Cranky needs

Play by typing "(Your first name) needs" into your favorite search engine. List the first ten hits that actually answer the question.

1. Cranky needs a virtual keyboard.
2. Cranky needs three sets to kickstart.
3. Cranky needs to Move it Move it.
4. Cranky needs to be cranky.
5. Cranky needs to finish [her] grad program. (This really did come up as a hit. There is another cranky grad student out there. Imagine that).
6. Cranky needs an intervention. (I'm not sure what for, but I am sure I need some sort of intervention).
7. Cranky needs a slightly paralyzed, special needs pet rat. (Ok, aside from the fact that I would totally adopt a special needs rat and have had special needs rats as pets in the past, I think it is hysterical that this blog is called Hot Cranky People.).
8. Cranky needs a better encore. (I don't know what this means either, but I just like the sound of it).
9. Cranky needs your rantings and ravings to be put to good use.
10. Cranky needs to get a different job.

And 11, because it is also true: Cranky needs a vacation!

Looney iTunes

I just couldn't resist this meme:

RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.


IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Sapodilla
[4 Brass]

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
All I Really Want
[A. Morrisette]

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL
You Won't Make a Fool Out of Me
[Flogging Molly]

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Knowing Me Knowing You
[ABBA]

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
The Fool on the Hill (Omg, this made me guffaw!)
[Beatles]

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Troublemaker (lol)
[Weezer]

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
I Found a Reason
[Cat Power]

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
I Wish I Felt Nothing
[Wallflowers]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
I Get Along Without You Very Well (so true)
[Chet Baker]

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Love me or Leave me (This, too!)
[Billie Holiday]

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Remember to Breathe (true, too)
[Dashboard Confessional]

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Sin Wagon (BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
[Dixie Chicks]

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Lubbock or Leave it (BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA--oh man, I hope I am not living here when I die)
[Dixie Chicks]

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Pain (omg, this just gets more hysterical)
[Elton John]

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Lithium (lol! So not what I want to do but funny nonetheless)
[Evanescence]

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Nothing (true)
[Depeche Mode]

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Oh L'amour (yep)
[Erasure]

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Ain't No Sunshine
[Bill Withers]

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Lay Your Hands on Me (bwahahahaha)
[Bon Jovi]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Paralyzer
[Finger Eleven]

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Bixby Canyon Bridge (I'll probably be living under it)
[Death Cab for Cutie]

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
The Way Things Are (poignant, don't you think?)
[Fiona Apple]

New Year's Reso

End of the Year Reflection

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? started a Phd program
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't remember my resolutions
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, my friend Karen
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my uncle
5. What countries did you visit? none this year [sigh]
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? less freakin drama
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory? April something or the other when I did my 39.3; Dec 20-21. I don't want to talk about that weekend.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? a 4.0 in my program
9. What was your biggest failure? I dunno.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? no
11. What was the best thing you bought? Firefly DVD
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? the American public
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? cp
14. Where did most of your money go? school related expenses
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? my Firefly DVD
16. What song/album will always remind you of 2008? Gravity
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? somewhat happier
thinner or fatter? thinner
richer or poorer? poorer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? relax
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? continuing to keep toxic people in my life.
20. How did you spend Christmas? with family
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with? I have no idea, really
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? again and again
23. How many one night stands in this last year? a lady doesn't tell
24. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's Anatomy and House
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? hate is a strong word but yes
26. What was the best book(s) you read? Sadly, my pleasure reading came to a halt around August, but I reread Persuasion and enjoyed it better than I did in graduate school. Books I was disappointed in were Paint it Black and Love in the Time of Cholera. The latter was well written, but I just couldn't connect with the characters well. I'm reading The Time Traveler's Wife currently.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don't know about greatest, but I find Death Cab for Cutie to be humorous; Red and Sleepercar were also surprising little finds.
28. What did you want and get? a 4.0
29. What did you want and not get? truth
30. What were your favorite films of this year? I haven't been to a lot of movies, sadly, so this list is sparse: The Dark Knight, Get Smart, X Files 2, Sweeney Todd
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 34. This was the worst Kimday ever, actually. I did nothing. Well, someone took me out to dinner, but it was lacking compared to previous Kimfests.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? a better Kimday or really, a larger circle of Lubbock friends which would have satisfied the Kimday lack
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? hoodies and jeans, the doctoral student's only fashion concept
34. What kept you sane? running
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? We'll go with Zach Braff bc once that whole positive thinking bullshit works, I'm gonna hook up with him
36. What political issue stirred you the most? the election
37. Who did you miss? friends in general
38. Who was the best new person you met? D
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. I don't know if I learned it yet, but I did realize that you can try your hardest to do everything right and still fail, so just do what's real for you.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?
"I never loved nobody fully
Always one foot on the ground
And by protecting my heart truly
I got lost in the sounds" [Fidelity--Regina Spektor]

Post Turkeyday Meme

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? Man, my eyes are red from this dry weather. Post visine, I thought, "Wow, my abs are looking good, and I love my boobs." I do.

2. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Some girl from the grad program

3. What shirt are you wearing? I am freezing, so I am wearing a long sleeved tshirt with chicks rule on it and a homecoming sweatshirt from my undergrad freshman year.

4. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? I try not to wear shoes

5. book closest (in proximity) to you? The St. Martin's Handbook

6. What does your watch look like? I love my watch. It's an Ironman. Purple. Does intervals, has a timer, chrono, and 3 alarms. It's big and bulky, and I wear it even with formalwear (just in case I need to time a sprint in heels)

7. What were you doing at midnight last night? watching Get Smart

8. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? "You know, Elise & I were going to go up there for yr bday as a surprise but timing wasn't right so we sent u balls instead." [at least that mystery is solved]

9. What is the last type of Thanksgiving food you ate? pecan pie

10. What was the last thing you said to someone? I don't talk anymore. I just text message

11. The last song you listened to? "Sweet and Low" by Augustana bc someone had it on their myspace page

12. What should you be doing besides writing this meme? finishing my final outline for my peer relations class

13. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it? I wrote a thank you note to the kids who made me homemade bday cards

14. Can you change the oil on a car? I can. Do I? No, that's what other people are for.

15. The last time you dressed up, what did you wear and why? My wardrobe consists solely of hoodies and jeans now, so I can't remember the last time I wore anything else.

17. Last alcoholic beverage? semi flat champagne a few minutes ago

18. What kind of stuffing? Good ole southern cornbread dressing. It's the only way to go. Mmmmm.

19. Fresh or frozen bird? Neither. I kind of have this aversion to eating something that is the official cutsey logo of the holiday. How can you eat something they designed a float after in the Macy's parade?

20. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie? Either

21. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu? My bourbon pecan crusted sweet potato casserole.

22. What do you wish guests would not bring to your house? Well, I hate green bean casserole. Can't stand to look at it. But I wouldn't begrudge it being at my house since people tend to like the stuff.

23. Cranberry sauce--fresh or canned? Yuck. Absent.

24. What's one family tradition? Going to the movies on Tday.

25. What do you drink with your feast? We tend to have brunch, so mimosas.

26. Do you set up your Xmas tree before Thanksgiving? On Tday, right after the movie.

27. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love Thanksgiving? Eh, 3. Not big on the holiday. I like the time off of work, but the ratio of really bad to just average Thanksgivings are about 12:1 (notice I didn't say good). Beats Valentine's day. I've never had a good one of those.

Post Election Day Meme

A QUICK REVIEW OF THE ELECTIONS OF MY LIFE:

1976: JIMMY CARTER

I REMEMBER: My dad telling me that Carter liked peanuts. My dad also liked peanuts so I thought Carter was a pretty cool guy. Hey, I was 2. My dad also let me pull the lever in the booth (with his help of course).

I WAS: going to school

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I transformed from a toddler to an elementary student. I did a lot during those years. I still only remember that Carter liked peanuts, though.


1980: RONALD REAGAN


I REMEMBER: this election. We got to vote at school. That was so cool to me. They made it as authentic as possible. In fact, they even borrowed the "practice" voting machines so we got to punch the ballot. I also remember that my dad said Reagan liked jelly beans. It's all about the food with me.

I WAS: excited. I ate jelly beans during the election.

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I was very involved in school, dance, piano, and choir. I was a piano prodigy, actually. Few people know that. I guess more do now.


1984: RONALD REAGAN

I REMEMBER: everything about this election. I even watched the debates. I remember my grandma and mom telling me how important it was that a woman was the running mate. Grandma was for Mondale. Mom for Reagan. We also voted at school, and this time they had school related things on the ballot. Specifically, we voted in McDonalds every Tuesday and Friday. Tuesday was McNugget day and Friday was hamburger day. And my friend Dana got Sugar Free Dr. Pepper on the ballot as a write in, and somehow it won and was placed in our soda machine the next week. No one drank it but her.

I WAS: in 4th grade

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: transitioned from elementary to middle school. I had feathered hair, and I became a little boy crazy for awhile. Still involved in massive extra curricular activities.

1988: GEORGE BUSH (Sr.)

I REMEMBER: the debates for sure--watching them on my grandma's couch. I remember Thanksgivings were ripe with debates that 4 years. I also remember writing a letter to Lloyd Bentsen and receiving one back. He became one of my favorite people after that.

I WAS: finishing up middle school and headed into high school

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I started sporting poofy bangs and tight-rolling my acid washed jeans. My hair also curled up magically overnight and has stayed that way ever since. And I got braces for awhile. Massively into extra curricular activities and a hard core honor student. Really into drama. Worked at Chick fil A on my first job. Was "asked to leave" for standing up to someone sexually harrassing me.

1992: BILL CLINTON

I REMEMBER: standing by the bridge in Waco watching him speak, and turning to my friend saying: "That is going to be our next president." At the time, I wasn't sure if I was happy or worried about that.

I WAS: in college as a freshman and PISSED because I turned 18 too close to (I think the day before) election day and couldn't vote!

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I sported grunge, sneaked out to the David Koresh compound and was accosted by an ATF agent, made it through college and graduated.

1996: BILL CLINTON

I REMEMBER: voting for the first time. So cool.

I WAS: living in Waco

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I moved to 4 different cities and had 4 different jobs.

2000: GEORGE W. BUSH

I REMEMBER: watching debates and having no idea who I liked. I didn't like either one. I made the decision to exercise my right not to vote. I was unbelievably irritated at the whole Florida thing. Ugh. i still get irritated. That was the neverending damn election

I WAS: living in Dallas, I think or maybe Chicago.

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I moved to Chicago and had my dream job

2004: GEORGE W. BUSH

I REMEMBER: still wondering who to vote for. This time I wanted to vote, but I got my registration in late.

I WAS: back in Texas

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I visited Europe for the first time, met G, 2shirts, Prax and everyone else who reads my blog (or almost everyone), and had 3 jobs

2008: BARACK OBAMA

I REMEMBER: registering to vote; seeing Obama speak in Houston; researching every candidate and their voting record in detail, voting

I WAS: really stoked about the whole experience

DURING THAT FOUR YEARS: I hope for wonderful things

Post Halloween Meme

I'm a little late, but what the hell:

What were you last year for Halloween?
LuAnn Platter

What were you this year?
Nothing. :(

Favorite costume you have ever worn?
Willy Wonka

Others I liked: Wonder Woman, Pink Panther, Smurfette

How did you spend your Halloween?
Volunteering at a Trunk or Treat in the community

Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes. Absolutely. If you've ever been in any of my houses/apartments, you've probably seen the ones I believe in. They follow me around.

Are you superstitious?
No. None of that stuff is true. (Knock on wood)

Do you like caramel popcorn?
Um, sometimes

Have you ever gone in the country to look for pumpkins?
uh, does a farmer's market count?

Have you ever been on a hayride?
Hell yeah.

Do you decorate your home for Halloween?
Yes.

Have you ever been to a haunted house?
Yes. I'm not so good at haunted houses. I sort of, well, I'm one of those people who will kick, scream, beat, maul, maim, and destroy anything/anyone who gets in my way of getting out of there as quickly as possible.

Have you ever been to a graveyard on Halloween?
Yep. High school. College. Yep.

Have you ever attended a Halloween party?
I throw them. What are you talkin' about?

Do you watch scary movies on Halloween?
Yeah, though this year it was Baby Mama. Scary in some ways, I guess.

Have you ever had your candy stolen from you?
No, I don't think so. I've never even had to think about that. Wow. I wonder if I have and just don't know it.

Did you ever steal any ones candy?
No, why would you do that?

Has anyone ever gotten hurt due to your prank?
No. Ha ha. My pranks always backfire on me anyway.

Have you ever dressed as a witch/warlock?
No. My costumes are always a bit more creative.

Gimme 5

Just because it's 11:45 and I actually feel awake for the first time in a week (yea! The funk is leaving), I feel like writing but am not much inspired. So I'll just blather in fives.

Last 5 people I talked to: D, 'rents, McHopeless, Edgy, and McWalgreens
Last 5 things I read: articles for class, Love in the Time of Cholera, Persuasion, Glinda's blog, and SFV's blog
Last 5 songs I listened to: Gravity by Sara Bareilles, I Get Along Without You Very Well by Chet Baker, I am a Rock by Simon and Garfunkel, Across the Universe by the Beatles, The Moon by Cat Power
Last 5 things I watched: The Jane Austen Book Club, SNL, A Fish Called Wanda, last week's Grey's Anatomy, and an episode of Firefly
Last 5 things I cooked: lentil soup, baked beans, steamed veggies and edamame, 2 eggs, red velvet cupcakes (haven't been too hungry due to the funk)
Last 5 chores I accomplished: cleaning a toilet, cleaning the cat box, washing a pot, mailing off a wedding rsvp, and paying a bill (again feeling pretty ick)
Last 5 things I've written: blog posts, a few latent emails, notes for my presentation, a midterm, and notes from a meeting. Sadly, I wish I had written some poetry. Haven't written a poem since this one.
Last 5 moments of creativity: singing in the shower, making up my own version of banana choc chip muffins, singing happy birthday to my cat, and yeah, the rest are too damn long ago. sigh.
Last 5 trips I've taken: moving to Lubbock in August, Lubbock in June, San Antonio in June, Lubbock in April, Chicago in March

End of the day meme

Lifted from doc:

Current activity: wearing a towel with wild, wet hair and drinking milk out of a wine glass
Activity earlier this evening: hosting a rodeo party for work
Current thought: Damn, Doc, 29 miles? When's your century ride?
Current music: Beethoven's 7th
Current weather: 48 degrees
Current happenings: silence; I'm in Clear Lake, for gods' sake
Cat 1 current activity: sitting on my feet
Cat 2 current activity: chasing bugs through the window pane
Favorite activity of the day: judging the cowpattie eating contest
Most productive activity of the day: the party
Quote that is sending me to hell: [After being told that not only did I make baby Jesus cry but Abraham, too] "Yeah, well then Abraham was a stiff"
Reason for the quote: I'm doing an ice cream seder to teach about the Passover with the kids rather than a traditional one this year.

It's been awhile

Haven't done a meme in awhile, so I thought I'd do one.

1. IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Italy, probably; maybe Switzerland

2. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING?
I actually like being naked best, but a close second would be dance clothes or my running shorts.

3. THE LAST CDs YOU BOUGHT?
Breaking Benjamin

4. WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
9ish unless I am running a long run. Then I get up at 4am.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
Coffee maker

6. IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
cello

7. FAVORITE COLOR?
Indigo

8. WHICH VEHICLE DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR, MOTORCYCLE, OR SUV?
sports car

9. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE?
yes

10. FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK?
My father read me classics like Hamlet when I was little, but I distinctly remember this book called Peppermints in the Parlor. I read it over and over.

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Autumn

12. IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
Don't have one. Thought about getting 26.2.

13. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I already have one. I can make TVs explode and lights blow out. I also attract bugs and wildlife.

14. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
a little

15. ONE PERSON/PEOPLE FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO?
my grandparents

16. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED?
hopefully a sexy man

17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DAY?
Kimday

18. WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
Hamburger

19. FROM THE PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY READ YOUR BLOG, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST?
I didn't realize someone was supposed to respond

20. ON WHICH BLOG DID YOU FIND THIS MEME?
Rhetoric and Democracy

21. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER?
Iris, maybe. I like Calla Lilies, too. Daisies are nice.

23. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?
anything 5 star with wine

24. DESCRIBE YOUR PJS.
like I only have one pair...

25. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST?
eggs benedict, whole wheat pancakes, fresh squeezed oj, cottage fries, and a mimosa; either that or huevos con papas

26. DO YOU LIKE YOUR JOB?
sometimes

27. WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB?
writer, maybe; educational consultant

28. WHAT AGE DO YOU PLAN TO RETIRE?
never

29. WHERE DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER?
I will meet him on a downtown sidewalk in a rainstorm. I'll probably be eating a bagel and wearing a red raincoat. I don't own a red raincoat, but that's what the crystal says (the one in my lap right now), so it must be right.

30. SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT YOU HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
take Latin dancing lessons with a partner who dances well and smells amazing

Meme from Real Simple March

Coming off of a migraine, and trying to get my brain working enough to function at work this evening, so here's another meme:

1. My life would be simpler if... I had a play by play guidebook (but it would be much more boring)
2. Bikini or thong? both; thong most often
3. What's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to you? A prof once told me that my master's thesis was the greatest literary work to ever go through the UH system. But now that I rethink this question, it was when one of my students, a first grader, told me I was his favorite person. That means a lot.
4. What was your most embarrassing moment? So many to name; most recently, when I was talking with a coworker after work and I looked down to see that my bag strap had pulled my tank over, exposing part of my breast (areola borealis).
5. What's your favorite place in the world? anywhere outdoors with sunshine
6. Biggest waste of time? staff meetings
7. If I knew then what I know now... I would've told Dax Goodwin the truth (that my parents wouldn't let me go out with him) instead of telling him that he just didn't do it for me. Sorry, Dax.

Meme from January's Real Simple Mag

1. What did you want to be when you were little?

• Age 3: baseball player at Wrigley, grocery store clerk, and wife of Han Solo
• Age 6: restaurant owner
• Age 7: bank executive
  
• Age 8: vet
  
• Age 9: nurse
• Age 12: actress
• Age 13: interior designer
• Age 14: otolaryngologist
• Age 15: computer programmer (BASIC rocked!)
  
• Age 16: either one of the corps in a dance company or a coroner (it was a strange year)
• Age 17: psychiatrist

2. What is the one thing you'll never understand? Texas
3. What surprises you most about your adult life? that I still have times when I feel much like an adolescent
4. What's your idea of a perfect meal? Oh, I'm kind of high maintenance on this one. I like the 5 star restaurant type of service, quality, and ambiance. It would be a 7 course meal, each course bringing me close to ecstasy with every bite. Yeah, that and fantastic wine!
5. What's the craziest fashion trend you've ever worn? Sadly, I've never gone after the trends, except for Grunge, which I still wish would come back. I guess the craziest would be um having the winged hairstyle look back in the 80s. That was bad.
6. What amount of money would make you feel you were set for life? I probably would never feel set for life. I'd always live like I was middle class and would feel like I could fall back into subsidized housing, cheap beer and spaghetti Os at any minute (though I was actually very happy during that time period of my life).
7. If you could change careers now without any consequences or financial loss, what would you switch to? a sound editor. I think that would be ultimately the coolest job in the world. I'd be a singer in a band at night, though, or a back up do wop girl.
8. Bath or shower? I've always been a shower girl, but there was a period of time when I lived in this apartment with a fantastic, deep, clawfoot tub. I really got into baths at that point, candles, aromatherapy, and everything. Now I shower--long, scalding hot showers at midnight with different shower gels I made myself at Bath Junkie--and it is the highlight of my long day!
9. Movie you most recently watched? At the theater: The Departed At home: All the King's Men, though I'm not sure it counts because I fell asleep during it. I can't watch movies at home anymore. Too tired. Plus, the southern accents in that movie were horrendous. HORRENDOUS!
10. The big decision I'm currently wrestling with is...? ugh. I don't want to think about it.

Tag, nobody's it!

Ok, I'm trying to follow the rules of the game, so I will list 5 pleasing things that I really feel guilty about:

• Showing people the big headed baby picture--I feel really bad about laughing at it because the poor baby can't help it, and god knows I have enough about myself to laugh about for centuries. Still, damnit, that's a big headed baby.
• my blog--I love blogging, but I do feel guilty for some of the scathing entries
• American Idol--I feel bad when I laugh at Simon's comments, but some of them are fucking hilarious--like when he told the guy that he looked like the wife of Hulk. That still kills me.
• filet mignon--I love it, but I can't help but cry over the little animals. Luckily, I hardly ever eat it because I'm allergic to beef.
• when I do...living away from Texas, but I do feel guilty that I'm not close to my parents in case of emergency

Whew! That was hard because I generally don't feel guilty over pleasures. I don't have anyone to tag because no one untagged reads my blog.

Holiday fun

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? unwrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I don't decorate with lights, but I do like to see tasteful ones in the neighborhood

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I just grab people and kiss them anyway

5. When do you put your decorations up? the day after Thanksgiving; I also buy all of my gifts by Thanksgiving day

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? broc and cheese or dressing

7. Favorite Christmas memory as a child? the year that my grandpa made me a Barbie sized doll house; It was a replica of my house and the roof lifted off, so you could look into the house from the top instead of the sides like other dollhouses. It was fully furnished with a piano, a working stereo, working lights, a christmas tree, crocheted afghans (done by my grandma), a framed picture of me, china and silverware, a stocked refrig with ice cubes in the tray The only problem was that there wasn't a toilet in the bathroom. that always bothered me, so I went to some store like Cracker Barrel and bought a wooden outhouse that I stuck in the bathroom. Yes, it was a redneck dollhouse.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Santa's not real? Really, though, some classmate told me that the tooth fairy wasn't real one day, and I came home, rushed into my parents' house, and screamed, "So I guess Santa and the Easter bunny are you, too, huh?" My dad sat me down and told me some Virginia there is a Santa Claus story, but I was still pissed.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, 1/2 on the eve and 1/2 on the day

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? I always ate all the cookies. There weren't any left for Santa. I'd write him a thank you note, though

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it even when it turns black and nasty. I MISS SNOW!

12. Can you ice skate? Yes, two years ago when I lived in Chicago, I took my first ice skating lessons (I'd always wanted to take them, but my parents wouldn't send me). I was the tallest in a class of 6 year olds but I learned to swizzle and hop and skate in an arabesque and do a simple turn and most importantly, to stop without hitting the wall.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? the aforementioned dollhouse and my sesame street little people village thing

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? taking in all the details--the sights, the smells, the energy in the air; being with people I love; also, we usually do some sort of service project as a family, and I look forward to that every year

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? sweet potato pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? my cousin and I always sort the gifts. we weren't ever allowed to sort until we finished our meals, so even now, I rush through my food or hardly eat so that I can sort the presents into neat little piles by person; I know, I'm anal. another tradition was that my aunt would buy my cousin and me PJs. That tradition stopped when she died, but now that my cousin has a baby, I bought the entire family pjs this year.

17. What tops your tree ? varies from year to year. This year it's a plaid bow

18. Which do you prefer: Giving or Receiving ? Giving. I really prefer to guess my gifts more than I do receiving them.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Adeste Fideles and Carol of the Bells

20. Candy canes? MMM, though I'm a little overloaded this year from all the ones given to me by students

21. If you could spend Christmas with one person who would it be? I don't like this question

22. Favorite Christmas movie? Movie: Narnia Short animated flick: Peanuts or Grinch

Ah, memories

I sent out one of those emails with all the questions on it. My friend, Phebes, sent it back with the following comments:

> What's your favorite memory of me:
1.) A GUY WAS HANGING A COKE BOTTLE OUT OF A WINDOW OF HIS DORM BY A FISHING POLE. YOU SAID, "ARE YOU TRYING TO CATCH A WOMAN? YOU SHOULD USE CHEESECAKE."

2.) ROLLING DOWN YOUR WINDOW OF YOUR CAR AND DAINTILY FLIPPING OFF THE GUY BEHIND YOU FOR HONKING. YOU HELD YOUR FINGER OUT THERE FOR LIKE 2 MINUTES.
3.) TELLING THE FARTING WOMAN IN THE BATHROOM OF A MEXICAN RESTAURANT THAT SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE BURRITO. (I WASN'T THERE, BUT I STILL LOVE THE STORY.)

My friend, Jeff, writes:
What's your favorite memory of me: The roadtrip between baylor and south padre and then sleeping in the car on the beach. Pushing my car up into the gas station. Etc. That trip rocked.

my earliest friend writes:
What's your favorite memory of me:> eating dumdums in the backseat of your mom's car after school and your birthday party where we watched girls just want to have fun (Yeah, that was before she had Sex in the City).

Gordie writes: Oh, I know my most favorite memory of you – in Waco, getting the phone call after inventory of you telling me that there was a person in your apartment and I got up, threw on clothes and there was NOTHING in your apartment. And to top it off you convinced me to stay up and go out with you and some crazy guys and they kept talking about the munchies and we ended up in a BAD house.

And Glinda: What's your favorite memory of me: ah god. MILF. i couldn't stop laughing.

What a lovely picture painted of me! Yeah, well, one of a kind I am.

Holy Crap. I'm a genius.

Look Glinda, I added to my sidebar. It's on the bottom currently because of my ZZZ comment. 'S ok. I like the ZZZ.

So I'm sittin' at home today. Called in sick. Didn't feel like administering another practice TAKS test. A monkey could do that job, so I'll show up when I'm actually allowed to teach something to the future leaders of America.

Should be grading papers, but instead I slept until 10, padded around my freezing apartment for awhile, and am now going to copy a list from Glinda's new blogconvert in order to procrastinate.

I WANT: to get a new job and move from Houston
I HAVE: a post migraine buzz
I WISH: i could get the job at WTTW
I HATE: people who judge others so much that they forget to look inward
I MISS: Long Grove in the fall
I FEAR: roaches and loss
I HEAR: the buzz of Edgy's homemade computer. It's so loud!
I WONDER: "if i am where i'm meant to be" (kygrrlinco).
I REGRET: all the times I changed my mind in order to pacify someone
LOVE: such a complex word
I ALWAYS: think I'm fat when I'm stressed (lately I think I'm morbidly obese)
I AM NOT: a classy broad, though I'd like to be
I DANCE: because I can't keep from it
I SING: with my soul, even if it's kareoke
I CRY: as a last resort
I AM NOT ALWAYS: cranky
I WRITE: all the time
I WON: a bunch of nerdy contests and dance trophies when I was little. OH, and I won $1 in a box of cheerios one time
I LOST: my mom's spoon ring at a club in Galveston
I CONFUSE: Glenn Close and that other woman who looks like her
I NEED: to grade papers
I SHOULD: be grading papers

Three things you are often complimented for: my boobs, my smile, my creativity
Three things you get embarrassed by: other people's embarrassment, using incorrect grammar, hurting someone unintentionally
What upsets you: what's going on in our government right now, PISD, seeing Edgy worried
You keep a diary: when I remember
You like to cook: I plan out meals monthly (I'm a dork)
You have a secret you have not shared with anyone: yes, and being a Scorpio, I won't
You're in love: yes
You set your watch a few minutes ahead: nope. I hate that.
You bite your fingernails: no, can't you tell?
You believe in love: wholeheartedly

Who is...?
The prettiest person you know: my friend, Phebes, because she doesn't know it
The person that knows the most about you: Edgy
Most Boring Teacher: Mr Sanford (sandman)
What is...
Your best physical feature: my eyes
Do You...?
Take a shower every day: yes
Think you know you've been in love: yes.
Want to get married: yes.
Have any tattoos/where: none
Piercings/where: two in left ear, one in right
Get motion sickness: sometime
Think you're a health freak: heh heh
Get along with your parents: sometimes
Which one...John Lennon or Paul McCartney? don't make me choose
Moulin Rouge or Grease? MR, sorry
West Side Story or Chicago? Chicago
Colin Farrel or Orlando Bloom? neither; Bloom's a better actor
“Jailhouse Rock” or “Hound Dog” by Elvis? Elvis sucks
Penelope Cruz or Angelina Jolie? Angelina
Ashley Judd or Reese Witherspoon? Reese seems less fake
Ving Rhames or Samuel L. Jackson? SLJ
Outkast or Eminem? Radd McFladd
Jack London or Ernest Hemingway? Hemingway, hands down. London makes me want to jump off a cliff
Stephen King or Dean Koontz? stephen king
Queen Latifah or Jada Pinkett Smith? Queen Latifah :o)
Natural Hair Color:was blonde growing up but age has brought out the copper
Current Hair Color: same; I don't do dye
Eye Color: blue/green depending on mood
Birthplace: is not my fault
Favorites--Number: 33
Color: indigo
Day: today because I'm not at work
Month: Nov
Food: mmm...food
Season: autumn
Drink: changes
Vegetables: broc
Preferences:Cuddle or Make Out: depends on my mood.

Ok can't do anymore. Lost it's fun way back. I'd rather grade papers. no offense to the originator of the list.