A meme, lifted from Gwen. My answers, as is my wont, are in color.

FIRSTS

First job: My first on-the-books job was dishwashing and bussing tables at a restaurant. I was 14. I hated every minute of it.

First screen name: Boytoy, an ode to Madonna. Things have changed a bit since then.

First self-purchased CD: Soul Asylum, Grave Dancer's Union

Vinyl Album: Other than my Disney records as a kid, I've never owned vinyl

First piercing/tattoo: Ears, age 5, at a drugstore in Cottage Grove/abstract sun on the small of my back, age 19, at Medusa Tattoos in Portland

First true love: Hrm...Nikema Bender, I think. I was...3? In grown-up terms, probably Simon, though I'd have told you differently in high school. It's sort of each to discount true loves after the fact, I guess.

First enemy: My cousin Jenny. We were a month and a day apart (she was older), she was all brawn, I was all brains. It was not a match made in heaven.

LASTS

Last big car ride: In July, to Dallas, to pick up Leo.

Last kiss: Mark, this morning.

Last library book checked out: I have no idea. It has been a while since I have checked anyhting out.

Last movie seen: Good Night, and Good Luck.

Last beverage drank: Coke.

Last food consumed: A Halloween Kit Kat. Nasty.

Last phone call: I talked to a job recruiter about an hour ago.

Last CD played: The new Dar Williams.

Last annoyance: Not getting into a class I want to take because my registration period was two hours later than the history students'.

Last pop drank: Aforementioned Coke.

Last ice cream eaten: My incredible homemade peppermint chocolate ice cream.

Last time scolded: I don't recall. It's been a while.

Last shirt worn: Currently wearing an orange vee-neck tee from Target.

I AM: demanding, but worth it.

I WANT: a vacation.

I HAVE: lots of lists.

I WISH: I could make things better for everyone.

I HATE: diet soda and dress codes and never having enough time.

I FEAR: enclosed spaces and people I don't know.

I HEAR: ringing in my ears, from time to time.

I SEARCH: for pants that fit properly and a fufilling career.

I WONDER: if I'll get lots of trick o' treaters tonight.

I REGRET: not a whole lot, actually.

I LOVE: the sun, Chai, sleeping in, time alone, bad TV.

I ALWAYS: obsess about things I can't change.

I AM NOT: who I used to be.

I DANCE: not well or often.

I SING: even less well than I dance, but much more often.

I CRY: less and less lately.

YES or NO: YOU KEEP A DIARY: No, not as such. I used to keep a very verbose journal, but now this blog is it.

YOU LIKE TO COOK: Not at all. It's messy and you can't count on it. Plus nothing makes me less excited about a meal than having to cook it myself.

YOU HAVE A SECRET YOU HAVE NOT SHARED WITH ANYONE: Hrm. I don't think I do. I mean, there is probably something I've never told anyone, but I don't know that there is anything I've made a point to never tell anyone.

DO YOU...?

HAVE A CRUSH: Generally two or three of them.

WANT TO GET MARRIED: No.

GET MOTION SICKNESS: Not generally. Seasickness, a little bit.

THINK YOU'RE A HEALTH FREAK: Hah. Hardly.

CURRENT HAIR COLOR: Brown with blonde highlights.

EYE COLOR: Light hazel. More gold than green.

BIRTHPLACE: The thriving metropolis of Cottage Grove, Oregon.

FAVORITE NUMBER: 8. This is in part because of my birthday (8/28) and in part because I like the sexy shape of the number.

COLOR: It varies. I am generally drawn to red things, particularly dark red/burgundy shades. Jewel tones in general make me pretty happy, though.

DAY: Recently, I'm loving Sunday. It's the less stressful day. But for nights, I like Friday (for the same reason). Sunday nights are kind of stressful, due to the incoming Monday.

MONTH: Hrm. September, I think.

SONG(S): This varies by mood, but all-time favorites include "Me and Bobby McGee" (anybody's version, really, but I am slightly preferential to Kristofferson's) and "As Cool As I Am" by Dar Williams.

SEASON: Fall. Seems like new things always start in the fall, and that fills me with hope and opportunity, which makes me happy.

DRINK: I could try to say something glamorous here, but in reality, my life begins and ends with Pepsi. Fully caffeinated, fully sugared Pepsi. There's nothing like it.

Today, I will likely do several memes. This one is taken from Bitch, Ph.D.:

Erudite Redneck wants to know what's in your pockets. Being as I am a femmey woman, I tend not to carry things in my pockets, so in the interests of equal time, here's the list of things in my purse.

1. A paperback book, The Working Poor: Invisible in America
2. An allergy shot receipt
3. A pot of Cake Kiss lip gloss
4. A Zyrtec
5. A blue pen
6. A black pen
7. Sunglasses
8. Keys
9. Cell phone
10. My calendar
11. A National Security Series lecture brochure attached to my calendar with a mechanical pencil
12. A small notebook
13. My wallet
14. A coin purse with two tampons, nail clippers, and tweezers in it
15. A mini lint roller
16. A generic asprin bottle with generic Advil and migraine pills in it
17. Two tubes of chapstick, one Cool Cherry Softlips, one from my dentist
18. A Starbucks receipt
19. 20 pennies, 3 nickles, 3 dimes, 4 quarters

I should really carry less shit.

Your turn. What's in your pockets and/or purse?

Q1 - Halloween: Did trick-or-treater's come to your house this year? If so, approximately how many came by? Was this year's number higher or lower than you've had in previous years, and what did you give them? We had about 40 this year, which is fewer than last year, but not by a lot. Our bowl contained: Mounds, Kit Kats, Airheads, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, and Sugar Babies. So hopefully something for everybody.

Q2 - Allergies: Do you have allergies? If so, what are you allergic to? If you're not allergic to anything, is there anything you wish you were allergic to? This is such a funny question for me. As I've mentioned, I'm allergic to damn near everything. My most extreme allergies are to dust, cedar pollen, and grass, but I'm also allergic to most molds and pollens, several trees, dogs, cats, horses, cockroaches, walnuts, several antibiotics, Codeine, bees...

Q3 - Organic Food: The organic food market in the United States is projected to reach a value of $30.7 billion by the year 2007. According to one recent report, close to 40 percent of the U.S. population now uses organic products on a daily basis. Are you included in that 40 percent figure... do you intentionally buy organic foods or drinks? If so, what are you buying? If not, why? We make an effort to buy organic, but are more vigilant about some things than others. We always buy organic milk and to buy the rest of our dairy (cream, yogurt, butter, etc.) organic as well. We buy mostly organic vegetables. I believe Mark buys grass-fed, free range meat and poultry, but I'm not sure if it's actually certifed organic or not. The only things that I don't really make an effort to go organic on are things like cereals, rice, pasta, etc.

Q4 - Television: Which TV shows from the past would you like to see back on television and why?I mostly just want shows that are on hiatus, like The Wire, The Shield, and Entourage, to be back on with new espisodes. A few months ago, I would have lobbied for a return of Tony Bourdain's show on The Food Network, but now he has No Reservation on The Travel Network, which is even better. The other thing I want is for shows that used to be good but now suck to be good again (the best example for this would be The West Wing). But really I don't have time to watch that much TV, so it's just as well than none of these things happen.

Swiped from Frog.

Question: What do you think of me, ITunes?
Answer: "Have I Told You Lately," The Chieftains with Van Morrison

Question: Will I have a happy life?
Answer: "Walking on Sunshine," Dolly Parton

Question: What do my friends really think of me?
Answer: "Is There Anybody Here?" Phil Ochs

Question: Do people secretly lust after me?
Answer: "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," Emmylou Harris

Question: What should I do with my life?
Answer: "Heart Shaped Bruise," Elvis Costello & the Imposters

Question: Why must life be so full of pain?
Answer: "Rain King," The Counting Crows

Question: How can I maximize my pleasure during sex?
Answer: "This Box Contains..." Ani DiFranco

Question: Will I ever have children?
Answer: "A Hymn for the Exiled," Anais Mitchell

Question: Will I die happy?
Answer: "Moment of Forgiveness," Indigo Girls

Question: Can you give me some advice?
Answer: "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness," Nanci Griffith

Question: What do you think happiness is?
Answer: "Roses and Hats," Laura Kemp

Question: Am I complete freak?
Answer: "Controversy," Prince

I got these meme instructions over at Frog's place, and I think this is a really good one. Join me?

Instructions:

Step One
Post to your blog with a list of ten holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and interest-related ("I'd love a Julie Andrews icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for new Playmobil pirates") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car.") The important thing is to make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

Make sure you post some version of these guidelines, or link to this post so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two
Surf around your blogroll to see who has posted a list. And now here's the important part:

If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy.

There are no guarantees with this project, and no strings attached. Wish and it might come true. Give and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

My ten wishes:

1. I've love to get something homemade. I used to get a lot more homemade presents, when everyone I know had more time and less money, and I miss it.
2. I'd like some of my favorite Trader Joe's stuff--I miss Trader Joe's, especially the Honey Mango shave gel and the excellent dried fruit.
3. I really, really want a Superhero necklace.
4. I'd love for people to donate to their local animal shelters or rescue organizations if and when they are doing their end-of-the-year donating. They really, really need us.
5. I saw some of this art today, and I'm in love with it. I would adore something from this collection.
6. This is something I need so badly that I even want it: a calculus tutor.
7. It would be great to find some new magazines I could look forward to every month. I get and enjoy Bitch and Bust, but there has to be more out there, right?
8. It would be fantastic if folks made an effort to do their Christmas shopping (assuming they are last minute types) at local and independant businesses. It would be even better if this was the start of a year-long commitment to do more to support local and indie business.
9. I desperately want some cowboy boots.
10. I want someone to nominate me for TLC's What Not to Wear. I am all over being humiliated on national TV for the sake of $5,000 in free clothes and a haircut by Nick Arroyo. Carmandy would be a problem, though...

A trio of year end/beginning memes from Frog.

Number 1:

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
I need more sleep. I should definitely not go to work today.

2. How much cash do you have on you?
Less than $5.

3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"?
confessed

4. Favorite planet?
My selfish preference is for the one I'm on.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell?
Mark

6. What is your favorite ring on your phone?
I have been using a dog barking one I downloaded for months. I'm OK with anything that's not going to get stuck in my head and doesn't go on for too long, though.

7. What kind of shirt are you wearing?
Lucky Mutts Rescue t-shirt.

8. Do you "label" yourself?
No more than I have to, but when necessary, yes.

9. Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing?
Old Navy flipflops.

10. Bright or dark room?
Bright.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
She's firm in her convictions.

13. what happened to number 12?
Why would I care?

14. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Trying to sleep.

15. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
It was some sales bs from T-Mobile, I'm sure. Nobody else ever text messages me.

16. Where is your nearest 7-11?
I don't even know if we have 7-11 down here.

17. What's a saying that you say a lot?
Dammit, Atticus!

18.Who told you they loved you last?

Mark

19. Last furry thing you touched?
Atticus

20. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days?
Um...caffeine, Lexapro, Zyrtec, Apri, alcohol. Five.

21. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
None.

22. Favorite age you have been so far?
Gets better every year.

23. Your worst enemy?
Animal abusers.

24. What is your current desktop picture?

25. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"Thank you."

26. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to change a major regret?
The million. I don't have any regrets worth a million dollars.

27. Do you like or love somebody right now?
Of course. Many people, in fact.

Number 2, The Year in Review:

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?

Bought a house.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I already went over this, but I kept 3/4 of them from last year, and made 12 new ones for this year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope, though some e-friends are closing in on their due date.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Fufilling work.

7. What dates from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Early July--Chance died.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Buying the house.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to lose any substantial weight.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No more than usual.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Again, the house.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My fellow Texans post-Katrina.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Where should I begin?

14. Where did most of your money go?

Target and The Goodwill.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Boston, going to Ann Arbor, cutting my hair.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Nothing comes to mind.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
About the same, I think.

b) thinner or fatter?
A bit fatter.

c) richer or poorer?
Definitely poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Saving.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Spending.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with various and sundry family members.

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Yes, with Leo.

22. How many one-night stands?
Nada.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Hrm...probably Entourage or The Wire.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yeah.

25. What was the best book you read?
Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lyle Lovett.

27. What did you want and get?
Leo and Atticus

28. What did you want and not get?
Chance to live; a new job.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Good Night, and Good Luck, Capote, Walk the Line.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We had a small dinner party at our house. I turned 26.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A different job.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
"The same clothes as last year, only tighter."

33. What kept you sane?
Mark, my pets.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Viscerally, Angelina Jolie and Adrian Grenier. Emotionally, Johnny Cash.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
capital punishment

36. Who did you miss?
Chance.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Hrm...lots of people, but my two sistercousin's fabulous boyfriends, Jeff and Eric, come to mind right now, since I just saw them.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
Never underestimate the power of dog.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"This is home/it's where I want to be/this is home/let's make a family."

And finally, Number 3:

1. What is the best gift you received this year? (Tangible gifts only, please!)
I've got to go with my Superhero necklace.

2. What is the best gift you gave this year?
The Poppet sketch of Mark and Chance.

3. When did you do most of your shopping/creating?
Between Thanksgiving and December 15 or so. And I think it was 100% shopping this year. Hopefully more creating next year.

4. Did you go shopping the day after Thanksgiving (U.S.)?
No.
Day after Christmas?
No.

5. What stands out already about Christmas 2005?
The ease of my trip to Oregon and back and lack of conflict with my family. It was just a really, really nice holiday.

Having been tagged by the fabulous Hybrid of World of Finches, here is my meme of fours.

Four Jobs I've Had

1. Busperson/dishwasher/waitress: I did a lot of restuarant work in high school. I hated nearly every minute of it, was never all that good at it, and am very thankful not to be doing it anymore.
2. Lifeguard: I got my lifeguarding certification over the summer between my freshman and sophomore year in college, and spent the next year lifeguard adult lap swims at the college pool. A snore of a job, but I listed to the majority of the Clinton impeachment hearings on NPR while at work.
3. Summer conference coordinator: The summer between my junior and senior year in college, I worked on campus coordinating all of the summer events that the campus was rented out for. It's interesting to see that side of things, but mostly it made me want to stay the hell out of the hospitality business.
4. Research vagina: Just out of college, I rented my body out to science for an HPV vaccine research study. At the time I did it because I was broke, but now I'm proud to have been involved in the study, as well as happy to have so much Pap smear experience. I'm a Pap smear professional.
   

1. The Princess Bride
2. Dazed and Confused
3. Edward Scissorhands
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
   

1. My parents' house
2. Reed dorms
3. Various SE Portland residences
4. My very own house
   

1. Miami Ink
2. What Not to Wear
3. Roseanne reruns
4. Joan of Arcadia on DVD
   

1. British Columbia
2. Boston
3. Montana
4. Disneyland
   

1. The Phoenix
2. Gmail
3. Most of the blogs to the right -->
4. My allergy count website
   

1. Pepsi
2. Any sugar+white flour combo, recently Little Debbie's Zebra Cakes
3. Plain pasta
4. Apples
   

1. Back in bed
2. Somewhere without a ridiculously high pollen count. Anywhere.
3. In front of a crackling fire, on a cushy couch, with a good book.
4. Traversing Europe.
   

1. Mary Prankster, Tell Your Friends
2. Ani DiFranco, Living in Clip
3. Kris Kristofferson, Songs of Kristofferson
4. Eliza Gilkyson, Land of Milk and Honey
   

1. 1984 Ford Tempo, named "Buck-as-in-naked"
2. 1991 Dodge Dynasty, unnamed
   
3. 1999 Mazda Protege, unnamed
4. Hopefully very soon...
   

The first 25 songs that appear, when shuffling:

1. Greg Brown, "Slant Six Mind"
2. Counting Crows, "Blue Buildings"
3. Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, "Don't Take Your Guns To Town"
4. Hole, "Malibu"
5. Olive, "I Don't Think So"
6. Guns N' Roses, "Right Next Door to Hell"
7. Carrie Newcomer, "Threads"
8. Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (live)
9. Dixie Chicks, "Without You"
10. Portishead, "Mourning Air" (live)
11. Everything But the Girl, "Big Deal"
12. Johnny Cash, "Rowboat"
13. Patti Smith, "Free Money"
14. Tracy Chapman, "Say Hallelujah"
15. Sarah McLachlan, "Home"
16. Roseanne Cash, "Radio Operator"
17. Madonna, "Candy Perfume Girl"
18. Rolling Stones, "Sympathy for the Devil"
19. Iggy Pop, "Nazi Girlfriend"
20. Ani DiFranco, "Out of Range" (live)
21. Kris Kristofferson, "Stranger"
22. Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, "Flower in the Sun"
23. Babes with Axes, "We Pay the Price"
24. Emmylou Harris, "Michelangelo"
25. Ani DiFranco, "Hurricane"

This is a great blog from Lilysea. I think everyone should do it. It's a great alternative to the "100 Things About Me" lists. The idea is to give one sentence for each year of your life.

0-1. I was born in Cottage Grove, Oregon to my single, 19 year-old mama.
1-2. My father married my step-mother.
2-3. My mom asked the babysitter to stop having me nap during the day, as I wasn't sleeping at night.
3-4. My mom married my step-father.
4-5. I learned to read.
5-6. My brother was born.
6-7. I started school.
7-8: I started to really hate being a kid.
8-9. I decided that I was morally opposed to learning my multiplication tables.
9-10. I was sent to the principal's office for the first time, for refusing to stop arguing with my 4th grade teacher.
10-11. I grew over an inch a month for most of the year.
11-12. I was sent to the principal's office again, again for refusing to stop arguing, this time about reproductive rights.
12-13. I got caught by my mom making out with my best (girl)friend.
13-14. I wrote my first (and only) novel.
14-15. I drank until I blacked out for the first time.
15-16. I had sex with a male for the first time.
16-17. I got my driver's license, even though I ran a stop sign during the test.
17-18. I thought of nothing else but getting out.
18-19. I began two of my most tumultuous and bittersweet relationships--one with Reed College, one with Simon.
19-20. I participated in my first (and only) open relationship.
20-21. I worked harder than any other year of my life, and I got the 4.0 that made it worth while.
21-22. I got kicked out of my first (and only) bar.
22-23. Mark and I got together, finally.
23-24. Mark and I moved to Texas and adopted Chance.
24-25. I began to get really freaking irritated about not knowing what I was going to be when I grow up.
25-26. Chance died.
26-27: My family grew. My relationship matured. I grew up. Hopefully more of that to come.

(Inspired by The Summer Chronicles.)

1) Of the various cultures, ethnicities or nationalities you belong to, which most strongly do you consider yourself?
I identify my ancestry primarily as Scottish, Dutch, and Native American, as those nationalities make up the largest part of my bloodstream, and they are the ones members of my extended family have most embraced.

2) Is there a culture you cannot claim heritage from but which you feel quite close to?
I think in my case it is less feeling close to cultures that I don't claim heritage to and more feeling close to the cultures I do out of proportion to that heritage, if that makes sense.

3) What's one language you wish you knew fluently?
Spanish would certainly be the most useful, but I've always kind of wished I knew ASL.

4) If you could move anywhere in the world and be guaranteed a job, etc., where would you go?
In reality, I'd probably go home, to Oregon. If feeling more adventurous, though, I'd say Spain.

5) If you had a time machine, and could witness any one event without altering or disturbing it, what would you want to see?
There are way too many to choose from. Senaca Falls comes to mind right away, though.

Because I can think of nothing better to do, I give you the Friday Five. Complete with pictures, even.

1) When you were little what was your favorite TV show?

Depends how little we're talking. I'm told I enjoyed The Smurfs as a small child, though I don't remember it. We didn't have a functioning television for quite a bit of my later childhood/preteen years, but I do remember watching The Wonder Years, Life Goes On, and Growing Pains some, probably mostly at other people's houses.

2) What was your favorite movie?

I tended to get obsessed with things and beg to rent them over and over as a kid. Goonies was a favorite, as was the early Julia Roberts movie Satisfaction. I wanted to be in a girl band. Still do, actually.

3) What is your favorite TV show currently?

I don't watch a lot of TV anymore, but I do really like Miami Ink. I watched Rollergirls when it was on. I'm a bit intrigued by Big Love right now.

4) What is the best movie you have seen so far this year?

Probably Brokeback Mountain. Capote was also excellent.

5) If someone was going to make a movie or TV show about your life, who would play you and why?

I'd want Laura Prepon from That 70's Show to play me. She's the only actress I can think of who is both tall enough and in the right age cohort, without being terrifyingly skinny or just bugging me. We don't particularly look alike, but something about her reminds me a bit of myself. I've been told Laura Dern would be a good choice, but she's quite a bit older than I am.

This is from the fantastic Ms. Frog.

Instructions:
Step 1: Put your MP3 player or whatever on random.
Step 2: Post the first line(s) from the first 30 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
Step 3: Post and let everyone you know guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Strike through the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!

Here are mine:

1. The first part of every day for me is good
2. I've been in and out of every honky tonk in town
3. Half the people you see these days are talkin' on cell phones
4. Life is turned upside down
5. Out of nowhere this gust of wind brushed my hair

6. Is it too much to ask?

7. You give me that look that's like laughing
8. It takes more love than a heart can hold
9. I can't do it, I can't conceive of everything you're trying to make me believe
10. Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey

11. You thought she was an angel, I can still hear you say
12. When I was four years old they tried to test my I.Q.
13. C'mon people now, smile on your brother
14. It's against the law to walk, it's against the law to talk
15. The wind is ruthless and the trees shake angry fingers at the sky

16. Bye, bye bye baby, bye bye
17. Forgiving you was easy, but forgetting seems to take the longest time
18. She sat on the pavement as I pulled in the drive
19. You keep telling me I'm beautiful but I feel a little less so
20. Words fell, like roses at our feet

21. I walked 100 miles just to see you
22. I never knew I could feel like this
23. Don't you worry 'bout what's on your mind, woman
24. My first lover
25. I wanted everything for a little while, why shouldn't I?

26. In the jukebox of her memory, the list of names flips by and stops
27. I don't want to feel this way
28. Hear that lonesome whip-o-will
29. Everybody was estatic, about the light show on the farm
30. Well there was a little falter at the alter of confession

So here's what they were:

1. The first part of every day for me is good
Dar Williams, "It Happens Every Day"

2. I've been in and out of every honky tonk in town
Loretta Lynn, "Mrs. Leroy Brown"

3. Half the people you see these days are talkin' on cell phones
Greg Brown, "'Cept You and Me Babe"

4. Life is turned upside down
Badly Drawn Boy, "Life Turned Upside Down"

5. Out of nowhere this gust of wind brushed my hair
k.d. lang, "Pullin' Back the Reins"

6. Is it too much to ask?
Lucinda Williams (could have also been Mary Chapin-Carpenter), "Passionate Kisses"

7. You give me that look that's like laughing
Ani DiFranco, "Falling Is Like This"

8. It takes more love than a heart can hold
Maria McKee, "More Than a Heart Can Hold"

9. I can't do it, I can't conceive of everything you're trying to make me believe
Aimee Mann, "How Am I Different?"

10. Soon we'll come to the end of life's journey
Johnny Cash, "If We Never Meet Again"

11. You thought she was an angel, I can still hear you say
Y'all, I have no idea what this one was...

12. When I was four years old they tried to test my I.Q.

Ani DiFranco, "My I.Q."

13. C'mon people now, smile on your brother
Nirvana, "Territorial Pissings"

14. It's against the law to walk, it's against the law to talk
Billy Bragg and Wilco (could also be Woody Guthrie), "Against the Law"
15. The wind is ruthless and the trees shake angry fingers at the sky
Ani DiFranco, "Done Wrong"

16. Bye, bye bye baby, bye bye
Janis Joplin, "Bye Bye Baby"

17. Forgiving you was easy, but forgetting seems to take the longest time
Willie Nelson, "Forgiving You Was Easy"

18. She sat on the pavement as I pulled in the drive
Iggy Pop, "I Felt the Luxury"
19. You keep telling me I'm beautiful but I feel a little less so
Ani DiFranco, "Swim"

20. Words fell, like roses at our feet
Lucinda Williams, "Words Fell"

21. I walked 100 miles just to see you
Peter Wilde, "100 Miles"

22. I never knew I could feel like this
Again, I have no idea.

23. Don't you worry 'bout what's on your mind, woman
The Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together"

24. My first lover
Gillian Welch, "My First Lover"

25. I wanted everything for a little while, why shouldn't I?
Everything But the Girl, "Wrong"

26. In the jukebox of her memory, the list of names flips by and stops
Ani DiFranco, "Jukebox"
27. I don't want to feel this way
Everything But the Girl, "Good Cop, Bad Cop"

28. Hear that lonesome whip-o-will
Johnny Cash (but could have been Hank I), "So Lonesome I Could Cry"

29. Everybody was estatic, about the light show on the farm
Dan Bern, "Thanksgiving Day Parade"

30. Well there was a little falter at the alter of confession
Dixie Chicks, "Tortured, Tangled Hearts"

Thanks for playing!

This is a meme from Delany. The idea is that if you've seen more than 70 of these movies you have no life. Number them in the brackets and post your score in your subject line.

(1) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(2) Grease
(3) Pirates of the Caribbean
( ) Boondock Saints
(4) The Mexican
(5) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(6) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
( ) Airplane
Section 1: 6/10

(7) The Princess Bride
( ) Young Frankenstein
(8) AnchorMan: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(9) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Saw
( ) White Noise
(10) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
(11) 50 First Dates
( ) Jason X
Section 2: 5/10

(12) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(13) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
(14) Harry Potter
Section 3: 3/10

(15) Harry Potter 2
(16) Harry Potter 3
(17) Harry Potter 4
(18) Resident Evil I
(19) Resident Evil 2
( ) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
(20 ) Donnie Darko
( ) Lilo & Stitch
Section 4: 6/10

(21) Finding Nemo
(22) Finding Neverland
( ) 13 Ghosts
( ) Signs
(23) The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) Thirteen Going on 30
(24) I, Robot
Section 5: 4/10

(25) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
(26) A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
(27) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
Section 6: 3/10

( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(28) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumb & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
Section 7: 1/10

( ) The Ring 2
( ) Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
(29) Practical Magic
(30) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
(31) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( )The Whole Nine Yards
Section 8: 3/10

(32 ) The Day After Tomorrow
(33 ) Child's Play
(34) Bride of Chucky
(35) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
(36) Nightmare on Elm Street
(37) Sixteen Candles
( ) Coach Carter
(38) Bad Boys
Section 9: 7/10

( ) Bad Boys 2
(39 ) Joy Ride
(40) Se7en
(41) Oceans Eleven
(42) Ocean's Twelve
(43) Identity
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
Section 10: 5/10

(44) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(45) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Boss' daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) Frailty
Section 11: 2/10

( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(46) She's All That
(47 ) Calendar Girls
(48 ) Sideways
(49) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(50) Ever After
(51) Forrest Gump
(52) Big Trouble in Little China
Section 12: 7/10

(53) X-Men
(54) X-2
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
( ) The Others
( ) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
(55) Cruel Intentions
( ) The Hot Chick
Section 13: 3/10

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle
(56) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
(57) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(58) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(59) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Boogeyman
Section 14: 4/10

( ) Hitch
(60) The Fifth Element
( ) Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace
( ) Star Wars Episode II Attack of The Clones
( ) Star Wars Episode III Revenge of The Sith
(61) Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope
(62) Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
( ) Star Wars Episode VI Return of The Jedi
(63) Troop Beverly Hills
(64) Swimming with Sharks
Section 15: 5/10

(65 ) Air Force One
( ) For Richer or Poorer
(66) Trainspotting
( ) People Under the Stairs
(67 ) Blue Velvet
(68) Sound of Music
(69) Parent Trap 1
( ) Parent Trap 2
( ) The Burbs
(70) The Terminator
Section 16: 6/10

(71) Empire Records
(72) SLC Punk
(73) Meet Joe Black
(74) Nightmare Before Christmas
(75) The Silence of the Lambs
(76) Sleepy Hollow
( ) I Heart Huckabees
( ) 24 Hour Party People
( ) Blood In Blood Out
(77) The Virgin Suicides
Section 17: 7/10

( ) Space Balls
(77) Big Fish
( ) Titanic
( ) Mulan
( ) Mulan 2
(78) Cold Mountain
(79) Moulin Rouge
( ) Kung Pow, Enter The Fist
( ) As Good As It Gets
( ) Hannibal
Section 18: 3/10

( ) The Exorcist
( ) The Exorcist: The Beginning
( ) The Exorcism Of Emily Rose
(80) Dead Poet's Society
( ) Patch Adams
( ) Fern Gully
( ) Cool Runnings
(81) Austin Powers 1
(82) Austin Powers 2
(83 ) Austin Powers 3
Section 19: 4/10

( ) Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
(84) Shrek 1
( ) Shrek 2
(85) 2001: A Space Odyessy
( ) The English Patient
( ) Phonebooth
(86) This Is Spinal Tap
(87) Edward Scissor Hands
(88) The Sixth Sense
( ) Flight Plan
Section 20: 5/10

Total: 88/200.

This is about it for my brain power today. Meme from Amanda.

1) Do you have a penis?
No.

2) Do you pray?
Not often, or effectively.

3) Are you in love?
Yeah, I am. In a really great, low-pressure way.

4) Ever wish on stars?
No.

5) Do you believe in karma?
I'd like to.

6) What's your zodiac sign?
Virgo.

7) Have you ever almost died?
Not that I know of, in any serious way, but I've thought I was dying a couple of times.

8) Ever broken any bones?
Rib, toe.

9) Do you cry during sad movies?
Depends on why they are sad.

10) Do you like to dance?
Not at all.

11) Ever laid under the stars?
Of course. Used to sleep under them as a kid.

12) Ever sat on a rooftop?
Yes.

13) Is there a such thing as a soul mate?
I don't know. It's not something that seems to be worth losing sleep over. The important thing is that we're happy now.

14) Could you live without the television?
Yes, but I'd prefer not to.

15) Could you live without music?
Yes, but again it would be a diminished existance.

16) Do you have any self inflicted scars?
Nothing major.

17) What do you dislike the most about life?
Depends when you ask me. Hypocrisy and unfairness usually rank pretty high, though.

18) Have you ever been to jail?
To visit, yes; to stay, no.

19) Ever had a job for less than a day?
No.

20) Ever been fired on your first day?
No.

21) Ever been fired because of your attitude?
No, though I've probably deserved it a few times.

22) Do you get jealous of other people?
Often.

23) Would you rather love someone or be loved?
I think that's a mean question. It has to be both.

24) What's under your bed right now?
Out of season clothes.

25) Ever done anything illegal?
A number of things.

26) Have you ever been dumped?
Definitely.

27) Ever dumped somebody?
Yes.

28) How cool are you?
Not very.

29) Do you support abortion?
That's an oddly phrased question. I support women's sovereignity over their own bodies.

30) Do you believe in God?
I try to. I try really, really hard.

31) Did you graduate high school?
Yep.

32) Do you wear the same clothes two days in a row?
Not often.

33) Have you ever driven someone crazy?
I haven't led to anyone being institutionalized, that I know of, but I've definitely had adverse effects on the mental health of others from time to time.

34) Ever bullied someone?
Yeah, probably, when I was a kid. I honestly don't remember doing it, but it seems likely.

35) Ever done the Macarena?
Indeed.

36) Do you act your age?
I think I act what my age would have been 50 years ago, or what it is in other socioeconomic classes, more than what it is my time and class.

37) Is it okay to disrespect your parents?
My parents, no. But they earned their respect.

38) Do you flush the toilet when you're done?
Yes, and people who don't gross me out.

39) How long do you stay in the shower?
10-15 mins.

40)What kind body wash do you use?
Right now I am alternating between Lush Flying Fox, Body Shop Satsuma, and some unscented Aveeno for sensitive skin days.

41) Are mullets cool?
Uh, no.

42) Spiderman, Batman, or Superman?
X-Men.

43) Do you like your middle name?
No, but it's a good story.

44) Has anyone ever cheated on you?
Yes.

46) What's your favorite animal?
My dogs.

47) Favorite flower?
Depends on the season. Lately I really like lilac and honeysuckle and jasmine.

48) Have you ever shaved your head?
Not to the skin, but pretty close.

49) Do you think marijuana should be legal for medicinal use?
Absolutely. I think it should be legal across the board.

50) Do you think it is okay to drink and drive?
Absolutely not.

51) If you won $1 million dollars, what would you buy first?
Pay off student loans, pay off house, pay off CC debt...then travel.

52) Do you fear terrorism?
It doesn't even make the list.

54) What's your favorite candle scent?
Hrm...I'm not big into scented candles. The spicy fall scents are kind of nice, though.

55) Do you use profanity?
Yep. A lot of it.

56) Who's the last person you talked to on Im
Um...I talked to Zenobia and Sycamore on Google Chat yesterday.

57) What's something you're ashamed of?
Lying. Being mean. Not standing up for others, or for myself.

58) What woke you up last night?
Everything. The dogs. The cat. The wind. My own thoughts. It sucked.

59) What did you dream about last night?
I don't dream much.

60) Ever been to the zoo?
Yes, in fact just a couple of weeks ago.

61) How many beers did you have today?
None, but it's only noon.

62) What's the last movie watched?
Hedwig with S. last week.

63) Are you usually late or on time?
Generally on time.

64) What's a cartoon you watch often?
I don't much like cartoon. South Park is on at my house a lot, though.

65) Do you have any imaginary friends?
Depends what you mean by imaginary.

66) Are you waiting on something right now?
Always.

67) Who's pretty?
Me, some days. Most of my friends. My cat. Angelina.

68) Who's ugly?
People who try to hard to be pretty, generally.

This one is from Meghan. I like these, actually. I always learn stuff about people from them.

1. Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work?
Uh, no.

2. Have you ever puked at a bar or club?
Nope.

3. What's the largest age difference between yourself and
someone you dated?
I think about 6 or so years, but I'm actually not sure.

4. Have you ever dated someone you met online?
No.

5. Have you ever smoked pot at a concert?
Wouldn't it be funny if I said no? Not recently, anyway.

6. Have you ever dated/fooled around with a coworker?
Not really.

7. If so, how did that turn out?

8. Ever been involved in a hit & run?
Yep, got sideswiped on an onramp by a pickup truck. Asshole.

9. Were you popular in high school?
Not particularly.

10. Have you ever been on a blind date?
Nope.

11. Are looks important?
Yes, but my standards are strange.

12. Do you have any friends that you've known for 15 years?
Indeed. Longer than that, even.

13. By what age would you like to be married?
I don't want to get married.

14. Does the number of people a person's slept with affect your view of them?
It probably does, but it's not something I generally know about people. It's not like I am going to ask.

15. Have you ever sacrificed yourself so your friend can get in good with a person of the opposite sex?
Yep.

16. Have you ever drank milk that was past the expiration date?
Ew. No.

17. Have you ever dated/messed around with a friend's ex?
Yep.

18. Are you a good tipper?
To a fault.

19. What's the most you have spent for a haircut?
About $60+tip.

20. Have you ever had a crush on a teacher?
Hasn't everyone? I haven't had all that many good teachers that I haven't crushed on. It's sorta part of the deal.

21. Do you know all the words to the first verse of Ice ice Baby?
Lemme check...yep.

22. Have you ever had crispy bangs?
Like from a curling iron? Yeah, but not for a long time. I haven't had bangs at all for a long time.

23. Have you ever singed off your eyelashes?
Nope.

24. What was the worst style of the 80's?
So many to choose from...layers of scrunchy socks, I think.

25. Have you ever peed in public?
Like in a public restroom, or like on the street?

From Tishie over at Myspace.

1. In one word, explain what ended your last relationship:
Logic.

2. What made you smile today?
The morning dog onslaught.

3. What were you doing this morning at 8 AM?
Working.

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Chatting.

5. Something that happened to you in 1985?
I think I started school.

6. Your prom night?
I went four times, and all were pretty anticlimatic. Once, I had hair that looked exactly like Mrs. Doubtfire, though.

7. Last thing you said aloud?
"OK, thanks."

8. Last thing someone else said aloud?
I don't remember.

9. Worst thing currently on television:
I'm guessing something in the Judge Judy vein.

10. What was in the mail today?
I don't know, I'm not home yet. Yesterday was junk mail and Netflix.

11. How many different beverages have you drunk today?
Four: water, coffee, Pepsi, smoothie.

12. What is your favorite part of the day?
Evening.

13. Your current To-do list?
Which one? Pages long. Skip it.

WHO DELETED 14 - 17?

18. Least favorite place to shop?
I don't like grocery shopping in general. And I won't go to Walmart.

19. Last thing you bought?
Um...lunch.

20. Last gift you received?
Some shaving lotion from Trader Joe's. Excellent!

21. Funniest thing you have heard today?
Some Bush joke I've already forgotten.

22. Favorite mug?
Indigo Leaf mug.

23. What color is your front door?
Wood colored.

24. Beautiful is:
Natural, happy.

25. Describe your keychain:
Bunch of keys on a ring with plastic key chain cards from gym, library, grocery store, and pet store.

26. Where do you keep your change?
In the bottom of my purse, then in a jar on my dresser.

27. Say something to the number 1 person in your Top 8:
I don't get this question.

28. What kind of winter coat do you have?
I have a bunch of rain coats, and one purple wool coat I never wear. And a peacoat, also never worn.

29. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
College? Pouring and cold. High school? 95 degrees.

30. Last ice cream flavor?
Dark chocolate raspberry truffle.

31. Last rainbow you saw?
I have no idea. It's been years.

32. Something you are excited about?
Mark getting home.

I didn't sleep well last night and I'm very tired this morning, so I replace content with a meme from Delany.

1. What are your siblings' middle names? Laurence and Christine.

2. Where is your dad right now? One is likely already at work in the woods, the other is likely on his way to the job site.

3. What was the last thing you said? "Morning."

4. What is something you've learned recently? That the bag of coffee in the freezer that I thought was fine-ground is coarse-ground.

5. What colour is your watch? Black with silver studs.

6. What do you think of when you think of Australia? That's not where Sofiya is from.

7. When was the last time you squatted to pee? I can't even remember.

8. Who is the last person you liked? Hrm. I currently like a few people. Not many, but a few.

9. Are you close to your mum? Yes.

10. Where does your best friend work? One is in medical school, one is in graduate school, one is a a full-time mom and part-time tech writer.

11. What is your least attractive feature? Depends who you ask.

12. How old were you when you started wearing a bra? I wore one sometimes in high school and college. I didn't wear one regularly until post-college.

13. What color are your pants? Black.

14. Do you have a roommate? No.

15. What color is your bedroom flooring? Sea grass carpeting.

16. Do you have a chair in your room? No.

17. What time of day were you born? 3 in the afternoon.

18. Do you know anyone who is engaged? Yes.

19. What's your favorite number(s)? 8.

20. Do you know anyone named Laurie? Yes.

21. What color is your mom's hair? Light brown and gray.

22. Do you have a dog? Two.

23. Where did you live in 1987? Oregon.

24. What happened to you in 1993? I started high school.

25. Does your first memory involve your dad? No.

26. Do you remember singing any songs as kids? Tons of songs.

27. When was the last time you went swimming? A couple of weeks ago.

28. Has your luggage ever gotten lost? No. It's missed my plane, but always shown up.

29. When was the last time you talked to one of your siblings? Last week.

30. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yes.

31. Do you play an instrument? Sadly, no.

32. Have you ever thought it would be cool to smash a guitar? It's never crossed my mind.

33. Do you like fire? Not particularly.

34. Where is your best friend from? One is from Oregon, one is from Rhode Island, one is from Oklahoma.

35. Are you allergic to anything? Nearly everything.

36. When was the last time you cried? When I watched "Wit" last weekend.

37. What kind of shampoo do you use? Nature's Gate Chamomile right now.

38. Have you ever been to a spa? Yes, just recently.

39. Were you popular in high school? No.

40. Did you take science all four years of high school? No, three years.

41. Do you like butterflies? Ambivalent.

42. What is the last book you read? Just finished "Waltzing the Cat."

43. Do you like Coke or Pepsi more? Pepsi.

44. What is one thing you miss about your past? Most of the people I love being in the same geographic area.

45. Did you ever see the school nurse? We didn't have one.

46. Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? A few times. It's a bad idea, though.

47. What is one thing you've learned about your life recently? Things take a really long time.

48. Are you jealous of anyone? Usually.

49. Is anyone jealous of you? Probably.

50. When was the last time you were in an elevator? About an hour ago.

It's a meme, which I'm trying to cut down on, but it's one with some content, and I'm a bit brain-dead today, so I'm going to try it. It came from Frog. You get four words and have to write something about each one.

If you want to play, your words are Kleenex, cold, minnow, and sober.

The words Frog gave are:

squeegee: When I played volleyball in high school, we did a fund raiser where we hired ourselves out to wash people's windows. It was horrible. A whole day of window washing. If you were lucky, or, more likely, popular, you got a squeegee. If you were me, you had to use newspaper and got newsprint stains on your hands.

ridiculous: Maybe I should be ashamed to admit this, but ever since I read and saw Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, when something frightens me that shouldn't (the dark, mysterious lumps on the dogs, Mark being a few minutes late, whatever) I think about the bogart scene and say "ridiculous!" to myself. It helps.

muffin: When I worked at the bakery in high school, we made these awesome upside-down muffins. You put a scoop of "smear" (made from shortening and brown sugar, I think) in the bottom of a muffin tin, followed by a good handful of chopped dried fruit and nuts, and scooped bran muffin batter over it, then baked. I think people thought they were healthy--bran, dried fruit, nuts. We didn't advertise the smear.

rhinoceros: I kind of feel sorry for rhinos. I mean, they are nearly as ungainly as elephants, but have none of the grace or beauty or brains. Or at least they don't seem to. I don't think I've ever actually watched an Animal Planet special about them, but for some reason I think of them as kind of mean.

The year in review meme is making the rounds, and it's a favorite of mine, so I'll play along. For the sake of comparison, last year's version is here (the second of the three) and 2004 is here.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Left a well-paying dead-end job for a less well-paying job with more potential. Agreed to spend Christmas away from my family. Bought a new car.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept some of them, worked on other's. I'll probably make more. I always make them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A couple of very good online friends had babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A feeling of control.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I don't tend to remember things by date.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through calculus, expanding our family to include Ata and Esme.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting out of debt.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our Element.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Susan's.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Most of our national and local politicians'.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Tuition, junk.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Howell and Melinda's visit, going home in July

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
The Leonard Cohen tribute soundtrack, especially the Teddy Thompson track.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? sadder
b) thinner or fatter? fatter
c) richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Making the most of my time.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Shopping

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With Mark's family and the dogs.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Yes. A couple of times. And stayed in love, too.

22. How many one-night stands?
I am so too old for that shit.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
House

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. But I am intensly irritated by some people I wasn't at this time last year.

25. What was the best book you read?
Counting Coup

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rufus Wainwright (yep, slow on the uptake)

27. What did you want and get?
A new car, an iPod, time with my mom

28. What did you want and not get?
A savings account, a cure for my allergies

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kinky Boots, The Science of Sleep

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 27. Went out to a great Indian dinner with all of my local friends.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Getting out of debt

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
My stomach finally catches up to my ass

33. What kept you sane?
My dogs. My iPod.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Zidane

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Local arts funding

36. Who did you miss?
Tony. Sandy.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Minnesota group

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006
It is better, sometimes, to be kind than to be right.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"If I've got to remember that's a fine memory."

Over on her blog, Thistle takes up a challenge, put forth by Echidne, to say five nice things about herself, without any hemming, hawing, or other couching. I think this is an excellent idea and every woman in the blogosphere should do it. So consider yourselves all tagged. As for me...

1. I take good care of the people and creatures I love.
2. I give fantastic presents.
3. I have a cool head in a crisis.
4. I'm self-sufficient.
5. I have an really excellent back.

I woke up this morning, for whatever reason, thinking about the songs I've been told I remind people of over the years. I can actually only think of three (should there be more?), but I think it's an interesting list. And it would make a good meme-type question, so readers, comment or add this to your blog? What songs have reminded people of you?

The first time I remember being compared to a song, it was Soul Asylum's "The Sun Maid." (Their album, "Grave Dancers Union" was very popular at the time.) Here are those lyrics:

The Sun Maid
Tell me how you get that shine
You must polish all the time
Though I know your job is thankless
They will thank you up in heaven
Oh the Sun Maid
Looking for the shade
Though they say she's not too bright
She takes care of all the light
Without you it's cold and stark
We would all be in the dark
Without the Sun Maid
She never gets paid
Searching for the shade
Oh the Sun Maid
You are so taken for granted
With each and every seed that's planted
And the earth is so demanding
All the young girls are out tanning
The Sun Maid
She's such an old maid
She never gets laid
Oh the Sun Maid
Now you're tired, your day is over
Now the moon is one day older

Now you tell me what that comparison was about...

A few years later, a slightly less insulting song brought up thoughts of me--U2's "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?" (From Achtung Baby, also very popular when I was in high school.)

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?
You're dangerous 'cause you're honest
You're dangerous, you don't know what you want
Well you left my heart empty as a vacant lot
For any spirit to haunt

Who's gonna ride your wild horses?
Who's gonna tame the heart of thee?

I have to admit that one remains my favorite. Makes me sound exciting, don't you think? Incidentally, this is the only one that WASN'T suggested by someone I was sleeping with/someone who was trying to get me to sleep with him.

The most recent comparison, which has still been a number of years ago, was to "Swords" by Leftfield (off the album of the same name). Also a bit strange...

Swords
Danger, in every corner.
I have become pure water.
I can identify.
I close my eyes.
I wear my sword at my side (x2).
Cleanse me.
Deep in the fire.
I have become pure water.
I wear my sword at my side (x4).
I have become pure water (x2).
I have become pure water (distorted and echoed)

So those, such as they are, are mine. What are yours?

A bit back, Frog tagged me for the 8 Random Things Meme. I've been meaning to do it but forgetting, and now I think everybody I would have tagged has been tagged, so I'm just going to post the 8 random things.

Except that I can barely think of 8 things that anybody reading here doesn't already know about me...but I'll try.

1. My grandmother is having a sort of serious surgery on Tuesday (tomorrow), and I am really freaked out about it.

2. I've been drinking hot chocolate instead of coffee in the mornings recently, and it seems like a positive switch.

3. I want to get my hair cut like Charisma Carpenter's (Cordelia's) at the end of Angel season three, but I can't find a picture of it anywhere. Whenever I Google her I end up with a lot of pictures of her with long hair and very few clothes on.

4. I just read an essay about fan fiction and I am now obsessed with the whole idea of writing fan fiction as a creative writing exercise (obsessed with it in theory, not with actually doing it).

5. My second toe is longer than my big toe. This is supposed to be a sign of something, but I can't remember what.

6. I'm cheap about really strange things. Currently, I'm aghast at how expensive rugs are. At Ikea!

7. My tenth high school reunion is next month. I'm trying to figure out whether it is feasible to attend. I actually feel like I've been out of high school for far longer than ten years.

8. When I was a wee one, I spoke pathologically early (full paragraphs and memorizing stories at a year) and walked pathologically late (past two, I think). This has pretty much been my lifelong modus operandi.

I am feeling both book-y and meme-y today, so I give you a book meme that I found...somewhere.

Total number of books owned: I'm not sure, having never counted, but I'd say somewhere around 1,000, maybe? They rotate in and out.

Last book bought: I actually went to Book People with my friends on Monday and picked up three books, How Sassy Changed My Life: A Love Letter to the Greatest Teen Magazine of All Time, A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812, and another one I can't remember the name of that is about the disappearance of rural communities.

Last book read: Well, I'm working on both Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness and Dorothy Allison's Skin: Talking About Sex, Class, and Literature. The last book I read before those was Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume.

Five Books that Mean a Lot to You: This is a tough question for me, as I tend to read things and then forget them, even if I really loved them. I'm changing it to

Best Five Books You Read in the Last Year:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott
The Stardust Lounge: Stories From a Boy's Adolescence by Deborah Digges
The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

I Tag:
Frog
Laurie
Jenny
Suebob

I've done this meme before, I think, but I saw it over at Frog's and couldn't help but do it again.

Copy this list; leave in the bands you've seen perform live; delete the ones you haven't, and add new ones that you have seen until you reach 25. An asterisk means the previous person had it on their list. Two asterisks means the last two people who did this before you had that band on their list.

ani difranco**
Indigo Girls*
Dar Williams*
Sweet Honey in the Rock*
Faith No More
John Prine
Lyle Lovett
Lucinda Williams
Billy Bragg
Holly Near
Marilyn Manson
Hole
Lucy Kaplansky
Eliza Gilkyson
Dan Bern
Kris Kristofferson
Bitch & Animal
Utah Phillips
Lenny Kravitz
Maceo Parker
Andrew Bird
James Brown
Dale Watson
Allison Krauss
Emmylou Harris

I so enjoyed the three questions meme at Frogblog, I thought I'd try it here. Basically, you ask me three questions in the comments--anything you want to know, and I will answer honestly. After I answer your questions, I'll ask you three questions and you will post the answers to them on your blog.

Got it? Good. Go.

Sorry for the delay, yesterday got away from me.

For Jess:

1. What one thing do you miss the most about the PNW?

2. What is your favorite Halloween costume ever?

3. What book, movie, and CD would you recommend the most?

For Jenny:

1. Do you believe in monogamy?

2. If you had to have a pet, what type of animal would you choose (assuming no allergies)?

3. What do you eat for breakfast?

By way of Frog.

By the end of the calendar year, I will send a tangible, physical gift to each of the first five people to comment here, so long as each of those five people are willing to make the same offer in their own LJ or blog.

Remember this post? The one where I offered to send gifts to lucky readers? Well, I'm going to need addresses for that. So, Jenny, Amanda, Kay, Peter--hook me up with your addresses (avengingophelia@gmail.com) and I will get your prezzies in the mail. Be sure to do the same to the folks from your blog, or else this whole train thing doesn't work!

So I'm awake. I wish I weren't, but I am. And I'm having a cup of tea and futzing around on ze Internets. So now is as good a time as any to take Meg's help and make a love list, only a couple of days late.

Things I Love:

Song you love: "The Origin of Love" from Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Food you love: Doughnuts

Thing you love to look at: amber (with or without bugs in it)

Sound you love: rain

Thing you love to laugh at: my dogs

Gadget you love: the almighty iPod

Person you love: Mark

Software you love: Excel

Word you love: aluminum

Thing you love on the internet: IMDB

Place you love to go on vacation: Oregon. home.

Sensation you love: waking up and knowing I don't actually have to get out of bed

Animal you love: elephants

Book you love: Our Bodies, Ourselves

Emotion you love: anticipation

Occasion you love: my birthday

Quality you love in people: generosity

Thing you most love to shop for: used books

And finally…

What you love about today: that I finished what I needed to finish without feeling bogged down by it

Frog did this meme today wherein she reprinted the first line of each month of the year's first entry. I like it. When I like something, I sometimes copy it.

January: Today is the first day of 2007.

February: You probably know that February is Black History Month.

March: I have a new post up today on Heroine Content. Check it out?

April: Due to my being a bit of a scheduling numbskull and double-booking myself for April 14, I am not going to be able to take part in this year's SafePlace Walk.

May: On a (well, slightly, anyway) less self-obsessed note, I have to tell you all about As We Are Magazine.

June: I will attempt a real post-vacation entry tomorrow, when my head is on more straight, but today I'm just doing the financial update thing because I am doing my bills.

July: I know I have mentioned here before that I tend to be a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to pop cultural phenomena.

August: One of the things I decided I wanted to do while I was at BlogHer was write a post when I returned highlighting all of the new blogs I was introduced to (through their people!) while I was there.

September: I am back, finally, after sickness, recuperation, and a fantastic weekend spent with my college chums, about which I will attempt to post later.

October: If you are having that cranky Monday feeling this morning, I suggest taking a trip over to the American Humane website, where they have posted the winners and finalists of their pet photo contest.

November: Today is the first day of NaBloPoMo, and I am mad excited.

December: So, for the first time in quite some time, I'm drunk.

I am laying aside my Maggie Mason project until after the holidays, since my Internet connection is going to be spotty at best for a bit. However, I can't resist the list of questions from Vanity Fair magazine that Karen at Chookooloonks, one of my very favorite blogs, posted the other day.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Feeling safe and feeling like all the people I love are safe as well.

2. What is your greatest fear?
Nobody loving me.

3. Which living person do you most admire?
My grandmother.

4. What trait do you most deplore in yourself?
Self-centeredness.

5. What trait do you most deplore in others?
Stinginess.

6. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Bullheadedness cloaked as perseverance.

7. On what occasion do you lie?
Lots of occasions, actually. When there is a greater cause.

8. What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Depends when you ask me. Lately, my yellow teeth.

9. What is your greatest regret?
Generally not appreciating things when I have them.

10. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Honestly...dogs.

11. Which talent would you most like to have?
I would LOVE to be able to sing.

12. What is your current state of mind?
I've been very stressed the past few days, but I'm mellowing as we get closer to leaving for the holiday.

13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd like to be a more peaceful person.

14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The help I've been able to give dogs.

15. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be?
The idea of coming back is so odd to me, it's hard to answer this. I'd like to come back as another kind of animal, I think.

16. What is your most treasured possession?
Probably some of my books? I'm really not sure.

17. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The kind of self-loathing that comes from addiction and the behaviors it can foster.

18. Where would you like to live?
At home, in Oregon.

19. What is your most marked characteristics?
Hmm...my height? I'd like to hope it's my generosity.

20. Who are your favourite writers?
Pam Houston, Dorothy Allison

21. Who is your favourite hero of fiction?
The entire Stamper family ("never give an inch")

22. Who are your heroes in real life?
Pali Boucher

23. What is it that you most dislike?
Injustice

24. What is your motto?
What's the worst that can happen?

25. Favourite journey?
Growing up.

26. What do you most value in your friends?
Humor, tolerance, comfort.

27. Which word or phrase do you most overuse?
"No shit?" "Damn!"

28. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Hmm....what a great question. And I can't come up with a single answer.

29. What is your greatest extravagance?
I have too many. Bath products. Fancy coffee. Eating out. Gifts.

30. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?
I'd give them more money. Or move them around so they'd be closer to me. But those things would both make them different, which I wouldn't want, so I guess I wouldn't change anything.

31. What is your favourite occupation?
Theoretically? Cultural critic.

32. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Strength.

33. What is the quality you most like in a man?
Ability to perceive privilege.

34. How would you like to die?
No preference as long as it happens a long time from now.

35. If you could choose what you want to come back as, what would it be?
Something that could do more to help. Maybe a St. Bernard!

It is making the rounds, so I might as well:

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

Had to wait until the tail end of the year, but I left the U.S.!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year's resolutions, or goals, really, are here. I basically failed on all counts. Bah.

I will probably answer this question more completely once I get back to Texas and my real life and all that, but basically, in 2008, I have to get my shit together financially. Really.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

All over the damn place! There are four new little boys in my life this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?
Norway! And the airport in England.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

Ability to stick to my goals. Days when my allergies are not killing me.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Dates almost never stick in my head.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finally finishing my god-forsaken masters degree.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing even more control of my finances. And continuing to gain weight.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Food poisoning that was pretty much the worst thing ever. Plantar faciitis that makes me angry at God. Allergies that do the same.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I have no idea. Most of what I bought wasn't worth it, probably.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My mother continues to amaze me with how she handles her constant pain with good grace. My brother seems to have grown up a lot, which is great. And I am continually inspired by the parenting of my friends N. and Z., S. and C., and S. and T.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Michael Vick comes to mind right off.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Gah, I don't know. Stupid stuff I could have done without, mainly. Lots of thrifting. Clothes for my multiple sizes.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My trip to Norway. Finishing school. Discovering Buffy. BlogHer.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

The one Lindsey sings in Angel.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder?
About the same?
b) thinner or fatter?
Fatter fatter fatter.

c) richer or poorer?

Poorer. Though I actually make more money. Go me.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Traveled. I always wish I had done more of that.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Making empty promises to myself.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

In Oregon with the fam. It was great.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

No new love, but the same old love is going swimmingly, which is just as good.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Buffy Buffy Buffy!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Michael Vick.

24. What was the best book you read?

Hmm...several come to mind. The Midwife's Tale. Packinghouse Daughter. But the discovery of Marion Winik is probably the best literary thing that happened to me this year.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Grace Potter and Christine Kane.

26. What did you want and get?

A trip to Europe. My masters.

27. What did you want and not get?

A paid off credit card.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I can't think of what I saw this year that were new, but The Farmer's Wife was wonderful.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I went out to dinner with friends. I was 28.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Again with the debt repayment.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Can you believe I spent money on these clothes?

32. What kept you sane?

The animals. Mark, much of the time. Blogging.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Spike.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Would you hate me if I said I stopped caring?

35. Who did you miss?

My mom. I always miss her.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Hmm....I have made some excellent new online friends. And I am awfully fond of my new small friends.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
It is not enough to say you are going to do something. You have to actually do it. And international travel is so not that hard.


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Four legs good, two legs bad.

I am home sick today and not really up for thinking of a new list. So I'm stealing this meme from Bomboniera.

The rules

1. Pick 10 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie.
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie.
5. Looking them up is cheating, please don’t.

My movie lines:

1. "Tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of Raymond K. Hessel's life. His breakfast will taste better than any meal you and I have ever tasted." Fight Club (Noble Savage)
2. "...never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!" The Princess Bride (Marta)
3. "Sand is overrated. It's just tiny, little rocks." Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Jess)
4. "And then there were the crypto-homo rockers: Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, David Bowie--who was actually an idiom working in America and Canada." Hedwig & the Angry Inch (Jenny, Bomboneria)
5. "I'm the most dangerous man in this prison. You know why? 'Cause I control the underwear." American History X (Howell)
6. "Anybody not wearing 2 million sunblock is gonna have a real bad day." Terminator 2: Judgment Day (Skylanda)
7. "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. Prick love for pricking and you beat love down." Romeo & Juliet (Melinda, Noble Savage)
8. "Speak for yourself. You may be a sinner, but I ain't yet had the opportunity." Brokeback Mountain (Ganymede)
9. "I'm just trying to be honest about being a misanthrope." Dazed and Confused (jaysee)
10. "I've always known I was meant to dominate your sex and avenge my own." Dangerous Liasons (Bomboniera)

OK. Guesses?

Same meme as Wednesday, only with song lyrics. These aren't my favorite, though, just the first lyrics from each of the first 10 songs to pop up in my iTunes. Guesses?

1. "I pulled out of Shaky Town, goin' up-country, sinking down."
2. "I walked into a honky tonk, just the other day." "Juke Box Blues" by Reese Witherspoon (originally June Carter Cash) (Delia)
3. "If I have to go, will you remember me?"
4. "Because I love you I get tongue-tied around you." "One Dance" by Dan Bern (Jenny)
5. "Life in the circus ain't easy." "Freakshow" by Ani DiFranco (Chips)
6. "Mamma Svetlana, I know you wanna, shriek at what your daughter done done."
7. "Well my friends are gone and my hair is gray." "Tower of Song" by Leonard Cohen (Chips, Nella)
8. "What is that you're saying, you roulette girl?" "Roulette Girl" by Mary Prankster (Melinda)
9. "Well it's early in the A.M. and I'm feeling kind of blind."
10. "Last night I stood at your doorstep, trying to figure out what went wrong." "Long Walk Home" by Bruce Springsteen (Amanda--close enough!)

This is a really interesting meme. More to it than most. I got it from Mostly True Tales, but it's originally from
What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, and Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements. Explain if you want.

1. Father went to college
My biological dad went to college via the Air Force, but I don't think he graduated. My step-dad went for a couple of semesters as well, but had to leave when his father got sick and he was needed at home.
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
My childhood home is and was full of books. My parents are both avid readers, and my mom worked for years as a children's librarian. Never any lack of books.
9. Were read children's books by a parent
Every day, I'd bet. An absolute blessing.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
I took swim lessons at a public pool for several summers as a kid. I don't know how much they cost, but they must have been pretty cheap, because we didn't have any money at the time.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
I'm not sure how true this is--people in the media who dress and talk like I do now are portrayed positively, but people who dress and talk like the folks where I grew up aren't
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
I got my first credit card at 16, for the purposes of establishing credit before college. It was linked to my personal checking account, which I got at the same time.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
I grew up in a small single family home that my stepdad's father built, on his land. We were very lucky not to have house payments or rent.
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family
We had a wood stove, so no heating bills.

Swiped from Frog.

TECHNOLOGY
Q. What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A picture my mom sent me from home, of the road they live o.

Q. How many televisions you have in your house?
One

BIOLOGY
Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right

Q. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Wisdom teeth

Q. What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Cat litter box

Q. Have you ever been knocked out?
Twice, once to get wisdom teeth removed, once falling off a horse

BULLSHITOLOGY
Q. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
Absolutely not

Q. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
At this point, I wouldn't change it. I used to want it to be Christine, though.

Q. What color do you think looks best on you?
Dark pink

Q. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item?
Sure.

DAREOLOGY
Q. Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
Uh, yeah. Or, you know, for free.

Q. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
Hell no.

Q. Would you never blog again for $50,000
Probably.

Q. Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
Almost certainly.

Q. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Probably not.

Q. Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
No.

DUMBOLOGY
Q: What is in your left pocket?
Don't have a pocket.

Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
No, stupid.

Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
Neither--concrete.

Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?
Stand.

Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
Four?

LASTOLOGY
Q: Last person who texted you?
I can't even remember.

Q: Last person who called you?
My mom, maybe?

Q: Person you hugged?
Mark's parents.

FAVORITOLOGY
Q: Number?
8

Q: Season?
Fall.

Q: Color?
Red.

CURRENTOLOGY
Q: Missing someone?
Yeah, Melinda and Sandy especially.

Q: Mood?
Little bit sleepy, little bit overwhelmed.

Q: Listening to?
Whatever Pandora throws at me.

Q: Watching?
My monitor.

Q: Worrying about?
Getting everything done on time. And my skin.

Q: Wearing?
Denim skirt and a black tee shirt.

RANDOMOLOGY
Q: First place you went this morning?
Work.

Q: What can you not wait to do?
Finish a big work project, go to Boston.

Q: Do you smile often?
Yes, and widely.

Q: Are you a friendly person?
Not in particular.

From the Noble Savage.

Below is a list of the top 106 books tagged "unread" on LibraryThing. The rules:
bold = what you've read,
italics = books you started but couldn't finish
crossed out = books you hated
* = you've read more than once
underline = books you own but haven't read yourself

This is from Suebob.

Accent: Not much of one, but whatever the PNW sounds like when it lives in Texas

Breakfast or no breakfast: Breakfast, these days. Yogurt and granola is the staple. And always, always coffee.

Chore I don't care for: I will not, do not, cannot vacuum.

Dog or Cat: Both in my house, but dogs are first for me.

Essential Electronics: I currently have a Mac laptop through work that I lurve. I want one of my very own.

Favorite Cologne: I got Mark Burberry's' Weekend for Christmas, and I like it a lot on him. I don't usually wear perfume/cologne.

Gold or Silver: Silver, though I think gold is better for my skin tone.

Handbag I carry most often: From here.

Insomnia: Almost never.

Job Title: Not something I find to be all that important.

Kids: I love other people's.

Living Arrangements: With Mark and the packpride

Most Admirable Trait: I am really, honest-to-God, trying

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Too many to name--I was really awful

Overnight hospital stays: Never happened.

Phobias: Too many people in too small a space

Quote: "The degree to which you resist in the degree to which you are free."

Reason to smile: The pets

Siblings: Two, one XX and one XY

Time I wake up: Theoretically 6:45. In reality, between 7 and 7:15

Unusual Talent or Skill: Picking dog show winners

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: Beets. Don't even talk to me about beets.

Worst Habit: Endless navel-gazing

X-rays: Chest, feet

Yummy Stuff: Rum cocktails

Zoo Animal I Like Most: Monkeys and elephants

Got this over at Frog's. These are 75 must-read books, as per Jezebel. The ones in bold are the ones I've read. The ones in bold italics are the ones I actually liked.

• The Lottery (and Other Stories), Shirley Jackson


• To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf


• The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton


• White Teeth, Zadie Smith


• The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allenden


• Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Joan Didion


• Excellent Women, Barbara Pym


• The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath


• Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys


• The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri


• Beloved, Toni Morrison


• Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert


• Like Life, Lorrie Moore


• Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen


• Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë


• The Delta of Venus, Anais Nin


• A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley


• A Good Man Is Hard To Find (and Other Stories), Flannery O'Connor


• The Shipping News, E. Annie Proulx


• You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down, Alice Walker


• Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston


• To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee


• Fear of Flying, Erica Jong


• Earthly Paradise, Colette


• Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt


• Property, Valerie Martin


• Middlemarch, George Eliot


• Annie John, Jamaica Kincaid


• The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir


• Runaway, Alice Munro


• The Heart is A Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers


• The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston


• Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë


• You Must Remember This, Joyce Carol Oates


• Little Women, Louisa May Alcott


• Bad Behavior, Mary Gaitskill


• The Liars' Club, Mary Karr


• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou


• A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Betty Smith


• And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie


• Bastard out of Carolina, Dorothy Allison


• The Secret History, Donna Tartt


• The Little Disturbances of Man, Grace Paley


• The Portable Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker


• The Group, Mary McCarthy


• Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi


• The Golden Notebook, Doris Lessing


• The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne Frank


• Frankenstein, Mary Shelley


• Against Interpretation, Susan Sontag


• In the Time of the Butterflies, Julia Alvarez


• The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck


• Fun Home, Alison Bechdel


• Three Junes, Julia Glass


• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft


• Sophie's Choice, William Styron


• Valley of the Dolls, Jacqueline Susann


• Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford


• Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell


• The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. LeGuin


• The Red Tent, Anita Diamant


• The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera


• The Face of War, Martha Gellhorn


• My Antonia, Willa Cather


• Love In The Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez


• The Harsh Voice, Rebecca West


• Spending, Mary Gordon


• The Lover, Marguerite Duras


• The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy


• Tell Me a Riddle, Tillie Olsen


• Nightwood, Djuna Barnes


• Three Lives, Gertrude Stein


• Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons


• I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith


• Possession, A.S. Byatt

Yikes. Not terribly well-read, am I?

A little bit early, maybe, but I'm in that kind of reflexive mood. For fun, I'm adding answers from the last four years to compare.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?


Buckled down and actually made progress towards financial stability.

2007: Had to wait until the tail end of the year, but I left the U.S.!
2006: Left a well-paying dead-end job for a less well-paying job with more potential. Agreed to spend Christmas away from my family. Bought a new car.
2005: Bought a house.
2004: Got a well-paying job.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I used All Consuming to make a list of resolution/goals last year. Mostly, they are underway or more long-term. I've done well, all in all. I also had a goal of watching one movie and reading one book each week. I made the movie goal (I'm at 69 movies for the year right now), but am falling short on the book goal (currently at 49, many of which I didn't finish). And yeah, I'll make more.


2007: Last year's resolutions, or goals, really, are here. I basically failed on all counts. Bah.
I will probably answer this question more completely once I get back to Texas and my real life and all that, but basically, in 2008, I have to get my shit together financially. Really.
2006: I kept some of them, worked on other's. I'll probably make more. I always make them.
2005: I already went over this, but I kept 3/4 of them from last year, and made 12 new ones for this year.
2004: I honestly can't remember.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Yep, some online friends had a baby, and my cousin is expecting in February.

2007: All over the damn place! There are four new little boys in my life this year.
2006: A couple of very good online friends had babies.
2005: Nope, though some e-friends are closing in on their due date.
2004: Not that I can think of, but someone close to me did adopt.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Nope. I'm starting to feel like I'm pushing my luck here...

2007: No, thank God.
2006: No.
2005: Yes.
2004: Not that I can think of.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. :(

2007: Norway! And the airport in England.
2006: None.
2005: None.
2004: None.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?


I can't think of much I was lacking in 2008, honestly. I guess I'd like to be finished paying off the debt the most.

2007: Ability to stick to my goals. Days when my allergies are not killing me.
2006: A feeling of control.
2005: Fufilling work.
2004: An idea what I want to do with my life.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?


Once again, I got nothin' when it comes to dates.

2007: Dates almost never stick in my head.
2006: I don't tend to remember things by date.
2005: Early July--Chance died.
2004: Hrm...can't think of any particular dates. It honestly hasn't been that momentous a year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


Finally paying down so much debt!

2007: Finally finishing my god-forsaken masters degree.
2006: Getting through calculus, expanding our family to include Ata and Esme.
2005: Buying the house.
2004: Rescuing the puppies.

9. What was your biggest failure?


Not sticking with my exercising. Gotta get back to that.

2007: Losing even more control of my finances. And continuing to gain weight.
2006: Not getting out of debt.
2005: Failing to lose any substantial weight.
2004: Taking a year off from school.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?


Nope.

2007: Food poisoning that was pretty much the worst thing ever. Plantar faciitis that makes me angry at God. Allergies that do the same.
2006: Nothing major.
2005: No more than usual.
2004: I smashed my toe, but nothing big.

11. What was the best thing you bought?


Can't think of anything major.

2007: I have no idea. Most of what I bought wasn't worth it, probably.
2006: Our Element.
2005: Again, the house.
2004: Hmm...not sure.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?


Honestly, mine did. I have worked hard and accomplished a lot this year.

2007: My mother continues to amaze me with how she handles her constant pain with good grace. My brother seems to have grown up a lot, which is great. And I am continually inspired by the parenting of my friends N. and Z., S. and C., and S. and T.
2006: Susan's.
2005: My fellow Texans post-Katrina.
2004: Mark

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


Much of the nation's, surrounding the election.

2007: Michael Vick comes to mind right off.
2006: Most of our national and local politicians'.
2005: Where should I begin?
2004: Mine, but only on occaison. Everyone who voted for Bush.

14. Where did most of your money go?


Citibank.

2007: Gah, I don't know. Stupid stuff I could have done without, mainly. Lots of thrifting. Clothes for my multiple sizes.
2006: Tuition, junk.
2005: Target and The Goodwill.
2004: To the black hole where it always goes...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?


Making progress. Our trip to Boston last spring.

2007: My trip to Norway. Finishing school. Discovering Buffy. BlogHer.
2006: Howell and Melinda's visit, going home in July
2005: Going to Boston, going to Ann Arbor, cutting my hair.
2004: My Midwestern adventure

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?


That silly one from Juno by the Moldy Peaches comes to mind.

2007: The one Lindsey sings in Angel.
2006: The Leonard Cohen tribute soundtrack, especially the Teddy Thompson track.
2005: Nothing comes to mind.
2004: Pretty much anything by Mary Prankster

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder?
happier.
2007: About the same?
2006: sadder
2005: About the same, I think.
2004: happier
b) thinner or fatter?
thinner
2007: Fatter fatter fatter.
2006: fatter
2005: A bit fatter.
2004: fatter

c) richer or poorer?

richer.
2007: Poorer. Though I actually make more money. Go me.
2006: poorer
2005: Definitely poorer.
2004: richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?


I'd like to have traveled more. And gone to BlogHer. But those goals were pretty much antithetical to the debt pay down goal, so I guess I'm happy with what I did.

2007: Traveled. I always wish I had done more of that.
2006: Making the most of my time.
2005: Saving.
2004: Excercising

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?


Worried about money.

2007: Making empty promises to myself.
2006: Shopping
2005: Spending.
2004: Sleeping

20. How did you/will you spend Christmas?


In Minnesota with Mark's family. Very much looking forward to it.

2007: In Oregon with the fam. It was great.
2006: With Mark's family and the dogs.
2005: I spent it with various and sundry family members.
2004: Hanging out with the extended fam

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?


With a couple of beagles, yes.

2007: No new love, but the same old love is going swimmingly, which is just as good.
2006: Yes. A couple of times. And stayed in love, too.
2005: Yes, with Leo.
2004: Didn't fall in love. Remained in love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?


I really loved Deadwood.

2007: Buffy Buffy Buffy!
2006: House
2005: Hrm...probably Entourage or The Wire.
2004: What Not To Wear or Plastic Surgery: Before and After

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?


Sarah Palin.

2007: Michael Vick.
2006: No. But I am intensly irritated by some people I wasn't at this time last year.
2005: Yeah.
2004: Yes. I know more people now that I did at this time last year.

24. What was the best book you read?


Fun Home.

2007: Hmm...several come to mind. The Midwife's Tale. Packinghouse Daughter. But the discovery of Marion Winik is probably the best literary thing that happened to me this year.
2006: Counting Coup
2005: Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp.
2004: The Time Traveller's Wife

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?


Over the Rhine.

2007: Grace Potter and Christine Kane.
2006: Rufus Wainwright (yep, slow on the uptake)
2005: Lyle Lovett.
2004: Mary Prankster

26. What did you want and get?


A lower credit card balance and a lower number on the scale.

2007: A trip to Europe. My masters.
2006: A new car, an iPod, time with my mom
2005: Leo and Atticus
2004: Time off from school, a decent job, a KitchenAid mixer

27. What did you want and not get?


A $0 credit card balance and an even lower number on the scale.

2007: A paid off credit card.
2006: A savings account, a cure for my allergies
2005: Chance to live; a new job.
2004: A clue as to what I want out of this world, God

28. What was your favorite film of this year?


This is England, Juno

2007: I can't think of what I saw this year that were new, but The Farmer's Wife was wonderful.
2006: Kinky Boots, The Science of Sleep
2005: Good Night, and Good Luck, Capote, Walk the Line
2004: Hmm...Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, maybe?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?


I was 29. We went out to dinner with our friends.

2007: I went out to dinner with friends. I was 28.
2006: I was 27. Went out to a great Indian dinner with all of my local friends.
2005: We had a small dinner party at our house. I turned 26.
2004: I was 25. We went to a hilarious stage presentation/showing of Dirty Dancing and to brunch the next day

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?


That $0 balance.

2007: Again with the debt repayment.
2006: Getting out of debt
2005: A different job.
2004: Finding God

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?


Trouser jeans are definitely work appropriate.

2007: Can you believe I spent money on these clothes?
2006: My stomach finally catches up to my ass
2005: "The same clothes as last year, only tighter."
2004: I. love. yoga. pants.

32. What kept you sane?


The animals. My online pals.

2007: The animals. Mark, much of the time. Blogging.
2006: My dogs. My iPod.
2005: Mark, my pets.
2004: Chancey.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


Obama.

2007: Spike.
2006: Zidane
2005: Viscerally, Angelina Jolie and Adrian Grenier. Emotionally, Johnny Cash.
2004: If "fancy" is code for "want to bang," I'd have to go with Angelina Jolie. Again. Still.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


The presidential election.

2007: Would you hate me if I said I stopped caring?
2006: Local arts funding
2005: capital punishment
2004: Capital punishment

35. Who did you miss?


The same people I always do. The Nichols', my mom.

2007: My mom. I always miss her.
2006: Tony. Sandy.
2005: Chance.
2004: My mom

36. Who was the best new person you met?


I'm not sure I met anyone new this year...

2007: Hmm....I have made some excellent new online friends. And I am awfully fond of my new small friends.
2006: Minnesota group
2005: Hrm...lots of people, but my two sistercousin's fabulous boyfriends, Jeff and Eric, come to mind right now, since I just saw them.
2004: Em/Brooke/Terri/Flea/Eisbar. It was a great trip.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

The struggle doesn't ever get easier.

2007: It is not enough to say you are going to do something. You have to actually do it. And international travel is so not that hard.
2006: It is better, sometimes, to be kind than to be right.
2005: Never underestimate the power of dog.
2004: That I actually can make a difference in someone's/something's life with a little effort.


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

We sure are cute for two ugly people.

2007: Four legs good, two legs bad.
2006: "If I've got to remember that's a fine memory."
2005: "This is home/it's where I want to be/this is home/let's make a family."
2004: I'll come back to that one. Have to think on it.

I have a real post brewing, but in the meantime, I think this 99 Things list, from Joanna, is a different on than I've done before. Rules are the same as always--bold the ones you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Are any of those surprising? Do any of them require explanation?

I love other people's kids. I don't have kids of my own. I may never have kids of my own. But I absolutely adore other people's kids. At first, when my friends started having kids, I was put out by it--nobody was going to be any fun anymore! They were only going to talk about their babies! All that child-free nonsense. But it didn't happen. My friends had kids, and remained my friends, albeit with some new demands on their time. And the kids each became a very important part of my life in their own right. My world hasn't contracted with the birth of each new friend-kid, it has expanded.

I wish I could show you pictures of the fantastic kids in my life, but since they aren't my kids to share with the whole wide Internet, I'm not going to do that. In fact, I'm not even going to tell you their names. But I will tell you that they are wonderful. They make me want to have babies of my own, of course, but they mostly make me very very grateful that I've been allowed to be in their lives. So, if you are reading it, and are the parent of one of the kids I love so much--thank you.

I always do the Year End Meme. I did it last year, in 2007, in 2006, in 2005, and in 2004. It's maybe a little bit silly, but it makes for decent reflection, especially when I compare all my previous answers to my current ones. So, on this last day of 2009, here we go again. Year End Meme #6.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?


Sold a house. Worked from home.

2008: Buckled down and actually made progress towards financial stability.
2007: Had to wait until the tail end of the year, but I left the U.S.!
2006: Left a well-paying dead-end job for a less well-paying job with more potential. Agreed to spend Christmas away from my family. Bought a new car.
2005: Bought a house.
2004: Got a well-paying job.

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I achieved 8/13 of the goals I set for 2009, with partial progress towards several more. I'm very happy with that, and I plan to set 10-12 new goals for 2010.


2008: I used All Consuming to make a list of resolution/goals last year. Mostly, they are underway or more long-term. I've done well, all in all. I also had a goal of watching one movie and reading one book each week. I made the movie goal (I'm at 69 movies for the year right now), but am falling short on the book goal (currently at 49, many of which I didn't finish). And yeah, I'll make more.
2007: Last year's resolutions, or goals, really, are here. I basically failed on all counts. Bah.
I will probably answer this question more completely once I get back to Texas and my real life and all that, but basically, in 2008, I have to get my shit together financially. Really.
2006: I kept some of them, worked on other's. I'll probably make more. I always make them.
2005: I already went over this, but I kept 3/4 of them from last year, and made 12 new ones for this year.
2004: I honestly can't remember.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Over and over again. Our awesome neighbors in Texas had a little girl in August; my cousin had a beautiful baby boy on March 1, my HS friend R. had a baby girl on May 2...and there are likely some I'm forgetting.

2008: Yep, some online friends had a baby, and my cousin is expecting in February.
2007: All over the damn place! There are four new little boys in my life this year.
2006: A couple of very good online friends had babies.
2005: Nope, though some e-friends are closing in on their due date.
2004: Not that I can think of, but someone close to me did adopt.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Sadly, yes. My grandmother died early in the year, and we lost Leo in October.

2008: Nope. I'm starting to feel like I'm pushing my luck here...
2007: No, thank God.
2006: No.
2005: Yes.
2004: Not that I can think of.

5. What countries did you visit?

None again! But this one is going to change in 2010.

2008: None. :(
2007: Norway! And the airport in England.
2006: None.
2005: None.
2004: None.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?


Once again, it's hard for me to think of something I really lacked in 2009. Time with my family is the first thing that comes to mind. I'd like to have more of that.

2008: I can't think of much I was lacking in 2008, honestly. I guess I'd like to be finished paying off the debt the most.
2007: Ability to stick to my goals. Days when my allergies are not killing me.
2006: A feeling of control.
2005: Fufilling work.
2004: An idea what I want to do with my life.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?


I turned 30 on August 28, so I'll likely remember that. Leo died in early October, but I already can't remember the day without looking it up. I thought I'd remember the day I made my last credit card payment, but I don't. It was mid-spring, I think.

2008: Once again, I got nothin' when it comes to dates.
2007: Dates almost never stick in my head.
2006: I don't tend to remember things by date.
2005: Early July--Chance died.
2004: Hrm...can't think of any particular dates. It honestly hasn't been that momentous a year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


Moving across the country with a truck full of dogs and cats, probably. Finishing paying off my CC debt. Finishing my NaNoWriMo novel.

2008: Finally paying down so much debt!
2007: Finally finishing my god-forsaken masters degree.
2006: Getting through calculus, expanding our family to include Ata and Esme.
2005: Buying the house.
2004: Rescuing the puppies.

9. What was your biggest failure?


Probably not losing more weight, though I honestly don't feel all that bad about it. In general, I've felt pretty successful this year.

2008: Not sticking with my exercising. Gotta get back to that.
2007: Losing even more control of my finances. And continuing to gain weight.
2006: Not getting out of debt.
2005: Failing to lose any substantial weight.
2004: Taking a year off from school.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?


No, I've been really healthy. Even my allergies are pretty well controlled.

2008: Nope.
2007: Food poisoning that was pretty much the worst thing ever. Plantar faciitis that makes me angry at God. Allergies that do the same.
2006: Nothing major.
2005: No more than usual.
2004: I smashed my toe, but nothing big.

11. What was the best thing you bought?


A lot of Christmas presents for folks who could really use them. And far fewer for my family, who really don't need them.

2008: Can't think of anything major.
2007: I have no idea. Most of what I bought wasn't worth it, probably.
2006: Our Element.
2005: Again, the house.
2004: Hmm...not sure.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?


Never thought I'd say this, but my dad's did. He's doing something selfless right now, even if there are benefits in it for him. Something I don't know if I could do. I admire it.

2008: Honestly, mine did. I have worked hard and accomplished a lot this year.
2007: My mother continues to amaze me with how she handles her constant pain with good grace. My brother seems to have grown up a lot, which is great. And I am continually inspired by the parenting of my friends N. and Z., S. and C., and S. and T.
2006: Susan's.
2005: My fellow Texans post-Katrina.
2004: Mark

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


A long time friend. It's really sad.

2008: Much of the nation's, surrounding the election.
2007: Michael Vick comes to mind right off.
2006: Most of our national and local politicians'.
2005: Where should I begin?
2004: Mine, but only on occasion. Everyone who voted for Bush.

14. Where did most of your money go?


Moving isn't cheap. Life in NoVA in general. But a lot of it is going to savings, too. And we paid off our car.

2008: Citibank.
2007: Gah, I don't know. Stupid stuff I could have done without, mainly. Lots of thrifting. Clothes for my multiple sizes.
2006: Tuition, junk.
2005: Target and The Goodwill.
2004: To the black hole where it always goes...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?


Mark finishing his Ph.D. Moving. Working from home.

2008: Making progress. Our trip to Boston last spring.
2007: My trip to Norway. Finishing school. Discovering Buffy. BlogHer.
2006: Howell and Melinda's visit, going home in July
2005: Going to Boston, going to Ann Arbor, cutting my hair.
2004: My Midwestern adventure

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?


The version of "John the Revelator" from Sons of Anarchy.

2008: That silly one from Juno by the Moldy Peaches comes to mind.
2007: The one Lindsey sings in Angel.
2006: The Leonard Cohen tribute soundtrack, especially the Teddy Thompson track.
2005: Nothing comes to mind.
2004: Pretty much anything by Mary Prankster

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder?

Happier. Or, at the very least, more content.

2008: happier
2007: About the same?
2006: sadder
2005: About the same, I think.
2004: happier

b) thinner or fatter?

A little bit thinner.

2008: thinner
2007: Fatter fatter fatter.
2006: fatter
2005: A bit fatter.
2004: fatter

c) richer or poorer?


Substantially richer.

2008: richer
2007: Poorer. Though I actually make more money. Go me.
2006: poorer
2005: Definitely poorer.
2004: richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?


Traveled, as always. I'm a broken record.

2008: I'd like to have traveled more. And gone to BlogHer. But those goals were pretty much antithetical to the debt pay down goal, so I guess I'm happy with what I did.
2007: Traveled. I always wish I had done more of that.
2006: Making the most of my time.
2005: Saving.
2004: Excercising

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?


Watched TV.

2008: Worried about money.
2007: Making empty promises to myself.
2006: Shopping
2005: Spending.
2004: Sleeping

20. How did you/will you spend Christmas?


In Oregon. It was lovely.

2008: In Minnesota with Mark's family. Very much looking forward to it.
2007: In Oregon with the fam. It was great.
2006: With Mark's family and the dogs.
2005: I spent it with various and sundry family members.
2004: Hanging out with the extended fam

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?


Every day.

2008: With a couple of beagles, yes.
2007: No new love, but the same old love is going swimmingly, which is just as good.
2006: Yes. A couple of times. And stayed in love, too.
2005: Yes, with Leo.
2004: Didn't fall in love. Remained in love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?


Sons of Anarchy.

2008: I really loved Deadwood.
2007: Buffy Buffy Buffy!
2006: House
2005: Hrm...probably Entourage or The Wire.
2004: What Not To Wear or Plastic Surgery: Before and After

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?


Yeah. A friend's husband. Hate hate hate.

2008: Sarah Palin
2007: Michael Vick.
2006: No. But I am intensly irritated by some people I wasn't at this time last year.
2005: Yeah.
2004: Yes. I know more people now that I did at this time last year.

24. What was the best book you read?


I didn't read anything I really loved this year. The best book was probably The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth.

2008: Fun Home
2007: Hmm...several come to mind. The Midwife's Tale. Packinghouse Daughter. But the discovery of Marion Winik is probably the best literary thing that happened to me this year.
2006: Counting Coup
2005: Pack of Two by Caroline Knapp.
2004: The Time Traveller's Wife

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?


I'm not sure I made any musical discoveries this year. How sad is that?

2008: Over the Rhine
2007: Grace Potter and Christine Kane.
2006: Rufus Wainwright (yep, slow on the uptake)
2005: Lyle Lovett.
2004: Mary Prankster

26. What did you want and get?


A work-from-home job. A sold house.

2008: A lower credit card balance and a lower number on the scale.
2007: A trip to Europe. My masters.
2006: A new car, an iPod, time with my mom
2005: Leo and Atticus
2004: Time off from school, a decent job, a KitchenAid mixer

27. What did you want and not get?


More time in Oregon. More time with Leo.

2008: A $0 credit card balance and an even lower number on the scale.
2007: A paid off credit card.
2006: A savings account, a cure for my allergies
2005: Chance to live; a new job.
2004: A clue as to what I want out of this world, God

28. What was your favorite film of this year?


Watchmen. Whip It!

2008: This is England, Juno
2007: I can't think of what I saw this year that were new, but The Farmer's Wife was wonderful.
2006: Kinky Boots, The Science of Sleep
2005: Good Night, and Good Luck, Capote, Walk the Line
2004: Hmm...Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, maybe?

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?


30, and you guessed it! Out to dinner with friends!

2008: I was 29. We went out to dinner with our friends.
2007: I went out to dinner with friends. I was 28.
2006: I was 27. Went out to a great Indian dinner with all of my local friends.
2005: We had a small dinner party at our house. I turned 26.
2004: I was 25. We went to a hilarious stage presentation/showing of Dirty Dancing and to brunch the next day

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?


I can't think of a single thing. I guess I'm really satisfied.

2008: That $0 balance.
2007: Again with the debt repayment.
2006: Getting out of debt
2005: A different job.
2004: Finding God

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?


Tentative steps towards dressing like a grown-up.

2008: Trouser jeans are definitely work appropriate.
2007: Can you believe I spent money on these clothes?
2006: My stomach finally catches up to my ass
2005: "The same clothes as last year, only tighter."
2004: I. love. yoga. pants.

32. What kept you sane?


My amazing circle of online friends. Writing.

2008: The animals. My online pals.
2007: The animals. Mark, much of the time. Blogging.
2006: My dogs. My iPod.
2005: Mark, my pets.
2004: Chancey.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?


Michelle Obama, maybe. I'd love to have that kind of grace.

2008: Obama.
2007: Spike.
2006: Zidane
2005: Viscerally, Angelina Jolie and Adrian Grenier. Emotionally, Johnny Cash.
2004: If "fancy" is code for "want to bang," I'd have to go with Angelina Jolie. Again. Still.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


Health care "reform," natch.

2008: The presidential election.
2007: Would you hate me if I said I stopped caring?
2006: Local arts funding
2005: capital punishment
2004: Capital punishment

35. Who did you miss?


Leo.

2008: The same people I always do. The Nichols', my mom.
2007: My mom. I always miss her.
2006: Tony. Sandy.
2005: Chance.
2004: My mom

36. Who was the best new person you met?


Beck. :)

2008: I'm not sure I met anyone new this year...
2007: Hmm....I have made some excellent new online friends. And I am awfully fond of my new small friends.
2006: Minnesota group
2005: Hrm...lots of people, but my two sistercousin's fabulous boyfriends, Jeff and Eric, come to mind right now, since I just saw them.
2004: Em/Brooke/Terri/Flea/Eisbar. It was a great trip.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

My life isn't what I'm planning, it's what I'm doing, right here, right now. There is never going to be enough time.

2008: The struggle doesn't ever get easier.
2007: It is not enough to say you are going to do something. You have to actually do it. And international travel is so not that hard.
2006: It is better, sometimes, to be kind than to be right.
2005: Never underestimate the power of dog.
2004: That I actually can make a difference in someone's/something's life with a little effort.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Who knows what the future holds
Or where the cards may fall
But if you don't come out west and see
You'll never know at all

2008: We sure are cute for two ugly people.
2007: Four legs good, two legs bad.
2006: "If I've got to remember that's a fine memory."
2005: "This is home/it's where I want to be/this is home/let's make a family."
2004: I'll come back to that one. Have to think on it.