Questions, Questions, Questions...

Once upon a Family tagged me with some questions and then I must ask some more questions, passing those on to other bloggers...

1. What is the community you live in known for?
Home of the highest taxes in the country! And I wish I were joking about that.

2. What was your favorite t.v. show when you were a kid?
I had many favorites. I remember watching Carol and Paula on The Magic Garden after school, the Disney Afternoon line up, especially The Gummi Bears, Tail Spin, and Darkwing Duck...In general, I was very much into cartoons.

3. Do you have any pets?
Five cats--Dustbunny, Merlin, Rosie, Romeo and Hobgoblin. We also have five stick bugs right now. I happen to love the stick bugs. Low maintenance, interesting to watch, quiet. What more could you ask for in a pet?

4. How often do you vacuum?
I sweep almost daily. A few times a month I take out the old monster and fight with it. It tries to suck up any unsuspecting string, even if it is attached to a shoe, which causes the roller to stick and melts the rubber belt. I've been in need of a new vacuum for a couple of years now, but I haven't found one that I like that I can afford.

5. What would you want to do if you weren't living the life you are now?
I love my life! Don't get me wrong, I have my bad days, but I try to be thankful for each day I have with my kids and husband. If I had more free time and less responsibility, I would probably want to travel. I like exploring new places.

6. Would you rather go to a crowded supermarket on a Friday afternoon or be canning on a hot day?
Are those my only choices?! I guess I would have to do the crowded supermarket, since I've never canned and would probably end up exploding something!

7. What is the best thing about your spouse?
He's very supportive. He backs up my crazy schemes, even if he isn't completely sure about them. He trusts my judgment.

8. If you could go to lunch with anyone in the world who would it be?
Who wouldn't I want to go to lunch with? I would love to meet some of my blogging friends for lunch, or lunch with some of my favorite authors, like Elizabeth Peters, JK Rowling, or Rick Riordan. But above all, I think I would love to sit down to lunch with my sister and her family. Living on the opposite coast from her has been hard. I miss her.

So now it's my turn. I don't do well with tagging, so I will make this a request. If you choose to answer my questions, please tell me you did it in the comments and I'll go check your answers!

1. Can you describe yourself in six words?

2. What is your favorite place to go with the kids?

3. What is a hobby or interest you have?

4. What kinds of books do you like to read?

5. Line up your M&M's/Skittles/other treat by color, or eat them straight out of the bag?

6. You win free plane tickets to anywhere in the world. Where do you go?

7. What is the best thing about your spouse?

8. When did you last laugh until you cried?

Real World Uses for Timed Tests

Times when thinking and calculating fast are important:

• You're trying to reach level 50 on your favorite video/computer game
  
• You're on a game show
• When an animal jumps in front of your car on the highway
  
• When your flight leaves in one hour and you need to plot the fastest route to the airport because the highway is congested. (we've done this one, it was hairy)
• When you are facing off against a rabid animal
• The house is on fire and you need to get everyone out safely
  
• Your ship has sprung a leak
• You have moments to save your patient
  
• The time bomb is about to go off
• The dam is bursting
• You have a hostage situation
• Oil is spilling into the Gulf of Mexico
• When you're calculating the exact angle to aim the laser to shoot the asteroid to SAVE THE ENTIRE EARTH!!!

Please add to the list in the comments section!

Interview the Kids meme

I copied this Interview the Kids meme from Mama Monkey. It was eye-opening. Obviously, I make less of an impression on them than I thought. I interviewed Marina and Chase together, which was probably a mistake. At the very least, I should have waited for Marina to finish with trigonometry. My comments are in parentheses.

1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Marina (age 15): Don't be afraid of the math. (She was doing math at the time.)
Chase (age 12): Chase, did you do your work?
Sierra (age 6): Do your work. (It's interesting. I thought the phrase I used most for Chase and Sierra was, "Pick up your toys." I guess they didn't hear me!)

2. What makes your mom happy?
Marina: A clean house
Chase: Cookies and a clean house
Sierra: When I do my work

3. What makes your mom sad?
Marina: When you're ignored.
Chase: Cats knocking things over. (he added "of value" for clarification)
Sierra: When the cats knock over the angel (on the Christmas tree)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Marina: Well, you're funny, aren't you?
Chase: Staring for long periods of time. (It's my nose, isn't it?)
Sierra: Jokes

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
Marina: Draw
Chase: Juggle (except I learned when I was 18)
Sierra: Play with toys.

6. How old is your mom?
Marina: 40
Chase: I. Don't. Know. (Periods added to show his emphasis)
Sierra: 40 (she peeked at Marina's answer)

7. How tall is your mom?
Marina: Taller than me.
Chase: Can I get out the measuring tape?
Sierra: 41 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Marina: I don't know if you have a favorite thing to do. You like to do a lot of things. I don't like to do interviews. It's a good thing I'm not famous.
Chase: Juggle
Sierra:Go on the computer and talk to your friends.

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Marina: Go on LibraryThing. Clean. Sleep. Read.
Chase: What DO you do when I'm not around?
Sierra: Work on her comics.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Marina: Your comic strip.
Chase: Ditto.
Sierra: Comics

11. What is your mom really good at?
Marina: Drawing
Chase: Juggling
Sierra:Reading books

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Marina: You're pretty average at math.
Chase: Keeping adorable cats out of the house.
Sierra: Getting lots of money

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Marina: Teach us. Draw.
Chase: Whatever you're paid to do. (I can see his future as a politician.)
Sierra:Comics

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
Marina: I didn't know that you HAD a favorite food!
Chase: Pizza
Sierra: Vegetables and Fruit (No one said cereal. Amazing.)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Marina: That you've been doing so well with the blogging.
Chase: That you're a nice mom.
Sierra: That you help me with stuff.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Marina: A cross between Pinky (from Pinky and the Brain. Pinky is the zany one who everyone likes. Narf.) and Frankie (from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. She cleans up after everyone), depending on how you're feeling.
Chase: The mom in Family Circus. Wait, does it matter? Because we could just say your cartoon!
Sierra: Yourself in your comics

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Marina: We do Hogwarts Express together. (A discussion group on LibraryThing.)
Chase: Talk about all the people on the road who are driving horribly.
Sierra: My homework

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Marina: We both have a fear of new situations.
Chase: We both own cats. (Marina said, "Hey wow! I do too! It's like we live in the same house!")
Sierra:We're not!

19. How are you and your mom different?
Marina: I can knit and you can't. (I heard "commit" at first and was pretty shocked to hear that!)
Chase: I'm shorter.
Sierra:We have different color hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Marina: You mean, there was a chance you didn't? I don't know. We have fun together!
Chase: Can I copy Marina's answer? Yeah, that.
Sierra: She gives me Valentine gifts.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Marina: That he's a hopeless romantic!
Chase: That he is also a performer.
Sierra:That he gives you flowers.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Marina: The garden
Chase: Puerto Rico?
Sierra:Pizzeria

What can I say? I'm raising a pack of comedians. Thank goodness for daddy. Every family needs a straight man.

No Electioneering Beyond This Point

Admit it. You are all getting sick and tired of politics, politics, politics. You are getting bombarded with news, polls, commercials, junk mail and promises. So I'm declaring my blog a Campaign-Free zone. If you don't know who you are voting for a week before the elections, I can't help you. I can provide a bit of humor, some words of wisdom, and maybe a puzzle or two.

Consider it my little brain spa. Grab a towel, your favorite hot drink, sit back, and put your feet up. But don't block the screen.

For starters, how about a picture? Dusty posed for this one. I'm not sure if she realized that the "Think less. Play more." sticker was behind her, but she kept laying under it:



Speaking of poses, Take a look at these handsome faces. My father and uncle posed for Sierra recently:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep.
~ Pierre Auguste Caron de Beaumarchais

the most wasted of all days is one without laughter.
~ e e cummings

The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.
~ Mark Twain

I am the laughter of the new-born child /On whose soft-breathing sleep an angel smiled.
~ Richard Watson Gilder

Laugh at yourself first before anyone else can.
~ Elsa Maxwell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From A Case of Red Herrings

"A woman put on a heavy coat and left home for the rest of the day. It was neither raining nor cold outside. Why would she do this?" (Leave your questions in the comments. I'll answer Yes or No.)

For more puzzles, check out Brain Bashers. Consider this your brain massage.

I hope you've enjoyed my mini-mind-spa. May you leave this blog refreshed and ready to greet the day!

Actually, I'm 5'6...

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Today's Lesson...

Me: It looks like a tick. I'm guessing dog.

Sierra: Is it furry? (pause while we start laughing) What? Dogs have fur!

Is My Tag Showing?

I was tagged by Keeley. This one sounded interesting.

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want.
3. Link it to the person who tagged you and to the place of origin.
4. Tag five more bloggers, with links.
5. Leave them a comment and invite them to play.

I wasn't sure whether I needed a complete sentence. These words floated in my mind:

Overcoming obstacles, juggling, laughing, loving life


But then I thought of this one, so you can take your pick:

Stopped being serious! Life is fun!

Here are my tags. If you do it, let me know.

ComfyDenim
Balderdash&Blokus
Spinneretta
TheMFamily
Momof3feistykids

I'm running out of tag puns...

I have been tagged by the Muddy Mama. I'll try to write some new things, but I've done so many random tags, I'm afraid all my weirdness is going to scare some of you away!

Here are the rules:
1. When tagged place the name and URL on your blog.

2. Post rules on your blog.

3. Write 7 non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

4. Name 7 of your favorite blogs.

5. Send an email/comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

Here we go:

1. I am much more easygoing than I was in my teens and twenties. My writing from that period of my life depresses me.

2. I prefer raw and steamed vegetables. I also prefer my salad dry (no dressing), which is confusing to most restaurant servers and some relatives.

3. I can associate anything with a TV show or movie I saw as a kid.

4. I can't throw out any empty container without wondering how I could use it in a craft project.

5. I like puns. I blame my father.

6. I feel guilty when I rip out the weeds that were thriving under my care.

7. I would love to run a nature center.

I will list seven of my favorite blogs, but I won't tag them unless they want to play. I just think they are nice blogs.
Shard by Shard
The Jacobite Rose
Lostcheerio
Three's a Crowd
Appleleaf
He Knows My Name
And no list would be complete without
CarpeBanana

Another Random Tag

I was tagged by Spinneretta to list seven random facts about me. Since there is no end to my randomness, this is a fairly easy tag to do.

The Rules -
1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.

Seven random facts about me:

1. I sometimes write with my right hand without realizing it. (I'm left-handed)
2. My brain tends to go off on tangents. This is fine until I speak and say something that sounds completely random, even though it isn't to me.
3. I am the third of three and married a man who was also the third of three.
4. I would rather watch an animated film than live action.
5. I can't recognize people when I see them in a different place. This is very embarrassing because they usually recognize me.
6. I don't expect people to recognize or even remember me, especially when I call them.
7. I strive to live life in the moment. It's an ongoing struggle, but well worth the effort.

Now, I will suggest that the following people try the tag. No pressure.

Lostcheerio
Grandma, the Inner Elder
and my LibraryThing friends:
Kerian
Foggidawn
and anyone else who would like to play. Leave a comment if you do this and I'll go check it out.

Tagging Myself!

I'm so clever. I tagged myself from my blog where I dual post. I thought this was fun and since I have so many books within reach at my desk...

Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

The book is:
Shakespeare Well-Versed
by James Muirden

Page 123 is somewhere in the play Macbeth. James Muirden has taken the Shakespeare plays and created a rhyming guide for children.

'I'll drug his bodyguards--all right?'
His wife says to Macbeth.

He's basically horrified
At the idea of regicide--
But still, he'd rather Duncan died
Than face Lady Macbeth!

I'm counting that as three since I ran out of sentences on page 123.
If you would like to play along, just copy the tag rules and leave a comment so I can come look! (hm. I'm one to talk. I never follow that last rule!)

Book Meme

I've been tagged by Muddy Bathwater. This one sounded interesting since I am a book lover.

1. One book that changed your life:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo

2. One book that you have read more than once:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

3. One book that you'd want on a desert island:

Practical-A field guide to edible plants or
Fun-All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott
(It depends on the mood I'm in when I reach the island.)

4. One book that made you laugh:

Enslaved by Ducks by Bob Tarte (but it also made me cry)

5. One book that made you cry:

Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (but it also made me laugh)

6. One book that you wish had been written:

How To Remove Permanent Marker and Super Glue from Anything

7. One book that you wish had never been written:

Dinosaur reference books. It was all my son would listen to when he was little. There are only so many paleontological facts I can take in one bedtime story.

8. One book you are currently reading:

Letters to Malcolm by C.S. Lewis--I thought I would finish it in a week. Here we are, two months later...

9. One book you've been meaning to read:

Algebra Unplugged by Kenn Amdahl--I'm especially embarrassed because I wrote to the author and gushed about how much it helped my daughter, but I haven't had time to finish it myself.

I am going to tag:
my mother at Inner Elder
Balderdash & Blokus
and The Jacobite Rose

Turkey and Pie

This fellow visited our neighborhood over the summer. The poor thing "trapped" itself in a fenced in section of the creek that runs near our house. Apparently it forgot it had wings. And how it got in there in the first place.

You Are Mud Pie

You're the perfect combo of flavor and depth. You are overpowering and dominant - and that's what people like about you. You bring energy and a new direction to most interactions. People crave you in a serious way. You're that important to them. Those who like you give into their impulses. You don't represent reason. You represent pure temptation. People get addicted to you rather easily. You offer people a dark side that is very hard to resist.

What Kind of Pie Are You?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Gosh, does this sound like me? ;o)

I found this one at Spinneretta. Very neat. Especially since I do ride a unicycle and write poetry. Not at the same time...

You Are Big Bird

Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around. You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy. You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you. How you life your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

This is what I've been saying!

Your Superpower Should Be Invisibility

You are stealth, complex, and creative. You never face problems head on. Instead, you rely on your craftiness to get your way. A mystery to others, you thrive on being a little misunderstood. You happily work behind the scenes... because there's nothing better than a sneak attack! Why you would be a good superhero: You're so sly, no one would notice... not even your best friends Your biggest problem as a superhero: Missing out on all of the glory that visible superheroes get

What Should Your Superpower Be?

Because I Needed a Laugh Today...

This creative food preparation greeted me on the front page of today's paper. The picture is worth a thousand words. This picture says, "I hate working at a Chinese restaurant."

Nanuet Chinese restaurant cited for worker who reportedly used feet to prepare food

You may have to sign in (no cost) to view it, but it's well worth the price of admission.

This one was more interesting

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Be sure to take it more than once. The questions change depending on how you answer. I love that.

I Told You

If you read my earlier post, Favorite Survey Questions, you will understand how fitting it was that I do this BlogThing. I didn't exactly like the questions on this one, I thought they were too limiting. For example, yes, I like rock music, but no, I don't particularly believe that Guns'n'Roses or Rolling Stones were the best rock band of all time, and I've never even heard of the third band. Who writes these things? They completely skipped my rock generation.
Anyway, here's how I did.

You Are 20 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Favorite Survey Questions

I like to complete surveys. I feel it's my duty to be opinionated about products because I tend to go against the mainstream. Every once in a while I even get a prize for my patience in answering them. My last prize was a DVD collection of Abbott and Costello movies. These have been more fun for my entire family than the CD of Cher's greatest hits.

Filling out surveys is not for everyone. Many times I end up running screaming from my computer at the inane questions. And I even understand the necessity of the repetitive questioning. Most surveys ask the same question using various wording to ascertain whether the person is reading the questions or just randomly filling in bubbles. But it does grate on the nerves after a while.

In every survey, there is always a section that vexes and perplexes me. It's when they start asking personal questions for classification purposes. Sometimes these amuse me. They try very hard not to insult anyone, which results in unintentionally funny wording. Take the oft-asked employment status. I don't like checking off unemployed. It is an insult to call any homeschooling parent unemployed. Lately, I've found that leaves me with a choice between the recently added "homemaker" (well yes, I do that) and "not employed outside the home" (also fitting, but is this really accurate?). It would be easier if they simply asked, "Are you a) working for pay, b) a stay at home parent, c) a student, or d) unemployed and childless?

Even asking for my age can be amusing. Some are very straightforward. They simply ask you to state your age. But look at this example:

Which range best reflects your age? (Select one)
o under 18
o 18-20
o 21-24
o 25-29
o 30-34
o 35-39
o 40-44
o 45-49
o 50-54
o 55-65
o over 66

Now, how do I reflect my age? Chronologically, I might fall in the 35-39 category, but is that a true reflection of how I feel on a day to day basis? I'd say I reflect more of a 25-29 range, but I haven't had a good night's sleep all week, so that might push me into the 0ver 66 range. My yoga instructor says the yogis measure age by the flexibility of your back. My back normally reflects the 21-24 range. And what logic created the age span? Why do most of these range 5 years and then they suddenly jump from 55-65? What if I reflect 55-59 but not 60-65?

Finally, there is that annoying heritage question. I am half Hispanic. If I answer Hispanic in any way, I usually set myself up for a flurry of questions about my English fluency. English is my first language, the only one I speak with any degree of fluency, but I'm proud of my Spanish heritage and I feel like I'm lying if I simply opt for the White/Caucasian choice. If I answered Native American or Asian, I doubt I would generate the same degree of interest in my language abilities. I spent my entire childhood eating Spanish food and surrounded by Spanish relatives who only spoke to me in Spanish. I don't know why I can't speak Spanish well. But I've paid my dues and I'm going to click on the Hispanic button even if it completely throws off the sampling.

So there.

Fair Assessment, Though Not As Glamorous As Being Sorted To Gryffindor

The sorting hat says that I belong in Hufflepuff!

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot, and treat them just the same."

Hufflepuff students are friendly, fair-minded, modest, and hard-working. A well-known member was Cedric Digory, who represented Hogwarts in the most recent Triwizard Tournament.

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.

Get Sorted Now!

Color me Confused

Interesting...
This is my brain when I picked writing as the subject that came naturally...

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

And this is the color of my brain when I picked reading...

Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What Color Is Your Brain?

This explains why my thoughts get so muddy....