Halloween-y Thursday Thunks meme

1. So Halloween is this weekend, if you haven't heard. Are you gonna open your doors up or not?

Nope. I'm going out! One of my best friends turns 40 a couple days before Halloween and is having an '80s party. We bought wigs and all kinds of crazy stuff, it's going to be a great time.

2. You better open 'em cuz I'm coming... what are you putting in my treat bag?

Nobody will be here. Don't waste your time. :)

3. Since October is the bestest month for television (well for cable & dish subscribers it is) and there is a horror movie on at any given time of the day - are you sick of them yet?

Not a horror movie fan, sorry. Though "Silence of the Lambs" was really good, and "The Sixth Sense"--do those count?

4. Which one of those movies can you watch over & over again?

The only horror movies I can watch are the cheesy old ones like William Castle, "Straitjacket", "Homicidal", or ones riffed on by Mystery Science Theater 3000/Rifftrax/Cinematic Titanic like "Screaming Skull", "The Brain That Wouldn't Die", etc.

5. Tell us about a Halloween scare you've had....

Halloween has never been scary for me. It's always been fun.

6. Did you watch the old Casper cartoons when you were a youngin? Well, back then they weren't old I suppose, but I'm sure you still understand my question.

I remember them being on, but I don't remember much about them. My favorite Halloween-themed cartoons involved Bugs Bunny and Witch Hazel, Bugs Bunny and Gossamer (the big orange monster), or other spooky Looney Tunes characters.

7. Have you ever found a four-leaf clover?

I have. I found one in Dena's yard a couple of years ago.

8. Haunted Houses... you know, the kinds you pay to get in and they chase you with chainsaws and severed heads.... do you like 'em?

Not really.

9. Do you use cute cartoon type wrapping paper for Christmas presents or the not cutesy paper? Or are you one of those gift card and/or gift bag people?

I use what's cheap. Sometimes I don't wrap at all. The gift is more important, and who has time? Gift cards are a great gift. I love them!

10. How long do boiled eggs need to stay in the boiling water before they become hard boiled eggs?

I'm not sure, I never got the hang of it. Mr. Salted is the cook.

11. Jason is coming in through your front door... Freddy is coming through your back door... zombies are at every window of the house and Norman Bates is calling to invite you to dinner... what do you do?

Force myself to wake up!!!

12. Did you know that the scariest part of Halloween is giving all of your Reese's Peanut Butter Cups away?

The scariest part for me would be having Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in the house to begin with! Even the sugar-free ones are awfully good.

13a. If you were to play a part of a haunted house (not the ghosts in the attic kind), what would you want to be?

I'd want to be the person in the coffin that came to life.

13b. Have you ever played a part in a haunted house?

Nope.

14. If Thursday Thunks had a Halloween party, what do you think Kimber & Berleen would come dressed as?

Ketchup and mustard.

15. Do you cook a turkey for Thanksgiving?

We go to our friends' place every year and they usually cook turkey and prime rib.


16. Have you ever read a book that scared the pants off of you?

"Sharp Objects"--I think the author was Gillian Flynn. I know it was Gillian Something. Stephen King can write some pretty scary stuff. The psychological stuff scares me more than the gore.

17. Whats the predicted high temperature for today?

50 degrees

18. Have you ever howled at the moon?

Many times! :)

19.You are in an alley and a werewolf and a vampire are coming at you - one of them has to win. Which one do you want to bite you?

The cute one!

Thursday Thunks

1. Does soap or shampoo have to really lather up for you to feel that it cleaned throughly?

Medium, I'd say.

2. Do you have a long standing joke with someone that you still laugh about every time you talk to that person?

Lots of these with several people. Good stuff.

3. Share something that happened to you this past week that was unusual.

My dryer died. That was unusual enough for me. I'm sitting here waiting for the new one to be delivered.

4. If you dropped a purple crayon and a green crayon off a roof, which would melt faster in the sun?

I'm in the Pacific Northwest, so probably neither.

5. You are standing in line (grocery store, bank, etc.), and someone gets in line behind you that stinks. The stink is so bad that people in line in front of you turn around and look to see if you are the one causing the stink. Do you cover your nose, hold your breath, breathe through your mouth or just get out of line altogether?
Tough it out so I don't have to get back in the line.

6. If you dropped your cell phone in the toilet, would you fish it out? If so, how much soap would you use to wash your hands afterwards?
I'd fish it out so it didn't clog the toilet, but I'm about due for a new one anyway. I'd probably wash my hands a couple of times for good measure. Or even use hand sanitizer.

7. How long do you think it would take you to clean your house after a big dust storm?

About as long as it would take to clean it now. I don't dust enough.

8. Do you think you can dance?
I'm not bad.

9. You are out to eat and someone across the room is staring at you. Do you get paranoid, try to ignore them, or go find out why they are staring at you?
Ignore. Disengage.

Thursday Thunks meme

1. Would you give up hugs - giving and receiving - for the rest of your life, for a million dollars?

Not just no but HELL no.

2.Have you ever been bitten by a member of the canine family?

Not really.

3. What is your favorite color of jeans?

Blue or black; I like all the funky washes, but I can't believe acid wash is "back". At least, I saw some in the fall clothes online and whatnot. What's next, the mullet? The El Camino? THE APOCALYPSE???

4. What is something that has changed in public schools that you wish was the norm when you were in school?

The world is a lot more child-centered now. I think there is more respect for different types of learners than there used to be. That would have been nice.

5. What is your news source?

TV, Internet, newspaper, radio

6. What sort of people do you think read your blog?

I can't believe anyone reads it, but most of my readers are people who know me in real life.

7. If I told you that I had a headache, you would say..........???

Have you tried Excedrin Tension Headache? It's made of awesome.

8. You go to a buffet style restaurant, what is the first food you put on your plate?

I probably look for a three-bean salad or just some salad in general.

9. Would you volunteer to be dropped off on a desert island, to be picked up in a month? And you don't get to bring those 3 items, either.

No. I don't find deprivation enjoyable.

10. When the sun sets, what are you usually doing?

Lounging.

Thursday Thunks 9/10

1. A 90 year old man's dying wish in South Carolina was to be buried in his car. If you were told tomorrow you have 3 weeks to live, would you have any dying wishes or something special done before you died?

I'd have a big party so I could see everyone I loved and give them stuff of mine I wanted them to have and say everything I wanted to say.

2. Do you pay for more stuff using a credit/debit card or cold hard cash?

Usually the debit card. Always trying not to use credit. Cash is great--when I have it!

3. What's cuter- a baby lizard or a baby snake?

Definitely the lizard. Snakes can be poisonous.

4. You go out to eat by yourself at a restaurant. While waiting for your food do you people watch & eavesdrop on others conversations, read a book, use a laptop or chat with people around you?

I read if I have a book, otherwise I just stare off into space and wait patiently. (As I once told a boss of mine, "I have a rich inner life." The look I got in response was priceless.)

5. If you see someone walking around with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, do you tell them or just laugh?

I tell them. Karma.

6. You are talking to someone you just met but you can't understand them at all because of their accent. Do you tell them you can't understand them or just smile and nod?

I tell them I can't understand them, or I try to piece together what they are saying, smiling a lot.

7. Mudfest! Park filled with pools of mud and an obstacle course of mud. Do you go and play in the mud?

No, I actually hate getting dirty--I mean, it can be fun, but I don't want to deal with the shoes, getting mud in the car, etc.

8. Have you ever had a headache so bad it affected your vision?

More times than you can imagine. I have migraines with nausea can land me in bed for days.

9. Would you fit in more with the circus, Hollywood, Broadway, or comedy circuit types?

Definitely comedy.

Thursday Thunks Meme 8-18-09

1. Your thoughts on hunting? I don't have a problem with it if you're going to eat what you kill. If you just kill for "sport", I have an issue.

2. Swine Flu vaccine... will you get it? No...frequent exposure to human pigs early in life has made me immune.

3. What is one job/profession that you think there are just too many of? Holier-than-thou judgmental soapbox dwellers; miraculously, most of them don't seem to have to work, which gives them more time to hone their craft.

4. I want to go on a diet, what advice will you offer me? Diets don't work. You have to change your entire lifestyle. Cut out the white stuff and exercise. And good luck. I've been on every diet there is, so I'm the wrong person to ask.

5. You are going out on a date with someone for the very first time. When you get into their car, you see a box of condoms on the floor. What do you do? I think, "My, he's well prepared" and kick them under the seat. He's not going to be using any with me on the first date, at any rate.

6. Name something in your bathroom that shouldn't be there. I dunno...the linen closet? I didn't build this place.

7. What was your Kindergarten teacher like? I don't remember her well, but her name was Miss Newton and I still have a book she gave me. I do remember that I liked her.

8. What kind of oil do you use when you cook? I don't really cook, but we try to use Pam or olive oil.

9. If someone takes an unflattering picture of you and posts it online, do you beg them to take it down or do you laugh at yourself with everyone else? Laugh at myself, usually, though I'll definitely comment on the hideousness of the photo.

10. What brand of dishwashing soap do you use? Usually the Costco stuff for the dishwasher, and Joy for the regular dish soap.

Thursday Thunks for August 13

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 think the art is the most important because it's needed to make more copies, right? I'm assuming there are copies of the novels and the sheet music. I grab as much as I can, except for the stuff I've never heard of that I think is crap. ;)

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?

No way. They butchered those people.

3. Power Outage! What's the longest you have been without power?

A couple of days. It was not fun. Day three I checked into the Travelodge to prevent frostbite in my feet. Power was restored the next day.

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?

No--they must have some kind of "tazer dummy" for stuff like that. I've seen "Cops"; being tazed doesn't looked like fun, and I don't have any crack in my pocket, so I'd rather skip it.

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?

I think it's okay and they don't need to know about it. I know damn well the mailman reads my Rolling Stone and my People. Probably The Utne Reader too. I also know my neighbors would do the same thing. As long as I end up with my magazine in a timely fashion, I'm not too tense about it.

6. If I went through your purse/wallet right now, what all would I find in there?

ID, credit cards, a couple of pictures of me and the Mr., some change, insurance card. I'm not sure if there is any paper money in there right now; I doubt it. Boring.

7. Have you been living under a rock?
Don't we all live under a rock of our own design?

8. Tell us something crazy you did this week.

I ate a piece of string cheese when I was still supposed to be on liquids post-op.

Thursday Thunks meme

1. What the hell were you thinking?

That it seemed like a good idea at the time.

2. The tornado sirens go off in your neighborhood - what do you do? Take cover.

3. Give us a recipe. Vanilla protein powder + coconut extract = post-bypass people's version of a pina colada.

4. It's the middle of the night, there isnt 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?

About 30 seconds.

5. When was the last time you got all dressed up fancy-like? Where did you go? To Pat and Noemi's wedding.

6. Have you ever had a mole removed? No, but there are a couple I would like to get rid of.

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?

8. When was the last time you changed your furnace filter? A couple of months ago.

9. What's your favorite type of frog? Michigan J. Frog from "Looney Tunes".

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....)

Photography, I guess.

11. Have you ever been on a rooftop of a building? Yes, that's a cool place to watch the stars.

12. What is the first website you go to each day when you sit down at your computer, other than your email? Facebook.

Thursday Thunks meme for June 18

1. Are your ears dirty?

Nope. They get cleaned daily.

2. Would you rather be stung by a scorpion or bit by a snake?

I know snake venom can be sucked out...I'm not sure if a scorpion sting can. So I pick the one with the better odds of my survival.

3. Do loud noises make you snappish? (i.e. A loud restaurant, screaming child next to you, booming stereo from a neighbor's house?)

Definitely. Repetitive noises are even worse.

4. PETA- thoughts on this org.?

I love animals and support animal rights and rescue organizations, always have. However, I have found some of PETA's methods to be ridiculous, throwing blood (or paint meant to look like blood) on people who were wearing fur--and then half the time it was faux fur.

5. Would you rather be the discoverer of the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot?

I think Nessie. Enough people look for Bigfoot.


6. When in a public toilet and it's not flushed: do you flush & use or move on to a clean one?

If there's a clean one empty, move on. If the bathroom's packed, flush and wait.

7. Neighbors are having a noisy, party bonfire, what do you do?

Nothing, unless they're messing with my property in some way. It's a free country.

8. Do you play Monopoly? If so which version of the game?

We have the Looney Tunes version. They have some great ones out, like Monty Python-opoly. It would be a fun thing to collect, different versions of Monopoly. I'm trying not to collect anything anymore...

9. Are you a remote hog?

I don't think so, but I have been known to take it out of Mr. Salted's hand if he can't pick a channel and go with it after half an hour or so.

10. Do you like the smell of paint?

Oddly, I kind of do...

11. My questions obviously suck this week. {I've had a bad week.} So do you think Kimber should have...

I didn't think they were bad at all!

Thursday Thunks meme for June 11

1. What is your least favorite candy bar?

I don't care for PayDays.

2. If I were to call you, what would you say?

Howdy.

3. What is your favorite type of leaf?

A brightly colored autumn kind, or one that has been eaten by bugs in an interesting fashion.

When was the last time you...

- swam in a lake?

Probably 15 years ago or more, up at Whistle or Trafton Lake with Dena and the girls.

- went barefoot outside?

Probably within the last week, but it was only from the car to the house.

- ate peas?

Maybe a month or two.

5. Since Father's Day is right around the corner, tell us about the person that you are celebrating.

I celebrate my former father-in-law, who is still a good friend. He is funny, kind, loving, and smart. He loves to garden; his yard looks like a state park. When I call on the phone, he always sounds glad to hear my voice. He has been the closest thing to a real father that I've ever had in my life, something I never thought I would get to experience this time around on planet Earth. I feel very fortunate to know him.

6. Were you dropped on your head as a child?

No, but I think damn near everyone around me had been a few too many times.

7. How often do you clean your toilet?

When it needs it.

8. Have you ever been sunburned? Tell us about it.

It was the '70s and no one seemed to bother with sunscreen, so I had several severe sunburns as a child. The worst one was when I was about 10 or 11. I literally couldn't wear clothes for a couple of weeks and had to stay in bed. It was awful. To this day, I burn in a few minutes, even with sunscreen, so I try to stay in the shade, under an umbrella, or just stay inside. It's not worth it.

9. On average, how many hours a sleep do you get a night?

If I have the right medication, 8.

10. How many hours did you get last night?

I'd say 8. I was exhausted.

11. Take a picture of something. Post it.

I took this picture of the neighbor kid's toy truck outside in the yard today and Photoshopped it.



12. Are the bottom of your feet dirty?

No. I took a shower two hours ago.

13. Do you know the names of every member of the family who lives next door to you?

No.

Thursday Thunks meme

1. How many golf balls can fit inside a full sized school bus?

3,832,456

2. Who decided the alphabet order?

Some control freak.

3. Why doesn't McDonald's sell hotdogs?

I think it would put them in the "snack bar" category and they are in denial enough to want to resist that.

4. You go to a nice restaurant and they are offering free samples of cheese. You take a bite and it's delicious. Then they tell you the cheese is processed with maggots in it which make the great texture and flavor. Do you vomit at the thought of maggots, think "oh well but no more", or just ask for another sample?

I throw a fit until they comp my meal. Then I'll think about the vomiting.

5. Would you rather ride on a cloud or slide down a rainbow?

Ride. Sliding can lead to bad landings, riding sounds nice and mellow.

6. Do you know/care who Heidi & Spencer are?

Some reality show couple. And no, I don't care. :)

7. Have you ever used Butt Paste?

No, and I'm a bit afraid to ask what it is.

8. Pie or cake?

Pie.

9. Do you remember when MTV used to play music videos?

I do. I used to stay up all night and watch them because they played the good stuff in the middle of the night. Vh1 Classic is a lot like MTV used to be.

Thursday Thunks, last week and this

Thanks to "Through Thick and Thin", I am getting hooked up with blogs with memes on them...like a moth to a flame, I am.

1. Have you seen the new Star Trek movie, and if so what did you think?

I went because I love Mr. Salted. It was just all right for me. (thank you, Randy Jackson)

2. Which popular sitcom character (past or present) are you most like?

I'd say Roseanne, but I don't have any kids. I'm probably more like Jackie, so I'd say I'm a combo of the two.

3. What kind of dreams do you have?

Strange, detailed, thought-provoking, disturbing. Never boring. Wake up scratching my head.


4. Bugger it. Go get a tattoo and come back. Right, now answer me this, what ees eet?

One of my paintings, the eyes of Buddha, and/or a memorial tattoo for my dearly departed friend.

5. Do you think you could be on American Idol with the singing voice you have now without any voice training?

No way.

6. How much wood, would a woodchuck chuck? If a woodchuck could chuck wood?

My answer is always the same--if he's chucking it and I'm not, I could care less!

7. If you were a tree in a Dr. Seuss book, what would you look like?

I'd be shaped like the Lorax.

8. Twilight? I'm addicted/Who cares/What the hell is Twilight?

I've only read the first book, and I have seen the movie. I think they are poorly written; I want to slap Bella upside her head, and Edward is a douchebag.

9. Do you think Kimber and Berleen do a dube while writing these questions?

I don't know, I just started :)

10. What the worst injury you've ever had?

The ankle that I broke 20 years ago that I now have to have reconstructive surgery on. Boo. Hiss.

11. What is your favorite dessert?

Chocolate mousse, apple pie, lemon pie. I'll take things I'm not supposed to eat anymore for $500, Alex.

12. What do you prefer...beach or mountains?

Beach. But I like beaches wear you wear sweaters, like the Oregon Coast.

13. What movie have you seen that still make you cry? Oh, a ton. "The Business of Fancydancing" about killed me.

14. Why are you making me submit a question? Are you too lazy to think of one yourself?

Again, I just started. :)

15. how often do you do laundry?

Pretty much daily. There are always towels and blankets and stuff to wash even if I'm caught up on clothes.

16. What is your favorite movie of all time, and why?

"American Beauty" is one...it's a beautiful illustration of human frailty.

17. If you won a million dollars in the lottery, would you keep working?

NO WAY!

18. If there was a war of the gummies, would you be on the gummi bear side or the gummi worm side?

Bears.

19. What's your favorite comic strip?

I love Pearls Before Swine.

20. Close your eyes… imagine you are in the perfect room/place… describe it.

I'll do a room. Hardwood floors, doors/windows/entryways that are rounded at the top, lots of natural light, built-in shelves full of books, walls a light color, a cool rug, a comfy sofa, a little desk with a laptop, a window seat, a cat or two...

21. How many states have you been in?

WA, OR, CA, NY, ID, MT, CO, NY, VT, MA, CT, RI, NH, VA, DC, FL, IL, NJ, NV...19.

22. If a sexist Man is called a pig, what is a sexist Woman called?

I'm stealing Through Thick and Thin's answer..."smart".

23. You see the one person who you absolutely despise. If you were guaranteed that he/she couldn't say or do anything back to you.... What would you do??

Make his heart stop with the sheer power of my mind.

24. How many states are to the right of you?

All but 4, so...55.

25. You can go anywhere in the world for free. Where are you?

I'm in England. And I may not come back.


26. HOW MANY FINGERS AM I HOLDING UP?

Three.

27. Are you a boxing fan? Do you think there will be a rematch of the Hatton-Pacquiao fight?

No. I have no idea. I feel bad for Mike Tyson because his daughter just died.

28. What is the most disgusting thing you have ever eaten?

Squid. And my grandmother's potato salad. They were nowhere near each other and this did not happen at the same time. She uses Miracle Whip, and that is Just Wrong.

29. Is it cloudy right now?

Yeah, the type that burn off.

30. What is your dream job?

Not really having or needing one...I would (a) seriously pursue writing and (b) go volunteer with animals so I could play with them and walk dogs part-time--after my ankle's fixed and I can walk again.

31. Someone gives you a $500 gift card to WalMart or Target. What are you going to buy? A laptop.

32. When you were little, what did you want to be "when you grow up"? And, how much different is your occupation now from where you thought it would be when you were younger? I never wanted to be anything but a writer. I don't really have an occupation right now so I'll have to get back to you on that answer.

33. what was your favorite toy as a child?

A pen and paper.

34. How do you think these things up??

My mind is quick like a bunny. My body, not so much.

35. Why do you think so many "fake" veterans get away with pretending? Why don't people question them more (especially the media who eats up their stories?)

Because most people would rather believe the best about people, and want to believe heroes exist.

36. What is the last place you had a good cry and why?

At home. It's safe here. And life.

37. What do you mean?

I mean what I say.

38. Which Sesame Street Character do you relate with the most and why?

Cookie Monster. I still want to marry him, but it would be like marrying my Muppet doppelganger.

39. What song one would you listen to over and over if you absolutely had to?

"Scarborough Fair"

40. Did you ever make what you believed at the time to be a horrible mistake - that in hindsight turned out to lead you on the best path in your life?

I quit grad school. That was a really good decision.

41. If you could change one thing on your person, what would it be?

Weight. Especially stomach.

42. What’s your favorite show to watch on television nowadays?

"Breaking Bad". It's fantastic.

43. Do you believe there is life after death?

Yes.