My Rubber Chicken

I remember when I got her.  It was August 2006 and we were in Memphis, TN.  I purchased her with tickets I won playing skeeball in an arcade.  Just over two inches long from beak to talon, she sat in a special place by my phone where I could pick her up and play with her while talking.  In time her neck broke and hung by a thread.  The final straw was when her "egg" broke.  I had to throw her away.

My younger daughter sent me a text earlier this week while on a day trip with her boyfriend.  She told me she'd gotten me a surprise.  Yesterday she came to visit and brought it with her.  A new chicken!!!  This one is huge in comparison to my original (more than seven inches long), but just as entertaining. 

Here you can see her "egg" peeking out.

You have to be careful not to pop the egg out while squeezing!
See the yolk?

"Ack!  Let go of my neck!"

Chilling in the chair.



There now.  You've either been entertained or grossed out.  At the very least, you're now convinced that I'm a little "touched". 

Ponderings #6

Tell me your choices. Mine are in bold green type.


1. Coffee or tea ? (I drank coffee daily for years, but much prefer hot tea now.)

2. Coca Cola or Pepsi ? (I rarely drink sodas, but always liked Coke best. If it has to be diet, make it a Dr. Pepper.)

3. Digital or Analog clocks and watches ? (If I see a time in digital format, I have to picture a regular clock face in my mind.)

4. Morning person or Night Owl ? (This really depends on what's going on in my life. I can be either.)

5. Fir trees (evergreens) or Deciduous trees ? (I love the colors of autumn.)

Ponderings #5

I would swear I've already had this conversation somewhere online, perhaps even on my own blog, but I can't find it.  So, I'm making it one of my "ponderings". 

If you could have a superpower, any superpower, what would it be? 

My first thought, as one who's struggled with my weight for years, is to be able to eat anything I want without gaining inches or pounds.  However, that's not really a superpower in the true sense of the word.  Therefore, the superpower I'd most want to have is:

Teleporting

Wouldn't it be great to blink your eyes and be in another place?!  Just think of the potential.  I could visit friends and family at the drop of a hat and still be home in time to cook supper.  I could travel the world.  I wouldn't even have to take luggage since I could teleport home to shower and change clothes.

Give it some thought, or maybe this is something for which you already have an answer.  If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 

Ponderings #4

My picks are in green. Tell me yours in the comments.


1. Thick pizza crust or thin? (I do like the ocassional pan crust)

2. Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? (If I'm trying to be healthy I pick dark)

3. PC or Mac? (Though I do have an iPod and iPhone, both Apple products, my laptop is a PC)

4. Apples or Oranges? (Only if we're talking raw fruit. I prefer Orange flavoring for candy)

5. Fiction or Non-Fiction? (I read for escape and find fiction works best for me)

Ponderings #3

First, let me state something for the record. I do not believe in reincarnation.

But......if I did, I think I know what I might have been in a former life:

A monk in a scriptorium!

I came to this conclusion while working the crossword puzzle one morning. I spent hours in college hunched over a drafting table with pencil in hand (the same pencil that I still use to work the crossword each day) printing the alphabet. I still get a sense of satisfaction in filling the puzzle grid with neatly printed letters.

Give it some thought. Any ideas what you might have been?

Ponderings #2

If you could only have one condiment for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

1. Mustard

2. Mayonnaise

3. Ketchup (Catsup)

4. Salsa

5. Other (please elaborate!)

Without a doubt, it would be mustard for me. Just look at all the varieties! Spicy brown mustard, honey mustard, whole seed mustard, Dijon mustard and my favorite - plain old yellow mustard. I might miss ketchup just a little, but mustard wins hands down.

What about you?

Four Questions Asked, Four Questions Answered

I've been tagged.

Tracy (Petty Witter) from Pen and Paper decided to join in a question and answer session from Jenner's blog and has in turn asked four questions of her own which I'm supposed to answer.

1. You are going to a fancy dress party - what is your costume of choice and why?

I can only remember one time that I went to this type of party and my date and I dressed in Roman garb that he borrowed from our local theatre. I'm sure they weren't authentic togas/stolas, but it was a lot of fun. Given another opportunity, I would probably opt to do that again. It was very comfortable!

2. What is the oddest gift you have ever received/given?

If I'm not mistaken, the first wedding anniversary is traditionally meant to be celebrated with a gift of paper. (does anyone really follow these rules??) On my first anniversary I received a 20-gauge shotgun from my husband!! Maybe not traditional, but one of the best gifts he's ever given me! Perhaps a little odder, though, was our tenth anniversary. We gave each other rolling desk chairs.

3. Every Christmas morning we would eat tinned hotdogs for breakfast. A family we know ate a box of malteser chocolates in bed to celebrate a birthday. Do you have any holiday traditions? If not, what tradition would you like to start?

This one's easy. Holiday Bingo!! Over the years it has become the focal point of our family gathering on Christmas Eve. I'm always the "caller" and I provide lots of fun small prizes including a WalMart giftcard as the final "cover the board" prize. It's something we can all enjoy, from the youngest to the oldest.

4. You find a time machine, to which time in history would you travel and why?

I love historical fiction/mysteries and find many periods in history fascinating. However, I think I would pick ancient Rome, in particular during the time of Vespasian. I love the Marcus Didius Falco books which are set during this timeframe. Any time I speculate on this to my husband, he's always quick to remind me about things like sanitation, gender roles, etc. So...I'd want to make sure I had my finger on the "return" button of my time machine in case I found myself in a sticky situation!

Now I'm supposed to pose four new questions and tag four others to answer them. Rather than actually tagging anyone, I'm just going to invite anyone who wants to participate to do so. (and I hope SOMEone will take me up on it!!) Do your own post, answer here in the comments, or do both!! Here's your assignment:

1. What's the best (or worst) vacation you've ever taken?

2. If you could be fluent in any language (that you don't already speak fluently) what would it be and why?

3. What would be your ultimate fantasy job/career?

4. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Ponderings

Nothing earth-shattering, just something to think about.

Tell me your preferences in the comments. My picks are in green.


1. Star Trek or Star Wars?

2. Summer or Winter?

3. Cats or Dogs?

4. Sweet or Savory?

5. The Mountains or The Beach?

6. Lyrics or Music?

7. Elvis or The Beatles or The Stones?*


*My daughter and I disagreed on which two to use, so I had to include an extra.

Titles Tell a Story

Here's a fun idea I saw over at Pen and Paper. Take ten books from your TBR pile and arrange the titles so they tell a story. Considering I have so many books waiting to be read, there were plenty of titles to choose from. Here's what I came up with.


When the Ground Turns in its Sleep (Sylvia Sellers-Garcia)

[and] The Dead Hour (Denise Mina) [approaches],

The Great Stink (Clare Clark) [caused by]

Holy Fools (Joanne Harris)

In the Company of Others (Jan Karon)

[was] Not Quite What I Was Planning (edited by Smith magazine).

[Despite having] Heart and Soul (Maeve Binchy),

The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein) [is quite difficult].

[After all, we all know] Life is a Three-Ring Circus (Rebecca Kelly)

[and] Being Dead is No Excuse (Gayden Metcalfe & Charlotte Hays) !

8 Questions

Okay.....I've been tagged. Thanks to Dorte at DJs Krimiblog I am to answer the following questions then tag three others. Let's see what I can come up with.

1. If you could have any superpower, what would you have? Why?
My kids use to ask me this when they were little. I always had trouble coming up with an answer then, but I think I've finally figured it out. I would like to be able to teleport! It would be great to go anywhere in the world with the blink of an eye.

2. Who is your style icon?
Those who know me in real life know I'm not big on "fashion". I dress for comfort and to suit myself.

3. What is your favorite quote?
The Bible verse from 2 Corinthians that I have in my profile. It speaks volumes about my life.

4. What is the best compliment you've ever received?
Perhaps that I'm a good listener. So often saying the "right" thing is to say "nothing".

5. What playlist/cd is in your CD player right now?
Mmmm..that changes with my moods. I've been on a 70s Rock kick lately.

6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?
For the most part I'd say I'm a morning person.

7. Do you prefer dogs or cats?
I'm definitely a dog person (though I have nothing against cats)

8. What is the meaning behind your blog name?
My blog doesn't stick to one topic such as books, cooking, photography or whatever. I'm not much of a writer, either. So....it's just a collection of my "thoughts and ramblings". Believe me, it's a challenge sometimes to keep my entries "readable" rather than just "random".


Now, which bloggers will I tag? (and will those I tag participate?) Even if I don't tag you specifically, feel free to join in!

Marion, Quid, Tracy.......you're IT! (or still it considering Tracy just did a different tag game today)

My life (so far) in books this year

Dorte had a fun entry on her blog yesterday and encouraged others to join in so I thought I'd give it a try. She mostly reads crime fiction, but I had to stick with a broader selection. If you decide to play, please come back and leave a link to your post in the comments! Here's what I came up with to answer the questions:



In high school I was: The Girl Who Played With Fire (Stieg Larsson)

People might be surprised I'm: Infected (Scott Sigler)

I will never be: Contagious (Scott Sigler)

My fantasy job is: Queen Victoria Demon Hunter (A.E. Moorat)

At the end of a long day I need: Tea Time for the Traditionally Built (Alexander McCall Smith)

I hate it when: Your Heart Belongs To Me (Dean Koontz)

Wish I had: Revelation (C.J. Sansom)

My family reunions are: Relentless (Dean Koontz)

At a party you'd find me with: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Stieg Larsson)

I've never been to: The Road (Cormac McCarthy)

A happy day includes: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Alan Bradley)

Motto I live by: Listen (Rene Gutteridge)

On my bucket list: Beat the Reaper (Josh Bazell)

In my next life, I want to be: Delicious and Suspicious (Riley Adams)*


*I'm still reading this one, but used it anyway.

update: Marion and Pam have left their lists in the comments. Click here to see Tracy's post and here for Cathy's.

Think you know what's going on?

Last month I posted a Civic Literacy quiz to test your knowledge about the U.S. government. This week I received another fun quiz in an e-mail. I did a little better on this one, scoring a 10 out of 12. (and really shouldn't have missed one of those) It's a quick test, so click the link below and see how well you do. Keep in mind it relates to U.S. politics.

Political Quiz

On an unrelated note.... I watched Bolt this afternoon. A really cute movie! The animated dog in it reminded me of our Jed. (in looks, not intelligence!)

The Rebel-Yankee Language Test

One of the interesting things about reading blogs from around the globe is seeing the differences in spelling and speech. For example, do you put your dishes in a kitchen cabinet or cupboard? Do you go to the movies or the cinema? (or maybe the theater...or theatre)

Talking to Debby on the phone last week reminded me of a "Rebel-Yankee Test" that I posted on my old 360 blog several years ago. I took the test again today and came up with a score of "83% Dixie". Considering I was born and raised in the South you'd think I'd be at least 90% Dixie!! I'm not sure how it will work for those who don't live in the U.S., but you could still give it a try. Click on the link below and see if you talk more like a Yankee or a Southerner!

The Rebel-Yankee Test

Civic Literacy

I read about this quiz in the comic pages, of all places! (Mallard Fillmore) Civics class in school was many years ago and I've never considered government my strong suit, so it was with some trepidation that I decided to test myself.

My score is definitely nothing to brag about, but I'm not ashamed to share it. I got 25 out of 33 questions correct giving me a score of 75.76%. The sad part is that one of those I missed I answered correctly at first, then decided to change at the last minute. Four of the questions I shouldn't have missed. The remaining three I just didn't know.

Go ahead and test yourself, even if you aren't one of my US readers. You never know....

Civics Quiz

What a waste!

I would absolutely like to KICK myself!!! This is precisely why I don't need to drink, gamble, or play video games.

Today was our older daughter's birthday so we (my husband, son and I) met her and her family for dinner. The restaurant she chose is usually crowded on Friday nights, so we made it an early supper. That means I was home at a decent hour and had the evening free to do what I wanted.

I have a fun jigsaw in process. I'm in the midst of a good book. I have several magazines to read. I need to work on my Legacy Guide project. But what did I do?

I wasted my ENTIRE EVENING playing solitaire on my computer!!! Las Vegas rules. Lost every game. I can't remember when I've done anything so stupid! All I meant to do was check the weather radar and something made me click on "games". Big mistake.

As punishment I shouldn't allow myself to turn on my computer tomorrow. (yeah, right!)

*sigh*

U.S. Geography

Give me a blank U.S. map and I can label all the states. Okay.... I'll admit I sometimes mix up New Hampshire and Vermont, but for the most part I know my geography. A friend sent me a map quiz this week and it ended up being more difficult than I expected. Land-locked states without border states for reference are tough and you have to hit them nearly dead-on to count as correct. Click on the map above to take the test. If you aren't happy with your results, try again. The states are doled out in a different order each time. My third time was the charm - a 98%. (I'm not telling how bad my first two attempts were!!)

A touch of Spring

I got this in an e-mail recently:

I think we all need a little spring today!

Click on the snowman. You will get a black page. Click your mouse anywhere (and everywhere) on the page and see what happens. Better yet, click (hold down) and drag your mouse over the black page. Enjoy!!

What's in a name?

If you haven't entered the Caption Contest, it's not too late!

This is one of those games folks send around in e-mails. I've done it before, but thought I'd post it here this time around. Join in if you like.

Take the first letter of your middle name and answer each of the following questions with a word that begins with that letter. Try not to repeat any words.

1. What is your middle name? .....Gene

2. A four letter word.........Gasp

3. A boy's name.......Gary

4. A girl's name.......Gail

5. An occupation........Grocer

6. Something you wear...... Glasses

7. Beverage.........Grape juice

8. A place.........Germany

9. Something you shout........Geronimo!!!

Animator vs. Animation

It's been a rough week on a number of levels. It's time for some levity.

Click here.

Keep that mind alert!

I think it's pretty much agreed upon that as we age it's important to "exercise" our brains. There are many ways to do this: attempt another language, play bridge, learn to play a musical instrument, take a different route to the store or to work each day. I enjoy working jigsaw puzzles when time allows for it. Life's been too busy for that in recent months, but there are a few "brain exercises" that I always make time for. My local paper carries three daily puzzles that some folks would consider time-wasters, but I look at as ways to enhance my brain power.

I begin with the daily crossword puzzle, which is a simple one. Created by Thomas Joseph, it rarely takes me more than ten minutes to complete. If I'm really feeling daring, I work it using my left hand. (I'm right handed) There is one a little more difficult in the state-wide paper my husband reads, but I'd rather do the easy one and still have time for the other two puzzles. On rare occasions I will work the more challenging Los Angeles Times puzzle which appears in my Sunday paper. If my husband and I take a road trip on a Sunday, I'll take it to work in the car. (Yes, I'm one of those lucky people that can read while riding in a car.)

I next move to the cryptoquote. It's all about looking for patterns that appear in words and grammar. Sometimes the author of the quote is what gives it away. (look for anonymous, source obscure, source unknown, or some country's proverb) Also, if you do these enough, you'll start to recognize a lot of the folks who are quoted. I can't always work the cryptoquote. If nothing jumps out at me I move on to my last puzzle and come back to it later. Even that doesn't always work and it just goes unsolved.

The final puzzle I work is the sudoku. The version in my paper is called Conceptis Sudoku and starts the week easy, getting more difficult as the week progresses. I challenge myself on Mondays to work the puzzle without making any notations in the process. As the puzzles get harder, though, I have to makes notes. By the end of the week, I don't always complete them. If I find I've made an error or I just plain get stuck, I won't slave over it. I think one of my pet peeves is when folks claim they won't try sudoku because they "don't do math". It has nothing to do with math. The numbers could just as easily be substituted with the first nine letters of the alphabet. It's all about logic.

So..... that's how I try to spend about a half hour of my day. I find it relaxing. Hopefully it's doing my brain some good in the process!