not make it through high school.

3. I am ambidextrous.

4. I have had many too close for comfort brushes with death, but have managed to come out physically and emotionally unscathed.

5. If someone touches the backs of my knees, it makes me physically sick; I get nauseous and I gag.

So, which one of these is a big fat lie? You tell me!

36

Today's my birthday. Huzzah! I love, love, love my birthday. Tonight the family, a few friends, and I are celebrating at Sohos, an lovely Italian restaurant located in our city's Farmer's Market. The city rehabbed an old train station to create the inside shops of Farmer's Market, and it's really quite lovely. I am so excited!


Here are 36 things about me:

1. My birthday is my favorite day of the year.

2. B & I knew each other 11 months before we eloped; I knew I would marry him on our first date.

3. B is my best friend - He lets me be the boss.

4. I am a doctoral student, and I am extremely competitive about grades.

5. I am a pretty good singer, and I sing very loudly in my car. My car is my stage.

6. I am a child of the 1980s and love 80s music.

7. I am hoping to change my career.

8. We are adopting from China - duh.

9. I have met wonderful people through the Internet, and I love my Tiara Girls posse: Shanny, Shannon and Susan; they are the best bloggy buds.

10. Television is my crack.

11. I think the best book ever written is To Kill a Mockingbird even though thinking that makes me cliched and pretentious.

12. I have had surgery every three years or so since 1996. In 2003, I had a breast reduction and because of complications, I almost lost my right breast. I have terrible scarring where the sutures busted open because my breast abscessed. Twice.

13. I will not drink milk. I think it tastes like blood.

14. I do not like chocolate. I know this makes me weird.

15. I have an unnatural obsession with celebrity gossip, especially reading about them in magazines and on the Internet. I often talk about them like they are personal friends.

16. Coffee is my favorite drink. Hot with non-dairy creamer. No sugar.

17. I could eat chips and salsa from our local Mexican restaurant at least 5 times a week and never get tired of it.

18. I am crazy in love with my nieces and nephews. They are the best kids in the world.

19. My hands often look like they've been mauled by a dog. I never use lotion because I hate the way it feels, and I bite my cuticles too much. I do not bite my nails, but I keep them cut very short because I type for hours every day.

20. Sometimes I feel like I was never meant to be a parent.

21. I finished the latest Harry Potter and was happy to see the series end. It was time.

22. I think about my or someone in my family's death every day. This does not mean I am suicidal or wish them dead. I just think about what it will be like. It stresses me out.

23. I am a worrier (if you haven't figured it out by now).

24. While on vacation about 15 years ago with a friend, I met and was smitten by a sailor from Australia. He was an incredible amount of fun, and occasionally I wonder how he's doing over on the other side of the world.

25. All of my ex-boyfriends moved out of state after we broke up. Only one moved back. I wonder what that says about me?

26. We are taking our first family vacation in 4 years (that's longer than a weekend) later this month. I think about it every day.

27. I listen to audio books in the car and when I am cleaning house.

28. I am a total procrastinator and put all things off until the last minute. I plan, write, scheme, etc... a million times in my head before anything ever comes to fruition.

29. I am flatulaphobic. Please don't ever fart in my presence. I will leave immediately.

30. I want a bigger diamond. I am not sentimental about my engagement ring, and would like to see it grow as my marriage grows. I am ready to trade up.

31. B and I planned on taking an Alaskan cruise in 2009 for our 10th anniversary and to celebrate my completion of my doctorate. I think we'll be in China.

32. I am addicted to salt, even though it makes my entire body fill up like a sponge.

33. I am not loving my new car. I wish I did, it's much nicer than my old one.

34. I only shave my legs 1x a week. I have little to no body hair, but I have very thick hair on my head. Weird.

35. I can't stand the smell of vanilla it triggers migraines.

36. I have to work on my birthday, so I am off...

Interview

Shanny offered the crack pipe and sent me some interview questions. I am such a MeMe 'ho, I couldn't resist!

1. If you were forced to give up one of your five senses, which would you pick?

More than likely my sense of smell. Especially right now, because B just farted and I am throwing up a little in my mouth. No seriously, smell. I have a hyper-sensitive nose, and even slight scents bother me and tend to trigger migraines. Vanilla-based scents are the worst. Also, if I gave up smell, perhaps my taste would be a little off and then I would eat less. It could be a 2-for-1 bonus.

2. You win the big jackpot in the lottery. $50 million. After you give to charity, pay for another adoption, buy new houses and pay off bills, what's the first truly indulgent thing you spend your money on? And it has to be just for you.

I would get 3 things. A personal trainer/chef. I feel better when I exercise, I just need someone kicking my butt to get it together and make the effort. Having someone pushing me through would be a huge help. I would also buy a couple of miniature Boston Terriers to be my sidekicks. Because I work/travel so much, having a dog isn't really an option. I would definitely get my pups. I would name them Boo Radley and Calpurnia.

3. If a movie was made based on your life, who would play you and your husband & why?
Well, there's no doubt that Phillip Seymour Hoffman would play B. He is B's brother of another mother, and the resemblance is somewhat disconcerting. Especially in MI:III where PSH is heavier. Now me? That's hard. On this site, my celebrity match is The Hoff; however, I don't think I want The Hoff to play me. So I think I'll go with Sara Rue. She's funny, curvy, and cute. A little bit like me.


4. Would you walk naked down your street, with all your neighbors watching, for $1 million?

Absolutely. I'd be smiling and waving, thinking to myself I will never have to see these people again. Ever. I am soooo moving outta here.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year (money is no object) where would you live ?

I would probably stay right where I am and just move into a different house. I would use the money-that-is-no-object to buy a tricked out RV so B and I could hit the road and see America. Also, since money-is-no-object we would have Boo Radley and Calpurnia with us. We would take the scenic route to see all of the weird and wonderful sites in our country, eat at funky diners along the way, and take pictures of the dogs peeing on every"Welcome to Our State" sign we pass.

If you’d like to participate, here are the RULES.
If you want to participate:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me”, or words to that effect.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions, but I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You have to include this explanation, and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Filler

B and I got back from San Antonio late yesterday, and I'll blog as soon as I download pictures. So, because I know you've been missing me, here's a little meme...

1. Can you cook? Yes, which is a large part of my weight problem. My specialities are ribs, pulled pork BBQ, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and a mean pot of chicken chili stoup.

2. What was your dream growing up? To be famous. I would (and continue to) fantasize about walking the red carpet with a really sexy guy (lately it's been James Spader - shut up!) in a rad black dress.

3. What talent do you wish you had? Taking a good photograph either as the photographer or as the subject. I would love to be able to take creative photos with accurate lighting and neat content. As the subject, I would like to not look like I was smelling something, which is what I look like in most pictures of me.

4. Favorite place? In my bed with fresh sheets, my head in B's lap, a big glass of ice water, and the remote control.

5. Favorite vegetable? Brussels Sprouts. Yum.

6. The last book you read? I have read 2 over the last week. Speak No Evil by Allison Brennen, #2 in a trilogy. It was somewhat disappointing. She's done better. I also read Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward, #4 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Very, very good. Can't put down good. Oh how I love me some vampires.

7. What zodiac sign are you? Leo

8. Any Tattoos and /or Piercings? No tattoos, and just the 1980s requisite 2 ear piercings. I rarely wear earrings, but will occasionally poke some through all 4 holes to make sure I still have the option of wearing 2 pairs at the same time.

9. Worst Habit? I have many. The two that happen the most now are: Interrupting and biting my cuticles.

10. Do we know each other outside of this blog? I got this from Krista whom I've not had the pleasure of hanging with, but know that I will someday. She's the bomb, yo.

11. What is your favorite sport? To play? None. To watch? I am not a sports fan. I will watch soccer and men's swimming. I will also watch basketball, which you will read about when I post about my recent trip to San Antonio.

12. Negative or Optimistic attitude? Dude, when it comes to self matters, I am so negative. I am a "glass if full of poison" girl. However, I try to be optimistic with my friends and family. Stiff upper lip and all.

13. What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? Go through my purse. Balance my checkbook. File my nails. Write a grocery list. Sing.

14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? I've had bad things happen. I've been in a bank robbery, 14 car accidents, had surgery complications and almost lost my right breast, had a too-close-for-comfort situation with a murderer (I will blog about this), and recently lost 3 dogs and 3 family members in the last 3 years. I have bad ju-ju, man. So far though, nothing has been worse than going through the pain of infertility and getting my ass dragged through the slowest adoption ever.

15. Tell me a weird fact about you: Oh where to begin? I have to either have my butt rubbed or rub my own butt every night as I am going to sleep. I love Mexican/Spanish food but will die of starvation before I'll eat guacamole. I cannot touch a cotton ball - the sensory overload is too much to handle. B and my friend Alicia really get off on torturing me about this by leaving little cotton balls on my chair. I hate whistling with a passion. Fingernails on a blackboard passion.

16. Do you have any pets? Yes, two cats - Darwin and Eliza.

17. Do you know how to do the Macarena? God no. I also refuse to learn the Electric Slide.

18. What time is it where you are now? 11:10 am

19. Do you think clowns are cute or scary? Clowns scare the shit out of me. I had a boyfriend in college who wanted to be a clown. He would drag me to the circus every time they came to town. He would totally dress up in clown gear, get his face painted, and act like an idiot. What a dork.

20. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? I would lose weight. Duh.

21. What color eyes do you have? Green

22. Ever been arrested? No

23. Bottle or Draft? Ice cold bottle. I am not a beer drinker, so I really don't care.

24. If you won $10,000 dollars today, what would you do with it? Pay off my car, then stick the payment amount in savings.

25. What kind of bubble gum do you prefer to chew? Hubba Bubba bubble gum. I especially like Original and Grape/Berry. I chew lots of Hubba Bubba when I drive, and I blow huge bubbles popping it the whole time.

26. Which is your favorite bar to hang at? Get real. That would cut into my TV time.

27. Do you believe in ghosts? Hell yeah, and they scare the pee out of me.

28. Favorite thing to do in your spare time? Duh - watch TV! I also read trashy books (see #6).

29. Do you swear a lot? Umm, yes.

30. What is your favorite swear word? Goddamn.

31. Biggest pet peeve? People who bring their children to Rated R movies.

32. In one word, how would you describe yourself? Driven

On the Wagon

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Brought to You by the Letter "P"

For my pleasure, I am completing the single letter MeMe that has been floating around. Being a MeMe 'ho, I jumped on that crackpipe. Thanks to a&mg over at The Jade Road for the letter "P"


1. Pickles - Clausen's please. I love a big stinky dill pickle. My favorite are the Clausen's hamburger slices. They are especially yumm-o with grilled cheese.

2. Posses - I have several girlfriend posses. I actually have part of a post drafted about my posses coming soon. Not pussies - don't be gross.

3. Phillip Seymour Hoffman - He's a phenomenal actor. Also, my husband could be his separated-at-birth twin, or at least his brother-of-another-mother.

4. Project Runway - My heart belongs to Heidi Klum.

5. Please, Please Tell Me Now (is there something I should know?) - I wasn't lying when I said I was a Duranie. I love this video and song. John Taylor looks fine in that blue button across the shoulder shirt and white oxfords. ROWR!

6. Panties - Can't live without them. I never go commando, and I only wear Hipsters - no briefs, no thigh-highs, no bikinis and definitely no thongs. I probably own over 50 pairs of panties. This is a trait I get from my mother, who probably owns over 100 pairs of panties. We will never be without clean ones.

7. Pizza - I love pizza, but not from just any old pizza joint, and definitely not frozen. I love pizza from a local pizza place, Graziano's. I will also eat Papas and Bellicino's. I like plain cheese, pepperoni and mushroom, ham and pineapple, or vegetarian minus green pepper/add banana peppers. I can also make a mean Chef Boy-r-dee mix. Oh yeah.

8. Pointy-toe Shoes - Besides being a MeMe 'ho, I am also a shoe 'ho. I love me some pointy-toe stilettos. Big girls rock in sexy shoes because they make our curvy booties look awesome.

9. Pearls - I love, love, love pearls. Maybe better than diamonds. Getting Ruby is #1, on the list of the great things about this eventual trip to China. Going to the Pearl Market might very well be number 2 or 3. Yeah, yeah, I can't wait to see the people, architecture, and the Great Wall. But I also can't wait to purchase Ruby and C's wedding strands as well as several pieces for myself. I am already saving.

10. Prince - Nobody does it like the Purple. I swear 1999 and Purple Rain are two of the best albums (yes, I am that old) ever. That little man could sell sex to my grandmother. He is the funkiest of the funky.

**I am making plans for the template change. It's looking like I'm going to keep the the picture if I can. Now, to jazz up the background a little. Too much green is not a good thing, and I would like more room for words so my posts don't look like they are long and skinny. Give me time, peeps I've had a lot of homework to do and grade this past weekend.

P.S. B's all het up because I didn't include poop and penis. Whatever.

ABC Me, Me, Me

A is for age:
35

B is for Beer:
None really. I really don't enjoy beer or wine. I do love a really good and icy gin and tonic though.

C is for Career:
Social worker for a nationwide health management corporation that contracts with Medicaid. I work with people who have mental retardation/developmental disabilities. I am also a full-time doctoral student.

D is for my Dog’s Name:
No pooches. Just my kitties Darwin and Eliza.

E is for Essential Item I Use Everyday:
Conditioner. Because of this and because I highlight. My hair is very dry.

F is for Favorite T.V. Show:
Oh where to begin? Right Now? Project Runway, Top Chef, The Apprentice, House, & The Office (both the BBC and NBC versions) **subject to change at any time.

G is for Favorite Game:
Board Game - Life
Computer Game - Civilization III - Conquests

H is for Hometown:
Charleston, WV

I is for Instruments I Play:
None. "My voice is my instrument." (this is a direct quote from C when she was asked if she was going to join school band this year).

J is for Favorite Juice:
Really pulpy orange juice over ice or cranberry.

K is for Whose Butt I’d Like To Kick:
Don't wanna say, but I'd like to thank them for the anxiety.

L is for the Last Place I Ate:
At my kitchen table with C and B.

M is for Marriage:
7-1/2 years

N is for my Name:
My name is KID... sorry... DebraSue

O is for Overnight Hospital Stays:
A couple.
In 4th grade I was in for several days with double pneumonia and chicken pox.
In 2003 following my breast reduction.

P is for People I was With Today:
A client and his family
C and many movie-goers at Night at the Museum
B

Q is for Quote:
“Keep on keepin' on” -Joe Dirt

R is for Biggest Regret:
Too many to list.

S is for Sport:
Have you seen any pictures of me? My only sports are Table Push-ups and Quick Draw Remote.

T is for Time I Woke Up Today:
6:30

U is for Current Underwear:
Fruit of the Loom Low-rise briefs. Magenta.

V is for Vegetable You Love:
Brussels Sprouts

W is for Worst Habit:
Biting my cuticles, asking for reassurance, eating in the car. I am sure there are more that B and my friends could list.

X is for X-rays I Have Had:
Head, vaginal cavity, uterus, heart (do echocardiograms count?), and lungs.

Y is for Yummy Food You Ate Today:
Very hot Chicken McNuggets. I was stuck in a very rural area (they don't even have Walmart), but they do have the Golden Arches. It was hopping.

Z is for Zodiac:
Leo baby! Cuz I am a Queen!

Yet Another MeMe

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? I really need to stop eating Chinese food - it all lands in my face. My nose is so swollen I look drunk or pregnant; maybe both.
2. How much cash do you have on you? A dollar and some change.
3. What word rhymes with “DOOR” Score!
4. Favorite Planet: Earth. Second would be Saturn.
5. Who is the 4th person on the missed call list on your cell phone? A client - no names due to the confidential nature of my J.O.B.
6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Old School Ringing Phone
7. What shirt are you wearing? White Timberland t-shirt under a black cotton sweater.
8. Do you “label” yourself? Oh yeah.
9. Name the brand of shoes you are currently wearing? New Balance.
10. Bright or dark room? Bright due to the fact that I have 6 windows in my living room.
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Cool enough to copy from them.
12. What does your watch look like? I have a watch, but I don't wear it. It's a lovely silver and gold Fossil that B bought me for my birthday 4 years ago.
13. What were you doing at midnight last night? I was watching an episode of the Rachael Ray show on DVR.
14. What did your last message you received on your phone say? I can't repeat it, this is a family blog. B was ranting about the car dealership and he used many, many cuss words that include the letters F, P, MF, and SOB.
15. Where is your nearest 7-11? A couple blocks over. I don't go there because they are robbed frequently. I hit the One Stop instead.
16. What’s a word you say a lot? Goddammit and Okay.
17. Who told you s/he loved you last? B. Every day.
18. Last furry thing you touched? Darwin. He's my shadow when I am at home.
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? Illegal = none. Prescribed = 6 per day. I am sick. Back off.
20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? Film? I think I have a roll from my brother's first wedding in 1995.
21. Favorite age you have been so far? Dunno. Every year has had joy and strife. They are connected at the hip.
22. Your worst enemy? Myself. I beat myself up frequently, worry constantly, and do the wrong things when it comes to my health sometimes.
23. What is your current desktop picture? Spiderman 3
24. What was the last thing you said to someone? "Darwin! What the hell are you doing? You big dork!”
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? Get real.
26. Do you like someone? Oh yeah. Many, many someones.
27. The last song you listened to? All the way through? This Fire by Franz Ferdinand.
28. What time of day were you born? 12:31.
29. What is your favorite number? 23
30. Where did you live in 1987? Cross Lanes, WV
31. Are you jealous of anyone? Yes I am, but I don't like to discuss it. Jealousy is ugly and envy is a sin.
32. Is anyone jealous of you? I hope so.
33. Where were you when 9/11 happened? At work. I had just come out of the bathroom and a guy from another office was walking out of the men's. He said, "Did you hear? A plane just crashed into one of the Twin Towers?" I walked back into my office suite, and we all crowded into Carol's office because she was the only one of us with a radio. I eventually went to my parents' and watched the coverage from there.
34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money? Cuss and try to either shake it or buy the item behind it. I don't do vending machines very often.
35. Do you consider yourself kind? Not really. I do kind things, but rarely have kind thoughts.
36. If you had to get a tattoo where would it be? A bee on the top of my foot. This will never happen, BTW.
37. If you could be fluent in any other language what would it be? Spanish.
38. Would you move for the person you loved? If I had too; good thing we both like it here.
39. Are you touchy feely? No. I will touch, but do not like for people to touch me. I totally one-sided and unashamed.
40. What’s your life motto? Don't have one. Maybe "Keep on keepin' on" like Joe Dirt.
41. Name three things you have on at all times? My wedding bands and my engagement ring. I have two thin bands that surround my diamond.
42. What is your favorite city/town? Probably the one I live in. I have a city love.
43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash? Coffee from McDonalds for my mom and me. 44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? Years ago. How sad.
45. Can you change the oil on a car? Yes, but I don't.
46. Your first love: What is the last thing you heard about him/her? He is living in a rural county and practicing law and is married to his second wife. He is very politically involved and is considering running for office. His wife is a teacher and they are infertile. I worked with a woman who is married to his best friend. When we figured it out, she asked him about me. She said he talked about all of these great times we had when we were teenagers (we knew each other for years). She said he was really excited to hear I was doing well, which is nice.
47. How far back do you know about your ancestry? All the way to the first step off the boat.
48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy? I don't dress fancy. I dress for work and that's fancy enough.
49. Does anything hurt on your body right now? Yes, the back of my head. I heart my sinuses.
50. Have you been burned by love? See #46.