The Queen's Meme #7

Recently Mimi, The Royal Queen of Memes, has been running a regular series of memes for her royal subjects (or is that blogjects?) to do but because I have a lifetime "Get Out of the Dungeon Free" pass I've been rather remiss in doing any of them. That and I'm just really, really bad at doing memes these days!

However, not everyone is so lucky as to have a GOOTDF pass and while visiting one of my blog friends in Britian - Akelamalu - today she pleaded with at least five of her readers to do the meme in order to keep her out of the dungeon. Being the good blog buddy that I am (truly!) I thought I'd help her out and participate in this one - plus it's easy and fun!

The Queen's Meme #7 reprises the Message in a Bottle Meme that previously placed 285 bottles with messages both inspiring and funny floating through the bloggy ocean. Queen Mimi, though, has decided that's not nearly enough so she's commanding asking everyone to toss another one out there. Of course, as always seems to be the case, this meme comes with rules that you can either choose to adhere to or break depending on how you feel about being thrown into a damp, dark, rather cramped virtual dungeon! Should you decide to participate, the rules are as follows:

1. Compose a message to place in your virtual bottle below.
It can even be ANONYMOUS message.
The Queen will not reveal your identity.

2. Right click and Save the graphic below

3. Use a graphics program of your choice to place the message on the picture

4. Post the meme and these rules on your blog

5. Tag a minimum of five people - or your entire blogroll - to do the same.
Notify them of the tag.

Now I'm not going to tag anyone because - as I said - I've got that whole GOOTDF pass but if you'd like to play along, it really is a lot of fun and it's easy to boot. Fun and easy both sound good in my book!

Oh ... and as for my own message in a bottle ...

Tell me I haven't been watching too much Doctor Who with Amanda!

The Bookworm Award

Emmie from Emmas Dilemmas & Great Expectations bestowed this award on my English friend, Akelamalu who, in turn, was kind enough to bestow it on me. Whereas I think this is a really cool award and I'm honored to have received it, I've got to say that looks like one extremely uncomfortable position to read a book in! Woman - get a comfy chair and put on a pair of sweats for crying out loud!

This award came along with a set of rules that I am apparently supposed to adhere to but they look pretty easy so I think I can handle them -

Rules: Pass it on to five other bloggers, and tell them to open the nearest book to page 46. Write out the fifth sentence on that page, and also the next two to five sentences. The closest book, not the coolest, or the one you think will sound the best. THE CLOSEST

Truth be told, I have two books sitting right next to me on the couch but in deference to keeping to the rule of opening the closest book I will grab the one on top which just happens to be Dark Lover by J.R. Ward. Now, let's see what page 46 has to offer, shall we?

"Calling the meeting in the daylight was also important, as it would ensure they weren't ambushed by the brotherhood. And he could easily pass it off to the academy's human employees as a seminar on martial-arts technique. They would hold the gathering in the large training room in the basement and lock the doors so they wouldn't be intruded upon.

Before he signed off, he posted an account of his elimination of Darius, because he wanted the slayers to have it in writing. He detailed the kind of bomb he'd used, the way to manufacture one from scratch, and the method for hardwiring the detonator into a car's ignition system."

At this point, you've probably read as much of the book as I have as I'm currently reading the book that was sitting under this one - The Eight by Katherine Neville which was recommended to me by our own Lois. Speaking of our own Lois, I'll be passing this award on to her along with four other bloggers who are very likely to have a book sitting close at hand - oh, and if you're a guy - don't be offended by this award, I bet you all look real cute in a jacked-up skirt and garters, too!

In addition to Lois of Lowdown from Lois I'm going to pass this award on to Rob of In Times & Out Goals as I'm sure he's got several books sitting close by; Morgen of It's a Blog Eat Blog World because even though I know he doesn't like tags, I'm having such a good time picturing him in that outfit that I couldn't resist!; Jamie of Duward Discussion as I'm sure she's got something really good close at hand; and Erik of The Fire Insider for pretty much the same reason I'm passing this on to Mo!

Now - go forth and have some fun!

The Modification of a Meme (or Two!)

Quite some time back ("quite some time back" meaning November 12th!) I was tagged by Connie of Brain Foggles for the "Eight Things About Me" meme and more recently (November 25th) I was tagged by Jamie of Duward Discussion for the "Seven Things About Me" meme. Somehow I doubt that there are fifteen things about me that any of you are truly interested in learning or that I haven't already posted before so I thought I'd do a slight twist on the memes and post my fifteen favorite Christmas songs.

To make this more interesting, I'm going to post a video of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo" so that you have something to listen to while you read. This piece of music takes "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells" and combines them with traditional classic music and a heavy metal rock style. I think you'll like it - I know I do!


Got the music playing? Okay, good! On with the combined meme then!

My Fifteen Favorite Songs of the Christmas Season
(not necessarily in order!)

1. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" - written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist Church, in 1739. Originally sung to a different tune completely, it was changed over 100 years later by English musician William H. Cummings who adapted music from a Cantata written by Felix Mendelssohn to fit the lyrics.
2. "We Three Kings of Orient Are" - an American Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins in 1857 for a Christmas pageant at the General Theological Seminary in New York City.
   
3. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - it is believed that this particular carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season and is reputed to be one of the oldest English carols dating back to the 15th century by an unknown author.
   
4. "Ave Maria" - composed in about 1825 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) when he was twenty-eight years old and filled with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. First published in 1826 as Op 52 No 6 it was written for voice and piano.
5. "O Come O Come Emmanuel" - originally written in Latin text in the 12th century, the author of the words and composer of the music are unknown but the melody is believed to be French in origin.
   
6. "Carol of the Bells" - original folk music from the Ukraine, the lyrics and words were added by Peter Wilhousky to celebrate the festive season and its traditions such as the pealing of church bells at Christmas and the singing of carols.
7. "Good King Wenceslas" - the words were written by John Mason Neale and published in 1853 while the music originates in Finland 300 years earlier. Good King Wenceslas, the king of Bohemia in the 10th century, was a Catholic who was martyred following his assassination by his brother Boleslaw and his supporters, He became known as St. Stephen, the Patron Saint of the Czech Republic, and his feast day was celebrated on the 26th of December which is why this song is sung as a Christmas carol.
8. "White Christmas" - written by Irving Berlin in 1942 and originally featured in the movie Holiday Inn starring Bing Crosby, this song struck a very poignant chord with those fighting in World War II and their family members waiting back home for them.
   
9. "O Holy Night" - the words and lyrics were written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure, a humble wine seller, in 1847 while the music was composed by his friend and brilliant composer Adolphe Charles Adams. Best sung by Josh Groban or Celine Dion!
   
10. "Angels From the Realms of Glory" - written by James Montgomery in 1816 as a celebration of the good news the angels brought to the shepherds of Christ's birth.
    
11. "The Hallelujah Chorus" - written in 1741 as part of George Frederic Handel's "Messiah", it was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and was given the city's greatest ovation ever. When it was performed in London several weeks later, the King was so moved by "The Hallelujah Chorus" that he rose to his feet - a custom that has prevailed ever since.
12. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" - originally recorded by Bing Crosby in October of 1943, this song touched a tender place in the hearts of both American soldiers and civilians who were then in the depths of World War II. The song earned Crosby his fifth gold record while it became the most requested song at Christmas U.S.O. shows in both Europe and the Pacific.
13. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" - words and music written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne in 1962 became another big hit for Bing Crosby in November of 1963.
14. "Christmas Wrapping" - sung by The Waitresses, a post-punk new-wave band that existed during the early to mid 1980s when I was a lot younger! Not your traditional Christmas song but kind of fun with a slightly sarcastic sense of humor! Never heard it? Check it out here!
    
15. "This Gift" - okay, I saved the sappiest for last and you may all mock me unmercifully but this song by 98 Degrees has been one of my very favorites from the first time I heard it. I'm an incurable romantic in spite of all and what can I say? I'd like nothing more than to share Christmas with someone special. Boy-band or not, these guys could harmonize and this song just brings out every last bit of mush the Christmas season can wring out of me.
    

Whew! Hopefully Queen Mimi will allow me a special dispensation for having done a combined meme and not throw me in the dungeon for violating the original rules of a meme. If not, I may be testing out the acoustics of the dungeon with some of my favorite holiday tunes while the Queen wonders what all that caterwauling is!

How about you, gentle readers, any favorite songs of the season? I'm not going to tag anyone with this modified meme but about you leave a comment? Pretty please?

The Five Things Meme

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Miss Patti of Late Bloomer Boomer fame recently tagged me with the Five Things Meme and being that I haven't done a meme in quite some time, and don't want to risk the Dungeon at Bloggingham Palace for such a simple meme, I figured I had best do it post-haste and pronto. After all, I understand Queen Mimi is not feeding the prisoners a traditional roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings for Thanksgiving (and if she did, you might be better off not eating it if what I hear about her cooking is true!) so I really don't want to spend my holiday there! Bad enough I have to spend it at work answering 911!

Oh, and just to give credit where credit is due, Patti got the meme originally from Joan who got it from I-don't-know-where and I will pass it on with a tag to Misty Dawn and Connie! Consider it a Thanksgiving gift from me to you, ladies!

The Five Things Meme

Found in My Room (the one I'm sitting in now is the living room so we'll use that!) ...

1. At least three plushie dolls (LynZ, Steve - with pants!, and a half-finished still-naked Jimmy)
2. A wedding picture of myself with my father walking me down the aisle
3. My collection of elephants
4. My infrequently-used Gazelle exercise glider
5. My grandmother's old sewing machine

I've Always Wanted to Do ...

1. Go to England
2. Win the lottery!
3. Find true love
4. Play a musical instrument
5. Go on a cruise

Found in My Bag (I don't carry a purse so I will have to use the lunchbag I use for work) ...

1. Dental floss
2. Allergy medication
3. A packet of cinnamon & apple instant oatmeal
4. A potholder (I have no idea why!)
5. Spare change

Found in My Wallet ...

1. Driver's License
2. Health Insurance Card
3. Hot Topic Frequent Shopper Card
4. Time Badge for Work
5. Two Dollars

I'm Currently Into ...

1. Apple Crisp (it's that time of year!)
2. The music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3. Blogging (aren't we all?)
4. Sleeping in on my days off
5. Finishing this meme!

The Stolen "When I Am Famous" Meme

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I snitched this meme from fellow Nutmeggers Patti & Ralph, who both snitched (correction "borrowed", I read that wrong the first time!) it from Odat, because I thought it was just too funny not to steal and do myself! Hmm, is there such a thing as Misdemeanor Meme Theft? Does stealing a meme get you sent to the dungeon at Bloggingham Palace, too? Oh well, guess I shall just have to risk it!

So, on to the "When I Am Famous" Meme as stolen by several other bloggers! -

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Bootsie Mazda

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Mocha Almond Vienna Fingers
3. YOUR “FLY GUY” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) Lorl

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Detective Purple Elephant

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Jean Putnam

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Orloli

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Green Baileys

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Joseph Charles

9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
Vanilla KitKat

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Elizabeth Butler

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Lacey Lubbock

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Halloween Morning Glory

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “y”) Strawberry Pajamasy

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Apple Muffin Oak

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) The Blog Lightning Tour

Want to steal this yourself? Go for it and let me know if you do so I can come by and check it out!

Tagged by the Queen of Coffee!

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So there I was, minding my own business just innocently blogging away when - BAM! - without warning I get hit upside the blog with a tag from across the ocean by Sanni of Coffe2Go. D'oh! I never saw that one coming!

The meme that she tagged me with, "My Desktop Free View", was started by iRonnie at I Set No Corner with the idea that

"Most people spend a considerable amount of time in customizing or in finding a desktop wallpaper that suits their taste. Sadly, our computers often remains… personal. Why don’t we brag to the world our good-find wallpapers and let them have a peek to our personality via our desktops?

On the other hand, aren’t you curious on how does your favorite bloggers’ desktop look like? Don’t you want to find out how organized, or disorganized :D, they are?"

Interesting concept for a meme - I like it! Actually, I had seen the same meme over at Asara's Mental Meanderings and thought about picking it up from her (she didn't tag anyone in particular being the gracious blog-hostess that she is!) as it looked like fun but first I had to figure out how to do a print-screen on my trusty Dell laptop. With some instructions from Asara, I was able to figure it out and good thing, too what with that tag from Sanni coming out of the blue like that! I think Sanni really enjoys tagging people, she's so good at it! And how can you say no when she's just so darned cute??

So, without further ado - here you have it - the desktop on my laptop ...

Look familiar? Yep, being the proud mama that I am, l like to keep some of Amanda's artwork on my laptop so I decided that the vinegar-fry-eating-Pegausus-with-rainbow from my Wordless Wednesday a few weeks ago was perfect! Actually, this one looks a bit different as Amanda made some revisions to it. As a matter of fact, if you really like this one - it's available on t-shirts and a few other items at Artistic Intoxication, Amanda's on-line CafePress store! Sorry, couldn't resist the shameless plug!

Meanwhile, back at the meme, there are some desktops that I am most curious about so I'm going to tag a few people with this one myself! The instructions on how to do this follow below and it's really not hard, especially if you get technical guidance from an expert! I tag the following folks:

Ed of The Pisstakers
Morgen of It's a Blog Eat Blog World, etc.
Jamie of Duward Discussion
Sarge Charlie of Sarge Charlie
Mimi of Mimi Writes

Once you've picked up the "tag" gauntlet and posted a picture of your own desktop, don't forget to add your link to the bottom of the list! I added Asara to my list because I saw the meme at her blog first and I'm sure Sanni wouldn't mind in the least! Now, go ... read the directions and let's see what you've got!

My Desktop Free View Instruction:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.
You can do a screen capture by:
[1] Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key).
[2] Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).
[3] If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.
C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.
D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

List of those who participated in the tag:

iRonnie
skippyheart
thesserie
domlawrenceosb
sasha-says
maiylah’s snippets
My Memoirs
Asara
Coffee 2 go
Are We There Yet??

"It was a dark and stormy ..." Meme

Frank at Foxxfyrre's Honk'n'Holl'r assigned all of us who are members of the Unofficial Gale Martin Novel Writing Cheering Squad a meme project back on September 11th called -


Even though I had close to two weeks to work on this ... I didn't. Ah, procrastination thou art a good friend of mine! Maybe, though, my thinking was that I would work better under pressure (hmm, isn't that a David Bowie song??) and waiting until the day before would require my muse to put in a little extra effort and not be such a slacker. That was the plan at any rate! So, let's see how I did, shall we?

First, I should tell you what this meme is all about and post the rules should anyone else choose to play. From Frank's keyboard to your eyes this is how it goes:

Meme Description:

You have just finished writing the greatest novel ever written. It is getting rave reviews. War and Peace is mere pulp fiction when compared to your novel. Nobel Officials created a new category to award your work for they felt it would far overshadow previous works awarded for fiction if yours was awarded in the same category. Accolades and reviews for your novel pour in along with one unanimous criticism -- your novel has the worst opening sentence in an equally atrocious first paragraph, ever.

Rules:

1. Choose two genres from the ones listed below in #4
2. Come up with a suitable title for a different novel for each of your genre choices.
3. Write a different opening 'atrocious' paragraph of your 'highly praised novel' in context to each genre you chose, paying particular attention to the "Dark and stormy" quality of your first sentence of your paragraph. Don't just rewrite the "Dark and stormy" sentence for your paragraph. Come up with something new and fresh, but 'atrocious' too. The sentence and paragraph should follow good English grammar rules. Don't just write a grammatical mess of a sentence. Remember, you are a Nobel Prize worthy author.
4. Choose two of the following genres for each of your "Prized Novels": Western, Science Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Modern Contemporary Fiction, Mystery, Comedy, Horror.
5. Post the meme description and rules.
6. Post your first genre choice, title and paragraph, followed by your second genre choice, title and paragraph.
7. Prepare yourself for accolades of laughter and ridicule for your "Highly Praised Novels" atrocious openings.
8. Contact the Nobel Prize officials for you may just continue and write that award winning novel.
9. Tag people, lottsa people.

Bad writing shouldn't be all that difficult for me to accomplish as I've had years and years of practice starting when I managed to win a writing contest in 7th-grade with a story that I was sure had to be one of the worst ever in the history of the Dr. Helen Baldwin School of Canterbury. I think I only won because I had the nerve to not only write about but submit a story about a boy and his beloved dog while using, as the main character, the guy I had a hideous crush on for two years. I'm sure I only won so that the story could be published in the school newspaper and cause acute embarrassment not only to myself but to the guy I wrote it about because if I remember correctly, the story itself wasn't very good at all!

Anyway, I digress and this post wasn't supposed to be a painful walk down memory lane but an attempt at some good bad writing! As my two genres for this meme I have chosen Western and Romance and I hope that I have done justice to the meme. When I'm done here I shall go work on my acceptance speech for my Nobel prize. I'm thinking I'm going to need a new outfit for the awards ceremony, too ...

Entry Number One

Three Oxen for Father Santiago at Whiplash Pass

"It was a pitch-black night on the desert mesa brightened only by the occasional jagged bolt of lightning which was accompanied by an unrelenting curtain of water and wind that howled louder than the wolves that slunk their fur-soaked bodies back into their rocky caves as the prairie dogs took refuge in their dark underground homes (as prairie dogs are wont to do) while the cacti merely stood stiffly, like large needle-covered silent sentries, weathering the storm in sullen succulent silence as their prickly bodies were rooted firmly to the ground and they were unable to escape the fury of the storm that lashed the desert landscape with its wind-blown anger."

Entry Number Two

Tenderness in Tallahassee

"The sky outside was as black as ink and as unsettled as a creaky wooden vessel upon a storm-tossed sea while Vanessa stood at the window of her opulent and, despite all of its grandeur, empty bedroom; a solitary and forlorn figure who wrapped her arms around her not-ungenerous breasts as she looked out upon a magnificently rain-tossed landscape that no longer held any appeal for her since the love of her life, the dark-haired gallant and dashing Jerome, had ridden off on his magnificent specimen of a stallion leaving her bereft in her heart and aching from unfulfilled needs in other parts of her lush woman's body; unfulfilled needs that threatened to bring her to her knees in their unrelenting desire to be quenched and sated by a man who no longer held her tenderly in his arms due to a misplaced allegiance to the man whose seed had fathered him and then chosen to abandon him when he was just a mere boy."

And there you have it, my attempt at literary greatness! I hope that I have made my favorite soon-to-be-best-selling author and blog buddy Gale proud. Let me just say that even though I stink on ice when it comes to this stuff that she is writing one heck of a fantastic novel. Go Gale Go!!! Go Gale Go!!!

If you'd like to try your hand at this particular meme go for it and do let me know; it really was a lot of fun doing this despite the procrastination!

Badges and Quizzes and Memes - oh my!

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Memo to self - going to all-day rock concerts takes up a lot of time and puts me way behind in the wonderful world of blogging. That isn't to say that Projekt Revolution wasn't more than worth it - it was! - but good Lord almighty am I swamped with blog-stuff and I fear I shall never catch up! I'm going to try, though, and in this post I shall make a Herculean effort to at least tidy up a bit. Did you take a vitamin before you started reading this or at least have a big ole' cup of Joe? If not, take the time to do so before diving in because this may take awhile ... I'll wait while you go take care of that ... Ready now? Okay, great - then let's go!

First off, I have been awarded this lovely badge by two fantastic bloggers that I am proud to call friends - Polly of Polliwog's Pond and Sandee of Comedy+. What a treat to have this in my email not once but twice and ladies, I love you both whole bunches in return. 'Tis another badge that I have added proudly to my "massive" sidebar!


Even though I could very easily award this badge to everyone listed on the Blogroll on my "massive" sidebar, the rules say just pass it on to one person so I am happy to present it to Dayngr of Dayngrous Discourse. I love her "Thought For the Day", I love her regular posts, and I love her blog - she's warm, she's funny, she's dayngrous!

One of the other additions to my "massive" sidebar is this cute little ole' button here that proudly proclaims that I am a Fo Mo (never to be confused with a Mo Fo!). As a friend and supporter of the one and only host of The Mo Show blog and blog-talk radio show of the same name, as well as author of several other blogs including It's a Blog Eat Blog World and Purrchance to Dream, I am more than proud to post this badge and clutter up my sidebar even more to show Morgen that I am behind him all the way!

When he isn't taking care of stray little kittens with gastrointestinal problems which keep him up all night and let him experience first-hand what a Mom with a colicky baby goes through, Mo also runs his own store in beautiful downtown Dowagiac, Michigan called The Wren's Nest that you can visit on-line if you can't make it to Michigan. Seriously now, with all that going for the man, wouldn't you want to be a Fo Mo, too? If so - grab the badge and display it proudly!

Speaking of proud badges, this next one was designed by Miss Maggie Moo who Talks 2 U over on her blog and who is a shining example of a caring, compassionate, and concerned friend. In honor of the Empress Bee of the High Sea, Mags has posted the following over on her blog:

"On Sunday October 14th I will join hundreds of other CT residents in the Making Strides walk for Breast Cancer. My team name is Empress Bee.

Please consider donating, if even a tiny amount-it is a wonderful cause, and is in honor of a wonderful person...I will post this badge on my sidebar and it will link to my walk's donation page. In the meantime, you can click HERE to make a donation."

As a fellow Nutmegger I will most definitely be supporting Mags in her efforts but if you'd prefer to sponsor someone from a more northerly direction, our friend Asara is walking on behalf of Miss Bee also. You can check out her post with the details at Asara's Mental Meanderings. Two great ladies walking for one great cause - now that's something you can't beat with a stick as my old Gram B used to say!

Moving on now from Badges to some fun Quizzes that I found in my blog travels this evening - this first one comes from Sandee at Comedy+ and I just couldn't help but take it and see how smart I was ...


I am proud and happy to say that I got 23 out of 25 questions right and there is no doubt in my mind that the two I missed were math-related. I hate math. I hate math lots. I have hated math since I was in 8th grade and had the worst math teacher in the world (yes, Mr. Gallow, I'm talkin' about you!). But I liked this quiz and encourage you to go on over and see who you're smarter than!

This other quiz I snagged from Patti at Late Boomer Bloomer and it was supposed to tell me what kind of animal I am. Patti was a flamingo but it appears that I am an entire singing group:



You're The Animals!

You're just a soul whose intentions are good. You are praying for some understanding, but somehow you seem to know already that it's not going to come through. You wouldn't have thought that a mere house could ruin your life, but now you don't even look forward to the sunrise anymore. With all this ruin, you think it might be time to go on some sort of tour. You've got to get out of this place, if it's the last thing you ever do.
Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Well then, if that's not incentive to stay on my lo-carb diet I don't know what is as I certainly never thought of myself as an entire singing group! But then again, in another life I would have been a drummer in a rock & roll band so maybe this isn't entirely off base!

While visiting Patti's blog, I also stopped in to see what hubby Ralph was up to over at Airhead 55 and took a quiz to see what kind of book I was. After all, if you're going to find out what sort of animal you are, you might as well check out your book type, too - right?

I am Catch-22! (Joseph Heller)…Incredibly witty and funny, you have a taste for irony in all that you see. It seems that life has put you in perpetually untenable situations, and your sense of humor is all that gets you through them. These experiences have also made you an ardent pacifist, though you present your message with tongue sewn into cheek. You could coin a phrase that replaces the word "paradox" for millions of people.

Ah yes, perpetually untenable situations that require a sense of humor - those sound very familiar and I do like to think I have a flare for irony so sure, why not? - I'll go with this one. At least I wasn't the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica or some other large multi-volume set to go along with being an entire group of singers! Want to know what book you are? Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid and find out!

From Quizzes we now proceed to Memes as I've managed to not move fast enough and dodge the tag yet again from some fellow bloggers. In all seriousness I don't mind, I just tend to get a bit behind on these from time to time. Please forgive me and don't tell Queen Mimi as that dark and dank dungeon of hers can really cause my sciatica to kick in!

First up from Mighty Mom at My Wonderful Life is the ever popular Middle Name Meme that I'm sure you've seen elsewhere on your blog journeys. Praise be to my Mom and Dad for giving me a short middle name though it's not one that I've ever particularly liked (no offense to any other Jeans out there!). Here be the rules but I should advise you that I'm breaking them right off the bat as I have no intentions of tagging anyone else with this one. If that violates some rule of the Bloggers' Code of Ethics in Regards to Completing Assigned Memes then I guess that Mimi shall have to lock me up after all! Just please allow me to bring a blanket and pillow to the dungeron with me - that rack can get so uncomfortable!

Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.My middle name is...........

• J - Just about worn out right now! You, too, right??
  
• E - Excited about nearing the end of this post!!
  
• A - Achy and sore from being glomped by an over-enthused 15-year old!!
  
• N - Nodding in understanding if people stopped reading several paragraphs ago!!
  

Finally, from Akelamalu at Everything and Nothing it's the Scattergories Meme that she filched from the aforementioned Empress Bee and then had the audacity to tag other poor unsuspecting bloggers with. That Akelamalu is a woman after my own heart!! Again, I am not going to tag anyone else but if you want to filch from me, feel free! Now, again with the rules ...

RULES: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...they have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

• What is your name? Linda
  
• 4 letter word: Love
  
• Vehicle: Lexus
  
• TV Show: Lassie
  
• City: Lubbock, Texas
  
• Boy Name: Lance
  
• Girl Name: Lacey
  
• Alcoholic Drink: Liquid Cocaine (the original) I'm even going to give you the link on that one!
  
• Occupation: Lawyer
  
• Something you wear: Long pants
  
• Celebrity: Larry King
  
• Food: Leftovers
  
• Something found in a bathroom: Lots of towels
  
• Reason for Being late: Late? I wouldn't know, I am never late!
  
• Cartoon Character: L'il Abner
  
• Something You Shout: Look out below!!
  

Whew! Made it! I think this was a marathon post of sorts and frankly, now I'm too worn out to do a Wordless Wednesday again this week! That's okay, though, you folks go on without me and I'll catch up later - I hope! If not, I'll still be waiting here when you get back!

The Meme of Seven (and not Se7en my blog designer!)

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Ya know, it somehow just doesn't seem right ... you go away for a couple of days to rest and recuperate, maybe get the creative batteries recharged, give your overworked fingers a break, and while you're gone the Queen of Memes tags you with a meme. The Queen, mind you - not just a fellow blogger that you think maybe you can fool by just "forgetting" to the do the meme until enough time goes by and you hope they've forgotten all about it. Oh no - this is a tag from a woman with a dungeon for pity's sake! And who knows what sort of devices of torture she has down in that dungeon of hers? She might poke you with the Soft Cushions or worse yet make you stay in the Comfy Chair until lunch time, with only a cup of coffee at eleven. Oh the horrors! The horrors!

Well, I gotta tell you, this here blogger isn't going to risk such treatment so I shall certainly set upon completing my assigned meme in a timely manner and forgo a trip to Bloggingham Palace; though I hear it's lovely there this time of year! Still, I would rather make a trip when I have been invited for tea and crumpets rather than being called on the carpet for ignoring a royally issued meme. To that end I present to you the Meme of Seven ...

This meme!
Visit more Civil War battlefields
Go to the Cancun Mexican Restaurant in Stockton, California and order a #13 then enjoy every single bite of it!
Spend more time at Lake Tahoe
Dance at my daughters' weddings (and yes, Amanda, I said dance!)
Attend my grandson's high school graduation
Play blackjack at a $25 table and not be nervous (the most I've ever put down at one time was $15 and it terrified me!)

Eat Chinese food while talking a caller through CPR (it takes a long time to do 400 chest compressions!)
Type a little faster than 75 wpm
Bake a New York style cheesecake that is to die for (ok, maybe not die for but it is darned good)
Play a mean game of Scrabble
Write something that will make people smile from time to time
Finish this meme in a timely manner
Eventually answer my email!

Sing (I can, however, make dogs howl!)
Dance (my middle name is "Uncoordinated")
Draw (I leave that strictly to Amanda)
Stand on my head (see #2)
Speak a foreign language (radio code & medical terminology do not count!)
Lift heavy objects (got that whole bad back thing going on)
Run (does the phrase "suck wind" ring a bell to anyone?)

A good sense of humor ("pull my finger" does not count)
Intelligence
Strong arms
Leather motorcycle boots
Gainful employment
A gentle scent of after-shave (don't bathe in it for crying out loud!)
A sense of romance

"American Base to Car ____"
"Received"
"Amanda, how many times have I told you ...?"
"I feel like Death eating a cracker."
"I really don't want to get out of bed this morning!"
"Amanda, I thought I asked you to empty the dishwasher?"
"How is it that I work all this overtime and we're still broke?"

John Cusack
Orlando Bloom in his role as Legolas in LOTR
The older Sean Connery
J.K. Simmons
Patrick Stewart (it's that voice!)
Kevin Costner in his Bull Durham days
When I was really young - Bobby Sherman

"Paralyzed" - The Used
"The Kill" - 30 Seconds to Mars
The Theme to Law & Order
"Surrey With the Fringe on Top" - Oklahoma!
"Good Morning Baltimore!" - Hairspray
"Sit Down John" - 1776
"I Want to Know What Love Is" - Foreigner

Sleep poorly
Worry about finances
Read a book when I fail to even sleep poorly
Have some very strange dreams that I usually can't remember the next day
Toss and turn
Kick the covers off - pull the covers up - kick the covers off - pull the covers up
Look at the clock and dread having to get up soon

Sunscreen
A canopy
An air mattress and a pump
Lots and lots of books
Matches and candles
Bug spray
Someone to talk to!

The Closer
Rescue Me
Cold Case
Boston Legal
Ugly Betty
Grey's Anatomy (though I may have to rethink that one after last season)
House

Dispatchers could never have guns - electronics are expensive!
I'm sure I'd have a full-blown case of road rage
I have a very low tolerance for stupid people
Sometimes I scare easily and accidents happen!
No
Particular
Reason

A cup of coffee in the morning
Air
Water
Food
Shelter
Appreciation
Music
A decent pair of sneakers

A good cup of coffee in the morning!
Crisp, Fall days
My kids
Comments on my blog posts!
Phone calls from Cyndi
Advances in disc replacement surgery
The hope that someday I might be able to retire and enjoy life

Stay up all night
Write really long letters
Read the Sunday morning comics
Bake hundreds upon hundreds of Christmas cookies
Ride on carousels (I get dizzy)
Play softball
Change myself to suit someone else

I have a tendency to be cynical
I have a tendency to be sarcastic
I appear unapproachable to people at times
I need a certain amount of personal space
I can be a real smart ass at times
I'm intelligent and apparently men find that scary (I was told this by a man so it must be true, right??)
I am pretty picky about who I call "friend"

Infancy
Grade school
Middle school
High school
Single
Married
Divorced

T'would seem that I should now tag a few other folks for this one but I think I'm going to cut everyone a break and let you tag yourselves should you so desire. You can let me know if you do, though, as I'd love to see your answers!

A veritable cornucopia of stuff!

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I apologize in advance for the length of this post but there are a bunch of things I've been meaning to get to and just haven't had the chance due to the fact that I write too much about other stuff most of the time! Because of that, I am throwing a veritable cornucopia of stuff at you with this post!

First out of the horn, The Erstwhile Librarian is one of my favorite stops while blog-reading as Joan is just one of the nicest ladies out there and I really enjoy the look and feel of her blog. Recently Joan, retired librarian enjoying life and all it has to offer, awarded me with two awards that have recently been making their way around the Blogosphere -


These awards are part of a series of five blogger awards that were developed by Christy Z. of Writer's Reviews which can be found here. In addition to these two awards Christy has also developed The Inspriational Blogger Award, The Courageous Blogger Award, and The Charity Blogger Award.

I am quite flattered that Joan felt I was qualified to receive both of these honors but I'm not so sure about that myself! The Thoughtful Blogger is "for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous."

Whereas I do try to make visitors feel at home here on my blog there are probably those who might differ when it comes to me always taking others feelings into consideration before speaking out - though I do try to be kind and courteous most times, I know I can sometimes be a bit outspoken and passionate about those things that matter to me. It's part of who I am and I can't apologize for that.

The Creative Blogger goes to "those who bring unique and creative elements to their blogs. For those who incorporate art, music, creative writing, photo's, and other beautiful visual effects into their website. For those who put a unique spin on things and come up with new ideas. This award is for the artsy, the funky, the inventor, and even the rebel. This award is for those creative individuals who stand out from the crowd."

I do try to be as creative as possible even though I am not an artistic person, that particular talent goes to Amanda! But I'd like to think that I attempt to throw some creativity in here once in awhile and Joan apparently thinks so also which means that I am going to take my award and say 'thank you'!

One of the best parts of being given these awards is that I now have the chance to pass the honor on to other people and an even better part is that I don't have to make it simply the award I was given but can choose from any of the five available. To that end, I am presenting the following bloggers with the following awards:

Sarge Charlie

For those bloggers who inspire others through their words and actions. With a positive attitude, and an uplifting spirit these bloggers make the blogosphere a better place, and encourage others to do the same. This award is for bloggers who rise up to set an example but continue to reach out and support others.

Whitterer on Autism - Drown River Drivel - Sgt Dub
- Airhead 55

For those bloggers who are battling or have battled with physical and mental illness, those who are survivors of abuse, poverty, or who have overcome other challenges in life. Those who serve in the military or work/volunteer in dangerous situations in order to provide a service or to help others. This award is for the strong, the brave, and the courageous.

Duward Discussion

"For those who bring unique and creative elements to their blogs. For those who incorporate art, music, creative writing, photo's, and other beautiful visual effects into their website. For those who put a unique spin on things and come up with new ideas. This award is for the artsy, the funky, the inventor, and even the rebel. This award is for those creative individuals who stand out from the crowd."

Ladies and gentlemen, you are more than worthy of these awards and I am happy to present them to you. For those of my readers who are not familiar with the above blogs and their authors, I urge you to go read a bit of them and you'll see why I've chosen them. Hopefully you will admire them as much as I do!

Okay next out of the horn - the announcement of the upcoming blog carnival at Blog Village where yours truly as submitted a post from last July. The carnival is being hosted by Texas RV Travel Blog beginning on Monday, July 30th and can be found here. Stop on by for what is sure to be some great reading!

Tumbling out next is a shout-out to my friend Ed over at The Pisstakers who is finally back up and running after having some hard-drive problems. Get your minds out of the gutter people - it was his computer!
Just a reminder that Ed takes a screenshot of the last 10 MyBlogLog bloggers to visit his blog every Sunday morning sometime around 10 a.m. or so and if the lucky 10 also leave a comment with a link to the best post of the week on their own blog, they will receive a "slightly witty mini review". It's a great way to get a little linky love (I told you his hard-drive was fixed, didn't I?!) as well as toot your own horn a little bit about what you think was your best post of the week. I submitted my post What America Means to Me as mine and Ed graciously gave me 5 stars for it! I was psyched, to say the least! Stop on by, tell Ed I said "hey", and browse a bit - he's got some good stuff over there!

Finally last out of the horn - but never least - is a promo for my friend Mo's upcoming blog talk radio show tomorrow night with special guest - Her Majesty Mimi, Queen of Memes! The Mo Show will be talking about memes, memes, and more memes tomorrow evening and I hope you'll be there as we learn about proper meme etiquette, the punishments available for those not responding to a meme tag, and just about everything else you ever did or didn't want to know about those pesky little things that make their way around the Blogosphere faster than rumors of Lindsay and Britney! Listen in, call in, or IM in and if you're lucky you'll be able to find out what Dixie had for dinner, too!


There are probably a couple more things kicking around in that cornucopia but I think for now you've had about all you can handle for one post! Not just that but the truth be told, my fingers need a rest, too!

Everyone have a great Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!

By second-hand royal proclamation ...

Last Minute Lyn tagged me for the Birthday Meme after she herself got tagged by Mimi, Queen of Memes. To my mind this would make this a Royal Meme and if one has been tagged by a Royal Meme then one should do the Royal Meme even if one has done a similar meme before it became a Royal Meme. Are you royally confused yet?

Here are the rules: You go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (month and day). Then you write down 3 events, 2 births, 1 holiday, and tag 5 friends. There are five slots in the meme list.... as you are tagged, you have to remove the name in the first slot and bump everyone up so that your name can be added to the bottom.

Very well then - we start with my birthday which is September the 9th (hence one of the reasons I like the number 9!) ...

Three historical events:

1. 1850 - California is admitted as the thirty-first U.S. State.
2. 1947 - "First actual case of a computer bug being found": a "Moth" lodges in a relay of a Harvard Mark II computer at Harvard University.
3. 1971 - Attica Prison riots.

Two births:

1. 1711 - Thomas Hutchinson, American colonial governor of Massachusetts
2. 1975 - Michael Bublé, Canadian singer and actor

One holiday:

1. California - Admission Day (to commemorate the State's admission to the USA). You'll notice how this one ties in nicely with one of the great events that occurred on my date of birth!
   

Now I get to tag five other bloggers and I have chosen:

Asara's Mental Meanderings
Sarge Charlie
Whitterer on Autism
Us Danes & Our Family
Gran's Memory Keeping Corner

And the list:

Starrlight
Big Leather Couch
Mimi Writes
Last Minute Lyn
Are We There Yet??

Wow - that was actually quick and fairly painless as all I had to do was make use of my "copy and paste" skills! Ah, if only all posts were this ea

Eight Random Facts

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I was tagged last week by Gem for another meme and the object of this one is to blog “8 Random Facts About Myself”. The rules are as follows:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Seems to me that I have told you folks more things about myself than you really care to know so I decided to take a slightly different tack with this meme and post 8 random facts about my girls, Amanda (to the left) and Jamie (to the right), for those who aren't familiar with them by now!

1. Amanda is 13 months, 8 days, and approximately 2 hours older than Jamie.

2. Amanda stands 5'10" while Jamie currently measures in at 5'4".

3. Amanda plays flute in Concert Band; Jamie sang in chorus at her school in Kentucky.

4. Amanda was born in Long Beach, California; Jamie was born in Norwich, Connecticut.

5. Amanda is more of an alternative rock fan who listens to Fall Out Boy, 30 Seconds to Mars, and, of course, MCR while Jamie is old school all the way with AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and Queen as some of her favorite bands.

6. Amanda's hair is very thick with a natural wave; Jamie has thinner hair that is very straight.

7. Jamie loves ketchup; Amanda won't touch it with a ten-foot pole.

8. Neither girl likes needles and if I take either one of them to my weekly iron infusion they will both avert their eyes and squirm until the nurse has the IV in my arm and all taped up. They do the same thing when the IV is removed whereas I have no problems watching the whole process and needles don't bother me in the least.

There we have it - eight random facts about my two oftentimes very different daughters! Sometimes even I have to wonder how it is they have the same parents but, trust me, they do!

I am now supposed to tag eight more people so I shall tag ... hmm, let's see ... I shall tag Callie Ann in Oregon, Akelamalu in England, Gracie in her new home in California, Claire if she ever gets her Internet working again, Sarge Charlie and Empress Bee formerly of Florida and now enjoying a regular meat & three in Podunk, Georgia, Joan before she jets over to Ireland, and lastly - even though he doesn't do memes from what I can tell but he could certainly do one on the personal blog corner of his "techy" blog - I shall tag Ed of The Pisstakers. I figure the man can stop searching for the funny stuff in tech and web news long enough to give us eight random facts about himself; he can call this my thanks for all those great mini-reviews he's been doing for me every week as part of his BlogLog Sundays.

Fun with Wikipedia

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Tagged again!

I seem to be getting tagged with memes by the royalty of The Blogosphere lately as, after being tagged by The Empress Bee of the High Seas with yesterday's meme, The Buzz Queen hit me with a rather quick and fun meme herself. I'm beginning to see how Mimi, the Queen of Memes, got her start!

This is an easy meme that requires one to simply go over to Wikipedia, type in the month and day of your birth, and then post three things that happened on that date in history, two people who share your birthday, and one person who died on that day. Why, this is one is so simple that even a cave man could do it! And because it's so simple, I thought I would also do Amanda's birthday, which just happens to be my Mom's birthday, too! Let me just say that was the last year she got a grandchild as a birthday present!

The Wikipedia Meme

My Birthday - September 9th

On This Date in History:
1543 - Mary Stuart, at nine months old, is officially crowned "Queen of Scots" in the central Scottish town of Stirling.
1776 - The Continental Congress officially names their new union of sovereign states the United States (the United States didn't become a country until the ratification of the Constitution).
1956 - Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.

People Who Share My Birthday:
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, French statesman (d. 1642)
Otis Redding, American singer and songwriter (d. 1967)

Someone Who Died on This Day:
1997 - Burgess Meredith, American actor

Mom & Amanda's Birthday - June 18th

On This Date in History:
1873 - Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.
1967 - Jimi Hendrix burns his guitar on stage at the Monterey Pop Festival.
1983 - Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

People Who Share Mom & Amanda's Birthday:
1942 - Sir Paul McCartney, English singer and songwriter
1952 - Isabella Rossellini, Italian actress

Someone Who Died on This Day:
1959 - Ethel Barrymore, American actress

Easy to do yet fun and informative at the same time! So, let's see - who shall I tag for this one? Hmmm, perhaps ... Joan (I owe you one!), Akelamalu, and Dixie!

If You Don't Know Me By Now ...

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I was double-tagged for the "Ten Things You Don't Know About Me" meme - first by my favorite Erstwhile Librarian, Joan, and then by Her Royal Highness, The Empress Bee of the High Seas. Even if I had been able to decline politely to Joan, one does not ever decline the invitation to participate in a meme when that invitation is issued by The Empress Bee - I am sure she would not be amused!

To that end, I have wracked my brain for the past several days trying to think of ten little known, yet still possibly interesting, things about myself. This is tougher than it first appears to be, especially if you tend to write a lot about yourself like I do! It's made even tougher when you're losing a little more of your mind each day to hormonal fluctuations but I will do my best to educate and entertain.

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Me!

1. I cannot, cannot, cannot sleep in a quiet room! I need some sort of white noise in the background or I just don't stay asleep. A friend of mine in North Carolina sent me one of those noisemaking gadgets for my birthday a few years ago and every night I fall asleep to the sounds of a thunderstorm. It was one of the best gifts I ever got!
2. My middle name is Jean. No offense to my parents but - ugh! I always thought maybe I should move down South where if one said "Linda Jean" it would roll off one's tongue with a nice drawl to it!
3. I cannot sing for beans but I used to sing in a church choir and even got talked into doing a duet one year for a Christmas Cantata. Be glad you weren't there!
   
4. I once drove across country from California to Connecticut in a rented U-Haul type vehicle with just my son, who was six years old at the time. By the time I got to a place called Nile, Ohio I had almost had enough and was thinking it might be a nice place to settle but managed to push through the rest of the way!
   
5. I have never once painted my toenails or had them painted either.
   
6. My first marriage took place in a dentist's office in New Jersey when we were both in the Air Force. The dentist was the Justice of the Peace in town and performed the ceremony in between patients!
   
7. I have a fear of heights and will even get sweaty palms watching circus performers on TV when they are doing the high wire or trapeze acts.
   
8. I have never had a speeding ticket - ever - even though I do tend to drive too fast (watch - now that I've said that I'll get pulled over next week!)
9. Before I started having back problems I was a pretty good bowler and even threw a 260 game once a long time ago when I lived in California.
10. I was the Co-Editor in Chief of my college newspaper when I attended San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California.
    

There you have it - ten things that the vast majority of people probably wouldn't know about me! There are a couple that might but they don't comment on my blog so I guess they don't really count! Not to say that they don't count at all, just not where this post is concerned!

Now, the proper rule of etiquette when doing a meme is that you have to tag someone else so I hereby tag the Queen of Memes, Mimi*, and another blogger whom I have come to admire and respect, Gale of Gem-osophy. Hope you ladies don't mind!

*Mimi, I know you just did the "100 Things About You" meme but I'd sure appreciate it if you could dig up ten more somewhere!

A big thank you to Amanda for the artwork I used in this post!