Sunday Stealing

1) What one event from your lifetime would you change if you could, and why?  It's a personal event that I won't go into here. As for why, because it was devastating and I think it changed me at some foundational level and altered my life. But then again, it brought me to today and helped make me who I am now so maybe I wouldn't change it.

2) If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be and how old would your younger self be when they got it? Do you think your younger self would listen?  I would tell my younger self to finish college, that marriage could wait a year or two, that I don't need to be in such a rush. I'd be 19 and no, my younger self probably wouldn't listen. I was pretty headstrong and stubborn back then.

3) If you could have a conversation with the historical figure of your choosing, whom would you pick and why? What would you talk about?  I think I'd choose either Earnest Hemmingway or Teddy Roosevelt. I know Hemmingway was rather a rogue and a cad, but if you weren't romantically involved with him, I think he'd have a lot of interesting stories to tell. Ditto for Teddy. I'd love to hear of their adventures and would be quite content to just listen and let them do all the talking.

4) What's a safety rule that's very important to you?  Wear your seatbelt. Always.

5) What would you like to say to people in the future?  I'm sorry?

6) What's your favorite dish to bring to a summer cookout?  Taco salad

7) How much time have you spent outdoors this week?  Not that much as we've had a yo-yo weather kind of week and one of the warmer days it POURED all day.

8) Where do you set your thermostat?  I used to set it at 72 during the day and 67 at night, but this year I put it at 70 and just left it there. It seems to be working for us. My husband usually wants to get up and crank the heat to 80, but he hasn't don't that this winter.

9) How did you learn to swim?  Red Cross swimming lessons at the public pool.

10) How do you avoid overheating?  I either stay in the air conditioning or get in the pool.

11). What are you going to do this weekend?  I worked for a bit this afternoon and tomorrow it's breakfast with my husband and the grandkids and then church.

12) What’s your favorite way to spend time?  Reading, puttering on the laptop, or browsing through thrift shops.

13) What’s the most useless thing you own that you would never get rid of?  I probably have a lot of things that fall into that category if you ask anyone other than me, but for the sake of the question I'll say my wedding dress. It's been hanging in the garment bag in the closet for 37 1/2 years. It's not like I'm going to wear it again. It didn't fit my daughter and she didn't like it, anyway. I doubt Leah will want to wear it. Oh well, they can decide what to do with it when I go to the nursing home or die.

14) Have you started planning your next vacation?  Actually, we have. We are going to Chincoteague Island, Virginia in September with our daughter and her family. We've been there several times and I think of it as my happy place, but this will be Colton and Leah's first time. We are excited to get to share it with them. We've already booked the house.

15) Are you very active, or do you prefer to just relax in your free time or is it one and the same to you?  No, I am not very active. I'm good with a normal amount of activity, but I do like to simply relax in my free time, as well. 

Thanks goes to Bev at Sunday Stealing for finding the questions!

Sunday Stealing: From the New York Times

Thanks goes to Bev for finding the questions and keeping Sunday Stealing going week after week.

Stolen from the New York Times

1. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?  Wow, given the state of the world these days and the fact that I'm not really a fan-girl type, that's a toughie. I think maybe I'd choose Lysa TerKeurst. She is a Christian teacher and author who has written painfully candid books about the betrayal in her life and the process of finding the path to forgiving those who hurt her.

2. Would you like to be famous? In what way?  I would not like to be famous, because as an introvert all that attention would be my worst nightmare. However, if I found fame thrust upon me, I'd hope it was for doing something that helped others or made the world a better place. 

3. Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?  I'm sure I probably have in the past, but I can't actually think of a specific instance. I'd guess I rehearsed because I was nervous and the call was important so I wanted to be sure I expressed myself correctly.

4. What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?  A day to myself to read, write or whatever, dinner with family or friends, and great conversation. 

5. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?  I sing to myself just about every day. I do not sing to anyone else. I am terrible! Okay, I'll sing to babies or my pets, but that's absolutely, positively all.

6. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?  As long as the aging mind isn't lost to dementia, I'll take the young, pain-free body, thank you.

7. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?  No and I really don't care to know.

8. Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.  Our core values, our taste in television shows, the kind of foods we like.

9. For what in your life do you feel most grateful?  Knowing Jesus Christ and having the peace that comes with it...I don't know how folks manage without him because this world has to be pretty depressing without the hope of heaven waiting at the end.

10. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?  I would choose to have known my biological father all along, not because I think life with him would have been better, but I would have liked to know my half-siblings while we were growing up.

11. Describe your life in one paragraph.  I am a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, and a follower of Jesus Christ. I work as a companion to adults with developmental disabilities. It is challenging and rewarding and I love it. I try to love all; forgive all; serve where, when, and how I am able; and do all I can to make life better for those around me. 

12. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?  I would dearly love to be a good singer. Singing ability is such a wonderful gift. I'd love to be able to express myself that way and touch others.

13. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?  Nothing. As Garth Brooks sang, "I'm glad I didn't know the way it all would end, the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance."

14. Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?  Writing a book. I didn't keep practicing the craft and the skills just aren't there these days.

15. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?  My family and maybe the fact that I'm still here and kicking and hopefully wiser and not just older.

Sunday Stealing: Colbert's Questions

These are the 15 questions that
Stephen Colbert asks his guests.

1. The Best sandwich. A classic BLT on toasted bread with mayo.

2.  Something you own that you really should throw out. So many things, but I will say the cowboy hat in my closet. I bought it for a country concert years ago. I love it. It's a really good looking hat...but the reality is that I'm never going to wear it again.

3.  The scariest animal. There are two that I am terrified of, but I don't think I could choose which one I'm more scared of so it will have to be a tie between snakes and sharks.

4.  Apples or oranges. I like both. It depends on my mood.

5.  Have you ever tried to get an autograph from someone? I have tried and succeeded with more than one person. I don't know what happened to some of them, but at one time I had, among others...Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby, David Eisenhower, Toby Keith, Senator John Heinz, Ronald Reagan, and quite a few of the 70's Steelers.

6.  What happens when you die? You either go to heaven or hell.

7.  Favorite Action movie. It will forever and always be Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

8.  Window or Aisle?  Usually the window, but it might depend on who is sitting by me.

9.  Favorite smell. The beach...sand, ocean, sun screen...all of it.

10.  Your most popular app on your phone. I hate to admit it, but it's Facebook and solitaire is a close second.

11.  Least favorite smell. Over-ripe roadkill on a hot summer day.

12.  Cats or dogs? I have one of each. They both have their charms and their annoying habits, so I guess it's a tie.

13.  If you can only listen to one song over and over for the rest of your life, what would it be?  I would be torn between my favorite hymn, How Great Thou Art, and my favorite fun song, Piano Man.

14.  What number am I thinking of? (I will answer honestly) Nine.

15.  The rest of your life in 5 words. Enjoying it and doing good.

Thanks to Bev for the questions.

Join the fun at Sunday Stealing!

Sunday Stealing: Family

Linking with Bev and the gang of thieves for Sunday Stealing today.

Stolen from Print/Discuss

1. How big is your immediate family? Who are the members? I consider my immediately family to be Tim and I, our daughter, her husband, their two kids, my mom and step-dad...and our son and his wife and two kids, but they don't speak to us so that's a whole other story.

2. Who are you closest to in your family? What kind of relationship do you have with that person? Is it like friendship?  I'm closest to my husband. He is my best friend as well as my husband. After him, it would be our daughter. I see her nearly every day since she lives next door and she comes to me about everything.

3. Which day of the year are you most likely to spend with your family?  Every day. We are close.

4. As a child, did you go on family trips? What do you remember about those vacations?  My parents weren't really the family vacation types. We did a camping trip to Niagara Falls when I was five. I don't remember anything but being on the Maid of the Mist in a thunderstorm. Then when I was 12 we did a driving trip through New England. It was a week long, not really long enough to do anything but the driving...which as a 12 year old I found incredibly boring.

5. Is there a black sheep in your family? What is different about them?  I suppose that would be our son by default. No one ever treated him that way, but he rejected everything about how he was raised and where and what and who he came from. Unless we are willing to change who we are to fit who he thinks we should be, he doesn't want us in his life.

Also, my husband is the black sheep in his family. His dad always treated him (and our children) differently and though they'd deny it, his sisters do, too. It's made him rather standoffish with them for most of his life. Now that they are older and two siblings have passed away he is letting them in a little more.

6. Do you know your extended family? How many of them have you met?  I've at least met all of them, but we aren't really close as everyone is so spread out.

7. Have you ever been to a family reunion? How was it?  My adopted father's family had a family reunion every year for something like 60 years. They were tons of fun when I was a kid, but it was dwindling since the older family members were dying off and the younger cousins are so spread out that we don't really know each other or get together because there aren't many shared memories. The reunions ended when my aunt passed away because there wasn't anyone interested in taking over and keeping them going.

8. Who are you most proud of among your relatives? Who do you look up to?  I suppose I am proudest of our daughter. She was a real mess during her late teens and early 20's. There were times I despaired of what kind of life she would have, but she has gotten her act together and she and her husband have their own home and are raising two beautiful children. As for who I look up to...I can't think of anyone I put in that role.

9 What characteristics have you inherited from your parents? Do you look like them? Do you behave like they do?  Well, since meeting my biological father I can say that I look a lot like both of my parents. I don't really think I inherited any characteristics or that I act very much like either of them, though.

10. Does your family have any heirlooms? Will you inherit anything that has been in the family a long time?  There are a few things and yes, I am my mother's only child so if my stepdad passes before her, I will inherit everything...unless it ever becomes necessary to sell it all in order to get her into a nursing home. My bio father has gifted me with monetary gifts ever since I met him. His goal is to leave the world with nothing left for anyone to fight over. He is even donating his body to science.

11. What happens to old people in your family? Do they live with younger family members or move to a retirement home? How would you prefer to spend your old age?  Mostly, my family has been practical minded and not wanting to be a burden to their children, they go into nursing homes...if they don't pass away at a younger age than expected (typical of the men in the family, while the women live into their late 80's or even 90's). My mom even has insurance for that. Having worked in a nursing home, I hope I never have to live in one, but I don't want to be a burden, either, so I guess I hope I just don't wake up one day.

12. If you are married, how well do you get along with your in-laws?  My in-laws have been gone for quite some time. I was blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law who I loved dearly and who claimed me as daughter number six. I could get along with my father-in-law, but I didn't like or respect him because of how he treated my husband and our children.

13. What do people mean when they say, “you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family”?  I suppose they mean that family is the people you get stuck with at birth, but I think many people create their own "family" with some good friends who they are closer to than family. We have had that at times in our life.

14. If you live far away from some members of your family, how do you keep in touch? How often do you communicate?  For those that I keep in touch with, it is generally through Facebook. Sometimes cards or letters are exchanged. My father and I write a lot of letters and I write a few back and forth with my sister. Other than my father it's pretty sporadic. 

15. Are you so close to any of your friends that you consider them to be like family?  Yes, there are a couple these days. We used to be part of a large group where we all considered each other family, but things happen, people move on, and things change. I am more selective about my chosen "family" these days so it isn't quite as big.

Sunday Stealing: From Facebook

 

Stolen from Facebook

1. Do you like bleu cheese?  Ew. No.

2. Coke or Pepsi?  Coke. Diet. Or Zero in a pinch.

3. Do you own a gun?  Several

4. Hot dogs or cheeseburgers?  Usually cheeseburgers, but sometimes only a really good beef hotdog will do. 

5. Favorite type of food?  Seafood...specifically shellfish.

6. What do you drink in the morning?  Diet Coke. I don't like coffee. I need caffeine.

7. Can you do a 100 pushups?  That would be a hard "no."

8. Tattoos?  One on my ankle. I got it for my 45th birthday. It isn't nearly as bright these days. It was done by a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and has 17 colors in it.

9. Do you wear glasses?  Only from the moment I wake up in the morning to the moment I lay down for the night.

10. Phobia?  Snakes and sharks. Lucky me...I'm taking a client to see Venom after church. Yay... 

11. Piercings?  Three in my left ear and one in the right.

12. Can you whistle?  I used to be able to manage a small whistle, but I haven't been able to whistle for years.

13. Surgeries?  I've had my gallbladder removed, a cone biopsy of the cervix, and my tubes tied.

14. Like gambling?  It's okay. I can take $20 to the casino and be done and walk away when it's gone.

15. Do you like to dance?  Not like I did when I was young, skinny, and my feet weren't flat.

Play along here!

Sunday Stealing: Not Quite 5000 Questions, Part 2

Good morning! I am still alive and kicking even though I've been MIA for a week. No real reason...just busy and nothing "blog worthy" to write about. Until yesterday. Yesterday this happened:

I got to spend the day with my biological father and my half-sister. If you've known me for a while, you know I only learned the man's identity two years ago and I met him for the first time last summer. I only saw him twice more until yesterday as he spends over half the year in Texas. Even when he and his wife come back to Pennsylvania for the summer, they spend part of the time visiting his wife's family in Maine. It was only the second time I've seen my sister, as well.

It was great to get to spend time with them just hanging out at my father's home and getting to know each other better. My sister and I really do have a lot in common. And I don't know, but when you look at the three of us...I think you can tell we are related. 

Now, on to Sunday Stealing. Thanks to our hostess, Bev, for finding the questions and hosting the link up every week.

And a tough bunch of questions they are this week!

Stolen from 5000 questions

1. If America is one nation under god then are atheists citizens?  Yes, and so are Muslims, Hindus, and everyone else. What too many don't understand is that the Founding Fathers intention was a place where everyone was free to practice their beliefs and speak of them openly without influence or hinderance of the government. They did not intend that you could not be guided by your beliefs in the public arena. I suspect they would be appalled by the behavior of both "sides" these days.

2. Is there anything that you believe should be banned for any reason?  That's a tricky line to walk. There are things that should be banned...things that bring harm to someone...things that are crimes. However, then you open the door to more and more things that harm someone, but not another...and if it doesn't harm one then that one is going to be upset about a ban. And you'll end up in a big mess eventually. Kind of like we are right now.

3. How often do you eat too much?  Not as much as I used to. I've lost over 20 pounds this summer. Still, probably far too often when confronted with a favorite food.

4. If you died tomorrow, what mark would you have left on the world?  On the world? Probably nothing. On my small corner of the world? I hope I've made a difference in peoples' lives by showing kindness, compassion, and love; by working with people others often overlook or avoid (dementia patients and those with developmental disabilities); by trying to introduce a positive, happy mood into most situations; basically, by sharing and modeling the love of Jesus to those I come in contact with.

5. Are you a city person or a country person?  I'm definitely not a city person. I wouldn't like living in one. Visiting is fine. I love the country, but I don't know if I'd want to live there these days if it was isolated. Are rural suburbs a thing? That would be my space. I like having some space and land, but I also like to have a few people around and I'm used to my conveniences like food delivery and such.

6. What annoys you the most about yourself?  My tendency to procrastinate.

7. Who was your childhood hero?  My grandmother.

8. With nearly 100 channels why is NOTHING ever on?  Because most of it is pure drivel that glorifies the worst of our behavior.

9. Would you adopt a stray kitty wandering through your neighborhood?  Sure! I might need to rehome my husband afterward, though. He is so not a cat person.

10. Which Lord of the Rings movie has the best ending?  It's been so long since I watched them that I really don't remember.

11. What are you missing in your life?  Real vacations! The beach. More money in the bank account.

12. What could you make a sculpture out of that's in the room with you right now?  I don't know. Maybe the exercise bike...or the bottles of wine in the rack...or pillows and throws...books?

13. Do you believe in the lost city of Atlantis?  Not really as it's described in legend, but I do believe there was probably a real city that somehow inspired the legends.

14. Have you ever read The Little Prince?  At some point in the far distant past, yes.

15. What fantasy book would you like to see made into a movie?  I don't read fantasy books so I really don't have a clue. The books I would like most to see made into movies are James Rollins' Sigma Force series.

Sunday Stealing: Not Quite 5000 Questions

I'm joining in with the Sunday Stealing crowd again this week since I am at home, having chosen to stay home from church today. I want to go visit my biological father and half-sister next weekend and given the number of texts I received this week asking for prayer for church members who tested positive for Covid, it seemed a prudent choice. By the way, none of those diagnosed have been hospitalized or have serious symptoms (they are also elderly and don't usually attend services so I haven't been exposed), but my father is 82 and has heart issues. I don't even want to take him a cold.

Anyway, on to Sunday Stealing...

Stolen from 5000 questions

1. Who do you take for granted?  I'd like to think the answer is no one, but I'm sure the truth is that I take some things about everyone for granted at times. If there is anything the times we are living in have shown us, it's that tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any of us. Still, I'm sure I don't always consciously appreciate or show appropriate appreciation for things that those closest to me do.

2. Short, knee, or ankle skirts? (if a man, have you ever worn kilts?)  I'd rather not wear skirts or dresses at all, but since I'm attending a church again I'm wearing them a little more (okay, a lot more) often. I usually wear something that falls just below the knee and occasionally an ankle length one. 

3. Do you wear a hat? No. I think hats are great and other women look amazing in them, but I have ALWAYS hated how I look in a hat. I guess the Kentucky Derby is out for me. Boo.

4. Who's your favorite cartoon character?  It's a toss up between Donald Duck and Goofy. If you're asking about my favorite comic strip character...I guess it would be Snoopy, though I used to love Opus from the Bloom County strip back in the 80s. 

5. Does break dancing impress you?  Not really as an art, but I am in awe of anyone who can move that way.

6. Are you a miracle?  Of course...and so are you. Every life is a miracle made in the image of God.

7. Have you ever eaten tofu?  Yes. I can't say I'm a fan. I can tolerate it when it's mixed in or cooked with something else, but I don't really care for it.

8. Does the moon have an effect on your mood?  I've never really noticed it having any effect on my own mood, but when I worked in the dementia unit I definitely noticed the effect it had on the residents. All the behaviors they normally had were multiplied by about 10 when there was a full moon. My theory is that if the moon has an effect on the tides then it probably, most certainly has an effect on people since they say we are something like 75% water.

9. Many people will say that the Harry Potter books are pure fluff with no literary value. Do you agree?  I've never read them as they aren't really the sort of story I'm interested in, but even if they are pure fluff, I'd say they have value in that they inspired thousands, if not millions, of children to read. Besides, I don't think anyone likes to read heavy, serious stuff ALL the time. You need a little lighter reading that's just for entertainment now and then.

10. What are you doing next Wednesday?  Working.

11. Why do so many people think Elvis is still alive?  I don't know. I suppose he was just one of those larger than life figures (like Princess Diana) who's death comes as a shock and feels like a personal loss because of how much they were in our awareness. I guess some people just don't want him to be gone and hold on to the hope that he's alive. Or maybe he's hanging out with Big Foot and Jim Morrison on a UFO and all the naysayers are right?

12. Are your hands cold?  No. It's 80 degrees here today. Ask me in January and they will probably be like ice.
               
13. Have you ever given blood?  Yes, but apparently my blood flows so slowly it's hardly worth their effort. The last time I donated they told me not to bother unless there was a shortage of my type. Leave it to me to get rejected by the blood bank.

14. What SCI-fi books do you read?  I loved the Dragon Riders of Pern series when I was a teen, but I very rarely read any sci-fi as an adult. It's just not my thing.

15. Have you ever belonged to a sorority or a fraternity?  Yes, I am a member of Kappa Delta Sorority.

Sunday Stealing: Not Quite 100 Questions

1.What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?  I don't watch TV in the middle of the night, but if I did I'd probably watch the same channels I watch during the day.

2.Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?  I think the 80's. That's when I graduated from high school, went off to college, got married, moved to Florida, had my first child...  It was a pretty big decade.

3.What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?  Piano Man by Billy Joel.

 

4.What Disney villain are you the most like and why?  I hope I'm not like any villain, but for the sake of an answer...the big, bad wolf (or was that Looney Tunes?) anyway, I'm like him. I like bacon.

5.Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?  No

6.If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?  Before Covid-19 I'd probably have chosen to go on a ship. I love to fly, but all that time relaxing on a ship would be nice. Right now, though, I don't really want to do either. I see those videos of people freaking out on planes and I don't want any part of that. And the ships? Nah...it'd be my luck to end up quarantined onboard. Plus, I know someone who recently went and they were only allowed to get off the ship for an hour at any port they entered and they had to be in assigned groups with someone from the ship's staff leading. The worst part is that they learned the cruise line KNEW that was the case beforehand and didn't let anyone know or give the people back the money they'd paid for excursions. Can you imagine going to Greece, Malta and other Mediterranean locations and not be able to explore when you reached a port?

7. What are three of your favorite dog names of all time?  Elvis, Daisy, Hemmingway.

8. How do you feel when you see a rainbow?  Blessed. It reminds me of God's covenant with Noah.

9. If you were in the Land of Oz would you want to live there or go home?  There's no place like home!

10. What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:

Air: plane

Meat: ball

Different: strokes

Pink: Cadillac 

Deserve: earn

White: wash

Elvis: Presley

Magic: marker

Heart: land

Clash: Rock (the Casbah)

Pulp: Fiction

Feel free to join in the fun here!

Sunday Stealing

Linking up today with our hostess, Bev, and the rest of the "thieves" at Sunday Stealing.

Stolen from Who I am Hates Who I've been

1. Has anyone ever made fun of your taste in music?  Yes, but only in a light-hearted kind of way.

2. Do you have pop-tarts in your house right now?  No, but I do like some flavors of them. I just don't eat breakfast since I do 16-hour fasting.

3. Does someone owe you over twenty dollars?  Technically...yes. However, one of the smartest things I ever heard, that goes a long way toward peace of mind and preserving relationships is this: Do not lend money to anyone unless you can afford to give it as a gift with no expectation of repayment. With that mindset when you give money to someone, you don't expect to be repaid and if you get repaid it's a pleasant blessing.

4. When was the last time you burned any part of your body?  I burned my finger on my straightening iron the other day.

5. What kind of booze did you last take shots of?  I don't usually do shots of anything, but the last time (and one of the few ever) was at our daughter's wedding. I may have indulged in several Rum Chata pumpkin spice pudding shots.

6. If you could see any musician live, front row, who would you choose?  Hmmm...I don't know. I like so many different kinds of music and would appreciate a front row seat at any concert I went to see...unless of course the front "row" was a mosh pit. I am too old for that now. I just can't pick one artist.

7. If I gave you ten dollars, what would you spend it on?  Probably a book.

8. Does / did either of your parents serve in the military?  My dad served in the Army.

9. Do you like sour candy?  It was my favorite when I was a kid. I still like it, but I don't really go for it first these days. I'd rather have chocolate.

10. What do you do to stay awake when you’re tired?  Get up and move. Play some upbeat music. Loud. Chew gum...it's a fact, you take in more oxygen when you chew and that helps revive your mind.

11.Do you wear your shoes around the house?  Nope. I always wear slippers, though.

12. Is there ever a time that you enjoy cold showers?  The whole shower? No. But I do enjoy a quick cold blast after my nice, long, hot shower.

13. Are you good at filling silence in awkward situations?  .........(crickets)........ That would be a no.

14. Any TV shows you sit down weekly to watch?  Not at the moment.

15. Are you one to sneak food into movie theaters?  I have in the past, but it's been years. I don't eat candy at the movies, just popcorn and I can't make popcorn that good (or that horribly bad for me) at home. Plus, that would require a pretty big purse.

Sunday Stealing: Favorites

Stolen from Facebook

Your favorite songs:  I don't really listen to current music enough to know about it. I like stuff from the 70s and 80s. Billy Joel's Piano Man is my all time favorite song.

Your favorite bands:  Lynyrd Skynyrd, Guns 'n' Roses, Journey, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Three Dog Night, Casting Crowns, Stray Cats, Glenn Miller Orchestra....I have rather eclectic tastes in music, but mostly it's the late 70s and 80s for me.

Your favorite actors or actresses:  Sandra Bullock is just awesome in everything she does and for an actor I think I'd have to say Tommy Lee Jones. He is so good at whatever he plays whether he's being the hero or the bad guy.  

Your favorite books:  Little Women and Gone With the Wind are all-time favorites. I nearly always recommend Lottery by Patricia Wood and in general, I read everything from Janet Evanovich, James Rollins, Nora Roberts, Jefferson Bass, Kathy Reichs, William Kent Kruger, and Craig Johnson.

Your favorite movies:  Dirty Dancing, While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, Sweet Home Alabama, A Christmas Story and mostly I prefer comedies (not the crude ones) and adventure (think Indiana Jones and National Treasure).

Your favorite TV shows:  The Big Bang Theory, NCIS, Longmire, America's Got Talent, Swamp People, any of the House Hunter shows, American Pickers, Pawn Stars, and lately we've been streaming a lot of old TV shows on Tubi...with my favorite being the old Fantasy Island show.

Your favorite foods/drinks:  pizza, seafood, steak, Chinese, and Mexican for food and Diet Coke and peach iced tea for drinks.

Your favorite kitchen appliance:  I guess the microwave because it gets used more than anything else.

Your favorite animal:  Dogs

Your favorite scents:  For candles or waxes I like food scents...things that smell like baked goods or fruits. For perfumes I like lighter body sprays (perfume kills my sinuses) and usually choose scents with fruity undertones, nothing heavy. Just to smell...fresh baked bread or chocolate chip cookies, babies, puppies, the beach, laundry that's hung out on the line, the air after a good hard rain, fresh cut grass, freshly sawn lumber....

Your favorite things you do in your free time:  play computer games, blog, read, Bible study, go thrifting.

Your pet peeves:  Those who not only think they are always right, but make a point to try and prove you are wrong. Liars. Those who say they will do something or be somewhere and then don't. The current climate of extreme offendedness.

Things you collect:  Books, ceramic planters that look like dogs, Navajo pottery.

Things you like to swap:  home decorations. Not my books. Don't touch my books!

Places you've been:  Chicoteague and Assateague Islands in VA, Niagara Falls (American and Canadian sides), every state on the east coast, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, several states in the south, New Mexico and Arizona (Navajo reservation). That's all. My family didn't travel when I was growing up and Tim and I haven't done that much traveling.

Places you'd like to visit:  Every state in the U.S., Australia, Greece, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Costa Rica, Spain. If it was safe, I'd be up for visiting just about anywhere in the world.

Classes you liked in school:  English, history, psychology, art, and gym.

Crafts you would like to learn:  I'd give anything a try. I admire all the things I see people creating, but somehow I've never gotten involved...no friends who are particularly crafty and the only crafty family I have live far away. I need a craft buddy.

Sunday Stealing questions are brought to us by the efforts of our hostess, Bev.

Sunday Stealing: A to Z

Welcome to Sunday Stealing, hosted by Bev of  "Funny the World." Click the links to join in the fun.

Stolen from Ned the Duck

A - Annoyance:  Adults who pout.

B - Bestest Friend[s]:  Fran

C - Car:  I wish I had a Mustang, but I currently drive a 2015 Toyota Camry.

D - Day or night:  Day, I suppose. I don't sleep all that much. I am usually up by 6:00 these days and don't go to bed until 12:00.

E- Easiest person to talk to:  My bestie

F - Favorite Month:  November, because fall and Thanksgiving.

G - Gummy Bears or Worms:  Neither. 

H - Hair Color:  Mostly gray, but I cover it with brown and blond highlights.

I - Ice Cream:  Chocolate or White House Cherry

J - Jewelry:  Usually only my wedding ring, another ring or two (when I dress up) and earrings. Once in a while I wear a necklace.

K - Kindergarten:  I went. I don't remember much.

L - Longest Car Ride:  The "vacation" we took when I was 12. Dad wanted to see New England. All of New England. In a week. That meant we drove every day, looked out the window at New England passing by, but we didn't stop and do anything. We made good enough time that we did get to stop at one or two little things coming home, but that was it. Worst vacation ever to a 12 year old.

M - Most missed person:  My grandmother.

N - Number of Siblings:  For most of my life, none. As of 2 years ago, 3 half siblings.

O - One regret:  I could be negative and say I have lots, but I'll say none. Everything has helped to make me who I am today.

P- Part of your appearance you like least?:  Being fat. I'm working on it.

Q- Quote:  Life is as good as you make up your mind it's going to be.

R - Reality TV Show:  I don't really have a favorite. I like to watch the shows that remodel a house, American Pickers, Storage Wars, Pawn Stars, and Swamp People.

S - Shoe:  Anything with enough support that is comfortable and keeps me from having pain. Usually that's any Vionic shoe, though I did buy a pair of platform Sketchers sandals the other day and they are cute, feminine and comfy! It's nice to have an attractive shoe to wear to church this summer.

T - Time you woke up:  7:00, I slept in today.

U - Unpredictable:  About some things, but probably not in any major way.

  

V - Vegetable you hate:  Egg plant.

W- Worst Habits:  Procrastination, biting my nails

X - X-Rays:  I've had quite a few over the years.

Y - Year you were born:  This is one of those answers you aren't supposed to give on social media...helps the hackers and all. Actually, you shouldn't answer at least half of these because they contain info that's often asked in security questions.

Z - Zoom:  It was better than nothing, I guess, but I hope we are done with the need for it.

Sunday Stealing: Misc. Questions

Misc questions

 

1.Which is more romantic: an expensive, glittering bouquet OR flowers that were hand picked as they grew beside the parkway?  Well, a "glittering" bouquet wouldn't really appeal to me, but otherwise, I don't care if flowers are store-bought or hand picked. It's the feeling behind them that matters.

2.Do you know yourself well enough to understand why you feel the way you do?  Yes, I think I do. It's taken me a few years to get to this point, but I'm here.

3.Which do you do more often: let movies, songs and books put your feelings into words for you or put your feelings into words by yourself?  I'd say I put my feelings into words for myself. 

4.Do you believe celebrities when they are endorsing a product?  Not usually. They're being paid to say nice things just like anyone else would be.

5.What kind of movies do you wish were made more often?  I am a huge fan of action/adventure movies like Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and National Treasure. I'd love to see a lot more movies like that.

6.Does fashion matter to you?  Sort of. I like to look decent, but mostly I'm about being comfortable.

7.Should politicians be held to the same legal standards as everyone else?  Oh, heck YES!

8. If you became president, whom would you invite to sing at your inauguration?  This choice would probably change on any given day. Today I'd choose Billy Joel and Neil Diamond.

9. Do you try to write/say what you are feeling in a true and simple way?  Yes, but I often fail. I have a tendency to be too wordy.
 

10.What is your worst daily habit?  It's a tie. Procrastination and Diet Coke.

11.If you had your choice which one TV show would you have canceled?  I watch very little network TV so I have no idea at all.

12.Do you like the taste of sweet or salt?  Salty usually wins out over sweet if I am having just one, but you know sweet and salty really go together so you kind of need a bit of both at the same time.

13.Are you very precise about what words you use to describe your feelings and thoughts?  Sometimes, but again...I tend to be wordy.

14.What do you feel the most guilty about?  Not doing better at eating healthy and exercising more.

15.Do you meditate?  Not in the way you probably mean. I do spend time every day thinking about or meditating on what I read in the Bible that day.

Thanks to Bev for the questions.

Join in the fun here.

Sunday Stealing: A to Z

Taken from Ned the Duck

 

A - Annoyance:  All things political.

B - Bestest Friend[s]:  Fran

C - Car:  What I have...Toyota Camry. What I'd like to have...Ford Mustang.

D - Day or night:  Day

E- Easiest person to talk to?:  Marie from my Bible study group.

F - Favorite Month:  October or November

G - Gummy Bears or Worms:  Neither

H - Hair Color:  Medium brown with blonde streaks to help hide the gray.

I - Ice Cream:  Chocolate

J - Jewelry:  Rings and earrings. I don't wear much beyond that.

K - Kindergarten:  1969, I had chronic bronchitis the whole year and missed the last 3 days because I got mumps.

L - Longest Car Ride:  Coming home to PA after spending Thanksgiving with Tim's sister and her family in Alabama. Megan was bawling because she met a guy she liked and all she could talk about was moving there, which made me bawl because I was going through the change and bawling all the time, anyway. Tim did anything and everything he could to be annoying. On purpose. It was 950+ miles of hell.

M - Most missed person:  My grandmother.

N - Number of Siblings:  Until 2019, none. After that, 3...thanks to being found by my half-siblings and my biological father.

O - One regret:  Not saving more money.

P- Part of your appearance you like least?:  The fat part.

Q- Quote:  If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

R - Reality TV Show:  I don't really watch reality TV, just random episodes here and there.

S - Shoe:  I swear by Vionic shoes because of all the pain I have in my feet. I can also get by with Merrell clogs if they have the Q-form insole.

T - Time you woke up:  I'm doing this on Saturday evening, so 4:30 a.m. I didn't have to and I didn't want to. I just did.

U - Unpredictable?:  Somewhat, but not like I used to be.

V - Vegetable you hate:  Eggplant

W- Worst Habits:  Procrastination and biting my nails when stressed.

X - X-Rays:  Lots on my teeth; several of my feet, knee, and hip; a couple of my back.

Y - Year you were born:  196?...can't give the scammers ammo to work with.

Z - Zoom:  My Bible study group meets via Zoom when the weather is bad or when the Covid restrictions increase. We also have 3 or 4 people who always attend that way because they don't live in the area.

Thanks to Bev for the questions. Join the fun here.

Sunday Stealing: Celebrating Christmas

I'm linking up with Bev for Sunday Stealing today!

Star or Angel?  Actually, I have a snowy owl at the top of my tree.

White Lights or Colored Lights?  Our current tree is pre-lit with warm white lights, but we have had rainbow, all red, and for a couple of years blue and green.

Blinking Lights or Still Lights?  I always seem to choose still lights, but sometimes I'll see a display at someone else's home with blinking lights and think it's really pretty.

When do you open your gifts?  At home we've always opened them on Christmas morning as soon as everyone is awake...though when the kids were very little we'd wait for my parents to get there (they'd come as soon as we'd call and say we were awake). Now Tim and I still open our gifts to each other first thing before heading to our daughter's home around noon. Up until this year we often opened gifts then had dinner. This year we opened gifts, but didn't have dinner until 5:00 to allow the kids to play and the rest of us to relax.

Do you buy gifts for your pet?  Of course! I buy them for my granddoggy and kitties and my furry sister, too. Daisy got lots of treats and toys this year. I gave the other dogs treats and new sweaters. The kitties got catnip-laced toys and those were a big hit! 

Be honest: What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?  A homemade gift that was supposedly made by our son's children (which I loved) but I later heard our daughter-in-law saying she just slapped them together, doing a crappy job to make it look like the kids did it. After that it meant nothing. I'd rather have the nothing they usually give us than something faked.

Have you ever traveled for the holiday?  Growing up, my family often traveled either the weekend before or after Christmas to celebrate with my mom's family.

Did you see Santa as a child?  Absolutely! My mom has photos of me with the Big Guy every year from age 3 to about age 8 or 9.

Can you name all the reindeer?  Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, Prancer, Vixen, Donder, Blitzen...and Rudolph.

Have you ever gone caroling?  A few times years and years ago.

Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?  Yes. Tim and I just did this last night. It seems like a lot more people decorated this year than normal.

Have you ever left Santa cookies?  I really don't remember if I did as a kid, but we always made sure our kids left out cookies and milk plus carrots for the reindeer.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?  We had one this year. It started snowing on Christmas Eve and snowed all day on Christmas and until about lunchtime yesterday.

Have you ever made a gingerbread house from scratch? From a kit?  Not from scratch, but I made one from a kit with the grandkids a few years ago.

Be honest: Do you think the season is too commercial?  Yes.

Imagine you were going to create the quintessential holiday soundtrack -- which song(s) absolutely must be included?  White Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Mele Kalekimaka, Christmas in Killarny, I Celebrate the Day, Hallelujah...everything, really. I listen to Christmas music all through the season. Yes, I am one of those people who start listening in November.

What are your Christmas pet peeves?  Stores that advertise a fabulous special and then only have like 2 of the item; grouchy shoppers; grouchy cashiers and other store staff; and the lack of Jesus in the celebration.

Sunday Stealing: More Questions

Linking up with our hostess, Bev, and the gang of thieves at Sunday Stealing.

Excerpted from Live Journal 5000 Questions

1. Who is the hottest celebrity you can think of?  Unless you haven't been paying attention you know that these days I give that honor to Jason Momoa.

But second place easily goes to Kyle Chandler, who just ages like a fine wine. Sigh.

2. Do you ever get so nervous that you can't even think?  Oh heavens, yes. Any time I have to speak in front of a group.

3. Do you sing when there is no music?  Only if there is also no one to hear me.

4.Who was the best political leader in history and why?  I think we'll just skip politics. Not a good topic these days.

5 If you could dance with anyone in the world right now, who would it be and what song would you dance to?  My hubby and we'd dance to something slow...other than that the boy can't dance worth a lick. No rhythm at all.

6 Finish this sentence your own way. There are two types of people in the world...those who leave toast crumbs in the butter and those who don't. (Playing it safe again.)

7 What have you saved since elementary school?  Well, my mom's attic is full of all manner of my stuff because she doesn't get rid of anything, but me personally? I still have a lot of my books, including a full set of Marguerite Henry's horse books and a nearly complete set of Trixie Beldon mysteries (she was sort of like Nancy Drew).

8 Have you ever won an award?  I won a safety award the summer I worked in the Poconos. I've been recognized for other things, but I don't think there were any other actual awards.

9. Do you feel more connected to the sun or the moon?  I don't feel particularly connected to either one.

10 Do flaws make people interesting to you?  Most of the time, but it would depend on what the flaw is.

11 Who is your favorite historical figure?  I don't really have a favorite (I like history too much to choose), but Teddy Roosevelt is a pretty fascinating character to read about. 

12. White bread or wheat bread?  It depends on the brand.

13. Do you usually do things fast or right?  Right. One of my dad's rules for life (which was drummed into my head) was that anything worth doing is worth doing right. It bugs me to no end when people are lazy, sloppy, or half-***ed about a job.

14. Are you or have you ever been in a band? That would be a no.

15. Here are 4 statements about me. Only one of them is true. Which one is it?

•  I have six toes on my left foot.
•  I have jumped out of an airplane.
•  I was an athlete in high school.
•  I can fit my fist in my mouth.
  

16. Would you wear a thong bathing suit in public?  I wouldn't even wear one at home.

17. Have you thought about death today?  Not until you brought it up.

18. What is your favorite breakfast?  I don't usually eat breakfast, but when I do I like last night's leftovers.

19. Are you the life of the party?  No.

20. If you hit an animal with your car would you get out to try and make sure it was okay?  It depends on what it is. A wounded wild animal can be quite dangerous. Actually, even a dog or cat might lash out in their pain.

21. When do you get your most peaceful and satisfying sleep?  These days I don't seem to get that at all.

22. What thought gets you out of bed in the morning?  Usually it's that I need to go potty. 

23. What are you a member of?  A bible study group, a family, a church (even though we don't go there any longer), Sam's Club...in other words, nothing much these days.

24. Name one place you refuse to ever go.  The middle east. I'd love to see it and experience the ancientness of it, but with the way the world is...it's never going to happen.

25. When (and if) people (or animals) go to heaven, do they become angels?  No they do not. The Bible say that angels are created beings and a little lower in the scheme of God's plan than humans. People get a new body, but not a set of wings and a halo.

** The true statement was the third one. I was an athlete in high school. I was on both the softball and basketball teams.