If you could, would you? Sunday Stealing.

June 28, 2014
If You Could...
Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's meme. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Let's go!!!

From Sweet Memes, our friend CAT!:
IF YOU COULD:

Travel anywhere, where would it be?
All over the USA and Canada.  I'd like to see all of North America, except - Sorry for this, lovely old Mexico - Mexico.  Mexico scares me right now.  We used to go camping there, along the coast, all the time.   Mr.Z's two sisters and the Bro In-laws had little places there, old trailers.  The three guys all surfed.  It was a lovely place to go.

 Meet anyone, who would it be?
I would have loved to have had a long, quiet talk with Dag Hammarskjold.  Nowadays, it would be The Dali Lama.

 Bring anyone dead back to life, who would it be?
Someone who regretted committing suicide.  I don't have a particular person in mind, but would just love to give someone a second chance if they wanted one.  

I would have said my own Mom to answer this but I think my sweet mother wants to stay where she is.  Frankly- and if it works the way we Christians think it does -  she deserves to be able to stay in Heaven with my dear little brother, and her beloved pets, all the while happily churning out her arts and crafts to decorate the place, and awaiting her other loved ones. That is IF they make it. Lol.

 Be anyone for a day, who would it be?
The Dali Lama, for obvious reasons.  I want to know what he knows.

Get anything for free for the rest of your life what would it be?
This is a hard question.  I guess it would be free electricity; then I could have air conditioning.

Change one thing about your life what would it be?
I would get rid of a monster so our mother and her kids didn't get put through what they went through.  I'd do this by giving my grandparents the insight to let Mother marry the boy she loved even if he was an Italian.  My bet is that they ended up wishing the same thing on their own.  

Have any superpower what would it be?
Healing all sentient beings with the mind.  Bing!  It's done!

Be any animal for a day which would you be?
 I would be a Wandering Albatross, Male.  I am so over wanting to be responsible for ANY eggs.

Date anyone who would it be?
I'd like the chance to date Mr. Z again because I think we are at a point we can do this.  If only all this medical stuff would just calm down.  Merde!

Change one thing about the world what would it be?
I would remove the greed gene from all of humanity.  *Poof*, it's gone!

Live in any fictional universe which would you choose?
Utopia.  Oh, you said Universe.  I choose the kind and gentle one that's right next to this one.  The one that can see us but we can't see them.  You know, The REAL one.

 Eliminate one of your human needs which would you get rid of?
Having to eat.  I want to survive on Moonlight like that Asimov heroine.

Change one thing about your physical appearance what would it be?
I'd like my height back.

Change one of your personality traits which would you choose?
My heightened levels of Anxiety, but I'm working on it.

 Be talented at anything instantly what would you choose?
Invisibility

Forget one event in your life which would you choose?
Seeing my *spits* paternal unit, ever.  He should have died and let someone NICE come home.

 Erase an event from history (make it so it never happened) which would you choose?
The Creation of a Dog Eat Dog sort of Apex species, in other words, Man

 Have any hair/eye/skin color, which would you choose?
I'd stay as I am except that I would like to have great skin -the kind that Elizabeth Taylor had.

 Be any weight/body type, which would you choose?
I'd be thinner and as tall as I used to be.

 Live in any country/city, where would you choose?
Santa Cruz CA, near the beach, in that Craftsman style house I'm always yammering on about.  Yes, I know, but no one other than drug dealers and the filthy rich can buy a house in Santa Cruz these days.

Change one law in your country, which would you change?
The unwritten escape clause of incompetence, the one tagged onto the Treason Laws since forever,  for any President - or cabal - who starts a war for profit.   

Be any height, which would you choose?
5 ft 6.  Then the pants I buy wouldn't have to be shortened all the time!  Petite is now not petite enough!

Have any job in the world, which would you choose?
I've had the best job in the world.  Now that I'm retired I'd like to carry on as an Oil Painter of some repute.

Have anything appear in your pocket right now, what would it be?
A small, red, four holed button that stops anyone from being inhumane, anywhere, and instantly.  It would also be a self activating, all knowing devise.  I suspect it would be red hot in about 3 seconds.  I'd put it into a very special self cooling - and fire proof - box so as not to suffer something nasty.  Actually, I would just put the button and it's box in the outback somewhere,  the backyard, let's say, where no one could ever find it.  But, because its MAGIC, it would keep working forever!   Buhahahahaha!

Have anyone beside you right now, who would it be?
Mr. Z. We are a great team.  Yes, it's so boring but so true.  My Guy.

Sunday Stealing and Sunday Matinee.

Follow the link and Come join the fun!  Sunday Stealing Yay!  We are Wrapping up for the month of February...

February Wrap-up

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.

This one's an oldie but goodie from the archives!  

1) Candle scents this month: 

Lemon Meringue Pie. Delicious! I just got those two out of the cupboard.  

2) What I read this month: 

I'm still reading the book in the side bar. Great Book! I've also read Ya-yas in Bloom, Deborah Newton's Finishing School: a master class for knitters, and now am reading Born on a Blue Day.  I must have read others but just don't remember the titles.  Gah!

3) Top three songs I was drawn to: 

Landslide, always, or Old Time Music. When I hear it, I stop and listen to the whole song. Then I heard some songs in a sound track: One was "I'm Gonna Be", and there's another one that I've yet to track down.

4) Movies I saw: 

I've seen so many movies this month!  That's what I do, watch movies and Documentaries when I'm not reading or working on the computer or moving mountains in the Sewing room and detritus in what is jokingly called "The Studio". But, let's go back to the subject of movies:  "Red" and "Red 2" were great.  I saw, "Rain", "Her Name is Sabine", and about a dozen documentaries, like, "Sola", "The Waiting Room", "Titanoboa", and "TWA: Flight 800" .  Others were about conspiracies reaching far back into the 60's.   Needless to say, having lived through those times as an adult, those particular ones were hard for me to watch.  Collectively, they lay out a path that might as well be lit by Klieg lights.  

5) Favorite tv moments of the month: 

I just don't watch TV very much.  For one thing, the ads make mecrazy.  I can't do it.  I do love and support-with real money- KPBS.  I don't see how we could be in a worse mess than we are already if we had had Public Television instead of the Circus we have now.

6) Something yummy I made: 

I'm not the chef around here anymore.  But I've eaten yummy stir fry, delicious meals of buffalo steaks, and salmon patties- with all the normal side dishes.  I am thinking of making ginger cookies, still.  It depends on what that Enemy, the Scale, has to say in a few weeks.

7) Restaurants where I ate: 

We didn't go out this month.  Usually we only go out when it's warmer or a birthday or anniversary rolls up.  February is just a nice short little month when we get ready for the tax people.  

8) Five things I am loving this month: 

If you mean about this month then I understand.  I love the rain, and the amazing cloud displays and sunsets it has given, that's three.  I love my family, my guildies, my blogging buddies, and my little fur baby who is now very well indeed.  I love Wolfie's Vet, our Dentist, and my Doctors, all of whom I've seen this month.  That's more than five but what the Hay!  Love is too thin on the ground most times so come pile on!  

9) A goal I had for this month: 

My goals were small.  They almost always are now.  I was able to straighten out my knitting corner in the bedroom, setting things up on a perfectly lovely old oak side chair inherited from my mother.  It's just a Sears and Roebuck copy of furniture made for 1920 farmhouse people but I love it.  No one can sit in it anyway, so it makes a lovely stand for my knitting project bags, and a place to tuck away my "Jimmy Chooz".

The Aztec Hardware Sandal.  Guiseppe Zanoti's Shoppe

And I've read read a lot of books.  

10) This month I looked forward to: 

March?  hehe.  I looked forward to St. Valentine's Day in February because of Hearts.  I love Hearts.  My sister loves Hearts, and so we always decorate in February.  Love is year-round and not only romantic but Hearts, well, so many go on Sale or come out the woodwork in Magazines in February.  So, it's a favorite time I look forward to.  I guess we have our grandmother's little "Hillbilly" Heart.

11) Something I want to remember about this month: 

The roses have set buds already.  We didn't get a killing frost this year, so they made it.  Yay!

12) A photo I took this month: 

Coral Tree, at the park, on February 5th

Onward to March, and time for the Thaw!  I'll be getting Easter decorations made. Something fun and good. We'll have to eat a lot of scrambled eggs for the shells!  I really love Easter, it's my favorite holiday.  Also, the Big Torts come out of hibernation in March.  Yay!  They can eat the new baby mallows, Dandelions, and other young wild plants that they like.  It helps them recoop some of their weight.  We also soak them a couple of time,  for a while, in warm water and as the weather permits.

Sunday cinema:

I love LOVE LOVE Spy Spoofs, and we watched two this week:  Red, and Red 2.  I think there may be more in the pipeline but you never know.  You will see some very top actors in these, if you haven't seen them which seems unlikely since they are three to four years old.  I didn't stop to check on that and will if I don't forget.

The snappy dialog and fast paced, hilarious script is fun from one end of the films to the other.  Think "Burn after Reading" and to some extent, "The Men Who Stared at Goats" and "I Spy".   In Red 2, the "Do svidaniya" that Helen Mirren's character tosses over her shoulder as she is flying from the room, is almost a whisper but so incredibibly funny!  If you want a decent getaway from real life for a few hours, try these two, admittedly bloody - lots of shooting  and knifing but what the heck.  They are great spoofs!  Keep in mind that I like James Bond and that's not funny at all.  The all star cast of these works together to make it campy and fun.

Sunday Stealing, Beware Tender Hearts; Sunday Matinee - Duma

Cupid's Questions

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.  

Let's go!!!

Cupid's Questions Meme
from Kodelaine

1.)Do you like Valentine's Day?   I have always liked it.  My grandmother liked it, and made special heart shaped things to eat. I used to bake cookies, or even a heart shaped cake sometimes.

2.)Are you going to celebrate it?  Probably not.

3.)Celebrate Valentine's Day with Friends or someone Special?  I live with my Valentine.  We do send each other e-cards, and I put a few decorations on the walls around the place.

4.)Pink or red? It's Pink and Red.  They go together! Hearts come out of all sorts of places, too.

5.)Candy Hearts OR cards?  Cards

6.)A short kiss or a big hug?  Which are preferred?  Both of course!

7.)What are your plans for V-day? I plan to wake up and drink some tea, and see how the day goes.

8.)What would be the best gift to receive?  Waking up, being with the pup and my best Bud.

9.)Would get back with any of your ex's for V-day?   Since I don't have any X's, I guess that answer would be NA.

10.)Is there a food or beverage you associate with V-day?   Chocolate is a food, right?  I choose that.

11.) What are your thoughts on "Love at first sight"?  I know, for me, it was "Kismet" to meet my DH.  I'm not quite sure it was for him, but he was unattached.

12.)Do you think people who have dated can stay friends? Dated?  Yes.  Not sure about the romantically involved though.  I think it's best for them to split up so they can move down new paths much easier.  Friendship may occur later on.

13.) If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice about dating or relationships what would it be?  In my heart, I know I would have still chosen as I did, but I would have given more thought to how to manage the other relationships that came with it.  I wouldn't have been so dewy eyed about them.

Sunday Matinee
DUMA  We watched this last night, and I'll buy it if I can.  It is a beautifully scripted story, based on a book, about a young South African boy and a baby Cheetah he and his father save from a highway.   It is a good family film-  I noted that the PG rating said: "mild adventure story anxiety" or something close to that.  The musical score and cinematography are gorgeous.  There are African songs in it that are quite beautiful.  You won't forget this one!

I was going to put up the documentary, "Black Fish", and give it a Rave review but Jane did that already.  HERE IS A LINK back to her blog post.  It hardly needs to be said that I concur with her thoughts on this documentary subject.

Sunday Stealing: the fast dozen meme

Let's go!!!

The Fast Dozen Meme


From the archives at All Stace, All The Time


1. What is the last book that you passed on to someone else to read? PD James, Cover Her Face.

2. The one song you secretly or not so secretly want to sing at karaoke?  I've always longed to sing the Bernstein/Sondheim song, "America", from the opera, "West Side Story", with a male singer of course.

3. If you had to pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?  Ashaneo so my friends could call me Asha.

4. What do you wish your administrator or boss would notice?  na

5. What is your biggest pet peeve? The noisy chewing of gum, I mean, outside of lying politicians.

6. What holds you back in pursuing your biggest dream? Age and being too tired to build that life for myself.

7.Why do you think you are a lovable person?  This isn't a question someone can answer for themselves.  I'd ask DH but he's reading, and HIS pet peeve is to be interrupted when he's reading!

8. If every day had an extra hour in it, what would you do with it?  I would sit quietly and watch it get dark.   I love to watch the sun go down but it's rush,rush, rush!

9. The last song you turned up in your car or house was?  IZ singing "Kamalani"  I know this song and sing it with IZ.  It makes me less sad that he is gone.  Too bad it's this Video is cut off at the end.

10. What is a secret talent you may have?  I have no more secrets.  Well, I have one secret talent that only three others besides myself know of.


11. Your favorite thing to do outside when it's not too cold out in the winter?  I like to walk around and take pictures of the sky, trees and flowers.

12. How do you respond if someone asks you an inappropriate or nosy question?   The last time it happened, I told the man he was just about the rudest person to make it to 60 that I'd ever met.  He's still a friend but he doesn't say things like that to me anymore.

Sunday Stealing, with a side of Politics.

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. 

Let's go!!!

A Christmas Meme

From the archives!

1.The Christmas song I can listen to even in June is...
"The  First Noel"  There's just something about it that stays with me all year. 

2. Hot Chocolate, Egg Nog or Mulled wine?
My drink of choice is hot chocolate.  I can't drink Egg Nog anymore and Mulled wine isn't something I've ever liked.

3. When do you put your decorations up?
The day after Thanksgiving is the beginning of decorating for me but this year, I'm keeping some out and up all year.  This way it will motivate me to MAKE things, and create new decorations.  I want  to turn 2014 into  a Santa's Workshop sort of year.

4. What are you having for Christmas dinner?
We are having a vegan roast - which has an amazingly delicious flavor- sage gravy, mashed potatoes, candied yams, green beans,and apple pie.

5. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
You've got me there.  I don't really have a favorite thing.  I like it all- the music, making gifts, the decorating, the baking, I think I'd even like midnight mass if I were a Catholic. 

6. Have you ever gone Carol singing?
When I was in  school, our choir did have an ensemble that went caroling.  I miss that.

7. When did you learn the truth about Santa?
What is the truth about Santa?  That he's really too fat to get down a chimney?  That the reindeer can't really fly?  "Santa Clause" explained all that for all the world. 

8. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
We decorate with hand made ornaments made by ourselves and our daughters,  old ornaments  some of which are treasures from childhood trees on both sides of the family, and even some from my grandmother's Christmas tree that  mother saved.  We also have glass icicles that were made by a friend from my craft show days.  Around all these ornaments go a wrapping of the tree with curled ribbon, and then we put the angel on top. 

9. What's the best thing about Christmas?
People smile more and are even more friendly than the rest of the year.  San Diego is a friendlier place to be in - this occured gradually each year but this friendliness happens with more intensity during the Holidays.  You really do notice it.

10.  All I want for Christmas is...
Safe travels for everyone who is going somewhere, and happiness and Peace for all of God's creation.  Someday, I'm hoping this will really be a World of Peace and Compassion.   For me, there is nothing more important than these things to wish for.


And now the "Side of Politics":

Sorry if that last bit above sounds very preachy but I had just finished watching a documentary about the take over of all the good intentions of the Tea Party by very wealthy, vested interests.

Since I am a Quaker and also a Progressive, I come from a different place in this dialog, but many of my core issues are about Constitutional degradation and the invasive reach that several out of control quasi governmental/industrial entities have had regarding our civil rights.  This is over and above their money stuffing up the shirts/skirts of politicians.   You, being smart and aware, know that I'm talking about Revolving Doors here, which is only slightly off topic.

I'm old and not only that, I've been politically active since my teens.  I'm old enough to remember that human rights were involved in the South, not only for Political equality, but for wage equality, too.  I remember that Industries banded together to use the RACE card, and keep it in everyone's face when the real issue had since become  WAGES.  They played white workers off against the black workers.

Divide and conquer was the watchword for Industry (textiles for one) in the South.   Now, it's the same thing.  If Industry or Big Business can keep half the country at the throat of the other half, then who is going to be watching "The Man (Men) Behind The Curtain"?  Americans who care about rights are on both sides of a political divide the elites have created, which has caused so much ill will that it's scary.  Trying to remember that elites will stop at nothing to keep us divided might be a good starting place to end this dichotomy.

The documentary is called The Billionaire's Tea Party.  In reading the reviews, I'm not the only one who has recognized the age old tactic of "divide and conquer" used by the Koch Brothers (and others of their ilk) who are so deeply invested in Libertarianism that they would do this without a thought to the hurt it causes the people they are using.

I just watched another movie, German, called "Barbara"
We don't ever want our children this powerless. 

Sunday Stealing

It's cooling off!

All those white puffy clouds - full of humidity- are moving out to Four Corners.  Yippie!  Over night temps in the 60's and daytimes in the mid seventies.  Good bye to thee!  And don't let the door hit you on the bum while you leave!!



And away we goooo......

More Meme, Part Two

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.



Taken from [[MORE]]: part two


What would you choose to be famous for?
For being a world acclaimed portrait painter

If you have a webcam, are you ever paranoid people can see you?

I keep mine covered up with a heart sticker.

Do you find it difficult to sleep at night? Any reason(s) why?
Pain can keep me awake.  I seldom worry.

If you had to go on a game show, which would you choose?
I never do anything I don't want to do, and game shows are something I don't want to do.  Age has it's privileges.

What about if you had to go on a reality show?
See above.  Real life is reality enough for me.

Which would you choose then?
I would choose to make up one where Dogs had all the main parts.

Tell me about your favorite TV show:
"Frasier", at the moment.

Why were you last irritated?
The writing is so small on my net book I thought it said "immitated".   I was irritated by a blonde "Psychic" from Jersey, being an idiot on TV (at the gym).  I'm happy to not have to watch all the time.
What time did you get up this morning?
Sevenish

The last city you were in: Where was it and do you like it there?
I live in a freaking city, and no, I don't like it here.  I like small cities, towns and villages but not big cities. San Francisco is my utter limit for size.  Well, I might make an exception for Vancouver or maybe Seattle.

Do you like the countryside?
I could have lived happily in the country my whole life. Fate did not decree that as my abode however so I had to adjust b ut it still makes me cranky.

If you see someone yawn, do you often yawn as well?
This yawning thing is all over the place.  It was even in the comics this week, and in a book I'm reading, yesterday.  And yes, I yawn when others yawn;  I yawn when my little dog yawns.

Recommend me a good movie:
A Black Comedy called "Fly Paper."  You'll love it. I  promise!


 Do you think you’d make a good model?
No one in their right mind would think of me as a model, so the answer is no.

Would you ever want to be one? 
No, I'd much rather be a dancer.

How often do you change your hairstyle? 
As often as I feel like it.  Having said that, I go between short curly cuts to "Einstein" hair.

What does it look like now? 
 Short curly cut.  It's hot here.

Do you have a favorite day of the week? Which is it? 
Thursday is my favorite day.  It's the first day of the week that I can do what I Darned well please.

Are you alone? 
 No. I have a DH and a dog and lots of friends, two of whom I owe long missives to.  Better get on it!  Chris, Sandy, it's getting to be cool weather, and I've found your notes!

 When is the last time you were on the phone after 2 am? 
The last time I had a  ride in the little square truck, in June I think.

Day Four of the August Happiness Challenge, Sunday Stealing, Sunday Matinee, two movies, and Sky Watcher post

August Happiness Challenge:

I was very happy to be able to water my shade patio, myself, and to scrub out the kitchen sinks.  I've also taken up the knitting again, knitting yesterday and plan to carry on today at my earliest convenience!  I'm going to work on the pink Stardust sweater for Elle, and try to relearn the patterns for the Manly Beastly Aran.     Thank you, Angel Fran, for looking down on us all, and for all the help while you were here.

My hands are doing pretty darn good since I gave up the heavy lifting.   My trainer said, "You know what this means don't you?  It means that the 'Honey Do List' must now expand", and we both laughed.  To be honest, DH is a wonderful Haus frau but he will NOT clean bathrooms, the fridge, or the stove top.   

 Sunday Matinee:
 Here are two spy thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your last nerve.   Sweet Jesus, they are disturbing.  Personally, I think it's probably worth coming back to save dogs and cats and wildlife, but can humans really be saved from themselves?    Maybe some of us need a new planet?  The Gardeners and lovers of Nature get to keep this one though! 

Interested?  Netflix:


The Numbers Station   This one was very interesting to me because of the fact that spies have used numbers they just read off of the of SW bands for decades.  As a kid, I used to hear these numbers
(which were read by woman readers) late at night.  This is because I've owned a shortwave receiver  forever.  There has always been a SW radio in my life because the whole thing fascinates me.

Anyway, back to the movie:   The problem is that some of the holes in the plot are big enough to drive an M1 Abrams battle tank through.  If you like violence, lots (and I mean LOTS!) of suspense, and if you also like to laugh at "holes in believability or reason" type plot developments, watch this one.

Page Eight
All I can say about "Page Eight" is that Bill Nighy is so very wickedly good as a senior analyst for MI-5 that you hope he doesn't really have a real life counterpart.  This hero is someone whom too many people severely underestimate, to their peril.   

It's still fun to think about spy stuff as Spooks exist to this day.  Even if you are enthralled by Vampires, these might be violent and scary enough for you.  After all, Spy stuff (and what they get up to with black ops money and even, dare I say it, Homeland Security Bucks) when in a movie plot, is infinitesimally more like the reality we now find ourselves in.   I say, go get your clearance and join in the fun!

Sky Watcher:

We get clouds every day, and I am loving it.  This is lovely and amazing weather.

Sunday Stealing:

Massive Alphabet Meme, part two

The Letter N 
Do you have a nickname?   No, I don't have a nickname anymore.  I was called Lennie in school but that was ages ago.

What is your favorite number?  37 is my favorite number

Do you prefer night or day?   Day.  I see better in daylight, but the new night goggles are pretty spiffy.

The Letter O
What is your one wish?  That selfishness would disappear forever from the human race.  I really mean Forever and completely.

Are you an only child?  No, I have a sister and a brother, living, and a brother who died when he was five.

Do you wish this year was over?   No, I live in the moment and they go fast enough as it is.   zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzip!  There goes another one!

The Letter P 
What is one fear that you are most paranoid about?   I fear losing human rights and political freedom.  Nothing much is happening now that eases this fear, either.

What personality trait would you look for in someone you wanted to date?    Compassion is the one.   I think compassionate people are the best humans.

The Letter Q 
Are you quick to judge people?   No.  If the situation calls for judging people as to whether they are going to stick a shiv in my side while walking by me, yes.

The Letter R
Do you think you are always right?  I know that I'm not always right. 

Do you watch reality T.V.?   In a way I do.  I watch Netflix.

What is a good reason to cry?   Cruelty and violence toward any other earthling is a good reason.  Look, I know that I'm very predictable about all this stuff, but I just couldn't live with myself if things like that above had no affect on me.  I don't want to be another cyborg.

The Letter S 
Do you prefer sun or rain?   Because I live in a desert where we get an abundance of sun, I prefer rain.

Do you like snow?   I adore snow.  See above.  Snow is good for my part of the country, especially in the mountains.

What is your favorite season?   The Wet.  I love that season.

The Letter T 
What time is it?   Too late to be doing this and making much sense of it.
 
What time did you wake up?   I woke up at 6:15 this morning.

When was the last time you slept in a tent?   1991 or 2 in the desert in Quartszite.

The Letter U
Are you wearing underwear?  Are you checking?  You are always asking this.  Are you channeling my mother?

Do you open your eyes when under water?   Yes, even salt water.  How else can you see where you are going?

The Letter V 
What is the worst veggie?   Black eyed peas.  I know, it's never going to change, either.

Where do you want to go on vacation?   I'd really like to go all the way up to Vancouver Canada, through Oregon and Washington.

What was your last family vacation together?   A few years ago we went to Pinnacles for a week so that we could do a little hiking.  But three years ago there was the Mt. Whitney trip; I missed out on that but most of the family went.

The Letter W 
What is your worst habit?   Having to force myself to get out the door. 
Where do you live?   SoCal

The Letter X 
Have you ever had an X-ray?   At my age, I've had too many of those.

Have you ever seen the X-Games?   I don't know what those are.

Do you own or have you ever played a xylophone?   I've played a few of them.  They are nice.

The Letter Y
Do you like the color yellow?   I love Yellow and really wish I could wear it.

What year were you born in?   A war year.  And there has hardly been a single year since where our country has been at peace.  

What do you yearn for most?   Answer is still the same.  I'd like to live somewhere that my kids wanted to come back to. 

The Letter Z
What is your Zodiac Sign?  I'm three hours out of one sign and into another.  I read two.
Do you believe in the Zodiac?  Not really. 

What is your favorite zoo animal?  Lemurs.

"Is that really our Vet?  He's awfully furry!"

Sunday Stealing and Sunday Matinee

Always fun... 

Today we ripped off a blogger named regular player, Kwizgiver, from her blog What If This Is As Good As It Gets? She doesn't say where she got it--but it was probably stolen from somewhere cool. Tracing back the thefts of those that we steal from could take a while. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!


26.) If you had to order from a kid's menu, what would you get?  
I would get salad.
27.) Do you speak any other languages?  
some French, and a lot more Spanish - three years high school.  And, oddly, I can almost understand Swedish.lol
28.) Do you use Twitter?  
a little bit
29.) Do you go onto YouTube?  
a lot
30.) Do you play Angry Birds?  
What is that?
31.) Do you like theme parties?  
Halloween?  Yes.  Are there any other ones?
32.) Do you like current cartoons?  
Newspaper ones?  Yes. 
33.) Have you ever cried because you were so happy?  
Yes.  We traveled to see our two older daughters after a long time, and we all cried.
34.) Who would you like to see in concert?  
Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, Pepé or Angel Romero.  Eric Idle?  hehehe!



35.) Can you swim well? 
I swim very well.
36.) Ever won a contest? 
I won a first at inter-mural tennis tournament one year.
37.) Ever won a giveaway?  
Got some Janis Joplin concert tickets one year.
38.) Do you get a full 8 hours of sleep every night?  
no way has that happened unless I was totally drugged (IV) at a hospital.
39.) What tea do you like?  
Red tea, green tea, lemon ginger and Earl and Lady Grey.
40.) What mixed drink do you like?  
I like two, and will risk drinking them on a birthday sometimes. They are Cadillac Margaritas, and Gin and Tonics.
 41.) Do you shop at Walmart?  
I would occasionally shop there, but now I will not ever shop there again because of what is happening in Bangladeshi garment factories, something which Walmart has denied all knowledge of or connection to. 
42.) Do you shop at Target?  
Sometimes; Good gad, I hope they don't own The Gap because I'll have to stop shopping at Target, too!
43.) What do you order at your local coffee shop?  
Don't order fresh, but we buy fair trade teas and coffees there sometimes and pick up grounds for our composters.
44.)  Do you drink bottled or tap water?
I can't drink tap water.  You can filter out some of the stuff they put in ours.
45.) Do you like homemade meals?  
I like them better than anything else.
46.) Do you like homemade baked goods?  
I prefer them and usually never eat stuff unless we have made it.
47.) Do you shop online?  
More marketing.. sigh
48.) Name 3 stores online stores you would like to shop at:  
decline
49.) What holiday don't you like?  
I'm not fond of Mother's Day.  Is that a real holiday?
50.) What do you eat more when you're sick? 
I like to eat a lot more plain ramen noodles, cooked in water, then put into chicken broth with grated carrots.
-------------------------------------------
Sunday Matinee:   "Stranger Than Fiction", is the film I'd like to attempt to tell you enough about to entice  you to want to see it and not to spoil it for you.

In it, Emma Thompson plays a brilliant novelist - suffering from writer's cramp - who is trying to to kill off her leading character, which is something she always does!  She developed writer's block from not being able to decide just how she should "do him in".   The film is about what happens when she learns the truth of her "fiction" writing, and he learns that he's not exactly real.  When her actual character tracks her down to ask her why he must die, this starts all sorts of odd, moral questions going around her head.

Ms. Thompson is always a joy to watch as she fleshes out a character, and makes it live.  Just watching facial expressions mirror her inner conflict is entertaining enough.  The supporting cast is equal to the task except a slightly wooden performance by Queen Latifa, but that can be forgiven.  After all she's been sent by the publishing House as a sort of enforcer, to Break though the writer's cramp, using whatever it takes to do it..

Do you all Remember Queen Latifa as the woman warden in "Chicago"?  In this film she has that sort of presence but not anywhere near the sinister electricity!  She's Powerful, but not even slightly wicked. What an actress!

Maggie Gyllenhaal does a warm and believable job in making Crick want to live.  Heck, she'd make any man want to live. Lots of praise for Ms. Gyllenhaal's portrayal of the love interest in this one.

Dustin Hoffman is in the role of a somewhat nutty professor, who helps the main character, Harold Crick who is  played brilliantly by Will Farrell, the man about to die.   The professor realizes that Crick my be a character in a play and tries to get Crick to accept what ever may happen.   The literacy professor, Hoffman, tried to make Crick, Farrell ,  understand that he must play his part bravely and with courage as the book will be a "masterpiece". 

Sunday Matinee, "Where the Yellowstone Goes", and Sunday Stealing meme

Sunday Matinee:  "Where the Yellowstone Goes".

I can't tell you very much about this film without spoiling the cadence of it, which is sometimes slow and semi dream like; to be honest,  it is as beautiful, fragile and poignant as the river that it tells about.

The film makers also tell about the damage done by the huge oil spill on the last more-or-less pristine river in the lower forty eight States.   You will meet many very different people who are banding together to try to save the Yellowstone.  You'll also be there at the very moment in which Montana agate leaps into the consciousness of the drift fishermen, and as it makes itself some avid, rockhound converts.  And you all know how I feel about rocks.  Agate madness!



The story is compelling and timely.  It's a beautiful film with a beautiful musical score.  I fell in love with the whole crew, and only wish I was young and spry enough to take one of their float trips down that gorgeous river.  The film is available for download on Netflix but it is likely found in other places as well. 

Sunday Stealing:  THE BLURB:  "Today we ripped off a blogger named regular player, Kwizgiver, from her blog What If This Is As Good As It Gets? She doesn’t say where she got it–but it was probably stolen from somewhere cool. Tracing back the thefts of those that we steal from could take a while. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!"

The Wish List Meme, part one

1.) What are 3 things on your Wish list and why?

1. I'd wish I could live on a Vegetarian planet, or maybe a place where a person doesn't have to eat at all. The "why" of this is that the food fight would basically be over.  Isaac Asimov wrote a book, or maybe it was just a part of a book, where one of the characters survived on Moonlight. 

2. I wish I could fly, and the reason is that I want to see things from way up there.  I reckon I'm pretty much big enough to be left alone by raptors. ;-)

3. I wish that I understood everything I hear, no matter what the language. This is because I want to understand everything I hear.  It would make me more able to deal with life, I think.
 
2. What do you miss about your childhood?
My mother, our tiny family farm, and the river valley we lived in.

3. What do you do on your spare time on the weekends?
I laze about almost all day Saturday, doing all the crosswords, and doing some research on the internet.

4.) What do you appreciate most in your life?
All the animals, and then all the People - the ones that I admire and cherish which is basically a ton of folks, including my family and neighbors and practically everyone I know.

5. Would you rather be rich or healthy?
I would rather be healthy. Healthy connotes causal factors in genes and environment and some of the illness I have is caused by environmental stresses, so IF I was healthy, so would be the Earth. And, by extension, that means everyone else would be healthier. The fish wouldn't be dying of cancerous growths. You know....totally better.

6. If you could go back in time would you and why?
If one thing is changed, everything changes, so I'm not very interested in experimenting with my present. If I went back I probably wouldn't drink the water in the river. Maybe I'd probably go back far enough to help my mother marry her sweetheart, but then, what if???? Would my daughters be here? Would I have met my Dear Heart at the absolutely perfect time to save us both? 

7. Favorite game as a child?
We used to play Indians! It was great! We played Indians and made bows and arrows, and had woods all around us up and down the river valley.

8.) What is your dream career?
To be a successful seascape/portrait painter.

9.) What do you do in your free time?
I make stuff, sew, knit, read, putz around in the garden, watch Netflix and eat.

10.) Favorite clothing stores?
I so don't need to buy clothes. I'd have to say the Good Will is my favorite place to find clothes, especially up north.  Though, of course, it's not strictly a clothing store, it has some very nice threads, indeed!

11.) What TV shows can’t you live without?
I don't watch TV so I honestly can't say.  There are many I see on Netflix, however, that I wish I could see more of, such as, "3rd Rock from the Sun", "Big Bang Theory", "Hoarders", "Medium", "Lie To Me", and "Frazier".

12.) 3 things you need in your life are:
People - all of them - good Lord I have a HUGE family- and there is Love, and animals and especially Dogs, Cats, bunnies, and those adorable wee ratlings.  No, I don't drink.  I'm just enthusiastic!

13.) What can’t you sleep without?
The presence of my DH. 

14.) What are you currently a nerd for?
If a nerd can be defined as "a four letter word with a six figure income", I am not a nerd.  I do wear eccentric dress and my fav shoes are sandals - Tevas, with socks that I knit out of pretty wool yarns.  

15.) What is your favorite seasoning?
I love to pick wild sage and use it in things.  It tastes better than anything you buy.

16.) What is your favorite wild animal? 
I love birds.  Of course, I'm allergic to them.  Figures.

17.) Name 3 of your favorite childhood shows:
Rockie and Bullwinkle, and that's it.  I was just a little too old  for cartoons by the time we got a TV.

18.) If you could live as a character in a movie who would it be?
Absolutely, it would be Legolas.

Gorgeous picture from HERE.  
It's a screen saver.  Yay, though  I'm not sure it's free.

But, I can't remember.  Does he get killed?  Oh well...we just won't let the legend end.........

19.) Favorite vegetable?
How about the only one I don't like?  I can't stand black eyed peas.  Just the smell of them cooking makes me ill.

20.) Favorite Fruit?
Organic Navel oranges, and a close second is the Mango but it arrived late in my life.  *Sighs*  

21.) If you had a dragon what would you name it?
I have four dragons and a White Worm, a special kind of dragon, actually. And I have a drake, a smaller version of dragon.  Firebird is my Drake's name.  But you should see my ferrets.

22.) What do you put on hotdogs?
Lots of mustard and lots of chopped onion.  In days of old, every Halloween, our family had something called coney island hotdogs.  That's a buttered bun, mustard, hot dog, grated cheddar cheese, chili con carne (yes, from a can).  On top of all that went finely chopped onion and then fresh sauerkraut.  Yummy!  There were Fritos on the side.  We just don't eat like that, any of us, anymore.

23.) Do you play online games?
Game.  Yes, I get time to do this because I don't watch TV.

24.) What’s your favorite way to get inspired?
The natural world is my greatest inspiration.

25.) Do you have a middle name?
No, I wasn't given one.  I think I'd like one like Kali or something like that.  

Mother Kali, defender of the defenseless!

or maybe..  Hangatu Gozen

Female Samurai, late 19th Century

You can read about them both in THIS spot.

I plan to have a happy week sorting through my buffalo.  I must fearlessly Cull that herd!

A word about Friday Fill-ins, and about Sunday Stealing

The internet was down for awhile, so I used the netbook's minor facilities.

Friday fiill-ins was not updated, and that is worrying.  We hope our dear producer of that page, and family, is alright.

I have the hooves elevated today, Achilles tendons are cranky from the stress of this bloody horrid week, and so, I spent most of today completing section five of the 5000 Question MeMe.  I lost the whole thing trying to transfer it from the netbook to my blog.  Therefore, I will not do the 5000 Questions meme again.

I consider it a, "Message from God."

I will do most everything ( MeMe's) that is put up at Sunday Stealing as long as it's family friendly, and some Sunday Matinee, too.  I'm really disappointed that word pad is such a puny, little program that doesn't auto save.

"In the evening of life we will be judged by Love, and Love alone"

St. John of the Cross

Stay safe and warm.  See you in a few.  Hugs. 
   

Knitting update, and "Sunday Matinee, one day early -"The Life of Pi"

I was too excited about finishing the mitts to notice that one was a half inch shorter than the other one.  So I'm picking out the bottom stitches and adding that half inch- going the other way.  Oddly, it works.  I just have to be sure not to add too much. lol  Snip snip!

We watched "The Life of Pi" last night.  I don't think I blinked once through the second half.  I've never seen a movie like it. Not even "Avatar" had the same affect.   When I took the CD out of the player, I cupped it in my hands, and was instantly overcome with a strange rush of emotion.  Big tears started running down my cheeks.

I told DH that I felt like I was holding a true work of art in my hands..  It was a very spiritual feeling.  And no, it has nothing to do with Estrogen because he understood it, too -  complete Awe in the face of the Beautiful.

Sunday stealing ...2 memes

First MEME....101 to 120 of the 5000 question meme at Sunday Stealing

101. What does happiness/joy feel like physically?
Bliss?  It is like every cell of your body is loved.  It stuns you into stillness with it's absolute power.  Then again,  I'm not sure it's not just a psychotic state but you never know.

102. List five things you love starting with the one you love the absolute most.

A. The Supreme Being.
B. Earth, our Mother, without which (with the help of Star Dust) we would not exist.
C. My Family-which is the entire Family of Humans
D.The entire Animal Kingdom, and yes, it includes them of all- even sharks and Grizzly Bears which I am somewhat afraid of. hmm?
E. Color Vision, and this should come higher but what can you do?

103. How many movies have you gone to see this year?
Sadly,  None.  I watch a LOT movies on Netflix, however.

104. If you could have 3 wishes...but none of them could be for yourself, what would you wish for?
 #1. World Peace, an absolute no brainer. That's #1 on my list until it happens some fine day.
#2.  the Children of the world would always be safe from harm.
#3. The other Earthlings, the animals, would never be mistreated.

105. In what ways do you relax and de-stress when you are really tense?
I practice thinking about nothing, the real Nothing, that "Vast Nothing" that dwells between the Dark Matter and the Light Matter.

106. How much money would it take to get you to sell your blog address?
$12 Trillion, US dollars.  Why?  Because then I would buy Google and get it back.

107. Have you ever been hunting?
No, I've gone, regularly, to target practice but hunting, no.

108. Have you attempted this 5000 question meme in the past?
No, and I'll most likely quit after this episode unless I can make it a lot more FUN!

109. What do you think of cloning?
Not a good thing.  I adhere to all the scientific evidence against it, and most of the non religious ethical objections.

110. Do you read or watch TV more often?
 I read a lot less these days but still read a lot. I don't really like TV. But that is not to say I don't like the shows.  I just hate the commercials.  I watch Netflix.

111. With all this talk of terrorism going around are you willing to sacrifice rights and freedoms for increased safety?
 No, I am not but by now we all know what happened.

112. What is the punishment you would come up with for Osama Bin Laden if you caught him alive?
 I think it's bad juju to be thinking about stuff like that. Besides, it's moot.

113. Have you ever named an individual part of your body?
No, I haven't. Do people actually do that?  Let's see, I think my right arm should be called Michael or perhaps Godfrey.

114. Have you ever been on the radio or on TV?
Radio, yes, once.  TV no.  I was, however, once interviewed by a reporter for the Daily rag for the same thing that the radio station interviewed me.  See, TV needs to feed the kitty more, so they seldom interview nobodies.  That's why celebrity is so rampant that it's spread like a disease.

115. Have you ever won a lottery, or sweepstakes?
No. I don't think that the odds are very good, and I don't think lotteries help anyone but the people who sell the tickets. 40 million to 1 is terrible odds.

116. Have you ever won a contest or competition?
I once won tickets to see a Janis Joplin Concert.  Yay!

117. Have you ever watched The Joy of Painting show with Bob Ross (check out this link if you don't know who he is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross_(painter)?
I know of him, and have seen his show a few times; I'd say he's a nice guy, but......He drives me crazy. He's a process painter who figured out how to make a living from it, and more power to him.  Who could argue with that?

118. Do you know what your grandparents and your great grand parents did for a living?
Yes I do, all of them, and some of my grand Uncles and Aunts as well. My ancestors were military men, meat packers,  carpenters, waitresses, small business owners, Horse trainers, Ranchers, Heavy Equipment operators, Shipboard Mechanics, Merchant Marines.  They were many things.  My Spanish/Mexican grandfather also ran guns for Pancho Villa.  Hey, this used to BE Mexico.

119. Is there anything really interesting in your family history? My maternal grandfather played the guitar, western style, and that was something he passed on to me. From this early training, in my first five years, I have a love of singing folk songs and cowboy ballads, and of playing the guitar.

120. Is there anyone you trust completely? My DH, with my life, I trust this man. I would die for him.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memphis MEME, part 2:

Today we ripped off a blogger named Memphis Steve from the X rated, don't go there, Steve's Nude Memphis Blog. He does not say where he got it from, but judging by his profile picture, we don not want to know! But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Take the time to comment on other player's posts. It's a great way to make new friends! Link back to us at Sunday Stealing! 

 (you can feel safe going to the next link.. oy vey!

Sunday Stealing: The Meme From Memphis (part two)

Have any memories that you’d like to forget?
Of course.

Is there someone you really like to hang out with and just talk about stuff?
My Dh and, when the chance presents itself, my daughters and  trainer.

Have you ever been called prince or princess?
Not to my face.. :-)   Except, I have heard reference to myself in regards to "The Princess and the Pea" fairy tale.  But, really, most people who know me would never confuse me with nobility, on any level. lol

Do you think teenagers are weird?
Not anymore.  I certainly understand them a lot better now.  They are actually fun to be around as long as they aren't being totally wild.

How fast does your mood change?
On the surface nothing changes.  However, I do balance out the under current shifts, all the time switching out of the mundane mind and into the Mind of Tao.

How are you feeling?
Pretty calm and happy.  Well, when I'm not expecting trouble.

Do you want someone to call you right now?
I always want to hear from my kids.

What do you always take with you?
ID and cell phone, knitting and one med. 

Is your bed comfortable?
Yes, very.  I'd spend the whole darn day there, knitting, if I could get away with that.

Would you say you’re an understanding person?
I know "of what we are made" (not meaning sugar, spice, everything nice, slugs, snails or puppydog tails), and I love people for their struggles to be kind and good in a terrible world.  If that is what is meant by an understanding person, then yes, I think I might just be one.

Are you generally a happy person?
Yes, I am, mostly - nervous but happy.

Who’s in your facebook profile picture with you?
No one

Were you single on Valentines Day?
I haven't been single since I was 19.*  I never had boyfriends in high school or college.  I suspect some males might have liked me but were afraid of me. :-)

What is the last movie you watched?
"Casino Royale"  You can't blink during that movie or you miss something.  Ugly!

Do you listen to songs when you’re done?
Done watching a film?  Yes, I listen to the "credits music" all the time.   I love music.

How long does it take you to fall asleep at night?
Sometimes I fall asleep in 10 to 20 minutes; sometimes it takes hours.  Sometimes, in hospital, I don't sleep at all no matter what the heck they give me to make me sleep! 

Are you talkative?
I'm practically a hermit.  I am a listener.

Where you single last summer?
* See query three, "Were you single on Valentine's Day", above.

2 Sunday Stealing Memes, and a Sunday Matinee

First of all, I would like to correct an age old mistake among mathematicians, people who add up things, world wide. It is alleged that  2 + 2 = 4, but, 2 + 2 = ∞ , in reality. Try it and see if it is not true. I have thought about this a lot. It's an OCD thing.  Twisted!  That's me!

Now, On to the real fun stuff!  

This was stolen from at least three different places! But the first place of all was HERE except that THIS place as staked a claim, too.

38: How did you spend Valentines day?
Sent an e card to my sweetie, thought about what I was thankful for, ate quite a bit of ginger chocolate with tea chasers, then took the dragon hunting, and I then got several vases of red roses from an event.  Yay!

39: Do you eat enough vegetables?
I eat mostly vegetables, and a little organic, ethically raised meat.  So, the answer is yes, I eat everything vegetable except I will not eat black eyed peas.  Yuck!

40: Do you like horror movies? How about thrillers?
I like Thrillers but not Horror films unless they are comical, like "Shaun of the Dead".

41: Do you like scotch?
I don't like scotch. UGH! What I like, and don't get to drink anymore, is wine, Gin and Tonics, and Golden Margaritas.

42: Who is someone you would never swear in front of?
Most of my friends. And never, EVER a policeman or a minister, priest, nun, or pastor, Imam or Rabbi. You get the picture. Besides, I really don't like to cuss. I really don't like to but sometimes I get ticked off!

43: Coolest thing you've ever seen on Halloween?
I never saw anything truly cool, but I'll tell you something that was a sort of the ugly trick part of Halloween.
One year, there was a couple who had a huge bowl of oatmeal on a darkened front porch. You could NOT see what it was, but they told the little kids to just dig right in. It was their TRICK for which they had no treat. They laughed so hard at us.
This happened when I was about 7 years old and still fairly innocent of the ways of certifiably insane adults.

44: If you could change your natural hair color, would you? To what?
My natural color was black, which I have tried with spectacular results and many compliments.  It made my eyes a cinnamon color.  So I might go back to that. But then, I might try absolutely snowy white, too, like Mrs. Claus.  Platinum Blonde is my true hair color.  You know, the one you have in dreams. lol

45: What subject would you take if you were forced to take a free class?
Upholstery, second semester.   This is so that I could use the awesome, monster, industrial sewing machines again.  I miss having one.

46: Do you use reusable grocery bags?
Yes, DH, who does all the grocery shopping, uses them 99% of the time.

47: City or nature person?
Nature person, without hesitation.

48: Have you ever used something other than "makeup" as makeup? (Like paint? Markers?)
Yes, I've used theatrical make up, or "grease" paint.

49: Do heights bother you?  Can you look look out the window on the top floor of a skyscraper?
No, heights don't bother me inside a building. Or an airplane. Height isn't what really makes people uncomfortable anyway. It's fear of falling. All humans have that fear. It's logical.  Eons have taught us this lesson.  It's in the bone.

50: Post 5 awesome things about your blog. BRAG AWAY!
The flower photos(1) and Accidental Art(2)  Also Music Monday(3), The Blood orange Marmalade(4) and my knitted socks (5)!

Sunday Cinema:
If you like horror thrillers you might like "The Gift".
Cate Blanchett has the starring role of a widow who is a Psychic.  She gives readings with some cards I've never seen before but of course now must have. lol

Whomever it was who created her character, Annabelle 'Annie' Wilson, really did their homework!  It is the best portrayal of what it is like to be Psychic that I've ever witnessed in a film.  Keanu Reeves plays a very scary, violent man, something he seems to do pretty well.  In the film he is so much filled with demonic tilth that I wonder what he's like for real?  Actually, I think he's a pretty nice guy.  I remember him, with great fondness, in "Parenthood".

This movie should be R rated, not kid friendly and very scary.  I think "I Shouldn't Be Alive" episodes would be just right for what you can watch after viewing this, just to calm down so you can sleep that night.

Sweet Dreams!

Here's More, I actually got in the first 20 at Sunday Stealing.

The blurb goes as follows:
"Today we ripped off a blogger named Paul Burgin from the blog Mars Hill. It is 20 questions, He says he got it from Paul Linford. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Take the time to comment on other player's posts. It's a great way to make new friends! Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!
Sunday Stealing

First Job: Librarian's assistant.

First Real Job: Switchboard Operator for the telephone company

First Volunteer Job: knitting sweaters for babies in shelters when I was a young mother.

First Car: '50 Mercury- the best car I've had besides my little truck.  Both were red.
one like this one...

Mine, it was bright red with tuck and roll in white and red.

First Record: Bill Hailey and the Comets- "Rock Around the Clock"  OOPS, it really was of Scottish bag pipes on my grandmother's wind up Victrola.  I was four and a half, and had to stay upstairs by myself because I had measles.  Mother was downstairs busily preparing for the imminent birth of my little brother.

First Sport Played: Volleyball

First Concert: Janis Joplin

First Country Visited: Mexico

First Kiss: 19 years old. My future hubby and I went sailing for a date.

First Speech: as a child?  When I was a year old I talked and sang very well - so obviously, a fluke.
Oh wait, everyone else took the right meaning! duh!   I gave a reading, in college, of my paper on Edwin Muir's poem, "The Animals".

First Girlfriend/Boyfriend: My DH, we met at  neighbor's party. 

First Encounter with a Famous Person: Robert Taylor at the Santa Monica Bus depot in 1962.

First Brush With Death: Shooting at an elementary school.

First House/Flat Owned: Small three bedroom near the ocean.  Loved that house.

First Film Seen at a Cinema: with my mother I went to so a movie where a guy go shot in the back while  swimming across a swimming pool.  I screamed and embarrassed my mother.  Blond actor is all I remember.

First Media Appearance (Radio, Newspaper, TV): TV.  Forest's Forever Campaign.  Was interviewed along with others working on that cause.

First Hospital Stay: Was when my first daughter was born.

First Book You Remember Reading: I was three when I started reading.  I still have a couple of the Dick and Jane books that we read to each other, my cousins and me.

First Pet: Amber, a white cat with yellow eyes. My parent took her for "a ride" but, to their consternation, she came back home.  My mother said I could keep her because she was such a "clever cat for finding her way home.

First Election You Voted In: 1964 General Election. 

Sunday Matinee - Hide Away, Directed by Chris Eyre

The New York Post movie blogger thoroughly trashed this perfectly paced, intricately plotted art film.

Yes, it's an Art Film; it's not a Western, nor a Jackie Chan movie, full of flash and dash and daring.  It demands that you pay attention to the actors, and the very subtle workings of their minds, as they go through the slow process of awakening to each other.  These people are not Californians who might tear into each others lives, uninvited, like big happy puppies.

There is a joke told near the beginning of the film about the two happiest days in a sailor's life being the day he buys a boat, and the day he sells it.  "Hide Away" tells the story of a broken man's intensely personal struggle to rebuild his shattered life as he also rebuilds the wreck of a boat he once admired.

The use of flash backs is crucial, as it is more or less exactly the way the whole process of healing the heart works in the human mind/soul.  Chris Eyre's directing  is superb, as is the acting, if you understand laconic people, and the movie score and cinematography deserves kudos as well.

People who sail boats around the world would get this film.  People who wish they could will understand it, too.  I have no problem with a film that takes time to tell such a complex human drama, or makes me think as well as feel.

Sunday Matinee: "Dive". And, "If Downton Abbey took place on Facebook"

Thank you Kara, Daaaling!

If any of the rest of you are fans of "Downton Abbey",  you will love this campy, outrageous, faux facebook

LINKIE THINGA for it.

Weather report, given twice..once too many times- sort of like listening to the endless loop on NOAA weather radio broadcasts.. Ahemm ... But, I digress... 

Weather report:  We had a wind off the cold water, and it froze half of the tomato plants.  So, I went out and picked the fruits off in case we got a frost after a short, random rainy spell last night.   I might make green tomato relish with them from my mother's recipe. I got enough for about a pint! lol  It's supposed to get down to 32 degrees F. tonight, so I expect to lose the rest of them tonight.  We'll see, because they are tough little heirlooms that don't know when to quit!

Recently we watched a documentary called "Dive!" again when the kids were here.  If it doesn't make you sick it will make you mad (or maybe sad).

It's a documentary about how much food goes into landfills from supermarket dumpsters.  It made me sad, but happy in an odd way, too.   There are people who are now getting more food for their local programs.  Alas, one of them, the Food Bank, isn't, or wasn't at the time of the making of the documentary.  So, that was really sad.

Something needs to be done about this!  I feel that the more people who are informed, the less hungry American families there will be out there.  We waste an ENORMOUS amount of food, and kill a great many animals and just throw their bodies into the landfills in America.  Why?  That's a lot of suffering and abuse that could be ended also.


Anyway,  if you are interested, or in anyway in a position to help stop this, the movie is called "Dive!"
Prepare to be shocked.