Friday Five

You're stranded on an island.

Not a completely desolate island. More along the lines that the boat delivering supplies only comes once every six months and will never, ever take you home. Decide what you'll bring!

One celebrity: George Clooney

Two books: The Bible and an unabridged dictionary (I love words!)

Three edibles: chocolate, pizza and nuts

Four films: When Harry Met Sally, Independence Day, The Sound of Music and St. Elmo's Fire

Five music albums: Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy, The Stranger, Fleetwood Mac's Rumors and Dashboard Confessional Unplugged

Sorry, Kellogg's

I'm on a low-carb diet & I don't miss cereal. When I am in the mood for it, however, I'll go for Atkins Morning Start, which has an average of 4 net carbs, as opposed to your new Special K with 9 net carbs. So, I'll give you points for trying but please try harder. Now, if you made low-carb Froot Loops that would be a different story. I will be looking for the Chips Ahoy & Eggos though. Good job on that!

Thinking Cap Thursday

Week 4 Questions

1. Summer Nites - Look at me I'm Sandra Dee - Beauty School Dropout
:: Songs from the movie Grease

2. Edgar - Milton - Dwight
:: can't get this one

3. Splash - Stripes - Spaceballs
:: Bill Murrary movies

4. Jazz - Heat - Magic
:: basketball teams

5.  Breast - Side - Back
:: swimming strokes

6. John Denver - Tony Orlando - River Phoenix
:: At first I thought this one was tough & after I got it I want to slap myself for not getting it sooner lol People with city names as last names

7. Canon - Olympus - Minolta
:: cameras

8. Frankincese - Gold - Myrrh
:: gifts the three wisemen gave the baby Jesus. (When we were kids, my cousin used to call the wisemen the wise guys lol)

9. Dr Bombay - Serena - Tabitha
:: Characters on Bewitched

10. The Kelloggs Co. - The Keebler Co.- Santa Clause
:: I'm not sure but, if Snap, Crackle & Pop are considered elves my answer is ... things with elves.


Hey! All you meme-aholics out there! Go visit angelbaby & get in on this. It's fun!!

Your Element — 28 July 2004

Earth, water, air and fire — the four elements of Greek philosophy. Which element do you feel most fuels your spirit? Why? Of course, astrology and other fields "assign" elements to people based on their birthdate or other criteria, but independent of what an expert or ancient chart might say, what does your heart say?

Compare your traits to those of your element, literal or perhaps metaphysical. In the classic sense, for example, earth is physical, water is emotion, air is intellect, and fire is instinct or intuition.

Interesting question. I'm a Virgo so Earth is supposed to be my element but I feel water fuels my spirit more. Whenever I'm around water, especially the ocean, I feel at peace but energized, if that makes sense. I get most of my inspiration when I'm around water of some kind ... even rain believe it or not. I sleep better when it's raining, too.

This site, in a nutshell, says Virgos are practical, realistic, down-to-earth, not easily side-tracked. That is so not me! It also says Water signs are dreamers, good-natured, introverted, quiet, contemplative ... Now that is me. Weird, huh?

question from here

Theater Thursday

Week 11 - My Life.
This week the topic is YOU. (Funny you should ask. GSG & I have actually discussed this ... not in terms of a movie about my/his life but if my book should ever be made into a movie. The main characters are loosely based on him & me.)

1) If there was a movie to be made about your life, what actor/actress would portray you?
Sandra Bullock.

2) What actor/actress would portray your love interest? Your best friend?
I think George Clooney but he thinks it should be Brad Pitt. If that was the case, change answer #1 to Jennifer Aniston. My best friend, huh? That's a tough one. Hugh Jackman maybe?

3) What would be the title of your film?
Chasing Dreams. Why? One of Jim Kelly's mottos is "There's nothing wrong with chasing dreams -- you might catch one." Ever since I heard him say that about 15 years ago I've had it taped on my desk right above my computer monitor. Every time I thought my dream of getting published would never happened, I looked at that and felt inspired again. Well, almost every time. But my dream did come true. I hope the others will as well.

Bonus) What moment of your life would be the highlight of this film?
The day I found out my book was going to be published.

How could I have forgotten this????

Years ago when I worked nights at a restaurant, then later at a mini mart, after I got home & I was relaxing my phone would make a little noise. It couldn't even be considered a ring. Just a beep or blip or mini-ring, I guess. It drove me crazy for years. I couldn't figure out what it was. Then, when I started doing research into the 1111 I learned that this phone thing happens to lots of people everyday all around the world. I told someone about it & theorized that the sound happened at 1:11 or a time with a double digit. Tonight when I got home I was just sitting next to the phone & it made that noise. First time I'd heard it in years. I looked at the clock. 12:22. Yet another sign for me! I'm so excited about this. Now if I could just go with the flow & do what I'm supposed to do.

A cool thing happened at work ...

One of the sports guys came up to my desk, handed me a little flashlight and said he found it in the parking lot. He said he wanted me to have it so I would "always have light." How cool is that??

Wednesday Matinee

1. What's your favorite suspense movie?
It's a toss-up between The Sixth Sense & The Usual Suspects.

2. Do you lose sleep on good horror / suspense movies?
No. But sometimes I lose sleep over a good romance. Weird, huh?

3. Would you make a pact with the devil to save yourself or those you love?
Sorry to those I love but, no. I think I'm too selfish for that. I said that now but I might change my mind depending on the situation.



Wednesday Mind Hump


Happy
Affectionate
Mellow
Bright
Understanding
Respectable
Generous
Erotic
Romantic

01. You have opened a fast food joint that features YOUR favorite food prepared in many different forms. What would the name of your joint be? List several things that would be on the menu.
The Pizza Place (I know I can do better than that, but it's 1:36 a.m. lol)
taco pizza
chicken alfredo pizza
barbecued chicken pizza
extra cheese pizza where you really get extra cheese

02. You are holding a public auction for all your belongings ... what is the oddest or silliest item that would be on the auction block?
I would say a paper weight that's a rock with tiny stones glued onto it & the stones have faces on them and there's a popsicle stick thingy on top that says "rock concert." Very silly, but it has sentimental value.

03. If you could buy "instant anything" what would it produce when you just add water?
Money!!!

04. If it were possible to miniaturize any sort of environment and keep it in an aquarium-like enclosure, what type of environment would it be and what sort of creatures would you keep in it?
A beach on the Pacific Ocean. The creatures in it would be me & a few of my favorite guys ;)

05. If you were offered a "Get Out of Jail Free" type of card today (i.e. magically fix something, get out of doing something, etc...) what would the card be for?
Magically fix something? How 'bout my entire life? lol Well, not my entire life. I'll just say my love life. That could definitely use some fixin'.

TV Tuesday

This week it's about you and what you remember about TV!! :)

1. What's your fondest memory of something on TV?
There are so many! But since this week is the Democratic National Convention, I'll say it's when John F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at the convention. It's more poignant now that he's gone.

2. What's the first show you remember watching regularly?
Captain Kangaroo

3. What is the (pick one: stupidest, saddest, silliest, most disgusting..) thing you've ever seen on TV?
The most disgusting would have to be when the contestants on Fear Factor ate buffalo balls. Ewwwwwwwww!!!!!!

~Bonus~ (From the hubby! LOL) What's the best series finale you remember?
Again, there are so many. Friends was good, but I may just being saying that because it just happened. The Bob Newhart "dream" one was good. Wait! I just thought of it! The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Today's Numbers

When I took my walk today I also took an opportunity to talk to my angels and ask for advice about a certain situation. The double digits were everywhere, which means they were giving me a sign. But I said "Listen, I'm not good with numbers and I don't know what they all mean yet, so could you give me a non-number sign?" When I got to the turnaround point in my walk I almost went one way to get back home, but was pulled in another direction. As I walked by a parking lot, I looked down and saw this on the front of a car: "God is in Control" with a picture of an angel. So I ran that around in my head for a while and tried to figure out exactly what that means to me. When I thought I figured it out, I said "Is that it?" The next car that drove by had 111 in the license plate. According to this site that means "the universe has just taken a snapshot of your thoughts and is manifesting them into form." The next car's license plate had double 77s. "The angels applaud you…congratulations, you’re on a roll! Keep up the good work and know your wish is coming true." The next license plate was 55s. "A major life change is upon you. This change should not be viewed as being "positive" or "negative," since all change is but a natural part of life’s flow. Perhaps this change is an answer to your prayers, so continue seeing and feeling yourself being at peace." The predominant number of the day seems to be 9. "Completion. This is the end of a big phase in your personal or global life. Also, it is a message to lightworkers involved in Earth healing and means, “Get to work because Mother Earth needs you right now.” "

So, here's what I'm taking this to mean: What I want is going to happen, but I shouldn't obsess over it. Let it happen in God's time, not my time. I also need to get back to be happy and spreading the light around because that's my "job" in the universe.

As I just finished typing the last sentence I looked at the clock. 1:22. Twos mean: Our newly planted ideas are beginning to grow into reality. Keep watering and nurturing them, and soon they will push through the soil so you can see evidence of your manifestation. In other words, don’t quit five minutes before the miracle. Your manifestation is soon going to be evident to you, so keep up the good work! Keep holding positive thoughts, keep affirming, and continue visualizing.

Yep, I think I'm right. I feel better already :)

Oops

I was remiss in not mentioning National Lampoon's Vacation during the blog movie marathon. How could I foget that?

Wanna know how anal I am? I'll tell you anyway. I'm already thinking about next year's Blogathon. I have a plan and I think it'll be fun. And everyone who helps me will get a free gift. And some people who help will get an even bigger free gift.

More details to come. I mean, I'm not that anal. There are still 360-something days before it starts.

I can't believe I want to do this again after I nearly passed out on the keyboard just a couple of short days ago. Yeah, I'm a bit of a masochist. What other reason could there be for me not giving up on him yet? *sigh*

Numbers

Now that I know what the numbers mean, I have to really start doing something about it. I'm being really selfish right now and only thinking about myself. I know I need to think in larger terms, like what my mission is and how I can go about accomplishing it. I did figure out that I'm just supposed to be a happy person & spread that around, but I also get the feeling there's more. I need to concentrate and really get into this. For the last few days I've been looking at the clock at 1:44, 3:55, 2:33 ... You get the idea. It's all double numbers. Not all the time, but about 8 out of 10 times. I know when that happens I'm supposed to acknowledge angels or a higher power, which I do. But after I acknowledge I always ask for something selfish. I have to stop that!

And the Question of the Week is...

If you suddenly had enough money so that you never had to work another day in your life, what would you do to stay busy or keep your mind occupied?

I would still write because that's who I am. But I would do a lot of traveling. I've always wanted to go to Africa, Australia, Russia, Japan, Switzerland, Italy and Ireland. I'd also go to the 24 states I haven't been to yet. Then, to relax, I'd go to Bermuda, Aruba, Jamaica ... you name it, I'd be there.

Monday Madness

'If you had your choice between this and that, what would you do?'

1. Skipping and Running
Running. I'm sure skipping would give me a headache.
2. Coke or Pepsi
Coke, although I drank Pepsi yesterday because the mini mart didn't have any caffeine free Coke
3. Rock or Hip Hop
Rock
4. Laptop or Desktop
Desktop, although a laptop would be nice.
5. Cold Weather or Hot Weather
Cold. You can always put more clothes on to get warmer, but there are only so many clothes you can take off (in public anyway).
6. Swimming or Bicycling
Bicycling. I can't swim.
7. Chocolate or Vanilla
Vanilla ice cream, but chocolate anything else.
8. Day or Night
I used to be a night person, but now I like days better because I can get more done and it seems I have more energy during the day now.
9. Looks or Brains
Brains. Funny, though, that the guys I like are smart and good-looking. No, I'm not hard to please.
10. Cable, DSL, or Dial-Up
I have dial-up at home, cable at work. I love cable!

I knew it would rain!

Okay, so it didn't rain Saturday, but it did rain a little bit yesterday. Today & tomorrow we're under a flood watch. So there! I knew there was rain coming. And it's foggy, too. And it's like Bakersfield fog. Fog is a weird thing to miss, isn't it?

I survived Project-Blog

Yay me! I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it, but I did. It's been years since I stayed awake for 24 hours staight. (I'm not even going to count the 2 20-minute naps because they didn't really help.) I will do this again next year, and I'll try harder to get more sponsors. I didn't try very hard this year because, as I said, I wasn't sure if I could do it and I didn't want to disappoint anyone.

Now, some thank-yous:

Katie, my one & only sponsor. I appreciate it and I'm sure the Red Cross does as well.

Anonymous B. Nowhere for keeping me awake the last two hours, and keeping me entertained during the first 22. She was the first blogger I didn't know in person who I read regularly. That was nearly three years ago and I still enjoy her writing as much as I did then.

Brent and Wendy for putting Project-blog together.

And thanks to everyone who stopped by ... y'all come back now, ya hear?

~*~*~*~*~*~

There's a movie I forgot to mention ... Pay it Forward. Hokey and sentimental, yes. Overacted. Yes. But I like it because of the concept. And, well, what could I possibly say about Kevin Spacey that hasn't already been said?

So, what movies do I not like?

There are lots of movies I don't like but whenever I'm asked this question the first movie that comes to mind is Six Days, Seven Nights. I was in my "Harrison Ford is hot" phase when it came out, so I really wanted to like this movie. Alas, I couldn't. In fact, at one point I looked at my watch thinking it would have to be over soon. I was shocked to discover I'd only been sitting there for 30 minutes. I seriously considered walking out. I would have if I could have gotten a refund.

Speaking of walking out ... I'm outta here. If the neighborhood guttersnipes cherubs keep me awake, I will be blogging from prison soon.



buh-bye!

Sky 16


Looks as if it might be a nice day, which I will spend sleeping most likely.


And, in keeping with the movie theme ...

"I'm getting too old for this shit." (Lethal Weapon)

Seriously, though, I'll do the offical blogathon next year. This was just kind of an experiment for me to see if I could do it. I'd wanted to do it before but, for one reason or another, this was the first year it was feasible. A bright side to all of this is that I'm getting better at Spider Solitaire, a game I didn't even know existed until a few days ago.

One more. I can do this! And, thank you!

Yet more ...

Almost Famous, Rear Window, Road Trip (heaven help me!), 9 to 5, Psycho, Contact, Girl Interrupted, O Brother Where Art Thou?, The Lion King, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Airplane!, Young Frankenstein, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Viva Las Vegas!, Breakfast at Tiffanys, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Fast Time at Ridgemont High, Pretty in Pink, Heathers, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Double Indemnity, Rebel Without a Cause ...

~*~*~*~

Do I have two more posts in me? Yep. The question is: Will I be awake in an hour? We shall see.

Sky 15


Rather dull and boring, don't you agree?

Even Miss Higgins looks bored.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Not only have I nearly lost the ability to type, I'm having trouble remembering how to do HTML. Lack of sleep, a 2-liter bottle of Lime Diet Coke and an entire pack of smokes in 8 eight hours will do that to a person, I've discovered. Now I'm getting depressed because I know my over-caffeinated self won't be able to sleep when I try. And I'll probably soon develop a nicotine-induced headache. I sure hope the Red Cross puts the 10 bucks to good use after all of this.

Mo' Movies

The only order these are in is the way I scribbled them on the paper:

Shakespeare in Love, Big, Sabrina, The Parent Trap, Halloween, Tootsie, Miss Congeniality, Working Girl, Fatal Attraction, The Godfather, The Silence of the Lambs, Rain Main, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Carrie, Kramer vs. Kramer, Stripes, All the President's Men, A Few Good Men, The China Syndrome, The Birds, The Hunt for Red October, The Philadelphia Story, What's Up Doc?, It's a Wonderful Life, Rocky, Caddyshack, Yours Mine and Ours, ET, Jaws, American Beauty, Citizen Kane, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Pulp Fiction ...

As I said hours ago ... how can you pick just 20?

~*~*~*~*~

Ya know, if I'd woken up in time I'd have only one more post to go before I could literally crawl into bed. But nooooo, I had to oversleep yesterday. This is an awful lot of work ... not to mention a stiff neck ... for 10 bucks. Sure would be cool if someone else would sponsor me. It's not too late, ya know?

Sky 14


We're in the home stretch now, folks! Oh yeah, and no rain last night. So, I was wrong. Big f'ing deal.

Movies 20

Despite this phenomenon I love Stand By Me. It's a great coming of age film about a geeky wannabe writer. Hmm? Sounds familiar.

As I'm writing this, I realized I'm going to have to take Stand By Me off the list and add My Girl. I can relate to it more because it's about a female wannabe writer who lives in Pennsylvania. Also, it was set in 1972, when I was 12, too. And, a boy is her best friend. Yeah, I can relate to this movie. I also had a friend die when I was a kid. Man! How did I not put this movie on the original list?!?!

Sky 13

Yep, it's bright enough again. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that.

Shoes 9




my favorite flip-flops

Movies 19

As with Number 18, I put Raiders of the Lost Ark on the list because it's the first one, but I like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade better. I didn't really like action movies before Raiders, but know I love them as long as there's some humor in them. I think my favorite scene from Last Crusade is when Indy takes the "leap of faith." Oh yeah, and I like the part when he figures out which is the real grail. I also like the interaction between Indy & his father. I'm not a huge Sean Connery fan, but I loved him in this. Oh yeah, another scene I like is when they all think Indy is dead and then he's crawling up the cliff ... and his hat comes rolling back to him.

~*~*~*~*~
The movie ended an hour ago, but here's one more thing from the movie:

Let me tell you 'bout some friends I know
They're kinda crazy but you'll dig the show
They can party 'till the break of dawn
at Delta Chi you can't go wrong

Otter, he's the ladies man
Every girl falls into his hands
Boon and Katy playing "Cat and Mouse"
and Mrs. Wormer, she's the queen of the
Animal House

That Pinto he's a real swell guy
Clarette was jailbait but he gave her a try
Chip, Doug, and Greg, they're second to none
They studied under Attila the Hun

Mr. Jennings has got his wig on tight
Flouder's left shoe's always on his right
Babs and Mandy are having a pillow fight
With D-Day, Hoover, Otis Day and the Knights

Do the Bluto
Come on baby, dance with me
Maybe if we do the Bluto
We will get an "A" in lobotomy
Do the Bluto, do the Bluto

Aw, come on!

Let me tell ya
Dean Wormer tried to shut us down
But he fell and he broke his crown
He didn't know about the Delta spunk
He came in handy when we were short a skunk
At the Animal House

Shoes 8



my favorite slippies

~*~*~*~*~

Remain calm. All is well.

and ...

Otter: Let's take the chiefs.
Wormer: I hate those guys.

and ...

Oh boy, this is great.

and ...

This may seem like an inopportune time to ask, Dean Wormer, but do you think you could see your way clear to giving us just one more chance?

and ...

Greg, look at my thumb. ... Gee, you're dumb.

and ...

No prisoners!

Movies 18

I put Star Wars on the list because it was the first one, but I actually like Return of the Jedi better. Anyone who likes these movies knows why I like them. If you don't like them ... What's wrong with you?

~*~*~*~*~

Seven years of college down the drain.

and ... (an encore)

Bluto: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it. He's rolling

and ...

Otter: We could fight them with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives ... I think this situation absolutely requires a futile and stupid gesture on somebody's part.
Bluto: And we're just the guys to do it.

and ...

I'm only 13.

and ...

Can I have 10,000 marbles please?

Shoes 7



yes, another pair of flip-flops

~*~*~*~*~

Otter: Take it easy, I'm pre-law
Boon: I thought you were pre-med.
Otter: What's the difference?

and ...

They confiscated everything ... even the stuff we didn't steal.

and ...

That minx. What a lively sense of humor.

and ...

Do you mind if we dance wit' your dates?

and ...

Bluto: My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.
Otter: Better listen to him, Flounder. He's pre-med.

and ...

Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son. (That was my Dad's favorite line.)

Movies 17

Any movie that has me on the edge of my seat for an hour and a half needs to be on the list, which is why Die Hard is on it. "Yippee ki aye, mother fucker."

Armageddon is another guilty pleasure, which is why it didn't make the list. My favorite line from the movie is when Harry says "You're NASA. You're the guys who think this shit up."

~*~*~*~*~

Boon: She broke our date.
Otter: Washing her hair?
Boon: Dead mother.

and ...

I'll write you a note. I'll say you're too well to attend.

Shoes 6


yet another pair of flip-flops

~*~*~*~*~

Can I just massage your thighs while you eat?

Movies 16

I think the reason I like The Breakfast Club so much is that I wish people could get together like that and realize how similar they really are. I think my favorite scene is when Andy sees Allison for the first time after Claire gives her a makeover. On a side note, last night when I ate sushi for the first time the person I was with asked if I knew what it was. I said "Raw fish, rice and seaweed. ... Who says you don't learn stuff from movies?"

I was out of college for three years (and some of my friends were just getting out of grad/law school) when St. Elmo's Fire came out, so it really hit home. "I'm in touch with that emotion." Yep. The only reason it didn't make the list is that something bad happened to me after I saw this movie for the first time. I couldn't watch the movie for years but, as I started getting over it (I'll never be completely it.) I realized I couldn't deprive myself of the pleasure of watching a good movie just because some guy was an asshole.

~*~*~*~

As of this moment, they're on double secret probation.

Guess what movie is on tv? That should keep me awake for the next couple of hours <3

Shoes 5



These shoes are really comfy and I usually wear them to work.

Movies 15

I like so many Christmas movies it was hard for me to pick just one to put on my list. But I picked Miracle on 34th Street for a couple of reasons. The first is that I'm a sucker for a good-guy lawyer. The second is that my Dad was a supervisor for the Post Office & I thought it was cool how they were instrumental in proving Kris was the real Santa.

On a related note (the note being the real Santa), The Santa Clause is one of my favorites because it answers all kinds of Santa-related questions, like how he gets into houses without fireplaces. That always bugged me when I was a kid because we didn't have a fireplace.

Shoes 4 ... plus ... some mutterings



just another pair of flip-flops

And now for something completely different ...

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Sleep:: I need some!
   
2. Stats:: my highest week & day ever. Thanks!! <3
   
3. Portfolio:: resume
   
4. Lipton:: tea
   
5. Telly:: Savalas
   
6. Immigrate:: my grandparents
   
7. Viable:: workable
   
8. Serene:: calm
   
9. Mountain:: climbing
   
10. Natalie:: Montecalvo, a nice, sweet, talented, smart lady I worked with who died of cancer a couple of years ago. I miss her.
    

The First Four

What are the first four things you think of when I say

Sky

1.Blue
2.Jimi Hendrix
3.The Sky Project
4. Spirit in the Sky and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Movies 14

Splendor in the Grass is on the list because it's the best teen-angst movie ever, in my opinion. I have a couple of favorite scenes. The first is when Deanie assures her mother she's still a virgin. The other is at the end when Deanie realizes she's better off without Bud, although she'll probably always love him. I can relate.

There are so many funny lines in Steel Magnolias that I couldn't even begin to pick my favorite. I think the tagline for the movie says it all. "The funniest movie ever to make you cry."

Shoes 3




My trusty sneakers, which have helped me lose 122 pounds.

Movies 13

I had to put Ferris Bueller's Day Off on my Top 20 list because it makes me laugh every time I see it. By far, my favorite scene is the parade, although I do like when the principal meets up with Jeannie in the house & she kicks him.

I didn't put Terminator 2: Judgment Day on my list because it's a guilty pleasure. I like the special effects in this one, and Linda Hamilton is hot.

Shoes 2




The most comfy shoes I have. I wear them when I don't feel like wearing shoes but I have to.

Movies 12

War Games made the list because it's the movie that got me interested in computers. Of course there are other reasons as well. It's just a good movie, albeit a bit preachy at times. My favorite scene is after Jennifer learns David changed her grade after all and she says "You gave me a D?"

Why didn't Speed make my Top 20 list? I don't know exactly. All thrillers should be this good. It's action-packed from beginning to end, and it's got just about everything a good movie needs. I can't really pick a favorite scene, though. I do think it's funny in the beginning when a woman stuck in the elevator is concerned about missing a shoe.

Sky 13 Oops. Shoes 1

So, were ya wondering what I was going to do after I couldn't take sky pictures anymore? Never fear. I have a plan. Now you get to see my favorite shoes, in no particular order. Excuse the quality of the photos. I didn't feel like putting that much work into pictures of my feet, uh, foot, as you'll see.




black flip-flops with the ever-so-stylish rhinestone enhancements (I know there's another word, but I can't think of it right now)

Movies 11

Ever After made the list because I like the twist on the classic fairy tale. It's romantic without being sappy and funny without being overly goofy. "Just breathe."

The only reason Monty Python and the Holy Grail didn't make the list is that I haven't seen it in a long time. I really should watch it soon. "It's just a flesh wound."

Sky 12

It's from a different angle, a little right of my front porch. That bright spot near the top right corner is the moon.



Also:

50 %

There's a 50 % chance that I'll survive the 'thon.
Will you survive the Blogathon?

From wannabegirl.org via artgrrl.

Movies 10

Annie Hall is on the list because it's another Steve thing. He got me interested in Woody Allen movies, and it's stuck with me. If I'm not mistaken, that's also the year he started calling me Annie, which I normally hate. But he can call me anything he wants ... as long as he calls me. Ba dum bum. Anyway, my favorite scene is "a spider as big as a Buick."

Although Back to the Future didn't make the Top 20, it's one of those movies I hardly ever get tired of watching. I don't really have a favorite scene. My favorite thing about the movie is how everything from the past fits into the future.

Sky 11

No clouds. Nothing but sun setting on the hills.

Movies 9

I think Animal House will always be on my list of favorites. I crack up every time I watch it. I think it helps that it came out the year I graduated from high school & started college. Let's see if I can pick a favorite scene. This could change at any moment, especially if I watch it again soon, but for now I'll say it's:

Bluto: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it. He's rolling.

I'm still debating on whether I should take another movie off theTop 20 and add
Christmas Vacation. It's not Christmas if I don't watch this movie. I'm pretty sure my favorite scene is when Eddie kidnaps Clark's boss, although seeing the 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights always cracks me up.

Sky 10

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No rain. But there's a cool airplane thingy.

Movies 8

I knew Never Been Kissed would be on my list of favorite the first time I saw it because it reminds me of me. Then Steve told me it reminds him of me, too, so it's definitely got to be on my list. Anything Steve & I have in common is good. My favorite scene is at the prom when Josie tells the high school kids that what people think of you in high school doesn't matter in real life.

I like Lethal Weapon 2 better than the original, although neither made my Top 20. I like the sequel better because it's funnier & because we get to know the characters better. Favorite scene? "They fuck you at the drive-thru."

Sky 9

Maybe I was wrong about the rain after all.

Movies 7

The Wizard of Oz has been on my list of favorites ever since I was a little kid. I still watch it a few times a year & I know all the words -- dialog & music. My favorite character is the lion because he reminds me of Nick. My favorite scene is the end when Dorothy says "And Oh Auntie Em, there's no place like home."

I've learned that people either love or hate Independence Day. I happen to love it, although I couldn't get it onto the list. My favorite scene is after Dennis Quaid's character blows up the ship and Robert Loggia's character says "Tell them how to bring those sons of bitches down." As much as I like this movie, there are a few times I laugh when I'm not supposed to. Like when they say "Fire at Will." Fire at Will? There'd be no movie!

Sky 8

Gray clouds are starting to appear.

Movies 6

The sixth movie on my list is Casablanca. Simply a classic. From the time they get to the airport to the end of the movie we're treated to some of the most memorable lines in movie history. "The problems of two crazy people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world." "Here's lookin' at you, kid." "Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

I wish I had room to put Goodfellas on the list. I like it because it's basically a true story and gives an interesting inside look at the Mafia. My favorite part is when the guys are in prison and have the run of the place.

Sky 7

The clouds are starting to cover up the blue now. The sun's still out, though, but I haven't given up on the rain. I just know it's coming.

Movies 5

An oldie but a goodie is my next choice. Some Like it Hot is one of the funniest comedies ever, in my opinion. Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon are two of the ugliest women I've ever seen. I LOL just thinking about how bad they look. I don't think I can pick a favorite scene because so many are just so funny. If you haven't seen this movie, rent it immediately!

On a totally different note, the next movie that didn't make the list is A Time to Kill. My favorite scene, which has me weeping every time I see it, is when Jake is giving his closing argument and says "Now imagine she's white." Powerful, powerful scene.

Sky 6

I guess it's a little bit different this time. The clouds are wispier. It's getting kind of cool out, too.

Movies 4

Next on my list is Apollo 13. I think I like it so much because it's a true story of triumph over tragedy. I'm also fascinated by how the minds of the people at NASA work. I can't even do math and they figured out how to get those guys back to Earth! My favorite scene is when the spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere and everyone starts cheering. From reading Gene Kranz's book, I know that part wasn't exactly true (The folks at Mission Control didn't cheer until the end) but I get teary-eyed every time I see it.

The next movie I couldn't fit onto the list is Forrest Gump. What's not to like about this movie? Well, there is one thing. The part when he's running & the guy comes up with the smiley face "Have a Nice Day" T-shirt? Those were popular in the early 70s when I was like 12 or 13. The running part happened in the late 70s. He started running in 1976. Remember he & Jenny watching the Bicentennial stuff on tv? So, that's my least favorite scene. I'm not sure I have a favorite although I do like the part when Forrest & Jenny are in Washington and she's getting on the bus to go back to California and Forrest says he thinks she should go back to Greenbow, Alabama. I like the way he says it, that's all. And that's all I have to say about that.

Sky 5

I swear I'm not just using the same photo over & over.

Movies 3

Number 3 on my list is The Usual Suspects. My favorite scene starts when Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) realizes Verbal (Kevin Spacey) is Keyser Söze. The first time I saw it I was blown away when the camera scanned the bullentin board and we saw the pieces coming together. Then when Kujan drops the coffee cup and Kobayashi is printed on the bottom of it? Awesome! The effect now is never the same as when I saw it the first time. How could it be? But I still love it.

The third movie I couldn't fit onto the list is The Sixth Sense. As with The Usual Suspects, the effect can never be the same as when I saw it the first time but it's still one of my favorites. I think my favorite scene is when Malcolm realizes he's dead.

Sky 4

Still not much of a change, but it is getting windy out. I'm tellin' ya, it's going to rain.

Movies 2

The second movie on my list is The Sound of Music. I'm pretty sure my favorite scene is when the Baroness tells Maria "There's nothing more irresistable to a man than a woman who's in love with him." (Ah, if only that was true.)

The second movie I couldn't fit onto the list is To Kill a Mockingbird. I just love this entire movie. Atticus Finch is such a wonderful character. I wish I knew how to make Joe Manzarelli that good.

Sky 3

Again, nothing much has changed. I suppose that's a good thing. We'll take all the sun we can get around here. We have a saying (we, as in me) around here. Bradford has two seasons: July & winter. Unfortunately, we've had rain at least part of every day for the last 10 days or so. Rain is not in the forecast for today but ya never know.

Movies

By now I'm sure everyone has heard of IMDB. Well, yesterday via Blu I discovered Your Movie Data Base, where you make a list of your top 20 movies. It was really difficult for me to pick only 20. I even changed the list a few times while I was making it because I kept thinking of more movies I liked. C'mon people. Only 20?!?!

Here is my list. The movies aren't listed in any particular order. But first on the list is:

When Harry Met Sally ... I still quote lines from that movie. I just love it. My favorite scene is right after Sally finds out Joe's getting married.

Sally: And I'm going to be 40.
Harry: When?
Sally: Someday.
Harry: In eight years.
Sally: But it's out there like a big dead end. And it's not the same for men. Charlie Chaplin had babies when he was 78.
Harry: Yeah, but he was too old to pick 'em up.

Here's a movie I didn't put on the list. I think it's a given for just about everyone though. The reason I didn't put it on the list is that I like the book so much better.

Gone With the Wind. I'm not sure which scene is my favorite, although it's a toss up between a couple of the kissing scenes. Then again, there is the "I'll never be hungry again" scene. And the one where Scarlett tells Ashley she loves him, then ends up throwing the vase and discovering Rhett is in the room.

Sky 2

OK. I changed it already. I went out to take the next photo & my neighbors, along with their visiting relatives, were on their front porch. I really didn't want them to think I was nuts so, instead of taking the picture from my front porch, I took it from the bedroom window. Nothing's really changed in the last hour anyway. But here it is:

I forgot to mention ...

... people think I'm crazy for taking pictures of the sky. No one's said anything but I see the looks. They might not think I do, but I do. How dare they question a creative genius at work?

Oh yeah. I think I also forgot to mention I can be paranoid. And for heaven's sake, no I don't think I'm a genius. In fact I have to be constantly reminded that I have even an iota of talent in me. Sure felt good when my editor (and inspiration to go into journalism) said "Of course you have talent, kiddo." She calls me "kiddo" even though she's only 10 years older than I am. She started calling me that when I was a 20-year-old very shy college intern at the paper. The name stuck after all these years, and I like it. She doesn't have pet names for everyone, ya know. Well, at least not nice ones. ;)

Sky

For the last 10 days I've been doing The Sky Project because I'm fascinated by the ever-changing sky. Well, today I'm doing the Project-blog version, for a few hours anyway. I can't do it after dark because my camera doesn't have a flash. *sigh. Oh well. The next one will.

This version of the project will be photos taken just outside my front door every hour. Exciting, huh? Anyway, here's the first one:

I really should ...

... do something constructive while I'm sitting here. The most logical thing would be cleaning off my desk & the surrounding area. Maybe I'll save that for later when I need to stay awake and I can't think of anything to write.

I had planned on going to the store this morning to pick up a couple of essentials but I didn't wake up in time to do that. (Thank God I picked up a 2-liter bottle of Lime Diet Coke when I got the printer!) Now I'm going to have to make a quick trip to the mini mart. I hope I don't meet up with someone who keeps me talking & prevents me from getting back here in half an hour. I guess I'll just have to say "I'm in a very important blog project. Stop talking & sponsor me, dammit!"

Letchworth

Here are some photos I took yesterday. They're not great but there's not much you can do with a ViviCam 3350. (I went for cheap this time.) Anyway, the waterfalls & the rest of the scenery is so awesome pictures don't really do it justice anyway.

On the way back we saw a sign for Just a Plane Bed & Breakfast. For $70 not only do you get a stay in what seems like a cute little place, you get a plane ride over the park! That's definitely on my to-do list.

Here's why I'm late ...

My plan yesterday was to go to Fillmore, N.Y., which is about an hour from here, and visit Lynn Barry, another author with the same publishing company as mine. Well, I wanted to suprise her so I didn't call first. I got to the diner she owns and found out she would be on vacation for a week starting yesterday. Ugh!!!! So, since I was only a few miles from Letchworth State Park I went there. On the way back I stopped at a Chinese buffet place & had sushi for the first time. I loved it! I also promised myself I'd buy a new printer yesterday. So I did that, too, then stayed up 'til 4 a.m. playing around with it. Anyway, that's why I overslept.

I knew this would happen!

I just woke up so I'm an hour and 45 minutes late getting started. I hope it'll be ok if I just do it for 24 hours anyway.

FOUR FOR FRIDAY

Q1: None of us, I'm imagining, deliberately chooses to park our car in a handicapped-designated parking spot (unless, of course, we have the right to do so), right? With that thought in mind, have you ever used (or do you deliberately use) the handicapped-designated stall in a private venue/office buidling or public bathroom? Do you think its wrong or inappropriate for non-handicapped people to use handicapped-designated bathroom stalls?
When I weighed 122 pounds more than I do now I used handicapped stalls because they're easier to move around in. I realize there are space considerations, but I think the other stalls should have more room in them. A person could develop claustrophobia in those things! I don't think it's wrong for non-handicapped people to use handicapped stalls if there's not a handicapped person waiting.

Q2: Do you belong to any professionals membership-based organizations (like a trade association or a professional society)? How about community-based organizations like the PTA or a homeowners association? What about informal social groups like a book or movie club? If not, is there a group you'd like to be a part of, or a group you'd like to start yourself, but just haven't joined or been motivated to do so as of yet?
I belong to PennWriters, a group for Pennsylvania writers. I'm also a member of a local theater group. I'm not exactly a member, but I do volunteer for the Red Cross.

Q3: Have you ever posed nude for an art class? If so, what was that like. If not, what would it take to get you do it? On the flipside of this question... have you ever been in an art class where you had to sketch a scene which was based on a nude model being present in the room? If so, what was that like? Did it make you uncomfortable?
I've never posed nude but I might consider it when I lose another 30 pounds or so. I haven't been in an art class since high school.

Q4: Lance Armstrong is expected to win a record sixth straight Tour De France bicycle race this weekend. Where, in your mind at least, does Armstrong's achievements rank him? Is he the greatest athlete ever or just the greatest bicycle racer ever, or do you feel he's neither or something else?
I guess he's the greatest bicycle racer ever. I'm not sure who I'd put in the top ten greatest athletes, and he might even be there, but I don't think he's the greatest. I will say, however, that his triumph over cancer is awe-inspiring. To beat cancer then go on to do what he's done? Wow! I'm sure he's inspired many, many people.

This is so me!

Your first name of Anne has given you a rather quiet, reserved, serious, studious nature. You have sensitivity and appreciation for the finer and deeper things of life, the beauties of nature, music, art, and literature. The people who mean the most to you are those who can offer you intellectual companionship. It is only when you are among those who understand your deeper nature that you can really be yourself. The experience of having your remarks taken lightly or belittled, particularly during the early years of your life, has caused you to keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself. You do not express yourself spontaneously when conversing with others; hence other people may often regard you as being aloof, and even unfriendly.

I got that from here.

Weekend Wonderings

1. What are the best toppings for a pizza?
I used to be a pepperoni, black olives & extra cheese gal (sometimes onions, too) but our local Buck's Pizza just started offering gourment pizza & they're awesome. My favorite so far is chicken alfredo. It has alfredo sauce, chicken, red onions, real bacon & mozzarella. Yummeeeee!! Pizza's not so good for the carb count, but it's so good I really don't care.

2. What's the best snack food?
Mixed nuts. A year ago I would have said chips & dip or guacamole & chips, but, as people who have been here before know, I'm doing the low-carb thing. I wish someone around here would start selling the new low-carb Tostitos so I can have them with guacamole, which I am allowed to eat.

3. What's the worst thing you've ever eaten?
The worst for me or the worst tasting? I'll go for the worst tasting. Mussels. Ewww! I tried them at a buffet once and, well, I'm glad I tried them so I could say I did, but I'll never try them again.

Theater Thursday

This week's Theatre Thursday is dedicated to those Onscreen Moments that stay with you forever.

1) What moment from what movie still makes you laugh out loud - no matter how many times you see it?
I'm trying to pick just one moment from "Animal House," but I can't. There are just so many scenes in that movie that make me LOL.

2) What moment from what movie still makes you cry like a baby - no matter how many times you see it?
Jake's closing argument in "A Time to Kill" when he says "... now imagine she's white." Gets me every time.

3) What moment from what movie made you actually turn your head from the screen - either in fear, revulsion, or contempt for the fact that you actually paid money to see the film?
The scene in "The Fly" (Jeff Goldblum version) when he regurgitates on the food. Gross! I'm glad I didn't pay to see it.

BONUS) What is one single moment from a film that is indelibly etched in your brain? Not a scene or a sequence exactly, but three or four seconds from a movie that contain an image or phrase or concept that transcends normal movies?
There are several moments from "The Exorcist." I can't even watch the movie anymore, but I'll never forget it. It scares me & freaks me out when I even think about it for longer that a few seconds.

Thisis cute.

Wednesday Matinee

1. Do you base your movie choices on critics' reviews?
No. I read them, but I like to decide for myself because I actually haven't found a critic I agree with all the time. I think the best example of me liking a movie that critics hated is "Independence Day." Call me crazy but I love that movie, faults and all. I even own it & I've watched it dozens and dozens of times. Oh yeah. Another one is "Demolition Man." I don't know why I like it (aside from Sandra Bullock), but I do.

2. Do you like movie trailers and previews? Do they influence your movie choices?
I love trailers & previews. Sometimes they influence my choices, but when I saw the trailers for "Titanic" and "Ever After" I wasn't the least bit interested in either of them. Now I really like them and "Ever After" is one of my favorites. OK. OK. I have about 300 "favorite" movies.

3. Do you usually like movies that your friends or family suggest?
Sometimes. I usually don't take suggestions anymore, though, because if I hate a movie a friend or family member suggested I feel guilty. Weird, huh?

~Bad Review Bonus~ Do you like the previews before the movie starts or usually arrive late to avoid them?
Going to the theater isn't the same without seeing the previews.

Naked Pictures

Now I know the trick to getting people to visit me here. Last week I had the most visitors I've ever had. Is it a coincidence that there's a picture of me naked on the 'net now? Uh, I don't think so. OK. I'm a tease. Although I was naked when I took the picture, you can't see much of anything. But I like it, and apparently a lot of other people did as well.

Monday Music Mambo -- Week 17


This week it's all about "New Music!" So why don't we get warmed up with a little bit of "I say...You think..."


Release: Free
Tuesday: Night Music Club (Sheryl Crow)
Sounds: of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)
Disc: compact
Radio: WESB
Store: save
Tape: Scotch
Mix: dance

Ok, now that we are all warmed up, are you ready to Mambo? If you are, come on and shake your groove thang!


1. What's your favorite way to discover new music?
VH1
2. Do videos influence whether or not you buy a cd?
Not really. I don't usually watch VH1, I just listen. I'm more about the music than the video.
3. What was the last CD you purchased?
Maroon 5 Songs About Jane
4. Tell us about a band you recently discovered.
Jet, I guess. At first I thought it was the Rolling Stones, or Mick Jagger going solo. Now that I know who they are, I really like them and they're so not the Rolling Stones.
5. And lastly...answer the musical question: Did Video Kill The Radio Star?
Nah. Have you seen some of those guys in videos? Some of them are pretty darn, well, not good-looking ;) C'mon. Elvis Costello? I think video made the radio star bigger because we get to see them instead of just imagining what they look like. ... Anyway, that song is going to be stuck in my head all day now lol

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Nostalgia:: Memories
   
2. Irreplaceable:: Valuable
   
3. Odd:: Couple
   
4. James Spader:: Pretty in Pink
   
5. Flamboyant:: Extravagant
   
6. Intense:: Strong
   
7. Simple:: Easy
   
8. Septic:: Tank
   
9. Ton:: Weight
   
10. Turkey:: Dinner
    

Sunday Brunch

It's All About Me
1. Do you or should you wear glasses or contact lenses?
I have both but I wear my glasses most of the time because they're easier & more comfortable. I'm practically blind without them. And I'm so excited about my bifocals. I can read now!

2. What is your favorite type of footwear?
I'd rather be barefoot but if I have to wear shoes I have a pair of Dr. Scholl's clogs that are the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. I'm also into flip-flops again. For a few years I couldn't wear them because it bothered me to have something between my toes. Now I love 'em.

3. What is your worst habit?
Basic Lights in a box (a pack a day).

4. Are you an average, so-so or very good cook?
I'm actually pretty good, but I hate doing it.

5. Do you spend more time watching television, listening to music or surfing the internet?
Surfing the 'net while listening to music.

The First Four

What are the first four things you think of when I say:

Zippo

1.Lighters
2.George Blaisdell (the company founder)
3.Zippo/Case International Swap Meet
4.nada, zip, zilch, zippo

What do I look like?

OK. I've kept y'all in the dark long enough. Here ya go. You can also find a few photos of me here.

Blogging for Charity II

I'm going to mention Project-Blog again because it's only a week away and I only have one sponsor. If you'd like to sponsor me, go here and follow the easy instructions. The charity I'm blogging for is the McKean Potter Chapter of the American Red Cross.

This isn't the only thing I do for the Red Cross. I volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program. Yesterday I worked at the Red Cross booth at the food court for Bradford's Summerfest. I bought a duck for the second annual Penn Ducky Derby Duck Race. (My duck didn't win. *sigh* I'll post pictures of the race next week. I'll need something to blog about for 24 hours. ) It's an organization I really believe in. And there are some great people there, too!

But, even if you don't sponsor me please consider sponsoring someone. There are 149 bloggers and 104 charities so far. You should find a cause you believe in and a blogger you like enough to sponsor, right? I promise you'll feel good if you sponsor someone. :) <3

Good Question

Airplanes have automatic alarms that go off when they get too close to the ground. Most cars let you know when they're running low on gas. If you could have an automatic alarm installed in your brain, what would it be for, and when would it go off?

I'd have a stupidity alarm that would go off right before I attempted to do or say something stupid or embarrassing. Oh, if only the technology existed.

From here.

Friday

Weekend Wonderings

1. Do you considar yourself healthy?
Yes. I didn't for years, but now I think I'm healthier than I've ever been ... and it feels great!
2. How important is being healthy to you?
Very. That wasn't always the case, but as I see other people who aren't healthy (including my mother) I realize how important it really is.
3. Do you care what other poeple think about your health?
Except for my doctor, no. The only person I have to prove anything to is myself. (Thanks Steve *s*)

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Make a sentence using the letters of your favorite color. (Example: BLUE - Bob loves using eggs.)
Girls rock even everyone not-girl-age.

Soup
If you were to be stranded on a deserted island and could only have one CD to listen to, which one would you want it to be?
Yikes! Only one?? This is a tough one, but I'll pick Billy Joel's The Stranger. It's not necessarily my favorite, but I never get sick of listening to it.

Salad
How many people have you kissed in your lifetime?
Holy smokes! Right off the top of my head I can think of 30. If I thought about it, I'm sure there would be more.

Main Course
Someone offers to give you $2 million, but says you can only have it if you will give half of it to charity. Which good cause would you donate the $1 million to?
The American Cancer Society

Dessert
What would you like to name your next pet?
Jake, and he'd be a dog.

Another photo
 
Check this out from The Windscreen Gallery
 
 

Help!

Do you know anyone from Grants Pass, Oregon? If ya do, could you please e-mail me? Please put "Grants Pass" in the subject line. Thanks!

The Thursday Threesome

::State Fair and Rodeo::

Onesome- State: What state (or territory) do you live in? Have you lived in any other(s)? Where would you like to live? And as a bonus: Any idea what year your state became a state? *grin*
Pennsylvania. I lived in California for a while. I'd love to live in California again. It feels like home to me. Pennsylvania became a state in 1787, I think.

Twosome- Fair: Or amusement parks: Did you enjoy them as a kid? What was your favorite ride? How do you feel about them now? Ready to go wander around one again, sampling funnel cakes and corn dogs and riding rides until you're sick or would you rather just enjoy the entertainment or stay home and avoid the crowds?
I love fairs now as much as I did when I was a kid. I like them more than amusement parks because I get motion sickness really bad & can't ride the rides (Awww, poor me, huh?) I'm looking forward to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, N.Y. My cousins (on my dad's side of the family) & I used to meet there every year. Haven't done it lately, but we do see each other sometimes. And I love funnel cake! When I see them I just say "Screw the carbs!" It's worth it. :)

Threesome- And Rodeo: Have you ever been to or watched a rodeo on TV? Did you enjoy it or consider it a barbaric spectacle? If you liked it, what was your favorite event? Ever tempted to race barrels or ride a bull yourself?
I've never been to a rodeo but there's one near here, in Gerry, N.Y., that I'd like to go to some year. I've never, ever been tempted to race barrels or ride a bull ... even the mechanical kind ... Well, unless I could look as good doing it as Debra Winger did in Urban Cowboy ;)

Thinking Cap Thursday

Flower - Friend Owl - Thumper Bambi characters

X - Y- Mutant No clue

Patriot - Poseidon - Polaris constellations? ships? IDK!!!

Spaceman Spiff - Stupendous Man - Safari Al Calvin's alter egos

Its a hard knock life - Tomrrow - New York City Songs from Annie

Ivan the Terrible - Attila the Hun - Winnie The Pooh Again, no clue. Sorry.

Maybe I need a new thinking cap?

I'm Addicted

I don't want to do anything else besides play around with my camera. I'm so addicted! But there are worse things I could be addicted to, I suppose. Anyway, I'm so addicted that I've started two new projects. Just what I need. More things to keep me from writing. Actually, though, I'm having the same problem with writing that I had when I was full-time at the newspaper. It's hard to write news (albeit the light, fluffy features I've been doing) then switch gears and write fiction. So, I guess the photography is a good creative outlet for me. But I'm digressing. Here are my two new projects:

Anne's Photo of the Day: I'm going to post my favorite of all the photos I take everyday (or as often as I take them).

The Sky Project: Inspired by Enchanted Ceiling, I decided to start this project in which I'll post some images I've captured of, you guessed it, the sky.

Enchanted Ceiling

I just discovered this site yesterday and couldn't wait to contribute. Luckily, I was able to capture a pretty good shot this afternoon. Check it out here.

The Mirror Project

I've loved The Mirror Project since it started but hadn't submitted anything until Monday. Before that, I was too embarrassed about being fat. Then, when I wasn't so embarrassed anymore, I didn't have a digital camera. But now, I'm not (extremely) fat and I have a digital camera. So without any further ado, here's what I submitted:


Anne's Private Nation

Rainy Days & Mondays

I'm so excited!

What's On ... Right Now?

What's On your favorite tv show list Right Now?

CSI
Big Brother 5 (a girl needs guilty pleasures, doesn't she?)

Wow. I guess I haven't been watching much television lately. I can't even think of anything else besides movies.

Wednesday Mind Hump

This Wednesday is Cow Appreciation Day so let's make this hump "udderly moovelous"! Using the letters of H-O-L-S-T-E-I-N list seven things on your fantasy wish list! The key word here is FANTASY!! So milk it for all it's worth!

H - Home on Malibu Beach
O - Oscar Award
L - Lexus (or Lincoln)
S - St No. I refuse to answer on the grounds it might incriminate me ;)
T - Townhouse in NYC
E - Emmy Award
I - Infinite supply of money
N - Novel that's on the best-seller lists (all of 'em!)

Now that you're all warmed up let's do some "Getting To Know You" humping!

1. An artist paints your portrait while you are engaging in one of your favorite activities...what would you be doing? What would the title of the portrait be?
Writing, either on the computer or with good old-fashioned pen & paper. It would probably be titled "Untitled" because I'm always changing the titles of everything I write. I change my mind right up until the publisher's deadline.

2. You come in a bottle and you have magical properties, what are you? Examples: genie, pancake syrup, etc... What would be on your instruction label?
I'm a kindness generator. Instruction label: Open bottle. Sprinkle liberally on mean or unkind person. Repeat as necessary.

3. You've just been selected as a poster child for a make-believe organization. What is the organization and why have they specifically chosen you?
NOB (Nice but Overly-dramatic Bloggers). They've chosen me because well, I'm nice but I do tend to blow things out of proportion. They've told me they believe I'm a repressed actress & being the poster child for NOB may help me work up the nerve to get on stage with the theater group instead of doing behind-the-scenes stuff.

4. "You can fly, you can fly, you can fly"! ...and you are NOT Peter Pan! Who or what are you?
I'm me ... and GSG just told me he loves me. :)

5. If you had a vanity horn on your vehicle (one which plays a song) what song would your horn blow to announce your arrival?
Walkin' on Sunshine

Can ya tell I'm in a good mood? If I was depressed I'm sure my answers would be totally different.

Wednesday Matinee

You talkin' to me?

1. What's your favorite movie argument / fight / battle?
Jessup: You want answers?
Kaffe: I think I'm entitled to them.
Jessup: You want answers?
Kaffe: I want the truth!
Jessup: You can't handle the truth!

From "A Few Good Men"

2. Do you think you should be able to watch pay-per-view at home for movies currently in theatres?
Sure. Why not? I doubt the theater owners would lose that much money because most people, in my opinion, go to the theater for the whole experience. If they didn't, they'd wait for pay-per-view or cable or, like my mother, 'til it's shown on network tv. (RE: my mother. There is an exception. She wanted to see "The Passion of the Christ" in the theater so she could talk about it with all her friends.)

3. Do you think ticket prices should vary by movie length or quality?
Length? No. Some shorter movies are way better than some longer ones.
Quality? If possible, but I don't think it would work. Who's going to define "quality?"
Maybe star quality though. If movies with "unknowns" were cheaper than movies with "big name" actors/directors/producers/writers, myabe more people would go see the unknowns, who would then be discovered sooner. Again, I don't think anyone would get hurt that way. People would still pay to see Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks or a Steven Spielberg film.

Tuesday Twosome

Just a little fun...

1. Ice cream or sherbet?
Ice cream!

2. Two fave flavors of ice cream/sherbet:
Mint chocolate chip (the green kind) & there's this kind I don't know the name of, but I know it when I see it. It's vanilla ice cream with peanut butter swirls and the cutest little peanut butter cups I've ever seen. They're a little bigger than this: -> O, but not much.

3. In a cone or cup:
Cup, until someone comes out with low-carb cones.

4. One or two scoops:
Only two? Gimme as many as you can fit in the cup!

5. More painful: dropping your cone/cup or a brain freeze?
Dropping the cup. Brain freezes pass.

GSG

There's a picture of GSG in the paper today. I'm sad to report, however, that he looks like a dork in it. Well, not really, but it's not one of the best pictures I've ever seen of him. I guess I'm just disappointed that he didn't flash the killer smile that made me fall in lust with him.

Anyway, I don't have my scanner set up or PSP installed yet, so I'm using the software that came with my digital camera & I'm having trouble figuring out how to use all the tools (cropping, enhancing). So, I had to
do it this way. Anyone who guesses which one he is (only 1 guess) gets a free, signed copy of Contempt of Court. (Sorry about how long it takes to load.)

Giggly

I'm all giggly today because Steve will be here Friday. Don't know why yet but, since he just told me today, I'm assuming he won't have time to spend with me. But I'm giggly because of the hope that I might get to see him for just a little while. Does that sound pathetic? I hope not. It's just that, well, I like spending time with him. E-mail is good. Phone calls are better. In person is the best.

Music Mambo

Monday Music Mambo - Week 16

I'm going to get us warmed up with a little "I say...You think..." musical style.

dance: fever
club: organization
saturday night: fever
strobe: light
boogie: fever
fever: temperature
jazz: hands (a dance move)
chorus: line

Now it's time to get the Mambo on. Are you all ready?

1. Have you ever done any line dances like the electric slide or the Macarena?
Yes, back in my (all right, I'll admit it) country music days. It was a Billy Ray Cyrus thing. Anyway, an older couple taught my then-husband & I to do some country dancin' including line dancing.

2. Do you like to dance?
I like to dance, but I suck at it. ;)

3. Where's your favorite place to dance?
Anywhere in my house ... as long as no one else is there to see me.

4. When you dance, what's your favorite kind of music to dance to?
In public, slow because there's less opportunity for embarrassment. In private, I'll dance to almost anything.

5. What one dance best describes your personality?
Ya know that dance Elaine did on "Seinfeld?" ;)

Now I get it!

"Three o'clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to do."
- Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980)

From Bryn.

Sunday Stuff

The First Four

Fahrenheit

1.9/11
2.temperature
3.weather
4.thermometer

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Crippling:: pain
   
2. Tough:: luck
   
3. Slinky:: sexy
   
4. Slogan:: ad
   
5. Stuffed:: full
   
6. Instructions:: directions
   
7. Expletive:: #$?%^&#
   
8. Cartoon:: character
   
9. Toddler:: Aaryn (my nephew)
   
10. Insinuation:: implication (huh? idk *shrug*)
    

I KNEW IT!!

How would you do on American Idol? by geela
Name
Age
Simon says	That was beyond horrific
Paula says	You have a nice look
Randy says	The show WILL be about talent
Success level	You are the American Idol!
Created with the ORIGINAL MemeGen!

Does He Love You Back? by BlondBabi1314
Name
Does he love you	yes
What day he will tell you	May 12, 2007
How many days you will be crying	6
Created with the ORIGINAL MemeGen!

Can I really wait that long?????? Uh. Yeah.

Desktop

I was waiting 'til I got my new 'puter to do this. I'm sure you've been just dyin' to see it. ;)

Sunday Brunch

In The Work Place

1. Do you work full-time, part-time or do you work a seasonal job?
I work part-time at my regularly paying job. Full-time at my "real" job, which doesn't pay much at the moment.

2. Are you more often on time, early or late for work?
Always early. I have an irrational fear of being late.

3. Have you ever called in sick when you actually weren't?
Not to this job but in previous jobs I have.

4. How many hours per day do you put in?
At least 8, sometimes more. Wait. Do you mean actual work? Probably about 5, unless it's a busy news day.

5. Do you socialize with any of your co-workers?
Yes. I'm friends with one of my editors & we go to lunch sometimes. Also, there are company-sponsored social events. Does that count?

BlogMaze

I haven't been to Gina's in a while, so I was actually happy to see her site on the BlogMaze. This post about a death of a pet really touched me. My dog, who I called my daughter, died 4 years ago and I still miss her. She was my baby. I totally understand feeling that you could have done more, wanted to do more, needed to do more. The heartache when the doctor told us "I'm sorry but I can't do anything for this dog" was unbearable. I wanted to say "I don't care. You can't kill my dog!" But, of course, I knew she couldn't live like that anymore. I cried and cried and cried ... bawled, wailed, sobbed. I screamed out loud "I MISS MY BEEBE!" And that was months after she died. The only thing that made me feel better about any of it was something the man who buried her said: "Dogs are put on the earth to teach us the meaning of unconditional love." I'm getting a little weepy while I'm writing this. For those of you who understand, do you want to get pissed off now? Gina got this comment about her grieving. "Animals die. Get over it. Geez. You'd think you'd lost a child or something. And no, a pet is NOT like a child...no matter how much you want it to be. ... Wallowing in misery about a pet is pathetic. And if your pet really WAS your best friend, then I feel sorry for you, because that is pathetic, too." GRRRR!!!! Gina's comment was good, though. She said "I know nothing about you, except that you are a cruel stranger who should wonder if you, yourself, are the one that is pathetic."


I haven't been to Tracy's in a while either. Lots of changes! Changes in design as well as her life. The entry I linked to is titled "Six Degrees of Lesbianism." Very cool. Very. I have to remind myself to check in with her more often.

Ordinary Morning is going on my "reads" list. Anyone who can make me LOL needs to be on it. I also hurry it up a lot faster on the commode because, hey, there are pipes involved with that too, and the last thing I need is a bolt of lightning shooting up my ass ... or maybe that's exactly what I need.

Friday Stuff

The Friday Five

1) Do you remember your first kiss?
Sure do. I had a crush on the kid forever. Now I think he's kind of a dork.

2) How old were you when you had your first kiss?
12

3) Where did your first kiss occur?
The garage behind his house.

4) Where do you think is the most romantic place to exchance a kiss? (locations, not body parts)
Either the beach at sunrise or sunset, or the forest/woods.

5) What type of kisser are you? (peck, smooch, French, sloppy, etc.)
Not sloppy, but not exactly not sloppy. Actually, it depends on who I'm kissing.


Friday Fiver


wait

1. Do you own a wristwatch? Describe.
Yes. It's a gold, bracelet type that's way too big for my wrist, but I like it that way. I haven't worn it in months though because it needs a new battery & I have better things to spend my money on. It's been stuck at 5:55 since March.

2. How old were in you 1997?
From January to Sept. 12 I was 36. For the rest of the year I was 37.

3. Which is more important – financial success or personal happiness?
Personal happiness by a longshot. I've had plenty of money and been miserable. Right now I'm struggling financially but I'm happier than I've been in years.

4. Can you whistle?
Nope. People have tried to teach me, but it just ain't happenin'.

5. Do you believe in the supernatural?
You betcha!

The Friday Foofah

1. Are you viewing this on a computer running MacOS or Windows (or something else)?
Windows from home; Mac from work.

2. If money wasn't an issue, what computer would you have on your desk?
Too technical for me. I just do what my computer chick tells me to do.

3. When did you first get on the Internet?
1997, I think. Could have been 1996.

4. What's the #1 use you put your computer to?
Write & do research for my writing.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
If you were a color, which color would you be, and why?
Green because it means fresh & new to me, like springtime.

Soup
When was the last time you went to the doctor, and what was your reason for going?
Five months ago because I had just lost 100 pounds and wanted to make sure I was as healthy as I felt. Atkins suggest frequent doctor visits to check blood sugar, cholesterol levels, etc. Everything was perfect except cholesterol, which was slightly high. My doctor said I could fix that with diet, though. I checked the labels of all the foods I was eating regularly. Shrimp seems to have been the culprit. Who knew? So I've barely eaten any shrimp at all in the last five months. I have another appointment next month, so we'll see how well I did.

Salad
What do you collect?
I used to collect ducks, but I don't so much anymore. A few days ago I started collecting the coins I find on the ground (mostly pennies).

Main Course
What were you like in high school? Name one thing you miss and one thing you don't miss about those days. (If you're still there, imagine how you'll remember it in the future.)
Dorky. I was also voted "shyest girl" in my class. I miss not having any responsibilities except doing my homework, which I didn't have much of because I had 2 study halls. I also miss seeing Steve everyday. E-mail just doesn't do it sometimes. I don't miss the mean girls.

Dessert
Pretend you're standing in front of your home, with your back towards your home. Describe the view - what can you see? Trees? Cars? A zoo? Wal-Mart?
A cemetery on a hill with a huge firemen's memorial. Lots of trees, which partially block the view of an oil refinery and a highway. I can see a CVS pharmacy and an Arby's in one direction and a mini-mart sign in the other. Closer, I can also see the house one of my best friends used to live in. I love that house. I see the back of a neighbor's house. He's a grumpy old fart and is always spying on the neighbors through his kitchen window. There are backs of other neighbor's houses as well. Lots of kids' bikes & other riding toys are behind the houses, too, just off the road. I should explain that I live on a hill & there are only houses on one side of the street. The other side of the street is just the backs of houses that are on the street below me. I know I have pictures of the view from my house somewhere on the 'net. Wish I could remember where. Oh well. When I get my digital camera maybe I'll post some here.

And if I wanted to burn bridges, I believe my resignation letter would be something like this:

Paul, Hastings: "Gossips, Backstabbers and Napoleonic Personalities"

Weekend Wonderings

1. If you were walking down the street behind someone and they dropped a $20 bill, would you try to give it back to them or automatically pocket it?
Give it back.

2. If a clerk gives you more change than you were supposed to get what do you do?
I probably wouldn't even notice. I know this is bad, but I never count my change.

3. What would you do if you were saw an old lady or man struggling with a bag of groceries? What if he/she dropped the bag or it busted?
I'd offer to help him/her with it. If it dropped or broke, I'd help pick everything up. If something like a dozen eggs or a bottle of something broke, and if I had the money, I'd offer to replace the item.

From toasted-cheese.com

WP: Describe the best kiss you've ever had

I'd heard the line "My hopes are so high your kiss might kill me" many times before that night, and I understood what he meant. But I'd never experienced it before. Then, there we were, sitting in his car, looking into each other's eyes. Actually, I couldn't look the whole time. I looked into his beautiful blue eyes, then looked down into my lap. When I dared to look into his eyes again, I almost hoped he wasn't looking at me that way. The anticipation was too much to handle. It was anticipation built up over many years of wanting to kiss him. It was the anticipation coming from the possibility it wouldn't happen. We knew it shouldn't happen, but I didn't care. I prayed that he didn't care either. It seemed as if we'd been looking at each other for hours but it was probably only a minute. Just when I thought I couldn't stand it anymore, he leaned over and I moved closer to him and our lips touched. I know it's a cliche to say I could feel the electricity, but there's no other way to describe his soft lips on mine and how good he tasted and the waves of pleasure that swept through my entire body. But his lips were the only soft part of the kiss. It was hungry, like I hadn't eaten anything in months and was now given a feast to enjoy. I couldn't get enough. Neither could he. I felt as if I was dreaming. How could it be real? Was he really kissing me?

I can't write anymore about this. There just aren't words to describe how I felt. Anything else I said would sound like a bad romance novel. I don't want it to sound cheap because it was the most beautiful, meaningful kiss ever. It was passionate, but sweet. Wild, but gentle. It was everything. Everything.

Theater Thursday

Week 8 - Favorite Things.
Doing things a little different this week due to hectic schedules. Sorry if the questions are a little boring this week.

This week its all about your favorites.

1. If you could watch only one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
"When Harry Met Sally ..." although I already have the entire movie memorized. I watch it at least once a month. I just can't help myself.

2. What is your absolute favorite movie soundtrack?
There are so many to choose from! Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, The Big Chill, The Wizard of Oz, Friends (obscure Elton John reference), Fame ... Just one, huh? I guess I'd have to pick The Big Chill. Of course that could change at any moment when I think of one I like better.

3. What's your favorite movie-time snack?
Popcorn ... now that I can eat it again. Yay!

4. Favorite Actor:
Cary Grant comes to mind because my mom was watching The Philadelphia Story earlier. But let's see ... Hmm? Humphrey Bogart? What? Join the 21st Century, Anne? Okay, okay. George Clooney Kevin Spacey.

5. Favorite Actress:
This century: Sandra Bullock. Of all time: Katharine Hepburn.

6. And last but not least, what is your favorite kind of movie: comedy, drama, action...etc.,???
It's a toss up between romantic comedy and action.