Checkin' In

Watching Timberlake nail this country gig on the CMAs with his effortless and amazing supertalent. Wow!

But really, I'm just on here to share this exercise equipment with you all--
Elvie

It fits in a drawer, unlike your treadmill. And you can take it with you to work.


The Alphabet Thing Meme

A: Accent -- very light Texas, y'all
B: Breakfast -- protein shake
C: Chore you hate -- ironing
D: Dad's name -- Werner
E: Essential everyday item -- Burt's Bees
F: Flavor ice cream -- mint chocolate chip
G: Gold or silver -- silver
H: Hometown -- Houston
I: Insomnia -- I usually have it early morning when I wake up around 4
J: Job title -- Clinical Data Manager
K: Kids -- 1 beautiful daughter
M: Mother's birthplace -- Antigo, WI
N: Number of significant others -- 3
O: Overnight hospital stays -- too many
P: Phobia -- I've become a bit claustrophobic in the past few years
Q: Quick at -- learning new things
R: Religious affiliation -- Christian, but not "religious"
S: Siblings -- 1 half-brother I have yet to meet in person
T: Time you wake up -- 4 and then 6
U: Unnatural hair colors -- none
V: Vegetable you refuse to eat -- squash
W: Worst habit -- leaving my shoes everywhere
X: X-rays -- plenty
Y: Yummy -- dinner last night, I made steak with rosemary bacon corn relish
Z: Zodiac sign -- Aries

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You've Been Endorsed

LinkedIn endorsements are the silliest things. They could be meaningful, if people took them seriously, but people just hand them out. I think it's because they show up in LinkedIn as a suggestion and people just do it to tick that box.

If you have 37 endorsements for Content Strategy, but one of them is from your mom, it just highlights the fact that people deal out endorsements like Halloween candy.

Let's keep it real. If you're a family member or one of my pals, and I've never worked with you, I probably know little about what kind of a manager you are or how skilled you are in Good Clinical Practice, but I could endorse you for things like:

Bartending
Parallel Parking
Pictionary
Grilling
Couponing
Sense of Humor
Parenting
Karaoke...

Off to endorse some people!

Sunday Stealing: 25 Fun Meme

1. If you were trapped in a room with the person who asked this for 24 hours, what would you do? The answer cannot be romantic or sexual.
Why not romantic or sexual? Well since I just pulled this one from the blog, I'll pick... Kimberly! I hope we're trapped in a room in the Four Seasons. With her, I would play cards and look at old photos!

2. If you could learn any language instantly, what would it be?
Spanish

3. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Billy Budd *snort*

4. Favorite song lyric?
How 'bout...
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

5. Favorite album?
One of my all-time faves is Evanescence's Fallen. All great songs.

6. Which time of day would you say is best for you work-wise?
7-10 a.m.

7. Favorite city that you’ve visited?
Las Vegas

8. Favorite city that you haven’t visited?
Rome

9. If you could donate $10,000 to charity, what charity would you pick?
MD Anderson

10. What is one book you wish you could get all your friends to read?
Billy Budd

11. What is one movie you wish you could get all your friends to watch?
Love, Actually

12. What do you think people assume about you from first glance?
that I'm a geeky science chick

13. If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
guitar

14. What is your favorite item of clothing?
my casual jeans

15. Who was your first follower on your blog? Do they still follow you?
The first person who knew about my blog was Eva. She catches up now and then!

16. If you could create one thing, what would it be?
a cure for cancer

17. Favorite superhero?
Thor

18. If you were to write an autobiography, what would you title it?
Just Keep Swimming

19. If you were to have a band, what would you call it?
KK and the Blowfish

20. What is your favorite card/board game?
"The Card Game"

21. What was the first IM service you used? Who was the first person you talked to on it?
AIM. Kerstin was probably the first person I talked to on it.

22. If you could give a friendly hug to any one person, who would it be? Cannot be your romantic/sexual partner if you have one.
Jen. She just had her baby this week!

23. Have you ever won any sort of contests? What kind?
I've won several contests- mostly in writing.

24. Who was the last person you hugged? Cannot be your romantic/sexual partner if you have one.
Jen. I hugged her before she left work for maternity leave.

25. If you could be skilled in any one activity, what would it be? Cannot be romantic or sexual.
Again it can't be romantic or sexual? This survey is very limiting. Um... I would be skilled in grilling.

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New Car!

I got a new car yesterday! A blue Acura TLX with grey interior...

Click me for a bigger version.

SO pretty!

In other news, turns out I'm friends with someone who knows the lovely Cindy Williams from "Laverne & Shirley."

Not really, but the silhouette looks like her, yes?? Ha!


Saturday 9: Hello, Dolly (1964)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a woman returning to the town where she was happiest. How many towns have you lived in? 

Eight-- Worms, Germany; Pasadena, TX; Lenexa, KS; Deer Park, TX; Houston, TX; League City, TX; College Station, TX; Austin, TX

2) Crazy Sam played Ernestina in her high school production of Hello, Dolly! and still remembers one of her lines: "Hey, you with the big ears! What are you doing after the show?" Tell us something that you memorized for school that is still rattling around in your brain.

I remember all the words to the German Song "Tanz Mit Mir" I sang with my fellow Bluebird Girls in our senior musical, Carnival. (Can-can girls, yo!)

3) This week's featured artist, Louis Armstrong, got his start entertaining diners on riverboat dinner cruises. Have you ever taken a dinner cruise? 

A few. We recently went on a company dinner cruise on Lake Austin.

4) Armstrong took his nickname, "Satchmo," from "Satchel Mouth" -- a slang term for someone with a wide mouth, which Louis believed was his most distinguishing feature. What do you think people notice first about you?

My smile. I hear a lot of "You're always smiling!"

5) In 1936, Louis became the first African American to get featured billing in a Hollywood movie. Have you seen any of this summer's big movies?

Trainwreck, Pitch Perfect 2, Entourage, Jurassic World, Magic Mike XXL

6) When "Hello, Dolly" composer Jerry was growing up, he was close to an aunt named Belle who encouraged his love of music. Tell us about one of your aunts or uncles.

My aunt Teresa is the youngest of five kids, where Mom was the oldest, so Teresa and I are only 11 years apart. I've always thought of her like an older sister. She's a feisty, independent person and very funny and enjoys having a great time. We had a serious falling out a few years back, but thankfully, we've been talking via email every so often for about a year now. We hung out at my Grandpa's one afternoon last year, which I enjoyed a lot. Hoping to see her again this fall.

7) Though famous for composing the scores of Hello, Dolly!, Mame and La Cage Aux Folles, Jerry Herman can't read music. Can you?

Yep.

8) Now retired, Mr. Herman lives in Miami. This is Miami's "wet season," which lasts into October. When did it last rain where you are?

Friday! Shocking.

9) Random question: Have you suffered a sunburn this summer?

Not yet.

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Perhaps it Would Be More Clear If...

We had a meeting with one of our software vendors the other day and a colleague, who is, let's say... not anyone's favorite person (arrogant and argumentative), told them that he doesn't understand the "Complete" and "Incomplete" buttons at the bottom of the screen. (Instead of saving with a Save button, users can save the form as complete or, if they have to leave mid-entry, they can save as Incomplete to come back later and finish.)

Coworker: You can COMPLETE something, but you can't INCOMPLETE something. It's not intuitive and wasn't carefully considered from the user's perspective.

We. Were. Dying. Fortunately, the vendor had his number from the minute he'd walked in the door.

Vendor Sales Guy: Wow. In ten years working for this company, I've never heard that. As a matter-of-fact, it's one of our biggest selling points.

Touché.

Coworker: Perhaps if the buttons said 'Save as Complete' and 'Save as Incomplete,' it would be more clear.

This conversation went on for five excruciating minutes. Finally I tossed out-

Me: They're adjectives, not verbs. Would it be more clear if it said 'Complete' and 'Partially Complete?'
Vendor Chief Information Officer: ...which would be sort of like... 'Complete' and 'Incomplete.'
Me: Ha. Exactly.

The guy is always looking for an issue where there isn't one. I just try to stay away from him. Pointless negativity irritates the crap out of me.

Fast forward to Thursday.

My office mate was working from home and had sent an email to the company, saying so. This same guy replied to all to ask her a question about a project. Crystal called me...

Crystal: I just want to send him an email saying, 'I totally understand what happened here. Perhaps if the buttons said 'Send to Everyone in the Company' and 'Only Send to the Person Who Sent this Email,' it would be more clear which one to choose.'

Ahahahaaaaaaaa.


Saturday 9: Freeway of Love (1985)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Aretha's ideal car is a pink Caddy. What's your dream vehicle?
BMW Z series

2) Have you ever owned a convertible?
Nope.

3) Aretha longs to "drop the pedal and go." Are you a careful, conservative driver? Or do you enjoy going fast?
Generally careful and conservative.

4) Aretha's grandmother Rachel helped raise her. Tell us about one of your grandparents.
My Grandma Lee was one of the most loving, caring people I've ever met. She was mom to five kids and my mother said she was always trying to get her mom's attention, since so much was always going on and Mom was the oldest. My relationship with Grandma was almost the opposite. Well, first grandchild and all... how could she not shower me with attention. Hee! Kidding, cousins!

My best memories of her are when she would bring me along on all her church errands. She was very active in church. She and I would go and do all these "behind the scenes" things I found supercool, since I was normally just part of the congregation on Sundays. We brought flowers to the church, picked up food donations and delivered them, and that sort of thing.

She also took me to the park in their neighborhood a lot. A LOT. I lived in that same neighborhood with Grandpa and Christine (Grandma died when I was 11) during college, and rode my bike past that park every day. It always reminded me of being there with my grandmother.

5) Aretha played a waitress in the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers. Have you ever worked in food service?
I was a hostess at Gallagher's (a steak restaurant) in high school.

6) Aretha was a chain smoker for decades and had a terrible time giving up cigarettes. What habit do you wish you could break?
Leaving things in piles around the house. I prefer to clear the piles every day, but I don't do it like I used to.

7) A sculpture of Aretha is at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in New York City. What's the last museum you visited?
We went with Scott-n-Julie to see The Making of Gone with the Wind exhibit at the Ransom Center at UT in January.

8) Since Aretha has many honorary degrees, it would be appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you addressed by his or her title (Officer, Father, Pastor, Dr., etc.)?
Dr. A at work. 

9) The daughter of a minister, Aretha enjoys singing "church music" and her 1972 CD Amazing Grace is one of the best sellers in gospel music history. Do you have any gospel music on your phone, iPod or MP3 player?
I do not.

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Valentines Weekend Love Survey

1. Would you make a fool out of yourself in public if it meant you were making your partner laugh?
Yep.

2. If you could 'take back' your virginity from your first partner, would you? 
No.

3. Would you ever start a relationship with someone who was still living with an ex for financial reasons? 
No way.

4. Do you like kissing in public?  
Sure!

5. Would you date someone significantly (9 years or over) older than you? 
Highly unlikely.

6. Would you like to date someone a lot purer than you? 
Only if they wanted to remedy that with me. ;)

7. When fooling around with someone, do you sometimes have sexual fantasies about other people? 
I don't really understand how people do that. I think you would have to be massively disconnected from what is going on to imagine the person you're with is a completely different person.

8. You've just met someone incredible while out with friends, and gave him your phone number. How long would you expect him to wait to call?
I wouldn't expect to wait past the next day. I would want that "I can't stop thinking about you!" call. If it's like 30 minutes after we said goodnight, even better. It's a big mistake to feign disinterest, if you're interested. You may miss out!

9. Would you rather know everything about your mate, or be regularly surprised? 
Be very occasionally surprised. If I were regularly surprised, I wouldn't really know him well at all.

10. What is sexiest on a man/woman?
Shoulders on a guy. Yep.

11. Would you rather have your dream job or your soul mate for the rest of your life? 
"Soul mate." Most people have a great life without working a dream job, but you definitely want to live the rest of your days with someone who is a true and deep match for you.

12. Should your mate also become your best friend?
Not typically. You should be as close to your mate as your best friend, but the roles are different and each important in its own way.

13. Have you ever had a true one-night stand? 
No. I think I've told the story of my "attempted one-night stand" here before. I met a former classmate at a club in Houston one weekend, back in the day. We left together with the full intention of hooking up, but once we were home, neither of us really wanted to do the one-night stand thing, so we didn't. SO glad it worked out that way. Thanks, moment of-sobriety!

14. Is it better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all? 
Absolutely.

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Cool Mom

Looking at all my celeb pics and autographs on my office wall and remembering when the work gals were here for Pitch Perfect night. I did the home tour for those who hadn't been here before and Kyra (25 years old) commented on the collection, "You're such a cool mom! My mom would never have taken me to meet all these people."

LOL. I told Lauren. She totally laughed.

I mean *ahem*... Of course I was only taking Lauren to meet them. Coolest. Mom. Ever.


Saturday 9: All Dressed in Love (2008)
For Valentine's Day, we need a happy love song. Hear it here.

1) In this song, Jennifer sings, "I look good in love …" What about you? When you're happy, or sad, does it show? Or do you keep an even demeanor, no matter what?
I'm a happy person in general, and it shows. When I have a bad day though, it's not typically obvious to people around me.

2) This song played over the closing credits of a hit movie, Sex and the City. When you go to the movies, do you visit the concession stand for popcorn, or a soft drink, or candy?
I usually share popcorn and a drink when I'm with Jeff and/or Lauren. If I'm with a friend, I usually get an Icee. Not sure why that is, but there ya' go!

3) Think of the last movie you watched at home. Was it a DVD, DVR, streamed or cable presentation?
We watched Gone Girl on Redbox DVD Sunday night.

4) Jennifer Hudson got good grades in high school and went away to Langston University in Oklahoma. But she was homesick for her family in Chicago and came home after just one semester. Have you ever been homesick?
I always got homesick on Brownie campouts and at summer camps when I was elementary school age. (Yes, I was that kid.) Then at college, I was very homesick my first semester. I went home every single weekend that there wasn't a football game ('cuz... FOOTBALL!!!!).  I didn't have a car, so I was riding home and back with Kathy, who was as homesick as I was. So there.

5) Jennifer received acclaim for her renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 2008 Democratic Convention and Super Bowl XLIII. Do you agree with critics who say that our National Anthem is hard to sing?
There is a lot of range to it, but I wouldn't say it is difficult to sing. You just have to pay attention to where you are in the song, and be prepared to hit those high notes!

6) Jennifer is a spokesperson for Weight Watchers and, with diet and exercise, went from a size 18 to a size 6. She says that while she's committed to healthy eating, she still enjoys ice cream occasionally. Do you prefer your ice cream in a cone or a cup?
Soft serve in a cone, regular ice cream in a cup. I don't like fighting with a scoop of ice cream on a cone and I don't like the partially empty cone.

7) Her fiance, Daniel Otunga, is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Harvard is the most famous of the eight "Ivy League" schools. Do you know the other seven?
Probably not. Let's see... Princeton, Yale... nope.

8) With a Grammy and an Oscar, Jennifer Hudson is one of the most successful American Idol contestants. Can you name another singer who appeared on AI?
I can name a ton of them. My all-time faves are Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, David Cook and Carrie Underwood.

9) Last year, Jennifer nearly bought a brand-new Ferrari because it was so great looking. At the last moment she backed out of the deal because she doesn't drive enough to warrant such an expensive car. What's the last impulse purchase you either made, or resisted?
Our big-screen TV has a tiny line down the center for about 20 minutes after we first turn it on now. I wanted to get a new one, but decided to wait. If it's anything like my GPS, it will develop more lines over time until I can't see a thing.

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Repeat Memery

I did the meme for today and thought it sounded familiar. After completing it, I searched my blog and it turns out there were almost the same questions in a Sunday Stealing from 2008. My old answers are here. Interesting!


Sunday Stealing: Why Do You Want To Know That Meme?

What TV game show/reality show would you like to be on?
We're always trying to think of the next blockbuster business to take to Shark Tank. I want to get a deal with Robert.

What was the first movie you bought in VHS or DVD?
I don't know for sure, but one of our first ones was Cocktail.

If you had one million dollars to spend only on yourself, what would you spend it on?
A full-time personal chef, a new car and lots of vacations.

One place you've visited, can't forget and want to go back to? 
Hawaii. It is such a unique, beautiful environment and has a relaxed and happy personality. I prefer to go new places though, so I may not return. We'll see!

Do you trust easily? 
Yes

Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think? 
Think before I act.

Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days? 
Micromanagement by a particular manager at work. It's never a smart strategy. It's costing the company copious amounts of time, money and morale- more than anyone realizes yet.

Do you have a good body image?
I usually have an "inaccurate" body image. There have been times in my life I've felt like I look awful in the mirror, when I've looked at a photo and realized I actually look great, and also times when I felt like I looked fabulous, when I saw a photo and realized that I really need to work out more.

What is your favorite fruit? 
pomegranate

I’m always being asked…
...how to do things on the computer. I was asked just last week to send a company-wide email with step-by-step instructions on how to add our new html signatures, because everyone was having trouble with it and I knew how to fix the issues. I am one of those users IT hates, who knows enough about computers to get into serious trouble, and probably not how to get out of it. Heh.

The last big belly laugh I had was…
I almost peed my pants laughing last night at Scott n Julie's, while we were playing Fluxx. There were about six wacky rules on the table and we were drawing 6 cards and playing 5 at the time. I drew a card that had me take an extra turn, so I ended up taking my turn(s) for like 5 minutes straight. We were all in a spin, counting how many cards I had played and determining which new rules and goals were in effect. It was crazy! And hysterical.

What websites do you visit daily?
Gmail and Facebook

What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
Maroon 5

What's the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Sugar" by Maroon 5. That song is my least favorite on the CD and they made it the second single. *forehead smack* It gets stuck in my head all the time because it's on the radio.

Favorite clothing? 
jeans and boots and a nice top

Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy? 
Nope

What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground? 
Pick it up and keep it, unless there was a way to try to identify the person who lost it.

Items you couldn't go without during the day?
Phone,  Burt's Bees lip balm

What should you be doing right now?
Nothing! Whee! Going with Kathy in a little while to take her nephew's Flat Stanley's photo at various sites around Austin. Then I'll be seeing American Sniper with the fam.

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Saturday 9

I'm here watching ID network at 4:30 a.m. I just love the murder mystery shows. Crystal is very into them as well. Because of her heavy viewing and deep interest, she and her boyfriend made a pact that if either of them ever wants out of the relationship, they will just move on and not murder the other. Ahaha!

KathyG is working with us as a temp for about a month. She and I worked together back at the old company in the 90's. I've seen her a few times since her hubby started working at our place last year, but it's fun to have even more of the old gang together again!


Saturday 9: A Sleepin' Bee (1957)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about the wonder of first love. How would you describe the sensation of falling in love?
It's like riding over that last apex of the log flume ride at a theme park, and then rapidly descending down the hill, screaming and laughing. :)

2) This 1957 album was the first Diahann Carroll ever recorded. More recently she recorded "A, You're Adorable," a nursery rhyme. (The lyrics are here.) Give us some words to a children's song that remain in your head to this day.
The noble Duke of York, he had ten thousand men. He marched them up to the top of the hill and marched them down again....

3) 1957 was the peak of the Baby Boom (1946 to 1964). Are you a Boomer, a Gen X-er, a Gen Y-er, or a Millennial?
I'm a Gen X-er.

4) In 1974, Diahann was named to the Best Coiffed Hall of Fame by the Guild of Professional Beauticians. How often do you change your look?
Not often. I feel a new haircut coming on though.

5) Ms. Carroll made history as Julia in the first network TV show to star a black woman. She played a nurse. Do you/have you ever worked in the healthcare profession?
No, but I do work very closely with healthcare providers in pharmaceutical research. 

6) She also played glamorous, scheming Dominique Deveraux on the nighttime soap, Dynasty. Who is the most memorable female villain you've ever seen in a TV show or movie?
Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. That woman was cold. And scary-crazy!

7) Ms. Carroll began her career as a model. Her height (nearly 6' tall) is an asset in that profession. Are you pleased with your height? Or do you wish you were taller, or shorter?
I am 5'4 and wish I were taller. I am at exactly the height where petite pants are a tad short and regular pants are way too long.

8) Now in her 80th year, she keeps on working. Recently she's appeared on TV in Grey's Anatomy and Blue Collar and on the big screen in Tyler Perry Presents Peeples. How do you feel about retirement? Is it something you enjoy or look forward to? Or would you prefer to continue working? 
Totally looking forward to it! I will either work part time or volunteer in retirement, to keep busy.

9) In her long movie career, Ms. Carroll has played love scenes with some very good looking men, including Sidney Poitier and Billy Dee Williams. If you could steal a kiss from any actor or actress, who would choose?
In honor of the Magic Mike XXL trailer that came out this week (I haven't even seen Magic Mike, but I'm thinking that should be remedied immediately), I will say Joe Manganiello.

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Ass Crown

Scott swallowed a crown while eating an apple a few weeks ago. He got a temporary crown and then, when he finally... um... "found" the original, he brought it to his dentist to see if he could put it back in.

Scott: He looked at me and was like, 'I am NOT putting an ass crown back in your mouth.'
Julie: Did he actually say 'ass crown?'
Scott: Noooooo....

The rest of the night the ass crown jokes continued. It was HILARIOUS.  I'm supposed to be setting up the official ass crown website right now, actually. Git yer ass crown merch here! Ha!

Sunday Stealing: Easy A-Z Meme

A. What are your favorite smells? bacon, rain, fresh-cut grass
B. Can you go a whole day without caffeine? I don't usually consume any caffeine in a day.
C. Who knows more about you than anyone else? Hmm. Probably CathyJ.
D. What song did you last listen to? Meghan Trainor "Dear Future Husband"
E. Do you wear socks to bed? Never. Too hot!
F. Can you change a car tire? If I had to, yes.
G. If you could choose one color to wear for a whole year, what color would you choose? blue
H. Do you cook often? Far more often than I'd like.
I. What’s your least favorite season? spring
J. Can you sew? No
K. What is your favorite fruit? lately, pomegranate
L. Are you health conscious? Not particularly. I try to eat a variety of foods and make good choices when possible.
M. Do you think you’re very conscious of the feelings of others or more self oriented? I'm very conscious of the feelings of others.
N. Do you curse a lot?  Yep, because the people at work curse a lot. I should stop, really.
O. Do you remember lyrics easily? Yes!
P. Can you roll your tongue? Yep
Q. Is there a certain food you often crave for no reason? I often crave Salt Lick, but for good reason.
R. What was the last book you purchased? iPhone: The Missing Manual for both Laura and Jeff for Christmas
S. Where was your last vacation? San Francisco last summer
T. Last movie you watched? Did you enjoy it?  We watched Men, Women and Children last night. I thought it was really good, but it's sad.
U. Think of your oldest friend. If you met them now do you think you would still become friends? KristenD was my first best friend in kinder and 1st grade in Kansas City, before we moved away to Houston. She lived in our apartment complex. We would be great friends today! I tried to find her once, but wasn't able to.
V. Paris, London and New York… which one would you live in, which would you visit for a day, which would you visit for a fortnight? Oooh. Let's see... Live in London, visit Paris for a day and visit New York for a fortnight.
W. Do you usually sleep with your closet door open or closed? Seriously? Closed, of course. I don't want to see that creepy black hole in the darkness.
X. Have you ever broken a bone? If so, how did it happen? I've only broken my pinkie toe, just smashed it into something at home.
Y. How do you like your eggs? poached
Z. What was your last argument about and who with? A passive-aggressive coworker was arguing with my office mate about my project, which they were both helping on. He said that he thought the unit handwritten on a page was qm/dl. She said it was obviously gm/dl. He argued about it for a few minutes and then went away (to talk to our boss, it turns out). He came back about five minutes later to argue some more, when I jumped in. I asked why we were still having this discussion and said it was clearly gm/dl, especially since qm/dl isn't a valid unit for that particular measurement... or any other measurement of which I am aware. Then he argued with me about it. When he eventually said, "It's your project, so I'll do whatever you want to do, but..." I said, "Great! Then it's gm/dl. Let's move on."

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Pitch Perfect Movie Night

Had all the work girls over last night for movie night. Neither Jennifer nor Crystal had seen Pitch Perfect. WHAT?! The rest of us were quoting and singing along.

I prepared a pretty extravagant salad bar. Then the big attraction of the night was having movie theater popcorn from the new popper during the movie. So let me now warn you that serving salad and popcorn to people at a party will leave you searching for large bowls. I was almost serving popcorn in cooking pots. We managed to share out of a few large mixing bowls, so all was well.

The signature cocktail for the evening was lemonade and sweet tea vodka. BIG hit. Make the lemonade from real lemon juice and sugar, because those diet and other powdered/fake lemonades we've all been drinking for years suck.

We were talking about parents embarrassing you and I honestly cannot remember one moment when my mom OR dad embarrassed me. Too funny!!


Saturday 9: The Best Thing About Me Is You (2010)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) What would you say is your best quality?
I appreciate and enjoy the little things in life.

2) In this song, Ricky sings that he's "allergic to tragedy." Do you suffer from any allergies?
Yep. Cedar, mold and ragweed.

3) Benadryl, the popular allergy medication, is sometimes used to treat insomnia. What do you do when you can't sleep?
Take Benadryl. If I still can't sleep, I get up and watch TV or surf the web.

4) The lyrics to this week's song encourage us, "Don't wait until mañana." Are you a procrastinator?
Not typically. It's always a great feeling to get things off my to-do list.

5) Ricky Martin is a judge on The Voice ... Mexico, aired on Mexican television. When you watch competition shows like The Voice, Dancing with the Stars or American Idol, do you usually agree with the judges? Or do you think you could do a better job? 
I tend to be on the side of the more critical judges, because I think you have to be pretty darn amazing to become a part of the current music scene.

6) Ricky tells interviewers that when he was very young, he'd sing in the family kitchen, pretending a wooden spoon was his microphone. Crazy Sam admits to lip synching into a black Magic Marker. When you gave imaginary concerts, what did you use as a microphone?
A brush, of course.

7) Ricky began working at the tender age of 9, performing in commercials. How old were you when you received your first paycheck?
I started babysitting at 10.

8) Ricky does yoga to stay in shape. Have you ever tried yoga?
Yes. I'm not great at it.

9) Ricky is of primarily Spanish descent, with a little French mixed in. When you think of French cuisine, what comes to mind?
A tiny serving of delicate vegetables and a bite of chicken in a precious drizzle of sauce on a large white plate.

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Saturday 9

This song reminds me that I left my Billy Idol cassette in Pedro's car in 1988 and never retrieved it. One of the first things I said when we reconnected on Facebook in 2008- WHERE IS MY DANG BILLY IDOL CASSETTE?

Ha!

Saturday 9: Dancing with Myself (1980)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is one of Billy Idol's biggest hits. Can you name another?
White Wedding

2) When is the last time you danced around your home?
Thursday- to "Bang Bang"

3) In this song, Billy says he dances with his own reflection. Is there a mirror in the room you're in right now?
Nope, but the TV is off, so there is a reflection there.

4) Dancing with Myself is also the name of Billy Idol's 2014 autobiography. Let's say you're going to write your life story. What do you title it?
Talking For Free, of course

5) This month, Billy resumes his 2014-15 concert tour in New Orleans. Have you ever been to Louisiana?

• spent a week one middle school summer visiting KimB, my elementary school BFF who had moved to Baton Rouge
• went with my mom to visit one of her old friends outside New Orleans during high school
• went to a Lambda Sigma conference in Monroe my sophomore year of college
• also took an A&M Travel Group road trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans (with CJ!) my sophomore year
• Jeff and I visited Donna and Brian in New Orleans a few years ago

6) In 1980, when "Dancing with Myself" was first popular, VHS players were all the rage. Do you still have yours?
Nope. I have a several VHS tapes though. I wonder why.

7) In 1980, The Love Boat was getting good ratings. Have you ever taken a cruise?
I think I have taken 9 cruises.

8) Sally Field won her first Oscar in 1980 for the movie Norma Rae. Five years later she won a second Oscar for Places in the Heart and delivered one of the most quoted acceptance speeches in Academy history. Do you remember what she said?
"You like me! You really like me!"

9) In 1980, People magazine named Stephen King one of the most intriguing people of the year because he had two big paperback bestsellers -- The Dead Zone and The Shining. Do you have a favorite Stephen King book?
The Shining 

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Mama, This Surely is a Dream

Y'all.

I have to tell you about a song I've misunderstood for almost 20 years. Since 1997, in fact.

I was listening to Maroon 5's new cover of Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy" and came to the very sudden and jarring realization that "Mama" isn't this kid's MOTHER. It's a grown man's wife/girlfriend.

Yes. It's true!

(I know. You knew.)

I've always found it to be a weird song, with this child coming home to a house that smells like sex and candy. And some creeper guy is sitting in the kid's chair, staring at him.

See, this is why I've always hated any and all versions of "mama" as a term of endearment for a girlfriend. Ick.

So we went to Dallas for Christmas and had a big afternoon of fun on Christmas day with the in-laws and several of their neighbors. One of the neighbors is getting his sommelier certification (for funzies), and he wowed us all with his knowledge of wines and wine trivia! He brought a couple of bottles of great wine and his own glass.

I got Kendra Scott jewelry and a movie theater-style popcorn popper!

Then we went to Johnson City with Scott-n-Julie this weekend to see the lights. Soooooo pretty!

And lastly... Patrick of Patrick's Saturday Six has a new meme- The Big Question- which he's doing every Saturday now. Here's my first stab at it.

The Big Question

With another year almost over, we look back at the notable deaths we suffered in 2014. Take a few moments to look through this slideshow. If you could have a meal with up to 5 of the notable people we lost in 2014, who would you choose and why?

Robin Williams- Oh to spend a couple of hours with this genius, one of the best entertainers of all time, and such a gifted actor and complex man.
Maya Angelou- She would have great stories and insight, should we get into any meaningful discussions.
Joan Rivers- She would keep things lively and everyone laughing.
Steven Nagel - I would always love to chat with an astronaut!
Casey Kasem- Listened to him every weekend growing up. Would love to talk about music with him.

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Friendsgiving

We had "Friendsgiving" at Jen-n-Ray's last night with some of their friends and Mel-n-Alex. We played Cards Against Humanity, which was HILARIOUS. (It's kind of like a super-raunchy version of Apples to Apples... that you can't play with your family at real Thanksgiving.) It takes the first few rounds to see what sorts of things your particular crowd can handle and what they think is funny. This group was pretty much up for anything, which makes it the funniest. We did have to Google a few terms we'd never seen, so it was also a learning experience. Bonus!

Sunday Stealing: Shop On The Corner Meme

What kind of job did your mom have when you were growing up?
She was a stay-at-home mom until I was in sixth grade. Then she worked a few years doing layout and design at a mom-n-pop print shop. My freshman year of high school, she took a job at IBM with their geographic mapping group.

Have you ever known anyone that’s been on TV, including you? 
I was on TV once, for the Gordie Howe award presentation we made in elementary school. 

What was the most interesting animal you have seen in the wild? 
moose at Yellowstone Park

What holiday do you enjoy the most? 
Christmas

What was the first video game you ever played? 
We had some gaming console in the 70s that had several basic pong-like games on it, and I played Bowling the most. The first arcade video game I played was probably Space Invaders.

What is the one thing you own, that if it got lost, you would be bummed? 
My iPhone.

Do you have a favorite breakfast item? 
Eggs Benedict

What do you find yourself buying all the time? 
Batteries. They really need to last longer.

When was the last time you got a real letter in the mail?
Forever ago.

Do you have a most prized piece of jewelry?
Two-- my wedding ring and my Aggie ring.

Do you own any board games?
A lot.

What chore seems the most daunting right now? 
Mopping the floor.

Were you born in the state you live in? 
Nope, I was born in Germany.

Have you ever lived in a house that has been broken into? 
Our house got robbed while we were on vacation, when I was a kid. They even took my money from my piggy bank. Grr!

What is your favorite cheese? 
Lately- goat cheese. I'm usually a blue cheese girl.

Who do you know that watches the most sports?
KrisH

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Saturday 9

... a day late...

Saturday 9: The Main Event (1979)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This is the theme from a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of boxing. Sam admits she's not crazy about boxing. What about you? Do you enjoy boxing, martial arts or wrestling?
No, no and no.

2) If you went to a dance club on a Saturday night in 1979 or 1980, you might well have danced to this. What are your plans for this Saturday night?
Last night we went out to a repeat birthday dinner for Lauren with her grandparents in town. During dinner, a flash flood warning was issued, causing the phones of everyone in the restaurant to emit that horrible, shrill sound at the same time. Quite freaky, I have to say.
 
3) Gilda Radner was one of the original Saturday Night Live performers and in 1979, she parlayed her TV popularity into her own one-woman show on Broadway. Who is your all-time favorite SNL cast member?
One of my faves is Dennis Miller. I tend to like the Weekend Update anchors best, probably because that is the only consistently funny segment on the show.

4) Sally Little and Nancy Lopez were at the top of the LPGA in 1979. Do you golf?
Nope.

5) The movie The Main Event co-starred Ryan O'Neal. He is better known for Love Story, and saying the line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." When did you last apologize?
I apologized to Crystal for something at work that we've already forgotten.

6) O'Neal got his big break on the nighttime soap opera, Peyton Place. He played Rodney Harrington, the handsome golden boy that all the girls dreamed of dating. Tell us about your big high school crush.
My high school class was 780 people, so we had several golden boys that all the girls wanted to date. My own personal big "crush" was in middle school, but in high school, I may have crushed just a little on one of the golden boys- EddieM. He was Best Dressed AND Most Handsome in our senior class. Yikers, he was cute. And so approachable and friendly. An all-around good guy.

7) In researching this week's Saturday 9, Sam discovered that The Main Event is a popular name for sports bars all across the country. Do you enjoy sitting at the bar or do you look for a booth or table?
I prefer a booth, so we can all hear each other as well as can be expected.

8) The Mane Event was the salon Sam went to for years. She switched when it got too hard to get Saturday appointments. As a consumer, what's more important to you -- convenience or price?
Usually price. I go for convenience, but I have a pretty low tolerance for premium pricing, so I'll make an extra trip or drive some extra miles to save a significant amount on some items or services.

9) More than 50 years after her first million-selling album, Streisand recently had a #1 hit with her current CD, Partners. What's the last song you bought/downloaded?
Maroon 5's album, V

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Saturday 9

To make my blog posts less random (and to avoid having people who come here other websites that have shared one of my posts on... I don't know... Waterford crystal... arriving to find a post on Waterford crystal, Aggie football plus a dorky survey), I'm going to make an an attempt to separate my posts into single subjects.

You're welcome.


Saturday 9: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Bing Crosby wants a dime for food. Adjusted for inflation, 10¢ in 1932 is now worth $1.69. Can you think of anything you could buy at the grocery story with $1.69?
A loaf of my favorite sandwich bread- 12 grain.

2) This song was originally released as a 78 rpm record. Have you ever seen a 78?
Yes.

3) In 1932, Jean Harlow was Hollywood's glamor queen. Who do you think sets the standard for glamor today?
Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron

4) One of 1932's best selling books was Agatha Christie's Peril at End House. She remains popular today. Are you familiar with her work?
Yes, I have read some of her books and played the video game of And Then There Were None (which was awesome).

5) This week's featured artist, Bing Crosby, worked as a caddy when he was 12 and continued to enjoy time on the golf course his entire life. What type of exercise do you do most often?
walking/hiking

6) Bing had twin sons, Dennis and Philip. Many people believe that the propensity for twins is hereditary. Are there twins in your family?
My maternal great-grandmother was an identical twin.

7) Bing's daughter, Mary Crosby, has her own place in TV history. Do you know why?
Nope.

8) In the mid 1970s, Crosby and his family did commercials for Minute Maid. Do you have any orange juice in your refrigerator?
Not at the moment.

9) Now for something completely random: Do you like beef jerky?
I love beef jerky!

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Let's Talk Travel... 'n Football

Well, it finally happened. Our beloved Aggies imploded yesterday from the weight of their own insecurities. There are still coaching calls to be changed as well. (Run and pass primarily in a forward direction, please.)

We're stacked with honest-to-goodness football stars (with a bunch more on the way next season) and they've proven they are capable, but they need to learn to emotionally recover from a few bad plays four games ago in a game we eventually won, instead of letting it crush them. There is nowhere to go but up from yesterday's abysmal performance, guys, so put those doubts aside and let's play some football!


Sunday Stealing: Let's Talk Travel Meme

Ok let’s talk travel, do you like to travel? 
Yes

Where have you been?
England, Germany, all over the Caribbean, Jamaica, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, San Jose, San Francisco, Vegas, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Branson, St. Louis, Denver, Corpus, Padre, Dallas, San Antonio, Bar Harbour, Boston, NYC, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Charleston, New Orleans, Nashville

Next place you want to go? 
Italy or back to Puerto Rico

What is something you MUST take with you when you travel?
I have a mini pharmacy with over-the-counter meds for various conditions.  I don't like having to find a med in the middle of a trip, much less pay an arm and a leg for a whole bottle of it.

How do you like to travel? (mode of transportation)
car or cruise ship

With someone, or alone?
always with someone

Do you dance in your car when there are other people with you? 
Sure!

If you're quiet, what does it mean? 
Well, occasionally I am just quiet. Other times, I am contemplating something that I don't want to talk about. 

Favorite store?
Target

Say you wanted coffee.. what kind is your favorite?
I like iced decaf mocha.

Favorite kind of pizza? 
veggies and Italian sausage

Do you get embarrassed easily?
not really

Do you mind people asking you personal questions? 
nope

You have a tank of gas, $50, and the day off… what do you do? 
Drive out to a hill country town and spend the day walking around and checking out the shops and having lunch at a recommended restaurant.

Favorite tv show?
definitely Blacklist

Song you turn the volume up all the way to listen to? 
"In Your Pocket" Maroon 5

Something you keep in your car? 
CDs

Highlight of your day?
during the week- hanging out with everyone at lunch, weekends- getting out of the house

Something you do every day that you wish you didn’t have to do?
As an employee of a contract-based company, I have to keep a time sheet even though I'm salaried. I HATE it. It takes too much time and there are always questions of which job code to bill for this or that task. Totally annoying.

Do you mind if people just show up at your house unannounced? 
Nope, but my friends know to call me when they show up, because I frequently do not answer the door due to the large number of salespeople in our neighborhood.

What do you do when you disagree with someone? 
I voice my opinion. If we can't work out a compromise, then we'll just agree to disagree.

Do you enjoy rain? 
yes

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Saturday 9

Well, it was the CDC's fault that the second ebola patient flew to and from Cleveland. It's one thing to allow at-risk people to move around locally if they aren't symptomatic, quite another to advise them to hop on a plane with a fever. Who the heck do we have working at the CDC these days? Was that person fired? Good grief. 


Saturday 9: The Power of Love (1985)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Huey explains that you don't need a credit card to find love. What's the last thing you charged?
lunch with the girls at the Texican Cafe

2) This song was written for Back to the Future. At the beginning of the movie, hero Marty McFly traveled around town on his skateboard. Are you good on a skateboard?
I've never been on one. I'm fabulous on a scooter though.

3) Huey sings lead and his backup group is The News. Was the most recent news you heard, bad or good?
There's a cruise ship now returning to Galveston with a Dallas hospital employee who was involved with the original ebola patient. I suppose the CDC ok'd that trip as well.

4) Huey's mother, Maria, was born in Poland. Who is the first member of your family to be born in the US of A?
My brother was the first and only person ever to be born in the USA on Dad's side (all German). My maternal grandma and her siblings were the first born in the USA to German and Irish parents. My mom's dad's family go waaaaaay back in the US.

5) Brainy Huey got a perfect score on the math portion of the SAT. Did you take the SAT? How did you do?
I got a 1380 out of 1600.

6) This song also hit #1 in Australia, where anzac biscuits are popular. To make them (the recipe is here) you need coconut. Do you have any coconut in your home right now?
Nope.

7) Thinking of dessert, would you rather have cookies, cake, pie, ice cream or frozen yogurt?
cake

8) We're definitely into autumn now. What will you remember most about Summer 2014?
EARTHQUAKE

9) Tell us your superhero name, as determined by the color of your shirt and an item directly to your right. For example, Sam fights crime as The Gold Kleenex Box!
The Turquoise Owl!

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Game Recap Sunday

As a game summary last night at midnight, when we were all tired and disappointed, I would just have said "The Ags imploded." I've had 5 hours of sleep now (these 2:30 a.m. drives through Bastrop kill me), so I can formulate a more accurate recap of the A&M/Ole Miss game.

First and foremost- shoutout to Speedy Noil, who was a bright bright light through the weary evening. That kid was IN THE GAME. All. Night. Long. I am so impressed with him. Calling him "talented" on the field is an understatement, but I really admire how incredibly energetic and dedicated he was last night, making plays until the very last moment through a long, hard game. He has the attitude and fortitude to be a great leader for the team. True freshman, y'all. 

The first few games of the season went exceptionally well and we all happily forgot that the team is primarily made up of true freshmen and red-shirt sophomores. Although they are top-quality recruits, it is a rebuilding year without our experienced players and we were never expected to do well. When we smashed South Carolina and continued putting up amazing numbers the next few games (even though they were fluffy non-SEC opponents), it created unrealistically high expectations for the team and especially Hill.

I won't rehash the more eloquently written analyses, but it boils down to this for me: Hill needs to make the forward passes he was making before, not these lateral passes for no gain. Most importantly, he needs to regain his confidence, because interceptions and fumbles aren't going to cut it. The RBs need to run straight ahead, not sideways and backwards. The receivers need to catch the (now rare) passes that are hitting them right in the numbers.

Our Section 130 had a LOT to say about the coaches' play calls last night. If only we had a line to those guys. Who knows how things may have gone. ;)

And finally the D. We've struggled with defense for several years now, but this year is different. It's a progression. The defense really came through in the second half of the game. Early, they looked tired and beat down. Later though, they and Noil were the spirit of the team. Come heck or high water, they were going to do their part. Good on ya', Aggie Defense.

The competition in the SEC West is brutal. There's no embarrassment in losing to the best teams in the nation, especially with a young, inexperienced team. I think we're all back to the rebuilding mindset now. Carry on and gig 'em!


Sunday Stealing: Random Questions

Who were you with yesterday?
Lauren and Jeff... and an SEC and state of Texas (including NFL) record-breaking 110,633 football fans!

What woke you up this morning?
Daylight

Where are you?
In the living room

Is tomorrow going to be a good day?
Yes! I get to put together my new office at work.

What’s on your mind RIGHT NOW?
grocery shopping

Do you listen to music every day?
yes

Are you a fast typer?
yes

Whats your favorite type of soda?
diet ginger ale

Have you ever won an award?
Haven't we all? Yes, several.

Are you listening to music right now?
no, I'm watching Giada at Home

How long ’till your birthday?
about six months

Do you use ebay to buy or sell?
nope

Who makes you mad?
Just one person I work with. I am working on dealing with it better than I have been, because the negative energy is draining.

What do you do when you’re mad?
Vent to friends. Thanks, friends!

Do certain songs make you cry?
Yep. A sampling: "Rain" Patty Griffin, "Fireflies" Ron Pope, "Over You" Miranda Lambert

Are you usually a happy person?
Yes! Turns out it drives my unhappy friends nuts. LOL

What makes you the happiest?
hanging out with family and/or friends doing something fun or just chatting

Do you believe in yourself?
most of the time

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Good Morning!

So. I'm watching Hilary Duff and Giada De Laurentiis on Watch What Happens Live now (on my DVR from this week). LOL and omg. SO funny. I think Andy is freaking them both out. And I'm having Lizzie McGuire flashbacks. I watched every episode with Lauren when she was a little girl. Lauren has even met Jake Thomas!

...Then I see you smiling as I go oh, oh, oh
Yesterday my life was duller
Now everything's techni-color
Hey now, hey now,
This is what dreams are made of ...

"Hey Now" The Lizzie McGuire Movie Soundtrack- Ha!

OH man, Hilary has no idea what a shotski is. Giada has done it before. This is awesome.

BTW, regarding the Giudices of Real Housewives of NJ and their prison time... I'm sick of them thinking of themselves as victims. They need to stop acting like something terrible has happened to them. They did this to themselves. They committed fraud at the expense of other innocent people. Their "we'll get through this" attitude is seriously ridiculous. While I feel awful for their daughters, I have zero sympathy for them.

My company moved today! It was a long-ass day, but we all got packed up and out of there in time to get to Chuy's for happy hour.

Goodbye beauuuutiful Austin skyline view.  :(
Hello ten minute commute! :)

We'll see if I can remember how to reconnect all my electronics on Monday morning.

Off to College Station today. BTHO Ole Miss!!


Saturday 9: Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Are the majority of your friends married or single?
It's honestly about half and half.

2) Rings are one of the items most frequently pawned. Have you ever visited a pawn shop, either to sell or to buy?
I have been in a pawn shop one time in my entire life. JohnH pawned a guitar when we were in high school. He thought he would get a couple of hundred dollars for it and he got about $30. Thus I learned at 15 that a pawn shop is the last place you want to get a loan.

3) Let's say we want to put a ring on it: What's your ring size?
I have no idea.

4) Beyonce does commercials for Pepsi. What's the last beverage you drank?
New Mexican Martini at Chuy's

5) Beyonce also has a clothing line. What are you wearing right now?
jeans, a grey long-sleeve top and tennis shoes.

6) Speaking of clothes, Sam was changing hers this morning when she unintentionally flashed her neighbor. She didn't realize he was working along the fence that runs under her bedroom window. Tell us one of your most embarrassing moments.
My bedroom in high school was in the front of the house. I had a huge floor to ceiling window. One evening, I realized that you could completely see through my translucent bedroom curtains if the lamp was on at night, which it was during who-knows-how-many times I didn't want to share with the neighborhood.

7) Rumor has it Beyonce is pregnant again. Coincidentally, Sam needs to check the Babys R Us registry for a shower present. Who will receive the next gift you give?
Lauren. It's her 21st birthday next month!

8) But Sam doesn't actually want to go to the shower and is trying to come up a good excuse. Tell us a time you fibbed to get out of doing something.
I don't fib to get out of things. I just say I can't or don't want to do it.

9) When did you last go inside the bank and talk to a teller?
The last time I even went into the bank, Lauren was in high school and I had to get a form notarized for a summer camp. Last time I spoke to a TELLER? 2008 perhaps.

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Sunday Stealing

Well, the Mississippi game was just plain painful to watch. What has happened to Hill's confidence in the last two weeks? No one expected anything out of this year, so it's been amazing where we've been so far, but in the end, our team is young and thus inconsistent. I really wanted them to throw Kyle Allen in there yesterday, but I suppose patience with Hill is best. When he's relaxed, he hits those receivers every single time. He needs to learn to trust his ability.

So weird that so many top 25 teams lost this week. It's a shakeup of a season so far. Keeps things exciting though!


Sunday Stealing: Random 20

1. Have you had an argument with anyone recently? If so, do you still have issues with that person?
Well I didn't think we were having an argument on Thursday, but Felicia thought we were. I was telling her that I was angry that someone else did something. She thought I was angry with her, because she had actually told the person to do what they did, which I didn't know.... So about two minutes into the conversation, she got very defensive and was angry with me and I was sooooo confused! When I figured out what was happening, I told her I wasn't mad at her at all. I also emailed her after we hung up the phone with a huge apology. She never said a word about it, but we've talked since then. So I'm not sure where we stand at this point. Hoping we're good!

2. Are you talking to anyone while filling this in? How about texting/chatting on Facebook? 
Nope, I'm just watching cooking shows and doing this meme at the moment.

3. Have you done something recently that helped someone else, in any way?
I took care of having the fence fixed, so the neighbor didn't have to handle it.

4. Who was the last person to pay you a compliment? 
Leslie said I was "on fire" correcting things during the vendor meeting the other day. I've been finding errors in their specs at every single meeting! Gah.

5. Is there anything that’s happened in the past month, that you wish you could go back in time and change?
Nothing I can think of!

6. What colour is your purse/wallet? 
black

7. What’s the closest item to you that’s black? 
Maya

8. Think about what you looked like 5 years ago. How did you look different, compared to the way you look now? 
I was leaving my hair curly most often then. Now it's almost always straightened. 

9. Before Facebook became popular, did you use any other social networking site, like Bebo or Myspace? 
I had a Myspace page, but I was never very active on it. Most of my online social time was devoted to message boards and LiveJournal.

10. Has someone of the opposite sex ever sung to you? If so, how did you respond to it? 
I've been sung to on a few occasions. I love that!

11. When did you last hug someone of the opposite sex? 
Jeff and I hugged yesterday.

12. Have you ever seen the film “Casablanca”? Did you like it? 
I've seen it. I don't really get into old films, so it was ok, but not something I would watch again.

13. Do you have a relative whose name begins with ‘L’? Tell me about him/her. 
Lauren is the obvious 'L', but you know all about her! Liz is my mother-in-law. She was a stay-at-home mom while her kids were growing up, and then worked as the administrative assistant to an airline executive for many years. She likes to cooking, traveling and home decorating.

14. Are you a secretive person? 
No. I'm a very open person. If anything, I tend to "overshare."

15. When did you last eat? 
A couple of hours ago I had cereal.

16. If you were going to buy a present for a special person, what would you generally choose? 
I really like getting someone an activity-based gift like tickets to an event or class, etc.

17. If I’m going to buy you a box of chocolates, which kind should I definitely NOT get?
I don't generally like chocolates with gel or cream fillings.

18. Is there something you generally always ask for help with? 
Vacuuming the air registers on the ceilings. I can't reach them.

19. If you had to give up your phone or your computer, which would it be? 
Computer. It's not as mobile.

20. Has anyone called you gorgeous/beautiful today?
Not yet. The day is young!

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